#Defensive driving responsibility

[techdriveplay]

A Comprehensive Guide to Defensive Driving Techniques

Defensive driving is more than just a set of skills; it’s a mindset and a commitment to safety on the road. This guide aims to provide drivers with an in-depth understanding of defensive driving techniques, empowering them to anticipate and respond to potential hazards and reduce the risk of accidents. The Defensive Driving Mindset Situational Awareness Develop a heightened sense of…

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Nooooo Bestie, don't go to mad at me island

[First] Prev <–-> Next

[taraxippos]

Whenever the concept of bad driving comes up on here sooooo many people out themselves as terrible drivers who are a danger to themselves and others because they consider themselves to be Phenomenal drivers to the point they want to be cops about it.

Like believe it or not people cause accidents by deciding it's their divine mandate to regulate other driver's speeds for them. Not even just in situations where other drivers respond aggressively and are more directly at fault, though even then it's especially important Not to actively go out of your way to impede the progress of an aggressive driver just to like, stick it to them because you're the worlds goodest specialest little traffic cop. If you get into a fiery wreck because you're trying to enrage the jacked up 1000000 megawatt LED headlights pickup truck tailgating you, frankly you both deserve it.

[solar-halos]

all my sister does is ask me to drive her places and crochet her things. and by god i’m gonna do it every time

[melissabtinker]

Enrolling in driver's education is crucial for understanding Texas traffic laws, which emphasize safety and compliance on the road. From mastering right-of-way rules to adhering to speed limits, driver's ed programs equip you with the knowledge and confidence to drive responsibly.

[reasonsforhope]

"A small group of activists assembled before dawn on a recent day in a South L.A. parking lot preparing to patrol the neighborhood. The gathering was not unlike what you see when police congregate in a parking lot preparing for a raid.

Only this time, the target was federal immigration agents.

The activists were from the Community Self Defense Coalition, which fights for immigrant rights. They were armed with two-way radios, bullhorns, and were trained to spot undercover vehicles from U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Department of Homeland Security.

The coalition formed in the wake of the second election of President Donald Trump and includes groups from across Los Angeles. They say their aim is to find ICE agents, alert the community to their presence using bullhorns, and drive them out of neighborhoods.

“They’re on our land. This is our territory,” said Ron Gochez of Unión del Barrio, which is part of the coalition. “Whatever they do here, they have to know they are going to meet an organized resistance.

“There is nowhere, there is no alleyway, no little corner of our city anywhere where an ICE raid can happen where we won’t know about it almost immediately,” he said.

An ICE spokesperson confirmed in a statement that agents have aborted at least one enforcement action “due to safety concerns brought on by protesters/bystanders.” The spokesperson declined to give his name “due to a heightened security risk to ICE employees.” ...

Tracking ICE

Last week, a high school history teacher, an ethnic studies instructor and a youth program leader were among the activists in South L.A. Nine people in three cars rolled into the darkened streets looking for ICE agents.

“We drive the streets of our neighborhood looking for anything suspicious,” said Gochez, a 43-year-old father and high school history teacher. "We start early in the morning because we know this is when ICE starts their operations.”

Gochez is a member of Unión del Barrio, one of the members of the coalition.

Unión del Barrio started the patrols in 2020 during a Biden Administration crackdown on unauthorized immigrants. The organization restarted the patrols over the past few weeks in response to the second Trump Administration.

On Wednesday, Gochez’s two-way radio crackled with the sound of a colleague checking in from another car on patrol.

“Copy. We are on Jefferson and Trinity. All clear,” she announced.

They looked for ICE vehicles – typically with heavily tinted windows, usually on an American made sedan or SUV, almost always with a cage in the back seat for detainees. Sometimes, the cars are parked sideways on a street in front of their target or grouped together in a grocery store parking lot.

Gochez said he and the other activists try to catch ICE agents in those lots as they gather before a raid.

“We try to catch them at that stage — that way we’re able to affect their plan and at the same time, we start alerting the community.”

When they find federal agents, they go into publicity mode.

“We go live on social media,” Gochez said. “We use our megaphone to alert the immediate community that ICE is present.”

In a recent Facebook Live post, Gochez can be seen speaking into a bullhorn across the street from where ICE agents appear to be conducting a raid.

“Everybody in this community, if you can hear me please do not come outside if you are undocumented,” he says on the video. “We have terrorists in our community.”

He implores people who are documented to come outside and support the protest.

Enforcing law vs defending community

Later, L.A. police officers confronted Gochez.

“We’re not interfering,” he told them.

“Yes you are,” responded an LAPD officer, who forced Gochez and the other protestors down the street.

The participation of city police officers appeared to violate L.A.’s sanctuary cities law, which prohibits police from cooperating or assisting ICE agents...

ICE backs off

As part of the coalition, Unión del Barrio has trained people from more than 50 other organizations to engage in similar patrols, including The National Lawyers Guild, Jewish Voice for Peace and The Peoples Struggle San Fernando Valley, according to Gochez.

It's unclear how many conduct regular patrols like Unión del Barrio does.

Gochez estimates his and other groups have intercepted ICE on about a dozen occasions. He said in some cases, ICE has backed off of a raid because of Unión del Barrio’s presence.

Cardona said ICE agents called off the raid when they were called out at the Target. “That one day, we knew we prevented several people from being detained and deported, their lives being uprooted.” ...

Union del Barrio urges people to use a text thread or to have some sort of a phone tree to alert each other about the presence of ICE in their neighborhoods. The group also has a hotline people can call if they spot ICE.

“We get calls from Uber drivers. We get calls from street vendors. We get calls from business owners and just everyday normal people who support the work that we do,” said Gochez, who refers to ICE detentions and arrests as the “kidnappings.”

“It is a kidnapping – no different from when they kidnapped Native Americans during the Indian Removal Act,” Gochez declared.

He said many of the calls to the coalition are false alarms, involving local agencies, like LAPD or the county Sheriff’s Department, conducting their own undercover operations. But the coalition is focused on the actions of federal immigration agents.

A new tactic

Experts said the tactic of patrolling for ICE is relatively new.

Mirian Martinez-Aranda, an associate professor of sociology at U.C. Irvine, said it lets members of immigrant communities know they are not alone.

“It's a new form in which immigrant communities and their supporters are finding a way to protect each other and to stand up for what's unfair and cruel,” Martinez-Aranda told LAist.

-via LAist, March 17, 2025

[techdriveplay]

The Psychology of Road Rage: Understanding Driving Behavior

In the fast-paced world we live in, the road becomes a stage for a wide array of human emotions, among which anger often takes the spotlight. The psychology of road rage is a complex phenomenon that intertwines with our daily lives, sometimes with dire consequences. This article delves into the intricacies of road rage, shedding light on its psychological underpinnings, societal impacts, and…

[froggiequarium]

1.1k words; nsfw (just pure smut); caleb puts a collar w a bell on you.... cw for possessive caleb (comes off more yandere-ish than i intended oops..?)

