The Other Side (A Sebastian Stan Fanfiction Story)

This Side - Messages

A/N: I just binge watched the entire Captain America series just earlier, and my goodness, can Seb act any emotion out with those sky blue eyes. I'm freaking hopeless. Just hopeless.

As always, if you're still reading, comments and votes are much appreciated!

***

Charlie came back from her walk, exhausted not because of the activity itself, but because of the unwilling memories that trudged up to her consciousness. She wondered if the pain would ever go away.

She sighed upon seeing it was way past lunch time when she came back, finding a plate of food covered in the dining table with a Post-It note from her mother. She took it and made her way upstairs, making sure not to make any noise that would disturb her parents from their afternoon nap.

After setting the food on her work desk, she fired up her laptop, wanting to get some writing done for the day. A small smile crept up her face as her story now racked up a little over three thousand reads, something she didn't expect when she was carving out the story in the first place.

"Hmm, what do you want to do now, Sebby baby?"

About half an hour later, Charlie had already typed up nearly two 900-word chapters, her lunch on the side just barely touched. Her stomach grumbled, prompting her to finish the remaining food.

As she was about to take her empty plate downstairs, her laptop ping-ed, signalling an e-mail message had come through. Deciding to temporarily forgo going down, she went back and checked out the message. It was a notification from the fan fiction site where her Sebastian Stan story was published.

New Message from stanleeownsme_2011

Received 4:25 p.m.

Hi there! Just wanted to let you know what an awesome job you're doing with that Seb Stan story of yours. What was your inspiration, if you don't mind me asking? You seem so in tune with the characters as if you're writing them like you know them personally. I think that's awesome.

Well, anyway, thanks again for such a great story and I hope to hear from you soon!

Charlie was smiling from ear to ear after reading the message. Out of all the messages she had gotten from her readers, this was the first time she got asked about how she was writing the story. She was usually asked when updates would be and how her readers can relate to the characters. It was flattering, but getting asked about the process of getting words into the screen was something that piqued her interest. Just like when she was still in business, she thrived not only on getting compliments on the food she served, but also on the creative process of crafting the menu.

She hit the Reply button and responded to the user.

Replying from stanleeownsme_2011

Hi! I'm so glad you liked my story about sexy Seabass, I didn't expect people would be this interested when I first put it up.

And no, I don't mind you asking that. In fact, you're probably the first one to ask about how I've written what I have written and it's so refreshing for a writer to get asked that. Anyway, to answer your question, the Sebastian in my story is actually somewhat of a mirror of my own experiences over the last year or so. I'm just getting out of a really tough year and my shrink told me to channel the frustrations by writing it down whichever way I saw fit. I didn't want to make an original character and I just saw I, Tonya on Netflix, and thought, why not Sebastian Stan? He's talented, down to earth and not to mention, just devastatingly good looking, OMG. I'd probably pee my pants if I ever met him which is gonna be...never.

OMG, look who just rambled. I'm sorry, did I fangirl too hard on our male lead? Anyway, I hope I answered your question, and please tell me what other opinions or questions you have on my story or writing for that matter. I'd love to swap notes with you.

Charlie

Charlie smiled after hitting the send button, her heart wanting to burst with a contentment she hasn't felt in months. For the first time in a long time, she knew, as mundane as writing fan fiction may seem, that she had been doing something right again.

"Good morning my dear nanay and tatay!"

Charlie's parents looked up from where they were seated at the kitchen counter and exchanged curious smiles, in slight wonderment as to what has gotten their only daughter pumped up at such an early time of day. She plopped to the barstool beside her father and poured herself a cup of coffee, a grin still firmly planted in her lips. Her mother, Elena, chuckled as she turned around for the sink.

"What?" She looked between her parents. Richard, her father spoke.

"Well, if my near elderly eyes are not failing me, I'd say my depressed daughter has finally woken up in a good mood after almost half a year of sulking?"

Elena piped in. "I'm nanay and you're tatay again, honey. I'd say our daughter's feeling pretty good."

Charlie fought a lump coming up her throat and took both her parents' hands in hers. She was given a reassuring squeeze and felt like part of the hurt was beginning to melt away at the tender gesture.

She might just be able to begin rebuilding her life again.