* 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒆𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒 .

he already knows, but perhaps he's humoring her.

   ∎∎∎     it was unlike her to be distracted,  especially when it came to the bistro,  when it came to work.   everybody knew zakia belgarde was ambitious and driven,  rarely ever straying from the path she had chosen to follow,  and that applied more than anything to her job.   however,  she was distracted today,  her mind reeling from last night’s fight,  with richie’s hurtful words,  their evasion,  and their lies.   she couldn’t help it—to feel the ache between her ribs taking her breath away,  even when she tried.   but things with nico had always been different,  he had felt like a safe space from the moment he had put that chip on top of the table and had told her his truth.   “   god,  nico …   ”   she finally reacts when she sees him put the dishes to the side.   “   i’m sorry,  i don’t—   ”   a laugh vibrates from her throat,  slightly self-deprecating,  but mostly humored at nico’s attitude.   “   you don’t need to do anything,  i’m just—i’m distracted,  but nothing that serious.   ”   it’s a blatant lie,  and she’s afraid nico would see right through her.   still,  she has to try and keep her dignity intact.   “   i will focus now,  i promise,  i need to—we need to work on this;  it’s important.   so …  what were you saying ?   ”

the guilt swells in a way that bubbles into defensiveness - old habits die hard and this fucker has played ball with the worst of men when it came to guilt trips. however this - wasn't a guilt trip. this was straight up their fault. but that part of their brain that's hardwired to deal with their father takes over and their eyebrows furrow - tossing the towel that was drying their hair into the open washer before they lean on the kitchen island across from her - fingers finding the obxiously expensive whiskey glass they'd poured before their shower. "you don't know her - she doesn't know you.. i -" they pause. flashbacks of the affair running through their mind. a younger blonde, pupils blown on whatever she'd popped at the club, going from making out then eagerly to her knees to please richie. and that didn't go down well. as far as their hooks up went - this was a fucking shit show. ending with them pushing her off - calling security with the excuse that the woman had too much to drink and paying the uber home. "i don't even fuckin' know her." they answer honestly before tipped the whiskey back, stood in their towel. picture of someone that's doin' fucking fantastic - right? "we didn't fuck if that's what you're getting at.." they bite. icy blue coloured hues finally rise to meet hers - shoulders tense like a dog figuring if it's suppose to go belly up and plead for forgiveness or get ready to pounce. "don't fuckin' look at me like that - like we sit here and play f - fuckin' happy families.." they tut head shaking as they reach to pour themselves another whiskey - ice cube in it this time as they move back towards their room. "not now, mommy - daddy's had a long fuckin' day at work, brain off.. everything else needs to just.." cue the zipper motion at their lips - throwing away the invisible key. their words drip in sarcasm - even how they address themselves.. as if they're ever someone ready to stand up and take charge or accountability of anything. there was nothing mature about them. the only actual act of care in this whole conversation was how they'd also poured the poor woman a drink. lord knows she fucking needs it now.

    ∎∎∎     the pain cuts through her throat and her chest and her lower abdomen like a rusty knife that’s been used too many times.   it’s familiar,  something akin to a warm hug but in destructive form.   it’s all zakia had known in their relationship with richie because everything,  even the sex,  even the warmest and softest of kisses,  had been once permeated by ache.   she tries to breathe through their words,  as they sink into her and force her to keep her face still,  her body stiller,  yet it’s useless in the end—how can she not react ?   how can she now flinch when they curse and vomit lies at her,  or worse,  truths said with such bluntness they border on cruelty ?   zakia smiles,  then,  bitter.   the expression is all teeth,  teeth like fangs ready to break skin.   “   please,   ”   she whispers.   still,  the house is silent enough for it to be heard.   “   you wouldn’t recognize a happy family even if it slapped you in the face.   ”   she knows it’s a low blow,  but how many of those has she received from richie without a second thought ?   she’s tired of taking care of their ego and the broken child who lives protected by it.   she observes them retreat to their bedroom and for a moment,  only for a moment,  she considers leaving things there,  leaving them to simmer until she’s less exhausted.   however,  the sarcasm in their words makes her bristle.   she won’t allow them to trample her again,  not today.   “   daddy is always tired when they have to face the consequences of their actions,  aren’t they ?   ”   she asks with the same bitterness of her laugh.   “   but they’re never tired when they have to fuck one of their whores,  right ?   ”   zakia reaches them,  crosses their path,  and stops them,  her face milimeters away from theirs.   “   what was it this time,  richie ?   why couldn’t you get your dick up ?   and don’t tell me it was remorse because god knows you don’t know what that is.   ”

shiva takes a beat to respond, but only to take a long drag of smoke that was passed to her by the other. she turns to look at the woman with a reassuring smile, hand on her shoulder, making sure she listens to every word she says. "you know i meant it when i said i am someone you can lean on, right?" she then exhales deeply, letting smoke get dragged by the wind before passing the smoke back to the woman. zakia had been somebody who was able to worm her way through her defenses and had been her friend she can tell anything to except the complexities of her relationship with her spouse that is not known by anybody else but her and richie themselves, and she wanted to be able to do the same thing in return. "you wanna tell me what happened, hmm?"

