{
(set: $Clandestine to "false")
(set: $Aftermath to "false")
(set: $Normal to "false")
(set: $Anachronistic to "false")
(set: $Despair to "false")
(set: $Asphyxiation to "false")
(set: $Determination to "false")
(set: $Abyss to "false")
(set: $Yearning to "false")
(set: $Passages to 0)
(set: $time to 0)
(set: $D to (transition: "dissolve"))
(set: $DS to (transition: "dissolve") + (transition-time: 5s))
}<center><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/9c545aada848750c7afe7e27436e498e/tumblr_inline_p2bdfjm9yR1tcfpeg_540.png"> <img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/9c545aada848750c7afe7e27436e498e/tumblr_inline_p2bdfjm9yR1tcfpeg_540.png"> <img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/9c545aada848750c7afe7e27436e498e/tumblr_inline_p2bdfjm9yR1tcfpeg_540.png"> <img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/9c545aada848750c7afe7e27436e498e/tumblr_inline_p2bdfjm9yR1tcfpeg_540.png"> <img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/9c545aada848750c7afe7e27436e498e/tumblr_inline_p2bdfjm9yR1tcfpeg_540.png"> <img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/9c545aada848750c7afe7e27436e498e/tumblr_inline_p2bdfjm9yR1tcfpeg_540.png">
<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/9c545aada848750c7afe7e27436e498e/tumblr_inline_p2bdfjm9yR1tcfpeg_540.png"> <img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/9c545aada848750c7afe7e27436e498e/tumblr_inline_p2bdfjm9yR1tcfpeg_540.png"> <img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/9c545aada848750c7afe7e27436e498e/tumblr_inline_p2bdfjm9yR1tcfpeg_540.png">
(text-style: "fade-in-out")[[[Begin]]]</center>
<center>{(if: $Clandestine is "true" and $Aftermath is "true" and $Normal is "true")[(set: $Passages to 1)]
(if: $Anachronistic is "true" and $Despair is "true" and $Asphyxiation is "true")[(set: $Passages to 2)]
(if: $Determination is "true" and $Abyss is "true")[(set: $Passages to 3)]
(if: $Clandestine is "false")[$D[ [[Clandestine<-<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/3b31141909a8cd46d5d73a8302c70a94/tumblr_inline_p2bdffyN4K1tcfpeg_540.png">]]] ](else:)[ $D[<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/82b105917e401572dac5729fc6335f23/tumblr_inline_p2bdfwNWPJ1tcfpeg_540.png">] ]
} {
(if: $Aftermath is "true")[$D[<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/139edfd85e9bc88d101ef89fe1d95380/tumblr_inline_p2bdfzKBqc1tcfpeg_540.png">]](else:)[(if: $Clandestine is "true")[$D[ [[Aftermath<-<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/3b31141909a8cd46d5d73a8302c70a94/tumblr_inline_p2bdffyN4K1tcfpeg_540.png">]]] ](else:)[$D[<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/9c545aada848750c7afe7e27436e498e/tumblr_inline_p2bdfjm9yR1tcfpeg_540.png">]]]
} {
(if: $Normal is "true")[$D[<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/01a27a9ed5034bbbc61d90a8c18ec143/tumblr_inline_p2bdfpOOBC1tcfpeg_540.png">]](else:)[(if: $Clandestine is "true")[$D[ [[Normal<-<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/3b31141909a8cd46d5d73a8302c70a94/tumblr_inline_p2bdffyN4K1tcfpeg_540.png">]]] ](else:)[$D[<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/9c545aada848750c7afe7e27436e498e/tumblr_inline_p2bdfjm9yR1tcfpeg_540.png">]]]
} {
(if: $Anachronistic is "true")[$D[<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/139edfd85e9bc88d101ef89fe1d95380/tumblr_inline_p2bdfzKBqc1tcfpeg_540.png">]](else:)[(if: $Passages is 1)[$D[ [[Anachronistic<-<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/3b31141909a8cd46d5d73a8302c70a94/tumblr_inline_p2bdffyN4K1tcfpeg_540.png">]]] ](else:)[$D[<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/9c545aada848750c7afe7e27436e498e/tumblr_inline_p2bdfjm9yR1tcfpeg_540.png">]]]
} {
(if: $Despair is "true")[$D[<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/a1f7d05ff6249800ec17a39e50db08c4/tumblr_inline_p2bdftvrLU1tcfpeg_540.png">]](else:)[(if: $Passages is 1)[$D[ [[Despair<-<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/3b31141909a8cd46d5d73a8302c70a94/tumblr_inline_p2bdffyN4K1tcfpeg_540.png">]]] ](else:)[$D[<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/9c545aada848750c7afe7e27436e498e/tumblr_inline_p2bdfjm9yR1tcfpeg_540.png">]]]
} {
(if: $Asphyxiation is "true")[$D[<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/139edfd85e9bc88d101ef89fe1d95380/tumblr_inline_p2bdfzKBqc1tcfpeg_540.png">]](else:)[(if: $Passages is 1)[$D[ [[Asphyxiation<-<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/3b31141909a8cd46d5d73a8302c70a94/tumblr_inline_p2bdffyN4K1tcfpeg_540.png">]]] ](else:)[$D[<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/9c545aada848750c7afe7e27436e498e/tumblr_inline_p2bdfjm9yR1tcfpeg_540.png">]]]
}
{
(if: $Determination is "true")[$D[<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/a1f7d05ff6249800ec17a39e50db08c4/tumblr_inline_p2bdftvrLU1tcfpeg_540.png">]](else:)[(if: $Passages is 2)[$D[ [[Determination<-<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/3b31141909a8cd46d5d73a8302c70a94/tumblr_inline_p2bdffyN4K1tcfpeg_540.png">]]] ](else:)[$D[<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/9c545aada848750c7afe7e27436e498e/tumblr_inline_p2bdfjm9yR1tcfpeg_540.png">]]]
} {
(if: $Abyss is "true")[$D[<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/139edfd85e9bc88d101ef89fe1d95380/tumblr_inline_p2bdfzKBqc1tcfpeg_540.png">]](else:)[(if: $Passages is 2)[$D[ [[Abyss<-<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/3b31141909a8cd46d5d73a8302c70a94/tumblr_inline_p2bdffyN4K1tcfpeg_540.png">]]] ](else:)[$D[<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/9c545aada848750c7afe7e27436e498e/tumblr_inline_p2bdfjm9yR1tcfpeg_540.png">]]]
} {
(if: $Yearning is "true")[$D[<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/f6ff9da18db96d345dd75ce15a97516c/tumblr_inline_p2bdflYrGO1tcfpeg_540.png">]](else:)[(if: $Passages is 3)[$D[ [[Yearning<-<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/3b31141909a8cd46d5d73a8302c70a94/tumblr_inline_p2bdffyN4K1tcfpeg_540.png">]]] ](else:)[$D[<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/9c545aada848750c7afe7e27436e498e/tumblr_inline_p2bdfjm9yR1tcfpeg_540.png">]]]
