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blueskylinesx · 3 months ago

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Tomato Red - Chapter Four

Parings: Jesse Cash x Female Reader

Warnings/Triggers: Language, anxiety/nervousness, sexual tension, fluff, masturbation, smut, self doubt, friends to lovers.

Summary: The local cafe/bookstore down the street was Jesse's usual hang out spot where he spent hours reading books and working on music. Until one day when he meets a new barista working the bookstore cafe. Suddenly, Jesse's reasons for visiting the bookstore down the road were no longer just for reading and work... but were suddenly meant for much more.

Author’s Note: I am SO sorry this chapter took me so long to post. I am trying to find a better schedule that doesn't go weeks without updates. The actual BIGGEST thank you to everyone for being so patience and understanding while I worked on this. I hope that the wait was worth it.

Tag List: @thefallennightmare @collidewiththesav @thatchickwiththecamera @cncohshit @lma1986 @arkiliastuff @lonelydragonlady @artificialbreezy

If you would like to be added to the tags list let me know! I would be happy to do so!😊

Thank you all SO fucking much for all the support on Tomato Red. It means the absolute world to me. Writing this story has been so fun and helps keep my mind occupied. I love you all so so so much!☕️🍅

JESSE

I followed behind Y/N as we climbed up the stairs to her apartment. There was a slight breeze that blew in from the parking lot behind us causing pieces of her long hair to gently tickle across my face. I glanced down at my feet before carefully climbing the last step to the second story. When my eyes made their way back up I caught a glimpse of the underside of Y/N’s ass that was barely peeking out of her scrunched up black dress.

Her black tights framed her ass and her long legs perfectly and it took absolutely everything in me to fight off the thoughts that had been running through my mind all day. From the moment I first saw her step out of her apartment building, her sitting legs crossed in my passenger seat, and the entire time I stole glances up at her legs while she walked before me on this staircase.

We were both now standing in front of her door where a green leaf wreath hung atop the front. Y/N pulled out her keys from the front pocket of her purse and inserted it into the lock, twisting it to the right to unlock the door, then gently pushing it open.

A burst of freezing cold air quickly blew past the both of us as Y/N stepped inside and motioned for me to follow behind her.

“Holy fuck! I keep telling Kate to turn the AC back up before she leaves in the morning for work! I’m so sorry, if I would have known there was a potential hypothermia warning for my apartment, I would have told you to wear an extra layer of clothes.” Y/N said behind chattering teeth as she closed the door behind us and dropped her keys onto the small side table beside the door.

“It’s okay, I’m actually used to it. Noah keeps the AC in our house on a solid negative 7000 degrees at all times of the day, so my hypothermia tolerance is pretty built up.” I responded with a grin.

Y/N began slipping out of her boots and I halted in place before stepping any further into the front room. “Should I also be removing my shoes?”

“Oh sorry, it’s a habit. Kate is the absolute biggest neat freak I’ve ever met and her biggest pet peeve is shoes being worn inside the apartment. For mine and your sake, I ask that you please leave your shoes at the front door… otherwise I’m sure she’ll emerge somewhere from the shadows and have both of our heads.”

I chuckled at her comment and bent down to un-tie my shoelaces and slipped out of my white Adidas sneakers, “You know, your sister and Noah have a lot in common it seems.”

Y/N walked past me and I followed behind her as we made our way further into the front room. She clicked on the lamp that sat in the corner of the room next to the TV. “Is Noah also an extreme clean freak?” She asked before sitting down on the cream colored sectional.

She had one leg tucked underneath her butt and her other leg bent in front of her while she rested her chin atop her knee cap. Her eyes glistened in the dim light from the lamp which followed every step I took as I walked over to sit on the cushion beside her. Making sure not to sit too close and risk making her feel uncomfortable.

After getting adjusted, I rested my right arm against the back of the couch and my other arm on the arm rest beside me, turning back over to meet Y/N’s gaze. “Clean freak is an understatement. One time Michael and Jolly made this crock pot chili, this sounds so disgusting now that I’m rethinking about it… But they ended up forgetting about it and it sat out on the counter for like a week.”

Y/N let out a soft chuckle, “Oh god, I can feel Kate convulsing now.”

“Noah had a total conniption. He was sending out texts in our group chat for days about this crockpot of chili. Needless to say, once Michael and Jolly finally took care of it, Noah hid the crockpot for like a month.”

Y/N was now bursting out in a fit of laughter, “Oh my god, so he also sends out passive aggressive texts? Man, I might have to try to hook Noah and my sister up. They sound like they’d make for a total match in Heaven!”

“No kidding!” I responded back before brushing an anxious hand through my hair in an attempt to smooth out any knots from within my curls.

Y/N’s gaze never falling off of me.

She shifted a bit on the cushion which caused her to move slightly closer to me, “Well, did you want to watch a movie or something?” She asked with a slight bite to her bottom lip. “ I don’t know if you have any other plans but Kate probably won’t be home for a while. So we would have the big screen TV to ourselves for a few hours.”

I couldn’t ignore the excitement that grew in my stomach after hearing the words, “to ourselves.” This was the first time me and Y/N had ever been in a room alone with just the two of us, sitting this close to each other.

I made a quick glance down at her legs that were still framed in her black tights and licked my lips at the sight. Trying to get a hold of the thoughts that were slowly starting to creep back into my mind. “I don’t have anything planned for the rest of the night. So I’m all yours until you get sick of me.”

All. Yours. God how I wished.

The tension in the air suddenly felt thick. I swallowed hard from the nerves that were beginning to course through me.

