futureheartstour

[futureheartstour]

I Felt Younger When We Met

Pairing: Non!idolSophia x gn!gp!reader

Summary: You and Sophia have been dating for months, then suddenly things go south. You’re constantly seeing her in other people and you cannot escape from her mess that she caused.

Warnings: Angst/hurt, no comfort at all, smut p in v, no protection, creampie, blowjob, mentions of alcohol and weed usage, slight religious guilt, cheating, minors DNI towards the end!! lmk if there's anything else. Svt non!Idol mentioned!!

WC: 10k

You and Sophia have been dating for about ten months. The relationship was the best you’ve ever had, coming from a toxic relationship with too many arguments, crying every day, manipulation, and jealousy—all too much to handle. This relationship was different, in a good way. Having dinner with her family, hanging out with her friends, and spending as much time with Sophia.

You are in love with this girl, to say the least. Sophia was your first true love. The type of love that you write songs about, your heart swells at the sight of Sophia, and she is the first girl that has made you say “I love you” while you were deep inside of her. You envisioned your entire life with her: marriage, family, and a forever type of love. You told all your friends about her. Brought her along on double dates. This girl was your entire life, and you weren't complaining. As long as Sophia is in your life, you will be more than okay. 

The best days would be when she came and watched you and your band practice in Vernon’s garage. You were the singer and rhythm guitarist, Vernon’s the lead guitarist, Wonwoo’s the bassist, and Minghao’s the drummer. She’d sit on top of an older amp, next to Vernon’s girlfriend, and listen to the band practice for hours. Most of the songs were written about her. The band wasn’t too big. A couple of gigs here and there around the college campus, but the name was getting out there. It started as a high school band in your senior year and continued through your sophomore year of college—kind of a shitty pop-punk band, but people love the group. 

You decided on a four-year university before you met Sophia, while she chose to do community college. You met through a dating app and instantly hit it off. You two went on a date where you planned a small picnic at the park, watching the sunset during the summer break. The night ended well with the two of you making out in the backseat of your car, windows too tinted for a passerby to notice. In that moment, you knew you were hooked. 

So, it came as a shock when she decided to break things off one month into you moving back up for college. You were blindsided, your heart sank to the bottom of your stomach, and blood drained from your face. There was some tension the weeks before the breakup, but not to the point where you thought it could be a breakup. You were sad going back to college because you felt alone and hated it. All you wanted was Sophia in your arms and calling you every night to lessen the burdening thoughts, but she wasn’t giving you that attention. 

Calls became less frequent. You tried to plan a date for the weekend, planning to come down and visit her, but she made an excuse because she was starting a new job. Okay, fine. Could she ask the boss if she could start at a later date, as plans were already committed? Sure. Did she ask to start the day after instead? No. That’s what pissed you off. Sophia couldn't do a single thing that you asked for, which led to a growing estrangement between the two of you. Looking back, you should’ve seen the signs, but you were too caught up in your own emotions. You didn't bother to think that she was upset too, because her friends were also going to start school, leaving her alone.

“C’mon, Sophia.” You begged, almost embarrassingly, into the phone, “Why can’t you ask to start the day after? I planned a date for us before your interview.” 

“I don’t want to.” She replied dryly.

“But I told you this before I left for school.” 

Silence on the other end. You sighed, rubbing your head, trying not to break down. You ended the call, knowing you weren't going to change the Filipina’s mind and save yourself the heartbreak. Things only got worse from there. You tried to make it up by asking her out on a movie date to watch the new action film that’s coming out. Your voice, slightly panicked, explaining the whole date through a voice memo while you walked to school. She, of course, declined. At this point, you knew what was happening but refused to believe it. One Friday evening, you impulsively drove down after the lab had ended, catching Sophia by surprise when you showed up at her house unannounced. You sat in the car, wanting to talk to her, but she declined because she was going out to dinner with friends and family. She gave you a quick kiss goodbye and walked back into her house. You were panicking, so you drove to your parents' house because you didn't want to ruin her plans. Every weekend was like this: you’d go down every Friday to try and save your relationship. 

One weekend, you were talking to your friend, Joshua, explaining the whole situation. He listened to you ramble, giving you a shoulder to cry on. He knew how much you were hurting because you loved Sophia out loud. Almost too loud. She was your everything, so he told you to put on your big boy pants and go chase after her. You immediately nodded, frantically leaving his house and getting into your car to drive to her place. You stood right outside her door and knocked. She opened the door, surprised to see you standing there. 

“What are you doing here, yn?” Sophia asked, and the door slightly opened.

“I want to talk.” You responded. Your throat felt like it was wrapped with sharp wires; every gulp was painful.

“We can’t; my parents are about to come home.” She said dryly, about to shut the door. You immediately put your foot in the door, causing Sophia to let you in by defeat.

She walked upstairs to her bedroom, with you trailing along right behind her. Your footsteps felt heavy. Your heart was thumping too loudly in your chest and in your ears. This was a bad idea. 

“Why are you being distant?” You choked out, blinking your eyes fast to stop the tears from slipping.

“I’m not.” She shrugged, sitting down on her bed. Her eyes are looking everywhere but at you. “I think we should break up.

Your heart dropped. You felt like you could pass out as the ringing in your ears grew louder and the walls around you shrank. You don’t know what to do. You don’t know what to say. This is your first relationship where you truly knew how to love someone and how to feel loved. Here you are, standing in her room where you would lie on every free day you had. Your heart shattered.

“What?” You say quietly. At this point, tears were pouring from your eyes. “Please, no.” You begged and begged. You felt pathetic begging someone to stay, but you didn’t care. This is your first true relationship where everything meant everything. First kiss. First, “I love you.” First time meeting the family. First time having sex. You never felt this way towards any other girl.

Sophia didn’t say anything. She let you cry into her arms, not even comforting you, because why would she? She broke up with you. Her face was expressionless. You didn’t know what she was thinking, and it hurt. It hurts to watch the girl you love the most not say anything else to justify the breakup. Only silence. 

Sophia heard the front door open, rushing you to get up and wipe your tears. “My parents are home; you should leave.” That was all she said. You inadvertently got yourself together as she walked downstairs to greet her parents. It was silent as you walked downstairs, head hung low, not wanting to meet her parents' eyes.

“I don’t know what happened between you two, but I hope you are okay.” Her mom whispered, gently patting your back.

“Thank you, po.” You sniffled, saying your goodbyes and walking out the door. Once the door shut, you heard her mom demanding what had happened. You shut your eyes for a few seconds before heading over to your car, immediately calling Joshua and Vernon. 

“Hey!” They both answered your FaceTime immediately.

“We broke up.” You say flatly, eyes red and puffy. 

“What?” Vernon’s eyes opened wide. “Why?”

“Dude, I don’t fucking know. All she said was ‘Let’s break up,’ and that was it. Then her parents came home.” You explained, letting quiet sobs come out.

“You’ll be okay, yn. We’ll be here for you.” Joshua comforted you, letting out a quiet sigh. “The next album’s going to be a banger, right?” 

You chuckled, nodding your head. “For sure. Vernon, we’re gonna start writing.” 

“Say less.” Vernon smiled. “Get home safely, yn. We’ll be here.”

“Thanks. I love you guys.”

You said your goodbyes and hung up the phone. You stayed in your car, parked outside of Sophia’s house for a few minutes, letting out screams. “Fuck!” You smacked the steering wheel. “Fuck this shit!” Your drive home to your parents was filled with loud music, crying, and profanities.

This breakup ruined you in ways you didn’t think you’d turn out. For the next two months, you tried to win Sophia back. The no-contact didn’t work. You texted her from time to time, not frequently, as when you two were dating. She messaged back as if she didn’t break your heart into millions of pieces. It almost seemed like she didn’t care. To make it worse, you hopped on a dating app to get your mind off the Filipina, and to your surprise, she was on it too. Your heart dropped, hands clammy, but you swiped right. A match. 

You have to be kidding me. A fucking match after our breakup?

You messaged her first through the app, asking her what she was doing on it, but she flipped the question back to you. She acted carelessly, as if you weren't falling apart, and this was only a game to her.

It happened once more. Not through a dating app, but she had texted you. That one sentence that made you confused.

You were out with friends at a carnival, the same one you wanted to take Sophia to, but she was being an ass about it. You texted her you were hanging out with the boys, and then she hit you with the “I wish I were there with you” text. 

You stopped in your tracks as your heart tried to figure out if it wanted to drop or be whole. You showed the message to Minghao, who only shook his head in disapproval.

“She can’t say that when she declines your date.” Minghao scoffed, “Can’t believe Sophia turned out to be this way.” 

“Dude, fuck her.” Mingyu laughed, snatching your phone from your hands. “Ignore her and enjoy the night with us! You’ll find a better girl in no time.”

“I don’t know if I want another girl.” You admitted softly, “Thank you, guys.”

After the carnival, you crashed at Mingyu’s place. All the boys were there; god knows how his place could fit 14 people, but it worked. They all started drinking, and you decided to reach for a tequila shot. Everyone was silent as their eyes were glued to you.

“Are you sure you want a shot, yn?” Jihoon asked cautiously, as if one wrong word could break you.

“Yeah, you don’t drink at all,” Joshua says softly. You were never the one to drink or smoke. You knew that. The boys knew that. She knew that. You didn’t care at this point because what else is going to hurt you? You’re at your lowest. So with a shrug, you downed the shot, no chaser.

“Yeah, that’s yn!” Mingyu exclaimed, passing you another shot to take with him. “Let’s fucking go! Woo!”

After either 10 or 11 shots, you were wasted along with Mingyu, who kept pouring shots after shots. You were sprawled out on his living room floor while the boys were sitting around you. You closed your eyes, the world constantly spinning. 

“I think I want to delete Entertainment.” You said quietly, almost to yourself.

“What?” Wonwoo asked, surprised, “Why?” Everyone’s attention is on you now. Your bandmates are looking at you crazily. 

“The whole album is about her. If we tour, I’d have to go through everything again.” You sighed, rolling over to your side and snuggling your jacket. 

“Are you sure, yn?” Vernon asked gently, “You worked so hard on this album.” 

“I know. We all did, and I appreciate you three for helping me produce it, but…” You trailed off, squeezing your eyes tight as if that would make the pain go away. “It’s not me anymore. Us.”

The boys all nodded their heads, agreeing that it may be painful performing those songs after the breakup. “Whatever you decide, we’ll be there,” Minghao responded. 

The next day, you went back to college with your bandmates. The ride was silent for the most part; none of the boys wanted to speak, just in case you didn’t want to talk. Once you made it back to your shared apartment, the chaos began. You started drinking heavily. Your grades started to slip, and your thoughts were all about her. You couldn’t eat or sleep for days. If you did sleep, it’d be from 2 am to 3 pm. You slept with random girls, but after each one, you felt disgusted. The boys grew worried each day. You couldn’t function properly. 

It’s been about three months since the breakup. The album was supposed to drop a few days after the breakup, but you obviously pushed it back. You sat on your phone, scrolling through Twitter, when Vernon plopped down next to you. 

“What’s on your mind?” He asked, sneakily looking over to check your phone.

“I think I want to drop Entertainment.” You say, not enthusiastically. “I know I said I wanted to delete it, but it’s a part of my life, and I would like our fans to enjoy every single part of me.”

“Good choice. That album's a banger.” He laughed. “Also, I heard you're working on some new songs.” He said it as a statement rather than a question.

“Yeah,” you admitted, rubbing the back of your neck. “A couple of the songs are about her pre-breakup, though. Fits the theme of the new album.”

“Let me listen to it, and I’ll help out.” Vernon smiled, happy that you’re writing your feelings out rather than bottling them up. “Let me tune my guitar, and I’ll text the group chat.”

“You’re the best.” You smiled at the taller boy. “Might as well drop it since I dropped ‘Fandom’ after that horrible relationship, and I can’t run away from the first album I kinda wrote for Sophia.” 

“Hey, that album had non-love-song bangers!” He defended, “My favorite album to this point. This next one will be my favorite, for sure.” 

You shook your head at the boy, and a smile appeared on your face. A genuine smile. After the small talk with Vernon, the rest of your bandmates showed up, ready for the drop of the album. You were doing a live on your Instagram at the kitchen table, with the boys sitting behind you. 

“Hey chat!” You greeted as people piled into the livestream, “We have good news for you.”

You read the chat, exploding with comments about what it could be. Some were saying a tour, others were talking about Entertainment being pushed back, and a few were asking about new songs.

“Good guesses, but…” You trailed off, reading the comments again as the chat wanted answers. “We’re finally dropping Entertainment! Tonight at 9 pm PST.” 

“We hope you enjoy this album, because I enjoyed playing the drums for it!” Minghao cheered, “Yn did a good job.”

“We all did, idiot.” You rolled your eyes. “This album meant everything to me. I’m sorry I delayed the drop, but here it is now. I hope you can use these songs for your special someone.” 

“Yes, and we’ll be touring the states, too!” Wonwoo confirmed a few comments. “But we’ll drop those dates a bit after the album.”

“For now, enjoy a piece of me.” You smiled fondly, “Eat and sleep well. We love you guys.”

“Bye!” Everyone said in unison, waving at the camera before ending the live. “I guess let’s drop this album?”

It’s been a few weeks since Entertainment dropped, and the band quickly gained new followers. Everyone was praised for their instrument and producing skills, and the four of you were dumbfounded. Who the hell thought an experimental pop-punk band was going to blow up? Certainly not you guys, but it felt amazing to share your art with more people. 

On the other hand, Sophia was scrolling on her phone while sitting on the couch with Manon and Lara. Manon was the first one to break the silence. “You know, the album isn’t bad.” 

Sophia shot a glare at the older girl, then continued scrolling through Twitter. “It’s okay.”

“If you were with yn, you wouldn’t say that.” Lara pressed. All of the girls were upset when Sophia broke up with you. No signs, no nothing. They all went no contact with you and stopped sharing their locations, which hurt you the most, weirdly.

“Well, I said what I said. The album is okay based on the snippets that I’ve heard.” Sophia snapped. “I don’t know why you keep bringing yn up.” 

The two girls stayed silent. It was better to say nothing than to keep arguing with Sophia because they knew they wouldn’t win this fight. 

“But what if we—” Lara started before being cut off by Sophia. “No!”

“See them on tour?” Manon spat out fast before she was cut off. 

Sophia glared at the girls before standing up and walking into her room, slamming the door behind her. She’s had enough questioning from her friends, and it seemed like they missed you more than she did. It was pissing Sophia off.

“Are we going to see them on tour?” Lara asked quietly, looking back to make sure Sophia wasn't behind them. Manon nodded, texting the girls separately about the plans. 

It’s been a crazy six months, and you weren’t getting any better. You had difficulties sleeping, you were dealing with the loss of your aunt, and you were drinking. You were constantly overthinking about how you weren’t enough for Sophia, what you did wrong, and if she cheated on you. The latter makes you sick every time you think about it. Before the breakup, Sophia was dodging your questions as to why she was in the parking lot of a CVS for the past few hours. She kept ignoring you, changing the topic to something else in order for you to drop the interrogation. You were losing it, and it’s starting to show in your songs and to the boys before the band starts touring. 

The therapy sessions weren’t working, medications were failing, and all you had were the boys and more alcohol. You tried to distract yourself by creating music, but it only made things worse as you kept writing about her and how you’re so messed up. 

One night, you were in the studio, a makeshift one in the spare bedroom of your apartment, playing back the few songs you produced for your bandmates and Joshua. The studio isn’t big, but it fits all of the instruments and a desk for a laptop and speakers. "Felt more real," you once said to the boys. 

“This is drastically different from Entertainment, yn,” Joshua states with an expressionless face, not knowing what to think about your situation. 

“It is, but I can’t keep writing love songs.” You laughed sadly, tuning your guitar next to him. “I like the vibe, though.”

“Oh, for sure.” Everyone in the room muttered, nodding their heads. 

“Maybe we’ll play one of the songs on tour, like a teaser?” Minghao suggested, “The angst era is real.”

“Yeah, we can play a song or two.” You agreed. “Maybe we’ll play our EPs so I don’t have to sing the Entertainment album.” 

“We’ll do that on a different tour. I really love playing bass for this album.” Wonwoo laughed, nudging you slightly. “Because those EPs were bass-heavy too.”

After a few more weeks of producing new music, practicing for the new mini tour, and making sure the stage presence was perfect, it was time to begin the tour. There were about 14 tour dates, three of them in California and the rest scattered around the U.S., but the band was excited nonetheless because this was the most dates they’ve played. You didn’t really care for your grades at this point and only stayed in school to satisfy your parents and to have a “backup plan” if the whole band failed.

The first two shows were in Northern California, around your hometown, with you and the band. The team was setting up the stage, lights, and equipment, while the band was pacing around nervously. An hour before the show, everyone started to pile up into the crowd. People had drinks in their hands and looked like they were having a fun time. Vernon and Minghao decided to look out into the crowd from the sides and spotted five familiar faces, Sophia’s friends. The boys were pissed, that’s for sure, heading backstage to find you and Wonwoo talking.

“Are we telling yn?” Minghao mumbled to Vernon. Before Vernon could respond, you had asked them what’s wrong.

“We don’t want you to be stressed out or sad, but…” Vernon trailed off, fumbling with his fingers, “Sophia’s friends are here.”

“What?” Your heart dropped, and your palms began to sweat. “Is Sophia here?”

Minghao shook his head. “We didn’t see her. It was literally everyone but her.”

You huffed, searching around backstage for a drink. You finally found a stack of beer, not your favorite, but drank two cans anyway to try to get this night over with. It was about five minutes before the show started, and the whole band was excited, jumping with happiness for their first big show. The venue sat around 3k people, and it was a packed house, possibly a sold-out show. The band did a group huddle before running out onto the stage and starting with 11:11 as their opening song. 

After performing [Reboot], you introduced the band and talked to the crowd about Entertainment, teasing the future songs on the next album. You met eyes with Sophia’s friends and quickly looked around at the crowd to distract yourself. 

“We’re going to slow it down for the next few songs.” You said into the mic, trading your electric guitar for an acoustic one, strumming the chords. “These are love songs, I guess. Sing along if you know the words, please.”

