𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚎

Yeah, sure, it wasn't something they usually did, but he didn't care about that right now. He always enjoyed seeing her and she was always welcome in his home, whether she showed up unexpectedly or not. Before he could gather his thoughts and tell her she was more than welcome to stay the night, something must have given her the wrong impression. Maybe he'd hesitated for too long. Maybe it had been the look on his face. Whatever it was, he immediately shook his head. "No, no, no, Bri. Stay, please." Connor stepped closer, gently taking her hand before pulling her into a hug. His arms wrapped around her softly, loosely enough that she could pull away if he was reading the situation wrong. "Hey, I'm here for you if you need me, alright?" he said gently, trying to soothe her. "We're friends, right? I mean, friends are there for each other... despite the other things we also do." He let out a brief, slightly awkward laugh. "So stay. I'll make us some tea or hot chocolate. Whatever you feel like having right now..." He smiled down at her warmly, hoping she could feel just how much he meant every word.

in her head, bri was already half way out of the door, convinced that she had overstepped, that she had let loneliness blur the lines. she was already turning away when his hand found hers. it took her completely off-guard that when he pulled her into a hug, she didn't protest. friends - the single word twisted something in her chest. was that what they were? it seemed too simplistic of a word. she wasn't sure that friends looked at each other that way that she looked at connor. or maybe they did, she honestly wasn't sure anymore. was it a pity hug? she wondered suddenly. of course it was. he felt sorry for her. that made her feel worse. "you don't have to...do that." she pulled away from the hug, determinedly avoiding his gaze. "i don't even know why i came." their whole thing was no strings attached, and this was definitely a string. a long, tangled, messy string. "no, i should go. yeah, uh, i'm gonna go. thank you, though, for not shutting the door in my face."

Julian had made a habit of never forgetting that he hadn't been born rich. It was a quality that many people were more than eager to forsake as soon as they considered themselves successful in life, but it was one thing the attorney never wanted to rid himself off. That ability to remember how the real world was for most of the human population was what kept him levelheaded where many lost themselves to vices and greed; it was how he never forgot that he wasn't and will never be like the obscenely rich people his job was to get out of trouble, no matter the retainer, no matter the zeros in his bank accounts. And now, it was staring him again in the face, and he was glad to have been able not to react, not to show jealousy or envy or a simple surprise at Aurora's carefree way of saying her aunt owned a vineyard and she went there frequently. It was because Julian didn't feel any of it; he'd simply gotten used to hearing about their lifestyles and no matter what, was never counting himself in the same vicinity of them. Besides that. it was the most he'd heard her to talk to him, so he wasn't about to say anything that would make her to shut off again. "See, I never knew any of this. It's interesting, so I wouldn't mind learning more." It was then that the waitress appeared, asking if they'd made their choice. With an easy, practiced smile, he recited his usual favorite off the menu and asked for the most expensive wine on the list, then turned towards her, an amused glint in his eyes. "You always tell me you want to try new things, so I wouldn't dare make the choice for you. So what would it be, honey?"

if aurora knew anything with complete certainty it was the people always eventually betrayed themselves, no matter how good of an actor they were. vanity, greed, pride, insecurity, everyone had something that would surface if you just waited long enough. sooner or later julian would lose his temper, or let his ego show, or become frustrated with her and make a careless remark that betrayed him. until then, she would watch. it was easier to think of him like a puzzle than a husband. "i'll make sure you're sat next to her at christmas, you can get it straight from the source. she can talk about it for hours." when the waitress came back to take their order, aurora shot him a sweet smile to answer the amusement in his gaze. “i love trying new things,” she humoured him before glancing down at the menu and reeling off the first thing her eyes found before handing the menu over to the waitress with a polite smile that was far more sincere than the one she had given julian. “do you come here often, then?” she asked him once they were alone again.

