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punkshort · 2 days ago

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Evergreen | Chapter Five: Acceptance

Pairing: Joel Miller x f!reader

Chapter Summary: It's almost Christmas, so you take the time to reflect on your accomplishments while enjoying the peaceful life you've created with Joel.

Chapter Warnings: language, soft!joel, smut (18+ MDNI), unprotected piv sex, food and alcohol consumption, Christmas, so much fluff it hurts

WC: 5.1K

Series Masterlist

"Alright, try some of this."

Ellie set down her spiked hot chocolate on your kitchen counter and stood to take the spoon from your hand. She blew on the soup before sampling a small taste and vigorously nodding her head.

"That's fucking amazing, we should make that a regular item."

You grinned and tossed the spoon in your sink before maneuvering around her to reach the spice rack. Your new house was just a two-bedroom ranch and the small kitchen took some getting used to, but you finally made the rented space feel like home. Although when you and Ellie occasionally found yourselves crammed in your kitchen to test some new products for the food truck, you couldn't help but long for the beautiful kitchen you used to have.

"I think I'll add this and take off the turkey chili, it doesn't do too well," you said before turning to your fridge and scribbling something on the white board. It was close to Christmas and you had already introduced your cold-weather menu for the food truck, but you were always actively looking to make tweaks where it was needed.

"Sarah really likes the chili," Ellie reminded you.

"I'll make her a big batch and divide it up so she can freeze it when she goes back to school."

"Is she helping out on the truck tomorrow?" Ellie asked before picking her hot chocolate back up, then she wandered over to your living room to examine some ornaments on your tree.

"Yeah, she's helping all day. Joel's gonna get a kick out of seeing her on the truck for the first time," you laughed. You checked the time and turned off the burners before lifting the huge pot of soup with a grunt and setting it on an unused side of the stove to cool. Joel and Tommy's crew were working on a retail storefront and you had promised to stop by with the truck for lunch the following day. You had figured it was in a busy part of town and you were hoping to also capitalize on all the holiday shoppers.

Chicks 'n Chicken specialized in, well, chicken, as the name implied, but when the weather turned colder, you realized sandwiches just wouldn't cut it for the winter, so you began to add soups and stews to pair with your signature sandwiches like The Ellie, The Sarah, and The Joel. It was the first big idea you had when you finally took the plunge and started a food truck: every sandwich was named after someone important to you, including sandwiches named after Mia and Daniel.

At first, it was hard. Really fucking hard. Harder than you expected. There was so much to do behind the scenes: bookkeeping, inspections, keeping the truck and your machines up to code just to name a few. Joel was a huge help with the business side of things and you were eternally grateful for his insight. In return, you let him be your taste-tester, a job he adored and took very seriously.

Once you got the boring stuff out of the way, things got much better. You hired Ellie to assist you, and even her girlfriend Dina worked part-time. The two of them painted the truck these gorgeous, vibrant colors and helped you design the menu, and before you knew it, you were up and running.

The first couple weeks were slow and steady. You didn't expect to make much right off the bat, but you would have been lying if you said you weren't slightly disappointed you didn't do more business.

But then Sarah and Ellie came to the rescue, and your entire world changed.

They had clued you in to the latest social media app and helped you create an account. They must have been avid users because they always knew what was trending, which is how you managed to create a video that went viral overnight. It was the three of you doing some silly dance to a song you had never heard before inside the truck. When you watched it, you cringed and begged them to delete it, but they promised it would be a hit. And boy, were they right.

Just a few months later, you were closing in on one million followers. The girls kept your page fresh and relevant and if you were a lesser person, you might have been a little put out that your marketing degree essentially became useless when competing with two girls in their twenties who were apparently chronically online.

But you absolutely loved it. You were beyond thrilled you had been so unexpectedly successful so quickly. It was the best gift you could ever have received, and you told them so every time they pestered you for Christmas gift ideas.

"Your parents coming up for Christmas?" Ellie asked when she spotted a framed picture you had of them next to your couch.

"Uh... my mom is, yeah," you said, dusting your hands on the sides of your jeans as you moved around your kitchen. Ellie picked up on the tone in your voice and swiveled around.

"But not your dad?"

You shook your head and pulled out the biggest Tupperware containers you could find.

"No. He's not thrilled with some of the choices I've made," you told her, keeping your gaze focused on your work so she wouldn't see the hurt in your eyes.

"The food truck or Joel?"

You cleared your throat and shrugged. "Both. He thinks I'm investing Daniel's money in something where I'll end up failing and he is not okay with Joel being a few years younger than him."

"Shit. I'm sorry," Ellie said softly, joining you back in the kitchen. "That's fucked. But at least your mom sounds cool, right?"

"Well, she's coming around to it. It'll be her first time meeting Joel and I'm really hoping once she sees us together and how great he is, she can report back to my dad and maybe change his mind."

"Ha, no pressure, right?" she laughed. You grinned and finally turned to face her.

"You know what? I'm starting to not even care. Is that bad?" you asked with a guilty look on your face. But before she could answer, you continued. "I mean, I'm happy. I'm successful. Joel and Sarah are amazing. Should I even care if they agree with my choices or not? I'm an adult. I don't want to ruin my relationship with my parents but I'm not willing to sacrifice my own happiness for it."

"Hell yeah, man," Ellie said while toasting you with her hot chocolate. "You got the right headspace. Therapy is doing you good."

"Yeah, surprisingly, it kind of is," you said with a chuckle. An alarm went off on your phone and you glanced at it curiously before your eyes widened in panic. "Shit! I promised Joel I'd be over for dinner, I gotta clean up and get the hell out of here." You snatched your apron off and then your eyes locked onto the huge vat of piping hot soup on your stove.

"I'll handle it. Go!" Ellie said, waving her hands. "I'll lock up before I leave."

"Are you sure?" you asked, but you were already backing out of the kitchen.

"Absolutely. I'll watch some movie or something while I wait. Dina's working at the bookstore til ten, anyway."

"You're the greatest, Ellie, thank you!" you called over your shoulder as you disappeared into your bedroom to change.

"How is it you look prettier every time I see you?"

You giggled when Joel's scruffy beard scraped against the side of your neck, then melted into his arms when they circled around you from behind.

"Did you know you left the oven on? You're lucky you didn't burn the place down," you teased, tilting your head to give his lips better access.

"I was just takin' a quick shower, I knew there was plenty of time left."

He wasn't wrong. The lasagna he made still needed fifteen more minutes. Joel had actually gotten a lot better at cooking over the last few months. He liked to give you all the credit since he spent so much time watching you in the kitchen test new dishes for the food truck.

"And look at that," he murmured when he glanced at the timer. "Still got extra time. Any idea what we should do?"

"Are you looking to get dessert before dinner?" you asked, feigning shock. Joel chuckled against your throat before pressing himself against your ass and - shit, he wasn't joking.

"Been almost a week," he groaned against your ear. "Missed you so fuckin' much

"I missed you, too," you whispered before twisting around in his arms. You pressed your lips eagerly against his, getting lost in the familiar way you fit together. Whenever you were with Joel, your soul felt at peace. Everything seemed to make sense again and any stress faded away. But those things were difficult to explain to your parents without sounding insane, so you stopped trying, perfectly content with keeping the happiness he provided just between the two of you.

You blamed your weak resolve on the fact you had a stressful few days without him, craving the comfort only he could provide. That was why you found yourself less than five minutes later straddling his lap on the couch with your jeans abandoned somewhere on the floor behind you. Joel didn't even take his pants off all the way. He had shoved them down to his knees in a frenzy, desperate to feel you again after a long week.

The air stilled when you sunk down on his cock, the both of you too caught up in the feeling to remember to breathe.

"Oh, baby," he breathed, head tipping back to rest against the back of the couch. "Oh, that's it. That's my girl. There you go," he whispered, eyes glued to the way he disappeared inside you. You shifted and a small whimper slipped past your lips, pulling his gaze back up to you.

"How is that? Feel good?" he asked while circling his arms around your waist. You hummed and nodded before you started to move a little in his lap. You went slow at first while sharing deep, messy kisses. The hair from his beard burned your chin when he pried your mouth open wider, tongues swirling together amongst shared moans.

His big hands spread wide over your ribs, holding you against him to feel as close as possible while you slowly rocked your hips. He finally gave you a chance to breathe and broke the kiss, but then his mouth trailed down your throat and you held your breath anyway when his teeth grazed against the sensitive spot he made a mental note of last time.

"Missed you," he reminded you again as his lips ghosted over your collarbone. "Missed this. Missed feelin' this close to you."

"I know," you gasped, hands grabbing at his shoulders when he mouthed at your breast through your shirt. You started to move faster, encouraged by the delicious sting from his bite. "Fuck, Joel, do that again. Please," you whined.

He smirked and did the same playful bite to your other breast, cock twitching inside you when a low moan slipped past your lips.

"You like that?" he pressed. He loved it when you lost yourself in the moment, too engulfed with pleasure to hold yourself back. When he had you like that, you had no trouble asking for what you wanted. Your polite little filter vanished and you allow yourself to be selfish, to take what you want to make yourself feel good, and his chest puffed with pride every single time that you would choose him to be vulnerable with. You chose him to seek out everything you desired. You trusted him.

"Yes, Joel," you rasped. Your head was tipped backwards and your eyes had slid shut as you began to bounce faster on his lap. "Yes, Joel, I love it. I love it. Fuck, you feel so good. I can't - ah! - Christ, Joel, I love you-"

Time stood still with your words sitting heavy in the air. It took you a few seconds to realize what you said, then your eyes snapped open and you slapped a hand across your mouth in shock, hips freezing mid-air.

"I'm sorry," you mumbled, staring down at his surprised expression. "I didn't mean for that to be the first time-"

"But you did mean it?" he asked, stopping your muffled ramblings. Slowly, you nodded with watery eyes. He yanked your hand off your mouth and pulled you down for a searing kiss.