You closed your eyes and started strumming the chords. Your heart is heavy, and it doesn’t help that Sophia’s friends are in the crowd, watching you perform her songs. You got through Lucky People and Powerless, making jokes in between to stop yourself from crying. It didn’t last long once you started to play 21 Questions. 

Your voice was cracking towards the end, head hung low to avoid the fans from seeing your tears rolling down your face as you sang. 

“My mood's dictated by our conversations, And if you don't text I get too frustrated I want you all to myself this time Conflicted looks good on me I'm trying desperately I want you all to myself this time I'll forget you if you need me to, Like nothing ever happened My sun still sets without you, Like nothing ever happened”

As you strummed the last chord, you couldn’t hold it anymore. You quickly thanked the crowd and walked off stage, wiping your tears with your shirt. Your bandmates came up to you, pulling you into a tight hug and asking if you’re okay. You nodded sadly as you sniffed away and prepared for the next segment of the show.

“C’mon, we can’t leave the fans hanging.” You say, grabbing your electric guitar and walking towards the stage. 

“This isn’t healthy!” Wonwoo yelled behind you, grabbing his bass and following you towards the stage. The other boys followed as well, shaking their heads. 

The rest of the night went fantastically. Everyone was crowd surfing, moshing to your shitty pop-punk music, and having fun. You and Vernon ended up in the crowd, too, towards the end of the show, to interact with fans. Definitely one of your favorite shows. 

At the end of the night, after packing away the instruments, the band went to the merch table to give out merch and meet fans. You were all sweaty and high on adrenaline but felt at ease with the fans—that is, until Sophia’s friends showed up. 

“Oh.” Minghao's face immediately dropped, shifting you behind him and Wonwoo. “Hello, how can we help you?”

“We came by to say hi,” Manon said as if it were the most obvious thing. “And congratulate you on the start of the new tour.”

“Great album, by the way.” Megan butted in, giving the band a soft smile.

You weren’t sure how you were feeling, but it’s definitely not good. One second, you were on a high, hugging fans, and the next, your world collapsed again. “Thanks.” You mumbled, not knowing what to say or do. “Any merch?”

“Actually, yes. Five T-shirts, please!” Yoonchae pushed her way forward, giving you a bright smile. A smile that you missed.

“Of course, Yoonie. Oversized on all of them?” You responded, and Yoonchae nodded. You couldn’t hate the younger girl. She was essentially your child to you and Sophia, and now you have lost custody.

“Here you go. Five large t-shirts.” You handed them the t-shirts and awkwardly looked around the area, greeting some fans who were waiting on the side. Soon after, all five girls said their goodbyes before walking out of the venue happily with their new shirts. 

“I think I need a drink.” You rubbed your face and posed with the last fan, thanking them for coming to the show and supporting the band. It was now the end of the night; you and the boys were tired, so you headed home and rested for the next show before waking up at the crack of dawn to be on the move. 

The rest of the tour goes smoothly, and before you know it, the whole tour is wrapped up. The fans loved the visuals, the music, and the atmosphere the band created. During the tour, the band gained thousands of new fans as their music kept reaching a larger audience. You were feeling slightly better but still weren’t the same person you were before. That all fell apart once you found out that Sophia had a boyfriend. 

“Dude, why’d you stalk her?” Mingyu asked you disappointedly. “Fuck her and her boyfriend. You’re way better than that fuckface.” 

You and the 13 boys were at Mingyu's place again after the tour ended. He wanted to celebrate the finale of the band's big tour with a meal and catching up.

“Why do you hate Sophia so much?” Seungkwan looked at Mingyu, confused about his hatred towards your ex. “We all hate her, but you've been bashing her ever since they broke up.

“I’m with Mingyu.” Minghao nodded his head towards Mingyu, crossing his arms. “Yn needs to hear it so they can get over her. Just think about the time she kept letting the guy text her even though she could’ve blocked him.”

“Easy!” Jihoon slammed his drink on the table. “Let yn breathe and stop bringing Sophia up. We all hate her, but let yn heal and celebrate the completion of the tour.” Everyone was quiet, but all mumbled in agreement. You quietly sipped on your soju, head hung low, looking at your phone. 

“Give me that damn phone, too.” Mingyu snatched your phone from behind you and put it in his pocket. “Let’s just have a relaxing night. Sorry, yn.”

You smiled sadly at Mingyu, thanking him. The night kept going, and you were showing the rest of the boys the newest album you produced, Greatest Hits, capturing the versatility of the pre-breakup and the crash-out terrors. This album has a darker vibe than the previous ones you produced, and you were happy with the outcome so far because god knows how a bathroom album sounds. You spent most nights after shows in the bathroom, recording guitar chords, keys, synths, and vocals. You made do with what you had. 

A year has passed since the breakup. You barely graduated from college with your bandmates, you thanked your professors for being kind and patient with you during the last year, and you shifted your full focus to the band. Throughout the last few months of college, the band would do local shows, with more and more fans coming in. The band will drop Greatest Hits soon with tour dates, 30 stops to be exact, and you couldn’t be more excited. 

You still think about Sophia, less frequently now, but constantly in your dreams. It started out as one single dream. You were around her house, but the street was different, and there was a corner store right in front of it, when all around her neighborhood, there were only houses. Then, it happened again. Same house, same road, same store, but now you were inside her house. The same outline. This happens a few times, spread out throughout the year. The most recent one was inside her house while you ate breakfast with your brother at her dining table. It felt like an open house, and you were there just to be there.

All of a sudden, you were in the kitchen with Sophia’s arms wrapped around you, leaning in as if you two were dating, and her parents were in front of you.

“Why are you selling the house, po?”

“It’s time to move out, anak. We don’t need this house anymore.” 

You felt Sophia’s hand on your chest, and you looked down at the younger girl. “It’ll be okay, mahal.”

Then, you woke up abruptly at 7 am. Your heart is racing, and you're left confused, trying to decipher the meaning of the dream and the previous dreams. It was quiet again for a couple of nights until you had one last dream about her. Nothing out of the ordinary, only you and the house, the street, the store, and the outline.

You tried to run away. Not physically, but mentally. Here you were again in some random girl’s bed, creating situationships with girls. You tried so hard to move on, but every girl looks like her, from the hair, the glasses, and the outfits to the back of her figure. You were losing it again. You prayed to God and the Virgin Mary every night, which is funny because you stopped being Catholic when you were about thirteen. Religious guilt seeped into your veins as you kissed and slept with random girls, wishing they were Sophia. After every night, you’d go home and shower, rubbing the dirtiness away, crying.

It was around this time that you started to produce and write the new album, Intellectual Property, based on your religious guilt, situationships, and crashing out yet again. Most of the songs were about different girls, one being constant in your life, and one song being about Sophia, kind of.

The constant girl, Jennifer, you met during your show in LA. She came to the merch table to greet the band, and you two clicked, more or less. You two kept clashing into each other, arguing, and becoming jealous messes. You were tired of her toxicity, but you always came back asking for forgiveness, and she’d let you in. 

The boys grew tired of her, telling you to stay away, but you weren’t listening. You needed someone with you at all times. You finally got the attention you wanted, but at what cost? Is she really the girl you want to chase around forever? You two weren’t dating, so you couldn’t call her yours, and it would make things messier. At this point, your eyes are drained from life, you’re walking around tiredly, and you can’t stop chasing that feeling. 

Jennifer, though, wasn’t as tired as you. She loved chasing the game, the attention you gave her, and the way you fucked her no matter what. You were sad? You’d fuck on your bed, where you lie vulnerable. Tired? Jennifer can tire you out more. Angry? Best make-up sex ever for both of you. 

She’d rant to all her friends about you, then praise you for fucking her good, way better than her exes. Her friends, Sophia being one of them, rolled her eyes. “Stop messing around with that poor kid’s heart.”

“No. It’s so fun.” Jennifer lets out a small laugh. “You’d enjoy it too if you weren’t with your boyfriend.” She sing-songed, nudging Sophia with her shoulder.

“Where did you even meet this person?” She asked, scrolling through her Twitter aimlessly.

“At one of their shows in LA. They’re so hot.” Jennifer responded, replying to one of your messages after ignoring you for the past three days. “They fuck me so well, too.”

“Gross.” Sophia scrunched her nose in disgust, putting away her phone and looking at her friend. “They can’t be that good.”

Jennifer hummed in response. “If you weren’t with your boyfriend, you could hoe around with me and sleep with them.”

“I’ll pass. I love my boyfriend.” Sophia snorted.

“Do you? Seems like you're stuck on your ex or whatever from four years ago.” 

Sophia huffed in annoyance and ignored her friend, turning her attention back to her phone. After a few minutes in silence, Jennifer speaks up. 

“You and Manon should come to their concert with me. I think they’ll be touring soon, and I can get us tickets if you’d like.”

Sophia thought about it for a minute, not wanting to see her friend thirsting over some poor kid she’s been screwing over for the past few months, but it would be nice to go to a concert. Sophia nodded. “Just tell me when and where, and I’ll be there.”

“Perfect!” Jennifer clasped her hands together. “I’ll get the tickets, and we can all meet at your place to get ready?” 

The next few weeks, you and the band were designing the stage lights and background and making sure everything was in place for the tour. This is the biggest tour that the band has ever headlined, 60 shows to be exact, and the band was excited and nervous.

Just a month before the tour started, Jennifer had texted you asking for three tickets to your LA show. Being whipped for this girl, you agreed. The LA show wouldn’t be for another month and a half, so you were relieved you weren’t seeing the girl so soon. Maybe a little awkward since half of these songs in the newest album are about her, but you shrugged it off. She’s too conceited to care anyway. 

Back-to-back tour dates had made you and the band tired. The rest of the boys were following the band around for the California dates, since it became a tradition from the first tour. What better way to end the tour than in the comfort of your home state? You’d have a few weeks off before heading over to Europe for the rest of the shows. 

At Sophia’s apartment, Manon and Jennifer were getting ready. Jennifer sat in front of Sophia’s full-body mirror, fixing her makeup while Manon took over Sophia’s vanity. 

“Why do you look hot?” Jennifer asked Manon, looking over at the girl.

“Maybe I’ll find my lover in the band.” Manon shrugged, laughing. “Or in the crowd. I’m not picky.” 

Sophia rolled her eyes and lay back down on her bed while the girls finished getting ready. She wasn’t sure how she was feeling. Excited? Nervous? She hasn’t been to a show, especially a pop-punk band, since you two broke up years ago. 

“I think we’ll have fun. You two can hook up with the other bandmates, but not with mine.” Jennifer laughed, applying mascara carefully. 

“Jesus, is their dick big or what?” Manon asked, shaking her head in disbelief at Jennifer.

She only hummed and smiled in response. The rest of the evening was quiet. Just the three girls getting ready and piling into Manon’s car afterwards. She put on the GPS and followed the directions, making it safely to the venue. As she put the car in park, everyone got out and stood in line, watching fans walk by. After 30 minutes, the doors opened, and everyone was rushing through the entrance trying to get barricade. The three happily ended up around the third row of the pit, had a nice view of the stage, and were not too close to the speakers. Sophia looked around her surroundings, a little too closely at a fan who was wearing your band’s merch. 

“Manon.”

“Sophia.”

They both said at the same time, looking at each other in disbelief. Maybe it’s a coincidence. Maybe your band changed its name? They can't possibly be this famous, right? This isn't your band. Manon turned to look at Jennifer and tapped her shoulder. 

“What band are we seeing?”

“Midnight Cadence.”

Sophia and Manon frowned, feeling stupid because they did not know which band they were seeing. Before they could verify if it was your band, the lights went out and the curtains dropped immediately, with screaming fans pushing towards the barricade. 

“Hi, LA! It’s nice to see you again!” You screamed into the mic, starting the riff of the intro song to Starfucker. 

“Is that fucking yn?” Sophia asked in shock, mouth agape. 

“Yeah!” Jennifer yelled over the music and screaming fans. “I miss them.”

Sophia was pissed, jaw clenched. Her best friend was fucking her ex and boasting about it to her. 

“Yn looks a little taller,” Sophia mumbled to Manon. 

“And a little buffer, okayyy yn.” Manon smirked, “They’re lifting those weights.”

“Yn is so strong, they can hold me up while fucking me.”

“Okay, stop being horny.” Manon nudged Jennifer, rolling her eyes at the girl. 

After a few songs, you stopped and introduced the band.

“We’ve been a band for almost six years? Pretty fucking crazyy.” You strummed your guitar, giggling into the mic. “We wouldn't be here without you guys, so we appreciate and love every single one of you.”

“Well, maybe not one of you,” Vernon said into the mic, catching Sophia’s stare, strumming his guitar while Mingaho kicked his bass drum. 

“You have beef with one of our fans?” You asked, confused, looking at Vernon. “I know we have beef with all of our fans, but one? Did they boo at your horrible guitar skills?”

Vernon laughed, shaking his head. “No, but they were pretty rude.” 

You shook your head and looked back at Minghao to start the next song, War Crimes. Sophia and Manon were astounded to hear Vernon speak about Sophia negatively. Things were awkward, and you hadn't noticed yet until you played the slow songs. You had your acoustic guitar on, strumming gently and looking out at the crowd, before your eyes fell on Sophia’s. You stopped strumming, and your guitar pick fell onto the floor at the same time your heart dropped to your stomach. 

You gulped and immediately queued the boys to start. “This song’s called 21 Questions.” You rushed out and started the first chords to the song. The song ended quickly, and you were getting ready to play the last acoustic song, Lucky People.

“Man, I hate this next song.” You laughed while adjusting your mic, your gaze on the picks lined up on your mic stand. “It’s even worse because I don't have the band behind me. Solo song. This one’s Lucky People, bleh.” 

Sophia frowned, arms crossed. She remembers you working hard on this song while you were staying at her place one night. Your heart filled with joy and admiration for the younger girl, you had to let her listen to the sample, even if it’s “shitty,” as you called it. This was—is—Sophia’s favorite song. Not because it’s about her, but because of the memory of you sitting down on her carpeted floor, laptop at 10%, and your half-worn acoustic guitar on your lap. Surrounded by the soft fairy lights in Sophia’s room and the smell of pork sisig her mother was cooking downstairs, that is what Sophia remembers. The amount of love in the household was unimaginable. 

As you strummed the final chorus, your eyes were red and puffy, and your voice was cracking towards the end.

“Happy birthday,  Merry Christmas   To the one I call my missus  I’m leaving you love notes in the kitchen  That say it all  I know you said to mind my business   But Cupid sent me on a mission  That’s got me sitting, wishing   Waiting for your call.”

You were ashamed as your head hung low. You thanked the crowd, walking off stage, and handing over your guitar to one of the tech crew. Mingyu caught you in his arms while you broke down, sobbing into his shirt. The rest of the boys surrounded you, trying to comfort you.

“Are you okay?” Mingyu asked softly, rubbing your back gently. “What happened?”

“She’s…she’s out there.” You buried your face deeper into his chest, gripping his shirt. “I couldn't keep it together. I thought I could hold out, but I can’t. I’m sorry. I can't do it. I don’t want to see her. I’m angry. I’m sad. I don't know anymore.”

“It’s okay, yn.” Minghao came up to you, putting his hand on your head. “Don’t worry about her. Think of the fans, okay? You’ve come so far, and we’re all proud of you. No matter what, I promise.”

You nodded your head slowly, removing yourself from Mingyu’s hold and wiping away your tears with a tissue Soonyoung passed you. “Thank you, guys. I love you so much.” 

Sophia frowned while watching you perform. Her heart shattered once she saw the tears on your face and all the fans screaming, “It’s okay.” Manon glanced over at Sophia and offered her a small smile. 

After wiping your tears, you and the band ran out on the stage to perform the last few songs of the night. Your throat felt tight while your eyes stung from earlier events, but you had to get through this. You spoke into the mic, asking the fans if they're ready for the last song—nope.

"I'm sorry, guys." You took the mic off the stand and walked towards the edge of the stage. "This is the last song of the night and of the American leg." The crowd boos; a fan is crowd surfing to the front.

"Fuck yeah, crowd surfing to no music!" You laughed, wiping your sweat from your forehead with the back of your hand while Minghao kicked his bass drum and hit his snare. "Someone was crowd surfing during Lucky People. That's why I was crying—too emotional, beautiful scenery."

You walk back to the center of the stage, handing your guitar to the tech crew. The lights dimmed, and you felt sick to your stomach. "Y'all better go crazy for this song. This is called A Night Out On Earth. Thank you!"

The intro began playing as you closed your eyes, grip tightening around your mic. Towards the end during the bridge, you walked to the edge of the stage again, on your knees, looking directly at Sophia. She couldn't miss the pain in your eyes as the red lights flickered on stage.

"I could drive my Lexus overnight back home to California I could fall asleep in my old bed 'Cause life got kinda hectic on the day I got your necklace Now I just wanna fall asleep in my own." "It's a hell of a time, was I loved or was I right? I kissed a couple people in a week"

You maintained eye contact with Sophia, counting on both hands, while standing up and walking towards the center of the edge.

"Am I gonna go to Hell in my sleep or will God forgive me?"

You looked up to the ceiling, putting your hands together as if you were praying for forgiveness.

"I gotta hide everybody that I like Did therapy four times this week from my bike Born January 17th, I'm overthinkin' everything A Capricorn with double horns Like triple six but, babe, I'm fuckin' dyin' for you If it was up to me, no one I know would know anyone I know 'Cause everyone I know knows another me It's gettin' hard to keep track of Everything I keep locked behind my back"

You were pacing the stage crazed; you couldn't hold back anymore. Each word is coming out like it was meant for Sophia to hear and know exactly what she has done to you over the past few years. You want this to hurt her the way you've been hurting.

"I ain't jumpin' out the window I'm leavin' when the night goes I ain't gonna let go Stay jumpin' at the tempo 'Cause that's just how this shit goes I ain't jumpin' out the window Stay livin' at the tempo."

The song ended, and the lights shone on the crowd. You were out of breath, and you felt like crying. You blinked rapidly and thanked the fans for coming out to the show. The band threw their picks, and Minghao tossed his bruised drumsticks. You blew a kiss and jumped off the stage to be level with the fans, high-fiving and taking pictures with them.