“I don’t think I could ever get sick of you Jesse, If I’m being honest.” She began to twirl a loose thread that hung from the bottom of her dress around her finger, “ I’m usually never in the apartment by myself very often, but when I am I do get a little nervous. Kate says it’s because I spend too much time watching cheesy paranormal shows and they’ve corrupted my brain.” Y/N rolled her eyes at her comment.

“But, you being here right now has been the safest I’ve ever felt in the apartment by myself. Although technically I’m not by myself.” She let out another small chuckle. A piece of her hair was falling over the side of her face and I felt my hand reach to go move it.

But I hesitated, like the coward that I always was.

“I hope this all doesn’t come off weird but I just wanted to say thank you, Jesse. For coming back to hang out with me so that way I wouldn’t have to be here all by myself.”

My cheeks began to feel hot and the nerves that were just pulsing through my body all vanished instantly. She felt safe with me here. Y/N would never know how much what she just said meant to me. How incredibly happy I was feeling in this moment here with her.

I raised my hand again from the back of the couch with this new confidence that was taking over me. I finally reached the side of Y/N’s face and gently tucked the loose strand of hair behind her ear that was falling into her eye. Her face was so soft and so warm and I craved so desperately to leave my hand here forever.

I was now looking directly in her eyes, “I should be the one thanking you, Y/N. If I'm being completely honest, I agreed to come back here with you because I’m selfish and wanted more time with you today.” I let out a shaky breath. “I really enjoyed our lunch date and I was trying to think of ways that I could keep you in my company for just a few hours longer. I guess I must have been thinking too loudly because the universe must have heard me.”

Another nervous chuckle escaped from my mouth, “I’m not great with words when I’m speaking out loud. I, I, I’ve always been better at being able to express myself on pen to paper. But, just know that I am extremely grateful and forever undeserving of being able to be sitting here next to someone so incredibly beautiful.”

It was Y/N’s cheeks now that were flushing pink and her eyes had a glossy shine to them. “You’re too incredibly sweet, Jesse. Truly.” She sniffled and quickly wiped away at her eyes. “I know this may be a bit off topic but, do you like popcorn?”

“I love popcorn!”

“I always gotta have popcorn anytime I watch a movie or a show. I can throw a bag in the microwave really quickly and then we can decide on something to watch?” Y/N asked before pushing her hands off her thighs and standing up from the couch.

“Sounds like a plan,” I answered excitedly, “Did you need any help?”

“Oh no, it only takes like two minutes and then I just toss it all in a big bowl and it’s ready to go. But thank you for offering.” Y/N turned to make her way into the kitchen and my eyes once again lingered on her legs and the bottom of her ass cheeks that peeked out from under her dress.

READER

My heart was absolutely racing. I needed a reason to be able to stand up and catch my breath. Jesse’s words lingered in my mind, no one has ever said anything like that to me.

His words were so gentle and he held such an honest stare directly into my eyes while speaking them. For someone who allegedly wasn't any good with speaking words, this man about had me in tears just a few seconds ago.

Letting out a deep breath I reached into the pantry to pull out a bag of popcorn. Before taking the pouch out of the plastic wrapper I bent down into one of the lower cabinets to pull out my usual big black bowl that I always used for popcorn nights.

Finally removing the plastic wrap and unfolding the pouch, I made my way over to the microwave and set the timer for the popcorn button. The light from inside the microwave casted a warm glow out into the kitchen. I leaned against the counter while watching the popcorn pouch rotate on the glass plate as it slowly began to inflate. The sounds of the kernels popping echoing off the walls inside.

I still couldn’t believe that Jesse was here in my apartment, alone with me. I had been fighting off nerves all day but once we were finally back in the apartment the intensity that grew between us was never this thick before.

The loud beeping from the microwave brought me out of my thoughts and I reached over to open the door and carefully pull the bag out. Pulling both corner ends of the bag to let out the hot steam and then poured the contents into the bowl beside me on the counter.

I then turned to head out of the kitchen and back into the front room with the warm bowl of popcorn in hand. The salty savory smell of warm butter filling my nostrils as I inched closer to the couch.

Jesse’s back was facing me and his messy curls were laid up against the back of the sofa. I came up behind him to lay my hand over his eyes and bent down next to his ear, “boo!”

Jesse jumped up and I saw a few goosebumps form on the side of his neck. “You walk so quiet I didn’t even hear you enter the room. You’re like a little Ninja!”

“I give all my thanks to the hours I’ve spent consuming Ghost Adventures, taught me a thing or two.” I said with a wink while I walked around the couch to find my seat next to Jesse again.

“Ghost adventures? They’re still making episodes for that? What are they on, like season five hundred?”

I brought my legs up onto the cushion to sit criss cross and set the bowl of popcorn in my lap. Grabbing a few pieces and stuffing them inside my mouth. “Hey! Don’t hate on the Ghost Adventures. Zak was one of my biggest crushes in high school and if God is on my side, he will keep Zak airing on TV until the end of time.”

Jesse reached over to grab a few pieces of popcorn from the bowl, “Sounds like I need to start picking up a hobby in ghost investigating then, now that there’s competition.”

My chewing came to a halt, “Competition?”

“Yeah, Zak is the enemy now and if I have any chance at making my way on the crush list it sounds like Ghost Investigating is in my near future.” Jesse replied with a sly wink.

Knots suddenly grew in my stomach. Both from intensity and excitement.

“Well, I’d say you already have an upper hand. You came to my rescue and are keeping me company so I wouldn’t have to be in this big, scary, apartment all by myself.”

