#I'll appreciate it from the windows of a bus thanks

[anakinsbunniee]

It's for me? Best gift ever.

Featuring: Farmer!Anakin Skywalker x reader

Warnings: None I think, just fluff

A/N: Ermm this is so rushed so sorry. Reblogs are very much appreciated!!

“You know, if I wasn't always so busy with work and the farm, I would definitely drive to the city and get myself that new perfume. Y'know the one Theodore Sparrow did an advertisement for?” Anakin mumbled while holding a nail in his mouth, repairing the broken dining table chair.

“Mhmm, yeah, I know which one you mean; my friend got it for her boyfriend, and she said that he adores it. He doesn't even think about leaving the house without having it on.”

Anakin scoffed as he stopped his hammering on the chair for a second to look up at you. You looked so gorgeous in the midday sun, even when doing something as simple as cooking. He adored the way your hair basically caught the light from the sun, how you moved so elegantly in the kitchen — no matter how often he saw you he always made time to admire you.

“I get that. If I were him, I wouldn't leave the house without it on either. I have only heard good things about it, and as soon as I'll get the time, I'll definitely go buy it. Just gotta focus more on the tasks at hand for now.”

You loved Anakin, truly. And with that love came the feeling of never doing enough to thank him. Sure, you cooked for him, cleaned the house, and even held the flashlight for him when he needed to repair something, but it still never felt like enough. Anakin has always worked hard and you knew he would never take a moment for himself unless it was for you.

Maybe this time could be your chance to do just that. To thank him for everything he does for you in his day to day life.

As Anakin spent his free day with chores (repairing things on the house, fixing the fences for the sheep enclosure) you made up a whole plan of a trip to the city, to get him that damned perfume he kept mentioning.

The idea had made your heart race with excitement; maybe this time he would finally notice the way you appreciate him everyday!

After getting dressed, doing your hair, and grabbing all your stuff, you lean out of the pinkish-colored kitchen window. “Anakin! I'm going to lay down a bit..I feel ill!” you shouted, letting out a sigh of relief when you saw him throwing you a thumbs-up without a second thought.

You dreaded the fact that he might come upstairs to check up on you. But then again – wasn't his trust for your word always so immense?

Phone, keys, money, bus ticket, tiny mirror; you mumbled as you gave your purse one last securing look. Okaaaay, that should hopefully be everything.

With a happy attitude you stepped out of the front door and walked to the next bus stop. The fresh country air filled your lungs, the wind not even daring to move your hair anywhere near your glossed lips. Today was the time that you get out of your comfortable farm shell and move to the real world.

Important to mention is that the bus has always been a nightmare to you. And quite frankly, you never understood how some people could like being cramped between strangers, loud children shouting through the whole bus, and creeps sitting next to you even though half the bus had empty seats.

Today, though, it wasn’t so bad. You let yourself relax, having found a seat by the window to enjoy the poignant scenery. Only a few elderly ladies at the front were quietly chatting about family stuff and baking recipes, and the bus felt undisturbed, almost tranquil.

When the scenery had changed from the beautiful blue sky with big, fat clouds and open fields to tall buildings and long streets, your chest tightened, with you being one of the first to dash out of the bus. The city was a far cry away from the countryside and lacked its fresh smell of hay and grass.

You walked around the city streets for a while, feeling almost out of place around all these people. After a bit of searching, you finally stumbled across the store you'd been looking for. Ash's Perfumery—you touch, you buy. Except for its name (which Anakin had never liked) the store itself looked inviting. Beautiful plants perfectly lined at the storefront, with large windows which revealed a pretty interior.

Entering the store was less pretty though. These combined smells hit you hard – a mix of colognes, deodorants and perfumes that made you feel like you could almost taste the air. Do you know the typical perfume scent of a macho man? Imagine that, but ten times worse.

Yet all of this you pushed yourself through this perfume bomb and scanned the room for any employee.

“Excuse me..? Do you have this perfume here?” You mumbled, showing a young man the picture on your phone. He smelled just like the store and was definitely annoyed at the way you disturbed him while he was sorting out some boxes.

He took a long, scrutinizing look at your phone before nodding and turning to look through the shelves of the store from his position. “Uhh yeah! It's right over there next to the perfume of Jean Paul Gaultier.”

You slightly bowed to thank him quietly and immediately rushed to the shelves, scanning through the colorful bottles and boxes. It took a moment, but eventually, you spotted it – the perfume Anakin had mentioned. You compared the box to the picture on your phone, making sure every detail was right before heading to the register.

“Tch, women. Don't even have a taste in perfume.” The brunette man in front of you muttered under his breath, giving your chosen perfume a look of disdain. You held back a retort to not create a scene as he quickly left the store.

The cashier scanned your item once you had laid it down on the counter and smiled. “Aaaalright, ma'am, will that be all? Your total would then be $120. If it's a gift, we can wrap it up for you, but that would be $10 more.”

Damn. A perfume that expensive better smell good. But it was 100% worth it because it was for Anakin, you reminded yourself.

“Uhh yeah, please wrap it up!” You replied happily, handing him the money while trying to ignore your irritating thoughts. As he wrapped the gift, you couldn't help but feel a boost of excitement. Hopefully this was going to make Anakin's day.

“Have a good day, ma'am. Take care of yourself,” the cashier replies, watching you basically jump out of the perfumery in happiness.

The bus ride back home felt waaaay longer than usual, the fear building up inside you with every passing minute. You held the gift tightly in your lap the whole time, imagining each and every reaction he might have. Good and bad.

“Okay, Ani, no peeking! Put your hands over your eyes!” you squealed, watching him sit on the sofa, covering his eyes with his from field work dirt-covered hands.

“Alright, alright, honey, no need to screech my ears off. What's so important that you need me to cover my eyes?”

“It's a surprise! Keep your eyes closed and hold your hands out!”

He sighed loudly but held his hands out in front of him, his lips twitching into a faint smirk despite his grumbles. You quickly placed the neatly wrapped box into his hands and watched the way his eyes flutter open, hesitating before unwrapping it slowly, painfully careful, almost as if the paper itself was a fragile little cow calf which has just been born.

“Oh, a beige box..how pretty. Thank you, my darling, that’s an amazing gift,” he muttered, his voice laced with confusion and his bushy eyebrows furrowed. You could tell he was trying to be polite, but he hadn’t figured out what it was yet.

“Are you playing dumb, Ani? You gotta open it!” You laughed, nudging him gently.

When he finally opened the box and saw the blue bottle inside, his whole expression changed. His face turned serious; stoic even, and he set the bottle on the table as if it were something rare. “You’re joking. You didn’t really get me this,” he mumbled, rubbing a hand over his face in disbelief.

“What? No! It’s a gift, so please take it! You deserve it!” You defended, suddenly nervous that maybe you’d gotten the wrong thing after all.

You were so focused on his reaction that you were caught off guard by him wrapping his arm around your waist and dragging you down to his lap, attacking your face with soft kisses. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love you so damn much, you don’t know how lucky I feel to have found someone as loving as you.”

“Hey! Hey!” You laugh loudly, squirming as you desperately tried to push his head full of curls away due to the way his kisses were tickling you.

[anothertimdrakestan]

Damian x reader where she is having a bad day and he comforts her! A lot of kisses and cuddles and Damian being a low key flirt! Please and thank u!

Promise - Damian Wayne x Reader

"Y/N! you will never believe what Penguin tried today at the charity luncheon! Amid the chicken fingers too! It was quite a hilarious event and- oh. Oh shit. What's wrong?" the hero had easily flitted through your window like a leaf on the cold breeze- a chill which had been blowing into your room for almost two, frozen hours.

"Hey Dames. I'm fine, what happened with Penguin?" you muttered, pushing hair behind your ear to look up at the shocked man in front of you. You quickly wiped away at running mascara, frustrated you even let your emotions get the better of you tonight.

Damian didn't reply, instead he firmly shut your window behind him with one hand, his eyes not leaving your curled figure buried in a corner of your bed. Next he backed up to your closet, continuing to analyze your every move while he changed out of his Batman suit, a new suit that was truly meant for him, into sweats you kept for him a one of your drawers.

You felt the bed dip and Damian was sat at the edge staring at you as if you were going to get up and run away.

You were still curled in a ball, knees to your chest and head resting on your arms as you grumbled, "I asked what happened with Penguin" and Damian gave you a slight frown, "what happened with you?"

"Rude"

"You've been crying"

"Have not"

"So pretty even when lying to me" he mumbled, sliding into place next to you, draping a long arm around you to pull you into his chest. You huffed in response, but it was more an excuse to inhale the smell of dry cedar, vanilla, and just a hint of sweat- overwhelmingly perfect (for my connoisseurs I'm talking ORMAIE Toï Toï Toï).

Giving into your silence he pulled out his phone, pulling up footage clearly from the day's events. You watched Penguin try to steal a highly expensive painting being auctioned, but before he could get away, Damian was bounding towards the thief, using Penguin's own henchmen's heads as stepping stones. They fell almost like bowling pins as your hero flipped and spun through the air, Penguin kept trying to shoot at the blur but Damian just had the villain spinning in circles until he too collapsed without Damian even having to lift a finger.

"Dick would be soooo proud" you giggled leaning your head up to look at Damian who was grinning proudly at the film himself.

"There's that smile. And yeah, I already sent it to him! He says he's gonna try the same move next week." Damian mused, tucking the phone back into his pocket, his arm still draped around you as he mindlessly tapped his fingers on your side.

You realized he wasn't going to drop it so you broke the silence, "I just had a bad day Dames, nothing to it, it happens."

"You know I would literally kill anyone who hurt yo-"

"I know Dames, I know. But this wasn't really anyones fault, I just get in my own head sometimes." you huffed, actually relaxing after getting the thoughts off your chest.

He tapped your skill with a frown, "well, then let the people in there know I'm coming for them next."

"You're coming for my thoughts?" you snorted.

"If that's what is takes to make you happy, I'll call Zatanna we can magic school bus this shit or something-" Damian was joking, but you appreciated the sentiment.

"Sometimes you've just gotta be a little sad D, I'll be okay,"

"Promise?"

"With you by my side? I could never be upset for long, I promise."

"That's what I like to hear!"

"I could totally use some pizza though, you know, to cure me"

"For you, Beloved, the world" your hero responded, pulling out his phone to order your favorites, clearly excited just to spend time with you. Seriously though, with him around it was impossible to be upset for long.

"You know I love you, Damian Wayne."

"I sure hope so, no other heroes better be coming through your window at night!" he teased back, pressing a kiss to your forehead while you shook your head with a laugh, feeling the pressure and weight get lifted off your shoulders already.

~

Short but sweet, ty for the request!! <3

[sheepiemc]

your touch (a craving)

part 2: arm (first)

You were on Diavolo’s mind again. 

This seemed to be happening more often than not these days, especially after that infamous bus ride a few weeks before. The warmth of your thigh on his still made him crazy whenever he thought about it. The strength of his willpower was astounding; how he didn’t end up just pulling you onto his lap because of that touch was beyond mortal comprehension. Such were dangerous thoughts for the future King of the Devildom.

Something you had said that day kept bringing him back to that conversation. Somehow, you got on the topic of Devildom flora and he mentioned the Flowers of the Abyss in the school garden would soon be in bloom. You said you hadn’t gotten to explore the gardens much, as it wasn’t a part of the very brief tour you got from Mammon that very first day. 

“We’ll need to rectify that immediately,” he remembered himself saying, leaning ever so closer - just as you did to him earlier on the bus. 

You tilted your head as if you were surprised by the prince's sudden boldness. “I would really appreciate that, Diavolo. Thank you.” 

The way your eyes brightened with your genuine smile made his heart soar; he'd been riding that high ever since. And he definitely clocked you dropping the honorific in his name. He had never been so excited to be disrespected (something to unpack at a later time). 

And so, it was time to fulfill his promise. 

He had finally cleared up his schedule and worked some magic behind the scenes to make sure you had the same time off. He texted you as soon as he was done to ask if you were available for the tour (even though he already knew the answer). You texted back almost immediately that yes, you were free and you would like to cash that rain check now. 

Diavolo looked out the window. It wasn't raining. 

You texted back, “I'll meet you at the garden gate.” 

He tried to control his excited gait as he made his way to the garden from the student council office, but if anyone saw how fast he was hustling through the halls, they would know something was up. 

Approaching the garden gate, he stopped when he saw you - close enough to observe but far enough away for you not to notice him yet. You were looking away from him, leaning against the fence that surrounded the perimeter of the garden. 

