CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

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Mark🛑 has sent you a message!

Mark🛑
What the fuck is wrong with you?

Ethan
Bro I just woke up give me min

Mark🛑
I don't care

Ethan
It's the first day of break. Shouldn't you be with your family?

Mark🛑
Shouldn't you be with her?

Ethan
With who?

Mark🛑
That girl you brought to the party

Ethan
Oh

Mark🛑
Yeah dipshit 'Oh'

Ethan
I don't see why you care so much that I brought a friend to the party

Mark🛑
I know

Ethan
Know what?

Read at 6:21 am

Ethan
Oh

Mark🛑
Is that all you can say?

Mark🛑
What the fuck is wrong with you?

Ethan
I don't know

Ethan
I really don't know.

Mark🛑
Did you even love her?

Mark🛑
Do you love her?

Ethan
How did you find out

Mark🛑
Answer the question

Ethan
I love her more than anything

Message not delivered

Ethan
Of course I do

Mark🛑
So you know how sensitive she is

Mark🛑
How you broke her heart?

Ethan
I didn't think it was that big of a deal

Mark🛑
The self control I have at the moment.

Mark🛑
So you're telling me if you saw Mackie and Stas all up on each other you wouldn't feel a thing?

Ethan
I don't know

Mark🛑
Yeah ok

Mark🛑
Talk to me when you're ready to earn her back

Mark🛑
Talk to me when you've realized you fucked up

Ethan
I'm sorry, Mark

Mark🛑
Me too

Read at 6:23 am

markestapa posted a story!

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lola.thompson replied to your story!

lolaaa
jesus christ the hashtags

mark estapa
Stas says hi!

lolaaa
tell her i love her and miss her sm

lolaaa
sucks satans booty hole that my parents are forcing me to go out to cali to visit fam

lolaaa
wish i could spend break w you guys😔

mark estapa
You're so cute Lo

lolaaa
🤭

mark estapa
Ok she's yelling at me to pay attention to her crime podcast gtg

mark estapa
I love you!

lolaaa
i love you more bby

Seen at 6:51 am

IT WAS LIKE a bad nightmare she had been awoken from. A pressure pushing down on her chest, pleading for its release to be made urgently. Her body screamed like a million sinners on fire, her skin crawled in disgust, betrayal, and remembrance. Her head pounded as the events of last night came flooding back, like the gate to a dam had been opened without warning. Angry wasps buzzing because their peaceful existence had been disturbed for no apparent reason.

Against her will, she rolled over, her swollen eyes still glued shut as she desperately reached out to turn off her blaring alarm, the sound pierced through the once melancholy silence, that had experienced nothing but a restful night of sleep. Until the clock struck an annoying 6:00 am.

She buried her head deep into the pillows of the bed she had spent the night in, hoping, praying, and wishing to god that everything had been such a sorry excuse for a nightmare. Anastasia heard a soft groan come to her side. The source of the borderline painful sound being unknown, she lifted her head from the feathery delight of the cotton covered pillows to see a body underneath the dark blue duvet.

"Why do you have to get up so early?" Feminine honey laced in her tone, along with a hint of tiredness. Her curves moved up and down as a deep i hale of the first morning breath soared through her body. "Mark and I gotta head out, Lo," she croaked, as she raised herself on her elbows. Her slim fingers came up and toyed with the golden heart pendant that hung around her neck. She had refused to take it off ever since her birthday party.

Lola copied her position, turning her head to look at her.

Her face was swollen with last night's sadness, her obsidian hair tousled, and her tan skin peeked out of the neck of the old t-shirt she adorned. Mark must've been their caretaker last night. Lola's lips downturned into a faltered frown, feeling the sharp pain of sheer hurt that was undoubtedly making her hangover worse.

Last night, Lola was sober enough to have an eligible and memorable conversation with Mark about the activities that took place at the senior's party. They stood at the foot of his bed as Anastasia softly snored in the comfort she found under his sheets. Her heart ached. There had to of been something she could've done, something she could've prevented. But, Mark reassured her that the guilt that was building in her chest was unnecessary, that even he himself couldn't help but feel.