"Thank you, California!" You yelled into the mic. "I'm happy to end the night in our home. Can't wait to see y'all at the next tour!" You hopped back on stage and ran to the back, drinking cold water. Crouching down, you buried your face into your hands, tiredly. All thirteen boys were surrounding you, a shot in each hand. You looked up, laughing at the sight as you stood up, taking the extra shot from Soonyoung. The fourteen huddled into a circle, shots raised.

"This is for the end of the American leg. To Minghao, yn, Vernon, and Wonwoo!" Seungcheol congratulated the band. Everyone cheered and downed the shot. "I'm so proud of you all. I love you, guys."

"Okay, dad. We love you too." You laughed, rounding up everyone to do a double shot.

"Another double shot wouldn't hurt." Soonyoung smirked, grabbing the bottle of tequila and pouring more.

"After party at my airbnb!" Mingyu yelled, downing the shot. "I can make noodles."

After half an hour of talking and more shots downed, the venue has settled down, and footsteps creep in from behind.

"Ynnie!" Jennifer yelled, catching your attention, and you turned to see her, Manon, and Sophia. Jennifer ran up to you, jumping into your arms. "You did so well!" She placed a soft kiss on your lips. You were frozen, and breath caught in your throat.

"Jinjja?" Seungkwan asked, looking at the group of boys who were dumbfounded. None of them could believe what was about to unfold.

"Sophia and Manon wanted to meet you." Jennifer said, not knowing the tension that was swallowing the room. Your mouth formed an "o" shape, but no words came out. You put Jennifer down and looked at Manon and Sophia, then back to the boys.

Seungcheol interrupted the silence, "Jen, let's go get drinks with everyone? Manon, you're welcome to join. We haven't seen you in years."

Everyone but you, Sophia, and Manon stayed behind. "I'll be there in a minute!"

Manon gave a knowing look to Sophia and then at you. "It's nice seeing you again, yn." She walked away, following the chatter of the crowd, leaving you and Sophia alone.

"You look taller." Sophia spoke first, her eyes scanning every inch of your face.

"What do you want, Sophia?"

"I want to talk."

"This isn't the time. Why the fuck are you at our show?" You barked, closing your eyes shut as if Sophia would magically disappear.

"My apartment isn't far from here. Let's talk. Please?" Sophia looked up at you with her doe eyes.

You reluctantly agreed, gesturing for her to guide the way. Both of you walked out into the cool air; you followed behind Sophia, your eyes tracing over her figure. This is sick. You weren't sure if you missed Sophia or not. There are too many emotions that you're feeling right now, and all of them are about to break you. She's about to break you, again. The walk home was quick and silent. No one uttered a single word until you two were in Sophia's apartment.

"You smell like alcohol." Sophia frowned, stepping closer to you.

"And?" You stepped back.

"You don't drink." She stated, tilting her head.

"Well, I'm not the same 19-year-old when we first met." 

And you were right. You weren't the same person when you first met Sophia. You’ve grown up; you’re now 24, and multiple things have changed about you. Sophia kept her eyes on you, scanning your face again. You looked the same, but your eyes seemed more tired. Exhausted. And Sophia wonders if she’s the reason. 

“I want to apologize.” She starts, breaking the distance. You laughed bitterly, shaking your head in disbelief. 

“A little too fucking late. 5 years to be exact.” You scoffed, crossing your arms defensively. “Fuck you and your apology. You don’t get to come back into my life after 5 years of pain and agony, Sophia!” 

She flinched, her gaze on the floor. “I’ve missed you all these years.”

“Yeah, right. You left me with no warning, and you want me to believe you missed me?” You lowered yourself to her level, raising her head to look at you. “You left me to hurt while you lived your life!”

“You think you were the only one hurting?” Sophia laughed. “I was hurting too!”

“You were hurting?” You repeated back. “From what? You’re unbelievable.”

“I wanted to save myself the heartbreak when you left for college. I wanted to break things up before you had the chance to do so.” Sophia explained pathetically. “I wanted to give you the freedom to do whatever.” 

“This has to be a fucking sick joke, Sophia!” You rubbed your forehead while shouting. "You abandoned me. You left me to fight for my fucking life in college. My grades were slipping; I couldn't eat or sleep, and I turned to fucking weed and alcohol.” Your voice cracked as you continued to pace her living room, unsure of what to do or where to go. "You realize how difficult it was for me? I struggled with alcohol to the point my friends and family were worried about me. All because of you.” 

Too afraid to speak, Sophia remained silent and watched you from the other side of the room. She observes your tense shoulders, the way your fists are balled up to the side, and the vein that pops out of your neck every time you talk.

“Maybe it’s my fault. Maybe I’m fucking stupid to let a girl ruin my life.” You say quietly, sitting down on the couch, face buried in your hands. You hated yourself. You allowed Sophia to destroy you, which is why you were feeling this way. The pain would've ended earlier if you had found a healthier way to cope, but you didn't, and here you are now.

Sophia sat beside you, rubbing shoulders. “It’s okay, yn. It’s not your fault. I’m sorry for putting you through this.” She gently took hold of your face, making you turn to face her. Sophia's eyes darted between your eyes and lips as she bit her lip. She leaned in to give you a quick kiss, and to her surprise, you returned the favor.

She moved from the couch onto your lap and pulled you in as she intensified the kiss. “I’ve missed this.” She grinded slowly on your lap, moaning against your lips. Holding her waist firmly, you groaned softly into her mouth. The straining in your pants became uncomfortable as Sophia kept grinding, precum leaking through your briefs. 

“You’re so hard already.” Sophia muttered as she leaned back to meet your gaze, her pupils dilated. “And it’s all for me.” Leaving your lap, she grabbed your wrist and dragged you to her bedroom, closing the door after you. 

She knelt down and pushed you against the bed, causing the back of your knees to strike her mattress. Sophia unbuckled your belt, fumbling open the button of your pants before sliding down your briefs and jeans. You let out a small groan as your cock made contact with the cool air. She could feel the heat of your body and the tension in your muscles, and she knew that you were just as affected as she was.

She had missed this, missed the feel of you in her mouth, the taste of you on her tongue. She leaned in, her breath hot against your skin, and took you into her mouth, her lips wrapping around the head of your cock.

You let out a low groan, your hands moving to her hair, your fingers tangling in her long, wavy hair. Sophia could feel the pulse of your heart, steady and strong, as she took you deeper, her head bobbing up and down in a slow, steady rhythm. She could taste the saltiness of your pre-cum and the heat of your skin, and she knew that you were close. Sophia's hands moved to your hips, her fingers digging into your flesh as she took you deeper.

Your breath came in short, sharp gasps, your body tensing as you neared the edge. Sophia could feel the heat of you and the tension in your body, and she knew that you were close. She looked up at you, her eyes locked onto yours. She wanted to feel you, wanted to taste you, and wanted to feel the heat of your release in her mouth.

As your body tensed, Sophia's mouth worked faster, her head bobbing up and down in a hurry. You let out a low groan, your body shaking as you came, your cock pulsing in her mouth, and your hot cum filling her throat.

Sophia swallowed, her hands moving to your hips, her fingers digging into your flesh as she took every last drop of you. She looked up at her, her eyes filled with love and desire. 

Sophia's mouth was a warm, wet haven, her tongue swirling around the tip of your erection, her lips tight and firm as she took you deeper. Your hands gripped her hair, knuckles white with the effort of keeping yourself under control. The sensation was overwhelming, the heat and wetness of her mouth driving you to the edge of sanity. You could feel the tension building, the pleasure coiling in your stomach.

But you wanted more. You wanted to feel her body, to be inside her, to feel her heartbeat against your chest. You pulled away, breath ragged, and eyes locked onto Sophia's. She looked up at you, her lips swollen and glistening, her eyes filled with a mix of surprise and desire.

"yn," she whispered, her voice hoarse from the effort of taking you in.

You reached down, hands cupping her face, and thumbs brushing against her cheeks. "I want you, Sophia," you said, voice low and urgent. "I want to feel you, to be inside you."

Sophia's eyes widened slightly, a mix of excitement and nervousness flashing across her face. She nodded, her hands moving to your waist, her fingers tracing the lines of your muscles. Your hands moved to her hips, lifting her up, positioning her so that she was straddling you. You could feel the heat of her body, the wetness of her desire.

You pulled her down, hands gripping her hips and fingers digging into her soft flesh. Sophia gasped, her hands moving to your chest, her nails digging into your skin. You could feel the tension in her body, the way her muscles tensed as you filled her, and the way her breath hitched as you thrust up into her.

The room was filled with the sounds of soft moans and gasps, the wet sounds of bodies coming together. Your hands moved to Sophia's breasts, fingers teasing her nipples, and your thumbs brushing against her sensitive skin. Sophia's head fell back, her mouth open in a silent cry of pleasure. You could feel her muscles tighten around you.

You thrust up into her, hips moving in a steady rhythm, your body driving hers down onto you. Sophia's hands moved to your shoulders, her fingers digging into your skin.

You could feel the tension building, the pleasure coiling in your stomach, threatening to consume. You reached up, your hands moving to Sophia's hair, and fingers tangling in the soft strands. You pulled her down, lips meeting hers in a fierce, passionate kiss. Sophia's body moved against yours, her hips grinding against you, her breath coming in soft, urgent gasps.

And then, with a final, powerful thrust, you came. Your body shuddering with the force of your release, filling up Sophia with thick ropes of cum. Sophia's body tensed, her muscles tightening around you, her breath coming in soft gasps. And then, with a final cry, she came, her body convulsing with pleasure.

You both lie there, bodies entwined. The room was filled with the soft sounds of breathing and the faint rustle of the sheets. After a few minutes passed by, you got up from her bed, gathering your clothes and sliding them on. Sophia rolled over, propping herself on her elbows, admiring your back muscles you’ve grown over the past five years.

“Where are you going?” She asked sleepily, patting the empty spot next to her. You check your messages; your phone is blowing up from the boys. You shook your head and slid the phone into your pocket. 

“Shouldn’t you worry about your boyfriend instead?” You spat out, not turning to face her. Sophia’s face fell, dumbfounded at how you knew she had a boyfriend. 

“Yn.” Sophia got up quickly. “How—”

“I’m not fucking stupid, Fia.” You turned to face her one last time. Younger you wouldn’t believe you’d be here, in Sophia’s apartment, after not seeing her for years. You felt relieved, in a sickening way. Maybe it’s because you’re hurting Sophia. Maybe this is what you wanted all along: revenge. This is your time to run. To be free. Your therapist will have one hell of a session with you next week. You gulped, eyes glued to Sophia’s. 

“Goodbye, Sophia.” You left her room, then her apartment, immediately running away. The cool 2 am breeze hit your face as you ran, never turning back. You were gasping for air. For freedom. You were free. You felt younger when you met, but now you feel alive. 

On the other hand, Sophia stood there. She slowly put on her pajamas and lay back in bed, the empty spot consuming her. She wanted to cry. Wanted to fight for you to stay the night, but she was scared. So, she watched you walk away, this time hurting her in the process. She brought the sheet close, snuggling and burying her face in your scent that you left behind, and cried herself to sleep. She was aware that she had lost you forever and that neither coincidence nor miracle would be able to bring you back to her. 

a/n: this is based on my breakup LMFAO and basically how it went minus the band/fucking her towards the end. I used Waterparks album inspo b/c Awsten's albums fell into the timeline where I was in love to heartbroken, to I want to kms <3 I'm okay now and thought this would be a story idea. PLEASE send any questions or thoughts about this fic. I would love to answer questions about reader/Sophia's dynamic. also no color for this fic bc all I saw was black/gray and hated everything!!!!<<<<<<<33333333333333333333 also first post of 10k words!!!!!1

[futureheartstour]

Finally September, only 13 more days until i see lesserafim 😍🥰😘🫶🏼🫶🏼🙂‍↔️😛

[futureheartstour]

LARA RAJ X FEMMES SUPREMACY RAAAAHHHHHHH

Anyways, that fic was so cute 🥺

FEMMES WILL GET THEIR CHANCE W LARA ONE DAY 🙂‍↔️

Thank youuu!!

[futureheartstour]

I WHAT??? I FUMBLED FOR NOT LISTENING

SIENNA.

— ۶ৎ the marías

— summary: after the birth of her daughter, sophia’s had some trouble raising sonia alone. but with the help of her members and her family, she seemed to have her life settled — yet something still nagged at her. she couldn’t hint at it. though, during a particular pool day at lara’s house, sophia finally figured it out.

— warnings/tags: gn!reader, g!p reader because…they’re the other parent…! mentions of teen pregnancy, use of yn, sonia liz laforteza is back who’s excited! not proofread

— a/n: i don’t know if lara’s house has a pool. also, i might do a lara fic soon idk.

sonia liz laforteza.

she was basically a blessing in sophia’s world. despite having her around the age of seventeen, family and friends supported her. the lafortezas loved the little version of sophia. she had her eyes, the dimple on her right cheek, and her nose. her father insisted that she’ll have curly hair like he did, having his genetics pass down to his grandchildren while some argued that they’ll have the other parents hair.

they don’t know who the other parent is. sophia never told anyone. aunts and uncles have figured it might’ve been leon, but leon and sophia both know that isn’t true. despite being best friends, sophia’s never told anyone. only she knows.

when she began her trainee journey, her uncle in la took care of sonia while she was gone. it was for days — maybe weeks before sophia got to hold her baby again. after those days of training, she might as well have forgotten how to hold a baby. but she never will after she finally got into the dream group she had been working a year or two on.

the group members adored sonia. they were there for sophia when she was upset, each member taking turns to hold sonia when sophia got too tired to care for her baby. it wasn’t long until sonia eventually grew up as well, that was when the trouble began to slip in. she was all quiet and cute as a baby, now she’s throwing tantrums every chance she gets. sophia tries her best to keep sonia well behaved, and she is, but sonia always finds a way to stress sophia out and have it her way.

the girls didn’t know how to handle a toddler well. when sophia cooked for them, manon took this chance to spend time with little sophia. she tried to keep her entertained, but eventually sonia got tired and threw a hissy fit. megan filled in for manon and decided to rock sonia. maybe that would work? well, sonia was hissy because she was tired, so she slipped out of megan’s arms. eventually, the two members gave up.

“how do you handle babies?”

“i don’t know! i can’t even rock her to sleep…”

“well — she’s three, megan!”

they both stared at the yelling toddler, watching as sonia waved her arms around like a bird.

“are you two really just gonna…stare?” lara asks from behind. the two m’s turn to find lara standing behind them, their bodies opening like a doorway so she could look at the toddler.

“well — we tried everything!”

as lara approached, crouching to sonia, sonia paused to look back at the woman before immediately hollering again. how was it that sonia managed to grab all five members into the living room? at this point, they were all handing sonia different variations of toys. megan even handed sonia her phone, but dani immediately slapped it away.

“she’s three!”

“three year olds can have technology!”

eventually, sophia finished up dinner and was quick to pry sonia away from the girls before settling her in her booster seat. one spoon after the other, sonia was immediately that cheery toddler everyone knew. the girls blinked.

“she was hungry?!”

sophia looked at them with a mouthful (and so did sonia), a hand coming to cover her lips before gesturing to the plates.

“hurry up before it’s cold.”

when night fell, sophia had sonia close by her as she slept. it’s a habit of sophia’s to stay up, but she’s been staying up extra just to keep an eye on sonia. running her hand over sonia’s growing hair, humming a tune she couldn’t quite figure out where she got from, to the sleeping toddler. her eyes were gentle as she looked at sonia. this little bundle of joy that just came to her, brightened up her life yet stressed it out made her so, so happy.

she loved sonia. she loved the fact that everyone she knew loved sonia. she loved that sonia loved her. but something else was bothering her. sophia’s life was complete. but, what else could be missing from her life?

it’s been a year or two since then. now, sonia was going to school. sonia’s hair had grown to a texture that no one could quite figure out. how was it that her hair didn’t look like anyone from sophia’s side of the family? and her eyebrows? different. she also had a different nose from when she was younger. could it have changed overtime? she didn’t really look like a sophia anymore, but rather a mix of sophia.

when sophia went back to the philippines with sonia, sonia was immediately filled with love from everyone. though, all sonia wanted to do was meet charlie and chanel. the two chow chow remember sonia and her silly antics and giggles. when sophia would leave to catch up with some members, she would be quick to find sonia in her old room with charlie in there, or she would be by the entrance with chanel. while working at night, sonia up and awake, sophia could hear sonia hum the small song sophia always sang her to bed. it was sweet and simple. something she loved.

when lara threw dani’s 21st birthday party, a pool party, the backyard was chaotic. sonia was the only kid there, but the others loved her. they took care of her, had fun with her. sophia loved that for herself and for sonia. even if these uncles and aunties were a bunch of her own friends, they knew how to handle a kid well. she watched from the sides as manon carefully guided sonia into the pool, holding both hands with yoonchae behind sonia just in case she fell.

to their surprise, and sophia’s, sonia jumped into the pool with a fit of giggles. sophia almost moved from the area she was in, but at the sight of manon carefully holding sonia up made her heart ease a little. her jump, knees up to her chest before she straightened them out. where could she have learned that from? she doesn’t take swimming lessons, nor did sophia sign sonia up for baby swimming lessons.

when the afternoon slipped in, sonia was busy chasing one of lars’s cats, her running with fits of giggles made her head swarm. sonia was all too familiar. it was like sonia was someone she once knew. maybe it was someone she met in a past life. her giggles, her little pout, her faint left dimples, her puffy cheeks. sonia was someone far from a little sophia.

just as the party came to an end, the five year old was asleep on the couch with the girls after watching a movie. sophia was nearby with rhea who was cleaning up after the small bits of snacks that lingered. sophia kept her eyes on sonia, her thoughts intense.

“you okay?” rhea asked sophia as she sat by the filipina, a leg under her sitting position.

sophia looked at lara’s sister and blinked a few times before shifting, looking at her lap. she gently fiddled with the sleeves of her hoodie and looks at rhea again.

“honest?”

rhea paused and she hums softly before turning her entire body towards sophia.

“talk to me, baby.”

sophia hesitated, her hands rubbing the fabric a little more.

“something’s bothering me,” she admits to rhea. after years of holding this in, she’s finally saying this to someone she doesn’t know that well.

