🐎🫧🎨 GORGEOUS ! 🎨🫧🐎
( a cole walter fanfic )
PART FOURTEEN it was a joke
as forks clinked against plates, an uncomfortable silence hung in the air, thick with unspoken tensions. alex, fidgeting with his napkin, stole glances at his brothers, their eyes avoiding each other yet conveying volumes. jackie, sitting next to alex, sipped her juice, her gaze darting around the table, attempting to ignore the unease.
the sound of the front door creaking open sliced through the tense atmosphere, drawing everyone's attention. "is there anything left? cause i am starving." cole's voice broke the silence, a mix of casualness and hunger evident in his tone. he settled into his usual seat, his appetite apparent as he eyed the remnants on the table. blanca, following closely behind, took the empty chair beside him.
george's voice cut through the room, carrying a hint of authority as he addressed cole's tardiness. "you know you're supposed to call if you're running late, right? i mean thats the whole reason you have the phone."
katherine's inquiry followed, her concern evident in her voice. "where have you guys been?" she asked, her gaze shifting from cole to blanca, seeking an explanation for their delay.
cole's voice carried an unbothered tone as he explained, bits of his words slightly muffled by the food in his mouth. "yeah, we, uh, went to the watering hole," he began, taking another bite before continuing, "lost track of time."
"hey, i-"
george swiftly interrupted blanca, raising a finger to silence her before she could speak. blanca, wearing a frown of mild surprise, halted mid-sentence, her attempt to interject paused by george's assertiveness. the sudden interruption further heightened the already strained atmosphere, leaving an uncomfortable pause in the conversation, everyone momentarily frozen in the wake of george's interruption.
"hey, cole, you know anything about a bet with isacc this morning?"
cole's gaze shifted briefly to blanca before he responded to his father. "no. no, doesn't ring a bell," he replied, trying to deflect any association with the mentioned bet, his tone masking any sign of recognition.
george's persistence was evident as he pressed further, stating, "i didn't get that," prompting cole for a clearer response.
katherine added weight to the situation. "seriously, cole,"
cole's nonchalant demeanor persisted as he continued sorting his food onto his plate. "it was a joke, okay?" he replied, attempting to downplay the seriousness of the situation.
blanca's expression shifted, her eyebrows scrunching in disbelief as she processed cole's admission. the realization that cole had been aware of and involved in the prank all along struck her. a mix of disappointment and a sense of being deceived washed over her. she felt a pang of foolishness for spending the day with someone who had deliberately misled her.
"maybe ask jordan what he's got on camera," alex's suggestion injected a new dimension into the conversation.
isaac's reaction was swift and irritated. "dude, seriously?" he retorted, clearly displeased by the suggestion, his annoyance evident in his tone.
jordan, feeling caught off guard and frustrated, directed his anger at alex. "you had to bring me into it!" he yelled at his brother.
katherine was on the verge of expressing her sorrows to blanca when she was interrupted mid-sentence.
"i have to fix my hair," blanca stood abruptly, her statement sounding more like an excuse to escape the conversation rather than addressing katherine's empathy.
as blanca made her way out of the dining room, katherine tried to offer her assistance. "can i at least help?" she asked, hoping to extend some support or connection in the midst of the tension.
blanca, however, declined katherine's offer, replying with a polite but firm "no, thank you," before swiftly heading upstairs, signaling her desire for solitude.
feeling the need for clarification and resolution, george turned to jordan. "jordan, go get the camera," he instructed.
jordan's gaze shifted towards alex before he slowly rose from his seat, emitting a heavy sigh. as cole observed blanca storming off, a mix of emotions stirred within him, creating a sense of internal conflict he struggled to identify. his gaze lingered on her departing figure, wrestling with an array of indiscernible feelings—a blend of regret, uncertainty, and perhaps a twinge of guilt.
as blanca entered her room, her gaze immediately fell upon a box of hair dye resting on her bed. the shade closely matched her natural hair color, prompting her curiosity. she picked up the box, examining it closely, and noticed a small note placed atop it. with delicate fingers, she carefully unfolded the note to reveal its contents:
Blanca,
I know today has been rough, and I wanted to say how sorry i am for my brother's actions. They can be a handful, and their antics sometimes go too far.