He admired the way your hair looked in the eternal Devildom starlight, though it made him wonder what it looked like in your natural environment. What did it look like in the sun? Did it feel as soft as it looked? 

You looked down at your phone and he could see your face in profile. He leaned against the fence now too, gently enough so as to not alert you to his presence. He wanted to memorize that profile, to become so familiar with it that he would be able to recognize you by its shadow. You smiled so fondly at whatever you found on your phone, and it made Diavolo's chest tighten. It was a stunning sight, to be sure - but he felt a sting of envy that he wasn't the reason for that smile.

“MC!” He waved and you looked at him, only a little bit startled.

“Hello, Lord Diavolo.” You put your phone away and turned to him, smiling wider.

He stopped short at the formality, leaving a respectable distance between you. Of course you would use his title here, in the hallowed halls of his very own institution, but that didn't make the blow land any softer. 

He schooled his features into his “jovial prince indulging another of his whims” mask and asked, “Are you ready for your first official tour of our gardens? I can't believe it took this long for you to get to see them. We'll have to fix that for the next group of exchange students we bring in.” 

“Yes, well,” your smile faltered infinitesimally, so minutely, anyone else might not have seen a difference. But Diavolo did. Demon that he was, he felt slightly vindicated but it didn't make him feel any better. In fact, it only reminded him that your stay here was temporary. “I'm glad you're the one that gets to show me, My Lord .” 

He was startled by the emphasis on his title. Could you really see right through him? He almost shuddered at the thought before fully turning away from you to open the gate, allowing you to walk inside. “It's a huge garden and we have much to see so let's get on then, shall we?” 

You walked past him, your smile ever so slightly morphing into a smirk. Diavolo released a breath he didn't realize he was holding and closed the gate behind him. 

You wound the serpentine trails of the garden at a decidedly uncomfortable distance. Diavolo kept you at more than arm's length, a distance he maintained every time you stepped a little bit closer. He named every interesting plant you pointed out because what else is a prince to do for millennia if not memorize every plant name in his domain? 

When you arrived at the section affectionately called “the flower fields”, you couldn't hold in your enthusiasm for all the strange, beautiful, and entirely unfamiliar flowers that populated this part of the garden. Your glittering expression softened Diavolo’s heart, reminding him why he chose to bring you here in the first place. 

“Those would be the Flowers of the Abyss.” He gestured to some flowers with dark purple petals with a black gradient and blood-red stamens, a combination you had certainly never seen on any flower on earth. 

“Can I touch them?” you asked. 

“Smart of you to ask,” he smiled. “If you wish.” 

He watched you, standing on the other side of the trail, as you tentatively reached out for the plant, rubbing its petal between your fingers. Your lips parted in a near-silent gasp. Diavolo gasped too, albeit involuntarily, his attention oscillating between your fingers and your face. 

“It's so soft,” you whispered reverently as you gently cupped the flower in both hands. You leaned in, bringing your face closer to the bloom. Diavolo swallowed hard. Was he really getting jealous of a flower? In trying to feel the petals against your cheek, you managed to get some pollen on the corner of your mouth. “And they smell delightful,” you sighed, standing up straight, and releasing the flower from your grasp. 

“MC, you have-” he couldn't finish the sentence, so he only vaguely gestured to his mouth, wishing he could get it off you himself. 

“Oh,” you wiped it off with your thumb and looked at it quickly before sticking your thumb in your mouth. “Mmm, sweet, too.” 

At that, Diavolo had to look away or else he might end up doing something he would certainly regret. That's when he noticed all the Hell Jasmine growing on his side of the trail. Stepping away from them, Diavolo cleared his throat, saying, “Yes, well, there is still more garden to get to so let's-” 

“Of course,” you interrupted, “I know you're very busy, you must have something more important to attend to today.” 

Anyone else listening to you might have taken that statement at face value, as someone being considerate of a prince’s schedule. But if you could read him, then he could read you just as well. 

He heard the subtle hurt. 

And it crushed him. 

“That's not-” he started. 

That's when time slowed down. As Diavolo approached you to try to assure you that you had his full attention, you stepped toward him as well. What you didn't see was the creeping vine that caught your foot as you stepped away. 

You were falling. 

You reached out for something - anything - to steady yourself, to catch yourself before you hit the ground. That something just happened to be Diavolo. His arm to be exact. The desperate grip short-circuited his brain and all he could think was please, don't let go. Long dormant synapses were firing in his brain and his eyes were only focused on where you two were touching. When you looked up at him, you realized just how close your faces were. You could've been standing there for an eternity, or only a few seconds - the Prince was absolutely transfixed.

You could've been standing there for an eternity, or only a few seconds. “You saved me, Diavolo. Thank you. I almost got your uniform dirty,” you joked in an attempt to snap him back to reality. 

He looked at you. 

You looked back at him. 

“Yes, well,” he said, his voice a little strained, “we couldn't have that now, could we?”

You nodded and straightened out, releasing his arm at the same time. He mirrored your posture and placed his hands behind his back, out of sight, so you could not see the vice grip he had on the arm you were just holding. “Shall we continue the tour? We haven't even seen the restricted part of the garden yet.” 

You smiled at him again, “I would love nothing more.” 

And you walked side by side with only a few inches between you.

(next)

A/N: Hell Jasmine is a pale blue, glowing flower with a sweet aroma. Breathing in its fumes makes demons extremely needy and affection-craving. (Obey Me Wiki)

[astorytotellyourfriends]

First off, sorry you're having a bad brain day for anything. Secondly, maybe Hellcheer have been on the same bus and totally *not* noticed each other but then “We’re on the bus and I’m really not trying to take up your space I’m sorry I just have really really long legs” Use any of that you like. :D

aww thank you!! i appreciate u 💛 and as a fellow long-legged individual, i relate to eddie's struggle lmao

also this turned out way longer than i expected so enjoyyy

Eddie's relieved to have snagged the last empty row of seats on the already-crowded bus. He knows this route well enough to know his stop is far from the busiest, so getting a seat at rush hour is close to winning the goddamn lottery.

Every person who got onto the bus after him purposefully avoids taking the seat next to his, which amuses him more than it offends him. He knows someone is eventually going to be brave enough to sit down next to the scary guy with long hair, but maybe he'll get through a stop or two before it happens.

For the time being, he takes advantage of the space and stretches his right leg into the footwell of the empty seat. He lets out a soft groan of relief and rolls his neck from side to side, already thinking about how good it's going to feel to collapse into bed when he gets home.

When the bus rolls up to the next stop, Eddie doesn't move his leg. Anybody who spots the empty seat takes one look at him and hurriedly looks for somewhere else to sit, bringing a grin to his face.

His plan's working out pretty fucking well, actually.

Until someone gets onto the bus who doesn't look away. She makes her way down the aisle and up the steps so quickly that Eddie just barely has time to move his leg to let her sit down.

"Thank you," she whispers as she pulls her bag off of her shoulder and sets it on her lap.

"Y-Yeah," he says, offering her a smile as he struggles to fit his stupidly long legs in the small space between his seat and the one in front.

Fuck, have they always been this small?

Eddie clears his throat and looks away from her, propping his arm up on the ledge next to the window and trying to focus on the outside world rather than the pretty girl next to him. He's seen her before on this bus, but only in passing. He's tried not to stare at her, not wanting to get caught being a creep, but there's just something about her that keeps drawing him back in.

He tries to look at her out of the corner of his eye, his curiosity piquing when he thinks for a moment that she might be looking at him, too.

No, she's probably looking out the fucking window, you idiot!

Eddie turns his head as nonchalantly as he can, and to his surprise he catches her looking right at him. She blushes and drops her eyes down to her lap, but Eddie's so taken aback that he completely forgets how to function. His right knee knocks into her leg and they both jump at the collision.

"Shit, sorry!"

"I-It's okay, really--" She laughs a little as he tries to twist himself up like a pretzel to give her more room. "You don't have to."

"Don't wanna encroach on what little space you have," he says with a chuckle, somehow sounding way more cool than he feels right now.

She offers a little shrug his way and smiles. "I'm pretty tiny, so. Feel free."

Eddie laughs. Is she serious?

She twists to the right, offering him half her leg space, and Eddie shakes his head.

"Really, I'll survive."

"I don't mind," she insists.

Eddie sighs, laughing softly as he admits defeat. "Okay, okay."

He moves his right leg, groaning a little as his knee pops. She presses her hand to her mouth, probably to hide a laugh, and Eddie chuckles under his breath.

They both stay quiet as the bus makes another stop, and as someone passes by their seats, the girl's leg presses up against Eddie's. He doesn't say anything and neither does she, but he figures once the bus starts moving again, she'll pull away.

But she doesn't.

"I'm Eddie, by the way," he murmurs, ducking his head and leaning towards her. She turns her head and smiles as she offers her hand.

"Chrissy."

"Nice to meet you," he replies as he shakes her hand.

"Likewise. I, umm, I like your rings."

"Oh, yeah?" Eddie lets go of her hand to show off his right, wiggling his fingers as she laughs.

"Yeah. They're cool." Chrissy gently touches his fingers to admire the rings and then looks up at him with a smile. "They suit you."

Eddie grins. "Thank you."

He doesn't pull his hand out of her grasp, and it takes a minute or so for her to seemingly remember she's holding it. She blushes even more than before, and now Eddie finds it impossible to look away. He compliments her sweater and they fall into a simple, easy conversation as the bus continues on.

Eddie's so wrapped up in talking to Chrissy that he almost misses his stop. He just happens to glance up at the front of the bus as it pulls up to the curb, and he curses under his breath.

"I gotta--" he says, gesturing to the door as people around them start shuffling around to let other passengers off.

"O-Oh," Chrissy says as she rushes to get up. Eddie's loath to leave her, but he squeezes past anyway.

"I'll, uhh, see you around," he says, wrapping his hand around the nearest pole to stay upright amidst the wave of people climbing off the bus.

"Yeah," she says with a smile. "I hope so."

Eddie offers her a wave as he joins the shuffle out the door, kicking himself the moment he steps onto the sidewalk.

You could've just stayed on the fucking bus. What's a couple more stops to keep talking to a pretty girl? You'll probably never see her again now, you fucking--

"Eddie?"

He whips around, hardly having gone more than ten steps away from the bus stop, and there she is.

"Do you, umm..." Chrissy hitches her bag up onto her shoulder and laughs bashfully as she tucks her hair behind her ear. "Do you maybe want to get coffee?"

A wide grin spreads across Eddie's face.

"Hell yeah, I'd love to."

[devox2564]

In Your Heart

Jake Kizka x fem reader

Warnings: oral sex (f receiving), first date fluff, corny as fuck Christmas references

Author’s Note: This chapter was very lightly edited, so please excuse any grammatical errors or less than stellar word choices, I reallly wanted to get this chapter out for you all.

Chapter Eight: Needy

The set itself has already improved tenfold since that first show in Nashville. Each song is tighter and perfected. Your technique has never been better. Watching the guys perform is like watching an animal evolve in real time, each show exhilarating but unique from the last.

Things with Jake have lulled into a sort of familiarity that is a little too close to be just friendly. Stolen kisses in tucked away corners and nights spent in deep conversation. He knows more about you than anyone alive on this planet. It's vulnerability in a way that you aren't quite comfortable with yet.

Currently, you're sitting in a hotel room all to yourself. Thank god they booked you all individually instead of doubled up. You loved your bandmates like sisters at this point but... some privacy is much appreciated. Grey sweatpants hang off your hips and your hair hangs in tendrils around your face. The Boston skyline is already twinkling in the purple of sunset. It's nearing Christmas and you see lights scattered far below illuminating the snow dusted streets.

Your phone rings. You answer without looking, knowing that it's Jake.

"Hello?" You answer.

"Hello dahhhling" his English drawl greets you.

"What's up?" You ask him chuckling a bit.

"Would you be able to pencil me in tonight? Sayy, 7:00? Drinks?"

"Are you.. the Jacob Thomas Kizka finally asking me out?" You prod him.

"Indeed madam" he replies seriously.

"Let me get dressed. I'll meet you in the lobby." You say and hang up on him before he can reply.

Shit. You have nothing to wear on a date. You pick through your suitcase and land on a pair of straight jeans and an oversized crewneck, praying he hasn't made any sort of fancy reservation.

The elevator ride down gives you a full view of the atrium of the hotel. Tall ceilings are strung with twinkling lights and Christmas trees litter the large room where people meander about. You spot him near the doors waiting. His long hair is pulled up into a messy knot at the back of his head, just brushing the collar of a dark brown leather jacket. He spots you and waves as you descend the last few floors and disappear from view.

