(sorry it's so long lmao)
(TW for swearing and homophobia🤠)
The year is 2998. The human race has migrated underground, forming a planet known as Neo-Earth. Each Neo-Country has many, many bases. No one in the bases know why they’re underground, minus a few people. A few decades later, in the year 3023, after the human race has adapted to the underground circumstances, teenagers start to rebel against the rules.
Chapter 1
Dionysius
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While everyone else was going to parties and living it up for their spring break, Dionysius Hawthorne was at home working on a school project he couldn’t understand.
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“Who even cares about the war of 2950?” He groaned, slumping onto the couch as he gave up. “It’s just some turf war, and as usual, 5555 wins. What’s the big deal?”
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Sophomore year so far had already been a disaster for Dionysius. His grades were getting worse and worse, and nothing seemed to be working. And when his teacher gave the class a project to be finished by the end of the break, everyone had finished it early except for him. Now he was stuck in his apartment, working on a stupid essay on a stupid war for a stupid project.
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“Harley,” He groaned. “How the hell did you manage to do this?”
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His best friend smiled that mischievous grin that Dionysius had memorized at that point. They had met 2 years ago, when Dionysius was 13 and Harley was 15. Ever since that day, they’ve done everything together. He knew everything about Harley, like how he stopped cutting his hair since last summer, giving him messy brown hair that hung to the top of his neck, and how he was completely covered in freckles. Like how he had a tic in his eye that would make him wink every now and then, and how he had never seen him without a chain necklace on.
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Harley spoke. “Like hell I remember. And I’m pretty sure I didn’t get a good grade when I got it back.”
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“So helpful,” Dionysius muttered. “Glad to have you as my tutor.”
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“Believe me, Dio, the feeling is mutual.”
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They looked at each other in silence before bursting into laughter. Dionysius couldn’t help but notice how he had always snorted when he laughed. It was something he was often self-conscious about. But Harley never judged him for it, so he let himself laugh.
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A few hours later, Dionysius felt tired enough to fall asleep right then and there. He leaned his head on Harley’s shoulder, seconds away from passing out. Harley smiled lightly, and for a moment, there was a beautiful silence in the apartment.
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Then there was a pounding on the door.
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Dionysius bolted awake, yelping in surprise. “Who’s there?“ He called.
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“It’s Millie!” The voice responded. “Open up! It’s urgent!”
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Not even a moment later, Harley was already opening the door to reveal Millie, Harley’s fiancée. She had medium length black hair and pale blue eyes, and she was wearing a white t-shirt and jeans. She took both of their hands and ran out of the apartment and toward the town square.
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Chapter 2
Harley
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By the time they were in the square, Harley Venus already knew what was happening.
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He was used to it by now. Everyone gathering in a huge crowd, an empty space in the center. The anxious silence that flooded the square.
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Someone was getting Exiled.
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It's standard punishment in Neo-American base 5555. Sent aboveground and supposedly left to die. It happened so often, Harley would be surprised if it didn't happen for a week.
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Millie led them to the crowd, pushing to the very front where they could see. But at the sight of the soon-to-be Exile, Harley's blood ran cold.
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The man couldn't have been older than 26. His choppy blond hair was pale and greasy. He wore nothing but a white tank top and shorts. His face was clouded with insanity, and he was running around in a rampage, clearly having gone mad.
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But Harley knew him. He knew him well.
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"Is that..?" He couldn't bear to finish that sentence. Millie took his hand. "Yeah. It is. I'm sorry."
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"What? Harley, was he your friend or something?" Dio asked, oblivious.
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Before Harley could respond, the man turned to face him and looked him dead in the eye before charging straight at him.
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Chapter 3
Dionysius
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He didn't even know what was happening by the time the man grabbed Harley and yanked him into the empty square.
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Millie cried out Harley's name in a panic. She tried running toward him, but he was held back by others in the crowd. "Stop it!" She shouted, on the verge of tears. "Leave him alone!"
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The panic in the crowd started when he pulled out a knife.
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“Stop!” Millie sobbed, trying to fight through the border of people. “Please, stop it!”
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Harley and the man stumbled into the square. Without a second thought, Harley wrenched away from him, only for the man to grab him again and yank him towards him, pressing the knife against his throat. Millie’s scream echoed throughout the square.
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The man pressed his mouth against Harley’s ear, his lips moving. Dionysius didn’t know what he was saying, but whatever it was caused Harley to stop fighting and go silent, his eyes filled with tears.
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The man looked back to the crowd. “Exile me and he gets it!” He spat, pressing the knife against Harley’s throat, forcing a whimper. “I’ll do it! By God, I’ll do it!”
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Dionysius looked at Millie, seeing the tears in her eyes. He didn’t know who the man was, nor why Harley and Millie seemed to know him. But that didn’t matter. He had to save his friend.
