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Oasis. What is wrong?” his grandmother asked welcoming her inside. Oasis hugged her tightly and sobbed into her shoulder. She embraced her softly, a bit confused and concerned. Oasis backed away trying to regain composure. Old weathered hands met her shoulder softly and guided her to the kitchen. She made a pot of tea and poured a cup softly. She left Oasis for a moment to retrieve Grim from his room, he was playing guitar and couldn’t hear the commotion downstairs. Grim put his guitar on its stand and hustled down the stairs.

                “Babe, what’s wrong?” he asked with his brow ruffled, Grim’s grandmother stayed upstairs, giving them the chance to talk.

                “Just my dad. And my mom I guess. I’m a disappointment.” She sniffled, starting to cry again.

                “No you’re not.” Grim scoffed.

                “They found out about my belly ring and lectured me and kind of told me I’m fucking up.”

                “You’re not fucking up. It’s kind of part of being someone’s kid I guess.” He said scratching his head. “I get it. I know your dad doesn’t like me. It’s not about you at all, it’s about me. They’re protective, that’s all. You’re a hell of a good person, my better half for sure. I’m just scary.”

                “It just feels like it doesn’t matter if I’m happy.” She said in a sob.

                “It matters.” Grim said softly. “Look, the minute I can figure it out we’re moving on on our own. Just you and me. You can pierce as many things as you want.” She smiled and shook her head. Grim smiled back at her and kissed her softly. “finish whatever the hell Abuelita gave you and we’ll go for a walk. Fresh air is good.”

                “By fresh air you mean a cigarette.” Oasis chuckled bringing the tea to her lip and taking another long sip. Grim shifted his eyes up and smirked. After her cup was empty Grim took her hand and they walked down the block. He plucked a cigarette from his pack and lit it, puffing in deeply.

                “I’m gonna guess you’ll get grounded.” Grim said shifting his eyes to her before blowing his smoke in the opposite direction.

                “Probably for a while. Especially since I left.” She sighed.

                “It’s alright.” He shrugged. “I’ll wait for you.” He joked, bumping her hip with his own. She smiled at him softly. As they reached the driveway again about an hour later Grim kissed her softly. “You need to go home and face the music.” He smiled.

                “Your advice is sometimes surprisingly responsible.”

                “Don’t get used to it.” Grim smiled. “my next advice would be to smoke a bowl and go to bed, but you don’t smoke…” He opened her car door for her and leaned over to kiss her goodbye as she took a deep breath to start her car. He watched as she pulled out of the driveway, headed to her awaiting punishment and lectures.

                He headed into the house and let out a long sigh, his grandmother looked at him.

                “Is she okay?” she asked softly.

                “Yeah. Just some family stuff.” He said rubbing his arm.

The following Monday of school Grim greeted her in the hall at their usual meeting spot.

                “Glad to see you’re still alive.” Grim smiled kissing her a soft hello.

                “Alive but I don’t have much of a life.” She said shaking her head.

                “Doing time, huh?” Grim teased. “20 to life?”

                “three months.” She said looking up at him. “no car. I have to take the bus.”

                “Ouch.” Grim said in a wince. “Could be worse.”

                “How?” she asked.

                “Once my mom tried to ground me, I didn’t care, so she slapped me instead.” Grim smiled, the gap in his teeth showing with his grin.

                “Jesus I’m glad you left.” Oasis said up to him, surprised that he smiled and laughed at the fact.

                “yeah, I’m a little messed up.” He shrugged. “Can you have visitors or does the warden not allow that either?” he asked.

                “Nope. Nothing.” She said shaking her head. “School and home. That’s it.” She said in a sigh.

                “well I guess I can still take you on a romantic date to the cafeteria…” he said sarcastically.

                “Romantic date” is the funniest part of that sentence.

                “Hey now. I can give two shits.” Grim said scrunching his brows. “I’ll bring you fuckin’ flowers, and I’ll drive your ass to a nice restaurant. Hell, I’d pull your chair out for you and buy you dessert.” Grim chuckled.

                “That will be a long time coming, since I’m grounded forever.” Oasis said laughing, shaking her head.