"I love you, too," he whispered happily against your mouth. His hips began to rock up into you, encouraging you to move with his hands firmly on your waist. "Keep going. Want you to come for me," he said with a grunt, lips still hovering centimeters away from yours. You nodded and began to move again, chasing the release you were moments away from tasting before you had panicked and stopped.

"C'mon, make yourself feel good. Take what you need, baby," he groaned when you bounced faster, breasts swaying underneath your shirt right in front of his face, teasing him. He lunged forward and pinched your nipple between his teeth right when his thumb began to work quick circles over your clit. You cried out his name, fingers clawing at his shoulders until he finally heard that content little broken moan and your release slowly trickled down his cock.

"Shit - gonna come," he growled. His hand left your clit so he could wrap both arms tightly around your middle, using you for leverage as he roughly fucked up into you. You had sagged forward, head resting on his shoulder while placing sweet kisses against his throat. You heard his harsh pants for air in your ear and smiled at the soft noises he made right before he stilled with a loud groan, pumping you full of his seed until his shoulders relaxed and he leaned back tiredly against the couch.

Your hand snaked around the back of his neck, turning his face towards you for a lazy kiss before whispering I love you one more time.

"I love you so goddamn much," he sighed, making you giggle. You pushed yourself up with a sigh, feeling groggy and satiated. You were in the middle of lovingly tracing the creases next to his eyes while he gazed up at you when the timer on the stove went off. You both groaned, neither of you ready to pull apart just yet, but the last thing you wanted was the smell of burnt lasagna permeating the house for the rest of the evening. With a gasp, you lifted yourself from his lap and turned to hunt for your panties on shaky legs.

"Go clean up, I got it," Joel said, standing and pulling his jeans up the rest of the way. You nodded and waddled towards the bathroom with your clothes while he tended to your dinner in the kitchen.

"So, you're comin' by the site tomorrow?" Joel confirmed around a mouthful of food. You nodded, only half listening to the television, your brain still blissfully quiet from earlier.

"Yep. Then after I'm meeting with this woman from the paper. They want to run a small piece on the truck, talk about the viral stuff, all that."

"My girl's gonna be in the paper?" Joel asked excitedly. You laughed, wanting to tease him for being one of the few people who still read an actual newspaper, but his support for you and your dream was so sweet that you didn't want to ruin it.

"Yep. Maybe even a picture, too."

"Well, damn. Look at you," Joel said softly, and you smiled at the tender look in his eye. "Gonna be famous. Can't wait to frame it. I'mma put one in my office at work and one here," he told you matter of factly. He pointed to the mantle, currently adorned with garland and christmas lights, where an old picture of him, Sarah and Mia sat, along with a picture of Tommy and Maria from their wedding day.

"I get to be on the mantle?" you asked excitedly.

"'Course you do. Woulda been up there sooner if we ever took a decent picture together."

"We take tons of pictures together," you began, but he quickly waved you off.

"And in all of 'em I look like shit."

"You do not! You look better than me most of the time with that goddamn smirk of yours," you teased, pinching his side when you added, "and you've lost almost twenty pounds."

Joel just laughed and wrapped his arm around your shoulders, taking your plate and stacking it with his before turning his attention towards the television. His thumb drew mindless circles over your arm and you listened to the peaceful, steady beat of his heart with your ear pressed against his chest.

Closing your eyes, you breathed deep and thought back on your life from the past several months. You had some curveballs thrown at you, sure, but given the circumstances, you were pretty damn happy with where you ended up: curled up next to the man you loved, listening to him mumble the wrong answers to Jeopardy amongst the twinkling lights from the Christmas tree.

"Howdy, girls!"

"Hey, Uncle Tommy!" Sarah called down from the window of the food truck. He grinned at her crooked black cap stitched with your company's name and logo on the front. Wild little pieces of hair stuck out from underneath, framing her face which was dusted with flour.

"Looks like you're workin' hard," he said, waving when he spotted you hurrying by behind her.

"It's crazy busy! We've been moving non-stop since we parked!" she exclaimed.

"Well, get ready, 'cause I just brought twenty hungry construction workers," he replied while jutting his chin down the sidewalk where his crew had been carefully walking around piles of snow that had been packed down and pushed around by the feet of holiday shoppers.

"Good timing, 'cause we just got through the lunch rush," she said before straightening up and turning to you and Ellie. "Hey, guys - my dad and his crew are on their way! Want me to drop some chicken in the fryer?"

"Yeah, toss in a tray of breasts and a tray of tenders to get us started," you said, wiping your hands on your apron before turning to Ellie. "And-"

"Yeah, I know, I got the bread out of the oven already."

You grinned and turned to give the three soups of the day a quick stir and did a quick check on the stock of paper products, confirming you were in a good enough spot to take on another wave of business when you heard a woman's voice call your name from the sidewalk, stopping you in your tracks. When you saw it was the reporter you had promised to meet with for the write up she was going to put in the paper, you felt your heart sink.

"Carmen, hi! We're getting another rush, I'm so sorry!" you said while leaning through the window to shake her hand. "Can I get like, twenty minutes?"

"Of course!" Carmen replied. "I have some shopping to do anyway, take your time."

You were in the middle of expressing your thanks when the truck was suddenly bombarded with Joel and Tommy's crew, their deep voices laughing and talking over one another while Ellie began to take some orders at the register. Before you got back to work, you spotted Joel and excitedly waved him over.

"Hey," you grinned as you practically hung half your body out of the window to grab his face and pull him in. He chuckled and leaned up to kiss you, his cold lips pressing against yours and urging them apart so he could slip his tongue inside your mouth.

"Hey! People are tryin' to eat!" Tommy laughed while playfully swatting at Joel's shoulder. You both laughed and pulled apart, too giddy and love drunk on each other to care.

"You're cold," you said after you pulled yourself back inside the truck. "Do you want some coffee?"

"Yes, please," Joel replied, eyes glittering with pride as he watched you move around the truck. When you stretched forward to hand him the cup, you winked and said, "On the house."

"How's the job going?" you asked as you worked on slicing up the bread Ellie had pulled from the oven. Tickets fluttered in front of you and Sarah gave Joel a big smile and wave when she dropped off chicken fresh from the fryer.

"Alright. Glad we're workin' inside today but place ain't rigged for heat yet so we're makin' do," he replied, taking a sip from his cup. "How's business?" he asked, nodding towards the truck. His eyes drifted fondly over the front where you had printed out the menu in huge letters. Every time he saw his daughter's or his wife's names, his throat tightened. You didn't have to name dishes after them, but you did. Practically insisted on it. It made him emotional back then and it continued to make him emotional whenever he saw it.

"Great! I was hoping to capitalize on holiday foot traffic and boy, did I."

Your eyes were glued to your work, chopping and slicing, making sandwiches and wrapping them in paper while scooping out soup from the huge vats behind you and bagging everything with ease.

You were in your element. This was what you were meant to do.

"Joel! Did you order yet or what?" Ellie called from the register.

"He always gets the same thing," Sarah reminded her with a playful hip check. Ellie rolled her eyes and stifled her grin.

"Oh, yeah, duh. You," she said, narrowing her eyes in your direction. You felt your cheeks warm and you smiled but kept your focus on your work.

"You don't always have to order my sandwich, you know," you teased him.

"Now how can you blame me when you taste so damn good?" Joel smirked from the sidewalk, instantly eliciting a groan of disgust from each of the girls.

"He means the sandwich!" you laughed, feeling all flustered and praying your embarrassment didn't show.

"Do I?"

"Joel!" you hissed with wide eyes as Sarah called him gross and Ellie covered her ears. He threw back his head and laughed while you shook your head with a permanent smile stretched across your face.

This is true happiness, you thought. This feeling could never be topped.

Once Joel and his crew ate and slowly disappeared back down the street towards the storefront they were working on, you washed your hands and checked your reflection before stepping out of the truck with your coat draped over your arm. You glanced around the now mildly crowded street, searching for Carmen and smiling when you locked eyes with her a few doors down carrying a couple shopping bags.

"Perfect timing," you said when she was within hearing range. "Thanks again. My boyfriend is working around the corner and brought his entire crew."

"No apology necessary," she replied warmly, then glanced around with a shiver. "Mind if we pop into this coffee shop? Shouldn't take more than half an hour."

You happily agreed and followed her inside the warm café, breathing in deep the scent of cinnamon and smiling to yourself when you heard the faint sound of Christmas carols filtering through the speakers.

Carmen wasted no time. She dove right in, asking you how you came up with the idea for the food truck and then segueing right into the viral video Ellie and Sarah created that got you such a cult following. You explained that Ellie was a friend, leaving out how you met for her own privacy, and how Sarah was Joel's daughter.

"I'm noticing these names are familiar," Carmen said with a smile.

"Yeah, I named sandwiches after important people in my life. It felt like a sweet way to honor them and express my gratitude," you explained. Carmen hummed and reviewed her notes, phone recording quietly on the table between you.

"May I ask, then, who are Mia and Daniel?"

You cleared your throat and gave her a brave smile.

"They're no longer with us," you began. Softly, Carmen murmured, oh, I'm sorry, while scribbling something on her notepad. "It's okay. Daniel was my fiancé. He passed away over a year ago from a car accident. And Mia was Sarah's mom."

Carmen nodded thoughtfully as she continued to write.

"Oh, so you knew Sarah's mom, too?"

"Well, no," you said, "but based on how much Sarah and Joel have told me, it feels like I've met her."

"That's sweet," Carmen said, letting her pen drop on her notepad. "And these sandwiches - do they reflect anything significant about the people they're named after?"

"They do," you replied while straightening in your chair. "I tried to make the sandwiches based on each person's preference. For instance, Mia loved spice, so hers is a fried spicy chicken sandwich with chipotle mayo. Which I find hilarious because neither Joel or Sarah can handle any amount of spice," you said with a soft laugh.

Carmen nodded and laced her fingers together.

"And how about the sandwich named after you?"

"Well, that was the very first one we created and decided should be on the menu," you said. "I hadn't even thought about names yet but the girls convinced me I should name it after myself and I guess they've got a knack for persuasion."