"i got a collar with a bell. that way, it couldn't escape without being noisy."

the collar around your neck suits you, he thinks, unable to help the smirk that grazes his lips with the little jingle when he first put it on you, and unable to suppress it along with the possessive look in his eyes as he pounds into you from behind, hips meeting your ass in sharp thrusts, one large hand deepening the arch of your back while the other wraps around your pretty neck, applying just enough pressure as he tilts your head up, reveling in your sweet mewls and each jingle of the bell as his thick cock slams into your leaking entrance.

"you're enjoying this, aren't you, pipsqueak?"

he knows the answer already, obvious from the way you're clenching around his cock and the drool slipping past your parted lips, pretty pleasured sounds music to his ears, making him grip your neck just a little bit tighter as his hips pick up the pace, jingling of the bell becoming more frequent.

"fuck."

the extra applied pressure causes you to gasp, caleb letting out a drawn out moan at the way you tighten around him even more.

"so tight, baby" caleb curses, sweat trickling down his bulking body, taking a look down at your expression, eyes glassed over, lips wet and trickling with saliva, as he wills himself to not come completely undone at the sight, not yet.

"you wanna cum, baby?"

barely able to speak, your answer is akin to mindless babbles.

"please caleb, wanna cum, please,"

"yeah? you want it that bad?"

"yesyesyes, please, caleb," you practically cry, your begging driving caleb to the edge.

a husky laugh rings out beside your head, his warm breath tickling your ear at the proximity.

"wanted you for so long, just like this," he drives his point hitting a certain spot inside just right, causing a pretty drawn out moan from you.

"you look so perfect like this baby, gonna keep you all to myself," the way his cock impales you at this pace has your eyes rolling back, gripping at both the bedsheets and the beefy arm of the hand that still grips your neck for any semblance of stability.

"never letting you get away again, never gonna let you out of my sight."

"ca-leb—"

your words are broken from the pressure on your neck, clenching around him at his words.

"fuck— seems like you'd like that too, huh? you can't live without me," he breathes out a laugh, taking pleasure in the idea that you need him.

"gonna keep you here, just like this, all to myself— hah, fuck, baby—"

"co-ming, caleb, ca-"

he swallows up your sweet whines, hand around your neck now gripping your cheeks as he pulls you into an all-devouring kiss, one that easily conveys his feelings in this moment, hips continuing to thrust into you, the little bell jingling wildly in response.

he breaks the kiss, saliva connecting you both for a moment before both hands are grasping your hips, pulling you against him as he continues ramming into you.

"w-w-wait, ah, haah, aaaah~,"

still sensitive from your orgasm and weak from being in the position for so long, your body goes limp against the bed, whines your last line of defense against caleb's repeated thrusts as he easily keeps your hips in the air.

"feels so good, knew you'd feel so good, hah," he mutters, watching the way his cock sinks into you with ease, coming out covered in your shared essence.

"im close, baby."

caleb's mind is mostly mush, body hot and driven by your mewls and whines of his name, mind reeling at finally having you like this, loving how willing you are, ready to truly make you his.

a frown adorns his face for a moment before a hand reaches out, gathers your hair, and pulls your head up from the mattress.

"..! haah..."

you gasp out in surprise, barely registering the sound of the bell that's now clearly ringing through the room again but caleb is all too aware, a satisfied smirk creeping up his face once more.

"gonna cum again? can feel it. gonna cum inside, yeah? you want that?"

"caleb!"

unable to cry anything but his name, he's more than satisfied.

the feel of your body, the blissed-out expression and whines of his name are too much, and he feels himself reaching his peak.

"ready, baby? cum with me, cum with me, cum-"

he's cut off by a groan as he reaches it, both of your sounds entangling together as you come undone once again around him as he rides out his high, thrusts slowing as he releases his warmth within you, marking your insides with his seed.

you're both panting out into the air, reveling in the moment together before he slowly, slowly pulls out, your body immediately falling against the mattress with a small jingle of the bell.

a small smile graces his lips at the sound, eyes dragging over your figure. the bites he left all over your body, the marks from his hand around your neck, the essence slowly seeping out of you—

it was almost enough to make him hard all over again.

but he willed himself against it at the sight of your spent form, making his way to grab a warm towel to clean you up at the very least.

even in this sort of situation, his first instinct was to take care of you.

you're practically on another planet, not even realizing that he's left the room and returned with something, jolting at the warm touch of fabric.

"just cleanin' you up, pipsqueak," he mumbles, gently dragging the towel over your body before gently making his way between your thighs.

you whimper at the feel, still sensitive from the brutal treatment you had to endure, but unable to make any remarks at the moment.

after all, its not like you didn't enjoy it.

he finishes quickly, tossing the towel into a nearby basket before settling himself onto the bed next to you.

"caleb..."

"i'm here," he reassures.

"caleb, i..."

he reaches out, easily pulling your tired body against his warm one.

"just stay right here with me, right where you belong."

and you give in, all too eager, shaking body curling up against his perfectly built one, resting your head on his chest as you regain your breath, fitting against him just as perfectly as you always have.

he's satisfied for now, having you by his side just like this, just as it should be.

and if you tried to slip away for any reason throughout the night, well....

the bell would be more than enough to easily locate you.

-

a/n: might rewrite this/make it a fic but i just needed it out of my system cause i haven't been able to stop thinking ab it since the trailer dropped

-

[lightseoul]

a/n. might turn this one into a drabble series if people like it. alternatively, i have a one-shot idea that shares similar themes with whatever this is. dedicated to my psych degree that i may never finish. (0.4k)

navigation. (you are here), part 2, part 3

bakugou doesn’t notice you at first.

in his defense, looking for girls wasn’t exactly part of his itinerary whenever he visited his therapist’s building. and if it was?

well, doing that in a mental health institution wouldn’t exactly be his first pick.

not that he is looking for someone.

rising speedily through the ranks as a pro-hero came with more and more tasks and responsibilities by the day, and as much as he wanted to downplay the weight of such endeavors, he’d be lying if he said the exhaustion wasn’t getting to him.

he’s barely making enough time to make room for his weekly therapist appointments. how can he possibly squeeze in dating into his already jam-packed schedule?

in fact, that was the point he was trying to make to his psychologist a few minutes ago who, in turn, countered his theory by broaching the plausibility of it being an avoidant technique to mask his inexperience, when time ran out and the session had to be put to a close. as always, she tied the session neatly with her spiel about them picking up where they left off next week, and then the pro-hero was already up and exiting her office.

