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Timestamp: What If, the afternoon before Beau's party


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A young woman with long acrylic nails, casual designer wear and Prada sunglasses sat behind the wheel of a bright red convertible Porsche, much like the one sitting in the garage of her multi-million dollar Bel-Air home. Her luscious locks of black hair flowed freely in the morning breeze as she sped down the streets of her hometown, singing along to one of the songs of her close friend Karli-- or, as the world knew her by, Kali Uchis. A behemoth of a man with buzzed hair, a neat beard and equally fashionable designer clothing occupied the passenger seat next to her, his own hazel eyes hidden behind aviator sunglasses. His large hand rested on the driver’s thigh affectionately as he watched contentedly how the scenery around them changed while the woman drove on. All roads lead to their final destination: the home of Reynaldo and Guadalupe Gonzalez in Edenridge’s Southside.

When Aleyda Gonzalez, Zara Beauregard and Deanna Salvador had received the news that the town of Edenridge was coming together to throw a retirement party for Zara’s father, there was no question of whether they'd be attending the festivities or not. Mr. Beau was not just a teacher, but a mentor, a father figure, a conscience and a voice of reason for students and community members alike. It made the girls happy to know that his positive contributions and impacts to the lives of so many people were being acknowledged and celebrated, and they would not miss being there for the world.

Once they were informed of when the party would be happening, the LA-based Edenites formed a plan to return home and surprise their families with their unexpected arrivals. They had each told their loved ones little white lies about how prior, unavoidable work commitments wouldn’t allow them to make it to the party, all the while making the necessary preparations to attend. Transportation arrangements were easy when you had friends (or significant others) in high places. Aleyda's boyfriend, the one and only undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Derex ‘The Bull’ Steiner, had graciously donated his private jet for the occasion. At any other time, first class would’ve been sufficient, but the Eden girls didn’t want to risk their surprise getting ruined. Once in Boston, vehicular transportation was covered by another member of their fierce fivesome/Zara’s girlfriend: A-list Hollywood actress Lior Ray (who was, to the girls and Rex, Sadé Nguyen). After five and a half hours of flying, the group had collected their respective vehicles and split up, each heading out to fulfill the last par before eventually reuniting at Mr. Beau’s party the next day.

“You hanging in there, Bull?” Aleyda teased her boyfriend with a smug smirk, glancing at the man over her sunglasses. Back in Los Angeles, it was always Derex the one who drove them around in his GMC Hum-V. But whenever they were in the streets of South Boston, in Ley’s turf, she was always the one dangerously tearing down the familiar roads. “You haven’t asked me to switch seats once since I started driving, so I guess I’m not doing too bad.”

Rex let out a low rumble of a chuckle, curving his lips into a small grin. “I’m hangin’ like Spike did in my last bout with him. Just enjoying the ride, mein Viper.”

Rex had come to Edenridge a few times in their two years of dating to meet her parents and see where the second most important woman in his life found her beginnings. A quaint small town not too dissimilar to the one he came up in back in his home country of Germany. He came up in Fussen, which sat just north of the Austrian border. In its own way, his Viper’s home of Edenridge had a similar vibe from how he saw it. The church and the Gothic Castle in Fussen that he used to explore when he was a little boy were too similar for his unique eyes and experience to not connect those dots. He doubted anyone else would.

The last time they were here, it was to meet her family. The first time he would meet her father and his sons. Meet her mother, Guadalupe. When he would meet Rey Rey’s wife, Maxine. It was a rather intimidating experience to say the least, but his ability to thrive under pressure was always an asset to him. Being able to take on these dangerous tasks was probably one of the many reasons Aleyda fell for him. She was small compared to him, but boy did she have a bite that just drew him in from day one. So meeting her family was nothing compared to the buildings he destroyed to get that first date with her.

“How’s are you doing? That Mr. Beauregard guy is pretty important to your hometown, isn’t he?”

Aleyda nodded vehemently, confirming her boyfriend’s statement. “He really is. I know I’ve already told you about how he was like another dad to Dena and I because of Zee, and how he’s always been close to my dad. But Beau’s basically everyone’s dad in some way. He has this uncanny ability to sense whenever something is up with you, and always seems to find a way to either convince you that everything will be alright or even make everything all better. He could be a bit of a hardass as a teacher, but nobody can say he didn’t try his damned hardest to make sure every one of his students learned at least one lesson. I wouldn’t be surprised if they made a statue of him or named a building after him or something.”

Rex knew the type. He knew the kind of man that this Antoine Beauregard was. He knew he didn’t have to meet the man to know it first hand because he had someone like that in his life too. His father. The man who raised him right. Instilled the values he still holds close to his heart. Rex valued the honesty in his life. The kind of honesty that he knew those he chose to surround himself with would give to him. He never wanted to be lied to in order to spare his feelings. But at the same time, Wolfgang helped him become the man he was today through his own form of wisdom and intensity. “Sounds like he and Pops would get along. They’re cut from that same cloth. But I can’t lie to you.” Rex found himself laughing even before he admitted it, “that isn’t the kind of man I ever expected to have a daughter like Zara.” He said with as much respect as he could. Zara was unique and fierce in her own way, yet at the same time, tested the wide limits of his patience.

Aleyda's laughter was quick to fill the air as she thought of her sister by association. While the Beauregards were exemplary individuals and pillars of their communities, Zara had always stood out as the rebellious force of nature who would live life her way, on her own terms. There were many times where people judged the youngest daughter's actions and shook their heads in disappointment, thinking about how ashamed of her the Beauregards would be. But other people's opinions about Zee had never mattered to Beau. He knew his daughter and what was in her heart-- that was all that mattered.

"I know Zara can be a handful, but I’d do anything for that girl. And once you meet Beau, you'll definitely be able to see where she gets her best qualities from," Aleyda mused out loud, snickering as she added, "And just wait until you meet her mom and her siblings-- you'd never imagine that they're related. She'll be acting like she's at Sunday church service, too. Sadé won't even recognize her. It'll be hilarious to watch for sure."

Rex let out a hearty laugh, almost choking on his own breath. Zara like a nun? Was she talking about the same Zara who was like one but from one of those X-rated adult film parodies? “This I might have to see. She’s made me go red one too-many times for her own viewing pleasure.” It was all in good fun and Rex had a thick coat, so he could take the jokes and uncomfortable situations she loved to put him in. Karma was about to hit her in full.

