New Begining

From the journal of Peppermint Firework:

I am going to start this with one of the most cliche ways possible. 

My name is Peppermint Firework and this is my story....

Cliche right?

Anyhow onto the story. My cat Candy Cane and I had moved to Applesauce Plains almost 5 months ago and still, I knew no one. I was obsessed with earning a living with my painting that I didn't really go out to meet people.

I saw a commercial on TV with Waterlily Chiffon promoting one of the many non-profit organizations the Chiffon family funds. This one was Homes for the Homeless a program where people offered their homes up to others in need. This seemed like a great way for me to meet people and help someone.

So I called them up and was matched with a a homeless person that they thought would do best in the environment I provided. When they said his name was Cosmo Leaf, I was a bit worried. What will it be like to have some strange man in my house? How awkward will it be? Can I do this?

Well I made a commitment so I'll see it through.

_______

Several weeks later, Cosmo was due to arrive. I had repainted the house with some green so he'd feel more comfortable here and that whole morning I was puttering around the house making sure everything was perfect but not too perfect since I didn't want to make him feel inadequate.

I was a ball of nerves by the time he and one of the workers from Homes for the Homeless came.

I was immediately greeted with a bear hug and thousands upon thousands of 'thank yous' and 'you are wonderfuls'. After he was finished gushing he must have noticed that my cheeks were the same color as my lipstick. He offered me a warms smile and said "Sorry 'bout that, I'm just very grateful." He let out a small chuckle.

 In the midst of inwardly fawning over his smile, The worker stepped in and informed me of everything I needed to know about the program and Cosmo.

_________

Throughout the next few months that Cosmo lived with me we had formed a bond. It felt like he was my instant BFF. We both loved the arts, just different forms of art. Where as I loved painting, Cosmo loved playing the guitar. So I got him one.

He was wonderful with my dear fur-baby, Candy Cane. Candy had been getting lonely and Cosmo gave her all the affection she could want.

But when the day came that he got a job, we knew she would be lonely during the days since Cosmo was working at the theatre and I at my studio.

 

So we decided to get her a friend. I let Cosmo pic out the new kitty since he never had a cat. That day we brought home Temple, a little green boy kitty for Candy to pal around with.

They became fast friends and play mates. So much so that Candy hardly paid attention to anyone else but Temple.

________

Since I had open hours and Cosmo worked nights, our friendship became closer and closer. Often I would ditch finishing a piece so that we could watch movies together.

But that particular time something was different. I had to keep fighting off the impulse to ....kiss him. Weird.

Apparently he didn't feel like fighting it.

___________

I hope you have enjoyed the first chapter of my new DITFT rainbowacy ♥

and now for another

Cosmo got into a groove for a while so of course I took way too many pics, this is one of them.

take a chance

I have known London Hue Perfume for quite some time now. We met not long after Downy and I moved in with Dad and Mom (Anakiwa). At that time the wounds of losing our parents were still very raw and London was the first person at our new school that was actually nice to me. He helped me through the tough time and kept me from thinking of the world as an awful place.
Now some 15 or so years later things between us had changed quite a bit.
But I'm getting ahead of myself.

When we were 14 we made a sort of pact. We would practice kissing and other romantic stuff but only as practice, nothing more. We agreed not to take things any further than practice, no actual 'like-like' involved.

For awhile it worked. And as we got older we began practicing other things. Just so we would know what to do! You're probably giving me a look right now aren't you? Well stop.

However at that age we weren't really aware that we had no control over our feelings. Recently I became aware that London's feelings had changed and not long after he himself made it quite clear.

A small, annoying voice in the back of my head cheered, WHOOO! he feels that way too!

Wait wait wait! Too? No way, there's no too here. No too what so ever.

At least that's what I kept saying.

One morning, after some 'practice' (Shut up people have needs!) London and I awoke in the bed we occasionally share.

Letting out a heavy sigh London sat in a slump at the edge of the bed. "Wisteria," Here it comes. "You know I love you Wis." He waited, anticipating a response that I couldn't give.

Another sigh. "I know you love me too... well, I'm pretty sure you do." He ran his hand down his face. "You can't stop things from changing Wis. Change happens because time passes and there's no stopping the passage of time."

