𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥,

ㅤㅤ❛❛ not to micromanage, caroline, but i think you've already cleaned that spot at least twice. keep at it and you might just scrub right through the granite. ❜❜ while his voice had originally been teasing as he made a show of pointing to the spot mentioned, it becomes more serious before he speaks again. ❛❛ you seem like you're stress cleaning. did something happen? ❜❜

where do you hold your love? . . . in your teeth. love has uneven edges but it is something you sink your teeth into. with love you give all of yourself over and feel everything as it happens- good and bad. for you love can be a fight, whether it's hard won or hard lost (or hard to hold on to), love has a way of leaving it's impression in your skin. it's not that it hurts, it's just that it knows your tender spots and seems to hit those first.

ㅤㅤ❛❛ i . . . didn't make any face in particular. ❜❜ he's really struggling to remain polite here. ❛❛ it's just, i usually cook for us. are you sure you don't want me to take care of it? ❜❜

ㅤㅤshe flips her hair over her shoulder with a huff, dark gaze glaring at the group of rowdy men across the room. ❛❛ ugh, do you ever just feel like it's not worth leaving home? ❜❜ she complains, turning to the blonde at her side. ❛❛ like, maybe those reclusive hermits that never leave their houses are onto something. ❜❜ to make things worse, this place is too crowded for her to go silence them, too many eyes that could catch her doing something . . . illegal. she'll have to wait, and that only makes her pout even more.

The micro change in expression doesn't go unnoticed. Not to her. Stefan is the center of her whole world, she'd notice if his eyes were a little more green than normal. Or if he changed his cologne.

Another pull from her glass and a quiet ah as it burned, and Katherine crossed her legs. Shifting in the plush chair as she set her glass on the end table.

"Something on your mind, dear?" It's spoken like banter, but that's just a precaution. In case he denies her the conversation, she can pretend she wasn't interested anyway.

ㅤㅤ❛❛ is there a difference? ❜❜ he countered, not sure why he bothered to ask when the answer was obvious. ❛❛ and people who show up as a surprise don't get doors opened for them. ❜❜

ㅤㅤthe weather is lovely, the wind blowing gently and preventing the weather from being too warm. she turns to her companion, smile alighting the planes of her face. ❛❛ i told you a picnic was a great idea, ❜❜ she asserts playfully, picking up a strawberry from the basket and popping it into her waiting mouth. ❛❛ i should've brought a copy of wuthering heights or something to really complete the cliché. ❜❜