Butter Pecan 6, Rocky Road 16: Ever At Your Service
Title: Ever At Your Service
Main Story: In the Heart
Flavors, Toppings, Extras: Butter pecan 6 (bright), rocky road 16 (where it all happened), malt (PFAH: Summer in love), fresh pineapple (You're Still the One, Shania Twain), fresh blueberries (And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love), cherry (musically inspired, lots of 1st person), pocky chain.
Word Count: 1200
Rating: PG.
Summary: Love stories, in one hundred words or less.
Notes: Valentine's Day special, brought to you by my iTunes folder of stupid sappy love songs on shuffle! The names of the narrators and the songs are not included in the word count, although the lyrics are. Title from the Shakespeare Gary quotes at the end.
1) Gail: Walking on Sunshine, Aly and AJ
I feel the love, I feel the love, I feel the love that's really real
I never thought it could feel this good. Love, I mean. Every relationship I've ever had hurt in some way-- Paul was distant, Douglas could be condescending, and of course Brad.
But this... feels good. There's nothing I want to fix. Not to say there are no flaws-- show me a relationship without flaws and I'll show you The Stepford Wives-- but there's nothing that grates. Nothing that hurts.
It's like finally getting out of the woods and landing right on the doorstep of home.
2) Joanna: The Last Snowfall, Vienna Teng and Alex Wong
If this were the last I felt you breathing, how would I carry on?
There is a story told of the first humans ever to breathe. It is said that they were troublesome to Allah, so, in punishment, He split their souls in two and set them adrift in different bodies, forever to wander upon the earth, missing half their selves. Lonely and bereft they were, lost and alone, except for those lucky few who found their other halves, who lived with them, and loved them, parted only by death.
I fear that death now, more than I can say.
3) Ivy and Gina: I Was Made For You, She and Him
Baby, baby, I was made for you
"Gina!"
"What?"
"Where's the thing?"
"What thing?"
"The thing! With the thingy on the side! And the other thingy on top! Gets the whozit off the whatsitsface."
"Top drawer next to the sink in the kitchen. Make sure to put it back where it belongs this time. I'm sick of having to hunt it down wherever you decided to leave it."
"Okay, okay, Mom. Oh, here it is. What's it called again?"
"Beats me. Thing works."
"I love you so fucking much."
"I love you too. What brought that on?"
"Does it matter?"
4) Aaron: I Need You Tonight, Backstreet Boys
I still need you in my life
I met Clara at an AVEN event in... I guess it must have been January 2015. She was wearing this burgandy shirt, and it made her skin look like cream.
That's how I remember. I don't remember what we said, or who introduced us, I just remember the color of her skin and the way her hair feathered against her collarbone. I remember the way she smiled at me, like I was the best thing to happen to her all day.
She's the best thing to happen to me in my whole life.
5) Jake: As Long As You Love Me, Backstreet Boys
I'm leavin' my life in your hands
Here's the thing about being married to someone else with depression: it helps.
I mean, it's terrible when we're both depressed at the same time. We just slow down until we end up lying in bed holding each other and crying. Fortunately, that hasn't happened in a long time.
And when it happens to one of us, the other one's been there. You know how it feels from the inside. You know what helps and what doesn't.
I've got her, and she's got me. It helps more than anything else could, some days.
6) Summer: Just The Way You Are, Glee Cast
you're amazing just the way you are
"She's so beautiful. I mean, every time we're together I end up just staring half the time. And her smile, wow."
"Yeah, I hear that."
"And she's so fucking smart! I can talk to her about anything, and she'll know what I'm talking about. But it's not like she's beyond me, either, because there's stuff she doesn't get, and I can help her. It's such an awesome feeling when her face lights up... what are you laughing at?"
"You, man. You are so gone over her."
"You got it just as bad."
"True."
7) Melanie: Last Leaf, OK Go
And if it takes forever, forever it'll be
I asked her fifteen times before she said yes.
On second thought, fifteen might be an exaggeration. Mel is not exactly the patron saint of patience, and she gets irritated fast, so I'm certain that had I actually reached more than ten proposals I would know. I'm also certain that it wasn't a game; after her first marriage ended, she would of course be a bit leery.
She never said no, you know. "Maybe," and "not today," and on one memorable occasion, "reply hazy, try again later."
But she never said no.
8) Lars: I Walk the Line, Johnny Cash
Because you're mine, I walk the line
People don't really get Danny and me.
Summer does, but then Summer's Summer. And Aaron's got that weird relationship ESP thing. But other people, they give us funny looks, usually after we've fought in public again. Like, 'why are you even together.'
