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abuttoncalledsmalls · 4 years

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Take A Giant Step - Chapter 6

Warnings: Alcohol, Angst, Anxiety, and Language

Pairings: Frankie Morales x f!OC

Word Count: 2K

A/N: Here is Chapter 6! If you would like to be tagged (or un-tagged) in upcoming chapters, please don’t hesitate to let me know. Shout out to the AMAZINGLY LOVELY @yespolkadotkitty for beta-ing this! Please enjoy. <3

Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5

Banner by @yespolkadotkitty

“So let me get this straight - you know nothing about mixed martial arts, but you are going to a mixed martial arts match tomorrow night?”

“For the seventeenth time, yes Jeff. I am.” I rolled my eyes and picked up my container of fried rice. We sat in his office partaking in our weekly ritual of Takeout Thursday. Every Thursday we would order out for lunch and catch up on non-Gallaway related business. I told him about dinner at Arianna’s with Frankie the week before and how he invited me to the match.

“Things sound like they’re getting serious, eh?”

“We’re just hanging out. Like friends do.”

“Mags - he is inviting you to meet his friends. The men he served with - the people that know him best. That is kind of a serious deal. He’s probably going to ask them what they think about you.”

“You think so?”

“I fucking know. I do the same thing. Why do you think I call you at three in the morning to ask what you thought about so-so? It’s so that you can let me know if I’m sleeping with a psychopath or not. It’s very important.”

“Well, homies help homies - always. Even if it is for stuff like that.”

“Exactly and I’m trying to help you. You need to tell him that you want him. I know sometimes those words are hard to find. If that’s the case, just suck his dick. A blow job is just another way of saying ‘I care about you’.”

“Jesus Christ, Jeff. You know the entire Shakespearean cannon by heart and that’s the one piece of encouragement you give me?!” He straightened up in his chair and placed down his chopsticks.

“If Billy Shakes thought of that, he would have used it. I’m pretty sure the best Shakespearean advice that could be given in this situation is to tell Frankie about your feelings sooner rather than later. Because this will they/won’t they shit is going to kill everyone.”

***

The next evening, Frankie picked me up from home. I was tying my Target knock-off Keds when I heard a knock at the door. I shot up to answer it. There he was in his usual outfit - a grey t-shirt, blue jeans, work boots, and his baseball cap. I was secretly relieved to see that his beard was growing back in. He stood in the doorway with a shy smile.

“Hi, Maggie.”

“Hi, Frankie.”

“You ready to go?”

“Yeah.” I grabbed my phone, wallet, and keys. I locked my front door and we headed out towards his truck. He opened the passenger side door for me and waited until I was buckled in before he closed it. He hopped into his seat, started the engine, and then we were off to the Venture Area.

“Your shirt is funny.”

“Is it,” I asked looking down at it. I was wearing a navy blue t-shirt with bold white lettering across the chest that read SPORTS. I decided that jean shorts and my knock-off Keds went well with it. Frankie didn’t really give any specifics about what was proper attire for this kind of thing so I had to guess. I could only assume that his comment signaled some approval.

“I know I shouldn’t be nervous about meeting your friends, but I still am. Just a little bit.”

Frankie turned to me and flashed me a comforting smile. “The boys will be on their best behavior. If not, I’ll kick their asses.” I giggled softly. There was no doubt that he could do so. He was part of the special ops. It was just difficult imagining this sweet and reserved man engaging in violence. However, there was that saying about still waters running deep.

“Tonight will be fun,” he assured me as we pulled into the Venture parking lot. Once he parked the car, he got out and went around to open my door for me. It was such a little thing to do, but it was really nice. I thanked him and we started to head towards the venue’s entrance. Two men were standing just off to the side of our destination. One was taller and had blonde hair. The other was shorter with dark hair. They were both yelling “Fish! Catfish!” I glanced at Frankie and noticed that his entire face was lit up. He was clearly elated to see his friends.

As we got closer, the shorter man came up to Frankie and hugged him. They exchanged a greeting in Spanish and then laughed. The taller man came up and gave his capped friend a hug as well.

“It’s been forever, Catfish,” said the taller man.