Nodding once to his admission about coming to see his mother, Catherine looked impatiently towards the bartender, as if willing him to hurry with the order. For so long she'd wondered what it would be like to be in his presence again, and now that the moment was here, the dark haired woman wanted to step aside, put a distance between them and this pain that was still looming, still whispering vile things in her ear. He'd chosen his integrity over a possible relationship with her, and she now didn't hold it against him; but staying so close was a shock her mind hadn't been ready for. She'd almost missed his question, too, shifting her eyes to him again, a nervous laugh escaping. "Great. I've been great. I'm still teaching, working on my research... just had a big breakthrough, actually, hence the... celebration." Nodding towards the table where her boyfriend and friends were, some of them already throwing quick glances their way. Catherine quickly looked away because she feared if she kept looking, some of them would come and... then what? Just leave, she told herself. Excuse yourself like many times he's done too, and leave. Go back to your friends, they are waiting. And still, she asked, "And you? How have you been? How's your mom?"

luca followed catherine's gaze towards the table he hadn't noticed until now, clearly in. the midst of some kind of celebration, that he was interrupting. luca swallowed, unable to ignore the sinking feeling in his chest. catherine had moved on, worked hard, and built a life of which he was not a part of. but what else had he expected? that he would come back to find her waiting in the spot he had left her? of course she had moved on. the reasons for which he had returned now seemed laughable. "i'm glad." he forced himself to look back at her before his silence became noticeable. "you always did work harder than anyone else." a small smile tugged his mouth upwards. "congratulations." though he felt hollow, his praise wasn't. he was proud of her, whether he had any right to be or not. "great," he was keeping her from her friends, he realised, and she was being polite in even engaging in conversation with him. "busy, i mean, but the company's doing well. more than well, actually. and mom's good, though she complains that i don't visit often enough, which is fair." his gaze flickered back once more to the celebrating table before returning to hers. "feel free to tell me to fuck off, by the way. i can see i'm interrupting."

She was still getting used to hearing the term 'my girlfriend', it felt so strange to hear that even though it was evidently true. Zaria was starting to itch more to read through her diaries, knowing she can be very detailed depending on the days and what happened then, surely the pages are flowing with information of their relationship. The redhead chuckled lightly at his words, it was very weird for both of them. But as he started explaining how if the roles were reversed, she would be answering all the questions and being there, helping him remember, her lips twisted into a soft, warm smile. "I hope it doesn't turn into that Fifty First Dates movie."she retorted with a sigh, and really hoped that once she woke up next time, she would now know he was Alex. "We must really love each other, then."she added, considering he was ready to do all of this for her and obviously knew her well enough to say she'd do the same, which Zaria would for a person she loved with all her heart. "I'm feeling a little groggy from the sedative... and you look like me after a double shift at the hospital - have you rested at all since i was here?"

a small, sad smile was the only response alex could give upon hearing zaria muse about how they must really love each other, knowing that she had no memory of feeling that for him, and perhaps never would. that didn't mean she couldn't come to love him again, but it would be tricky for both of them. for him, he was continuing a relationship he had been in for a year. for her, she would be starting something entirely new. "i look that bad?" he teased before shaking his head. "i've slept a little." a few hours here and there, mostly in the chair besides her bed, only ever leaving to go home and shower and change his clothes before racing back. "i can go, if you want to sleep. i can come back tomorrow. or, whenever you want me to. it doesn't have to be tomorrow." he corrected himself hastily, not wanting to put pressure on her to see him.

"Good."Genevieve flashed her a warm smile. She let out a soft chuckle as Lyra explained about the lack of sleep and how the body seems to just get used to it with time. "I know I said it already, but you have my full respect, really, for all the work you do. I've heard how tough and exhausting it is, from many others, you too, but you save lives and people should be far more grateful."Gen said with a soft nod. "I've been, yeah, but mostly for business, I haven't had much time to get to know the city."she said with a shrug and a sigh. "Which is really a shame, San Fran has a great nightlife, things to explore..."she mused. As Lyra admitted that she's been looking to seeing her, too, Gen looked her way with a soft little smile as the girl looked away, looking all cute. Moving the car from the stoplight, she continued on towards their destination. "I've never been to a cooking class before, I hope it'll be fun. I've read it lasts around two hours, so we won't be done that late."

"i don't know about saving lives," self-deprecating as always. "the doctors might take issue with me stealing all the credit." a quiet laugh followed before her expression became more serious. "thank you, though. it's nice to hear someone say that." she meant it, it was nice to hear that her work made a difference, to have her efforts recognised. the city blurred past outside the passenger window as genevieve drove, but she barely registered it. lyra was usually cautious to the point of frustration (certainly the frustration of her friends). she wasn't sure exactly what it was that had lowered her usual wary nature but she was enjoying herself nonetheless. "is it weird that i'm a little bit nervous?" she couldn't help but laugh at herself. "i just mean, i've never been to one either so i don't know what the vibe will be. what if everyone else there takes it really seriously?"