“fucking plausibility,” he mutters to himself just as the door closes behind him, hefting the duffel bag that he carried all the way from his agency higher on his shoulders.

and really, he was about to turn to the right so he could take a piss before driving home when the door beside the restroom creaks open. now, he’s never seen any other client in his few years of face-to-face consultations, which was weird but not entirely inconceivable. so he finds it pretty excusable when he finds himself pausing, craning to hear the soft mutters emanating from the inside—not that eavesdropping on someone else’s psych appointment is fun—then immediately straightening up when a body emerges from the crack.

his first instinct is to instantly dash towards the comfort room like he wasn’t just standing there like a nosy idiot, but instead, he finds himself frozen when his eyes dart up and meet yours.

what did that proverb say again? all pretty girls are mentally ill?

he can only watch—immobile—as your eyes widen in recognition because, of course, you’d recognize him. not that he’s being fucking cocky; in fact, he’d much rather you did not identify him—fresh out of therapy, no less—but he’s aware that his reputation, unfortunately, precedes him. his reputation of being this aggressive, no-nonsense, brash pro-hero.

which is why he doesn’t fucking understand why he does the next thing.

he lifts his hand and blurts—

“hi.”

˖⁺‧₊ as always, reblogs, replies, and tags are appreciated <3 feel free to drop an ask, too—i'd love to chat with you. have a nice day!

tagging. @bunnysaursushii @yawnzzzzzzzz @cholios @kashee-h @iluv-ace @lotuslovers @elarakive @sugurusmoon @napbatata @k0z3me @h0ngh0ngh0ng @honeyoru @yoongiwithglasses @hellokitty-doll @lilsebnem @tetsuukuroo @crangrapel0ver @syrhra

[marioprobertson]

Getting the Best Rates for Auto Insurance: A Comprehensive Guide

Discover how to secure the best rates for auto insurance. Learn about key factors influencing rates, top insurance companies like State Farm and Progressive, and the advantages of defensive driving programs. Get expert tips to save on premiums and be a responsible, protected driver. For more information visit: https://www.dmvgo.com/defensive-driving/picking-the-right-dmv-practice-tests-your-path-to-a-successful-drivers-license-2/

[nemisuki]

Sunshine

Jealous AU | It wasn't often you spoke to those outside your class. So imagine his shock when he saw you speaking to a random extra in the hallway. A short oneshot of jealous bakugo and an oblivious girl who is unaware of a lot of things… including their romance.

᧔o᧓ || Katsuki Bakugo x f!reader, no manga spoilers, no nsfw, pure fluff, minor jealous bkg but not toxic, aged up to third years, dense reader, mutual feelings, bkg pov, implied short reader, oneshot, bkg is mature and a softie, open ending, 1.1k word count

He had to do a double take to make sure he wasn't mistaking something. 

His red eyes are practically boring into the student's back – who had the guts to approach you. 

A random extra from another course, a guy he's never seen before. So why the hell are you talking to him? 

As much as he tried, he couldn't look away from the sight. Who knows what they might pull on you. Bakugo can tell by the way the idiot looks at her, that the guy is clearly interested. 

That pissed him off. 

And what pissed him off even more is that she's completely oblivious of it. 

The girl didn't know how beautiful she was. How blinding her smile was when she saw something she liked.

How blinding her smile was when she looked at him.

If only she recognized the significance of her own feelings.

Bakugo could tell she liked him more than a friend should. Yet the dense idiot didn't know how she felt herself. 

He knew she unknowingly developed feelings for him as they started their third year. For someone as perceptive as him, it was easy to notice the clues. 

She clings to him despite his rough demeanor. And easily laughs whenever he grumbles a snarky comment under his breath. Always following him around both in and out of class. 

At first he didn't know what to do. He wasn't one to even think about romance. But her constant proximity threw the blonde off. 

Slowly as time went on, he found himself expecting to see her by his side. Feeling a bit uneasy on those rare days they didn't spend much time together. By the time they were halfway into their last year at UA, that's when he knew. 

He liked her too. As more than a friend. 

For the first time in his life, Katsuki Bakugo yearned for romance. Yet only with her.  

The realization only made him more agitated. Him growing soft for a girl? How ridiculous.

✦ ⎯⎯ㅤִㅤ୭ ୨♡୧ ৎㅤִ  ⎯⎯ ✦

He was pulled out of his thoughts a few seconds later. The reason?

The sight of the other guy lifting his hand and picking a piece of lint out of her hair. Not a second later, taking the opportunity to ruffle her hair playfully.

That's what had him speed walking over there with purpose, “Oi Y/N!” 

Her head quickly turns around at the familiar sound of his voice, “Ah Bakugo! Good Morning!” she says with a bright smile, completely forgetting about the other presence behind her. 

That response alone, almost made his stoic expression morph into a cocky grin. Almost. 

He grumbles in acknowledgment as he stands by her side, looking back and forth between her and the extra close by. A silent question directed towards Y/N. To which she seems to figure out immediately. 

“Oh this is Kai from the support course. He had some ideas for potential support gadgets I could use to regulate my quirk!” 

Support course huh. 

Bakugo simply stares at the other guy, a calm yet serious expression displayed across his face. He makes no move to greet this supposed ‘kai’ or even initiate small talk. 

A moment of silence passes between the three of them.

Kai smiles awkwardly in Bakugos direction, a visible indication of how uncomfortable he is. “Erm- well I should be heading to class now. See you around Y/N” he says but then quickly leaves as he makes eye contact with Bakugo. 

Meanwhile the blonde's ego skyrocketed from his success of driving the coward away. His shoulders slightly relax from the defensive stance he wasn't even aware he was doing. 

“Huh? What was that about?” she says looking back at Bakugo with a curious expression. Tilting her head to show her confusion. 

“Tch how the hell should I know. Now hurry up. We gotta head to class” he says, turning around and starting to walk in the direction of their classroom. He doesn't need to look back to know she's already shutting her locker.

“Or do you want to be late?” he says, loud enough for her to hear. 

“Ah, I'm going. Wait up!” she says while proceeding to run to catch up. Slowing down when she reaches his side and adjusting her bag that's draped over her shoulder. 

He occasionally glances at her as she starts babbling about random topics. Though he's not really paying attention to her words. He’s eyeing the side of her head, the specific spot where the other extra touched her. 

Bakugo doesn't know how to feel. 

He's confident in her feelings for him. Confident in his own abilities. 

Yet being a boyfriend… is something he can't comprehend. What exactly makes a good partner? Empathy? Kindness? Vulnerability? 

None of those reside with him. 

