imaginewriting1

[imaginewriting1]

lingua franca

Ariana Grande x youtuber!reader

Part 17 of "positions"

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5.5 (1) | 5.5 (2) | 5.5.5 | 6 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

You thought the novelty of you might wear off once the both of you got back to your respective working lives. However, Ariana proved you wrong by coming over after she finished her schedule, and spending the night (and the next morning if she could) with you. Until she missed her babies so badly that you two decided to alternate staying at each other's places. This week, it was your turn to stay at her house.

That's how you found yourself in a car, on the driveway up. The security guard recognized you instantly, helping you with your bags while communicating with the staff to announce your arrival to their employer. You thanked them when you dragged your luggage past the door.

Before you could place your stuff down, you were tackled by a pack of paws and wagging tails. You laughed as you were licked enthusiastically in greeting. "Hi, guys."

"Babies, let me welcome her too." You looked up to find Ariana lifting the dogs off you, helping you back up to your feet. She tiptoed, surprising you with the softest brush of lips so close to the corner of your mouth. Ariana pulled back when she noticed you were still holding onto your bags. "Oh! Let me help you with them." She reached out for one, and you gave it to her.

You followed her to the shoe rack and removed your shoes, before slipping into a pair of fluffy white slippers. Ariana was wearing them too.

Soon found yourself in a guestroom you occupied so often that it was regarded as yours. She ushered the dogs out, leaving you to your devices.

When Ariana returned, you finished unpacking coincidentally. "Is everything settled? Let me know if you need anything."

"I'm good. Got my stuff all set up." You pointed at your workstation for good measure.

"Great!" Ariana exclaimed, before asking, "Did you bring the stuff I asked you to?"

"Yeah, I brought swimwear. Though it's really just shorts and a sports bra."

"And the...?" You nodded, blushing when Ariana grinned. "Good."

However, before you two could start spending time together lazing around, Ariana had some work to do, and so do you. So you decided to get them done as soon as possible. Fortunately for you, you only had some emails to answer and upload a video for your channel. You completed them in less than twenty minutes so you decided to wander around.

Strauss found you walking past him in the living room and decided to follow you around. You managed to kill fifteen minutes touring the entire premises before something stop you in the midst. The faintest sound of music could be heard when you stood right in front of a particular closed door. Part of you wanted to open it right away, to witness the magic, but you didn't want to interrupt Ariana. So you sat down against the wall beside it and closed your eyes.

Strauss took the chance to curl up in your lap, feeling his paws kneading around to make himself comfortable. You chuckled at his adorable actions.

Your eyes sprang open when you heard a soft rush of air. A surprised scream was followed by uncontrollable laughter when Ariana spotted you. "Thought I heard something. Why are you sitting out here?"

"I didn't want to disturb you." You replied, lifting Strauss off you to stand. "Are you done with work?"

"Almost, just finishing up a song. Do you want to come inside?"

You accepted her invitation, taking her hand while carrying Strauss in another. As you entered her bedroom, you took in the various pieces of equipment littered around the space.

You didn't even realize you were standing like a statue until Strauss started squirming. So you set him down. He went to lie on the bed with Piggy, Myron, and Toulouse. Similarly, you found a corner to sit quietly in.

In another life, you might have become a music producer, or at least worked in the industry. But in this, you were content with watching Ariana maneuver around the room expertly. There was almost a switch in demeanor when she fiddled around with the equipment, music flowing wherever she touched, like a musical Midas.

Whatever she had played sounded different than her previous discography, vocal and production-wise. You knew her fans are going to love the song, and the entirety of the album when it drop.

"I'm done with the song." Ariana spun her chair around to face you. Do you want to hear it?"

Like she ever had to ask. "Of course." She gestured for you to go towards her. So you did. She stood up from her chair, making you sit down, before sitting on your lap. Your arms instantly wrapped around her waist like a seat belt.

You watched over her shoulder as her fingers glided over the keyboard, eliciting a jazzy note from the speakers. Throughout the song, your back slowly sank into the chair, letting her voice wash over you. The only sound you made was a short laughter of disbelief when she whistled an entire chorus.

"Wow." A smile remained etched on your face even when the song ended. "It's- you're amazing. Think I'm in heaven."

You were rewarded with her giggles, "I guess 'my hair' is definitely going to be on the album."

"Your fans would thank you for that." It was a reflection of Ariana - her words, her voice, her feelings, intelligence, and maturity.

Even if it wasn't confirmed or established, you knew that you were the inspiration for it. It was the highest honor a (song)writer can bestow on the people they love - their love language.

"Why are you crying?" Ariana's alarm pulled you out of your thoughts. She sat up, dabbing her sleeves around your eyes in a panic.

You let out a wet chuckle, not even realizing you were tearing up. "They're happy tears. When your album drops, I think I need to review it on my channel."

Ariana made sure your face was dry before saying. "Maybe I can appear on it?"

At that moment, you realized it had been close to a year since you last made a video with Ariana since you first met her. "I would love that."

-

The rest of the day was officially free from work, though you knew that Ariana may go anytime if something came up.

The two of you decided to eat something since it was way past lunchtime. You were too busy consuming her songs that your body forgot hunger momentarily. Ariana doesn't put up much of a fight when you worked your way around her kitchen, only mentioning "you know I can hire us a chef, right?"

"You don't need one when you have me." Even though she tried to hide her smile, the way her tongue poked between her teeth, told you that she loved the idea.

While you made Ariana sit at the counter, she soon joined in as a sous chef. You appreciated her help even if you didn't say it, knowing the both of you could have lunch sooner rather than later.

Soon, two steaming plates of mushroom risotto were placed on the dining table, instead of the usual kitchen counter or coffee table. Besides the fact your house didn't have one, you actually like the idea of sitting at one. It was a proper eating area that brought you two together, away from distractions like TV screens, so you could focus on each other (and whichever dogs were around).

Words and water flowed freely at the table. Continuing from earlier topics, you asked. "Do you have a date for the album's release?"

"Hmm, I'm still deciding on the final tracklist for the album, and maybe even a deluxe version. There's still a music video to shoot." Ariana answered after a spoonful of rice. "Speaking of which, what about your film, Miss Director? When is it going to be screened?"

"It's still in the editing stage. When that's done, the final cut has to be approved before distribution. Not sure when that would be though, hopefully in a month or two." You took a sip of your water. "And if it's possible, we might submit it to several film festivals.

Ariana hummed in excitement for you. "I can't wait to watch it. Let's toast to that." Your flutes kissed each other lightly in the middle of the table.

After a fulfilling lunch, the two of you lazed around on her couch, watching a movie that both of you enjoyed. However, the term watching was used loosely, since your attention was more often directed at her than the screen.

"You're missing the best part." Ariana nudged you.

You glanced at the TV for show, before returning your gaze on her. "No, I'm not."

"Since we're both clearly not interested in whatever's playing on screen, let's make use of the pool," Ariana suggested, a plan that was already in the works since the beginning.

So it doesn't come as a surprise, and you agreed easily. "Sounds good, let's go change."

Ariana accompanied you as you grab your "swimwear" from your duffle, but you mainly changed out your jeans into a pair of black drawstring shorts. Ariana stared at you unabashedly at you while doing so, simply raising an eyebrow when you made eye contact - a look that conveyed 'nothing I haven't seen before'.

To feel less self-conscious, you asked her if she was going to change too. She replied by lifting her hoodie above her head, revealing a mint bikini. Unlike you, she had no qualms with you gaping at her, relishing the effect she had on you.

"You can take a picture if you like, it'll last longer that way." Ariana teased, causing you to cough in an attempt to stop drooling.

"Let's just head into the water."

Usually, you would just dip your toe in, satisfied with wetting just your feet. This time, you jumped in bravely, making a big splash that made Ariana shriek with laughter. She dived in after you, much more gracefully, resurfacing beside you.

The streaks of water blurring your vision did little to cloud Ariana's beauty; her hair reminded you of a waterfall, basking in the golden hues of the sun. You couldn't help but get lost in the sea of her.

You felt like you were experiencing something miraculous; like sighting a mermaid. Removing your glasses, you rubbed your eyes to make sure it wasn't a mirage, that she was real.

She hid her face into your neck, and you felt a pout forming. "Stop looking at me like that."

You don't let the question 'like what?' escape the tip of your tongue. Instead, you seize the opportunity to turn the tables. "Oh, so now you're the shy one?" You felt the vibrations of her mumbles against your bare skin in reply. "I didn't catch that, love." The crown of her head almost collided with your chin when she jerked up. She doesn't say anything for a few moments, gazing at you. "Now, you're-"

"Love?"

Her question froze you up. The term of endearment slipped out of you unconsciously. It shouldn't mean as much as it did, but maybe it was made obvious by the fact you don't say the word often, or at all for a long time.

"Is it too soon to use that word?" You asked, preparing to beat yourself up if you ruined everything before it even started.

"No, it's...the opposite actually." Ariana let out a little sigh. You could tell that there was something weighing on her mind.

"But?" You prompted softly.

"Everything's so easy with you," Ariana said, after a beat of silence. "It's almost terrifying," Ariana admitted.

It was an interesting point she brought up, "What is it that is scaring you?" You give her time to collect her thoughts.

"It's just that... I'm anticipating for something to go wrong like it has countless times in the past. It's the PTSD part of my brain. I know it's just fear but I can't help it. It's worse when I feel like you're too good to be true." Ariana whispered. You felt her breath against your lips. "You're so ordinary, in the best way possible, extraordinary even. But I'm... needy and crazy and hard to please. I'm going to be on the road a lot in the future, so there will be times when I can't be with you physically for a substantial period of time. I don't want to fuck us up."

Before she could look away from you, you placed your hand on her arm. "Do you want to know what I think?" You continued when she nodded her head. "Maybe some people have implied it or told you until you believed it but I don't think it's true. You're not crazy nor needy nor hard to please; if the times we spent together are any indication or proof of that. It's normal to have needs and to know what you want. I know your career is your priority, and you'll be surprised how flexible mine is, which allows me to go with you for tours and events if I'm allowed to. In fact, you'll be "crazy"-" you made a show of quotation marks, relishing in the way she giggled, "-to think I won't be sitting in the front row or whatever seats I managed to get from competing with thousands of other fans."

"What if you get tired of my lifestyle, of me?" She asked so quietly, you wouldn't have heard it if she wasn't mere inches away from you.

"There are many things that tire me, like climbing up the stairs and men in general, but you will never be one of them."

You had seen this look before, on many different faces, in many different film scenes, and they all led to one thing. Cradling her face, you pressed a kiss on her lips tenderly, hoping it would convey how much you adored and admired her.

When air became scarce, you pulled back to breathe.

Ariana's fingers stopped you from moving too far away, digging into the back of your neck. You tangled your fingers in wet strands, all the while reconnecting her lips to yours, delving deeper than before.

You felt aflame, despite being in cool waters. You have kissed before, but none that had burned you alive.

You felt the vibrations of the words she said against your lips before you registered them. "Take me inside." You had half a mind to ask where, but you didn't think she would care (as long as there was a surface).

AN: if you like my work, feel free to give me a tip on my ko-fi page.

[imaginewriting1]

your mind, body, and soul

Ariana Grande x youtuber!reader

Part 16 of "positions"

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5.5 (1) | 5.5 (2) | 5.5.5 | 6 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15

You noted how visible the stars were when you went to throw the trash. You held the bag in one hand, Ariana's hand in another.

When you closed the lid, you asked her. "Do you find this boring?"

"Taking out the trash?"

"Domesticity." You clarified. Being a child of divorce, you know how it might tear people apart. You had read countless articles and personal recounts - from a feminist perspective, political, socioeconomic standpoint, romanticized views, and queer angles. Ultimately, you liked it because enjoy making a home; you're doing it for yourself. However, Ariana might not share the same views.

While you didn't verbalize the importance of your question, Ariana was able to sense it. "To be honest," She started, "I used to be able to disregard it because of my career, and I disregarded it even more after realizing I'm bad at doing "simple" housework. But, seeing you do it, and doing it with you makes it fun."

"I'm glad you think so."

After that, you went to the kitchen to finish your last chore for the day. What was a simple task turned out to be a water fight.

Despite being covered with soap bubbles, you let Ariana use the shower first, not wanting her to catch a cold.

"Want to save water by showering together instead?"

You heard Olivia's voice in your head reminding you not to be a useless lesbian. "Ok."

That was how you found yourself following Ariana to your bathroom. You turned around as you undressed; with the same mindset as an ostrich hiding its head in the ground. Ariana doesn't let you shy away for long. She gently tugged your elbows as she entered the shower stall.

Your shower stall can only be described as cozy with the two of you in it, even more so with the glass door closed. So you navigated sideways, leaning against the wall tiles to give Ariana more space.

You detached the shower head before turning the tap on. The first splash of cold water against her feet caused Ariana to squeal. You laughed apologetically as you adjusted the temperature.

"Is this okay?" You asked when the water warmed.

Ariana placed her hand under the shower head to check. "It's perfect."

You returned it to its place, allowing the water to arch over the both of you like a waterfall. Besides staring and smiling at each other shyly, you didn't know what else to do. It's been a while since you had showered with someone else.

"Can you wash my hair?"

Ariana turned her back towards you when you agreed. What greeted you were her natural curls, something you didn't notice till now. You had never seen them due to her extensions. While you weren't one to touch people or their hair, your fingers were itching to run through them out of sheer curiosity. Good thing you had her permission.

You turned the tap off. After, that you lathered your hands with shampoo. You run them through her wet strands. "Like this?"

Ariana let out a little noise of content. "Yeah, just like that."

She gave you a few more requests along the way. You felt a deep sense of satisfaction when Ariana relaxed into your scalp massages.

After a few more minutes, you grabbed the shower head and washed the bubbles off the hair. You made sure it doesn't get into her eyes. When it was thoroughly rinsed, you applied conditioner. Letting it sit in her hair, you turned her around to face you. "Do you want me to wash your back too?"

Ariana nodded quickly. You reached for the loofah on the rack. However, she stopped you in your tracks. "No, use your hands." There were undertones of desperation in her voice. "Please."

You pressed a dollop of your new body soap onto your palm. You rubbed your hands, before starting with her shoulders. You rubbed your hands, before placing them on her shoulders.

Ariana was pliant under your touch. The only sounds heard were the small drips of water escaping and her soft sighs. You mapped out her back, refamiliarising yourself with her tattoos, like road markers on a street you had frequented.

When you were done, she faced you once again. You grabbed the bottle and pressed some soap onto her awaiting hands.

It was pure reflex, when your eyes trained on the moving object, like cats with laser pointers. In this case, it was her hands, soaping herself all over.

Your embarrassment grew with the smirk on Ariana's lip.

"I didn't mean to...I'll just turn on the tap."

"Won't be the only thing that's turned on." Cold wall tiles came into contact with your back, but you couldn't seem to care, not with Ariana pressed flush against you.

The feeling of her skin on yours flooded memories you tried to repress months ago into your head, like a montage reel.

You had never known desire like this. All your life, wanting, despite not having, was enough. The closest feeling was wishing to have the latest toys like all the other kids did when you were younger.

In fact, you stopped wanting when you realized your mom was not going to stay with you ever again.

Now, it clawed your stomach like a hungry beast, desperate to be satiated. The intensity scares you, rendering you frozen.

Are you allowed to want?

Ariana broke the silence. "Are you still hesitant about having sex?"

You swallowed. How do you put your fears into words? "It's just that... do you remember what I told you about my ex? She broke up with me after we did it." Ariana's eyes softened with realization. "I don't want the same thing to happen with us. I don't want you to regret rushing things or being with me."

"Oh, baby." Ariana cradled your face, never once breaking eye contact. "I will never feel that way."

The thought of her reciprocating, and never leaving, gave you all the assurance you needed. You can have what you want, you can have more.

You recognized that it was a privilege for you to pull Ariana in closer by her waist. And it was an honor to have her close her eyes - giving you the power to do anything to her.

Subliminally, you slipped a knee between her thighs. Your mouth hovered above the smooth expanse where her neck met her shoulders. You don't sink your teeth immediately, still having some semblance of self-control. You licked your lips as you warned, "You might have to wear a turtleneck tomorrow."

Ariana's reply was a cross between a whimper and a whine; no protest. You smiled, before biting down, driving your thigh up simultaneously.

While you were still covered with suds, the wetness on your knee was of a different kind - slicker, hotter. Ariana's hips rocked harder and harder, frantically grinding down on your thigh. On the other hand, you leave a constellation of love bites on her collarbones lazily.

"P-please," Ariana rasped out. "Need you inside me."

There was a time and place for long foreplays and torturous teasing. Now wasn't one of them, not when Ariana asked so prettily. You were never one to deny her anything.

Ariana shuddered as you slipped two fingers into her. It didn't take long for her to fall apart. You held her up as pleasure wrecked through her body until it subsided.

"Wow," Ariana whispered hoarsely. It was the only thing that was said in the span of ten minutes. During that time, you washed away the remaining bubbles, wrapped both of you with towels, and exited the bathroom.

Situated on your bed, you started drying Ariana's hair. She had no intention of letting go, glued to you like melted wax. You felt her fingers run up and down your spine. Honestly, you wouldn't have it any other way, either, even though it made drying the rest of her body a tad more challenging.

When you were both more or less dry, you stood up to get some clothes. However, the tightening grip around your waist told you to think otherwise.

"Ari, princess, I have to get us something to wear."

Your words only spurred her to koala-hug you harder. "You haven't had your turn yet."

It took a moment for you to understand what she said. "Oh, it's fine. There's always next time."

"Is touching still uncomfortable for you?" You couldn't say that it does now, not when Ariana placed feather-light kisses on your shoulders, your neck, your jaw. "That's totally okay."

It was strange but definitely welcomed, for your mind to be empty. You realized then that her touch was your anxiety reliever. So you shook your head. "I want it if it's yours. If you don't mind, maybe we can try a massage?"

"I would love to, baby." You found yourself sinking into your sheets when Ariana nudge you backward. "Do you have any oils or anything you want for the massage?"

"I got a candle from my trip." You said, sitting up. "It's in the crossbody bag."

Ariana placed a hand on your shoulder, "I'll go get it. Just lie down on your stomach for me." You did as instructed, removing your glasses as well when she left, thankfully still with a towel wrapped around her. Within moments, the soft tap of her footsteps announced her return. The room was blanketed in darkness when she turned off the lights.

With your head facing the nightstand, you watch Ariana's face get lit by the candle before placing it down. The scent perfumed the whole room gradually.

Ariana looked at you for a moment. "It smells sweet, like..." She paused, unsure how to describe it.

"You," You answered absentmindedly, remembering buying the candle the moment Ariana materialized in your mind. "I mean, like the perfume you always wear."

The corners of Ariana's mouth curved upwards as she walked toward the bed. "That's sweet." She squatted down, placing a kiss so close to the corner of your mouth, making your cheeks burned hotter. After succeeding in making you blush, she moved out of your sight. The bed dipped before you felt her weight on the back of your thighs, and then the entirety of your back as she leaned down. "Want me to play some music?" Her breath tickled your ear. You moved your head, hoping it look like a nod.

You heard some shuffle before the first notes of a classical piece started playing. While it was by no means a bad melody, you had something else in mind. "Actually, can you play your songs?"

You could feel the air still for a moment before she replied, "Okay." The thing that surprised you the most wasn't her singing, but singing a song you haven't heard before. Between her palms pressing firmly into your shoulder blades, and her soft voice, you almost lulled into sleep. However, like jolts of electric shock, the spontaneous little kisses she peppered on your back were the only thing pulling you back into consciousness.

You could tell it pleased her, the way goosebumps formed wherever her lips grazed, the way you shivered despite the heater and the candle fire.

You yawned out a question, hoping it would distract her mouth for a moment. "Is that a new song?"

"Mm, yeah. Do you like it?"

"It sounds beautiful. Then again, all your songs do."

When you finally succumbed to sleep, you don't remember much of the moments leading up to it, only a soft pressure against your forehead seconds before your eyes flutter shut.

AN: if you like my work, feel free to give me a tip on my ko-fi page.

[imaginewriting1]

the obvious unseen

Ariana Grande x youtuber!reader

Part 15 of "positions"

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5.5 (1) | 5.5 (2) | 5.5.5 | 6 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14

Ariana felt like sun-soaked sheets. That was the first thought you formed when you woke up, though not in those exact words. You lay still, relishing in the feeling - her soft breath on your collarbones, the weight of her body against yours. After having those few quiet moments for yourself, you decided to get up and prepare breakfast for the both of you.

You untangled your limbs from hers as carefully as possible, deciding to brush your teeth at the kitchen sink to not wake her up. You pulled the duvet up her neck before heading to the fridge.

After brushing your teeth, you opened your fridge. You found some items that you were sure weren’t in it before. You found a recipe online that was perfect for Ariana’s dietary preferences and hangover. Selecting everything you needed, you get to cooking. 

When the food was ready, you placed them on a tray along with some water and painkillers. You returned to the bed.

You weren’t sure if it was the click of the door or the aroma of the food that woke her but Ariana sat up when you entered the room. It took a minute for her to register your presence. 

“I made some pancakes with the blueberries you bought.” You spoke softly, “How’s your hangover?” 

“Not too bad.” Ariana yawned, rubbing her eyes. When you placed the tray in front of her, she motioned you towards her. You leaned down and were greeted with a kiss on your cheek. “Thank you, baby.”

You couldn’t hide your smile even if you tried. “You’re welcome, Ari.” 

She moved a little to make space for you. You slipped back under the covers in response. The two of you spent the rest of the morning eating and resting in bed while a TV series played in the background.

After lazying around for two hours, you decided to start going through your to-do list. Being a month away from home, there were chores you have to complete. You told Ariana exactly that. “You can sleep off your hangover in the meantime. When I’m done with everything we can do whatever you want.” You saw her eyes light up. 

“Good. I’m going back to sleep now.” Ariana shimmied down until her head rest on the pillow. 

“Do you want me to draw the blackout curtains?”

“Yes please, thank you.”

After you did so, you left Ariana to her devices in dreamland.

-

Ariana found you near the washing machine two hours later. You had been doing your laundry after unpacking your luggage. She announced her presence with a back hug, almost catching you by surprise. You felt Ariana let go of you so you could turn around. Noticing she was wearing your shirt and shorts, you asked. “Do you want me to wash your clothes too?”

“Okay.” She took your hand as the two of you made your way to your bedroom. You found her clothes sitting neatly on your chair. You pick them up and put it in a laundry bag. After, you started removing your bedsheets too, knowing that there was enough space in the washing machine for them. Ariana noticed what you wanted to do and helped out.

“This is easier with two people.” You commented to yourself when the both of you pulled off a corner each. Ariana agreed with a hum, removing the duvet cover while you carried the bedsheet and pillowcases back to the laundry area. Everything loaded neatly into the washing machine and you started the washer.

Moving on to the next chore, putting on clean sheets on the bed, pillows, and duvet. It was completed quickly, with two sets of hands instead of one. You laughed when Ariana plopped onto the newly made bed, moving her arms like she was making snow angels. You decide to take a short break by lying beside her.

As if the both of you had telepathy, you turned around to face her when she did so. Even your smiles materialized in synchrony. This is what peace feels like, you thought.

Wordlessly, the space between the both of you disappeared. You watched her head rise and fall with each breath you took and you wondered if she could hear your heart.

Eight minutes felt like an eternity. You would be happy to spend every second with her, in this position, but your stomach decided to interrupt the peace.

You felt your cheeks heat up as she giggled. “You must be hungry.”

“It’s close to lunchtime.” You said. “Want to get some food?”

“Yeah. Are we ordering takeouts?”

“I’m thinking of making something. Since you stocked up my fridge.”

“Well you gave me your key, might as well put it to good use.” Ariana carried the breakfast tray as you two headed out of the room. She washed the plates and forks while you riffled through your fridge again. 