I understand if words alone can't undo what's happened, but I thought this might help. It's a box of dye similar to your natural hair shade. I noticed it on sale and thought it might be a small gesture to show that we care about your comfort and feelings.
Please don't hesitate to let me know of you need anything else.
—Nathan
with a soft smile lingering on her lips, blanca settled onto her bed, clutching her diary close. as she opened it, the weight of the day's events pressed upon her, urging her to capture every detail that unfolded since the morning. her pen danced across the pages, etching the emotions, conversations, and complexities of the day, each word a testament to the turmoil and intricacies of family dynamics.
the next few hours passed by in a blur. blanca had successfully managed to dye her hair, shower, and complete her night routine without running into any of the walter boys or her sister.
startled from her sleep, blanca's confusion about the time led her to glance at the alarm clock on her nightstand, which displayed eleven-fifteen.
letting out a sigh, she recognized that she had unintentionally skipped dinner in the midst of the day's chaos. deciding to satisfy her hunger, she got out of bed and made her way downstairs, navigating the familiar corridors in search of a late-night snack to appease her empty stomach.
hunger gnawed at her as she rummaged through the kitchen, seeking something to satiate her appetite. with a plate of chocolate chip cookies in hand and a warmed glass of milk, blanca indulged in her late-night snack. standing in the kitchen, she took her time, savoring each bite for about three minutes before deciding to continue her nightly routine.
as she ambled down the hallway, a glimpse of light caught her attention, emanating from the living room. pausing in her tracks, she observed the soft glow filtering out of the room, piquing her curiosity.
lanca stood at the threshold of the living room, her gaze landing on cole, who sat comfortably on the couch, engrossed in watching "new girl." the familar voice of the actor emanating from the tv instantly resonated with her, realizing it was her favorite show that Cole was watching.
cole's relaxed attire of blue flannel lounge pants and a white tank top caught her attention as their eyes met. he shifted slightly on the couch, breaking the initial silence that hung between them. "you couldn't sleep either?" he asked, testing the waters.
blanca, however, remained silent, simply shaking her head in response to his question.
the air was thick with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. cole, keenly aware of blanca's lingering anger, could sense the tension radiating from her.
cole, sensing the weight of the unresolved tension, attempted to breach the silence. "look, about earlier—" he began, his voice tinged with a hint of regret, a tentative attempt at an apology hanging in the air.
before he could finish, nlanca, feeling a surge of emotions, turned to leave, her steps slow yet determined to retreat from the conversation. however, as she moved away, cole, feeling the urgency to address the rift between them, reached out and gently grabbed her waist, his touch a gentle yet firm attempt to halt her departure.
"please, planca," he implored softly, the sincerity in his voice evident. his touch was light, a plea for her to stay, to hear him out, to bridge the gap that had widened between them. cole's gaze held a mix of regret and a plea for understanding, hoping to convey his desire to mend the fractured connection that lingered between them.
blanca stood still, feeling his touch but conflicted about whether to respond or to continue her retreat. her heart raced with a blend of emotions—anger, confusion, and a flicker of something softer.
"i know i messed up, and i'm sorry. it was a dick move of me."
blanca, feeling skeptic at his words, rolled her eyes at his apology. "at least you're self-aware," she retorted sarcastically, her tone reflecting her reluctance to accept his apology. turning away, she made another attempt to leave, aiming to distance herself from the situation.
as she moved to depart, cole, not willing to let the moment slip away, pulled her gently towards him once more, his voice earnest. "wait, please. let me make it up to you."
Athena's interlude 🫧🎀
i love klaus mikealson 🫀