jasmine writes

i’m jasmine, i’m 23 and here are my:

guidelines

muses

wanted plots

he’d tried to stay in touch - honest. had sent grace a couple texts here and there, but then there was the harvest and then she didn’t reply for a good few months, filming on location or something like that, and he’d had gigs, and no matter how hard jackson tried, their schedules just didn’t line up. it made sense, he figured, everyone knew how this story ended - grace in the big city on the red carpet and jackson still kicking it in cowboy boots and the local bar. he’d seen it in everyone’s sympathetic smiles when he talked about her, in the way they pointedly didn’t glance at watever tabloid graced the supermarket checkout aisles, some grainy blownup photo of her with another actor, dating rumors spiraling around her industry. after a while, jackson had just…. accepted it. not that he’d forgot about grace, but he put her from his mind. focused on his music, on his job, on his friends. kissed a few other people, lips sticky with cheap beer and air thick with campfire smoke. he’d finally returned to some sense of normalacy in the last few months. coffee mug in one hand, other braced on the kitchen counter, jackson stared out the window trying to figure out his schedule for the day when he heard the last voice he’d expected. jolting slightly, coffee splashed down the front of his threadbare t-shirt, scalding and damp. “fuck,” he swore under his breath, turning as his free hand began to swipe at his shirt in vain. “shit that was hot.” brow crinkled in both confusion and pain, he glanced up to see none other than grace herself in the kitchen. “grace?” his hand came up to his chin, wiping at the thin trickle of coffee with the back of his hand. “shit you’re back. i didn’t know you were here.” he wiped his hand on his jeans, all too aware of how messy he looked right now. “good morning.”

“ james— … ” repeated it in softer volumes, liking the way it rolled off her tongue. “ nice to meet you as well, james. ” tried her hardest not to sound too airy or as if her mind was blanking, entranced by every minute detail of him  — the thin and the thick laughs of his, singular playful wink, the way he smiled or the way he was extremely glad he knocked on the door apparently. “ please, make yourself comfortable. ” already making herself comfortable by walking past him to take seat on sofa , smoothing her palms down the thighs of her pajamas. “ but yes, i am leaving— i only came on this trip on a whim ‘cause things back home got complicated. didn’t quite get the promotion at my job that i was hoping for plus i … got broken up with on the same day. ” dry laugh emitted, finally hit micaela as the words left her mouth that she hadn’t dared to speak or think about too much ever since it happened. “ so besides disappointment, i guess i just didn’t want to be alone over the holidays and i thought if i went somewhere else— … well, maybe that feeling would go away … or maybe i wouldn’t realize how alone i am. but now i’m here and— … ” her words trail off, dying in the air. she didn’t want to finish the sentence, felt the two of them knew what she was getting at. “ whereas you could go for tea right now, i could really go for a pint. ” laughing at her own minor woes, micaela wrung her manicured fingers.

"oh, thanks -- you’re sure it’s okay?” james questioned, but he was already taking his signature spot on the couch, the comforting routine of being at the cottage engrained in his mind without him even realising it. having a complete stranger in the spot you grew up in should probably have you a little on edge, james realised, but there was something about micaela’s easy presence that had him feeling as though he was with an old friend - albeit a very beautiful, very intriguing old friend. “jesus...” he breathed as she relayed the details of her luck - or lack of it, shaking his head slowly. “yeah, that’s enough to send anybody packing. i don’t blame you for needing a bit of a switch up. although for the record, anybody stupid enough to lose somebody like you needs a kick up the arse.” he smiled, shrugging his shoulders. he was sure there was more to the story, but even so he couldn’t imagine anything micaela could do that would have somebody leaving her in the dirt that way. “now you’re here and you feel more alone than ever?” he questioned, finishing the sentence in the way he assumed micaela had been going to. “a pint? oh, you’re speaking my language. you know, if you weren’t leaving tomorrow there’s an extremely charming little pub i would absolutely recommend - but as you can see based on the fact that i showed up at your door seconds away from frostbite, it’s now closed. i’m sure meg has something around here though, if you fancy a proper drink?”