“Now it’ll be your chance to get your long-awaited revenge.” Ley joked with the man. The relationship between Derex, Dena, Zara and Sadé had always been one of mutual banter in which they all continuously poked fun at each other. When the girls had found out that their favorite Latina had captured the heart of The Bull, they had warned her about his reputation as a ladies man, a hardhead who pushed people away with his ‘toxic obsession for the game’, and who had allegations of mistreatment coming from a few exes. During their initial meeting, they had hounded Derex with questions, trying to decipher who he truly was as a person and what intentions he had with Ley. Rather than be offended, the German man had taken everything in stride; validating the girls’ concerns, reassuring them that he was a good guy, that what he felt for their friend was true, and that his only intentions were to make Aleyda the happiest woman in the Universe. With time and effort, Rex’s actions had earned him the trust and affection of Ley’s chosen family. They now considered him a part of their inner circle, and that meant putting up with each other’s jokes and roasting sessions. Zara and Sadé happened to be the two that picked on Derex the most, so for him to see the tables turning would be amusing to say the least.

Just as Ley finished speaking, she drove up to a stoplight that, as she approached it, changed from yellow to red. A mischievous smirk lit up her features, and she immediately turned to her boyfriend. “Uh oh. Looks like we’ve found ourselves at a red light…” she announced, placing a hand on his thick thigh and squeezing it teasingly a few times.

“Amazing we haven’t ran into one since we got to your little slice of the commonwealth,” Rex remarked with a grin, squeezing his grip on Ley’s thigh with less force applied than she had on his. He was much stronger than she was and she wasn’t nearly as toned as he was, either. The long-standing tradition between them was PDA at red lights, a thing that happened randomly in the first few months of their now-two-year relationship. It was something they got off on, but while he loved kissing her lips, that familiar taste of the poison he picked to take into his system, there was another thing that he liked more.

“How obnoxious you wanna get this time? We’re in your turf, Viper. You lead and this boxer will follow in your shadow.” He massaged her thigh, licking his lips somewhat, moistening them up, taking note of a car.

Aleyda's smirk widened into a grin. "I say we go all in," she replied, leaning over the middle console and inching close enough to Rex's face that he could smell the peppermint from the pieces of gum she'd just been chewing on. "What do you say?"

With a smirk, his hand went confidently further past her thigh, gripping her waist and slid it slowly up her back and around her neck. He shot the car next to them, a woman was driving and another woman, likely her mother or someone older, was looking at them. They both smiled and so did Rex. “Showtime at the Red Light!” When Ley had his attention, The Bull charged horns first into his Viper’s lips, aggressively and tame at the same time. All the while, he could feel his Viper getting into it, and when he looked back at the women in the car next to them, he saw their disgusted expressions. And yet, they couldn’t take their eyes off…or at least they tried not to be obvious about it.

Even as Aleyda kissed her boyfriend back with the same amount of sloppy and raunchy enthusiasm without a single care in the world, she knew that she was playing with fire by playing little games. Stunts like these could bring attention to hers and Derex’s presence in town, and that could risk ruining the surprise she'd been looking forward to for weeks. But how could she resist herself? Red light makeout sessions had been their thing for nearly as long as she and Rex had been dating, and she couldn't imagine the day in which she'd ever get enough of her lover.

The honk of the vehicle behind them yanked Aleyda away from Rex's lips and back to reality. She pulled away from Rex just in time to see the SUV that had been waiting behind them at the traffic light go around them and speed off, its driver making annoyed faces and gestures at her as he drove away.

"Suck my dick if it bothers you!" she yelled out after him, flipping the vehicle's occupant off for good measure as she began to drive again. Outburst now completed after this live display of her extremely short fuse, Ley before turning back to her passenger. "Fuck him!" she told Rex as she rolled her eyes behind her sunglasses and shook her head. Her annoyance, however, was cut short when she saw the wide grin on her boyfriend's face. "You live to see me bitch people out, don't you?" she asked him with a playful scoff, followed by a round of laughter and a light smack to his arm. "You're so bad."

Rex merely shrugged. He knew what he liked and what he liked was seeing that temper flare in a way that reminded him every day why he loved her. Some would call it toxic.

Why would he want to encourage that kind of behavior? It’s gotta be toxic!

Yeah, no shit. She wasn’t called Viper for no reason. Toxicity is in her blood and like the animal he’s named after, Rex runs after it like it’s a red cape because in truth, he’s not the best person if people want to bring up toxic masculinity or whatever kind of term they want to put on it. But he doesn’t disrespect her. He doesn’t disrespect himself. Her family, her friends, and his own know him. Who fucking cares what a couple of random drivers on the road think? If they didn’t like it, they heard Ley.

“The Bull wanted to frolic around for a bit. Can you blame him?” Rex laughed, curling his amused smirk into an even more obvious grin. He had the obnoxious habit of sometimes referring to himself by his boxer nickname.

“Oh, he does, doesn’t he?” Aleyda drawled, risking another suggestive glance at her boyfriend before turning back to the road. An impulsive idea sprung to the forefront of the Gonzalez woman’s mind-- one that would delay their arrival, but the beauty of a surprise visit was that you would never be late since nobody was expecting you in the first place. Before she could talk herself out of it, she was changing course away from the center of town and towards the outskirts instead, brushing off Rex’s questions about what she was doing or where she was going. Whether the Porsche would be able to withstand the change from paved streets to dirt roads was put to the test, but luckily the couple inside the vehicle had the means to afford any damages that could stem from this little road trip to the one and only O’Halloran’s Creek.

“How’s this for a place to let The Bull frolic around?” Ley called out to Derex as she exited the car and walked to stand in the shade of a large cherry tree, stretching out her hands and spinning in place a few times. “Is it as good as Santorini, Fiji or the million vacations we’ve taken? No. But is it the best place around town to spend some time alone together and completely away from civilization? Absolutely. We can even skinny dip here like we did in Bali that one time…” she suggested, pointing towards the beautiful creek beside them with its sparkling, crystal clear waters.