                “Graduation night, I promise.” Grim said holding his pinkie out to her. She wrapped hers around his and they shook on it. She and Grim sat down at the cafeteria table with her little brother, toting their trays of subpar food. Grim shot his straw wrapper at Shoal and smiled before he plunged it into his chocolate milk. Shoal wadded up the wrapper and threw it back at him.

                After Grim dumped their trash after eating Oasis tagged along with him through the hall near her locker. They slumped against the lockers, Grim letting out a huff of air and digging into his jacket for a stick of gum to hold his nicotine cravings for a bit. He gnarled the gum in his teeth roughly.

                “Just think. Six more months and you are free as a bird.” Grim said to her as she looked troubled. “Did they make you take it out?” he asked.

                “I told them I didn’t know how.” Oasis said in a smirk.

                “…They believed that?” Grim chuckled.

                “I’m forever scarred.” She shook her head with a puff of laughter.

                “My tattoo is itchy as hell.” He said extending his legs out against the floor and blowinga bubble in his gum.

                “I’m curious about that too!” she said in a laugh.

                “Well, don’t let Morty give you one.” Grim said rolling his eyes. “That shit went red as a mother fuck like the next day. It looks so shitty. My new one is looking nice though. Kind of hard to fuck up four black bars though.” He shrugged. “Orion goes to that same shop and his are alright. He has that one on his shoulder and the ones on his legs. They did half of his piercings too.”

                The bell rang and Grim knocked his head against the metal of the locker. “See you tomorrow.” He laughed. She let out a sigh and nodded her head. She leaned in to kiss him and let herself linger in his arms until the halls became crowded with students rushing to class.



                Oasis got off the bus with her little brother and trudged into the house. Splash’s silver car was there and a breath of relief escaped her. She could avoid her father’s awkward presence for the night since he would be distracted by his first born and sports. Once inside they were both watching a football game on TV, having a bet against each other for the outcome they were pretty into it. Shoal let out a sigh and went up to his room to get his art supplies ready for his class with Ozzie.

                Oasis went into the kitchen to check on her mother, she was busy making a few snacks for Splash and Cache. Oasis rolled her eyes, she waited on them hand and foot on game days. “Sweetie, would you mind riding with Shoal to his art class? He needs his driving time in but can’t drive alone with the learner’s permit.” Aqua said with a smile as she walked passed her to the living room.

                “Yeah. I guess. It would be nice to get out of here for a little bit.” She said in a sigh.

                “Thank you. He usually stays there for about two hours. Take some of your homework to work on while he’s there, or I can send you to do some errands for me.” She said in a soft smile.

                “I’ll just do my homework.” She said in monotone, not wanting to do the bidding of her wardens. Shoal thumped down the stairs with his case of art supplies and a large canvas.

                “Mom, I’m ready.” He said, his voice cracking a bit.

                “Oasis is going to ride with you over to Ozzie’s” she said in a smile.

                Oasis looked at him with a flat expression and followed him out to her car.

                “If you wreck my car I’ll disown you.” She said in a glare as she got into the passenger side of her own car.

                “Calm down. I’m smarter than Splash was.” He said rolling his eyes.

                “Yeah, please don’t break our legs.” She smiled. Shoal grinned as he adjusted her seat and mirror. She let out a grumble. “You know where you’re going, right?” she asked as he put the bug into reverse and backed out of the driveway.

                “I would hope so.” He said shifting into drive as they pulled into the street.

                “I can’t believe I have to let you drive my car.” She sighed.

                “I mean, it’s just going to sit for months.” Shoal smiled.

                “Don’t be such a smart ass. You’re still three years younger than me. Being in the same classes doesn’t make you better.” She rolled her eyes.

                “But I am the favorite.” He glanced at her.

                “No you’re not. That’s Splash and you know it.” She scoffed in a stifled laugh. “ Not so hard on the brakes.” She added as he came to a slightly abrupt stop at a stop sign.

                “Sorry.” He said looking in every direction before stepping on the gas. After a solid fifteen minutes of driving he finally parked in front of Ozzie’s blue house with the wooden fence. Oasis followed him up the driveway through the garage door into a highly decorated studio. Random music was playing, something in a different language. Shoal sat down at the long table covered in butcher paper and random paint spills. The door leading up into the house connected to the studio garage opened as Ozzie stepped through holding his two year old son in the crook of his arm.

