the greatest thing i'll never learn

by sunfl0w3rmoon

Summary:

the dylan - marlene microfic collection, featuring fics inspired by dylan's music and centering on marlene mckinnon

Notes:

• For terral0veg00d23.

hello hello and welcome to the dylan - marlene microfic collection! each chapter will feature a microfic inspired by one of dylan's songs with diff pairings / universes / characters! i headcanon marlene as a nonbinary lesbian but throughout the fic i will use either she/her or they/them pronouns for them, depending on the song/fic.

first up we've got....drumroll please... Girl of Your Dreams, off The Greatest Thing I'll Never Learn!
fic tags: marlene/dorcas, she/her pronouns for marlene, mary and marlene friendship, modern au, friends with benefits
rating: M
listen to the song on Spotify or Apple Music

Chapter 1: Girl of Your Dreams

It was routine, at this point. Lock eyes across the room at a bar, pretend to ignore each other for an hour or two, leave at separate times… end up in bed, or on the floor, or against a wall together ten minutes later. They’d been doing this for months, it was second nature. But it was just sex. And, according to Dorcas, that’s all it ever would or could be. 

Marlene knew, of course, how private Dorcas was. She was a cinder block building of secrets Marlene itched to get her fingers on. But Dorcas wouldn’t give. No matter how much Marlene shared of herself, or asked for in return, the only things Dorcas offered were tips and tricks to make her cum. And Marlene savored those tips, savored the sounds Dorcas made when Marlene put those tricks to use. But she wanted more. She wanted to know Dorcas inside and out, she wanted to romance her, not just fuck her. She wanted Dorcas to look at her the way Mary looked at Lily, or Remus looked at Sirius. She wanted to be the girl of Dorcas’s dreams. 

And, the thing was, Marlene knew she could be. Knew she might be, if only Dorcas would let her. If only Dorcas would admit to herself that she liked Marlene, not just her body. They already had mindblowing sex once a week, and Marlene was fucking hilarious, if she did say so herself (and Dorcas had confirmed this fact every time she hid a chuckle). They would be so perfect together, and Marlene knew Dorcas could see that too. There was a reason she kept coming back for more, no matter how many times she said it was the last. 

“You need to get over her, Marls,” said Mary on Friday night, as Marlene’s gaze tracked Dorcas from the other side of the bar. “She’s told you she can’t be in a relationship with you. It’s just going to ruin you to keep chasing her.”

Marlene snorted into her beer, then took a quick swig. She sighed as she lowered the glass back to the table. “Don’t you think I’ve tried, Mary? Every single fucking time she’s not here, I go home with somebody else, and it’s… underwhelming. Like, it’s still great sex, don’t get me wrong. But if it’s not sex with her, then what’s the point?”

Mary shook her head, exasperated. “Oh, you’re fucking down bad, aren’t you?”

“The downdest of the baddest, my friend,” Marlene agreed, raising her glass once more. Her eyes found Dorcas easily in the crowd. “How could I not be?”

They met at Marlene’s that night, with barely a ‘hello’ as Dorcas tore into her, hands a flurry as they roamed everywhere on Marlene’s body. She was up against the wall in a matter of seconds, Dorcas kicking the front door shut behind her, her lips hot against Marlene’s mouth, cheek, neck. And even as the butterflies in Marlene’s stomach roiled, a rightness settled into her bones. Because here, now, she had Dorcas under her hands, coming undone at her touch. And even the cinder block building herself couldn’t deny that they just worked. That everything about the two of them moved synchronously. They didn’t need to ask what the other wanted anymore, they could read the other’s body language like their mother tongue. And it was fucking magical. 

Marlene came apart, back arching off her mattress, biting back three words that would ruin everything. But she said them with her fingers, with her tongue, as she returned the favor. And the mantra repeated in her head as they did it again, and again, and again. Every night, every time. Can’t you see? I could be the girl of your dreams.

Chapter 2: Nothing Lasts Forever

Summary:

microfic number two!!! Nothing Lasts Forever, off of The Greatest Thing I'll Never Learn
fic tags: marlene/emmeline, friends with benefits, she/they pronouns for marlene, hogwarts setting
rating: T
listen to the song on Spotify or Apple Music

“Marlene, talk to me. I can see that you’re hurting, and I care about you so much, I just want to help.”