Rex took in the scenery, the environment. The rock formations and the water so clear you could probably see your own reflection in it. The kind of crystal waters that, if this was a boy band video, some model-turned singer would splash his reflection away to seem cool.“You kidding? I knew a spot back in the old country that was just like this. Has my usual go-to relaxing spot upgraded ever since my bank account has gotten bigger than my undefeated streak? Yeah, maybe. Could be a possibility. But you know what isn’t?” Rex intentionally made a loud noise. Nothing specific, just a typical hype-inspiring yell. One that would scare all the birds away, which he took notice of as they all flew from the tops of the rocks, trees around them.

The sometimes crazy Bull waited and let the silence of nature save for the sounds of the creek in the faint distance fill the air. He waited for a few more moments and grinned at his super hot girlfriend. “Nobody in sight. Nobody came to the poor damsel in distress’ aid, thinking there was one to begin with. Just, you, a Bull, and…” Rex came face to face with a creature who didn’t run away when he screamed. Stocky and mostly tan with a black and white pattern on its face. It had a long head with glaring eyes that were staring into Rex’s souls. “The fucking fuck? Is that a fucking badger?”

Aleyda, who’d been watching the enthusiastic Rex take in his surroundings with the biggest grin across her face, found herself frowning in confusion at his last comment. “What?” she barked, whipping her head in the direction he was staring at and finding herself locking eyes with nothing other than a fucking honey badger.

Before Derex could comprehend what was happening, Ley began to howl with laughter so hard it made her tears run down her cheeks. It wasn’t a coincidence that they’d stumble on the animal that became her little brother’s Serpent namesake so shortly after she’d stepped foot on their old stomping grounds. During their teenage days, Mika had embraced his new ‘youngest brother’ status by consistently testing Aleyda’s short temper, hoping to get a rise out of her. One of his favorite, foolproof ways to annoy his sister was interfering with her dates. Whenever Ley thought she had scored some time alone with someone and things were heading in a saucy direction, Mika would pull some disruptive, attention-grabbing stunt that would bring the moment to a screeching halt. These incidents often ended with Ley screeching at Mika like a banshee, chasing her snickering brother around until she ultimately caught up and wrestled with him until his taunts turned into upset pleas for her to stop. They had both grown out of it eventually… Or so she thought.

“I know you’re fucking lying…” she cackled, doubling over as she tried and struggled to catch her breath. “I haven’t even been here five minutes, and the little shit’s already cockblocking me.”

Rex couldn’t break his stern and grounded gaze away from the badger that was doing the same. This would be his first, real life encounter with the creature. He’d seen the memes. He’d watch the video. The Badger, but specifically the Honey Badger, was a tenacious and stubborn creature. Someone who didn’t give any shits about what the odds were against him. Also a bit of a menace in the wild. Rex could respect that. He did respect that. He respected it so much that looking away would mean he admitted defeat to the animal that was mad-dogging him. Be it pride or an equal stubbornness, Rex refused to, yet he could multitask. “What was it that they say about it? It doesn’t give any fucks? Nasty little shits.” As if offended, he heard the badger make a noise of disapproval and it huffed proudly, as if also gloating in what Rex just stated.

Rex had heard plenty of tales about Ley’s family. How they were in the life. The Southside Serpents - gang warfare, crime, and basically any kind of scenario seen on the 10 O’Clock news was likely just the tip of the iceberg of her family’s doings. Rex was seldom phased by it, mostly because he never had it easy when he was growing up. His family wasn’t poor but they struggled. He and Frankie were, as some might infer, just a bunch of stupid boys doing stupid boy things. It’s why his family had moved away from Germany and to Los Angeles. It helped that his father got a sweet contract with all these sponsorships due to his own tenure as a boxer, but it was, as Derex came to understand years later, a way to remove Rex and Lena away from that life.

“You know, there was a time where I was really pissed off at my family for not letting me in the business,” Aleyda admitted with visible regret, reminiscing about the many arguments she’d had with her father and older brother for allowing someone outside the family to be a part of the Serpents’ leadership: a position she’d been all but forbidden from ever occupying. “I felt like they didn’t trust me, or that maybe they thought I wouldn’t be able to handle it or something. God, I didn’t speak to them for months-- I was so fucking upset about it… But after I moved to Los Angeles and started seeing what my life was looking like, I realized that keeping me out of the life was the best gift Dad and ReyRey could’ve ever given me. I fucking made it. I have everything I ever dreamed of and more. That never would’ve happened if I had stayed here. The thing that used to bother me the most turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Rex understood her anger at her family more than anyone. After a moment, he willingly submitted to the Badger’s assertion for dominance and looked away. As he did, he heard the sound of a happy and proud badger that was trying to rub it in Rex’s face. He ignored that and gazed at the second strongest woman he knew, only being second to his mama. “Family’s complicated like that. Decisions you didn’t understand before you would achieve everything they hoped you would only make sense when you put yourself in their shoes,” he said, bringing his left hand to stroke Ley’s cheek. The fire in her eyes was clear, shining specs of red in the brown eyes he fell so hopelessly in love with. The same fire he saw on his own whenever they looked in their mirrors. “And if I’m going to toot my own horn, if you never left this place, I would’ve never landed the hottest makeup artist in the SoCal area.”

Aleyda's laughter quickly filled the air. “That's celebrity makeup artist to you,” she joked, playfully tapping the man's nose before wrapping her arms around him for a tight hug. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw the badger still staring at the two of them with what Ley could've sworn was a judgmental, disgusted look on its face. Before she could stop herself, the Gonzalez girl flipped the badger off, and watched as it let out what sounded like an offended scoff before hurrying away in the direction that it came from.

Smirking to herself, the woman pulled away from the embrace to stare at the handsome face of her life partner once again. “I'm happy I found you, Derex. Thank you for being here with me,” the brunette told the man, reaching up on the tips of her toes to show her gratitude with a kiss.

In what was only a jest on his part, but so in line with how they teased each other, Rex said, “What else is a bull to do when he sees a red flag?” He laughed, his hands sliding down to hold his celebrity makeup artist of a girlfriend by her slimthick waist and bringing her so close to him that he could feel her pressing against his chest. He had towered over her by nearly a foot, but height wasn’t a matter. He loved her anyway. He deepened the kiss between them, feeling the hunger inside of him grow the more he tasted her. The more he took in her scent. Greed and gluttony always went hand in hand with Lust smashed between them. The perfect trio of the vices that Rex submitted to every time. He loved Aleyda Gonzalez with all his heart. He loved her fire. He loved her ambition, but maybe in the simplest and purest way, he loved her body.