“What do you think about a rice bowl with some vegetables and tofu?” You asked. “I could make some kind of soup too, maybe seaweed?”

“Sounds perfect,” Ariana replied. 

With her agreement, you set to work. You sit her down at the kitchen counter, not wanting her to help since she was a “guest”, an argument she couldn’t refute. 

Back to the task at hand, you mixed vegetable stock, seaweed, tofu, and water into a pot and let it sit on the stove to boil. Next, you washed the rice and placed it in the rice cooker. After that, you prepped various vegetables for a stir-fry. When it was done, you plated it before checking on the soup. You dipped a spoon in for a taste. Walking over to where Ariana was, you let her take a sip. “How is it?”

“Mhm, it’s good!” She complimented, “Can’t wait to eat.” With her approval, you added a little seasoning and garnish. Given that it was a simple meal, all the dishes were ready in less than thirty minutes. You set them on the counter before grabbing utensils and napkins. “Thank you for the meal.” 

“You’re welcome.” You replied, before moving the stool to the opposite side of the counter. 

The two of you spent the time savoring the food instead of talking, so you were caught off guard when she spoke up. “You know, I don’t know how to feel about you having a picture of a naked woman, now that we’re together.”

You almost spat out your rice. While Ariana was deadpan, the amusement twinkling in her eyes assured you she was just joking. “Ah, well she’s been a good company for years.” You said after swallowing.

“What if I recreate it for you? A new picture for your counter.”

You gave it more thought than you should, and settled on an answer. “You are already doing it for me. And I rather keep it all in my head.” 

It was her turn to blush. The two of you resumed eating before the food got cold.

“Can I have a second serving?” Ariana asked. You were surprised at how quickly she finished her food and were glad that she enjoyed every bite. While your cooking skills had definitely improved over time, it was still nerve-wracking to cook for someone else, especially one as important as her.

“Of course.” You grabbed both of her rice and soup bowls and refill them. You returned and placed them in front of her.

When the both of you finished your food, you stood up and cleared the bowls. They were practically cleaned, so all you had to do was load them in the dishwasher, which Ariana insisted to do. The two of you decided to rest and let the food digest before continuing with the chores you had left.

“So, what other chores do we have to do?”

“Mop the floors, clean the stove, and dry the laundry when they're done.”

“Okay, let’s do it.”

The both of you decided to mop the floors first since the laundry was still being washed, and the stove should be cleaned after dinner if you decided to cook again. The task was easily completed since you have a roomba to help. However, to speed things up, you wielded a mop while Ariana refilled the bucket with clean water.

With that checked off your list, you start on the next task: drying the laundry. You set up the drying racks in your backyard while Ariana checked up on the washing machine. When you were done, you headed back in. Upon seeing Ariana dragging a basket full of clothes, you went to help her by lifting it together. 

You were fortunate that the weather was good that day - sunny with a little breeze. Everything would dry quickly. The two of you spent the rest of the afternoon lining the clothes on the rack. 

Evening rolled by and you decided to order takeouts after a whole day of doing chores. You get to splurge and treat yourself to food both of you loved.

This time you two sat in front of the TV so that you could watch something while eating. You felt a little bad for asking Ariana to help out with chores instead of spending time doing things she wanted. So you let her pick whatever she wanted.

From the opening scene of In the Mood for Love, Ariana was hypnotized. You observed her as though her face was a projector screen, reliving the love story through her expressions. For a film filled with scenes of food, hers remained untouched. For a moment, you wondered if you should bring her back to reality, but you decided against it. Instead, you moved the takeout boxes before her tears dripped into them. 

“Why didn’t they get together?” was the only thing Ariana asked as she sniffled when the film ended. In place of an answer, you placed her food back in front of her after heating it up, nudging her to eat. You smiled inwardly as she polished it off, clearly famished. 

Ariana turned towards you, still waiting for an answer. There were many in your head, but you settled for the simplest: circumstances. “Their lives didn’t allow them to.” You said, “Even so, they didn’t dare to themselves.”

She went quiet for a moment, before saying, “Good thing we did.”

While it was your fifth time watching the film, the tragedy of it still tainted your emotions greatly. You couldn’t help but feel, making it the perfect time to address the issues that have been plaguing you.

She has never been with a woman or in a relationship that caused people to stare just cause she held hands with her lover. She hasn’t faced homophobic microaggression or blatant hate. So everything is new and exciting and surreal until it was not. And when that happens, she may call it a mistake, call it quits.

“It is a good thing.” You started off, continuing from Ariana’s words. “But that doesn’t mean we don’t have our own circumstances to navigate through. It’s inevitable that people will find out that we’re together, or at the very least, start rumors about you being with a woman. It’s not all fun and games and pride parades. If or when you do decide to come out publicly, haters, and homophobes will use your sexuality against you, just because they can.” You could tell she wanted to say something but held back so that you could finish. “I would protect you from all these things but it’s impossible. I’m afraid that it might affect our relationship, or worse yet, you, negatively.” You took a deep breath. “And… you might come to push me away.”

Ariana doesn’t let you pull away, keeping your hands in hers. “Don’t you ever think that. I’m more than aware of the things you point out. It’s sweet that you’re looking out for me but you don’t need to protect me, just be by my side when shit goes down. And leave the rest to my PR team.” She took your hand, “If it makes you feel any better, I know how to keep things under wraps for a long time. So do the people around me.”

You bowed your head in pure relief, feeling your worries dissipate. “I just want to be with you peacefully.”

Ariana pressed her forehead against yours. “Then that’s what you’ll get, baby.” 

[imaginewriting1]

so good it's nasty

Ariana Grande x youtuber!reader

Part 14 of "positions"

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5.5 (1) | 5.5 (2) | 5.5.5 | 6 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13

You found someone holding a sign with your name on it, whom you recognized as Ariana's driver. It was a compromise when you dissuade her from coming to pick you up personally since it would be a wrench in the singer's already busy schedule.

Once the car pulled away from the pick-up point and onto the highway, you texted Ariana the moment you landed as promised.

Her reply was immediate: welcome back.

It had been a long month. For the most part, it was fun and rewarding. Work didn't feel like work when you were happy to do it, and exploring a new city was exciting. However, you felt a little homesick in the midst of it all. So you worked hard, along with the rest of the filming crew, to wrap up the shoot as efficiently as possible.

You were homeward bound at last, and you spent the time in the backseat thinking of things to do when you reached your destination. A long shower and a nap sounded perfect.

When you finally arrived at your house, you stepped out of the car and took a deep breath. Ariana's driver was kind enough to help with your luggage before they drove off.

Walking towards the door, you turned the handle without using a key and found four familiar faces greeting you.

"Surprise!"

You tried your hardest to act as such, but Ariana had unintentionally hinted during texts what she had planned. Knowing you weren't one for surprises, Olivia straight-up told you. "It's not my birthday." You quipped instead as they swarmed around you to pull you into a big hug.

"No, just your return after an entire month!" Ariana half-shouted. "I- we've missed you."

"I missed you too, all of you." You replied, patting whoever's back that was within reach. The circle broke off after a beat, but Ariana held on a little longer, not that you were complaining.

"Alright that's enough PDA, let's eat." Victoria snarked, prompting laughter all around, and a small grumble from the koala impersonator.

Ariana did pull away from you a little, but her grip remained on your wrist as she tugged you towards the table. The wooden surface was filled with numerous takeout boxes and paper plates - a 'welcome home' feast.

"Is that-" You pointed out.

"Yup, all your favorites," Olivia confirmed. "Ariana insisted."

You wanted to take a quick shower but the girls suggested you eat first. Ariana ushered you to the middle of the couch but you stopped, knowing there wouldn't be enough space for all of you.

"Why don't we all sit on the floor instead? It'll be easier to eat anyway." You suggested. The girls agreed, surrounding the table. Ariana, unsurprisingly, took her seat beside you, while Victoria, Zendaya, and Olivia sat on the opposite side.

You didn't comment on the way Ariana's hand was resting on your lap the entire time. Instead, you focused on savoring the food as well as watching the film you had voted on.

Within 20 minutes, the five of you were in different states of inebriation. If they were put on a scale, Ariana was the tipsiest with two glasses of champagne. Zendaya had half a glass while Olivia had one. Victoria, unsurprisingly, didn't drink a sip, having milk tea like you.

"On Wednesdays, we wear pink!" Zendaya said, fully immersed in her role as Karen. You sat back and watched them turn into a giggling mess of quote recitations. You accepted every popcorn Ariana fed you every now and then.

As the movie played on, more glasses were emptied. "Do you want a refill?" You asked Zendaya quietly without interrupting their scenes reenactment of Mean Girls.

"I think I have enough alcohol for the day, can I have water instead?"

"Sure, I'll go get some." You stood up, much to Ariana's dismay for she had to find another pillow to substitute your arm. "Be right back," You appeased.

"I'll come with you." Zendaya followed you to the kitchen. You retrieved bottled water from the fridge and poured it into a cup. "So you and Ariana?"

You handed the cup to her. "Well, we decided to take it slow." While the two of you FaceTimed every night for the past month, the subject of her confession was never broached. It was an unspoken agreement that the conversation for that needed to take place face-to-face.

But all things considered, you couldn't believe that Ariana did want to be with you after all. You really thought your ending with her would be similar to the lesbian who fell for her (straight) best friend.

When the two of you returned as the movie ended coincidentally. Most of the takeout boxes were emptied so you started to clear the table. However, they shooed you off, offering to do it instead. So you excused yourself to your bathroom to wash up.

The moment you entered your bathroom, you showered quickly and put on a fresh set of clothes.

While putting your shirt on, a soft knock on the door put quickened actions. "Come in." Before you could turn to face your intruder, a pair of arms wrapped around you.

Of all the tells that revealed who the serial hugger was, the biggest was your body remaining in a relaxed state.

"I wonder who..." You started, feeling Ariana's laughter vibrate throughout your back. It was the only sound she made, besides the little sigh when her face burrowed into you deeper. "Ariana?"

She only responded after a few moments. "Can we stay just like this for a while?"

"We can. But you would prefer if I turned around?"

"Oh, yes please."

You shifted into position, adjusting your hold on her. "Better?"

"Yeah," she breathes out. "You smell really nice."

"It's a new soap I bought in New York. Speaking of which, I got you-"

The door slammed open, interrupting you. "Did you two forget our existence? I'm coming in!"

To be honest, you did, but you weren't going to admit it to Olivia, not after she rudely barged in. Besides, she seemed properly chastised by Ariana's glare. "No, I did not, I was just getting everyone's souvenirs."

The three of you returned to the living room where your luggage were. You returned a knowing and congratulatory smile from Victoria and Zendaya respectively when they spotted your intertwined hands.

You walked towards your luggage and retrieved your gifts. "It's the iconic 'I heart NY' shirt! You get a shirt, and you get a shirt, everybody gets a shirt." You exclaimed, throwing them into unsuspecting hands. Their expressions were comical, politely grateful after a moment of confusion.

Ariana seemed to share your enthusiasm. "Now we have matching couple shirts."

"So you guys are official?" Olivia spoke up, looking around to see everyone's reaction. "All of you knew before me?" She turned to look at you with a pout.

Why didn't you tell me first?

I'm sorry, but Ariana and I are still figuring things out. She must have told Victoria and I confirmed with Zen a few minutes ago in the kitchen since she asked.

You shot Olivia an apologetic smile which she accepted when she came up to congratulate the both of you.

"Let's toast to the couple," Victoria spoke up, raising her glass. Everyone raised their respective drinks, before taking a sip. You watched Ariana down what seemed to be her third glass of champagne.

"I'll go get you some water." You whispered to her before going to grab another bottled water from the fridge. When you came back, you find the girls huddling around the couch with Ariana sleeping soundly on it.

"I guess the party's over," Olivia said. "We should get going, to give you two some alone time together."

Victoria agreed with her, "Take care of her." Zendaya patted your shoulder as if to punctuate her point.

"Wait a minute." You instructed them after they put on their shoes at the door. You retrieved more gifts you brought back from NY - an artwork print for Olivia, a matching shirt and baby onesie for Victoria, and a set of essential oils for Zendaya.

Victoria and Zendaya thanked you again as they left with their cars. Olivia stayed back a little to tidy up the place before she go.

"You know, I hated that she hurt you," Olivia said, patting your shoulder. "But I'm glad things worked out between you two. I'm happy for you."

"Thanks, Liv." You smiled, "Get back home safely."

Once she left, you returned to where Ariana was. By then, she had awoken from her short nap. "Where's everyone?" She yawned.

"They went home a few minutes ago. Do you want me to call your driver or do you-"

"I want to stay here tonight. I cleared the whole day tomorrow."

A smile formed on your face, despite being interrupted. "Alright. Let's go to bed then."

Apparently, Ariana had a different take on "go to bed" when she undid the top button of your shirt. "Ariana?" You questioned, albeit amusedly.

"What?" She feigned innocence, "the room is kinda hot, isn't it?"

"You should remove your own shirt then."

"Good idea."

You fell into her trap so easily. "I thought that we should take things slow?"

Her wicked smile doesn't waver. "I didn't mean that when it comes to sex. You have no idea how much I thought about you when you weren't with me. I don't wanna wait anymore."

It wasn't like you didn't want to sleep with her. But you were pretty tired from your flight and the party. "Aren't you drunk?"

"I'm not!" Ariana moved to prove herself, but she ended up slumping on top of you. "Well, drunk sex is pretty good too."

You laughed a little at her statement as you lifted her off you. "Let's do it when we're both not tired. And after we have talked."

"Fine," Ariana said, but it was muffled by your shirt. "I have the entire day with you tomorrow anyway."

You nodded your head and stood up. "You do."

"Where are you going?"

"To brush my teeth."

"Right, I need to do that too."

The two of you entered your bathroom, watching out for her if she stumbles. You reached for a new toothbrush in the cupboard behind the mirror.

"Remind me to buy this toothpaste for myself," Ariana said after using it. "And that soap from New York too."

You nodded your head. "I got you a bath bomb with the same scent but you can just use my soap anytime you want."

Ariana caught your eyes through the mirror. "Oh, I will."

You head back to bed first, giving Ariana the space to go through her nighttime routine. When you slipped under the covers you realized that it had been a while since had shared a bed or stayed with her the entire night. It was the first time she was sleeping in your bed together with you.

The bathroom light was switched off before the bed dipped beside you. The air under the sheets warmed immediately. You felt soft skin pressed against your arm.

"Are you comfortable in that position?" You asked, after a moment of quiet breathing.

"If I say no, will you turn and face me?"

You shifted until your vision was filled with the entirety of Ariana's face. Even in the dark, you could see the shadow of her smile. You rest an arm over her hips after she did so.

"Hi." Ariana's fingers printed on the small of your back.

"Hi, you replied, letting yourself gravitate towards her until the two of you collided gently. "This is nice."

Ariana hummed in agreement, snuggling further into you, fitting her face into the crook of your neck. "This is going to be my favorite thing to do every night," She mumbled, "Besides having sex."

You could only laugh at her comment. "Duly noted."

Even though your body was craving sleep, there was a small part of you that kept you awake - because for once, your reality was better than your dreams.

Ariana was right, you could get used to this.

AN: early access to later chapters on my ko-fi page. also feel free to DM or ask anonymously for any questions.

[imaginewriting1]

point of view (Ariana's)

Ariana Grande x youtuber!reader

Part 13 of "positions"

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5.5 (1) | 5.5 (2) | 5.5.5 | 6 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 11 | 12

🖤

Don't forget to bring your reading glasses

You

i won't

thanks for reminding me

🖤

You're welcome

Drive safely

See you soon

You

i will

see you

When she called to invite you, you realized it was the first time she had ever initiated it. All your previous meet-ups were requested (or demanded) by you. So you pretty much cleared any schedule you could to spend as much time with her before she leave for New York the very next day, 1 AM to be exact.

It had been a minute since you had stepped into her house again. Everything looked the same as it was when you first visited - like entering the same hotel room after housekeeping every night - but retaining its familiarity and sense of belonging.

She ushered you in warmly like she had always done, offering drinks and snacks after you sat down on the couch. The movie she wanted to watch was already put on the screen; directed by the same person from her favorite film you two had watched together before.

With a cup of hot chocolate in hand (with a recipe somehow better than yours), surrounded by pillows and blankets, you should have felt relaxed and comfortable.

Instead, a feeling you couldn't name gnawed and chewed inside you incessantly.

Everything was fine, but nothing was okay.

You were friends again, thank god. But it wasn't like before. You didn't think that there was anyone in the world who would go out of their way to not touch you, going so far as to put the bowl of popcorn between the both of you every time you watched movies. Like now.

After your birthday, you didn't, couldn't view space the same way ever again. Nothing had made you feel lonelier, despite what she had said than looking up at the moon during nights you couldn't sleep and wondering if she was looking at it too. Thinking about you too.

It was all your fault.

Even if you had many reasons to do so, you were the one who ruined a perfect night, turned her down, and broke her heart. But she's still here, beside you, letting you grab a handful of popcorn first before she does.

"They should have used 'Best Part' by H.E.R and Daniel. Imagine how meta it'll be." She suddenly spoke out loud, turning towards you. You looked away in a panic, afraid of getting caught staring. "No actually, they should be putting one of your songs in. Now that I think about it, you should sing more in movie soundtracks. I can't believe you haven't been in much, I would have watched them just to hear your voice."

For a moment, you didn't understand what she was referring to since you haven't been paying attention. When you focused on the scene unfolding before you, you watched as the two female characters float freely on the water while listening to a song. You hummed, not wanting to appear uninterested. You should really pay attention to the rest of the film now.

-

After a quick dinner, you found yourself coming up with things to do, like helping her to clean up the kitchen and pack her suitcase.

The movie ended far too quickly for your liking. While it had a heartwarming ending, you wished it had dragged on forever, giving you an excuse to stay. For her to stay.

You knew she was coming back latest by the 5th of August. But why do you feel so anxious at the thought of her leaving?

Anything can happen in one month's time. What if she stayed there forever because she decided that she wanted to live in the same city as Taylor Swift? Worse yet, for someone else?

You had done research (by watching her videos) about queer women and their tendencies to U-Haul, amongst other things.

"Aren't you packing too little?" You asked after your thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a running zipper.

She looked at you with raised eyebrows, "Really? I pretty much emptied my closets as you advised. Also, my hotel has a laundry service. At the very least, a sink."

You knew she was trying to make a joke but you couldn't laugh. The only thing you could offer was a barely-there smile, which disappeared anyway when she glanced at her phone.

"Are you sure you have everything? What about your power bank?" You asked while following behind her as she wheeled the suitcase to the front door.

She replied with an amused chuckle, "You asked me that already." For good measure, she turned to face you while fishing the said object out of her jeans pocket. "My passport and documents are in the crossbody bag, all my clothes and toiletries are in the suitcase, miscellaneous stuff in the duffle. I think I'm good."

"You can never have too much underwear." You supplied a weak excuse. "I'll go check your drawers."

You were caught off guard when her fingers wrapped around your left wrist, even if they let go a second after. It was enough to make you feel warm all over. "I'll do it. You can call a cab for me instead."

"I can drive you to the airport." You offered, hoping she doesn't hear the underlying desperation in them.

She waved them off. "It's kind of you to offer, but I can't possibly ask you to do that, it's an hour's drive. Besides it's late, you should head home."

Why do her words sound like a goodbye?

They rendered you speechless; the fear of losing yet another person to things out of your control.

(Though this one, even if you don't admit it out loud, was within yours.)

But you called the cab anyway.

What else can you do, ask her to wait (yet another month) for you to get your shit together? It's too selfish to string her along after all this while, wanting things you can't give in return.

You know you were allowed to have this, to be happy, as your therapist has reiterated many times. But after all the things you had gone through, you find that hard to believe.

And this was the one thing you desperately did not want to fuck up (any more than you already have).

However, it doesn't make every tick of the clock above the TV feel less like a bomb waiting to explode. You could feel her eyes on you like she could see your inner turmoils haunting you. She was too polite, and understanding, to pry. Instead, she offers you a cup of water like she wouldn't leave LA in a few minutes.

The sound of tires against gravel made you aware of reality once more, wondering when she walked out of the door when the space between you grew too big. You willed your legs to catch up to her before it was too late to tell her all the things trapped inside you.

"Wait!"

You saw her step falter under the streetlight. She turned around. "What is it?" Before you could answer, she continued, "Oh right." She let go of the handle of her suitcase and reached into her shirt pocket. "Here," Her fingers unfurled in front of you to reveal a key. "You can lock up whenever you leave."

It was certainly not how you expected to receive something as important as the key to her house like this; casual, almost insignificant. Not that you had thought about it, maybe once, wistfully.

You have been to many places around the world, and met many people, but none brought relief like she or her place does - like a weekend getaway after a long week of work.

And that's all you ever wanted to feel.

You recalled a quote from the movie - "Love is being willing to ruin a good painting for a chance at a great one" - and made up your mind.

You blurted out, a stroke of boldness. "Have you completely moved on?"

It came out more conceited than you meant for it to, and you pray to every god out there that she doesn't think that way.

You watched a myriad of emotions projected across her face - genuine confusion, guarded shock, utter defeat.

"Ariana, I-" she broke herself off with a gulp. "Nothing will change between us, I won't let it because you're too important to me even as a friend."

"Everything changes," You breathed out. "Besides my family, no one gets me as you do. I think about you all the time when you're not with me."

It was endearing, the way her mouth opened and closed. "You do? But- why are you telling me this now? I thought you didn't want a relationship."

"I know I'd said that I wasn't ready to be with you, but turns out, I wasn't ready to be without you." You admitted. "I was scared of not being able to love and not deserving of being loved. And I'm tired of it."

There was something intense in her eyes, a fierceness to deny your words to be anything but the truth. You could see it in the subtle shakes of her head and the unconscious balling of her fist - as if she would fight anyone who thinks that, including you.

"Ariana, if there's one person in the world who deserve everything, it's you."

You weren't sure if it was the glasses but you could suddenly see everything in 20/20 vision, that you don't need a telescope to see what's far away only to miss what was right in front of you.

That was all you needed to hear. "I want to try. To be with you." You confessed. "You don't have to give me an answer right now, but please don't leave me." Your voice cracked like thin ice under the weight of your words. "I can't lose you."

You heard the soft thud of a bag hitting the ground before being engulfed in her arms.

It felt like finally being home.

AN: early access to later chapters on my ko-fi page. also feel free to DM or ask anonymously for any questions.

[imaginewriting1]

three sixty

Ariana Grande x youtuber!reader

Part 12 of "positions"

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5.5 (1) | 5.5 (2) | 5.5.5 | 6 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 11

You visited Ariana's new house for the second time that month. Maybe you were more masochistic than you thought, accepting her request for a filming project the moment she asked.

As you stepped out of the car Ariana had sent, you saw her standing at the entrance, waiting for you.

"Hi." She greeted you, leaning in for a hug. Your body flinched away instinctively like it had been burned. You stared at Ariana in guilt, when she moved away despondently, seemingly hurt by your reaction. Awkward as you were, you had never shied away from her touch... until now.

There would always be space between the both of you now. It exists every time you tug away at her pull, defying gravity once more.

"Hi yourself." You replied, waving your fingers. It was the best you can offer for now.

Ariana led you into what looked like a recording studio, giving you a place to put your stuff down. As you arranged your filming equipment, you asked curiously. "What do you want me to film?"

The question made her wring her fingers. "Oh um... I was thinking of filming me arranging one of my new songs and maybe a short clip for my album's teaser."

"That sounds cool." You affirmed, moving to set up your stuff. "Where do you want to set up?"

She gave you a set of instructions, which you complied wordlessly. After a small introduction, you stood behind her as she explained the audio she had recorded for the song, and how she intended to edit them together. The whole thing reminded you of a scene months ago, when you were in her position.

Minutes rolled by as the two of you worked efficiently, getting all the footage needed. When there was more than enough, you stopped filming and began the exporting process. While waiting, you found Ariana taking glimpses at you from where she sat. You spoke up as you caught her eye. "It should not take long. I can edit everything in thirty minutes or less."

