Liam Stratford's Story

"Mirror, mirror, on the wall who is the most handsome of them all?" Lucas recited to his reflection, a question he ask himself every morning, boosting his self-confidence, and congratulating himself on his physical discipline. Lucas had just finished working out by using his pull up bar and bench press, before he had taken his quick shower. Every morning he commits himself to waking up earlier and working out for an hour and a half. Why? Because since he was a child, Lucas has been in the military training, he has grown accustom to managing with little sleep, and has been drawn to exercise and keeping his body fit. And without it, Lucas could find himself walking a dark road of depression if he could never serve in the military, never to be there in the frontlines with his men, just as some people cannot imagine themselves without their talent of writing, drawing, or dancing. Most troops are more than happy to be given time to go back home and visit their families, but Lucas was not quite so cheerful. Sure he was not grateful, but civilian life seemed so foreign to him, after all the things he has seen, all the things he has done. Lucas does visit his family, because he dearly loves his mother's care and his father's blessings, but every time he visits them he feels that he needs not to cling to mother and father, but start a family of his own, thus is why he resides in Brewster. And one thing about the town is that it is not bustling with noise and distractions like New York or Las Vegas, other cities his father has visited, but Brewster was a quiet small town, a place to the give the mind peace. But also because there had always been something intriguing and different about Brewster. It was the people, all them so unique, so special, so talented. One person that comes in mind is Liam Stratford, stories that always catch Lucas's interest. Liam was not only a good friend, a best friend, but one of a kind.

Lucas had already spent fifteen minutes deciding on what to do with his hair, because never did he grow to like long hair, but isn't that was women find attractive? And whatever society defines beautiful, Lucas wants to replicate and trace that image, he wants to be the perfect man in appearance. Should I comb it back? Wear it shaggy? Or maybe a middle part? he tried asking himself, but in the end he chose to wear it loose, don't want people to actually know how much time he spends on his appearance. Lucas wanted to look like the celebrities, live the like the celebrities, well, at least outside of the military life. Because inside of the military life, he desires to be a hero and a good leader. No matter what people ever told him, Lucas always believed it is on the outside of what counts, sure the inside can matter, but people eat first with their eyes. So let them have a feast. But not only did Lucas had wasted time on his hair but spent twenty minutes squeezing into his skinny jeans, trying to make himself look as sexy as possible. Sure it was a struggle to get into but beauty is pain, and why not give it a try, what's the worst that could happen? And for his top he wore a crimson deep V-neck. He knew he was ready for his day, well, not yet...

Lucas stepped outside of his house and into his garage, where he found his first love, his motorcycle. "Angel!" he called to it as if the white motorbike could speak. "How are you doing, my love?" he asked patting the grip. And there he spent an hour, though time felt fast, tending to his motorcycle- changing the engine oil, polishing it, and getting it ready for the day, his favorite vehicle out of all that he owns and had own. He loved Angle because he had the bike since he was thirteen, so many memories, and it has been good to him. And some think he has too much an obsession with the bike, but Lucas won't care to stop embracing Angle in adoration and affection. When he had finished, Lucas kissed the bike's cowl and hopped on. ""You ready, Angel? That a girl!" He appreciated that he lived far from the town, gave him a lot time everyday to ride his motorcycle. And now he was ready for his day.

Lucas had in mind, already where he was going to stop by, the café where Liam worked out. He zipped through the streets riding on his beloved motorcycle, with the wind his face, how he always loves to start his day off, made his living complete. Lucas stopped his bike on the curve whispering to it, hoping no one could hear him, "I'll be back, Angel." Lucas kissed the bike yet again on the cowl. And with that he entered the café, but he always felt a thread of guilt living his motorcycle out there alone. Lucas strutted into the café, with chest out, expressing his walk with swagger and his hair being flipped back and forth like he owned the place. Lucas got into line, waiting patiently to see Liam. Lucas had already seen his friend when he first moved into Brewster three days ago, but not since them, he had been busy with adjusting to the town. But finally when Lucas encountered Liam face to face, Lucas transmitted off his "pretty-boy" smile, "Liam, how are you, my friend? I would like... uhh...," Lucas looked up at the menu, he never really orders coffee, he only went to café really because Liam works there. "An espresso? Sounds fancy. Anyways," Lucas flipped his hair. "Girls come here often? How can they resist a charming man such as I?"