And it was evident when he raised her up, holding her secure only to guide her down onto the cold stone. He heard the ambience of the creek, the serene gusts of wind tickling his skin. “You know…we don’t have to be anywhere for a while, right?” He hovered over her, feeling the hunger rising like a tide. Nibbling on her neck, he met her fiery gaze like he was waiting for the green light from his red flag so they could become a beige center in nature.

Aleyda giggled and rolled her eyes. Leave it to Derex to shift things back to the direction they were previously heading to. No bullshit and straight to the point: qualities the young woman loved so much about him. “Then I guess we better get busy before that badger comes back and takes a bite out of us…” she whispered in his ear, their laughter filling the air before Ley took her boyfriend up on his suggestive, thinly-veiled offer.


The story of Shakira's studio album Dónde Están los Ladrones? and the reason why there was a gap in between that one and her previous one.

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Sitting outside on the balcony of their hotel room of the Boston Yacht Haven Inn & Marina, watching the boats bob in the harbor as the sun welcomed a new day, Niles Sinclair relaxed his shoulders and quietly took a sip of his iced coffee from the local Starbucks. While it wasn’t Beau’s apple crisp macchiato, it at least still reminded him of the place he called home. In one of his hands he had his drink, having put his wife’s beverage and a vase filled with flowers in the kitchenette until she woke, and in his other hand was a book that wasn’t medical related.

Thank God.

He made the firm decision to not think about school or his residency while he was on vacation. If there was anyone that taught him to relax it would be the woman soundlessly asleep in their shared hotel bed. Or was she in the shower? Niles glanced back to confirm the whereabouts of his wife, his gaze immediately going to the light in the bathroom. Sitting in his thoughts, turning his attention back to the view and reading the book made by a former classmate of theirs, Charlie Decker, Niles smiled as his eyes scanned the line:

Whatever the pain I feel, no matter the hurt, I look through my window into hers and I see her. I see her and I know my life has meaning. She is the air I breathe. William Henley once said I am the Captain of my soul. She is the Captain of mine.

A story that compelled him like the great classics did. Hemingway, Dickens, Steinbeck, Wilde and so much more. A story that made him realize there was someone out there that saw the world for what it was and had anger bottling up inside him, just like him. The biggest difference was, and always will be, Niles knew he was born in privilege and it was in his privilege, he would have the better hand to succeed at life. Whatever success may be. Whether it was in love or within his career, or something else, Niles had more tools and resources to pursue it, with a good head on his shoulders. Something the narrator struggled with all his life, as well as the constant struggle of not communicating or even processing his emotions well. Niles could understand that and no money could get him to talk the chaos in his mind out, or express the raging storm in his heart. A woman though? A woman could and did everyday.

Through a series of letters that is cleverly threaded together, gradually allowing the audience to grow with the narrator, who discovers himself through numerous revelations, giving the reader a sense of revivification, Niles found himself contemplative and filled with nostalgia. The narrator found his golden compass, a woman as bright as the moon in the dark, night sky, just as Niles had with Natalia. His forever girl with galaxies in her gorgeous, green eyes. In a sense, when he read this cautionary tale, which warned readers of the dangers of not finding their code, he felt that, in another world, parallel to this one, if Niles had less than, maybe he would have struggled just as much as the narrator has. Or perhaps, even if he still had this privilege that he used to take for granted, maybe he would stop listening to that voice that told him to channel his anger into his potential. maybe he would’ve let the darkness creep up and consume him, choosing the path that no saints walk but doing it well, giving his darkness a name.

Damn, he was starting to think like Beau.

Sighing to himself, he closed the book, placing it and his drink down on the balcony table. Standing up, he stretched his body and made his way to the railing, leaning against it to stare at the warm colors of the coming day. He and Natalia had arrived two days ago but decided to take some time to themselves in Boston before driving home to do the ‘we’re back’ routine. Saying hi to their fathers and siblings, getting texts of people they hadn’t seen in months or years of them wanting to hang, and just finding time to reconnect with their roots. That was all fine and dandy but Niles wanted to prioritize one thing over everything else and that was visiting their moms’ graves. Everytime they came back, they always made time to see their mothers. It was the one thing that centered him and reminded him that everything he was working toward had purpose and meaning. Everything he did would be a life his mother would be proud about and something that made Natalia the happiest woman alive.

Niles didn’t crack the code of what absolute happiness was but as long as he had Natalia at his side, that’s all that really mattered. She was his reason to keep pushing forward and he would make sure she never regrets the decision of committing herself to him, even if he knew there will be days he won’t be the easiest man to love. He would rather fight with his wife over something stupid than live a life without her. The idea of losing Natalia was devastating so he’d work his ass off to make her feel loved and that he and her? They were forever. That she knew time and time again that he wanted her. There was no other person he would rather be with than her and like yesterday and tomorrow, today he wanted her. He wouldn’t stop wanting her. And if she could accept that he wasn’t bulletproof, he would love her so fiercely that when she woke up and when she went to bed there was no doubt in her mind that she was loved.

He loved her.

She loved him.

That was the singular, repetitive thought at the forefront of Natalia Sinclair’s mind as she let the warm water of the hotel shower run through her body. Much like their families, Natalia and Niles had been a united front against the triumphs and challenges of life since they were children meeting at daycare for the first time and becoming best friends. Additions to their respective family units, conflicts with their parents or siblings, puberty, academic and sporting achievements, expansions or reductions in their friendship circles, the devastating losses of their mothers… These and many more events had served to define their relationship throughout the years.

They had their ups and downs like everyone else, and time periods in which they set each other free out of love and the genuine intention of allowing one another the space to spread their wings and experience life beyond the confines of their relationship. Rather than separate them, their times apart only helped solidify what they had known all along: that they were meant to travel this road together. Sure: the college flings had been fun and all, and she'd met wonderful people along the way. But if she was truly honest with herself, Natalia always knew that none of them were ever going to work. She unconsciously searched for Niles in every partner she had while they were separated, and every one of them always seemed to come up short. They couldn't make her laugh like he did. They couldn't cheer her up like he did. They couldn't please her in the way that he could. They couldn't understand her at the level that he did. At the end of the day, whenever she found herself celebrating the highest of highs or battling the lowest of lows, it was Niles who Natalia went back to-- who she always wanted to go to. The day they got engaged and the day they united their lives in marriage were two of the happiest days of her life (as evidenced by the amount of hours she spent inconsolably crying with joy after each event).