lauren had spent the time alex was away getting poked and prodded even more. a few more vials of blood had been drawn, her vision checked, followed by another round of questions. these were easier, though. less clinical. more like a conversation. they asked what she did for a living, what her favorite movie was, what she liked to do for fun. those answers came naturally. she could talk for hours about dancing, about losing herself while perfecting a routine or sitting at the piano until she stumbled across the right melody. by the time her eyes landed on the diet coke and the brown paper bag in alex's hands, some of the tension had finally eased from her expression. "some good news is better than none, i guess." she offers him a small smile. a quiet thank you as she slips the straw through the lid. taking a careful sip. "neurological damage... as in permanent?"her brows knit together. she isn't happy with the answer, but she also knows there isn't much she can do about it. whatever happened to her, whatever caused this, she knows deep down it was far more serious than a simple fall. "okay." she nods slowly, shoulders lifting and falling in quiet resignation. then his next words settle in. her mouth parts as if to respond, only for the words to die before they leave her lips. someone would have to take her home. someone would probably need to stay with her. her thoughts immediately drift to her mother. "is my mom still in puerto rico? does she know?" from what she remembered, it was a long flight.

alex could only shrug. he wasn't a doctor, he didn't know if the potential neurological damage they were looking out for was permanent or not. "i'm sure they're just being cautious." he attempted to reassure her. when she asked about her mom, alex nodded. "i told her." what a phone call that had been. "i'm not really sure what her plans are. she, uh, well you know she's never liked me." he spoke matter-of-factly, forgetting for a split second that, actually, lauren wouldn't know that at all. "ah, sorry. i suppose you don't know that." he blew out a deep breath. "she thought i had something to do with it - the accident, that is. that it was my fault." and alex hadn't even attempted to defend himself because he wasn't about to get into an argument with a woman who had just found out her daughter was in critical condition. "i would imagine she's on her way, but i'd be the last person she'd tell that to." his expression changed to surprise when lauren asked if he would pick her up, hope blooming in his chest before he remembered this was not the same lauren who broke up with him. it didn't count as winning her back, or her changing her mind, if she didn't remember why she had broken up with him in the first place. "are you sure? i mean, of course i will, if that's what you want, but are you sure you don't want someone more...familiar?"

"Right." Her insides had gone numb throughout the interaction — Anjali couldn't explain it. At one moment it was a rush, swirling uncontrollably as her emotions betrayed her will. Now it was the stillness that threatened to consume her. She allowed herself to look up, reconnecting with his dark gaze. She could detect the pleading in his tone and that painful lump in her tone was back. A shuddering breath exhaled, Anjali took a moment to consider his words. Nodding as she agreed with what was spoken, she looked away to recompose herself. "I do..." she added, turning back to him. Unexpectedly she had lifted her hand to give him a gentle jab on his chest with her finger. Her hand lingered on his chest, feeling the thudding of his heartbeat against her palm. "I do deserve it... deserve more, dare I say..."

"you do," malik agreed without hesitation. he glanced down at the finger pointed at his chest and then back up at her. "and there isn't any argument that i can make that's going to make what i did okay." his jaw tightened at the admission. "i'm not going to stand here and tell you i was stressed, or that work got on top of me, or that i was just in my own head so much that everything else fell to the wayside. it's all true, but it's not an excuse. or not a good one, anyway." malik rubbed the back of his neck and had the decency to look ashamed, because he was. "i took you for granted and you would be well within your rights to walk away. i can't even look you in the eye and tell you you shouldn't because you should. i don't deserve the kind of grace you're considering giving me," he wasn't going to assume she had already given it to him because it was that kind of thinking that had gotten them here in the first place. "i love you, and i've meant everything that i've said. if you give me a second chance then i swear, anjali, i won't waste it. i swear it. but if you decided not to, then i couldn't honestly say i didn't have it coming."

Why was his heart pounding as loudly as it is right now? Mason adjusted himself in the driver’s seat, suddenly hyper aware that his palms were clammy. Perhaps he had built up this day too many times in his head. You’re going to be fine, he kept telling himself. The GPS in car pinged, indicating that he has reached his destination. Clambering out of the vehicle, Mason took a few deep breaths while striding up to her door. He tugged on the edges of his shirt to straighten it before pressing on the doorbell. As soon as the door opened, his eyes widened, taking Isabel in. Her remark made him chuckle. "Can't have a lady waiting even for a minute." She has that effortless ethereal beauty to her and Mason had to snap himself out of gawking. For a brief moment he had forgotten that he was holding a small bouquet for her. Handing it to Isabel for her to take it, Mason cleared his throat. “Would you like to know what we’re doing today or do you want it as a surprise?” he asked, beckoning her to follow him to his car.