it’d been the worst month and a half of thea’s life, including the time she’d had both the flu and a stomach virus at the same time. what had started out so wonderful, so magical, falling in love with your best friend, figuring out how that changed some things, how that didn’t change others - all had come crashing down as soon as their coworkers found out. it wasn’t intentional. or at least, thea hoped it hadn’t been, but once their relationship was out in the open, people felt free to comment on it. had felt free to mock it. to make insinuating jokes that had hr looking at them a little too long. it’d all come to a boiling point neither of them could handle. and if thea had to give up their relationship to save their friendship…. she’d keep james however she could. of course, that didn’t make it easy, didn’t make her any happier about their decision though they both put on a brave face about it. it certainly didn’t make sitting at the desk opposite him any easier, resisting sneaking glances at him whenever their boss said something particularly stupid, fighting the urge to reach over and doodle on his pages at meetings. she’d always known her job was boring, but she’d never realized just how boring it was without james. for all they’d said they wanted to preserve their friendship by breaking up, they’d somehow lost that too, their friendship a muted pastel of what it once was. she’d found herself searching job sites on her lunch breaks instead of ordering jello molds for their next great idea, editing her resume instead of writing fake faxes. there was nothing solid yet, but she had a few interviews set up for the next week or two, staying late to flex some hours later, leaving only her and james after work once again. she heard her name, her heart jumping into her throat, slowly letting her eyes leave her screen to see james there. god, somehow he was even beautiful now, bathed in fluorescent lighting and his hair a rumpled mess, tie slightly askew. it broke her heart. “wow feels like deja vu,” she wanted to answer, but the joke died on her lips. somehow that hurt more. swallowing hard, thea nodded, her spine rooted to her chair, yet her insides so hollow she felt she’d blow away at a gust of wind, every inch of her aching at the delicate way he approached her. 

a year was a very long time, but it felt like no time at all had passed as grace opened her eyes and looked around the bedroom her grandfather kept for her, a smile spreading across her face. she’d gotten into town in the early hours of the morning, falling asleep in the passenger seat of the truck her grandfather had come to pick her up in and waking up just enough to slip into the house with her eyes half closed before falling into bed. this was her first proper day here and she was determined to make the most of it. she’d had the best summer last year; it had done exactly what it needed to for her, but eventually commitments back home had called and she’d had no choice but to go home - even if a part of her (a huge part) had wanted to stay. jackson levine had given her so much more than she thought he even knew and leaving had been almost painful; hugs goodbye had been tearful, grace wanting to make so many promises she knew she couldn’t keep and she hadn’t even known when she’d be back. but a break in filming and a lapse in other projects meant she had time, although she didn’t know how much and going back had been the first thing on her list. of course, she had no idea what was going on in his life now - they’d tried to keep in touch, but life was so busy and she felt as though she had no clue anymore. for all she knew, he hadn’t thought of her once since she’d gotten on the plane. but she’d thought of him - a lot. she swung her legs out of bed and pulled on a sweater over her pajamas, heading downstairs for a much needed cup of coffee... when she saw him. the last person she expected to see in her kitchen early in the morning, even though when she thought about it properly it was exactly what she should’ve expected. a huge smile spread across grace’s face. “hello, you.” she beamed, eyes wide. “good morning.”