“and i don’t know what it is. it’s with sonia.”

“do you think something’s wrong with her?”

sophia immediately shakes her head.

“no, no. she’s healthy,” sophia assured. she looks back at sonia, watching the drool faced kid shift in her sleep.

“ever since she was born,” she began again, “people have always told me she’s looked like me. that she’s had my nose, my eyes, my dimple. even my hair. but now that she’s grown…”

sophia pauses, her eyes falling off of her daughter and back into her lap.

“maybe she’s just growing out of those features.”

sophia looks at rhea and she blinks, shaking her head. “you’re right. maybe i’m just overthinking this—“

“or that she looks like her other parent.”

sophia pauses and she blinks a few times. she turns her head back to rhea.

“what?”

rhea looks at her and laughs lightly.

“you don’t think she just came out of you, right? did you forgot it takes two to make sonia?”

sophia’s mouth went dry. she had forgotten. it was almost embarrassing to admit.

“don’t worry,” rhea assured. “i get it. i mean, you’ve been dealing with this for five years. it’s okay to forget that you had sex with another to have sonia.”

sophia only nods weakly at rhea’s claim. how could she have forgotten about that?

“it’s not your fault either. they left you when you had her,” rhea added in. she stretched before looking at the clump of katz and sonia on the couch.

“i’m gonna head to bed,” she said gently. she turns back to sophia.

“don’t worry about it too much, girl. you’re doing amazing without that loser anyway.”

rhea stood up and gently patted sophia’s shoulder. “g’night.”

sophia watches her leave and hums. “night.”

then, her eyes drift back to sonia who slowly began to wake up. when she did, she sat up and rubbed her eyes before looking around. when her eyes landed on sophia, she immediately climbed off of whoever she was on and ran over to sophia. sophia didn’t hesitate to hold her baby, keeping her safe as sonia dozed off again.

sophia pressed a kiss to the top of her head, closing her eyes and squeezing them.

“yn…” she whispered against sonia’s hair, her breath hitching just the slightest bit. sophia pulled her head back and looks up, trying to dry the tears away.

you weren’t the loser who left. she was.

you just had to be in sonia, huh?

in her walk, in the way she talks, her run, her singing. in the soft humming both she and sonia would hum to each other.

she shouldn’t have left you when she found out she was pregnant with sonia. your sonia. she should’ve stopped you from running to her house in the freezing cold back in december. she knew you didn’t have a car; you knew she didn’t want you to come. but you had to be there. for her birthday, to finally see her after the weeks of no notice.

but, you also just had to live about an hour away, did you? you just had to go.

you should’ve listened to sophia. her messages rang in your ears.

don’t do it, yn.

it’s cold out and it’s going to snow

please don’t come

you don’t have a car

go back home

you can hear her soft and gentle voice telling you this, but it didn’t matter. she was carrying your kid. you had to be there — it was also her birthday. you were always there. you didn’t care if you had to bike an hour and a half away. you had to be there. you propped your phone on your bike, immediately pushing the pedals to work as you looked up and down from the gps and the road.

you’ve never been this dedicated before. sure, you drove your mom’s car (without a license) to get to her house. but you got banned until you could get your license. it didn’t matter — what mattered was sophia and that damn baby she was gonna get.

you’re about twenty minutes down from traveling to her house. the roads were dark. it’s almost new years. twenty minutes and you wouldn’t even make it, will you? keep the pace up. your legs worked, kicking the pedals faster than you could imagine. you told your parents that your friend was picking you up. is this worth the lie.

snow began to fall from the sky and the lights around turned on. immediately, your phone got blurry, mixing the directions up back and forth.

“now?!” you grumbled through your chattering teeth.

your right hand let go of the steering wheel, your body trusting your left as you began to blindly move the bike around. your right hand wiped the phone up and down, the snowflakes melting and beginning to turn into water droplets on your phone.

bright headlights stormed your way and you immediately turned. to where?

your left hand steered into a direction, forcing you down a few bumpy hills before you ended up on some lake. your bike and phone were scattered around the lake. you looked up from your fallen position. your bright phone was shining in the area. jesus — always have both hands on the steering wheel.

sluggishly, you put all of your weight onto your hands. bad decision. your hands plunged into the cracked ice in front of you, forcing you head first into the frozen lake.

this can’t be happening.

this can’t be happening!

it’s her birthday. it’s new years. it’s almost new years — you can’t miss this. you had a gift — you had everything. trying to get up the ice, your bag only weighed you down. her present. your gift for her. filled with love and admiration, care and gentleness. you slipped the bag off and tried so desperately to get back up the ice. after minutes of struggling, you finally got up the ice.

panting and shivering, your hands reached for your phone.

how long has it — 11:56?!

it’s almost the end of her birthday. almost new years.

“y- you’re k- kidding- kidding me!” you stuttered out through chattered teeth. you held yourself closely as you scattered off of the thin ice and onto the snow. you shivered even more as the harsh winds pressed the soaking wet clothes onto your skin.

you cant miss this.

you immediately stood up, your body stiff as if it were beginning to freeze. though, you forced yourself up. you climbed up the snow, your body beginning to shiver even more as time passes. your body grew slower, weaker.

eventually, you knew you had to give up.

you would never make it.

and you never did.

fireworks filled the night sky and your body fell flat onto the snow. with every ounce of your working body, you stared into the sky, watching the colourful sky becoming increasingly darker. your phone vibrated in your now cold hand. once. twice. three times, and then you felt nothing. all you felt was cold, numb. disappointed. you couldn’t make it.

happy new years

i think i’m going to keep it

the baby

i’m sorry for not letting you come. i thought it’d be awkward.

you can come tomorrow. i still have my gift for you since we didn’t meet up this christmas

yn?

are you still awake?

when you wake up, come tomorrow

i think you’re going to like this present

i know you said you prefer bracelets, but i think we switch it up this time

just come tomorrow please

i’m already spoiling it

mindlessly, sophia traces the necklace around sonia’s neck. the bracelet and necklace matched perfect. sophia keeps her eyes trained on the necklace. it would’ve been perfect on you. it would’ve been perfect on the both of you. carefully, sophia hums that familiar tune to sonia. she finally figured out where it came from.

it didn’t come from her parents or from a show.

it came from you.

it came from the night you two got intimate. it came from when you soothed her to sleep after she got worried. it came from your comfort. your gentle forehead kisses, your comforting hand. your voice. a small smile forms at the familiar memory of her in your arms.

“i’ll always be yours,” she whispers quietly, her fingers letting go of the necklace before kissing sonia’s head.

“i love you, sonia. goodnight.”

— a/n: so. yn actually wasn’t supposed to die. i asked two of my friends and sunday (hi sunday) “dead or alive” or wtv and they said dead! all three of them! so yeah! bye!

[futureheartstour]

Request for Lara x fem!reader where Lara swears her type is mascs and has never been down bad for anyone until she meets fem!reader and the kats can see how whipped she is

YES! sorry i've been lagging. Ive been super busy with work, but here is your request!

[futureheartstour]

Maybe I Lied

Pairing: Lara Raj x Fem!reader

Summary: After insisting she's into mascs only, a femme catches Lara's eye, and now she can't stop thinking about her.

Warning/tags: Lara for the femmes, gayy.

WC: 2k

Request: here!

"Guys, I need her so bad," Lara says, flashing the phone at the girls, an Instagram account. "She's so fine, should I DM her?"

"This is like the 5th masc you're thirsting over this week," Manon laughed, taking the phone from Lara and scrolling through the Instagram account, "Plus, she's short."

“Stop!” Lara whined, slouching down on the couch and covering her face with a pillow. “I’m sorry that I find them attractive.”

Daniela looks over Manon’s shoulder, looking through the girl’s account, “She’s cute, but you need to make a move if you want somebody.”

“I need them to chase me.” Lara says, snatching her phone back from Manon and tossing it onto the coffee table.

“This is why you’re still single.” Manon laughs, earning a glare from Lara. Manon puts her hands up in defense, shrugging her shoulders. “Truth hurts.”

“This may get me canceled,” Daniela starts, “But have you gone for other girly ones?”

“You mean femmes?” Manon laughed, “You’re around all these gay people and don’t know the lingo?”

“God forbid a straight woman is asking questions to know better.” Daniela rolls her eyes, shifting her focus to Lara, who is still slouched on the couch.

“I don’t know. I never tried or have thought about it.” Lara answered truthfully. To be fair, Lara never once considered dating another femme woman. She’s always been busy dreaming of her crush towards more masculine presenting people, always wanting to be chased and never to chase.

Truthfully, a femme never caught Lara's attention. She never thought about it once and strongly preferred mascs more. She wouldn't know how to act around another femme. Would she be able to treat her right? It's not too different, right?

A few days have gone by, and Lara was in the practice room with Daniela and Megan. All three girls were sprawled on the floor, exhausted from practicing for about three hours straight. Megan wiped the sweat from her face with her shirt, huffing and puffing. Daniela and Lara had their eyes closed, their faces red, as the cool air blew in from the open door.

"Should we get a sweet treat?" Megan suggested. This grabbed the other two's attention, who sat up quickly and looked over at Megan.

"Matcha lattes?" Lara looked at Megan and Daniela. The three stood up quickly and grabbed their wallets, heading out to their favorite matcha place. The place was packed, customers took up all the tables, and the line was out the door. While Daniela and Megan were waiting in line, Lara was responsible for finding a table.

She found one across the store, tucked away in a corner in the back. Lara walked towards the back of the store to claim the table, but failed to see the you who was already sitting there, sketching something.

"Oh, that's really nice." Lara complimented, "What are you drawing?"

You removed your headphones, placing them on the table, looking up at Lara. "Thank you." You smiled softly. "It's a landscape of the Cascades. I'm referencing my photos."

Lara stood there, stunned by your beauty. She stumbles on her words, but nothing comes out. Megan and Daniela reached Lara, who was standing in front of a girl, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

"Lara?" Megan calls out, pulling her out of the trance, and handing her the matcha. "We have your matcha. Did you find a seat?"

"No." Lara shook her head, focusing her attention on her friends. "I thought this table was empty, but I was wrong."

"Oh, you guys can have this table. I'm about to head out!" You offered to pack up your belongings, but Lara stopped you immediately. You looked at Lara, confused, and stopped putting your pencils away. The two girls behind Lara exchanged a confused look.

"No, it's okay. We'll be heading out." Lara spilled out, mentally smacking herself for being dumb. "Keep working on your art, it's really nice."

You gave a quick thank you as Lara, Megan, and Daniela walked out of the cafe. They walked in silence, letting the LA air drift in between them, and the background noise of people chattering and driving by.

"So," Megan started, taking a sip of her latte. "What was that?"

"What was what?" Lara acted dumb, taking long sips of her drink to ignore the burning stares of her groupmates.

"You had heart eyes for that girl, don't play dumb," Daniela said, eyeing Lara.

"I liked her art. That's all." Lara shrugged, walking ahead of the girls and guiding them back to their dorms.

It was a silent walk to the dorms. Megan and Daniela decided to drop the interrogation before they set Lara off, but as soon as they made it back into their dorms, they told the rest of the girls. For the next few days, the girls were teasing Lara, constantly bringing up her new girl crush on a femme.

Lara rolled her eyes and denied such accusations. But they were right. You sparked an interest in Lara because that's all she's been thinking about since their encounter. Your eyes, smile, and your art. You’re pretty, and your art style's interesting. A mix of cubism and primitivism.

Lara made it her mission to figure out your name and, if she's lucky, your phone number. But she cannot risk the Kats finding out, or she'll never hear the end of it, especially from Manon. So, she decided to frequent the coffee shop. It started as once a week, then she bumped it up to three times a week, acting nonchalant with her matcha latte.

In the first two weeks, you didn't show up. Lara started to lose hope and sighed to herself in the corner of the coffee shop, until one day you came in. Lara was deep into remixing a small artist's song, headphones on and music too loud, sipping on her drink occasionally. She didn't notice the girl next to her.

"Watcha working on?" You said, tapping Lara's shoulder. Lara jumped in her seat, taking off her headphones.

"Oh, my god. You scared me!" Lara put her hand over her chest and looked up at you. "Oh, hi."

"Hi." You smiled gently. "I'm sorry. You were deep in thought, and you looked cool. Mind if I sit here?"

Lara couldn't speak; if the girls were here, they'd probably call her dumb for fumbling. "Uh, yeah, sure." She gestured to the seat in front of her.

"I'm yn." You introduced yourself, taking the seat in front of Lara and putting your drawing tools next to her.

"I'm Lara."

"Global rising popstar sensation?"

"You caught me." Lara laughed, closing her laptop slightly and moving it to the side. "What are you working on?"

"Doing a project for my class, modernism," You explain, opening your art book to show Lara. "It's the unit my professor is teaching. Kinda boring."

"You make it look good." Lara complimented. "Is it okay if I look through your book?"

"Of course! Only if you let me listen to what you're working on." You beamed, handing the book over to Lara, who took it with care.

For the rest of the afternoon, the two of you sat discussing the upcoming projects you had and what Lara had been doing. At one point, you both sat in comfortable silence, working on your own work and silently giving each other looks when the other wasn't looking.

It was nearly 4 pm when Lara received a text from Sophia asking where she was. She ignored the text and quietly put her laptop away, getting up from her seat. "Sorry, I have to get going."

You frowned slightly, but fixed your stance. "No, don't worry! You're probably super busy."

"This was nice." Lara gestured between you and her. "Felt nice to debrief and be myself."

"If you'd like, here's my number." You grabbed a piece of scrap paper from your book and jotted down your number, passing it to Lara. "You can text me if you want more chill hangouts!"

"I would love that, thank you. See ya around?" Lara tucked the piece of paper into her pocket and waved goodbye to you before heading out of the coffee shop. On the outside, Lara was smiling like a fool; on the inside, she was erupting with happiness.

The next few weeks were filled with text messages and late-night hangouts. The girls grew suspicious of Lara when she would immediately check her phone after a text came through. It didn't help their suspicions when Lara would go on "late night walks."

Lara brushed off their teasing and continued meeting you at a nearby park—somewhere between both apartments, and where numerous trees and shrubs cover the landscape. A quiet space where you can draw while Lara produces soft music for you to concentrate.

"This is nice." Your delicate voice broke the silence, adjusting yourself on your elbows, watching Lara scroll through her laptop underneath the moonlight.

Lara hummed in agreement, sliding her laptop off her lap and onto the blanket where you both were settled. "I have really enjoyed spending all this time together." Lara blushed, looking at the tree next to them.

"Am I dumb?" You asked, your gaze on Lara now. Before Lara could answer, you spoke again. "Am I crazy to believe that you may feel the same way I feel about you? I know you're always busy, but..."

"I like you, too, yn." Lara rushed out, her hand flying to your hand. "You're not crazy. All of my thoughts are about you, and I even made a song for you."

You felt the heat rise to her cheeks, the cold, crisp air trying to cool them down. "Really?"

Lara nodded, rubbing her thumb over your hand. "I'm sorry. I have never been the one to chase others. I was too shy to admit anything and wasn't sure how to go on about it."

"It's okay, Lara." You spoke softly, "I like the way you're yourself around me. I really appreciate you trusting me enough to do so." You're now sitting up next to Lara, shoulders brushing against each other.

"Would you like to listen to the song I made for you?" Lara asked, already opening her laptop again and pulling up the demo. "I started it last week. It still has some fixing to do, but this is what it is." Lara pressed play, the quiet music filling the silence as the cool air blew between them.

"This is so amazing, Lara!" You blushed, trying to hide the blush that was forming on your cheeks and ears. "No one's ever made me a song before. You're so talented."

"Oh, it's nothing." Lara tried to contain her smile, looking down at their hands. "A special girl needs her own special song, don't you think?"

You hummed, leaning your head on the taller girl's shoulder. A few minutes have passed by, and the ticking noise is counting down in Lara's ears. She took in a breath, trying to contain her nerves as she turned to face you. It's now or never, Raj.

"Would you like to be my girlfriend?"

It took you by surprise, but a large grin took over your face, nodding eagerly. "Yes!" You pulled Lara into a hug, nuzzling your face into her neck. A warm scent of cinnamon and amber fills your nose.

"Can I kiss you?" Lara asked nervously, her hands wrapped around your waist and tracing small circles.

You looked up at Lara with doe eyes, nodding your head. You both leaned in at the same time, like the space between you had finally decided it had been empty long enough.

Her lips brushed yours, soft and hesitant, and the world seemed to pause — not for anything dramatic, just long enough for you to feel the way her breath caught when you kissed her back.

"I'm so glad you're mine." Lara giggled, pulling you into another soft kiss, her hand cupping your face. You sighed contentedly against her lips, leaning your forehead against hers as the sound of the city buzzes behind.

a/n: I finally posted YIPPE. Next fic will be Sophia's if the other one shots arent ready. anyway gn y'all i have some video games to play.

[futureheartstour]

This Sophia but shes toxic and she uses her nails to leave marks on your back and has you in a chokehold (literally)😛😛😛😍😍🥰🥰🥰🥰💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

[futureheartstour]

Work ended early and its a 3 day weekend 🙏🏼🙏🏼 ima grind on these requests and the Sophia fic

[futureheartstour]

My mile times have been faster huehuehue 🙂‍↔️ lwk need to slow down for more mileage but i think im blaming the heat 💔💔

[futureheartstour]

Everyone read this rn

Cracks in the Glass — Daniela.Avanzini

SYNOPSIS ::: Daniela’s flawless façade begins to slip, showing the weight of her family’s expectations and her shallow social circle. When you catch her alone, she reveals cracks she never shows anyone else, asking why you don’t care about status. Your answer challenges her carefully built worldview, and for the first time, Daniela lets herself soften around you. What begins as banter edges into something deeper — the fragile start of trust.

PARING ::: Daniela Avanzini ( mean rich girl / high-class heiress ) x Car dealer's niece ( g!p masc reader )

TAG LIST ::: @futureheartstour @whatsgoignojn @s1llygo0s3 @wwwlpgs @macsmadness @gablmk @ilikegirlsinred @fandomhopper-shit @th3operat0r @a-rkiel @saturda3 @wandslov @aloneinacity @camiraeken @ihatemonty @weepingmanon @kianthegirlkisser @loverdanis @amishreyac @rockstxrr @prosnale105 @enchantingkitty @noirsunendingboredom @ilovefrankocean1025 @aeriyism @iamconfusedrightnow @runm3over

A/N - 4k words. || Katseye masterlist.