He ponders for a moment and takes a look at her cheerful expression. Full of bright joy that could rival the sun. 

His feelings only seem to grow more by the second. 

Without much thought he lifts his hand and gently pats her head. She pauses her endless chatter and hums in acknowledgement, “hm?” 

“Your hair is all messed up from before” he grumbles while fixing the random strands of hair by patting them down in place.

They both halt in the middle of the hallway as she lets him finish. Giggling at the soft sensation of his hand. He raises a brow at her sudden outburst. 

“What's so funny, idiot?” he huffs out and pinches her puffy cheek, unable to resist. 

“It tickles! Plus your hand is really warm. Agh- hey!” she whines slightly at his sudden actions. Trying to pry his hands away and retaliate. Only causing his body to tingle at the contact. 

 ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ 

He likes her. A lot. 

“When are you gonna realize huh” he mumbles to himself. Showing pity and letting go of her face. 

“Huh sorry what was that?” she says smiling while rubbing her sore cheek.

“Nothing nerd. Cmon pick up the pace, you're slow as hell” he rolls his eyes and continues walking to class, not waiting for her yet again. 

“Not my fault I have small legs!” she yells out and jogs after him, already falling behind.

She can't see it but his lips slightly curve up at her words. What an idiot. 

A few minutes before the bell, they make it to their classroom. Bakugo ignores his classmates as usual and makes a beeline to his seat. Sitting down and taking out his notebook. 

He can already hear Y/N chattering away in the background with some of their friends. Yet a few seconds later she's already at his desk to blab on about something else. 

Some of their friends come over as well to join in on the conversation. 

But his eyes never leave her. 

He may not know all the aspects of how to be a good boyfriend but for her, he’ll try. When the time is right. 

For now he could only wait for Y/N to figure out her own feelings. Which frankly might take awhile.

But Bakugo isn't worried. 

Because he knows she'll follow him anywhere. 

And so would he. 

✦ ⎯⎯⋆ ˚｡⋆ ୨ masterlist || taglist || intro || socials ୧⋆ ˚｡⋆⎯⎯ ✦

a/n ||| idk why this specific fic got so popular?! it's my most viewed work but I prefer my other ones ermmm hi bakugo fans... check out my longer fics? if u want? um i love u all byeeee! plus ultra!

[fatherbrat]

the amount of sexual tension between defense attorney!suguru and you, his client.

being his client is agonizing because you know you have to maintain professionalism. he’s not a hookup, or a friend, or even a colleague. he’s your lawyer, tasked with the hefty responsibility of keeping your ass out of jail. but, god, every time you have to see geto, your resolve weakens bit by bit.

you’ve wondered how he would react if you proposed paying his fee with sex instead of a direct deposit. you'd sooner ask him to represent you pro bono—or even discharge him—before ever considering letting that question leave your head. still, you'd be lying if you said you hadn’t touched yourself to the thought. multiple times.

having to work with you isn’t easy for geto either. he wishes that you would’ve met another way, because having sex with a client is completely, totally, utterly out of the question. he dreads the meetings you have together. being stuck in his office with you sitting a less than two feet away and not being able to touch you feels like torture.

as if that wasn't trying enough, every time you meet him at the courthouse you do a little spin and ask if your outfit is appropriate enough or if you need to wear the cardigan you brought along. his answer is always the cardigan.

maybe that was the driving force behind all those late nights at the work he’d been pulling lately. putting in extra work to make sure that he won your case and wouldn't have to endure this torment anymore. (or maybe it was because your perfume lingered in the air after you left his office and he wanted to jerk off to the thought of bending you over the desk while your scent surrounded him.)

for you, having to watch suguru in court is the worst part. you can smell his cologne wafting off him as he sits next to you at the defense table, something musky and woody and just a little vanilla-y that makes you want to jump his bones right there in the courtroom. you gnaw on your bottom lip as he cross-examines a witness, appreciating his tailored suit and leather oxford shoes and the way he commands attention before he even gets up. you wouldn’t be surprised if some of the jury members were swayed by his looks. you were.

you should be listening intently, fixing your posture, and trying to portray a look of innocence. it feels impossible when suguru's smooth voice is echoing throughout the courtroom and your clit is throbbing between your legs.

it’s a relief when the jury finds you not guilty, not for the obvious reasons, but because you won’t be obligated to see him anymore. when you invite him out for a few celebratory drinks after the final court appearance, you have nothing but pure intentions. it’s the polite thing to do. the proper way to thank him. a neat little bow tied on the end of your professional relationship.

however, in the soft lighting of the bar you suggested, suguru looks good enough to eat. you want to blame the wine, but you know the reason you feel so warm is because he's laughing and smiling and looks terribly handsome with the top buttons of his dress shirt undone.

he looks at you with half-lidded eyes and leans in too close. this time, you do attribute it to the alcohol. that is until you catch him staring at your mouth for a beat too long and all of your remaining resolve crumbles. you incline your head towards him, your lips just barely brushing against his before he closes the gap.

the kiss is feverish and disorienting and definitely too much pda. there's a string of spit connecting you when suguru pulls away and asks if you'd like to go back to his office for a nightcap.

begrudgingly, you remind him that you shouldn’t. you can’t. it’s inappropriate. he’d likely lose his license if anyone found out.

he reminds you that the case is closed now. you’re not his client anymore. the two of you can do whatever you want.

that's all the convincing you need.

[hischiershoe]

─── FLICKER AND FLAME

─── QUINN HUGHES X FEM!READER

[ summary ] A flicker of a school girl crush turned into a much bigger flame than you had ever anticipated, but you always kept it to yourself because you’d been far too scared to get burned. Until this summer. This summer you were determined to let it shine bright, but what happens when it’s blown out by the one person you kept it alive for?

[ word count ] 6.4k

[ content warnings ] angst but w a happy ending, Quinn’s a bit of a jackass, cursing, drinking mentioned, Jack yelling, kissing with some very slight heavy petting but nothing too wild

𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 has always been your favorite time of the year, but not for the same reasons that most other people enjoy the warm, sunny season. It wasn’t because you were free from school, or because you got to spend your days doing nothing but lounging around and basking in the sun. It was because it was the one time of the year that you finally got to see the one person that was always on your mind. Quinn. Well, and a little bit of the other stuff, too.

You’d known the Hughes family ever since your younger brother joined the same club hockey team as their youngest, Luke, and they’d been a part of your life ever since. Their parents and yours clicked almost instantly, and what started out as simple invitations to barbecues and post-game dinners quickly shifted into residing in the same lake house for the duration of the summer and various other joint vacations. The Hughes family became a prominent fixture in your life, and yours became one in theirs.

