give me thunder

"You're the BEST! See? I knew that I fell in love with you for a reason." Hollie smiled brightly as she approached the other, leaning in to steal a kiss, before stealing said snacks. "Dinner is almost ready, so make yourself comfy."

The brunette chuckled, shaking her head slightly as she happily returned the other's kiss. "Hi, baby. Dinner smells amazing. As always." She cast her gaze around the kitchen before meeting Hollie's eyes again. "Is there anything I can do? Maybe get us something to drink?"

shit, diggory thinks— the exasperation on his face aimed squarely at himself, not at corinna. he never meant any harm. he just had this habit of pushing past his own limits without realizing it, and somehow he always ended up here: disappointing someone he genuinely didn't want to disappoint. but as she kept talking, spiraling into assumptions and insecurities he never meant to feed, he lifted a hand. "woah, woah. i don't think... that way about you. not even close." he shook his head, a little frantic. "you're not untalented, and i don't know if you've checked a mirror lately, but you're about as far from a bridge troll as it gets. if we're takin' bets, i'm the one who looks like i crawled out of some distant branch of the family tree." he tried to soften the air between them with a crooked smile. "i'm kidding. i'm not some cold, heartless jerk. i thought... i really thought this was just what we do, you know? kid around. i took it too far, and that's on me." his tone dropped, sincere. "seriously, i'm sorry. is there anything i can say or do to make it up to you?"

confusion coloured her features as he spoke. he seemed genuine, but a part of her wondered if this was some sort of setup to a cruel joke. another way to poke at her. however, his frantic energy made her think that his response was actually authentic. that, or he deserved an oscar. she folded her arms across her chest as she tried to make sense of everything. "you didn't mean it? any of it?" she asked, hardly able to believe that this conversation had led to this. she was basically screaming at him a second ago. now everything felt different. "i don't know ... i'm kind of at a loss for words." she chuckled humourlessly, playing back their most recent interactions in her head. "what did you think we were doing?" she paused. a better question shifted into focus. "what do you think about me?" admittedly, she was curious. especially since everything that had transpired between them had been a joke to him. she wanted to know how he truly felt, all but certain she'd be surprised by any answer provided. then again, nothing could be worse than everything else he's already said in jest.

the laugh that comes from bellamy is anything but gentle. anything but 'proper' and befitting of anyone of higher station. the good news, bellamy was no such station. she ran in the same circles and rubbed shoulders with them, shook hands and came to their parties. but that was it. "hardly. but i shall take the compliment as i am supposed to," heeled feet moved them away from crowds and chattering gossip and into the night that was still young, it's darkness not yet suffocating. "we shall, we shall," he smiled and then out the doors to a balcony further still. "no dancing, but might i say that you looked radiant out there. out here. maybe it is gauche for a femme to say so to another, but i am without proper words for your beauty."

it is truly refreshing to hear an honest and uninhibited laugh, especially after a night of pretence. she often wished she could do whatever she pleased, consequences and the ire of her mother be damned, but she had more or less accepted her life for exactly what it was. her duty was to her family. though, she'd often find herself imagining a life that wasn't as constrained. a life that didn't bore her the moment she regained consciousness from sleep. it all felt too far away, unattainable. a mere dream. "incredibly wise, no wonder why you are constantly called on." she chuckled softly as bellamy them to the balcony. the compliment stopped her in her tracks. many other people had complimented her before, but none had elicited any butterflies or caused her cheeks to flush pink. "it is only human to notice another's radiance ... thank you." she tried to keep her voice level, but her mind was racing, wondering why her body was reacting this way. "you also look ... quite enchanting."

fuck. of all the people and all of the places. okay yes, it was more of a guarantee of safety with the house in this area. she'd give her that. "you conjured a monster." it was a statement. it wasn't a question or needling or second guessing. said with a sort of heaviness that came from someone who had seen monsters. "no. you'd be surprised how often it's not fun or cute," the monster hunter replied and sucked in breath. "fuck. i'm going to forgo all of the secondary questions so as to not freak you out and just say that i believe you and i'm going to help you." if there was some sort of fucked up fate, that's what brought florence to kylie. some deep seated irony that only someone who pulled puppet strings with the universe could put into motion. "you're safe while you're here, but that doesn't mean the rest of the world is from it. so that means it's going to have to be hunted." in whatever form that took.

somehow, it felt worse to have kylie believe her without any hesitation at all. perhaps she should've felt relieved that someone else knew about this thing, whatever it was, that she'd been carrying around with her for an indefinite amount of time, but she wasn't. kylie's pragmatic response didn't soothe her. it only worried her. it meant that she was right. something incredibly sinister was going on. "no— no, no, no— i didn't—" she laughed, mostly out of sheer shock. this can't be happening. this can't be her life. "help me ... help me how?" her mind raced as the weighty reality of the situation finally dawned on her. she couldn't run from this anymore. it was real. it was happening. she could only hope that she would survive it. "i don't know what that means, i don't — this is too much for me, i feel like i did something to deserve this, like i fucked up so much and now ... what are we going to do?"

"Please tell me you brought snacks."

"of course i brought snacks. i'm not a heartless monster," she teased with a soft chuckle. "i even got a few of your favourites."

" sadie ... " it was already complicated. she was already in his mind all the time. he couldn't stop thinking about her even if he wanted to. " it's already done. i'm not getting married ... it's over. it's not your fault. " hand reached out for hers, " don't go ... please. you're still my best friend. "

"okay." she felt the urge to insist further, to somehow prove to him that she was, in fact, to blame, but it would only make everything worse. this moment wasn't about her. it was about blake. she gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "i'll stay as long as you want me to." she offered him a tentative smile. "that's what best friends are for, right?"

"who can be held to what they say so late at night?" the words accompanied with a sigh to increase the dramatics. she'd never been one to take herself too seriously, and she didn't mind making herself into the joke. "i think my phone would probably be in more danger if i gave it to someone i trust. if you think i'm bad, you should meet my sister or roommate." not that they were talking about something serious, but rambling had always been something she hadn't grown out of. "i have best material? thank you, i'll be sure to come up with something even better for tonight." placing her hand over her heart, as though it was some touching compliment. "can i ask what made you decide to do the show in the first place?"

she thought on it for a moment, head tilting ever so slightly. "i mean, you're not wrong." it was refreshing to see someone who didn't take themselves too seriously. she was glad that her assumption was more or less correct. francis didn't seem to have any ill intent or true malice towards her. she was just bored. dahlia could be wrong, of course, since she doesn't really know her, but her words seem free of any contempt. "should i be scared?" she could only imagine what her sister or roommate would have to say. surely they'd hate dahlia's taste in music too. with a chuckle, she nodded. "now i'm excited for your call tonight, i hope you don't disappoint." the following question is unexpected, but not unwelcome. "there was an open spot," she shrugged, trying to remain nonchalant. "i didn't have the best time in high school, didn't really vibe with the other girls ... so i don't know, i guess i wanted to do a show i needed back then. help people feel less alone, y'know?"

before he knew it, the room around them had begun to shift. conversations tapered, bodies turned, patrons began to congregate, toward where, one could presume, the live auction would be held. “well,” he said, "looks like the party's about to start."

she reluctantly tore her gaze away from him as the people surrounding them shifted. "i'd say you're right." she turned towards him again, already regretting having to leave his side. "it was great to see you again, calvin ... good luck, i hope you walk away with everything you want."

MICHAEL AND ANGEL   |   REDEEMING LOVE

Oh. What. Fun. (2025) dir. Michael Showalter

marked men: rule + shaw, 2025.