Alarm bells rang in Marlene’s head, and they blinked a few times before they could respond, their fingers stalling as they buttoned up their shirt. And, honestly, how the fuck could they respond to that? It had been under two weeks since they’d started sleeping together, and had only met up three times. What the fuck did she even think she saw in Marlene’s expression? They were doing 100% completely okay, thank you very much.

“I’m perfectly fine, Emmeline.” Because what right did Emmeline Vance have to Marlene’s thoughts, anyway? She didn’t know them enough to be privy to their woes. Not that Marlene had any woes whatsoever. This was a casual friends-with-benefits sort of relationship. Well, not even friends. They’d barely spoken beyond Quidditch shop talk before their first hook up after the Gryffindor/Slytherin match the Saturday before last. Emmeline was an acquaintance with benefits, and those benefits were limited to having sex so that Marlene could keep her mind off the things that were bothering her — which Emmeline did not have permission to ask about. 

“Are you sure?” she asked. “You keep staring off into space, like you’re lost in your own head.”

Marlene plastered a smirk on their face. “Yeah, I was just thinking about Quidditch. We play Ravenclaw next, and your team’s gonna be pretty distracting.”

Emmeline frowned. “Why?”

“‘Cause they’re all hot, of course.”

Emmeline blinked. “Er —”

“Would snog anyone on your team, to be honest.”

And suddenly Emmeline was on the floor. Marlene finished lacing up her boots before glancing down at her. “You good?”

“Erm, yeah,” said Emmeline, scrambling to her feet. “I just — didn’t realise you thought about my team like that.”

Marlene shrugged. “If they’re hot, they’re hot.”

“But — we’re exclusive, aren’t we? I mean, you’re not hooking up with anyone else, right?” Emmeline’s puppy dog eyes were frankly pathetic, but they did make Marlene feel a twinge of guilt in their sternum. “Sure, I mean, not right now. But who knows what’ll happen after that game.”

“Marlene,” Emmeline balked. 

“What? This isn’t a relationship, Emmeline. We’re having fun. And nothing lasts forever anyway.”

Marlene knew their words cut deep, but honestly? They didn’t see why this bothered Emmeline so much. She was a rebound. She knew she was a rebound. Marlene had told her she just needed someone new to fuck, and Emmeline had been fine with that. What had changed in the last twelve days?

“Well, if that’s how you feel,” Emmeline snarked, grabbing her school bag off the desk she’d discarded it on earlier. 

Marlene rolled their eyes. “Stop being dramatic.”

“Fuck you, Marlene.”

“You just did, sweetheart.”

But Emmeline was already out the door.

Notes:

thanks for reading !!! find me on tumblr too @sunfl0w3rmoon

Chapter 3: The Alibi

Summary:

and now the song that introduced me to Dylan.... The Alibi! I added this one to my marlene playlist IMMEDIATELY because it's just.. ugh.. so dorlene coded. Anyway, hope you like it!
fic tags: marlene/dorcas, they/they pronouns for marlene, mary & marlene friendship, marlene pining, dorlene breakup, modern au
rating: T
listen to the song on Spotify or Apple Music

Dorcas called it off on an otherwise perfect night in the middle of June. They’d met at the park in the evening, had a picnic while the sun set beyond the tree line. And then Marlene had walked her home in the dark, hand in hand. But they hadn’t gotten there — to Dorcas’s home. She’d stopped them on the street corner, a block away, and finally said the words that had been gnawing at her mind all evening. 

“I can’t do this anymore, Marlene.”

They’d blinked a few times, to make sure they’d heard correctly. “What do you mean?”

“I can’t be with you anymore.” Tears appeared at the corners of her eyes, but Marlene focused on the slight tremble of her lips. The lips they’d kissed just minutes before. 

“Dorcas, what the hell? Why not?”

The hand they’d been holding ripped away. “I just can’t, Marls. I’m sorry.” And then she ran across the street, leaving Marlene on the corner. She didn’t look back once. 

Marlene thought about chasing after her. Hell, they stood on that corner for way too long, debating if they should go knock on Dorcas’s door and demand an explanation. But in the end, the tears came, and Marlene found themself trudging the opposite direction. 

They cried the rest of the summer, bundled under their duvet with the saddest movies they could find playing on their laptop. Mary, their roommate, tried everything she could to get Marlene back to their cheerful, obnoxious self, but it was genuinely all they could do to get up and go to work every day. 

“She’s a bitch, Marls.” Mary said in July, tired of Marlene’s wallowing. “Leaving you with no explanation is the shittiest way to end a relationship. She doesn’t deserve your tears, or your regret.” 