This's how I see it. We fight, sure. We scream at each other. But that's airing the grievances. Pulling socially-imposed Band-Aids off festering wounds. We get the poison out in the open, where it can heal.
It's a hell of a lot more functional than most relationships, I'll tell you that.
9) Michael: Tangled and Wild, Oh Susanna
All that's bright and alive, love, lives deep in you
"...what?"
"What?"
"You're looking at me."
"Is that a crime? I like looking at you."
"No, I mean, you're looking at me like you're thinking about something. That makes me nervous."
"...it makes you nervous that I think?"
"No! I mean... You're looking at me like people do when they see the cane. 'Oh, that poor boy.' Or similar."
"...weird, that's not what I was thinking."
"What were you thinking?"
"That you're the most alive person I've ever met."
"....oh."
"Feel better?"
"...yes."
"Good. Now come here and kiss me."
10) Arelie: Hands Down, Dashboard Confessional
you kissed me like you meant it and I knew that you meant it
Your father loved me, baby.
I know that someday, when you find out how you came to be, you may not believe this. People often don't, but I honestly did. I still do. I honestly thought it would work. It might have, if you didn't have your half-siblings. If there were no children, I might not be writing you this letter.
Whatever else you believe, baby, I want you to know this: I loved your father, and he loved me.
You were made in love.
11) Henrik: Day & Night, Billie Piper
Whenever I breathe you're on my mind
I think of her every day.
It's been years since I stood beside her and heard the moniter change from steady beeps to a dial tone. This line is no longer in service; please check the number and dial again.
It's been years. That's the only reason I can think about it that way.
I see her in our daughters' faces, in our sons' eyes. In the intelligence and strength of all our children. In the way my hands curve automatically to fit hers.
It's been years.
I think of her every day.
12) Gary and Lynne: All I Want To Do, Sugarland
All I really want to do is love you and love you and love you
"Hello?"
"It's me, love. Happy Valentine's Day."
"Happy Valentine's. Where are you?"
"Stuck in traffic, alas. I hope this won't throw your plans too off."
"You're assuming that I had plans."
"Gary, I've been married to you for how long? And dating you for how much longer? You have plans."
"Yes, well, they're flexible. I just need you."
"Do tell."
"Hmm, well, I was thinking Shakespeare, chocolate, and the kids at my sister's. Sound good?"
"...I love you."
"My heart is ever at your service."
Main Story: In the Heart
Flavors, Toppings, Extras: Butter pecan 6 (bright), rocky road 16 (where it all happened), malt (PFAH: Summer in love), fresh pineapple (You're Still the One, Shania Twain), fresh blueberries (And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love), cherry (musically inspired, lots of 1st person), pocky chain.
Word Count: 1200
Rating: PG.
Summary: Love stories, in one hundred words or less.
Notes: Valentine's Day special, brought to you by my iTunes folder of stupid sappy love songs on shuffle! The names of the narrators and the songs are not included in the word count, although the lyrics are. Title from the Shakespeare Gary quotes at the end.
1) Gail: Walking on Sunshine, Aly and AJ
I feel the love, I feel the love, I feel the love that's really real
I never thought it could feel this good. Love, I mean. Every relationship I've ever had hurt in some way-- Paul was distant, Douglas could be condescending, and of course Brad.
But this... feels good. There's nothing I want to fix. Not to say there are no flaws-- show me a relationship without flaws and I'll show you The Stepford Wives-- but there's nothing that grates. Nothing that hurts.
It's like finally getting out of the woods and landing right on the doorstep of home.
2) Joanna: The Last Snowfall, Vienna Teng and Alex Wong
If this were the last I felt you breathing, how would I carry on?
There is a story told of the first humans ever to breathe. It is said that they were troublesome to Allah, so, in punishment, He split their souls in two and set them adrift in different bodies, forever to wander upon the earth, missing half their selves. Lonely and bereft they were, lost and alone, except for those lucky few who found their other halves, who lived with them, and loved them, parted only by death.
I fear that death now, more than I can say.
3) Ivy and Gina: I Was Made For You, She and Him
Baby, baby, I was made for you
"Gina!"
"What?"
"Where's the thing?"
"What thing?"
"The thing! With the thingy on the side! And the other thingy on top! Gets the whozit off the whatsitsface."
"Top drawer next to the sink in the kitchen. Make sure to put it back where it belongs this time. I'm sick of having to hunt it down wherever you decided to leave it."
"Okay, okay, Mom. Oh, here it is. What's it called again?"
"Beats me. Thing works."
"I love you so fucking much."
"I love you too. What brought that on?"
"Does it matter?"