"I wish I was coming home with you," velvet words went straight to her like a dagger through flesh. And suddenly, everything came rushing back to her like rain flooding a flowerbed during a summer storm. Which is ironic considering the soft pattering against the window indicated that gloomy clouds covered the city of Ann Arbor that morning. The sound only made her want to cocoon herself in the duvet of his bed, and fall right back into the peaceful unconscious state.

Anastasia lips twitched, the ghost of a smile appearing, barley being noticeable in the dark blue light that seeped through the window of Mark's room. "Me too, I mean how am I supposed to judge my distant family when I don't have you?" Lola could tell she was forcing herself to be normal. To convince herself mainly. Because maybe, just maybe, if she pretended she was fine, she would be. Lola pretended to think, a sarcastic finger on her chin, "Hm, text me everything and then FaceTime me during the night about how they wouldn't shut up about 'kids these days and their phones'?" Angelic laughter tumbled from their chapped lips.

A beat of silence washed over the two– but it was never awkward. No, it could never be, not between them. She tried so desperately to forget. The want of a clean slate, back to normal, back to him was pounding the base of her skull. A calm ocean that once was, now disturbed by the thrashing and killing of her mind. And her thoughts, her thoughts were too loud for Stassie's liking. A swarm of mosquitoes biting and taking, leaving a painful itch that just begged to be scratched. What once was, would that be in the past forever?

"I miss him, Lo. I dunno what I did wrong," she felt the words tumblr out like vomit. When she was around Lola, the thought of being judged was nonexistent. Like platonic doves who flew in the wind together. Flower petals that bind after a swift drizzle. Curly hair shifted as she placed a comforting hand on the back of her head, her thumb rubbing up and down the crown of her skull. "Nothing. You did nothing wrong." Like a stand of silk, there must always be an end. Because now, her words were sharp, yet somehow, someway, it calmed her ocean of a mind. "He didn't even speak to me," a string of sputters came from her dry hangover mouth, as her brain racked just how to describe the lack of stability she was feeling. "One day, he was holding me against his chest and I felt like so was on top of the world, then the next he didn't even text me. A text. How hard is it to send one, fucking text?" Her voice trembled off near the end, which caused Lola's heart to shatter into a million glass pieces, due to the pain she was enduring.

Lola furrowed her eyebrows, her words hesitant, that if she were to speak too loud, the flame would dim. Walking around a peaceful monster,not wanting to disturb from its state, to unleash something that even she didn't think she would be able to contain. Anastasia Green was a delicate rose, that needed to be treated with care, contained in a glass container, and handled with the upmost care in the world. "Do you want the truth, or do you want what you want to hear?" She questioned timidly, knowing that if she tipped the over-filled pitcher too far, that it would spill a mess that would be almost impossible to mop up.

Stassie closed her eyes, a bright field budding with various wildflowers, the sun casting its harmful yet warming rays, which soaked into her skin. And if she looked just far enough, she could see the figure of what she desire most. She peeled open her swollen eyes, "You know the answer," a statement that could very well make her head pound even more. But she leaned into the hand that remained stationary on her head, knowing the fact that if she fell too far down the cliff, Lola will be right there to save her.

The curly headed girl inhaled deeply, "As much as I want to beat him up, and make sure he's not recognizable, and as much as I hate him," an anticipating quiver fell from Stassie's lips. "I think he has a problem. Not a drug problem, or a drinking problem, but a human problem. It's obvious that that girl– is not good for him. From what I could tell, based just on what I saw at the party, she's the issue. Not him. Now, I don't know what all their relationship entailed up in Canada, but it's so obvious it doesn't even come close to yours,"

An unexpected tear rolled down Anastasia's cheek. Like tempered glass being shot with the upmost of force imaginable. She was a rare vice that had to be secured.

