#Me in Trent's voice 'He totally did'

[sassy-bitch-since-2007]

Ok, but you truly want me to believe Cody did not punch Duncan once he found out he's the reason why Noah's dead??? Nu-uh. He totally did.

[petew21-blog]

Friends with benefits

Two long time friends Trent and Brett. A classic story. Met in kindergarten and have been friends since. Grew up together. Spent their holidays together. Graduated together. But then stopped seeing each other as often. Why? Because adult life ain't easy. Brett had to find a job while Trent got into college, graduated and on top of that became a fitness influencer. Brett started his Twitch account and became a gamer, which he had time for, cause how he was constantly doing a different job, depending on what he could find. But both of them always took some time off for a beer with their buddy.

This is Trent

Although he doesn't appear like that, he is a 24 year old male with young looks

On the other hand Brett is also young, but his looks are a bit more mature. Maybe it's because of all the hair

This is Brett

So hairy.

Normal guys, right? Well something was about to change very soon

Friday, August 2nd, 5 PM

Brett:"Hey, dude. Wanna grab a beer later tonight?"

Trent:"Yeah, sure. I am down. Is 8:30 ok? I gotta finish a video"

Brett:"Oh yeah, totally fine. See you then"

Friday, August 2nd, sports bar, 8:33 PM

At the bar Brett waits patiently, only his leg is slightly shaking. Trent comes in through the door. It's kinda funny, cause Trent used to be really insecure and not confident. Now he looks basically like a god. But still, he has this cute shy looking guy whose face doesnt match his body and the fact that he's 24. Brett was kinds jealous, most of the people that didn't know him always thought he was older because of his looks. Trent had the opposite problem. Always had to show ID whenever he went. Yet Brett was probably more jealous about his life in general. He finished school, took great care of his body, which now could help him hook up with anyone he would set his mind to.

Brett:"Hey, maaaan. How are you doing?"

Trent:"Heyyy. Yeah good. You know, single influencer life, haha"

Brett:"The ladies must be driving you crazy"

Trent:"If only it were just ladies. Haha. You should see the messages some of these gay dudes keep sending me. It's insane"

Brett:"You tell me. They always send random shits to my chats while playing. But it's mostly dumb kids."

Trent:"I think we should find you a date for tonight"

Brett:"Nahhh, fuck it. I'm not in the mood. I just wanna chat with my bro."

After a few beers

Brett:"Shut up, you did not!"

Trent:"I swear. She came on to me without a word."

Brett:"So what did you do?"

Trent:"You think I put up a fight? Haha"

Brett:"Maaaan. I want this stuff to happen to me to. That's so hot"

Trent:"Come with me to the gym then, I bet more chicks woukd be into you if you would gain some muscles"

Brett:"You calling me fat?"

Trent:"No, just saying that all that body hair would be good to match with a good body. You're just a walking gorilla right now"

Brett:"Oh shut up twink! Haha"

They finished their drinks, said their goodbyes and went home.

Brett felt amazing. He really needed to get a beer with his best friend. He came back home, sat behind his computer and searched Dark web. He already knew what he was looking for. He wanted to mess with Trent. Just a another one of his pranks. All he needed was Trent's personal item. He found the body swapping website. He read the rules and conditions and filled out his and Trents name. The only next step he had to follow was to go to sleep. And so he did. Only taking off his shirt in the process and collapsing on the bed. Not even brushing his teeth

Brett woke up feeling better than ever. He was used to have a hangover by now, but today he felt great. He opened his eyes and immediately noticed the different sheets. He looked around. This is Trent's place.

Brett:"Trent?" he said, but he heard Trent's voice.

He turned around to get up

His body. He has a different body

Brett:"Holy shit. It worked" he said amused. He looked down at his now soft chest. He got up

Brett:"Oh wow. getting up is so different when you have these hard muscles"

He went to the nearest mirror. And there he was. Trent in his glory. Brett was so happy right now. His prank worked. He is now inside of his best friends body. And the pranks probably won't stop there. Now he can mess with him all he wants. But not now.

He looked from top to bottom how tall and slim his body was. "Almost no hair anywhere. Lucky guy"

He took Trent's phone and snapped a photo to send it to Trent in his body. He knew it would take a while for Trent to wake up so he proceeded in his exploration.

He felt his curly hair. "How come you don't even have widow's peak? So unfair" He traced his jawline, now with tiny baby hair that Brett wouldn't even call a beard. But his sight was now caught by those nice Calvin Klein's. He looked around as if there was someone in the room with him who would judge him. He pulled on the waistband

Brett:"Just as I thought. Also shaved" he grabbed his new dick, that was getting harder and harder by the second, when suddenly his phone received a notification. he let go of his dick

It was Trent. Brett:"Haha, this is gonna be good"

There was a photo of Brett's body, observing his hairy armpits in shock

Trent in Brett's body:"Hey. Got any idea why I am a gorilla now? And why that gorilla looks exactly like you?"

Brett:"Surpriseee. And fuck you"

Trent:"So this is your doing?"

Brett:"Yeah, I kinda wanted to prank you somehow for all the pranks and the gorilla jokes. Joke's on you ape man"

Trent:"Fuck you. So this is reversible?"

Brett:"Sure, man. No worries. We'll meet tonight at the bar again and chat how our day went?"

Trent:"I don't know how to feel about this, bro"

Brett:"Just try enjoying being another person"

Trent:"Do you realise there are some no go things including intimate stuff and hygiene?"

Brett:"Sure I do. I'm already holding your dick in YOUR hands right now"

Trent:"Dude! Not cool. I meant more stuff like shitting etc. But yeah, this too."

Brett:"I gotta say Trent. You have a very nice dick"

Trent:"I'll comment on your size when I find it in the bushes I guess. Have you never heard of trimming?"

Brett:"Keeping it natural, baby face"

Trent:"Fine, let's see each other tonight at 8, ok?"

Brett:"Enjoyyy" Hangs up

Trent:"Jesus, this guy. I hope he doesn't fuck up something or someone"

Starts observing himself. "I must say, It feels good to look like a mature man and not a teenager. All of this hair. And the moustache is hot too. I could never grow this thing"

Trent looked down and had a mischievous thought. "Well, Brett. Since you have already held my dick, I think it's time to step it up. Gonna see if you can last longer than I do" Trent said with a smile and whipped out his new hard hairy dick

Saturday August the 3rd, bar, 8:04 PM

Brett is sitting amused in the bar, eating chips on the table and drinking beer. Winking at the ladies looking at his direction.

A waitress came by his table:"Want another?"

Brett noticed his old incoming body:"Sure, and another one for my friend who just arrived. Thank you, sweetheart" he said as his flirtatious look almost seduced the local waitress

Trent:"You need to stop!"

Brett:"What? I was just flirting"

Trent:"Not that. Stop eating those chips. God knows how many calories you ate already"

Brett:"So you don't mind that I was flirting with her?"

Trent:"Nah, I don't care. I jerked off your dick for like the fifth time half an hour ago"

Brett:"What? You beast. I would have never expected that. Cool. You have a really good dick to jerk off too. I didn't expect to shoot so far tho. Made a bit of a mess"

A couple off bikers started eavesdropping to their conversation and turning heads

Trent:"You might want to quiet down, or we're gonna get beaten up for mistakenly speaking like gay guys"

Brett:"But you gotta admit that my body is not so bad, right? All the hair and everything. You like it"

Trent:"It's not bad, but I prefer being in my own body. I'm used to it."

Brett:"Ok, I'll pretend I didn't hear the part before about masturbation. But what do you say? We didn't even have enough time to see what the life is like in our new bodies. It's only been a day"

Trent:"And your point is?"

Brett:"Let's stay swapped for a while. We can swap back anytime we want. It's reversible. We know almost everything about each other, so pretending to be the other one will be easy. You'll just teach me your workout routine, I'll show you... what games to play and how to set up a livestream and we'll figure it out"

Trent:"Livestream? That's all you got?"

Brett:"Come on, man. We got nothing to loose"

Trent:"I don't know man. It's gonna be complicated. I agreed to leave for a few weeks to work at one of our gym branches in another city. And now you'll be the one that has to go. I think now is not the best time"

Brett:"So? I can update you about everything. We can chat all the time. We can call. And I got nothing to do. Actually, you might need to find some job for those few weeks. And there's never gonna be a better time then now. We're single, ready to mingle. So let's enjoy that month"

Trent:"You wanna stay swapped the whole tíme I'm gone?"

Brett:"Yeah, I'll be a fitness instructor/viral star and you'll ne enjoying my chill life"

Trent:"Chill life. Man, you won't even recognise your life when we'll swap back"

Brett:"So you agree?"

Trent:"Yeah, what the hell. I'll be a gorilla for a month"

Brett:"Deal. Now, let's see if you'll have a better game in finding a hookup then me"

Sunday, August 4th

Brett sends a text to Trent:"Why do I feel like my body still hasn't gone through puberty?"

Trent:"Piss off. Yours looks like it went trough yours several times."

Brett:"Nah, gotta be honest. I'm really enjoying this lean figure and hairless body"

Trent:"And my dick..."

Brett:"Haha, yeah and your dick. How are you doing in my body?"

Trent:"Feels pretty weird to be so hairy, but gotta admit it's a nice change. Like... feeling so manly"

Brett:"Yeah, but tip for that hairy stomach. Don't cum on it. It's really irritating to get cum from it"

Trent:"Never had the issue in my body, so yeah. Thanks for the tip"

Brett:"No problem. I had to try it out in yours haha"

Trent:"Doesn't this feel kinda gay to you? All the dick and jerk off talk. Appreciating each other's bodies"

Brett:"Nah. We're exploring, man. Who knows if we ever get that chance. Gotta enjoy it"

Wednesday August 7th

Trent:"How are you settling in?"

Brett:"Yeah. Pretty great. I just jerked off to some porn"

Trent:"Ew. I mean the appartement"

Brett:"Whooops. Sorry. Right. Yeah it's nice. Very clean. Very modern"

Trent:"It's yours only for a month so don't destroy anything there"

Brett:"It's kinda poetic right. New appartement, new body, new job"

Trent:"I don't see anything poetic about me playing games in front of a camera"

Brett;"Dude you have to. My fans are gonna wonder what happened to me"

Trent:"Fine. I'll log in tonight. By the way. Dude your feet smell so much when you work out."

Brett:"Work out? You took my body to the gym?

Trent:"Yeah. I had to show off these bushes somewhere, right?"

Brett:"Ahhh thanks man. Looking good"

Trent:"And I think oke girl was checking you... me out"

Brett:"If you can score than go for it. I'm actually late for a date. Or... how do you call it if you're just gonna have dinner and fuck?"

Trent:"Standard hook up man. Please be safe. Wear a condom. And watch our foe those carbs, man."

Brett:"Sure thing, bye"

Monday, August 12 th

Brett:"Dude do you like ever have to shave your face?"

Trent:"Sure I do. I just don't have to do it so often as you. Btw can I please shave off this moustache?"

Brett:"Absolutely not. You'll learn to love it and appreciate it. Just like I will your baby face"

Saturday, August 17th

Brett:"I have to admit I really love showing off your muscles man. I have been doing it constantly at every occassion. So many people turn their heads to take a peak"

Trent:"Yeah I get it. It helps with the confidence a bit"

Brett:"A bit? I feel like I can beat any fucker whk crosses me"

Trent:"Brett, please don't beat anyone in my body"

Brett:"Just kidding, man. How have you been"

Trent:"Well I tried being consistent with the gym. I think your body is doing pretty well"

Brett:"Daaaamn bro. I look good. You really do take care of my body really well"

Trent:"I was actually thinking I could offer this for money. Swapping with people, doing their routines and then swap back. But that's a talk for another time after we swap back"

Brett:"Yeha, sure. Cool idea. Anyway... how was the streaming?"

Trent:"I don't know, man. I think they are desperste for me to say your catchphrases, but they are so cringe."

Brett:"Nah, you have to do that. That's how you get into Tiktoks and become viral"

Trent:"Honestly. I can't wait to get back to my body and to my life back. So we will swap on September 2nd?

Brett:"Yeah. I suppose. Depends how the work will be etc. Anyway I gotta go man. Talk soon"

Trent to himself:"It feels like he's avoiding me with amswering more and more. Trent rubbed his hairy chest, recalling his sweet soft pecs that he missed.

Thursday, August 22nd

Trent:"Hey, man. How is it going?"

Friday, August 23rd

Trent:"Hey. I just wanna know if you're ok. I just wanna talk about the reversal."