Marlene just shook their head. “You don’t understand. Being with her was magic, and that doesn’t just go away. It doesn’t matter to me how she ended it, I still love her. And I’ll love her for the rest of my life.” 

“Marlene, no. Don’t give her the satisfaction of holding space in your heart or head. She was so shitty to you.” 

“I don’t care, Mary. If she texted me right now, I’d go. If she called me from the police station needing to be bailed out, I’d be there. If she was spotted at the scene of a crime, blood on her hands, I’d be her fucking alibi.”

Mary shook her head. “Don’t do this to yourself, Marls.”

“It’s already been done. I drowned in the weight of her love, and I won’t ever emerge from its depths.”

“This isn’t healthy.”

“Do I look like I give a fuck what’s healthy? I love her, Mary. And I always will.”

Notes:

thanks for reading!! lmk your thoughts <3

Chapter 4: Masquerade

Summary:

and now we have... Masquerade, off of Dylan's first EP, Purple!! I wrote two versions of this oops (lmk if you want the 2nd version... featuring more fiery Lily)
fic tags: marlene/lily, band au, she/her pronouns for marlene, mary & marlene & lily are in a band, homophobia!
rating: T
listen to the song on Spotify or Apple Music

“Okay, so let me get this straight —“

“Gay!” Marlene interjected, a compulsory habit that sent Lily’s green eyes flashing in her direction. “Sorry.”

“— not only do we have to maintain these fucking personas that were chosen for us when we were eighteen, we also can’t be fucking gay?” 

Alice sighed, rubbing her temples to relieve what was surely a tension headache. “I’m sorry, Lily. It was part of your contract when you signed. They get to dictate your style choices, your public appearances, and… your relationships.” 

“Who the fuck let us sign those contracts?” Mary sneered from Lily’s other side. 

“Our parents,” Marlene answered, running a hand through her shorn blonde hair. She was, of course, the “bad girl”, living in leather, graphic tees, and bold eyeliner for the last four years of her life. Mary, the “babe”, had her mini skirts, baby tees, and platform heels. And Lily, “girl next door”, her collection of patterned dresses, low-rise jeans, and blouses. 

Lily snorted, and the sound, rather than the circumstance, brought a smile to Marlene’s mouth. They’d only been officially dating for a week, after Marlene had finally, finally plucked up the courage to kiss her for the first time. Turns out, they’d each been pining for the other for years, with no idea of the other’s feelings. It seemed the masks they wore for their personas worked in more ways than one. 

Lily pushed off the couch they’d been sprawled on to pace in front of it. Marlene watched her, admiring the way the fluorescents turned her hair different shades of red. Now was not the time, of course, but Marlene couldn’t exactly help it. 

“So,” Alice continued, glancing between Lily and Marlene, “you two have some rules to implement.” She pulled a clipped stack of papers from the inside of her ringed binder. “First, no public displays of affection.”

“Wrong,” Marlene said, tugging the hem of Lily’s skirt. She let Marlene pull her onto her lap and wrap her arms around her. 

“Excuse me?” Alice asked. 

“Public displays of affection are part of our brand,” Marlene expanded. “We’re always touching, dancing, whatever on stage. I constantly have my arms around one or both of them in public.”

Alice cleared her throat. “I’m assuming they meant no romantic public displays.” 

Lily huffed. “No fucking promises.” 

Marlene squeezed her thigh in response, and Lily finally settled back against Marlene’s chest. 

“Right, well, we’ll sort out the details of that one later. Next, no posting on socials without manager approval. That’s me, of course. I’ll also probably be hiring a social media manager to help me. Third, no telling by word of mouth that you two are in a relationship, not even to friends and family.”

“You’re joking!”

Marlene couldn’t stop her girlfriend leaping to her feet that time. Lily angry was one thing. Lily fuming, well… one did not want to be on the other end of that. 

“Unfortunately, I’m not,” Alice admitted, looking like a kicked puppy. “I tried to argue on your behalf, ladies. But they wouldn’t hear of it. That’s how it gets out, they said. One wrong person goes to the media, and we’re screwed.”

“Well fuck that,” Lily exclaimed. “They deserve to be screwed.”  

“It’s not them being screwed, hon,” Alice reminded her. “It’s you three. They can handle backlash about their artists’ sexualities, they’re a multi-million dollar corporation. You three, on the other hand, have a tour coming up that they’re funding. And they’ll pull that funding the second you break contract.” 