An even bigger grin spread across Jesse’s face, “I’d come to your rescue any time you needed me to.”

My smile now reflected back at Jesse’s. Although we’ve only known each other for a short time, it felt like Jesse had been in my life forever. The way we are able to sit here in the big open space with just the two of us so comfortably, I’ve never been able to feel this safe with anyone so easily before.

I knew that Jesse’s words were genuine. That he wasn’t putting on some facade to try to impress me. He wasn’t here just because he gained anything out of it. He was here with me because he simply wanted to be.

I’ve never felt this comfortable with anyone before. Not once did I ever have any feeling that Jesse would try to do anything or make any sudden moves.

Although, I wouldn’t fight him off if he did.

Jesse reached back over to my lap to grab another handful of popcorn. “Well, speaking of my arch nemesis, should we put on good ole Zaky poo so I can take some notes?”

I raised a brow and tapped my chin with two fingers in a thinking gesture, “Sure! But before I do, should I go grab one of my notebooks out of my room? Just to make sure you don’t miss anything important.”

“You’ve got jokes, Y/N. Put the show on, I’ll be the judge on whether or not Zak could keep up with me.”

I reached over to grab the remote off of the coffee table and clicked on the TV. I opened up the Roku menu and clicked on the HBO app to go into the recently watched menu. Scrolling past a few movies Kate and I had watched and then landed on Ghost Adventures.

“Would you like to start with season one episode one? Or would you like something more recent?” I turned to ask Jesse.

The glow of the TV casted against Jesse’s face and his warm chocolate brown eyes moved along with the words he read from the description of the episode. His fingers lightly tapped on the back of the couch behind me and suddenly his shoulder looked like a comfy place to lay my head against.

“Oh we gotta start from the beginning. Run episode one up baybay!!”

I hit play on the remote and the opening for Ghost Adventures started echoing throughout the room. Jesse’s eyes were watching the screen intently while mine were too focused on him.

I kept shifting my focus from the side of his face, down to his shoulder, and back up. Internally fighting myself on if I should make this move or if it would weird him out.

Earlier before starting the episode I had moved the half empty bowl of popcorn onto the coffee table before us. The only thing sitting in my lap now were both of my hands as my fingers anxiously intertwined with one another.

Fuck it.

I leaned over and into Jesse, laying my head gently onto his shoulder. “Is this okay?”

Jesse’s hand was no longer resting on the back of the couch. But instead, was now running through the few strands of my hair that fell onto my shoulder. “More than okay.” He whispered into the side of my head.

We sat like this for a while. Leaning into each other's embrace, soaking in the warmth that radiated off of both our bodies.

Jesse’s chest rose and fell with his breathing and his warm breath would occasionally brush along the top of my forehead. After a few episodes Jesse had rested his hand on my shoulder that was furthest away from him.

His arm was completely outstretched behind me and I felt like I was wrapped in my own safe Jesse cocoon. I wanted to lay here forever with him.

My eyes grew heavier and heavier as each episode ended and another one began. I didn’t want to lose any time with him but the way I felt completely comfortable and at peace next to him put me in a state of bliss I never felt before.

After putting up a good fight I finally caved in to the tiredness that overtook me. Shutting my eyes and letting the rise and fall of Jesse’s breathing doze me off to sleep.

JESSE

“Does she really have a crush on this guy? This guy?!? He doesn’t even go into the scary rooms by himself! He sends his friends in there for him!!” I thought to myself.

“I could definitely do a better ghost investigation job. Just wait until ERRA goes on tour again. I’m googling all the haunted places of every city we go to and I’m taking the boys with me and I’ll show her that Zak Bagans is a pussy.

Y/N’s warm breath fanned across my neck and it sent a shock down my entire body that broke me from my thoughts. I turned down to sneak a glance at her and was completely overwhelmed from happiness at the sight that I was staring down at.

Y/N had fallen asleep on my shoulder. Her head was tucked in the space between my neck and she looked so peaceful.

Her legs looked uncomfortable tangled up in a mess at her side so I reached over to pick them up and gently laid them across my lap. I did my best to make sure to move her as little as possible in hopes not to wake her.

The warmth of her calves burnt through my pants to the skin on my thighs. Once she was positioned more comfortably, she rested her hands up against my chest.

I couldn’t stop staring at the sight below me. I haven’t felt this happy in such a long time. I meant it when I told her I would always come to her rescue. But after tonight, after this moment, I knew that it was me who would need rescuing from falling so hard.

A state of catatonic peace completely took over me. I could sit within this moment forever. Drifting off into euphoria left to wander in the touch of Y/N.

I was completely lost inside the maze and I knew I would never be able to find the way out. I tilted my head down to rest up against Y/N’s. Our hair entangling in each other.

I closed my eyes and let the feeling of euphoric bliss carry me away in the comfortability from being within her touch.

KATE

I stepped out of the car and let out a long exhausted breath as my feet met the pavement below me.

I struggled to keep my eyes open the entire drive back to the apartment. I ended up having to stay two hours past close because while Kristina was mopping the floors in the back, she accidentally hit the pipe of the sink and it popped off causing water to leak out all onto the floor.

Thankfully we were able to squeegee all the water out of the back door. But now I’m left to deal with the broken pipe issue. Which I left for tomorrow morning because I physically could not even imagine trying to lay under that sink and put that pipe back on after the day I had.

I let out a long yawn and finally made my way up to mine and Y/N’s front door. I inserted my house key into the lock and slid the door open to step inside.