When Quinn moved to Michigan for hockey, you realized that what you thought was a small and meaningless crush was much bigger than you had even imagined. You had grown so used to seeing him several times a month, where you could quietly observe him as he corralled the three younger boys, that you never realized it was something you’d looked forward to. It was a little creepy when you thought about it, but, in your defense, you were just a girl with a tiny crush on an older boy. However, when he was a few hundred miles away, the reality that it wasn't so tiny after all hit you like a freight train. Though, of course, you never let anyone find out about it.

Especially because you knew he would never feel the same.

Despite that minor detail, it still never deflated the excitement that swelled in your chest when you were finally on your way to Michigan for the summer. Every time you and your brother would pack up your things, load up on a plane, and head down to the lakehouse, it was like everything was falling back into place all over again. While there had been a few changes over the years, notably the lack of parental presence and lakehouse ownership, the one thing that never changed was the thrill and anticipation that poured out of everyone who crossed the threshold.

You weren’t entirely sure what had gotten into you this summer, or where the sudden confidence boost came from, but you were far more brazen and bold-faced when it came to Quinn. Okay, maybe not that much more, but you were actively making attempts to drop subtle hints that you found him attractive or going out of your way to talk to him. However, it wasn’t necessarily going in your favor as he would awkwardly mumble his responses or deflect your comments and shift the conversation to else. His callousness towards you was slowly chipping away at your enthusiasm, eating away at it until there was almost nothing left.

Of course, you knew that Quinn even remotely returning your sentiments towards him was almost as likely as him letting Jace drive the golf cart again, but deep down, you’d hoped. Hoped that he would’ve at least done more than treat you more than an inconvenience. He’d never been so apathetic towards you in the summers before, but then again, you’d always kept your distance when it came to him. You’d always been intimidated by him, afraid that you would say the wrong thing or do something embarrassing that you could never come back from, and you’re beginning to think you should’ve kept that tradition going. After all, it’d kept you safe from the sinking feeling in your stomach that you couldn’t shake now.

However, there was one instance that was constantly on your mind and left you more confused than anything. 

You had been lying out by the pool, eyes closed as the sun beat down on your glistening ski, when you heard the unmistakable sounds of laughter and playful bickering. You hadn’t bothered to look up to see who it was, assuming that it was just the usual group of rowdy boys, but you did get a little curious when you heard their voices come to an abrupt stop. You had propped yourself up on your elbows and scanned the backyard before you let your gaze fall on them, and what you saw made your jaw go slack and your eyes widen. 

The boys you had never seen before were not so subtly staring at you, and Quinn’s face was twisted in anger, an emotion that you rarely ever saw on his face, and Jack had to physically pull him away from the rest of them. You watched them with careful, curious eyes, but when Jace had finally glanced in your direction, all he did was shrug in response. Eventually, you decided that it wasn’t all that important and you relaxed into the lounger all over again, but then you heard a faint comment pass through the lips of a boy you’d never seen before.

“All I said was that Jace’s sister was hot.”

It was your brother’s idea to have a small get together at the house, and the others were quick to hop on board before going into full on planning mode. You offered to go to the liquor store with Quinn, but he was quick to point out that at least one responsible person needed to go to the grocery store with Luke and Jace. If they were sent by themselves, they’d grab one bag of chips, a tub of ice cream, and a box of Costco muffins for themselves. You knew he was right, everyone did, and that was how you begrudgingly ended up hauling the two of them into town.

“So,” Luke drawls out as he leans on the center console, “You really wanted to go with Quinn, huh?”

“She was almost ready to give up having actual food just to go with him,” Jace cheekily added, nudging his friend as they both looked at you with mischievous smiles.

“I just wanted to make sure he got my favorite drink,” You shrug as you slightly tighten your grip on the wheel, trying to keep your voice steady and nonchalant. 

Yeah, okay,” Luke snorts before he leans back into his seat, “He’s forgotten everyone’s drinks a dozen times, but he’s never forgotten yours. Not once. He even makes sure he gets it before you two get here.”

Luke’s words echo in your head for the duration of your food run, taking up so much space in your mind that you nearly forget to check the basket of food the boys had loaded up. You couldn’t help but let the new bit of information fan the small flame of hope you had left, and you left the store with a certain skip to your step that made both Luke and Jace roll their eyes. 

With testosterone filled hockey players, girlfriends, and anyone that everyone had befriended over the years scattered throughout the house, the quiet party was in full swing. You were tucked in the corner of the sofa with Alyssa and Izzy, a cup of your favorite drink in your hand as the three of you caught up with each other. Your focus kept drifting to Quinn as he stood in the kitchen talking with Josh and a few other people you vaguely recognized, and you caught yourself admiring him for far longer than what would be considered normal. 

Though you were a little happy to see that he was seemingly brushing off any girl who tried to talk to him. 

It was Trevor’s suggestion to gather around the small fire pit outside, and if there was one thing he was going to do, it was get his way. As everyone filed out of the house, you lingered in the kitchen for a few more minutes so that you could grab yourself another drink, but you quickly grew to regret that choice when you stepped through the door. All of the seats had been taken, no one daring to sit on the ground that was still slightly wet from the rain the previous evening, and you were standing there nervously gripping the cup as your eyes shifted from person to person. 

“Why don’t you just sit on Quinn’s lap or something,” Cole innocently suggested, the girl he’d met at the golf course perched on his knee.

“No,” Quinn hastily blurts before anyone else can even get a simple thought in, “That’s weird and a stupid idea.”

Your eyes immediately widen, your face heating up in embarrassment as you freeze in your spot. You can feel everyone’s gazes flickering between you and Quinn, watching as horrified tears well in your eyes, and he looks everywhere but at you. Though you can’t bring yourself to look away from him. You force yourself to watch as he shrinks into his seat, as he grips the beer bottle in his hand so tightly that you’re surprised it hasn’t shattered. You force yourself to watch how disgusted he is at the mere idea of you getting that close to him. You force yourself to feel the small flame of hope you had left be blown out by the very person you kept it alive for. 

An uncomfortable silence sticks itself to everyone, their gazes still darting between you and Quinn as they wait for someone to say something. For someone to pop the thick bubble of tension that had formed around you, but no one knew what to say. No one knew what to do. 

“I’m sorry,” Cole speaks up first, regret laced in his tone as he focuses on you, “It was just a joke. We can go grab the beanbag from upstairs for someone to sit on, so you can have a chair.”

Your eyes shone with unshed tears as you took a deep and shaky breath, finally forcing your gaze away from Quinn, “Don’t worry about it. I kind of wanted to go lie down, anyway. I’m tired.”