"Okay." She replied simply, continue to watch you as you open your laptop. As you estimated, the video was edited and rendered quickly. You sent the file to her email before packing up your filming equipment.

You looked at the time. It was four in the afternoon. "Is that all you wanted me to do?" The way her mouth opened and closed, before her throat moved inaudibly, told you that something was eating at her. You waited, anyway, until she was ready to speak.

Seeing as you were not going to break eye contact, she finally said what was on her mind. "Are you free for the rest of the day?" She paused slightly, enough for you to nod before she resumed. "We can hang out, only if you want to."

If it were anyone else, you would have declined. However, the petals on your wrist encouraged you not to. It was an ironic reminder to you that everything is temporary, even pain. It was a measure of your pain tolerance, which was higher than you thought, even if it stung to think about the many instances of touching a boiling kettle to form a thick skin.

"Sure, what do you have in mind?"

The smile she gave you could rival the sun, and you didn't look away even if it blinded you. "Let's start with a tour of the house!" As she showed you around, you took note of the movie theater, wowed at the gym and sauna, and tested every bed's bounciness at Ariana's invitation. When you were out on the patio overlooking a sea of similar houses before you once more, Ariana asked. "So, what do you think?"

You stood by your first assessment of the house - it was a modern luxury that you longed to have when you were younger. However, with just the two of you in a large space, it felt a little empty and cold.

"It's big." You were aware of how simple your answer was. "It's a nice place to watch sunsets and stargaze."

"But?"

"It doesn't feel cozy or private enough, precisely because of its size and location." You continued after Ariana made a thoughtful sound. "It feels like I'm on the cliff's edge which we are quite literally. Maybe I'm just not used to such a house."

"So I wasted almost 14 million?" Ariana commented, looking a little disappointed.

You were quick to correct her. "If it suits your living style and provides everything you need for home life, the money is well spent."

"But you wouldn't pay that amount for this house, would you?"

"Probably not, it's just not for me, you know. I certainly do not need seven bathrooms." You quipped, laughing a little to lighten the mood. "But I'll definitely take advantage of your movie theatre."

That earned you a small smile from her, "What are we waiting for then?"

-

It became a tentative routine you motioned through for the rest of the month - going to her house, watching movies, playing video games, frolicking your feet in the pool while she swam, and having dinner.

Tonight, she was attempting to make gnocchi.

It's almost scary how easily the both of you for right back into each other's lives. It felt like resuming a movie after a bathroom break, picking up right where you left it off. You realized that it was hard being only friends, but it was harder if you weren't. You couldn't imagine your life without her in it, the years before meeting her felt like a motion blur.

While the whole thing only pulled you into a false sense of security, you were too weak to resist, not that you wanted to. So you might as well enjoy the ride before it crashes and burns, and you go through the entire cycle again - Icarus' attempt at flying on a loop.

You stationed yourself at the bar counter, observing Ariana as she rummaged around for spices. You wanted to help, but she waved it off with a "you're a guest, so sit down". You put your energy into bonding with the two little companions she brought over, Coco and Lily.

"There's some flour on your face." You said after noticing a faint dusting above her nose. Instinctively, you leaned towards her to swipe it off but you stopped yourself just in time to pretend you were reaching for the tissue box instead. "Here."

Ariana plucked the tissue from you gingerly. "Thanks."

After a few more minutes, the gnocchi was ready. After she plated the food, you set them on the kitchen counter, ignoring her protest. It became sort of a mini-race to see who could grab the utensils the fastest.

You managed to block her off with your arms, reaching for the drawer with the spoons. "Let me set the table. You can go get the champagne I bought you for your birthday."

Knowing that she lost, Ariana gave in. "Fine. But don't think you won this round!" Her voice faded gradually as she headed towards the wine closet.

With the puppies nipping at your heels, you arranged the cutlery for both of you, as well as the champagne flutes. It was not lost on you how domestic the whole setup was. If you were being honest, it was what you had always wanted.

You learned now, what yearning meant. It wasn't looking from afar, hoping to be looked at in return. Instead, it reflected a decision - to know where you stood and accept being in that position.

Barks announcing Ariana's return pulled you out of your thoughts. "Sorry to keep you waiting." She rushed to the table on tippy toes.

You moved towards her. "Take your time. I don't want you to trip and fall." She slowed down with a grateful smile.

After it was placed on the counter, you pulled out a chair for her. "Thank you," Ariana said as you took your own seat. You grabbed the bottle, removing the cork with a corkscrew. Carefully, you poured the alcohol into the glasses, stopping before the bubbles spilled over.

You raised your glass in a toast. "Here's to completing three songs in a week." You drank in the giggles she released as the flutes clinked together.

"What about that directing gig?" Ariana continued, after a sip.

"How is it going?"

"Well," You placed down your flute, "I got the job."

The words barely left your mouth when Ariana almost shot out of her seat, reaching for your hand. "Oh my god! Congratulations!"

You couldn't hide your smile any longer, not with how contagious Ariana's excitement was. "Logistics are being finalized, and so is the cast. We're going to start production on the first week of July."

"I'm so happy for you." You allowed yourself to be happy, just for a moment. You swiped your thumb across her hand, before letting go.

"The main actresses are amazing in their audition tape, and the whole thing will be shot in New York, and the script is fantastic and... I'm rambling, aren't I?" You realized when Ariana had wiped clean half of her plate while you had barely touched yours.

"No, I love hearing you talk about things you love." She reassured you. "Tell me more about the plot."

"It's about a freelance writer and a celebrity client for whom she's writing her biography. And how they caught feelings for each other during the book-making process." You said after a bite of pasta. "I know it sounds like a cliche plot but it's great."

"I have no doubt about that." Ariana started, but it was cut short by a blood-curdling scream. The dogs joined in surprise.

You spotted the spider crawling towards her. Without hesitation, you grab your glass and drank its contents in one go, before cupping it over it.

"Do you have a piece of paper?" You asked Ariana, who was standing a few feet away from the table.

She nodded her head, still shaking from fear. "I-I'll go get one."

When she handed it to you, you slid the paper underneath the glass before lifting both up cautiously. You walked to the little garden area where the bushes were and lay the glass on top of one. After the spider made its journey out of the glassware, you picked it up and made your way back.

Ariana had visibly collected herself in the meantime, eyeing your flute when you rinsed it thoroughly in the sink. "Don't worry, you're both safe." You said, hanging it upside down on a rack after drying.

"Are you not scared of bugs?" She asked out when you were both seated back at the table once more.

You weren't fond of them, but the sight of her terrified pushed you to take action. "Well, the worst thing that can happen if I get bitten is death, and the best thing is becoming Spider-Man. I'll take my chances."

When the dishes were done, you settled on the couch while Ariana went to get her reading glasses. You set up everything in the meantime, putting on the third installment of Harry Porter. You smiled fondly at the memory of her face colored with absolute shock when she discovered you knew nothing about the franchise (except for the four houses).

Ariana returned with the puppies in tow. Lily took her place on your lap as you removed the bowl of popcorn from it and handed it to Ariana.

"Ready to start my Harry Porter education?" You asked after she settled down. She nodded, and you pressed play.

Halfway into the movie, you felt something was amiss. It was too quiet. The dialogues and chants of spells from the speakers since were usually accompanied by Ariana's excitable recitation or fun facts every now and then.

"Ariana." You whispered. "What's wrong? Are you still shaken up by the spider?"

It was only after a moment that Ariana tore her eyes away from the screen. "Are you dating Zendaya?"

The question caught you off guard. You weren't sure what caused her to think as such. While the actress had become a regular face in your videos, you didn't think that itself would warrant dating speculation.

"No, we're just friends." You said, wondering what to say to prove so. Though your unhelpful mind supplied like us and you felt like slapping yourself. "Uh, she only has eyes for someone else."

While you pulled Ariana out of her silence, you took her place in exchange.

You would think by now, with your (half of the) wing fully melted off your back, that you learned not to fly too close to the sun. That the glittering blue beneath, would not be kind to you.

An endless loop of reaching and receding - your Tantalus punishment.

AN: early access to later chapters on my ko-fi page. also feel free to DM or ask anonymously for any questions.

[imaginewriting1]

meet you wherever you are

Ariana Grande x youtuber!reader

Part 11 of "positions"

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5.5 (1) | 5.5 (2) | 5.5.5 | 6 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10

You weren't one to celebrate birthdays, usually spending yours like it was every other day. The only difference was receiving a gift from Olivia due to her insistence. It was easy getting you one since you don't ask for much, and are appreciative of whatever you do receive. But that cannot be said the same for Ariana. What do you get someone who could get anything they wanted themselves, on top of what they already have?

It was a tall order, having to find something thoughtful but not too personal, luxurious but not too expensive, and practical yet valuable. Luckily for you, a quick Google search told you a bottle of wine and a bouquet are appropriate gifts.

On the day itself, you arrived at the given address four minutes before the event was supposed to start. You wasted 10 minutes pacing outside, waiting for Zendaya, and second-guessing your attendance. You might not have entered the premise if not for Victoria spotting you and ushering you in.

"It's been a while." She hugged you lightly once you crossed the threshold. "Ariana's at the bar area, just so you know. But feel free to mingle around and give some refreshments before the cake-cutting ceremony." With that, she left you to your devices.

It was an unfamiliar place - a house overlooking the hill that could easily appear in Architectural Digest. One you often dreamed of being in but now, it only made you feel out of place.

While you were on time, so were the other guests. Seemed like Ariana's birthday party was the one event to which the phrase "fashionably late" doesn't apply to.

It was easy to pinpoint where she was. All you had to do was look for the biggest circle of a crowd, and she would be in the middle like worker bees and their queen.

There was hesitation in your steps as you made your way to the birthday girl. However, you figured it was only polite to make your presence aware and greet her.

With people swarming around her, you could only catch glimpses of her; strands of black hair, a flash of a smile, a silver of skin. You shouldn't underestimate these sightings, no matter how fleeting they were.

Like needles, they were enough to draw blood. It was death by a thousand cuts, it was your worst fear being true. If seeing her again made it feel like no time had passed, how are you ever going to move on?

Ariana looked happy, surrounded by people who love her, people who she loves. You were happy for her, truly.

It would have been a complete truth if pain didn't ripple from your heart like a stone thrown carelessly into a pond. It was nothing you couldn't handle, but you wished you didn't have to, not when you had experienced needles on your skin. There were still remnants of bitterness that tainted your emotions and you couldn't let them stain hers too.

So you retreated slowly, turned around, and went to find some air.

You barely made it past the entrance door; your great escape. However, you stopped in your tracks, and couldn't take another step forward, not when your name sounds like that.

Inhaling deeply, you tried on a smile before turning around to face your captor. You hoped it wasn't as weak as your willpower. "Hi."

Ariana looked at you for a long while, like she was making sure you weren't just a figment of her imagination. "You actually came."

"Yeah. I RSVP'd." You swallowed. "Besides, I missed Myron. I wanted to apologize for not visiting him even though I promised to see him soon."

"Have you seen him?" Ariana played along with your half-truth.

"No, thought I might find him outside... in the driveway."

He was not, you confirmed when you found nothing but parked cars. So you gave up your pretense, which Ariana picked up on. "I think he's inside. Let's go back in." Her tone inflicted towards the end, making it sound more like a question than a command. You nodded, it's not like you could ever say no to her.

The smile she gave you in return branded itself on your soul and you bared the pain of it.

Before you could close the door behind you, the sound of the running engine grew in volume until you could see its source. A black car, with windows, rolled down as the driver communicated with the security guard. When it cruised closer and stopped, Zendaya popped out.

"Sorry I'm late," She waved at you, "the table read ran slightly longer than usual." You pulled her into a hug when she was within reach.

"No worries. Glad you made it." That was an understatement. Zendaya was a sight for sore eyes, someone you don't have to make small talk with, someone you can be yourself with at the party. "Zen, this is Ariana. Ariana, Zendaya."

"Nice to meet you, Ariana." Zendaya reached out to shake Ariana's hand.

Ariana took it, but it was the shortest handshake you ever witnessed in your life. "Zendaya. I didn't know you were attending." Ariana said with a polite smile. You were taken aback by the abrasive nature of her words. It was unlike her to be curt to people, unless... she doesn't like Zendaya for some reason.

Shit. You found yourself scrambling to say something, a strange anxiety coursing through your veins. You wouldn't have introduced them if you had known.

"I remember RSVPing that I was bringing a plus one." You spoke up, trying to diffuse the tension. "I'm sorry if it wasn't recorded or I actually didn't do so."

The change in Ariana's expression was scarily quick, if not for it appearing apologetic. "No, it did. I just thought... never mind. Let's head inside, shall we?"

You entered the mansion for the second time that day. It wasn't any better than the first, despite Zendaya being by your side.

You eventually found Myron, lying beside an unlit fireplace. He trotted towards you upon seeing you, greeting you with a small bark. He sniffed around Zendaya's calves after.

"Hi Myron." You freed your hand up to pat his head, "Sorry I didn't come to see you sooner. I got you, and your siblings to make up for it." For once, your indecision and your tendency to overthink proved to be useful. Besides the champagne and flowers, you bought some dog toys as an alternate present (albeit not something for Ariana herself), to use during playtime with her babies. You fished a chew toy out from your jacket pocket and placed it in front of him. "Here you go." Myron picked it up with his mouth immediately.

"What about me?" Ariana's voice pulled you to look up at her. "It's my birthday if you didn't know." The teasing lilt caused your lips to lift up slightly. It's a good thing she behaved amicably like the past few months didn't happen, like you were friends all this while. It eased the tension and gave you a script on how to act in return.

You stood up to face her properly. "Is it? Good thing I brought this too." You extended the bouquet of yellow roses and the bag containing the champagne bottle toward her. Even if Ariana was the only person in your sight, you were more than aware of the curious stares from the surrounding audience, like spectators to a prom proposal in a high school hallway. You forced your smile into a winning one. You watched her inspect the bottle label. "I hope they're to your liking. Zen and the sommelier recommended it." Something indescribable flashed in her eyes. "If it's not, I'll get you something else next time."

Ariana shook her head in response. "That's sweet of you but it's okay. I'm sure the champagne is great. I'll go keep it in the cellar and find a vase for the flowers."

Even if it was for a vastly different reason, you couldn't bear to see Ariana walking away from you any more than the last time. "Wait. Let me do it. It's your birthday, after all. So you should be enjoying yourself, not doing menial tasks."

"I can't possibly-" Ariana managed out before you interrupted gently.

"Please, I insist." You took the items from her grasp, before continuing. "If I saw correctly, there was a mini car in the living room. Go have fun, I'll be back soon."

Before you could step away, an arm slipped into the crook of your elbow. "I'll come with," Zendaya said, pulling you in motion before you could refute.

It was actually advantageous to have Zendaya accompanying you since she had more experience navigating such luxurious property. With her help, you found the wine cellar easily, leaving her to place the champagne bottle on an empty rack you can't reach. The vase was more of a challenge. Mostly because you wanted to minimize going through cupboards without permission.

Thankfully, you found someone that could point you to one when you wandered into the kitchen - Ariana's mom.

"Hello, Mrs Grande."

"Have you forgotten? Call me Joan"

"Joan," You amended, "Do you know where the flower vases are kept?"

"I'll go get one. In the meantime, could you help me set up the birthday cake?" Joan gestured at the countertop. Candles of different varieties are scattered around an opened cake box. You figured that your job was to choose an appropriate one for the cake. "You know what my daughter likes."

You don't know if that was still true, since things could have changed since you last saw her. However, you kept that thought to yourself.

"Of course, M- Joan. Zen, why don't you go with her with the bouquet?"

Zendaya agreed readily, taking the bouquet from you before following Joan out.

Going back to the task at hand, you first check the type of cake it was. Square in shape, with a layer of cream on the top, you assumed it was a vanilla-flavored cake. Instead of placing many candles to signify her age, you decided that one tall sparkle candle would do the trick.

You carefully insert it into the center, ensuring that it could stand upright on its own. After completing the simple task, you tidied up the area while waiting for Joan and Zendaya to return.

It was Courtney, unexpectedly, that caught you sitting idly when there was nothing else to do. "It's time for the cake-cutting ceremony. Joan asked me to bring the cake out." You complied, lifting it out from the box and handing it to her. She doesn't make any movement to receive it, however. "I think you should be the one to do it." She took your surprise as a reason to clarify further. "Consider it my birthday gift to her."

It doesn't explain much, but you were not one to argue, especially not with one of Ariana's closest friends. For all you know, you were seen as Ariana's "ex" and you don't want to jeopardize any goodwill from her.

Carrying the cake, you walked into a garden that came to life. It was a gorgeous setting with long tables and fluffy pillows and delicate flower arrangements. The birthday planners really went all out for the party (as they should).

Upon seeing the cake, everyone stopped whatever they were occupied with and started singing the birthday song. You would have joined along but all your focus went to steadying the cake in your hands and not falling flat on your face as you walked towards Ariana, sitting at the far end of the table. You were an arm's length from her just as the song ends, where she stood to receive the cake from you.

When she stared at you expectantly, you figured you should say something. "Happy Birthday," You congratulated, as sincerely as you could with the generic phrase, before adding on. "Ari." Shock colored her face, and she feared that you said something wrong, like greeting someone with the wrong name. That is what her friends call her, right? Maybe you haven't earned the right to do so yet. You changed the topic quickly, "You should make a wish."

Your suggestion seemed to pull her out of her paralysis, but her eyes remained fixed on yours for a beat longer before they looked down. You brought the candle closer to her lips, though ensuring that there was a safe distance for the sparks to fly.

You wondered what she could possibly wish for in the time her eyelids closed and opened. Most likely something she doesn't have, you thought as the fire goes out, as all wishers do.

Once the cake was cut up and served around, you went to find a seat for yourself. You spotted Zendaya waving over. "I saved you a seat!" You walked towards her appreciatively. It just happened to be on the other end of the table. With no other seats available, you plopped on top of the pillow.

Zendaya was seated on your right, while Victoria was on your left. Unlike her encounter with Ariana, Zendaya was hitting off with Victoria. You spent the time thoroughly examining the thread count of the tablecloth, admiring the floral decorations, and savoring the cake.

It was not what you expected. The texture and bite of it were unquestionably similar to tiramisu - from the layering of ladyfingers and mascarpone cream. The only thing different was taste, where you suspected the baker had to use white-colored food creatively white replicating the Italian dessert. The use of white chocolate and icing did not go unnoticed by you. With none of the coffee or cocoa powder, it was pure sweetness. It makes you want a second serving, but too much of a good thing could be bad.

Instead, you joined in on Victoria and Zendaya's conversations. "By the way, did you manage to find a vase?" You asked when the topic was about flowers.

"We did. Didn't you see your flowers over there?" You followed to where Zendaya was pointing at. And there they were, sitting in the middle of the table in a glass vase like a centerpiece.

"Oh. I didn't notice." You admitted. Though you wondered how you could miss it, given how it stood out among the polychromatic decorations around. As your eyes lingered, they gradually focused on the birthday girl behind them. Ariana must have sensed you, turning her head from someone in mid-conversation. You looked down before you got caught. Your eyes were far too honest and traitorous to your liking.

"Just go over to her already." You blinked back in surprise to find Victoria smiling at you knowingly. "It's what you came here to do anyway." It was worse when the same shade of realization crept onto Zendaya's features as she looked between you and Ariana. When she clicked her tongue, you felt a need to explain yourself.

"Well, she's clearly busy." You coughed up an excuse, but it was not exactly a lie either.

"Cut the shit. You want to go talk to her but you're forcing yourself not to. She wants you to come and approach her but something's holding her back." You don't know whether to sigh resolutely or to be surprised that Zendaya's right on the money.

"I don't know what you're talking about," You stated indignantly, proud of yourself for keeping your voice steady and your tone pressed. It was bad enough that these two (and Olivia) can read you like an open book, you don't need anyone else in on this too.

"Are you lying to me or yourself?" Victoria broke your train of thought and you pointedly look away from her, afraid that you would give away much more than you already had — afraid that you'll reveal something not just to her, but to yourself, that you won't be able to come back from.

"Fine. I'll talk to her later." You surrendered. "Eventually."

-

'Eventually' came sooner than expected, right after lunch. Everyone was either getting a drink or having a mini photo shoot while you stepped outside, away from the bustle. Zendaya sat beside you as you dangle your feet in the pool, staring out into the scenery.

"I'm sorry for being too direct earlier," Zendaya spoke up, breaking the silence. "I'm not aware of the entire picture and it's not my place to do so either."

You kicked lightly in the water, watching the water move out in waves. "You aren't exactly wrong. I do need to talk to her, can't avoid it any longer. I don't know what to say though."

"Want to tell me what happened between you two?"

You sighed internally, trying to find the words to explain your relationship with Ariana. "Long story short, we decided to remain friends after I confessed."

Zendaya patted your shoulder in sympathy. "But you still like her, don't you?" You now knew why Zendaya and Olivia were friends. You nodded wordlessly, unable to verbalize it. You did that once before, and the universe did not listen.

"This calls for a drink. I'll be right back." She stood and left before you could decline. Though she was right, you felt like you needed a drink.

(There was a day in May when the thirst to not feel anything overwhelmed you. You don't remember much of it, except a pounding headache when you woke up and the feeling of Olivia holding your hair as you threw up. The next day, you visited a reputable tattoo parlor a few blocks away.)

Something non-alcoholic and sweet, that's it.

You heard the wood planks creak under the weight of footsteps. "Back so-" You turned to see Ariana standing over you. "Oh. Hi."

You watched as the wind played with the hem of her dress, and you trained your eyes back to the pool. "Can I sit here?"

"Well, it's your house so..." You trailed off, moving your hands from your side to your lap, a gesture of invitation. The sound of people chattering filled the silence. You splashed your feet around gently, adding to the white noise.

Ariana broke the ice suddenly. "What were you doing out here?" Continuing much quietly after clearing her throat. "Besides hanging with Zendaya."

You resisted the instinct to turn your head, looking up instead. "Just admiring the sky I guess. The moon's out early today." While you weren't looking at her, you knew she was taking a photo of it. "You know when they say you're feeling lonely all you have to do is look up. You carried the conversation, knowing how fascinated she was with space. "Because there's nothing lonelier than space. All that orbiting but never coming close to ever touching."

Ariana hummed in agreement, a melodious little sound. Even if they weren't visible, you wished upon all the stars - shooting or dying - for Zendaya to come back quickly. For once, your prayers were answered.

"Here you go." Zendaya handed you a glass filled with pink-colored liquid. You took a whiff gingerly, causing her to smile "Don't worry, it's fruit punch."

She sat down on your left, her previous spot still occupied by Ariana "Sorry I didn't get one for you." Zendaya continued, addressing Ariana behind your shoulders, to which she replied, "It's fine. I'll go get one myself."

Zendaya watched Ariana leave on your behalf, making sure she was out of earshot before asking. "Had your talk?"

"If you could call it one." You said, before downing your drink in one go. She wrapped one arm around you in comfort. Her shoulder was at the perfect height for your head to lean against, when you felt drained all of a sudden.

AN: early access to later chapters on my ko-fi page. also feel free to DM or ask anonymously for any questions.

[imaginewriting1]

if i love you, is 'us' completely off the table

Ariana Grande x youtuber!reader

Part 10 of "positions"

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5.5 (1) | 5.5 (2) | 5.5.5 | 6 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5

Love isn't patient and kind and humble,

Love is messy and horrible and selfish and bold.

It's not finding your perfect half,

It's the trying and the reaching and failing. - Ellie Chu

Waking up the day after felt like an abrupt cut from a lovely sunny scene to a heavy downpour that had everyone scrambling for shelter. The transition (if it could be called one) was jarring and disturbing leaving you questioning everything.

Everything felt duller. The colors, your thoughts, but not the pain. You thought about how this must feel like an alcoholic's first withdrawal.