the past few months had been... well, about as strange as james could’ve ever imagined them turning out. it had been a blur of he and thea; finding out how they fit together as two people dating, figuring out how to balance it alongside work, how to keep it from their coworkers until they knew for sure what was going on... and right when it had seemed as though everything was perfect, it had fallen apart. people had found out, gotten involved and as much as james had wanted to cling on for dear life, they’d let go because of the risk it posed. to their jobs, to their friendship... they’d been adults about it. a decision that james had been regretting since they’d made it. it was torture, working at the desk opposite her and having to pretend as though he wasn’t still hopelessly in love and even though they’d ended things because they didn’t want their friendship to be ruined, nothing really felt the same anymore. james had lost his spark and with that, his enjoyment for the job. a couple of weeks ago, he’d put in his notice and asked his boss to let him tell people in his own time; he promised himself every day that he was going to tell thea before it was too late... and had gotten scared and backed out. he sighed and turned off his computer, looking up from the screen to find that it was just the two of them left in the office. in the old days, just weeks ago, they’d have taken the opportunity to play one of their extensive pranks; wrapping somebody’s computer up in christmas paper or whatnot, but james had no idea how that suggestion would go down now. in fact, he thought this was probably the perfect opportunity to tell her what he’d been keeping from her. he cleared his throat, looking over to her desk. “thea?” he asked quietly, running a hand through his hair. “can i uh - can we have a word, before you go home?”

based on: x

“so you seriously think this is going to work? you think we can pass as a couple?” rafe laughed, a single eyebrow arching as he looked between himself and red, nodding his head approvingly. she was his best friend, they had been best friends for as long as he could remember and this was just another one of their ridiculous plans that only they found funny - but he was excited for it. “we should hold hands, make it a little more convincing.” he grinned, holding out his hand for red to take. “god, i hope they have some good flavours. this better be worth it.” he teased.

based on: x

“this is not a good idea.” ricky repeated for the hundredth time that night, shaking his head regretfully. “i know you don’t care what i think, but this is not a good idea. it’s out there, i said it - nobody can say i didn’t.” he rolled his eyes, although there was the slightest hint of a smirk there that he was unable to hide. when he’d taken this job, he’d expected to be accompanying her to family events, meetings and the likes... not frat parties and nightclubs, but somehow standing outside those clubs and knowing she was inside with a hundred guys fawning all over her made him more anxious than any of the jobs he’d taken before. “you have to keep checking in with me, okay? let me know you’re okay. or i’m gonna have to come in.” he sighed, shrugging his shoulders. ricky wanted her to have fun; he didn’t want to be the bad cop, the fun sponge, the reason her friends rolled their eyes and said that she was no fun anymore - but he wanted to keep her safe. that was his job; and at this point, it felt like more than that to him.

based on: x

to fionn, weddings had always been mildly boring affairs that his parents had dragged him to, where he’d be forced to let his cheeks be squeezed by aunties he didn’t remember and throw handfuls of confetti at cousins he hadn’t spoken to in years... but this one was going to be different. this one, he was actually excited for. the groom was the first one of his friends to get married and even though they hadn’t really seen each other much since high school, they kept in touch and he was excited to catch up with everyone. the ceremony had been nice, touching - but the reception was the part he was excited for and there was a smile on his face as he got there, checking the seating plan and heading over to where it dictated. “well, this is odd.” he chuckled, raising an eyebrow as he sat down. “i expected to be with some of the old football guys, not the bridesmaids - not that i’m complaining.” he added, a light laugh accompanying his words. he had no idea why he’d been sat there - no idea that this whole thing was a set up. “i don’t know if you remember me, but uh - i’m fionn. we went to high school together.”