He pulls you into a hug as soon as you reach him. "I missed you." He says squeezing you tight around your shoulders and lifting your toes off the ground.

"You saw me less than an hour ago on the bus." You say, your airway constricted.

"An hour too long in my opinion." He puts you down.

You laugh before asking "So where are we going?"

"You'll see. Come on." and he slips his hand in yours leading you outside.

It's very cold outside and you silently thank yourself for packing a decent jacket at least. The snow is falling lazily now, and the wind has slacked just enough to allow you some peace as you walk. Jake leads you down a few blocks and into a different hotel lobby and a different elevator. You ride up for what seems like an eternity. He's still holding your hand and tucks it into his coat pocket running his thumb soothingly up and down your pointer finger. Even in the cold this casual touch tingles more than usual, your body responding to an affection it has sorely missed.

You finally step off of the elevator and into a large room with walls of glass. It takes a moment for your eyes to adjust to the view. You can see the whole skyline of the city from up here. Even better than the view from your hotel room. You glance over at him and he's grinning smugly as if he knew this place would be impressive to you.

You roll your eyes inwardly. He does know you very well then. You are in awe. Music plays softly, and dim lights sparkle and bounce off of the windows. He leads you to a deep sofa near the edge of the room and deposits you there. "Wait here I'll go and get us drinks."

After a few moments he returns and the two of you curl up and sip for a moment. Conversation is just as easy as it always is. The two of you spend quite a bit of time discussing the tour so far: your favorite cities, the best crowds, nicest hotels, and so on. After all the topics relating to shows and performances are expended, you sit for a while in comfortable silence admiring the city from your perch. His brown eyes shine in the lights of the skyline. "You know, I'm kicking myself for not agreeing to go out when you first asked me." You admit to him a bit unwillingly.

"Oh I knew you would be." He grins. "But I won't hold that against you."

"Oh well thank you so much Jacob" you really roll your eyes at him now.

"I'm kicking myself for not asking you out the second I knew that creep had blown his shot with you. If that makes you feel any better." He casually reaches out and intertwines his fingers with yours on the back of the couch.

"It does thanks." The mention of David in the moment doesn't even phase you.

"You know, I've never been with someone I had a real friendship with first?" You offer up.

"Yeah?" He replies.

"It was always right down to business. I've not gotten the chance to really know someone the way I know you. Not before things get serious at least." He's silent and you continue. "It feels... strange to for this to be so natural to me."

"Strange in a good way I hope." His smile is soft now, less goofy than before.

"In a very good way."

"I'm glad we've gotten to be friends. You help keep my head on straight. You steady me and knock me off kilter all at once." He's looking out at the sky while he speaks. "I was worried for a while that I'd never be able to move on, you know? Get on with my life."

"That's why I was so worried about this becoming more for us. I was afraid we'd fuck it up and I'd lose you altogether."

He seems amused at this comment, like it'd never even crossed his mind that this progression could complicate things.

"Do you want to know when I knew this was going to be something?" He asks

"Hmmm..." you think "it has to be the vomiting on your shoes thing. One of the highlights of our friendship for sure."

He laughs "Nope."

"Ok so what then? I don't know how I could top that for you." You joke, sliding your shoes off and swinging your legs up and across his lap to face him.

"That night I sliced my hand open in the kitchen." He admits still laughing.

"You're kidding." You giggle in reply.

"I'm definitely not. Watching you bandage me up, make fun of me for hating blood. We'd spent weeks scraping each other off the floor and then it just hit me all of a sudden." He pauses "I just felt something shift and from then on it was just different for me. I wanted to grab you and kiss you right then."

"Buttt you didn't." You couldn't damper your smile even if you'd wanted to.

"And then I heard you playing the piano the next morning. I really knew it was over for me then." He unlaces his fingers and reaches out to brush your cheek with his thumb.

You lean into his hand involuntarily. His calloused fingers burning against your still cool skin. He's studying your face like it's the first and last time he'll ever see it. That's how he's always looked at you, you realize.

"That was the first night I noticed things felt different between us. I didn't want to admit it to myself. But turns out I was right." You smirk. Leave it to you to interrupt a tender moment with gloating, but he doesn't seem to care.

The two of you sit in silence for a moment, comfortable in the dimly lit space. The noise from the bar comes into the foreground.

"Is this Last Christmas?" You ask straining to hear the music.

"I think so." He says also listening.

"This is my favorite Christmas song." You admit to him with a laugh. "It's so fucking cheesy I know."

He tries to hold back his snort, but it comes anyways and he's full on laughing. You push his shoulder and he raises his hands up in mock defeat.

"Hey, as far as Christmas music goes, I suppose Wham! is an acceptable choice." He wipes at his eyes.

He moves your legs from his lap and braces his hands on his knees to stand from his seat. Turning around, he stretches out a hand to you. "Dance with me?"

"You're serious?" you ask him with a raise of your eyebrow.

"If it's your favorite, then I guess it's my favorite now too." He's being sincere now.

Looking around and deciding the bar is empty enough to avoid any embarrassment, you stand up and take his hand. In a second you're  chest to chest swaying in time to George Michael's cheesy poppy voice.

You rest your head on his shoulder and drink the feel of him in. Warm, comforting, like home. Eyes closed, you listen to the music. It's impossible to peel the smile away from your lips. Your arms are draped around his shoulders like you're back at a middle school dance. His hands travel down to rest in the small of your back. This movement sends small tingles up your spine. You turn your head and gently brush your lips against his cheek, lingering there in the dim light.

"Hey." Jake says as the song ends and you pull away to look at him.

"Hey." You say back, looking into his eyes.

"Do you want to get out of here?" He asks, his hands still firm on your back.

You crane your head and kiss him in reply. Sweet and deep, but also with just a bit of urgency. A promise of things to come.

"Alright, let's go." He says, his eyes a little darker than you saw them last. He leads you away and into the elevator.

.....

Back at the hotel, he pushes the button for the elevator. "The top floor? We're all on 7."

"Just shush." He says smiling down at you mischievously

"You know better than anyone that that's physically impossible for me." You side eye him. "And anyway-"

Your lips are against his in a flash. It's like a dam inside him has finally broken and he's kissing you like the world has ended. You melt into his arms, no resistance left inside you. His tongue just brushes your bottom lip as the elevator slows and prepares to stop. He pulls away.

"The next time you want me to shut up, that'll do. Much less annoying." You say staring into his eyes, damning the elevator.

"Come on." He replies and grabs your hand.

Jake leads you down the hallway and slides a key card out of his pocket. In a flash, a door is open and you're standing in a hotel room much larger and prettier than yours. There's a king sized bed centered against the wall overlooking the entire city. Art covers the walls and a large white bathtub is snuggled in the corner next to a master bathroom with walls of glass. A true penthouse view, not dissimilar from the one at the bar. You glance to your left and spot a huge bouquet of white roses.

"What is all this Jake?" You're a little bit stunned.

He shuts the door and spins you around to face him. "Well, I figured if I was going to romance you I ought to do it right."

Jake's hands are on your hips and his eyes are dark and heavy lidded. You can't find the words to reply, letting the silence fill with the sound of your breathing. You reach up and slowly pull his hair down out of its tie, running your fingers through it and resting your hand at the nape of his neck. The other hand caresses his cheek, thumb tracing the line of his cheekbone and traveling all the way down to gently brush his lower lip. His breath hitches a bit. That's all you need.

Your lips find his again. This kiss is again different than the others. This one tests nothing, asks no questions, and needs no confirmation. It's hot and heavy with a need you've been denying each other for months. The two of you are entwined, a whirl of hands and lips and tongues. Your thighs hit the edge of the mattress, but you have no recognition of moving closer to it. Jake lowers you down onto the bed, settling overtop of you. Pulling away for a moment, he takes a long deep breath. His eyes rake up and down your still clothed form. You smile at him, letting out a breathy laugh.

He catches your lips in another deep kiss and allows his hands to roam up and down your body. His fingertips leave no skin untouched. Your neck, your face, your shoulders, before he creeps up the hem of your shirt and caresses the warm skin of your stomach. Up up up, cupping your breast in his hand. The nipple pebbles in response through the thin fabric of your bra, begging to be touched. You feel his full weight against you and urge your hips up to meet him.

"This has got to go." His voice is low and husky as he tugs your shirt up and you quickly pull it off, tossing it aside. You allow your bra to join it on the floor without hesitation.

He drinks you in, your breasts heaving with the effort of your breath. Your nipples hard and alert. Clear evidence of your arousal. You can feel as he looks at you that the warmth and wetness between your legs is growing by the second. The anticipation. The waiting, the wanting, the needing.

Faces only inches apart, he tears his gaze from your body to your face. There is clear desperation swimming in his expression. "I need you." He says.

"I need you." Your reply breathily.

His eyes grow dark, pupils blown, “Say it again.”

His order throws you off and you hesitate.

“Say it. Again.” He repeats, lifting your chin with his index finger.

“I need you Jake.” Your voice is a whisper.

Still fully clothed, he pulls away. Deftly, his hands work the buttons of your jeans and you're nearly bare save for your underwear.

"Your turn." you gesture a hand at him, regaining some of your composure before he can move closer again. The corners of his mouth creep up into a grin. Before you can protest, his lips are exploring your body. He does however, make the effort to remove his jacket and shirt, tossing them haphazardly across the room.

"Look, you're already wet for me." He teases, gently brushing his fingers against the thin cotton between your thighs just as his mouth closes around your nipple. His tongue flicks, and you gasp which seems to amuse him.

"You know," he says, pausing to trail lips and tongue down the flat of your stomach "I've been dreaming," over the curve of your hip "of tasting you" the tops of your thighs "for months."

You look down at him kneeling at the edge of the bed. He holds your eyes as he kisses the creamy soft skin of your inner thighs, inching closer and closer to the apex. He allows his nose to brush the fabric of your panties and you feel your clit already begging for a release. This is absolutely torturous.

You’re barely aware of the sensation of the cotton fabric sliding down your legs, or the soft trace of his fingertips on your ankles. Not until his mouth fully closes around you do you come back into your body and the fullness of sensation. Your back arches and he presses you down into the bed with one hand while his tongue dances circles around your clit, working you into a frenzy.

Another order rings out suddenly, his lips momentarily abandoning you, your cunt begging for release. “Look at me.”

You obey, desperate for him to continue.

“I want to see you cum. See it in those beautiful eyes alright?” It’s more of an order than a question. You’re more than happy to oblige. Maybe the only instance since you’ve known him that you let yourself concede.

His fingers curl into you, invited in gladly. His eyes never leave yours as his tongue resumes its previous endeavor. You feel the warmth of your impending orgasm rising from your belly and spreading out into your limbs. His fingertips brush that sweet secret spot inside and linger there, moving faster and faster in time with his tongue.

“Jake, Jake, please..” your voice is strangled as you struggle to look at him, resisting the urge to throw your head back as the feeling surges toward you. His eyes remain, dark and deep and endlessly staring into you.

You know you can’t hold on any longer. “Please, oh god, oh god, yes, yes, yes..”

You unravel on his lips, his tongue flicking and lapping as his fingers fuck you, hitting just the right spot to blur your vision and set you on fire. You cry out into the night as you ride the waves of this most intense pleasure.

“Mmm good girl.” He says, relieving his tongue but allowing his fingers to continue. His tongue sweeps into your mouth, allowing you to taste yourself oh so sweet on his lips.

“Who knew you could follow orders so well?” He says.

“Only for you Jakey.” You reply as playfully as you can muster through your gasping breaths.

He smirks, curling his fingers inside you just to watch your back arch.

“So meann.” You whine when he returns to his slow steady rhythm.

He chuckles deep in his chest and pecks your lips “I’ll show you mean if you want baby. It could be a very long night for you.”

You do not reply, but hope to yourself that it is a long night. A very, very long night indeed.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Longest chapter so far guys. And our first real taste of spice. Thought it might be fun to make their first date a little Christmas Special while I was at it. Don’t worry though, this particular interaction isn’t over. I just wanted to make sure you had something good to chew on before the holiday. ;)

-E

[ghost-proofbaby]

GHOST'S "OPEN BAR" 3K CELEBRATION

as a way to say thank you and show my appreciation for hitting 3k, i decided it's about time for a party around here... don't y'all? and what better way to get a party started than to get a little boozy! (haha get it? BOOzy? because ghost? no? okay i'll stop.)