Sometimes, whenever she would wake up from slumber to what felt like an empty space next to her in the bed, a deep-seated fear settled on the pit of Natalia's stomach. ‘Everything has been a dream,’ a voice in her head would say. ‘Everything has been a figment of your very vivid imagination. None of it was ever real. Your life as you know it has been a lie.’ Her chest would begin to tighten as the panic would start to set in, and she began to desperately search for proof that the voice in her head was wrong. Then her eyes would fall on the silhouette of the love of her life, her Niles Conall Sinclair, and the storm raging inside her would settle. Nothing was a lie. Everything was real. She wasn't alone in the world. She had her Niles.

Everything was good.

With her shower now over with, the green-eyed woman toweled off the water droplets off her hair and skin, slipped into the matching fluffy white slipper and robe set provided to them by the hotel, and exited the bathroom, leaving a citrus-scented trail behind her. 6 noticed the coffee and the flowers waiting for her on the kitchenette, Tal's Face broke into a beaming smile. That was her Niles: always making sure she knew just how much she was loved with little details like this. She took a sip of her drink as she scanned the room, enjoying the way the sweet liquid warmed her insides while her eyes searched for her elusive husband. She spotted him outside the room and on the balcony, leaning against the railing and looking absolutely absorbed in his own head.

Perfect

With a mischievous smile spread across her face, Natalia walked across the room. She slid the glass door that led to the balcony as quietly as she could in hopes that Niles was too wrapped up in his thoughts to pay any attention to his surroundings. Her slipper-clad feet barely made a sound as she tiptoed closer and closer to the man’s oblivious figure, until…

"Boo!" Tal shrieked loudly at the same time she grabbed her husband’s waist with both hands. Snickering at his startled reaction, the young woman wrapped her arms around Niles and peppered his cheek with kisses-- an important part of her normal routine. “Good morning, sunshine!” she greeted the man, nuzzling her face into his neck. “Thank you for the coffee and the flowers. That was a nice way to start off my day.”

“You’re energetic,” Niles chuckled, coming back from a high of her scaring the shit out of him. He had hyper focused on the view to the point that he had forgotten where he was for a second. Something his mind tended to do when he drifted into a headspace of melancholy. Years, it’s been years of him struggling with his mental health. Therapy session after therapy session, the pressure of school and the expectations of his father, especially when his old man does decide to retire. In addition to all that, Niles was still trying to maneuver through the world of wellness and self care just to feel and be happy. While the infinite sadness still lingered inside him — grief wasn’t something that just went away, it would live with him forever — Niles knew where he was and how far he'd come. This was the best place for him to be in. And he wasn’t alone. He had Natalia at his side and when he couldn’t be strong, she was there to help him walk, as he was there for her when the world became too much for her to carry.

They both suffered great losses and their hearts, their minds and their souls would never be the same. They were reprogrammed and forever changed. And yet, throughout it all, they were still standing and if he had things his way, they would never fall. But if they did, he’d make sure that they were together, throughout it all. Neither alone.

Contemplative of his reading, he turned his head to look at his wife. Leaning in, he pressed his lips against hers and breathed her citrus scent in. These lips, always on his mind. “This is the best way to start things off.” Kissing the love of his life. His one and only. His Natalia.

The first time Natalia’s lips had met with Niles’ had been well over a decade ago. She remembered the anticipation reflected as butterflies in her stomach like it was yesterday, along with the fireworks behind her eyelids when they kissed, the weakness in her knees when their kisses grew deeper a few years later, the way her head always felt like it was spinning and how the air seemed to be sucked out of her lungs… It was the same way she was feeling right now, as they kissed on the balcony of their shared hotel room-- the same way she had felt since they were young. “You’re absolutely right,” she agreed with a smile, momentarily resting her forehead against his before allowing their lips to come together once more.

“Hey, look,” he whispered, unlatching her hold around him. Gently, he directed her in front of him, pointing to the sunrise. Wrapping one arm around her waist, and the other around her chest, holding her close, possessively, Niles kissed her neck, brushing his nose against her skin. He leaned his cheek against hers as they stared at the beautiful view. “What do you see?”

“Water,” Natalia answered matter-of-factly, unable to stop herself. Leave it to her to make a joke during what was supposed to be a serious, romantic moment. Attempts at humor were her way of lightening the mood before easing into any potentially more serious subjects. Chuckling from Niles’ reaction, she added, “The sunrise. In the distance. Reflected over the ocean.” There, that was a better answer.

Niles chuckled, rolling his eyes in response. He was trying to be romantic but there she was, cracking jokes. He didn’t mind. It was one of the many things he loved about her. “I see a new beginning, and a new ending. We can breathe in this fresh air and take the morning as a new start. Leave the bad behind and move forward into the future. Today, we welcome a new day to grow together. A new day to be grateful. And then tomorrow we can start all over again.” He rested his chin on her shoulder and closed his eyes, not wanting to let her go. “I’m grateful you dealt with the worst of me. I don’t think anyone else would’ve had the patience for it.”

An outsider listening in to their conversation would've brushed off Niles’ last bit as him referencing the normal ups and downs of any relationship, like petty arguments and squabbles that were solved in a span of a few minutes, hours or days. Unless you were someone the young couple grew up with, you would never know that, at the age of twelve, the devoted, loving man with Natalia in his arms had lost his mother-- and with her, his sense of purpose and direction in life. The goofy, cheerful boy the Italian girl had spent her formative years getting into mischief with had turned into a moody, rebellious shadow of himself, who spent his adolescence pushing everyone who loved him away while consumed by his grief and heartbreak.

The sudden shift in Niles’ personality was certainly tough for Natalia at first. She couldn't relate to his immense suffering, and struggled to understand why he seemed to reject and rebuff every single attempt she made at easing his pain and improving his state of mind-- a heavy burden on her own twelve year-old shoulders. Nevertheless, she persisted. She was a Belmonte, after all: stubbornness and determination was in their blood. The harder Niles pushed her away, the more Tal dug her heels on the ground. She stayed with him through highs and lows, proving her unwavering commitment to him time and time again. With time and therapy, the Sinclair son was able to face his demons, find ways to cope with the inner battles he faced, and build a life he was content with… A life alongside Natalia: something she was immensely grateful for. Things hadn't been easy, but nothing truly worth it ever was.