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He took a deep breath before running into the empty square.
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“Wait!” He called out. “Wait, please!”
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“Dio!” Harley fussed. “What the hell are you-“ The man pressed the knife a bit more, causing Harley to go silent. Dio’s heart raced at the sight of a thin strand of crimson traveled down his throat. “Let him go!”
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“Who’s this, eh?” The man said into Harley’s ear, ignoring Dionysius. “Another toy of yours, just like that Millie girl?”
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Dionysius didn’t know what he was talking about, but Harley sure seemed to. “Sir,” He said in a small voice that he had never heard before. “Sir, I—“
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Before Harley could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by shouts coming from the crowd, making their way to them.
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The police.
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Hating himself for it, Dionysius turned on his heels and ran.
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Chapter 4
Tristan
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It’s not every day that you get to catch your boyfriend in your arms as he’s running away from the police storming the town square.
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So that’s exactly what happened to Tristan Newman.
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He had heard some screams coming from the town square, but he didn’t care. He was used to it. And besides, he stopped going to Exilings years ago. At the moment, he was walking around town, and had just arrived at one of many food stands around the base.
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But when he heard the shouts of police officers, he started to get worried. He took out his phone and texted Dionysius.
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Is everything ok at the exiling?? Where tf r u??
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Dio i heard the police, pls what just happened??
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After a few minutes without a response, he sighed shakily and put his phone back in his pocket. He probably left his phone at his apartment, that idiot, he reassured himself.
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Almost as if on cue, he heard someone calling his name. “Tris! Tris, there you are!”
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He turned to see the person he knew all too well. The running boy had brown hair and eyes, freckles splattered on his nose. He was also running at him at full speed, and looked like he would trip over any second.
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He managed to open his arms just in time before Dionysius tripped on a rock and went flying into him. He slammed into Tristan, his arms locking around his shoulders seconds before falling to the ground as if they were exchanging a messy embrace.
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Tristan pulled him up, laughing. “There you are, Dio. I was worried.” He stood him up to eye level, and his expression melted when he saw his face.
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Dionysius’s face was contorted with fear. Tears shone in his round, dark eyes. “Tris…” He managed. “Square—Harley—he—police—“
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He knew a panic attack when he saw one. He let go of the embrace, holding Dio’s hands. “Hey, hey, it’s okay, Dio. Just breathe, okay? Breathe with me.” He proceeded to take long deep breaths, Dionysius slowly doing the same. After a while, the attack had stopped, and he could talk.
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“This guy who was getting Exiled, he…he put a knife to Harley’s throat…” He said, clutching onto Tristan’s hands like a vice. “I tried to help him, but the police arrived before I could…Tris, I’m scared…What if he dies…?”
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“He’s not gonna die, Dio.” Tristan let go of one of Dio’s hands and tucked a strand of his hair behind his ear. “He’ll be fine. I’m sure the police will make sure he isn’t hurt. They’ll probably do a private Exile now, since he’s dangerous and all, right?”
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Dionysius nodded. “Yeah…okay, I guess he’s safe.” He took a deep breath. “Thanks, Tris. I needed that.”
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“Hey, no problem.” He smiled. “Should we go to your apartment and wait for Harley, or…?”
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“Yeah. Just…can you stay with me? I don’t wanna have to wait alone.”
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“Of course.”
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Chapter 5
Dionysius
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Dionysius sat on the couch, frantically texting Harley.
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hey, you good?
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Harley please respond like im actually scared rn
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Who was that guy anyway?? Why’d he do that??
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After a few minutes and still no response, he sighed and put his phone down. Tristan was sitting next to him, and Dionysius couldn’t help but admire him. The fiery red hair that curled in every direction, his upturned nose, the way his frameless glasses sat on his freckle-soaked face, his green eyes, and his colorful getup. Within seconds, he saw the boy that he had met in 6th grade, doodling masterpieces in the margins of his schoolwork. The boy he wrote about in his journal, obsessing over every one of his features. The boy that built a clubhouse with him in the summer after 8th grade, and, weeks later, the boy that he had confessed to in it.
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Tristan must have noticed him staring, because next thing he knew, he was looking right back, smiling brightly. “Hey.”
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“Hey,” He said back, grinning.
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“Whatcha thinking about?”
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“Nothing.”
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“Can’t be thinking about nothing, that’s impossible.”
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“Eh, at least I tried.”
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Tristan laughed before taking his hand. “So, what were you really thinking about?”
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“You.”
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“Oh? Do tell.”
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“Just every time you’ve drawn stupid cartoons of me and showed them to the class.”
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“What can I say? I’m an artist.”
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“That’s your excuse for everything.” They were getting closer now. Dio’s eyes flashed to Tristan’s lips before instantly looking away. He could feel his face turning red.
