• All I Ever Wanted •

[Jack Makenzie Greyson]

It had been an entire week without Leander. Jay didn’t know where he’d run off to, when he was coming back, if he was coming back. Honestly, she was a little scared. After the news she’d received, she been freaked out and afraid for nearly as long as Leander had been away. Coop lightened her spirits a bit, but with her best friend being back in town, it was bittersweet. And she needed Leander back. He was a part of this just as much as she was and running away was childish, even if he returned and told her it had been for a good reason. She didn’t have a clue where he’d run off to, or with whom. For the last week or so, she’d been worrying that he had just up and left her with no notice or anything at all. And on top of everything else, it just wasn’t good for Jay’s usually non-existent stress levels.

Still, the pretty photographer woke up every morning, went through her routine, got dressed and ran over to Leander’s to feed Dexter before rushing off to the studio. Today was a little different since she had to be up before dawn to be at a loft they rented for the day on the Upper East Side. She still had an excuse for not having a coffee cup within arm’s reach. Whenever Jay was seriously stressing, she went right back to the good old ways of tea solving everything there was to worry about. She knew a place that had the best when she couldn’t make it herself. It was a little out of the way, but for the taste of home, it would always be close enough. Jack worked on the computers set up, taking a go at the cameras when she was allowed and rushing around making sure there were no hiccups with lighting in other rooms. They had everything set up in the dining room of the beautiful apartment, but the shoot covered 5 different rooms, there were wires everywhere and tables set up around for cameras and equipment.

It was nearly five when her boss called the wrap up and everyone started taking everything down. The crew had it down to a science now and it only took them thirty minutes to have nearly everything taken down and already started out the door. She should have been at Leander’s that morning to feed Dexter but since she’d given him a little extra food the day before because she knew of this shoot, she figured he’d be okay until whenever she got there. She’d never had birds as pets, or any of the usual suspects. She’d had a hamster when she was just a small child, she’d named him Bear but that was it. With all the equipment packed up and ready to go, Jay gathered her own things and said see you to her boss and everyone else before leaving herself.

Jack had been ignoring everyone and whenever she got text messages she just told them all she was swamped with work. There were just so many clients all of a sudden and she claimed it usually got like this a few months before New York’s fashion week began. All the models wanted new headshots and poses to add to their portfolios and the actual designers sent over pieces of their upcoming collections to have photographed for ads and meetings. These months were the busiest but they were also usually the most fun. She didn’t want to talk to anyone and have them either figuring out her latest secret or her spilling it herself. Jay let herself into Leander’s building and up to his apartment. She set her things down on the couch as she went in and over to Dexter’s cage. She let him out for a bit to stretch his wings and so he wouldn’t be in his cage when she changed the food and water. Jay wasn’t scared of the bird but she was always worried the pretty bird was going to nibble on her fingers whenever she reached into his cage. And he never went far whenever she left him out, just to the top of the cage to watch what she was doing.

Jay turned the music on before she grabbed the food and water and bringing them to the kitchen. This past week had been the first times she had ever fed Dexter; she didn’t know how much to give him but she was trying. Jay filled the water dish first and put it back into the cage before taking the food out and filling the next dish. She’d been so lost in worry and though she never heard the door and assumed Dex’s squawking was because he wasn’t a fan of the song that came on. And she had to agree with him, now that Leander was MIA; it was a little depressing to hear. She didn’t hear bags drop, the door shut; nothing, because she’d been close to tears worrying about what she was going to do if her love never came back.

Tag || Leander!
Words || 853
Clothes || Unimpressed photographer
Music || Something More --Sugarland
Notes || <3

[Leander Vincent Haynes]

He hadn't run away; he'd gone off to chase a job that could launch him into the world he so depserately craved. Jay had her chance and her time to shine; this offer was his shot at that, and he couldn't pass it up. He felt guilty for leaving their fight unresolved, but, really, it paled in comparison to his current happiness. He'd landed the job; he was going to be working under the head of a paper, and he was going to actually be working at a full-time, decent paying place. This was everything he'd ever dreamed of, and, even if it'd involve moving a ways out of New York and from his family, Leander knew it'd be worth it. Call him selfish, but he wasn't going to give this opportunity up, not even for his sister of Jay; this was the one time when he couldn't afford to keep putting all their needs above his own.

Leander had only called his parents since he'd left the city the night of the ball. He'd shot one text to Chloe, letting her know he was fine and asking her to look after her bird so the poor guy wouldn't starve. There hadn't been a phonecall or email sent to Jay though; he hadn't wanted to deal with her quite yet. He was working and finding his place at his dream job; talking to her would pull him down off his high and he didn't want to lose that right now. Currently, she and New York were worlds away and Leander wanted to keep them that way.