isabel couldn't help but smile when mason held out the bouquet, the gesture catching her completely off-guard and a warmth that had absolutely nothing to do with the summer evening seemed to bloom in her chest. he had a way of bringing her every emotion far too close to the surface - the good and the bad ones. luckily, today they were all good. it wasn't just attraction, that would have been easier for her to dismiss. it was something deeper than that, something not so easy to ignore. only time would tell, she supposed, if that was a good thing. "they're beautiful. thank you." once the flowers were safely inside, she stepped out onto the porch and closed the door behind her before turning her attention back to him. "are we not just going to dinner?" she asked, her tone a mix of hesitation and intrigue as she followed him to his car.

His questions, the hope lingering between his words that there had been another reason behind their breakup, were torturing her from the inside. Amelia was good at hiding her doubts, her anger, her pain, and sometimes, unfortunately, even her love and devotion to someone like Archie. "Did I take it?" she repeated, furrowing her brows in confusion. "Archie, I fucking broke up with you. I fulfilled your parents' biggest wish by getting out of your life, so yes. I took it." Amelia scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief that she had to go through these questions all over again, suppressing the overwhelming urge to scream, to let out all the hurt and anger that had been building inside her. "Do you have any idea how amazing it feels to be treated like a burden by your family? Like I'm tearing down your little empire? Meanwhile, my family accepted you with open arms. You're part of the family, and I wouldn't be surprised if my uncles and brothers still invited you to parties or family dinners, even after all this." She let out a bitter laugh before continuing. "So yeah, once again, I took the money, and I fucked off, even though I never wanted to in the fucking first place." She hissed the final words as she stepped closer, leaving barely any space between them.

archie didn't move. he was frozen to the spot, his eyes never leaving hers. "you could have told me," he said quietly, but no less furious. "you could have trusted me enough to make my own decision. you could have trusted that i would't let them buy you out." why hadn't she? "everyone is a burden to my parents!" archie snapped, frustration bleeding into every word. "i told you that! it wasn't about you, they would have found fault with anyone, that's what they do." he couldn't decide who deserved his anger more. his parents were doing exactly what they always did. manipulating, controlling, interfering, all in the name of protecting the family, of protecting archie. it was despicable but it was, at least, predictable. amelia, however, he had trusted. and he couldn't understand why she hadn't trusted him enough to tell him. that betrayal cut deeper than anything than anything his parents had done. "why didn't you just tell me?"

“food would be nice. and something better than this...” lauren taps the now empty water cup with the tip of her finger. her voice is still rough, every word scraping against the lingering ache in her throat, but if given the choice between water and a diet coke, she'd pick the soda every time. “is it too soon to ask for a cheeseburger?” mcdonald's had always been her guilty pleasure. the one indulgence she'd cut out whenever she was performing, but considering the circumstances she doubted she'd be dancing again anytime soon. there's a small part of her clinging to the hope that she won't be confined to this hospital bed for long, even if she knows alex is probably right. as he slips out of the room, she sinks a little deeper into the mattress, her gaze lingering on the doorway long after he's gone. her thoughts circle endlessly. trying to force mismatched pieces into a picture that still refuses to make sense. he said she had been unhappy. but why?what could have happened between them that couldn't be fixed?

"i think the doctors might have something to say about that," alex laughed. "but i'll see what I can do."

Seeing her out in the wild was a mesmerizing sight. Julian had seen her before the wedding, but only in passing and never for more than a few seconds at a time - something that didn't seem to have bothered him when going along with her father's preposterous suggestion of a marriage. Even if they weren't living a few decades back, Aurora of all women was never going to be who he envisioned as his wife. Some might've called him old fashioned but despite knowing the grotesque, ugly face of the world, the attorney still held a belief that love wasn't impossible to find. Hard, yes, but not impossible. Yet now, as he looked across the table from Aurora, knowing that she saw nothing but an inconvenience and someone to gather all of her hate towards, Julian had no desire to add to that fire just yet. Mortal enemies was never the look he strived towards. He waited for her reply, trying to soften his gaze as to not seem like he was cross examining her. "Nothing should be impossible," he added back, smiling. "Shall we try?" She could take his words in all kinds of manners and he was semi-glad that they were outside, where some masks had to be upheld for the sake of their agreement. "No. I never did care about the history of my wine. I know, I know, how heathen of me." He himself made no attempt at looking at the menu, because he already had what he desired on mind. "Why don't you tell me more?"