Carmen laughed and you felt your shoulders relax a bit, not even realizing you were tense until that very moment.

"Well, it's incredible, I must say. I was sneaky last week and got one for myself when you were out on Brunswick."

You gasped, feigning dismay and making her laugh.

"Thank you, I'm so happy to hear that," you replied with a wide smile. "It happens to be my boyfriend's favorite, too."

"Joel doesn't order The Joel?" she asked, cocking her eyebrow.

You shook your head and tried to forget his earlier comment when you said, "Guess not. But he helped design The Joel. In fact, he also helped with The Mia. Sarah did, as well."

"That's so lovely to hear," Carmen said softly, pressing her lips together and leaning forward. "I think it's such a wonderful detail, by the way. How the two of you came from relationships that ended in tragedy and managed to find peace and happiness with one another. And to honor your partners in this way is incredible."

"Thank you," you answered. Your chest warmed at her compliment. "Even though I never met Mia, she was important to the people I love the most, and therefore, she's important to me. Joel and Sarah feel the same about Daniel. Grief is a complicated thing, but I like to think I've found a way to live beside it."

Carmen smiled and dropped her gaze to the table. "That's so comforting and reassuring to hear. And an incredible quote to leave me with because it looks like our time is up."

"Quote?" you asked with a tilt to your head.

"I usually like to run a quote from my subject as my byline," Carmen said while she packed up her things. She began to stand and you stopped her.

"Wait - could I give you something else to put as your byline instead?"

She grinned and sat back down before pulling out her phone and pressing a button.

"Of course."

One Week Later

"You nervous 'bout your mama comin' up?" Joel asked, tugging you closer to his side as you walked up the snowy sidewalk.

"A little," you admitted. "But whatever she ends up thinking doesn't matter. I love you, Joel," you said, tilting your chin up to meet his eye. "I love you and nothing is ever going to change that."

He smiled and gave your lips a quick peck as you rounded the corner, closing in on the nearest grocery store.

"Well, back in my day, I used to be a big hit with a girl's parents."

"Oh, yeah?" you teased.

"Yep. They all loved me. I'm real respectful, you'll see."

You wanted to tell him to just be himself and to not stress about your mother's visit, but you knew there was no use. He was going to do everything possible to win your mother over and while you found it admirable he cared so much, you didn't want him to feel like he needed to make your parents come around. In your several talks with Ryan in therapy, you had come to the conclusion that nobody's approval was needed for you to be happy. It would be nice, sure. It would make holidays and special occasions easier. But nothing was going to change anything between you and Joel.

"Alright, now. Here we go," Joel said excitedly when the automatic doors slid open and you were met with a blast of warm air. You grinned and squeezed his arm while letting him drag you towards the newspapers and magazines. You both scanned the rows of periodicals before Joel spotted it first and grabbed the whole stack. He handed you the extras and eagerly flipped through the pages of the one on top before he paused with a slow smile.

"What? How does it look? What picture did she-"

You cut yourself short when you peered over his shoulder. Your breath hitched and you caught Joel's eye before looking back at the page.

Unbeknownst to you, Carmen and grabbed a quick shot of you leaning out of the food truck to kiss Joel. You were both smiling as snow lightly fell around you, the background highlighted by twinkling Christmas lights and laughing holiday shoppers. It looked like a photograph straight out of a movie: two people finding a quick moment for love in the midst of a busy street.

"You think that's a good enough picture of the two of us?" you asked, looking up at him adoringly, but his focus was on the byline. His eyes kept scanning the words over and over until you swore you saw tears begin to cloud his vision.

"You like it?" you found yourself whispering. He swallowed and nodded, bottom lip quivering before he let the paper drop to his side so he could cup your jaw and pull you in for a kiss.

"I love you," he murmured.

"I love you, too," you said softly against his lips. He gave you one more kiss before he sniffled and opened the paper again so he could reread the words:

This was all made possible because of Daniel, who taught me what true love is, and because of Joel, who showed me love during my darkest days - I owe you everything.

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tuesdayiminlove · 2 days ago

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imperfect for you

rockstar!eddie x fem!waitress!reader

summary: it's hard, in the early stages, to grasp who exactly it is you're dating, and if you're worth the time in the end. good thing he doesn't see anything else but you.

author's note: inspired by the ariana grande song. i can't listen to it without thinking of eddie. this is just a small blurb, but lmk if u wanna see more of them and maybe i'll turn this into a mini series :)

word count: 1.6k

Working the closing shift at the diner is a peaceful predicament.

But one hand, a yawn escapes your lips as the clock ticks by abnormally slow, the large arrow pointing to the number eleven. You lean against the counter, organizing salt and pepper shakers in a deliberate rhythm—making sure not to disrupt the quiet peace you have made in your little bubble.

On the other hand, it’s nice to watch the sun fall from the steamy, glass windows from Carly’s Diner, the red and blue hues reflecting from the freshly wiped tabled that still remain sticky after being rubbed clean. When the customers thin out, it gives time for you to rest your feet and sigh in relief once the rush is over. The line cooks in the back even manage to sneak in a burger or two for you to munch on in between taking customers’ orders.

Every once in a while, you look back out into the dark.

The parking lot is empty except for a few cars of the cooks, Sandra’s beat-up chevy, and Martin’s Bug (who is still nursing a coffee this late into the day). The clock may be ticking more towards the early hours of the day, but your mind persists in waiting for that one specific car to pull quietly into the lot.

You hear your last name get called quietly from the kitchen. You turn to see Jim staring at you. “You’re off the clock,” he adds gruffly, not giving you enough to answer before swinging the door to the kitchen shut to get back to his own work.

A sigh escapes your lips, either in relief or disappointment—you didn’t know. The clock had been ticking for hours, but it’s as if nothing has changed besides your energy levels. You throw one last glance toward the window, the rain tapping faintly against the glass, as if it might somehow bring him in. But the door stays shut, the place still, except for the quiet hum of the freezer full of cake slices and the low radio speakers, playing a song you've heard too many times tonight.

You make your way to the back of the diner, unbuttoning your cotton uniform as you pass through the kitchen, listening to the cooks all conversing over the broken fan (you thank god that you are rarely obligated to be in the back during shifts).

The locker filled with your things swings open. You toss your shirt inside, because you just washed it and didn’t see a need to bring it back home. You put on your hoodie and bring the ends to the tip of your fingertips, shivering at the cold.

“Goodnight, boys,” you call out to the rest of the cooks, they give you their own waves in return, soft smiles adorning their lips before they go back to arguing over the possibilities of installing an AC in Jim’s office (they’ve been discussing this for months—you think they should just bite the paycheck and do it already). You peek out of the window of the kitchen door to see if anyone else had walked in while you were changing.

That’s when you see him.

Sitting on one of the barstools, jet black curls fanning the tops of his forehead closing in on his eyes. You used to be afraid of his smirk, unknowing of whether or not actual feelings laid under the surface of it. But now, you know for sure: under everything is a man who is looking at home.

“I can’t get a free coffee anymore, can I?” he says, gesturing to the hoodie and jeans that you adorn instead of the regular uniform.

You roll your eyes. “It’s too late for coffee,” you say softly, voice small and guarded. Instead of following his initial orders, you reach underneath the counter to pull out a chamomile tea bag, and a white mug. You feel eyes on you as you put a kettle of water on the stove, watching the water flow before it’ll begin to simmer. “I was worried you got held back,” you add. I was worried that I wouldn’t see you tonight. Your eyes flicker to him, but you quickly look away. I miss you. Our lives are too different, do you feel that sometimes? I get sad waiting.

You aren’t sure if Eddie can sense the tension the way you can. It’s hard to stomach that he was just out there, surrounded by people who adore him, living his life while you run around the diner taking orders, waiting for the day to end in hopes of seeing you. Maybe he was late because he didn’t want to show up tonight altogether. Those anxious thoughts are the things that swirl in your mind while you and Eddie coexist in the same universe, but completely different planets. For him to be here tonight feels like some cosmic rearrangement: planets moving out of orbit to ensure that you two are in the same place or not. You don’t know if that should be considered natural or not.

As if sensing the energy from within you, he leans closer to the counter. “I would’ve come here if this place was completely locked up and you were the only one inside,” he jokes lightheartedly, but something stirs in your stomach at the truthfulness he holds in his tone. “Is that what goes on in that head of yours?”

The kettle whines, giving you an excuse not to answer. You shut off the stove and pour the steaming water into the mug, followed by the tea bag as you use a spoon to begin mixing the contents. You pull sugar from the side of the counter and count two teaspoons, exactly how you knew he liked it. “This’ll help you sleep tonight,” you say, putting it in front of him. “No more coffee past five.”

He smiles, eyes following yours in a desperate attempt to hold your gaze for as long as possible. He always does that; says he’s obsessed with your eyes. You recall the times once or twice where you stared deeply at yourself in the mirror to desperately see what he sees. Maybe his songwriting heart is writing prose upon prose as the seconds pass by, trying to capture a truth that cannot fully be put into words. You watch with a little smile as he takes the cup in between his lips. “Thank you, bug. C’mon,” he motions at the barstool beside him and you follow, leaving your way to the opposite of the counter and taking your spot beside him. He drinks quickly, taking your hand in between his as he takes big gulps as if trying to finish it all at once. “Let’s go, yeah?”

Keeping your hand in his, he stands up and begins walking to the exit, leaving you to trail behind faithfully. The bell above the door rings softly as you both step out of the diner. The cool night air bites at your skin and you find yourself edging closer to Eddie. He trades holding your hand to wrapping his arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer to catch some of his warmth. His footsteps are soft on the sidewalk, and your feet match him at a perfect pace, as if your minds moved in sync with each other. The planets are orbiting as they should.

He stops beside the passenger side car, hands in his pockets, and glances over at you. The neon from the diner’s sign glows faintly on his face, but his eyes are still all warm for you. He pulls the keys from his pocket and unlocks the car before opening the door for you.