I stood there, trying my best not to hear him, but I did.

Finally he stood and began walking out of the room. "At some point, Wisteria, too much time will pass."

___________________

The next day, after London had gone to work, I called up my dear little sis hoping she could help me out with some sisterly advice.

We decided to go for a walk. Both of us remained silent for a while, listening to the rhythmic tapping of our feet for a few minutes.

Downy was the one to break the somewhat awkward silence. "So... you wanted to talk about something?"

I sighed heavily, not wanting to talk about it but knowing I needed to.

"London's in love with me."

"Yeah, I know."

"You know?" I thought I was the only one to know.

"It's painfully obvious, Wissers."

"Well, I don't know how I feel about it. You know that we agreed on a practice, sorta friends with benefits thing, not..." I couldn't even get it out.

"How do you feel about him?"

"What's the difference?"

"How do you feel about London, who he is, what he means to you, not how you feel about the situation." She clarified.

We looked at each other then and she knew what I wasn't willing to say.

"When it comes down to it,sis, it doesn't matter what the situation is or how it was supposed to be, all that matters is what you feel. If he makes you happy and you love him then go for it. You only have one life to live."

"You're right. I can do this!" I said with new found confidence.

I pulled her in for a hug before we parted.

_____________

London got home from work long after I had gone to bed, which isn't unusual since the team has the players stay late practicing, so I had to wait to talk to him.

The next morning the confidence had worn off and I found myself piddling around the house, putting off talking to him as long as possible. Then I became fed up with dancing around each other and decided, now or never.

I found him making the bed and silently waited for him to finish.

"London..." He didn't look at me, only silently waited for me to continue. He came over to me and let me grab hold of his hands.

I charged forward in my speech. "I realized something. Two somethings, actually. I love you and all that I do is run. But my heart hurts and I don't want to run anymore."

__________

Sorry this took forever, I had to fight the demons of writer's block through out this chapter -_-
Next I'll be starting up my new DITFT rainbowacy, Let Your Colors Burst!

And now for our first..

Mariner's oldest twins, Aero and Padua, have a good ol' fashioned joy ride.

short: surprise

I had moved in with Heliotrope almost a year ago, much to Daddy's chagrin. Not that he didn't like Helio, he just didn't like his babies growing up.
Unlike many of the other houses on the street ours had an unobstruced view of the sky. It was especially beautiful at night when all of the stars were out.
As was usual now, I was sitting on the front lawn stargazing when Helio came out to join me.

He sat silently next to me, gazing at the side of my face with a smile starting to spread across his.

He rested his hand on mine, and I felt something hard yet cool between our hands.
It took me a moment, but when I realized what lay between our hands my face dropped in complete shock.

"So," He said slyly. "will you marry me?"

"Of course I will!" I squeaked like a mouse.

"In fact," Now I was the sly one, whispering in his ear. "I think we should get married right now."
"Are you sure that's what you want?"
"Positive."

-----
A very short short.

influence

Note: There's some intimacy pictured in this update and if you're uncomfortable with it then scroll like a mad man past it.

Did you know my twinnie's married now? Yeah, I didn't either until this morning when I got a call along the lines of this:
 "HAAAAY GENNYYYY! GUESSS WHAAAAAT!!!!! I'M FUDGING MARRIED NOW!!!"
"*ear pain* ...What?"
"YUUUP!"
"... are you pregnant?"
"NO YOU GOOBER! *insane amounts of laughter*"
"Drunk?"
".... Well a little now but not when we eloped!"
"Why did you elope Billy-bo?"
"Helio proposed last night and I just couldn't wait!!"
"... ok.*totaly not judging* Do Mom and Dad know?"
"Yes, of course! They asked if I was pregnant too. And blah blah blah blah..."