THE RULES: below the cut will be a fun menu filled to the brim with delicious drinks! send me an ask with your order, and as long as it follows my general rules, i'll whip it right up for you! the idea here is each drink represents a different general trope, and you fill in the blanks with a character of your choosing (see below) as well as general ideas! below will be examples of requests. i will being doing as many of these requests as possible for this week, from april 3rd (today) to april 8th. starting april 9th, i have a different fun week planned for us to keep the party going, and will announce it on sunday <3

WHO I'M WRITING FOR: eddie munson, steve harrington, spencer reid, and joel miller. you must specify the character in your request, or i will not complete it.

EXAMPLES OF REQUESTS: "hi! can i get a filthy martini with eddie munson? maybe some overstimulation involving toys?" or "can i get a flute of champagne with joel miller? maybe what the end of the day looks like in the QZ!" you can get as specific or as vague as you'd like! these are just examples :-)

also, before we dive in, i've also filled this post with easter eggs towards just a few of my favorite fics/authors (and a couple of my own). i have added a link over each reference in case any of them catch your eye. i wouldn't have hit this milestone without all of these wonderful people who inspire and support me, and there was no way i wasn't sending a nod their way during this event. i love y'all endlessly <3

alright, onwards with the party bus, friends!

THE MENU:

🥃 WILLOW'S OLD-FASHIONED: angst

long week? a new job babysitting a rockstar that just cannot and will not behave? has that blonde coworker you just wish you could slap into the next week gotten on your final nerve? look no further! sit back and cry relax with one of our famous old-fashioneds!

🍷 ASH'S SPECIAL: hurt/comfort

whiskey and bitters not your cup of tea? be still your old heart! no worries! relax like the world's ending from your long week with a good book and a glass of our famous Sauvignon Blanc instead!

🥂 FLUTE OF CHAMPAGNE: fluff

sip on some of our top shelf Dom Perignon and get lost in the bubbles! this classic will have you feeling so good, it's almost as if you've traded bodies with your arch nemesis in a freaky friday ordeal. just don't think too hard about his... mechanics below the belt... or this drink might be a boner killer. let the good times roll!

🍸 FILTHY MARTINI: smut

feeling dirty? look no further. here at ghost's, we've got you covered with one of our dirty, downright filthy martinis. disclaimer: we are not legally responsible for you getting colorfully intimate with your friend's dad or if you end up in a 3-film-box-set porno deal. yeah, our lawyers make us put those disclaimers now. keep it in your pants, folks!

not looking to get tipsy tonight? no worries! check out our extended menu options - we've still got you covered <3

☕ CUP OF SUNSHINE: mutual pining

get it hot! get it iced! get it fresh! as long as you get it before it's gone! wake yourself up with a cup of our coffee brewed in-house. cream and sugar available upon request. (hot and dirty sex in the back room not available upon request.)

🥐 KARMEN'S CROISSANTS: exes to lovers

be sure to grab a snack during your night out! these croissants are absolutely to die for (just don't fall for your reaper, folks!). enjoy this lamented pastry in our favorite armchair by the window while enjoying one of our many books laid out for your pleasure!

easter eggs i'm unable to tag (aka banner):

the "yes" policy

and my own twenty-four hours

also, filthy martini is fully a shout out to the legend behind the man of the hour who has inspired a large majority of these fics as well as my own - mr. joseph quinn himself. may all his martinis be the absolute filthiest.

once again, thank you all. i will never know how to repay the kindness showed to me, so i will do what i do best - write. also, please keep in mind i have no idea how many requests i will receive. my hope is to complete as many as possible without driving myself to absolute madness; please be kind and patient with me <3

[primroese]

𝔏𝔞𝔠𝔦'𝔰 𝔏𝔦𝔣𝔢🥀

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪɪ: ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀᴘ ʏᴇᴀʀ

Introduction {2/2}

Laci: *enthusiastic* "Hi, Neighbor!"

???: *Startled* "Oh! Hi! Neighbor? *meek* Sorry, I didn't realize someone was living next door."

Laci: "Don't apologize; my ass is fresh off the tarmac! Unck! Why didn't you tell me I had a cute neighbor!?

Sullivan: *snorts* "Forgive her, Noel. Laci isn't used to being around strangers."

Laci: "I'm Laci, by the way." *playful wink*

Noel: *giggles* "It's nice to meet you. I'm Noel. I'm still getting used to the city myself. It can get pretty overwhelming when you come from a small town."

Laci: "You're from a small town?"

Noel: *nods* "Brindleton Bay, New Jersey. It's a small fisherman town five hours south of here."

Sullivan: *confused* "You're from Brindleton? Why leave such a nice place for this dump?"

Noel: "I-uh…" *fiddles with her hat* "I-uh wanted a change of scenery."

Laci: *notices her discomfort* "I know what you mean! *smiles* I haven't seen much outside of my tiny sandbox, so I understand needing a new environment."

Noel: "Yes. *sad smile* "Sometimes it's for the best...I haven't gotten a chance to explore yet, but if you need help navigating the bus route, I have five of them memorized."

Laci: "I would love to have a travel buddy! Hey, do you know where I can get-"

Sullivan: "I hate to interrupt, but I have a consultation in 30 minutes.

Noel: "Right! Sorry!"

Laci:* raises brow* "I'm trying to make a friend here."

Noel: "It's okay. We can talk later. *gasps* Oh! Mr. Corrigan, I know you're busy, but could you repair our radiator? Please."

Sullivan: *sigh* "I told Laurant I'd look into it, but It's an old radiator. You two would be better off buying a space heater.

Noel: "We considered that, but they're too expensive."

Sullivan: "You should try the thrift shop on Glenmore Ave. They sometimes have some treasures buried in there."

Laci: "Wait, you're telling me it's always this cold?"

Sullivan: "It's an old building, Lace."

Noel: *mumbles* "The brick makes it colder at night."

Laci: "It's only September. What the hell are we supposed to do when winter comes?"

Sullivan: "What we city folks always do. Line your windows with plastic and get a space heater."

Laci: *pouts* "This is bullshit. You can't let us freeze in here."

Sullivan: "I said I'll look into it."

Laci: *whines* "Don't look into it! Fix it!"

Sullivan: "Laci."

Noel: "Don't worry about it. I'll ask Laurant to bring home another quilt."

Laci: "That's not enough! You pay rent here, right?"

Noel: "Yes, but it's not much, and I don't want to come off as ungrateful."

Sullivan: "You have a safe place not infested with rats or roaches and cheap rent. Sounds like a steal to me."

Laci: "Which is appreciated, but not having heat is bullshit, and you can't ignore that."

Sullivan: *annoyed* "I.WILL.SEE.WHAT.I.CAN.DO."

Noel: "T-thank you."

Laci: "How long have you been living like this?"

Noel: *hesitant* "Not long… maybe three weeks."

Laci: *Shocked* "GIRL!? No. Nonononono. If Sully doesn't fix it by tomorrow, I'm buying you a heater."

Noel: "I can't ask-"

Laci: "It's non-negotiable."

Noel: "Thank you, Laci."

Laci: "Don't thank me. Landlord-McGee should've done his job. *Turns to Sully* "You're wrong for treating Noelly-bear this way."

Sullivan: "I'm not trying-"

Laci: "Just show me my unit before I stop liking you."

Sullivan: "Make yourself at home."

Laci: "Oooo, this place is huge!"

Sullivan: *chuckles* "Glad to see I'm winning points back."

Laci: "I'm still freezing my ass off, but I like what I see."

Laci: "Sully!?"

Sullivan: "What's wrong?"

Laci: "My toilet is missing the other half of it."

Sullivan: *curses to himself* "I forgot! I'll have it fixed by tomorrow. You can use my bathroom upstairs."

Laci: "Cool. Cool."

Laci: "Damn. This room makes my old room look like a coat closet. Can I paint in here?"

Sullivan: "This is your space. Do whatever you want."

*Front door closes*

Laci: *pries window open*

Laci:*Enjoying the city noises*

???: "All-encompassing, yet silent."

Laci: "Huh?"

???: "The sounds of the city. You're surrounded by it, but it's pleasant. After an hour, you'll barely notice it."

Laci: "Pseudo white noise?"

???: "It's the best kind... Welcome to the neighborhood."

[jezawitha-z]

Bus Journey - Tarlac City

🗓️ Sunday | January 14, 2024

Ito yung dahilan talaga kung bakit gusto ko bumyahe ng maaga tapos sasakay sa bus na open window. I just love the morning breeze. As I also mentioned previously, favorite transpo ko talaga ang bus.

Instead na magmukmok over the weekend, I decided to prepare my bag and just go kung saan man mapunta basta goal ko lang makasakay ng bus. As of now hanggang Tarlac lang muna tinatry ko as panimula but I'm planning na palayo ng palayo sa susunod.

Just having a quick search ng cafe sa Tarlac before leaving and I found this cozy place na pasok talaga sa taste ko.

📍Calle Cubeyertos

Fairlane Subdivision, 4011 4th St, Tarlac City, Tarlac

"You are now entering a stress free zone".

Tapos yung pinapatugtog pa nung time na yan:

It must have been love, but it's over now

It must have been good, but I lost it somehow

It must have been love, but it's over now

From the moment we touched, 'til the time had run out

Napapa-smile nalang ako sa ganda ng paligid pero nananadya talaga yung kanta. Hahahaha

I really love the ambience, with nature vibe, with antiques decor, napaka cozy, i found peace. I was able to talked to the owner and she's just an amazing woman like i don't want to end our convo and i hugged her when it's time say goodbye na. But I'll definitely go back here next weekend.

She was surprised na galing pa ako sa malayo na lugar and sobrang na appreciate nya kasi di pa daw talaga nya minamarket kasi the place and sila is not that ready pa. Parang pang family or friends lang daw muna sana pero syempre once it posted on social media at magustuhan ng mga tao, yun na yun.

Kasi she also asked me if paano ko daw nalaman yung lugar and since mag close ng 10am, mas maganda daw sana kung hapon ako pumunta (4pm-10pm) ulit sana mag open. So since may iba pa akong gagawin sa hapon kaya umaga ako nakapunta, i told her babalik ako next week at hapon na ako pupunta. Grabe laaaaang. Kaya di ko mapigilan yakapin syaaaa. "I'll expect you here again, punta ka ng hapon although medyo marami tao nun pero you can stay and bring your book and read", she added. Gooosssh myyyy heeeaaart 😭

The service, the vibe, the people, these makes me coming back talaga and ofcourse bonus na yung masarap din na food nila.

Sakto lang din na 10am close ng Calle Cubeyertos, open naman SM City Tarlac ng ganung oras and good thing 1 ride lang (tricycle - 30php) pero pwede rin lakarin.

Akala mo may passport eh pero ticket lang talaga yan ng The Beekeeper. Habang nag hihintay ng oras, nag ikot muna sa mall at may booksale tapos ayun siguro ito muna kailangan ko na libro ngayon. Hahahaha

Nung papasok na sa sinehan, para namang na bother si kuya na action papanoorin ko.

Him: Ayaw nyo po ng drama maam?

Me: Tapos na ako sa drama kuya. (drama sa buhay)

Him: Ah mag-isa ka lang pala kaya ayaw mo ng drama.

Kuya naman eh. Alam ko naman mag isa nalang talaga ako. Hahaha charot. Tapos yung ticket pala nila walang seat number agad unlike sa SM Clark. Buti nalang apat lang ata kami nanood kanina kaya kahit saan mo nalang talaga gusto umupo.

After manood, nag hintay nalang ako ng bus na may aircon since mainit na pauwi.

Now I should sleep na. 😴🥱

Thanks for today, self.

[chibistarlyte]

under my umbrella-ella-ella

"Are you waiting for something?" Klavier asked, coming to stand next to Simon. He was just a hair shorter than Simon was, but he had a presence about him. Simon found it hard to describe. "I'm waiting for the rain to ease," Simon answered, glaring daggers at the raindrops splattering against the window. "Did you forget an umbrella today?" Klavier asked smoothly, a knowing smile on his face. "Unfortunately," Simon answered. . Or, Klavier offers to share his umbrella and walk with Simon to the bus stop.

my friends snow and meg made a gen fic prompt list for june (you can find it here on twitter!), and i was inspired by the prompt "only one umbrella" to write this klavquill friendship fic. because their friendship means everything to me.

you can read it below the cut or here on ao3!

.

Simon sighed, staring out the front windows of the lobby of the prosecutor's office. He could barely see two feet past the glass, with the deluge of rain outside obscuring the view. He wished he would have looked at the weather before leaving for work today. Now, his immediate future was to stand out at the bus stop and get drenched. Not something he was especially looking forward to.

He sighed again. Maybe he could just wait for the rain to pass and catch a later bus. But then he'd run the risk of missing the last bus of the night, and he wasn't keen on spending the night in his office. It was still pretty bare bones at the moment, not very conducive to a one-man sleepover. 