Saturday:"please call me back as soon as possible"

Sunday, August 25th

Brett:"I'm ok"

Trent:"What the hell happened?"

Brett:"Nothing I just felt like I needed a break from phone and that stuff"

Trent:"Brett you didn't answer the phone for 4 days"

Brett:"Ok, I was avoiding you, cause I kinda fucked up and was afraid to tell you"

Trent:'What did you do? Is my body ok?"

Brett:"Yeah your body is unharmed. Nothing that bad. We just had a party in the appartement. Broke the TV and... I had unprotected sex with one girl. She didn't know if she was pregnant or not. So I was waiting. And congrats. You're not gonna be a dad"

Trent:"Brett..."

Brett:"I know. I'm so sorry. Won't happen again. Promise. I just got drunk once and it led to this. I'll be good now"

Trent:"Please, don't do anything anymore. I want to switch back"

Brett:"Nah man. We still gotta week to finish. You said until September 2nd."

Trent:"I didn't know you'd do something like this"

Brett:"Please Trent. I'm begging you. Just that one week"

Trent:"Fine. But don't do anything else!"

Sunday, September 1st

Brett:"Hey. Are you packed yet?"

Trent:"Hey. Not really. I planned on packing tommorow. You can come and help if you got time"

Brett:"Sure. I'll come by"

Monday, September 2nd

Trent arrives to the appartement. Brett is on the couch playing video games

The TV is new and there is a PlayStation on the table

Trent:"You didn't tell me you got back into gaming and that you bought all this."

Brett:"Yeha, I missed it. I thought to myself that you'd like it too. So I bought it. By the way. You should see how the fans dig it"

Trent:"Fans? You're live streaming in my body?"

Brett:"Yeah. The gamers are so into it when I'm flexing in the spare time. I even got a viral Tiktok already!"

Trent:"I think we should swap back, Brett. My life is out of your control now."

Brett:"I'm just using all the goods, man. You don't like my body anymore?"

Trent:"Stop changing the subject. I want to swap back"

Brett:"Ok... but on one condition"

Trent:"You want money?"

Brett;"Nah I want to have sex with my body. I want to have sex with you."

Trent:"You have lost your mind"

Brett:"Oh come on. Admit it, that you thought about it. Who gets the chance to fuck their body? To watch their body in the most animalistic moments from somebody else eyes?" Brett flexes his biceps to let Brett watch

Trent:"Brett..."

Brett stands up and goes towards Trent

Brett:"You know you want to kids thus face. To suck this hard dick" he says holding tightly his hardening bulge

Trent:"I... I do. I want to suck my dick"

Brett:"Atta boy"

They begin making out. The fast movements heading towards the bedroom could be described as chaotic, but for them it was a dance of passion. Brett was ripping his old clothes from his old body was all over his body, kissing his neck. Sucking each part of his skin

The kissed even more

Brett began to be more dominant. He gripped Trent's now receding hairline and pushed him down to suck his dick. Trent was choking. But did his best to swallow most of the shaft he now had. He had his dick in his mouth. He couldn't believe it. He is straight and he is sure of that. But this is absolutely different

Brett took his old body by the neck, choking him. "Say you love being in my body"

Trent:"Brett I can't breathe"

Brett:"Fine, let's do this the hard way"

He turned him around. Trent now on all fours. He knew what was coming, but he wasn't ready

Brett spit in his hand and spread it all over the head od his dick. Ready to penetrate his old hairy hole

Trent:"Brett wait... I... Ahhhhhhhh". Trent screamed in pain

Brett:"Yeah. Sorry about that. I'm just so horny. I love your body, Trent. I love every inch od it. Admit you like mine"

Trent:"Brett, please slow down"

Brett:"Naaah, you'll get used to it in a sex"

Trent:"Please, get lube or something"

Brett spit again to where his dick was penetrating Trent's ass. Brett:"Should do it"

Trent was still in pain, but now a new feeling was making him feel better. The pain was now... pleasant? He wanted to feel more. With every thrust from Brett. He felt like shitting himself and cumming at the same time

Brett:"Admit it. Admit you love being in my body" he sped up. Thrusting painfully.

Trent:"Yeah.... yes..."

Brett:"Louder"

Trent:"I do... I love your body. I love being you"

Brett:"Ahhhh. I'm gonna cum. Turn around. I want to cum on your chest"

Trent turned around. He could feel cum leaking from his dick. And now he saw his old face like he never did before. Brett was so into it. His face was full of lust, rage and mischief.

Brett:"Ahhhh. I'm cumming!"

The cum shot all over Trent. Not only on his chest, but also on his mouth and face

Trent watched in awe what just happened.

Brett:"Whew. That was a ride wasn't it? First gay sex. Am I right?"

Trent:"Brett... I?"

Brett:"Oh sorry. I have to catch my breath. You look so funny with my cum all over you. Haha. By the way. I'm glad you love your new body. You get to keep it"

Trent:"Brett, you said we would swap"

Brett:"Yeah I did. That's true. But after this little 'cum over your face' and 'dick in your ass' we made it permanent"

Trent watched in shock as his old body was still standing on top of him. Breathing rapidly and laughing.

Several months later

Hi my name is Brett. Welcome to my only fans channel. If you got any hairy request, hit me up

Brett in Trent's body:"Well this is just pathetic. Man, I knew you'd crumble. But this just seems you lost your mind"

Trent's massive colleague came next to him:"Hey, bro. What are you looking at?"

Brett:"Just looking how one of my friends threw away their life, kinda sad. But whatever. Their life, not mine"

Friend:"Hey, wanna grab a beer later this evening?"

Brett scanned his friend from top to bottom and smiled:"Sure thing. Be there at eight"

Brett thought about switching it up a little. That body would be amazing. But then he turned around and looked at himself in the mirror. And flexed

Brett:"Nah. I'm Trent. And I'm keeping this body"

A request from messages (another one who waited for a LONG time, sorry guys) for @swappwas

Hope you like it :)

P.S. written late at night on a phone with a very irritating autocorrect, so please excuse the mistakes

[heyjudeb]

You're Perfect - Trent Alexander Arnold

Summary: After getting drunk on a one night out with Trent, the drunk pillow talk reveals Y/N's inner thoughts Word Count: 1.5k

Warnings: drunken state, mostly fluff

Trent reached over to fasten Y/N's seatbelt after struggling to get her into the car due to her laughing, drunken state. She rarely drank, but Trent's big win yesterday led to most of the team members and their girlfriends celebrating at the club.

Before leaving for the club, Trent had promised to only have one drink, and Y/N saw this as the perfect opportunity to have some fun, assigning him as the designated driver.

"Baby, try not to throw up until we get home, please," he said, giving her hand a quick kiss before driving off.

"Throw up?!" she looked at him, clearly drunk. "Oh, please. I can go for another round right now!"

He laughed out loud, placing his hand on her thigh. He made sure to drive at a normal speed, even though he usually drove faster. He didn't want to startle Y/N, who often told him to slow down when he did.

Y/N leaned her head back and closed her eyes, a smile on her face. "You know," she began, her words slightly slurred, "I think I could totally be a singer."

Trent glanced at her, amused. "Oh really? What makes you think that?"

"Because," she said, opening her eyes and grinning at him, "I always nail karaoke nights. Remember last time? I was basically Beyoncé."

Trent chuckled. "I do remember. You were... something else."

"Hey!" she protested, hitting his arm lightly. "I was amazing and you know it. You were just too busy being all serious to appreciate my talent."

He shook his head, laughing. "I'm sorry, love. Next time, I'll make sure to be your number one fan."

"You better," she said, her tone mock-serious. "Because one day, I'll be famous, and you'll be just Trent, the footballer who used to drive me home.'"

He laughed even harder at that, the sound filling the car and making Y/N giggle along with him. "Alright, future superstar, let's get you home and in bed before you start planning your world tour." Trent pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine. He glanced over at Y/N, who was leaning against the window, her eyes half-closed.

"Alright, we're home, baby" he said softly, unbuckling his seatbelt and getting out of the car. He walked around to her side and opened the door. When she stumbled slightly, giggling as he caught her, he decided it was best to just carry her inside.

With a firm grip, Trent scooped her up into his arms. She rested her head against his shoulder, asigh escaping her lips. "My hero," she murmured, her voice slurred.

He chuckled. "Always, love."

He carried her to the front door, managing to unlock it without too much trouble despite her squirming slightly in his arms. Once inside, he headed straight for the bedroom. As soon as they reached the bed, Y/N tried to wriggle out of his arms, clearly aiming to lay down onto the mattress.

"Hold on, love," he said, lowering her gently onto the edge of the bed. "You need to wash your face and change your clothes first."

"Mmm... don't wanna," she mumbled, her words slurred. "Wanna sleep."

Trent shook his head, smiling as he knelt in front of her. "You’ll thank me in the morning. Come on, it’ll only take a minute." She pouted, looking at him with pouty eyes. "But Trent... you're so comfy. And handsome. And perfect."

He chuckled, his heart swelling at her sweet words. "Thank you, honey. But that’s not going to get you out of washing up."

She groaned, attempting to sit up but failing miserably. "You do it then. I'm too tired." He couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, babygirl. Let's get you sorted out." He loved this side of hers, always too honest and loving. She always speaks what's on her mind when she's drunk.

With gentle care, Trent helped her to the bathroom. She leaned heavily against him, still giggling and murmuring affectionate things. "I love you, Trent. You're the best boyfriend ever."

"I love you too, Y/N" he replied, his voice warm. "Now, let's get this makeup off."

He dampened a washcloth and began to gently clean her face, her eyes fluttering closed as he did. "You're so good at this. Maybe you should be a makeup artist."

He laughed softly. "I'll stick to football, thanks."

Once her face was clean, he helped her change into more comfortable clothes. It was a bit of a struggle, with Y/N being more of a burden than a help, but he managed. Finally, he guided her back to bed, tucking her in and kissing her forehead. Then, he headed to the bathroom to get ready for bed himself. After he finished, he returned to the bedroom and called out softly, "You still awake, love?"

She mumbled in response, letting him know she was still awake. "Mmm... yeah. Just... thinking."

He lay down facing her, brushing her hair out of her face. "What are you thinking about?"

"Everything," she slurred, her eyes half-open. "You. Us. Life. And... do you think aliens are real?"

Trent blinked, surprised by the topics she was overthinking. "Aliens? That's a big question."

"Yeah," she giggled softly. "I mean, think about it. What if they're out there, watching us right now?"

He laughed, hanging his head back. "You're getting deep on me, aren't you?"

She smiled, her eyes growing more serious. "Trent, can I ask you something? Will you be honest with me?"

"Of course," he said, still amused but curious.

"Are you sure you're real?" she asked, her voice filled with drunken sincerity.

He chuckled, confused. "What do you mean, love?"

She reached out, her fingers tracing his face. "You're so soft, perfect, cute... it’s like you're too good to be true."

He took her hand in his, kissing her palm. "I’m real, I promise." Y/N looked at him, her eyes filled with a mix of drunken sincerity and vulnerability. "I have a hard time believing someone like you could love someone like me," she said, makingdrunken gestures as she spoke. Trent felt a sense of sadness by her words. He cupped her cheek gently. "Why would you think that, love? You’re everything to me." She shook her head slightly. "It's not just me who thinks that. It's also the people." Pointing her finger in the air, proud she's making a point.

He kissed her hand again, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "What people, love?"

She ignored his question, continuing with her thoughts. "You can literally have any skinny, pretty model you want, and even then you'd still be the perfect one. Yet you're with me." He paused, his brow furrowing slightly, still asking the same thing. "What people, love?" She sighed, trying to explain through her drunken state. "The people that comment on my photos, or yours, or the people that write in magazines."

Trent's expression grew serious, concern evident inhis features as he listened to her. "What do they say?" Her gaze shifting away from him. "They say I'm not good enough for you. That I'm not pretty enough or skinny enough. I mean, you've seen me naked, right?." He nodded." I DEFINITELY, don't have their stomach!" she slurred out her words. Trent gently tilted her chin up, making her look into his eyes, feeling a bit guilty considering he's the reason she's exposed to such comments. "You are more than enough, love. Those comments come from people who don’t matter. What matters is what we have, the love we share. I wouldn’t trade you for anyone or anything."

She took a shaky breath, tears glistening in her eyes. "I just want to be good enough for you." "Baby, you are!!!" he said firmly, feeling the urge to sit up and make her also sit up to face him, taking her face in his hands. "You already are, darling."

"Please, don't say stuff like this, ever again." He kissed her forehead, her lips, her cheeks, her nose. "You're literally so perfect, it hurts."

