The villain in the storybook

“That’s a question I’ve asked myself a lot,” she admitted,not sure she had even come up with one. It was easy to say but it was different if you were actually in the situation, at least that’s what she had come to learn through all of the reading she had been doing. “It’s like this balance of not wanting to cause more trauma than has already been done,” she admitted and took a deep breath, already feeling like she had said to much. “Delicate things take..delicate responses, you know? So I’m trying to figure out a delicate..direct response aside from bringing more pain and harm.” She hung her head for a moment before taking another deep breath and reached for her drink. “Thanks and, I know it probably only gave you more reason to worry but I promise you things are fine or well, they will be,” she added, feeling confident even if she didn’t have a direct plan yet but she still had a few things she hadn’t tried. “Uh anyway, what should I get Danny for Christmas? Has he been dropping any hints?”

                              “I know,” Callie winked, but she needed her grease fix before she went a little bit insane. She breathed in relief when her brother offered her a place to stay, but at the same time thought how ridiculous she must have sounded, after all, she really did need to learn how to be strong, it had been six months since Christian’s death and it was already time for things to get easier for her. “No— it’s okay, I don’t need to sleep at your place, I just don’t want to be alone now,” she assured him before she got her jacket from the back of the front door and gathered Clara’s things so they could go out, “ready?”

                           “I know, I believe you… and him. You know I love Danny, too and am not as biased as you, but biased enough,” she grinned. It had been always a wonder to her how she had ended up with such amazing friends and family in life, Anna did count her blessings though and made sure that they wouldn’t be ever taken for granted. “It’s a good one, but I have to say I have some kind of favoritism over Christmas. I don’t know what it is, but I do love buying gifts for the people I know and love—– and shopping for them takes my mind off of things,” she shrugged. Anna had about compiled a huge present list for the holiday and she was making sure to fit in her plans some shopping in the beginning of December as soon as Black Friday rush had worn off. “Come on, if you continue I might just have to leave my husband and marry you and Danny,” she teased, but wouldn’t that be a change in life? Anna thought that the two of them were so extremely lucky to have one another, and she was extremely lucky she had them in her life, it made her wonder how exactly did she get so lucky in the first place. “Yeah, but I just want to spend some time with him, he’s flying off to Boston in the middle of the night so wherever we do have to go, we might need to leave before midnight, so I’m seeing if Christmas morning is spent with Jen and El, if they don’t have plans with their loved ones, I mean,” she wouldn’t want to impose on the. “Well, it’s a good thing you have your own family to celebrate with,” Anna nodded, “but I insist. I smile enough around you, but either way, you’re gettin’ a gift, just let it sink in, get used to it, it’s comin’.”

                              She looked between Clara and Hunter and shook her head with a funny look on her face, which made her niece giggle even further and a sweet smile to appear on her lips. That was one of the reasons why she was so deeply rooted in Edens Town and didn’t even have a problem with it. “I think daddy should definitely pay for dinner, I can pay for dessert, what do you think? Burgers and then ice cream?” She looked at him—- it was like looking into a mirror if she didn’t have pink hair right now, their eyes were about the same, though and sometimes she would like to believe that her heart was just as big. “Honestly I’ll just take my luck and not stay home alone, Ella is spending the night at Evie’s, Kit is—- well, who knows where Kit is, and I would really love not to spend the night alone,” she said nervously tugging on her engagement ring.

LOCATION: LEGENDS.

WITH: open to anyone ( @edtstarter​ )

              COMING back to Edens Town permanently hadn’t been something that Elliot had ever considered would be on his list of life goals; but here he was. Legends was a bar that brought back fond memories; from getting in with a fake ID as a teenager to throwing a leaving party before he’d headed off to Los Angeles, before everything had gone on the up with his life. Five years later seemed like the perfect time for a career break; to move back to his hometown and set down some roots; to ensure that his daughter didn’t have to live out her life on the road on tour with her father. After ordering his drink he turned to the person occupying the seat beside him, offering a bright smile, “Nothin’ in this town really ever changes, huh?” He mused, tapping his fingers on the bottle in front of him, “I mean, there’s always new people and new faces – but the core of this whole place is identical to when I left it…”