}</center>{(set: $Clandestine to "true")
<center>[[//clandestine.//|C01]]</center>
}{(set: $Aftermath to "true")
<center>[[//aftermath.//|A01]]</center>
}{(set: $Normal to "true")
<center>[[//normal.//|N01]]</center>
}{(set: $Anachronistic to "true")
<center>[[//anachronistic.//|AN01]]</center>
}{(set: $Despair to "true")
<center>[[//despair.//|D01]]</center>
}{(set: $Asphyxiation to "true")
<center>[[//asphyxiation.//|AS01]]</center>
}{(set: $Determination to "true")
<center>[[//determination.//|ND01]]</center>
}{(set: $Abyss to "true")
<center>[[//abyss.//|AB01]]</center>
}{(set: $Yearning to "true")
<center>[[//yearning.//|Y01]]</center>
}<center>[[It began last Canada Day.|C02]]</center>(set: $time to 0)Best friends Parker and Renae were in Renae's hot tub, giggly from the champagne they had swiped from her parents' stash. They had taken turns telling each other secrets—voices falling to near whispers, hardly heard amongst the bubbles, when the girls' hearts were particularly exposed. Every so often their gazes would catch each other, and hold, just for (link-reveal: "a moment too long.")[(live: 1s)[(if: $time < 3)[(set: $time to it + 1)](else:)[$D[ In the air there was a distinct feeling of possibility floating about, a feeling that something was just on the cusp of happening, and then they would enter into (link-reveal: "a new world.")[$D[ It was both thrilling and terrifying, and throughought the night they both kept toeing up to the line, but always shying away at that last crucial [[moment|C03]].]](stop:)]]]](set: $time to 0)They had planned to go to bed, to end the night, shortly after the fireworks went off, but the fireworks never did. In that space of time it felt like everything |stretch>[stretched] out in front of them. A moment lasting longer than it (link-reveal: "should.")[$D[ A vulnerability open for far too long, everything (link-reveal: "exposed.")[$D[ It was half-past midnight when the fireworks finally started—delayed by two trains passing, they'd later find out—but they didn't even notice at first. Neither of them would ever recall just who pushed past the line and brought them into a new, more complicated life—a new normal—but they did. When that first firework cracked against the night sky, Renae and Parker had embraced, their lips feeling [[ablaze|C04]] against each other's.]]]]
(live: 1s)[{
(if: $time < 4)[(set: $time to it + 1)](else:)[(stop:)(replace: ?stretch)[(text-style: "expand")[(transition: "dissolve")[stretched]]]]
}][[They pulled away as the light hit them.|C05]]They watched, over and over, as the night sky seemingly broke open, again and again, in dazzling colours and sounds and, in the silence that followed afterward, they both knew that there was no going back to the world [[before now|Begin]].|A01>[The morning after the first kiss, Renae slowly pulled herself out of bed, careful not to wake her friend. Parker lay curled up on the other side of the bed. Her arms were tucked close around her belly and her dark hair splayed outward like an explosion against the (link-reveal: "white pillows.")[ $D[Renae smiled weakly at the sight before she walked over and sat down in front of the large ornate vanity on the other side of the room. For a moment she simply inspected her reflection in the mirror as she went over the events of the previous night in her (link: "memories.")[(replace: ?A01)[$D[(link: "The champagne.")[$D[(link: "The secrets.")[$D[[[The fireworks.|A02]]]]]]]]]]]](set: $time to 0)<center>The Kiss.</center>
(live: 1s)[(if: $time < 5)[(set: $time to it + 1)](else:)[(stop:)(go-to: "A03")]]Renae ran her fingers through her long blonde hair, catching a few tiny knots, before resting her forehead against the heel of her palm, elbow propped on the vanity's surface. She closed her eyes and tried to wrap her head around the new reality they had entered, and what they were even going to do next. Behind her she could hear the soft sounds of Parker (link-reveal: "deep in sleep.")[$D[ When she opened her eyes, she wearily glanced down at her other wrist where a temporary maple leaf tattoo had begun to fade and wash away from the water in the hot tub last night. She traced the outline of the tattoo with her gaze, counting the points of the maple leaf that still could be seen. [[Eight.|A04]]]]A soft sigh escaped her as she sat up in her chair and (link-reveal: "opened the first drawer on her right.")[$D[ Renae grabbed a bottle of nail polish remover and some (link-reveal: "cotton balls.")[$D[ After wetting the cotton, she methodically rubbed it against her wrist. The acrid chemical sent filled the air as, motion by motion, the maple leaf was wiped away. After, she stared at her [[reflection|A05]] once again.]]]][[Her reflection stared back.|A06]]Renae's hair was disheveled. Her mascara had run and smudged along her eyes leaving dark circles. The lipstick she had worn the day before had nearly faded completely, but it, too, was smudged here and there. From the kiss? She didn't know, but she watched herself watching herself in the mirror for (link-reveal: "a long time.")[ $D[Everything washed over her mind like water flowing down a stream. All of the possibilities and routes and ways forward. The stream would fork and she would try to meet each path to its destination. So many possible outcomes, and yet, sitting there watching herself watch herself, she knew. Something would ultimately have to be chosen. And there was no returning upstream. [[There was no going back|A07]].]](link-reveal: "She took a deep breath and released it slowly, carefully.")[$D[ And then, she gathered her hair in her hands and tied it into a messy bun. From the second drawer she took out a pocket of cleansing wipes. With clean, purposeful movements she brushed it all away. The mascara. The lipstick. What little remained of her blush and eyeliner. [[Until her face lay bare|A08]].]](set: $time to 0)Renae studied herself once more, taking in everything that she was.