Without a second thought, you were turning on your heels and darting back into the house, hastily discarding your full cup on the kitchen counter as you ignored the few pleading shouts of your name. Your lungs feel like they’re burning, every breath you take acting as fuel to the ever growing fire in your chest, and you need to get away before you let yourself get burned entirely. 

As soon as you step into your room, you fling the door shut behind you before practically launching yourself onto your bed, burying your face in the mountain of pillows to muffle the mortified sobs that tore through you. Truthfully, you knew that what happened downstairs might not have seemed like a big deal to most, but to you? To you, it felt like Quinn had stood in front of an arena full of people and told them that he would never see you as anything other than Jace’s sister. 

“What the fuck is wrong with you,” Jack’s yell filters up to your room, the anger in his voice bringing your cries to a temporary stop.

Your head perks up, and though you can’t hear who exactly is on the receiving end of Jack’s outburst, you make the obvious assumption that it’s Quinn. Whatever he said in response is too quiet for you to pick up on, but you can still hear Jack clear as day. “Do you get it? Because what you told me yesterday and what you just did isn’t adding up! Quinn, where are you going?!”

His voice is cut off by the front door slamming, and your eyes widen as you try to listen in case anything else was said, but the sound of the metal hinges slowly creaking open breaks your concentration. 

“Hey,” Jace peeks his head through the small crack in the door, his face illuminated by the small lamp on your dresser that you had left on earlier that day, “Mind if we come in?”

“Sure,” You weakly mumble, wiping at your cheeks as you sit up on your bed and move so your legs are dangling over the edge. 

He pushes the door open the rest of the way, Luke trailing behind him as they quickly rush to you and take the spot on either side of you. For a while, none of you say anything, likely all still trying to process everything that had happened. You don’t expect Luke to be the first to speak up, both because Quinn was his brother and because he’d never been all that great at comforting people anyway. Jace, despite the three year age difference, was always in your corner trying to help when he could, but you had a feeling that even he was at a loss for words right now.

“Quinn didn’t drive anywhere, did he,” You finally ask, shattering the wall of silence that had been built around you, “I know he drank a little bit tonight.”

“No. Trevor came in before them and hid everyone’s keys,” Jace’s voice was clipped, and it was then that your eyes fell to his hands that were balled into fists at his side. He was angry. No, he was livid, and it made a pit of guilt form in your stomach. You ruined his party because you let a stupid boy get to you.

“Good,” You swallow, your gaze flickering to Luke, who had a look that resembled confliction on his face with his gaze fixated on the ground beneath his feet, “That’s good.”

“Are you good,” Luke asks, his voice nearly startling you as he slightly shifts towards you, “I mean, are you okay? I don’t really know what happened down there because it all happened really fast and I’m a little drunk, but you looked sad.” 

“Yeah, Luke,” You lightly laugh as you nudge him with your shoulder, “I’m okay. Just a little upset is all, but maybe this is what I needed, you know? I’ve spent almost the entire time I’ve been here trying to get his attention, but obviously it was pointless. This is just the shock to my system I needed to move on.”

“We can go back home early if you want,” Jace softly adds on, though you can tell he doesn’t really want that, “We can pack up and go back. I can work on my breakaways and stuff with coach, and you can help me pick out stuff for my new apartment before you start your new job.”

“No. We’re not leaving,” You firmly shake your head, the sigh of relief he lets out making a small smile form on your face, “I don’t want to leave. I’ll be okay, I promise. You guys should go back outside though, liven up the party a bit.”

“Are you sure,” Jace asks, his voice tinged with hope, and his shoulders relaxing.

“I’m sure,” You teasingly roll your eyes, placing your palms in the middle of their backs before you gently shove them off your bed, “Go back out there and have fun. I’m going to try and sleep this whole thing off.”

It didn’t take much more convincing in order to get them to leave, but as soon as you were alone in your room again, you crawled under your blanket and let silent tears slide down your cheeks until you succumbed to your own emotional exhaustion. 

You weren’t entirely sure how long you had been asleep, but judging by how dark it was outside and how quiet the house was, you knew it was well into the middle of the night. You could hear Luke’s faint snores, something he only did when he had drank far too much, coming from the room next to you, and if he was asleep, it was safe to assume everyone else was, too. He’d always put up a fight to be the last person awake, not wanting to miss out on any potential action, and he would never even consider touching his bed until he knew everyone was done for the night.

Rubbing the sleep from your eyes, you carefully slipped out of bed and tiptoed down to the kitchen, making sure to avoid the especially creaky parts of the stairs. The lack of bodies spread across the living room told you that a few of the others had either found ways home, or they walked the short trip down to Cole’s and stayed there for the night. Regardless, you were grateful for the emptiness because you didn’t have to worry about waking even more people when you searched the kitchen for something non-alcoholic to drink. 

The water pitcher was shoved to the back of the fridge, nearly invisible behind the mostly empty boxes of beer and half-eaten take out containers. Your gaze catches sight of your cup from earlier still sitting on the counter, and it felt like the air had been sucked out of your lungs all over again. You were barely conscious enough to remember what had happened when you first got up, but the cup served as a glaring reminder of Quinn’s blatant rejection from earlier. 

The blood was pounding so loudly in your ears that you didn’t hear the sound of the front door opening as you rounded the kitchen island, and you were far too focused on frantically throwing the cup in the sink that you missed the echo of footsteps nearing you. Some of the liquid had sloshed all over the countertop, but you couldn’t bring yourself to care about it that much. You knew it would get cleaned up tomorrow when everyone was forced into the usual hangover fueled cleaning. 

You heard someone softly calling your name, forcing your focus in the direction that it had come from, and you came face to face with the one person you didn’t want to see. Quinn hovered a few feet away from you, his hair a wild mess on his head and his cheeks tinged a light pink from what you’re assuming is either the alcohol still in his system or from the wind biting at his skin. You watched as his eyes darted across your face, no doubt noticing how swollen your eyes were from crying, and you let your gaze fall to the floor as you crossed your arms against your chest, subtly shuffling away from him.

“Uh, what are you doing awake,” Quinn’s asks, his tone painfully awkward and strained as he brings his hand up to anxiously rub at the back of his neck.

“I just woke up to get some water,” You weakly admit, uncomfortably rocking on the balls of your feet, “Are you just getting back?”

“Yeah,” He clears his throat, “I walked down towards the marina and stayed there for a while.”

You don’t say anything in response, letting the silence prick at your skin as you chew on your bottom lip. You stood there for a few moments, debating on whether or not you wanted to try and talk to Quinn about what had happened, but you ultimately fought off the urge and silently turned on your feet. You had already been embarrassed enough for one night; The last thing you needed was for him to downright reject you to your face, so you chose to walk away.