          “Definitely not,” Caroline asserted while nodding her head, indicating that the words spilled through her lips were lies, still there was a sweet and kind smile directed at her brother. It was funny to think how much of a little sister she felt towards her older brothers and she assumed it would always be that way– she quite enjoyed the feeling if she was being completely honest. She grabbed some baby wipes from the nearby stand and gave some to Clara so she could help her with the cleaning of her artwork after they had taken a Polaroid of it, she always kept her nieces artwork in photographs, made it more eternal. “Did it work though? Are you going to take us out for food? Please Hunter, I am starving, we are starving and we need something good to eat, right Clara?” She looked down at her niece with a wink.

who - @hunterxclark​

where - callie’s home

          It wasn’t really a secret to anyone how much she loved her nieces. They were both the lights of her life or something and she always felt immensely better to spend time with them, so it was absolutely no problem when Danny had reached out to her and asked her to take Clara for the afternoon while they did… something. Whatever it was, didn’t really matter to her because she would gladly spend her day with Clara. They did a bit of everything. They cooked brownies and cookies and ate about half of them with a glass of milk, got rid of their sugar high while dancing in front of the TV to the greatest hits of something she didn’t quite recognize, then they napped because they were just exhausted. Then they played with dolls and cars and eventually, as time always did, Clara asked to paint on Caroline’s tattoos, and she let her, this time, Clara chose to use finger painting and as they giggled and had fun, the buzzer rang and she just knew it was her brother coming to steal her niece away from her. As soon as Hunter stepped through the door, both girls were already with pouts on their lips, but Callie smiled as soon as she laid eyes on her brother. “You know Clara, I think that if we beg daddy, he might takes us out to dinner? What do you think? Fancy burgers, my love? Or a pizza? Maybe we can go to Anna’s and have breakfast for dinner. What do you think?”

“I mean it’s human to want to be liked, like on a basic level. But it’s impossible. So no use in giving that space in my head, you know? Plus the people who do like me are fucking amazing and more than make up for it.” She nodded as she reached for her drink and shrugged. “True, everyone has a reason. But it’s never a reason to be like grumpy towards other people, yanno? Like you could be going through a lot of shit but it doesn’t give you liberty to treat other people like crap. Not that he does that, that’s more a general statement,” she added, throughout her life, always enjoying the conversations she had with Hunter. She had always admired him for writing and at a young age he was one of the few people who talked to her like she had a brain and not just some other teenager. He was one person she’d call when she was in New York just to have discourse with. “I mean I am definitely marrying up,” she joked and brought her legs up underneath her. “I appreciate it. I was,” she paused and tapped her fingers on the side of her glass. 

“I was actually hoping I could get some advice on something else. It’s…hard to get into specifics because in some ways its not my story to tell but it’s definitely my business,” she started and took a deep breath. “If you knew someone who was in a..domestic abuse situation. But they didn’t want to do anything about it, or rather they were afraid. What..what would you do? Would you just respect their choice or intervene? I know it’s a big question and like I said, I dont want to get into specifics, I mean from a purely moral standpoint.”

“Difficult thing to unlearn though. I blame the media... which I suppose I am highly responsible for, but that’s hardly the point. Sounds like the right idea though, surround yourself with only the best people” and he had tried to do it, but after his parents reaction, he found confrontation difficult. He wanted to avoid it at all costs. “It doesn’t. But everyone has their own motives for doing things. Just a case of deciding if the person is important enough to you to ask if they need help, or just letting them be. Fuck knows I’ve been fairly terrible at doing it if someone’s rude to me, siblings aside because they’re my siblings, there’s others who my family and that’s it, I’m done” to him it was that simple. His family came first, they always would. He laughed softly, “oh hush, both of you are amazing”. 

Location: Clark Home

With: @hunterxclark​

“Hunter! Hunter!” Danny called out as he came in from getting the mail. There was one letter on top from the adoption agency. His heart was beating in his chest, ready to race straight to the kitchen faster than his feet could carry him. “Hunter,” he breathed his husband’s name as he came into the kitchen. “Look, we got a letter already.” It had to be good news if it was coming so early. They could ideally have another child in their home by Christmas if all continued to go well. “God, I’m so nervous. I can’t even open it.” Danny shook his head, setting the mail down on the counter. Aria had been living with them and Clara had been well adjusted to the situation. Introducing another kid into the family seemed like the best thing for everyone. Danny wanted a large and happy family. It was all he ever wanted and it was growing so quickly. “I know we will love anyone that gets put in our home, but I kind of want a little boy?” Danny mused, staring down at the letter, “We have Clara and Aria, who is much older but I think a little boy would be so fun to have running around with everyone.” 