Should have known Ghost Adventures would be playing on the TV, I thought to myself as I kicked off my shoes and set my purse down on the table next to the door.With a few more steps I was further into the front room and I had to do a double take at the sight before me.

Y/N and Jesse were both sitting on the couch. Y/N’s legs were laying across Jesse’s lap, his arms were wrapped around her, their heads leaning against each other, and they were both soundly asleep.

I” can’t believe this girl had him watching Ghost Adventures on the first date.” I mumbled out loud to myself.

As I made my way past the couch something in my peripherals suddenly caused me to stop in place before heading off to my bedroom.

A half empty bowl of popcorn sitting out on the coffee table with a few stray pieces of popcorn littered around it. She’s so lucky that Jesse is here or I’d dump this bowl of popcorn right over her head.

I turned to walk towards the coffee table trying my best to remain quiet so I wouldn’t wake them. Despite my aggravation at the sight of popcorn sprinkled across my coffee table, I didn’t want to interrupt this moment between the two of them.

I leaned down to grab the popcorn but my exhausted eyes must not have realized the bowl wasn’t fully situated within my grasp. The bowl slipped from between my fingers and before I was able to make any attempt at catching it, the bowl had already made its way onto the floor with a loud crash following behind it.

I froze in place staring at the now broken bowl and the stray pieces of popcorn that fell against the floor.

“What the hell?!” Y/N jumped up causing Jesse’s arms to fall down from her shoulders and now into her lap. She turned towards me, eyes half opened while they slowly adjusted to the room.

I bent down to begin picking up the pieces of popcorn from off the floor, “I am so sorry, I tried my best not to wake you guys.”

“When did you get home? What time is it?” Y/N asked, still attempting to wake up.

Jesse’s eyes slowly opened and he let out a deep yawn before going to rub his eyes. “Oh shit, I guess we must have passed out.”

Although the both of them now awake, they still remained in the same position I found them in. Coiled up into each other hesitant to be the first one to move.

Before reaching to grab another piece of popcorn from the floor a tattooed, red, mandala covered hand appeared next to me, “I’m so sorry about the popcorn. Here let me help you, do you guys have a broom anywhere? I don’t want you or Y/N cutting yourself on the glass pieces.”

I motioned towards the kitchen,“Yeah, in the laundry room hanging up behind the door. Just go through the kitchen and it’s the door in the back all the way towards the right.”

“Shit, I am so sorry Kate. I didn’t realize how late it was and -“

I put up a finger to my mouth in a whisper motion, “Y/N, don’t even worry about it. Did I almost grow a few gray hairs the moment I spotted the popcorn on the table? Definitely. But, what’s more important is the fact that you and Jesse were cuddling together on the couch.”

Y/N bent down next to me to help pick up the last few pieces of popcorn, “Shh, we will talk about it when Jesse isn’t less than two feet away.”

I winked an eye at her and Jesse soon reappeared back into the front room with the broom and dustpan. “Neither of you touched any of the glass, right?”

“No sir, just the popcorn.” Y/N responded back while dusting off the salt and popcorn crumbs from her hands.

Jesse was now between us and I reached out to grab the dust pan from him so I could hold it in place while he began to sweep up the broken glass pieces and left over popcorn remains.

“Awh, shit. That was my favorite popcorn bowl too.” Y/N whined with her bottom lip stuck out in a pouting motion, “No other bowl will be the same.”

Me and Jesse both let out a chuckle and I reached down to help pull Y/N up off of the floor. “I’m sorry I broke your favorite popcorn bowl, looks like we will just have to go on a girls shopping trip so I can buy you a new one.”

“Oooh, I love me a good girls day shopping trip!” Jesse said with a high pitched tone.

“It’s a date then! Add it to your Ghost Adventures notes so you don’t forget, Jesse.” Y/N replied back with a smirk.

Once we had everything cleaned up and the living room was back in order I checked my phone to look at the time, “Holy shit! I did not realize it was already almost three in the morning! I need to get to bed, I have to open the cafe in the morning and fix the damn sink.”

“The sink? What happened to the sink?” Y/N asked.

I slid my phone back into my pocket, “I don’t want to talk about it. I’m just gonna go to bed and wallow in my own self pity. But, you two have fun out here and make good choices.” I turned to walk down the hallway to make my way towards my bedroom at the end of the hall. Leaving Y/N and Jesse alone to themselves once again.

READER

“Well, it’s getting extremely late and my nosey ass roommates are probably up pacing the house wondering where I’m at.” Jesse said while anxiously stuffing his hands into his front pockets.

My heart sank at his words, knowing that this meant he was leaving. Forever wishing that I could turn back time and restart the night over again.

I began to twiddle my fingers, “Well, I had a lot of fun today. Thank you so much again for picking me up and taking me to lunch and for also hanging out with me.”

“Anytime, Y/N. Hopefully we can do this again soon. Maybe next time we can have our Ghost Adventures marathon at my place and I can introduce you to my own special popcorn bowl.”

“I would like that very much, Jesse.”

Jesse began walking over towards the front door and I followed closely behind him. Scared that if I let him get too far ahead of me that I would lose any extra time with him. He bent down and began sliding his sneakers back onto his feet.

“Let me walk you down to your car?” I asked from behind him.

“You are insane if you think I’m going to have you walk me down and then have you walk back upstairs at night by yourself. But, I won’t put up a fight if you walk me to the first step at the top of the staircase.”

I rolled my eyes, “Fine. I guess that’s a fair compromise.” I reached for the door handle and pulled back the door for me and Jesse to step outside into the chilly LA air. Jesse walked in front of me and I followed after him, closing the door behind us.