Although Quinn desperately calls out your name, quickly closing the gap between you before he delicately grabs your bicep and keeps you in your spot. In all of the years you’d known Quinn, it was rare that the two of you ever got this close, and when you did, it made your head spin and goosebumps rise on your arms and legs. This was no exception. Your breath was caught in your throat as you slowly dragged your eyes to Quinn’s face, meeting his pleading and guilty stare.

“Please, wait,” He shakily begs, letting go of your arm when you slowly nod your head in response.

The air around you was so thick with tension that it was almost suffocating. You could barely breathe around him as it is, but now it felt like you were going to pass out. This time, you don’t move away from Quinn, choosing to stay inches away from him as he takes a sharp breath.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” He begins as he runs a hand through his hair, though he keeps his eyes on you, “I was an asshole, and I put you in a terrible spot in front of everyone.”

“It’s okay, Quinn,” You softly reassure, a sad smile tugging at your lips, “I’ll get over it. Besides, I think it was what I needed, you know? I’m sure you’ve noticed I’ve been trying to get your attention all summer, but obviously that was never going to go anywhere, so this was good for me. I’ll take the hint and leave you alone.”

“No,” Quinn hastily rushes out, the word tumbling out of his mouth so fast that it visibly shocks you, “I don’t want that. I don’t want you to leave me alone.”

His voice trails off as his eyes search your face, trying to pick up on what was going through your mind, but all he found was a combination of disbelief, and distrust. He can’t blame you for not believing what he said, of course. After all, he had done everything but give you any sort of idea that your feelings for him were returned in any capacity. 

“What do you mean,” You choke out as frustrated tears swim in your eyes. You were confused, and you could feel the snuffed out flame of hope attempting to relight itself, but you weren’t going to let it. You couldn’t.

“I know that the way I’ve been acting this summer sucks,” He acknowledges, swallowing thickly, “I know I haven’t been the best at showing how I feel, but I do like you. A lot. I just– I don’t want you to give up on me. I want to try with you the same way you’ve been trying with me.”

Your entire body freezes, a million thoughts running through your brain at a speed that makes your head hurt. It didn’t make any sense. No matter how badly you wanted it to be true, to let yourself believe that he actually meant what you said, it just didn’t add up. What if he was only saying that because he felt like he had to? Because he felt bad?

“That isn’t fair, Quinn,” Your voice wobbles as you shake your head and step away from him, “You don’t get to brush me off all summer, embarrass me in front of our friends, and then tell me that you like me. That doesn’t make any sense!”

“I know,” He surges, his voice breaking when he watches you put even more distance between the two of you, “I know it doesn’t, but I promise I will prove it to you. I’ll spend the rest of the summer and however long after that showing you that I mean it. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

The next day, or later in the day if you wanted to be technical, Quinn was adamant on following up on his promise to you. He was going out of his way to talk to you, to do things for you and only you, and he even made a point to talk to Jace about how he had been making you feel. When you saw your brother later on, you tried to ask him about it, but all he did was shrug in response and mumble something that you couldn’t hear. The only idea you had that he had even slightly forgiven Quinn came from watching the two of them get the small bonfire going, which was something Jace rarely ever let anyone help him do.

At first, Quinn’s attempts made you a little uneasy because the change was so drastic from how everything had been doing, but as the day went on, you slowly warmed up to it. He was slowly axing away at the wall of doubt you’d built, and you began to let yourself entertain the idea that maybe he wasn’t messing with you after all. It also helped that during a small talk with Ellen after dinner, she had let a few things ‘slip’ about her eldest son’s feelings for you. Though, you couldn’t help but think her two younger boys had something to do with that based on the interrogation you received from them afterwards. 

Before you had gone to bed that night, you called your mom on the phone and asked her opinion on what you should do. At first, you tried to avoid saying any names, choosing to say ‘a boy’ instead, but she was quick to cut you off and tell you that she knew you were talking about Quinn. She’d known about your crush on him since the day the two of you met. After you had broken down everything as best as you could, she told you that if your heart was truly telling you to give it a shot, then you should listen to it. She reminded you that allowing yourself the effort was much better than denying yourself the opportunity.

When you woke up the following morning, you didn’t have much time to focus on figuring out what you wanted to do because the boys immediately dragged you into town to grab food and more drinks for their self-declared pool day. Luke had a few of his college friends over for the weekend, which meant that the SUV you borrowed was packed full of rowdy boys, and there wasn’t a quiet moment the entire time. You barely had time to think about what you needed to grab, let alone about the internal battle you had going on.

“Who’s supposed to grill these stupid hotdogs,” You shouted over the various voices filling the space around you, waving the aforementioned package of hotdogs in the air.

“Quinn! He’s outside heating the grill up right now,” You heard Luke shout before he darted upstairs to change into his trunks.

You contemplated asking one of the others to take them out to Quinn, but, with your mom's advice ringing in your ears, you ultimately decided to do it yourself. You grabbed one of the larger baking sheets from the cabinet and used it to carry everything outside, where you saw Quinn sitting in one of the chairs near the grill. He doesn’t hear you coming, and you don’t announce yourself either.

Partly because you were nervous, and partly because you wanted to see if his promise was as ironclad as he made it seem. 

Quinn felt someone brush past him, and he had to do a double take when he saw that it was you who had slipped by. He was almost instantly rushing to his feet, the chair scraping against the concrete and his phone clattering on the table, discarded and forgotten now that you were near him. He watched as you placed the tray on the unlit side burner before taking a bashful peek over your shoulder.

“Luke said you were responsible for these,” You speak first, turning your body completely towards him. 

“Seems like I always am,” He lightly jokes, his focus shifting from your face to your hands that were nervously picking at the threads on your shorts. It was a habit you’d had for as long as he could remember.

“Yeah, I bet,” The corners of your mouth tug into a small smile, “Personally, I prefer your cooking over everyone else’s. Seems like you’re the only one who knows how to make things the way I like.”

Quinn’s face flushes at your subtle compliment, but he can’t help but let a sense of pride swell in his chest. Sure, a few summers ago he might have asked your dad to show him how to cook just for you, but it was the fact that you preferred his that really made him feel accomplished. It felt like it was the first thing he had actually gotten right with you. 

“I do my best,” He finally gets out through a shaky breath. 

“I think you’re great,” You affirm, placing a delicate hand on his bicep before you slip away and back into the house again before you overthink your fleeting touch a little too much.

Heat crawled up your neck and licked at your cheeks as you made a beeline for your room, nearly trampling Jace and Dylan when they filtered down the stairs with towels slung over their shoulders. You could hear your brother's loud shouts of mock displeasure, but you don’t pay him any mind as you burst through your room and let the door slam shut behind you. 