Description

Oasis. What is wrong?” his grandmother asked welcoming her inside. Oasis hugged her tightly and sobbed into her shoulder. She embraced her softly, a bit confused and concerned. Oasis backed away trying to regain composure. Old weathered hands met her shoulder softly and guided her to the kitchen. She made a pot of tea and poured a cup softly. She left Oasis for a moment to retrieve Grim from his room, he was playing guitar and couldn’t hear the commotion downstairs. Grim put his guitar on its stand and hustled down the stairs.

                “Babe, what’s wrong?” he asked with his brow ruffled, Grim’s grandmother stayed upstairs, giving them the chance to talk.

                “Just my dad. And my mom I guess. I’m a disappointment.” She sniffled, starting to cry again.

                “No you’re not.” Grim scoffed.

                “They found out about my belly ring and lectured me and kind of told me I’m fucking up.”

                “You’re not fucking up. It’s kind of part of being someone’s kid I guess.” He said scratching his head. “I get it. I know your dad doesn’t like me. It’s not about you at all, it’s about me. They’re protective, that’s all. You’re a hell of a good person, my better half for sure. I’m just scary.”

                “It just feels like it doesn’t matter if I’m happy.” She said in a sob.

                “It matters.” Grim said softly. “Look, the minute I can figure it out we’re moving on on our own. Just you and me. You can pierce as many things as you want.” She smiled and shook her head. Grim smiled back at her and kissed her softly. “finish whatever the hell Abuelita gave you and we’ll go for a walk. Fresh air is good.”

                “By fresh air you mean a cigarette.” Oasis chuckled bringing the tea to her lip and taking another long sip. Grim shifted his eyes up and smirked. After her cup was empty Grim took her hand and they walked down the block. He plucked a cigarette from his pack and lit it, puffing in deeply.

                “I’m gonna guess you’ll get grounded.” Grim said shifting his eyes to her before blowing his smoke in the opposite direction.

                “Probably for a while. Especially since I left.” She sighed.

                “It’s alright.” He shrugged. “I’ll wait for you.” He joked, bumping her hip with his own. She smiled at him softly. As they reached the driveway again about an hour later Grim kissed her softly. “You need to go home and face the music.” He smiled.

                “Your advice is sometimes surprisingly responsible.”

                “Don’t get used to it.” Grim smiled. “my next advice would be to smoke a bowl and go to bed, but you don’t smoke…” He opened her car door for her and leaned over to kiss her goodbye as she took a deep breath to start her car. He watched as she pulled out of the driveway, headed to her awaiting punishment and lectures.

                He headed into the house and let out a long sigh, his grandmother looked at him.

                “Is she okay?” she asked softly.

                “Yeah. Just some family stuff.” He said rubbing his arm.

The following Monday of school Grim greeted her in the hall at their usual meeting spot.

                “Glad to see you’re still alive.” Grim smiled kissing her a soft hello.

                “Alive but I don’t have much of a life.” She said shaking her head.

                “Doing time, huh?” Grim teased. “20 to life?”

                “three months.” She said looking up at him. “no car. I have to take the bus.”

                “Ouch.” Grim said in a wince. “Could be worse.”

                “How?” she asked.

                “Once my mom tried to ground me, I didn’t care, so she slapped me instead.” Grim smiled, the gap in his teeth showing with his grin.

                “Jesus I’m glad you left.” Oasis said up to him, surprised that he smiled and laughed at the fact.

                “yeah, I’m a little messed up.” He shrugged. “Can you have visitors or does the warden not allow that either?” he asked.

                “Nope. Nothing.” She said shaking her head. “School and home. That’s it.” She said in a sigh.

                “well I guess I can still take you on a romantic date to the cafeteria…” he said sarcastically.

                “Romantic date” is the funniest part of that sentence.

                “Hey now. I can give two shits.” Grim said scrunching his brows. “I’ll bring you fuckin’ flowers, and I’ll drive your ass to a nice restaurant. Hell, I’d pull your chair out for you and buy you dessert.” Grim chuckled.

                “That will be a long time coming, since I’m grounded forever.” Oasis said laughing, shaking her head.