( series master-list )

Daniela Avanzini was supposed to have everything.

At least, that’s what it looked like from the outside.

The Avanzini estate gleamed with the kind of money that didn’t just buy comfort but legacy — towering columns, marble floors polished to a mirror shine, champagne flutes that cost more than a week’s worth of your pay. At parties, Daniela played her role flawlessly: the sharp-tongued socialite, the perfect heiress. Every smile calculated, every laugh timed to echo just right.

But behind the scenes, cracks spread through the glass.

Her mother’s voice echoed through the cavernous dining hall that evening, cutting like a blade. “You need to remember who you are, Daniela. Avanzinis don’t waste their time around… common people.”

Daniela’s hand tightened on the stem of her glass. “I know, Mother.”

“You’ve been seen at that dealership too often,” her mother pressed, sharp eyes narrowing. “It looks unsightly. People are starting to talk.”

Daniela swallowed, forcing herself to keep her expression cool. She didn’t bother explaining — that the only reason she went back so often was her car. That it was only business. Her mother wouldn’t believe her, and maybe Daniela didn’t fully believe it herself anymore.

When the dinner finally ended, she escaped into the night air, her heels clacking against stone as she made her way to the garden. The sound of cicadas filled the silence, and for the first time all evening, Daniela let her shoulders sag.

Alone, she didn’t feel untouchable. She just felt tired.

—

The next day, you caught her in that same in-between space.

She hadn’t expected to run into you outside the dealership, but there you were — leaning against your uncle’s pickup in the grocery store parking lot, bag of parts in hand. Daniela froze halfway to her car, sunglasses perched like armor, her usual words caught in her throat.

You noticed her hesitation immediately.

“Well, well,” you called, a half-smile tugging at your lips. “Didn’t think I’d see royalty here. Don’t they deliver champagne and caviar straight to your door?”

She rolled her eyes, though the gesture lacked its usual bite. “Very funny.”

“Not trying to be,” you said simply. “Just surprised you shop like the rest of us.”

Her lips parted to fire back a retort — but it didn’t come. Instead, she lowered her sunglasses just slightly, letting you see her eyes. For once, they weren’t sharp or mocking. They were… tired.

You frowned, the teasing falling away. “You good?”

Daniela blinked. No one ever asked her that. Not seriously. “I’m fine,” she said automatically, but her voice lacked conviction.

You tilted your head, unconvinced. “Sure doesn’t look like it.”

She drew in a breath, chest tight. She hated this — hated that her carefully polished mask had slipped in front of you, of all people. And yet, something in your tone made it impossible to put it back up.

For the first time, Daniela Avanzini didn’t want to be the perfect heiress. She just wanted to be… seen.

—

She lingered there by her car, sunglasses dangling in her hand, as if testing the weight of silence. And then, softly, almost like she didn’t mean to say it aloud:

“Why don’t you care?”

You blinked. “About what?”

“Status,” she murmured, finally meeting your gaze. “Everyone cares. Everyone wants something from me. Everyone acts differently when they know my name. But you…” Her voice trailed, and she bit down on the inside of her cheek.

You let the quiet hang for a beat before answering. “Because names don’t fix engines. Money doesn’t keep cars running. Status doesn’t mean a damn thing once you’re stuck on the side of the road.”

Daniela’s lips parted, the corners twitching as if she might smile, but it didn’t quite reach her face. “You make it sound so simple.”

“Maybe it is,” you said gently. “Maybe you’re the one making it complicated.”

For a moment, the air between you softened. No banter, no insults. Just Daniela standing there, stripped bare of the armor she wore everywhere else, and you — looking at her like she was a person, not a name.

And that terrified her more than anything.

—

Daniela rarely hesitated. She was decisive to a fault — quick with a retort, sharp with a glare, always ready to cut before anyone could cut her. But standing in that parking lot, her sunglasses dangling in her hand, she didn’t move.

You didn’t either.

“Your car’s over there, right?” you asked finally, nodding toward her sleek black Maserati parked a few rows down.

“Yes,” she said, the word almost mechanical. But her feet didn’t shift.

You tilted your head. “Want me to walk you?”

The suggestion was casual, tossed out with that unbothered confidence you carried like second nature. But it hit Daniela differently. No one offered her things without strings. Walks, favors, time — they always came with expectations, with whispered debts she’d owe later.

But you? You didn’t seem to want anything from her.

She gave a short, almost awkward laugh. “You’re ridiculous. I don’t need someone to walk me to my own car.”

“Didn’t say you did,” you replied easily. “I just asked if you wanted me to.”

Her throat tightened. Want. Such a simple word, but one that tangled inside her chest.

She started walking, and you fell into step beside her without waiting for permission. At first, she kept her chin high, her usual mask trying to slip back into place. But the longer you walked, the more that mask felt heavy.

The grocery store’s neon hum faded as you crossed the lot, leaving the quiet between you unbroken. Daniela found herself glancing sideways at you, watching the way you carried yourself — unhurried, comfortable in your skin, the exact opposite of everything her world demanded.

She hated that it fascinated her.

“Why do you always look so…” she began, then stopped, struggling to find the right word.

You glanced at her. “So what?”

She exhaled sharply through her nose. “So… unshaken. Like nothing gets under your skin.”

You gave a small shrug. “Stuff does. I just don’t give it more power than it deserves.”

Daniela frowned. “That’s not how the world works.”

“Maybe not in your world,” you countered, eyes meeting hers. “But it works just fine in mine.”

Her steps slowed, her heels clicking softer against the asphalt. For a moment, she let the words settle. She thought about the dinner the night before, about her mother’s piercing voice, about the pressure to be flawless in a world where cracks weren’t allowed. And then she thought about how easy you made it sound — to just… not care.

By the time you reached her car, Daniela felt something strange pressing against her chest. It wasn’t annoyance or anger, her usual companions when you were around. It was something softer, something that made her want to stay standing there even though the conversation had run its natural course.

You leaned against the Maserati lightly, tapping your fingers against the glossy paint. “There you go. Safe and sound. Guess my job’s done.”

Daniela rolled her eyes — but it wasn’t the sharp gesture she usually gave. It was softer, her lips twitching like she might actually smile.

“You’re ridiculous,” she said again, but her voice lacked bite.

“Maybe,” you admitted with a grin. “But you’re still here talking to me, so what does that make you?”

Her heart skipped. She hated that you could make it do that.

Instead of answering, she reached for the handle of her car, sliding her sunglasses back into place like armor. But before ducking inside, she hesitated just long enough to murmur:

“Thank you.”

Two words. Quiet, almost swallowed. But real.

And then she was gone, the door shutting with a soft thunk, her car purring to life as she pulled away.

You watched her go, brows raised in surprise. Daniela Avanzini — thanking you? That was a first.

And something told you it wouldn’t be the last.

—

The Avanzini estate was silent when Daniela returned.

The staff had retired for the night, the long corridors echoing only with the soft click of her heels against marble. She hated the sound — hated how it reminded her of emptiness, of spaces too big for one person to fill.

Her room was immaculate, of course. White silk sheets tucked sharp, designer dresses lined up in perfect color coordination, perfume bottles gleaming like trophies. Everything was curated, flawless. Just like her.

She sat on the edge of her bed, peeling off her heels and letting them clatter unceremoniously against the floor. For a long moment, she just sat there, toes pressing into the plush rug, her body stiff with the weight of expectation.

But her mind wasn’t here.

It was back in the grocery store parking lot.

She could still hear your voice, low and steady: Maybe it is. Maybe you’re the one making it complicated.

Her jaw tightened as she tugged off her earrings, tossing them onto the nightstand with less care than usual. Why did those words stick with her? Why did you stick with her?

You weren’t polished. You weren’t refined. You didn’t belong in her world. And yet, every time you opened your mouth, you knocked the air out of her chest in a way none of her perfectly groomed, status-chasing friends ever could.

She stood and crossed the room to the mirror, staring at her reflection. Daniela Avanzini. Perfect hair. Perfect skin. Perfect posture. The kind of girl everyone envied, the kind of girl no one dared to pity.

But right now, staring back at herself, she didn’t see perfection. She saw cracks.

“Why don’t you care?” she whispered aloud, repeating the question she’d asked you. Her own voice sounded hollow, almost childlike.

Because she cared. She cared about everything — about appearances, about whispers at galas, about her mother’s disapproval, about being flawless enough to carry the family name. Caring had been beaten into her since she was old enough to walk in heels.

But you didn’t care.

And for the first time in her life, she wondered what it would feel like to live that way.

Her fingers trailed down the edge of her vanity table, resting on a half-empty glass of champagne from earlier. The bubbles had long since gone flat, but she sipped anyway, trying to drown the tightness in her chest. It didn’t work.

Images of you flickered behind her eyelids — grease-stained hands working with effortless precision, the way your eyes had cut through her when she faltered, the lopsided grin when you called her out without fear.

She hated you.

But she didn’t.

Not really.

And that terrified her more than anything else.

—

The next afternoon, you were elbow-deep in the Maserati’s engine when the familiar perfume of Daniela Avanzini cut through the scent of motor oil.

You didn’t look up right away. You’d learned quickly that she liked attention on her terms — eye contact too soon, and she’d armor up. But if you stayed focused on your work, she lingered.

Sure enough, her heels clicked across the floor, stopping just short of where you stood.

“You again,” you drawled, voice muffled as you leaned further into the hood.

Her brow arched. “It’s my car.”

“Mm. And yet you hang around here like you don’t trust me to handle it.”

“I don’t,” she shot back automatically. But it lacked her usual fire.

You straightened slowly, wiping your hands on a rag, finally meeting her gaze. There it was again — that flicker. The tiredness she thought she’d buried deep enough no one could see.

For a moment, neither of you spoke. The dealership buzzed around you — phones ringing, mechanics shouting across bays — but it all faded under the weight of her stare.

Daniela looked away first.

“Do you ever get tired of it?” she asked quietly, almost as if she hadn’t meant to let it slip.

“Tired of what?”

She hesitated, her tongue pressing against the inside of her cheek. Then, softer: “Of people expecting things from you. Of… carrying what they think you should be.”

You blinked, caught off guard. Not because of the question — but because of who was asking it.

“Yeah,” you said after a beat. “I get tired of it. But I decided a long time ago I’d rather disappoint people than disappoint myself.”

Her head snapped toward you, eyes widening just slightly. “That’s—” She stopped herself, biting back whatever she’d almost said.

“That’s what?” you pressed, tilting your head.

Her lips parted, and for once, there was no insult on her tongue. No sharp retort. Just silence and the faintest crease of her brow, like she couldn’t believe you’d said it out loud.

You leaned back against the car, crossing your arms. “What about you?”

Daniela stiffened. “What about me?”

“You ever get tired of being… perfect?”

The word landed between you like a dropped wrench — heavy, echoing.

Her throat worked as she swallowed, and when she finally spoke, her voice was quieter than you’d ever heard it. “Every single day.”

The admission seemed to hang in the air, fragile, as if even she couldn’t believe she’d said it.

Something shifted then. Not attraction — not yet. Something smaller. Softer. A moment of truth cracking through the glass walls she lived behind.

You didn’t laugh at her. You didn’t mock her. You didn’t even gloat at finally breaking through. You just nodded, like it made sense. Like you saw her.

And for Daniela Avanzini, that was more dangerous than any insult you’d ever thrown her way.

—

The garage hummed with the low drone of engines and the occasional clang of tools, but for a moment, it felt like the world had narrowed down to just the two of you.

Daniela didn’t move to leave immediately after her confession. Her heels stayed planted, arms loosely folded, her sunglasses dangling in her hand like an afterthought. The usual tension was still there — the instinct to retreat, to armor up — but she didn’t act on it.

You noticed. Of course, you noticed.

“Still here,” you said casually, wiping your hands with a rag.

Her gaze flicked toward you, and she forced a tight-lipped smile. “I… don’t know why.”

“Maybe you like it here,” you teased lightly, raising an eyebrow.

“Ridiculous,” she muttered, but her voice lacked conviction. The hint of a blush on her cheeks betrayed her.

You leaned against the hood, letting silence stretch between you — not awkward, not tense, just present. She shifted slightly, finally letting her arms drop to her sides.

“Why aren’t you…” she started, hesitated, then said the words she hadn’t meant to say aloud: “Why aren’t you afraid of me?”

You chuckled softly. “Because I don’t need to be. I’ve got my own world, my own rules. Doesn’t matter what your name is or how many zeros are in your bank account.”

She blinked, struck by the simplicity and honesty of it. For a long moment, neither of you spoke, just standing there in the fading light, the grease-scented air mingling with the faint trace of her perfume.

“You make it sound so easy,” she finally whispered, softer than she’d ever admit in public.

You tilted your head, studying her. “It’s not easy. It’s just… simpler than pretending to be something I’m not.”

Daniela’s lips parted, and for the first time in days, she didn’t have a comeback ready. She just let herself be — standing there, exposed, and strangely comfortable.

“You’re different,” she said finally, almost to herself.

“And you’re… not what you pretend to be,” you replied gently, smirk tugging at your lips.

Her gaze softened, just for a heartbeat. Then, with a small, almost reluctant nod, she straightened. “I should go.”

“Tomorrow?” you asked casually, though the hope in your tone wasn’t hidden.

Her lips curved faintly, a small, almost shy smile. “Maybe.”

And for the first time, Daniela Avanzini left the dealership with a thought she didn’t expect: she wanted to come back.

@blosmie

[futureheartstour]

Shes so gorjous or whatever it hurts 💔💔💔

[futureheartstour]

The sophia fic that reminds me of my ex 💔💔 lwk not even that bad. It was shitty in 2021 and i was at my lowest that year but its all good now 💜💜 (i think) i still have more to write

[futureheartstour]

Yes please 🙏🏼

「 In Need 」

single mom ! l. sophia x g ! p reader ✎�� sophia always said her daughter was all she needed. but when she meets you—first, it was just sweet and harmless, until spending more time together left her realizing she needs you more than she thinks.

word count ! 11.8 k

tags ! mentions of substance abuse, g!p dom! top! reader, sub! bottom! sophia, single mom! sophia, fingering (s! receiving), oral (r! & s! receiving), penetration (s! receiving), sophia has a toxic baby daddy but they aren't together

author's note ! first time writing something like this. dont like it, dont read it, thx!

Sophia Laforteza’s life feels something along the lines of… winning the lottery.

Moving to the States was supposed to be her ticket to freedom—a life of her own, far from the shadow of her parents. But the moment she stepped off the plane, standing on U.S. soil, and got into the tiny studio apartment she’d bought online with her savings, reality hit her like a truck. Freedom and independence came with the baggage of rent, bills, odd silence, and many trials and tribulations.

Her first year of college passed with the chaos of cheap liquor, crowded parties, annoying boys, and stressful all-nighters before midterms. By the second year, she figured the party life had to end for the better—trying for better grades, student programs, and connections she’d possibly use once she graduated. Afterward, summers for Sophia didn’t mean vacation or a break; they meant internships in large office buildings, hustling for acknowledgment in places with grueling work hours.

Piece by piece, she was building a perfect future for herself. One that could stand on her own without struggle… but one crazy night destroys all of it.

Spring break of her fourth year—after a week of nonstop exams, she figured she deserved a break. If anyone were a sane person, everyone on campus would need it. So, she let herself give in to the temptation, the music, the feeling of alcohol that added pressure to her chest. 

Alcohol, drugs, weed, all of it was there. But Sophia didn’t need all that, only needing a few drinks to feel a buzz, but even that wasn’t her worst decision of the night. She could’ve danced on top of tables, or even done a flip into the pool, and she probably would’ve preferred that, in the moment.

By her third drink, she ran into him. The same guy she’d been on and off with throughout her first couple of college years. One conversation into another, one simple touch on his arm became a kiss.

And when she woke the next morning, with her pounding headache, bare body, and his arm lying beneath her neck like a pillow, Sophia quickly freaked out.

It scared her not knowing everything that happened that night. She dressed up frantically and rushed out the door, leading her to sit in the driver’s seat of her car, gripping her hair in despair as she leaned on the steering wheel.

There would be days when she did her best to get her mind off it all, studying really hard, meeting up with friends when she had the time, or even having solo movie nights on her free days. It wasn’t difficult to clear her mind as she hadn’t seen that guy since that night.

That was until Sophia finally realized she had been late by four days, to be exact.

She had never been one to track her monthly with the use of menstrual apps, so maybe—just maybe—it was a little mistake in time. But when it didn’t come in the next three days, that’s when real panic began settling in.

Every time Sophia ran into him on campus—those mornings when her stomach would churn and force her to stop mid-sentence—he’d attempt small talk, pretending nothing had changed. 

It only confirmed what she already knew.

He was reckless, childish, more interested in the haywire nature of college than in the thought of responsibilities. And yet, for all his flaws, he wasn’t a bad guy.

It was that one night she bumped into him buying coffee at a local cafe, craving some chocolate cupcakes. Even if she was hesitant in telling him, she knew he deserved to know. So Sophia sat him down, and he was sipping his coffee while she stared at the small cake in front of her. His reaction wasn’t what she expected, showing that he wanted to be involved. Clearly, not as a partner, but as someone who cared especially in matters like this. 

That was enough for Sophia to allow. Timing even seemed perfect, as graduation was on the horizon, and she would at least be able to go through the pregnancy without judgment.

She wasn’t even sure if she could get a job immediately, especially with this baby on the way, as she would need to take maternity leave soon if she didn’t think it through. So instead of worrying so much and possibly affecting her body and baby’s health, Sophia thought to tell her parents.

At first, they were angry. Carla and Godfrey expected more from their only daughter, but they couldn’t stay mad for long, deciding to go visit her in the States so they could help their daughter in her time of need. Well, only Godfrey, as her mom was going to stay due to their family and the house.

He stayed with her, cooking her favorite foods, cleaning, going shopping with her, and more. She teared up at the thought of him helping, knowing her dad wouldn’t fail her in such a hard time.