The brunette turned her face away from the stunning view in front of them to plant a kiss on her husband's cheek, placing her arms on top of his. “The world was dealing you with a shitty card, love. I wasn't going to leave you to deal with that by yourself. When I said I would always be there for you, I meant it,” she reassured him, resting the side of her head next to his. “And it's not like I've been perfect either. You've had your hands full with me too.”

“Oh you’re a fucking brat,” Niles airily growled, his smug smile, sly and mischievous, growing wider as he eased his large hands down to her ass, earning himself a curious glance from his wife. Gripping firmly, he lifted her up, allowing her to wrap her arms and legs around him. “I certainly do have my hands full…” he teased, squeezing her cheeks.

Although Natalia rolled her eyes, the laugh that followed her action made it clear that she was anything but annoyed. “Only because you spoil me and let me get away with as much as you do,” she told her husband, letting her lips melt into his with a passionate kiss. While humor was her way of coping with potentially deep conversations, the flame of desire inside Niles seemed to spark up into a wildfire whenever the couple shared emotionally-charged discussions. Sometimes the transition was more subtle, other times it was more abrupt. But there was almost always a guarantee that a chat about feelings would end up with Niles and Natalia wrapped around each other as one.

Carrying her in tandem with him, he leisurely stepped toward the glass door that she left open. His destination was clear and his motive could be felt down below. “Mrs. Sinclair,” he cooed, brushing his lips on her neck as he did so. He continued, “As your gynecologist I believe you’re long overdue for an appointment. With such a busy day ahead of us, it’s my duty to provide you with the best service. As you already know, I give… detailed examinations… so I can’t promise you this will be quick.”

@Venus & @LovelyComplex
LOCATION: Nikole's cabin inside The Thousand Sunny


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Inside one of the spacious cabins of The Thousand Sunny, the young woman responsible for the planning and organizing of this class reunion sat in front of the small vanity, obsessively examining every inch of her reflection in the mirror for what felt like the hundredth time. It was easy to tell that Nikole Seara-Reyes was nervous. And why wouldn’t she be? She’d been planning this event for weeks: securing the venue with Ty, confirming the attendance of her classmates, coordinating with the vendors, putting her trust in staff she had no previous experience working with… All in hopes of ensuring that every guest had the top-tier, quality service that Lucid Dream Events prided itself upon. With the attendees being people she had known for years, Kole had set herself very high expectations for the night ahead. And like it always happened when such high stakes were attached to an event, the brunette’s anxiety was at an all-time high.

After combing over her flyaways for what felt like the dozenth time, Nikole decided she needed to do something to take the edge off. With her hands trembling lightly, she picked up one of the chilled Pink Whitney bottles previously resting on the vanity, unscrewed the cap and downed the miniature bottle in one go. In different circumstances, she would’ve indulged in one of the magic chill pills hiding inside one of the pockets of her purse. But she needed to be of sound body and mind tonight, and Nikki knew that she’d be able to handle at least four of those little liquor bottles before she started to revert back to the wild party girl of her teenage years.

“Okay. How do I look?” Kole asked the other person in the room, barely able to hold their gaze for a few seconds before starting to fidget with the skirt of her dress.

Laying on one of the many beds in the Sunny, but this one specifically claimed by his sister, Matías Reyes leaned up against her bedframe, listening to classical lofi in one ear and in the other, her anxiety ridden tangent. He seemed checked out of the conversation, focused on reading One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez. Matty usually seemed uninvolved and uninterested; that was just his nature. Nikole knew better though. She knew her step brother was one of the most present people in a room, sober or not. He was aware of everything that surrounded him. He was aware of her.

Call it a curse or a blessing, Matty saw things and understood people, their personal battles and their bonds with others, without anyone speaking their truths and telling him what they were going through. His intuition was out of this world or perhaps he simply was a keen observer. Whether it was his wits or the fact that he was begrudgingly an empathetic dude, there’s a reason he decided to live off the grid and part of her knew parties and large events overstimulated him. Not in the sense of the wild comings and goings, but more so he could feel others' joys and sorrows, highs and lows, to the point that it drove him to have a dependency on drugs. Drugs and booze was hell disguised as heaven and in highschool, he chased that addiction, he rode that wave and became someone he wasn’t proud of.

No matter… that was all in the past. He had been sober for years, making him see the world with immense clarity, not using the trip as a distraction. There would be no doubt in her mind that she knew he could see right through her. From the fidgeting to her sweaty palms, Matty read her like a book. With a sharp and quick glance, he stared at her, their eyes meeting only momentarily. His male gaze didn’t linger on her form for too long, just enough for him to gather the necessary information, before bringing his attention back to his book. He turned to the next page.

“Can’t believe you’re still putting this much effort to impress him,” Matty muttered. His legs laid out, already in formal wear, with black socks to match. His lightweight, white oxford button-down shirt wasn’t closed fully, showing a glimpse of his muscular chest, while his blue pants had been ironed and his left ear, like a token look since childhood, had a small hoop earring. Relaxing himself, more so than he already was in his sister’s cabin, he tsked, annoyed that Nikki was still doing this dance after all these years, “Does how you look even matter if you’re not gonna’ say shit?”

His sister’s scoff of disbelief was immediate. “Who are you talking about? I’m not trying to impress a specific person!” Nikole quipped, shaking her head in disapproval before taking a seat in bed next to Matias. “I’m just making sure I look presentable, is all.” The siblings knew that there was only one reunion attendee who could make Nikki so flustered, and that deluding herself into thinking he didn’t matter to her in that way was her default way of coping with the unresolved feelings. “I just really, really, really want this night to go well-- for all of us.”

A ten-year high school reunion wasn’t exactly something that anyone would ask for other than those individuals who peaked during said time period. That wasn’t the case of any of the former classmates who had RSVP’d. Yet Nikole, in her infinite, business-oriented wisdom, saw it as the perfect opportunity to get everyone together not just for a fun time, but for some potential hardcore networking as well. Her graduating class had the likes of well-known internet personalities, Hollywood stars, sport MVPs, respected academics, successful healthcare providers… The possibilities for interactions were endless! For some of these very important guests, this was their first time attending an event of Kole’s-- so first impressions would be everything.

