"So, spill."

"Spill what?"

"About Tyler, who else? For once we're alone so come on - talk to me," Abby said, grabbing Les' hand and tugging her to another row of cars at the Friday night race. Tyler was speaking with Don and Ricky and she was grateful they were all getting along.

He was getting along with her family more than anyone else she'd dated in the past which was a nice change of pace, honestly.

"Pff, you know if they really wanted to, they could hear everything we say."

"Sure but they won't. At least they better not," Abby says with a frown before turning to look at Les. "So?"

Les laughs and nods in agreement. "So what?"

"Les. Come on. You're not dumb. I've seen how you look at him and how he looks at you. And, you guys were stuck out in the middle of nowhere for hours before Alex and Nate found you. Are you two..."

Les bites on her bottom lip and glances around them before exhaling a breath. "I don't know? I mean. Okay, I know how I feel and how my wolf feels - she's very insistent that he's hers. But I think he's worried, and rightfully so, that he's bringing additional danger to our doorstep and that he's always going to be on the run. As much as I want to hope he stays, I will never force anyone to stay if they don't want to. He does have a life back in Virginia."

Abby nods in understanding and watches her friend. "Are you going to be okay if he does leave?"

"Of course - I have to be, right?"

"I know but -"

"It'll take time but if he does choose to go, then I'll respect that decision. My hope is that we get rid of this bastard who is after him and Tyler can have the life he wants to have without it hanging over his head. Whether that includes me in his life or not, I want him to be happy."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pushed for you to talk about it but we haven't had much time to chat recently and -"

"No, it's okay," Les says, giving Abby a hug. "Any time we can chat without one of the guys hovering is nice," she says, her tone teasing. "Especially that boy of yours."

Abby laughs and returns her hug. "I'll let J know," she says teasingly, looping her arm through Les's. "So, is he a good kisser?"

"I do not kiss and tell," Les says with a laugh as they walk down the line of cars, saying hi to those they know well.

"So that's a yes then, good."

Prompt: Muse Revival #142
"A true friend is someone who knows there’s something wrong even when you have the biggest smile on your face." - Unknown

September 2012

( in which Les is totally fine. totally. )

Prompt: Muse Revival #143
"Life is not a solo act. It's a huge collaboration, and we all need to assemble around us the people who care about us and support us in times of strife." - Tim Gunn

May 2013

Don, Ricky and the rest of the guys had truly outdone themselves.

Les stood near Don's car and watched the party around her decked out with music, gifts, congratulations banners, balloons, a BBQ manned by a family friend and naturally, races off in the distance. She was grateful that when Don and Ricky took up the helm a couple of years ago, that they'd moved the races out of town a bit where they were less likely to be interrupted. It had taken some time for people to get used to it but eventually people made the trip out because it was truly an experience.

If you had asked her just five or six years ago if this would be their lives, she'd have scoffed and said no way. Hell, she would have said they would be lucky to even graduate high school at the rate they were going in middle school.

Especially Jason and Scott.

"You know, this party is for you too, right?" Don asked as he walked up to her with a smile, holding onto a beer. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and looked around the party. He wasn't surprised that it was so well attended. It was true that people enjoyed a good party (especially the likes that they threw) but it wasn't just that. This was a special graduation party and the people who were here tonight were regulars and those that knew their graduates well.

"I know, I'm just taking it all in," Les said, wrapping her free arm around his waist. "I could never imagine that this would become our lives. When we met you guys and you offered to teach us all about cars, then taught us to drive...I didn't expect what doors that would open."

Don's mouth curled up as he thought about that twelve year old Les standing in his back yard and confronting him, asking him if he had been serious with his offer. "Hell, I couldn't imagine what all you four would bring to our lives either," he admitted, looking down at her with a warm smile.

"What, you mean the constant heartburn, migraines and near heart attacks with all the trouble we got into? 'Cause I bet you could have lived without all that," Les teased him with a smile. While she played it off, she took his words to heart.

He chuckled and tightened his arm around her, bringing her in for a side hug. "All of that and more," he agreed, pressing a kiss to her forehead. He stood quiet for a moment as he watched the crowd before turning his attention to the race that just got started off in the distance. "Honestly though, when you four came along and we started having dinners together, you all added something deeper to all of our lives. We weren't just friends anymore, we became a family and if you asked any of us, we wouldn't change that for the world."

"Hey, hey - you guys know the rule, there's only one deep talk allowed a month and we already had that one with Abby and her news. You know we can only handle so much and it's a party," Nathan said, walking over to the pair with an easy going grin.

Les rolled her eyes with a laugh, returning Don's hug before looking over at Nathan. "Just because you can't handle it, Nate, doesn't mean the rest of us can't."

"I told him not to come over but the boy doesn't listen," Abby said, having followed Nathan over with a similar roll of her eyes.

Les laughed because that was not a surprise. She watched as one by one, more of the guys joined them until the whole group stood together again. Growing up, she'd thought she was lucky to have Scott, Abby and Jason as her best friends and didn't need anyone or anything else. She'd thought that's all she needed then but now... now she couldn't imagine not having any of these guys in her life. They had pushed them to do better than their parents and made sure they made decent enough grades so they could graduate. It had been frustrating at times but they'd done it and they were here and... she was actually thinking of going to college!

"Thanks, guys... for believing in us when we might not have always believed in ourselves," she said, looking at all of them in turn before giving Scott a warm smile. "Maybe especially Scott and Jason, we all know they were the biggest trouble makers."

Prompt: Muse Revival #139
Ten friends family (because they are one in the same in my life) and one thing you love about each of them

( look, i love my family ok? )

So. That's my family, those are my friends and I will do anything for them. Yeah, I went off prompt a bit but... I felt like talking about my family so, I guess there are worse things out there.

This post is primarily for the Mun to expand on Les' universe and her family. These may be things that are about Les that she's unaware of/doesn't or will not acknowledge or will simply expand and flesh out her world.

More will be added as time goes on.

( 1. The Parents (227 words) )

( 2. The Little Bodega Down the Street (369 words) )

( 3. The Best Friends (601 words) )

( 4. The Family (1,810 words) )

( 5. The Beginning (1,358 words) )

( 6. The Girls (738 words) )

( 7. The Gangs & The Pseudo-Mafia (331 Words) )