Sophia had even juggled other options, but she was also the kind of person who believed everything happens for a reason. So if the world was going to give this gift to her, she was willing to accept it.

So by December, her daughter finally arrived. A small, perfect baby girl with dark, curious eyes that refused to stay shut for long, fluttering and crying. The perfect carbon copy of Sophia, with the father’s green eyes.

She named her Angela, then made sure her daughter carried her own surname.

With the birth of Angela, the days went by in a blur. Sophia never expected to be thrown into the motherly position so fast, but she managed and did it very well. At first, the life of a mother with a newborn felt exhausting—feeding at random times, smelly diaper changes, and late-night cries that made would have Sophia desperate for her father's help in the mornings. 

He was the one who made it all possible for Sophia to live her life. Stepping into the role of caretaker for both, holding down the fort at her much larger home with Angela, one Sophia’s parents decided to buy for her. He rocked Angela to sleep, learned which lullabies soothed her best, and was honestly the best grandfather anyone could ask for. It wasn’t what Sophia had imagined for the independent life she wanted, but it was a start after everything that happened.

The plan was never for him to stay forever, knowing her dad still had to return home. He said it often, during deep conversations at dinner time, reminding himself as much as her. “Once you’re ready, Fia. Once you and Angela don’t need me here every day, I’ll head back.”

By the time Angela turned one, Sophia finally felt like she could stand on her own again. 

That’s when Godfrey eventually packed his bags and traveled home. He kissed his daughter goodbye and promised to call often. Angela was now toddling around the home, speaking in fragments of words and babbles that only Sophia could fully understand.

With her dad gone, Sophia took the next step. She enrolled Angela in a daycare nearby, the same one Godfrey had found months earlier, tucked on a quiet street just a ten-minute walk from their house. A cheerful building with wide windows, painted murals of trees and animals, and teachers who seemed genuinely patient with children. 

The relief Sophia felt when she left Angela there for the first time was heavier than she expected—it was a mix of relief and guilt. She’d never wanted to be the kind of mother who handed her child to strangers, especially when it was a common occurrence for family members to take care of kids. She almost spiraled that day, even almost pulling Angela out of daycare, but when she picked her daughter up that afternoon and saw her running toward her with a colorful paper with visible marker scribbles and a wide smile, she realized this wouldn’t be so bad.

Winter came again, and unlike people who hated the cold, Sophia only thought about celebrations. There would be Christmas, her own birthday, and Angela’s birthday. Of course, all the focus was on her baby, though, with cake, a few close friends from daycare, and balloons galore in the large home.

Sophia also had to keep the momentum of life going, this time, with the help of an eighteen-year-old named Hayley. A freshman in college, taking on babysitting jobs for extra money. She was the one who helped Sophia bridge the gaps when daycare hours didn’t line up with her work schedule. 

Hayley picks Angela up after daycare, walks her home, feeds her, changes her, and keeps her occupied until Sophia returns from the office. Cameras were set up around the place as well, not because she didn’t trust Kayla, but because she couldn’t afford not to be cautious. Still, watching the footage most nights became unnecessary as Hayley handled everything with ease.

When Hayley’s winter break ended and the semester began, the routine had to change around, since she was only able to commit to Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. That left Sophia scrambling for a proper babysitter. 

She couldn’t risk leaving Angela without care, but her job couldn’t just disappear either, and Angela’s father works every single day due to having three jobs. After a week of rearranging and biting the inside of her cheek from stress, she explained everything to her boss. It was a nerve-racking conversation, but she proposed to work from home on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays—he approved of it quickly.

The adjustment wasn’t bad, but nor was it super smooth. Working from home meant people could hear Angela’s voice during Zoom calls, or Sophia muting herself while holding her child in one arm and typing with the other. But slowly, she found a way to manage.

During late January, the cold breeze circled through the air. Sophia took her lunch break, so while driving, she ate some lunch while picking up her daughter. Coming out of the car, bundled in her coat, hair tucked under a cute beanie to warm up her ears. It would usually be a quick pick up, with Angela hugging her as soon as she got out of the building.

But that day, she paused outside the wide front window that smelled like fresh window cleaner. Inside, Angela was already standing near the cubbies, her tiny backpack dangling off her shoulders. 

And standing behind her was an unfamiliar face, a large smile painted on… You.

Sophia didn’t know who you were, having only met one teacher from the daycare. But she watched as Angela tackled your legs, wrapping her arms around you with the kind of enthusiasm like you had just given her a toy she liked. You crouched down to her level, smiling wide as her daughter kissed your cheek in that sloppy, toddler way that left behind a faint sheen. The grin you gave her in return looked friendly, with your eyes twinkling.

Through the glass, Sophia just kept watching. Angela giggled against you, clutching the toy as you gave her a warm hug.

When Angela saw her through the window, Angela ran out and gave Sophia a smile with a tight squeeze around her mom’s shoulders. Not only did you seem to treat her daughter so well… but you were also gorgeous.

Sophia wasn’t even sure if she was staring at Angela’s interaction with you or just you.

On the drive home, Sophia asked her daughter, “Angel?” Her daughter perched up, her puppy eyes seen through the rear-view mirror. “Who is that teacher of yours that you were hugging?”

“That’s Miss L/N!”

“Is she nice to you?”

“Yeah! She helps me with my drawings, gives me the good snacks, and even gives me stickers,” she giggles while talking about you. Sophia is affected by the contagious fits of giggles, giving her child a cheesing grin.

“That’s good then… is Miss L/n your favorite?”

“The bestest favorite!”

“Bestest favorite?” Sophia chuckled at her daughter’s grammar. “Yeah!”

Since then, every time Sophia picks up her daughter, she has observed you every single moment. The way you gave every single child would high five, how her daughter always hugged you instead, the way you made Angela gleam with quick words.

It made Sophia wonder why you were so special to her daughter

An email came on a Thursday afternoon, while Sophia’s at her desk, halfway through a spreadsheet that’s been giving her more trouble than expected, when the notification pinged in the corner of her screen. She almost ignored it—her inbox usually cluttered with office updates and the occasional advertisement she swore she never subscribed to—but the subject line caught her eye.

Bring Your Parent to Work Day – Ms. Laforteza & Angela

At first, she skimmed it without thinking, since the daycare always put together little events. She appreciated the effort, but rarely found herself having the time to go to any of them. Between her actual job, synchronous part of the job, and the time she tries to reserve for Angela, Sophia didn’t have the kind of energy left to do anything else honestly. 

The thought of standing in front of a classroom of toddlers, explaining what she did, didn’t exactly spark excitement.

She leaned back in her chair, and the sound of Angela humming in the living room could be heard through the open office door. Her daughter was sprawled on the floor with crayons and a coloring book, humming to herself as she filled in the outlines of a mermaid with streaks of pink and orange mixing in.

Sophia exhaled slowly and returned her focus to her work. Denying any idea of going to Angel’s daycare… well, she tried to at least. Because the following week, Angela comes bursting into her home office with wide eyes, Sophia realized she wasn’t getting out of it so easily with the look her daughter gave her.

“Mommy!” she said, dragging out the word in that singsong, climbing into Sophia’s lap before Sophia could stop her, tiny legs kicking against the chair.

“What’s up, Angel?” Sophia asked, brushing her daughter’s hair out of her face.

“Ms. L/n said next week is ‘Bring Your Parent to Work Day,’” Angela explained breathlessly,not knowing her mom knew all about it. “And—and everyone’s gonna have their moms or dads there. But if you don’t come, then I’ll be the only one without my mom!”

Sophia blinked, caught off guard by the sudden panic in her daughter’s tone. “Angel, it’s okay if we don’t go—”

“No! No, Mommy, please.” Angela’s little hands grabbed fistfuls of Sophia’s shirt, her big brown eyes shimmering with earnestness. 

“I want you to come. Please? Everyone’s gonna show what their parents do, and I wanna show you all my friends.” The words caught Sophia off guard. Just staring at her daughter—the messy ponytail, the marker smudge on her cheek, the stubbornness written across her face.

Sophia thought of all the times she’d worried she wasn’t doing enough—that working long hours meant she was missing out on moments that mattered, that Angel would grow up resenting her for not being more present. And now here was her little girl, practically begging her to show up, to let her be the one with her mom in the classroom.

These little things would make sure she can be the mom Angel deserves.

Sophia sighed, “Alright, Angel. I’ll come.”

Angela squealed, throwing her arms around Sophia’s neck so tightly it nearly knocked the wind out of her. “Thank you, Mommy! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

And just like that, Sophia found herself at the daycare building a week later. The lobby felt a bit chaotic with parents filing in behind their children, small hands tugging eagerly at bigger ones. Angela was dressed in her favorite dress with red sparkles, her wavy hair tied back with a butterfly clip. She held Sophia’s hand tightly, practically dragging her toward the classroom.

Sophia had dressed simply in some black trousers, a fitted cream blouse tucked neatly into the waistband, and her hair tied into a low ponytail. She felt slightly out of place among the other parents, who wore fancy suits, dresses, scrubs, and even lab coats. 

Inside the classroom, the atmosphere was lively with posters lining the walls, artwork hung which was clearly made by children, and bins of toys sat neatly stacked in the corners. The children scattered toward their cubbies to put away their shoes, buzzing with excitement, while the parents lingered behind their kids.

That was when Sophia saw you standing at the front of the room, greeting the children first, giving that charming smile, and high fives. You looked professional, but approachable. With dark brown slacks that seemed freshly ironed, a forest green fitted vest over your collared shirt perfectly tailored, and your hair swept back into a claw clip.

“Alright, guys, let’s settle down!” you called, your voice carrying just enough authority to catch the children’s attention without sounding harsh. “We’re going to start in just a minute. Please take your seats.”

Beside you stood a younger woman—Fara Jones, the teaching assistant, whom the children called Ms. Jones. She helped guide the kids to the carpet; her gentle demeanor had all of them following with no issue.

When the room finally went quiet enough with a few murmurs amongst the kids, you turned to face the parents to introduce yourself.

“Good morning, everyone,” you began, “Thank you all for coming to our Bring Your Parent to Work Day. For those who may not know me, my name is Ms. L/n, and over there is Ms. Jones, whom many of your children know very well. Today you’ll just talk to the class about your jobs, keeping it child-friendly and understandable, of course. Then answer about three to four questions each since we have many parents to get through.”

Sophia found herself studying you more closely than she anticipated.

The way you spoke, each word clear and deliberate as you smiled often—at the parents, at the children who still fidgeted on the carpet, even at the awkward silence that followed someone’s misplaced question. You used your hands when you talked, emphasizing certain rules applied to everyone, even the parents. 

Whenever someone said something that didn’t quite make sense, Sophia noticed the tiny habit you had of licking the corner of your lips before responding—seemingly holding back any sarcastic bone you had in your body.

You explained the schedule for the entire day—each parent would have a chance to introduce themselves, share a little about their work, and answer a few questions from the children. The day would be shorter than usual, and parents could take their children home afterward if they wanted.

Simple enough.

Sophia nodded along, but her attention was less on your words and more on the way you carried yourself. There was a composure about you that made the room feel lighter. You seemed at ease with the chaos of it all—the restless children, the anxious parents, the tight-knit schedule.

And though she tried not to dwell on the thought, Sophia couldn’t help but notice how put-together you looked. 

Sophia’s gaze flicked down for a moment, catching herself, and she shifted in her seat. She wasn’t here to get distracted by some hot woman. This was her daughter and that’s that.

Still, she found curiosity tugging at the corners of her mind, somewhat eating up in her head.

And when you looked up briefly, scanning the room of parents, Sophia felt a spark of warmth. This look in your eyes… You gave the impression of being such a kind soul, and Sophia feels it.

The introductions began with a man in a gray suit whose daughter sat in the front row. He cleared his throat nervously before explaining that he worked as a lawyer, but quickly shifted gears when you prompted him to describe it in simpler terms.

“So, um… I help people solve problems when they don’t agree about something really important,” he said, casting a quick glance at his daughter. “Kind of like when someone doesn’t share their toy, and we need to figure out what’s fair.”

The children nodded in unison, a few giggling at the toy reference. You offered him a small nod of encouragement before moving on.

Next came a woman in scrubs, her hair pulled into a messy bun. She introduced herself as a nurse, explaining that she helped take care of people when they were sick or hurt. She even pulled tiny packs of colorful bandages from her bag to show the kids, handing them out and giving a ‘child-friendly’ explanation on when they should be used properly, just to keep the kids interested in her presentation.

Sophia smiled faintly, watching as Angela leaned forward on her knees, eager to participate.

Parent after parent followed—teachers, mechanics, office workers—each giving their own version of a kid-friendly explanation. Some used props, others relied on metaphors. The children responded with enthusiasm, clapping, gasping, or asking questions that sometimes made the adults laugh nervously.

It was then Sophia’s turn.

She rose from her seat slowly, smoothing her blouse as she stepped forward. Angela’s face lit up instantly, her small hands clapping together as she bounced in place.

“Hi, everyone,” Sophia began, her voice steady though her palms felt warm. “My name is Sophia, and I’m Angela’s mom.”

Angela grinned proudly, turning to her classmates as if to say, ‘See? That’s my mom.’

“I work as a data analyst,” Sophia continued, glancing briefly at you before focusing on the children. “That means I work with numbers—lots and lots of numbers—to help people understand things better.”

A few kids tilted their heads in confusion.

Sophia smiled lightly, adjusting her approach. “Think of it this way: if you had a big box of crayons with every color in the world, and they were all mixed up, my job would be to help sort them. I’d figure out which ones go together, which ones people use the most, and maybe even which colors we need more of. That way, everyone who wants to use the crayons knows exactly what they have.”

The children whispered among themselves, some nodding, others whispering about their favorite colors.

Angela’s hand shot up eagerly.

“Yes, Angel?” Sophia asked, her chest tightening slightly at the sight of her daughter’s proud little face.

“My mommy is really smart,” Angela announced to the room, her voice full of conviction. “She makes numbers make sense for everybody.”

The other kids giggled, but not in a way that made fun of her, it was like shared joy. Sophia felt her cheeks warm, her heart beating quickly at the sudden compliment of her daughter. She gave a small nod of thanks toward Angela before continuing.

“Sometimes I work in an office, and sometimes I get to work from home,” Sophia explained. “That way, I can spend more time with Angela while still doing my job.”

There were a few more questions—one child asking if she got to use a calculator all day, another wanting to know if she ever counted ‘a bajillion dollars.’ Sophia answered patiently, simplifying it when she could. Eventually, you stepped in with a gentle smile, signaling it was time to move on.

“Thank you, Ms. Laforteza,” you said warmly. “Those were wonderful explanations.”

Sophia caught the way your gaze stuck on her as she walked to the back of the room beside other parents before you turned back to the group. She shifted subtly in her seat when she returned to the back, unsure why the small detail stood out in her mind.

The rest of the morning then passed by quickly. More parents shared, the children’s energy spilled over despite your and Ms. Jones’s efforts to keep them seated, probably due to how long they had been seated. Eventually, snacks were handed out—juice boxes and crackers—while the parents mingled quietly near the back of the room.

Sophia stayed close to Angela, who chattered happily with her friends between bites. But her eyes wandered, drawn repeatedly toward you as you moved easily around the room. Checking on the kids and answering questions from parents, you were so used to doing it, moving around, and it looked like it didn’t even make you tired.

There was nothing extraordinary about what you did, and yet Sophia found herself watching with fascination. Something about the way you moved, the ease of your smile, the warmth in your voice attracted her.

And though she told herself to focus on Angela, Sophia couldn’t help the lingering thought that echoed quietly in the back of her mind.

She wanted to know more about you.

It was close to ten at night when the doorbell rang later that night. The two had gotten home earlier that day, after a lot of mingling with other students and their parents. Sophia wasn’t expecting anyone—just finishing folding the last of Angela’s clean clothes and was ready to head to bed. 

Angela was already tucked away in her room with her stuffed bunny pressed under her chin.

When Sophia opened the door, her heart sank.

“Eli?” she said flatly.

He stood on the front porch, eyes red and unfocused, leaning a little too much on the doorframe. His shirt was rumpled, spotted with something that looked like dried liquor, and his hair stuck to his forehead as if he had been sweating. The stench hit her first—cigarettes, alcohol, something she wasn’t even sure of. 

But it’s likely drugs.

“Hey, Soph,” he slurred, voice heavy with false warmth. “Can I… stay here tonight?”

Her grip on the door tightened. “It’s late, Eli. What are you even doing here?”

He tried to grin, though it landed closer to a grimace. “Just needed a place. Things… got outta hand.”

Sophia stepped into the doorway, keeping her body between him and the inside of her home. “What do you mean?”

He shrugged, eyes darting past her shoulder, trying to peek inside. “Party. Don’t worry about it. Just—come on, Soph. It’s me. I don’t have anywhere else right now.”

The old Sophia might’ve caved—she was a very giving person two years ago. But now she had a daughter asleep just a few feet away, and she could feel every maternal instinct in her to push him away.

“You can’t just show up like this. Angela can’t see you like this, Eli.”

Using their daughter seemed to spark something in him. His expression flickered, shifting from desperation to annoyance. “So what, you’re just gonna shut the door in my face? After everything? I’m still her dad.”

“Yes,” Sophia said evenly, trying to keep her voice low. “But being her dad doesn’t mean you get to walk in here drunk and high whenever you feel like it.”

His jaw clenched. “You think you’re perfect, don’t you? Raising her all on your own, acting like I don’t matter. Like I’m not part of this.”

Her patience cracked. “I gave you a chance, Eli! You said you would help, but here we are! You only come around when it’s convenient for you. She deserves better than that—I deserve better than that.”

Sophia raged, sweeping her baby hairs back as she heard shuffling behind her. Turning around, she saw movement from the sight, at the corner of the beginning of the hallway.

Angela, standing at the beginning of the hall with her head peaking from the corner, bunny clutched against her chest. Her small face was blotchy, eyes glistening with tears she was trying so hard to hold back. 

Sophia’s throat went dry, knowing her daughter had never seen this—never seen Eli like this. Sophia had always made sure of it, painting him as the fun, silly dad who loved her dearly, even if he wasn’t around much. 

Because even without his presence, she could tell there was some care for their child.