Now that my beloved twin is married I started feeling like a jealous spinster. And of course at that moment Universe popped into my head.
No way! No! I'm not that desperate... yet.
------

It had been a long and chaotic day at work. There's nothing easy about vampberry testing, let me tell you. Today a vampberry patient that I had become good friends with, named Hyacinth, went into labor. Now one thing we had learned from previous experiences was that vampberry births are extremely difficult. This one especially since she was giving birth to triplets.
I had been on edge all day at work and the adrenaline hadn't really worn off. As I approached my front  door I heard some weird noises.
*scuffle* *scuffle*
"OMB what was that???" I freaked.
"Ok, calm yourself, Gen, it's probably just a bird or something... Yeah"

*shuffle* *scoot* *muffledwhisper*
"Just an animal.J-just a-an an-nimal." I chanted, trying to make myself feel better. Like when your little and you chant to yourself that there's no such thing as ghosts (though in my line of work I found out there actually are, hence why sleep with the lights on).

*CLANK*
"GAH! That was not an animal!! What the berry is out there??!!"

Just as I was about to make a beeline for the door I felt a gush of wind from behind me.
Then came a blase' "Boo."

Slowly I turned around and I was met with the sight of a very cocky Universe.

"Ugh, you? Anyone but you. I don't need this right now." I rubbed my temples at the threat of a headache.

"Oh c'mon, sugar. You know you don't really mind."

"Can't you just shoo?" I whined. No matter what he thinks, I've had to long of a day to deal with him at this hour.

"Sorry, sugar, you won't be rid of me that easily." An eery smile crept along his face, like he was attempting something he knew he shouldn't. And for once I was actually afraid of him.

A strange feeling crept into me then and I was pulled into him. After that I couldn't recall what went on.

---------

I awoke in my bed. After that I noticed many strange things. 1. I don't recall going to bed 2. There's something slightly heavy laying across my side and 3. I think I'm naked. That's unsettling.

Slowly I turned my head to see whatever the thing draped across my side was. I was instantly infuriated when I saw the dull glowing form of Universe.

Without any tact I jumped out of bed yelling "WHAT THE FUDGE, UNIVERSE?!!" I quickly pulled on my PJ's which I keep on the night stand.

" 'The hell, woman?! I'm trying to sleep."

"NOT ANY MORE!" I smacked him in the face with his boxers. Obviously my temper wasn't going down any time soon so he decided to cooperate and covered his nether regions.

"YOU USED YOUR FUDGING VAMPBERRY MIND POWERS TO MAKE ME SLEEP WITH YOU?!!!"

Still as suave and cocky as ever. "Y'see, sugar, it's like hypnotism. I can't make you do anything you would be against. So blame yourself. Hah, I didn't even know if it would work."
My face reddened, whether from anger or embarrassment, I'm not really sure.
"Now, most vampberries don't like to make this know but, we can also read minds. " All semblance of anger flew out the window then, the only thing I could feel was complete and utter embarrassment. And he knew it.
"I read your mind before I influenced you. Part of you was happy to see me."
"Shut up!" Apparently I reverted back into to a teenager.
He ignored me. "So why don't we just make it official and go on a date?" I burst out laughing then.

When my hysterical laughter turned to giggles I realised I had actually hurt his feelings. "Oh, you were serious." I said meekly.
"Yeah."
"Well... no."
"Why not? I know I've been on your mind, sugar. And quite frankly you've never left mine."
Ignoring the blush that flooded my cheeks I said. "Well, you borderline raped me for one!"
"It's not rape if it's consensual, and it definitely was."
"What makes you think it was?!"
"You ripped the buttons off my shirt, sugar."
"That's it I've been embarrassed enough for one morning! Out!"
--------

For the next few weeks after that, every where I went there was Universe asking for a date. And for a while I could just ignore him but after about two and a half weeks straight of it , I got sick of it and made a resolution.

I was at the gym exercising, for once, and suddenly there he was on the treadmill next to mine.

"So how about dinner? And I don't mean you as the dinner."
"Sure." I said with oh so much enthusiasm.

"Seriously?"
"Will it get you off my back?"
"Definitely."
"Then it's a date."
"You won't regret it, sugar." He hopped of the treadmill and gave me a peck on the cheek.
"I'll pick you up at 7!" He called. I turned to look at him with my hand on my cheek but he was already gone.
-------

AKA the chapter where Universe is shirtless alot.