You felt silly, almost childish, letting a touch that you initiated affect you so deeply that it made your heart race in your chest and the skin of your palm tingle. You leaned against the wall for a few moments, trying to gather your thoughts enough so you were able to form some sort of plan to let Quinn know that you believed him. That you wanted to try and see how things with him could go.

Sure, you could outright tell him, but where’s the fun in that?

After a quick phone call to your best friend back home, you were slipping into the bathing suit she slightly coerced you into choosing and applying a very light layer of waterproof mascara to your eyes. While neither of those things were necessarily out of the ordinary from your usual routine, this time you were going downstairs with the knowledge that your effort was going to be noticed. This time, it wasn’t for nothing.

Quinn noticed the shift in your attitude the second you walked outside. Unlike yesterday, you returned the smile he tossed your way with one of your own, with the smile he’d seen on your face a dozen times before. Instead of avoiding his gaze when you grabbed your food, you hovered near him and talked to him about whatever came to mind until everyone had gotten theirs. When everyone decided to sit at the table before getting back into the pool, you made sure you got the seat next to him rather than forcing Jace to make space for you.

It was giving Quinn hope that maybe he hadn’t truly fucked things up as badly as he thought, and he was going to cling to that as long as he possibly could.

“I’m gonna go grab something to drink,” You mumble to no one in particular before you rise to your feet, knowing that almost none of them were paying attention anyway

You pull the door open and step into the cool air of the house, the sudden change in temperature causing goosebumps to litter your skin as your feet pad across the tile. Laughter and shouts from the others outside still find their way into the kitchen, and it makes a small smile form on your face when you’re tugging at the fridge door. It always made you happy; Seeing and hearing how much everyone was enjoying themselves. That was what summer was all about.

“Okay, I got it,” You heard Quinn yell from behind you, the sound of the door shutting following directly after.

You turn on your heels to face him, the notion of getting another drink long forgotten when you saw him standing there in nothing but his swimming trunks. You’d seen Quinn shirtless far too many times to count, but it never ceased to make heat rush to your cheeks and your heart thud in your chest. Little did you know, you had the same, if not worse, kind of effect on him.

Quinn has a hard time keeping his eyes on your face, the urge to let them wander to your chest and fixate on what your bathing suit barely covers becoming so strong that it was almost painful to hold back. He only lets his gaze linger for a few moments before he forces himself to move, to walk towards you in search of the excuse he used to come inside after you. 

You watch as Quinn rounds the kitchen island, your bottom lip pulled between your teeth as you inwardly weigh your options. Should you wait and say something to Quinn later? Wait until you had time to think about what you want to say so you don’t embarrass yourself, or should you just do it now? Ultimately, you knew your time at the lakehouse was fast approaching, and if you wanted to test the waters with him, you needed to act fast. 

After all, there’s no better time than the present, or whatever they say.

“Hey Quinn,” You softly call out as he pulls two Gatorades from the shelf.

He lets the fridge door fall shut behind him, his focus shifting back towards you where he lets his eyes drift too far south for a fleeting moment before he shamefully meets your eyes, hoping you didn’t notice. When he saw the subtle quirk of your brow, he knew he had been caught, but you don’t say anything about his wandering gaze. 

“What’s up,” He nervously clears his throat, lazily tossing the bottles on the counter before giving you his full attention. 

“So, you know Jace and I leave in like two weeks, right,” You anxiously begin, your throat growing dry and your eyes darting around the kitchen, “Well, if we’re supposed to, like, test the water or whatever, we should probably start now. Don’t you think?”

Time freezes around you, your gaze flickering back up to Quinn to watch the gears turn behind his eyes. You watch as his jaw goes slack and he slowly blinks, but the longer he stays silent, the more you want the world to swallow you whole. All of your doubts and insecurities began to bubble to the surface, and suddenly, the idea of going home early started to sound like a great idea.

“Or not,” You hastily rush out as embarrassment crawls up your spine and you step away from him, “That’s totally cool, too. I just thought–”

“I do,” His voice smothers your own, a certain urgency to his tone that forces your movements to come to a halt, “I do, I swear. I just– I can’t think because I really want to kiss you right now.”

Your eyes widen in disbelief before you find the confidence to let out a breathy, “Why don’t you then?”

In one smooth motion, Quinn is stepping towards you and tugging you into his chest by your waist, slamming his lips on yours in a kiss that nearly sends you toppling over. Luckily, his grip on you was tight enough to keep you steady, and he uses it to maneuver you so you’re pressed against the island. Your arms loop behind his neck to pull him closer, your mouths moving together in almost perfect sync in a way that made that stupid flicker of hope burst into flames and light your entire body on fire.

You can feel his hands slide down to cup the backs of your thighs, and he effortlessly lifts your body so you can feel the cool granite on your skin. His rough, calloused hands are exploring the dips and curves of your body, his touch leaving your skin hot and aching for more. With your legs wrapped around his waist, you pull Quinn even closer to you, and your fingernails leave crescent shaped divots on his shoulder blades when you slip your tongue into his mouth.

A low groan vibrates against your mouth, and Quinn’s thumb slips underneath the string of your top, his thumb delicately brushing the side of your chest. A shiver runs down your spine, and you subconsciously roll your hips against his. You can feel the effect you had on him pressed against the inside of your thigh, and it was doing wonders for your ego. Giving you the kind of motivation you needed to shove your nerves to the back of your mind.

“Dude, what is taking you so lo– Oh my god,” Jack’s voice breaks off into a horrified yell when his eyes settle on the scene before him, “Dude! We eat at that counter, what is wrong with you?!”

You and Quinn separate from each other, lips red and swollen as your necks snap towards Jack before he was turning on his heels and dashing back outside. The door slams shut when he darts back outside, the echo meshing with the sounds of your heavy breathing and Quinn’s quiet mumbles of annoyance. The pads of his fingers dig into the flesh of your hips as he lets his forehead fall to your shoulder, and you can’t help but a string of giggles escape through your lips.

“At least it was your brother and not mine,” You lightly tease.

“Yeah, well, Jack’s a good storyteller,” Quinn grumbles, “I’m sure he’ll give everyone a good enough image that they’ll feel like they were here.”

When the two of you recollect yourselves enough to head back outside, the looks that were being thrown in your direction confirmed that Jack had, in fact, done a good job at recounting his unfortunate interruption. Jace was staring at you with a look of utter repulsion, but you nonchalantly shrug your shoulders at him and let Quinn gently yank you into his lap. After the general round of teasing comments and hollers went around the backyard, everyone went back to normal and acted as if nothing had changed.

Not you, though.

For you, everything had changed in the best way possible, and you were determined to figure out if things between you and Quinn could blossom into something more. Into something that made all those years of pining and dreaming worth it.