Nothing really excited you anymore, not even cute cat videos Olivia sent you throughout the mourning period. As dramatic as that sounded, it was how you felt - lost, like someone who found out that their faith was false.

All you could do was distract yourself with work and movies. At least some people get the happy endings they deserved.

You tried to put on a brave face, but even your viewers could tell something was amiss. Especially when you suddenly put on makeup to cover up your prominent eye bags. The sharper ones, the ones that have left comments pointing out the lack of celebrities appearing on your channel after the last one. Or posting more content on depressing stuff, like failed relationships and how to move on.

It was hard to get any sleep when the back of your eyelids acted like screens for memories of Ariana to be projected on, every time you closed them. Even when they were opened, you would see her ghost in every nook and cranny of your house, in everything she has ever touched.

You couldn't even bring yourself to throw away the toothbrush she used when you were scrubbing your bathroom clean (as though it can erase every inch of her from your head), because you were a sentimental fool like that.

It was scary to realize how much space she took up in your life, now that you were left with an Ariana-sized crater in your heart. You had no one but yourself to blame for that. You knew where you stood in this relationship, anywhere but with her.

You tried getting advice from your viewers, anyone who had similar experiences of going through something like this, but it all boils down to eating a lot of ice cream (which you already do), getting wasted (which you will never do), and 'getting under someone else' (which is ironic since it was exactly how you had gotten into this mess in the first place).

So in other words: you're screwed, and not in a good way.

Olivia was as supportive as she could be, coming by whenever she could. She let you wallow for a month and a half before she put her foot down on helping you get over Ariana effectively.

(Like throwing away that damn toothbrush as a start.)

-

Three months in, your heart (or whatever was left of it) still jumped every time your phone chimed. You felt disappointed at yourself for feeling disappointed when you realize it was not Ariana who had texted you.

Though, that feeling gave way to curiosity, when you realized it was Victoria this time.

Did you two break up?

You didn't know how to respond. How could you break up with someone you weren't with the first place?

I've never seen her like that for a long time, not even when she broke off her engagement.

You typed out and deleted a 'Is she okay?' and replaced it with 'What did she say?'

She refused to tell me so I'm asking you.

'I can't tell you, probably for the same reasons why she didn't.' You replied.

Honest to God, you two are the same.

Anyway, you need to fix this. So I'm officially inviting you to her birthday party.

I'll text you the details closer to the date.

-

In June, when you started feeling more like a person instead of a shell, you continued therapy again. Even if it was ironic that you should have gone when you were feeling empty.

"So, the friend of the person you confessed to invited you to their birthday on their behalf." Dr. Martin summarized. She scribbled onto her notepad after your confirmation, looking back up when she was done. "Are you planning to go?"

"I was going to ask you if I should, Doc." You confessed. While you know your therapist would never give you a definitive answer, because that was not how it worked, the question was what prompted you to attend this week's session after postponing it for weeks.

Dr. Martin closed her notepad and placed it on the table, directing all of her attention to you. "What are your biggest concerns about going? She waited for you to form your thoughts, patient even when seeing you visibly struggling to voice them out. "What are you thinking of?"

At her prompt, your worries spilled out of you.

"What if she doesn't want me there? What if seeing me makes her realize that she doesn't want to be friends anymore, that she is better off without me? What if seeing her makes me realize that I still have feelings for her?"

Each thought felt like a bullet, and your lungs felt like it was being filled with water and you can't-

"Breathe with me. In. Out." You let the sound of Dr. Martin's breathing guide you along. "Better?"

You exhaled shakily and nodded.

"Let's address them one by one, shall we?" With your consent, she continued. "While you can't possibly know how she will feel with you being there at her party, how do you think she would feel, realistically?"

"I think she wouldn't kick me out, at the very least." You managed to joke a little, to lift your own spirits. "She did want us to continue being friends."

"Well, that seems to answer the second concern of yours, doesn't it?" Dr. Martin pointed out.

"That's true, but there would still be a possibility that she might not want that anymore." You sighed. "We haven't spoken in more than four months."

"Why haven't you?"

"I told her I needed some time."

Dr. Martin nodded along. "That's good, knowing that you needed time to heal. And that ties in with the last issue. You are worried that you didn't have enough time to move on, and seeing her at her party would only reset it, aren't you?"

"Yes." You admitted. "You knew how long it took me to get over my ex."

"I do, I even remember you said, and I quote 'the internet says half the time you were in love with them, but since you never do what other people say, it takes you twice as long.'

You gave her a half-smile. "Word for word, Doc."

"So how long will it take for this one?"

You couldn't really pinpoint exactly when you had fallen for Ariana, since every moment spent with her felt like a gradual accumulation of your feelings. But if you were counting your crush as one, then it's right from the start. That was in September, last year, about nine months ago. If you subtracted the past four months and multiplied by two, it meant that it would take almost an entire year to get over something that wasn't even supposed to be a thing.

Dr. Martin let the question slide, knowing that the answer was too hard for you to ever admit. "Hey, there is no shame in needing as much time as you need to move on. And if you feel like seeing her before that could jeopardize your healing process, you don't have to attend the party." When Dr. Martin removed her glasses, you knew she had more to say. "However, knowing you, you'll never do what people ever tell you to do, don't you."

The laugh you let out was the most genuine one you had in a long time.

-

"She invited you to her birthday?" Olivia repeated incredulously. "And you're going?"

It was days after your therapy session when Olivia popped by your house. Coincidentally, it was when Victoria texted you the details as promised.

While she didn't press you about it, closing her mouth the moment she opened it, you divulged the information to her anyways.

"Well, Victoria did. And yes, I'm going. As a friend." You said, reading the text carefully. "It says that I can bring a plus one."

"You want me to come along." She finished with an understanding nod. "When is it?"

"On the 26th." You watched as Olivia checked the calendar on her phone. The way she frowned and looked at you apologetically told you all you needed to know. "Guess I'll be going alone."

"Don't be so sure, I'll ask if anyone is free to accompany you." Olivia said, "I don't want you to be alone in the same space with her."

You shook your head. "I think it'll be more awkward to bring a stranger along as a plus one than to see Ariana again."

"Not if you get to know them before the party." Olivia's face lit up with a scheming look. "In fact, you can feature them on the food vlog you were planning to film."

"But we were supposed to do it together."

"Babe, you need new faces on your channel. I think your viewers are starting to get sick of me."

"That's not true..." You trailed off in protest, which quickly faded when she quirked her eyebrow at you. "Fine."

Olivia grinned. "You won't regret it."

-

Once again, Olivia wasn't lying when a woman with big sunglasses and a scarf took a seat at your table in your favorite cafe.

"Hi," Your eyes grew wider as she unraveled her disguise. "I'm-"

"MJ?"

She laughed despite your rude interruption. "Most people don't call me by the name of characters I've played but, sure, I don't mind being Michelle Jones for the day."

"No need, just be yourself." You broke out of your shock quickly to shake her hand. "Thanks for agreeing to do this with me. I hope Olivia didn't coerce you or anything."

"Not at all, how can I deny myself from meeting one of my favorite Youtubers? Plus I'm promised a party too."

"You watched my videos? That cannot be true."

"I found your latest video on heartbreaks from queer women's perspectives quite interesting." Zendaya commented, "though I missed watching your vlogs."

"Well, good thing I'm making one, with you." You gestured to the small camera placed purposefully on the table.

Zendaya leaned into its periphery and introduced herself. "Hi guys, I'm Zendaya." She picked the camera up before pointing it at you. "Miss Youtuber here is going to bring us to different food places that she swears by."

You joined in. "Yep, I'll be showing you my favorite joints and Zendaya is here to check whether my taste buds are credible or not. Starting with this cafe." Picking up the camera, you panned it slowly to capture the entire interior of the cafe before flipping it over.

With its industrial wooden furniture and metal finishings, the cafe was one of those quiet, artistic insta-worthy places that you and Olivia liked to frequent. The thing that made this particular shop your favorite was their bubble tea.

"So Zen, what drinks do you want to try?" You asked when the two of you walked to the counter. "I recommend their green milk tea with boba but all of them are good."

You recorded Zendaya studying the menu board before looking up at you. "You like matcha as well?"

"I do." You nodded off-camera. "I love anything sweet. Sweetened matcha, dark chocolates... kind of interesting since they're a little bit bitter as well."

Zendaya's expression turned into a thoughtful one. "You're right." She nodded towards the display case. "Should we get some desserts too?"

"I would if the next place we're going to doesn't have the best tiramisu in town." You said, before telling the barista your orders.

When your drinks were ready, you placed your camera down to grab them and handed Zendaya a cup. Instead of taking it, Zendaya picked up the camera and pointed it toward your wrist. "What's the name of the flower?"

You turned your wrist so she could get a better view of your tattoo. "It's a gladiolus. It symbolizes strength."

Instead of finding someone new or partying out every day, you heeded the unique advice from a commenter about how a tattoo could be a constant in a life that changes all the time. You agreed with her; if there was one thing that cannot be taken away from you, it was the ink beneath your skin.

It was a short walk to the place you couldn't stepped foot on since the last time you were there. Chef was unsurprisingly surprised to see you, eyeing Zendaya when she showed you to the table personally. "New date?" She asked rhetorically.

Even though it was only meant for you to hear, the way Zendaya scoffed with mock hurt told you she caught it. "You brought other women here beside me? Way to make a girl feel special."

You played along, raising your hand in surrender. "Hey, only so many places make their pasta by hand."

Zendaya dropped all pretenses at the sound of delicious food. "Ooh! Let's order some then."

The both of you found more things in common before your food arrived - being vegetarian, loving animals, and disliking coffee.

Zendaya twirled her fork around some of her pasta before taking a bite. You smiled when her face scrunched up in delight. "How did you discover this place?"

"It was raining that day, and I just happened to forget my umbrella." You explained. "So I took shelter here. The rest is history."

"That's it?" Zendaya placed a fork down, leaning towards you. "It doesn't explain why the chef knows you."

At that moment, you could understand why Chef asked you that question.

You took a sip of water. "Well, I often come by whenever something big happens in my life. So you could that Chef and her food is inextricably linked to those milestones and memories."

"Am I something big that happened in your life?" Zendaya inferred.

"Well, it's not every day you could have lunch with an award-winning actress and singer."

The both of you shared a smile before continuing to eat. It was her turn to be surprised when Chef placed one plate of tiramisu on the table after the main courses were finished.

"You're not going to have 'the best tiramisu in town' for yourself?" Zendaya asked when you pushed the dessert toward her.

"I had it many times. It's you who needs to try it." It wasn't a lie, but the truth was you don't know how you could eat it without feeling slightly bitter. 

AN: early access to later chapters on my ko-fi page. Also feel free to DM or ask anonymously for any questions.

[imaginewriting1]

falling

Ariana Grande x youtuber!reader

Part 9.5 of "positions"

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5.5 (1) | 5.5 (2) | 5.5.5 | 6 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9

You had been there before, having feelings for someone who might not reciprocate. So you knew how to act, how to keep it under wraps.

You managed to maintain a distance from Ariana for two weeks before she requested to FaceTime you instead of texting per normal. You figured it was her most urgent attempt to reach you. If it was any other time, the effort would have you elated - like a teenage girl being waved at by her crush. However, when you had been half-heartedly avoiding her, you felt the tiniest bit of dread. You couldn't do it any longer without feeling guilty either.

Her pronounced pout was the first thing that appeared on your screen, and you wonder how you managed to stay away all this while.

"Hey." You waved, putting on a placating smile.

Ariana barely concealed her eye roll. "Don't hey me. Who is keeping you away from me?"

Me, myself, and I - you thought about the irony of it. "Work. You know how clients are." It wasn't that much of a lie, since you did busy yourself by taking up gigs, hoping that it'll serve as a form of distraction and a credible excuse. However, now that you said it out loud, you knew that it was bullshit knowing how you would have dropped everything to spend time with her - like you did before.

Ariana's eyes narrowed before huffing. "You're lucky I do." In a blink, something softer reflected in them. "Are they still holding you hostage?"

"I have some loose ends to tie up today." You replied truthfully.

"So you'll be free tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I will be." You say. It's not like you could ever say no to her, not that you ever want to. "Do you want to come over or should I go to you?"

Your question made her pause unexpectedly like it was particularly hard to decide. Still, you waited patiently for her answer.

"I'll come to you."

-

You were both lying on top of your duvet, taking a breather.

It was surprising, to say the least, when Ariana appeared at your doorstep at 12 pm sharp, when you were still in the shirt you wore to sleep. Her response to you asking "don't you usually come by in the evening?" was simply "making up for lost time" and had you practically backtrack all the way back to your bedroom.

All your fears seemed to disappear when Ariana's hands were on you. Maybe this is enough, you thought, as you free-fall backward onto your bed.

"I was thinking," Ariana spoke up, breaking your concentration from your stare-off with the ceiling. "We should have dinner."

Your mind started to whir again after being blissfully blank. You shifted around to grab your phone. "Sure we can get takeouts. What are you craving?"

"I meant like at a restaurant."

It wasn't exactly out of the blue, but it was the first time in a while since she suggested a public outing. Instead, you jumped at the chance to make a timely joke. "You want to eat out?"

You laughed along with her, before addressing your main concern. "Aren't you worried about the paparazzi?

"Don't worry about them, or about what my publicist said. I'm sure I could think of ways to deal with being famous." Ariana sat up and flipped her hair theatrically. You would have chuckled at her antics, but you were too busy trying not to look at the sweat gleaming on her skin.

"Alright, I'll take your word for it, Grande."

-

If not for Ariana's defeated 'fuck' after the fifth phone call she had made, you wouldn't have known that her plans were being thwarted.

"Seems like everyone had the same idea of renting out restaurants today. Too bad I didn't plan for this earlier." Ariana sighed in frustration, running through her hair in a manner that had you wincing.

You reached out to hold her hand still before it could cause further damage to her scalp. "I may know a place," You suggested, "it's Italian, with in-house handmade pasta and all that. How does that sound?"

"That sounds really good actually." Ariana perked up but her smile remained cautiously small. "Are you sure we can get a table on such short notice?"

"I'm sure they might make an exception for me, being famous and all." You paraphrased her words, watching Ariana's shoulders relax with a laugh.

"We should head there early, to beat the dinner crowd." She advised you.

"I'll go get change." You replied, heading towards your closet. You decided on a simple black suit jacket over a white shirt and a pair of jeans - a perfect mix of formal and casual, and as a real treat to your feet, you decided to wear your blue sneakers for the first time. "Do you want to borrow my clothes?" You asked as you finished putting the shirt buttons in place.

Ariana had worn a black dress when she came by (now discarded on the floor somewhere), obviously meant for fine dining. However, since the place you brought up had a casual setting, she might be more comfortable wearing something else.

She put on one of your t-shirts (after you pointed out how hoodies or sweatshirts are too iconic on her to be a disguise) and a simple pair of jeans. You fitted a cap over her head and slid a pair of lensless glasses over her ears. "I know they're not exactly your style but that's the whole point of it." You justified, as she checked her reflection in the mirror. She looked better in your clothes than you do, anyway.

"Thank you." Ariana's voice broke you out of your reverie, and you realized that you had spoken out loud.

You felt your ears heating up as you smiled bashfully. "Are we ready to go then?"

You could call it a mistake, offering up your hand. But when Ariana took it, gently prying your fingers apart to fill up the spaces with her own, you couldn't bring yourself to let go. You only do so to grab a pair of sneakers for her. The restaurant was close by and it was easier to walk with them than high heels.

The stroll was enveloped in the kind of quietness that calmed you. You were content with listening to the rustling of leaves and chirping of birds, enjoying the cooling night breeze and the warmth of her palm.

When you arrived at your destination, you observed that the restaurant was definitely more crowded than usual, but unlike Ariana, you had no issues getting a table, not when you had special favors from being a regular. The two of you were shown to a private table at the back promptly as you requested. After you were seated and introduced to the menus, the waiter left. A few moments later, you heard a recognizable voice.

"It's been a while, my favorite customer." She greeted, before turning towards Ariana inquisitively, "And her date. Welcome!"

You looked up from your menu, smiling at the chef owner's presence. "Hey, Chef. Thanks for giving us a table on such short notice."

"You're welcome. Would you like your usual?"

You declined politely, "No, I'm trying to stop eating meat."

It was a funny sight, watching Ariana and Chef raising their eyebrows in sync. "Alright, I'll leave you two with the menu. Signal to a waiter if you are ready to order."

True to your word, you opted for vegetarian pasta while Ariana ordered a vegan special as per the waiter's recommendation.

"You don't have to eat meatless food just because I do." She said after the waiter left with your orders.

"Well, I do it for Piggy. Don't want her to bite me again." You watched in wonder when Ariana threw her head back in soft laughter.

Your orders arrived mid-conversation, but they don't deter you from talking and exchanging stories in between bites. You looked around to see other patrons enjoying their dinner with their respective companies. There were more couples than usual, but it was nothing unusual, given what today was.

Your mind took flight for a moment, wondering what it's like to have that, to be them. However, your eyes found their way back to Ariana, pulling you back to reality. You realised that you don't need to wonder, not went you already had a taste of it, not went you could have the full course meal if you just asked for it.

"Hey." She called out gently, breaking you out of your thoughts. "You looked like you were a thousand miles away."

"Sorry, I was just thinking about-"

You cut yourself short when you spot a waiter walking towards the table with two plates. You don't recall ordering anything else. "Compliments of the chef, vegan tiramisu." After placing them in front of you and Ariana, the waiter went away with your request to thank Chef on your behalf.

"She's so sweet," Ariana commented while snapping pictures of the desert with her phone. "How did the two of you become so close?"

You replied after swallowing the first bite. "Probably the week when I visited for three consecutive days. I was going through a stressful situation and her food comforted me. They were the closest thing I had to a home-cooked meal."

"I can see why." Ariana nodded understandingly after polishing her fork clean. "It's not just the food, the ambiance and decor are so warm and cozy - and the smell..." She took a deep breath in, a gesture so endearing you caught yourself doing the same. "It's so wonderful, so homey."

"Exactly. It's like a home away from home."

"Like yours." She supplied, and you had a sudden urge to reach out across the table to hold her hand. You settle for freeing your grip from your fork and grabbing the glass of water to drown the impulse.

"I'm thankful that you brought me here."

You gulped, "You're more than welcome."

-

Dinner ended when you realized you were the last customer for the night. You left a generous tip as an apology for staying way past closing time, even when Chef and the serving staff assured you that they were more than happy to accommodate.

With Ariana's car parked at your house, she had to walk back with you to retrieve it. "Maybe we should have driven here instead." You mused out loud, feeling a little regretful for causing her inconvenience.

"Nope, it was a good idea to walk." Ariana squeezes your arm. "It helps with digestion, and god knows how full I am." As the two of you rounded the corner, she continues. "Besides, it's a nice night to have a stroll.

It was true, with the stars and moon guiding you back home. You got to play the part of a romantic lead by lending Ariana your jacket at the first signs of shivers.

When you found yourself in the liminal space between your doorstep and Ariana's car, neither of you made a move toward your respective places. The both of you stood there expectantly, yet unsure of what each other wanted. It's a strange but not unpleasant feeling - not wanting to head home just yet. Or rather, not wanting the night to end. A small voice in you told you to take the lead, so you listened.

You had never asked this question in a while, but perhaps it's time to do so.

"Do you want to come in?"

Ariana's answer was so quiet you almost thought you imagined it. "Yes."

It was different, but not unusual, for the two of you to sit on the couch in the living room. You had never really thought much about what to do next after inviting Ariana into your house verbally.

That was because, usually, you didn't have to. All it took was Ariana wrapping her legs around your waist as soon you opened the door, pushing you back to your bed. It was routine, easy and compliable.

However, since you already completed that task earlier today, there was technically nothing else on the schedule. If you thought about it, you could find humor in how you and Ariana did the wine and dine in reverse - eating dessert first, so to speak.

Not that it was a bad thing, as was the silence. You were both full from a meal after all and needed some time to digest the food and the events that happened today.

What did eat away at you, was the lack of compulsion to turn on the television. Normally, you would have filled the space with a motion picture and white noise, but something told you not to. Instead, the black screen seemed to be watching you instead, or rather, reflecting the way you and Ariana are positioned.

Your body was angled towards her, like a comma, but still facing the screen in front of you. Her knees were barely touching your right one, her fingers fidgeted on her lap.

The urge you thought you had sunk rises back up in you, this time pushing you to kiss her.

If this was a movie, the moments leading up to now would lead to the confession scene. If there was one thing you learned from all the films you had watched, doing nothing often led to regret.

Olivia was right, you have to tell her how you felt. But what if that ruined everything? Text messages that helped you get through a stressful day, phone calls reminding each other to eat, telling her to take it easy, asking you to stay up with her on days when sleep evaded her.

But what if she felt the same? Yes, you knew that Ariana had trauma from her previous relationships. You remembered clearly that this arrangement was made solely because she wanted a simple, no strings attached sexual relationship. But, the touching surely wasn't purely platonic, was it? The constant want to hang out with you must mean something, don't they?

You focused on her again and had all the answers you needed.

"Ariana," You saw growing confusion reflected back at you in her pupils. "I want to kiss you."

You felt her body shift within heartbeats, before registering that her lips were inches from yours. "You can."

In another world, her permission would bring you joy. But in this moment, all it conveyed was she doesn't understand the gravity of your words, through no fault of her own, since you haven't fully admitted everything yet.

"It's not just that..." You trailed off, breathing in to gather more courage.

"What is it then?"

Maybe there was something in her tone, or perhaps it was the way her gaze was downcasted, looking away - that she already knew the answer, like she has seen this film before.

Still, you had to speak it into existence, for the universe to hear, so that maybe, just maybe it would bring it to life.

I'm not sure if it's Valentine's day, but seeing all those couples being happy, makes me want that too. With you. I want more than what we already have; I want all of it, all of you.

"That if I do, I will want more. More than what we already are. I want us to be together."

You liked to think that your confession have an extraordinary impact - like a star being born in a nearby galaxy, a flower sprouting from a crack on ice, the very first heartbeat of a newborn being heard.

However, as quickly as they were uttered, your confession dissipated into the silence, like light entering a black hole. And suddenly, she's light years away, a star you can never reach.

"I- I can't give you what you want. I'm sorry."

Instead, a million constructed realities collapsed in on themselves. All that's left in the aftermath were fragments of what could have been.

So, now what?

"Don't be. It's not your fault that you're so easy to love." You were surprised how you kept yourself from choking up. "Even if that's not what you're looking for."

It's funny, when Ariana looked more heartbroken than you are like she was the one who had lost something dear to her.

"We can still be friends," Her voice wavered in uncertainty towards the end, a question and a plea rolled into one.

Since you rather have a piece of her than nothing at all, you forced out: "I would like nothing less, but I need some time."

The light seemed to follow her out when she left. You watched it grow dimmer as the door closed, staring blankly in the dark like when the ending credits finished rolling and everything faded to black.

AN: i made myself cry with this chapter. so feel free to donate to my ko-fi page so i can buy some ice cream.

[imaginewriting1]

flying

Ariana Grande x youtuber!reader

Part 9 of "positions"

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5.5 (1) | 5.5 (2) | 5.5.5 | 6 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5

“Gravity is matter’s response to loneliness.” - (By someone) Alice Wu (had forgotten)

The way Ariana mentioned her concert weeks ago, vaguely and casually, made you think it was a relatively small event. This assumption was further solidified when Ariana found an easy solution to her PR manager’s concerns, by suggesting that you bring Olivia along. This way, attention would be diverted away from your relationship with Ariana.

So imagine your shock when you found yourself in one of the studio rooms in Staples Center, watching Ariana run through her choreography.

“I can’t believe BTS was sitting beside us just five minutes ago,” Olivia exclaimed. “Even I can’t get access to this kind of experience that easily. These backstage passes are the best.”