"You kissing me is making me feel... warm," Y/N said in the middle of crying, causing Trent to laugh and kiss her one more time. Trent gently guided Y/N to lie down again, hovering over her as he supported himself on his elbow. He looked down at her with a tender expression, his eyes filled with adoration.

"You're perfect, you know that?" he murmured, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.

Y/N smiled softly, her earlier tears now replaced with a warm glow from his affectionate words. "Only you would say that."

Trent leaned in to kiss her collarbone, trailing soft kisses along her skin. He could feel her shiver slightly under his touch, a smile playing on his lips.

Feeling playful, he reached down and lifted her shirt gently, planting gentle kisses on her stomach. Y/N giggled, the sensation tickling her. "Trent, stop!" she exclaimed between giggles, squirming slightly.

He looked up at her, a smirknt in his eyes. "But you're so adorable when you laugh." She laughed even harder, her hands reaching up to playfully push his shoulder. "You're such a tease," she said, her voice tinged with affection.

Trent chuckled, kissing her stomach one last time before lying down beside her, pulling her close. "I can't help it. You bring out the playful side of me."

Y/N snuggled against him, placing a hand on his chest."I love you, Trent. Even if you’re not real.”

He laughed, kissing her head, pulling her even closer to him.”I love you too, baby. More than words can say!”

[leviscolwill]

good old fashioned lover boy

pairing: trent alexandrer arnold x reader

summary: trent loves that you and jude get along, but he wants to make sure he still holds the #1 spot in your heart [wc: 1k]

req: request for a fluffy trent fic: jude is always over at trent & reader’s house, eating their food, bringing his friends over, begging to join them on outings etc. and generally acting like their kid. so ofc reader & jude are close, he goes to her advice, they tease trent togeth etc. and trent is jealous that jude gets long w his girl so we’ll but not actually jealous, more in a pouty whiny way, cos he knows jude is like a little bro to her

contents: established relationship, food mention, jealous trent (but it's cute)

note: i tried suppressing my lowercase addiction for this, tell me if you prefer it this way 🫶

now playing: good old fashioned lover boy by queen...

The warmth of your home protected you from October's cold. Trent had planned to spend the day snuggled in bed watching spooky movies and baking Halloween cookies with you.

Well, that was the plan until Jude passed your door. Trent wouldn't be able to say one bad thing about Jude even if he tried, he'd been there for him during tough times. No matter how hard you tried to empathize with Trent, Jude was probably the one friend who could understand his struggles surrounding football the most. Very quickly the pair grew close, almost family-like, and Jude would come over yours, often. You didn't mind, how could you? Jude was nothing short of lovely, he was a funny guy to be around and probably your boyfriend's favourite friend.

But you didn't expect him to crash one of the rare free days you got to spend with Trent. And neither did Trent, from the way his eyes widened when he opened the door to a smiley Jude. Your favourite Disney soundtracks were still blasting in the kitchen while you were mixing your cookie batter.

“Oh, are you cooking these for me?” Jude's voice made you turn around to see him standing in your kitchen with a big smile, your boyfriend trailing behind him.

“Depends, do you have good news to give me?” Trent's face contorted in confusion but Jude totally understood what you meant by the giggle he let out.

“I'll tell you all about it if those cookies are worth it.”

He recently came up to you for advice on how he should ask the girl he liked out. The fact Jude trusted you enough to share this with you made you happy, talking to him was like talking to a younger brother.

Trent knew about the girl his friend fancied of course, but he was absolutely clueless about him asking you for advice. Hearing you two talk so casually, made him feel left out. He knew how stupid this sounded, you were his girlfriend and Jude one of his best mates, but he couldn't help but feel his stomach churn from your closeness.

Trent wasn't jealous. He trusted you and Jude with his life. But he couldn't help feeling his friend was stealing the precious time he could have spend with his girlfriend, and he felt awful about this.

You were your own person, and he was very much aware of that, but he couldn't help spiralling. What if Jude was better company than him? What if he made you laugh in ways he couldn't?

His thoughts came to a halt when you pressed a quick kiss near his lips, “These should be done in 30 minutes, are you alright T? You look a bit off.” The concerned look in your eyes made him forget everything, his hand found yours to press a kiss on it.

“I'm fine baby, don't worry about it.” No matter how much Trent tried to reassure you, you knew something was off with him and made a mental note to ask him about it when you would be alone.

After many Fifa games between Jude and your boyfriend and six chapters of your books read, the cookies were ready. The three of you sat down and you intently watched their reactions to your baking, knowing damn well neither of them would be able to hide their real thoughts.

“These are very good love.” Your boyfriend complimented with his mouth half full while Jude stuck out his thumb up.

“So... Are you gonna tell me what happened with Mia?” A frown appeared on Trent's face again at your words.

“What's even all that about?” He tried his best to hide any animosity in his voice but it didn't work from the way Jude and you looked at him with wide eyes.

“I asked your girl for advice to ask Mia on a date, nothing more mate.” You could tell Jude was being cautious with his words, fearing his friend would get the wrong idea.

Trent ran his hand on his face, “I know. This is stupid, sorry.”

You stayed silent and went to the kitchen telling the boys you had to clean it up to cover the fact you wanted to flee this weird atmosphere.

You stayed a while looking at your phone, and when you looked up you saw Jude and Trent in front of your front door talking together, your boyfriend's hand laying on Jude's shoulder before pulling him in a hug.

The younger boy noticed you staring, and winked at you with both his eyes before whispering something to Trent's ear, something that made him turn around to look at you with a smile. You quickly turned around pretending to be interested in something else to hide the fact you were caught red-handed pretty much spying on them.

When the door finally closed, Trent's hands found your waist and spun you around. You started speaking before he could try to himself. “I'm sorry for not telling you I was speaking with Jude, but I swea-”, Trent's lips on yours cut you off, you felt your shoulders relax from this action.

“No, I am sorry. This was stupid, I just really wanted to spend the day with you, only you, I mean. I actually love the fact that you get along with Jude, but I just don't want you to like his company better than mine y’know.” His words relieved you, your pointer finger booped his nose as he let a giggle escape his lips.

“Trent, don't be silly. I love hanging out with Jude but if I could, I would spend every single minute of my life with you. Now... should we start watching The Prisoner of Azkaban?”

Trent led you to your shared bedroom, fingers intertwined to snuggle under the sheets. The both of you perfectly content and satisfied with each other's company.

taglist: @ceofmercedes <3 @zowanew <3

[foreverisntenough]

‘Movie Night’

Summary: If only life was like the movies. For years, you’d flirted with the idea of something more with Trent, your brother’s best friend.  You'd always danced around the edges of something more with him, sharing flirty moments that felt like scenes straight from the cinema. You had been silently desperate for the main character of your life’s film to finally get the boy but you knew moments like that were saved for Hollywood. The lines were clear; you were always going to be his mate’s little sister. So what happens when you go off script? In a whirlwind of passion, secrets, and stolen moments, you're left wondering: will you and your brother's best friend get the happy ending you've been waiting for, or was it never meant to be more than a fantasy? 

Index:

Warnings: This series is 18+ MDNI [ smut, slight mention of dv, loss of a parent, drinking - not sure what else really… if i miss anything please lmk!

Note: Thank you for reading! Please be sure to like, comment, or message me what you think of the series!

Chapter 4 - Saturday Night | ‘Movie Night'

word count - 10.8k

"Layla..." you called her that same morning after you darted away from the guest room, heart racing and mind swirling with a mix of excitement and anxiety. Your body was littered with remnants of Trent as scurried up to your bedroom.  

"What? You're making me nervous!" she replied, her tone a mix of concern and curiosity.

"I fucked him last night, Layla," you admitted, barely able to contain the shame and guilt that washed over you.

"Ermmmm, are you talking about...?" Layla trailed off, clearly aware of your long-time crush on Trent but shocked that you might have actually gone through with it.

"Yes," you confirmed, cringing at the admission.

"Oh my fucking god!" she screamed, and you had to pull the phone away from your ear, stifling a giggle.

"I know. But I'm such an idiot," you sighed, feeling a mix of exhilaration and dread.

"Were you drunk?" she asked, sounding almost hopeful.

"No, we were totally sober," you replied, feeling a little prouder that it hadn't been a drunken mistake.

"I let him fuck me. And then I scampered up to my room like a little girl this morning. What do I do?" you confessed, panic rising in your chest. “Also… ‘let’ is probably not the word to describe what happened. I begged him… he had me begging, lays.” You whined recalling how Trent had you acting in that bedroom.

“Lol so the dick was as good as you imagined.” Layala laughed. "Did you talk or was it like a quickie?" Layla asked, jumping around with questions, her voice lowering as if she were afraid someone might overhear.

"Erm... it definitely wasn't quick. It was roundsss, Layla, but we were trying to be quiet. I mean, It was literally in the house.. Jack was upstairs," you explained, feeling the embarrassment creep up your neck. 

"God, that’s fucked up. But girlie, maybe this is the shift! We’ve been waiting for this man to move on you," she encouraged, though you could hear her excitement laced with a tease about how long this had been building for bubbling through the line.

"I don't know, my brother would murder me. What if... maybe it was a one-off thing for him," you said, uncertainty flooding your voice. “Maybe he just wanted to do it once and then call it. Like get it out of his system.” You reflected back wondering what this meant for Trent versus what it meant for you. Maybe different things. For you, this had been years of longing coming to a head, finally he gave you a chance and took you to bed. You worried that for Trent maybe he was simply just horny that night and once he knew you’d kiss him, he finally took you up on a bigger offer. 

"Well, like how was it?" Layla pressed, her curiosity growing slicing through the onslaught of panic in your own head that she couldn’t hear.

"Lay.." you said, using her nickname as a cautionary warning.

"Like how good though?" she insisted, practically bouncing with anticipation and a dirty smirk.

"Layla... I was literally in heaven," you admitted, unable to hide the smile creeping onto your face. "I’ve never felt like that in my life. His hands on me– within the first minute, I was moaning like an embarrassing mess. He had me on the verge of blacking out. The way he felt... oh my days... he made me squirt, I was just for him in the best way possible," you confessed, feeling a thrill at your own words.

"Oh my god!" Layla squealed, her excitement palpable even through the phone. You’d never reported that happening with other men so Layla’s shock was fairly merited. 

"Shhh!" you hissed, glancing nervously toward the door, half-expecting Jack to burst in and demand to know what was going on. You could almost hear his protective big-brother instincts kicking in. Layla was silent for a moment.

"You need to figure out what's next. If it was that good for you… Y/N, he must’ve loved seeing you like that. If there are two things that boy loves, it’s winning and it’s you; having you begging for him… he must’ve been in heaven too. I’m sure of it. Don’t overthink this, maybe it's worth the risk. Plus, if the boy knows what he’s doing…." She sang cheekily. You pondered her words, the reality of the situation settling in. What if this was just the beginning? The beginning of a very dangerous relationship but also potentially the beginning of more very good sex. “Maybe you should see it through. Talk to him or have sex with him, whatever you’re feeling.” She laughed. You giggled, falling forward and hiding your face. 

“I’m so fucked…” You whined.  

“Literally.”  Layla teased, as you noticed yet another visible love bite on your skin.

A few days passed and you were laid sprawled out on your bed, phone in hand, staring at Trent’s pictures on google. It felt so silly, googling him like he was some distant crush you’d never met, but here you were, scrolling through articles and match reports. You wanted to know every detail—how his last game went, what people were saying, the headlines, the photos, the videos. Seeing him on the field in action, looking focused and sharp… and sexy stirred something deep inside you. And then, almost on autopilot, you dialed his number. The ringing made your stomach flip. 

“Hey, pretty girl” When he answered, his voice was warm but fairly surprised.  You froze, suddenly unsure of what you’d meant to say. Why did you just call your brother’s best friend? But his soft laugh on the other end nudged you, and then he spoke again, this time with a hint of something more in his voice. “I’m glad you called. Been thinking about you.” Oh yeah, because he fucked you the other night that’s why you called him. This was a disaster but his words hit you right in the chest, and you let out a quiet, shaky breath, smiling despite yourself. The playfulness between you two was easy and effortless, like slipping into an old habit. The conversation flowed naturally, flirty in a way you couldn’t resist.  When he asked what you were up to you told him you were already in bed, feeling the silence hang heavy between you. He chuckled softly. The moment hung between you, that delicious tension settling in as you lay there, holding your phone to your ear. Hearing Trent’s voice through the speaker, warm and inviting, made your heart beat faster. You took a breath, steadying yourself.

“In bed, yeah?” he murmured, and you could practically hear the smile in his voice. The way he said it was casual enough, but there was an edge—a hint of suggestion that wasn’t lost on you.

