you'll be my soft and sweet

He was glad she didn’t put resistance, last thing he needed as to argue with her about not listening to him while his own head was throbbing. “You didn’t break anything, believe me. That didn’t sound as something breaking.” Not that he had always been an avid fighter but he had been involved in a few of them and he had broken some bones, too, so he knew how that sounded. They were crossing the doors to the store when Morgan explained why she punched him and it only confused  Ace more, he frowned as he lead her through the aisle and shook his head. “What does she have to do with this? I… wait, you know?” He rolled his eyes and continued. “Of course you know, I don’t get why you have to tell each other everything. But I mean, I don’t think it was that bad? She said she liked it.” Of course, he was oblivious to the real damage he had done.

“How do you know if it’s broken are not, it’s not your hand.” Morgan rolled her eyes dramatically, behaving with Ace much like she did with her own cousin. But now was different. He’d made one of her best friends cry and here he was talking about it like it was nothing. “You and Jamie tell each other everything too, so I don’t know why you’re shocked.” Her tone had relaxed a bit, but she was still upset with him. The way Diana had come to her, and how she’d cried. It was hard to get that image out of her head. Stopping at his last sentence, she looked at him, and shook her head. “You think I’d punch you because...” She couldn’t even finish the statement. “You really don’t know why I punched you?” She kept her gaze with his, seeing how red it was where she’d hit him before looking down at her hand, the same red and definitely going to bruise at the very least.

“I mean… I guess that would help but really… banning me all together would be better,” she chuckled. 

“Well, I mean, guess I gotta please the customer, you know they’re always right and all that. So... I ban ya? I guess.” Morgan’s words were said with the slightest shrug and an echo of doubt, doing it just to please the woman, it felt weird to actually ban her.

“Oh. You pay attention to weather patterns? Actually, don’t answer that, I don’t really wanna talk about the weather. We’re small talkin’ too much, Morgan. Can you believe I brought up the drought?” She sighs. “Tell me something real. Isn’t that what they say in those romantic movies? I don’t really watch them, but anyway. Seems like this might be a one sided relationship. I would argue you know everything there is to know about me and I know absolutely nothing about you. Like, is that on purpose?”

Morgan shook her head with a slight laugh. “No, don’t pay attention to those, just my grandma watches the news every mornin’ with her cup’a coffee. Always wants me to sit down with her, pay enough attention to know what’s goin’ on in the world. Goes off on tangents ‘bout how the news we get on our phones just ain’t the same.” She looked at Alina and gave another little chuckle. “Nah, I just like askin’ questions is all. I like to know about people. That’s not true, I bet ya know things.” Though she wasn’t sure, because it typically was her m.o. to steer the conversations about other people. She’d share things of course, but it was tough for her to dig deep and share those kinda things.

Nicholas raised his brow, “Well, let’s hope that doesn’t have to happen, ya know?” He chuckled with her words, giving her a head nod. “Drunk enough to give it a shot. Can’t promise I’ll be any good but you will have a damn good time.” Nicholas noted to her with his lopsided grin. “That high note always hits just right, if you ask me.” He took the last swig of his beer before setting it back down on the bar top. “What are we goin’ to duet?” 

“I mean, are we gonna go something typical, like Grease? Summer loving has those good high notes at the end.” She laughed, as she picked up her beer bottle. She needed to be a little more drunk for this. Feeling like it served in her best interest to do so. “Or are we gonna go the cheesy route and do some Endless Love or Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.” She narrowed her eyes in contemplation. “How come all the best duets are love songs? You think there oughta be some out there that are just cause you know, or maybe a good ol’ screw you to your ex, sung together.” 

andrew: revenge is best served cold.

andrew: wait til winter.

andrew: it's not in my best interests to ask, honestly, so I don't.

morgan: as funny as that would be i don't know if i'm that patient

morgan: i'm definitely gonna wait til they least expect it

maggie: so you can travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where do you go?

maggie: this is a very important question.

morgan: i'm thinking bora bora or some place tropical with clear water

morgan: lots of laying around and lounging, some yummy drinks

jamie: did you have a nice day at work, my lovely cousin?

jamie: it's hump day so the week is close to over. woo.

morgan: i did

morgan: what about you?

morgan: why do i feel like you're trying to butter me up or something?

“Oh see there you’ve solved the code. I’m going to pitch this to Tanner see if we can’t stop this madness.” Hannah joked, hand to god though she figured they’d be done having kids when they were ready. They’d have the kids god allowed them. “Oh its totally a race but I think we lost track a few years back. We might be winning but I’m not sure what exactly that entails anymore.” Hannah said with a laugh as she shook her head, glancing next door. “Oh I’m sure ya’ll had a good time. I hear nothing but good things, I usually have to chaperone but they gave me a pass this year on account of a… well ya know.” She patted her growing belly.  Hannah was grateful her Mama hadn’t in fact carried that whole thing out last year. “The Mama’s they do love to meddle. I’m surprised Tanner’s Mama did put a basket in for him last year too. These ladies in town I swear they get real bored or something,”

“Make sure when you do if he really likes it, you give me the credit she laughed.” She looked out into the yard as she listened in on what Hanna kept talking about it. It was adorable for them to have that kinda connection for their kids and themselves. It was nice to go through life and milestones with your friends. “Well that sure was nice of them, maybe you’ll get one next year too, cause you’ll have to still relatively new little one’s to look after.” She smiled understandingly having to agree with Hannah. “It’s like they’ve run out of things to do. My grandma is the same way honestly. I’m surprised she doesn’t meddle more herself. What do you think woulda happened if you’d had baskets?” She asked out of curiosity.

