Post Card Secrets
Title: Post Card Secrets
'Verse: The Effect
Characters: Brooklyn, Chris, Ethan, Graham, Keith, Nate, Seth
Rating: none
Author's Note: Unfortunately, I don't remember where I originally got the idea of post card secrets from, but it wasn't my own creation. I decided to write a fiction piece around it though. There will be other pieces to follow, a sort of "After the Secrets" series.
The graphics for the post card secrets can be found here.
ETA: The idea came from http://postsecret.blogspot.com/. Thank you train_diskense for letting me know!
"Okay," Chris announced to the leisure room. "I have an idea."
"Oh no," Seth muttered.
"We've all been living together for awhile. I think it's time we got to know one another."
Graham looked up from his book and frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Let's play a game," Chris suggested. "We all write down as many secrets as we can think of, place them in a box, and then pass it around and read off the secrets."
"Why would we want to do that?" Keith grumbled.
"Because it'll mean we all learn something about one another, without actually admitting the secrets out loud."
"I think it sounds sort of interesting," Graham said shyly, closing his book.
"Well, count me out," Seth said flatly. "I don't want anyone to know my secrets."
"But no one will know it's you, that's the beauty of it," Chris urged.
"Actually," Brook began thoughtfully. "It's a good idea. Keeping your secrets inside of you is extremely unhealthy. Getting them out this way means they're still our secrets, but they're also confessed. Besides, not knowing whose secret is whose could mean we all regard each other differently."
They all stared at her in amazement.
"Well, psychologically speaking," she added uncomfortably.
"You're agreeing with Chris," Keith pointed out. "That's… unheard of."
"Don't make a big deal out of it," Brook warned.
Chris simply beamed. "So let's play!"
Graham went downstairs to convince Ethan and Nate to join in. Chris played his cards well. No one, not even Nate, could resist Graham. They gathered in the living room to play. They sat around the table with pen and paper and a big box in the center and started writing, each trying to make their penmanship unrecognizable. One by one, they folded their secrets and placed them in the box. Long minutes passed by. Finally, they were finished, each a little white-faced and nervous.
"Okay," Chris continued. He began shaking the box. "Ethan, you're the man of the house. Care to start?"
"Certainly," he agreed, reaching into the box Chris held out. He pulled out a slip of paper, unfolded it, and began to read.
"I slept with a stuffed animal through college."
Keith snorted and glanced at Brook, who blushed.
"Come on, people, poker faces!" Chris complained. "I'll go next." He pulled the box towards himself and pulled one out.
"I've switched schools six times because of bullies."
He passed the box silently to Seth, who removed a slip and read it off.
"I should be happier."
Seth slid the box towards Graham. He bit his lip and carefully reached in to select a secret. His cheeks shaded a light pink as he read it off. "I only drink so I can have sex and not feel guilty after."
Of course, most of them snuck a glance over at Chris, immediately suspecting him. All except Graham, who knew Chris didn't drink at all.
The box was passed to Nate. He slipped his hand inside and cautiously pulled out a piece of paper. His eye skimmed it, and his eyebrow raised. "I'm not wearing any underwear," he read off flatly. He lowered the card to gaze across the table at Chris. The others followed suit, all eyes on him, no one trying to be subtle this time.
He grinned. "Oooh, scandalous. I wonder whose secret that is. Graham, is it you?"
"What?! No way! I would never have the audacity to go without underwear, let alone write that down," he protested.
"I dunno-oo," Chris sang out. "I think we should check." He reached towards Graham's pant waist, and the youngest male quickly smacked his hand away.
"Leave him alone, Chris, we all know it's you, idiot," Seth grumbled. "I thought these were supposed to be real secrets?"
"That really was a secret!" he argued.
"Moving on," Ethan reminded them.
Keith had the box next, his taped hand held the card up to read. "I'm afraid of dying, because I'm afraid of what I'll be missing."
He gave the box to Brook. She held up the next card. "I despise the color black."
And it came back to Ethan. The strain of revealing these secrets out loud was beginning to show on their faces. "I've never been kissed," he read off.
The box went to Chris. The first one he selected he threw back in.
"Hey!" Seth protested.
"I'm not gonna read off my own," Chris argued. "It's a new rule."
"But then we'd all know in part whose secret it isn't," Brook pointed out. "You should read off whichever one you pull out."
"Fine, fine," he grumbled. "I will next time," he added slyly. He pulled out a new one. "I don't want to be used again." He frowned at it, casting a look at Seth as he passed the box on to him.
Seth didn't notice, or pretended not to, as he pulled out another slip. "I wish I could put into words how much you mean to me."
Then Graham. There was a lengthy pause before he read it out loud. "I've never forgiven my mother for dying," he read off quietly.
Underneath the table, Keith squeezed Brook's knee. She ignored him. Nate took the box. "I think you're beautiful."
Chris grinned and leaned back in his seat. "I know I am."