You looked down at the pass Ariana had placed around your neck after the security checks. “Technically, they are staff passes.”

Olivia leaned towards you and half-whispered conspiratorially, “Even better, imagine all the restricted places we can go that a fan can’t. Maybe I’ll catch a glimpse of them again.” 

“Well, knock yourself out. Bring back any goodies or souvenirs you find.” 

“Don’t I always? Be right back.” After a quick hug, Olivia left with gleeful steps.

If you were the person before, you would entertain her idea. Hell, you would probably have come up with it, sneaking around with her to check out the place and people around. However, now at the moment, you were content watching Ariana dance.

Even with a flurry of female dancers surrounding her, your eyes seemed to fixate solely on Ariana. You observed the way she moved, and how her dancers shifted along with her. At a particular moment, one of them corrected the placements of her thighs.

The slightest strain of irk shot through you, immediately shifting into alarm. You shouldn’t have felt this way every time the dancers came into contact with her.

You were pulled out of your thoughts when a shadow was cast over you. Looking up, you found Ariana staring at you inquisitively. You looked away in embarrassment, not wanting your face to give away anything.

“What’s wrong?”

There was a “nothing” sitting on the tip of your tongue, but you hate to lie, especially to her. You let out a sigh, “I just found out that I don’t like it when someone else touches you and I’m not.” Ariana’s eyebrow shot up, mouth opening to say something, but you stopped her she could. “I know, I have no right to feel this way, much less at people who are just doing their jobs.”

The look on her face transformed into a pensive one. You sat there like a kid caught doing something they weren’t supposed to do, waiting fearfully for the consequences. With your eyes downcast, you did not notice Ariana moving closer until her hands came into view to cup your cheeks.

With the way she leaned in closer, you thought she was going to sit on your lap. However, she stopped at bringing her face to yours. In such close proximity, you couldn’t duck your head to hide it even if you wanted to. “It’s okay to feel that way, as long as you don’t act upon them.” She said diplomatically, reminding you of your therapist. Moving towards your ear, she continued, “But you don’t have to be jealous. I only want your touch.” Her lips grazed the shell of your ear, “and you can do so, however much you want, tonight.”

She turned around before you could react, walked back to where the dancers were and went back to formation again. You spent the time looking away whenever Ariana shot a wink over. 

After an hour, someone informed Ariana to prepare for the upcoming full dress rehearsal. Everyone got ready to make their way to the stage. All you did was carry Toulouse while you followed around Ariana cluelessly.

Olivia doesn’t return in time, but you don’t worry, knowing your friend would have no trouble finding her way around. As for you, being Ariana’s “staff”, you were put in charge of overseeing her performance. So you were situated at the standing pen, observing everyone prepare. 

When she faced your direction, you turn your head to see who she was looking at. You only realized that it was you when she tried to hide her smile behind her hand.

You felt compelled to move when she made her way towards you as quickly as she could in her black ball gown.

You met her at the edge of the stage where she had squatted down, her hands draped across your shoulders. “Tell me how the whole thing looks from the audience.” 

Her voice rose at the end, making it sound like a request. Tilting your head up, you replied, “It looks spectacular. Especially your dress and the orchestra at the back. Show-stopping material.” 

The smile you were rewarded with was brighter than the spotlights above. “I have to go get the show on the road then,” Ariana said, playing with the baby hairs behind your neck. “Can’t wait to blow your mind.”

If not for the split-second glint in her eyes, you would have been fooled by her angelic aura. For the second time, she shifted closer towards you, only to jerk backward, as though she was catching herself from doing something. You didn’t have this realization at that time, more concerned with Ariana losing her balance.

Your torso hit the stage as you surged forward, arms extended in an attempt to act like a wall or some sort of safety net.

The heart-dropping sensation only subsided when she stopped wobbling. However, in the absence of adrenaline and fear, a throbbing pain grew sharper around your kneecaps.

“You good?” You asked in a voice you hoped would sound casual, ignoring the ache.

Her words shook a little when she spoke. “Y-yeah,” She cleared her throat, looking away while doing so, “I’m fine. Are you okay? I heard a thud.”

Your arms went back to your side. “I’m okay. Nothing I can’t handle. I’m just glad I’m not responsible for breaking Ariana Grande’s bones.” You let out a small smile, hoping to lighten the mood. It worked, with Ariana returning one. From the corner of your eyes, you saw someone motioning towards you and Ariana. “Looks like everyone is good to go. I shouldn’t keep you any longer then.”

Ariana’s head swiveled around, seeing the same things you witnessed. “Right. I’ll see you after the show.” She paused a little, teeth sinking lightly into her lips like she was in contemplation. A slight shake of her head told you she was dismissing whatever thought she had. Instead, she stood up slowly and headed back to the center of the stage. Your hands went back up to their earlier position, poised in front of you until you were sure there was no possibility of her falling.

-

The lights dimmed slowly before a sudden beam shone solely on the singer. As the orchestra moved collectively, the notes started stringing together into your favorite song of hers.

You thought hearing Ariana sing up close before showed you how amazing a performer she was, and how she would be the same for this concert.

You could not have been more wrong in your life. It was not the same when there was fancy lighting that made her shine even brighter than you thought possible, the accompanying live orchestra and her voice, god, her voice reverberating around an empty stadium - so raw and powerful and controlled and freeing - changing pitch and notes as easily as breathing, making every song better than you could have ever imagined. 

It was utterly disbelieving how she could sound so heavenly and could carry a myriad of emotions in her voice. You could only shake your head in awe when she pulled off yet another high note, smiling when she did after the ending of each song. 

It was an experience that could not be compared to any other, no other concerts could ever be the same as this one - the closest thing to a private show you could ever get. You knew people would pay tens or hundreds of thousands for this priceless experience you had gotten for free.

Maybe you should change your career. Ariana Grande’s personal assistant or bodyguard doesn't sound bad at all.

“You should close your mouth before a fly gets in there.” A familiar voice nudged you back to reality. 

Smiling at Olivia’s tease, you replied, “The security here is so tight I don’t think insects are even allowed to enter. By the way, you just missed the best performance you’ll ever see today, or possibly even your whole life.”

Olivia raised her eyebrows. “I would disagree and say that BTS’s rehearsal was the best I’ve seen but you wouldn’t know since you spent the whole time staring at your girl.” You watched as her face softened into a smile knowingly. “Better make me your maid of honor.”

In that instance, you realized that you still haven't told Olivia the truth. “About that-”

“Sorry to interrupt ladies, but Ariana has requested your presence.” The both of you looked up to find Max and a practically cleared stage for the next act. You gestured for him to lead the way. 

Upon entering Ariana’s dressing room, she exclaimed happily at the sight of you. “Hey! What do you think of my performance?” She jumped up from her seat to give you a hug. You wrapped your arms around her to return it.

“It was amazing, truly. Never seen anything more spectacular.” You sank into her embrace. “I think there are tears in my eyes for how beautiful it was.”

“Thank you.” Her giggles caused goosebumps to form on your arms, and you realized that it was how she sounded when she was truly happy. You were glad to be a part of it.

“Need me to give you two the room?”

Ariana only pulled away at the sound of Olivia’s cough. She clapped her hands like she had an idea she wanted to share. “How about I take you guys around instead?”

“Uh, Olivia already-” Your mouth was muffled by said friend. She shot you a look before moving her hand away slowly.

Didn’t think I have to wingwoman you with someone you already have.

Oh. Good idea.

“We would be honored,” Olivia spoke on your behalf.

“Great, give me a minute to change.”

After she did, the three of you started touring around the stadium. You were sandwiched between them when Olivia linked arms with you and Ariana followed suit. Being in that position, you felt curious stares averting your way as you were basically dragged around. You shot apologetic smiles to those who had to make way for you three - similar to when the popular girls in school, sashaying down the hallway.

All in all, you met some of the performing acts, learned the seating plan of invitees, and walked down the red carpet. It was satisfying to experience something you never thought you could. 

“-and that’s pretty much it. It isn’t as magical as they make it out on TV.” Ariana concluded the tour when you arrived back where you started. “Since we’re done for the day, do you have any plans for the rest of it?” 

“We have our biweekly movie nights today.” You replied. “Do you want to join us? It’s at my place.”

Ariana beamed, “You can drive.”

-

Today could be arguably one of the best days of your life. A quiet night of watching a movie with people you love after an exciting day.

You, Olivia, and Ariana were lazing all over your couch. Since you were in the middle, again, their legs overlapped on your lap underneath blankets and pillows. A scatter of takeout boxes lay on the tables, providing sustenance and some sort of distraction from a psychological thriller playing on the portable screen. 

You don’t know why they chose this film when it scares the shit out of them, bumping their arms into yours whenever there is a particularly loud noise. Their jerky movements caused your heart to stop more than the film's sound effects. So you decided to play a game of taking a bite of food every time someone screamed or used you as a wall.

Maybe you should choose the films next time instead of being the gracious host. 

When the movie finally ended, you instinctively shifted your weight to stretch. But when you heard soft intelligible murmurings against the curve where your neck meets your shoulders, your movements slowed to a standstill. 

“She fell asleep, didn’t she?” Olivia whispered. You hummed a response as opposed to nodding your head. “I guess our usual sleepover is off.”

“You can still stay tonight if you want. Share the bed with Ariana. I’ll take the couch.” You said, after tucking Ariana beneath your duvet covers and returning to your potential sleeping area for the night.

“You want me to share the bed with her?” Olivia shot you a confused look which turned into what you recognized as her teasing smile. “You aren’t afraid of me stealing her from you?”

The feeling that rose in you wasn’t the same possessive jealousy that gripped you earlier. It was a mellower, more gradual swell of helpless frustration; a reluctant acceptance that Ariana isn’t yours to lose. 

“Well if you do, it’s fair game. Since she is single.”

You would laugh at the way Olivia’s eyes go comically wide if you weren’t feeling like you’ve just watched a plot twist that made things worse for the protagonist - and you can only shout uselessly at the screen.

“What!?” Olivia half whispered, half exclaimed. Her hands flailed around to gesture her bewilderment. “But what about the constant staring, the touching? When you drove, her hand was on your knee the entire time. You two are like magnets.”

With a sigh, you told Olivia everything about your relationship with Ariana - from interviewee to friends with benefits. She’s patient enough not to interrupt with questions until you’re done.

“Well, I’m proud of you for trying something new.” She said, pausing with a slight frown. “But from what I’ve heard, it sounds awfully like you are pretty much in an actual relationship with her.” 

“Without feelings.” You supply subconsciously, regretting immediately after the words left your mouth.

Olivia stared at you long and hard. “Then why do you look at her like that?”

You asked dumbly. “Like what?”

“Like she’s a sunset you can’t look away from.”

It doesn’t hit you like a car with no brakes, since the statement only confirmed something you already knew deep down - it wasn’t just a crush anymore.

AN: early access to later chapters on my ko-fi page. Also feel free to DM or ask anonymously for any questions.

[imaginewriting1]

100-99

Ariana Grande x youtuber!reader

Part 8.5 of "positions"

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5.5 (1) | 5.5 (2) | 5.5.5 | 6 | 7 | 7.5 | 8

“Thank god for postal workers.” 

Ariana had been keeping track of the parcel religiously, planning for you to be at her place on the day it was going to arrive. So there you were, sitting on her bed, watching as she tore open the cardboard box, like a kid with a pile of birthday gifts. You were just as excited as she was, but you kept it to yourself, content with watching her inspect her new toys with enthusiasm. 

“Ooh, which do we try out first?” She thrust two items into your vision - one you identified as a vibrator and a strap-on. 

“Whatever you like.” You answered with a straight face, rummaging through the box to find the item you bought after Ariana had her turn.

“Great, let’s get right into it.”

It was awkward at first - with the pause that came after she utter those words. Her eagerness both eased and terrified you, knowing what was to come, so to speak. 

To calm yourself and prepare for the inevitable, you distracted yourself by clearing the scattered packages from the bed. When you carried the box to the corner of her room, you discovered that she was nowhere in sight. 

“Ariana?” You thought out loud, wondering where she had gone. The click of the bathroom door handle caught your attention. She emerged, wearing nothing but black lace and a smile. All the effort you did to keep your heart still was in vain. You couldn’t even look away like you always did, or tried to anyway.

“Do you like it?” She asked, despite the redundancy of it when the answer was written all over your face. Your arms raised impulsively, prompting her to step in between them. The material caressed your palms smoothly. As much as you loved it, they’ll never be better than her skin. 

“I do. But I think it’ll look better on the floor.” You felt Ariana shudder under your words, and you felt something akin to pride. ‘“Let me help you out of it.” You sent a quick thanks to whoever designed it - making it fall off her seamlessly.

Her tattoos came into full view. You wanted to appreciate them but you don’t think it’s the right time to do so. Before you could carry her to bed, she stopped you.

She fiddled the hem of your shirt, “It’s your turn now.” You really had no excuse not to let her lift it above your head, not when she had bare herself for you. Besides, she had seen this part of you before, so it’s not as daunting when you find yourself shirtless. “Do you want to keep this on?” Ariana’s fingers played with the strap of your bra.

“Yeah.” You nodded. “I’ll go change my underwear.” With that, you slipped past her into the bathroom. You returned nervously, with one hand holding your pants and the other covering your new boxer brief harness unconsciously. Ariana only smiled as she took your hand, after you spent more time than necessary draping your pants on an armchair, pulling you towards the bed. While you were gone, she had taken the initiative to place the toy she wanted to try neatly on the nightstand. 

It was the strap-on she picked out earlier; a smooth pink thing that weighed nicely in your hands. You placed it back down, coughing out softly, “How do you want to do it?”

You had some idea of how it would go, of course, since you were no stranger to sex. However, today was going to be different. It was the first time you’ll be incorporating toys into the act with Ariana. That was something new, the act of using a strap on her. There would be an added layer of intimacy and vulnerability, as you were going to be more involved, in a way. 

Ariana, perched on the bed with her legs crossed, looked up at you through hooded eyelids. “Anything you like,” her voice was as light as air. 

So you do the only thing you know best, falling to your knees. You guided her legs over each of your shoulders after placing your glasses neatly on the bedside table. Your lips ghosted over her skin lightly at first, leaving goosebumps in their wake. You added pressure gradually, over all of her sensitive spots like tracing constellations in the night sky. With your vision covered, all you felt was her unyielding fingers tugging your hair and her bare heels digging dents into your back. It wasn’t long until she let you out of her hold, pushing you away weakly. 

You wiped your face before searching for your glasses and putting them back on. Giving Ariana some time to collect herself, you pick up the toy from the nightstand. You have it a quick rinse with soap in the bathroom before drying it. 

With the sanitation done, you remembered the bottle of lube you got and went to find it. It was hiding in the corner of the parcel, where you fished it out from.  

Returning to Ariana with the items in hand, you wet your lips before speaking. “Are you still up for this?” 

“If it’s the last thing I’ll ever do.” Her conviction dismissed the last of your insecurities. You returned your attention to the toy, angling away to make an attempt of attaching it to the harness. You felt her tugging at your waistband, “I want to see.”

You faced her sheepishly, “It looks a little weird but-”

“It doesn’t. I think it looks good on you.”

You muttered a flustered ‘thanks’ as she wrapped her legs around your waist, pulling you closer. “Wait.” You said, fumbling with the bottle cap.

Ariana chuckled as she plucked it out of your hands. “I don’t think we need it, given how well you did earlier.” Your cheeks warmed at the compliment. “But if you insist…”

You observed as she turned the cap with ease, dribbling the toy with a good amount of lubricant before slicking it all up expertly with her hands. You didn’t need a mirror to tell you how dark your pupils must be at the sight, not with heat pooling deep in your gut. She tossed the bottle behind her when she was satisfied. “There, now we can begin.”

The both of you trod further up the bed, sheets rippling as both of you stopped in the middle. She flitted around you, trying out different positions. You coughed out your suggestion after a few attempts of trying to fit each other like puzzle pieces. “How do you… should you- I think it’s easiest if you are on top.”

Ariana seemed to agree, swinging a leg across your stomach, her knees steadying beside your hips. “Ready?” She asked after your back rested on a pile of pillows. You could only nod as she aligned the toy toward her.

You watched with wonder as she sank down onto you, slow and languid, pulling you in until she was filled to the brim. It took all of your self-control to not take charge like you always do at her request. Instead, you take your time to study the way her eyes rolled and her back arched. 

She moved again, and you matched her movements as well as you could. Your hands anchored her waist down while your hips rose up to meet her, like waves lapping against the shore. 

“Ari, does this feel good?” You asked in between choppy breaths, fighting against the fire pooling in the pits of your stomach. 

“Yes,” She breathed out. “Right there.” It wasn’t long before gasps and pants mixed with the smell of salt on her skin, in the air. One particular hard landing almost sent you reeling. With the sharp moan she emitted, resembling something like “I’m close”, you knew she was at the edge too. The fact made you double down on your efforts, causing Ariana to press her chest against yours. Her body was as pliant as seaweed in a current when you change the rhythm to relentless and rough. 

That was enough to evoke a cry out of Ariana, a puff of hot air on the spot of your throat: “God, don’t pull out.”

Her words - the insinuation - opened up a floodgate in you. It’s not like you could anyway, with her hips welded with yours. Relief came crashing down, like tsunami tides do, swallowing you whole. The pleasure was almost unbearable, like the need to breathe after being submerged in water for three minutes.

“Was that as good for you as it was for me?” Ariana’s voice pierced through the bliss like sunbeam into sea waves. You let out an intelligible mumble into the side of her neck, completely wiped out. She responded with breathy giggles, as melodious as a siren’s song. “We should have done this sooner.” You don’t think were as drawn to her as you were now, but it could just be your libido talking. 

-

You decided to take a shower. The idea was more spontaneous for Ariana, who only entered the bathroom after watching you clean the toy meticulously in the sink. When you were finished washing it, you found Ariana standing behind the glass door. You didn’t know she wanted you to join her until you saw the suggestive quirk of her eyebrow.

If she noticed the slight stall before you removed your underwear, she didn’t comment on it. Instead, she asked, after adjusting the tap to the shower head: “Is the temperature okay?”

“It’s perfect.” You assured her, after checking it with the back of your hand. She gave you a warm smile as you huddled closer under the waterfall. You tried not to wax poetry about the way water droplets cascade down her hair and cling to her skin, but you were only human. So naturally, you would like to appreciate the beauty and have it committed to memory. 

Despite your glasses being on the soap holder, in the proximity, you could see Ariana’s tattoos in clear detail. Some were self-explanatory but there are a few which intrigued you. You recognized Chihiro from Spirited Away on her arm, a character you loved as well.

“Like what you see?” Her voice startled you into looking up, causing you to jerk away in realization at a lack of distance. 

“Oh- I’m sorry,” You coughed, embarrassed at getting caught staring, “I’m just admiring how well the tattoo was drawn.”

“I would hope so since I paid good money for it.” You watched with half-averted eyes as Ariana turned off the tap and turned around, looking over her shoulders. “I’ll accept your apology if you wash my back.” 

Without a word, you grabbed a loofah and slathered it with soap - a bigger bottle than the one you had at home. After moving her hair to the front, you glide the loofah over the smooth expanse of her spine, reading the tattooed quotes before they get covered with bubbles. 

“Is that quote from Breakfast at Tiffany’s?” You pressed a finger at the back of her neck, before moving it to her shoulder. “And this from The Truman Show?”

Your words were met with silence, making you wonder if she heard you.

“Ariana?”

“Y-yeah. Have you watched them too?”

“I did.” You replied, absentmindedly nudging her shoulder after you were done washing her back. She took the hint and turned to face you. You began soaping yourself up as well but were brought to an abrupt stop when she held your wrist.

“Can I wash your back too?” 

It was a request you’d never heard of before, but there was a first time for everything. “Okay.”

Your eyes fixated on a white tiled wall after Ariana turned you around. You felt the rough texture of the loofah and the coolness of shower gel dancing across your skin. The scent was sweet like a flower garden; you had a thought of how you were going to smell like her.

The sound of scrubbing was only broken after a moment. “You should get a tattoo.” Her statement was punctuated by the resumption of the sound.

Even though there was a first time for everything, getting a tattoo wasn’t one of them for you. Unsure of how you were going to voice this opinion without coming off as rude, you retort with a joke instead. “Is that some kind of friendship ritual?” 

Ariana doesn’t take the bait, turning your body to face her. “I think you’ll look great with them.” Ariana supplied, scanning your body like she was picturing you with one. You felt the heat rushing to your cheeks like sunburn, folding your arms consciously. You didn’t return her gaze, seemingly more interested in the corner of the ceiling.

“Maybe I'll get a temporary one.” You laughed nervously, “I don’t really want to experience the pain or the fear of regret.”

“That’s a good idea, they’ll last quite a while too,” She mused, “We can get matching ones. What do you think?”

While you never want to get real ones, that doesn't mean you had never thought about it. “I quite like angel wings? We can put on half a pair each. Similar to the one you had in your left ear.”

“Oh! I like that. Let’s find a design we both like.”

With newly founded enthusiasm, the both of you quickly washed up and dried off. You spend the rest of the afternoon scrolling through the internet. With Ariana’s experience, both of you found one that was satisfactory. You ended up deciding to get a bunch of other designs too, due to the both of you getting carried away with the joys of shopping and the thrill of trying something new.

This time, Ariana showed you the power of connections. With one phone call, the tattoo sticker sheets arrived at her doorstep in less than two hours, in the hands of her assistant.

Ariana sat across you on the bed, with the tattoo stickers between the both of you. The both of you sorted through them - besides the wings, there were common tattoo designs like space-themed stars and planets, animals, flowers, and a variety of symbols.

The angel wings turned out to be bigger than you thought, almost half the size of your back. After separating the pair of wings neatly in half with scissors, you help to put it on Ariana’s back as per the instructions given.

The bathrobe slipped from her shoulders as she shrugged it off, granting you access to her back. You peeled off the plastic wrap before pressing the tattoo down smoothly.

“Your turn,” Ariana singsonged in excitement. The positions between both of you switched. You sat cross-legged with your back facing her. A ruffling sound could be heard from behind before you felt it stick to you. Even with the plastic sticker sheet in between her palms and your skin, you could feel the warmth radiating from them as they ironed down the tattoo. “All done. Now we just have to wait an hour before peeling the rest of the plastic off.”

You acknowledged with a small hum, carefully putting back your robe on. “Should we do the smaller tattoos as well?” You suggested, not forgetting the other designs you wanted to stick on your skin. Since you were going for one, might as well go all out.

“Why not,” Ariana returned to her spot in front of you, perusing through the various stickers. “Which one do you want?” 

You went for the ones that stood out to you the most: a shield with adorning flowers, a smattering of stars observed by an astronaut, and a wave towering over Mount Fuji drawn in Japanese-style art. 

Satisfied with your selection, you studied Ariana as she sifted through the pile, settling on an intricate outline of a butterfly, a string of perfectly aligned planets, and a sun setting over a horizon.

With Ariana’s help, you managed to have the astronaut inked on the inside of your left wrist and the other two on both of your arms, placed in a way that would have them hidden in shirt sleeves. Unlike you, she had no qualms in showing off her butterfly. However, she kept the planets and the sun lined in her inner thighs. You felt a small amount of gratification in the fact that you were the only one who knew of their existence. 

While waiting for the ink to fully soak into your skin, you thought of drying your hair so your shirt won’t get wet when you wear it later. “Ariana, can I borrow a hairdryer?”

“There’s one in the bathroom. Top drawer on the left.” 

You found it easily with her instructions, before locating a power socket near the bed and plugging it in. Sitting back down, you dried your hair until you were certain it didn't wet your back. While you were about to return the hairdryer, you noticed Ariana playing with her phone idly, her hair still wrapped up tightly in a towel. “Hey, do you want me to dry your hair?”

She looked up at you for a moment, “Okay.” 