“This is fucked,” Mary stated. “We’ve been their dolls for four years. When does it end?” 

Alice shrugged. “When you’re successful enough to find something better.” 

The three bandmates glanced at one another. The fire in Lily’s eyes had only strengthened, and there was a determination behind Mary’s gaze that only came out when she was trying to get a chord progression right. Marlene nodded, sealing their fate. 

“We’ll do it,” she said. “But we’re putting out a new song first.” 

 

Eight days later, Masquerade debuted on the Billboard 100. 

Notes:

thanks for reading <3 hope you liked it

Chapter 5: No Romeo

Summary:

here's a break from Marlene's relationship drama with No Romeo, off the No Romeo EP! featuring Mary's relationship drama with a -- blegh -- man.
fic tags: mary & marlene friendship, they/them pronouns for marlene, modern au, pop culture references, marlene tries to be supportive
rating: T
listen to the song on Spotify or Apple Music

Mary was already crying when she slid into the backseat of the uber with Marlene. Mascara bled in rivulets down her cheeks, forming clumps of black goo along the tear streaks. A strand of her hair was sticking to her face, too. On the curb, a group of boys walked in the opposite direction, led by the one causing Mary’s emotive display. 

“He’s not good enough for you, Mar,” Marlene said as the uber driver pulled into the street. “He’s a piece of shit, and he doesn’t deserve you.”

“I —” hiccup “— liked him —” hiccup “— though.”

Marlene reached over, taking their friend’s hand. “I know, love, I know. But take it from someone who’s dated shitty people in the past, if he’s already doing this after a month, he’s not a good person.”

“He was so —” hiccup “— sweet though.”

Marlene snorted, thinking about the conversation they’d overheard that had caused all this. But, at Mary’s pitiful look, they switched gears. “Sure, he was sweet at the beginning. You’re a babe, Mar. He wanted you bad. But then he got you, and now he’s showing his true colors.”

Mary wiped her eyes, ignoring the fact that she was spreading mascara into raccoon eyes. Then she pulled her shirt back into place and said, “So, you’re saying once he had sex with me, he realized I wasn’t worth it, and found someone better?”

“Whoa, what?” Marlene said, their gaze narrowing in concern. “Where did you get that from? There’s literally no one better than you, he’s just too much of a dick to see that.”

Sniffling, Mary turned towards the window. “There’s always someone better.”

“Mary.” Marlene’s voice was firm as they twisted in their seat and made Mary look at them once more. “None of that. He’s the problem here, not you. It might seem like he’s fucking Romeo Montague, with his sweet words and whatever, but he’s not. And, on that note, Romeo was a fucking cunt.”

Mary blinked.

“Right. Anyway, he’s no Romeo. And you’re better than Juliet. You’re… Rose… whatever. The cousin. The badass one that Kaitlyn Dever played.”

“Rosaline?” Mary supplied.

“Yes! You’re Rosaline. You might think Romeo is the one for you, but you just haven’t found your… uh… Sean Teale yet.”

“Dario?”

“Yes, Dario.”

Mary lifted her eyebrows. 

“Is this helping?”

A chuckle escaped her mouth as Mary’s head dropped into her hands. “A bit. Thanks for trying, anyway.”

Marlene patted her on the back. “Anytime, Mary. I can keep going, if you want? I can list all the ways Romeo was a cunt.”

A real laugh sounded then, and Mary straightened. “That won’t be necessary. I get what you’re trying to say.” 

Marlene mimed wiping sweat from their brow. “Phew.”

Mary rolled her eyes. “You’re ridiculous, Marls. I love you.”

“I love you too, Mar. And I hate the motherfucker who hurt you.” 

“I know you do.”

“Like, a lot.”

“I can tell, Marlene.”

Notes:

thank you for reading lovelies <3

Chapter 6: Rebel Child

Summary:

dun dun DUNNNNN!!!! I give you.... Rebel Child!!!!!! this song has such a special place in my heart & it tickles my brain in just the right way, i love it so much.
special thank you to si for british-betaing this one <3
fic tags: marlene/dorcas, they/them marlene, homophobia, homophobic mother, modern british secondary school au
rating: T
listen to the song on Spotify or Apple Music

“Don’t you dare walk out that door!” their mother shrieked. 