"I thought we were supposed to be sharing secrets, not flirting," Seth snapped.
"Okay, okay," Chris said, waving him off and turning his attention to Keith.
"I hate that I love you."
Brooklyn pulled the next slip out. "Sex scares me sometimes."
It went to Ethan again, who seemed to hesitate before pulling one out. "I'm beginning to believe that love has conditions," he read, almost sadly. Out of the corner of his eye, Graham slumped down half an inch.
Chris had the box, and he was beginning to wonder if this had been a really bad idea. "I cry when you're not looking," he read off.
Seth took it. "I'm afraid of myself," he said.
He handed the box off to Graham, who was nearly trembling. "Sometimes I stand outside the church on Sundays, too afraid to go inside." He laid the slip of paper down on the table with something akin to relief.
Nate accepted the box. "I only think I'm attractive because of what people say. I couldn't honestly tell anyone I think I'm hot."
Keith took over. "I'm afraid to fall asleep at night."
Brooklyn pulled a slip of paper out. "If I had my way, and had fewer morals, I would have pursued desires with unsavory consequences."
"I love to lay in bed next to someone I care about. It's the best feeling in the world," Ethan read.
Chris read next. "I like to entertain the idea that we're really just comic book characters." He hooted. "That's no secret, Nate. I know you wear your underwear outside your pants when no one's looking."
Seth smacked him on the back of the head. "You were the one who wanted to do this, asshole! Take it seriously." He snatched the box away from him. "I know I'm not good enough for you," he grated out, and threw the slip down without looking at Chris.
Graham quietly pulled the next slip out. "I'm terrified of commitment."
Nate, with a death glare to Chris, took the box next. "I can't swim."
Keith clenched his jaw as he read the next one. "I don't want to become my father."
Brooklyn shook her head when she read the next slip off. "I couldn't read until I was seven."
Ethan accepted the box with a resigned sort of sigh. "I hate feeling vulnerable."
Chris took the box, and bit the inside of his cheek. "I don't like myself." He handed it over to Seth.
"I'm afraid of flying." He tilted the box up to show it was empty. "Guess that's it."
There was a long, awkward silence.
"I'm going to go start dinner," Brooklyn said at last, getting up from the table.
"I'll help," Ethan offered, going after her.
One by one, they each made excuses to leave, until only Graham was left. He slowly picked up the slips of paper and threw them in the trash. He thought that maybe it would be best if this day was just forgotten. Still, somewhere in the back of his head, he wondered.
He just didn't think it would be right to know.
'Verse: The Effect
Characters: Brooklyn, Chris, Ethan, Graham, Keith, Nate, Seth
Rating: none
Author's Note: Unfortunately, I don't remember where I originally got the idea of post card secrets from, but it wasn't my own creation. I decided to write a fiction piece around it though. There will be other pieces to follow, a sort of "After the Secrets" series.
The graphics for the post card secrets can be found here.
ETA: The idea came from http://postsecret.blogspot.com/. Thank you train_diskense for letting me know!
"Okay," Chris announced to the leisure room. "I have an idea."
"Oh no," Seth muttered.
"We've all been living together for awhile. I think it's time we got to know one another."
Graham looked up from his book and frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Let's play a game," Chris suggested. "We all write down as many secrets as we can think of, place them in a box, and then pass it around and read off the secrets."
"Why would we want to do that?" Keith grumbled.
"Because it'll mean we all learn something about one another, without actually admitting the secrets out loud."
"I think it sounds sort of interesting," Graham said shyly, closing his book.
"Well, count me out," Seth said flatly. "I don't want anyone to know my secrets."
"But no one will know it's you, that's the beauty of it," Chris urged.
"Actually," Brook began thoughtfully. "It's a good idea. Keeping your secrets inside of you is extremely unhealthy. Getting them out this way means they're still our secrets, but they're also confessed. Besides, not knowing whose secret is whose could mean we all regard each other differently."
They all stared at her in amazement.
"Well, psychologically speaking," she added uncomfortably.
"You're agreeing with Chris," Keith pointed out. "That's… unheard of."
"Don't make a big deal out of it," Brook warned.
Chris simply beamed. "So let's play!"
Graham went downstairs to convince Ethan and Nate to join in. Chris played his cards well. No one, not even Nate, could resist Graham. They gathered in the living room to play. They sat around the table with pen and paper and a big box in the center and started writing, each trying to make their penmanship unrecognizable. One by one, they folded their secrets and placed them in the box. Long minutes passed by. Finally, they were finished, each a little white-faced and nervous.
"Okay," Chris continued. He began shaking the box. "Ethan, you're the man of the house. Care to start?"
"Certainly," he agreed, reaching into the box Chris held out. He pulled out a slip of paper, unfolded it, and began to read.
"I slept with a stuffed animal through college."
Keith snorted and glanced at Brook, who blushed.
"Come on, people, poker faces!" Chris complained. "I'll go next." He pulled the box towards himself and pulled one out.