You placed the hairdryer down, freeing up your hand to unfurl her towel gently. Her locks fell her back in strands as you picked up the dryer. Turning it on at the lowest setting, you point it at the inches intertwined with your fingers. You combed through them carefully, not wanting to cause any unnecessary painful tugs.  Besides the whirring sound and the occasional dog barks, you enjoyed the companionable silence, putting all your focus into completing your task at hand.

Time passed unknowingly before you switched off the dryer, signaling to Ariana that her hair was finally dry. She didn't move at first, and you saw how stiff her shoulders looked. They relaxed suddenly, and you let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding. “Should we check on the tattoos now?”

Your words seemed to pull Ariana out of her reverie. “Oh right, we should.”

Ariana presented her back to you once again as you peeled the remaining plastic wrap off. It looked super cool, exactly how you had imagined it. She had the same thought too when she asked: “How does it look? I wanna see.” 

“Give me a minute.” You went fishing your phone out from the back pocket of your pants. The camera app was tapped open as you made your way back to the bed. She had her robe removed. You took a quick snap before handing it to her. “Here.”

You watched Ariana as she scrutinized the picture. “It came out great.” 

“It is beautiful,” You agreed, after taking a second glance at the screen when she returned your phone back. You don’t forget to delete it, albeit reluctantly, counting on your memory to retain the view.

“Let’s see yours too.” She piped, prompting you to pass your phone to her again. However, she reached for her own before situating herself behind you. She tugged lightly on the collar of your robe as you loosened the knot on the belt. You shivered a little, but it wasn’t from the cold, not when the heater was working perfectly. 

The soft click of the shutter could be heard after a second. You felt the weight of Ariana’s right arm on your shoulder as her phone entered your peripheral vision. “It looks amazing on you. I would totally believe that you are an angel.”

You had to admit, she was right. The left side of the wing looked realistic, and you felt satisfaction fluttering onto your face as a smile. You felt like you should have gotten a full-size pair of wings that covered your entire back, for added realism. It was a good idea to get temporary tattoos after all. “Let’s check out the rest.”

Like the wing, they printed beautifully on your skin, yours to keep like a carefully concealed secret for two weeks. You now knew how addictive the feeling of having something you want without suffering any of the consequences could be. 

AN: early access to later chapters on my ko-fi page. Also feel free to DM or ask anonymously for any questions.

[imaginewriting1]

only

Ariana Grande x youtuber!reader

Part 8 of "positions"

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5.5 (1) | 5.5 (2) | 5.5.5 | 6 | 7 | 7.5

Everything went back to normal, in a sense. Of course, there was a shift, from staging a relationship to rendezvousing in secret but ultimately you felt like you were her friend again. You thought that the warnings from her PR manager would deter Ariana from meeting you, but the ever-growing things taking up space in your house - soap bottles with names you can't pronounce, cosmetic products littered around your bathroom sink, a small bag filled with clothes on top of the washing machine, told you otherwise. While her things are piling up in your home, they replaced some of your clothes that she "stole".

The familiar ping from your phone alerted you of incoming text, and you didn't have to read it to know who it was from and what they had sent. There was only one person currently who would text you at 5 PM on a Wednesday.

Princess

wanna come over?

no one's home

You

Why would I do that if there isn't anyone home?

Princess

smartass

i'm bored

and lonely

You

And horny?

We just saw each other three days ago

Princess

...no

just wanted to watch a movie with you

You

Alright then, I would never say no to movies.

I'll be there in an hour.

Princess

too long, i'll sent a car

In less than twenty-five minutes, you found yourself sitting on a recliner very similar to the type found in cinemas but far comfier and roomier. In fact, the entire room could be described as such; a premium movie theater.

"I didn't know you had a home theater, didn't see it during the house tour you gave."

"That's because this was a recent addition to this house."

Ariana had gone all out for it, finding the perfect combination of mimicking a movie theater and keeping its interior design the same as the rest of the house. This resulted in the room being similarly tasteful and cozy while providing an authentic movie-watching experience. It's something you dreamed of having in your own home.

"It turned out beautiful, great decision made on your part." Besides the renovation for the room, Ariana had also put in great effort to prepare everything you could want while watching a movie - including popcorn and various snacks on an extendable table from the armrest, drinks in the cupholder, and blankets. "So what will we be watching in this incredible space?"

"Anything you like," Ariana replied. "What are your other favorite films, besides the ones you had framed posters of."

"Well, I like queer films like 'The Handmaiden' and 'A Portrait of a Lady on Fire' and 'Carol' to name a few."

"We should watch them then."

"Uh..." You scratched the back of your neck, heat rising to your cheeks as you recalled certain scenes they had. "I just realized that they all have love scenes so perhaps you should watch them alone."

"Or with someone to reenact those scenes with."

You couldn't argue with that logic. "I supposed. Though there are some tragic plotlines where it could be a turn-off."

"We'll write our own happy endings then."

That was the best proposal if you ever heard of one.

"Alright, which one do you want to watch?"

"I've heard of Carol, so let's watch that."

It was a different experience for sure, watching Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara's performances on a big screen, as compared to your laptop. You could catch every subtle gesture and every lingering gaze. The surround sound worked wonders, amplifying emotion in every word exchanged between the lovers. It was as though you were in that very diner, eavesdropping on their conversation.

You get absorbed into the film, as you usually do despite watching it before, unblinking as the plot unravels, refreshing your memory of the movie. Being so engrossed, you almost forget that you weren't alone, reciting along the line Carol was whispering to Rooney - "My Angel, flung out of space."

A scuffle caught your attention and you turned toward the sound. Illuminated by the brightness of the screen, you observed the way Ariana fixed her gaze on anything but the screen, her thighs pressed tightly together.

"Ariana," You whispered. Despite the softness, she still jumped at your voice before fixing her attention on you. "Are you... aroused?"

In the dim glow, you saw the blush spreading across her cheeks. As imperceptible as it was, you caught the nod of her head. At that moment, you felt like one of those teenagers who makes out in the back of theaters. However, it was Ariana you were with and you weren't going to fumble around in the dark with her.

Instead, you placed your arms - one under her knees and one on her back - and lifted her up. "Let's take you to bed."

You weren't sure how you found the way to Ariana's room, with how your eyes were kept on hers the entire time. Must be the muscle memory.

You only broke eye contact when you heard a squeal and felt a sharp pain in your leg. Instinctively, you stood right back up and opened your mouth to let out a silent exclamation of pain, turning to investigate the cause of it.

"Piggy! I thought you were in your crib."

You placed Ariana down when she tapped on your arm. She squatted to find the site of your injury. You looked down and saw Ariana pouting as she ghosted her fingers over the bite marks. "You keep getting hurt when you're with me."

"Now that you mentioned it, it seems like biting runs in the family." You managed to smile to deliver the joke. "Though it's only karma when a pig bites me."

"Oh my god!" Her pursed lips melted into a beautiful smile as she threw her head back to laugh. Perhaps there was some truth to laughter being the best medicine when the pain disappeared temporarily.

"We have to treat the bite," Ariana said after stifling her laughter. The injury, thankfully, was nothing serious. Just a light nip by Piggy that didn't break any skin. So all you had to do was disinfect the area.

Ariana guided you to her bathroom, where you found yourself positioned in the middle of the bathtub. "You have to remove your pants so they don't get wet."

"Right." You acknowledged, turning around hesitantly to unbuckle your belt. It was the second time you were undressing in front of her. Even after you slid your pants off, you couldn't bring yourself to face her, choosing to sit on the edge of the tub instead.

You heard the sound of running water and moved your leg towards it. A hand stopped you. "Wait, the water's still cold," Ariana said from behind your shoulder. You sat patiently as you observed Ariana checking the water temperature with a finger before placing it on your inner thigh, pushing you towards the tap.

An involuntary shiver ran down your back under her touch. It shouldn't have shocked you, not with all the countless times she had grappled it - the feeling of her skin on yours should be familiar and soothing like the warm water on your leg, not like being out at sea during a thunderstorm.

You were only brought back to your senses with a gentle press of a dry cloth. "Let me do it myself." You said, after clearing your throat. You shifted to grab the towel from her grasp but she moved out of reach.

"I want to do it." Her tone told you that her decision was final. "You have to move out of the bathtub so I can dry you off properly."

You do so as instructed, swinging your legs out of the tub and landing on solid ground. You followed Ariana out of the bathroom. She sat you back on the bed before crouching down to pat your leg with the towel. You observed as she inched it upwards, moving closer to the hem of your boxer briefs. Before you could react, she stood up and positioned herself in between your legs.

Looking up at her with confusion, she placed her hands on your shoulder as she stared into your eyes. "Now that there's no interruption, I want to finish what we had started." Subconsciously, you intertwined your feet and nudged her closer to you. However, with her elbows locked, she didn't lay across your chest as intended. You decided to use your hands to finish the job, settling them on the small of her back. The shake of her head stopped you from applying any sort of pressure. "I want to take care of you this time. For once."

"Oh." The thing was, you were often the giver because you find liked pleasing your partner. That's why you're rarely on the receiving end. Though if you're being completely honest, your insecurities about your body also play a part in declining any returning of favors.

"Tell me what's going on in that pretty head of yours," Ariana broke the silence. She had taken the initiative to untangle herself out of your arms, settling for sitting beside you on the bed. You felt her lightly tugging your fingers, hijacking your attention to focus on her.

She let you take your time, brushing her thumb over the back of your hand as encouragement. "I don't like to be touched. Not sexually at least. Unless, you know, they're someone I've known and been with for a long time."

"Okay," Ariana nodded, shifting closer carefully. "How do you find pleasure then?"

"Well, in my partner's pleasure." You continued after she arched a perfect eyebrow at you. "So as long as she liked it, I would too."

"But what do you like?" She relented, staring into your eyes inquisitively as though they held the answers. "Out of all the things you've done before."

You knew you couldn't beat around the bush any longer, not when she was staring into your soul. "Well, I don't mind using...toys." The sentence gradually softened as you mumbled the words, but it seemed like she heard every bit.

"Give me a minute." She said, hurrying off the bed. She returned a few minutes later with a laptop on hand. The side of your knees touched Ariana's when the both of you repositioned yourself at the center of the bed, with the laptop placed in front of you.

With a few clicks, Ariana opened up a website of a sex toy shop. You repressed the urge to blush when she navigated expertly - clearly knowing her way around. "See anything you like?" She diverted her attention to you, placing her hands on your knee as she peered at you over the rim of her glasses. Her gaze was piercing, emphasized by the frame on her face like she was trying to figure you out.

"Uh- well..." Instead of stammering in embarrassment, you decided that it was much easier if you just showed her. While the website she had brought up had an extensive collection, they didn't have anything you were looking for. So you swiped across the touchpad and searched for the site you were more familiar with. "Probably something like this." You tilted the screen towards her when you found what you wanted.

You knew that this would be something Ariana hadn't tried before unless her exes were into pegging. So you explained to her that she could select whatever size or material she wanted while you would pick the harness.

Ariana flashed you a smile that can only be described as sinful, "You seemed to know quite a bit."

"I've researched extensively." You cleared your throat, changing the subject quickly. "Did you find one that you like?"

"Definitely." She affirmed as she proceeded to add a few items to the cart, much to your sheepish amusement. You settled on a harness you were comfortable with that was also compatible with everything Ariana was getting and a small bottle of lube.

You shouldn't be surprised at how Ariana remained unblinking as she typed in her payment details after seeing the total amount, but you could only laugh in shock internally. Were the toys diamond-studded? You could only wait to find out when they arrive in two to three business days.

In the meantime, your fingers worked fine.

AN: early access to later chapters on my ko-fi page. Also feel free to buy me a drink if you like my work!

[imaginewriting1]

worst savior

Ariana Grande x youtuber!reader

Part 7.5 of "positions"

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5.5 (1) | 5.5 (2) | 5.5.5 | 6 | 7

The first thing you noticed when you gained consciousness was the chilled morning air. If it was any other day, you wouldn't have noticed it. But it wasn't supposed to be cold, not if there was someone sharing their body heat with you. The empty space you found when you turned to your side confirmed your suspicion - Ariana was gone.

While you could argue with yourself that she might just be in the bathroom, or the kitchen - somewhere close, your intuition said otherwise. There was no clothing draped on the armchair beside your jacket, no sound of water running, just silence and stillness. You did find a lone laundry bag sitting quietly on the coffee table; that's something at least.

If it weren't for the single hair tie lying on the nightstand, like a glass slipper, you would have convinced yourself last night was just a long, indulgent dream.

Part of you, the logical part, deduced that she had an emergency with work to explain her hasty departure. This hypothesis was solidified with past experiences of such. However, there is also a part of you that is an overthinking fool, driving you mad with thoughts like was it my fault? and was it not good? And oh god, did she fake all of it?

If so, you were extremely disappointed in yourself. Well, at least you had this one time with her, the closest thing to heaven you'll ever experience.

After taking a quick shower, you ironed your shirt to make it a little more presentable before heading down to the lobby to check out. There, you learned from the receptionist that Ariana settled everything and left two hours ago. They also kindly inform you about the complimentary breakfast buffet, but you weren't hungry even though you felt empty inside.

While the information doesn't answer the questions in your head, you thanked them before leaving and walked all the way home.

-

Ariana went radio silent. You took it that she changed her mind about the whole thing. It was long enough for you to reluctantly accept that it would be the new normal.

So imagine your surprise when you find a text in the form of 'where r u?' while you were in the middle of editing a new Youtube video. The notification sound jolted you out of your concentration. Seeing her nickname on screen elicited different emotions from you, but the one you can identify most prominently was a relief.

You

I'm at home

Why do you ask?

Princess

i'll be there in 10

What surprised you more was when the doorbell rang, causing you to think that she meant seconds. If it was anyone else, you would have thrown them off with a judo move, but it was just her, pouncing on you the moment the door opened. She was lucky you had quick reflexes and strength in your arms to catch her.

"Wha-"

"Shut up and fuck me." Her tone was demanding, but not impolite - like a queen who knew she wouldn't be denied.

"Well, hello to you too." You replied though you sounded more unsure than anything. You tried to carry her to your room. The keyword is 'tried', because someone biting at the column of your throat can be extremely distracting. You never knew someone could be soft and so insistent at the same time. You almost dropped her when she sucked hard on a sensitive spot. You could feel a bruise forming like watercolor paint on paper. "Fuck. Ari-"

She paid no mind to your protest. You gave up and settled for the couch, bending down to release her onto the cushions. However, she made no effort to unwrap her arms or her legs despite practically lying directly above them. So you pivoted and sat down instead, and your knees thanked you for that decision.

Knowing how impatient Ariana can be, you wasted no time in helping her remove her top. Once again, she proved to be non-compliant, not bothering to raise her arms. They were more interested in staying around your waist.

At this point, you weren't sure what to do. While you roughly knew what she was like in bed, it was definitely different from your first time with her, where she had let you take the lead, and take the time to pleasure her. As though she could read your mind, Ariana finally gave you something you could work with. "Touch me."

With her command, your hands rest on her thighs. Goosebumps formed under your fingertips as they trailed upwards till they came into contact with her miniskirt. You wondered if it was intentional to wear one.

"You don't have to be so gentle. I'm not made out of glass."

Your hands paused at her remark. "No, you're far more precious."

"You can't say things like that." She went quiet for a moment, trying to come up with an explanation. "It's too..." You slowed your movements unconsciously, worried that you had offended her in some way. She didn't finish her sentence and the silence thickened. You wanted nothing more than to break it.

You punctuated that thought with the flex of your fingers. The gasp evoked from her was music to your ears.

"Green?"

"Y-yes, green."

You pulled her panties aside.

-

You let Ariana recover after coming undone in your arms. She sprawled across your couch after you lifted her off your lap gently, standing up to stretch your legs. It was awkward, to say the least, as you weren't sure what to say or do now that you finished your "job".

You felt a little sad, knowing how it was going to end. You heard from Olivia's adventurous tales that it was standard procedure to leave after doing the deed, especially for casual hookups. All you could do was temper your need for pillow talk and cuddles, and be an accommodating friend.

"Do you want some water?" You offered. "Before you go." The way guilt showed on her face told you that you failed at not sounding the way you felt. "Because it's important to hydrate, you know, to replenish the loss of... fluids."

This time you managed to produce a small quirk from her lips. "How do you make innocent words sound so dirty ?"

Since you don't have an answer, you went into the kitchen to grab water for the both of you instead. While the cups were getting filled, you countered. "How do you make dirty words sound so innocent?"

"Touché."

You handed her a cup and she took it, drinking from it greedily. The way her throat moved as she swallowed proved to be a distraction when you stood there stiffly, staring blatantly.

"You're too far away, come sit." Ariana's voice broke you out of your trance. You knew she caught you blatantly observing her and felt embarrassed. She patted the cushion her head once occupied.

You hesitated because you weren't sure you would be able to stop yourself from wanting to hold her, which contradicted your feelings of being upset that she basically ghosted you for the past few days. At your lack of action, Ariana walked to you instead.

"I'm sorry." You knew you wore all your emotions on your face when she clasped her hands around your unmoving ones. "That I left without saying anything on New Year's Day..."

Her genuinity made it hard for you to stay hurt, melting your resolve with that doe eyes of hers. "It's cool, I assumed you were busy." You gave her an out as she guided you back to the couch.

"Well, yes... I've been busy preparing for a concert, and I-" Ariana swallowed, clearly troubled. "Let me make it up to you."

You were not prepared for Ariana's fingers to slip past the waistband of your pants. You held her wrist in place instantly. "No."

She stared wide-eyed at you, and you loosened your grip. "I mean, you don't have to do that. Just promise me that you'll tell me whatever's going on, at least eventually."

You held up your pinky and she immediately hooked it with hers. You heard her take a deep breath. "They called me in for an early meeting that day. My publicist thought that there was too much speculation going on. Word got around that I was kissing someone at the party, and seeing how we've been so close lately, it'll be easy for people to put two and two together. So I can't be seen anywhere with you for the next couple of weeks."

So it wasn't your fault or anything like that, her words implied. "That's understandable. I don't want to create any complications for you."

Ariana smiled at your comment, "And I don't want you to get caught up in a potential scandal."

You mirrored her expression, thankful for her thoughtfulness. It was true that you were getting scrutiny on social media, with people wondering who you were and what your relationship was with the singer. There were good comments, neutral ones, and the ever-present bad ones. You didn't mind them too much, because they don't matter - only she does.

"Do I need to remove the videos you appeared in from my channel?"

"That's not necessary, it'll probably just add to the gossip. Just nothing new besides what is already out there."

"Not a problem, I don't have anything else."

"Then we have nothing to worry about, besides on where we should go whenever I'm horny."

And she's back. "Well, it's either your place or mine."

"We can do both." She finalized. After a beat, she continued, "Since I'm already here, round two?"

-

"God, I looked like I had been mauled by a bear." You grimaced after catching a glimpse of yourself in the bathroom mirror. When you washed off the lipstick smudges on your neck, they revealed hickies like a string of necklace. While it looked worse than it felt, anything other than light touches caused it to sting. In the reflection, you could also see Ariana trying to hide her laughter behind her hand. "It's not funny. How am I going to hide this when I'm filming?"

"Why hide the fact that you had amazing sex." You shot a glare at her, but it does nothing to reduce her mirth. "Come here, I'll help you cover it with makeup."

You walked out of the bathroom reluctantly to the bed where she was sitting on. You noticed she had helped herself to your closet, wearing one of your oversized shirts.

Ariana gestured for you to sit on the bed while she went to grab her makeup bag in the living room. When she came back, she made herself comfortable on your lap. You let her do her thing, feeling like a canvas under her brush, under her touch.

Being in this position, the only thing that filled your vision was her face. So no one can blame you for staring, though they could be suspicious as to why your eyes kept trailing down to her lips. Even though they were already smudged, something inside you want to smudge it even further, wipe it all off. You didn't even realize she caught you staring until they parted like they were expecting a kiss, causing you to snap your attention back up.

She avoided your gaze, in the name of nonchalance, and you knew she was giving you the power of making the first move. You were grateful for it, but you couldn't bring yourself to go through with it - it was too intimate to kiss a friend.

What you could do was sift through your brain for any humorous material as a coping mechanism. With Ariana straddling you with a palette in her hand, you were immediately reminded of that one 'lesbians doing makeup' meme you saw on Twitter. So before you could stop yourself, you thought out loud, "This is kinda gay."

Ariana laughed softly at that, and you rolled your eyes fondly. "So this is gay, not the mind-blowing sex with just had?" With the blush you had growing on your face, you don't think you need any more makeup. It turned a shade darker when she leaned in closer to your ear, "And the ones we'll be having in the future?"

AN: early access to later chapters on my ko-fi page

[imaginewriting1]

best behavior

Ariana Grande x youtuber!reader

Part 7 of "positions"

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5.5 (1) | 5.5 (2) | 5.5.5 | 6

AN: early access to other chapters can be found on my ko-fi page

Warning: smut

After the heart-to-heart talk you had with Ariana, she suggested for the both of you to spend the morning together. 

“Since Taytay already paid for it, might as well stay till we have to check out?”

You accepted her plan, exploring what the room had to offer while letting Ariana freshen up first. You soon discovered that it was less of a room and more like an apartment. With a living room, kitchen, and a private jacuzzi on a balcony, the entire suite was probably bigger than your house.

You stood on the balcony, appreciating the view you couldn’t see yesterday. You were too absorbed by it to notice Ariana coming up from behind you.

“Hey.” She called out. You turned around, watching as she circled around the jacuzzi to reach you.

“Hi,” You greeted back, “The view is beautiful.”

“It is.” She confirmed, but the both of you weren’t looking anywhere else besides each other. Your smiles mirrored one another as though you were exchanging inside jokes. 

“Hmm, what do you think about using the jacuzzi?”

“We don’t have any clothes to change after.”

The roguish smirk on her face looked out of place on her face. “Skinny dip?”

That was all the warning you got as she started to undress. You turned around immediately. All you heard was the sound of water splashing and laughter. “It’s not like you won’t see this eventually. Come on, get in the water with me.”

You slowly turned back around and found her staring at you. She smiled to herself when you made no movement for a while, turning away to give you the same privacy treatment. You removed your shirt simultaneously hesitant and hurried, ultimately deciding to keep your underwear on. You slipped into the tub after placing your clothes on a nearby chair.

The water was warm, and you would have relaxed into the bubbles if not for Ariana watching your every move. The smile stayed on her face when she saw you pressed against the edge of the jacuzzi. She swam towards you slowly until you were in arm’s reach, and you felt your heart jump with every ripple of the water.

She tugged lightly at the strap of your bra, “Thought you were worried about it getting wet?”

You appreciated how Ariana was trying to make you less nervous with small talk. “I’ll deal with it later,” You attempted to shrug nonchalantly, “Probably with a hairdryer.”

She tilted her head in serious thought. “Or you could use the hotel’s laundry service?”

That would have been a good idea if you were staying overnight. “Don’t those take 24 hours?” 

“We got time,” Ariana said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Wait. What time is it? 

“Shit- I just remembered that we have to check out soon. I’m pretty sure it’s by noon, right? We should-” You were cut off when Ariana pressed a finger against your lips.

“Baby,” she called softly. You noted with surprise that she was using that term of endearment even though there was no one around to hear it. “Don’t worry about that, okay? We can stay for one more night unless you have things to do tomorrow?” She waited for you to shake your head before continuing, “Perfect. Just relax and let others deal with whatever problems you might have. Wet laundry? Solved.”

You had always been independent, doing things on your own. So it was nice to be looked after even if it was just for a day.

“Yeah, that sounds great.” You smiled, slowly sinking into the bubbles. The water reached up to just below your shoulders when you sat on the floor of the jacuzzi, and Ariana found her place on your lap - like it was her rightful throne. 

The both of you soaked in the water in comfortable silence. You were fully relaxed, except for your hands remaining stiff by your side. Ariana seemed content to lie on you, like a cat on a windowsill. You spend the rest of the afternoon in that position, watching the sun chariot across the sky, changing colors as it slowly dipped away from view. Shades of red, purple, and blue, while you couldn’t see it physically, it wasn’t hard to envision the colors on Ariana’s skin. 