Marlene stuck a cigarette between their teeth, peering over their sunglasses at the woman that said she knew her daughter like the back of her hand. The fact that this woman didn’t actually have a daughter just proved she didn’t know shit. 

Marlene flicked their lighter, raising the flame to the end of the ‘death stick’. 

“And get that filth out of your mouth!” 

The end of the cigarette burned orange. “Thanks for the suggestion, Mum. See you never.”

And then they were out the door, shrugging on their red leather jacket. 

“Marlene!” Screamed their mother’s voice through the swinging door. “Come back here this instant, young lady!” 

“Not a lady!” Marlene threw over their shoulder, and kept walking. 

 

Twenty minutes later, they were stomping their boots on the stairs of their sixth form building, other students milling about around them. They got the usual looks — a few girls eyeing their ripped tights, shorn hair, and dark eye makeup with disdain. They dropped their second cigarette on the stone below them and stomped it out, then pushed through the doors to the school. 

It was less packed than usual, being a Saturday evening, but still plenty of witnesses for what Marlene was about to do. 

“Ticket, please?” asked one of the school prefects, standing outside the doors to the auditorium. Marlene side-eyed them, pushing their sunglasses into their hair. 

“Don’t have one. I’m not here for the play.”

The prefect frowned. “Well, you can’t go inside without a ticket.”

Marlene rolled their eyes. “I just said I’m not here for the bloody play.” 

“Marlene!” 

Ah. So their mother had followed them here. Good.

“Marlene! Come here this instant!” 

Instead of turning around to face the woman who’d birthed them, they glanced down the corridor, where Dorcas Meadowes had just stepped out of a classroom, wearing her costume. They locked eyes across the distance. And then Marlene was moving. 

Dorcas met them in the middle, matching Marlene stride for stride. Marlene’s mother’s voice echoed in their head as they reached for the girl they loved, as they pulled her in, as they kissed her in the middle of the corridor, homophobic mothers be damned. 

There might have been gasps. The world might have stopped moving. Marlene didn’t notice, absorbed as they were with the feel of Dorcas Meadowes’ mouth in tandem with their own. 

Eventually, someone ripped them apart. Marlene’s eyes flew open, coming to rest on their mother. 

“How dare you. Debasing yourself like this in public! I raised you better than this.”

Marlene just quirked an eyebrow. “You didn’t raise me at all, actually. You raised a person that doesn’t exist, and now you’re forcing me to fit into the mold left behind.” 

“Marlene, darling, you don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re seventeen. You’re a child! This is a phase you’ll grow out of. I’m just trying to help you grow out of it sooner.” 

Dorcas slid her hand into Marlene’s, a show of support. Proof that they weren’t standing alone. Marlene glanced over at her, noting the determination in her gaze. Dorcas was the bravest person Marlene had ever met. And together, the two of them were unstoppable. 

“Actually, Mum,” Marlene began, returning their gaze to the situation at hand. “It’s not a phase. This is who I am. And I’m bloody tired of living like it’s not. So, how about this? You fuck off and let me live my life.”

Their mother’s jaw fell open. “Such disrespect! Is it this girl? Is she the reason you’ve suddenly become such a rebellious child? Are you trying to impress her?” Her gaze bore into the girl standing solidly behind Marlene. Neither of them flinched. 

“Mother, I was born a rebel child. The only thing Dorcas has done is give me the love and support I needed to figure out who I am. Unlike you.” 

“Unbelievable. I told your father you needed to be institutionalized, but he didn’t believe me. Ha!” 

Dorcas squeezed their hand. And then her voice filled the space around them, the usually smooth tone clipped and angry. “There’s nothing wrong with Marlene, Mrs. McKinnon. They’re exactly who they are, which is perfect in every way. The fault here lies with your perception of them.” 

“And who are you to question me, young lady?” 

“Someone who knows and loves your child more than you ever will.” 

Marlene could kiss her again, just for that sentence alone. Instead, they gave Dorcas’s hand a squeeze in return and added, “Mum, meet my girlfriend, Dorcas.”

And from the expression on Marlene’s mum’s face, these words were the exact thing needed to push her over the edge. She spluttered, eyes wide, flicking between the teen she called her daughter and the tall, black girl beside them. 

Marlene gave her one last look, then turned on their heel and pulled Dorcas back down the corridor.

