peachfvzz.

"Charlie." The other woman's name rolled off her tongue easily, as if they didn't miss a day together. "I missed you, too." Eleanora paused, her gaze unwavering. "What happened?"

"he happened." charlie didn't even dare to utter his name. in a way, gabriel was her own personal boogeyman; she was terrified she'd summon him if she ever dared to mention him. "i didn't mean to cut you off, i swear. i wanted to—" her voice caught, words lodging in her throat, keeping her from explaining how she'd really felt that night. she swallowed hard, forcing her gaze down. "i do not want to burden you with my troubles."

MADELAINE PETSCH via Instagram "La dolce vita 💒" attends friends' wedding in Tuscany (June 2026)

"okay – okay –" her giggles feels like they ease some of the nerves tightening in his shoulders. "i mean, if you move in, i think they'll be happy to have another friend !!" he laughs, she's right. the birds are chirping with enthusiasm. "i just hope they tell me if they need more space or another friend or something." a beat, "i want them to be happy too." this is clearly incredibly important to him.

raye wants john to be happy. she gets into her head too much at times, scrambling to think of ways in which she can fully get rid of the programming both of them were infected with. she understands, knows what it's like to doubt your every move. but she's gotten better at it, her brain has been kinder to her, and she wants the same for john. "aren't you able to tell if something is happening by their chirping? i can't tell the difference, but i feel like you can. there's nothing to worry about, john. you're doing great."

"oh i haven't said anything nice about the prettiest girl in the country in too long." a laugh, "you look gorgeous tonight. in case i haven't said it enough."

"you haven't. thank you." and with the beast now placated, jolene leans in and places a sweet peck on casey's cheek. "please, do remind me what we're doing here again."

"bored." she repeats. she's bored by everything these days. bored by vico's endless flirting that doesn't mean anything, bored by the hustle and bustle of this place, bored by everyone's constant drama. she's fucking bored. "i don't want a pumptini." she shrugs, "and i don't wanna sit on your lap either. nice try."

"well alright, fuck you then bitch." they huff out, rolling their eyes so hard they risk getting stuck. lulu can make her attitude everyone's problem if she wants, but vico isn't dealing with it. she's too annoyed. and since he relies on people giving her an in so she can keep her schtick going, lulu shutting the door right on her nose stings. "maybe if you didn't like jumping on prehistoric dick for ross gift card you'd be less bored."

"blowdrying your hair at one am when evan is on his way over is your normal routine?" teddy asks, gaze incredulous. "you can't possibly expect me to buy that. at least try vin." a laugh, and a shake of his head. he's making this too easy.

"yes?" it isn't, but vin feels the need to fight hard against teddy's rumors. "why would i need you to buy anything? it's so fucking simple. i took a shower, now i need to fix my hair." a sigh. "you're so close to writing fanfiction about me and him, it's crazy."

she hated the way her heart skipped when charlie immediately rushed over. it was such a small thing, really – someone checking on her, someone caring – but she still never quite knew what to do with the feeling when it happened. it settled awkwardly in her chest, warm enough to make her embarrassed. “i'm fine,” she insisted, the words coming out in a huff as she looked at her hand. her gaze darted anywhere but charlie for a second. “i should've been paying attention to what i was doing.” a sheepish smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “guess i got distracted. don't mean to be bleeding on your pretty cutting board.”

"you're bleeding." so, charlie couldn't accept that she was fine. but! she would be, all with charlie's help. her brain was wired in a funny way, which is why paloma needing her triggered something inside her head. "cutting boards can be washed, you know." it was nothing, and charlie needed paloma to get it. she moved slowly, leading paloma towards the sink and let the water run over the other's hand. "tell me if it stings, okay? the cold water is supposed to help. we'll stop the bleeding and then i'll bandage you up. kiss it all better too, of course." even with this little kitchen mishap, charlie was still in heaven.