(live: 1s)[(if: $time < 5)[(set: $time to it + 1)](else:)[(go-to: "A08b")]]Once nearly everything was complete she opened the small box on her vanity—the one where she kept all of her favourite things—and took out the brightest, richest, waterproof red lipstick she had. She removed the gold lid and (link-reveal: "twisted the tube up.")[ $D[Renae didn't take her eyes off herself in the mirror as her lips became full and vibrant, and with it, everything screaming with purpose. As soon as she finished she smacked her lips and [[smirked|A10]].]]<center>[[They were ablaze.|Begin]]</center>In the months that followed that Canada Day, more and more kisses joined the first, but with them came even more [[secrets|N02]].To Parker it almost seemed like Renae thoguht of it as little more than just a (link-reveal: "game.")[ $D[There was an artifice surrounding each kiss, like it was largely just an act, something that Renae was putting on and little more. She never allowed it to become somehing more than a secret between them, something less (link-reveal: "abstract.")[ $D[Of course neither of them had really said what their intentions were, what they wanted or what any of this meant to them. Instead they just kept continuing, kept playing this little game and made sure no one else found out. Inside it was beginning to tear Parker (link-reveal: "apart.")[ $D[With so much artifice clouding her life it became difficult for her to tell what was real and what was fake. What was all part of the act, and what was a glimpse into how Renae really felt. Or even, how she herself felt about [[all of this|N03]].]]]]]]But when they did kiss, in those brief moments, to Parker it felt so [[achingly real and true and honest|N04]].And so, she kept hanging on. If this was the only way for them to be together, as limited a together as it was, then it would have to suffice, she had convinced (link-reveal: "herself.")[ $D[For in those moments when their lips touched, Parker could only feel that warmth coursing through her, and she knew that heat was everything she was (link-reveal: "looking for.")[ $D[She swallowed her feelings and the truth and everything those kisses meant to her, in order for them to continue. It was the only way she knew how to go [[forward|N05]].]]]](set: $time to 0)But as the intial weeks turned to |n1>[months,]
(live: 1s)[(if: $time > 10)[(stop:)](if: $time is 2)[(append: ?n1)[ $D[turned to half a |n2>[year,]]]](if: $time is 5)[(append: ?n2)[ $D[turned to almost a full year since that fateful |n3>[night,]]]](if: $time is 8)[(append: ?n3)[ $D[she couldn't help but feel a growing discontent taking hold over her, rooting itself deep within her (link-reveal: "heart.")[ $D[Often she'd lay awake in her bed, sweating herself crazy in the summer heat, and just wonder, over and over to herself, was any of this really [[normal|N06]]?]]]]](if: $time < 10)[(set: $time to it + 1)]](set: $time to 0)All of the girls she knew were having crushes on the guys in their |b1>[grade,]
(live: 1s)[(if: $time is 15)[(stop:)](if: $time is 2)[(append: ?b1)[ $D[hooking |b2>[up,]]]](if: $time is 4)[(append: ?b2)[ $D[getting |b3>[boyfriends.]]]](if: $time is 6)[(append: ?b3)[ $D[Holding |b4>[hands]]]](if: $time is 8)[(append: ?b4)[ $D[and kissing boys in |b5>[public.]]]](if: $time is 10)[(append: ?b5)[ $D[Falling in |b6>[love.]]]](if: $time is 13)[(append: ?b6)[ $D[Being and feeling perfectly [[normal|N07]].]]](if: $time < 15)[(set: $time to it + 1)]]And all she felt she was doing was [[pretending.|Begin]]Brandon dug the tip of his knife into one of the support beams of the small bridge he was (link-reveal: "under.")[ $D[He roughly carved into the metal, the paint chipping and collecting along the newly formed wounds. With every swipe of his blade, Brandon let out a short sound effect to match—something between a lightsaber and a (link-reveal: "sword.")[ $D[He bopped his head along with the mixed tape playing from the portable cassette player clipped on his hip. Queen's (link-reveal: "'Don't Stop Me Now.'")[ $D[When he was satisfied with his creation, he wiped the blade against his leather jacket. He ruffled his medium-length black hair and [[smirked|AN02]].]]]]]]<center>(text-style: "expand")[(text-style: "outline")[(text-style: "shudder")[(text-style: "rumble")[B O M B
V E S P E R I A]]]]</center>
(set: $time to 0)
(live: 1s)[(if: $time is 6)[(stop:)(go-to: "AN03")](if: $time < 7)[(set: $time to it + 1)]]It was crude but he was (link-reveal: "fond of it.")[ $D[The bridge had forever been altered by his little petty vandalism. He had changed things, just by being (link-reveal: "there.")[ $D[It was a good feeling, he decided. [[Productive|AN04]].]]]]The tape ended and Brandon took out his headphones. He opened the tape deck and flipped over the tape. Just as he was about to press play on Side B of the awesome mix his best friend Charlie had made for him, he heard a [[voice|AN05]]."There's something on your [[shoulder|AN06]]."Brandon glanced down and saw out of the corner of his eye a long multi-legged creature crawling up his shoulder and heading straight for his (link-reveal: "neck.")[ $D[He yelped and swiped the bug off him, losing his balance in the process and falling (link-reveal: "backwards.")[ $D[His ass hit the pavement with a thud and he (link-reveal: "grimaced.")[ $D[He looked up at the girl who had warned him and found Parker standing there, clearly trying to keep from [[laughing|AN07]].]]]]]]Brandon scratched the back of his neck as his cheeks began to burn. Parker smiled and held out a hand for him which he (link-reveal: "took.")[ $D[Once on his feet, he brushed the dirt off his pants and tried to act cool. She turned and knelt down to carefully pick the bug up from where it landed on the [[ground|AN08]].]]"Was it a centipede?" Brandon asked. "They really freak me out. That's why, I, uh, reacted like that. I'm kinda scared of '[[em|AN09]]."Parker shook her head. "It's just a caterpillar. It's harmless." She opened her palm to show (link-reveal: "him.")[ $D[A small, fuzzy, green caterpillar casually inched its way across her (link-reveal: "palm.")[ $D["Here, hold out your [[finger|AN10]]."]]]]He held out his index finger for her as she guided the caterpillar onto (link-reveal: "hers.")[ $D[Then, she touched the tips of their fingers together, while lightly holding his hand stable with her other (link-reveal: "hand.")[ $D[They stood there together in silence, smiles deep on their faces, as they watched the fuzzy critter travel the bridge they had [[created|AN11]].]]]]Brandon caught Parker's gaze and felt his cheeks burn (link-reveal: "again.")[ $D["Thanks," he said quietly, although he wasn't entirely sure for [[what|AN12]].]]Parker tucked her hands back into the pockets of her jeans. "It's [[okay|AN13]]," she said.They watched the caterpillar crawl around in Brandon's hand for a while and enjoyed the shade the bridge gave them from the harsh summer [[heat|AN14]]."So, uh, Parker...."