“Yeah. I know.” Frankie turned toward me. “This is, uh, Maggie Lawrence. Maggie, this is Santiago Garcia and William Miller.” I said hello and shook their hands.

“So, this is the famous Maggie,” declared Santiago. He was the shorter of the two men. He had dark, expressive brown eyes. His hair and beard were black with a peppering of grey throughout. He had a certain swagger and strong aura of confidence.

“Well,” I began. “I’m nowhere near as famous as the infamous Santiago.”

William laughed out loudly. “Not even five minutes in and she is busting balls. Maggie, you’ll fit in fine. We’re just missing Benny, my brother. You’ll meet him after the fight,” said William.

“We should go in,” commented Frankie.

“I don’t want to get shitty seats again,” grumbled William. The four of us headed into the arena.

***

After the fight all of us, including Benny, went out to a local pub called The Circle. We got a table in the back which was the absolute correct call to make. The adrenaline and booze made the boys a little rowdy. The beer flowed as freely as the conversation did.

“Maggie,” started Benny. “You’re a smart girl. An artsy girl. What are you doing hanging around with this guy? The only poetry he knows is by Poison.” Santiago and William laughed while Frankie blushed.

“Didn’t you know that the verses of Brett Michaels are now discussed in the highest of academic circles?”

“What?” The confused look on Benny’s face was priceless.

“I’m fucking with you, Benny. I enjoy hanging out with Frankie because he’s sweet, funny, smart, and handy.”

“Awwww, Fishie is sweet and handy,” teased William. Frankie turned beet red.

“I’m gonna go order another round for the table,” Frankie got up and headed over to the bar. William and Benny were still laughing at the conversation. Santiago motioned me to come over.

“They’re going to talk and laugh for awhile. Let’s move down to the end of the table and chat. So I can learn a little bit more about you.” We moved down the table some.

“We’re really glad that you were able to come out tonight,” said Santiago.

“I had a lot of fun. It’s been great getting to meet you guys. Frankie was so pumped that you all were coming to town.”

“We were pretty excited that we were going to see him. It’s been a while. I know he was really looking forward to introducing you to us. He talks about you a lot.” I bit my lower lip and could feel my cheeks blush.

“I’m not that interesting. He probably only mentioned me like once or twice.”

“No. I’m serious. You didn’t have to help him get all of those gigs or even hang out with him.”

“I did - do - it because I really like spending time with him. He’s amazing. I think he deserves the sun, moon, and stars.”

Santiago smirked. “He feels the same exact way about you.”

“Excuse me?”

“Catfish. Frankie. Francisco. He likes you. A lot. You are the only thing he has talked about for the last two months. It’s been nothing but ‘Maggie this’ and “Maggie that’. I feel like I’ve been talking to a sixteen year old girl instead of a forty-two year old man.”

I giggled nervously. “How do I know that you aren’t fucking with me?”

Santiago looked at me with his mouth open. “You seriously have not noticed the eyes he has been making at you all night? He’s smitten! He desperately wants to make a move but is terrified that you’ll turn him down. This poor man has been through enough to last him two lifetimes. He keeps getting dealt one shitty hand after another. That’s taken a major toll on him and his confidence. Look, we see a great guy when we look at Frankie. But he can’t see that himself. Benny, William, and I have seen that he’s been so much more happier since you two met. I have to say that it looks like he makes you pretty happy too.”

Santiago went on, but his voice started to fade into the background. Frankie had been hiding his feelings for almost the same reason I had been? It felt like a light had been turned on and I could finally see. Francisco Morales was interested in me. There was a chance that this could happen. That surge of hope that I was suppressing was coursing through my body again. I had a shot!

When Frankie came back, Santiago smiled and winked at me. I returned to my seat, pretending that nothing had happened. As the night went on, the guys shared various stories from their army days. A majority of them were centered on drunk pranks played on one another on the base. Their laughter and joy was so infectious that I felt like I fit in. I caught a quick glimpse of Frankie. I’d never seen him so happy and relaxed.

“It’s getting kind of late. I think I’m gonna call it a night,” yawned William.

“Awww. It’s the old man’s bedtime,” teased his younger brother.