“ oh that’s lovely … my nan only left behind scratchcards for me and my mum. i think my mum won at least two of ‘em out of the hundred — the cottage is very homely though. it feels lived in … very warm and my brain is absolutely wanting to know all the hijinks you and meg got up to here with your nan but i’m reeling it in ‘cause i know you’re pissed. ” it was hard to stop when she began, looking to relate and using chatterbox of a mouth until it would dry up. raising a brow as she remembered him mentioning only staying for a short while. “ you really want to go out in that again? i’m surprised you even made it this far, it’s a full blown hell-storm out there. you walked here? i can’t tell if you’re an absolute madman or a ballsy bastard— respectfully. ” quick to drop her playful expression when she felt she might’ve used too strong of a word against someone she didn’t know at all. “ house-swapping though, incredibly crazy. think fate is playing right on time to send you here ‘cause i was going to leave in the morning— turns out incredibly crazy ideas plus impulsive actions when i’m anxious don’t mix well. ” another small, awkward smile gracing her features as she nodded slowly. “ sorry, i talk talk talk— aha … i bet you’re thinking you would’ve been better off frozen and not have knocked on the door. ” humming, micaela reached behind herself to scratch at her nape. “ i really would feel awful sending you back out there … like, i’m insisting you stay the night. please— uh … wait, what was your name again? i talked so damn much, i forgot to ask. i’m micaela. ”

“scratchcards? oh, that’s brilliant.” james chuckled, eyes twinkling as he imagined micaela and her mum scratching one hundred cards left behind by a woman who might’ve thought she was leaving them a fortune. “lived in is right. i don’t even think it was newly built when my grandma got it, it’s got a rich old history. if you’ll allow me to go into the kitchen and put the kettle on, i’d be happy to fill you in on some of those childhood hijinks - i’m dying for a cup of tea.” he smiled, shaking his head. the man took off his snow covered jacket and hung it up on one of the pegs by the door, running a hand through his hair to shake out some of the snow and turning back to micaela with a loud laugh as he heard her descriptors of choice. “i like to think it’s ballsy bastard with just a hint of absolute madman. it’s a fun combination, i promise.” he smiled. “you’re leaving?” james had to question why the thought of that disappointed him; why should he care whether or not this incredibly chatty woman whom he had only just met was going to stay or not? “surprisingly, i’m extremely glad i knocked on the door tonight.” he told her with a wink, chuckling in spite of himself. his eyes widened then, mostly at her generosity. “you would really be okay with that? i don’t want to make you uncomfortable or anything, but... that would really be a godsend.” he admitted. “oh, of course! it’s james. i’m james. it’s nice to meet you, micaela.”

“who takes a picture of someone they don’t even speak to ? how dumb do you think i am ?” his parents wealth, some of his decisions before she came around, made people see him under a certain light. born in a golden throne, with all one might want at an arm’s reach, never having to do much for himself. it’s all true, and he has used and abused those rights, which sometimes makes it all the tougher to understand boundaries. all of it connects in his head, at least in theory, but seeing her in person once every few months has allowed undiscovered demons to corrupt his thoughts. in reality, this is not an argument he wants, but when has he ever been taught to let something go ? benny always got what he wanted, good and bad. “guess you shouldn’t have come, then. lesson learned, right ? guess we’ll see each other again when you graduate or something.”

“it is.” fallon thought it was pretty nice to hear violet gush about her present in a non-biased way since really, there was no way she could possibly know it was fallon who’d gifted it to her. could she? she was quite sure the other woman had to have talked to other people about more than just surface level things. she hoped so, at least. or then that was a dead giveaway as to who the gift had been from. considering she hadn’t been called out on it immediately she figured that she might just be in the clear. “i’m sure the person knows how much you appreciate it,” she insisted, giving a little wave of her hand. “if she knew as much to get you the gift, she’ll know you’re thankful.” ghosts completely over the slip of her tongue that it had been a ‘she’ to give the gift, clearing her throat. “right, yeah. like… put a little thought into it. i guess i can, though it feels a little thoughtless. unless i meet someone who really likes baths sometime soon.” not an impossibility but even then she wasn’t sure that regifting something was very much up her street. “i’m just glad one of us got a gift that we like.”

it is a conundrum against his personality, to be known as someone anti-relationship almost, all to fall head over heels in a weekend. but, as he has come to learn, he’s incapable of having absolute control over all and with all the feelings she’d get running in his body, for the most, all the sacrifices appeared to be worth it. at least, when he didn’t have too much time on his hands to review the possibilities. “guess not. should i schedule a time when this conversation might be more convenient to you ?” his tongue sharp, even as teeth gritted together, ready to defend his stance. like relationships weren’t complicated enough, all the time apart has become his sworn enemy. “barely even a friend— seriously ? is that really the answer you’re going with ?”