"[[Yeah?|AN15]]""Are—are you going to the big Canada Day party at Charlie's [[next Saturday|AN16]]?""Oh... I don't know. [[Probably not?|AN17]]""Aw, c'mon! It'll be a lot of fun. It's the big 150, right? [[You gotta|AN18]] show off that Canada Pride.""[[I don't know|AN19]], Brandon....""I'd [[love|AN20]] it if you were there," he said with a smile as he let the caterpillar crawl into his other hand.Parker pulled in her lips as she thought it over. "I think me and [[Renae|AN21]] are probably doing something...""Well, Renae is invited, too. [[Obviously|AN22]].""Obviously," [[she mumbled|AN23]].Brandon carefully placed the caterpillar down in some nearby grass and then wiped his hands off on his black jeans. He turned back to Parker and leaned against the support beam he had just [[vandalized|AN24]]."It'd seriously be awesome if you came, Parker," he said. "You and I never really get to hang out much outside of school. And pretty soon we'll all be graduating and then what? Maybe you'll look back on this in deep (link-reveal: "regret")[(append: ?an)[ $D[He chuckled before doing his best Parker-impression. "'Oh man, I sure wish I had gone to that party with Brandon. Now I have no choice but to just waste away, an unfulfilled woman, always wondering what if,' [[you'll say|AN25]]."]]]|an>[."]"You're such a dork," she said.
"I'm tellin' you. It'll be fun, I [[promise|AN26]]."Parker nodded slowly. "[[Okay|AN27]]," she said.Brandon perked up. "[[Okay?|AN28]]"She let out a small laugh. "I'll seriously think about it, okay? I'll talk to Renae."
He beamed. "Alright! I'll [[hold you|AN29]] to that."She chuckled. "I better get going." She gave him a quick wave and headed under the bridge and down the [[street|AN30]]."I'll see you at the party!" Brandon called after her.
"Whatever," she replied [[playfully|AN31]].Brandon grinned as he watched her (link-reveal: "walk away.")[ $D[After she had gone, he pressed play on his (link-reveal: "tape player.")[ $D[Aerosmith's 'I Don't Want to Miss a Thing' blared in his ears as he took out his knife and began digging it into the metal [[once more|Begin]].]]]]Frank Moll had been parked outside the BC Liquor Store for (link-reveal: "hours.")[ $D[He gripped the steering wheel hard with his large and calloused hands and rested his forehead against the top of the (link-reveal: "wheel.")[ $D[In the passenger's seat sat two bottles of scotch... and his divorce papers—(link-reveal: "finalized.")[ $D[On the radio some pop hit about love that Frank didn't recognize was playing (link-reveal: "loudly.")[ $D[His fingers tightened and he pressed his forehead against the wheel even harder, eyes closed (link-reveal: "tight.")[ $D[Was this what his life had amounted to? Just... [[this|D02]]?]]]]]]]]]](set: $time to 0)A deep anger formed inside of him until it felt like he was about to overflow, but he never let it out. Just gripped the wheel tighter and tighter. He thought about what it would be like to bang his head against the |d1>[wheel.]
(live: 1s)[(if: $time is 6)[(append: ?d1)[ $D[To punch his fists through the |d2>[windows.]]]](if: $time is 9)[(append: ?d2)[ $D[To turn the ignition on and ram his car into the side of the building, ending his and maybe some others' |d3>[lives]]]](if: $time is 15)[(append: ?d3)[$D[, just like [[that|D03]].]]](if: $time is 16)[(stop:)](if: $time < 17)[(set: $time to it + 1)]](set: $time to 0)|dd1>[Instead, he grabbed one of the bottles of scotch and took a big swig.]
(live: 1s)[ (if: $time is <11)[(set: $time to it + 1)](if: $time is 10)[(stop:)](if: $time is 3)[(append: ?dd1)[ $D[And then another.]]](if: $time is 6)[(append: ?dd1)[ $D[And another.]]](if: $time is 9)[(append: ?dd1)[ $D[He ran his hand through his thinning salt and pepper hair and let out a deep (link-reveal: "groan.")[ $D[The anger was pushed down, down, deep inside him, never being properly dealt (link-reveal: "with.")[ $D[It turned into a lump, a frustration, a feeling of immense discomfort that filled his veins, and then, it became (link-reveal: "pain.")[ $D[It was a pain he was never taught how to [[deal with|D04]].]]]]]]]]] ](set: $time to 0)All his life he was told what a real man should do, (link-reveal: "should be.")[ $D[Don't |m1>[feel.]