Everyone stood up and began to say their goodbyes. Santiago slipped out to pay the tab while the two brothers were giving us hugs.

“Make sure you keep Fish in line. He needs it from time to time,” warned William.

“Oh, I will.” I turned to smirk at Frankie, but found that he was busy speaking with Santiago. After William and Benny left, I went over to the two remaining men.

“You ready to head out?” asked Frankie.

“Yeah.”

“It was great to meet you, Maggie. Catfish is really lucky to have you around.”

“I don’t know. I think I might be the lucky one.”

***

The ride home was mostly quiet. The soft pitter patter of raindrops and Journey underscored the drive. I was still reeling from my conversation with Santiago. It was only when the truck stopped in my parking lot that I snapped back into the moment.

“Your friends are a lot of fun. I really enjoyed meeting them tonight.”

Frankie blushed. “They’re good guys. They liked you too.”

“I got to speak with Santiago a little bit. He’s a charmer that one.”

“Always has been. He’s been able to talk himself out of anything for the most part.”

“I can see that. He’s very open concerning how he feels about you guys.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“I wish I could be like that - open with my thoughts and feelings. Sometimes this intense passion for someone or something consumes me. It feels like an incredible force of energy that is desperate to leave me. It wants to go out into the open and be free, but I can’t let it. The fear of showing that vulnerable side - that passion - is so risky and overwhelming.” Tears were starting to sting my eyes. “The very real possibility of rejection and hurt is so prevalent that it’s just better to hide and be safe -”

I was cut off by the most tender kiss of my life. Frankie pulled away and looked at me with those soft brown eyes. Time stood still. I went back in and we kissed again. And again. And again. He then gently kissed my forehead.

“It’s okay, Maggie. It’s safe. We don’t have to hide from one another anymore.”

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TAGS:

@larakasser

@absurdthirst

@yespolkadotkitty

@fioccodineveautunnale

@wickedfrsgrl

@agirllovespasta

#Frankie catfish morales #Frankie x OC #catfish x oc #Francisco Morales #Frankie Morales #Triple Frontier #Catfish Morales #Frankie morales fanfic #Francisco catfish morales #abuttoncalledsmalls #Takeagiantstep #Catfish morales fic

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mosylufanfic · 7 years

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Omg #2 (childhood best friends au) for Killervibe please!!! Thx so much :)

I’ve Got a Crush on You

Caitlin staggered into the closet, knocked off balance by the hands shoving at her upper back. Cisco crashed into her from behind and then the closet door snapped shut, plunging them both into darkness.

She almost fell into the coats before her best friend's hands caught her shoulders and steadied her. "Thanks. I swear she rigged that."

"Of course she rigged that." Cisco's hands disappeared. "You know Iris. She's been talking about what a cute couple we'd make since freshman year."

Caitlin rolled her eyes in the dark. "Is there a light in here? I left my phone next to the vodka."

"Yeah, but the switch is outside, and you know she isn't going to turn it on. That would ruin the game. I've got mine, it's okay." Cloth rustled.

"I haven't played Seven Minutes in Heaven since Hunt -”

“Ah!”

She rolled her eyes. “He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named's thirteenth birthday party. Honestly, he was my horrific boyfriend. Why are you the one who refuses to hear his name?”

“As your best friend, I’m contractually obligated to loathe his name forever. I don’t make the rules.”

She rolled her eyes again, this time at him, and returned to what she’d been saying. “I can't believe she got everyone to go along with it."

"They're probably in on her nefarious plan." The cool blue light of a phone screen lit up the interior of the closet. Cisco made a wry face at her. "Well, it's only seven minutes. We'll hang out and then tell her nice try, but her Cupid gambit failed."

"Exactly," she said. She glanced down at their feet and kicked a few sets of winter boots aside to clear a spot on the carpeted floor. "Seat?"

"Don't mind if I do."

They made themselves comfortable, shoulder to shoulder, hip to hip, leaning against the back of the closet "Why do you think Iris is so fixated on us hooking up?" Caitlin asked.