I held my arms tightly crossed against me to help shield me from the cold. We both came to a stop once we reached the first step and I felt my heart begin to sink again knowing that Jesse was now actually about to leave.

Jesse turned around to face me before stepping out onto the concrete stairs below him. He took a step closer into me, our chests were now barely inches apart. The warmth of his body heat casted onto me like rays of sunlight. Warming both my skin and my heart.

He leaned down to leave a kiss on the middle of my forehead, “I had a really wonderful time with you tonight, Y/N. I haven’t felt this genuinely happy in a real long time.” He pulled away to look down at me and brushed the few strands of hair behind my ear that were blowing across my face.

I outstretched both arms around his lower back to hold Jesse in a hug. He immediately leaned into me and I felt his arms wrap around my back pulling me in tighter to him. We both stood there for a few moments in silence holding each other as the sound of the wind echoed off the apartment buildings.

I spoke my thoughts out loud into Jesse’s chest, “I don’t want to let you go.” My grip tightening on the back of his shirt.

“I don’t want to let you go either. But with the goosebumps that have taken over your skin tells me that I should let you get back inside to the warm - well… warmer air I should say, now that Kate’s back home.”

Jesse rubbed his hand up and down my back and I reluctantly let go of him. Letting my arms fall back down at my side. “Please text me when you get home so I know you made it safe.”

“Will do, now get inside and go get warm. I will see you again very soon, beautiful.” Jesse laid another swift kiss to the top of my head before turning to descend the staircase and making his way to the parking lot and back into his car.

JESSE

I pulled into the driveway of my LA home and put the car in park. Shifting in the seat while replaying all of tonight in my mind. The scent of Y/N still lingering in my nostrils. I pulled the key out of the ignition and noticed a strand of her hair was stuck to my sleeve.

Pushing open the car door and stepping out onto the pavement driveway I then made my way to the front door. I let out a yawn as I inserted my house key into the lock and made my way into the house. “WELL, WELL, WELL, would you look at who's finally home?” Michael’s voice echoed through the front room.

Him and Jolly were still up, both stretched out across the black sectional couch. They had the playstation casted on the TV and from the looks of the snacks that spread across the coffee table, had been here playing video games for the last few hours.

I continued my way into the front room, Jolly’s head now peaking out from the back of the couch, “Jesse dear, did you make good choices?”

“Is it going to be like this every time I walk through the front door now?” I responded back to Jolly with a laugh.

“We just aren’t used to our boy being out past three am. They grow up so fast.” Michael said in a mock crying tone.

I rolled my eyes and headed up the stairs, “I’m going to bed. I’ll deal with you two idiots tomorrow.” A wide grin still stretched across my face. I made my way into the hallway and finally into my bedroom.

I slid my shoes off and undressed out of my clothes from today. Opting for just a pair of blue sweatpants. Before I slid my shirt off over my head, Y/N’ strand of hair from earlier caught my attention and I picked it up and walked over to lay it across my pillow.

I pulled back the covers and laid my tired limbs onto the mattress below me. The coldness of the sheets spread against the bare skin of my chest and back. Before finally turning over to close my exhausted eyes, I pulled my phone off of the nightstand that stood next to my bed.

I pulled up Y/N’s contact and began typing out a text,

I made it back home safe and sound. Thank you again for making today the best one I’ve had in a while. I hope you have sweet dreams, beautiful. Talk soon.

After hitting send I clicked the side button to turn off the screen and set my phone back onto the nightstand. Finally turning over to rest my tired limbs.

JESSE

I leaned over the kitchen countertop while pouring myself a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, the sound of the cereal pieces bouncing off the bottom of the glass bowl echoed back at me. I slept in longer than intended but given the fact that I didn’t fall asleep until almost four in the morning, it was a miracle that I was even awake before noon.

Noah quickly came bouncing into the kitchen behind me and headed over towards the fridge, pulling out a carton of coconut water. He screwed off the cap and took a large gulp before coming up to stand next to me. Resting his back against the cold tile of the countertop.

Silence stood between us but I knew that his questions would soon follow. I already knew Jolly and Michael had already told him about me getting home late this morning. With my bowl now filled to the top with milk and cereal I hopped up onto the countertop and began shoving spoonfuls into my mouth.

My legs hung off the counter and I swayed them back and forth from anticipation. I then glanced over at Noah who was now scrolling on his phone, still taking sips of coconut water every so often.

Jolly now emerged into the kitchen suddenly breaking the silence in the air, “well good morning lads.” He spoke while walking over to the sink to rinse out his white coffee mug that had Jolly etched into the front.

“Good morning.” Me and Noah both responded back. Noah was still intently looking down at his phone. My curious eyes quickly flashed over to get a sneak at his screen and I saw he had been scrolling through a profile on Instagram. Before I could stare any longer to see whose profile he was so intensely focused on, Jolly jumped up onto the counter next to me, bumping his shoulder against mine.

“Sooooo, did you use protection?” Jolly’s dumb face now staring holes into the side of my cheek as he raised his eyebrows up and down.

Noah nearly choked on his coconut water, “Wait! Protection?! Hold the fuck up!” He slammed the carton box against the counter, “Jesse, you slept with Y/N?”

I let out a deep sigh of frustration as I set the bowl of cereal down on my lap, “Ignore Jolly, he’s an idiot. But no, I did not sleep with Y/N since everyone is so eager to know every detail of my relationship with her.”

I hopped off the counter and walked my bowl over to the sink to begin rinsing it out. Noah came up behind me to place a hand on my shoulder, “Hey man I’m sorry for assuming. It just shocked me is all.”

