#quadrennial

🥀 ROs:

Logan Wells (21, m/f): Your ex. Unsurprisingly, attempting a serious relationship whilst constantly questioning your sanity didn’t end in any “happily-ever-afters”. It's been 2 years since your break-up, and you haven't spoken much in that time, but they still seem to be one of the only people who’ve always had your back.

Brooks Emerson (27, m/f): A private detective. To be more specific, the only detective who just might hear you out. If you can get them to listen to you, maybe that means you’ve convinced them that you’re not crazy. Well, that, or maybe they’re just starting to have a soft spot for you.

Logan briefly freezes in shock, before kissing you back with an intensity that leaves you breathless.

Their hands find the familiar places that they used to touch when you were together. They get lost in it, until the sound of the security guard barking at the two of you to leave pulls them from their trance.

You pull away, "Sorry, it was the only thing I could think of to avoid any suspicion."

The realization washes over them, that this was just a distraction, and their heart drops into their stomach.

They're unusually quiet for the rest of the night, the warmth in their eyes now clouded with disappointment.

-

Brooks pulls back as soon as your lips touch theirs. As you meet their eyes, they look back at you with an emotion that you've never seen in them before.

"What are you doing?" They whisper.

Then they hear the loud footsteps down the hall. Reading your panicked expression, they place a hand on your cheek and softly return the kiss.

The moment that you're in the clear they pull away abruptly, immediately turning their focus to gathering the information that you came here for.

When they lift their head to look at you again, their stoic mask is now back in place.

"Alright, let's go." Their serious tone betrays no emotion, and they rush to the door without sparing you another glance.

-

As you lean in Cameron puts their hand on your arm to stop you, their brows furrowing in irritation ... no, not irritation, fear.

As the booming of the footsteps gets louder, you look at them with desperation, "Trust me."

They scan your face and, as you look in their eyes, you can see the internal conflict that's waging in their mind.

Just when you think you've run out of time they give you a small nod, before they meet your lips fervidly.

-

Much to your own surprise - and probably everyone else’s - you showed up, now all that’s left to do is find Ali. She was adamant that she’d meet you at the front of the festivities but you have yet to see her and, of course, she’s not answering her phone.

You scan the crowds for her bright pink hair with no luck, and your phone screen still shows no new messages.

Continuing to shift your gaze from person to person, you lock eyes with an all too familiar face.

Logan Wells. Shit.

It’s not unexpected that you’d see Logan here, Springview isn’t exactly known for its wide variety of new residents. You were hoping, however, that actually having a conversation with your ex would be avoidable.

It's not that you hate them, or anything like that, you’d really just prefer to save yourself from any awkwardness … especially since you haven’t spoken more than a couple sentences to each other over the last two years.

Maybe it’s not too late to pretend you didn’t see them, spare both of you from the formulaic small talk and the silence waiting to be filled with all the words you left unsaid.

But they’ve already begun to move their legs forward, indicating that they’re coming your way, so it’s definitely too late.

Logan doesn't know why they agreed to meet with you ... alright, that's bullshit, they know exactly why they agreed.

You said that you needed to talk and, even though it's been months since you two have spoken, they still come everytime you call.

Now, they're sitting on the sofa in your living room, staring at the ground and fidgeting while they wait for you to come downstairs. When they hear the staircase creak they immediately lift their head to meet your gaze.

"Hey, thanks for coming." You give them a warm smile as you make your way to the bottom of the stairs.

"Of course." Their smile instantly matches yours, "I've been in dire need of social interaction, my new job is slowly melting my brain cells."

You laugh, and Logan can feel their heart flutter at the sound. But, as they drop their gaze to your shirt, their smile falters.

"Is that my shirt?" They attempt to feign nonchalance, but their voice wavers slightly.

You look down at the shirt, your face flushing red, "Shit, I just threw something on, I didn't even realize."

Logan can't seem to pull their gaze away from the shirt, and a beat of silence passes before they hear you speak again, "I swear this was an accident, I'm gonna go change right now."

They want to tell you it's okay, but their throat suddenly feels dry and they can't seem to remember why they thought it was a good idea to come see you.

Standing up abruptly, they briefly meet your eyes again, "I shouldn't be here."

-

You're leaned up against the back of the couch, attempting to keep your mind awake as you sift through the pages in your lap.

Cameron is seated beside you, clearly growing restless as they sort through their own pile of information.

Turning their gaze to you, they study you for a moment before speaking, "You should get some sleep."

"Didn't know you cared." You quip, eyes still glued to your lap, but your exhaustion causes your words to slur slightly.

They roll their eyes, "I don't, but you're not gonna get any work done if you're half asleep."

You ready a response, not wanting to give them the satisfaction of being right, but all you can focus on is the heaviness of your eyes. You let your eyes flutter shut for just a moment as you rest your head on the back of the couch.

The next thing you know your head lulls to the side, falling to rest on Cameron's shoulder, "Oh wow, you're pretty comfortable." you mutter drowsily.

They scoff, "This is not the solution I had in mind." But they don't make any effort to remove you. Suddenly they're very still, not moving as though to keep from startling you.

-

"I thought you believed me but, clearly, you don't!" You can feel your face burning as you try, and fail, to keep your composure.

Hours of investigating and, subsequently, bickering has finally pushed you and Brooks into a full-fledged argument.

"I do believe you, but I'm going to need more than hypotheticals to actually take this lead seriously." They respond through gritted teeth.

"It's all right here!" You take a few steps closer to them and wave the file that's in your hand.

Bringing your voice back down to a civil level, you continue, "Look, all I'm asking is for you to take a second look, detective."

Brooks' eyes glower at you at the sarcastic use of their title, a rebuttal on the tip of their tongue. Suddenly, they freeze up, and you become hyper-aware of your close proximity.

The heated discussion has brought you inches from their face, your face reddening again but this time it's from something entirely different than anger.

Their breath catches, and you think you see a hint of emotion flicker in their eyes, before they regain their composure and gently take the file from your grasp.

"You're gonna be the death of me, I swear." They mutter under their breath, just barely loud enough for you to hear.

As suddenly as the moment started, it ends, and they turn away from you.