“Ah–shit,” he mutters lowly, peering into his passenger seat. You peer in from behind him to see that his guitar is sat where he gestured you. You watch as he delicately takes the instrument, and lightly passes it off to the backseat. He wipes his hands dramatically, motioning at the now empty seat. “For you, bug.” You giggle. “Thanks.”

Eddie’s car smells like a mix of vanilla and weed—a combined scent you’ve slowly come to associate with him and the comfort he carried. Who would’ve thought?

You see, dating Eddie is a peaceful predicament.

On one hand, you find it hard to believe that you have to share him with thousands of other people. His profession isn’t a topic of conversation you shy away from, but it isn’t every day you go into an in-depth conversation on how he spends most of his nights onstage, riffing on his guitar as his forehead catches a sweat from the velocity of his words spilling onto a microphone. You don’t talk about the crowd, the endless sea of people who show up to see him—just to watch, just to bask in the glow of his presence, while you get to experience it all for free.

Sometimes (if you were to ask Eddie, it’s more like all the time), you get anxious about how fast his life moves.Fast enough to match the rhythm of his mind, always racing ahead, always chasing the next thing. You, however, were all calculated and anxious, words only slipping after serious consideration.

But on the other hand, no one else holds your hand as they drive down the streetlight-filled roads to your apartment. No one else kisses each fingertip while you recount your draining day that is arguably less fast-paced than his, but he never interjects to say that. He never points out the insecurities she holds for being so different from him; mentally if not physically. Instead, he reassures you without a conversation needing to be had.

You lay your head against the passenger window and stare at his side profile, paying attention to the street though you know that his mind is elsewhere.

(You.)

#eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x female reader #eddie munson x you #eddie munson imagine #stranger things

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capseycartwright · 2 hours ago

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see the lights, and hang the stockings

Eddie finds out that Buck has never ever had a Christmas stocking of his own. He's very determined to change that and share a few Diaz family traditions.

ao3 link

for week three of @winterofbuddie - holiday history.

Eddie knew he was inclined to go a little overboard at Christmastime. It was his favourite holiday, and he’d inadvertently (and very happily, might he add) made it Christopher’s favourite holiday too, their house always filled to the brim with decorations, Christmas music playing on a loop as soon as Thanksgiving was over, and he and Christopher agreed it was socially acceptable to dive right into the Christmas of it all.

Eddie loved Christmas, was the point, and even now, when Christopher was a relatively grumpy teenager, so did his son, Christopher happy to spend one of his precious Saturday evenings decorating the tree with Eddie, and Buck, instead of hanging out with his friends.

Well, to a point.

They’d gotten the tree decorated before Christopher had sneaked off to his bedroom, the chatter of his teenager calling his friends comforting background noise as he and Buck carried on the decorating duties. There had been a time where Eddie had worried he’d never have a house filled with the noise of Christopher simply living his life again, and so he was grateful for it - even when he’d hear Christopher up chatting far too late, his bedtime long past.

Eddie only got to have his kid be a kid for so long, and he’d lived through a dark few months where he hadn’t gotten to have his son around at all - so, he could be forgiven for being a little lenient with him sometimes.

“Mulled wine,” Buck hummed by way of explanation, pressing a mug into Eddie’s waiting hands. Eddie liked getting to do this, decorate, with Buck. Buck was his best friend in the whole world, and Eddie had done enough work unpicking a lifetime of repression to know that his feelings for Buck went a bit further than solely platonic, but even putting the whole, being in love with him, thing aside, Eddie just loved to spend time with the other man.

“Thank you,” Eddie hummed, inhaling the comforting smell of spices, the aroma of mulled wine sinking into every inch of Eddie’s house. Christmas baking would join the party soon, he knew, because Buck was determined to make all of their nearest and dearest cookie boxes this year, like he’d seen on TikTok, and Eddie knew that his kitchen would be the stage of choice when Buck committed to executing his twelve-point plan for perfecting cookie gifts.

“I think it needs more cardamon,” Buck admitted, a tiny frown furrowing the space between his eyebrows. Eddie sort of always wanted to kiss it.

“It’s perfect,” Eddie disagreed, taking another sip of his drink. “You make the best mulled wine.”

An adorable flush appeared on Buck’s cheeks. Just another thing Eddie wanted to kiss. “You’re an unreliable reviewer,” he shook his head. “You like everything I make. I can never tell what’s really good, and what’s just okay, because you tell me everything is good.”

Eddie grinned, setting his mug on the fireplace. “That’s because I think everything is good,” he shrugged. It wasn’t a lie. Buck was a fantastic cook, and a great baker, and Eddie’s house was ground zero for many delicious experiments - the cheesy, twisty garlic bread Buck had made for their Italian themed family dinner had been a recent highlight. Buck’s sourdough starter even lived in Eddie’s fridge, not his own, for crying out loud.

Pressing play on his carefully curated Christmas playlist, the sound of Wham! and Last Christmas filling the living room, Eddie passed Buck a snowglobe, his best friend indulging and setting it down on the coffee table, where it always lived. It was a cheap, silly thing that Eddie had bought the first Christmas he’d been out of the army, from the Dollar General, but it held so much sentimental memory now, Eddie didn’t have the heart to throw it out. Buck had bought them a beautiful snowglobe a few years previously, from a small business based on the Northern Californian coast, and that was pride of place on the fireplace, but the cheap one still had a home - different eras of Eddie’s life all coming together here, in LA, in the first place he’d really chosen for himself.

“I love your decorations,” Buck hummed, careful fingers tracing the lettering on one of the tree decorations - it was an imprint of Christopher’s tiny baby hand, the black writing announcing to the world that it had been his very first Christmas. “They all have so much meaning.”

Eddie hummed. “You know me,” he joked. “I’m a sentimental old fool.”

“No - it’s good. Great, even,” Buck paused, for a minute. “My parents' Christmas tree had a colour scheme, growing up. There were no sentimental ornaments - only these picture perfect gold and red baubles. I broke one - I think I was seven, or eight - and my mom yelled at me for so long that it made me cry. She said they didn’t make the ornaments anymore, so she’d have to change them all now, because of me. I didn’t think she had meant it, but the next year, she’d thrown out all the red and gold, and we had green and silver.”

Eddie knew that Buck had grown up with emotionally neglectful parents, but sometimes, in moments like this, when Buck made an admission about the reality of his childhood, it really struck him how bad it must have been for Buck, growing up - how lonely, and sad, he must have been. It was amazing, really, how Buck turned out to be so kind, and wonderful, given the house he grew up in. How Buck was still Buck, despite everything he’d been through. “Buck, I…”

“I’m sorry,” Buck shrugged it off, like he always did. Buck never wanted to burden other people, and sometimes it made Eddie want to yell, and scream - it made him want to beg Buck to burden him with every thought and feeling he had. Eddie wanted to be there for him - he wanted to know what Buck had for breakfast every morning, and what he thought came in the afterlife, and everything in between. “I don’t know why I said that. Tonight’s meant to be happy, and here I am, making it all about me.”

read the rest on ao3

#911 abc #911 #eddie diaz #evan buckley #buddie #in which i ramble #in which lorna writes fic #winterofbuddie #eddie fixing bucks childhood is something that is so personal to me

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fruvittea · 2 days ago

Text

whispers in the rain ✧˚ · . part seven

— ✺ pairing: jay x reader x jake

— ✺ genre: slice of life, angst, suggestive, fluff, childhood best friend, love triangle, college au, slow burn

— ✺ synopsis: jay is your childhood best friend. that’s all he will ever be. a summer with jay and his friends changes how you feel for him when jake comes into your life. and jay begins to think that was a mistake. — ✺ chapter summary: things have been on your mind lately and jungwon and sunoo take things into their own hands taking you out for a good time. the day ends with deep conversations and rekindling.

— ✺ warnings: some of the members are aged up since there is mention of consuming alcohol in this fic!!

— ✺ word count: 3.1k

— ✺ authors note! thank you for your patience, this is the first fic I am writing and it has been so fun, I decided to change things up and include a cute little day where reader spends time with two different people for a change! thank you again for reading!!

Being in the presence of both Jay and Jake was tiring. So you went inside to take some time to yourself. You’re curled up on the couch, scrolling through your phone, when Sunoo plops down next to you.

“You, me, Jungwon. Ice cream and a thrift shop run and perhaps watching the sunset with your new besties,” he announces, already tugging at your arm.

Jungwon appears in the doorway, arms crossed but smiling softly. “You could use a break. We’ll be your emotional support for the day.”

Break? Have they really noticed that things have been on your mind?

You laugh and agree, the promise of a low-pressure outing too tempting to pass up.

You laugh and nod. “Okay, okay, I’m in.”

You have yet to hang out with some of the group separately that wasn’t Jay or Jake so this was quite exciting. You always enjoyed Jungwon and Sunoo’s company. As you get up to grab your jacket, Sunoo suddenly turns to you with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I’ll go tell Jay that you’re going out with us. He’s been hovering, right?” he adds, almost to himself, though it’s more of a statement than a question.

You blink, a bit caught off guard. “Sunoo, don’t—”

But before you can protest, Sunoo’s already halfway down the hall, heading straight for Jay’s room. You sigh, hoping this won’t turn into a bigger deal than it needs to be.

A few moments later, Sunoo walks back into the room, Jay trailing behind him, a hesitant expression on his face. You could tell that he might’ve not wanting you to go, for whatever reason. He was being a real downer these days. (And it may or may not have been because of you and Jake hanging out).

“You’re coming with us, Y/n,” Sunoo announces, voice light as he steps to the side. “We’re heading out for ice cream and a thrift shop run, then maybe a sunset hangout.” He throws a quick look at Jay, who’s still standing in the doorway, his arms crossed.

Jay looks at you, his expression unreadable. “Are you sure you want to go now? You looked like you had a lot on your mind earlier.”

You smile, shrugging your shoulders. “I’m good. Just need a little time away. I think it will be nice with Jungwon and Sunoo, my new besties.”