aurora studied julian for a moment, the menu momentarily forgotten. julian had been stripped of his freedom just as she had and yet he appeared unphased by the fact. one could argue that he was simply making the best of a bad situation but aurora didn’t trust it, didn’t trust him. then again, there were very few people she trusted. she was frustrated by the fact that she couldn't tell if he was genuine or working some kind of angle. frustrated and simultaneously thrilled. there were so few people who presented her with a challenge, she was going to enjoy figuring him out, she decided. if nothing else, it would keep her mind busy enough to avoid dwelling on her father's betrayal.

Looking back towards the group as she leaned on one side of the counter, Catherine could still feel her lips pulled into a smile. The elevated moment was still holding her in its heady clutch and the woman intended on using it for as long as possible. She switched her gaze only for a moment, enough to place another order to the bartender, before intending to look back. It was then, in between the chatter of people, that she heard someone say her name; a voice that had been long forgotten yet still familiar as if no time had passed. That same voice still dominated her dreams, slipping in when her mind wasn't guarded against the memories. For a second, Catherine wasn't sure if she could move or react in any way. But then her eyes landed on his and her breath slowed. Long, stretched out minutes passed, in which she just looked at him, a little incredulous, a little shocked, a little happy and a little longing. "You're back?" It was a stupid thing to say considering that he was standing there, flesh and blood, but he still had that power over her - of turning her into a pining girl who only seemed to remember the good things. For a second, at least. Then she remembered the way she'd unfollowed Luca on all social media after his departure, doing a favor of her future self and making it impossible to stalk his new life, his new job, his new friends and relationships. The painful memory was enough to bring her to her senses, and Catherine's breath resumed, shoulders drawn a little straighter. "Are you here for a meeting?" It was a decent question because he looked stylish and it was probably one of the best looks she'd ever seen on him. Gloomy English weather seemed to have made him more handsome and she hated him for it.

how many times had luca imagined this exact moment? how many times had he played out the conversation in his head as he lay awake at night, or on the plane home, or even in the past half an hour. but anything he might have said seemed to die in his throat because she looked happy. not in the forced, brittle way that she had been the last time he had seen her, but actually happy. his leaving must have been such a weight off of her chest, he realised, because she seemed lighter. wasn't that exactly what he had wanted for her? he should have been happy to realise he had gotten his wish, and he was. but he also wasn't, not now that he knew that everything he had put them through was needless. it hurt to see her doing so well without him, even if he was happy to see that she was happy. so many conflicting and confusing emotions that luca hadn't anticipated upon seeing her again, it almost made him feel dizzy. "uh, no." he slipped his hands into his pockets, more for something to do with his hands than anything else. "i'm visiting my mom." that was the reason he had given everyone for coming, but it wasn't the truth. "i-you look well." that was the truth. he hadn't been able to keep up with what she was up to through social media or anything like that, because she had promptly removed him from all of it, which was fair. "how have you been?"

maia takes a moment to look around the apartment. it was pretty nice, all things considered. the kitchen was bigger than the one at her place. the apartment felt cold, sterile. there were no crochet blankets or barely-hanging on houseplants. "wait..." she turned around. "you're just going to leave me here?"

archie looked to her somewhat amused - had she been expecting him to stay and keep her company? or perhaps stand guard outside of the door? "the front door is reinforced, the windows don't open far enough to climb through, you need a fob for the elevator to even get to this floor. you'll be safe." his words were meant to be reassuring but even he was not blind to the implications - yes, she would be safe but she would also be unable to escape, should she be inclined to try, though she had been fairly compliant thus far. "and i have somewhere to be, so yes, i'm leaving you here."

"i don't want to look like dean." magnus complained half-heartedly before he let out a resigned sigh and rubbed a hand across his face before pushing himself away from the island. following olivia towards the stairs, magnus realised that olivia understood the strange social ecosystem of their neighbourhood far better than he ever would. she remembered names, birthdays, which couples were friends with whom, who preferred wine over beer... the list went on. magnus barely remembered which house belonged to which neighbour. which was careless of him, but he simply hadn't been able to muster up the effort. when they stepped into the bedroom, magnus opened his closet and stared blankly at the rows of clothes for a moment before he pulled out a shirt with either hand and held them up against himself one after the other. "alright, which shirt says i enjoy discussing lawn fertiliser and interest rates more?"