Lucas watched as his friend prepared this café miel, the way the crema lathered onto the coffee before the espresso was released into the liquid. The honey so lightly and delicately danced in with a finishing touch of cinnamon. And Lucas watched this all happen, you could say he was entertained by it, thinking Is this why people would kill for caffeine? Lucas has seen things get ugly, get rough, especially before he took control as captain and was under command of men who made mistakes in their strategies and tactics. So, simply beauties in life such as fireworks, rainbows, and even just coffee mixing, really help Lucas get through in life. Besides, what other soul enjoys beauty more than Lucas? Too bad, Lucas was not really planning to even drink the coffee, plus he did not want to taint the piece of artwork it has become. He thought of the people who order this stuff everyday and never stop to admire it, sometimes pleasing sights can give a stronger drive than caffeine ever could. Lucas tugged out his wallet from the back pocket. He picked out a twenty and handed it to Liam, "Just keep the change, for a tip."

After transferring the money to Liam, Lucas spoke again, "Liam, you shouldn't discourage yourself. You're great, in everything you write and say, its beauty- and I love beauty." Lucas sighed and then continued, "I know, it might sound easy to say this, but I find myself in situations in the past with victories. Victories! I have never failed a single mission, but it sure doesn't feel like a victory when I look at number of causalities, sure it might just be one person, but that person mattered, and I take full responsibility for their death. And when I feel like I've failed, when I'm discouraged I know that everyday I breathe- that is a second chance, a second chance that I will not give up. And what's more painful than giving up? Regretting it later. Liam, I will always be here to support you and your work. I hope you can do the same for yourself." It was a lot that was said from Lucas but he knew Liam needed it, he was being too hard on himself. Lucas would of done anything to encourage his friend, its never fun to see anyone down like that, well at least to Lucas, he loved happiness. And he was use to motivating his soldiers, so lifting people up and inspiring them was second nature to him.

Lucas would have continued to chatter but that was until another walked into the café, sure plenty of people entered the building but this one approached Liam and announced that he had with him croissants and made an insulting remark to the bakery, Lucas only tried to give a smile back but he had only received a mean glare from the man. Lucas kept his mouth shut until the stranger had left, Lucas had only seen the guy a couple times in town but never really ever spoke, Lucas wondered how he ever offended him. And when he did leave into the back as he said Lucas continued, "Liam, say the prettiest girls don't come until later? Guess, I'm lucky- found her. Watch and learn, my friend, I bet I could get her number and even ask her out on a date." And with that Lucas pranced over to the girl whom walked in with the menacing stranger, Lucas did not think much of it though when they walked together, he just saw a gorgeous face. He didn't waste any time also to make his way to her, the way an ant never waste time to land on a raw grain of sugar. Lucas flipped his hair, his eyes gazing into hers, his silly smile stretching on his face again. She was not quite look directly back at him when he approached her, Lucas was surprised, he grabs most girls attention by one sight of his pretty face. Maybe she wasn't impressed, so, now it was time for some talking. He did not know here, so asking questions may seem like an interrogation, so he went with the cute move, pick-up lines, some girls find it cute, others annoying, but even if they find it annoying, he turn that annoyance into playfulness. "The name's Lucas. You know, I was looking for the stars last night, but I couldn't find them, because they are in your eyes. Heh, I know it might sound cheesy but--"