Sunoo, coming to your rescue, steps forward quickly. “It’s fine, Dad. Let her go. It’s just us hanging out, no big deal.” His tone is light but firm, clearly trying to ease the situation before it escalates. You couldn’t help but let out a small giggle.

“Did you just call me da-” But before the two of your could hear Jay’s response, Sunoo lightly grabs your wrist and begins to pull you towards the door, a knowing smile on his face. “Come on, Y/n. We’ve got a full day of ice cream ahead.”

As you step outside, you hear footsteps behind you. You turn to see Jungwon approaching Jay, who’s still standing in the doorway, his body tense. Jungwon stops beside him, his expression calm but attentive.

“You’re worried,” Jungwon observes softly, glancing back at you and Sunoo, who are now on the way down the stairs. “But you need to let her breathe, Jay.”

Jay runs a hand through his hair, frustration clouding his face. “Well what are you two up to—”

“We just want to spend the day with her.,” Jungwon cuts him off gently, his tone firm but not harsh. “We know you have feelings for her, honestly finally, it’s been years. But c'mon you need to let her breathe. If she likes Jake then she likes him. If she is figuring her feelings out, let her. You’re her best friend, act like it.”

Jay’s jaw tightens slightly, but he doesn’t argue. Instead, he lowers his gaze, looking conflicted. Had he really been making you feel bad?

“Just… cool down, alright? Let her have some space,” Jungwon adds, his voice softening as he places a reassuring hand on Jay’s shoulder. “She’ll come to you when she’s ready. But for now, let her have this time to herself.”

Jay doesn’t respond immediately, but his posture shifts slightly, as if Jungwon’s words are beginning to sink in. He watches you for a moment before exhaling, his shoulders slumping a little.

“Yeah,” Jay mutters, almost to himself. “I’ll… I’ll cool down.”

Jungwon gives him a small nod, his smile encouraging, before turning to follow you and Sunoo.

—

“So I saw this cute ice cream place in downtown with really cool flavors. I think we should go there, it’s called Sundae’s.” Jungwon puts the location in his phone and follows the route. You in the passengers seat and Sunoo sitting in the back. To your surprise the car ride with the two was so pleasant, Sunoo just singing along to the music in the back and Jungwon sparking up a casual conversation with you.

“You know I don’t think we’ve hung out before.” Jungwon’s head turned to you briefly before going back to the road.

“I actually was thinking the same, it’s nice that I’m going out with the two of you.” You play with you fingers a little.

“Yah, it’ll be fun!” Sunoo chimes in making you smile.

At the ice cream shop Sunoo insists on ordering first, going for an extravagant and colorful flavor. Jungwon watches with an amused smile before opting for a simple green tea scoop. When it’s your turn, both boys playfully judge your choice—earl gray tea.

“What are you a grandma?” Sunoo judges before taking a spoonful of his ice cream.

“Hey! In fact I like earl gray, it tastes good.” You shrug him off, continuing to eat your scoop.

“It’s a solid pick in my opinion.” Jungwon adds in.

The three of you sat down on a bench around the corner of the ice cream shop. Jungwon invested in his ice cream and Sunoo trying to pry out facts about you.

“Well what do you want to know?” You turn to him curious about his response.

“Mmm how did you and Jay become friends, because in my opinion I don’t see how you enjoy him.” You let out a laugh using a napkin to wipe the melted ice cream from your fingers.

“We met in elementary school, he was always teasing me for not being able to color in the lines. I remember looking over at his paper and it was equally as bad. But anyways he would always tease me and I would do it back. We kind of just stuck together even after elementary and middle school. Now that I come to think of it I don’t know how we became friends because of how we started.” You continue to eat your ice creams reminiscing when it was just the two of you.

“That sounds like him…always teasing or nitpicking.” Jungwon lets out an airy laugh. “I mean rooming with him freshman year at the dorms, he would tell me to do my laundry a certain way, I guess he has always been like that huh?”

"Yeah he has, I think that’s one of the things I like about him though, it’s his odd way of caring I guess.” You don’t look at any of the two boys afraid they’ll see right through you and your feelings.

—

By the time you three finish ice cream, Jungwon is already inputting the thrift store into his maps. It was a short drive down the street but the three of you insisted on walking in order to walk off the ice cream.

Sunoo immediately dove into the racks, pulling out the most outrageous outfits he can find and making you and Jungwon model them. At one point, he holds up a neon jacket, declaring it your “new vibe.”

Jungwon shakes his head, picking out a simple but stylish sweater for you instead. “This is more your speed,” he says with a small smile.

“Actually yeah, this for once is something I would wear.” You take the sweater from Jungwon and go to try it on. It was the perfect size, not too baggy and it was a nice creme color.

Sunoo rolls his eyes but agrees, muttering about Jungwon’s “boring” taste.

Hours go by and you all go your separate ways in the store, actually taking the act of thrifting seriously You buy the sweater along with a thin green cardigan, Jungwon buys a leather jacket and Sunoo also finds a couple sweaters to purchase as well. The three of you proudly talk about the luck you had in the shop.

—

As the three of you walk back to the car you hear your stomach growl. Before you could even open your mouth to tell them you were hungry Jungwon put a place into his phone. “Don’t worry, I was also getting hungry in the store, tacos sound good?” You and Sunoo agree and Jungwon starts the car heading to the spot.

It was a nice little area, some chairs and tables set up with people eating in a parking lot with a taco truck up front. You all ordered takeout because Sunoo wanted to go to a nearby park that had a pretty view of the ocean. Sitting atop a picnic blanket you three eat your tacos raving about how good they were.

Sunoo marvels at the ocean while Jungwon uses the left over napkins to make paper cranes.

“Where’d you learn to do that?” you ask, watching him with fascination.

He shrugs. “My sister taught me. It’s calming.”

Sunoo leans in with a smirk. “It’s also his way of avoiding deep conversations.”

Jungwon glares at him, but there’s no malice in it. “Says the guy who changes the subject every time someone asks about his love life.”

Their playful banter makes you smile, and for the first time in days, you feel a genuine lightness in your chest.

The day winds down with the three of you still at the park watching as the sun begins to set. Sunoo talks about his dreams and aspirations, his usual humor tinged with rare sincerity. Jungwon listens intently, occasionally offering quiet words of encouragement.

At some point, Sunoo excuses himself to “explore the area,” leaving you and Jungwon alone.

The silence is comfortable, filled with the sound of rustling leaves and distant laughter.

“You seemed happier today,” Jungwon says after a while, glancing at you.

You nod. “Thanks to you and Sunoo. I didn’t realize how much I needed this.”

He smiles softly, his eyes warm. “You’ve grown to become important to us. Don’t forget that.”

The sun dips below the horizon, casting long shadows as you, Jungwon, and Sunoo sit on the grassy hill, watching the colors of the sky change. Sunoo has his legs stretched out, lazily reclining against a tree, while Jungwon is next to you, eyes focused on the distant view. There’s a comfortable silence between the three of you, but it feels like there’s something unspoken hovering in the air.

After a few minutes, Jungwon clears his throat, glancing at Sunoo before turning his attention to you.

“Hey, y/n,” he starts, his voice casual but there’s a hint of curiosity underneath. “Can we ask you something?”

You turn your head slightly, meeting his eyes. “Sure, what’s up?”

Sunoo, who's been unusually quiet, perks up, looking at you with a sly smile. “Have you noticed any… tension between Jay and Jake recently?”

You freeze for a moment, the question slightly catching you off guard. You had a feeling the two would ask, afterall they are Jay and Jake’s friends. Plus t he tension between the two had been palpable lately, and though you’ve tried to ignore it, it’s impossible not to feel the weight of it when you’re around them. You glance down at your hands, fingers fidgeting with the hem of your sweater.

“Yeah, I’ve noticed,” you admit, sighing softly. “It’s a little hard to ignore.”

Jungwon watches you carefully. “Do you think it’s something serious? Or just a misunderstanding?”

You pause, trying to sort out your own feelings before speaking. “I’m not sure,” you murmur. “But I think it’s about more than just little things. I’ve never seen them like this before.”

There’s a heavy silence that falls over you, and you know both of them are watching you intently, waiting for you to continue. Sunoo leans forward, his usual playful demeanor replaced with a serious, almost concerned expression.

“Can we ask you something else?” Sunoo asks.

“Yeah go ahead.” You nod.

“Do you…have feelings for Jay? Or did you ever have feelings for him?” His tone was soft almost hesitant as if he was debating on asking you about Jay.

You feel your heart race, a flush creeping up your neck. Jungwon, who’s always been quiet and thoughtful, looks at you with gentle curiosity, giving you the space to respond. But you can tell they’re both waiting for an honest answer.

You swallow hard, feeling the weight of the question settle in your chest. “I… yeah, I guess I always did,” you admit, the words coming out in a whisper. “Jay’s been my best friend for so long. I think I had a crush on him pretty much my whole life.”

The confession hangs in the air, and Sunoo’s eyes widen for a moment, before he offers a knowing, if somewhat sympathetic, smile. “That makes sense. It’s obvious how close you two are. But…?”

You glance down, unable to meet their eyes. “But I think it’s fading,” you whisper. “The crush, I mean.” You pause, your fingers tugging at the edges of your sweater, unsure of how to continue. “It’s hard to admit, but… I feel like something’s different now. I don’t know if I’m holding on to something that’s not really there anymore.”

Jungwon shifts slightly, leaning forward to look at you with a softer gaze. “It’s okay to feel that way. You’re not wrong for letting go of something that doesn’t feel right anymore.”

You nod, taking a deep breath, but the guilt creeps in. You feel like you're betraying something, or someone. "But I also don’t want to let go,” you admit, the words tumbling out. “I feel guilty about it, but when I’m with Jake, I don’t feel that way. He makes me feel good. He makes me laugh, and he listens to me. He’s different, and... I enjoy spending time with him. And with Jay too."

You trail off, unsure of what else to say. The emotions feel tangled, and you’re still processing everything that’s happening between you, Jay, and Jake. But you could tell the two boys on either side of you were listening intently, figuring out what to sway next. Sure it admitting these thoughts and feelings you’ve been having was not what you were expecting to do today, it was still nice to be able to release the weight and let somebody in.