"I'm not excusing his behavior and his stupidity by any means– trust me I want nothing more than to bite his dick off," she breathed a chuckle. Stassie sniffled a small laugh in response. "But give him time. Don't go running, because you need time to heal."

Her words lingered in the air like the smell of grass after its been freshly cut. Like the touch for which she yearned oh? so much for but knew she couldn't have. Lola had done exactly that; given to her straight, just how she expected. And yet, she couldn't help the tears that flooded over her waterline. She hated crying.

"But, in conclusion," Lola leaned over, place a delicate kiss on her friend's cheek, the taste of salt from Anastasia's tears flooded her tastebuds as she licked her lips. "Fuck Ethan Edwards. He's a piece of shit and deserves to burn in hell." They laughed at the obscenity of her statement, and it was the first time since he walked out of his bedroom door, claiming that 'an old friend was in town' that she actually felt her mind become silent. The combustion of busy and overbearing thoughts being no more. "He's a piece of shit who loves me?" Anastasia restated, the flowing of her tears had slowed down the longer Lola's words hung densely in the air.

"He's a piece of shit who needs help, Stas."

"What! No, I cant believe it was her own brother who killed her," Mark's exclamation interrupted the replaying of events that clouded her mind. And suddenly, she was brought back to the present. A space in time where she was currently driving along a back road from the highway, on their way back to their hometown for the week long break, and not still wrapped up in the comfort of Mark's navy blue duvet, crying over the fact that the man she still loved, despite the events of last night, with Lola comforting her.

The sun had finally peeked over the horizon, which to Anastasia felt like forever, when in reality it was only an hour. They had just finished the second episode she had downloaded for their little over an hour drive.

Earlier that morning, quickly after Lola had given Stassie that ever so encouraging pep talk, Mark burst through his bedroom door, rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably, claiming that they're lucky he loves them so much because he had just slept on the couch downstairs. The blond boy placed a kiss on Stassie's forehead and a kiss on his girlfriend's lips, before he gave out the plans for their journey back home.

The sophomore house was unusually quiet when Anastasia and Lola made their way downstairs after they got dressed for the day. The occupants of the house had already left to spend the break with their families, which came across as odd to the two girls given the fact that they both knew how much all of them hated getting up early.

She didn't mention Ethan, or everything that had gone down to Mark. But as the two sat in the silence that filled the car after her crime podcast had ended, Anastasia looked over at Mark, to which he met her eyes and gave her a slight smile.

He knew.

She had briefly remembered the night before, the sadness that coursed through her, the pins and needles that plucked away at the love that made her chest swell. She hadn't really talked that much before Lola dragged her and Sof off to the dance floor. And she would be considered lucky if she remembered anything after the rum she had consumed kicked in. But thank god she wasn't lucky.

One hand gripped the steering wheel, and her other supported her head against the door, her head now turned back to focus on the two-laned road that seemed endless in front of her. She swallowed the lump in her throat, "You know."

Rose petals that took their time to fall to the dirt below were always deemed as beautiful. The bare branches covered in white after a winter storm was breathtaking. The sheer material of a stark, white cotton sheet was flawless as it laid undisturbed on the bed of a beachside house. But this was quite the opposite.

A sharp inhale was heard from her side, the only sound that the two of them shared was the violent spinning of the tires of Mark's car against the pavement of the road. Her eyes glanced down at the speedometer– which was set on cruise control, 72 mph. "Yeah, I know." His response was soft, like his voice always was when it was just the two of them. And the tone of his voice made her realize that last night was worse than she remembered.

She knew she had cried herself to sleep– feeling bad for whatever hockey team member Mark had assigned to take care of her that night. She remembers the softness of lips that felt pluses against the skin of her face as she drifted off into the numbness that sleep provided her. But the strange fact of that was– it didn't feel right. The lips that kissed her tear stained cheeks didn't feel like him.