“Oh yeah, yeah. This party will be bitchin’,” Matty scanned the words on a page of his book, not really taking any of it in because his attention was on his sister. “Got people worried I might relapse, and then some think I’m dead - which is hilarious.” He chuckled to himself. “When I found out, I couldn’t stop laughing.” He was making light of the situation and although he wasn’t nervous to see his former classmates, he did wonder what reactions to expect, especially from the Swimmer twins.

Nikole’s lips pursed into a tight, disapproving line. “Right. Freaking hilarious.” While the whole ‘Matias Reyes Is Dead’ rumor had been amusing in the beginning, it got old pretty fast when Kole started getting condolences from people-- some going as far as to make it a point to make remembrance posts or calls to her on his ‘death anniversary’ even when nobody from the Reyes family had confirmed, denied or made any comments or the slightest of remarks regarding his whereabouts. Nikki’s loyalty to her brother meant that, no matter how exasperated the whole thing made her, she kept her lips sealed and put up with it. Thankfully, tonight’s comeback meant that Matty's charade would finally be over. All she could hope for was that those who believed it was true wouldn’t be too upset about it.

Closing his book, he placed it on his sister’s stand, leaned back, resting his head on his hand and looked at the ceiling. “Real talk though, this is you and I got no doubt that this party will be nothing short of amazing.” He turned his head toward her and gave a sly smirk, “What? We gonna’ burn Ty’s boat down just like we did with dad’s billion dollar mansion?”

That last comment earned the man a knowing smile from his sister. When Matias and Nikole were first introduced to one another, their parents were concerned by the initial hesitation displayed by the two. They were two ten-year old kids trying to navigate tweenhood while processing their parents dating someone seriously for the first time since their own personal tragedies. They didn't need to worry, though. By the time the day was over and ever since, Matty and Nikki had been two peas in a pod: inseparable partners in crime. They went to school together, hung around the same friend group… She couldn’t even count the amount of times the two of them had covered for one another, or helped each other sneak around, or conspired on some mischief whenever their parents were away.

“You’re lucky he loves me enough to forgive most of the trouble we got ourselves into,” she chuckled, referencing the many times Kole took responsibility for their misdeeds because she knew Juan Diego would go easier on them if she did. “I still remember the time his and Mom’s flight got canceled and we had to rush to get the place clean and everyone out of the house before they showed up! That was a fucking trip.”

“Good memories,” Matty sighed in response, that unwelcome feeling of nostalgia of the best and worst years of his life washing over him. “You’re pivoting though,” he glanced over at her, taking in her pristine make-up job, with no flaws or blemishes. Her cheeks kissed pink and her natural features more pronounced. “You want this night to go well. Obviously. But what does that mean to you?” There was a brief pause, allowing her to sit on his words and think. He sat up, shifting himself toward her, now completely in listener mode. “Don’t think about anyone else. You got food, booze and a scenic view, that’s more than enough to entertain everyone. Where do you see yourself tonight? In a bed alone or…” Matty intentionally let his voice trail off, not finishing his sentence. He knew deep down, Kole wanted to rant and ramble about a certain topic. It was getting her to that point that took time. He knew her all too well and honestly, in another life they were probably twins.

"Hypothetically speaking, maybe there's a certain superstar athlete I'd like to finish the night with," Nikki admitted, her cheeks turning pink from something other than her expensive blush. "And, hypothetically speaking, maybe the reason I used the yacht as a venue was so I could justify not giving people the option to bring plus ones so there would be no chance of him showing up with one of those instathots he likes to parade himself around with. But this superstar athlete has also been my best friend for nearly sixteen years. Do you know how pathetic it'll sound if I just walk up to him and say: 'hey, remember the night we hooked up after prom? You know, the only one we've ever slept together? Well, that kind of confirmed that I've had feelings for you since I was 15, but I've been too much of a chicken to tell you because I was scared of ruining our friendship'? Imagine something like that backfiring and then having to spend the rest of the weekend around each other feeling all kinds of awkward and mortified. I'd rather get eaten by a shark."

Bluntly, Matty answered, “Very pathetic, actually. You’re not wrong.” Cracking his knuckles, he continued, not really caring if his sister was seeking validation or reassurance but answering things in the only way Matty knew how. Curtly and without holding back any of the punches. “Hey, at least the only way he can escape you is off board, amiright?” He humored himself, even letting his handsome smile slip through. “So definitely a strategy to have this party on a boat-- and no plus ones, for sure.”

His earpiece started playing the classical lofi version of Mozart’s Allegro and Matty took it off, only to put his music on speaker so his sister could vibe with him as he waved his arms and hands around to dance with this bop. His sister needed to chill. “But seriously, we’re fastly approaching our thirties and it’s not like anyone else makes you wet like your bestie so you’re either going to end this night with a bang, or go home living through the same shit and being stagnant. How long you want to be bitter? For the rest of your life? Bet. That’s your grave sis, but I’mma do me and just let the flow take me on a journey. The only regret you’ll have tonight is not taking a chance because you’re quote, too much of a chicken, unquote but hey do you boo.”

As much as she hated to admit it, Nikole knew that Matias was right. For someone who always claimed to live her life to the fullest, take risks and have fun, she sure was proving to be doing the complete opposite of that. Nikki was an independent, self-sufficient 28 years old with a six figure bank account, a successful business, no children, no divorces, no psychotic exes or mountains of debt. For all intents and purposes, she was quite a catch. Why he couldn’t see that was beyond her, but maybe she just needed to pry his eyes open with her fingers to the possibilities of what they could be together. They weren’t getting any younger, either, so the time to act was now. And if all else failed, she could always drown her sorrows in bottomless mimosas or disappear on some 3 month-long cruise around the world or something.

“Okay fine Nikki conceded, rolling her eyes. “But that applies to both of us, bestie! If I take a chance on my person, you take a chance on yours. No exceptions.” she added sternly, shooting her brother a pointed look. She didn’t need to say names. Matty would know exactly who she was talking about. Her next comments would clear the air if there was ever doubt about who she meant. “Hopefully she forgives you for the whole ‘I’m not actually dead’ thing and we can all move on from that mess. I can’t wait for it to finally be over with.”