(live: 1s)[(if: $time is 2)[(append: ?m1)[ $D[Get a |m2>[wife,]]]]
(if: $time is 4)[(append: ?m2)[ $D[a |m3>[house,]]]]
(if: $time is 6)[(append: ?m3)[ $D[a |m4>[real job.]]]]
(if: $time is 10)[(append: ?m4)[ $D[It was all just (link-reveal: "bullshit.")[ $D[He felt he had nothing now but he had no idea how to reach out, how to ask for help, for [[no one|D05]] had ever taught him how.]]]]]
(if: $time < 12)[(set: $time to it + 1)]
(if: $time is 11)[(stop:)]
]
]]Frank Moll was utterly [[alone|D06]].He let his head fall and hit the (link-reveal: "steering wheel.")[ $D[In a way he welcomed the small throb in his forehead that came with it. It made him feel almost alive, for a (link-reveal: "brief moment.")[ $D[Frank sighed and peered up just over the wheel as (link-reveal: "two teenage girls")[(append: ?g)[ $D[One Native and the other [[white|D07]].]]] walked |g>[by.]]]]]The white girl had long blonde hair that whipped with the wind. Her lips were a stark bright red. She was wearing a wet white t-shirt that revealed a red bikini top underneath and shorts that barely begun to go down to her (link-reveal: "thighs.")[ $D[She stood out as an incredible beauty, especially next to her chubby, overweight friend who was wearing jeans in near forty degree weather. In their hands were a couple of plastic shopping bags with [[Canadian flags|D08]] visible through the thin lining.]]Frank gripped the wheel as he watched them animatedly talk amongst themselves as they walked up the [[street|D09]].And then, he turned on the [[ignition|Begin]].Charlie felt like he couldn't [[breathe|AS02]].The party that Brandon had talked him into throwing was just days away now and his (link-reveal: "anxiety")[(append: ?as1)[ $D[While he had gone to a lot of the parties that the other members of the lacrosse team had thrown, he had never hosted one himself. But when his parents announced they were going on a trip to Quebec for a month, (link-reveal: "Brandon")[(append: ?as2)[ $D[//C'mon, man. It's our last summer as high school students//, he'd say. //It's, like, a rite of passage to throw a party. What about Canada Pride, eh? We gotta start our final year off// (link-reveal: "//right.//")[ $D[And so on, and so on until Charlie had no choice but to (link-reveal: "relent.")[ $D[Perhaps he had even started to believe it himself, but with Canada Day looming ever close the false sense of security he had began to [[melt away|AS03]].]]]]]]] was quick to try and convince |as2>[him.]]]] was going through the |as1>[roof.](set: $time to 0)|s11>[What if his teammates thought his party sucked?|s1>[]|s2>[]|s3>[]|s4>[]|s5>[]|s6>[]|s7>[]|s8>[]|s9>[]|s10>[]]
(live: 1s)[(if: $time < 26)[(set: $time to it + 1)]
(if: $time is 2)[(replace: ?s3)[ $D[What if the entire place got trashed?]]]
(if: $time is 3)[(replace: ?s5)[ $D[What if his parents came home early?]]]
(if: $time is 4)[(replace: ?s1)[ $D[Or what if the party got out of hand?]]]
(if: $time is 5)[(replace: ?s6)[ $D[What if the guests did something awful to each other, like fight or worse?]]]
(if: $time is 7)[(replace: ?s2)[ $D[What if something got broken?]]]
(if: $time is 9)[(replace: ?s4)[ $D[What if the cops were called and his parents found out?]]]
(if: $time is 11)[(replace: ?s7)[ $D[What if they got arrested for underage drinking or public disturbance or... something horrible he didn't even know about?]]]
(if: $time is 12)[(replace: ?s9)[ $D[what if,]]]
(if: $time is 13)[(replace: ?s8)[ $D[What if,]]]
(if: $time is 14)[(replace: ?s10)[ $D[what if.]]]
(if: $time is 20)[(replace: ?s11)[$D[It was all just... [[a lot|AS04]].]]]
]Brandon lugged (link-reveal: "speakers")[(append: ?b1)[ $D[He dropped them down with a thud, knocking the nearby end-table off its (link-reveal: "legs.")[ $D[Charlie's stomach lurched and he shot Brandon a worried, uneasy look, which was promptly dismissed with a (link-reveal: "smile.")[ $D[After picking the table off the floor, Brandon gestured to it exaggeratedly as if to say, look good as new, even as the table's previous contents lay [[strewn about|AS05]] the floor.]]]]]]] passed him on the |b1>[couch.](set: $time to 0)|c2>[Charlie (link-reveal: "sighed.")[ $D[He clenched his fists (link-reveal: "tight")[(append: ?c1)[ $D[Held them tight and wound up like that for a moment and then relaxed them (link-reveal: "one by one.")[(live: 1s)[(if: $time < 27)[(set: $time to it + 1)](if: $time is 28)[(stop:)](if: $time is 2)[(append: ?c2)[ $D[Fists,]]](if: $time is 4)[(append: ?c2)[ $D[forearms,]]](if: $time is 6)[(append: ?c2)[ $D[arms,]]](if: $time is 8)[(append: ?c2)[ $D[shoulders.]]](if: $time is 11)[(append: ?c2)[ $D[Tight.]]](if: $time is 14)[(append: ?c2)[ $D[Shoulders,]]](if: $time is 16)[(append: ?c2)[ $D[arms,]]](if: $time is 18)[(append: ?c2)[ $D[forearms,]]](if: $time is 20)[(append: ?c2)[ $D[fists.]]](if: $time is 23)[(append: ?c2)[ $D[Slack.]]](if: $time is 26)[(append: ?c2)[ $D[[[Over and over|AS06]].]]]]]]]], then flexed the muscles in his forearms, his arms, and up by his |c1>[shoulders.]]]]
