we all need that someone, who gets you like no one
knows right when you need them the most
we all need a soul to rely on, a shoulder to cry on
a friend through the highs and the lows
~~~~~
After being rescued from the red room in Russia by the SSR, Dottie Underwood was fostered by Ana and Edwin Jarvis in Manhattan. Starting a completely new life in a new country where everyone was speaking a language she could barely understand was terrifying to Dottie.
But it wasn't nearly as terrifying to her as the red room. Everything she endured, everything she was forced to do.... it haunted her. Battling PTSD, learning a complicated language, un-learning everything she ever knew, it was all just so hard.
Ana, who was the principal of her new school, tried everything to help her. English tutors, therapy, social outings, anything she could to help prepare her for school. Over the summer, she did very well. But it all changed when she started at Stark-Frost Academy. Physically speaking, the bullies were nothing compared to the red room. Mentally speaking? As much as she tried to hide it, the words cut deeper than the knives she used to throw.
And then she met Peggy Carter. Perfect grades, perfect family, perfect smile, perfect nose, perfect friends, perfect life. God, Dottie hated her. Peggy was everything that she knew she could never be. And that infuriated her.
So what will happen when Principal Jarvis enlists Peggy to help Dottie adjust to her new life? Will Dottie's jealousy towards Peggy drive a wedge in her path of redemption? Or will it only ignite the rising flame between them?
~~~~~
Modern Day Carterwood High School AU
Highest rank:
#8 in #carterwood
⚠️ TRIGGER WARNINGS ⚠️
Bullying, slurs (censored), PTSD episode, physical violence, small scene with animal dissection in a classroom
"If you love me, you won't leave me."
Jessie has believed those words from her boyfriend, Josh, since senior year of high school. She loves him and doesn't want to leave him. Not even when he shouts at her and hits her. Jessie's best friend, Kolleen, can't stand seeing her in that situation.
With a bit of convincing - and the worst beating she'd ever received - Jessie agrees to move into an apartment with Kolleen. But not long after, Jessie is scared the worst of her nightmares will soon become a reality. Josh goes missing, and suddenly Jessie would swear she's being followed. One night changes everything, and one person soon changes Jessie's outlook.
A responding officer from that fateful night begins to seek her out, at first claiming it's part of his job. As she spends time with her new friend outside of his job, she starts realizing that her feelings are evolving. After being abused for over a year, Jessie is terrified she's falling in love. What's even more terrifying is that he might be, too.
She isn't ready for love. Not yet. She makes up her mind that if he is falling, and if he does love her, he'll wait for her to be ready, and if she loves him, she won't let herself hurt him.
Can the words that used to cage her in really be the key to her freedom?
---
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