The light of the screen dimmed slightly, throwing shadows up his face and chest as he shrugged. "I dunno. Neatness? She hates to see anyone single? She's genuinely convinced that we've been covertly lusting after each other for the past sixteen years? Who knows."

She nudged him. "You could never keep that from me. I know you too well."

The screen shut off, and dropped them into darkness.

"Wellllll . . ." he said.

"What?"

"In the interest of full disclosure, I did kind of have a crush on you at one point."

She felt her mouth fall open. "What? When?"

"When we first met."

"In Mrs. Simpson's class?"

"You didn't know? Wow, I was better at hiding than I thought."

"Or maybe I was just oblivious," she said. "Also, way to be be precocious. We were, what, eight?" Oh my god, that really had been sixteen years ago. She'd been friends with this boy next to her - this man next to her - for two-thirds of her life.

"Come on! You were a pretty girl who was willing to talk to me. Of course I crushed on you."

"When did that end?"

"When we got to be friends."

"Oh, wow, thanks."

"Nooo," he laughed. "You dork. I meant, I got to know you as a person and not just as the angel with the pretty hair who sat in front of me. Kid crushes are more about fantasy than reality."

"Mmm," she said, wondering if she should ask him to turn the phone on again. She decided against it, given what she was about to say. "Well, since you were honest with me . . . "

"Caitlin Esther Snow, you didn't."

"Not in second grade, I didn't! But I did crush on you for a short time in high school."

"When?"

"Sophomore year. About the time you started dating Michael."

"Michael," he said. "Wow. I haven't thought of him in years. He hated you."

"Oh, I noticed."

"You really had a thing for me back then?"

"Well - yes. But I was too scared to say anything, because I was pretty sure you didn't feel the same way, what with you being in a relationship and all. I'd've lost the crush and I might've lost you as a friend."

"I'd've still been your friend," he objected.

"But it would have been weird and you know it." She shook her head, even though he couldn't see it in the dark. "No, I'm glad I didn't say anything."

He made a humming noise in his throat. "These words are going to physically pain me, but this means Michael was right."

She went hot and cold all over. "Michael knew?"

"He said things a few times, but I sort of dismissed them because he was jealous of every girl I ever talked to, and he especially had a hate-on for you. He seemed to think that you'd seduce me in twenty seconds flat if he let me hang out with you alone even once."

"Is that why you dropped me?"

"I'm not proud. And you always knew it was because of Michael."

"Right, but I thought it was because I didn't watch the right TV shows and he wanted you paying attention to him 24/7."

"Well, there was that. So when did this thing of yours end?"

"I was mad at you for the aforementioned droppage. And then you were so miserable. I'd've been a monster if I'd hit on you right after Michael dumped you."

"Did I ever thank you for that? Turning up on my doorstep with a gallon of Rocky Road and The Princess Bride when I texted you? Considering I hadn't said anything more in-depth than 'what'd you get for number eight' to you in like two months, that's sainthood material right there."

"What are best friends for?" She toyed with the hem of her shirt. "Did you ever, um, think about it again?"

He shifted. "There was this one time. You remember how we were going to go to senior prom together?"

She gasped. "Wait, I thought we were going as friends!"

"Yes, as friends! I just kind of started thinking about the dance and dinner and to be perfectly honest, it was getting a little Sixteen Candles in my head - without the racist stereotype comic relief, obvs."

“Clearly.””But I wasn't pining or anything. I was just like, hey, what would happen if we maybe kissed or something? Just sort of curious."

"And then Ronnie asked me," she said. "And I went with him instead. I'm sorry."

His arm came around her shoulders. "Nothing to be sorry about. I knew you really wanted a big, romantic prom experience, and there was the boy of your dreams asking you out. I wasn't gonna hold you to our goofy plans."

"You did wear the powder-blue tux."

"I did. And we had a really good time."

"We really did! Ronnie was so nice to join our group."

"Was that really what you wanted? I mean, really."

"Yes! I told you that then, and I was telling the truth. Even if you weren't my date, I'd been looking forward to hanging out with you at prom. I was so worried we were going to drift apart when we went to college."

"We didn't," he reminded her.

"Yes, but I was worried we would."