When Callum lifted the first cup, Lucas had the suspicious of what he may do, but Lucas could not believe, people don't just pour steaming cups of coffee on complete strangers. Nope, he was wrong, Lucas guessed people are crazier than they seemed, sure the man was angry, but how was Lucas ever suppose to know. And why so damn bossy? Lucas was fine however , trying to keep calm the entire time Callum verbally dominated himself over Lucas, for Lucas never was the one to have a bad temper. And he was keeping his mouth shut- silent, its best to say nothing at all in situations like that, speech could of only made thins worse. But what ruffled Lucas's feathers, was as soon as the first drop of boiling coffee spattered against his tight jeans, a fiery heat now anchored into Lucas's garment, engulfing over his thighs and groin- now he was fully awake more than ever. Lucas's body went tense and stiff at that moment, every muscle his body flexed, with his teeth hinged together, trying to hold back a yell in agony. Lucas had sounded a growl signaling the burning affliction with fingers wrapped conceiving a firm fist.

He was not even paying attention to what Callum said next, Lucas was too preoccupied at the moment, if anyone could clearly see. Lucas witnessed now the pot joining the attack, and Lucas had the option of attacking back, but he knew it would have not been the smartest decision, first of all Lucas was ambushed, and ill prepared for offense. Second, Lucas was not the one armed, this Callum was. Third, there were people here, plenty of them, and he was not going to make more of the situation of what it already was. Lucas was calling in a retreat, but the war is not over, he could promise anyone that.

Lucas took a staggering step back, "Watch what you're doing, prick!" And with that Lucas spat on Callum, it was ill-mannered behavior, Lucas could admit, but you don't mess with a man's balls the way Callum did. "And way to go for the cheap shot, but I always strike the heart first." Lucas lurched away and towards Liam, struggling to speak in a whisper that turned into a hiss, "Liam! Need your help here. Lend me the key to your apartment, its across the street. Can't ride Angel- eh, my motorcycle, not like this! Come on, Liam, I need her your help." Not only was it the pain that hindered Lucas's but the embarrassment, now he was glad that the café was absent of any beautiful girls, he did not want to let them see him in this pathetic state.

Theme Song || Outfit

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So warm... so comfortable. Callum's bed was a godsend compared to her own. That's why when they were still "on" she'd find reasons to stay the night. That and her mother wouldn't notice if she was there or not. Mary Lynn Roland didn't exactly have the best home life. Her mother was a drunk and drug addict. And Mary had to be her own parent from a very young age. That's why she pushes herself so hard. She always has to be the best at everything she does. If that meant getting a little help from Uncle Ritalin, so what?

The blonde yawned, stretching out and touching the spot where Callum had been. She opened one sleepy eye. He was gone. He was not one to wake up early unless he had to go to work. But wasn't today a weekend? She peeked at his clock. Seven thirty. She shot up so quickly that it seemed like someone gave her a shot of adrenaline.

"Fuck! It's Monday! I'm late!" Mary stumbled over to her backpack and grabbed it on the way to his bathroom. She was wearing one of Callum's clean shirts and not much more. She threw off the shirt and put on her bra. This was not good. She had a routine. If things veered off her routine, things went very bad for her. She brushed her teeth quickly and threw on a pair of high waisted shorts with a loose crop top over it. She left her hair in messy curls. She did make time to touch up her makeup.

She didn't to show up looking like a raccoon and risk that name being her new nickname. It was bad enough she still had Virgin Mary hanging over her head. She pulled on her favorite pair of boots and laced them up. She was half way out the door when she realized it was raining. Standing under the porch, she pulled on her rain jacket and zipped it up. She threw on her backpack and took off at a run.

Sure, if Mary had just gone straight from her boyfriend and best friend's out to the school, she would have been fine. But her functioning on nothing at this hour? That was a recipe for disaster. So she crossed the street but rain up to Vie De Pâtisserie and found Cateline, her boss, outside. She grinned at her, giving her a peck on the cheek. Cateline was the closest thing she had to a real mother. "Hey Cate! I'm late! I can't talk, sorry!" She hurried into the bakery. She slipped behind the counter. She nodded to Bella, not really saying anything to her. Bella wasn't her friend at all. She never actually teased her with the others, but she never stood up for her.

She grabbed a back and started throwing different treats that she could eat for breakfast and before her co worker could say anything, she was out the door again. She hurried to the cafe next to, sliding into the shop and nearly right into a tall blonde guy. She turned bright red, noticing his wet pants. She looked back up at his face, blushing more.