"Man, are you still worried about this?" Brandon asked, leaning against the speaker. "It's going to be great. You need to relax. [[Have a beer|AS07]], or something."Charlie held one of his fists in his other hand. "I [[don't|AS08]] want a beer."Brandon stood up a bit. "Well, just... try to chill a bit. Everything's going to be [[fine|AS09]].""Brandon...." He took a breathe before looking up at his best friend. "Do we [[really|AS10]] have to do this?"Brandon (link-reveal: "softened.")[ $D[He stepped away from the speakers and party supplies and sat down next to (link-reveal: "Charlie")[(append: ?ss1)[ $D["[[What's going on|AS11]], Charlie?" he asked as he watched Charlie clench and unclench his fist.]]] on the chouch, their legs |ss1>[touching.]]]"I just... do we [[have to|AS12]]?""Look," Brandon (link-reveal: "began,")[ $D["if you really don't want to we don't have to. I just (link-reveal: "worry")[(append: ?ss2)[ $D[That like... if I didn't push you you would never really step outside of your comfort zone, and that's not a way to live, (link-reveal: "man.")[ $D[You're the only one on the team who hasn't thrown one of these things before, right? And, like, (link-reveal: "time is running out")[(append: ?ss4)[ $D[We're almost done with school. Do you really want to finish high school and look back on this past year with regrets? Or do you wanna go out strong and do shit that scares you and actually make some [[memories|AS13]]?"]]] to do it, |ss4>[y'know?]]]]]] sometimes, |ss2>[y'know?]]]|as13>[(link: "He turned closer to Charlie.")[$D["I know it's tough, dude. But all the (link-reveal: "good")[(append: ?as13)[ $D[He wrapped an arm around Charlie and brought him (link-reveal: "close")[(append: ?as13)[ $D["And I'm going to be there by your side the whole time, man. It'll be (link-reveal: "okay.")[ $D[You know what, it's going to be even better than okay. It's going to be (link-reveal: "great.")[ $D[Everything is going to work out and you're going to have a good time and everyone will love the party and (link-reveal: "love")[(append: ?as13)[ $D[Hell, you might even get laid. Talk about a memory, eh? I'll totally wing man [[you|AS14]]."]]] you.]]]]]]] against him, giving him a little squeeze.]]] things are."]]]Charlie felt a small heat rise inside himself. He couldn't help but smile in Brandon's arms. Maybe he was [[right|AS15]]."(link-reveal: "Okay")[(replace: ?as15)[$D["Alright!" Brandon said bringing him even closer against his side. "Just you wait. It's going to be great, man. A night to fucking [[remember|AS16]]."]]]," Charlie said.
|as15>[]|as16>[//Right//, Charlie told himself, (link-reveal: "//it's going to be great.//")[(replace: ?as16)[$D[[[//It's going to be great.//|Begin]]]]]]Parker and Renae floated on individual air mattresses in Renae's (link-reveal: "pool.")[ $D[They had an unspoken game of trying to hold a kiss as long as possible before the water pulled them away from each (link-reveal: "other.")[ $D[Eventually the water would bring them back together, and then, they would kiss once (link-reveal: "more.")[ $D[Every time, Parker couldn't help but smile into Renae's (link-reveal: "lips.")[ $D[They always smelled like chlorine and summer, standing out crimson against the water's cerulean (link-reveal: "backdrop.")[ $D[As they drifted away, Parker would watch her on the other side of the pool—her (link-reveal: "heart-shaped sunglasses")[(append: ?nd01)[ $D[She loved those glasses, but frequently wondered what it would be like if they were gone, if she could see into Renae's eyes right before and after they kissed. Would she finally have some clue as to how Renae [[really felt|ND02]]?]]] hiding away the eyes behind |nd01>[them.]]]]]]]]]]]It was the thought she kept coming back to over and over again as Canada Day loomed. Was this all just a game to Renae—a way to pass the time—or was there something more (link-reveal: "between them?")[ $D[Something that could actually become [[real|ND03]] and known?]]"It's almost our final year," Parker said shortly after they had broken off another kiss.
"[[Yeah|ND04]]?""Do you know what you're going to do after we (link-reveal: "graduate")[(replace: ?nd1)[$D["[[Realistically|ND05]]? Go to a university that my parents deem correct for me. Come back here. Get some stupid job and a stupid husband and stupid kids. Waste away," Renae said, her voice dripping sardonic. "Something like that."]]]?" Parker let her fingers trail in the water.
|nd1>[]"And ideally? Like, if you could have (link-reveal: "anything")[(replace: ?nd2)[$D[Renae went quiet for a moment. "I guess... Hm... (link-reveal: "I don't know")[(replace: ?nd3)[$D["No, c'mon. [[Tell me|ND06]]. I promise I won't laugh or anything."]]], Parker."]]]?"
|nd2>[]
|nd3>[](set: $time to 0)|nd6>[She sighed. "I guess... I'd want to (link-reveal: "get out")[(append: ?nd6)[ $D[We'd go to the coast and get a small (link-reveal: "cozy")[(append: ?nd6)[ $D[We'd have a shit ton of succulents and a cat and we'd spend our days down at the pier." Renae started talking with her hands, animatedly accentuating her words more and more as she (link-reveal: "spoke.")[(live: 1s)[(if: $time < 20)[(set: $time to it + 1)](if: $time is 19)[(stop:)](if: $time is 6)[(append: ?nd6)[ $D[We'd sip citrus drinks all the time and listen to records.]]](if: $time is 12)[(append: ?nd6)[ $D[Every Saturday we'd like, make food and keep our front door open and have little get-togethers with the neighbours and anyone stopping by.]]](if: $time is 18)[(append: ?nd6)[ $D[And we'd never think about this (link-reveal: "bullshit")[(append: ?nd6)[(set: $time to 0)(live: 1s)[(if: $time < 9)[(set: $time to it + 1)](if: $time is 8)[(stop:)](if: $time is 7)[(append: ?nd6)[ $D["We'd be [[happy|ND07]]."]]]] $D[Renae let her arms fall down to her side. She pulled in her lips for a moment, before letting out a small breath.]]] place again."]]]] $D["I'd probably, like, y'know, bring my easel and paints down to the beach and work on my art.]]]]] place close to the beach.]]] of this fucking town.]Parker didn't know whether to smile or not. "That's really (link-reveal: "pretty")[(replace: ?nd7)[$D["Yeah," Renae replied. "(link-reveal: "It's really pretty to think so")[(append: ?ndd7)[ $D[She turned to face Parker, wet strands of hair cascading down her face. "[[But...|ND08]]"]]]|ndd7>[."]]]]," she said.