            MACKENZIE huffed as she sat herself down on the couch, wrapping her arms around her torso. She was quiet for a few moments, lifting her hand to wipe some of the tears from her cheeks. It had been a hell of a few weeks, but after she’d managed to calm down enough to catch her breath she sat forward, a frown knitting her eyebrows together. “I just– I don’t understand why I can’t just have… Nice fucking things,” She began, throwing her hands up in frustration, “First there was my Dad, then the car accident, then everything that fuckin’ came along with that. Now, when I think shit’s getting back on track, my Mom suddenly has an entirely new family and there’s Jacob’s Dad and I just – I just want to be normal, Hunter.” 

“It’s all good, not a lot of people know and I really have no interest in telling them. Despite popular belief, I don’t need everyone to like me,” she joked and shrugged it off. “Fair, which I mean, I respect but I feel like it gets exhausting to be that grump all the time. I’m gonna ask him though. I want to get a few good gigs in before we’re in the home stretch of pregnancy. Dude I did not realize how fucking expensive diapers are. What the fuck? I spent the weekend with my excel sheet making a budget report for my damn life.” Which sounded like a lot but at the same time Ella loves organizing and putting the numbers together, it was what she had come home to do for Anna. “I hope you’re ready to get my calls of panic when the kid gets like a slight fever and Im ready to run to the ER when they’ll likely be fine.”

Alexis listened intently to Hunter’s words. He had always been full of wisdom and when he occasionally watched her growing up, she had always been lingering on his words, waiting for him to say something that might change her life. Until she realized just how silly that was and that the only person that could change her life was herself. Alexis laughed softly, “It must be odd to them, that I will say. I’ve actually never been on a horse and they intimidate me. Cats are far more up my alley.” Alexis admitted to Hunter with a shake of her head. “Chase isn’t so bad but there are moments when he is loud and obnoxious but don’t tell him I told you that.” She teased her lips curling into a smile. Alexis adored her brother. He practically raised her. While he might be the only blood family she had, she was thankful to consider the Clarks her family as well. “You think so? I’m just waiting on a few things from the bank but I think I’m in good enough position for myself to buy it and really start running it myself.”

“Probably, have to get one for the other one we have. Lord knows we would end up with a cat with separation anxiety.” Danny teased as he laughed with a nod of his head. “Don’t jinx us! Cats are easy enough to take care of but we might not have enough space for six.” Even in Kings Park they lived in a modest home in comparison. Danny felt his cheeks warm - never failing to appreciate a compliment from his husband. “It seems like a strange to move. Of all places.” He shook his head, “Not to be a gossip but Georgie mentioned having family and she knew Thalia was here but I’m unsure of why Thalia. Not that I don’t love Edens but I can’t imagine it’s first on a single list as a place to move. It probably hasn’t even made it on a list.” He chuckled, shaking his head, “I’d rather you be our chef any day of the week. Home cooked meals are surely my favorite.” Danny happily patted his stomach though he was in good shape with all of his running. 

Maggie: 🤦🏻‍♀️

Maggie: Sounds good. Take your time, I've got all the time in the world right now.

Maggie: I would say I'm sorry, but I'm not.

Maggie: Just come by whenever. I don't have any plans for the rest of the day.

Hunter: 💔

“I get that question alot.” Mia couldn’t help but laugh, even her boss tried to get her to take some time off, but everytime Mia thought of a vacation she worried what she would do the entire time if she wasn’t constantly responding to emails. “I had a nice week vacation a year ago, but I keep telling Grace I don’t need one - what would I do with a week full of free time?” 

Alexis laughed, “I can understand that.” She shook her head with a smile, “I’m also won over by a pretty face, human or animal.” Alexis had her fair share of situations where they were purely physical and they rarely worked out for the best but it seemed Hunter and Danny had found their perfect match. She laughed with his words before nodding her head, “Honestly they really do have the most love at times.” Alexis nodded her head, “You’d be surprised,” she teased, “I was a pretty stubborn five year old. At least that’s what my parents say. I think it was cause I was the only girl. I had to be a little more stubborn to get the attention.” Alexis teased, though it wasn’t entirely a lie. “I’ll probably go out with Maya and of course I have to attend the Halloween party we’ve been planning. It was kind of a last big thing with Lottie. She and AJ are out of town and I’m actually thinking of taking over the business.” Alexis admitted, knowing she could trust Hunter to give his honest opinion.