He had to come home at some point, and he knew that. He'd pushed it until the end of the week, explaining to his bosses the dilemma with housing and whatnot, and the fact that he had people waiting for him back in the city. They understood, even offering up a house one of their previous editors had left when he'd moved on to bigger places. After touring it, he could see himself and his little photographer turning the place into a real home; first, he'd have to bring her out there though, and find a way to breathe life into their currently withering relationship.

Leander went home, bags in his trunk and a grim expression on his face. He didn't expect anyone to be in his apartment, having figured Chloe would take Dex home until his actual owner returned; she loved the little guy enough, it wouldn't be a surprise. He heard the squawking before he saw the head of dark hair, his smile quickly disappearing as he froze, staring as Jay fed the bird he called his closest friend.

• • •

WORDS: 468!
TAG: The Future Mrs Haynes!
LOCATION: Coming Home, His Apartment
LYRICS: The Only One by Hot Chelle Rae
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Jack Makenzie Greyson]

Jay had thought a lot on the last week, especially the last few days. She wasn’t sure how she was going to say what she had to or how Leander was going to take it. Coop as happy for her as she was for her friend, was annoyed at the same time. And Jay knew exactly how she felt. She’d just gotten back into town and one half of the hellion duo couldn’t do anything close to what they used to; she just couldn’t get into trouble like that for a while. Despite the fact that she hated that about everything going on, she was excited. Jay didn’t know how she was going to cope with it all, handle it all without Leander, but she’d already made up her mind that if he didn’t come back, she would be okay. It was a hard pill to swallow since she didn’t want to be without him but it would be for the best at the end of it all if that were the case.

Once she realized he wasn’t anywhere in New York, having freaked out and called his parents and sister, she’d stopped completely. She didn’t text him, call him or email him. If he wanted, needed space that badly, she would gladly give it to him. She had plenty of things to do with work. At least, that was what she told herself as she threw herself into work that didn’t need to be done at all for at least a month yet! Jay did more than she needed to, even rearranging her bedroom and spent some time with Avie and her mother at the flower shop, making bouquets. She didn’t know what to think or expect if Leander came home. She didn’t know if she’d pushed him too far and now he would only return to take her ring back, pack and say goodbye. She didn’t want that to happen, but if it did, she was getting something from their relationship.

Jay told Chloe she would take care of Dexter since she was still going through his place, picking up her things. And she actually lived the slightest bit closer to him than his sister anyway. Plus there was Av to think about; he needed walks so it was really no more trouble than she would have gone through anyway; even though today she didn’t have her little ball of fur with her yet and still had to pick him up from her mother’s flower shop. She was deep in her thoughts, worrying about what was going to happen in the next few months when she turned around and nearly dropped the newly filled food dish on the floor. “Leander, you’re back,” she forced out, keeping a tight grip on the food dish. Sighing, Jay continued what she was doing. “I’ll be out of your way in a minute. I just stopped by to feed Dex and get some things. I’ll be out of your hair in a minute,” she said, choosing to leave Dex out of his cage because Leander was home.

As the last word slipped past her lips, the young photographer slipped past her fiancé and moved down the hall, pulling a folded up tote bag from her purse. She did need a few of her jumpers that she’d left lying about and a pencil skirt she wouldn’t fit into in a few short months. Standing in Leander’s room, Jay brushed the back of her hand over her eyes to stop herself from getting emotional. She took a deep breath and pulled open the door of the wardrobe, pushing aside his clothing in search for her own. She didn’t know what to do.

Tag || Leander!
Words || 618
Clothes || Unimpressed photographer
Music || Something More --Sugarland
Notes || <3

[Leander Vincent Haynes]

Leander didn't regret anything that had happened between him and Jay. He didn't regret giving her the ring, or saying "I love you," or any of the wonderful nights they'd spent together; he wasn't going to turn his back on that. But, he'd needed this week to slow down, look back on it all, and plan out how he was going to handle it. He wanted to be a good husband for Jay; wanted to provide for her, and have a comfortable home ready for her before they began even thinking about wedding dates. If that meant chasing dream jobs and leaving the city for a little while, he'd do it; he'd do it, as long as it would pay off in the end somewhere.

He'd been thinking of what he wanted to say to her when he returned, of how he was going to apologize for his disappearence and the way he'd been pulling away recently. However, he'd expected to have some time before he'd have to use any of those speeches; he'd planned on setting up a date and knowing when the fateful moment would come. He didn't think she'd be in his apartment the moment he returned home.