|nd7>[]|nd8>[Parker moved off her mattress and into the (link-reveal: "water.")[ $D[She swam over to Renae. Her heart felt like it was trying to escape her as she brushed the strands of hair out of her (link-reveal: "face.")[ $D[She delicately took Renae's (link-reveal: "heart-shaped glasses")[(append: ?nd8)[ $D[Her (link-reveal: "eyes")[(append: ?nd8)[ $D[Renae's blue eyes looked unwaveringly in her own as Parker placed her hand on her [[cheek|ND09]].]]] seemed puffy and red, but Parker couldn't tell if she was just imagining it.]]] off and placed them up on her head.]]]]](set: $time to 0)|nd9>[It wasn't just a kiss.]
(live: 1s)[(if: $time < 8)[(set: $time to it + 1)](if: $time is 6)[(replace: ?nd9)[$D[It was, simply, [[everything|ND10]].]]](if: $time is 7)[(stop:)]]|nd10>[And that night, as Parker replayed the events of the day over and over in her mind, she knew that (link-reveal: "she couldn't wait any longer.")[ $D[She needed to do what she could to make that (link-reveal: "future")[(append: ?nd10)[ $D[It had ignited within her a deep (link-reveal: "determination.")[ $D[[[She was going to tell Renae|ND11]] the depths of her feelings, and for once, she was convinced they would be returned in kind.]]]]] a reality.]]]And on that coming Canada Day, they would officially be together, [[truly|Begin]].(set: $time to 0)|ab1>[(link-reveal: "Renae felt outside herself.")[ $D[Everything around her had gone hazy and (link-reveal: "ill-defined.")[(live: 1s)[(if: $time < 4)[(set: $time to it + 1)](if: $time is 3)[(stop:)](if: $time is 2)[(replace: ?b)[(transition: "dissolve")[(text-style: "blurrier")[blurry]]]]] $D[She felt |b>[blurry] around the (link-reveal: "edges.")[ $D[In front of her, (link-reveal: "her parents")[(append: ?ab1)[ $D[She could see their lips moving, she could almost feel the vibrations of their screams, but she heard (link-reveal: "nothing.")[ $D[It was like it was all happening to someone else, like she was just floating above herself, watching it all happen to this girl she [[hardly recognized|AB02]].]]]]] sat at the table, their faces all red and contorted and angry.]]]]]]](set: $time to 0)|ab0>[(link: "She never heard her parents come home.")[(live: 1s)[(if: $time < 12)[(set: $time to it + 1)](if: $time is 11)[(stop:)](if: $time is 3)[(replace: ?ab0)[$D[Seen Parker.]]](if: $time is 6)[(replace: ?ab0)[$D[Seen the kiss.]]](if: $time is 10)[(replace: ?ab0)[$D[And just like that, this pretty dream that almost felt tangible [[fell apart|AB03]].]]]]$D[Didn't know that they had seen it all.]]]
|abb>[So here she was, the reality of it all (link-reveal: "screaming")[(append: ?abb)[ $D[Her parents looking at her with an all-too-real (link-reveal: "disgust")[(append: ?abb)[ $D[And she felt so utterly and incredibly lost, (link-reveal: "sinking")[(append: ?abb)[ $D[A darkness seemed to swarm around her pushing her even [[deeper|AB04]], snuffing out the light.]]] further and further inside herself.]]], like they, too, didn't even recognize her anymore.]]] in her face.]|ab4>[And then (link-reveal: "suddenly")[(append: ?ab4)[ $D[Without a word (link-reveal: "she left")[(append: ?ab4)[ $D[She could hear her parents calling out to her, demanding her return, but she didn't listen. She went straight to the pool and dived in, (link-reveal: "not caring")[(append: ?ab4)[ $D[Not caring about [[anything|AB05]] at all.]]] about getting her phone or her clothes drenched.]]] the kitchen, left the house.]]], she stood up from the table.]Her heart-shaped sunglasses [[sank|AB06]] to the bottom of the pool, and she along with them.(set: $slow to (transition: "dissolve") + (transition-time: 5s))(set: $time to 0)Falling...