"H-hi... s-sorry." She stepped around him, finding the person she was looking for. And there he was. "Liam! You godly man, you, do you have my order ready?" She asked him, her eyes begging him for caffeine. Yup, that's right, not her boyfriend at all. She came in every day, rain or shine. And she got the same thing every day; a venti white chocolate mocha with and extra shot of espresso and an extra pump of syrup with whipped cream in a to go cup. "I'm really late." She told him, bouncing up and down.

Her brown eyes turned to Callum, glaring at him. "Thanks for not waking me up!" She stepped over to him and Yvette. She leaned down and touched Yvette's hand giving it a squeeze. This is how she always said hi to her friend. She opened up her box of pastries and set a brownie in front of her. She put her hand in her friend's again and spelled out 'brownie no nuts'.

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Lucas's spirits were lifted just a bit when Liam stepped in, because honestly Lucas wanted to stay out of it for the time being, he was smart enough to know when to back off, well at least for the time being. Besides, Lucas knew Liam would come through, and he did even more than that when he had ordered Callum to stand down, at least someone was talking some sense into him. Lucas tried to understand this Callum's motives in his attack, getting into the mind of his enemy so that he will remember the weaknesses of his enemy. So, Callum threw a childish tantrum as soon as Lucas touched that girl, Yvette was her name? Lucas will remember that and use it against him, maybe this girl is Lucas's way to revenge. Lucas would never hurt the girl or any girl that is, in any form or fashion, but simply keep in contact with her. And, Lucas believed if he did leave her alone just as Callum had desire, then Lucas would appear a coward, and Lucas is anything but a coward.

"Thank you, Liam. I owe you one," Lucas tried speaking nicely, but it only came out sour, anyone could imagine his mood was spoiled after what torment he had experienced. Lucas grabbed for the keys before Liam went to calm the customers, and Lucas started walking towards the door for an exit, but he paused and turned to Callum one last time, with a snarled Lucas guaranteed "And when I strike the heart, I don't miss. Remember that, prick..." Another had walked into the café as Lucas was leaving, he just kept his eyes looking to the ground, trying not to grab attention, which was odd for him, because if anyone knows Lucas, he marinades in attention.

And when Lucas was out he attempted to sprint down over to Liam and Felicity's apartment, but the faster Lucas paced his body the harder the fabric of Lucas's skinny jeans rubbed against the burned skin. But he didn't care about the pain anymore, he was too pissed to think about it, to embarrassed to stop and feel. Finally reaching the apartment, the first thing that came into Lucas's mind was that the living was quite small for two people to be living in, but he suppose not everyone could be as wealthy as he was. As soon as Lucas unlocked the door, he immediately slammed it behind him, but gently closing it trying to cause as little of noise to not alarm Felicity's dog, he wouldn't want to get Liam in trouble. Lucas headed for the freezer he needed to get ice on those burn marks. He found their ice bag and some Ziploc ones, scooping the cubes out and filling up four bags. He then return the ice bag back to its original place in the freezer.

Lucas then limped to the bathroom, he turned the bath's facet on the coldest temperature. While the water was running he first took off his shirts, his shoes, socks- the easy stuff first, now the jeans. It was already a pain taking them off, now doing it with a steaming puddle on would be far from pleasant. But within a struggling twenty to thirty minute time-span Lucas finally ripped the pants off. "Never ever, ever, wearing skinny jeans again! And I hate coffee!" he yelled to himself, a yell of frustration as he threw the jeans off and against the wall forcefully. Lucas dipped his ankles into the tub of water and then sat himself down staring at the bright red burns swollen on his flesh. He pressed the bags of ice down on his thighs and crotch, as he gave a sigh of irritation. He had no idea this is how he would start his day off.