Simon sighed a third time.

"You sound awfully forlorn there, Herr Blackquill," came an accented voice from behind him. "Is something the matter?"

Simon turned around to see Klavier Gavin, another prosecutor who worked in the district office. He wasn't too familiar with Klavier, and had only met him once or twice briefly at the courthouse. All he knew about the man was that he was German, he used to be in a famous rock band, and he was dating Apollo Justice.

"Hello, Gavin-dono," Simon greeted, not answering the question. He wasn't good at small talk to begin with, and he didn't want to lay his troubles on a coworker he'd barely spoken two sentences to before.

"Are you waiting for something?" Klavier asked, coming to stand next to Simon. He was just a hair shorter than Simon was, but he had a presence about him. Simon found it hard to describe. 

"I'm waiting for the rain to ease," Simon answered, glaring daggers at the raindrops splattering against the window. 

"Did you forget an umbrella today?" Klavier asked smoothly, a knowing smile on his face. 

"Unfortunately," Simon answered. 

"You can borrow mine if you want," Klavier said, already rifling through his messenger bag on his shoulder. He pulled out a purple umbrella that looked like it was decorated with rhinestones.

"That won't be necessary, but thank you," Simon replied. He wasn't about to put himself in the position of owing Klavier for his generosity. Not that he thought Klavier would take advantage of him for it, but Simon really didn't like being in the debt of others. He wasn't the kind of person to accept help.

"Well, then where are you headed? I'll walk with you and hold the umbrella for both of us," Klavier offered.

"Just to the bus stop," Simon said, waving his hand as if to dismiss Klavier from his presence. "I'm fine, thank you."

"...Do you want a ride home? I drove my car today," Klavier then said. The man really didn't know when to quit, did he? He seemed desperate to help and wouldn't take no for an answer.

Shaking his head, Simon finally looked Klavier in the eye. "As I told you, I'm fine. Your offer for assistance is appreciated, Gavin-dono, but I do not need your help."

Klavier pursed his lips, staring at the umbrella in his hands before looking back at Simon with an easy smile. "Please, Herr Blackquill. At least let me escort you safely to the bus stop?"

Simon stared at Klavier, trying to discern if there was any hidden motive behind the offer. He seemed genuine in his intentions, and despite his bullheadedness, Simon sighed a fourth time before speaking.

"Fine," he agreed, and he could have sworn Klavier’s face lit up at the affirmation. Simon tried as hard as he could to keep from rolling his eyes.

"Okay. Los geht's!" Klavier said, shrugging on his leather jacket and waving Simon on. He held the door open for his colleague and, before they even stepped outside, opened the umbrella over both their heads to keep the rain at bay.

They walked in companionable silence down the stone steps and followed the signs to the bus stop. The rain continued to pour around them, and their shoes kicked up splashes with each step. But Simon felt, dare he say, comfortable in Klavier’s presence. The other prosecutor didn't feel the need to fill the silence with pointless chatter and seemed just as content as Simon to enjoy the loud pitter-patter around them from the relative safety and dryness of the umbrella above them. 

Once they reached the bus stop, Simon expected Klavier to bid him goodbye and leave him to face the rain alone. But to his surprise, Klavier stood right next to him, holding the umbrella more over Simon than himself, and waited until they could see the bus's headlights in the distance. 

"Thank you for your company, Gavin-dono," Simon said as the bus pulled up, opening its doors. "And for use of your umbrella."

"Kein Problem, my friend," Klavier said with an easy smile. "Safe travels home, ja?"

Simon nodded and boarded the bus. He paid his fare and sat down at a window seat. As the bus pulled away, Simon watched as Klavier began the trek back to the prosecutor's office building. 

Friend, Klavier had called him. Simon wasn't sure if he qualified as such, especially since the two of them barely knew each other.

But…he could see himself being friends with Klavier. Maybe. One day.

At least, a friend to share an umbrella with.

[bobbiworks]

When I was, When You were

Written by: Bobbi Henderson / 10027r Genre: Fluff, Romance, High School, One-shot Characters: EUNSEOK of RIIZE, ORIGINAL CHARACTER

As summer's warmth waned, autumn gracefully swept in. The cool breeze caressed my cheeks as I opened the bus window on my way to school. With each passing moment, I couldn't help but feel that this autumn held something special—it was my final year in high school, perhaps my last chance to find love.

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of self-consciousness, knowing that most girls my age had already tasted romance. As I reviewed my class schedule, I sighed inwardly. Despite the announcement of a schedule adjustment due to a system error, nothing had changed in our class roster. Each student was still assigned based on their grades, a detail that seemed trivial amidst my swirling thoughts. Graduation loomed ahead, and amidst it all, I couldn't shake the yearning for a romantic encounter of my own.

"Bree!" I glanced up to find my friends entering the room with vibrant energy. They all appeared radiant and sun-kissed after their summer spent abroad with their families. "We missed you!" they exclaimed in unison, gathering around my desk to place a plethora of souvenirs from their trip.

"Wow, these are so thoughtful… thank you!" I said warmly, retrieving a couple of handmade pouches I crafted during my stay at my grandmother's house. "It's not much, but I made them with each of your styles in mind," I added.

One of the many reasons I cherished Gyuri and Yena was their genuine appreciation for even the smallest gestures. They had been my closest friends since freshman year, a bond that had grown stronger with each passing season.

"You're so talented, Bree. I'll treasure these!" Yena exclaimed cheerfully before heading to her seat to greet our other classmates. As they moved aside, my gaze drifted towards the entrance where Eunseok entered the room. Our eyes met instantly, and I blushed with embarrassment, quickly looking away.

Why? Why am I feeling embarrassed right now? Did something happen between us before we started our summer vacation? Of course, Eunseok and I are friends, there's no doubt, but why does it feel awkward right now?

I hadn't noticed Eunseok standing beside my desk until the familiar scent of his cologne reached me. It was a pleasant fragrance, one I always associated with him. Slowly, I looked up to find him gazing down at me. Despite his thick glasses obscuring his eyes, I felt his gaze pierce right into my soul.

"Oh, hello, Eunseok!" I greeted him with a wave, and he gently took my hand, placing a small paper bag in my palm. "For me? What's this?"

"A souvenir," he replied softly, then turned to his desk and sat down. Eunseok was seated next to me, the most enigmatic presence in our class, yet he effortlessly befriended everyone.

"Thank you, Eunseok. I—" My words halted as one of the girls approached Eunseok with exuberance, causing him to turn towards her. She slammed her hands on his desk and scrutinized his face with exaggerated squinting eyes, despite fogging up his glasses with her breath.

"Song Eunseok, were you at the fireworks festival last week?" Hayoung demanded. "I could have sworn I saw you and even said hi, but you didn't respond!"

Fireworks festival? I began to feel more anxious after hearing that. Why does it feel like I am being too anxious about almost everything?

"It was definitely you, right? Even without the glasses… You were dressed so stylishly, with a beanie and hanging out with cool friends," Hayoung persisted, recounting her sighting from a week ago. "Though honestly, the guy with you was hotter, so now I'm not so sure."

"Hey, Hayoung! Can't you give Eunseok some space?" Gyuri interjected, her irritation evident in her tone at the early morning disruption.

"Oh, Gyuri, are you curious too? Because if that was Eunseok, you guys are seriously missing out. That guy I saw was something else," Hayoung teased with a laugh.

I stood nearby, nervously playing with the gift Eunseok had given me, listening to their conversation unfold.

"Where did you see him?" Gyuri challenged, stepping in between Eunseok and Hayoung.

"In Japan," Hayoung replied defiantly. "I spent my summer overseas, why?"

"That's impossible," Gyuri countered firmly. "Eunseok had plans with Bree before the summer started, so there's no way you saw him abroad."

Gyuri's logical reasoning caught me off guard, and I turned to glance at Eunseok, who sat quietly at his desk, seemingly unaffected by the girls' escalating argument.

The bickering between Gyuri and Hayoung only ceased when the homeroom teacher finally entered the room.

Later that day, I joined Gyuri and Yena for lunch at the school cafeteria.

"How was your summer?" Yena asked casually between bites of her meal.

"What do you mean?" I replied, tucking into my breaded pork cutlet.

"Your summer with Eunseok," Yena clarified, giving me a meaningful look.

I paused, gently placing my chopsticks down. "Summer with Eunseok? What are you talking about?" I asked, confused by their serious expressions.

"You mean you didn't meet up with him?" Gyuri asked, her grip on my shoulders tightening in frustration. "Why not?"

"Wait, hold on!" I pulled away, feeling increasingly anxious. "You're scaring me. What's going on?"

Gyuri leaned back, sighing heavily. "Did you two have a falling out? Or did he stand you up? Now I'm starting to think Hayoung was right about seeing him in Japan."

"Do I… have plans with him?" I asked, bewildered.

Yena lightly tapped my head, causing me to wince. "Are you serious? Did you hit your head or something?"

"I don't know. Ever since I saw him, I've been feeling so awkward," I admitted, dropping my gaze. It was unlike me to be so uncertain around him; usually, I was the one initiating conversations.

"What happened to you this summer?" Gyuri asked gently.

"Well," I began, biting my lip as I recounted my activities. "I spent a few weeks in my grandparents' hometown, then we had a big family party for my brother's wedding. After that, I was busy with chores and then got sick."

"But do you remember anything about Eunseok before summer break?" Yena pressed, her concern evident.

"I was delirious when I got sick and ended up in the hospital for three days," I explained. "Mom said I had to rest at home for the rest of the break."

"Did he try to contact you? Send a message?" Gyuri inquired next.

"I dropped my phone in the lake while fishing with my grandpa," I admitted sheepishly.

"Oh, Bree, talk about a series of unfortunate events this summer," Yena sighed, clearly frustrated. "Since you can't remember, we'll fill you in, okay?"

The conversation continued over lunch as my friends recounted what I had apparently missed during those summer months.

After hearing everything my friends told me about Eunseok, I finally understood why my heart had felt so heavy ever since waking up in the hospital. It was like I had lost something precious. Unable to contain my emotions, I quietly cried in the restroom after lunch, not wanting anyone who knew me to see me sobbing like a child over what I had done to Eunseok.

Stepping out of the restroom, I spotted him a few meters away, walking alone down the hallway.

"S-Song Eunseok," I mumbled, my voice barely louder than a whisper. He stopped and turned to look at me. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I quickly dropped my head, hiding my tear-streaked face from him.

I hadn't expected anything from him at this moment; after all, I was the one at fault, the one who had forgotten him and what we had together. The version of me who had dreamed of romance this year seemed so foolish now.

Eunseok could have easily ignored me, but he didn't.

I felt his hand gently take mine, and before I knew it, he pulled me into an embrace, shielding my tear-stained face from anyone who might see. His other hand cupped the back of my head, gently patting it. In that moment, I could hear the thunderous beat of my own heart.

Collecting my thoughts, I looked up at him and pulled away slightly. "C-Can we talk? Privately?" I asked, my voice trembling.

Eunseok simply smiled and nodded. Together, we walked out of the school building and headed to the quiet solitude of the schoolyard, where we found a bench and sat down. I continued to sob quietly beside him, feeling like a child in need of comfort.

"Have you eaten?" Eunseok asked me, breaking the silence. It struck me that this was the first time we'd spoken since summer vacation. Using his handkerchief to wipe away my tears, I nodded in response. "Good," he said softly.

"And you?" I murmured, turning to him, only to be met with a laugh. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," he chuckled, his hand covering his smile as he looked away. "You just look adorable." He paused, then continued, "And yes, I've already eaten. Did you happen to open the paper bag I gave you?"

I shook my head, recalling how everything had suddenly become chaotic when the homeroom teacher arrived. "Why? Did you write something inside?" I asked, curious.

"No," he replied with a shake of his head. "Just a small gift."

"Ah, I see," I nodded. There was a moment of silence between us as we both gazed up at the canopy of trees above us, sighing simultaneously. Our eyes met and we burst out laughing together. I laughed so hard that tears welled up in my eyes once again as I faced him.

"Eunseok, I'm so sorry," I finally said, my laughter subsiding. "I didn't mean to forget everything—everything Gyuri and Yena told me. I don't understand why I couldn't meet you at our usual spot that day." I paused as Eunseok removed his glasses, squinting slightly at me.

"I think I understand why," he replied gently, setting his glasses aside. It was the first time I saw him without them, and to me, he looked even more handsome without that usual accessory. "I knew, Bree," he reassured me, his hand resting on my head.

"But how? I mean…" I began, feeling a pang of anxiety, fearing he was only being kind, as he always was.