“Mm-hmm,” you replied, trying to sound nonchalant, but the little catch in your breath betrayed you. This wasn’t like your usual banter, and you could both feel it.

“Well… that’s a shame,” he said, a hint of a chuckle in his tone. “Because I’m not there.” He teased.

“Not here yet,” you corrected softly, biting your lip. The words slipped out before you could think, surprising even yourself. You really wished he was in your bed right now. A guest bedroom didn’t have the same intimacy your own bedrooms would’ve. You hoped you’d get to have in him in your bed again one day.

“Yet?” he echoed, his voice dropping a bit. The way he said it sent a thrill through you. He sounded… interested. Was he interested?

“You sound a little… distracted, T.” You laughed softly, trying to keep things light. 

“Distracted? I mean, that’s a bold assumption for someone who just called me in bed.” He smiled and although you couldn’t see it, you could hear it.

“Touché,” you admitted. He let out a low laugh, and then his voice softened, almost as if he were drawing closer to you through the line. 

“I’ve been thinking about you, you know… Not just tonight, either.” A little breath caught in your throat, and you felt heat bloom in your cheeks. You’d been thinking about him too—more than you wanted to admit. And yet here he was, saying it so easily, without hesitation. You felt that familiar ease between you two, but now it had a sharper edge to it, something thrilling and dangerous. “Wish I wasn’t stuck in Milan right now… but since you’re in bed and… since you’re all cozy,” he continued, “maybe you could let me see what I’m missing in that bed?” You hesitated, heart pounding. It was so simple, and yet the thought of it felt electric. 

“You mean right now?” You asked almost in shock. There were moments lately that felt like a rubber band to the back of your neck. It almost confused you that Trent was talking to you like this now. Your brother’s best friend essentially was asking for photos. Your head was spinning at his composure. 

“Yeah, baby” he said, his voice almost a murmur. And it was back… suddenly you were ‘baby’ again. “Just a little something to tide me over. Unless you’re too shy? But I didn’t think you got shy when you’re in bed,” he teased, knowing exactly how to make your pulse race.

“I’m not shy.” You let out a quiet laugh, your confidence swelling

“Good.” His voice dropped, that familiar warmth and playfulness making your skin tingle. “Be a good girl and send me a photo.” His voice was soft, coaxing, and it sent a thrill through you. The anticipation made your fingers tingle as you bit your lip, considering it. It felt thrillingly new, even after all these years of knowing him—this version of him, of you, of you two together. You bit your lip, and after a quick glance around your room, you sat up, ripping off your hoodie, adjusting your hair and holding your phone up for a quick snap. You knew it had to be just the right mix of casual and tempting. You could see your nipples through the sheer tank top but the soft smile made it cute, innocent. You weren’t about to send him a nude out the gate but just something to get his mind thinking about being there with you. When you hit send, there was a pause on the other end, and then Trent let out a quiet groan.  “Nah, you’re killing me, you know that?” He groaned. You laughed, feeling emboldened by his reaction. 

“Think you’d want to see me when you’re back? Come be cozy in bed?”  You giggled teasingly. 

“Honestly?” he replied and your heart skipped a beat in the worst way, expecting the worst. A rush of worry maybe he was about to change his mind, “I’m not sure I can hold out much longer” He exhaled, sounding half-playful, half-serious, and you could feel his anticipation echoing back at you. You let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding. You smirked realizing he had been trying to play it cool since you two had sex. You weren’t sure what to think of that, a part of you wondered if he was embarrassed it happened but then the sexual tension of the current moment overruled any cautionary thought you were having. The line went silent for a moment. “There better be space for me in that bed once I’m back. yeah?” He added. The way he said it made your cheeks flush, a promise tucked into his words.

“There always has been, T,” you whispered, surprising even yourself with the quiet assurance in your voice. And with that, you both hung up, your heart racing as you lay back, feeling the anticipation buzz through you.

Layla was away for work down in London when you and Trent hooked up so it was a couple days' time until she got to come over and properly debrief. Once she was back in town Layla was immediately at your house, practically bursting with excitement as soon as she stepped through the door. You barely had time to breathe before you were pulling her into your room to spill all the details.

“Lays… look at me, look at this! He did this. Trent did this!” you said, lifting your little flouncy shorts just enough to reveal the cheeky bruise left on the inside of your thigh. You emphasized his name just to really hammer home that Trent Alexander-Arnold, long time crush, Jack’s best friend, sexy footballer left that on you. You were both giggling like teenagers as you collapsed onto your bed, recounting the details of that night.

“Oh my god!” Layla squealed, eyes wide as she burst into laughter. “That’s very secondary school of you getting love bites.” She teased. You couldn’t help but giggle, the thrill of the moment still fresh in your mind, not caring for her teasing joke. “I’m kidding, girlie, that’s actually kind of nuts considering...” She tilted her head as if you were supposed to know what she was implying. 

“Considering….” You inquired. 

“Y/N, this is the riskiest hook up you both possibly could be involved in, and while I don’t think Jack often sees that much of you… for T to be so in wrapped in the moment of finally getting you into bed, so into fucking you, claiming you, that he’s leaving marks… He’s so into this! He’s down because he’s risking a lot here.” She explained. You fought the sly smile pulling on your lips. The days that followed the night with Trent were a whirlwind of excitement and nervous energy but hearing her explain it like that felt like new insight. After you first had called her, Layla had insisted on analyzing every text message Trent sent you since that night. You were practically glued to your phone, reading and rereading his messages as you waited for more. But now, she was finally here with you so you could share your love bites. You and Layla had planned to drive to Selfridges this afternoon for some shopping for the new season. Whilst on the way there you received a text that made your heart race the second it pinged. 

“He texted meee!” you squealed, showing the screen to Layla, who couldn’t look right away because she was driving but she believed you. The sheer volume of your exclamation made her wince, only one person was eliciting that sort of response from you lately. 

“Oh my god, Y/N, get a grip!” She softly laughed. “You’ve had his number for years!” she teased, rolling her eyes mocking you lightheartedly of course but unable to hide the smile tugging at her lips. She was excited, you were excited. Trent’s text was casual at first, but as you read on, you noticed the subtle undertones. He asked if you and Layla just might happen to want to swing by a club in Manchester this Saturday night, specifically around midnight, and specifically to come join a certain table with him and his friends It was meant to sound nonchalant, but the specifics made it clear he wanted to see you.

The casual tone didn’t fool either of you as you read the full message allowed to her. The exact time and place felt a little too intentional, making it clear that he wanted to see you. Layla smirked, nudging you. You blushed, excitement and nerves churning in your stomach.

“Girl, he’s planned this. With teammates and not his boys i.e not Jack…” Layla remarked, leaning in closer to reread the message for herself at a stoplight. “You know what this means, right?” She smiled. 

“What?” you asked, your heart pounding. Naively, you were struggling with this new relationship with Trent. His ‘older brother’s best friend’ persona was so seared into your brain, the ideas that normally were flowing for you with previous men and what they wanted from you… weren’t coming as easily for some reason. You were overthinking your instincts. It’s not that you didn’t have the desire. You just were so afraid of him not liking you that way, you almost didn’t want to embarrass yourself in front of Trent. You were scared.

“It means he’s not just interested; he’s invested. He’s making plans to see you. You have to go!” Layla cooed. You felt a rush of excitement mixed with a hint of anxiety. You couldn’t shake the thought of what if it was all just fun and games for him? But the way he texted, the way he seemed to genuinely want to see you in a setting like that, made your heart flutter.

“Do you really think I should? He also said you too Lays, so you have to go with me,” you told her, biting your lip nervously.

“Hell yes! We and by we, I mean you, are not going to let an opportunity like this pass you by. By the way… It’s obvious, T thought the first time was good too,” Layla said cheekily, her enthusiasm infectious. “We need to get you ready. Find an outfit that’ll make him forget his own name!” You laughed, feeling a little giddy at the idea. 

“Okay, okay, you’re right. I need to at least give it a go. But I’m still freaking out! Fuck!” You whined, burying your head in your hands almost embarrassed by your nerves. “I have to be careful though… like I can’t do too much. I’m scared he’ll be like… ‘what are you doing?’ or ‘who are you trying to be?’ You know?” You explained once the idea of fashion and outfits came into your mind.

“I get that… we need to be cool, calm, collected… and fucking sexy. Ugh a yellow shopping bag couldn’t come at a better time!” Layla said, pulling into the car park for the department store dreaming of filling the boot with those shopping bags. The thought of seeing Trent again filled you with a mix of excitement and nerves, but you couldn’t help but feel hopeful. You couldn’t help but feel a bit eager for another night with Trent, no matter the consequences at stake. You and Layla spent the entire afternoon bouncing from one brand’s section to another in Selfridges, rifling through racks, holding up options and critiquing each one. Layla was relentless, pushing you to try looks you had a hard time wrapping your head around that somethings so sexy could be for Trent. After some trial and error, you finally found the outfit. You took a deep breath and tucked off into the changing room, slipping lace fabric against your skin, watching how it transformed you. When you stepped out, Layla’s jaw dropped.

“Oh my fucking god, he’s gonna pass out.” Layla laughed almost in disbelief as you stepped out of the changing room in a sheer black lace dress. It was strapless and pushed your boobs up, hugging you in all the right places.  It was dangerously sexy. The dress was just the right side of bold. I mean, it was obvious but in a cool way. You checked yourself out in the mirror, feeling that same rush of excitement and  hint of nerves you’d felt since you got the text.  “This is perfect. It’s so fucking good — ugh I can’t wait to see his face. Nonchalant, my ass, he won’t be able to keep his hands off,” Layla grinned, practically vibrating with excitement.

“Do you really think this is enough?” you asked, adjusting the dress one more time, tilting back and forth to catch the way it moved on you. Layla smirked deviously making it very clear she had more ideas. 

“Yes, but we’re not done… We’re getting you lingerie. If you want him to never think of you as Jack’s sister again, we have to make sure this look, this version of you is seared into his brain Saturday.” She grabbed your hand and dragged you to find La Perla navigating through the store with a determination that made you laugh despite your nerves. The idea of buying this all for your brother’s best friend was fucking insane but you didn’t want him to be just your brother’s best friend anymore. The delicate lace and silky pieces of lingerie were making you blush, remembering how gently he pulled your own panties off you that first night. And so with Layla’s guidance, you started sifting through options, feeling bolder with each choice. At first, you stuck to safe-ish options, something that could pass as an everyday piece—but Layla wasn’t having it. She held up a set that was anything but modest: something lacey that felt both elegant and dangerously seductive. You stared at it, feeling a jolt of confidence and a hint of nervousness.

“Actually just this,” Layla said, putting back the set and grabbing just a scrap of fabric, holding out to you with a smirk. “We do this, no bra, and the dress, that’ll erase any idea that you’re a little sister. You’ll walk in, and that’s the only thing he’ll remember.” You felt electric, standing there, imagining the look on Trent’s face when he saw you in the skimpy piece of fabric you were about to ludicrously pay £200 for. By the time you left Selfridges, you had everything you needed: the perfect dress, heels that made you feel powerful, and a pair of panties that would stay with him long after the night was over. Layla squeezed your arm. “By the way, Y/N… You’re not Jack’s sister, you’re you. That’s why he’s interested. And Trent is not going to forget it.”

That Saturday night was a whirlwind of desire and temptation. Trent’s private table was an oasis of luxury, tucked in the club’s exclusive area surrounded by footballers and bottles of liquor. The lights were dim, casting a seductive glow over the scene, and the air was thick with anticipation.  When you walked into the club you were escorted to the area and Trent's usual composure shattered. He'd planned to keep it cool, but the sight of you in the dress threw his carefully crafted nonchalance out the window. His eyes traveled over you, taking in every curve with a hunger that made him feel both exhilarated and guilty. You were Jack's sister-his best mate's sister-but right now that was being erased. You were here… he wasn’t and now all he could think about was getting you close to him. Close to him so he could get his hands on you and those clothes off you. To keep things casual, he greeted Layla first, introducing her to his teammates so it wasn’t too obvious. But when he finally turned to you, it felt like the room silenced, as if nothing else mattered in that moment. Without a word, his arms wrapped around you, and his hands fell low, cupping the curve of your ass with a daring boldness that sent a surge of adrenaline through both of you. You nestled into him, breathing him in. The scent of him, a woody velvet encircled you wrapping you in the comfort of him. You didn't kiss though, you couldn’t, not out in public, but his touch told you everything. He wanted to. You wanted.