“Did you know that you can’t really dance in these when they’re brand new like this? You’ve got to break them in,” Lucy said, briefly looking up from using a carpenter’s file to rough up the sole of her pointe shoes. “I usually have to step on them and slam them against a wall, too. It’s pretty violent…which probably sounds surprising. Thankfully I don’t go through twenty pairs in two months anymore.” 

@frostfordstart​

“I think, now that you say that, that sounds familiar. I remember in that one movie Center Stage, them all breakin’ in their new shoes.” Her eyes widened at the statement. “Oh man twenty pairs? What are you doin’ to those shoes to not make em last too long?”

“I thought being a teacher would make me immune to puppy-dog eyes, but it turns out it’s very hard to say no to a whining golden retriever - and so she sleeps on our bed now… I don’t know how parents do it.” @frostfordstart​

“Kids are cute sure, but pretty easy to say no to. Dogs on the other hand, you were outta luck from the start.” Morgan gave a little laugh, knowing just how true that was. “I mean, I’m the same way with my cat. He gets to do whatever he wants. It’s their little faces, they just get ya.”

“Alright, I can cop you a pizza, free of charge. But you gotta let me know the toppings. And trust me, this will say a lot about you.”

@frostfordstart​

“Well I mean the only thing that makes pizza better is free pizza, so thank you. I think I’m gonna have to go with bacon and pineapple. I’ve been cravin’ it since the other night. Shoulda just order it then, but hey, now it’s free.” 

“Fine–” and she raised her eyebrows, hands up in the air as if she was giving up on the idea altogether, though of course Hazel would never stop teasing Morgan about it. It was what their entire relationship had been built on after all. “Oh but maybe Nick Lowry will see it instead, hm?” She called out as her cousin slipped out of her own dressing room and she was sure Morgan would be glad they weren’t in town anymore where they could be easily overheard. “Apparently, responsible adult type people who refuse to trade in their cell phones save their money,” Hazel said. “Imagine bein’ Bennett Rollins.” And though she couldn’t see her, she pulled a face. “Yeah– alright, I’ll go with the floral and not both cause I at least got some good sense left in me.”

Morgan gave Hazel a look that said good, her lips pulling into a smirk after she was done. “Nick Lowry has seen me in less.” She spoke, her voice getting quiet and her cheeks blushing, even if she was talking to Hazel. “What about you, who you hopin’ sees ya in youa swimsuit?” She tried to turn the tables on her cousin,  knowing it probably wouldn’t work, but it was worth a shot. Morgan couldn’t help but laugh at Hazel’s comment about her oldest brother, knowing all to well. “Okay, we just don’t tell him we’re being irresponsible or nothin’. Don’t wanna get the lecture. Maybe we should get him a new phone for his birthday or Christmas.” She came out wearing the yellow one, and looked over at Hazel for some sort of approval, turning to look at herself in the mirror. “Does make my butt look pretty good.” She uttered immediately followed up with a giggle.

“He’s a wild beast that wants to destroy me. Cats are like two paws into Hell. Haven’t you seen that movie Constantine? They’re the window into the underworld.” When she mentioned Hazel, Jamie narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever. Hazel is the favorite. –Isaac cheated. He did not win. He kicked the damn golf ball into the hole.” When the cat got up, Jamie stepped back, keeping his eye on the feline. “I’m watching you.”

“Is it scary? Cause you know I don’t do scary movies. And he is not.” She frowned, picking up the cat and holding him up, looking at him. “He’s an angel, he just knows you don’t like him, so why should he be nice?” She gave the cat a little kiss on his head before setting him down on the couch, standing up and stretching her legs. “He did not, I watched him the whole time. You just tell yourself that to sleep better or somethin’.” She laughed, as Tiger sat and stared at Jamie. “Clearly he’s watchin’ ya, too.” She gave the cat a little pat on the head. “I’ll go change, but you be nice to him.” She cautioned Jamie as she made her way over to the stairs.

“Then they should have just ordered some coffee,” Maisie complained.  “This couple were really nasty about my hair and how stupid it looks.  It was horrible for no reason.”

The corners of Morgan’s lips slid into a frown, looking at Maisie sympathetically. “Well who in the world would go an do somethin’ like that, that’s just so rude. Your hair is not stupid at all, so don’t go belivin’ what they said. You’ve got beautiful hair.”

“Thank you,” Ethan replied with a grin, nodding his head. “Yeah, I think it just worked out me liking math so much. It definitely is! You work at Wild Flour right? You must be so good at baking! I’ve heard there’s a lot of measuring involved, so maybe I’d be good at it?”

“I do.” A humble smile appeared on her lips, feeling a little pride as she spoke. “I feel like I am pretty good at my profession, so I’ll go with yeah.” Standing up a little straighter she nodded her head. “There is. I bet you’d be real good at doubling or cuttin’ recipes, cause you gotta convert how much is three fourths if you cut it in half. I more just know by feeling than anything, but when I first started, oh man those numbers were hard.”