Sunoo’s voice breaks through the whirlwind of your thoughts. “It’s okay to like both of them. You’re not doing anything wrong by being honest with yourself,” he says, his tone calm but supportive. “Feelings don’t follow a strict path. It’s complicated, but that’s life.”

Jungwon, who’s been quietly listening, nods in agreement. “And whatever you decide to do, we’re here for you. It’s okay to take your time and figure out what you want. No one’s rushing you.”

Jake and Jay are, you want to say but refrain. Could the tension really be because of you? You finally look at them both, their expressions soft and understanding. For the first time today, you feel like you can breathe, knowing that someone—two people—are there to support you no matter what. You smile weakly, grateful for their patience.

“Thanks, guys,” you say, your voice full of sincerity. “It means a lot.”

The three of you sit in silence again, but this time, it’s comforting. There are no expectations, no pressure to figure things out immediately. Just the quiet support of friends who understand that life—and love—aren’t always as simple as they seem.

As the night continues the three of you decide to make your way back to the house.

Opening the door to your room you place your bag from the thrift store onto the ground. Laundry can wait. Tomorrow I’ll do laundry, maybe Jay will end up taking over. You lay down on your bed and scroll through your phone until you hear a faint knock on the door.

“Can I come in?”

“Yeah.”

The door opens and Jay appears. He was in his pajamas, his hair messy. You look at him and you couldn’t help but feel your heartbeat a little faster. He closes the door and sits at the edge of your bed. You were sitting against the headboard watching his every move.

“How was your day out with Jungwon and Sunoo?” He asked.

“I actually had a really good time, I haven’t hung out with the two of them before and I really enjoyed it. They are really good friends Jay, I’m glad you found them in college.” Jay can’t help but smile. You always had something nice to say and that was something he really appreciated about you, something he really liked about you.

“I’m sorry for seeming like a dad…Is it bad that I sometimes just want you to myself?” He paused, realizing what he said. “Li-like you know because we were friends first.” He let out a nervous laugh scratching the back of his neck. Shit.

You play with the sheets, unsure of what to say, but if you don’t say anything it’ll be even more awkward.

“I’ve felt that way too Jay, it’s okay, but hey I mean we’re getting older, things like this do happen.” You give him a smile. It is true you have definitely felt that way, especially when with his girl friends in high school. But of course you left that small detail out.

“Yeah…” Jay’s eyes focus on the sheets of the bed. He didn’t want to leave just yet. Neither did you want him to, but you both didn’t say anything. Instead you both kept the conversation going little by little. You showed him your thrift haul and he told you about the book that he was able to start that day. It was nice, like the two of you were back in routine again.

You and Jay both ended up falling asleep on your bed, him curled up by the foot of your bed, you under the sheets diagonally across.

✴︎🪷𓈒͏ུུ̑̑. ཉ — by @fruvittea

🏷️ tag list: @kyunlov @kawaiijellyfishtimetravelr

💌 pm me or comment if you want to be on the tag list !!

#kpop #kpop fanfic #kpop drabbles #enhypen #enhypen fanfics #enhypen x reader #jay enhypen #jake enhypen #jay x reader #jake x reader #jake enha #jay enha #enhypen sunoo #jungwon enhypen

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meo-eiru · 6 hours ago

Note

Do you have any tips on starting a VN is really wanna make one but have no idea how to actually start I have a few ideas but the writing and planning out is what overwhelms me and starting things is always a struggle how did start the process on your VN?

Well I'm no pro by any means so take everything I say with a grain of salt. I'm sure everyone has a style they find more productive but I'll talk about how I personally go about it as an artist who prefers drawing over writing (I'll be using the stuff I made for a now scrapped vn idea)

I usually like to draw a simple storyboard to get a gist of exactly where I'm planning to start and the story I have in my head. It's a very simple and quick step and don't be afraid to make some changes on the first version you drew.

For example here I have the start of the story and the 3 endings with the main diversion of the story line.

Then once I'm done with that I make a more detailed and longer storyboard of the actual game. I decide exactly where the options appear and where they lead to. This one is important, I usually go back to check what I decided on quite often, don't think "oh I can remember this no problem", you probably won't. Write down notes.

Once that's done I basically dive into writing the actual script, while following the story line I had decided on beforehand.

Visual novels are quite easy to code but they are very dialogue heavy, and dialogue writing is very different from writing normally. You can't just go "he said she said", you need them to come directly from the character. Don't be afraid to spend as much time here as you need.

As I said I'm not a pro, for example Sel is a writer and not an artist and I know she just immediately starts with the script after some planning, writes an overall script and adds in more details every time she goes over them.

There are no strict rules to making vns, there isn't a schedule you're forced to follow. See what feels easier to start with and go from there

#asks #visual novel #visual novel development #game dev #game development

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unknownmind98 · 2 days ago

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a love song over time - part 3

A03: https://archiveofourown.org/works/60645565/chapters/157278214

|-|-|

Chloe sits on the porch of her home, a cup of hot chocolate in hand as Bella perches beside her holding her own. The winter sun is just setting over the trees, the recent snowfall having decorated the scenery in a blissful white atmosphere. Chloe’s mind falls to a certain DJ, and she unknowingly smiles, her gaze fixated on the birds setting for the evening.

“Momma?” Bella asks, disrupting her from her thoughts. Her big, round eyes glance up towards her mother.

Chloe smiles softly, bringing her gaze towards her, “What is it, bug?”

Tilting her head, Bellas curls bounce slightly as she gives her a thoughtful look. “Is Beca your best friend?”

The question catches Chloe off guard, and she blinks a few times in surprise. “Well, yes…” She confirms, pausing to think of her next words. “She’s one of my best friends.” She adds, a small grin forming as she thinks of the brunette. “Why do you ask?” She quizzes, wrapping an arm around the girl.

Bella shrugs, her petite hands fiddling with her bright yellow mug, one that she got for her birthday; it’s comically large with ladybug on the front. “You’re always happy when you talk about her. And I saw you guys hug a lot when she was here. Like, a lot a lot.” She emphases, taking a slurp of her hot chocolate.

Chloe can’t help the snort as her cheeks tinge pink. She hadn’t realized Bella had caught on to their closeness. “Well, she’s very special to me.” The redhead says, leaning her head on Bella’s.

Bella nods and watches the birds for a moment. Suddenly her eyes sparkle with curiosity, and she sits up and looks at her mom. “Is she like Daddy?”

Chloe’s eyebrows raise at the innocent question and her heart skips a beat. She hesitates, unsure on how to answer. “Well, Beca isn’t like Daddy. She’s…” Chloe pauses, “Well she’s different. But she’s someone very important to me. Someone I care about a lot.”

Bella ponders this for a moment before nodding thoughtfully. “Okay.” She says, “I like her. She makes you laugh.”

Chloe’s heart swells at her daughter’s simple observation and she pulls her in close. “I like her too. She makes me very happy.”

And Bella grins, leaning into her mother. “You should tell her that.”

The older Beales breath catches in her throat at the thought of that. Leaning down she plants a kiss against Bellas bright red hair. “Maybe I will,” she says softly, more so to herself than to Bella.

She can’t deny she’s been thinking about the brunette a lot, since she left. They hadn’t spoken about what happened between them or any of the intimacy they shared. Though she can’t deny, she really really likes how Beca makes her feel.

She feels so alive. So seen and wanted. Something that she hasn’t felt in a while.

She thinks back to her past relationship with Tom and sighs.

After Bella was born, Chloe had noticed changes in him. Though he was overjoyed to be a father and attentive to Bella, eager to provide for her every need, he withdrew further from Chloe. He became quieter, more distant, and his warm, spontaneous affection gave way to a poised detachment.

At first, Chloe chalked it up to her own insecurities. She’d gained a bit of weight during her pregnancy, and the long nights with a newborn had left her feeling drained and distorted. She told herself that with time, things would return to normal- that she would feel desirable again, and Tom would see her the way he once did.

But that moment never came. Instead, Tom threw himself into his work. He became consumed by long hours and endless projects, often locking himself away in his office or traveling on work trips that seemed to grow more frequent. Chloe’s attempts to bridge the gap were met with vague excuses and distracted reassurances.

Over time, suspicion began to creep into Chloe’s mind. Tom’s absences became harder to explain, and the emotional distance between them felt overwhelming. She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was someone else, though she never found concrete proof. It was a suspicion that lingered in the back of her mind, unspoken but ever-present.

He was still a great father to Bella, doting and involved… when he was around. But as a partner, he had faded away, leaving Chloe to navigate her feelings of loss and loneliness on her own. It was a slow unravelling of the life they’d built together, and by the time Chloe truly acknowledged it, the damage was already done.

There were nights when Chloe would sit alone in the quiet of their home and think about her days in college. Back then, she had been so confident- fearless, even. She’d been surrounded by the Bellas: her family, constantly laughing, and always the centre of attention in any room she walked into. She missed that version of herself, the one who didn’t second-guess every move, who felt beautiful and vibrant without needing anyone else’s validation. The one that walked confidently, naked might I add, into another’s shower stall just because she liked the voice coming from it.

She yearned for that confidence now, for the freedom to be that courageous self. She found that when she was with Beca, glimpses of that old spark would flicker through the broken walls. Beca’s sharp wit and easy smile reminded Chloe of who she used to be and made her believe, if only for a moment, that she could find that person again.

No wait scratch that, she knows she can.

Beca always brought out the best in her, she thinks. From the moment they met to the moment they got their small crappy apartment in New York all those years ago.

It’s always been Beca.

Beca was the reason the Bellas became what they are. Beca is the reason she named her daughter after the acapella group. Beca made them into something she never thought could be possible.

Beca made her feel beautiful.

It’s always been Beca.

Chloe knows that. Though she always did know it, she’s just no longer afraid to admit it.

She knows it’s time to stop dancing around her feelings and have the conversation they need to have.