“Woah, woah, woah,” Matty held his hands up in a hold-up-wait-minute gesture. She got his attention; his full attention. She was insinuating something that wasn’t true, that he, of all people, was one to not take chances and two, he was stuck in the same situation as her with a girl he once knew. This needed to be corrected. “Person? Me? Come on, Nik. I’m not some sappy hopeless romantic looking to find my soulmate tonight. That mushy shit ain’t for me and I’m chill being alone. Will I talk to my once-upon-a-partner-in-crime? Absolutely. Will she slap me in the face? Likely. Do I deserve it? Definitely. Will we kiss? Probably. I’m not afraid to approach her, let alone talk to her about hard hitting topics like my death. Not like you are with your boy. That was never something up for debate.”

Nikole rolled her eyes again. "I am not afraid to approach him or talk to him about sensitive topics," she scoffed, standing up from the bed to unknowingly pace around the cabin. And it was true. Nikki and Randy met up with each other in person at least once a month, they texted and video chatted as frequently as it was healthy for two people with such busy schedules. In all these interactions, the two best friends talked about anything and everything: including their love lives. Did Nikole constantly wrestle back feelings of jealousy whenever Randy went off on his soapbox about who he was entangling himself with? Absolutely. Did she try to compete with or one-up him with her own experiences that sometimes might be a liiiiiittle embellished and exaggerated? That was a possibility. But even then, she still pushed her biases and emotions aside and encouraged him to always do what made him happy-- even if it was at the cost of her own feelings. That was the definition of genuine love.

"But this isn't about you, or me, or anyone else specifically! This is about having a night to relive the good ole’ times with the gang and make even more memories together." Kole declared in a pointed attempt to move on from the previous topic and shift the attention back to the real purpose of this event. As much as she loved and trusted Matty, there was only so much venting she could do without it sounding repetitive or whiny. She couldn't afford to be this distracted before things even started, either. She needed to pick herself up by the bootstraps, take a page out of Troy Bolton’s book and get her head in the game. "I just hope there's not too much chaos this time around... I sorta promised Ty that we'd make it back to the harbor with his yacht in one piece. The last thing I want is for any of us to get screwed over by the insurance company suing us for damages or something like that."

“The class that partied the hardest, keeping this boat in one piece? Ha, One Piece...” Matty chuckled, knowing where Ty got the name The Thousand Sunny from. “Yeah, totally. Sounds easy enough.” He stood up and stretched his arms. They had a long night ahead of them. Would it be chill? Only time would tell. The horn of the Sunny went off and he gave his sister a wink, before getting ready to exit and make a stop at his cabin. “That’s your cue, babygirl. Make this party your bitch. Oh,” he snapped his fingers, stopping in his tracks and going to her dresser where he rummaged through her jewelry box. He pulled out a stunning gold necklace with birthstone pendants and offered it to his sister. “This would go great with that dress, unless your goal is to show all that neck. Then nevermind. Do you, boo.” The more he talked, the more he realized how much Ziggy influenced his way of speech. Even to this day, he couldn’t help but speak with the same energy, just maybe less sass and kind of dry. That’s just the way of things when your best friend was a transcendental goddess. “Still gorgeous but it might be best if we go up separately. I doubt you want to hear my eulogy during your bad bitch entrance.”

Nikki took the necklace being offered to her by her brother and glanced at it. She hadn’t planned on wearing anything other than earrings and rings, but Matty choosing to pull this specific item out of her jewelry box to hand to her was a sign. The necklace had been a gift from Juan Diego to his new daughter upon his marriage to Cristina, with each birthstone pendant representing the birth months of her father, her stepfather, her mother and her own. It was a necklace that Nikki had long since deemed as her lucky charm-- one she rarely took off and one that she was wearing in nearly every moment where she experienced having a little luck on her side.

As soon as she placed the chain on her neck and clasped it on, a sense of peace settled on her chest. She knew then that no matter what the night would bring her, she had her parents’ best wishes and luck on her side. Everything would be alright.

Smiling, Nikole wrapped her arms around her brother and pulled him into a tight hug. “Thanks for everything, babes. You’re the best brother I could’ve ever asked for,” she told him, holding him for a few seconds before the Sunny's horn went off again.

Five more minutes until showtime. It was time to go.

Finally releasing Matty from her clutches, Nikki turned on her heel and made a beeline for the door. “I’ll see you upstairs!” she called out to her brother, offering him a parting wave before rushing out of her cabin and into the unknown.



At exactly 8PM, the sound of cutlery sharply clanking against glass reverberated from the speakers across the top deck bar of The Thousand Sunny. Nikole stood on top of the small stage, one hand wrapped around a wireless microphone while the other held a glass flute full of bubbly champagne. With a bright smile that hid her jitters, the brunette watched as the night’s guests were guided up to the top deck and greeted with flutes of champagne. When the final guest had received their glass, Nikki took a deep breath to center herself, and addressed the group.

“May I have everyone’s attention, please?” Nikole politely called out to the crowd. She waited until the attendees settled themselves into their preferred positions before kicking off her small welcome speech. “First of all, I would like to welcome you all to the ten year reunion of Kings Academy’s graduating class of 2013! A round of applause for you all, please!” she exclaimed happily, allowing them a moment to clap before carrying on. “I truly appreciate each and every one of you here for taking the time out of your busy schedules to join us here for this little adventure. While we have lots of fun activities planned for the rest of our voyage, the night ahead of us is all about reliving the good times we spent together growing up and figuring things out while making new, exciting memories along the way.”

“With that being said, I’d like to propose a toast,” Nikki declared, raising her flute in the air towards the crowd and watching them mirror her actions. “To the graduating class of 2013. May we all continue to keep cultivating successes in our lives, without ever losing sight of who we are. Salut!

Salut!

“Now, let’s get this party started! Yay!”
<Snipped quote by Venus>

I feel that. What do you think caused it to die? Seems like it always had a lot of traction and interest.


Just life in general! A lot of us got burnt out in the first and only iteration where it was the graduating senior year class, and then interest just fizzled out in the first and second attempts at the class reunion version. This third attempt is meant to be very casual and relaxed, so hopefully we keep it going a little while! ♥️
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