where the bloodline ends

↳INSTAGRAM: @ringringcello uploaded a photo:

↳INSTAGRAM: @loudenverauthor uploaded a photo:

She’d tried to learn everything she could about Livvy’s ailments, but it was hard when no Doctor really ever took her illnesses seriously. They hadn’t even given a formal diagnosis, for crying out loud. It meant that sometimes Fred was clumsy with her care, did the wrong thing even if she was well intentioned. But even she knew that if Livvy was throwing up, she was at the rough end of a really bad episode.

“Both.” she whispered, withdrawing her hand from where she’d been playing with the other girl’s hair. “But only one of them is doing psychological warfare in our apartment.”

She veered back a little, giving Livvy the space to sit up, one hand hovering uselessly in midair should she need her assistance. She never wanted to baby her friend - but stubborn as she was, sometimes Livvy was forced to accept her help. Sometimes Fred thought her three closest friends would rather die than be sincere with one another, and other times her love for them was so palpable her chest ached. These were her people, she would do just about anything for them.

“Dude!” she gasped, raising her voice just a little too high and immediately regretting it. Her hand gently ghosted the top of Livvy’s head, smoothing down the hair atop her already aching head. And well, subtly checking for lumps and bumps. Siri, how did you know if your best friend had a concussion?

“I’m not gonna kill you, dummy.” she said, kicking off her ratty sneakers. Gently, trying not to jostle her friend too much, she placed both her feet on top of the covers. They were kicked this way and that, as though Livvy hadn’t been able to decide whether she was too hot or too cold. “You can’t leave me here alone.”

Carefully, Fred lowered herself onto the bed frame, turning her body sideways so that her lithe, gangly limbs bracketed Livvy’s own. She coaxed Livvy’s body closer to hers, wrapping an arm around her waist and scooping her up. With Livvy’s back pressed to her chest, she wondered if she could feel the weak thump of her heartbeat. Probably not. But the laboured sound of her breathing was enough to let Fred know she was with her.

“Is this okay?” she asked, unsure if this was the kind of situation where Livvy wanted to be held. Sometimes it was. Sometimes she just wanted to be left alone.

The nape of her neck was clammy, her hair slightly tangled and sticking to the pale skin there. Fred nuzzled in with her nose regardless, pressing a light kiss to the skin there.

“What can I do?” she tried, her voice barely there.

Something flared up in her chest when Fred claimed Livvy couldn’t leave her there alone. She wanted to pin it all on a glimmer of hope, but she couldn’t let herself. There was very little chance her friend meant for it to imply anything of substance. They both knew as good as anyone that if Livvy was gone, Kai would still be here. And frankly, as far as Livvy was concerned, there wasn’t anyone better out there for the two of them. He was completely ridiculous in every sense of the world, as well as the greatest person she knew. She wanted to believe that Fred somehow held her in a slightly higher esteem, and that both she and Kai would be at a loss without her there, but there was a hopeless part of her brain that insisted they’d probably be just fine. So long as they had each other, nothing much could hurt them. 

She decided against echoing that sentiment to her friend right now, knowing it would land about as well as a nitrogen bomb. 

As she deliberated over that, she felt Fred move behind her, the press of her body causing the mattress to dip below Livvy. The sudden movement caught her off guard and she felt a swirl of nausea in the pit of her stomach, though she doubted there was anything left in there for her to throw up. When her friend’s arm circled her waist, Livvy was certain she’d find brand new, completely unheard of ways to upchuck her whole entire intestinal system onto the bed. This new bout of sickness had nothing to do with her vertigo anymore, and everything to do with the rush that came with the other girl’s face pressed into her skin, her hand against her stomach. 

It wasn’t the first time the two of them had found themselves curled up like this, nor did she expect it would be the last. The context was ever changing, though. Sometimes, they’d lay there like this, quietly waiting for Livvy’s symptoms to ease off enough for her to feel like a functioning part of society again. Other times, Fred’s lips would be trailing along the side of Livvy’s neck as her hand dipped low, teasing the young librarian between her thighs. Now, wasn’t there a thought? Livvy had never stopped to wonder if maybe Fred could have a thing for librarians, and whether that was something the two of them could play around with next time they hooked up. She wasn’t above a little roleplay with a pretty girl, that was for sure. 

Her whole entire body shivered as she felt the press of Fred’s lips, as though she’d read her mind completely and was here to fulfil the very fantasy she’d just been dreaming up. Livvy knew she shouldn’t jostle her body further, but she couldn’t help it. She was a glutton for punishment, and Fred Ashley was a death sentence. She rolled over slowly, their legs tangling together as she slipped a hand against Fred’s hip, maneuvering herself so she could nuzzle her face into the girl’s collarbone. 

“Tell me about your day,” she whispered, lips grazing Fred’s skin. She knew she’d intruded upon band practice with her stupid little episode, but she still wanted to hear about everything that came before. 

↳INSTAGRAM: @edenhasinstanow uploaded a photo:

↳INSTAGRAM: @livvydlc uploaded a photo:

↳INSTAGRAM: @livvydlc uploaded a photo:

↳INSTAGRAM: @livvydlc uploaded a photo: