◟𝖒𝖞𝖘𝖊𝖑𝖋 𝖆 / 𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘◝

he’s   been   riding   a   high   since   saturday   night   &   for   the   first   time   this   year   ,   duke   feels   like   maybe   hollingsworth   isn’t   such   a   bad   place   .   it’s   his   first   year   here   ,   in   a   new   town   that   doesn’t   care   for   him   with   people   who   look   down   on   him   with   their   raised   noses   &   clutched   pearls   .   he’ll   never   admit   it   ,   but   he’s   called   gary   in   tears   more   times   than   he   can   count   –   but   this   might   be   when   the   tides   turn   .

𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐃𝐔𝐊𝐄'𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐊

exterior   .   a   standard   black   nike   backpack   gifted   to   him   by   the   ice   hockey   athletic   department   his   freshman   year   .   attached   to   one   of   the   zippers   is   an   athletic   department   badge   ,   along   with   a   keychain   that   has   this   season’s   schedule   on   it   .   it’s   very   well   taken   care   of   ,   despite   this   being   it’s   fourth   year   in   use   .

interior , first big pocket   .   a   change   of   clothes   that   varies   depending   on   the   day   .   usually   ,   clothes   are   kept   in   his   duffle   bag   (   an   entirely   different   bag   )   for   quick   changes   after   morning   practices   or   a   mid   -   day   gym   session   ,   but   he’s   always   got   sweatpants   &   a   sweatshirt   of   his   choice   in   the   big   pocket   –   just   in   case   .

interior , second big pocket   .   his   school   supplies   .   a   golden   macbook   he   bought   from   some   girl   off   of   craigslist   in   mint   condition   .   it   took   most   of   the   allowance   gary   sent   him   ,   so   he   takes   extremely   good   care   of   it   ,   so   he   doesn’t   have   to   buy   a   new   one   .   along   with   the   laptop   ,   a   bunch   of   identical   black   ,   mechanical   pencils   &   various   colored   notebooks   .   there’s   also   crumbs   &   granola   bar   wrappers   near   the   bottom   .

exterior , side pockets   .   extras   that   he’s   learned   by   now   to   always   have   on   him   .   a   pack   of   kleenex   (   not   pictured   )   ,   some   pre   -   wrap   ,   athletic   tape   &   there’s   usually   some   sort   of   energy   drink   on   the   other   side   as   well   ,   usually   blue   or   green   .

CLOSED STARTER: FRANCESCA AND DUKE !

        SHE HELD HER PART OF THE BARGAIN of not talking to him ever again. hell, she even took a step further at it; whenever he would appear on her peripheral view, she did a one-eighty so he wouldn’t see her — at least that was what she said to herself because, in reality, she did it solely for the fact that looking at him made her heart hurt. a part of her still expected his message late at night, asking for her tender embrace, but the message never came and all she had were the memories and the photos she still hadn’t dared to delete. this time was final. there wouldn’t be a ‘them’ again — or like he said the last time they talked; there was never a 'them’, they weren’t real.

        she would have kept that plan going, but in the bottom of a basket with her fresh clothes from the laundry service was one of his sweatshirts — one that he probably didn’t remember about, one that she could have asked sloane to give him; but no, there she was knocking on his door with piece of clothing perfectly folded in her hands. it was a mistake. a mistake that could end up in another sleepless night with tears that wouldn’t stop coming. a mistake that could have been avoided. a mistake she regretted as soon as her heart fell to her stomach when he opened the door. “ hi, ” she muttered softly, eyes glancing at her feet as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. // @shaughnessys·

        𝔁.  HE’S   DONE   GOOD   .   COMMUNICATIONS   WITH   her   have   been   limited   to   none   ,   he’s   successfully   deleted   her   number   &   every   form   he   has   of   reaching   her   .   though   he’s   hovered   in   her   dm’s   a   couple   times   ,   he   hasn’t   sent   a   message   &   for   that   alone   ,   he’s   proud   of   himself   .   but   he’ll   be   the   first   to   admit   that   it’s   sucked   .   it’s   been   horrible   not   having   her   around   ,   her   smile   or   her   laugh   .   it’s   sucked   even   more   because   his   pillows   still   smell   like   her   &   her   perfume   still   lingers   on   his   sweatshirts   –   even   after   washing   .   

// @shaughnessys· //

nico loves duke.

that’s the exact thing he’d tweet out if he was kidnapped or some shit and needed people to know something was wrong. that or chick loves duke — that’s probably just as efficient. there are times when he wonders if he wouldn’t hate duke if it weren’t for the polarizing lens of chick he sees him through ( usually it only takes him a few pondering seconds to conclude : no, he probably would ). still, nico tries to keep his disdain neatly packed beneath his goalie zen on the ice and sometimes off it when they’re doing team workouts ; they’re only going to make playoffs if they play as a team and unfortunately, that does include duke. team dinner though — that’s really just asking for trouble. “ can you pass the ketchup ? ”

he always thinks – well. maybe not always, but usually chick would like to consider himself prepared for duke’s vitriol. not the case today, it seems. he’s just gotten done with the leg press, sweat dripping down the back of his shirt, and he barely has time to catch his breath before duke comes striding on over like he owns the fuckin’ place. chick furrows his brow, eyes narrowing. they haven’t spoken over the summer. as a matter of fact, up until now, they haven’t had one full conversation. better late than never. if duke’s looking for a fight, he figures it might as well be time to get the whole mess over with. ‘ uh, y’know, i can’t think of anything. my schedule this month is booked. why’re you worried about it? ’ he snorts, moving to grab his water bottle from the floor and twisting the lid open. ‘ you wanna go to all my fancy things instead? trade places, bud? ’ he says nothing about the cut under duke’s eye. he can save those snarky comments for later.

｡･ﾟ*｡ - reply to @shaughnessys​

Was it Christmas? Because it bloody felt like it. “Yes, mate! Exactly what I like to hear,” Finn said, remnants of his Australian accent peeking through. He had been away from his home country for so long ( was it even home anymore? ) and the thought of ever going back - of going back to somewhere his father ( deadbeat dad? Was that too harsh? ) lived, was an idea he rarely entertained. “I’ll do CPR on you myself - not that you’d need it for an ankle but you get what I mean. I’ll piggyback you to safety…It’ll be fun!” It sounded like it was all a joke but it was something Finn truly would have done for Duke ( not CPR on his ankle though ). Finn always aimed to follow through on the things he said and watching out for Duke? He’d do it in a heartbeat. “I could make like an activity sheet or something so if we spot a distinctive leaf, we could like write it down or draw it or something? Does that sound cool? I think it does!”

SNAP ↬  felicity: yeah, of course!! SNAP ↬  felicity: do you want me to venmo you or whatever???

{ closed starter for @shaughnessys· }

Late in the afternoon, Kenzie was glad to be getting out of her last class for the day, Having a pile of homework knowing she had to do, but her mind was  else where and she just needed a bit of a break. She headed back to the house, to change out of her cute outfit, and change into some lulu lemon leggings and a hamilton tshirt, that she had gotten one size bigger, tying the side up in a knot. She slipped into a pair of airforce ones and grabbed her airpods off of her dresser. The blonde headed and headed back down stairs and went to the kitchen grabbing out one of the reusable water botles, filling it up with ice and water, and headed out and went back to campus.

Heading the the gym, she needed a little work out time and that would put her back into the head space she needed to get her work done. And after a good half hour on the treadmill or bike, she’d be much better. As she walked into the gym her eyes looking around seeing if she saw anyone she knew, and her eyes went right over to Duke. A small smile crossed Kenzie’s full lips. Heading over to where he was, tapping his foot with hers. “Hey, need a spotter?” She said jokingly, cause girl would not be able to spot him if her life depended on it.

        𝔁.   HE’S   WORKING   OUT   HIS   ANGER   ,   tired   &   sore   from   hours   of   practice   &   over   –   exerting   himself   unnecessarily   .   his   left   shoulder’s   sore   ,   like   it   was   when   he   was   healing   from   injury   ,   but   he   ignores   it   ,   continuing   his   strength   training   .   it’s   only   when   the   guy   he’s   with   tells   him   he   has   to   take   off   that   duke   takes   a   break   from   the   weight   room   ,   walking   out   &   filling   up   his   water   bottle   at   one   of   the   silver   machines   .   he’s   sweaty   &   fatigued   ,   making   him   look   incredibly   gross   ,   but   duke’s   never   cared   much   for   other’s   opinions   .