"You look so fucking sexy." He murmured, leaning in close, his breath warm against your ear. You could feel his perfect pout move against the shell of your ear. The words came out low, rough, igniting a blush that you couldn't hide. You draped your arms over his shoulders, letting your fingers trail down his neck as you pulled him closer, eyes gleaming. 

"It can be all for you," you taunted, leaving the promise hanging in the air before slipping away to greet Layla and the others. As you moved away, Trent exhaled, watching you move to greet some of his mates with an exasperated smile. It was going to be a long night, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could play it cool.

You and Layla seamlessly joined Trent and his teammates. It was easy. The energy of the night igniting a fire between you and him though. His eyes stayed locked on you, a mix of longing and mischievous intent as you danced with Layla. He wasn’t one to really dance so for the time being he continued on his quest to play it cool, leaned back on a couch watching you move. Even with distance between you two, the electric connection tether you to him. Your pulse quickening with every glance.  In the dim light of the nightclub, the bass thrummed like a heartbeat in the air, creating a pulsing rhythm that matched the intoxicating sway of the crowd. The atmosphere was thick with a heady mix of laughter, music. The club’s DJ mixed a seamless transition of songs rolling one into the next, a 2010 classic you knew Trent loved. You smirked at him and strutted over, reaching out to him. Your hand extended, unsure if he’d take it. But he did, he grabbed your hand as you pulled him to stand up. Against his usual reserved demeanor to avoid dancing,�� he couldn’t resist you. The club pulsed with the rhythm of Jeremih’s mid 2000’s ‘Put It Down on Me’ vibrating through the floor and mingling with the heat of the room. As the beat of the music wrapped around you, you positioned yourself directly on top of Trent, your back pressed against his chest. The heat from his body radiated through the thin fabric of your dress, every movement heightened by the press of his strong frame. The boundaries between flirtation and something more had long since blurred. The pulsing bass of the club surrounded you, and as Trent's hands settled on your waist, every nerve in you ignited. He pulled you in, letting his fingers slip down, dragging you flush against him as you dragged your own hands down his strong arms before placing your hands overtop of his, guiding them over your body as you moved. You could feel his breath near your ear. The look in his eyes was electric, and as his hands caressed you, a thrill of anticipation for what could happen bloomed between you two. You pulled back just enough, tilting your head back to give him a shy, knowing smile that hinted you weren't about to play it safe tonight, that you didn’t want to. As the night wore on, Trent kept you on him and the drinks kept flowing, the boundaries blurred to a point where it felt like they didn’t exist at all to you. Any attempt to keep things casual had faded as you stayed pressed against him, feeling the heat of his body as you moved together to the rhythm. Your hips swayed, and Trent's hands seemed to find their way to every curve, guiding you as if the whole club had melted away, leaving just the two of you in the moment. The music wrapped you both in its seductive embrace, and every glance he stole felt like a secret promise. You found yourself feeling utterly alive under the spell of his charm. The longer his hands were on you, the more you wanted him, the more deliberate the way you moved against him got, you could feel him against you. 

"You're gonna get me in trouble," he whispered, his lips brushing the shell of your ear. His voice was low and teasing, but you felt the strain behind it, like he was barely holding back, on the verge of breaking. But he invited you tonight, he wanted this even if he was implying that you needed to be cautious. A smirk tugged at your lips as you glanced back at him, feeling bold. You reached up behind you, letting your arm drape back around his neck as you grinded against him, feeling his hands grip you tighter, the friction sending waves of pleasure through both of you. 

"Good," you whispered back. Your tone was playful, a little challenging, and you didn't miss the way his jaw clenched, his eyes darkening as they met yours. You let your free hand guide his up your body, tracing his touch from your hip slowly traveling up your side, over your ribs, the curve of your tits and finally resting on the curve of your throat. The placement of his hand was intoxicating, and Trent’s resolve wavered as he struggled to keep his composure.  Trent’s breath quickened, his other hand’s fingers tightening around your hips as you guided his hand to stay on your neck as you arched into his touch more. He squeezed his eyes shut fast, fighting the surge of desire that threatened to overwhelm him. His fingers gently squeezed your neck, sending a shiver through you. Trent closed his eyes once more for another second, as if willing himself to stay in control, but you knew exactly what you were doing and he knew he wasn’t going to manage much longer, not like this. Every little touch, every brush of your skin, sent his mind spiraling back to the night you'd spent together. And so you continued, your hand guiding his, bringing it from your neck up to your lips. You took his hand in yours and slowly dragged one of his fingers over your lips, letting it linger there. Then, feeling daring, you kissed his finger before slipping it into your mouth with a teasing grin. You took the finger into your warm, wet mouth, your tongue circling it seductively. Trent's eyes snapped open, the tension clear in his expression. Trent’s breath hitched, his control slipping as the warmth and wetness of your mouth made his pulse race. 

"Y/N..." he cautioned, his voice husky. He was trying to keep it together, trying to hold his composure, but you could tell he was barely hanging on and you wanted him to falter. The air around you was charged, electric with the intensity of the moment. The nightclub’s atmosphere seemed to amplify the tension, every beat of the music syncing with the quickened rhythm of your hearts. The intimacy of the gesture, the way you drew him into your world with such daring confidence, left Trent in a state of heated disarray. The private area, the pulsating music, and your body pressed against his created a searing contrast to the cool sophistication of the setting. He could barely think straight as you continued to tease him with your movements and your touch, each moment building towards a crescendo of irresistible need.

"Get me in trouble," you whispered a plea, your voice a soft taunt, challenging him to let go. You felt his breath catch, and for a split second, it seemed like he was going to give in, pull you closer and damn the consequences. His fingers dropped to tighten on your waist, his gaze intense, and you could feel his resolve crumbling with every second. The thrill of it sent a rush through you, knowing you'd pushed him to this point, both of you teetering on the edge of what came next.

Layla was watching with barely concealed amusement, a grin spreading across her face as she took in the scene, proud of her handiwork considering the dress seemed to be more than effective but then again, his fingers were in your mouth moments ago so it was a toss up what really was sending Trent over the age. But she wasn't the only one who saw you two– Trent's teammates had also noticed, exchanging looks that ranged from amused to confused. One of them leaned over to Layla, eyebrows raised.

"That's his mate's sister, right?" He asked earnestly. Layla chuckled, shaking her head. 

"Oh is she ever," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "That is one, sexy, ticking time bomb," She laughed. The music pulsed around you, bodies moving under the lights as Trent leaned in close, his expression intense. He’d had enough. 

“You’re leaving with me. Right now.” He murmured seriously, the command laced with an impatience you could feel from a mile away.

“What do you mean? Why? ” Feigning innocence, you tilted your head. He bit back a smirk, annoyed but undeniably amused by your act. So he decided to play along.

“I mean, you just look a little hot, baby… Think you have too many clothes on.” He told you, making up a farce.  His gaze trailed over you, lingering with obvious intent.  His arm wrapped around you letting his massive hand run over your collarbone over to your shoulder and then down your arm brushing over your skin, slick from the club’s heat.

“I’m in a mini dress, T baby, I think I’m okay.” You whispered with a shrug, biting back a little laugh. He moved in closer, his voice dropping to a husky whisper as his fingers gripped your waist. 

“I said, you have too many clothes on." He said more commandingly. A thrill ran through you, your pulse quickening. "Let me help you, yeah?” He cooed cheekily.

“Maybe you’re right. I think I need you.” You gave him a sly smile then glanced over to find Layla. After making sure she was all set for the night, she told you to go and you hugged her goodbye promising you’d check in to make sure one of the other boys got her home safely. She wasn’t exactly keen about leaving since she had hit it off with one of the other boys there. She shot you a knowing grin and a wink as you slipped away with Trent, his hand gripping yours with unmistakable possession as he led you through the crowd. You quickly mouthed a ‘love you’ to her, her smirk only widening as she watched you and Trent disappear. Trent tugged you closer to him, his hand dropping to your lower back to keep you close and protect as he guided you through the crowd and toward the exit. As he led you out to the private exit, his hand firmly grasping yours, you felt a giddiness wash over you. It felt surreal to leave somewhere like this with him. The alcohol and the adrenaline from the night's adventures had left you feeling fearless and carefree. You giggled as he dragged you along, your high heels clicking against the ground. 

"Hey, slow down, needy boy" you slurred, attempting to match his long strides. "I can barely keep up with you.” You giggled. Trent needed to leave out the back for his car service to pick him up. He did it often but especially tonight, he couldn’t risk paparazzi. He looked at you, his expression torn between frustration and desire, his hand still warm in yours.

"I fuck… I couldn't... God, fuck baby… I hate that I can’t just…" he started, stumbling through thoughts you had a hard time connecting. His voice was rough as he struggled to find the words. But then his gaze met yours, and in a second, he was leaning in, his lips crashing onto yours in a kiss that made everything else disappear. The restraint he'd held onto all night finally snapped, and you felt his hands tighten around you, pulling you close in the back exit halls as if he couldn't get enough.  “I need to get you home. Been dying to kiss you. I couldn’t take it anymore. Been driving me crazy all night." Trent chuckled, his deep voice sending a shiver down your spine.

“I want to go home, baby.” You playfully whined,  your eyes sparkling with mischief. The cool night air hit you like a shock, but Trent's firm grip anchored you, his urgency undeniable. As soon as you were outside, he pulled you into him, glancing around once over as if checking to make sure no one followed towards the car.

“Gonna be a good girl f’me when we get home?” He asked you and you nodded slowly but desperately.  The lights from the club cast a hazy glow around you, making everything feel surreal. You got into the black car equipped with security that had waited for you two. The drive back to his place felt like an eternity. You were dying to get there but terrified to go at the same time. His hands were subtly all over you during the car ride building up the tension even more than you thought possible. The heat radiating off your bodies, and the way his gaze lingered on your lips had you desperate for him. As you approached his house, you could feel your heart pounding in your chest, a mixture of nerves and anticipation. 

With a swift movement, Trent unlocked his front door and pulled you inside, his eyes dark with desire. The moment the door closed behind you, he crashed his lips against yours, hungrily devouring your mouth. His kiss was aggressive, demanding, and it took your breath away. You responded eagerly, your hands gripping his shoulders, feeling the hard muscles beneath his shirt. He pulled back momentarily, his eyes scanning your face, searching for any hesitation. 

"Are you sure about this, Y/N? I don't want to push you too far. But I’m having a hard time controlling myself here" He asked earnestly. A wave of desire washed over you, and you knew you wanted this as much as he did, maybe more. 

"Stop asking," you whispered, your voice laced with need. "Just fuck me, T. I want you to fuck me again. Make me cum again." A devilish grin spread across his face, and he wasted no time in taking control. His hands roamed over your body, unzipping your dress and roughly pulling it down, exposing your bare skin. He traced his fingers along the curve of your waist, down to the swell of your hips, and then back up, cupping your tits.

"You're so fucking sexy," he growled, his lips finding your neck, nipping and suckling on your sensitive skin. "You promised you’d be a good girl f’me. Yeah?"  He smoke against your skin. You nodded as you arched your back, offering yourself to him, your breath coming in shallow gasps. 

"T, baby… don't hold back. I’m serious. I’ll do whatever you want. I want it rough. I want to forget everything but your touch."  Trent’s eyes lit up. This was all still so new and he was more than excited to hear you talk to him like that. His hands moved with purpose, completely removing your dress freeing your heavy tits. He palmed them, squeezing and kneading, his thumbs teasing your sensitive nipples. 

"Fuck, your tits are incredible," he groaned, his lips moving to capture a nipple, sucking it into his warm mouth. You moaned loudly, your head falling back as pleasure coursed through your body. His mouth felt incredible on your sensitive flesh, and you couldn't help but beg for more. 

"Oh fuck, please. I need more." You cried out. He released your nipple with a pop, leaving it aching and tingling. 

"You've always wanted me, haven't you, baby?" he teased, his voice laced with a hint of dominance. "Admit it, you've been craving my cock inside you since the other week." He growled.  Your cheeks flushed with embarrassment and arousal. You weren’t sure you were ever going to get over how sexy it was to hear Trent talk like this to you, and it sent a thrill through your core. 

"Yeah huh... I've always wanted you. You know I have,” you whispered, your voice barely audible. “I want you to use me,T." You weren't thinking it in real time but you almost didn’t recognize the words coming out of your mouth, you’d never been this down for a man before, so willing, so submissive. 