Leander blinked at her, processing her words and watching her race out of the room. What was she doing here? Dex was squawking from the top of his cage, and Leander quieted him with a sharp whistle. He followed after Jay, leaning against the door frame of his bedroom and watching her with an eyebrow raised in confusion. Things started clicking together as she pulled out the totebag and, upon looking around, Leander did notice a lack of her things that had been strewn across the apartment when he'd left.

He came up behind her, stopping her hand on the rack of clothes. "Blue-Jay," he whispered, one hand on her hip and his head on her shoulder, "why're you cleaning out your things?" Leander kept his voice quiet, waiting for her answer; he was still in shock that he was seeing her after being gone for so long.

• • •

WORDS: 401!
TAG: The Future Mrs Haynes!
LOCATION: Coming Home, His Apartment
LYRICS: The Only One by Hot Chelle Rae
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Jack Makenzie Greyson]

Regret wasn’t a word in Jay’s vocabulary. She didn’t know the meaning of it. If she took the time to think before she acted or regret what she did afterwards, she would be sitting at home the rest of her life. Instead she did what she wanted, apologised for it afterward if she needed to and got on with her life, remembering it simply as an experience and that was it. If Leander was going to leave her now, it would be an experience; a heartbreaking experience but she could live with that. Jack had hopes that she wouldn’t run into Leander as she was clearing out her things, but Fate obviously had other plans and there was nothing that could be done about that. She would have to suck it up and get on with things the way she’d planned.

Jack crossed her fingers that Leander didn’t see the tears welling in her eyes as she fled. She was too depressed, too sad and too angry that he left and it was all coming back to her at once. She thought she would have the time before he came back and she saw him to get over those feelings. But it felt like he abandoned her and that tore her up inside. “Don’t,” she said, quickly, a little harshly. She didn’t want to hear the pet name he’d given her. She didn’t want to break down in tears. Jay knew what she did. She didn’t know what else drove Leander to run off but she knew her part in it. She pushed too hard to get him to open up. She should have just been happy that he’d told her he loved her and proposed! But she wanted a relationship like her parents. They were so incredible together, no secrets and they talked about everything; shared everything. Leander bottled everything up and she pushed to get it out of him.

“It’s the right thing to be doing, isn’t it? I didn’t know if you would be coming back at all or only long enough to clear out your own things,” she said, stuffing what she needed into the bag in her hands. She hadn’t wanted to be caught in his flat by him. Of course, she also didn’t know when or if he would be back so it seemed easier to just have her things out of there before she had to sit through that conversation. She should have also brought the shirts he’d left at her place back but she’d been wearing a couple of them to bed for comfort. She missed him, not getting any text messages through the day, no phone calls when they couldn’t be together that day or because she slipped away earlier than usual for a sunrise shoot. She hated it but promised herself if this was the end, it would get easier. She wished she didn’t miss Leander’s hands on her. This would all be so much easier to swallow if he didn't touch her.

Tag || Leander!
Words || 503!
Clothes || Unimpressed photographer
Music || Something More --Sugarland
Notes || -.- <3

[Leander Vincent Haynes]

Despite his lack of contact with those he loved in New York, Leander had been thinking about them. He'd tried countless times to block it out and focus on the bit of training for his new job, but, no matter what he did, his thoughts always wandered back to Jay, his parents, Chloe, and his other friends. He thought about the extra room he'd set up for Chloe in the big house, and how wonderful Jay's photographs would look hung up on the plain walls; he thought about how proud his mother would be to see him living his dream, and how much his dad would enjoy the quiet of the smaller town. He may've not physically been there, but, mentally, Leander was with his loved ones in New York, and there was no changing that, however far away he went.

He stepped back when she snapped at him, his hands disappearing from her body as he moved to give her some space. She had a right to be mad at him for disappearing all week; he'd probably be getting the same lecture from his parents and Chloe, too. But, he hoped they could glue their broken relationship back together somehow; he did want to spend the rest of his life with her, no matter how hard they pushed each other around. "No, it's not the right thing," he said with a shake of his head. "I don't want to break up with you, Jay; I never wanted that. Just... let me talk, please," he added quickly, running a hand through his hair as he tried to find words to explain everything to her. So much had happened while he'd been gone; so many new things had come up, and so many old ones had broken down. It was hard to describe, even to himself. "There was a job open at a paper in a town outside the city; one of my professor's set up an interview for me, and they liked me. The editor picked me up right off," he said. "I stayed away so long to get things set up out there, but I didn't want you or Chloe or my parents interfering," he continued, still keeping his space from her, even though he longed to hold her close while he told all about his mini adventure. "Please, Blue-Jay; I didn't mean to run off or have you take it like me breaking off our engagement. I was just stressed out and I didn't know what else to do," he whispered. His eyes pleaded with her, begging her to understand and forgive him, even if it took awhile for her to make her decision.

