MasukThe man shifted nervously where he stood, perched against the brick walls of the old bar, finger hovering above the button while he second-guessed everything.What if she didn’t answer? What if she did, and everything he feared came true? The thought of hearing her say it - that she hated him, that she couldn’t - wouldn’t - forgive him, and that he’d finally lost her for good - was enough to rattle him, changing his mind in an instant. He locks his screen and pockets his phone, dropping his head back against the wall to breathe.His hands shake by his sides, and he pauses, squeezing them into tight fists in a weak attempt to stop it, sucking in a deep breath as if to help. “C’mon,” he murmured, blinking up at the sky and trying to remind himself that he was perfectly fine. Physically, at least. “Just breathe, idiot,” he cuts himself off with a sharper breath, dropping his head forward this time and closing his eyes.The thought of needing another drink crosses his mind, needing someth
The pub was loud, filled with the sounds of its most loyal patrons - a pack of mouthy drunks that could never bear to tear themselves away from their favorite place. The ones who turned it into a makeshift home, filling it with music and laughter and the constant sound of chatter, taking full advantage of the place that never closed.It’s those same people who made Blaze and Armani feel so welcomed - so safe as to lose themselves in the music and drinks, letting their guard down for once in their lives because, as far as they could tell, no one here cared enough to tell. No one cared about who they were or what they do. Not really.That’s why the pair of brothers kept coming back, turning the bar into their haven whenever life flipped them on their heads, because even on their worst days, the bar always seemed to welcome them back in with open arms.Today was no exception. Blaze and Armani walked into the bar with their heads held high, the bell ringing above the door to alert the sm
Blaze and Armani were more than just brothers. They were friends, too. Best friends. Confidants. And there wasn’t anyone else in the whole world who proved to be as loyal or kind. There wasn’t anyone else they could trust. Not with their deepest, darkest secrets or the emotions they could never quite name, but always seemed to tear them apart.And although the Castelli’s weren’t the best at handling their emotions and putting their feelings into words, there was always some sort of understanding between the two brothers - a special kind of connection that made it so they didn’t even have to try. Not to speak or listen, or look for whatever underlying clues hidden between the lines. Not when they knew each other so well. Better than anyone else ever had or will.Instead, the two would sit, and they would share a drink - or rather a bottle of whatever they chose for the day - and they would drown out their sorrows until, eventually, whatever was bothering them would come up to the surfa
Dinner started off slow and awkward as people slowly began to file into the dining room, finding their respective seats around the table as if it were a chore. Liviana had to pretend not to notice the way each and every one of them kept stealing glances in her direction, eyes inevitably drawn to Blaze’s usually empty seat at the head of the table, where he’d typically be sitting and glaring at them as they entered.She tried especially hard to ignore her parents, who kept her pinned to her seat with the weight of their gazes, pretending not to hear them as they whispered questions of “Where is he?” And, “Do you think he’s going to show?” Before the dreaded moment finally came when they decided to ask her to her face.“Honey?” Drusilla called softly, clearing her throat when she goes unanswered. “Liviana, hon-“Her grip tightened around the glass of wine she had been nursing, knowing she couldn’t put it off any longer. Not when everyone was looking at her like that. Worried, suspicious
Liviana sat silently with her head in her hands, knee bouncing with nerves. “I just... I don’t understand,” she murmured. “Why would she-“ she cut herself off, narrowing her eyes as if she’s missing something she so desperately wanted to see, to know, to understand. But she couldn’t. No matter how many times she replayed the day in her head and went over their conversation, she couldn’t figure it out. Why would her mother lie? Why did she care so much? Who was this so-called friend of hers? Why was he spying on her?Her head felt full, her mind painfully overworking itself with the way it came up with question after question, thought after thought, worry after worry, until she felt like she just might explode.Groaning, she buries her face in her hands, hiding herself behind a curtain of dark hair, as if she would somehow be able to escape the thoughts, if not her own tortured mind. If only it were that easy.Instead, the noise rings in her ears and the pounding in her head worsens, a
Liviana chased after her sister-in-law with a sigh, calling quietly, “Vi, wait-“ But it’s of no use. The blonde is already long gone.Inside, she marched through the foyer, stubbornly shaking her head. “No!” she refused, reminding the raven, “You’re the one who said I could stay, so I’m staying.” Violet shrugged, tossing her coat aside with her bag and making herself at home, as if to prove a point. “Unless, of course, you’ve changed your mind?” She turns her way, quirking an accusing brow at the woman, asking, “Is that it? Do you not want me here anymore?”Shaking her head, Liviana insists, “Of course I do! It’s just-““Just what?” She presses, arms crossing over her chest, eyes sharpening into something cold and offended. “What’s the problem, Livi?”“Nothing! There is no problem, I just-“ she cut herself off with a sigh, eyes darting around the foyer, waiting for the moment someone else would inevitably discover them. She knew it was coming - that it was only a matter of time before
Communication without comprehension is pointless.It was a lesson Liviana had to learn a million little times throughout the twenty-four years of life. And yet, it never seemed to stick.She was a big advocate for communication. Livi believed that everything deserved to be talked about, no matter how
It was only the late afternoon when Liviana and Blaze had arrived home after such a grueling lunch full of arguments and confrontation- nothing new with either side of the family. And, after walking in only to find themselves being faced with another drama, it was safe to say they were tired and wel
Blaze Castelli grew up in a nice house.It was well known for its beauty- something expected of such a high status family, who always accepted nothing but the best. With their reputation and class, anyone who was invited to the manor expected nothing less than something extraordinary. And they were n
The in-laws sat quietly, scattered across the Castelli's family room under a thick blanket of tension, just waiting for the moment someone would be brave enough to break the silence that had fallen upon them. Though, no one seemed to have the guts with the way Lucius and Elara loomed over them, supe