“Fuck… Wear these just for me, baby?” He asked lust burning behind his dark mahogany eyes as he admired the La Perlas you’d worn exactly as he said... just for him.  You hummed confirming. “Such a good girl for me.” Trent snickered, his hands moving down to the waistband of your thong roughly pulling them off you, exposing your glistening folds. You gasped. "I’ll buy you more baby, don’t worry. I know you… you like to be dirty for me. You’ve been craving my touch, my cock, huh?” Your skin was on fire under his touch, your pussy throbbing and dripping with need. 

"Please, Trent," you pleaded, your voice hoarse. "Touch me, I'm so wet for you." He didn't need any more encouragement. His fingers delved between your legs, finding your swollen clit, and began to stroke and tease. 

"Fuck, you're so fucking wet," he grunted, his breath hot against your ear. "I love how you get so turned on by me." Your body trembled as his fingers worked their magic, circling your clit, sliding into your slick heat.

"Yeah�� I fuck.. Oh my god. For you baby. Oh God, yes," you whimpered a jumble of words, your hips thrusting against his hand. "Right there, please, don't stop." You moaned. Trent's touch was relentless, his fingers plunging deep inside you, curling and stroking your sweet spot. 

"That's it, baby, cum for me. I want to feel your pussy clench around my fingers." Your orgasm built rapidly, your body coiling tighter with each stroke of his skilled fingers. 

"I'm gonna cum, baby!" you cried out, your voice hoarse and raw. He increased the pace, his thumb rubbing your clit in firm circles. 

"That's it, let it all out. Cum for me, pretty girl.” He cooed as your release hit you like a tidal wave, your body shaking as pleasure consumed you. You cried out his name, your nails digging into his shoulders as wave after wave of ecstasy washed over you. “Good girl.” He gently praised you kissing your neck. As your tremors subsided, Trent gently removed his fingers, leaving you feeling sensitive and sated. He picked you up and brought you up to the bedroom, his eyes locked on you, your chest heaving as you came down, kissing his neck "Get on the bed f’me, baby," he commanded, his voice thick with desire. "I want to taste every inch of you." And so you did as he asked, your body still buzzing from the intensity of your climax downstairs. You laid back on the soft sheets, your eyes never leaving his as he stood before you, his erection straining against his trousers. With deliberate movements, Trent undressed, revealing his toned, sculpted body. He pulled his shirt over his head and your jaw slacked as his muscles flexed. Your mouth went dry as you took in the sight of him, his cock thick and hard, straining towards you. He climbed onto the bed, positioning himself between your thighs, his eyes smoldering with hunger. "You're so fucking beautiful," he growled, his hands caressing your inner thighs, spreading you open. "I'm gonna eat you out until you beg me to stop." You nodded. You were borderline delirious. The first time you had to be quiet, you almost had to be quick before but so far… this had been a complete 180 from that and it was proving to somehow be even better. His head lowered, his warm breath ghosting over your sensitive flesh. He teased you, kissing and nipping at your inner thighs, kissing over the faded remnant of his last visit to your core, making you squirm with anticipation. Finally, his tongue found your aching clit, flicking and swirling, sending jolts of pleasure through your body.

"Oh God, Trent," you moaned, your hands threading to grip his hair, holding him close. "Your mouth feels so good. Don't stop, please." He chuckled against your skin, his smugness palpable but you didn’t care, the vibrations sent shivers down your spine, it felt too good. 

"You taste so sweet, baby. I could do this all night." His tongue delved deeper, penetrating your wetness, licking and sucking, driving you wild. You were lost in a haze of pleasure, your body responding to his every touch. His fingers joined his tongue, thrusting into your tight hole, stretching and filling you. 

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, please, baby!" you cried out, your hips bucking against his face. Trent's mouth and fingers worked in perfect harmony, driving you to the brink of another mind-blowing orgasm. Trent could feel his cock getting so hard from hearing and watching and making you cum. He was almost about to explode himself but he needed to experience it again. He was obsessed. 

"Cum for me again, baby," he urged, his voice muffled against your flesh. "Let me feel you squeeze around my fingers. Be my good girl again." Your body obeyed, the sensations overwhelming you as you tumbled over the edge once more. Your cries filled the room as your pussy clenched and spasmed around his invading fingers. As your tremors subsided, Trent slowly withdrew his fingers, leaving you breathless and spent. He rose above you, his cock poised at your entrance, ready to claim what was his. "You're so fucking responsive, baby. I love how you cum for me." You reached up, running your hands over his chest, feeling his heart pounding beneath your touch. 

"I need more of you, T. Please, I need you inside me. I want to make you cum now, baby." You told him as he positioned himself at your entrance, his cock teasing your wetness.

"Tell me what you want, baby. I want to hear you beg." Your cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but your desire overrode any inhibitions. 

"Please, T," you pleaded, your voice thick with need. "Fuck me, hard. I want to feel you deep inside me. I want to be a good girl for you.” Your words went straight to his cock. He smiled deviously and with one swift thrust, he slid inside,  filling you completely, in your lustful haze forgetting condoms existed. Your eyes widened at the sensation of his thick shaft stretching you, taking you by surprise. "Oh my God," you gasped, your body adjusting to his size. 

"You like that, huh?" he grunted, his voice strained. "You love my cock inside you, don't you, baby?"  You nodded, unable to form words, your body already building towards another climax. Trent began to move, his hips thrusting in a slow, deliberate rhythm, each stroke hitting your sweet spot you’d never known before. “Take my cock. That’s it.” He growled, his hands gripping your thighs, holding you open for his possession. The pleasure was intense, each thrust sending sparks of ecstasy through your body. You matched his rhythm, your hips rising to meet his, your breasts bouncing with each impact. 

"Oh fuck, baby. You’re so deep." you chanted, your nails digging into his back, marking him as your own. Trent's eyes rolled back as he pounded into you, his control slipping with each thrust. Your mind turning to mush. You couldn’t think of anything else but the roll of Trents hips. Each thrust clouding your mind more. His lips coming to kiss and suck on your exposed collarbone. 

"Fuck, you feel so good, baby. I want you to cum on my cock. I need to feel you– Fuck!” Trent grunted. You were wrong the first time, that wasn't the best sex either of you had ever had… this was. Your body was on fire, your pussy clenching and milking his shaft, desperate for his release. 

"Cum inside me T," you begged, your voice hoarse. “I want you to fill me up, please." You whined. His thrusts starting to become sloppier.  Hearing you say that made his mind go blank. He tried to ask you ‘what?’ Or ‘are you sure?’ But he couldn't process what you were saying. It turned him on too much to even think straight. “Please, I need you. I want to feel you cum.” You demanded wrapping your legs around his waist tighter, holding him to you. 

“Baby…” Trent grunted, not sure what to do. He felt like he was glitching; he couldn't process both minds. 

“I’m on birth control, please T… Do it, baby. Please.” You whined pathetically. It’s all you could think about. It’s all you wanted. You wanted to feel him. So you clenched around him and he moaned. He reached down between your body’s to rub your clit in sync with his rough pace. 

“Yeah? Alright, I’ll give you what you want, baby.  I’m gonna… fuck…” He babbled through words. You nodded as the knot in your stomach grew tighter and tighter. 

“Oh fuck…” You whined as he hit your g spot again and again relentlessly. You gripped his biceps, nails leaving crescent marks on his tanned toned arms. 

“Doing so good, baby. I got you. I’m gonna cum. Shit! Squeezing me so fucking tight.” He grunted still thrusting into you as his abs tensed. His eyes rolled back a little with deep breaths. He let out a guttural roar as he plunged deep, his cock throbbing as he emptied himself inside you. Wave after wave of his hot cum filled your depths, triggering another earth-shattering orgasm within you. Your body quivered as your pussy tightened around him. Your bodies convulsed together, locked in a blissful embrace as pleasure consumed you both. He slowed almost to a halt as his cock pulsed inside your warm pussy. He pumped you full of his cum, painting your insides. He caught your lips with a sweet kiss.  As your tremors subsided, Trent collapsed onto the bed beside you, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. He turned towards you though just in time to see your eyes sparkling with satisfaction. "You okay? Did so good f’me. You were incredible, baby.” He kissed your temple pulling you tight to him. He smiled, his eyes full of affection. You hummed but couldn’t get any words out just yet, completely spent. You snuggled closer, your fingers tracing the contours of his face.  He captured your hand, pressing a tender kiss to your palm. Trent kissed your forehead and rolled off the bed. “Stay right there f’me. One minute” He cooed softly.

“You’re perfect,” You giggled quietly as Trent returned with a warm towel gently wiping up your thighs and sensitive core. He was so soft as he worked his way around, cleaning you up, leaving kisses on your warm skin after it was wiped clean. He laid down next to you and you just stared at him appreciatively. 

“Okay… all good, baby?” He tenderly asked. You nodded, pulling him into you. As you lay there, entwined in each other's arms, you knew that this night had changed everything. The secret you shared would bind you together, and the passion that ignited between you was burning brighter than ever before.

Naively, you hadn't exactly anticipated waking up naked and tangled in your brother's best friend's sheets after the club, feeling the steady rhythm of Trent's heartbeat under your cheek. As reality set in, you let out a quiet groan, a mix of bliss and uncertainty. You really liked Trent, but what were you both doing? What were you thinking? Sure you didn’t kiss at the club but anyone could've seen you together last night. Not to mention what happened in the privacy of Trent’s bed last night. This wasn't fair to Jack. Yet, the warmth of Trent's arms around you made it hard to think of anything else. Then suddenly you could feel those gorgeous brown eyes fixed on you. 

"Stop staring at me," you giggled sleepily, sensing Trent's gaze on you as you lay draped across his chest.

"You're so beautiful," he murmured, his fingers tracing light circles on your bare back, pulling you from every nagging worry.

"Stop," you muttered shyly. "Also, you've 100% seen me sleep before..."

"Not like this," he replied, his voice soft but teasing. "Not in my bed, not on top of me, not naked... definitely not after we had sex." His smirk made you both laugh and blush, but you didn't pull away.

"Did I live up to your expectations?" you teased, hiding a bit of genuine curiosity.

"Surpassed them," he whispered, tilting your face to look at him. "From the first kiss," he added, his eyes warm, making you feel seen in a way that felt new and thrilling. You cuddled closer, sighing into his warmth, a quiet, affectionate 

"My T..." escaping your lips in a soft murmur. Trent's lips curled into a smile. 

"Yeah? Yours now?” He teased as a wave of embarrassment and surprise washed over you. You felt the urge to pull back, realizing what you'd just said. You felt it, you felt he’d been yours for forever but now with your arms around him it felt more real. You just regretted saying it aloud massively.  But before you could say anything more to backtrack, he beat you to it. "Good. I like that." His voice was a gentle reassurance, grounding you in the moment. You couldn't help but smile, pressing closer into his embrace, thinking that maybe-just maybe-this was worth all the risk. You stayed in bed, savoring the lingering warmth and thrill of the night before, feeling like you were tangled up in the best and most complicated decision of your life. Trent stretched beside you, rubbing the back of his neck. He groaned, dramatizing his soreness. 

“I gotta run to training, baby,” he murmured, sitting up, his voice hesitant. “But you know, like… where stuff is, or… I don’t know,” he added with a shy laugh, glancing over at you.

“It’s fine,” you assured him, trying to mask the slight guilt you felt for even being at his place. “I can let myself out.” You shyly told him. But Trent shook his head, looking at you earnestly. 

“Nah, I don’t mean that. I meant…” He paused, then took a deep breath. “If you want, you could… hang out, y’know? Till I get back.” A small, hopeful smile played on his lips. He wanted more than just a hook-up, but he also didn’t want to push you too much, too soon. There was a fine line here. You knew each other so well already so it was hard to find the right medium. 

“Okay…” you replied softly, rolling over and nuzzling deeper into his bed, feeling the comforting scent of him on the sheets. It was the softest, most comfortable place you’d ever been, and every inch of you wanted to stay wrapped in that feeling. Trent leaned over, pressing a gentle kiss to your shoulder blade, lingering just a moment. He rested his forehead there, warm and content. The quiet promise hung between you both, and when he finally pulled away, the smile on his face mirrored your own. This was everything you’d ever dreamed of.