"Well, when you didn't reply, I got worried and went to your house," Eunseok explained. "I met your mom, and she told me you were in the hospital due to exhaustion and illness."

"But Hayoung mentioned seeing you in Japan. Was she right?" I asked tentatively, and Eunseok nodded. "So, it was you she saw? She described you as a cool guy."

"Am I not cool?" Eunseok raised an eyebrow playfully, giving me a teasing look. "Yes, it was me. I just didn't talk to her because my appearance in Japan was quite different."

"I'm still sorry," I sighed deeply. "I didn't realize why I've been feeling so hopelessly romantic lately. I even went to pray for love somewhere, and today I realized I missed a big opportunity…"

The air between us felt charged with unspoken words and emotions as we sat together on the bench in the schoolyard, our hearts and thoughts finally laid bare.

Eunseok turned to me slowly, his expression curious. "Hopeless romantic? What big chance are you talking about, Bree?"

I could feel my face flush hotter than a chili pepper at his question. "Uh, well…" I stammered nervously. Gyuri had mentioned that Eunseok had confessed to me and that we had some unspoken understanding. Had I misunderstood? Eunseok seemed perplexed by my hesitation.

"Oh, never mind," I hurriedly dismissed with a nervous chuckle. "I was just wondering why you wanted to see me that day."

"Hmm," Eunseok hummed softly, gazing up at the sky thoughtfully. "Taking a chance with you."

"With me?" I echoed, searching his eyes for clarity.

"Yes," he affirmed, but his answer left me wanting more. "Wait, I don't quite understand, Eunseok," I admitted, my panic rising. My heart pounded loudly in my chest, drowning out all other sounds.

I grew impatient waiting for him to continue, feeling annoyed by the delay. He chuckled at my expectant expression, and I impulsively smacked his head in frustration. "Seriously!"

"Why so aggressive all of a sudden?" he teased, catching my hand before I could smack him again.

"You're so aggravating!" I snapped, feeling flustered. "You know I hate waiting."

Eunseok continued to laugh, a hearty, infectious laugh that drew curious glances from other students nearby.

"What's so funny?" I demanded, trying to ignore how endearing his laughter sounded.

"You're adorable when you're angry," he replied, still chuckling. I noticed he was still holding his glasses, knowing he couldn't see well without them.

"Shouldn't you put it back?" I asked him, concerned, but Eunseok shook his head with a grin. "Your head might start hurting."

"Nah, it's fine. I just wanted to see you," he replied casually.

I felt my cheeks grow warm at his words, caught off guard by his straightforwardness.

"Bree, do you remember my last birthday?" he asked, and I nodded with a smile.

"How could I forget? I remember how upset I was when I ruined the cake," I chuckled softly. "What about it?"

"That was the first time my heart raced for you," he confessed, surprising me with his sincerity.

"Right, and your heart raced while I was scolding you for being annoying," I teased back.

Eunseok laughed and shook his head fondly. "Sometimes, without even realizing it, I find myself thinking about you. It's funny how we were just friends a few years ago, and now I'm telling you that you've captured my mind and heart. I didn't want to make things awkward between us, but I have to tell you—I like you more than just a friend, Bree. I want to be with you, hear your laughter, see your smiles, share your tears, and be there for you."

His words were like something out of a movie, and here I was, hearing them from him directly. I was speechless, overwhelmed by the sincerity in his eyes. There was no hint of rejection in my heart; perhaps I had harbored feelings for Eunseok for longer than I realized.

Reflecting on our shared moments, I remembered all the times he had taken care of me.

"Give me those," I said gently, reaching for his glasses from his hand. Moving closer, I delicately fixed his hair; his long bangs gently covered his forehead. "It pains me to see you squint," I sighed softly, placing his glasses back on his face and adjusting them carefully before cupping his cheeks in my hands.

"I never knew you felt this way," I confessed, a smile spreading across my face as I caressed his cheeks tenderly.

"Can I kiss you?" Eunseok asked tentatively, but I playfully covered his lips with my hand.

"No," I replied with a teasing glare, pulling back slightly. "Not right away. But you can hold my hand," I added softly.

"Okay, sweetheart," he agreed with a smile, gently taking my hand and planting a soft kiss on the back of it.

END OF STORY.

How was it?

[alx-magazine]

The sky is cotton candy🍦🍭

I lived by One Republic is playing as Sabrina is biking home for dinner.

It's a late 2012 afternoon, the sun is setting, and mom is about to call for dinner; I oughta get there before she starts to worry.

Peddling and peddling, trying to see how fast I can go down the neighborhood hill; I know, I know, there is a fair chance I might bust my face.

Busting through that door, wafting the aroma of sauteed onions and garlic from dinner, "Mom, I'm home !", I say as I'm going to my mom for a side hug, "It all looks lovely !"

"Well I appreciate it sweetie, come on, we're about to pray."

As a family we fold our arms, I volunteer to say the prayer today, "Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this day-."

Dinner was splendid as usual, rice, feijoada, banana, farofa, barbecue ribs, and a salad on the side.

I ate my plate, and immediately went for another serving. Before running upstairs to go to my room, "Don't forget to do your homework !", my mom exclaims behind me.

I don't do my homework; for the life of me, I can't get myself to, I just want to watch YouTube videos and it's almost bedtime.

Scars to your beautiful by Alessia Cara starts playing as I'm in room picking out what to wear for school tomorrow.

Flipping through my closet, I am looking for what I should wear tomorrow; it's going to be Friday, one of my favorite days ! That means I must put together my best outfit of the week. I decided to go with my black, l love Yoshi shirt, my regular skinny jeans, and some white vans. I straighten my hair a bit more so it doesn't look puffy, I know I won't wake up before school to do it. I wear this outfit quite religiously I'll admit, I feel like I radiate in pretty girl energy when I do so.

My hair is a tangled up, curly mess, I feel like I look so much prettier with it straightened; It's a lot to keep up with but as mom says, "beauty hurts."

Now before bed, I must lastly wash my face so I don't break out, and I'm all good to go !

Lights by Ellie Goulding starts playing as the moon is up, goes down, and the sun comes back up.

It's 7th period science class, the day is almost over and I can't wait for the weekend. Walking down the halls, I see all the various social pools. Popular girls holding hands with delinquent, adolescent boys, then there are my friends and I, nerdy art kids with questionable style, being our loud, annoying selves; the highlight of my school day.

Now I'm on the school bus about to head home, and I know that the moment I drop my backpack off, I'll ask my mom if I can go play outside.

My mom gave me permission and with pure excitement, I hop on my teal Schwinn bicycle with brown leather accents and speed away to my friend April's house.

Castle on the hill by Ed Sheeran starts playing as I am approaching her house.

April is my best friend; we grew up together at church since primary, she's a year younger, we always play outside in her front yard. We loved to draw on the driveway with chalk, pretend we're a part of high school musical, jumping rope, hula hoops, and dancing around.

In the summers past, we'd barely get to play outside together, but some nights we'd have late night talks about silly, sappy things on the swings.

Sometimes her parents don't let her play outside, and I'd throw little pebbles at her window, hoping she'd open it and chat for a little without her parents seeing.

She's so my best friend even if she doesn't go to school with me; but hey, every summer we could always spend girls camp together, much like last summer. This year is going to be my third year and her second year at camp; I'm so looking forward to it !

I just approached her house and it looks like she can't play today, and I feel a bit bummed; sometimes it feels like we can barely hang out outside of church.

Little talks by of monsters and men starts playing as I'm throwing little pebbles at her window.

She opens up her window, looking a bit saddened, I wonder why so.

"Hey ! You okay ?"

She nods her head no and I say "come on out, wanna talk about it ?"

She gives me sorrowful eyes, saying, "I can't.."

"Well hey, we can just talk here then."

That's when she breaks the news to me, "I'm moving this summer, I don't think we'll be going to camp together, but you have my parents number if you ever want to talk, I'll make sure they send your parents our new address, maybe we can send each other letters.."

God this sucks. She's my best friend, I wanted so badly to go to girls camp with her this summer. Summer is so ruined.

I tell her, "Whyyyy ? You're my best friendddd ! Do you know where you're going ?"

She tells me, "I'm not too sure but it might be out of the city or state; you send me letters okay ?

In that moment we locked eyes, you can see that we were about to burst into tears. She starts tearing up some and I give her a hug through the window. Until sunset, we just chat like usual, laughing, and for a moment forgetting about the summer bummer.

Soon after, I hop on my bicycle and bike my way home before dinner starts.

Wake me up by Avicii is playing as I'm speeding down the neighborhood hill on my way to supper.

I felt really bummed all night and all weekend. I feel like there's a massive hole in my heart, and sinking feeling in my stomach, I barely wanted to eat dinner that night.

The weekend has passed and another school week has commenced; you can tell I was a walking bummer with my dreadful demeanor. Dreading class, dreading summer, dreading life...without my best friend.

I still went over to play after school as much as I could until the school year ended. Our parents planned an outing for us before the move in hopes of that cheering us up. Hey, at least I look forward to that.

Shower by Becky G is playing as I'm getting ready, singing in the shower with excitement.

I am wearing my soft blue Old Navy tee with skinny jeans and my white vans, my other best outfit.

We are going to hang out at Menchies to get frozen yogurt.

I see her coming in through that door with her parents, she looks beautiful. I swallow my thoughts, I mustn't look at her that way; she is a white rose , and I, troublesome with my rebellious ways.

Giving her a light hug as she walks in, I welcome her with glee. Our parents leave us be to be young teens, as they go walk around the strip mall, talking amongst themselves.

Us girls, we're just chatting away about our usual discourse, silly shows, silly thoughts, jokes, and feelings. The cotton candy sunset looks so pretty, and our frozen yogurt too sweet, not the best for our teeth, with vibrant flavors and candy toppings.

The table underneath, I felt her hand touch mine for a second, brief, and I felt all air lost; it was a foreign feeling to me. I wonder if she felt something too, I doubt it though , girls are only meant to be friends, nothing more of course.

Girls like girls by Hayley Kiyoko starts playing as I am stunned by these brand new thoughts and feelings.

Underneath the table, I feel her fingers caress mine for a bit. I am shocked, completely. I must be overthinking it all.

Underneath the table once more, her fingers lock mine and stay.

And I feel, I feel something I can't put into words; my breath is lost, yet my pacing heart feels still, when she locks her hand in mine, and her hand stays.

I look at her, still for some reason trying to pretend we're just being friendly, and I ask her, "you think you won't have to write to me for too long ?"...."we'll hang out again, won't we ?"

"For sure, I mean, I'd hope to as soon as possible", she says with her eyes looking at her lap; you can tell, she's deeply saddened by this move, just as I am.

"Sabrina ?" , she says to me, "do you wanna have chat in the girl's room ?"

"-uh, sure !", I say, a bit confuzzled by that random request.

Standing by the soft pink stalls, she grabs my hand, you know I'm feeling it all rush down my body like rain on a car window.

I look at her and feel a bit tense, not knowing what's coming next.

"D-don't hate me okay ?", she says awkwardly before kissing me out of the blue; quite courageous of her.

I looked stunned, with my jaw slightly dropped, and my eyes widened, "A-April...", and before making her feel embarrassed, I grabbed her other hand and kissed her back, I wanted her to know that kissing me was okay. You can see in her face that she felt relieved, "I just wanted to make sure I had the chance to do this before I go.", she told me, trying to downplay as we both did, about how we felt.

I kissed a girl by Katy Perry is playing as we both just had our first kiss ever.

"We ought to get back out there before our parents start to worry.", I tell her as I am nervous about getting caught.

She agrees, we both know that this has to be kept between us; She's already moving far away, I don't want her to also be kept away.

Awkwardly walking out the restroom, we sat back down in hopes that our parents didn't see. I know they should be coming back anytime soon. You can tell just how badly we wanted to hold hands again, maybe even lean on each other's shoulders, and as much as I wanted to... I couldn't risk that.

And as much as we wanted to, I'm glad we didn't.

The store door bell jingles as we see both of our parents walk in not too soon after everything. We both try our best to act like we didn't just kiss each other a few minutes ago.

My mom says, "You girls had fun ?, come on, we have to go soon."

Ughhhh, I'm so not looking forward to being away from her. This has got to be the saddest way to start summer.

Summertime sadness starts by Lana del Rey playing as I am looking out the car window on the way home.

It's officially her last day here, I am outside her driveway, watching all the boxes load up into the truck, she's moving some hours away. "I'm glad we got to chat once more, I'll miss you April, don't forget about me okay ?"

With utmost sorrow, we hug for quite a long time, yet not too long, for we don't want to raise suspicion.