“No, no,” I waved him off. “I’m sorry for snapping. It’s just, Y/N isn’t like that. She’s a really sweet, down to earth girl and I’m just so scared of fucking this up. We had a really great night together last night. Noah, this girl…” I turned to face him, “She’s fucking incredible. When I’m with her my anxiety is through the fucking roof. But I’ve also never felt more calmer and at peace than when she’s at my side.”

“That’s a good thing, Jesse. Let yourself enjoy this, you deserve it. You’re not going to fuck it up, so get those thoughts out of your head.” Noah removed his hand from my shoulder to begin rummaging it through the messy ends of his hair. “I’ve known you forever man, and if there is anyone in this world who deserves ultimate happiness it's you, Jess.”

“Oh! I agree with Noah!” Jolly shouted over from the kitchen table where he was now sitting eating a piece of buttered toast. “I’m sorry for fucking with you so much and giving you a hard time. It’s all jokes man. We truly are very happy for you and hope that this situation with Y/N works out the way you want it to.”

“Thanks guys, I appreciate it.”

“Off topic but Jess I may need your help if you’ve got time.” Noah shifted on his feet, “ I was up late last night in the studio working on some stuff for Bad Omens. I put together a little something and just wanted to run it by you.”

“Oh for sure man, I have time now if you want to head over there and we can give it a listen, see what you got cookin.”

Noah motioned towards the exit of the kitchen and I followed behind him to the studio room right down the small hallway next door. He pulled out the black office chair from the desk and sat down in front of his silver macbook to pull up his mixing program.

I came up beside him to sit in one of the extra office chairs and waited as he searched through the tracks of songs. “I’ve had this idea floating around in my brain for a little while, of doing like an official unofficial revamped album. It would follow the storyline of the Concrete Jungle comics. I thought it would be cool to get a bunch of different artists and do revamped or remixed versions of the songs off the record.”

“Have you spoken with Matt yet about this? I asked while raising my brows.

“Not yet, I’m saving that conversation with him for another day because I already know he’s going to give me shit for working when I’m supposed to be taking time to myself. But you know how I am. I can’t focus unless I’m working on something.”

This was true, Noah had always been one to keep himself busy, to the point of exhaustion. How he had managed to even find time or the motivation to work on music while being on the road so much with his band was something that I really admired in my friend. Noah was one of the most dedicated and hard working people I knew. It was one of the most honorable qualities about him.

I let out a slight chuckle, “Yeah well, Matt is definitely going to have your ass about all this work you’ve been doing. But it sounds like a sick idea man. I’m excited to see what you’ve got planned.”

“Ah! Here it is.” Noah pulled up one one of the tracks and began to let it play, his voice coming out of the speakers in a melodic tone.

This life was all it had to be. Designed, but not for you and me. I never needed you to be anything more than human.

He let a bit more play and there were now no words, only back tracks playing. “This is sort of all I have right now. It’s still a work in progress but, remember when we were out on tour together and you, JT, and I were sitting back in the greenroom one night after the show and I had mentioned the idea about a ERRA and Bad Omens collab?”

My mind quickly flashed back to that night of me and my friends sitting around on the couch in the venue greenroom, sharing laughter, and probably all in desperate need of a shower. “Yeah, I do remember us all talking about working on something together. Is that what this is here?” I asked while pointing to his macbook.

“Yeah, once we got back home the idea just never really left my mind. I know you guys are busy working on your new upcoming album and have some shows coming up soon, so I know you guys will be pretty strapped for time.” Noah turned in the chair to face back at me, “But, I think an ERRA/Bad Omens collab would be fucking sick. Plus, I need your brain on this one. This song needs some of those intense Jesse Cash lyrics.”

I sat up eagerly and stretched my arms out above my head to crack my limbs, “Fuck yeah man, I’m down. I know the rest of the guys will be down. JT’s been on my ass for months about letting him know when we finally decide to make up our minds and set aside the time. I’ll call him up now and we can run over everything with him.”

I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and pulled up JT’s contact, selecting the facetime call button and positioning the screen so that me and Noah were both sitting in frame. The phone picked up and JT’s face emerged on the screen before us, “Well look at these two beautiful boys!”

The three of us began discussing our ideas for this new upcoming track…

READER

I let out a long yawn and stretched out my arms over my chest. I worked a short shift this afternoon and the second I came back to the apartment I sprawled out across the couch and took a nap.

Kate stuck behind to deal with the broken sink pipe. When I showed up this afternoon she was laying on the floor in an attempt to duct tape it back on, but when Kristina had begun washing dishes later in the day water was still leaking out from the sides. So I ended up spending the last hour of my shift helping her search for plumbers.

As I continued to lay here in the quiet space, memories from last night replayed in my mind. Jesse’s bright smile forever taking up all the space. The scent of him still lingered on the couch pillow that rested beneath my head and it brought me back to when I was wrapped up in his arms, the safest place I’ve ever felt.

I spent the whole day missing him from the moment my alarm went off this morning. Every time the lobby door to the cafe would open I would glance up, hoping to see his head full of curls coming my way. He had sent me a text last night letting me know he had made it home safe. I hadn’t had time yet today to text him back. Work was busy per usual, and then with the whole sink escapade time unjustifiably slipped from my fingers.

I reached over to grab my cell phone from off of the coffee table and clicked it on, adjusting my eyes from the brightness of the screen that casted onto my face. I tapped on the text message box to open up the thread of messages, but the last one from Jesse was the one he had sent last night.