"What happened?" frail was the only word that could be used to describe her hesitant words. Her eyes remained on the road, she shouldn't be allowed to drive while she was still fighting off her hangover. "I'll tell you when we get home. My mom just texted me said that your dad already started up the grill for our 'welcome home' lunch." He chuckled lightly. Anastasia couldn't help but giggle at the mental image of her dad, a goofy smile on his face as he stood proud in front of his grill that her and her mother gifted him one year for Father's Day.

Anastasia decided not to push, knowing what's best for her, she gave a small hum out of acknowledgment. A beat, "Okay can you put on some music or something, your breathing is really loud."

stassiegreen has posted!

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tagged: markestapa

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Liked by sofia.commm, edwards.73 and others

stassiegreen good 2 be home!

VIEW COMMENTS

lola.thompson what i would do for some of your dad's food rn🤌

lola.thompson tell aaron and shan i said hi!
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stassiegreen they say they love you miss you (but not more than me)
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lola.thompson fuck cali bro it's hot as balls here

sofia.commm DOG!
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sofia.commm DOG!

user1 that pic of mark😵‍💫😵‍💫
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lola.thompson ikr. AWOOGA!
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lhughes_06 Put down the phone, Lola
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lola.thompson NEVER
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user1 OMG LOLA RESPONDED

dylanduke25 Home. A place of ones belonging ..where the heart can rest easy and the mind can calm itself ..a place where you want to spend everyday being happy and loved.
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stassiegreen everyday i pray to god to give me the strength to not block you.

mackie.samo Holy shit the nap I would take at your house. Shit seems so comforting
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stassiegreen i just KNOW you'd be knocked tf out
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user2 samo out here being the nap scholar😭😭

nolan_moyle Glad to see you're feeling better Stas!
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stassiegreen mf texts like an old man😭 (thank you moyle)

lhughes_06 Shocked you made it there alive
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stassiegreen IM NOT A BAD DRIVER
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markestapa I was gripping the handle like my life depended on it
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stassiegreen u we're literally incest in my crime junkie podcast so shut up
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user3 they're relationship >>>

user4 stas is so fucking beautiful

user5 will there be a monday question this week?
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stassiegreen yes! don't you fret child. this week we find out what the boy's favorite my little pony character!
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sofia.commm the answers had me on the FLOOR, so plz excuse the shaky camera🫠🫠

rutgermcgroaty Hey! I've been looking at your page an us here at Butt Plug international think you'd be the perfect fit to be one of our ambassadors! Please DM me if you're interested!
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user6 OH MY GOD RUT😭
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luca.fantilli Dude.
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lola.thompson OO I WANNA BE AN AMBASSADOR
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dylanduke25 ME TOO
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stassiegreen all of you block me rn

markestapa Literally as soon as we pulled up to her house she went to Barnes & Noble
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stassiegreen LISTEN they don't have one near campus so i had to stock up🙄
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user6 omg does stassie read?
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stassiegreen #BOOKWORMANDPROUD

trevorzegras Wishing I was that dog rn
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lhughes_06 I cant believe you're friends with my brother
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stassiegreen i'm not complaining that trevor zegras is hitting my line🤷‍♀️
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sofia.commm ^
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user7 ^
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lola.thompson ^
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dylanduke25 ^
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user8 ^
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mackie.samo ^
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rutgermcgroaty ^

alyssabrown01 pretty!

AUTHOR'S NOTE

i am so fucking proud of this chapter you guys wont believe it.

and no cliffhanger bc i'm feeling generous 🙄

also you guys are making me feel like a MOM. gotta keep the children fed with angsty ethan & stas (aka our favorite lovesick puppies)

we are officially on thanksgiving break time! which means a lot of mark + stassie scenes which i think you guys will find adorable! we get to know her parents and marks parent and how their families intertwine and i'm so excited!

i got work in a couple hours so i won't be on wp until later tonight so please fill your mother's (me) comment section with love and validation (bc i crave it)

as always, don't forget to drink water, take your meds, and masturbate

stay horny, my children