#c;rich

But this was suffocating.

After receiving word that Allison was in the parlor (yes, the home still had the original parlor), that’s the direction in which he headed. He pushed open the double doors, already loosening his tie as he walked through them.

“Allison, there are entirely too many people in this house, mainly those that are not even supposed to be here yet like a certain--” Parker paused, steely blue eyes settling on each person in the room who was not Allison before his eyes finally found her, his eyes asking questions his lips refused to form. 

“--good afternoon everyone. Hey Michael.” he said, not missing the snort of--disgust?--that came from Kaygen who was situated in the corner of the room, looking as agitated as Parker felt. Parker stepped further inside, accepting the arms about his waist as the boy darted from his place next to Rich, who was next to offer a hug, one that Parker returned awkwardly as if it was a new action for him. “Richard, I trust your flight was well?” he asked, a ghost of a smile playing on his face.

“Ah, a flight’s a flight--it’s really more about the destination.” Rich said with a laugh as he moved back over to the couch to practically drag the young woman with him along until they both in front of Parker. 

“Parker, this is Piper. Piper, my big brother Parker Steven Grant.”

Parker’s lips fell into a thin line as he dipped his head and offered a hand. “Parker will be just fine. It’s nice to meet you, Piper.” perfect. Dozens of people in his home and now introductions. This was exactly what he wanted to deal with.

Rain poured down from the heavens and clung to Richard’s body, leaving little droplets to rest in dark blond strands while others disappeared into spots upon his shoulders and back.

He hardly noticed, not even when drops trailed their way down bare arms and dropped of of his wrists just before meeting his hands. This was a risk, coming here. But then again, life itself was a huge risk. Loving another person was risky.

Yet here he stood, bright blue eyes boring holes into the door as his heart slammed wildly against his chest, his resolve almost fleeing from him in the form of him walking away, never looking back.

Fingers reach out and knuckles tap lightly against the door as his throat tightens, emotion overwhelming his breathing, his thought process only coming up with images of her. Her laugh, her eyes, the way she saw things and made him see things.

It was always her.

Door is opened and he almost falters then and there, seeing her much better than his mind could ever project her. 

FLY ON THE WALL // accepting

“I know this is important because you’ve been in the country for a whole two weeks.” Opal joked as she crossed her legs and picked up her coffee cup. She really didn’t mind Richard’s sense of wanderlust–she loved it about it. But that didn’t mean she didn’t miss him when he was gone.

Rich shrugged and bit into his cookie with a shrug, though he was practically bursting with excitement. “It is important. Very, very important.”

“You’ve met someone.” Opal said excitedly, chuckling at the surprised look on her child’s face. “Oh honey. A mother just knows these things.”

“Okay, fair enough. Does that mother’s intuition tell you it’s a guy I’m in love with?” Rich said, testing those waters just a bit. His mother always said she’d support him in whatever he chose–this would prove if that was true.

Opal sat there a moment, her expression not changing. Until she smiled. “Tell me about him.”

The tightness in Rich’s chest disappeared as a smile brightened his entire face because oh could he talk about Tate. “Well, he’s a scientist for starters so he’s very intelligent. He makes me laugh all the time, he’s supportive of me and my writing. Mama, he’s wonderful and I love him and he--he loves me.” Rich chuckled and ran both hands through his hair, feeling giddy about voicing this to his mother. “I love him so much, Mama. I really, really love him.”

“I wouldn’t eat that. Trust me.”