            IT TOOK ALL HER SELF CONTROL to not collapse into tears right then and there; swallowing dry as her hand balled in a fist. she wouldn’t let him have the last word, not this time. the hurt that his venomous words caused on her chest were the last drop to the ocean that she kept untamed for the last three years of this on and off-again relationship. “ do you think that after all this time i still know nothing about you, duke ?? you can lie and pretend all you want, but i know this wasn’t an one-sided feeling. you were happy with me. and you are so scared of that. you are so scared that i could make you happy that you prefer to ruin it, ” she took a breath and shook her head, “ you pose yourself as this god almighty, nothing can tear me down, but in reality you are just a fucking scared little boy. a lonely scared little boy. “

        her eyes diverted to the ground for a second, the regret of saying those words to him already hitting; but that wasn’t enough to stop her rambling. ” but let’s pretend that you were miserable, “ she nodded, looking back at him, ” so please, remember how miserable you were with me before texting me at 2 am because you are lonely. because… this time ?? this time, i am the one who is done being your duchess, duke, “ the lie rolled out of her lips so effortlessly, almost making herself believe that she was, in fact, done with him. though, one thing francesca was sure is that she would never be. looking down at the cardboard cup, her childish and petty mind knew there was only one last thing to do. opening the lid, her eyes glistened with anguish as she threw the content on him, ” thanks for the coffee. really made my fucking morning. “

         𝔁.   HER   WORDS   HURT   ,   EXACTLY   THE   way   she’s   probably   intending   them   to   .   she   brings   him   to   a   point   ,   a   sharp   inhale   that’s   audibly   heard   as   she   calls   him   out   the   way   she   should   .   through   the   stinging   needles   poking   into   the   center   of   his   chest   ,   he’s   oddly   proud   of   her   .   it’s   what   she   needs   ,   what   she   deserves   –   to   let   it   out   &   to   let   him   have   it   the   way   she’s   supposed   to   .   he’s   done   nothing   but   rattle   her   &   break   her   heart   for   the   past   three   years   –   most   of   the   times   ,   he   leaves   her   in   the   cold   ,   walking   away   with   the   last   word   &   knowing   he’ll   most   likely   call   her   back   in   a   few   weeks   .   this   feels   final   though   ,   the   end   of   her   rope   is   finally   reached.

         HER HAND SNAPPED FROM HIS TOUCH, feeling her stomach twist the more his words echoed in her brain and angriness flowing in her veins. his reasoning was nothing but a sad excuse she had heard once or twice before; a sad excuse to run away from happiness, to run away from what challenged him, to run away from her. she wondered if that thrilled him; if breaking her heart over and over again made him feel alive like his reckless fights; she was starting to believe that it did. In her mind she knew she deserved better than someone that only hurt her, but how could she fight her heart when it ached for him, his touch, his kisses, the stolen moments they had to share, and even that shit-eating grin. she wanted him and she would have settled for being his little dirty secret, even if it was far from what she deserved in a relationship.

         “ funny, ” she said humorlessly while cleaning her tears, “ you never have any intention to hurt me, but here you are, ” a mirthless chuckle escaping her lips while she got up from the bench, looking down at him. “ you are so full of shit that you don’t even care that you already used that reason before. you can’t even tell me the truth as to why this is happening now when everything was going great… again, ” her voice rising with each word, a sudden change to icy rage as she continued, “ you know, don’t even bother. the excuse is fine. good luck on this season, duke. ”

          𝔁.   HE   DESERVES   EVERYTHING   SHE’S   DISHING   out   to   him   ,   but   it   still   hurts   .   the   way   her   hand   is   quickly   withdrawn   &   her   words   .   he   stays   silent   for   a   moment   after   she’s   finished   ,   determined   to   let   her   have   the   last   word   .   he   doesn’t   deserve   to   feel   hurt   ,   anyway   .   he   shouldn’t   be   letting   his   hurt   feelings   bounce   around   his   chest   like   a   ball   stuck   in   a   pin   ball   machine   ,   because   he   CHOSE   this   .   he’s   the   one   who   decided   ,   yet   again   ,   that   he’s   not   yet   ready   to   focus   on   her   ,   that   he’s   going   to   chicken   out   again   because   it’s   getting   serious   ;   because   he   looks   at   her   &   he   wants   her   in   his   future   &   it   scares   him   beyond   belief   .