He hugged her close. They hadn't always stayed as close during college. Being at different schools meant they had to make the effort to stay in touch. She would retreat when she was stressed academically. He would retreat when he was hurting about something. They'd both been good and bad by turns at keeping their friendship up.

But when they saw each other, it was always like no time had gone by at all - except for how much they had to catch each other up on.

She said softly, "What do you think would've happened? If I'd gone to prom with you? If we'd slow-danced and kissed?"

From the way he drew in his breath and let it out, she knew he was thinking about that. "I don't know," he said thoughtfully. "Maybe we would have decided to date. But I kind of have the feeling it wouldn't have lasted. We were both so ready to get out of there."

"And we wouldn't have visited each other at school like we did," she said. "Going to see your best friend is perfectly reasonable. Going to see your ex - not so much."

"Yeah. It's like my kid crush, or your thing for me sophomore year. The timing was wrong. And if we'd ever, like, gotten drunk at some party together, and fallen into bed - "

"That wouldn't have lasted either." She sighed. "I'm glad we stayed friends. I don't ever want to lose you."

"Me too. If we were to ever get together, I'd want to make sure it was forever."

She swallowed, her scalp prickling. She felt like she was blushing beet-red, and was glad of the dark. Her voice trembled a little as she said, "How long have we been in here?"

He turned his phone on again. "About . . . six minutes or so? Not much longer."

Cuddled as close as they were, she could pick out the shadows of each individual eyelash, the curve of his mouth and the angle of his chin.

I'd want to make sure it was forever.

It was uncanny how he'd echoed the way she'd thought about it for the past few years.

He turned his head to look at her, his face cut into strange portions by the light from the phone screen, and she wondered if he'd just been saying that. Or if he'd meant he wanted to be friends forever, because something romantic wouldn't last.

His eyes dropped to her mouth, then lifted again to lock onto hers. Her heart hammered in her throat.

The screen dimmed.

She leaned forward, and maybe he did too, because their noses bumped. She overcorrected and got his cheek, smooth and smelling lightly of his aftershave. They both laughed a little, and his hand settled on her cheek, and finally, finally their lips touched -

Breathed -

Pressed together.

The blue light of the phone disappeared, leaving them in the dark, their lips moving together. His hand slipped down her back, pulling her closer. She hooked one arm around his neck and pressed against him - warm and solid, strong.

What if this was the moment that the timing was actually right?

"Caitlin," he whispered.

She panted, feeling the warmth of his breath whispering over her lips. "Yes?"

"You wanna do this?"

He meant more than kissing in the dark during a silly party game. A lot more.

Forever wasn't guaranteed for anybody. But when you both knew that was what you wanted and you were both willing to work for it - didn't you have a better chance of getting it?

"Yes," she sighed. "You?"

"Oh, god, yeah."

She smiled and pulled his head down to hers again.

A few moments later, the overhead light snapped on, and Iris's voice caroled, "Seven minutes is up!"

They pulled apart and yelled in unison, "Go away!"

A chorus of raucous laughter met their twin bellow, and the light snapped off again. In the middle of the riot of glee, Iris yelled, "Pay up, Allen! I told you so!"

FINIS

#Cisco Ramon #Caitlin Snow #Killervibe #fanfiction #mosylufanfic lives up to her damn name #fluff #childhood friends AU #AU prompt party #the flash #shasta627

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lindawfowler101010 · 6 years

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Dwight Schrute - Everything you want to know (and More)

When The Office premiered in 2005, Rainn Wilson's Dwight Schrute emerged as one of the standout performances in the show. The beet-farming, Battlestar Galactica-loving paper salesman quickly endeared fans with his out of the ordinary personality and no-nonsense work ethic. In this article, we'll take an in-depth look at Dwight, highlighting some of his funniest moments on The Office and looking at the relationships that made him such an interesting character.

Best Dwight Quotes

Fans of The Office are quick to quote Dwight and interject some of his personal philosophy into their everyday lives, here's an example of some of the best Dwight quotes from throughout the series.

"Of course martial arts training is relevant… Uh, I know about a billion Asians that would beg to differ… You know what, you can go to hell, and I will see you there. Burning!"