She just can’t help as she chews on her bottom lip thinking of when that time will be.

|-|-|

Meanwhile in New York, Beca paces the length of her living room, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. She’s typed out three drafts of a text to Jesse, but none of them felt right. Finally, with a groan of frustration, she types out a simple message.

Beca (16.34pm) Hey, can I call you?

A few seconds later, her phone buzzes with Jesse’s reply.

Jesse (16.34pm) Yeah, what’s up?

Beca wastes no time with dialling his number. The moment he answers, she launches into a ramble. “So, I think I need advice, and you are kind of my go-to for things like this,” Running a hand through her hair, she continues, “so you had me thinking last night, and I think you’re right.”

She hears Jesse chuckle on the other end and rolls her eyes.

“Man, shut up-”

“I told you!” He interrupts, and she can hear the shit-eating grin on his face.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, Beca oblivious as ever,” She mocks, “But seriously, what do I do?” She plops herself down onto the couch, sighing loudly as her ramble continues, “Dude I have no idea what to do or say,” Beca admits. “I’m freaking out here.”

“Okay, first of all, breathe,” Jesse says, his voice a hint of amusement. “Second, maybe you two just need to talk it out. Like adults. Crazy idea, I know.”

Beca huffs out a laugh. “Yeah, that’s helpful. Real groundbreaking advice Jesse.” She deadpans.

“I aim to please,” Jesse replies, his grin practically audible. “Look, why don’t you invite her over to your place? Neutral territory. You can hash it out without distractions.” He suggests, and the idea makes her pause. “You said it last night, that she’s going on break soon for the holidays.” He adds, and she can imagine him shrugging.

Nodding slowly to herself, Beca contemplates the idea. She supposes it would be nice for Bella to experience New York around the holidays. “That could work.” She replies, her fingers tapping against her black jeans. “That could totally work right?”

“Right.”

“And if it doesn’t, I can just curl up into a ball and die.”

“Becs.”

“Because she probably already has plans made-”

“Beca!” Jesse exclaims down the line making her stop. “Shut up.” He speaks. “Just send her a message. Trust me it’ll be aca-fine.”

|-|-|

Beca (19.29pm) Sup Beale, was curious, what’s your plans for the holidays besides being at home?

Chloe (19. 34pm) hi to you too stranger x

Chloe (19. 34pm) and you pretty much just summed it up. I’ll be at home with Bella. Tom’s busy with work

Beca (19. 35pm) shucks, well…. I know it’s a crazy idea, and you can say no if you want!

Beca (19. 35pm) would you and bella like to come here?

Chloe (19.38pm) as in New York?

Beca (19.40pm) yeah.. only if you want!

Beca (19.41pm) There’s no pressure obviously

Chloe (19.42pm) aww we’d love too :)

Chloe (19.42pm) Been thinking about u a lot x

Beca (19.43pm) huh… funny

Beca (19.44pm) Cuz I’ve been thinking about you a lot too

Chloe (19.45pm) really? Tell me more ;)

Beca (19.46pm) Yeah, just… you know, being around again you felt really nice. I missed being around you

Chloe (19.47pm) I missed it too. Feels like ages since we spent time together

Beca (19.48pm) Tell me about it. But I feel like since it’s the holidays and we both have time off we should totally like hang out

Chloe (19.50pm) Hang out? Is that what we’re calling this ;) but no I get u, and New York sounds like the perfect place to escape to for a bit. I miss it there

Beca (19.51pm) yep that’s what we’re calling it beale, but oh! I have some new spots I’ve been dying to show you that opened recently

Chloe (19.53pm) do tell!

Beca (19.54pm) nah uh beale, I’m gonna wait until you’re here to show you lol

Chloe (19.56pm) ahh the anticipation.

Chloe (19.56pm) I finish work this Friday and Bella is on Christmas break too, so we can be there Sunday afternoon maybe?

Beca (19.57pm) Awes, I’ll book you the flights

Chloe (19.57pm) oh no! you don’t have to bec

Beca (19.58pm) Shush beale, I want to ;) let me know when you land and I’ll come pick you up x

|-|-|

The terminal at JFK was buzzing with commotion, not unknown for such a place but with Christmas right around the corner, it was more chaotic with families reuniting, friends visiting and last-minute flights.

Chloe stands near the baggage claim, clutching Bellas’s hand as they wait patiently for their luggage. Once they receive it, Chloe takes her daughter over to a nearby Starbucks as they wait for Beca. The young girl, wide eyed as ever, is bouncing in her seat, craning her neck in hopes of seeing the brunette.

“Momma when will she be here?” Bella asks for the third time, impatiently.

Chloe chuckles softly at her excitement, “Soon, bug.” She says, “She’s probably stuck in traffic.” She reassures, though her own heart is fluttering with anticipation. It hadn’t been long since she last saw her best friend, but she can’t deny the butterflies currently dancing in her stomach thinking about her.

As she finishes up her latte, she hears the distinct voice of one Beca Mitchell.

“There you guys are!”

Turning towards the voice, Chloe sees Beca weaving her way through the queue, her hair slightly disheveled, and bright rosy cheeks tainting her face.

Chloe thinks it’s adorable.

There’s a grin planted across the DJ’s face as she spots them. She’s dawned in a simple leather jacket over a casual T-shirt and plain jeans. A classic Beca look.

Chloe thinks it’s more attractive than it needs to be.

It’s quite distracting, honestly.

Bella sees her and lets out an excited squeal, jumping from her seat, not caring that it scrapes along the floor- a few customers glancing at the harsh sound- and beelines for Beca. The brunette chuckles as the young girl bounds into her, wrapping her tiny hands around her waist.

“There’s my bug!” Beca says, ruffling Bella’s hair amusingly before leaning down to wrap her arms around her. “Missed you, ya little troublemaker.”

Chloe grins as she approaches them, watching the interaction. “Hi.” She says fondly, sidling up beside them.

The brunette away from Bella and stands up straight and smirks, “Hey there.” Leaning in she places a chaste kiss on Chloe’s cheek. “You look great,” She sneakily whispers into her ear.

Chloe can’t help the faint blush that rushes to her cheeks and hides it by pulling Beca into a warm embrace.

“So do you,” She replies, teasingly.

And there’s that familiar spark igniting inside her again.

|-|-|

As they make their way towards Beca’s apartment, the hum of Christmas music plays faintly over the speakers. Chloe sits in the passenger side, a growing grin on her face as she steals glances at the brunette. Beca smirks when she notices and sends her a raised eyebrow in return.

Bella sits in the back, eyes curious and wide as she looks out the window. Last time she was in New York was when she was 2 years old, which obviously she doesn’t remember much about. So, she’s pretty much experiencing it for the first time.

“So, Bella…” Beca speaks, breaking the comfortable silence. She catches the girl’s eye in the rearview mirror. “So, what’s our plan for Christmas this year?”

Bella beams at the question and she sits up excitedly, “Can we make cookies?” She asks, but before Beca can answer she’s rambling into her next request, “Oh and can we watch a bunch of movies and drink hot chocolate? Oh, and can we have marshmallows with the hot chocolate?”

“Bella, sweetheart, take a breath,” Chloe says, chuckling at her enthusiasm.

“Okay, okay,” Bella replies, pausing to think of more ideas.

“Well, I think those are some solid plans, bug,” Beca nods, as she pulls up at a red light. Bella smiles widely at the appreciation. “I’m making you the boss,” Beca adds turning in her seat to face Bella. “So, whatever you say, goes.” She declares, leaning her hand out for a handshake. “Sound like a deal?”

“Deal.” Bella giggles, shaking her hand.

As the light switches to green, Beca shifts into gear and takes a left towards her apartment. “Shouldn’t be too long until we’re there.”

“I’m so excited to see your place.” Chloe says, her expression glowing as she glances out the window, watching the passersby.

The last time Chloe had visited New York a few years ago, Beca and Amy had still been sharing the tiny, cramped apartment they had called home for years. It had been cozy, in the most chaotic, mismatched way that only a small space shared by wildly different personalities could be. She remembers the pull-out couch that doubled as a bed that she and Beca shared. The cluttered coffee table usually buried under takeout containers and Fat Amy’s magazines. The faint sound of Beca’s music playing from the corner that served as her makeshift studio. The flat had character for sure, but it was far from luxurious.

Since then, things had changed. Beca had moved out and found a new place of her own, leaving Amy to claim the old apartment entirely as her own. Though that changed quickly as the blonde Tasmanian fell into family wealth. Chloe had seen glimpses of Beca's new home in the pictures she had sent over the years. The photos had been impressive- cozy modern furniture, large open windows letting in floods of natural light, and mismatched but clean decor that screamed “Beca finally has her life together… Kinda.” But pictures could only show so much, and Chloe was dying to see it in person.

It was clearly a massive upgrade from what they previously shared. Chloe could already imagine the difference- the shift from cramped to spacious, from cluttered to organized. She knew Beca had worked hard to get where she was, and this new apartment seemed like a tangible representation of how far she had come.

Chloe couldn’t be prouder of the brunette sat beside her.

Reaching over she places a hand on Beca’s thigh and gives it a gentle squeeze, as they pull up outside the apartment complex. The brunette shoots her a smirk, unbuckling her seatbelt. “Come on nerds.”

As they make their way towards the building, Bella skipping ahead of them, Chloe reaches down and intertwines her fingers around Beca’s. Bella is rambling about their evening plans, occasionally turning back to face them.

Beca gives Chloe’s hand a soft squeeze. “I was thinking,” she says, as they approach the elevator. Her free hand pulling the Beale’s luggage. “Well, I was hoping...” She pauses, sighing. “Well, I was thinking we could you know…” She shrugs, cursing herself for losing words right now. “Talk?”

She rolls her eyes at herself.

Incredible wordplay Mitchell.

“Talk?” The redhead quizzes curiously as they shuffle into the lift.

Beca nods, pressing the button to her floor, before glancing to Chloe. “Yeah… about us?” She explains, hopefully.