She had worked tirelessly to protect Angela from the truth, thinking she could shoulder that burden alone.

But now the truth was standing at their front door, reeking of alcohol and shouting. And Angela was old enough to understand.

Sophia’s voice faltered, then softened. “Go back to bed, Angel,” she said gently, forcing her tone into something soothing. “Mommy’s got it.”

But Angela’s lip trembled, and the tears spilled over anyway. She buried her face into her bunny, trying to muffle the sound.

Sophia’s chest ache, turning back to Eli, anger surging again but now sharpened into something colder, more decisive. “Leave. Right now.”

He opened his mouth, maybe to argue, but she cut him off. “You’re scaring her. Go away.”

For a moment, he just stood there, swaying slightly, eyes darting between Sophia and the little girl behind her. Then, with a huff, he muttered something under his breath and stumbled back into the hallway. Sophia slammed the door shut before he could say another word.

Sophia leaned her forehead against the door, letting out a shaky breath, before turning to her daughter. Angela was still standing there, shoulders trembling, little fingers gripping her bunny so tightly the seams stretched a bit.

“Oh, Angel,” Sophia whispered, kneeling down to her level.

Angela rushes into her arms, sobbing into her shoulder. Sophia wrapped her close, rocking her gently, shushing her even as her own eyes burned.

“I’m sorry you saw that,” Sophia murmured into her hair. “I didn’t want you to. He… he has problems, Angel. Problems that have nothing to do with you.”

Angela sniffled, voice muffled against Sophia’s shirt. “W-Why… why was he like that?”

Sophia kissed the crown of her head. “Because he’s not making good choices right now. But listen to me—he does love you. And I love you enough for both of us, okay? Always.”

Angela clung tighter, as if testing those words, making sure they would hold. Sophia let her, rocking her until the sobs softened into hiccups.

They spent the rest of the night curled up together in Sophia’s bed, Angela tucked against her side, bunny wedged safely between them. Sophia kept a hand on her back, rubbing circles until she finally drifted to sleep.

And even as the large home turned quiet again, Sophia lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Her mind replayed the evening over and over, the look on Angela’s face hurting her heart as the image played over and over again.

She had always wanted to shield her daughter from the ugliest parts of Eli. But maybe the truth was something she couldn’t protect her from forever.

All she could do now was make sure Angela always felt safe, always felt loved, and never had to question who she could rely on.

The next couple of days carried on with Sophia waking early to prep her daughter’s food, dropping Angela off, juggling deadlines at the office, and then coming home exhausted. Things were becoming too chaotic after that night, so there were times when the Filipina couldn’t eat dinner, just crashing into bed after putting Angela to sleep.

It was three days after the fight with Angela’s father, and Sophia was in the office building this time, with a few meetings and a bunch of numbers and paperwork being worked on. Her monitor glowed with emails when her phone buzzed against the desk, the daycare name flashing across the screen.

“Hello?” she answered, tucking the receiver against her ear, as her shoulder shrugged up to hold up the phone.

“Good evening, Sophia. It’s me, Y/n,” you said, your voice calm. “Nothing urgent, don’t worry. I just… I’d like to talk to you about Angela, if you have time.”

Her chest tightened. “Is she okay?”

“She’s fine. It’s not an emergency. I’d just rather explain in person.”

Sophia let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “Alright. I’m picking her up tomorrow, so we can talk then.”

“That works. Thanks,” you said softly.

The line clicked dead, leaving Sophia staring at her monitor with her pulse quickening, as she had never gotten a call like that before. Usually, Angela’s teachers called if she’d caught a cold, forgotten her lunch, or needed new crayons. But this—this tone, this vague “let’s talk”—gnawed at her.

The next afternoon, Sophia arrived at the center, Angela’s jacket folded over her arm. You greeted her at the door with a small, tired smile that didn’t reach your eyes.

“Hey,” you said. “Come in, please.”

Sophia stepped inside, the warmth of the building replacing the chill of the wind clinging to her coat. Angela was in the playroom, building a lopsided tower with another child. Fara glanced up from the corner, giving Sophia a smile before quietly leading her own kid into the nearby room.

You motioned toward your office, and Sophia followed, closing the door gently behind her.

She noticed the way you hesitated before sitting, your fingers tapping against the armrest for a moment before you spoke.

“I’ve been a little concerned about Angela,” you began carefully. “It’s nothing alarming, but there have been some changes to her.”

Sophia leaned forward, her throat tightening. “What kind of changes?”

You shifted in your chair. “She barely eats lunch. Sometimes she picks at it, but most of the time she pushes it around until we clear the plates. She’s also been lashing out a bit during playtime. Not every day, but it’s definitely enough to notice. And there’ve been comments—things she says to other kids that come off a little… rude.”

Sophia blinked, caught between worry and confusion. “Since when?”

“Since Monday,” you said gently. “That’s when it started.”

Her stomach dropped, a sigh escaping her lips. She already knew the answer. Monday was the morning after Eli had shown up.

Sophia exhaled slowly, pressing her hand against her temple. “That makes sense,” she murmured. “Her father… he came by Sunday night. It wasn’t good—she saw more than she should have.”

Your expression softened. “That would make sense, then. I’m sorry you’re both dealing with that.”

Sophia nodded, her jaw tight. “She’s never had to see him like that. But she figured it out, maybe even more than I think.”

“Kids do,” you agreed quietly. “And this reaction—I’d say it’s pretty normal after what she heard. She’s just trying to process it all.”

Sophia looked up at you, her eyes heavy. “What do you suggest?”

You thought for a moment before answering. “Sometimes, when kids feel unsettled, it helps to have something familiar with them. A toy, or an item from home. Something that gives comfort when they’re unsure.”

Sophia tilted her head, considering. “She does have one thing. A stuffed bunny—she calls it Ms. Hopper. She’s had it since she turned one. It’s almost as big as she is.”

A faint smile tugged at your lips. “That sounds perfect. If she has Ms. Hopper with her, maybe it’ll give her a sense of security when she’s here. At least until she feels steadier.”

Sophia felt the tightness in her chest ease just a little. “Thank you. I appreciate you allowing that.”

“Of course,” you said. “Whatever helps.”

For a moment, the office fell quiet, the muffled sound of children’s laughter carrying in from the other room. Then Sophia stood, her chair scraping lightly against the floor.

Before she could think twice, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around you in a grateful hug. You hesitated only a second before returning it, though she noticed—strangely—that your legs stayed a fraction further back than your upper body, as if you kept a sliver of distance even within the closeness.

Sophia felt it but didn’t comment, releasing you after a breath. “Thank you,” she said again, her voice lower, steadier. “For noticing and caring about her.”

You gave her a small smile. “It’s my job,” you replied. But the look in your eyes, tired and sincere, said more than that.

When Sophia went to collect Angela a few minutes later, the little girl ran into her mother’s arms, clinging tightly. Sophia held her close, already deciding that Ms. Hopper would be washed, packed, and ready for tomorrow morning.

Thankfully, it all worked out, and since then, Angela has been happy in school again. Everything went back to normal until the kids' summer break.

The daycare had pretty much emptied out, the building left with some furniture, files, and office supplies, but the rest had been cleaned out. Angela adjusted well—her appetite had gone back to normal, her moods brighter. Sophia noticed the difference most at bedtime. 

Angela had crawled into her lap one evening and whispered that she didn’t like the way her dad looked at her, and Sophia finally pieced everything together. The talk helped, Sophia being honest with her. Her dad didn’t have to be a villain in her eyes, but he isn’t a great man in the Filipina’s life. Angela wasn’t all smiles overnight, but being honest let the anger Angela felt, die down.

Now it was Thursday afternoon, and just as Sophia opened the door, Angela walked in sulking. Her voice was now whiny as she sat cross-legged on the living room rug, arms crossed, face scrunched.

 “I forgot, Ms. Hopper,” she mumbled, burying her head into her knees, curling up like a ball.

Sophia barely looked up from her glass of water. “Sweetheart, it’s alright. You’ve got plenty of other toys here.”

“But it’s not the same,” Angela dragged out the words, lower lip quivering.

“You’ll be fine without her for a little while,” Sophia said, more firmly this time, and then turned her attention back to folding laundry that she paused to pick up the child. It would be good for Angela not to cling so tightly, just to get used to the toy not being around because it may become an issue in the future.

But the answer she gave was one the girl didn’t want to hear. Angela’s face crumpled, and before Sophia could add anything to fix the mistake, the tears spilled fast and loud. A sob rippled from her daughter’s tiny body.

Sophia dropped the shirt in her hands, rushing to kneel by her daughter. “Angela, hey—hey, baby, it’s okay—”

Instead of feeling any comfort from her mom, Angela ran down the hallway to her room, and slammed the door, evidently locking it as well. Sophia tried calling the daycare—just in case—but the line clicked to voicemail before the first ring even finished.

By the time dinner hour rolled in, Sophia felt helpless. The house was silent except for the faint hiccupping sobs drifting from Angela’s bedroom. She cooked, more out of habit than hunger, stirring vegetables into a pan on autopilot. They still needed to eat, even if Angela didn’t want to.

Suddenly, mid-stir, the doorbell rang through the entire house. Sophia wiped her hands on a dish towel and opened the door, half-expecting a neighbor or something along those lines. 

Instead, she froze in place, hair flowing about from the wind the rushed in.

You stood there, not in your neat work attire but in something casual, sporting a fitted black t-shirt that sat against you just right, black sweatpants, sneakers clean but well-worn. Your hair was a little messier than the usual tidy bun, like you’d been in a hurry. Sophia thought you looked really good to the point where her knees buckled a bit.

But what really caught her eye was what you carried. Ms. Hopper, dangling gently in your arms, the oversized bunny nearly as tall as Angela herself.

“I figured someone might be missing this,” you said with a faint smile.

Sophia blinked, then broke into a breathy laugh of relief. “You’re a lifesaver. Seriously—thank you.” She stepped aside, gesturing you in without hesitation. “Come in. Please.”

The smell of dinner drifted through the entrance hallway as she led you inside. Sophia’s house was large, the kind of suburban spaciousness that echoed when too quiet. Hardwood floors polished smooth, wide hallways lined with framed pictures of Angela.

Sophia called down the hall, voice brightening. “Angela! Come here, honey. I’ve got a surprise for you.”

It took a moment, but then little footsteps padded out from her bedroom. Angela appeared, cheeks blotchy, eyes swollen and rimmed red. Her pajamas were a matching lilac set, wrinkled from her rolling in bed all day. She rubbed at her nose, looking half-tired, half-miserable—until she saw what you held.

Her eyes widened.

“Ms. Hopper!” she squealed, voice cracking with joy. She sprinted forward, nearly tripping over her own feet, and threw her arms around both you and the stuffed bunny. “Thank you! Thank you, thank yo,u thank you!”

You crouched down to meet her hug, patting her back gently. “I thought she’d want to spend summer break with you.”

Angela pulled away only to look up at you with watery, earnest eyes. “Are you gonna stay for dinner?”

You chuckled softly, shaking your head. “I don’t think that’s really—”

But Sophia’s voice cut in. “It’s the least I can do,” she said, her tone firm enough to settle it. She was already walking back toward the kitchen. “Come sit. I’ll get you a plate.”

You hesitated, but the smell of food and the expectant way Angela tugged at your hand made it too hard to say no.

At the dining table, you sat across from Sophia and Angela. The table was large, polished marble, clearly made for more guests than just two of them. Sophia set down a plate for you—a sour soup with rice—and poured a glass of water to go with it.

She had explained it was a dish called Sinigang from her culture, both her and Angela favoring it.

As you began eating, Angela clutched Ms. Hopper to her side, chattering happily in between bites. The child’s eyes would twinkle as she looked at you, her pitch always bubbling with excitement.

Sophia watched the scene and after a while, she asked casually, “So—how did you even find our place?”

You set your fork down lightly. “When I saw the toy left behind, I checked Angela’s emergency card at the daycare. It had the address listed. I figured it was important enough to make the trip.”

Sophia tilted her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Smart thinking.”

Dinner went on quietly until Angela finished eating and scampered off with Ms. Hopper, giggling to herself as she disappeared down the hallway. The sound of her door clicking shut followed.

Sophia leaned back in her chair, then stood, crossing to the counter where a dark bottle of wine sat. She picked it up, uncorking it with ease. “I usually save this for the weekend, but I think I’ll need it after the day I’ve had,” she said, almost offhandedly. She reached for two glasses, then looked over at you. “Want some?”

You hesitated, your hands folded neatly on the table. “I probably shouldn’t—”

“Oh, come on.” Sophia’s voice softened, almost coaxing. “It’s summer break for you, too, isn’t it? No little ones to keep track of for the next couple of months. Just one glass.”

Her smile was enough to pursuade you, causing you to nod slowly. “Alright. Just one.”

She pours the wine, glinting deep red under the dining room light, then brought the glass to you before taking her own seat again.

The two of you lingered at the table after dinner, wine glasses only half-full now, the bottle resting between you. Sophia leaned on her arm, chin resting against her palm as she studied you while you spoke. She didn’t try to hide it this time—the way her eyes followed the curve of your mouth, or how she tilted her head every time you shifted in your chair.

You talked about small things first, trying to ease up the conversation with Angela’s little habits at the center, the way she liked to hum to herself when she colored, or how she insisted that Ms. Hopper always had a seat at the snack table. Sophia smiled so warmly at that, the kind of smile that softened her entire face.

“She really does love that bunny,” she said, shaking her head with a quiet laugh. “I swear, if I could get away with buckling it into the car seat next to her, she’d ask me to.”

“Maybe you should,” you teased, swirling the wine in your glass. “Would probably make her feel safer. Sometimes that’s all kids need.”

Sophia’s eyes flickered up to you, lingering just a little too long. “You always talk like that,” she murmured, half to herself. “Like you’ve already lived three lives and you’ve seen it all.”

You chuckled, shrugging. “I’ve always had a habit of speaking proper, sometimes a bit of a know it all. My dad raised me to be that way honestly—also wanted to be a college professor and still actively pursing that so that’s also another reason why.”

Her lips parted slightly, and for a second, you thought she might say something back, but instead, she reached for her glass again. Her voice was softer now. “You’re comforting, y’ know that?”

Before you could answer, the doorbell cut you off. Sophia looks visibly startled, then pushed back her chair. “That’s odd—excuse me for a second.” She moved quickly, smoothing her pajama pants as she moved through the hallway.

You stayed put at first, only half-listening, until Sophia’s sharp voice snapped through the closed door.

“—No, you can’t come inside again! We’ve talked about this!”

A man’s muffled voice slurred something in reply, too garbled to catch, followed by the sound of a heavy thud against the doorframe. That was enough to pull you to your feet and rush over to the front of the house.

By the time you rounded the corner, Sophia was pressed against the door, trying to hold it closed as a man pushed from the other side. His words were incoherent, his movements jerky, and even being quite far away, you could smell how much the man reeked of something you were unfamiliar with.

“Get out of here,” Sophia hissed, her voice trembling with anger.

The man shoved harder, forcing his way half inside, and that’s when you stepped forward. You didn’t even think about any of it, just going for it—moving Sophia out of the way smoothly, your hand gripping his shoulder, pushing him back with a force that surprised even you. He stumbled, wild-eyed and unsteady, clearly under the influence of more than just alcohol.

“Who the hell—” he slurred, lunging toward you with a clumsy swing. It barely connected, more of a graze against your chin, and you responded with a firm shove to his chest once more. He went sprawling onto the porch, arms flailing.

You stood in the doorway, blocking him from Sophia. “Leave. Now. Before I call the cops and make sure you stay there for a long time.”

The man glared up at you, his words devolving into curses that no one could make out. He wobbled, unbalanced, then staggered off the porch into the darkness, muttering under his breath.

You shut the door firmly, locking it before turning back. Sophia’s face was pale, her hands trembling slightly as she pressed them against her chest.

“Are you okay?” you asked, voice gentler now.

She nodded quickly, though her breath still shook. “Y-Yeah. I just… he’s never been that bad before.” Her eyes flicked up to yours. “Thank you, f-for stepping in.”

“It’s nothing,” you said simply, though the adrenaline in your chest told you it wasn’t nothing at all. “But if he tries again, don’t hesitate. Call the police, every time. People like that… they get too many chances.”

Sophia swallowed hard, nodding again.

Angela’s small voice carried faintly from down the hall. “Mommy?”

Sophia exhaled, closing her eyes for a moment before moving toward her daughter’s room. You stayed in the living room, giving her space, listening as her voice softened behind the cracked door.

“It’s okay, baby. Just a noise, nothing to worry about. Mommy’s here.”

There was a pause, followed by the rustle of blankets. Sophia’s voice dipped even lower, a comforting hum that eventually melted into silence. You pictured her tucking Angela in, brushing the little girl’s hair back from her face, whispering reassurance until sleep took over.

When she returned, her steps were quieter, almost hesitant. You had sunk into the couch by then, legs stretched, the television flickering in the background, though you hadn’t paid attention to a single thing.

Sophia paused in the doorway, watching you for a moment before moving closer. She sat beside you, close enough for her perfume to mix with the faint scent of wine between you. Her hand brushed against your leg.

You looked down, meeting her gaze. Her eyes were darker now, heavy-lidded, pupils wide. She traced the line of your jaw with perfectly manicured fingers, tilting your chin toward her.

“Do you ever stop being so calm?” she whispered, almost frustrated at her own confusion. 

You didn’t answer, well, you couldn’t with how she looked at you. Her large animated eyes has you feeling butterflies in your stomach as she bites her bottom lip.

Her lips crashed into yours before you could even think, soft at first but quickly coaxing you open, pulling you into her. The kiss grew hotter, deeper—her mouth moving with a hunger that stole your breath. She tasted faintly of the wine, her tongue teasing yours until you melted back against the couch.

The TV’s glow painted against the left side of her face, but you almost didn’t care—her hand brushed along your jaw, tilting your face as the upper half of her body is flushed on yours, while her other pressed against your thigh, fingers splaying. Heat coiled low in your stomach as you parted your legs, the space between you vanishing.

She trailed her hand higher, brushing against the hard line beneath your soft pants—the discovery stealing her breath.