I so desperately wanted to text him, my fingers danced over the letters on the screen from anticipation. But I was hesitant, scared that I may be coming off as too needy and desperate. But I also didn’t want him to think that I was avoiding him since I never got the chance to respond to his message.

With a nervous sigh, I began typing out a message on the screen before me.

Hey you, I’m sorry I am texting back so late. Work was crazy busy and I unfortunately didn’t have any time to be on my phone. But, I’m back home for the night and just wanted to send you a text to say that I hope you had a good day today. Hope to hear from you soon.

I clicked the send button and then pushed myself up from off the couch. I headed over to the kitchen and grabbed the jug of orange juice from the fridge, pouring it into the pink plastic cup that sat on the counter before me. Then headed back towards my room with the cup in hand.

Before reaching for the door handle of my room my phone buzzed in my back pocket. I quickly stepped into the room before me and clicked on the light, eagerly pulling my phone out from behind me. Jesse’s name flashed across the screen followed by a text message.

Jesse🌺:Hey you, you must have known I was thinking about you all day because you texted me right as I was just about to ask if I could facetime you, you got a second?

The familiar heat that always found its way to my cheeks returned and a wide smile spread across my face. I took a small sip of my orange juice and then set it on top of the nightstand beside my bed before typing out my reply.

Reader: I was actually just about to hop in the shower but for you, I can always make time.

I sat down on my bed and laid my back up against the pillows that rested on my headboard then tucked my legs under the covers and pulled them up to rest along my chest. I tucked a few stray hairs behind my ears and did a quick once over in my phone camera to make sure I looked presentable.

I had still been in my work clothes from earlier that consisted of a pair of black leggings and a long sleeve lilac purple cropped sweatshirt. My hair still tied up in the messy bun I lazily threw it up in this morning.

My phone began ringing from within my palm and I turned the screen over to see Jesse’s facetime contact. I let out a breath before finally clicking the green answer button. The screen quickly went black and then before I knew it I was greeted with a sight that almost made my heart stop beating.

Jesse was sitting behind his desk wearing a white tee shirt and a brown Carhartt beanie. His curls sticking out from the bottom like chocolate waves. He had a brown acoustic guitar resting on his lap with the black guitar strap wrapped around his shoulder.

“Hey, you.” Jesse said with a wink.

I pulled both my knees up and rested my phone down on my knee caps to angle the screen facing downwards at me, “Hey yourself.” I had to quickly stop myself from biting my lip, I’d never seen Jesse in a beanie before but it was definitely doing things to me.

“I hope I didn’t bother you, I wasn’t sure if it was a good time or not but I just really wanted to see your pretty face again.”

My voice stuttered and I quickly cleared my throat, “Well, I’m sorry that you called when I happen to be looking like a garbage can.” I looked down at the outfit that rested against my skin and then back up at Jesse, “you caught me before I could get in the shower and into clothes that don’t reak of coffee and pastries.”

“You look absolutely breathtaking, Y/N. Just like you do every time I see you. Jesse adjusted the guitar and began strumming a few chords. My eyes watching him out of pure adoration. Still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that it was me who was sitting here with this as my view. “Since when do you play guitar?” I asked while playing with the string of the blanket next to me.

“Oh yeah, it makes sense you would be wondering that.” Jesse responded while laughing. “I actually have played guitar since I was super young. Remember when I told you that I was better at putting words to pen and paper? Well, it’s true. I spend a lot of my time writing music…”

He paused for a moment, “This usually isn’t the first thing I tell people because it feels like boasting and I never want it to come off in a way that is taken as the only thing I have to offer. But, I play guitar in both of my bands.”

I eagerly sat up in bed, my phone nearly falling off my knees and onto the mattress. “Shut the fuck up!” I exclaimed excitedly.

Jesse let out a loud fit of laughter and it sounded like pure bliss to my ears. I wish I could sit and listen to it forever. He stretched his arm out towards his phone to position it so he was more centered in frame, “I’m totally serious, I’ve played in my band ERRA ever since I was in high school. I started my own solo project Ghost Atlas a few years after because I can never silence my brain from writing mode.”

“I was about to ask you if you were fucking with me but, the smile that has been casted on your face the entire time from behind the words you just spoke gave me the answer to that question.” I pushed the few stray hairs back behind my ear that fell out from me sitting up a few minutes ago. “Soooo, are you going to play me something?”

“Oh man, the pressure!” I let out a giggle at his response. “Hmm, and what do I get if I do?” Jesse asked me while tapping his fingers on the bottom of his chin.

“How about a fresh plate of orange scones and another Ghost Adventures marathon with me?” Jesse was now looking directly into my eyes through the screen and the intensity burned so heavily between us it set fire to the inside of my palms.

“You know, I don’t put on a private show for just anybody.” He readjusted the strap on his shoulder, “The orange scones and the Ghost Adventures sounds very intriguing and I’m down, but I may have one more request to add to that list.” It was Jesse who was now biting at his lip.

“My band ERRA actually has a few shows coming up. We are playing at a venue here in downtown LA this upcoming weekend. I’ve seen you at work being the cutest and best barista there is. But, would you do me the honor of coming out and seeing me at work?” Pink hues casted from the skin that rested atop his cheekbones. His fingers nervously strumming the strings of the guitar in front of him as he awaited my answer.

My heart sank at the question he had just hit me with. I could tell he was incredibly nervous to ask me and I always found comfort in knowing that Jesse was just as nervous around me as I was around him. My heartbeat picked up out of excitement and I already knew my answer the second he finished asking it.