4) Aaron: I Need You Tonight, Backstreet Boys
I still need you in my life
I met Clara at an AVEN event in... I guess it must have been January 2015. She was wearing this burgandy shirt, and it made her skin look like cream.
That's how I remember. I don't remember what we said, or who introduced us, I just remember the color of her skin and the way her hair feathered against her collarbone. I remember the way she smiled at me, like I was the best thing to happen to her all day.
She's the best thing to happen to me in my whole life.
5) Jake: As Long As You Love Me, Backstreet Boys
I'm leavin' my life in your hands
Here's the thing about being married to someone else with depression: it helps.
I mean, it's terrible when we're both depressed at the same time. We just slow down until we end up lying in bed holding each other and crying. Fortunately, that hasn't happened in a long time.
And when it happens to one of us, the other one's been there. You know how it feels from the inside. You know what helps and what doesn't.
I've got her, and she's got me. It helps more than anything else could, some days.
6) Summer: Just The Way You Are, Glee Cast
you're amazing just the way you are
"She's so beautiful. I mean, every time we're together I end up just staring half the time. And her smile, wow."
"Yeah, I hear that."
"And she's so fucking smart! I can talk to her about anything, and she'll know what I'm talking about. But it's not like she's beyond me, either, because there's stuff she doesn't get, and I can help her. It's such an awesome feeling when her face lights up... what are you laughing at?"
"You, man. You are so gone over her."
"You got it just as bad."
"True."
7) Melanie: Last Leaf, OK Go
And if it takes forever, forever it'll be
I asked her fifteen times before she said yes.
On second thought, fifteen might be an exaggeration. Mel is not exactly the patron saint of patience, and she gets irritated fast, so I'm certain that had I actually reached more than ten proposals I would know. I'm also certain that it wasn't a game; after her first marriage ended, she would of course be a bit leery.
She never said no, you know. "Maybe," and "not today," and on one memorable occasion, "reply hazy, try again later."
But she never said no.
8) Lars: I Walk the Line, Johnny Cash
Because you're mine, I walk the line
People don't really get Danny and me.
Summer does, but then Summer's Summer. And Aaron's got that weird relationship ESP thing. But other people, they give us funny looks, usually after we've fought in public again. Like, 'why are you even together.'
This's how I see it. We fight, sure. We scream at each other. But that's airing the grievances. Pulling socially-imposed Band-Aids off festering wounds. We get the poison out in the open, where it can heal.
It's a hell of a lot more functional than most relationships, I'll tell you that.
9) Michael: Tangled and Wild, Oh Susanna
All that's bright and alive, love, lives deep in you
"...what?"
"What?"
"You're looking at me."
"Is that a crime? I like looking at you."
"No, I mean, you're looking at me like you're thinking about something. That makes me nervous."
"...it makes you nervous that I think?"
"No! I mean... You're looking at me like people do when they see the cane. 'Oh, that poor boy.' Or similar."
"...weird, that's not what I was thinking."
"What were you thinking?"
"That you're the most alive person I've ever met."
"....oh."
"Feel better?"
"...yes."
"Good. Now come here and kiss me."
10) Arelie: Hands Down, Dashboard Confessional
you kissed me like you meant it and I knew that you meant it
Your father loved me, baby.
I know that someday, when you find out how you came to be, you may not believe this. People often don't, but I honestly did. I still do. I honestly thought it would work. It might have, if you didn't have your half-siblings. If there were no children, I might not be writing you this letter.
Whatever else you believe, baby, I want you to know this: I loved your father, and he loved me.
You were made in love.
11) Henrik: Day & Night, Billie Piper
Whenever I breathe you're on my mind
I think of her every day.
It's been years since I stood beside her and heard the moniter change from steady beeps to a dial tone. This line is no longer in service; please check the number and dial again.
It's been years. That's the only reason I can think about it that way.
I see her in our daughters' faces, in our sons' eyes. In the intelligence and strength of all our children. In the way my hands curve automatically to fit hers.
It's been years.
I think of her every day.
12) Gary and Lynne: All I Want To Do, Sugarland
All I really want to do is love you and love you and love you
"Hello?"
"It's me, love. Happy Valentine's Day."
"Happy Valentine's. Where are you?"
"Stuck in traffic, alas. I hope this won't throw your plans too off."
"You're assuming that I had plans."
"Gary, I've been married to you for how long? And dating you for how much longer? You have plans."
"Yes, well, they're flexible. I just need you."
"Do tell."
"Hmm, well, I was thinking Shakespeare, chocolate, and the kids at my sister's. Sound good?"
"...I love you."
"My heart is ever at your service."