When your fingertips turned wrinkly beyond recognition, you decided it was time to head back into dry land. You tapped on Ariana’s shoulder lightly. “I’m going to check out the laundry service. Want me to grab you a towel?” 

She hummed softly, a sound someone makes at the edge of falling asleep. “I think I’ll stay here for a little while longer.” 

You waited for her to move but she made no effort to do so. So you had no choice but to hold her waist and lift her off you, moving away from under her and then placing her back down - all of this done with minimal skin contact.

When you finally got out, you patted yourself dry with a towel you found in the bathroom before finding the information you needed on the hotel’s laundry service. It was easy enough, all you had to do was place your wet garments in the laundry bag provided and hand it over to the service staff who would pick them up. The hard part was going commando with someone knowing that you were doing so. 

The way Ariana’s eyes danced with mirth when you went back out to grab your clothes sent blood to your cheeks. Even though you were wearing a bathrobe, you felt bare under her gaze. You got your clothes and put them back on once you were back safely in the bathroom as fast as humanly possible. You wore your bathrobe for good measure, before getting another one for Ariana. 

Her amusement turned into something more serious when you made eye contact with her again. You raised your eyebrows in question, and she motioned you to go to her with a curl of her fingers.

She doesn’t tell you what’s on her mind and you don’t ask, quietly passing the bathrobe to her. You turned around, only looking back when she cleared her throat. 

You were met with the smooth expanse of skin and you averted your eyes out of habitual politeness. However, the sight of her perched on the edge of the tub, with her back facing you was already seared into your brain.

“Can you help me with it?” Ariana’s voice drew you back to her, and you found her looking over her shoulders, looking at you.

“Y-yeah,” You swallowed, taking the robe back from her and holding up the collar to match her neck. You made sure the hem did not touch the water as she stood up. She turned to face you, and you quickly made a knot with the belt. You repress the urge to tie another knot. “There. You should go inside before you catch a cold.”

Ariana gave a hum of agreement, “I should take a shower. Wanna join me?”

You thought she was just being her teasing self but her face showed no sign of playfulness. You declined politely, to which she responded.

“You know, you’re the only person who doesn’t take advantage of the opportunity to see me naked.”

Being speechless was an understatement, with all the words you know turning blank.

Ariana closed the gap between you, wrapping her arms around your neck. “Or should we just fuck now?”

“Thought you wanted to shower.” You said in a panic. 

“There’s no point showering now if I’m just going to get dirty again.”

You weren’t the type to do things spontaneously, because you like to (over)prepare to ensure everything goes to plan. Thank God you cut your nails yesterday. However, if you were going to have sex with Ariana Grande, you wanted to do it properly. “Can we at least have some food first?”

Ariana looked at you pointedly. “Fine, you need all the energy you can get anyway.” She moved off you swiftly, already looking for the room service menu. You could only let out a small smile of disbelief, still unable to wrap your mind around the singer’s duality.

She wasn’t kidding about her statement when a hotel staff wheeled in a trolley of food and placed them on the dining room table. You sat down hesitantly, unsure of which plate to start with. “Are you sure Taylor’s okay with paying for six people worth of food?” You remark, half teasing, half concerned.

“Just shut up and eat. I’ll take care of the bill,” Ariana mumbled, her tone filled with mild embarrassment and frustration, but without malice. 

You smiled at her reaction, hiding it behind a bite of food that seemed most appetizing to you. You made quick work of the dish, moving on to the next one when you were done. So before you knew it, all that was left was dessert.

Reaching for a plate of chocolate cake, you handed it over to Ariana first before getting one for yourself. However, she doesn’t eat it, choosing to stare at you while you eat yours. You got self-conscious under her stare. “Are you going to eat it?”

“No. I’m hungry for something else.” Ariana replied. “So if you could hurry up.”

Her bold innuendo stirred something in you, causing you to have an epiphany. Here Ariana was, offering something you wanted and all you did was waste time eating cake when you could have something better - her.

You stood up after wiping your mouth with a napkin, tilting your head towards the bedroom. “ I’m sorry for making you wait. I’m ready now. Shall we?” 

“About time.” 

The both of you walked side by side, catching each other glimpsing and looking away with feigned nonchalance. She sat on the edge of the bed, while you stood in front of her awkwardly.

“What do you-” 

“What should I-” You laughed at your overlapping voices, lightening the tension. It seemed like the both of you had a knack for speaking at the same time. She motioned for you to speak first.

“I was going to ask what you like or dislike.” 

“Oh. Normal stuff, I guess.” Ariana said, going shy, any trace of her earlier bravado was gone. “I… um- haven’t done this with a woman before.” 

“Right. I’ll take the lead then.” You said. “First things first, safe words. Green to go, yellow to slow down, and red to stop. Don’t hesitate if you want to stop at any point in time.”

You saw her nod quietly, but that wasn’t enough to satisfy you. “You got to use your words, princess.” 

“Okay.” Even though the sky was darkening (and you forgot to turn on the lights and doing so now would be awkward), you caught the pink hue on her cheeks. 

“What were you going to say earlier?” 

The color deepened into a shade of maroon, “I was wondering what I should do...” 

You gave Ariana some suggestions worded as instructions - she could make herself comfortable on the bed and remove her robe. You turned around when she did, out of habitual courtesy, but you realized the pointlessness of it when Ariana giggled. “It’s not like you aren’t going to see me anyway.” 

You didn’t point out that you couldn’t really see well, with the darkness enveloping your vision. All you could, when you turned back around after you heard a cue in the form of a cough, was the silhouette of her body, partially covered with the duvet. 

The first thought that came to mind was how could someone look so ethereal. The second was how dizzying the desire was, that it almost made you stumble when your feet moved forward. 

You slipped under the covers after you had removed your glasses and placed them on the nightstand. It was a marvel how your skin could feel the body heat emitting off her despite still having your clothes on, despite being miles away. The contrast between the silky cool sheets on your back made her warmth even more inviting, but you only inched closer after she gave you the green light.

Even though this was supposed to be casual, you did not know anything other than reverence when it came to loving women. So you worshiped Ariana like she was Aphrodite Herself. You leave a trail of kisses from her neck, heading south, leaving no inch of skin untouched.

All the sounds she made - every soft whimper, every sharp pant, every incoherent string of curses - burned into your brain, like music to a disc. Just when you thought nothing could sound more heavenly, she cried out your name.

All of a sudden, your sole purpose in life is to hear her say it again, and again, and again. You played her body like it was an instrument, conducting an orchestral cacophony that crescendoed until all could be heard was profound silence.

[imaginewriting1]

shut up

Ariana Grande x youtuber!reader

Part 6 of "positions"

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5.5 (1) | 5.5 (2) | 5.5.5

“We are at Taylor Swift’s party?!”

It’s not exactly a secret of how much you respect her as a writer and singer in general. Your viewers definitely got the hint with how often you mentioned her in your videos.

“Didn’t know you were a fan,” Ariana said as the both of you exited her car. She handed her keys to the valet service before taking your arm. You found yourself standing in line to get ushered into the venue Taylor had rented out. It was a rooftop bar in an upscale hotel you had never been to. You could already hear music playing behind the doors, making you uncharacteristically enthusiastic about joining the fun.

“Who isn’t?” You tried to play it cool, but the excited smile carved on your face betrayed your true emotions. Who cares if you were a fake girlfriend when the experiences Ariana was giving you were very real? Are you going to finally meet Taylor Swift in real life?

Ariana huffed under her breath, “...never acted… meet me.”

You were smart enough to connect the dots. “I was your interviewer back then so I had to act professionally.”

“Still,” Her lips drew into a pout, “You are much more enthusiastic to see Taylor.”

“But she’s not the one I bought presents for,” You pointed out matter-of-factly.

A smile slowly crept onto her face, one that she tried to hide by ducking her head, walking slightly faster till she was in front of you. You followed closely behind, not wanting to lose her in the crowd swallowing around the both of you. You managed to keep her in your vision, watching her greet people she knew. You recognised some of them from seeing them on silver screens or hearing them on the radio. She doesn’t forget to introduce you to them, a gesture you appreciated.

Finally, you met the host herself, who was every bit as wonderful and enchanting as you had expected. Ariana left you to talk to her in private, but not without a goodbye kiss on your cheek.

After you regained your composure, you exchanged banters with your role model and inquired about her works until a woman with a notepad, whom you assumed was her assistant, required her attention.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, I’m sorry to cut this short.” Taylor smiled and shook your hand. “Besides, I think you have someone waiting for you too.”

You followed Taylor’s gaze and found Ariana leaning against a wall with a drink in her hand. “No worries, I’m more than happy to have the opportunity to meet you.”

“Thank you. Enjoy the party.”

You thanked her as she left, and you went towards Ariana. Her back was facing you, so she didn’t notice you as you walked across the room. However, before you could reach her and get her attention, someone else beat you to it.

You slowed down to observe their interactions, wondering if you should give Ariana privacy. It was subtle, but you caught the wobbly step she took away from the guy. That was your cue to rush to her side.

“Excuse me,” You snaked your hands around Ariana’s waist to steady her.

Genuine relief flooded Ariana’s eyes when they met yours. “Baby!” She exclaimed, her arm wrapping behind your neck to pull you in for a hug.

“Who’s that?” You whispered into her ears once you moved out from his earshot.

You felt Ariana tighten her hands. “A friend of my ex.”

You took a quick side glance at him and saw the disbelief on his face. “We need to act don’t we?” You asked, pulling her closer, putting a distance between him and the both of you.

Ariana’s hair shifted against your cheeks as she nodded, “They think it’s a phase.”

Nothing annoyed you more than that notion. You racked your brain to come up with something to disprove that. Anything to get her ex to take the hint and back off.

Luckily, time was on your side.

“Let the countdown begin!” Someone shouted loudly. You looked around as voices joined each other simultaneously.

“Ten… Nine… Eight…”

Your gaze fell on Ariana and she sensed it, returning it.

“Six… Five… Four…”

“May I?” You asked her softly, bringing your hands upwards to cup her face. You saw realization flash across her eyes and her breath hitched.

“Yes.”

With her permission, you leaned closer as her eyes closed, until your mouth pressed gently against hers.

“One!”

Suddenly, there was nothing but silence, as though you entered a vacuum. Then, like the Big Bang, all your senses become hyper-focused and you feel everything at once. The taste of gloss and liquor, the heady floral smell of her perfume, and the warmth of her breath.

You realized that the alcohol tasted different on her lips, far sweeter and intoxicating.

You don’t even know how you managed to pull away but when you did, he wasn’t there anymore. Thank god. You let out a sigh but it was cut off when Ariana gently grabbed the lapels of your jacket.

You studied her hooded eyes, darkened and dilated, drifting downwards. And it quickly occurred to you that she was staring at your lips while licking her own.

The air around you changes - thicker, hotter - harder for you to breathe without outright gulping.

Then you remembered the contract.

And you know that this is the hardest thing you have done and will ever do, defying the very law of nature. You barely stop yourself from falling over the edge, from giving in, and letting it become something you might both regret.

Moving your head away slowly, you watched Ariana’s half-lidded eyes widen in confusion (and in wishful thinking, disappointment).

“I broke a rule, we have to end it.”

Ariana's face fell, looking at you with hurt in her eyes and you want nothing more for them to be your own. You know you were unintentionally harsh, but that’s how you are when you have to protect yourself emotionally.

“Oh,” Ariana sighed in reluctant agreement after a long while. Her hands moved away from you to hold herself and you hated yourself for making her feel this way.

“It’s not that I want to...I-” You stuttered, “He got the message. So there’s no reason to continue… both the fake dating and the kissing.”

“What if I want to kiss you?”

What?

You stared at her in shock. The way she shifted her feet around unsteadily told you everything you needed to know.

“You’re drunk.”

“Doesn’t make it any less true.” She retorted.

You stood there awkwardly, not really sure what to do. It was not every day someone wanted to kiss you, much less someone like Ariana. So what’s stopping you?

You grimaced as a flashback of your ex came to mind. All you wanted to do was change the topic and get out of this situation. “I’ll drive you home.”

Thankfully, Ariana doesn’t push you further. “That’s not needed,” she pulled out something from her pocket which you identified as a hotel key card, “Taylor got us rooms for the night.”

This was an invitation if you ever heard one. You asked anyway, not wanting to assume anything. “We’re staying?”

“If you want to.” You didn’t miss the hope shining in her eyes, despite an attempt at nonchalance.

“I do. I owe you an explanation and it’s easier to tell you face to face.” That seemed to make her less dejected, reducing your guilt and panic. “Let’s talk when we’re both more… sober.”

While you had not drunk a single drop, you were intoxicated by something else entirely. Which was why you kept your distance during the ride in the elevator, walking down the hallway, and even sitting down on the sofa. You only gave in to Ariana’s insistence to share the bed, unable to argue with her “you chose to stay, so stay”.

-

The sun rose faster than expected. However, so did Ariana. You found her staring at you the moment you opened your eyes. She seemed slightly embarrassed to be caught, averting her eyes away.

“Good morning.” You said, breaking the silence. You sat up as Ariana replied with a “morning”, the both of you stretching the sleep away. “Are you hungover?”

“A little, I didn’t drink that much yesterday.”

“Let’s get some breakfast then.”

Ariana agreed with your suggestion. The both of you took advantage of room service and got a little of everything. You savoured the food together when it arrived.

“So…” You said in unison. She gestured for you to go first.

“It’s your turn to ask me a question anyway since I asked you the last time we played 21 questions.”

It still surprises you how good Ariana’s memory was. “Why did you want to kiss me?” You went straight to the point. You observed the way she bit the inside of her cheeks as she came up with her answer.

“Because I want to,” She said simply. When she saw you raising your eyebrows at her, she elaborated. “It’s been a while since I…”

“Kissed someone?” You suggested.

“Yeah. I miss that,” Ariana paused before continuing, “and I miss having sex.”

While you know how sexual she could be, as heard from her songs, her directness still made you blush. “Right. So what do you propose?”

Ariana shook her head, “That’s two questions, let me ask you one first.”

“Okay.”

“Why didn’t you want to kiss me?” Ariana leaned in closer to you, the bedsheets ruffling around her as she moved. Curiosity was growing in her eyes and you knew you couldn’t put it off any longer.

“Remember what I told you about my ex?” You continued when Ariana nodded, “Me kissing you reminded me of how we started.”

Ariana’s eyes widened in realization. “I’m sorry, I must have put you in an uncomfortable spot.”

“It’s okay, you didn’t know the whole story anyway. So that was why I didn’t want to kiss you. Not when you’re drunk.” You looked down. “I don’t want to become a bad idea.”

You felt Ariana hugging you before you could register her doing so. “You won’t ever be.” She whispered.

“So I’m guessing you’re looking for something more than fake dating?”

“Yeah,” She replied.

“Real dating?” You asked cautiously to clarify what she really wanted.

“Not exactly…” You heard her sigh as she pulled away from you. You caught her wringing her hands. You took them in yours to soothe her skin.

“What is it?”

You kept quiet the entire time she told you about her past lovers. It was not as though you were completely unaware of her love life due to entertainment news and social media’s algorithm. But you never knew the personal details until now.

“I don’t think I’m looking for a relationship right now.”

“I understand.” You said after she was done spilling her heart out. You wiped away a tear falling from her eye. “If it makes you feel any better, my ex claimed to be straight after dating me and got back with her ex-boyfriend after we broke up.”

“What a bitch.”

You laughed at her unexpected comment, and Ariana smiled a little as she sniffled. “Olivia said the same thing.”

“Seems like we have something in common.”

You hummed in agreement, giving yourself a mental pat on the back for successfully making her feel better.

“So a friend-with-benefits situation?”

She hummed. “Something easy and safe.”

While it wasn’t how you imagined getting propositioned, it’s kinda perfect now that you think about it. It was with someone you trusted, not some stranger you couldn’t be physically vulnerable with.

“I can get behind that. Olivia always spoke highly about casual relationships so I might as well give it a try.” It’s not like you had anyone lining up at your doorstep asking for your hand. Even if there was, none would be better than her.

“I think I’m starting to like your friend.”

“That’s great. It’s nice to know my two favourite people are cool with each other. By the way, can I tell her about… our situation? I don’t really want to lie to her further. Besides, she might give me advice on how to approach this properly.”

“Yeah, no, of course. I’m sorry for making you lie in the first place.”

“So…how should we do this?”

AN: early access to later chapters on my ko-fi page. Also feel free to buy me a drink if you like my work!

[imaginewriting1]

or everything

Ariana Grande x youtuber!reader

Part 5.5.5 of "positions"

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5.5 (1) | 5.5 (2)

AN: this is a super long one

"Soon" turned out to be inaccurate when you were swamped with last-minute filmmaking gigs on top of your personal commitments to your channel. You didn't think twice about accepting all those work offers before Christmas to get as much income as possible to splurge on presents and gain some vacation days for yourself.

Even though you haven't seen each other for almost a month, you made up for it by texting every day. When Ariana discovered the reason for your busy schedule, she forbade you to buy her any presents.

Princess

i want your presence instead

You

Which movie did you steal that line from

Princess

dork

come see me

don't make me wait any longer

You

Yes, your highness

I'll see you on Christmas Eve

Princess

promise?

You

With my pinky

Princess

btw do you have any plans for new year's eve too?

You

Well

Not really

Princess

great

i'm reserving you in advance

You

All yours

Princess

i like the sound of that

As promised, you met Ariana on Christmas Eve. When you arrived at her place, she recited a list of the things she had planned for today (in no particular order):

- Gift giving and receiving (after midnight)

- Make goodies and dessert

- Marathon Christmas movies

- Sing Christmas songs

- Walk the dogs

While deciding on what to do first, you reckoned Ariana had saved the exchanging of presents on Christmas Day itself but you accidentally advanced that plan when you asked if you could borrow a phone charger.

"Oh! Wait here." She instructed you when you were both in the living room. You sat patiently on her couch as she scurried back upstairs. When she came back down, she brought along a horde of dogs in reindeer costumes at her feet and a small ribbon-wrapped black box in her hand. "For you," she handed it to you, biting the inside of her cheeks.

You took it with a grateful smile, already deducing what it was. You made a show of tugging at the ribbon. "May I?"

"Of course, that's the whole point," Ariana exclaimed enthusiastically, watching with bated breath as you opened the box carefully.

A silver power bank lay neatly inside, together with two cables.

"The salesman said it's a bestseller, with its super fast charging. It can also charge wirelessly so you can actually charge two phones at once... I'm rambling, aren't I?" Ariana stopped herself sheepishly, uncharacteristically shy. It was endearing, to say the least.

"No, not at all. You can continue if you want, but I'm already sold." You said.

"Well, um, it also functions as a hand warmer... for your cold hands."

"Thank you, it's the perfect gift." You smiled with appreciation, "I should make full use of it now."

Ariana led you back to a guest room to charge both your phone and the power bank. While you left them to charge, the both of you decided to strike dog walking off the list, since they were already following you two around.

Ariana put on their leashes and handed you Myron's with the explanation of him being comfortable with you. The feeling was mutual.

After making sure everyone was bundled up warmly, the both of you took them outdoors. It was not as cold as you thought, most likely due to the coat Ariana had lent you.

It was fascinating to see Ariana wrestling expertly with a little more than half a dozen of dogs, with them pulling their leashes in different directions enthusiastically. You offered a helping hand regardless, and she passed the smaller dogs to you. They were, for the most part, well-behaved. You let them do whatever they wanted, sniffing around and playing with each other as you made rounds on the estate grounds.

When they had their fill of fun, you went back indoors. Some of the dogs lay down in front of the fireplace immediately, clearly out of energy. You shared a laugh with Ariana at their behaviour, able to relate to their exhaustion after the little excursion. That created the perfect opportunity to strike another item off the list.

While you wanted to help, she shooed you off with the excuse of wanting to keep her hot chocolate recipe a secret. So you sit patiently in front of the fire, enjoying the warmth. After a few minutes, Ariana arrived with steaming mugs, giving one over to you, before taking a seat beside you. You never felt more full, with a delicious drink in hand and a warm feeling in your heart.

The crackling of the wood and the snoring from the dogs almost lulled you to sleep too. It doesn't help that Ariana was snuggled up right beside you.

"Are you sleepy?" You heard Ariana whisper and you smiled at the memory.

"That was supposed to be my line."

Ariana hummed, "We can take a short nap if you are."

You stifled a yawn, replying. "I'm fine, there are still things to do on your list right?"

"Oh right, that reminds me..." You felt Ariana lean away from you as she stood up, before extending her hand to help you up. The both of you move quietly into the kitchen, trying not to wake up the 'babies' from their slumber. "We have to make some food for our guests."

"Our guest?" You questioned while rolling up your sleeves, placing the items she had relayed to you from the fridges onto the kitchen island.

"Yep, my family and some of my friends will be joining us later in the evening."

"Oh okay." While you were questioning more on the word 'our' than who the guests were, you assumed it was just a slip of the tongue. You looked through the ingredients in front of you. "Are you preparing a feast?"

"Nope, I was thinking of cookies and brownies. They'll have dinner before coming over. So we'll have one by ourselves."

You nodded and got ready to bake up a storm. You tied Ariana's apron and she did the same for you, opening up all the ingredient packaging.

After pouring and whisking and kneading for half an hour, the cookies and brownies were safely baking in the oven. Everything went well, and you knew they would turn out alright. However, that cannot be said the same for the kitchen. It looked like a snowstorm had raged in there. Since there was nothing else to do, you began cleaning up. Ariana seemed to have something else in mind when she dragged a finger against a flour-covered countertop. She didn't hide her mirth when she swiped said finger against your cheek, staring at you with those infamous faux innocent eyes as you stood there in shock.

The feeling wore off quickly, replaced by playful vengeance as you wiped your entire palm with flour. You saw those eyes widen at your action. You wasted no time lunging at her.

Ariana's squeal probably echoed throughout the entire estate as she ran away from you. Surprisingly, the dogs did not wake up, which made you think that they were used to it. You ran a little slower to give her a head start, but when she entered the dining room, her pathway was restricted by furniture. She managed to go around the long table before you could reach her, but it didn't matter when you caught her off guard by jumping over it, wrapping one arm around her to prevent her from escaping.

She doesn't try to when you boop her nose with flour, only squirming a little when you traced her eyebrow and the underside of her chin for good measure. You only let up when you're satisfied, sitting on the table behind you to admire your handiwork.

You got a little worried thinking you went too far when she stood there silently.

"Ariana?" You moved off the table, an apology already on your lips. "I'm s-"

Before you could even register, she painted a streak of white on your face again. She ran away laughing, even harder when you shouted indignantly, "Ariana!"

Needless to say, the mess got bigger before it went away. The both of you had to shower when you were finally done with cleaning the kitchen. This time, a simple white pullover and beige pants wait neatly for you on your bed. They fit you well. There were socks too, but you forego them, too used to walking around barefooted. Besides, the floors were mostly carpeted so your feet weren't freezing.

You only recognized that your clothes matched Ariana's when you found her standing outside the door. Her outfit consisted of an off-shoulder wool dress, completed with a ribbon in her hair. She wore thigh-high fur boots, bringing her to your eye level.

"You look nice." You muttered, more to yourself than for her to hear. She picked up on it regardless, beaming at you sweetly.

"Thank you. You clean up well too."

"Have to thank my stylist for that."

You smiled when she threw her head back with laughter. You offered your arm, "Shall we?"

Ariana responded by looping hers around yours, matching your footsteps down the stairs. Back in the kitchen, she ordered dinner for the both of you while you set the table in the dining room. When the delivery man handed you bags and bags of takeout boxes, you realized that she spared no expense for the Christmas feast.