Chapter 7: Masquerade (version 2)

Summary:

as i mentioned, i wrote 2 versions of Masquerade, one that actually kind of fit the prompt and one that was basically the same except also completely different. This is version 2.
fic tags: marlene/lily, band au, she/her pronouns for marlene, mary & marlene & lily are in a band, homophobia!
rating: T
listen to the song on Spotify or Apple Music

“In short,” said Alice, “they want you to pretend none of this happened.”

“You’re fucking joking,” Lily exclaimed, her cheeks almost the same shade of red as her hair.

“I’m sorry, I wish I was.”

Marlene rubbed at her temples, trying to ward off her oncoming headache. She couldn’t say she hadn’t been expecting this kind of reaction, but it’s still disappointing to hear the confirmation. 

Five days. Five motherfucking days of utter bliss. One hundred and twenty hours since Marlene had finally, finally kissed Lily Evans and known it meant something. And now, their record label wanted them to pretend it meant nothing. That she and Lily were nothing. 

“It’s twenty twenty four,” Lily scoffed. “How are we still living in a society where we can’t come out for fear of it wrecking our career?” 

Alice grimaced, clutching the official memo from the execs closer to her chest. “I don’t know, Lily. If I could explain their reasoning in any way that made sense, I would.” 

“Why the fuck does it matter?” Marlene groaned, tugging at her shorn blonde hair. “Everyone knows I’m a lesbian. Everyone suspects Lily’s queer in some way. Who gives a flying fuck if we’re together?” 

“They’re worried the fans will divide — there’s a lot of speculation that Mary and Lily have a secret hidden romance, and they’ve been playing it up in advertisements. If you suddenly come out with a completely different relationship, the fans will riot.” 

Lily was wearing her murder face now. It was one of the hottest faces she wore, in Marlene’s humble opinion. But the circumstances were inopportune for admiring it as she wanted to. 

“So,” she said, her voice painfully, dreadfully calm. “The execs want us to hide our relationship because of an advertisement strategy founded on absolutely nothing?” 

Alice closed her eyes. Inhaled, exhaled. “Yes, Lily. That’s exactly correct.” 

Marlene wasn’t exactly sure what happened next. Only, one second she was watching a vein throb in Lily’s forehead and the next there were guitar splinters everywhere. Lily was still holding the neck, her teeth clenched, bared like a predator. Marlene leapt to her feet, crossing the distance to her girlfriend’s side.

“Lils.” She reached hesitantly for the remnants of Lily’s favorite guitar. The redhead let go of the neck easily, and Marlene tossed it to the side before wrapping her arms around Lily, pulling her in close. Lily’s floral perfume filled Marlene’s nostrils as she buried her face in the crook of her neck, snaking her own arms around Marlene’s middle. 

“It's okay, baby,” Marlene whispered into the hair she’d been dying to touch for four years. 

“I won’t do it,” Lily stated, her voice breaking. “I just got you.” 

“I know, baby. We just got each other.” She ran a hand through Lily’s hair, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. Then her gaze found Alice’s over the top of Lily’s head. “What’s the alternative?” 

“The alternative?” Alice blinked. 

“What happens if we refuse to keep quiet?”

Alice’s voice was quiet as a mouse when she replied: “They drop you.” 

Right. And everything they’d bled, sweat, and cried for the last four years of their lives would go straight down the drain. And, they had to think about Mary. It wasn’t just the two of them in this band. This was Mary’s career they were fucking with too. 

“So, we pretend we’re not together,” reiterated Marlene, “and everything’s fine? They don’t care if we date as long as we keep it hush hush?” 

“As far as I know, yes.” 

“Then that’s what we do,” Marlene decided. 

“What?” Lily pulled away, staring up at Marlene in shock. “You’re okay with living a lie like this?” 

“Lily, I’ve been hiding my feelings for you for four years. My mask is as solid as they come. And if this is what we have to do to keep our livelihood, I’m okay with pretending.”

“And what if I’m not?” Lily rebutted, crossing her arms over her chest. “What if I’m fucking tired of pretending?” 

“Then we write a bunch of thinly veiled songs about it, and let the fans do the rest.” 

“That’s not —” Alice started, but Lily cut her off — “Marlene, I can’t hide behind veils and masks and whatever the fuck. You know I wear every emotion on my face. And I write the truth. I write real, honest lyrics. They won’t be thinly veiled.” 

“Even better,” Marlene grinned. “Let’s fucking show them what they’re missing.”

 

Two weeks later, Masquerade hit the Billboard 100. 

Notes:

thank you for reading <3

Notes:

thanks for reading! hope you liked it!!