IMPORTANT:
THIS STORY CONTAINS DEPICTIONS OF ABUSE. All chapters with those scenes will be marked, the scenes will be marked with a beginning and an end and a summary of the chapter will be at the bottom. If you have any questions, please message me. Thank you!
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Ryan picked at his napkin. He hated when the DJ played slow songs. Sure, it was a wedding but it was a monumental drag when the party music was replaced by mushy Ed Sheeran or whatever was blaring over the speakers.
He glanced around and couldn't help but notice the smiles on every couple's faces as they swayed to the music. A seed of longing had lodged in his chest, he wanted that. He couldn't believe that he was even thinking that but here he was -- wishing he had somebody to slow dance with.
Maybe it was time -- he wasn't getting any younger and he certainly didn't want to be the type of dad mistaken for a grandfather, he wanted to have at least some energy for his children. Ryan took a drink from his glass. He had no idea where to even find somebody that would be willing to settle down with anyway but he determined that was a problem for another time.
He was going to do this, he was going to start the next chapter of his life. Anxiousness turned into excitement as he thought about the idea of having a wife -- somebody who was into the same things as he was into. Somebody he could travel with, go to concerts with and geek out with about Star Wars and Marvel movies. Somebody that he could just enjoy life with and all that it had to offer them.
And then — when the time was right — Ryan would be the most devoted father, much like the one he was lucky enough to have. He'd teach them the value of hard work, how to be a good person. He hoped his kids loved racing like he did but maybe they wouldn't, and that would be okay with him too. But he would love them deeply and Ryan would be complete.
By the time the song had finished, his family found Ryan grinning to himself over his realization. He could tell they wondered but he didn't say anything, he didn't want to make the day about him. His family spent enough time fawning over him and today was his sister's day.
The rest of the night he couldn't help but daydream about what his life would be like once he had settled down.
Too bad life never happens the way you plan for it to.
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She glanced nervously in the rearview mirror as her old life faded into the background. Pride mixed with fear as she glanced at all of the documents -- the new name that was going to save her life and give her a fresh start.
Her GPS was set to Charlotte, North Carolina. While that was not her final destination, she had always wanted to visit. Pictures on the internet had been her only escape from a life of hurt, of abuse so she wanted to see the city that she had clung to for dear life.
Her final destination was Duke University's School of Law. She had taken her undergraduate classes in secret, thankful that she had managed to hide the inheritance that her grandmother had left her from her boyfriend.
She was smart, she was strong in an impossible situation. She knew that she was destined for more than her little town and her abusive boyfriend. And at the first chance, she packed her bags and left -- a new name that he'd never be able to find.
She was free.
The radio helped pass the time and even though the trip was nearly nine hours, the energy of the new beginning and all that could be powered her through until she pulled up to the ritzy hotel she had reserved a room in, killing the engine. She grabbed her bag, her documents and stepped out into the humid air.
"Sorry for the noise," The front desk clerk flashed an apologetic smile, "There's a wedding reception in the ballroom."
"No problem." She adjusted her strap, "I have a reservation under Fitz. Lydia Fitz." She couldn't help but feel how nice her new name sounded. She thought it sounded distinguished, lawyerly. The clerk nodded, clicking on the computer.
Lydia's eyes drifted towards the music. Through the door, she could see couples swaying to a ballad by Ed Sheeran, gazing adoringly at one another. She longed to have that but who would want somebody as damaged as her? Besides, she was going to throw herself into law school, she was going to make everything that she dreamed about a reality. Lydia Fitz decided right then and there that she would never settle down.
Too bad life never happens the way you plan for it to.
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Playlist:
Sweet Caroline — Neil Diamond
Fourth of July — Fall Out Boy
You Can't Hurry Love — Phil Collins
I Will Wait For You — Us The Duo
Irresistible — Fall Out Boy, Demi Lovato
Infinity — AJR
Better Man — Pearl Jam
Supercut — Lorde
Death of a Bachelor — Panic! At The Disco
Demons — Imagine Dragons
Can't Help Falling In Love — Joseph Vincent
*this story is completed.
**as always, this story is a work of fiction and in no way should reflect on the real life counterparts featured in this story
***the storyline and original characters are mine. please don't steal my ideas. i work really hard and spend a lot of time on my work and it's never a good feeling to see somebody take an idea. so please don't. i'm more than happy to help you come up with an original idea.
****once again this story deals with abuse. chapters will be marked and a summary of the chapter will be at the bottom. it is important to me to be respectful of triggers so please, if
something isn't marked that you feel should be, message me.
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Sweet Caroline {Ryan Blaney} ✔️
Fanfiction𝙎𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 A story in which Ryan Blaney spends the night of his life with his dream girl, only for her to sneak out and later come back into his life in the most surprising way 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙤 𝙜𝙤𝙤...