• • •

WORDS: 484!
TAG: The Future Mrs Haynes!
LOCATION: Coming Home, His Apartment
LYRICS: The Only One by Hot Chelle Rae
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Jack Makenzie Greyson]

Jack had been keeping to herself quite a bit for the past week. She felt like wallowing in the mini depression and being around people meant she couldn’t do that. And then she spent the last few days in a worried state, beating herself up and praying to whichever deity that would listen that everything turned out alright. It would kill her if she’d done something permanent in the long run. Jay felt cold the second Leander dropped his hands and stepped away from her. She hadn’t meant to snap, really. She was just still in that depressed state and everything sounded like she was about ready to rip someone’s head off. Jay loved him with everything she had, wanted to wake up next to him every morning, grow old and be happy with him but right now she was just as mad that he’d left her without a word.

Her bag was full and there was nothing left in the wardrobe that belonged to her. So, she turned around, arms crosses against her chest and waited for Leander to explain. She believed in second chances, but those reasons would have to be damn good; especially right now. Hearing what he had to say, Jay couldn’t believe it. Not that he’d gotten an interview or the job, she knew that would happen. He was a great journalist, but that he never told her any of it. Sniffling, she moved over to take a seat on the bed, crossing her legs before tossing the bags in her hand to the floor. She buried her elbows into her knees and put her head in her hands. She was angry that he’d never mentioned any of this. She knew she spoke endlessly about her job and how much a pain in the ass it was but she loved it all the same. Why would he think it would be better to keep it from her than to tell her? Why would he think she would interfere? Did he think she would ask him not to go? Tell him if he did, she was gone? Maybe go with him and turn his brain to mush or something? She wasn’t like that. She was proud of him for getting the position. She knew it would be a breeze for him, he was incredible. So saying that he didn’t want her to interfere and that was why he never said a word bothered her.

Her anger getting the better of her a hot tear spilled down her cheek which she brushed away violently. She didn’t want to tear up; she didn’t want to cry angry tears. This shouldn’t have been an angry reunion; it should have started off with annoyance and end with bliss. Right now, bliss looked to be an awful long way off. “A simple text message wouldn’t have killed you, Leander. And what is this interfere? Last I checked I was your fiancée. I’m sure that title has entitled me to some knowledge. I get nothing from you. Ever. I tell you everything, all my thoughts, all my feelings and all I get from you is three little words to shut me up. I get no emotions or thoughts from you,” she said, biting her lip as her brain caught up with her mouth. She meant what she said, she didn’t feel like he told her anything, but that wasn’t the way to say it either. Of course, he should also be used to her verbal vomit so it was a matter of him taking it the wrong way. Something that had been happening quite a bit before he left; who was she to stop the trend now?

Tag || Leander!
Words || 615!
Clothes || Unimpressed photographer
Music || Something More --Sugarland
Notes || -.- <3

[Leander Vincent Haynes]

Leander had habit of zoning out, especially when it came to his writing. When he had an idea, the words just flowed out of him, and anything outside of that stream of thought was basically forgotten. It was the same when it'd come to this job opportunity. He'd been planning to make some excuse to sneak off for the weekend, but the fight with Jay had sort of ruined that and he'd just gone, not bothering to give details of where he was. All his mind was focused on was the job, and what it would mean if he'd gotten it. After he'd gotten a definite yes, things had shifted towards how he was going to keep it. The editor had offered a house; a beautiful house that Leander had fallen in love with the moment he'd been over to tour it. The job was right there, and he'd have a perfect house with the money to keep himself and anyone he chose to bring with comfortable. But, everyone he loved was in New York, and was probably more pissed off at him than they'd let onto.

"I told Chloe I was gone. And, with the way things went before I left, I figured you'd be too busy with work to care about what I was doing," he answered. Leander sighed, running a hand through his hair and taking his gaze off of her. Talking out loud had never been his thing; he'd never been able to just spill his thoughts or emotions and open up to people like that. It was why he wrote, and why a pen and paper had been the thing to get him through high school when everything else had been going wrong. Talking didn't do anything but make you more vulnerable. "You know I love you, Jay. Isn't that enough? Do you really need every single thought that rolls through my mind?" He shook his head, throwing his hands up in surrender. "Fine. Whatever you'd like; I always give you what you want anyways," he muttered, crossing back into the main room to pull an evelope out of his suitcase. He came back in, tossing it in her lap and walking away from her. "I was thinking that this job might get me somewhere stable instead of just random articles here and there. I was thinking that, after the editor said I'd gotten it, how the hell was I going to make that commute work? And, then, when he brought up a house, I was thinking how absolutely perfect it would be for you and I. Is that enough? Or would you like me to go into detail? What I ate every day, how much money I spent on gas driving there?" He snapped, a breath of relief flooding past his lips when he was done. "Are you happy now, Jay?"