That night and the following day made everything very real for you. You would text but it was tense. Not in a negative way, just in a dangerous way. It was flirty but cautious. Neither of you knew what the other wanted out of this. It was insane you were doing this, risking it all, but it felt far too forward to just jump into something like dating. It was hard not to wonder if this was all just a physical thrill for him. He could get any girl, so why just use you for that… But in any case you weren’t exactly going to stop him. The two times you had sex were the best of your life. The days after would unfold in a series of stolen glances and held-back smiles, a mix of excitement and uncertainty hovering between you and Trent. Now that you both knew how good the sex was, you made sure not to spend too much time alone, knowing full well how easily things would spiral. Whenever he’d text you something cheeky, it’d leave you grinning and tense all at once. The messages bounced back and forth, his words flirty but guarded, your responses mirroring the same cautious playfulness. Both of you circled around what you wanted, but neither quite daring to define it. The tension simmered, unspoken questions lingering. Did he just want something physical? Was this a fling, or was he holding back for the same reasons you were? A small part of you worried, wondering if he saw this as a thrill, something exciting but ultimately fleeting. But another part of you couldn’t let it go—not when the chemistry felt this real, this undeniable. Not after some of the things he’d said to you. So you found yourself slipping further into it… into him, savoring the anticipation, not ready to pull back even as you held on tightly to the ‘what ifs.’ For now, neither of you were stopping, and maybe that was all that mattered.

One evening, you returned home from a dinner with friends, laughter still lingering on your lips when you saw him there…Trent, perched at the kitchen island next to your brother, Jack. The ease you'd felt moments ago fizzled into something else entirely, a mix of excitement and nerves. You hadn't expected him to be here tonight, and the realization set off a charge between you that felt impossible to ignore. Trent's eyes found yours the second you walked in, and you saw something flicker in his gaze. The cocky confidence he usually wore so easily faltered; he swallowed, letting his eyes flutter closed for just a second, as if seeing you threw him off balance. He knew he should've texted to give you a heads-up, but he didn't know the rules any more than you did. Were there rules at all? There had been no conversations, no ‘what are we doing’ talks, only late-night touches and whispered promises that lingered like secrets. Now, here he was, in your space again, and the unspoken tension between you felt all the more real with Jack in the room. 

Jack was hunched over, engrossed in a tub of ice cream as he scooped out of it directly with a spoon, clearly settled in the comforts of his own home. You walked over and playfully swiped a bit off the lid, the cold against your finger a welcome distraction as you licked it off. The whole time, you could feel Trent's gaze tracking every movement, his stare so intense you almost felt heat radiate off him. When you glanced up, his eyes were fixed on you, almost as if willing himself to look away. You sucked on your finger pretending to be innocent purring a ‘yum.’ He shut his eyes briefly, as though watching you was more than he could bear. Once the ice cream was cleanly off your finger and you knew Trent was locked in you casually peeled off the sweatshirt you had on, too aware of the way your shirt underneath it clung to your frame and you wanted to show him just that. As you pulled the jumper over your head, the fabric of your top underneath rose up, you watched as Trent's jaw tightened, his gaze dropping to the bare skin revealed beneath the hem. He mouthed ‘stop; at you, his eyes pleading, though his lips hinted at a smirk, like he was caught between amusement and frustration. You couldn't help but return the smirk, leaning into the innocence of the moment while savoring the effect it had on him. As you moved to brush past Trent's kitchen island stool, your hand slid against the cool countertop, steadying you as you sent him a flirtatious look. Jack, completely oblivious but mildly annoyed by your stealing swipe, reached for the ice cream tub and turned to walk back over to the freezer to put it away with a small grumble. Tren wasn't having your teasing though. As Jack’s back turned, his hand shot out, grabbing your waist and pulling you closer with enough possessiveness to make your breath catch. His fingers pressed into your side, holding you in place as he leaned in, his voice low and rough against your ear.

"Stop it," he whispered, his words a command masked in a tease, his breath hot against your skin. His smirk was still there, but you could sense he was barely keeping his composure. You swallowed, feeling his grip tighten ever so slightly, each inch between you charged with electricity. “Thought you liked being a good girl f’me?” His voice was soft, teasing, and you felt his fingers flex against your waist. He chuckled under his breath. His fingers slid from your waist just as Jack shut the refrigerator door, your cheeks flushed as you stepped back, trying to steady your breathing and maintain the playful pretense. But the truth was, every touch, every glance was unraveling the control you'd both been clinging to. Jack turned back around, oblivious once more, but you and Trent exchanged another look, the kind that said everything you couldn't out loud. The thrill was undeniable, but beneath it all was a question that neither of you wanted to ask-was this just a game, or was there something more? And with Jack so close, both of you knew one thing: the stakes were only getting higher.

You headed up to your room, turning down the invitation to join Jack, Trent, and their friends who’d since come over for another movie night. It wasn’t that you didn’t want to, but being in the same room as Trent right now—so close, yet unable to act on how you felt—seemed like torture. And in addition to that torture you couldn’t do this to Jack. The touches in the kitchen were already unfair. Not in his own home. You needed space to cool down, away from the tension that always sparked whenever Trent was near. But once upstairs, your phone buzzed. It was Trent, and just seeing his name on your screen made your heart race.

The message read, casual but with an undertone you couldn’t quite place. You smirked, already forming a response in your head.

You replied, keeping it short and sweet, trying to play it cool. You didn’t want him to think you were avoiding him, even if part of you was.  Seconds later, another buzz. 

You couldn’t help but laugh. It was a little inside joke between you two. Trent always teased you about your habit of talking through films, but secretly, you knew he liked your commentary and questions. And now, you definitely knew he liked your company. Your fingers hovered over the screen as you typed out a response, trying to ignore how giddy you felt.

His next message came in almost immediately, and it stopped you in your tracks. 

Your heart skipped a beat, and you had to read it twice just to make sure you weren’t imagining things. Was he really asking what you thought he was asking? You stared at your phone, biting your lip as a wave of nervous excitement washed over you. This wasn’t a casual hangout invite—it felt like something more. Something you’d both been skirting around for too long. Your mind raced as you considered how to respond, trying to balance your excitement with the need to not come off too eager. You didn’t think it was a date but it was hanging out alone and not some sort of drunk lustful afterthought. 

You finally typed, keeping your tone light, though inside, your pulse quickened. You didn’t want to give away how much this meant to you—not yet. You were relieved Trent’s reply came fast.

You flopped back onto your bed, covering your face with a pillow to muffle the excited squeal that escaped your lips. Your legs kicked the air as your mind raced. Was this really happening? The thought of being alone with him, away from prying eyes, sent a thrill through you that you couldn’t quite suppress. You typed out your next reply, trying to keep your cool. 

You typed feeling mildly braver.

Trent texted back, simple, direct, and flirty… and perfect. All of it somehow made it even more exciting. You tossed your phone onto the bed, rolling over as a grin spread across your face. You couldn’t even play it cool on the outside, inside, you were buzzing but your texts read calm… at least you hoped they did. Regardless, Trent and you had just decided the line was officially gone and you couldn’t wait to see what happened now.

•

Thank you for reading! Please like, comment, or message what you think of the chapter or of what's to come!

Next part - Chapter 5 - Together or Apart xx

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(yes, i reposted this. i needed to edit the dates. thank you to those who will re-reblog and re-like.)

it's finally here. a major quick thank you for all the love and patience everyone has shown me over this series. i hope it's worth the wait.

word count: 11k.

it's getting real now...

CHAPTER TWO: MASTERMIND

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH, SIGMA NU CHAPTER HOUSE

Chistine Kiko just handed you an eighth of mushrooms and you weren’t one to disappoint. Even if it was your first time. “My fucking dad wouldn’t let me do anything in the Hamptons. I literally only had my dab pen and coke. Like, what kind of person does that?” 

They taste like fucking shit, Christine licked her pudgy fingers dry while you were gagging between chews. “He sounds,” baby barf, “like a monster.” She doesn’t pick up on your sarcasm, “thank you! Everyone said I was being dramatic too, glad to know I can rely on you.” 

You cough on the last swallow, Christine patted at your back, a red solo cup pushed in your hand. “Drink. I mean, he bossed me around all summer too. He thinks I wanna be like him, like, try that with your other kids?” You pull the cup down, “you’re an only child?” 

Christine shrugs, “it’s never too late.” You hum while you finish the mixture, it was ultra sweet, you assume it was full of booze. “So, basically, you’re gonna have a super fun time and I will totally be here for you if you need me, but I have friends to see, ya know?” 

It’s a nice way of saying she will absolutely not be around if you need her. You stop her with a hand on her wrist, “wait, how long until this hits? Will I know?” Christine smirks, “about an hour, give or take. Ride the wave and pick a bed to land in.” 

You’re alone for an entire two minutes, just enough time to get your own cup of jungle juice, the same mixture as Christine’s, before an arm drops around your shoulders. The voice alone makes you want to eat sand, you just know he’s about to say something stupid. 

With his girlfriend in tow, blonde hair whips towards you, a snotty smirk, “did you see Harvey yet?” It takes everything in you not to wack his arm. “No, not yet.” 

“Well, I’m sure he’s going to love your top.” You huff at him, “this wasn’t even the shirt Ally wanted me to wear, so, fuck you!” Matt holds a hand to his chest, “I am in a committed relationship, and even if I wasn’t, ew.” 

“Don’t flatter yourself, blondie. I’ve seen cuter rats.” He narrows his eyes, “I will pray for evil to find you.” Ally gasps, “Matty, no.” 

Holding a middle finger up, your eyes wander around the room until you zone in on Harvey resting against the staircase, a gleam of light hits his wrist, silver dances in your eyes. 

Harvey must have felt you, his chin rises in a poor excuse for a nod. You flash a four finger wave, raising your cup to your mouth when he starts laughing with a friend. Matt pokes your elbow at the interaction, “what kind of dress are you wearing to the wedding?” 

You grin, “I’m not sure yet, I don’t wanna clash with Ally.” You turn to her, “we both can’t wear white, right?” 

“Hey, hey, hey, if anyone’s going to marry Ally it’s me, and it’ll be in a church so you’ll either sit it out or burn.” 

Checking your phone you nibble at your lip, thirty eight minutes. Trent’s nowhere to be found, you need to start looking. And subtly. You take a step back, pretending to be interested in a fake text. “Give me five minutes, I need to make a call.” Ally’s quick to give the go ahead, “okay, text me if you can’t find us!”

Thirty seven minutes. Your shoulder hits a freshman’s, jungle juice splashes on the hardwood; spilling out an apology you step over the puddle. A boy you haven’t seen before smiles at you, if you weren’t on a mission, you’d be saying hello. 

You loop by the garage, heart stuttering when you capture Peter and Ethan playing a game of beer pong. Trent wasn’t there, your last hope and prayer was in the backyard. 

Surrounded by rose bushes, the chapter president had his lips wrapped around a cigarette. The red glow lit his cheeks up on the inhale, two girls and another guy with him, you think you shared a class with one of the girls last year. 

Trent catches your eyes, it’s clear you both don’t want anyone to know what’s going on. He directed his gaze towards your phone, a hand moved around in his pocket before he produced his own. 

You stare at your home screen, expecting the message any second. It comes when you move back inside. 

‘Use the backstairs, my room is on the left at the end of the hall.’ 

‘Give me five minutes.’ 

Thirty two minutes, you don’t have any time to waste. Your feet hit the stairs. 

Trent’s room is messy and terribly decorated. Clothes covered the floor, empty bowls and plates scattered across his desk, a still sweating, sealed water bottle makes you smack your lips. How tempting. 

A string of flags, a political one that doesn’t surprise you in the slightest, a ‘Saturdays are for the boys’ one, and a black and white american flag. The trio makes you roll your eyes, it seems very fitting for his personality. No shoe has a matching partner in the entire room, you’re scared to think of what might be under his bed. 

You don’t feel safe or comfortable enough to sit on it either, it’s unmade and with a noticeable and questionable looking stain. He does have a couch though, and it looks very, very comfortable. It feels like you’d sink right in. It’s not enticing enough, you don’t trust it. 

You check your phone again, it’s been five minutes and it could be the liquor, but you feel a slight wobble. Twenty three minutes until blast off Trent slides through a small crack in the door, your arms cross defensively.  “I know you’re not fucking me, but you can at least pretend to care about my time.” 

“Wrong. I wouldn’t care about you, even if you were fucking me.” He proudly takes a seat at his desk, he offers you nothing. A smug look rolls over, “you’ve built it up long enough, what do you need from me?” 

The sooner it’s over, the better. “My friends and I have a bet on your potential new members, if the person I pick makes it through recruitment, I win. I need you to make sure I win.” 

Trent’s facade slips, even just for a millisecond. “One more time, and I need you to be very clear on it, alright?” 

Were you slurring your words? You try to speak clearer. “I know someone who’s going to pledge, and I promise you he has no involvement in this, but I need him to be recruited so I can win some money. All I need is for you to make sure I win and they don’t.” 

A brief pause, Trent looks sympathetic. “I’m sorry, but I can’t help you with that.” You cut him off, he accepted the terms last Friday, and again when you sent over copies of your- Noa’s hard discoveries. 