    ∎∎∎     the sadness in zakia’s eyes is evident,  as well as in her demeanor.   it’s an uncommon sight,  at least for the vast majority of people,  yet not for shiva.   zakia,  in the last three months since she’s known the woman,  has learned to trust her,  to show herself uninhibitedly to her,  even when it’s mortifying sometimes.   so when shiva’s hand touches her shoulder and she reassures her,  the only thing zakia can do is nod,  trying to swallow the lump in her throat before speaking.   “   i hate to talk about it,   ”   she admits,  defeated.   it’s the truth,  though—she hates to talk about richie and the heartbreak they inflict on her,  but at the same time,  she knows that she has to.   it’s that or going insane.   “   i mean,  how—how do you stop being in love with a—with a fucking asshole ?   is there an instruction manual or something somewhere ?   because if it is …   ”   a bitter laugh slips from her lips,  slightly watery,  and it mixes pitifully with the sound of the crashing waves surrounding them.   “   i would love to have it.   ”

Sarah Pidgeon as Stevie Ward I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) dir. Jennifer Kaytin Robinson

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Wh6EsF8t0/

𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗸 𝗸𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻 via pinterest.

“oh — no, i’m not on the clock.” lola began, pausing to glance down at her shirt. sure enough, she’d forgotten to change out of her sunset tacos t-shirt before starting on the watermelon margarita resting on the bar counter in front of her. “i can see where that might’ve been confusing…” she admitted with a laugh, more at herself than anything. “did you need something, or were you about to yell at me for drinking on the job? i can grab natalie, but only for the first thing. if it’s the second, natalie doesn’t exist.”

with a heavy sigh and a grumbling stomach,  demian sat down in the first available stool he could find,  a stool that happened to be right by lola’s side.   “   tsk,  no,  please,  don’t worry,   ”   he started,  waving his hand in front of him to signal that he wasn’t bothered by any of what she had said by any means.   “   i’m here to eat,  but i imagined you weren’t on the clock,  so it’s okay.   ”   a short laugh slipped from them as their gaze moved from lola to their surroundings,  their starving mind trying unconsciously to find a menu.   “   however !   i’m starving,  i won’t lie,  so …  anything you recommend ?   ”

"oh, look who it is!" holly exclaimed, hands immediately reaching over to scratch at lynch's ears, before her eyes moved to meet her friend's. she handed them a note card from her pocket, covered in shitty old man handwriting, displaying the words she'd heard just hours before from her sponsor. "made jim put it in writing, i wasn't sure i'd ever get that kind of praise again."

demian wouldn’t say he has a resting bitch face,  but the difference between the face he had as he waited for holly and the one he made the moment he spotted her was abysmal.   absolute joy exploded in his expression,  and he could feel,  more than see  ( even with the mirror in front of him ),  the way the smile broke his early profound expression. “   heyyy !   ”   they greeted cheerfully,  even when holly’s attention went first and immediately to lynch.   demian couldn’t blame her, though;  they knew very well that when lynch was around,  they were nothing but a supporting character in this life.   their gaze moved,  then,  the moment holly retrieved a note from her pocket and handed it to them.   “   oh,  is this—?   ”   they laughed,  their eyes landing on the terrible handwriting on the note card,  and a dramatic gasp fell from their lips.   “   okay,  i did believe you when you texted me earlier,  but this is …  so cool.   ”   demian handed the note back to holly and looked at her intently for a moment.   he didn’t want to be cheesy,  but at the same time this was important,  so he felt like he had to say something.   in fact,  he wanted to.   “   i’m …  really proud of you,  hols,  you know that,  right ?   ”   he started,  his voice soft,  his gaze softer.   “   this—this is all you,  all you’ve accomplished is all because of you and what you’ve done to get here.   and i’m—i’m proud,  really.   ”

"wait, did you just say you've never seen 'when death becomes her'?" nat couldn't believe her ears, it was a classic. honestly, she couldn't blame the other. not everyone was as crazy about movies as she was, sometimes she had to remind herself. "honestly, it's a classic! i own a dvd copy, i'll so let you borrow it. it's a must watch!" she mused, trying to hide just how much she truly loved this movie and the message behind it. truthfully, she was hoping her ears were deciving her.

charlie looked at her weirdly for a second,  a bit of disdain in their expression.   they couldn’t care less about what natasha thought of them,  of their lack of knowledge about some random movie they hadn’t watched,  so they simply shrugged,  nonchalant,  unaffected.   “   i think you heard me just right,   ”   they replied,  their tone bored,  their expression even more.   “   i just haven’t had the chance,  i guess.   ”   they had heard about it,  though,  yet not much,  so curiosity got the best of them.   “   but if you like it so much,  tell me,  why is it so good ?   what is it about ?   ”