Two for the Show 2

Two for the Show

2

    Alec was a prick; I should know since I was dating him until yesterday. I went over to the house of my lab partner so we could finish our project and discovered both of them. She apologized and told me how it happened, but I wasn't paying attention. It was a story I heard several times before, and I was focused on Alec. He just sat there as she explained, pushing his dark auburn hair out of his eyes looking smug and content. He was daring me to call him out, and I finally had enough. At the end of the tale, without looking away from Alec, I said, "I don't hold it against you, Jess. I doubt he mentioned he had a girlfriend, and as of this moment, he's single, so you can continue to sleep with the bastard if you like."

    I walked out of the house with a smile on my face and felt lighter than air. Our relationship had been going downhill for a while now, and I was ready to have Alec out of my life, Alec was not. This morning Alec showed up at my apartment, putting on one of his shows for those around me. From the doorstep, he begged me to come back and promised to be better. Becky heard the whole thing from inside the apartment, and I saw glimpses of heads as our neighbors peeked at the spectacle.

    Now here he is not even 12 hours later sizing up another notch in his bedpost. I'm tempted to walk over and slap him, but I don't doubt that he's trying to get more ammo to use against me, knowing I'm here. But I am done doing things the way he wants. He isn't the only one who could play dirty, if he wants attention I'll give it to him, I have plenty of ammo too. I move back the way I came and into the living room, which has become a makeshift dance floor. I find a blonde girl I think lives in my apartment complex looking quite tipsy, and I dance next to her. She yells about what a good party it is, and I force a wide grin and agree.

    "Oh, but did you hear that Alec showed up?"

    She gasps, "Isn't that the guy who did that huge apology this morning?"

    I nod, "I heard that it was just a ploy, and his real girlfriend is in the hospital."

    "No! Really?"

    "Josh said Alec smacked her at his party, and she fell and hit her head."

    "Oh my god, I thought he was a nice guy."

    I agree again and slowly move away.

 

 

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Two for the Show 1

Okay, a disclaimer before we begin. This is a revenge story taking place in a small college/university. All of the characters are at least 20. This story does have abuse in it; some of it is implicit because I didn't want to get too graphic for the peers that originally read it. They didn't mention having a problem, but I've made changes since then, and I know depictions of abuse can affect others. It's less than 10 parts, so if you decide to skip, you won't have to wait long.

                       -Rose B.

Two for the Show

1

    The couch I'm sitting on is an ugly yellow, I would bet money that the color is the reason it's been relegated to the basement. The music playing in the living room upstairs is so loud I feel my bones resonating with the bass. I came down here to avoid people, but I already can't see anything but partygoers. A couple has started making out on the other side of the couch, and I don't doubt there are plenty more throughout the house. An image of me pouring the contents of my solo cup on the couple flashes in my head, but I ignore it. Hopefully, Erica had enough foresight to lock the doors of the rooms. She doesn't want less exhibitionist couples to enter. I stand up and push my way through the mob of people filling the basement, aiming for the stairs.

    Not for the first time tonight, I wonder why I'm here. I didn't even want to come. I planned on having a quiet night in my room playing the online game my little sister recommended or maybe watching Netflix. I hadn't even had the chance to make the decision when Becky burst in declaring that we were going to Erica's party. I tried to convince her to let me stay at home, but she was dead set that this would make me feel better.

    I step around the drunks on the stairs, and one boy who I suspect is high. If weed is being passed around, then it is definitely time for me to leave. No need for my parents to get called by some cop breaking up the party. The main floor is even worse than the basement, the music is louder, and everyone is yelling over it to be heard. Luckily, the amount of people is about the same. I navigate towards the kitchen. As soon as I find Becky, I'm going home no matter how much she begs me to stay.

    I stop walking as a giggle reaches my ear. Ahead of me, through a sea of classmates, I see a couple that is no different than any other couple here. The girl is leaning against the boy in a low cut, slightly too tight shirt trying too hard to be liked. The boy has his hand on her waist, but his brown eyes keep dipping towards her shirt. The girl only encourages him by getting closer. The boy smiles in return and my lip curls. Maybe I should pour my drink on them, but it was Alec, not the girl, that deserved it.

 

 

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Our Condolences end

Our Condolences

final letter

28th day of Lorenier, 953

To Mr. Samuel Wick

    We regret to inform you that Mrs. Angeline Wick was killed while doing a great justice to her country. The country thanks her for her sacrifice, she dies a hero and will be remembered as such as we continue our fight. We have sent along all personal effects, which may not arrive at the time of this letter. You can rest assured that she will receive a full honors burial, just send a reply of where you would like to lay her to rest and we will make sure it happens.