Lucas had been soaking there in the tub all alone, contemplating through libraries of thoughts. He could suppose, civilian's life, to him, was so much more difficult and strenuous than being pressed at the frontlines ever was. And it was the fact that Lucas was startled by Callum's hostility, making Lucas guess he assumed way too much about people, that people are actually crazy or selfish scumbags that step out line. On base, Lucas would have never ran into that type of trouble, mainly because people, soldiers, there had respect for him, they had to according to the medals and emblem stamped against Lucas's uniform. But none of that mattered here. So, what did?

And suddenly, Liam stormed in, door open, Lucas given yet another surprise that day. Lucas jumped back, and grabbed the ice bags, trying to cover as much as he could of his crotch. "Bloody hell, Liam! Don't scare me like that," he reacted in his naked state. "Well, its not everyday that I get my balls scorched in coffee and then walk in on nude..."

Lucas then listened to Liam's plan, as he grabbed a towel nearest to him. While Liam was talking, Lucas climbed out of the tub, before he wrapped the towel around his waist. "Wait, a minute... Yvette, that girl, she's deaf... and blind? Damn... No, wonder that prick was pissed off." Lucas at this point had become numb at the surprises, too many to count, and no telling what else this town is full of. But if he could help, Lucas rather know about things before they do become what is qualified as a surprise. Besides, Lucas would of never imagine all that was started over his attempt to get her number.

Lucas was at least glad that Liam was there to inform him. Who knows that would happen if he wasn't. Lucas buried it in his mind to be remembered that Mary was, as Liam said, off-limits. Lucas did not want to lose Liam, he was very helpful, so he will remember to take that order seriously. Speaking of orders, Lucas had to prepared himself for his next destination, the beach. Lucas did not know how Liam got this plan all started, but he was not going to refuse, better than sulking alone in a bathtub. "Pants, pants, pants, need pants-- Oh, Liam, could I borrow some pants, and maybe some boxers also? My stuff is... kind of... I don't know- soaked."

"No, just didn't want to make you jealous," it was a cocky comment from Lucas when Liam questioned Lucas's sudden desire for cover, but it was all in playful jeering. It was not that Lucas was ever ashamed of his body, no he will mold and sculpt it until perfection. But he just was not prepare to be seen like that, and especially what he thought was a low state at the time. Besides, Lucas knew that Liam had a roommate, Lucas did not want to introduce himself to a complete stranger naked. He was raised to be a gentleman, and growing up in a wealthy home he took etiquette sessions as a little boy. Sure he has broken and forgotten a lot of those rules, like flipping his shirt off, but he knows he has to have some kind of class, don't want to end up as some white boy trash.

So Yvette was coming over to Liam's apartment lie soon? Lucas was not sure how he felt about that. He would not have a problem to be seen with her again with Callum present, in fact Yvette was Lucas's way to strike Callum back, because he knew that it hurt Callum to see Yvette among the likes of Lucas. But what if Callum did find Yvette with Lucas, even if Lucas was simply standing next to her, Callum would be pissed either way. And Lucas had no problem in pissing Callum off, that was kind of the point of seeing Yvette in the first place, but pissing off Liam was another story. Liam's beach day would be ruined if Lucas and Callum if they started giving each other hell again, and Liam when off how he did not want his plans ruined. Lucas just knew if Callum did come at him with physical hostility, Lucas would just play the defense, and hopefully maybe Liam would jump in.

After scouting around for pants, Lucas was successful at finding a pair which he slipped into rather easy, being aware the last pair he was wearing were skinny jeans that felt like an extra and unnecessary workout to put on. For Lucas's torso, he just wore his crimson V-neck as before, at least that didn't have any coffee stains. "So, you really want this to happen?"Lucas asked as he sat down next to Liam, tossing his long blonde locks to the side of his face and out of the way of his bright blue eyes. Lucas noticed Liam was scribbling something, but wasn't too nosy to ask why or what it was. "Are you sure this is a good idea? You know, bringing me along, with Yvette there. I'm not scared of Callum, but I don't want to ruin your day if he shows up, seeing me there with Yvette, hell would unleash, and this time I would be prepared. Besides, what's their connection anyways. Yvette and Callum related somehow?"