The Stories Behind the Flames- Ignition Prompts (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Bridget Taylor- The Rose and Thorns

The world is full of color; physically and in an emotional sense. The world shifts and changes constantly from happiness yellow to peaceful blue to brooding gray, and wondrous green. Whatever color of life you're in, it's never there for very long because the colors change as quickly as the human heart does.

Bridget Taylor had a habit of looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. A little bit too literally actually, since she sported a pair of pink-tinted frames since she was 12.  While the universe could be drowning in depressing deep blue and dark grays, Bridget would smile and laugh because to her, everything was still rose-tinted.

Being born in sunny San Diego California, she loved to explore nature and the sea-side. Her key dream was to be a biologist and learn everything anyone had ever studied about anything. Bridget avidly studied everything in her sight- the roaring ocean, sea-life, clouds, and animals. Her absolute favorite thing to study though, were the flowers like roses.

Pink roses in particular.

Pink roses were to Bridget the type of item that you get that sends you down a rabbit hole of memories. Her mother always had a beautiful garden full of them, and to Bridget, it seemed like there was no other flower on the planet that looked so pretty and smelled so divinely. However, there were many times afterward when Bridget reflected that although pink roses were different to any other flower, there was still one thing she could not forget.

Pink roses, like any other rose, have thorns.

Thorns have the unpleasant job of reminding you to be careful even when you see something beautiful. Eager hands reach for the tempting silken petals and smooth green stem and BAM. A thorn pierces your skin and leaves a painful bleeding trail.

Bridget was 16 when Jason Marron came into her life. A brand-new Junior, Straight A student, with groups of cheerful friends, Bridget was drinking up every happy moment life had to offer. So when she was sat next to this new boy with gorgeous light blue eyes, Bridget felt like life had given her the best gift of all.

If you had asked Bridget what made her so attracted to this dark-haired rogue, who never payed attention in class and always walked with an air of confidence and "swagger" in his step, she could not have told you. Future Bridget would have told you she was young and incredibly stupid, but Young Bridget just knew that she was irresistible attracted to his care-free air of danger that always surrounded him. Before the month was over, she was fathoms deep in love with him.

The first time she interacted with Jason (because of course, if he never noticed the teacher, why would he notice the mousy, smol girl like her who sat next to him?) it was during Chemistry class. Now of course, as Bridget was aiming to become a Biochemist, she knew the lessons like the back of her hand. She remembered hearing Jason whisper to his buddy who sat behind him (another rogue as well, but while Jason was sophisticated and elegant, this boy was just gross and disgusting.) "Hey dude, completely forgot the garbage homework for this class. Got anything for me I can use?" His friend laughed at him, replying that HE wasn't going to share his hard work with some slacker like Jason, and Jason mockingly pouted, a disappointed look in his clear eyes.

Even though she knew full well that look was fake, it hurt Bridget to the core of her heart. She was willing to do anything to get that terribly sad look off his face, so before her mind could even process what on earth she was doing, she piped up,

"You can borrow mine."

Her hands quickly clamped themselves over her mouth as she realized what she had just done, and her eyes widened as Jason slowly turned to look at her. Jason was very surprised since he realized he had never once heard his timid neighbor speak once to him. Had he always sat next to this girl? He had never really paid attention to her, he was never drawn to the small, shy, quiet type. Snapping bright girls with fire were what he was in to. But, as he studied the very pink-faced girl who was staring like her eyes might bulge out, he realized that this was someone who had very weak temperament.

It wasn't quite his type, but it was someone who he could easily get some advantages with in school. Plus, she did have very pretty brown eyes and some cute freckles.

"Sure. Thanks." he said and flashed her a wolf-like grin. Just like that, Bridget felt her heart ooze like honey all over her soul, and she happily passed her homework  over.  He had actually smiled at her, DEAR GOODNESS, HE HAD JUST SMILED AT HER. His smile was the most alluring thing, she thought, shining and just a tad dangerous with his wolf-shaped canines.

(Later in her life, Bridget would shudder anytime she remembered that wolf smile that grew to stop being so charming. )

With Bridget being so deeply in love, it wasn't hard for Jason to win her over. He never thought he'd ever get together with a nerd, but it certainly proved advantageous and Jason welcomed it. No more having to do homework, his geek girlfriend did it for him. Whenever he wanted something at lunch, he just had to look at his her and she would just melt, handing over money to buy their lunch every day.  Not to mention, it was very nice for his ego to have someone who would follow him so blindingly all the time, catering to his every wish and whim. It was like owning a dog, or a personal servant. He was the King, and Bridget was this little small being who was made to serve him, and him alone.

Do you ever have a hard time waking up? Your blankets are just so warm, and your pillow is so fluffy, you feel like you could spend the rest of your life in bed? If you're anything like that, sometimes you find you need a good slap in the face to wake up.

Well sadly, it did require a slap for Bridget to wake up. And ever sadder still, it took a physical one for her to realize the deep dark pit of manipulation she was stuck in.

Part 2 Coming Soon!

Hope y'all enjoy this! it was super fun to write and MAN, WILL THE PART 2 HIT YOU IN DA FEELS. PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT- HELP A HOMIE OUT YA KNOW?