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Tristan must have noticed, because his grim seemed to widen. “Looks like there’s more you’re thinking about than me humiliating you in sixth grade.”
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“Is that an invitation?”
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“Be my guest.”
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So he kissed him. And for a precious moment, it felt like they were the only two people on the planet.
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That precious moment was interrupted when the apartment door opened, and Harley stepped in.
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Chapter 6
Harley
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“Wow, guys, thanks for the greeting.” He smirked as he shut the door. “Consider my heart warmed.”
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“Harley!” Tristan blurted out, pulling away instantly, his face beet red. “I was just, uh—“
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“No, no, it’s fine.” He laughed. “Just took me by surprise, is all.”
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“Do you ever knock?!” Dionysius sputtered, his face equally red as he turned to face Harley.
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“For your information, Dio-ny-sius,” Harley teased, emphasizing each syllable of his name. “I didn’t know you two lovebirds were home.”
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“Oh, we’re the lovebirds?” Dionysius retorted. “The amount of times I’ve seen you and Millie suck absolute face makes me wonder if we’re the ones you should be worrying about.”
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Harley could feel his face heating up. “Uh, well, um—“
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“Leave him alone, Dio.” Tristan smiled as he placed a hand on his boyfriend’s shoulder. He looked at Harley. “We were waiting for you to get back, and we got a bit…sidetracked. I should go.”
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Without another word, Tristan left.
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After a moment, Harley noticed Dionysius looking at him with concern. He probably looked tired. He sure felt it. “I should probably go to bed—“
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“Who was that guy? How do you and Millie know him?”
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“It’s really a long, complicated story, Dio, and I’m really tired—“
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“Harley, please, I’m worried.”
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“Don’t have to be. It’s in the past now, and I really hate talking about it.” He shoved himself past Dionysius, walking toward his bedroom. “Now let me sleep.”
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Dionysius seemed to hesitate for a moment before signing and walking toward his own bedroom. “Fine. I’m not just gonna forget it happened, though.”
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“Fine by me.”
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They went in their separate rooms and slept.
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Chapter 7
Estelle
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Two weeks later
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I should be at home, Estelle Mercy thought to herself. Curled up in a blanket and listening to music. Not at Dio’s apartment, proofreading an essay because Harley’s not here to do it for him.
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“Can you even spell?” She sighed with exasperation. “I’m pretty sure sophisticated doesn’t have an f in it.”
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“Well I’m sor-RY that Harley’s too busy making out with Millie to help me with the stupid thing!”
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She scoffed. “As if you and Tris don’t do that every day.”
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“Come ON, Estelle.” Dionysius smirked. “Don’t go acting so pure. We all know the only reason you haven’t kissed Cynthia by now is your braces.”
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She frowned, hating the way the metal in her mouth felt when she did it. "It's still not fair to me that you don't need braces."
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Dionysius grinned. "What can I say? I'm just effortlessly perfect."
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"More like effortlessly bad at spelling." She mumbled as she continued reading the essay. "Dio, I can't even tell what this word is!"
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Dionysius leaned over, peeking over her shoulder. He pointed at the jumble of nonsense letters. "Duh. It says Neo-American. Do you need glasses as well as braces, Estelle?"
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"I can see just fine, Dio. It's your horrid handwriting and spelling that's throwing me off."
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"Oh, come on, Ellie. Cut me some slack."
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Estelle sighed. "Can't believe I have to marry you in 3 years."
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"The feeling is mutual, girlie."
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"Don't call me that." She glared at him.
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"Just saying." He shrugged. “Don’t know what we’re gonna do. Same with Tristan and Cynthia. They’re gonna get married too, y’know.”
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“That’s a long time from now.” She said, but in reality, she was just as worried as Dionysius. She wouldn’t be able to even see Cynthia for…God, just how long?
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“On the topic of current relationships,” Dionysius grinned as he rested his head on Estelle’s shoulder. “How’s everything going with you and Cynthie?”
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“Same old, same old.” She replied. “She’s been telling me a lot about that feminism stuff. Even took me to a few protests. Makes you think a lot about society.”
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“That’s her version of a date?”
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“You say that as if you didn’t confess to Tristan in a shed.”
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“None of you guys appreciate the clubhouse. Me and Tristan built it ourselves!”
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“Gives the term ‘made with love’ a new meaning.”
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“Hey—“
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“I’m kidding, I’m kidding.” She laughed before checking the time on her phone. “Dammit. It’s late. Dad—“
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“Yeah, yeah, go.” Dionysius sat up, removing his head from her shoulder. “See ya.”
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She smiled at him before leaving the apartment.
(Authors note: this is a wip for something that I'm working on. It doesn't matter if I win, I just really want to know peoples unbiased opinions on it since the only people who have read it are my friends😭)
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