Instead of sitting at the head of the table, the both of you sat at its length, opposite of each other. It's easier to reach for food and to hold a conversation this way. You enjoyed yourself with good food and even better company. The dogs come by to visit, curling around your feet before going on their way.

Time passed quickly without you realizing it. The sound of the doorbell ringing reminded you to wrap up dinner. Ariana stood up, giggling at the way you stuffed your face with one more bite of food. "You don't have to rush, I'll go get the door. We can share the leftovers."

While she went to fetch the guest, you threw away the rubbish and made whatever was left more presentable.

"Baby," You whipped your head around and saw Ariana standing at the door, with a few people standing behind her. "Come meet my friends."

You were thankful to see some familiar faces as you walked closer.

"Hi guys." You waved, recognizing Frankie, Victoria, and Courtney. There were a few of Ariana's friends you haven't officially met, but you knew of them - Tayla Parx, the Social House duo, and Elizabeth Gillies.

"It's nice to meet you." They took turns hugging you.

"Is anyone hungry? We got food, cookies, brownies..." You asked everyone when you moved into the living room, where there were more of Ariana's family members.

There were a few murmurs of "yes", prompting you to get them out of the oven. They were completely cooled and were gone in minutes after you placed them on the table.

When everyone's full, the adults gather to talk among themselves, leaving the "kids" - Ariana, you, and her friends - to do their own thing.

That's how you find yourself sitting in a circle with a board game box in the middle.

"You do know that Monopoly is the number one killer of friendships, right? Followed by Uno." You said to Ariana.

"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere so easily. You're stuck with me"

In this instance, you wished that you had met Ariana sooner.

"I'll take your word for it."

Since you guys were playing the Longest Game version of Monopoly, you lost count of how many hours you spent sitting there trying to end the game. Everyone agreed that the one with the most money at the end, when all properties are bought, wins.

The moment Ariana bought the last one (a mistake she doesn't realize that reduced her overall cash in hand), it was down to you and Ariana. Everyone else was bankrupt but stayed around to see the outcome, the showdown between you and Ariana.

"I have 99 dollars, how much do you have?" Ariana says after counting her money.

You make a show of counting the money in your hand. "95... 96... 97... 98..."

Ariana's eyes grew wide when there wasn't any more money to count.

"Oh my god! I won!"

You congratulated her along with everyone else, smiling at how she celebrated - a lot of happy sounds and a little dance.

"Congrats, looks like our friendship is intact."

Ariana smiled even wider than you thought possible as she tackled you in a hug. When you know she isn't looking, you put your money back in the box, including the ones you hid underneath your legs.

You felt a nudge against your ribs. You turned to see Victoria smiling knowingly at you. You returned with a small smile, before bringing your attention back to hugging Ariana.

"What should we do next?" Someone piped out.

You recalled Ariana's list, "How about singing Christmas carols?"

"Let's sing!"

All of you laughed when Ariana and you voiced out the idea. Great minds think alike.

"You guys are so cute," Courtney said. You thank her, relieved that she seemed less wary about you since your first encounter. You understood her protectiveness over Ariana, as you felt the same way too.

Everyone moved into the room where the karaoke machine was. Ariana set up everything expertly, and soon, the house was filled with music. She was having the time of her life, singing and dancing to her heart's content. You laughed along at every endearing antic she pulled, clapping every time she finished a song.

After ten rounds of back-to-back singing, Ariana decided to take a break. Coincidentally, her mother called you guys up for the gift-exchanging event. You gathered around the Christmas tree, where Ariana pulled out neatly wrapped box after box from underneath. She then exchanged them with everyone individually.

While everyone oohed and aahed over their respective presents, you sat there, seeing what they've got. Ariana's friends noticed something amiss. "Did Ariana not give you a gift?" Frankie asked on behalf of the group.

"Oh, she already gave it to me earlier."

You knew they misunderstood when they shot wolfish smiles at you while winking exaggeratedly. "I hope you had returned the favor." They left before you could refute whatever they had imagined.

That reminded you of the packages you have sitting in your bag. "I'll be right back," You announced to whoever was listening. You slipped into your room, switching on the lights to search for Ariana's presents. You found your bag besides the bed and grabbed it. Light footsteps could be heard behind you. You turned around immediately at the sound.

"Ariana! You scared me. What brings you here?"

"I couldn't find you around," She explained simply, before eyeing your bag curiously, "What are you doing up here?"

You zipped open your bag. "I was getting your presents. I know you're into astronomy, so I got you this. But I'm not sure if you already have it..." You pulled out two wrapped packages. "So I got something else just in case."

"This isn't what I meant when I said no presents," Ariana started with a faux scold, "but I'll take them since you already got them. Thank you."

She couldn't hide her excitement when she unwrapped the longer box first, gasping when she found out what it was. "You got me a telescope?"

"Yeah, it uses smart technology, so you can connect it to your phone with an app, and use it like a remote."

"Oh my god, that's amazing." With the way Ariana is bouncing with excitement, the hug she enveloped you was expected. "Can we use it now?"

You laughed softly at her enthusiasm, "You can if you want to, but with the Christmas lights, I think it's too bright to see anything now." You brought her attention to the other box. "But this might make up for it."

It was a star projector, which offered both accurate preset displays of constellations and real-life viewing of the night sky. If you thought Ariana was excited before, she was even more so when she tackled you with yet another hug, pushing both of you onto the bed. She lay partially on top of you, legs tangling with yours as she whispered 'thank you's countlessly into your shoulder. If this was what you received from giving presents, you want to give her whatever she wanted.

You weren't sure how long you stayed in that position, somewhere between a minute and an eternity. For a moment, you assumed she fell asleep. However, her breathing and the way she shifted around indicated otherwise. You were content to just lay there, but you spotted a shadow moving across the hallway. You craned your neck to find Ariana's brother standing at the door.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything, but Mom wants to say goodbye before we leave."

"Frankie!" Ariana lifted herself off you. You stood up after she did, scratching the back of your neck sheepishly, even though you haven't been doing anything embarrassing. You walked behind the siblings as they made their way toward the living room.

Everyone helped to pick up after themselves before heading home or to another party. You were going to leave as well when your phone told you it was one AM, but Ariana stopped you with a tug on your sleeve.

"You should sleep over for the night." She said all in one breath, inhaling deeply afterward. You had to stop yourself from reaching out to take her hand when she fiddled with her fingers. It was a tempting offer since you don't think finding transport back would be easy at this hour. So you accepted her hospitality.

"Good. Since I have you for New Year's Eve too, you can stay for the week."

"Wow." You supplied, wondering if she had planned this. However, you had other commitments to fulfill. "Uh, I'm not sure I can stay for the entire week. Olivia wants to hang out tomorrow to make up for my not visiting her today.

Ariana sucked her teeth, "Should've put you on a retainer or something."

Though it was muttered, you caught every word. Her mild annoyance amused you more than it should. It's nice to be wanted, after all. She cleared her throat after a moment of silence. "I'll get you some clothes, any preference?"

"Just a shirt and shorts will do, thank you."

"You sure? Don't you want something warmer?"

You shook your head. "I tend to run hot so I'll be fine. Besides, there's a heater here."

"Okay," and with that, she left.

You took the opportunity to freshen up yourself, by quickly showering. You assumed that by the time you were done, there would be something to wear waiting for you on the bed.

So you did not think twice to walk out of the bathroom with just a towel. It just so happens for Ariana to walk into the room with a pile of clothes, one that she almost dropped at the sight of you. Once again, you learned the lesson of what assumptions do to a person.

"Shit, I'm sorry." You apologized quickly, gripping the towel tighter around you.

"No, I should- I mean... Anyway, um- here." She averted her eyes while placing them on the bed, before turning around completely. "I wasn't sure what you'd like, so I got a bunch of shirts with different designs."

While you wanted to appreciate her efforts, the fear of the towel slipping from your grip forced you otherwise, causing you to grab a random one before putting it on hastily in the bathroom.

"I'm done changing." You told Ariana, after making sure you were fully clothed. You hid an amused smile when Ariana turned around slowly, with her eyes peeking from behind her hands.

"That's what you chose?"

You followed Ariana's gaze and looked down at the shirt you were wearing. A full-size picture of her face was printed right in the middle of it.

"Yea, if I get to keep it, I'll probably make bank on eBay." You quipped, making it seem like it was intentional. "Ariana Grande merch shirt, 'hand' touched by the queen herself. An easy grand."

You knew you pulled it off when Ariana laughed contagiously. The laughter died down into a comfortable silence with the both of you looking at each other.

"We should-"

"Do you-" You shared a chuckle again, "Go ahead."

"I was just wondering if you want a drink? I make really good hot chocolate."

"I'll take your word for it."

"Great, give me ten minutes."

"Can I come with you?"

"Oh," Ariana pivoted around with one foot out the door, "Okay."

Your grin matched hers as both of you went into the kitchen. The house was completely opposite at night, quiet and still, besides the both of you tiptoeing around. It's a different kind of beauty, especially with the Christmas lights glowing at their full potential.

Ariana rummaged around quietly to gather the ingredients needed for the drink. As you sat on a bar stool, you were hit with a feeling of familiarity. There was something about food, refrigerator light and Ariana that warmed you up from the inside.

"Here you go. One super duper delicious hot chocolate." Ariana announced, sliding a cup towards you. The mini marshmallows floating on top and the smell reaffirmed her claims.

The moment you took a sip, you should not be held responsible for the sounds you made.

"Wow," You groaned appreciatively, becoming responsible for the pleased smile appearing on Ariana's face, "You need to bottle and sell this so I can get it whenever I want."

It was the perfect example of 'can't have your cake and eat it too'. Do you want to nurse your drink for as long as possible or greedily satisfy the thirst you have in one go?

Ariana presented you with the perfect answer to your dilemma. "Or... you can just come over and I'll make it for you anytime you want."

"I should just stay here forever then." You remarked jokingly, taking another relaxed sip of the chocolatey goodness.

You caught Ariana leaning forward on the counter imperceptibly, staring at you intently over the rim of her cup. "I wouldn't mind that."

Her tone was nothing like yours, each word weighed before they were conveyed.

However, light laughter pierced the silence, accompanied by a quick retort - "as long as you contribute by paying rent or doing housework" - made you wonder if you had hallucinated the entire thing.

Especially when she wasn't at the counter anymore, back facing you as she made more hot chocolate.

It was late after all, and the nighttime often caused deluded dreams.

You drowned that bitter thought with the rest of your drink, letting Ariana to refill it back to the brim. At her suggestion, the both of you head back to your room, settling down comfortably on the bed. You sat cross-legged in front of her, with a little tray in between both of you holding your cups.

"Are you sleepy?" You asked. While she shook her head, you saw her fight back a yawn. You didn't call her out on it, choosing to ask what she wanted to do instead.

"21 questions?"

You raised an eyebrow at her. "What do you want to know?"

The thing is, while you can debate over socially, politically and culturally complicated or controversial topics, it's a different story when it comes to revealing something personal about yourself.

"Um, why don't you like alcohol?"

It was not a question you were expecting, hence you spent some time trying to piece together an answer. You stared at the corner of the ceiling contemplating before arriving at one.

"Well, it's usually bitter and it burns my throat. I know the main point of drinking is to get drunk, but if I wanted to forget my problems, sleeping would be a better solution. No hangovers, no damage to my health, and definitely no possibility of me doing something I might regret."

Stopping after deeming your answer as satisfactory, you turned back towards Ariana. She looked deep in thought too, only snapping back to reality when she felt the weight of your gaze on her.

She cleared her throat, "how mature and responsible of you."

You smiled wryly at her comment. It was certainly different from what others thought when you decline their offers to drink. "Most people call it boring or a party pooper."

"They must be envious of your self-control."

You thanked her for the compliment, grappling with yourself whether to disclose the main reason for your abstinence from alcohol. You took a sip from your now-cooled hot chocolate, nursing it for a while.

"Alcohol was what pushed me to ask out my ex-girlfriend, you know, it being known as liquid courage," you continued when Ariana nodded, "and it's what made her say yes. Long story short, it's a catalyst for bad decisions, as mentioned. But you know, I don't mind having a sip once in a while, if it tastes nice and with certain company. Anyway, it's your turn."

"Sure, what do you want to know?" Ariana said nonchalantly, leaning back on her arms. You realized you were staring for a tad too long when she broke eye contact with a small clear of her throat.

"Oh, uh... anything you want to share." This was a safe reply, as you weren't sure what you could ask without crossing the line.

Recognition flitted across Ariana's face. "You said the same thing when you interviewed me."

"I'm surprised you remembered."

"How could I forget, it was my first time meeting you."

You were both quiet for a while, taking a trip back down memory lane. You came back to the present first, comparing how you remembered her and how she is now. She looked more at ease now, though it could be sleep taking hold of her inevitably as every hour had passed. Her struggle to keep her eyelids open was endearing but you don't want to keep her up any longer than you already did.

"Come on, let's get you to bed." You climbed off the bed, moving towards Ariana to help her up.

While she made no resistance, most likely due to her lack of energy, she protested anyway. "You haven't even asked me anything."

You wrapped your arm around her waist to steady her. Your hands remained faithful on her side as you help her up the stairs, to her room. "You can ask me tomorrow morning."

That seemed to perk her up, "Mmh, right, you're staying tonight."

"Yes, right beside you." You chuckled lightly at the thought of how tired Ariana must be as you turned the doorknob and opened the door for her. "Goodnight."

She gave you a quick hug, mumbling into your neck, "G'night."

After the door clicked shut, you made your way back to your room. You emptied the rest of your drink before bringing the cups to wash them at the sink. You brushed your teeth with a new toothbrush and washed your face. When you were done, you made your way under the covers.

It has been a while since you have slept somewhere else besides your house. So it's probably not crazy to say that the air felt different, and so were the pillow and the duvets. You tossed and turned for a while until you found a comfortable position. Your eyes closed naturally and your breathing evened out.

A faint knock on the door caused you to jolt out of unconsciousness.

"Come in." You called out in the dark. The door cracked open at your permission and the dim light from the hallway entered the room. You made out a silhouette despite the backlighting. You sat up and turned on the lamp on the bedside table. "Ariana? Is something wrong?"

You watched her stand at the door like she was nervous to enter the room.

"Well, not really, but the heater in my room is down and..."

"Oh." You replied, scrunching your eyebrows in thought. "Do you want to swap rooms?"

"You don't have to," She only moved when you gestured for her to, "Besides, the bed is big enough."

You lifted the covers for her to get in. You can't really say no, not that you want to, as it was her house after all. You were just worried about any sleeping habits you may have that might make her uncomfortable.

"I can sleep on the couch-"

"No." Ariana cut you off unexpectedly, but she added on, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to be rude but I can't make you do that... unless you really want to?" She trailed off.

"If you don't mind sharing the bed with me then..." You shrugged, watching her climb onto the empty side of the bed. You handed her the corner of the duvet which she tucked underneath herself. You lay back down after she does. While you were stiff in her presence at first, you slowly relaxed into the mattress. The sound of Ariana's deep breathing became a lullaby, lulling you into a deep sleep without realizing it until you woke up the next day.

-

The first thing that hit you, before your eyes even opened, was that it was Christmas. The second thing was the weight of someone's arm on your stomach. That caused your eyelids to shoot open.

You turned towards the bedside table and retrieved your glasses, putting them on. Now that you were fully awake, you registered the sight that greeted you when you turned to your side. Ariana, in the winter morning light, with nothing but peace on her features.

"Ariana..." You breathe out in recognition, but it quickly occurred to you that you shouldn't have done that as it caused her to stir. "Sorry, go back to sleep," You said softly. However, it seemed to incite an oppositional action, with Ariana stretching and yawning as she turned to you.

"Good morning." She said with a smile growing on her face.

"Morning," You replied, and with an added afterthought, "Merry Christmas."

Her eyes fixed on yours. "Mmmh, Merry Christmas to me... and you, and everyone else."

You returned her smile, "Should we get up?"

She made a thoughtful noise, before shaking her head. "I want to stay for a few more minutes. It's really warm and cozy here." She lay back down, burrowing deeper into the sheets. While you want to laze around too, Christmas was the only time of year that made you want to jump out of bed in excitement. So you got out and got ready for the morning.

Before you could even squeeze out toothpaste on your toothbrush, you noticed Ariana standing at the bathroom door in the mirror. You turned to face her. "I thought you wanted to sleep in?"

"Wasn't warm anymore," she said quietly before making a gesture. "Don't stop on my behalf."

"Oh, did the heater break down in here too? I think you should get them replaced." You asked conversationally, continuing on with your morning routine. You caught Ariana's reflection sending you an unreadable look. It softened after she broke eye contact with you.

"It's not the heater, probably just the weather getting colder. Anyway, I'll go get ready too, I'll see you in the living room when you're done."

You managed to convince Olivia to come in the afternoon, giving you and Ariana to squeeze to strike off the last item on her list. The two of you watched one and a half movies before getting interrupted by a text notification from your phone.

"So... I have to go soon. Olivia's picking me up," You said, feeling a little sad about it. Ariana's eyes let you know that she felt the same way, "I'll go get my stuff."

Ariana grabbed your arm, "I'll come with."

The two of you head back to your room. You bid your time, as Olivia wasn't there yet. Ariana sat on the bed, watching you go about packing your belongings into your bag.

"Is she here yet?" She asked conversationally.

You checked your phone, reading a text that she just sent. "Nope, she said the weather caused some traffic." You turned towards the window in realization, "Oh, it's raining."

"It is," Ariana replied, matching the same tone of wonder you had. For you, the rain was the closest thing to snow you'll ever get in this city, and you love it. Every drizzle, shower, or rainstorm puts you in a surprisingly good mood.

While you weren't sure if Ariana had a similar liking to rain as you do, you saw her smiling faintly from the corner of your eyes. You joined her on the bed, sitting beside her. She leaned on you, playing with your sleeves.

The both of you sat there, admiring the rain until Olivia notified you she was reaching soon. You walked to Ariana's doorstep with your things, with her in tow.

"I'll see you again on New Year's Eve." You reminded her.

"That's right. We're going to a party," she paused, looking out to the front gate. "Are you sure she's here?"

"Yeah, she's waiting down the block-"

"You're walking? In this weather?" Ariana asked incredulously.

You ducked your head at her light chastise. "Well..." You had an umbrella.

"Tell her to drive up here, I'll notify security." You nodded, texting Olivia as per Ariana's instruction.

When Olivia's car parked right in front of you, you waved goodbye to Ariana, before stepping into the car. Before Olivia took off, Ariana knocked on the glass, prompting you to wind down the window.

"Have a safe trip."

When you were about to bring the window back up, Ariana planted a kiss on your cheek, disappearing into her house before you could react.

You avoided the smirk Olivia shot you as she finally pulled out of Ariana's driveaway. You thought you got away with her interrogation when she drove onto the highway in silence, but you should know better.

"I can't believe you ditched me on Christmas for Ariana. Is her pussy that good?"

You almost choked on air. "What?! Wh- I wouldn't know that."

Olivia gave you an unimpressive look. "You useless lesbian. I thought you had a much better game than this. You've been dating her for how long now?"

Technically never, but you can't tell Olivia that. But you couldn't lie to her either, at least not directly.

"That doesn't matter. Sex isn't everything in a relationship."

It might be your curt tone or your body language screaming discomfort, Olivia took the hint and stopped teasing you. "I'm sorry that I went too far, babe."

You forgave her, feeling guilty for feeling something akin to anger in the first place. Why did it hurt when you were reminded everything you had with Ariana was just a pretense?

AN: early access to later chapters on my ko-fi page. Also feel free to buy me a drink if you like my work!

[imaginewriting1]

or something (too)

Ariana Grande x youtuber!reader

Part 5.5 (2) of "positions"

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5.5 (1)

Thanksgiving rolled around before you knew it, and you found yourself in Ariana's kitchen again, this time learning recipes from her mother.

It was awkward, at first, when her mom opened the door just to find you, a stranger, at a place that was supposed to be restricted from... Well, strangers.

You had a feeling she was going to call for security if not for her brother, Frankie, for recognizing you.

"Hi. Ari's girlfriend right? It's been a while since Halloween."

"Girlfriend?" Ariana's mom questioned, and you see her face completely change. "Why didn't you say so, come in!"

So here you were, making cranberry sauce. "Ariana," you whispered to her. "I didn't know I was going to eat dinner with your family."

Ariana turned to look at you. "I'm sorry, but my mom insisted."

"That's fine, I just wasn't sure if it's a good idea to meet them this soon."

"Why not?"

"Cause I don't have anything but lies to tell them."

Ariana rubbed her thumb against the back of your hand. "You don't have to worry about that. Just be yourself, okay?"

You took a deep breath and nodded.

After two and a half hours in, dinner was finally served. You helped set the table as Ariana brought out the dishes. You sat beside her after everyone takes their seats. Before anyone dug in, the Grande family went about expressing their gratitude for the things they have in their lives. When it came to Ariana's turn, she turned to face you.

"I'm thankful to my family, friends, and amazing support system. And I'm especially thankful this year to heaven for sending someone that makes me happy."

"You took the words right out of my mouth."

She shot you a shy smile, her eyes twinkling brightly. You witnessed firsthand how amazing an actress Ariana was. You mirrored her expression, placing your hand over hers. Ariana's dad concluded with a speech and ushered everyone to dig in.

You watched everyone reach for food before doing so yourself after.

"Daddy, can you pass me the potatoes?"

Your hands moved automatically to complete Ariana's command, but you barely stopped yourself after realizing her words. However, you know that your action didn't go unnoticed when Ariana trembled from holding back her laughter, while Frankie shot you a scandalized grin.

After receiving the potatoes from her dad, Ariana leaned in and whispered into your ear. "Daddy huh?"

Your body shivered involuntarily. "I was responding to 'pass me the potatoes' not the... name part." You defended yourself weakly, mentally face-palming yourself in embarrassment.

Ariana just continued to giggle quietly, scooping some potatoes onto both of your plates. "I'll take note of that."

You knew she was never going to let this go.

You were thankful that the rest of dinner was relatively uneventful. You managed to answer any questions thrown at you, hopefully making a good impression on Ariana's family. When it was over, you offered to help with the dishes but were immediately dismissed by Ariana's mom. "Go spend time with my daughter instead."

You couldn't say no to that, not that you want to. "Yes, Mrs Grande."

"Please, call me Joan."

You barely nodded before Ariana whisked you up to her room, where she kept her pets that evening. They greeted you excitedly, and you made sure to memorize their names.

"They really like you." Ariana pointed out as they crowd around you, with Toulouse on your lap.

"I'm glad. I like them too." You said, busy giving belly rubs and head pats. You didn't notice Ariana trying to get your attention too.

"Hey, um..." You snapped your head up and noticed Ariana's nervous expression.

"What is it?"

"I'm having a little get-together later tonight. Will you stay for it?"

"Oh, I have to go soon actually." You looked at her apologetically. "Olivia invited me for her Friendsgiving yesterday and I accepted. I didn't know you were planning something."

"It's fine, it's my mistake for not informing you earlier. Next time?" Ariana asked with hopeful eyes.

You made a show of scrolling through your phone. "Already put it on my calendar for next year."

Ariana laughed at your action, any trace of disappointment was gone. "Can't wait."

She walked you to her door, the dogs trailing behind energetically. You laughed when Myron tried to follow you out.

"Stay," Ariana said softly to him. Your feet, having a mind of their own, planted themselves on the pavement after thinking the command was directed to them. She broke the silence with a small clearing of her throat, "Um... is your ride arriving?"

"Oh, I didn't get a cab. I've decided to walk."

"Oh." Ariana's eyebrows furrowed as she tried to make sense of your words. "Is Olivia's party near here?"

"Kinda." You said, giving Myron one last pat on his head. "Be good to your mom. I'll see you both soon."

"Bye." Ariana gave you a hug before letting you go, "Have fun."

"You too," You replied. As you walked away, you resisted the urge to look back.

AN: early access to later chapters on my ko-fi page. Also feel free to buy me a drink if you like my work!