When Jim and Pam pranked Dwight by posting his resume on an online job board, he got several serious calls for job interviews. In a heated exchange with one potential employer, Dwight touted his martial prowess and the benefits it has in his professional life.

"I don't have a lot of experience with vampires, but I have hunted werewolves. I shot one once, but by the time I got to it, it had turned back into my neighbor's dog."

When a bat flies into the Scranton office, Dwight thinks that Jim contracted vampirism. Ever the hunter and protector of his fellow employees, Dwight is prepared to drive a stake through Jim's heart should the situation deteriorate any further.

"I saw Wedding Crashers accidentally. I bought a ticket for Grizzly Man and went into the wrong theater. After an hour, I figured I was in the wrong theater, but I kept waiting. Cause that's the thing about bear attacks… they come when you least expect it."

At Phyllis and Bob's wedding, Dwight took it upon himself to root out any wedding crashers that might try and spoil the couple's big day. When Michael interrupts the ceremony, Dwight is forced to keep his boss and friend from ruining the nuptials.

That's What She Said Shirt

A running joke throughout The Office is Michael humorously saying “That's what she said” whenever the situation calls for it. As a serious person, Dwight doesn't typically join in on the joke. Nevertheless, when a stern Michael tells Dwight to think “long and hard” about his next decision, Dwight exclaims “That's what she said!” to Michael's chagrin. The joke has become synonymous with The Office, with many t-shirts and other apparel being made with the saying imprinted on it.

Best Dwight Moments

Fire Drill:

When Dwight's coworkers ignore a presentation he made on fire safety, Dwight takes it upon himself to make sure that they are prepared for any eventuality. Simulating a fire by creating smoke, hot doorknobs, and fake explosions, Dwight whips the office into a frenzy, leading to fellow salesman Stanley Hudson collapsing from a heart attack. Later on, Dwight got in even more trouble with corporate when he cut the face off of a medical dummy that first aid workers were using to teach the office what to do when a coworker is facing an emergency.

Dwight Stops Roy:

When warehouse worker Roy found out that Jim had kissed his then fiancée Pam, he stormed into the office intent on beating-up Jim. Springing into action, Dwight intercepted Roy, spraying Jim's would be attacker with mace and calling the police. The moment shows that despite often looking down upon his fellow employees, Dwight genuinely cares about the people in his life. Additionally, by refusing to be acknowledged as a hero for stopping the attack, Dwight showed his great humility.

Dwight Proposes to Angela:

Throughout the series, Dwight had an on-again-off-again relationship with Dunder-Mifflin accountant Angela Martin. The two faced numerous challenges to their relationship, including Angela being engaged to Andy for several months and even Angela's marriage to State Senator Robert Lipton. After a tempestuous series of events, Dwight pulled Angela over on the side of the road. Taking out a bullhorn, Dwight declared his love for Angela and proposed to her with his grandmother's ring. Angela accepted Dwight's proposal, and, as an added bonus, told Dwight that he was the father of her son Phillip.

Best Jim and Dwight Moments

Pranks:

One of the signature running jokes on The Office is Jim's frequent pranks on Dwight. In one of the most noteworthy pranks, Jim dresses-up as Dwight for work one day. Sitting down at his desk, Jim asks Dwight what bear is best. Dwight begins insisting that the question is ridiculous before Jim interjects that it is the black bear. In one of the most quoted lines from the show, Jim exclaims, “Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica,” much to Dwight's annoyance.

Snowball Fight:

When Jim goaded Dwight into a snowball fight, Dwight's response exceeded the expectations of anyone. Ambushing Jim outside the office, Dwight pelted Jim with snowballs. Later on, Dwight disguised himself as Pam to surprise Jim with a bowl full of snowballs. In the final round, Dwight surrounded Jim and Pam's car with an army of snowmen, declaring, “In the end, the greatest snowball isn't a snowball at all, it's fear.”

Friendship:

Despite their rocky relationship, Jim and Dwight are shown to nevertheless be friends. When Angela breaks-up with Dwight, Jim comforts him while visiting his beet farm. Additionally, in the series finale, Jim serves as Dwight's best man at his wedding to Angela.

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