    Our Sincerest Condolences,

                 Offices of Elect Leader J. H. Rume

 

 

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Our Condolences 17

Our Condolences

seventeenth letter

27th day of Lorenier, 953

My Dear Sammy,

    I am grateful for your unwavering hope in this troubled time. I love you and my little Albert more than words can describe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Our Condolences Finishing, New Story Starting

Alright, Our Condolences has only two parts left. Originally I was just going to publish them about a day apart, but it makes more sense to me to publish them both at once. The next story I'm going to do it titled Two for the Show.
For those of you that are interested in the world of Our Condolences, the months come from the names of gods, and I'll share the notes I have about them:

• Samth is the goddess of the weather, time, and age.
• Tutala is goddess of chaos, war and battlefields. Which includes anyone on or dealing with them.
• Matlyth is a minor god (is a horse) over travel and correspondence. Because he is known for his speed, he is prayed to when anything needs to move or get done fast.
• Thuren is the god of life and nature. Partner of Samth, they are primordial gods that rebirth themselves every so often. So Thuren is the god of all life (including the other gods) but also the god of nature (life cycle of earth). The cycle of these two gods destroys and recreates the world and is part of the apocalypse of humanity (the apocalypse of the Parthenon deals with the destruction of these two).
• Sumin is the god of knowledge, learning, and curiosity.
• Seryn is the goddess of the wild, parties, and hunting.
• Yemth is the goddess of the night, shadows, and what dwells within them (assassins, thieves, nocturnal animals).
• Rarin is the goddess of the sea, water, and fishermen.
• Nurth is the god of the dead, and Thuren's brother. He's more like the keeper of the dead. He makes sure they move from the mortal plane to the afterlife and he's responsible for making the dead get the well wishes of the ones they left behind (The god of death, famine, and disease is Morath. Morath has a twin sister, Culora who is the goddess of deceit, cunning, and lies).
• Chael and Lorein are King and Queen of their pantheon, together they are the gods of family and marriage.
  - Chael is the goddess of children/childbirth and mothers. She is thought to be kind and warm, but when angered or threatened, she can be vicious.
  - Lorein is the god of love/lovers (which includes those who have had they love taken from them [widowers] and the heartbroken). This includes the dark/hurtful side, as well. He is considered to have two sides/selves: the one that is the romantic (Lorn) and the other that deals in vengeance (Nier).

All the months except Lorein's end in "ir", which means "month of". Lorein's month is different because he has two sides; to show respect to both, it became Lorenier. There's probably more lore as to why his is the only one that's different, but I haven't figured that out yet.

Our Condolences 16

Our Condolences

sixteenth letter

22nd day of Chaelir, 953

Dearest Angel,

    Keep your chin up love. As long as you come back alive it doesn't matter what those Loyalist bastards are doing. When you are home all you have to worry about it Albert insisting we get another dog. You only need to sit on the porch and watch the sunsets with me, while Margie sits at our feet. We can visit Beth and watch our son grown into a fine young man. We'll never have to fear seeing that black car again and we can thank Tutala, Chael, and Lorein for getting you home safe.

    Albert is missing you a lot lately almost every day he pulls your letters out of the box I have stored them in and reads them in silence. He hugs Rosey close and occasionally whispers in her ear. While I can't tell what he says I know he is sending you his love, even though it's not in a letter.

    Lovingly,

                Sam

 

 

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Our Condolences 15

Our Condolences

fifteenth letter

9th day of Samthir, 953

My Dear Sammy,

    They've been pushing us hard lately, and they do not seem to care about our complaints. Their attitude only lends credibility to the rumors. No one brushes them off as just rumors anymore, and they become more accepted with each passing day. With the higher-ups making such awful decisions that kill so many of our comrades, how can we not? Just as we make headway they rotate us farther away from the front, every time we rotate people die from ignorance. I'm beginning to suspect they are doing so on purpose to hinder the progress we make as much as possible.

    Why must we be the ones to die for their pride? Why must we fight their battles while they sit in a tent at a safe distance? When they strut through camp, eyes filled with anger follow them. The anger seems to keep us alive when the anger is gone we are left only with defeat. Opal is the only one who still cares and we do our best to hush her up so the anger is not turned on us. I tell myself I only need to get home safe and that seems to keep me going.

    Forever Yours,

                 Angeline

 

 

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