Summer passes, and so does a few years. Years of anguish, rebellion, and unrest within my home. I grew into myself, the shades of the girl I once was, the girl I tried so hard to be, had forfeitted over time.

We wrote to each other for sometime, eventually we started texting; although between my constant grounding and her not being allowed to be on social media, contact had faded, and my curiosity had grew.

Did she forget about me eventually ? Did our friendship just fizzle out from the distance ? Did she just outgrow me over time, had forgotten about that moment we shared at Menchies and grew into a person I no longer recognize ?

Glad you came by The wanted started playing as I am in my cap and gown, taking pictures outside after graduation.

I am taking pictures with family outside, and my high school friends soon after. All day I kept hearing something about this so-called "surprise". I know I am having a graduation party after this but I sure wondered what everyone had been talking about.

And to my surprise, "Sabrina !", I hear a familiar voice. As I am looking around I hear once more, "Sabrina, over here !", and oh my did she blossom.

I see her, I see her, it's her !, "April !", I yell out as we both run towards each other for a long awaited hug.

We both sobbed our eyes out, and to our embarrassment, our families are laughing, smiling as they are taking pictures of us.

"-N-no way !", I am on the floor sobbing, and the sky is cotton candy, just like that day we spent at Menchies.

"Come on, we have a graduation party to attend !", she says with excitement.

She IS the surprise.

Uma Thurman by Fall out boy is playing as we are both throwing down moves at my graduation party.

And underneath the starlit skies, somewhere outside, where only we knew, we kissed, and kissed, like our lips longed for this moment, to coexist.

As we grew older, eventually to branch out and away from our shame, many more late afternoons were spent, and as it was then, it is to this day; The sky is cotton candy 🍦🍭.

Forever stuck in our youth by Set it off is playing as the screen fades to only, soft pink, cotton candy skies.

*for Spotify premium users // you can queue the songs (bolded text) in order to follow along with the soundtrack*

[casspurrjoybell-17]

Heart’s Choice - Chapter 7

*Warning Adult Content*

- Carlos -  

Despite my promise to Kyle, Detective Turner isn't the first person I contact. 

He already seems disinclined to like me and it's barely six a.m. 

I doubt he'd appreciate the wake-up call.

That privilege goes to Aunt Toni, whose number I contemplate with nerves tingling and my heart picking up speed in my chest. 

After rehearsing what I'll say in my head, I tap the screen and wait while the call connects.

Just like last time and all the times before, it goes to voicemail. 

I take a breath, intending to leave a message but my throat closes off and I can't speak. 

I end the call, open the messaging app and begin typing out a long and detailed explanation.

Then, as I re-read it, the last conversation I had with Toni replays itself in my head.

It wasn't pretty. 

I accused her of taking advantage of me, using me like a tool of her trade, keeping me from having a normal life under the guise of protecting me and it hadn't gone over well.

In the end, she'd called me an ungrateful little shit and told me not to come crawling back to her when reality caught up and bit me in the ass.

Reality was biting all right and here I was, on my hands and knees.

Sighing, I erase the message and type out a different one.

Auntie, I'm sorry for what I said. I miss you. Can we talk?

Tapping ‘send’ before I can talk myself out of it, I flop back on my bed, blow out my breath and press my palms against my eyes.

The ball's in her court now and the next move is hers but I'm not holding my breath for an answer any time soon.

Aunt Toni loves me like a son but I know I hurt her and Antonia Martinez holds a mean grudge.

After leaving a message for Turner, I get dressed, eat breakfast, grab a spare battery and jumper cables and catch the bus into town. 

In the Walmart parking lot, I find my truck where I left it, thankfully unmolested and with a boost from the spare battery, it starts right up. 

Then I drive around a bit, letting the truck's battery charge,and stop at a roadside flower stall for a bouquet of white carnations.

I don't know enough about flowers to tell if they're a good 'sorry for your loss' gift, but they're white and cheap, so I figure they'll do.

Lucille Peters lives in an old Victorian a few houses down the street at the crest of a small hill. 

The garage belonged to her late husband and stood vacant, falling into disrepair, until I came along and asked if the property was available to rent. 

It was, she said, under certain conditions, one of which was that I couldn't make any changes without her approval and another of which was Kyle.

Now that Kyle is gone, I can only hope she doesn't decide having a tenant is more trouble than it's worth and rescind the offer.

Gathering my nerve, I walk up the paved path, climb the steps to the porch and ring the bell. 

The place looks like it's seen better days, with peeling paint and so many cobwebs hanging from the rafters it looks decorated for Halloween.

The interior appears dark and after ringing the bell twice, I'm about to leave the flowers on the doorstep and retreat when I catch a glimpse of movement through the frosted glass windows beside the door. 

It opens a crack, and Lucille peers out at me with puffy, red-rimmed eyes.

"Yes? What do you want?"

"Hello, Mrs. Peters. Um..." I hold out the bouquet. "I just came by to say I'm sorry about Kyle."

She stares at the flowers as if she's never seen anything quite like them, before taking them in a claw-fingered hand. 

She looks more like Kyle's grandmother than his aunt and I wonder I how much older she is than his mom.

"Oh, yes. Thank you," she says, wiping her eyes. "My poor, dear nephew didn't deserve this, you know. He was a good boy, at heart."

Personally, I think there are very few people in the history of humanity who would actually deserve what Kyle went through but I merely nod.

"The police aren't any help," she continues, in her unusually deep, gravelly voice.

"They won't even let me see the body."

I swallow. 

"That's... maybe for the best, Mrs. Peters. I'm sure Kyle would prefer you remember him as he was in life. In fact..." I hesitate, then take the risk. "In fact, I've seen him around. He's okay now. Well, I mean he's dead, obviously but he's... better."

‘Okay, Carlos, shut the fuck up now.’

Mrs. Peters gives me a strange look. 

"You've seen him, you say?"

"Yes. My family... Well, I wouldn't say I'm psychic, in the usual sense but... Yes, sometimes I see things."

"Ghosts."

"Er... Well, yes. And other things."

‘Stop. Talking.’

Like a certain Alice, I give myself very good advice but I very seldom follow it.

"Has he said anything?" Mrs. Peters asks, narrowing her eyes at me.

"Oh, um, no. He doesn't talk. He just hangs around and bothers me. Kinda like when he was alive."

‘Carlos. For fuck's sake, shut up.’

"Is that so? Well, personally, I believe that my nephew is in Heaven, with his mother and my dear husband, where he belongs and I'll thank you for not speaking such blasphemies again. Good day, Mr. Martinez. Thank you for the flowers."

She shuts the door in my face with a snap.

‘Great, great. This is why people don't like you, Carlos. And now you'll be lucky if you're not evicted. Way to go.’

Sighing, I turn around and walk back along the path to the street and down the sloping sidewalk to my truck. 

As I step into the street, walk around to the driver's side and open the door, movement catches my eye. 

I look up and see another, much larger truck rolling towards me and picking up speed.

With a yelp of alarm, I leap into the cab but I don't have time to close the door. 

The other vehicle barrels right into it, snaps it off its hinges and sends it skidding down the street in a shower of sparks. 

There's no one behind the wheel.

Shouts echo from further up the street and a breathless man dressed for heavy-duty yard work, whose truck is on the run, dashes up and leans in to look at me.

"Holy shit. Are you okay, man?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm not hurt," I gasp, assuring myself of this at the same time.

Meanwhile, the escaped vehicle hops the curb and comes to rest harmlessly on someone's front lawn.

The man clutches the sides of his head and swears. 

"Fucking hell. I swear the brake was on. I checked. I always check. I coulda sworn..."

"I'm sure it just wasn't engaged all the way and failed," I say, though I'm not sure at all.

"Shit, you sure you're okay?"

I climb out of the door-less cab and shield my eyes as I look up and down the street. 

"Yeah, I'm fine. Can't say the same for my truck, though."

"Shit, here." 

The man pulls a pen and card from his breast pocket, scribbles something on the card and hands it to me.

I take it and frown. 

"What's this?"

"My info. For the insurance company, you know? Gimme yours, too."

I give him a business card for the garage.

"I better check if there's any property damage, too. I don't wanna get sued. Better take some pictures, too. Document everything." 

He pulls out a phone in a heavy-duty case and snaps a few shots. 

I do the same, recalling that I'll need it for the insurance claim, anyway. 

Then I walk down to where the other guy is inspecting his own truck.

"Just a scrape and a dented bumper," he says. "No property damage either, thank God. Here..." he jogs over to where my door lies like roadkill at the side of the street. "Lemme help you with this."

Together, we carry it back up the hill and toss it in the back of my truck.

The man dusts his hands off and extends one for me to shake. 

"Rafael," he says. "Moretti Bros Landscaping. You need any work done, call me. I'll do it free."

I finally take a proper look at him and see a handsome face with blue eyes and black hair. 

He grins sheepishly.

"Shit, man. I'm just glad you're okay. I coulda sworn somebody stole my truck. It looked like it was steering itself right at you. Crazy, right?"

"Yeah," I agree, a little weakly. "Crazy."

As crazy as talking to ghosts, anyway.

~ ★ ~

"So what, now the ghost is trying to kill you?"

John Turner looks up from his inspection of my truck and arches a brow at me. 

When I texted him, he'd responded by showing up in person. 

At least I know he comes when called.

"I don't know," I say, scratching the back of my head. "Maybe he was mad I upset his aunt."

"Or maybe the parking brake failed."

I frown, recalling the number of near misses I'd had while Kyle was alive. 

"Maybe."

Turner straightens to his full height and looks down at me. 

"You worried?"

I shrug. 

"Not really."

"Maybe you should be. I don't know if I believe in this supernatural shit but I believe in evidence. You're close to this case and like I said, we think Kyle knew his killer. That means you might know the killer, too."

I frown. 

"You never did tell me what evidence you had that linked me to the scene."

"The cigarettes," he says. "Marlboro Lights. Whoever used Kyle's eye-sockets as ashtrays smokes the same kind."

I turn aside, sickened by the thought and then startle as a large, warm hand settles on my shoulder.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said it like that. You get hardened to shit and you forget not everyone is as fucked up as you are."

I laugh shakily. 

"Don't worry. I'm pretty fucked up."

A car backfires somewhere down the street, one loud pop and two softer ones. 

I turn to look, wondering what kinda weird-ass custom engine would make that sound, when I'm tackled to the ground and crushed into the sharp gravel, pinned beneath John Turner's body.

A second later, he's up again, weapon drawn, while I stare at a fluffy cloud floating in a patch of blue sky and listen to the fading roar of an engine.

Turner leans over me. 

"You okay, Martinez?"

I cough and sit up, rubbing the back of my head and squint at him. 

"No. What the fuck, Turner? You never heard an engine backfire before?"

"Sure, plenty of times. I've heard semi-automatic handgun fire, too."

"What?"

He points and I see two new holes in the side of my truck. 

"Do backfiring cars typically shoot bullets?"

"No," I say weakly. "And neither do ghosts."

He nods and helps me to my feet. 

"Supernatural shit aside, the evidence is telling me one of two things. Either somebody really hates your truck or somebody wants you dead. For safety's sake, let's bet on the latter."

"Fuck. What do I do?" 

I hadn't even known I was in danger until he pointed it out but now my voice shakes with a late surge of adrenaline.

He looks at me with the expression of a man about to do something unpleasant.

"Pack a bag," he says. "You're coming with me."

[zhaviraadn]

12th Bus

In the past year, 11 times I went to Bandung by bus the seat next to mine was always empty, until the twelfth. Never thought this would be the last time I went to Bandung by bus during my study.

Sitting on a bench at the bus stop with his oversized top and worn out jeans. Has pale skin with soft smile and face that shades as clouds. My head didn't even reached his shoulder. His name was named after a peaceful dawn in April. He became my very first friend from UIN Bandung

We got along fast. He's so humble that I didn't know he had some prestigious achievements. Little did I knew that he was the chairman of an organization that has now chosen to stay away from organizational activities, and is busy being involved in various math competitions. Since math is his passion, he's so passionate in becoming data analyst

He got some attitude. Glad he sat next to me so I have someone taking care of me and someone to talk to. He asked for exchange our personal contact. He's a mansion with a window. What an honor consider even though he's well known among his colleagues, his social media shows almost no sign of life. Reserved yet mysterious

We were searching ourselves in each other, and I think, "I fall in love a little bit with anyone who shows me their soul. This world is so guarded and fearful. I appreciate rawness so much" —Emery Allen. We had playful conversation that we lose track of time. And you know, it's just clicked. Whatever our souls are made of, seems part of his and mine are the same. The more I took into notice, we vibrates in the same frequencies

Everlasting 4 hours. I honestly like the way he made me feel. I could say cearly, I was enchanted to meet him. He made me believe in perfect stranger once again. Overall, thank you for the good memories! Hope I meet more kind people like you, and I'll definitely look forward for your journey ahead

13.8.2023

[1uc0z4dee]

💌list 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last 10 people who liked or reblogged something from you! get to know your mutuals and followers <3 💌

first of all, thanks for asking me this💕 it's gonna be difficult but I'll try to make a list!