“Jesse, I would be absolutely honored to come out to the show and watch you.” I spoke with absolute honesty behind my words. I was incredibly excited at the thought alone of seeing Jesse perform on stage.

“Awesome, then we have ourselves a deal. I’ll text you all the information of the show with the set times and when doors open. I’m going to text our merch guy Brennan and tell him to add your name to my guest list.”

“Ooohh I’m fancy now. I have my own personal spot on the Jesse Cash’s setlist.” I said in a teasing tone. Jesse jokingly rolled his eyes at my remark. “But seriously, are you sure it’s okay if you add me to your guest list? I don’t mind paying!”

“I’m the one who asked you to come out, I would not make you pay. Plus, what if you think we fucking suck?” Jesse asked behind another fit of laughter. “I couldn’t live with myself if I invited a beautiful girl out, made her pay, and then she had to stand and be witness to the absolute worst show of her life.”

“Oh shut up.” I giggled. “I highly doubt it will be the worst show of my life. Plus I’m about to get a little sneak peak so I’ll be the judge of whether or not I should text you later to ask you to take my name off the list.” I said jokingly.

“Ouch, that was harsh. You know just for that I have the perfect song that I’m going to play for you, Y/N.”

“Oh yeah?” I teasingly bantered back.

“Yeah, I call this one, “Aaron go check it out, by yourself.” Jesse began strumming notes on the guitar and cleared his throat before singing out the words of his song.

“Ohh FUCK YOU Zak Bagans, you don’t even go in the scary rooms by yourself.

Ohhhh FUCK YOU Zak Bagans, your my arch nemesis

and I will be a better ghost investigator than yoooouuuu.”

Laughter overtook me and shook through all my bones. “Oh my fucking god.” I put my hand in front of my mouth and continued to laugh into my palm as Jesse still continued to sing. His melodic voice echoed off my four bedroom walls and back at me. Despite his goofy lyrics, his voice was absolutely beautiful and it took my breath away.

“Ohhh FUCK YOU Zak Bagans you’re a pussy!

They should have named the show, Zak Bagans SUCKS!

Ohhh FUCK YOU Zak Bagans you don’t have shit on meeeeee!”

Jesse then started strumming erratically, “And that will be all for tonight folks. Thank you!” He lifted his hand out and did a mock bow down at the phone before lifting the guitar over him and placing it back onto the stand at the side of his desk.

“So, what did you think?” Jesse asked me after returning back into frame.

“Yeah, so I think I’m feeling a bit under the weather. I’m afraid I might not be able to make it this weekend.” I said with a teasing smile.

“Ah I get it, my lyrics do tend to have that effect on people. They’re so beautiful and heart wrenching they just really give all those intense feels. Makes sense you would be feeling a little off from the intensity of the rawness of the words.”

It’s been a long time since I’ve laughed this hard. My cheeks were sore from smiling so much and my throat was raspy from all the laughter that escaped my mouth. “You sir are the cutest idiot I’ve ever met, you know that?”

“You said cutest, so I’ll take it!” The large smile never left Jesse’s face, “You know, you’re pretty cute yourself.” Jesse leaned down closer to the camera and rested his chin against his hands that were laying flatly on the desk before him.

My smile also never leaving my face, “Well, when can I see you again? These facetime calls are special but admittedly it pales in comparison to being able to see your cute face in person.” I bit my lip in anticipation, tugging on the dead skin to the side.

“Hmm, how about tomorrow morning first thing, so I can have you and those orange scones you promised?

I stuck out my bottom lip in a pouty motion, “That’s too long, I was thinking more along the lines of right now. That is, if you have time?”

A devilish grin now spread across Jesse’s face, “For you Y/N, I can always make time.” He tapped the phone screen to read the time, “How does a milkshake and some french fries sound? There’s this diner that is open pretty late and they have the best orange dreamsicle shake I’ve ever had in my life.”

“Oh, it sounds like my orange scones have some competition.” I raised a brow, “Looks like I also now have an arch nemesis.”

Jesse let out a chuckle and pushed his hands off of the desk to stand up, “I’m grabbing my jacket and I’ll be over in ten.”

“Can’t wait.” I responded and then disconnected my facetime call with Jesse. With excited jitters coursing through my veins I eagerly jumped out of bed and put on a fresh pair of clothes. Opting for a pair of ripped blue jeans and a cropped light pink tee shirt that had engraved flowers on the front. I slipped on my usual pair of black platform Converse and grabbed my oversized gray cardigan off of the hook from the back of my door. Pulling my hair out of the messy bun and throwing it into a quick messy side braid that rested against my left shoulder.

Before finally stepping out of my room I reached over to my dresser to apply a few layers of the orange creamsicle chapstick I bought the other day. A devilish thought creeping into the back of my brain before finally stepping out of my bedroom to make my way towards the front room.

I wonder if the taste of my lips will live up to this infamous diner milkshake.

With one hand resting on the door handle, I twisted it pulling the front door open to be met with the cool summer breeze of the late LA air. Making my way down the steps and into the parking lot as Jesse’s car pulled up in front of the building. The parking lot lamp shone through the windshield glass to highlight the brown pool of curls that rested out from under his beanie.

I excitedly pushed off of the last step, the bottom of my shoe kissing the pavement of the sidewalk below me. I neared Jesse’s car and as I came closer he emerged from the drivers side door, “Hey you.” He said with a grin. “Hey yourself.” I responded as he came around to open the passenger side door for me to climb inside. The adventure of our second night together officially just beginning.

#tomato red #jesse cash #jesse cash fic #jesse cash fanfiction #jesse cash x reader

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