There she said it, Jesse should be proud.

Chloe’s head tilts, a small grin creeping up on her face. “Us?” She teases, easing Beca’s anxiety. “I like the sound of that,” her smile wide, “But that’s funny, Mitchell.” She adds, bumping her shoulder against the girls, “I was thinking the same thing.”

Chloe’s heart feels lighter as she realizes they’re on the same page. And for the first time in years, it feels like she’s exactly where she needs to be.

|-|-|

A few hours later, the trio are laid out on the couch in Beca’s living room. Home Alone on the TV in front of them.

The soft glow of the screen flickers in the otherwise dim living room, casting a warm, cozy light over the space. Beca had arranged the room, prior to their arrival, with the couch piled with soft blankets and a few scattered pillows. The air smelled of freshly made popcorn, courtesy of Jesse’s endless supply, something in which Bella had taken full advantage of with how much of it she has munched on.

Chloe sat with her legs stretched out on the couch, wrapped in a thick, fluffy blanket she’d claimed the moment they started the movie. Bella was nestled in between her- the 4-year-olds small body curled up under a soft navy blanket, her eyes glued to the screen as her head laid on her mother’s chest. Beca sat at the other end of the couch, feet tucked beneath her, occasionally casting a glance over at them rather than the movie.

“I still can’t believe this place is yours,” Chloe breaks the silence with a grin, looking around the mismatched space. “It’s so you…”

The walls are lined with framed pictures of artists, and records. It reminds her of Beca’s dorm back in her freshman year. Then just off to the side is a bookshelf filled with novels of all kinds, most likely gifted by Beca’s father.

What warms Chloe’s heart the most though, is the wall dedicated to the Bellas. It holds their first ICCA victory, when they got first place in Worlds, their graduation picture and a bunch of memories made over the years.

But what stands out the most is in the middle of the pictures. A simple quote written in an elegant cursive font.

“Once a Bella, always a Bella.”

Chuckling, Beca’s eyes flicker briefly from the screen to Chloe. “Yeah, I tried to go for something different you know, other than a box.” She says with a laugh, referring to their previous shared flat.

Bella, who had been quietly watching the movie, suddenly perks up and looks around, her small voice speaking “I like it here, Beca. Your home is so big!” She says, but quickly diverts her attention to the popcorn, “Can we have snacks again?”

Beca smiles warmly, shaking her head as she reaches for the bowl of popcorn on the coffee table. “Of course, bug. Here you go,” she says, offering Bella a handful of popcorn. Bella happily grabs a few pieces and stuffs them into her mouth, much to her mother’s dismay.

Chloe disapproves but rolls her eyes. “You’re gonna feel sick with all that popcorn,” she says through a small giggle. “Also try save some for the rest of us, huh?”

Beca grins cheekily. “I don’t know, Chlo. Bella’s got the right idea- snacks are worth the sickness.” She declares, taking a handful to herself.

Bella nods, agreeing with the statement. “Yeah, snacks are the best!”

Chloe sends a warning finger towards the brunette, “Do not encourage her Mitchell,” she says, trying to keep up the stern façade, but it slips as Beca’s smirk grows.

Giving in, she sighs, “Ah fuck it, it’s Christmas.” Stretching her arm across, she takes the bowl of popcorn and scoffs some of it down, ignoring the loud snort from the brunette.

Beca whistles, her brows raising. “Beale! Do you speak to your mother with that language.” Her lips twitch into a mischievous smirk.

Chloe sends a deadpan look towards Beca and stares at her for a passing moment before breaking into a fit of laughter.

Rolling her eyes, she sets the bowl back down before snuggling in close to Bella. “Let’s just watch the movie.”

|-|-|

As the day evening ends, Beca and Chloe get ready to settle in for the night in the brunette’s bedroom. A simple yet cozy room. There’s a queen-sized bed lined against the wall, pillows and blankets decorating it. A small window looking over the neighbourhood on the wall opposite, covered by dark curtains. And just beside that is the door to the ensuite.

On the bedside table sits a lamp, casting a warm glow over the room as they move around, in a routine fashion as they fall into old habits from their time living together. Chloe stands in front of the desk, looking into the mirror as she brushes her hair, the movements slow and thoughtful.

Bella had fallen asleep during the movie, after giving herself a popcorn filled food coma, leaving Beca to carefully carry her into the guest room.

Speaking of the brunette, she’s just coming out of the bathroom after brushing her teeth and leans against the doorframe, watching Chloe for a moment.

The sight of her best friend- or whatever they are, brings a sense of calm to Beca that she finds it hard to describe.

They'd known each other for years, and yet, something incredible shifted recently. Maybe they could blame it on the holiday spirit or maybe, just maybe, it was just the slow, undeniable truth that had been building since the first day they met.

Chloe catching Beca’s gaze in the mirror, smirks, “What?” she asks softly, a slight smile tugging at her lips.

Beca hesitates for a moment before shrugging nonchalantly, trying to play it off. “Nothing. I just...” She rolls her eyes, giving in, “I just really like you being here. It feels nice.”

It feels right. Is what she wants to say.

Setting the brush down, Chloe turns to meet Beca’s eyes as she leans against the desk. The air in the room notably shifts, and Chloe’s expression softens. She bites her bottom lip sheepishly, “I like it, too,” she admits after a beat, her voice sounding more vulnerable than she intended it to.

“It feels... right.”

And Beca closes her eyes, leaning her head against the doorframe and lets out a chuckle, a grin peeking through.

“I was literally thinking the same thing.” She confesses sincerely, opening her eyes to find Chloe’s. The redhead pushes herself off the desk and walks lightly towards the bed, taking a seat at the edge. The brunette soon follows, planting herself beside her.

Beca couldn’t help the way her heart skipped a beat at the sincerity in Chloe's words. And so, as she sits here beside her, she slips her hand into the redheads, running her thumb across her knuckles.

“Chlo…” She starts, her voice quieter now, it has a hint of uncertainty that she tries her best to cover. “Ever since I left yours, I can’t stop thinking about you,” She says, honestly, pausing for a moment, “You know how shit I am with words,” She rolls her eyes at herself, unsure of how to phrase what had been building in her mind this past while, “But I just... you’re my best friend and-” Stuttering over her words, Beca huffs, “I’m sorry, I’m not great at this.”

Chloe squeezes her hand, encouragingly, “Take your time.” She says, knowing that Beca needs to find her words.

Beca’s gaze is fixated on Chloe as she speaks, “I really like you. And I know that sounds so cheesy, but it’s the truth.” She pauses, taking a breath, “I think I always have.” She confesses. “I guess I just didn’t realize it fully until recently.” Huffing out a laugh, she continues, “And I think- well I hope you feel similarly?”

Beca’s eyes are wide like a deer in headlights as she lets herself be vulnerable as she waits for a reply.

Chloe does feel the same.

And she’ll be damned if she doesn’t let Beca know it. So, nodding, she pulls Beca’s hand to her lips and places a kiss on it, letting it linger as she replies.

“I do.” She says, a gentle grin in place, “I really do.” She emphasizes, looking deeply into Beca’s eyes. “You actually have no idea how long I’ve wanted to hear you say that.” Her own eyes begin to gloss over but Beca quickly notices, and brings a hand to frame her face, gently caressing it.

“Really?” And her voice sounds so small, so exposed, as her fingers lay upon Chloe’s skin. Once again, the redhead nods, leaning into the touch. She chuckles and rolls her eyes, “Sorry, I don’t mean to tear up.” But when she glances at Beca, she sees it mirrored.

“What are we not like,” Beca teases, leaning her forehead on Chloes. Closing her eyes, she lets her hand trace Chloe’s jawline and feels the others girl come up to rest on hers.

Chloe understands. She knows how pathetic they must look right now. 30 something year olds, tearing up over this revelation. But it’s so much more than that. It’s something that had been building since they met. That connection. An understanding of one another. Yes, there had been blips in between but all that matters is that they’re here now. Together.

Unable to resist Chloe leans in and captures Beca’s lips in a lingering kiss. It’s chaste but holds so much passion. There’s a slight salty taste from the tears that escaped but neither care, nor acknowledge it.

When they pull back, they both have easy smiles in place and Beca is the first to speak.

“I really like how this feels,” She communicates, running her thumb along Chloe’s cheek, “But I’m so scared of messing things up.” She confesses, shyly.

Chloe untangles her hand in Beca’s and runs it along the brunette’s neck soothingly, “So I am.” She agrees. “But…” Leaning in, she gives Beca another peck, “I think it’s worth risk.” She admits, the words echoing against Beca’s lips.

Beca’s expression eases as she reaches up, brushing a strand of hair behind Chloe’s ear, now holding the redhead’s face with both hands. “I agree,” she says, her voice filled with a quiet certainty of someone who knows exactly what they want.

The tension between them is palpable, as the hum of the city outside plays around them. Chloe’s eyes linger on Beca, her hand still wrapped around her neck. She feels her heart full, and her nerves spike to one hundred, as she finds herself lost in the brunette’s gaze.

She sees Beca’s shift towards her mouth and licks her lips. Leaning in, she gives in to a more passionate kiss. Her lips fall against Beca’s, this time more needy than before. Sighing into the kiss, she tilts her head deepening the kiss, her fingers threading through Beca’s hair.

The brunette responds in kind, her hands moving to slide its way down to Chloe’s waist. The redhead had changed into a tank top and pyjama pants earlier as they got ready for bed, and she curses but also praises herself, as she feels Beca run her hands along the waistband of the tank.

Pulling back, her lips rest against Beca’s, her breathing heavy.

“Please.”

And it only takes that one word for Beca to start raising the top up along Chloe’s abdomen.

|-|-|

A/N: And that’s part 3 folllkkksss! I hope you enjoyed it… Fair warning we have a bit of a spicy chapter coming next ;)

Apologies for any mistakes! And once again thank you to those who have liked and commented, it means the world to me. Until next time!

#beca mitchell #chloe beale #bechloe #pitch perfect #pitch perfect 2 #pitch perfect 3

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