“oh?” fallon made a point of looking at the necklace. as if it wasn’t something she’d spent hours of her time looking in to so that she could ensure she was purchasing the right thing. really she’d spend far too much time looking into a gift that she was never going to get any credit for but that wasn’t the point. the point was making sure that violet was happy and given her reaction to the question, she felt like that was something that she’d done. “i guess some people just pay more attention than you realise, right?” she very subtly hinted to herself but gave no more away. she didn’t necessarily want violet to know that she’d been the one to give her the gift; it would probably only make things weird. “it’s nice. someone getting you something that you actually wanted. i have a bathroom giftset which is nice… except it’s mostly bath bombs and i only have a shower.”

“ meg? no, she’s off in new york … probably enjoying a chopped cheese and having to witness a man breakdance on the train shirtless for cash. ” longwinded joke only a mechanism to thwart awkwardness in encounter to a man — a handsome man — but a strange and obviously drunk man nonetheless. after a beat of silence, micaela cleared her throat and opened the door more to allow him access. “  would you like to pop in?  ” micaela asked, her habit of speaking before she thought got in the way of her daily life — had to pause before realizing what she said. “ look at me, asking if you want to come in to a place you have every right to come into, er— … ” curt nod and one forced, awkward yet bright smile later and she was thinking now. thinking of an explanation and also thinking about if her hair looked decent or if she had any crust in her eyes since he had come so late. “ i’m afraid she’s gonna be gone for two weeks — we kind of had the crazy idea to switch homes after talking on forums. lovely cottage by the way, inherited or— … ” oh how she just wanted to die in a hole.

“new york?” james questioned, the cogs in his brain instantly beginning to turn as he tried to recall a conversation with his little sister where she had informed him of something as huge as flying to a totally different country at a time as important as christmas - and failing. he couldn’t focus on that for too long though, the girls nervous chattering forcing him to chuckle quietly in spite of his confusion. “when i have actually figured out what’s going on here, you must tell me more about these naked breakdancing men - because it sounds as though you’re speaking from experience.” he grinned crookedly, another chuckle falling from his lips as micaela spoke again. “oh no, you have every right to tell me to bugger off into the snow... but if you absolutely don’t mind, then i would love to come in. just to warm up for ten minutes before i brave the cold again.” he smiled gratefully. he was sure that strange men knocking on the door of the place you were staying in at this time of night weren’t exactly welcome, but he definitely appreciated the invitation - he’d stopped being able to feel his fingertips about five minutes ago and the thought was actually quite alarming. his dark eyes widened as the woman explained the situation to him; impulsive decisions were so un-meg to that he could hardly believe it, and yet micaela’s very presence here seemed to prove that she was telling the truth. “wow... that is crazy. incredible, but crazy.” he smiled, unable to help himself as the questions about the cottage came. “yes, actually - it belonged to our grandmother, she left it to meg and i when she passed away. we always liked coming here as kids - i’m sure you can understand why.”

the idea of a complete life swap was so appealing to daisy. she’d just broken up with her no good, horrible boyfriend and she needed to get away. when she had seen the advert for the remote cottage … she felt pretty compelled to see if it was available. she couldn’t believe that it was. the brunette had settled down for the evening, in the unfamiliar bed, and she was just dropping off when she heard the knock at the door - or rather - pounding. she thought about ignoring it. i’d be crazy to open it, she thought. and yet, eventually, her curiosity got the better of her and she slowly moved down the stairs to open the door. she raised an eyebrow as she saw the attractive man in front of her. she watched it dawn on him for a second before she giggled. “yeah. not her. sorry.” daisy spoke, biting her lip. “do - i mean, you can come in, if you want?”