|ab6>[]
|ab7>[]
(live: 1s)[(if: $time < 16)[(set: $time to it + 1)](if: $time is 15)[(stop:)](if: $time is 2)[(replace: ?ab6)[(align: "=><=")[$slow[Falling...]]]](if: $time is 8)[(replace: ?ab7)[(align: "==>")[$slow[Falling...]]]](if: $time is 14)[(go-to: "AB07")]]|ab7>[Renae's back landed softly against the (link-reveal: "bottom.")[ $D[Outside the water she could see the distorted figures of her parents watching, (link-reveal: "waiting.")[ $D[She knew once she reemerged that there would be no going back to (link-reveal: "before")[(append: ?ab7)[ $D[So she lay there in the shadow of the pool's edge as long as she could—as long as her breath would hold out—before facing the [[harsh light|Begin]] once more.]]] the kiss.]]]]]|y1>[When Parker arrived at Renae's house the next day she immediately knew that something was (link-reveal: "wrong.")[ $D[She could feel it in the air even though (link-reveal: "she didn't know why")[(append: ?y1)[ $D[Even though she had come there determined to tell Renae everything and to ask her to officially be together, the closer she actually got to Renae, the more a sick feeling began to [[overwhelm|Y02]] her.]]] or how.]]]|y2>[She found (link-reveal: "Renae")[(append: ?y2)[ $D[Renae rested against the closed hot-tub on the deck. Her heart-shaped sunglasses hid her eyes as she looked (link-reveal: "out toward the water")[(append: ?y2)[ $D[As Parker approached, Renae turned to her before quickly looking away once more. She took a drag of the cigarette and released the smoke slowly and watched as it swirled and dispersed [[into the air|Y03]] above.]]] of the pool. A thin trail of smoke curled from the tip of the cigarette lazily held between her fingers.]]] outside the back.]"I—uh—I wanted to talk to you about something," Parker began. "After that [[kiss|Y04]] yesterday, I've been thinking—""(link-reveal: "We can't")[(replace: ?y4)[$D["What?" Parker felt a lump in her throat. "We can't what? [[What's wrong|Y05]]?"]]]," Renae said.
|y4>[]Renae opened and closed her mouth a few times, as if trying to form the (link-reveal: "words.")[ $D[She took another drag before finally (link-reveal: "speaking.")[ $D["We have to [[stop|Y06]] pretending," she said. "Stop... Playing Lesbian or whatever."]]]]"What are you talking about? What happened, Renae? Why are d—"
"We're [[not|Y07]] gay, Parker! We can't keep doing this, okay?! It's fucked."[["Renae."|Y08]]"It's our last year. We need boyfriends. We need to be (link-reveal: "normal.")[ $D[We need to stop fucking pretending that there's anything else out there for us. There's just us and this fucking shitty town, don't you get that? And we need to make the most of it [[//now//|Y09]]."]]Renae turned to Parker. "Brandon or Charlie?"
Parker shook her head. "[[What?|Y10]]"|y10>["Their Canada Day party on Saturday. I'll take whoever you don't pick, okay? We'll go out with them, we'll drink and party and be (link-reveal: "normal")[(append: ?y10)[ $D[She wrapped an arm around her stomach as she brough the cigarette back up to her (link-reveal: "lips.")[ $D["So, Brandon or Charlie—who would you rather [[sleep with|Y11]]?"]]]]] fucking people."][["What are you—"|Y12]]<center>$D[[[//It's time to stop pretending.//|End]]]</center>|y12>["I can't afford any (link-reveal: "regrets")[(append: ?y12)[ $D[Renae took one last drag before flicking the cigarette butt into the pool. She stood up and watched it drift across the (link-reveal: "water.")[ $D["This is [[how it has to be|Y13]], Parker. Don't make this anymore difficult."]]]]]."]|y14>[She walked toward the door heading back inside her (link-reveal: "house.")[ $D[Above, in the second story window, she could see her parents (link-reveal: "watching them")[(append: ?y14)[ $D[Renae clenched her fists, the nails digging into her palms. At the doorway she [[stopped|Y14]], her back to Parker.]]] through the curtains.]]]"Come to my house on Friday so we can get ready for the party," she said before heading [[inside|Y15]].|y15>[Parker's hands were (link-reveal: "shaking")[(append: ?y15)[ $D[She kept telling herself not to cry, not to let feelings (link-reveal: "out.")[ $D[In the water of the pool she could see her faint (link-reveal: "reflection")[(append: ?y15)[ $D[She couldn't even recognize herself, her face and heart so immensely (link-reveal: "pained.")[ $D[But she pushed it down, deeper and deeper within (link-reveal: "herself.")[ $D[It was (link-reveal: "foolish")[(append: ?y15)[ $D[This was the [[reality|Y16]].]]] to believe in something so pretty.]]]]]]] and she stared at it for a long time.]]]]] as she knelt down on the deck.]|y16>[She swiped at her reflection in the water, letting the ripples and waves distort it completely, before she got back up to her feet and started to head back home to (link-reveal: "prepare")[(replace: ?y16)[$D[[[//Renae's right//|Y17]], Parker told herself.]]].]<center>|end>[]</center>
(live: 1s)[(if: $time < 25)[(set: $time to it + 1)](else:)[(stop:)]
(if: $time is 3)[(replace: ?end)[$DS[//the story continues in...//]]](if: $time is 10)[(append: ?end)[
<center>(text-colour: "#ed1e24")[|end2>[ D O M I N I O N ]]</center>]]
(if: $time is 15)[(go-to: "End?")]][[Then, she made herself up all over again.|A09]](set: $time to 0)<center>[<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/82b105917e401572dac5729fc6335f23/tumblr_inline_p2bdfwNWPJ1tcfpeg_540.png">] [<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/139edfd85e9bc88d101ef89fe1d95380/tumblr_inline_p2bdfzKBqc1tcfpeg_540.png">] [<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/01a27a9ed5034bbbc61d90a8c18ec143/tumblr_inline_p2bdfpOOBC1tcfpeg_540.png">] [<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/139edfd85e9bc88d101ef89fe1d95380/tumblr_inline_p2bdfzKBqc1tcfpeg_540.png">] [<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/a1f7d05ff6249800ec17a39e50db08c4/tumblr_inline_p2bdftvrLU1tcfpeg_540.png">] [<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/139edfd85e9bc88d101ef89fe1d95380/tumblr_inline_p2bdfzKBqc1tcfpeg_540.png">]
[<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/a1f7d05ff6249800ec17a39e50db08c4/tumblr_inline_p2bdftvrLU1tcfpeg_540.png">] [<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/139edfd85e9bc88d101ef89fe1d95380/tumblr_inline_p2bdfzKBqc1tcfpeg_540.png">] [<img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/f6ff9da18db96d345dd75ce15a97516c/tumblr_inline_p2bdflYrGO1tcfpeg_540.png">]
|date>[]</center>
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$DS[Thanks for Playing!]]]]Double-click this passage to edit it.