little orphan girl

I suggested a puppy, but that idea was shot out of the water. Raccoons, I guess, are the new thing.

Let her start a new trend, babe. Could be good for her soul.

Persuaded him? Huh. Good on you, taking initiative for what you want. I suppose so. I’ve never fed pigs.

Maybe next we can get baby pigs.. We could have a farm!

A long sigh before he spoke. The only dark place that Eli could think of was their infamous month of silence. Well, silence on her part. The blonde cringed as he thought of all his drunken voicemails and text messages. ‘Baby, please come home. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’ll give it all up, if that’s what you want.’ Even through slurs and intoxicated minds Eli could remember how harsh her words had been that night. That his money, his father, his everything pre-written and pre-chosen was the reason she left — Eli wasn’t sure he could ever forget them, it was a dark place for him, too. But he had turned back to the whitest angel. Demon, whatever. It was clear what Maddi turned to when the gallery came into view, one he’d been to many times. With her, always with her. “Paintings?”

Paintings. Neon lights. Prints. All sort of new styles of art she had been dabbling in ever since their break up. A month of diving into the one thing that would never break her or leave her. Not that Elijah had left her. That's what she had done. "They liked what I had to show them. They finally thought my art was worthy to be in here.. That I stood out from everyone else. I told a story." While the boys had their ways with words, poetic and could leave a girl speechless, she did better with her hands. She created a story with her hands. One of the few things she considered herself good at. Even if it took her a while to see her full potential of it all. Picking at the sleeve of her sweater, she shrugged. "You were my inspiration, if that makes it any better..."

I do it all the time and she hates it. She told Alek I was quote, ‘dumb’, too.

Yeah, so, maybe I don't want her to hate me. I don't have the face for hate.

Did he? Bobble and Bubble are adorable names. I’m not really sure raccoons eat though, we’d have to look that up.

Okay, I persuaded him into buying them for me. Same difference, right? I think they like apples and lettuce.. Just leftovers and scraps like pigs!

I’m touched. I think we could successfully raise a raccoon. Give it a cute name, a shower, proper food stuffs. It’ll be like a baby. We just need to double team Eli. Maybe drag Matti into it.

Matti already offered to buy me them. Two, actually. They're named Bobble and Bubble. Cutest names ever, right? Totally fit for raccoons. What do you think they eat? Other than trash..

Usually when people say save strays, they means dogs and cats and the occasional hamster. But sure, I’d raise a baby raccoon with you.

I knew I loved you the most for a reason. Eli is dumb and thinks we don't have enough room for a raccoon. He offers to get me a space so I can have three art studios but apparently, there's not enough room for a tiny raccoon.

But I’m your absolute dork, which makes it okay. And I promise no more dumb charities. Although homeless raccoons is a bit of a switch in topics, are you trying to tell me something?

How is it a switch in topics? We were talking about charities. Saving stray animals is a charity. Or at least a charitable thing to do. You'd help me take care of a baby raccoon, right?

And so you bought her a raccoon?! Or raccoons, sorry. Oh my god, they’re going to tear up all of the furniture..

You know what. Next time, you look her in the eye and say no to those stupid puppy dog eyes and when she bites her lip. 

"What do you mean?" He asked almost immediately. With no details or answers to any of his (seemingly hundred) questions, Eli would be lying if he said he wasn’t just a little reluctant to go tonight. Go where, he wasn’t even sure of that, but maybe that was the ‘fun of it all’, as Maddi had called it. With the recent break up and three am fighting and walking on eggshells, it was hard to guess what was happening tonight, although Elijah could say it was probably important. With Maddi, he could never really be sure what to expect in the first place. Shifting in his seat, Eli laughed awkwardly. “I mean, you’re kind of worrying me. Just a little.”

"There's nothing to worry about," what a lie. Her art that meant the world to her had been a token of their break up. Expressing the loneliness she had gone through by choice. These pieces of work were about him and not only the hurt he caused her, but the pain she assumed he was in as well. Blacks and reds. No rainbows or city skylines. Holes made in the canvas by aggressive means with a paintbrush. "Just know that this has been something I've been working towards since we met. Before me saw one another again. My dream," as if using the words of it being her dream would make any of this better. Parking in front of the gallery, she unbuckled her seatbelt. "I was in a dark place when this happened, okay?"

You’re giving me mixed signals here, Ikea.

I got a text about Maddi wanting a Bubble and a Bobble? She finally wanted me to buy her something. Willingly. How was I to say no?

I thought I could apply it to other contexts.  You know, spread my lessons learnt.

Sometimes you're an absolute dork. But honestly, don't waste money on dumb charities. Save a stray raccoon instead.

You know were the pouty face would be really cute?

There's a lot to answers to that question..

I’ll bring out the pouty face again.

The pouty face is pretty damn cute..

I said please, didn’t I? 

What happens if I don't listen?