• • •

WORDS: 516!
TAG: The Future Mrs Haynes!
LOCATION: Coming Home, His Apartment
LYRICS: The Only One by Hot Chelle Rae
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Jack Makenzie Greyson]

Jack felt like she was walking the same line with Leander, nearly every time they spoke. There were times when things with them were so perfect, they could curl up together, watch a movie and talk and it was so utterly perfect. And then there were times that Jay felt like she was beating her head against a brick wall with the man. She loved him, and when it was all boiled down, that was the only thing that mattered. But because she was such an open person, told him what she was feeling, holding nothing back, she wanted only a small bit of that in return. She didn’t think she was asking for so much, just a little more insight into the man she loved with everything she had.

She worked a lot and Jack knew that. She had a pretty full plate, all things considered but she thought she did a damn good job juggling everything. She took all the time that she wanted to spend with Leander or any of her friends. How many people could say they could do that with their careers? But she worked as much as she did because she enjoyed it. It wasn’t work for the pretty brunette photographer. Jack breathed photography. Everything she did revolved around pictures in some way. She could never look at a couple in the park and just see a charming couple in the park. She saw lighting, shadows, sepia or even black and white. She saw how the perfect setting for that simple walk would be sunset and maybe it was a little cheesy but have some birds around somewhere. They didn’t have to be flying, but pecking at the ground or sitting idly on the arm of a bench. Her mind worked like that, all angles and lighting, all the time. It was no wonder why she just blurted out what was on her mind; there was no space for it in her head!

It was a miracle really that she’d kept her little secret for as long as she had. Of her friends, she’d only told Coop and that was more because the other girl pulled it from her. She’d been stressed without Leander around and then her best friend showed up on her doorstep out of the blue and things just sort of went from there. Jay should have known Coop would get it out of her, she’d been drinking her weight in tea since Leander left and she only did that when she was stressed. “You’re not serious! You think my job comes before us? Yeah, I love what I do, it’s practically everything I am, has been since I was just a small child. But you changed that,” she said honestly. Her career still mattered to her, but it would forever come second to Leander and their relationship. She’d finally found a man she loved more than her career; that had to count for something, right? She should have known it would be too much to ask a man who preferred the written word over the verbal one to tell her anything. He bottled everything up and though she loved that he had the ability since she didn’t whatsoever, she wished he’d let the lid of that bottle open once in a while and let her see the man behind the journal.

“I know that, and I love you, too. But sometimes it’s just not enough for me,” she muttered to herself, just after he left the room. She honestly thought that was the end. She would get up, leave the room that held too many memories for her and find him waiting by the door for her so he could take back the key he had made for her and give her back the one she’d given him. It was devastating to feel her heart breaking again. It had cracked when she’d come over the next day to sort things out and apologise for her attitude the night before and found his apartment quiet save for the usual squawks from Dexter. Jay was getting ready to get up and leave when Leander came back in and tossed something at her. She didn’t know what it was and confusion clouded her dark eyes when she lifted the object and found it was an envelope. What the hell was that supposed to mean? She was staring up at him with that same look of confusion throughout his entire rant, barely catching anything he was saying, it was all so overwhelming. She shook her head, saddened when he was finished. “No, because you’re mad or annoyed or worse, disappointed,” she said honestly. “Slow down and tell me what you’re talking about, please?” she asked, patting the bed beside her. “I don’t need to know everything, Leander. I just want to know what’s bothering you so much that you get that crease in your brow and that look in your eye. I can see you’re upset, or confused or happy and you keep all those things bottled up. I want to know what makes you feel those things,” she continued, waiting to see if he would sit down and explain or kick her out and thoroughly ruin her for life. "Wait, did you say house?" she asked as a small part of her brain unclouded enough for her to grasp at what he'd really said.

Tag || Leander!
Words || 895!
Clothes || Unimpressed photographer
Music || Something More --Sugarland
Notes ||My entire lot are trying to start drama -.- <3 P.S. Sorry for the add on >.< It should have been in there in the first place but I'd forgotten it somehow -___-