                “Graduation night, I promise.” Grim said holding his pinkie out to her. She wrapped hers around his and they shook on it. She and Grim sat down at the cafeteria table with her little brother, toting their trays of subpar food. Grim shot his straw wrapper at Shoal and smiled before he plunged it into his chocolate milk. Shoal wadded up the wrapper and threw it back at him.

                After Grim dumped their trash after eating Oasis tagged along with him through the hall near her locker. They slumped against the lockers, Grim letting out a huff of air and digging into his jacket for a stick of gum to hold his nicotine cravings for a bit. He gnarled the gum in his teeth roughly.

                “Just think. Six more months and you are free as a bird.” Grim said to her as she looked troubled. “Did they make you take it out?” he asked.

                “I told them I didn’t know how.” Oasis said in a smirk.

                “…They believed that?” Grim chuckled.

                “I’m forever scarred.” She shook her head with a puff of laughter.

                “My tattoo is itchy as hell.” He said extending his legs out against the floor and blowinga bubble in his gum.

                “I’m curious about that too!” she said in a laugh.

                “Well, don’t let Morty give you one.” Grim said rolling his eyes. “That shit went red as a mother fuck like the next day. It looks so shitty. My new one is looking nice though. Kind of hard to fuck up four black bars though.” He shrugged. “Orion goes to that same shop and his are alright. He has that one on his shoulder and the ones on his legs. They did half of his piercings too.”

                The bell rang and Grim knocked his head against the metal of the locker. “See you tomorrow.” He laughed. She let out a sigh and nodded her head. She leaned in to kiss him and let herself linger in his arms until the halls became crowded with students rushing to class.



                Oasis got off the bus with her little brother and trudged into the house. Splash’s silver car was there and a breath of relief escaped her. She could avoid her father’s awkward presence for the night since he would be distracted by his first born and sports. Once inside they were both watching a football game on TV, having a bet against each other for the outcome they were pretty into it. Shoal let out a sigh and went up to his room to get his art supplies ready for his class with Ozzie.

                Oasis went into the kitchen to check on her mother, she was busy making a few snacks for Splash and Cache. Oasis rolled her eyes, she waited on them hand and foot on game days. “Sweetie, would you mind riding with Shoal to his art class? He needs his driving time in but can’t drive alone with the learner’s permit.” Aqua said with a smile as she walked passed her to the living room.

                “Yeah. I guess. It would be nice to get out of here for a little bit.” She said in a sigh.

                “Thank you. He usually stays there for about two hours. Take some of your homework to work on while he’s there, or I can send you to do some errands for me.” She said in a soft smile.

                “I’ll just do my homework.” She said in monotone, not wanting to do the bidding of her wardens. Shoal thumped down the stairs with his case of art supplies and a large canvas.

                “Mom, I’m ready.” He said, his voice cracking a bit.

                “Oasis is going to ride with you over to Ozzie’s” she said in a smile.

                Oasis looked at him with a flat expression and followed him out to her car.

                “If you wreck my car I’ll disown you.” She said in a glare as she got into the passenger side of her own car.

                “Calm down. I’m smarter than Splash was.” He said rolling his eyes.

                “Yeah, please don’t break our legs.” She smiled. Shoal grinned as he adjusted her seat and mirror. She let out a grumble. “You know where you’re going, right?” she asked as he put the bug into reverse and backed out of the driveway.

                “I would hope so.” He said shifting into drive as they pulled into the street.

                “I can’t believe I have to let you drive my car.” She sighed.

                “I mean, it’s just going to sit for months.” Shoal smiled.

                “Don’t be such a smart ass. You’re still three years younger than me. Being in the same classes doesn’t make you better.” She rolled her eyes.

                “But I am the favorite.” He glanced at her.

                “No you’re not. That’s Splash and you know it.” She scoffed in a stifled laugh. “ Not so hard on the brakes.” She added as he came to a slightly abrupt stop at a stop sign.

                “Sorry.” He said looking in every direction before stepping on the gas. After a solid fifteen minutes of driving he finally parked in front of Ozzie’s blue house with the wooden fence. Oasis followed him up the driveway through the garage door into a highly decorated studio. Random music was playing, something in a different language. Shoal sat down at the long table covered in butcher paper and random paint spills. The door leading up into the house connected to the studio garage opened as Ozzie stepped through holding his two year old son in the crook of his arm.