"I've switched schools six times because of bullies."
He passed the box silently to Seth, who removed a slip and read it off.
"I should be happier."
Seth slid the box towards Graham. He bit his lip and carefully reached in to select a secret. His cheeks shaded a light pink as he read it off. "I only drink so I can have sex and not feel guilty after."
Of course, most of them snuck a glance over at Chris, immediately suspecting him. All except Graham, who knew Chris didn't drink at all.
The box was passed to Nate. He slipped his hand inside and cautiously pulled out a piece of paper. His eye skimmed it, and his eyebrow raised. "I'm not wearing any underwear," he read off flatly. He lowered the card to gaze across the table at Chris. The others followed suit, all eyes on him, no one trying to be subtle this time.
He grinned. "Oooh, scandalous. I wonder whose secret that is. Graham, is it you?"
"What?! No way! I would never have the audacity to go without underwear, let alone write that down," he protested.
"I dunno-oo," Chris sang out. "I think we should check." He reached towards Graham's pant waist, and the youngest male quickly smacked his hand away.
"Leave him alone, Chris, we all know it's you, idiot," Seth grumbled. "I thought these were supposed to be real secrets?"
"That really was a secret!" he argued.
"Moving on," Ethan reminded them.
Keith had the box next, his taped hand held the card up to read. "I'm afraid of dying, because I'm afraid of what I'll be missing."
He gave the box to Brook. She held up the next card. "I despise the color black."
And it came back to Ethan. The strain of revealing these secrets out loud was beginning to show on their faces. "I've never been kissed," he read off.
The box went to Chris. The first one he selected he threw back in.
"Hey!" Seth protested.
"I'm not gonna read off my own," Chris argued. "It's a new rule."
"But then we'd all know in part whose secret it isn't," Brook pointed out. "You should read off whichever one you pull out."
"Fine, fine," he grumbled. "I will next time," he added slyly. He pulled out a new one. "I don't want to be used again." He frowned at it, casting a look at Seth as he passed the box on to him.
Seth didn't notice, or pretended not to, as he pulled out another slip. "I wish I could put into words how much you mean to me."
Then Graham. There was a lengthy pause before he read it out loud. "I've never forgiven my mother for dying," he read off quietly.
Underneath the table, Keith squeezed Brook's knee. She ignored him. Nate took the box. "I think you're beautiful."
Chris grinned and leaned back in his seat. "I know I am."
"I thought we were supposed to be sharing secrets, not flirting," Seth snapped.
"Okay, okay," Chris said, waving him off and turning his attention to Keith.
"I hate that I love you."
Brooklyn pulled the next slip out. "Sex scares me sometimes."
It went to Ethan again, who seemed to hesitate before pulling one out. "I'm beginning to believe that love has conditions," he read, almost sadly. Out of the corner of his eye, Graham slumped down half an inch.
Chris had the box, and he was beginning to wonder if this had been a really bad idea. "I cry when you're not looking," he read off.
Seth took it. "I'm afraid of myself," he said.
He handed the box off to Graham, who was nearly trembling. "Sometimes I stand outside the church on Sundays, too afraid to go inside." He laid the slip of paper down on the table with something akin to relief.
Nate accepted the box. "I only think I'm attractive because of what people say. I couldn't honestly tell anyone I think I'm hot."
Keith took over. "I'm afraid to fall asleep at night."
Brooklyn pulled a slip of paper out. "If I had my way, and had fewer morals, I would have pursued desires with unsavory consequences."
"I love to lay in bed next to someone I care about. It's the best feeling in the world," Ethan read.
Chris read next. "I like to entertain the idea that we're really just comic book characters." He hooted. "That's no secret, Nate. I know you wear your underwear outside your pants when no one's looking."
Seth smacked him on the back of the head. "You were the one who wanted to do this, asshole! Take it seriously." He snatched the box away from him. "I know I'm not good enough for you," he grated out, and threw the slip down without looking at Chris.
Graham quietly pulled the next slip out. "I'm terrified of commitment."
Nate, with a death glare to Chris, took the box next. "I can't swim."
Keith clenched his jaw as he read the next one. "I don't want to become my father."
Brooklyn shook her head when she read the next slip off. "I couldn't read until I was seven."
Ethan accepted the box with a resigned sort of sigh. "I hate feeling vulnerable."
Chris took the box, and bit the inside of his cheek. "I don't like myself." He handed it over to Seth.
"I'm afraid of flying." He tilted the box up to show it was empty. "Guess that's it."
There was a long, awkward silence.
"I'm going to go start dinner," Brooklyn said at last, getting up from the table.
"I'll help," Ethan offered, going after her.
One by one, they each made excuses to leave, until only Graham was left. He slowly picked up the slips of paper and threw them in the trash. He thought that maybe it would be best if this day was just forgotten. Still, somewhere in the back of his head, he wondered.
He just didn't think it would be right to know.