“Oh my god,” she whispered, and then laughed softly, nervous but hungry. “You didn’t tell me you had this…”

Your hand closed around her wrist before she could move further, a firm but unhurried grip. “Careful, Sophia,” you said, voice low, carrying that weight of authority that seemed to make her want you even more.

Her lashes fluttered, a faint whimper catching in her throat. She didn’t pull away, if anything leaning closer.

You cupped the back of her neck, fingers threading through her hair, deepening the kiss. She melted, lips parted, letting you taste her, as your tongues rummage around. She sighed into it, a desperate little sound, and the tension that had been simmering since dinner cracked wide open.

Her hand slid up your chest, nails grazing lightly as though she needed to memorize the shape of you. Between kisses, she whispered against your mouth, breathless.

“You’re… so good at this.” Your hand trailed down her side, palm pressing firmly at her hip before tugging her closer until she straddled your lap. She gasped at the shift, pajama pants riding up, the thin cami straining against her chest as she feels your clothed cock pressing in between her legs.

“You listen well,” you murmured, lips ghosting her ear as your grip tightened on her waist. “If your anything like that, I’ll like you even more.”

Her whole body shivered at the praise. “I’ll listen—” she promised quickly, the words tumbling out between needy kisses down your jaw. “Just… don’t stop.”

Your mouth claimed hers again, rougher this time, making her whine softly. You guided her hips down against your lap, making her feel the full length of what had her so distracted earlier. She gasped into your mouth, clutching at your shirt.

“You’re—so big,” she breathed, the words trembling out, her forehead pressed against yours. Her lips brushed yours with every shaky sound. “Fuck, I… I need it. Need you.”

Your hand slid beneath the thin fabric of her cami, palm warm against the swell of her breast. Her skin was hot, soft, and she arched instinctively into your touch, a gasp breaking free before. Your fingers fiddling her hard nipples in between, Sophia moaning into you at the sensation. You traced the curve slowly, deliberately, until her body shivered under your hand. When you caught the delicate strap and tugged it off her shoulder, watching it slip down her arm in a lazy fall, she didn’t move to stop you—her chest only rose higher, aching for more.

“Say it again,” you murmured against her throat, lips brushing the line of her neck. Your voice was low. She quivered beneath you, her pulse racing against your lips.

“I need you,” she whimpered, obedient and aching, her thighs tightening around you. “Please.”

The words slipped from her so naturally that it drew a smile from you. You let your other hand drift up, cupping her jaw, forcing her to meet your eyes.

“Good girl,” you said, and the sound she made in response was pure desperation.

Her hand wandered slowly down the ridges of your chest, nails grazing just enough to leave your skin tingling, until her fingers wrapped around your hardened length again. A soft, breathy moan escaped her lips at the weight of you in her palm, her head tipping back as your mouth dragged along the line of her jaw.

“I want to see how big this is—” she whispered, the words breaking on a gasp as her grip tightened ever so slightly.

You leaned in close, lips brushing the shell of her ear in a teasing peck, your breath hot against her skin. “That’s what you wanted to find out, huh?” you murmured, a mix of mockery and promise. 

She nodded, unable to lie, still rubbing you as if she couldn’t stop. Her cheeks were pink, pupils wide, chest rising faster beneath the thin cami. You slid your hand over hers, slowing her motions, taking control of even this.

“Take these off,” you said, nodding to her pajama pants. Your tone left no room for argument, and she obeyed, shimmying them down her legs in one smooth motion until they pooled on the rug. She sat back down beside you in only her cami and a matching white thong that clung to her frame.

Her thighs pressed together instinctively, but you spread them apart with your hand, thumb stroking over the soft inside of her leg. 

“Good girl,” you murmured, watching the compliment ripple over her body. She bit her lip, squirming, unable to hide how much she liked hearing you say that.

Your mouth trailed down the curve of her neck, teeth grazing lightly until her whine broke the silence. “Please…” she whispered, her grip tightening around your wrist. She didn’t finish the plea before you hooked her thong aside, fingers slipping over the heat that pulsed between her thighs.

She was drenched, aching for you.

“Already this wet for me?” you murmured, letting one finger glide lazily through her folds, dragging the motion out until her whole body shivered.

Her head fell back, lashes fluttering, voice spilling out ragged and raw. “Y-you’re just—fuck—you’re unreal. The way you talk… like you already own me. Like—like I should just obey.”

“You should.” Your voice dropped, low and deliberate, as you sank a finger into her. The slow stretch had her gasping, lips parting, hips canting forward for more. “And you will.”

Her spine arched against the couch cushions as you pumped, slowly but merciless, curling your finger just enough to brush that hidden spot inside her. She jerked, toes curling, thighs trembling around your wrist as if they couldn’t decide whether to fight or pull you deeper. Already she looked wrecked, unraveling in your hands from the simplest touch, every breathy sound proof of how easily you could undo her.

“Tell me what you want,” you demanded, speeding up only when her hips started chasing you.

“I—I want you. All of you,” she gasped, voice breathy, pitched higher. Her hand gripped your shirt, nails dragging lightly. “Please, I can take it. I need you inside me.”

You pulled your hand back, leaving her empty just long enough for her to whimper at the loss. Then you stood, tugging your sweats and briefs down in one motion, letting her see the size of what she’d been begging for. Her lips parted again, this time in awe, fingers curling against the couch like she needed to steady herself.

“Oh my God…”

“Too much for you?” you asked, deliberately stroking yourself once, slow, just to watch her reaction.

“No,” she said quickly, shaking her head, eyes glued to you. Her voice sounding shocked as she shuffled down. “I want it.”

You watch as she falls to her knees, licking the tip of your cock, and she hears a low grumble from you. Her warm hands wrapped around your shaft, using her tongue to lick a long strip from the base of your cock.

“Fucking hell, Sophia,” your mumble, feeling her wet mouth swallowing your length. Her tongue swirls around, sucking as her cheeks sink in. The hollowing them as she tried taking all of it, no matter how large.

Sophia’s eyes tear up as she stares up at you, bobbling her head back and forth and the sight could make you cum instantly. She looked so sexy to you, it had you grabbing the back of her head, fucking her mouth without any warning.

Her hands plant on your hips, helping her breath in when needed as your length glistened with the coat of her saliva. You didn’t want to finish yet, letting her head go as her hand jerks you cock, the wetness helping her pace as she gave the head kitten licks and peck.

She stares as it leaks with precum and you groan, pulling her up to you. The kiss you give her is rough with her swollen lips, then sitting down.

You drew her onto your lap, guiding her to straddle you, her knees sinking into the cushions on either side. Her cami bunched up around her ribs, exposing the soft curve of her stomach, and your hands slid beneath the fabric—broad, palms gliding higher until you tugged it over her head. She lifted her arms without hesitation, surrendering it to you.

Now she sat before you in nothing but the thin strip of her thong, her chest bare, flushed skin rising and falling with every uneven breath. The sight alone made your pulse thrum, her body an offering aching for your touch.

You angled yourself against her, one hand anchored at her hip, the other guiding your cock to her wet cunt. The first press of your cock against her folds stole a gasp from her lips, her fingers tightening around your shoulders as you eased into her, filling her inch by inch until she trembled against you.

“Fuuuck…” she moaned, the sound caught between her teeth as her forehead dropped to yours, voice breaking despite her effort to keep it down. “You’re—fuck—you’re stretching me so good…”

Her whole body shook as you stuffed her, walls fluttering around you. She clung desperately to your shoulders, nails raking across your skin as muffled whines tumbled out with your name, every shaky compliment slipping free no matter how hard she tried to bite them back.

“Your… perfect,” she whispered against your jaw, breath ragged, lips brushing your skin. “So big… so deep… you’re everything.”

Your grip tightened on her ass, pulling her down harder onto you, tearing a strangled cry from her throat that she quickly smothered against your neck. “Ride me,” you ordered, voice a low rasp that left no room for disobedience.

She started messily, hips grinding, her rhythm broken as she tried to take you deeper each time. But your hands steadied her waist, guiding her up and down, showing her the pace until she got used to it, soft whimpers slipping past her lips in shaky gasps. Every roll of her hips grew needier, until she bit her lip raw trying to stay quiet.

“You’re mine tonight,” you growled, snapping your hips up into her, making her choke on a muffled scream.

Her nails dug harder, body pressing close as she nodded frantically. “Y-yes… yours,” she whimpered into your ear, breath hot, words breaking apart with every thrust. “Please—don’t stop—please—”

Her obedience, her bitten-back cries, her trembling body clinging to you—it all drove you harder, pounding into her until the room echoed with the slap of skin on skin and her stifled, desperate noises.

You thrust upward again, your hips meeting hers, and felt Sophia clamp down around you. “I’m—fuck—I’m gonna cum—”

She bit hard into her bottom lip, muffling the cry that threatened to spill out as her body shook against yours. Her hips snapped down, desperate to take you deeper, and you held her there, cock buried in her clutching walls as she trembled through the waves. Every pulse of her release milked you, her muffled whimpers breaking into your shoulder until the tremors slowly eased.

You wanted more—you weren’t finished. With a steady breath, you lifted her off your lap and eased her down beside you, shifting to press in from behind. But just as you aligned yourself, Sophia’s hand pressed firmly against your abdomen, halting you. Her eyes flicked back over her shoulder, cheeks flushed, lips still red from biting down—quiet, but telling you to wait.

“We can’t… not here,” she whispered, though the way she shifted against you made the words feel empty.

You didn’t have to ask what she meant. Angela was just down the hall, sleeping peacefully after Sophia tucked her in earlier. But Sophia wasn’t pulling away either. 

“There’s a guest room upstairs,” she whispered, almost like she was confessing it to herself. Before you could respond, her fingers wrapped around your wrist, tugging you along as she scooped up the bundle of clothes. Her bare feet skimmed across the floorboards, the faint creak swallowed by the rush of her steps toward the staircase.

The house was silent, and you trailed her, your gaze fixed. She clutched her thin white cami, champagne colored pajama pants and your sweatpants tight against her chest, moving quickly, like she might get caught if you guys went any slower.

By the time you slipped into the guest room, Sophia had already shut the door, the click of the latch sounding louder than it should in the stillness. She lingered there, back pressed to the wood, chest rising and falling in shallow bursts.

All traces of restraint slipped away, her hands flattening against your chest before fisting in your shirt, yanking you closer until your bodies crashed together. The kiss turned messy, desperate, her lips parting around a broken whimper as she clung tighter. Your hand trailed down the curve of her side, heat rising beneath your palm until you gripped her hip, your fingers digging in possessively. She gasped against your mouth, the sound sharp and needy, spurring you to hold her there, pressed flush against you with no space left between.

You eased her backward, step by step, until the backs of her knees caught the edge of the guest bed. A gentle push and she sank onto it, gazing up at you with wide, dazed eyes, lips parted, her breathing ragged—like she was waiting for permission she didn’t need to ask for.

“You’re… too good at this,” she whispered with a shaky laugh, though the way her thighs pressed together gave her away, betraying the ache between them. “Like you already know everything about me.”

Your smirk was answer enough as you leaned down, kissing her hard, your weight pressing her into the mattress. She melted instantly, hands cupping your face, fingers sliding into your hair, pulling you deeper with kisses that tasted both desperate and sweet.

When your palm slipped lower, past the hem of her cami to skim the soft line of her waist, she arched into your touch. A sharp, needy sound burst from her lips before she bit down to stifle it.

Her breath caught. “Please—fuck me,” she begged, the words breaking apart, raw and unguarded.

At that, you stripped off your black top, leaving only your sports bra, while Sophia shimmied out of her thong, tossing it aside. Vulnerable, spread out beneath you, she looked devastating—chest rising in uneven breaths, thighs parted, offering herself to you.

You pressed forward, teasing her first, dragging the thick head of your cock through her slick folds. Each slow glide had her thighs shaking, her body trembling with every second you kept her waiting.

Sophia’s fingers twisted tight in the sheets. “You’re—god—you’re teasing me—”

You pushed in before she could finish, stretching her inch by inch, swallowing her protests with a groan of your own. Her gasp tore the air, back arching as her nails raked across your shoulders.

“Fuck—” she cried, clutching at you, voice breaking, “—you feel so good, you’re so fucking thick…”

Her words lit a fire in you. You found a rhythm, deep and relentless, each thrust pulling louder sounds from her throat until she was moaning openly, her body yielding with every drive of your cock. She looked wrecked already—hair spilling wild across the pillow, lips parted around desperate praises that tumbled out in breathless stammers.

“You’re perfect—fuck—you’re perfect,” she gasped against your ear, high and whiny, “Eli never—oh my god—”

Your hands locked hard on her hips, dragging her down onto you as you pounded deeper, until her voice broke into incoherent cries. She shattered around you, walls clenching tight as her orgasm ripped through her, her moans filling the room without restraint. You didn’t let up until you unload outside, pumping your cum on her lower stomach, her name falling from your lips in a ragged groan as you pressed flush against her, collapsing briefly into the heat of her body.

Sophia barely had time to catch her breath before she dragged you down again, lips desperate, swollen from the last round. Her body was still trembling, but her hunger hadn’t dulled—it burned hotter.

 “Again,” she rasped against your mouth, voice raw.

A smirk tugged at your lips as your thumb traced the sharp line of her jaw. “Didn’t get enough already?”

Her head shook weakly, eyes glazed and hungry, locked on yours. “I want more. I want all of you.”

You rolled her onto her stomach, guiding her onto her knees. Her back arched beautifully under your hands, the sight alone making your cock twitch with need. You pressed against her soaked folds, teasing just a second before sinking back inside. She let out a wrecked whimper, burying her face in the sheets.

This time you took your time—slow, heavy thrusts that drove deep, each one enough to make her gasp. You leaned forward, tangling your hand in her hair and pulling her head back just enough to drink in every broken sound.

“That’s it,” you murmured against her ear, low and rough, “take my cock, baby.”

Her answer came out as a sobbing moan, hips pushing back greedily to meet every stroke. Words tumbled out of her in a feverish rush.

“You’re so strong—fuck—so deep—I can’t stop, I can’t—god—”

Her cries broke as you slammed harder, until her body shook around you, clenching tight while her nails carved into the sheets. You didn’t stop until her orgasm dragged you under too, spilling hot and thick onto her lower back, grinding deep until there was nothing left.

Sophia collapsed forward, trembling, sweat-slick skin glowing in the dim light. 

You snagged a towel from the guest bathroom without a second thought—already planning to wash it later—and carefully wiped her down, slow and deliberate. When you eased back onto the bed, your arm slipped firmly around her waist, guiding her closer until she was flush against you. She melted into the solid heat of your chest, her breathing steadying as you held her there, anchored and safe.

For the first time all night, the room was quiet—only your uneven breaths tangling together, her fingertips tracing weak, shaky patterns across your chest.

“Angela would definitely love having you around,” Sophia mumbled against your chest, her voice almost drowsy.

You glanced down at her with a raised brow. “Just her?” The mock-offense in your tone made her laugh, soft and unguarded.

“I would too,” she said quickly, looking up at you with that half-smile that always knocked the air out of your lungs. “I’d want you around as much as you can be.”

You pretended to mull it over, drawing out the silence just enough to make her huff. She swatted lightly at your chest, playful but impatient.

The slap only made you grin wider. A laugh slipped out as you leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Wouldn’t mind being around one bit,” you murmured, and the way her eyes softened told you she knew you meant it.

The morning sunlight spilled lazily through the kitchen windows, painting over the countertops. You and Sophia moved around each other—her at the stove, you slicing bread and buttering it, the soft hum of the electric kettle filling the space. 

“Morning…” Angela’s small voice carried from the hallway. She rubbed her eyes, pausing mid-step when she saw the two of you standing side by side in the kitchen.

Her surprise widened into a grin. “You stayed?”

The question lingered for a beat, and your mind flicked back to earlier—waking tangled in warm sheets, Sophia’s hand on your chest, both of you whispering about slowing down. 

About giving Angela the time she needed to adjust before anything was set in stone.

The kettle clicked off, steam curling into the air. You poured the water into your mugs, letting the quiet stretch until you finally glanced at Angela, a smile tugging at your lips.

“Yeah,” you said, voice gentle. “I’ll be around a lot more, Angel.”

The nickname lit her up instantly. She beamed, clapping her hands before breaking into a little dance right there in the kitchen. “Yes! I thought I wasn’t gonna see you anymore when school starts! This is so much better!”

You couldn’t help but laugh at her joy, the sound spilling out of you without restraint. Beside you, Sophia leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to your cheek, her lips warm and lingering just a moment longer than casual.

“I’m excited too,” she murmured, before turning back to the stove and sliding a plate of eggs onto the counter. She handed it off to Angela, nudging her toward the table.

“Alright, food’s ready. Go sit down before it gets cold.”

Angela dashed off with her plate, still humming happily to herself. You grabbed your plate and Sophia’s as the Filipina got the mugs of hot coffee, following close behind her.

Sophia worried a bit, not knowing how it would all turn out, but when all three of you sat down and Angela giggles as you tickled her, teasing about moving up a into preschool—it felt right.

[futureheartstour]

Im catching your strays 😭😭

BOOOOOIIIII

Don't get me started with demon child— they're on strike for me rn

WHO TF IS DEMON CHILD?? DINO AKA thecchiiiiiiii ???

[futureheartstour]

BOOOOOIIIII

Don't get me started with demon child— they're on strike for me rn

WHO TF IS DEMON CHILD?? DINO AKA thecchiiiiiiii ???

[futureheartstour]

ME WHEN I LIE 💜

Oh so we're doing fic recs now huh

What are your fic angst angst fic recs?? Like I want to feel like I've been stabbed a hundred times angst angst

Wtf wrong with yall liking angst 😭😭 anyway me too. I think the two that come to mind is:

@helioooss i deadass cried for the cowboy series and their other posts are good too

And

@thecchiiiiiiii hates fluff hates happiness

[futureheartstour]

Oh so we're doing fic recs now huh

What are your fic angst angst fic recs?? Like I want to feel like I've been stabbed a hundred times angst angst

Wtf wrong with yall liking angst 😭😭 anyway me too. I think the two that come to mind is:

@helioooss i deadass cried for the cowboy series and their other posts are good too

And

@thecchiiiiiiii hates fluff hates happiness