Sanders School for the Performing Arts *on hiatus*

Mr Picani

Warnings: prison, abusive parents, past deaths, ptsd, disgusting analogical fluff 

"Kitties!" Emile yelled as he ran into the cat cafe and instantly dived to where the cats were playing.

"They've missed you Emi" Mel chuckled as she handed a customer their drink, "your usual?"

Remy nodded and sat next to his boyfriend, Toulouse instantly bounded over and started to fight with him. Once Mel was finished serving the customer and made their drinks, she joined the two on the floor and Dutchess came to sit on her lap. Marie was on Emile's head, she really enjoyed playing with his hair. Mel's grandmother, who she called Nanoo, walked out of the kitchen, her floral dress covered in flour. She beamed when she spotted the couple who, by this point, have been adopted by her. Thomas O'Malley was hot on her heels, hoping for some scraps.

Nanoo was only in her 50s, despite having a granddaughter who was almost 20. She had Mel's mother young for today's standards and Mel's mother got pregnant at 16. Nanoo had dyed blonde hair that was always tied up in a messy bun with wispy curls falling down, framing her face, her dark roots were beginning to show. She had these beautiful brown eyes that were so dark that you couldn't tell where the iris stops and the pupil begins. While at first glance, you might look at her eyes and think that they are a simple, dull brown, but if you stop to really look you'll see all the wisdom, happiness and pain that those old eyes hold. Everything she has seen and done pours from the dark pools that are her eyes, and that is truly beautiful.

"Boys, you're here! I need some taste testers for my new shortbread recipe. Melanie is shit 'cause she always just says that 'they're nice'"

"They are though! I don't know what else you want me to say?!" Mel exclaimed, throwing her arms up in the air

Nanoo rolled her eyes and handed a biscuit to Remy and Emile, who both eagerly took a bite, loving her cooking.

"Hmm it's nice" Remy teased which caused Nanoo to smack him with her oven glove

"It's absolutely delicious, can I take some home for our friends?" Emile beamed

"Suck up" Mel hissed playfully to which Emile just stuck his tongue out at her

"Of course you can sweetheart, I'll wrap them up for you" and with that, she disappeared into the kitchen, O'Malley following the old woman.

Remy and Emile spent the rest of the day sat with the cats and ate whatever sweet treats Nanoo forced on them and were Mel's guinea pigs with whatever new drink combination she came up with. They were all having fun like they did every Thursday after Remy's lesson until Emile's phone rang.

"Hey Mama, is everything alright? I thought we had our facetime call tomorrow?"

"Emile, where are you?" Dot's voice came through panicked and Emile could make out Larry shouting something in the background

"I'm in town with Remy, what's going on?"

By this point, Remy had his full attention on Emile, picking up on the worried look on his boyfriend's face and his tone of voice

"It's your...it's Stephen, sweetie, he's being released tomorrow. We only just found out, we're going to get to you as soon as we can. Go back to the campus and tell Thomas, he'll be able to help keep you safe"

Emile's breathing stopped. This can't be happening...

The phone slipped from Emile's hand and Remy could hear Dot shouting Emile's name, so he picked up the phone and Dot explained the situation to him. Remy immediately jumped into action. He pulled Emile to his feet who was starting to become aware of his surroundings again and led him out of the shop and back to the school. Once they were back in their dorm, Emile bolted up the stairs and into his room while Remy phoned the others.