1. having breakfast right before school starts at my favourite bar (I call it winona's, cause the waitress looks just like winona ryder);

2. watching the sunrise, or just the breathtaking view from my bedroom's window (I sometimes find it hard to appreciate simple things like this, but I swear I try every time I have the chance);

3. picking flowers on my way to the bus stop right after a tough day at school (It's draining me, and I also have no friends I can talk to or count on);

4. watching my favourite films over and over, and listening to the playlists I make;

5. finding time for myself, in which I can read a book, exercise, sleep, even study (at least if it's my favourite subject) and just be at peace.

[styledeficit]

9 – 14 January weeknotes

It’s the final weeknote – week 52.

Wednesday: The walk to the wood feels like a pilgrimage. There’s a bright moon at my shoulder and the birds are calling loudly for the sun. The mud is back in the path between the fields, and this year it’s deep enough to make a grab for your boots. I reach out for the barbed wire fence and carefully seek out the spaces between the barbs. The woodpeckers are back already. The walk feels like a good bookend to the year.

I litter-picked on Monday; a walk chosen for the moon again. And just like last year, there was more rubbish than I was expecting. Heavy glass bottles and more, but I kept the moon in my sights. On Tuesday I watched as colour flooded the windows on the top deck of the bus in town. Condensation shimmering red, then green. On the way home I saw a roll of ribbon and a sausage roll on top of the bus shelter at Liverpool Street, I wonder how long they’ll stick?

I’ve thought a lot about weeknotes (and publishing and social media) recently. It’s impossible not to, isn’t it? Everyone leaving twitter, starting newsletters, joining Mastadon. It feels like people are leaving one party to head off to the next and actually, I’m knackered and would like to get a cab home.

Newsletters are driving me a bit nuts. Email used to be a chore because it was all work, and now it’s a chore because it’s full of things you’re supposed to read to better yourself. I don’t know why it feels harder to manage than a feed reader, but it does. It’s the mix, I guess: things to do for people and things to read for people. Must find a way to forward them to an RSS reader or something. It’s interesting that more of the pleasant chatter seems to be back in private groups, Slack, WhatsApp, whatever. And also, that I don’t have the issues with separating work/friends on Slack that I do with email. Not that interesting, mind you.

Anyway. This is the end of weeknote publishing for now. I’ve enjoyed it. It’s been nice to have a project. If you’re not me, and you’ve read any of these, thanks! And if you’ve said something nice along the way, also thank you. I’ve really appreciated it. For now, I'll go back to random posts now and again.

For the LOLs, I've put the weeknotes online in shonky html. (It's how I knew I was a week out). I'll see how I feel and maybe link to them from the sparse landing page at some point. Whatever. happy Sunday. Happy new year.

[russellsppttemplates]

Nothing to apologise for (Charles Leclerc)

Note: english is not my first language. This request is particularly special because this is a topic that I feel huge responsibility writing about and I feel grateful that I'm trusted enough to have it be requested. This is a neurodivergent!reader piece and while I like to see everything as we are all the same and I hate the idea of labelling, I tried to do this is the most respectful way with help and knowledge that I gathered over the years. These are a few little moments but they are in no way representative of the whole spectrum!

Thank you so much to everyone who likes and reblogs, your feedback is appreciated 🤍 and I'm not actively taking requests so if you have any ideas or concepts you want to share, feel free to do so but know that I'm not certain when I'll be able to tend to them!

You and Charles were walking through the busy monégasque streets, the sun shining as you both made your way to one of your favourite restaurants that was by the harbour, Charles hand in yours as he pointed out different buildings and spots that held special memories for his childhood, "the bus to school used to stop here and my friends would all join me and then we'd go to school there", he pointed as you looked at the gate, smiling and imagining a smaller Charles playing with his friends. Being with Charles was easy, he had managed to sweep you off your feet while always respecting your boundaries. Arriving at the restaurant, you and Charles ordered your food and spoke about the upcoming week while you waited, the restaurant getting fuller as people came in for lunch, the waiters doing their best to cater to everyone as it got busier, your hand travelling to Charles' wrist slowly as your fingers played with the beads on his bracelets, pushing them around in an attempt to calm your sensory receptors, "Is this okay?", Charles asked, noticing your sole focus on the black pieces while you softly nodded, your boyfriend not needing anymore from you, much unlike at the beggining of your relationship where he would have turned motherhen mode on and bombard you with questions if you should move or leave, now knowing and understanding your needs.

.

Charles had managed to finally find a place in everyone's schedule so that you could meet his brother Arthur who, given his busy racing schedule, you hadn't met yet. "Are you feeling good?", Charles asked as you made your way to his mum's house, who you had met before, "Yes, not too nervous I think. I've met your mother and Lorenzo and that went fine so I hope this one goes fine too", you states softly, looking out the window to find you were approaching the familiar neighbourhood. Entering the house, you greeted Pascale before introducing yourself to Arthur, "I'm Y/N, how are you?", you said as you felt his arm hug your side quickly, "I'm Arthur, very good, I'm happy we finally got to meet eachother!", he said as you were ushered to the table in the dining area, you picking the spot by the windows that allowed the room to have a nice and soft afternoon light in, "Here, let me get your hair", Charles said, unlooping the hairband he kept on his wrist for you and made a half up half down situation with your hair so it wouldn't be falling around, "with those skills you're going to take me out of business soon", his mum giggled as she looked at the table, "Oh, I forgot to bring the salad to the table". Seeing his mum get up, Charles was quicker to do so, saying he would go and get it. Getting to the kitchen, he saw the bowl on the counter and as he was grabbing the seasonings for it he heard a rhythmic noise from the dining room, prompting him to quickly head over so he could confirm that what he was thinking was true, your head was banging on the wall beside your head since the chair was just about nudging it, "Hey, hey mon coeur, I know it feels really good but you have to stop, okay?", he said gently once he was able to slot his fingers between your head and the wall, thanking his mum who he assumed had managed to fold a fabric napkin and placed it where his fingers now were.

Once you seemed to stop, you straightened your back, "I'm sorry", you said, Charles immediately reassuring you, "you have nothing to apologise for, mon coeur, I just don't want you to hurt yourself", he said as he helped you up, wanting to switch so you would sit in the chair that had a little more space between the table and the window, placing your hand on his leg so you could stim in a safer way. Tapping his clothed thigh, you couldn't help but notice his brother's somewhat unreadable expression that maybe required some elucidation, "I'm on the autism spectrum and doing that with my head is soothing sometimes, it's not really something I can control really", you explained, Arthur nodding his head, "I'm sorry for questioning, I didn't know", he said sincerely, "It's okay, there's no way you'd know and It's fine by me", you smiled, the tapping on your boyfriend's leg helping you obtain some of the soothing your previous movements were granting you.

.

Grabbing you a pair of the radio system's headphones, Charles asked Xavi to lower down their volume as he carefully placed them on your ears, brushing the hairs that insisted in hindering your eyes before he kissed your forehead, "Have a nice race, drive safe please!", you said as he pecked your lips, "I will, ma belle", he winked, grabbing his balaclava and getting ready to begin the race. Charles was involved in a few overtakes and undertakes, but he had gotten a race win in the end, the garage erupting in cheer as the mechanics congratulated eachother, a soft smile on your face from his achievements as you scooted to a quieter area with Charles' communications assistant. When the car arrived back in the garage, you saw your boyfriend get out before removing his helmet and balaclava, hugging everyone before he got to you, "Congratulations Charles, you deserve it", you went in for a hug, the feeling of his racesuit on your skin not quite pleasant and his beard tickling you, "merci, mon coeur", he said as he noticed your skin erupt in goosebumps, "still not a fan of the racesuit?", he giggled, knowing you wouldn't take it to heart, "yep, it's still itchy, it's a good thing it protects you and you look nice in it", you smiled before you let him go to his podium, watching it from the TV screen in the garage.

.

Excited didn't even begin to cut it. Everyone that was important to you and Charles was gathered in the garden as you and you boyfriend had a little gathering to celebrate his race win, your parents talking to you before your boyfriend joined in, "Congratulations Charles, we watched the race on TV", your mother commented as she hugged him, your father then shaking his hand before you latched again to his side, his soft cologne soothing you. When Pascale announced she was bringing out a surprise for her son, you made your way to her so you could help her carry it to the table, Charles looking at you both with a raised eyebrow while you swayed from side to side, your boyfriend immediately smiling at how cute you looked in the dress you had chose to wear, "Y/N kept this at my place so you wouldn't snoop around", Pascale reasoned with her son as he placed his hand on the box's lid, lifting to find a big collection of frames all attached together, the pictures ranging from his early karting days to the latest win you were celebrating, every frame having your writing on them with the date and location. Knowing your passion for arts and crafts, Charles smiled at the effort and passion you had put in a present that was just for him, giving his mum a kiss on her forehead before hugging you and pecking your lips, intertwining his fingers in yours while you pointed to the different photes and quotes, "For this one I used the marker you got me from Zandvoort, it smells a bit bad but it's so pretty, when the light hits it, it goes sparkly, see?", you moved it around a bit, "and this one I had to get help from your mum because I couldn't glue it down, but we managed to do it", you smiled as you looked at his smiling face, his heart filled with love and admiration for you and your thoughtful present, "this is a great idea, I love it, thank you amour", he said, "I think this will look great by the piano in the living room!".

.

Later that night, you and Charles had retired to the bedroom, Charles already sitting on his side of the bed while he waited for you to do your night routine, knowing you were brushing your teeth, would then take your jewellery off and set it in the dressing table, brush your hair and plait it so it was out of your face before coming to bed and grab a book to read before sleeping. Watching you do all of that enamoured him every single night, no matter how many times he had seen you do it, the smile on his face crinkling his eyes as you looked at him, "you always look at me with that face" you pointed as you watched him through the mirror, "you always look beautiful while you do it and I always think I'm the luckiest man ever", he smiled, noticing the blush on your cheeks as you got up to join him, "So, what are we reading tonight?", he asked before you grabbed the book from nightstand. When you and Charles spent you first night together, you told him you usually read before bed to help you relax and disconnect from the busy day, and after making sure you were comfortable sharing that routine with him, your boyfriend took in the habit too, your back resting on his chest while you both read every night you spent together since.

.

You had arrived in the paddock with Charles' communications assistant that morning, having left the hotel later than your boyfriend since he had an early morning meeting at the hospitality. Giving a quick wave to everyone on the garage, you moved to your boyfriend's driver's room since all the noises on the garage from the mechanics welding, making holes and attaching pieces was bothering you, grabbing your headphones so you could play some music while you waited for him. Around fifteen minutes later, the door opened to reveal the handsome Ferrari driver, you taking your headphones off and storing them back in your bag, knowing how much you didn't want loose them, before you got up to greet him, "Good morning, mon coeur, how was the meeting?", you asked before kissing his lips, "very good, we're hoping for good results today", he said smiling as he took his t-shirt off and put on a team one, "I'm going to head to the garage because they need to fit my seat, I'll be right back", he winked before he headed out the door.

.

Ferrari was hosting a dinner before everyone headed for their summer break and you and Charles' family had been invited too, your boyfriend being whisked away from you quickly as there was a sponsor he hadn't met yet, leaving you in the drinks table as you grabbed something to eat too, looking around and appreciating the good architecture of the building and room that made the acoustics of sharing the same space with a lot of people more bearable. Noticing you were alone and taking in the scene, Charles' brothers approached you, "Y/N, you're looking lovely tonight", Lorenzo said, "thank you, Charles wanted us to match", you snickered, your head nodding to your boyfriend who had a suit that shared the same colours as your soft dress, seeing someone join the three of you, "Marco, how are you?", the youngest and oldest Leclercs greeted the middle aged man before introducing you, "This is Y/N, Charles' girlfriend", Lorenzo said as you waved, getting closer to them, "Hi, how have you been?", you asked, "Ah, Y/N, don't be fooled, this may be the first time I'm meeting you but I feel like I've known you for so long. You know, Charles never shuts up about you, at first we even thought he was overcompensating because he was lying about having a girlfriend, but turns out he was truthful", he smiled.