“No, no, Trent, you did. You said anything I needed, and I need this.” 

“If you would’ve told me what you needed, you would’ve known I couldn’t help you.” 

“This is bullshit, I’ll start singing from the rooftops about your payoff.” 

“No, you won’t. I’m the president, so I get final say on who we fully recruit-” You roll your eyes, “I know.” 

“- but I don’t get to choose who makes it past rush, you need a member to bid on a pledge. You need someone to big brother him, I can’t do that. If I get involved it becomes dirty rushing, and that is the biggest ‘no no’ to exist.” 

You slump, everything comes crashing down. “So… you can’t even pull rank here?” Trent shakes his head, “absolutely not.” 

“So this was all for nothing?” 

“If you can find a member to bid on him, you have my promise he’ll make it, and I’ll cut whoever you need so you can win. That’s it.” 

You’re at a loss, you have no other member you could ask. Matt could never keep a secret, you didn’t know Ethan well enough and there was no way in hell you’d ask- “Want my advice? Parker is your best bet.” 

You shake your head wildly, it takes a moment for your mind to click back into place. “You really want to involve someone else into this? You know what’s at stake, right?” You’re hinting at his secret, Trent shrugs. 

“If anyone is going to know about it, I’d want it to be Parker. He can keep a secret and has no issue in playing dirty if he’s in on it.” You’re suddenly very thirsty, you keep licking your lips for moisture. 

“He doesn’t know who I am.” Not a total lie. 

“Then introduce yourself.” 

You shouldn’t have to do anything, he’s the one not making good on his promise. You made good on your end and in return he’s barely lifting a finger. Maybe it had something to do with not wanting Peter involved due to fear of judgment. Or, maybe he’d be impressed like Trent. 

If you wanted Peter to be a conquest, it couldn’t start by you asking for a favor. That was friend behavior, and you wanted to be anything but friends. This was Trent’s problem, not yours. He doesn’t understand that you can make things difficult for him if he backs out. 

Your tongue is thick and you need water. You have no time for this. 

“Listen, Trent. This is your problem. I held up my end of the bargain, and you have to do yours. I don’t care how you do it, but you’re going to pledge Isaac Barns. If you don’t, I’ll turn shit around and make this the dirty frat, the frat that cheated for first place.” 

Trent held a clenched jaw, you saw nothing but fury in his eyes. “We’ll figure something out. No need to get mouthy.” If you had more time you’d entertain his comment, but it’s clear he’d figure something out. 

You eye the plastic water bottle next to him, snatching it from the side. “And I’m taking this, talk to me when you have a plan, Simpson!” When his door slams shut, it rings in your ears. 

You feel every muscle in your legs move while you walk, and within minutes it seemed like everything got brighter. A vibration washes down the back of your thigh, you slap around, it’s your phone. A single text. 

‘friend?’ 

You’ve been missing too long, one way to stop the questions. 

‘Finding Harvey…’ the response was a keyboard smash. 

Blinking harsh, the room feels like it’s blending together. You’ve never felt this way, it’s like the entire house is moving underneath your feet. The floor waves you into the crowd, everything feels like it’s slow motion, yet sped up at the same time. 

“Hey!” You don’t know who it is, it’s a stranger, his voice sounds distorted. You shake your head clear, and step right by him. You’re on a mission and can’t be sidetracked, things are hitting quickly and you need to find Harvey to explain plans have taken a very sharp left. 

A spin of bodies, you find one that stands out. You catch her shoulders. 

“Lindsey!” You fight for the words, they’re like butter. “Have you seen Harvey Guyn?” 

She’s fucking plastered, a slur of letters string out. “... hall.. wine… yeah! haha…” A gasp when she sees a friend across the house, you’re forgotten in a second. Putting your faith in her, you take careful steps, slapping your hands on the wine closet and tugging it open.

“Harvey! You in here? Lindsey said you were-” there was no chance to finish, Harvey was busy doing it for you. His head was thrown back on the wall tiles, a guttural moan ripped from his throat. Wrapped around his fist was a tight hold of black hair, to help Christine Kiko keep his dick swallowed down.

“Oh shit,” you slam the door on them, standing in shock for a few seconds. It wasn’t about him hooking up with her, he could do what he wanted. But it wasn’t everyday you saw something like that in person, and you had to give credit to Christine, she was taking it like a champ. 

It gave you an out for the night, you were too high for anything but breathing. 

Thank god for Christine Kiko. And really bless her for catching up with you in record time spurting apologies while wiping her mouth clean. “I know, I know, you guys were hooking up, but-” 

You stop her sorry, “how’d you know?” She rakes her long nails through her hair to untangle it, it comes out clean instantly. “My dad is super simping for his dad and we vacationed together this year so he had me try and make Harvey happy so he could tell his dad they should do business.” 

Christine has no idea how fucked up that sounds, “what would he have done if you were his son?” She doesn’t miss a beat, “Harvey swings both ways, doesn’t he?” 

Music shakes your feet, Christine’s hair looks soft. It’s black and pin-straight, you reach out, you comb your fingers through without a hint of struggle. “Wow, you take such good care of your hair.” 

“Rice water, you’re welcome.” She looks back at the door, “I need some things to finish up, but um, you feeling alright? It looks like it’s settling in.” It is. You’re busy twisting the cap on your water bottle, the small ridges skate across your thumb to create a soothing repetition. “Yeah.” 

It makes her smile, “yeah? You should go outside, the trees look fucking awesome, even when it’s dark.” You thank her for the idea, and stand still for a little too long after Christine retreats back to the wine closet. You think it’s your brain trying to remember how to walk, you blame the bass reverberating off the flooring. 

The second you’re able to actually pick your feet up, you move three steps before noticing it feels like you have lead boots on. You clomp towards the couches, perched on the side, sitting pretty, was your best friend. 

Making eye contact, you replay what just happened. You can’t stop it, it’s uncontrollable, bubbling from your throat, you laugh. Loudly. The longer you laugh, the more intense it gets. Ally has no idea what’s going on, but you assume the giggle is contagious. 

“What! Tell me!” You’re trying, but you can’t catch your breath. Each time you try to push more than two words out, you’re back to laughing so hard your shoulders shake. There’s only one reason you’re finding this so funny, you try to collect yourself. “I…” Another round, Ally’s right with you; you think she’s just excited to see what’s got you so giddy. 

“Okay, okay. Christine Kiko gave me some shrooms, and they, like, just hit. Also, I just caught her sucking Harvey’s dick.” Ally sputters, “what?!” A hand covers her mouth, the imagery catching up to her. “Oh my god!” You nod, she said it better than you could. “And you saw this?!” It’s like the idea is unbelievable to her. “Uh huh, right in front of me.” 

Ally presses the hand covering her mouth, to her cheek. A moment of silence, until she starts to laugh just like you did. You almost copy, until she stops and gives you an ironclad look, “wait, did you say mushrooms?” 

You pretend your mind is exploding. “I’m experiencing things I couldn’t explain right now.” Ally’s hair looks almost as soft as Christine’s. You grab a thick piece, breaking it into thirds and start to braid. It feels like rope, your fingers turn into a ball of yarn, fumbling into one useless clump.

“Are you okay? Matty and I were about to go upstairs.” Your eyes flash towards the stairs on instinct, then you're back at her. “Coming back down?” Ally grins and sends you a wink, “not if I give him a reason not to.” She drops her grin, “unless you need company, in that case, I’m here for you.” 

Just because you chose to spend your night tripping, it doesn’t mean Ally has to ditch bedtime with her boyfriend. Wouldn’t that be an incredibly selfish thing to do? “I don’t need a trip sitter, I have myself. And Christine. Also, have you seen Prince?” 

“Uh, no. He went off with Rocco the second we got here.” Rocco, the second you hear his name, you think of his hair, how does one achieve an afro? Would it be wrong to ask?

“Cool, cool, no doubt, no doubt.” Ally eyes you, she’s trying to make sure you’re fully okay before she pulls Matt upstairs. You flash a smile, it’s enough to have her drop her shoulders in relief. “You always have me, you know where I’ll be.” 

“And I am so, so grateful for you, Ally Storm.” Because, you are. In your opinion, mushrooms make you emotional. You went from laughing to appreciative in one minute, suddenly you’re hugging your best friend while holding back tears. “You are so kind, and patient, and nice, and, like, so super supportive to me.” 

Ally squeezes you right back, “you should do drugs more often, I’m loving the praise.” You pull back to wink at her, “it’s only cause you’re so great. Go do your boyfriend, since I can’t get any tonight.” 

“You think sex on shrooms would be good?” The idea hadn’t occurred, but thinking about it makes you agree with her. “Sex on hallucinogens? That’s boyfriend behavior.” Ally pats your arm, “next time, invite me. I’ll let you know how it is.” 

A twinkle in her eye appears, you dread what’s about to happen. “Sup, slugger?” The arm around you is entirely too heavy, but oddly comforting. Like a weighted blanket. “She took mushrooms.” You nod, Matt rubs your shoulder, you almost purr. “Having fun?” Normally, you have a love hate relationship with Matt. You both love to hate each other, but not seriously. Not that it’s been said, but you know Matt would protect you with anything in him if needed. 

Tonight, right now, Matt is a solid force. “Permission to hug?” Ally’s eyes widen, she almost doubles down on the sentiment of doing drugs more often. “You wanna full on, front touch me?” Nevermind, Matt just ruined it, like he ruins everything. “Not anymore, you ruined it.” 

“Oh, no, no, no. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.” Before you can try and dodge it, Matt’s got you in his hold. It’s very obvious he’s doing it for the pure enjoyment of annoying you, it’s almost endearing. Almost. You’d fight better at shoving him away but he’s got a warmth radiating from his chest and into yours. 

Peter watches you bump hips across the room with Paul’s girlfriend, your fingers pull at her hair. A wild look crosses her face, two of you giggling.

“I didn’t know she was Ally’s friend.” Ethan scratches at his arm, Peter’s guard goes up. He knows why he’s surprised to know you were the friend in question, he doesn’t know why Ethan thinks so too. 

Ethan shrugs and asks Peter about something, he can’t focus. “You know her?” 

“Yeah, that’s my bio girl.” 

Peter felt constricted, he doesn’t know why. “Wait, what? That’s my freshman.”

Ethan stares at the side of Peter’s head. “She’s not a freshman.” Peter sneers at his friend, “yeah, no shit.” Ethan kisses his teeth, “I invited her to the party.” He doesn’t know why, but Peter feels slightly challenged. 

“So did I.” His arms cross over his chest, he mumbles the rest. “On the first day.” 

“Funny. When I asked she said she had no plans.” 

Peter can feel his jaw clench, he wants to kind of fucking punch him, if he’s being honest. And that makes him even more upset, because why is he so threatened? Ethan may have an inkling that his best friend wants you more than he does, but he also wants him to know he could have competition. 

“Funny.” It’s clear Peter did not find it funny. 

“She’s cool. You know, witty, kind, pretty…” Peter’s doing what he can to keep himself from walking away, he wants to scream that he had eyes on you first. But that’s an insane thought, only one that could be casted by a witch. 

“She’s difficult and entitled.” 

All Ethan hears is ‘she’s fucking perfect for me.’ And his mind was made up, you were no longer someone he’d pursue. You’re all Parker’s, because he wants you. Even if he won’t admit it, yet.

“So, you have no issue with me moving in on that?” Peter’s a little too quiet, choosing to nurse on his beer in hand. “Do what you want, man.” He finishes his drink, he looks back up at you, sharing a warm embrace with Paul. 

“Cause, I don’t mind leaving it alone, if you want.” It takes a second, but Peter lightly shrugs. No words needed to be said, it told Ethan everything he needed to know. “You saw her first, it’s only fair.” It’s tiny, and it’s a microflash, but Peter grinned. What was understood, didn’t need to be explained. 

Heavy steps found themselves at a familiar face.

“My roommate ditched me and this floor looks like a pirate ship.” You point down for good measure, Ethan’s a good sport and looks with you. “Is it moving?” 

You nod quickly, glad he too can see the shifting boards. Ethan’s sweater catches your attention, it looks soft. By default he looks like a teddy bear, you can’t hold yourself back, latching yourself to the cashmere you run your hands over his back. 

“It’s so soft.” 

Ethan laughs, he has no issue returning the love. You melt under his touch, everything is so warm. “I can feel your hands.” Your lab partner knows exactly what’s going on, “yeah? What’d you take, X?” 

You pull back to spread pixie dust from your fingertips, “magic mushrooms.” Lights flash in cohesion with the music, you’re awe at the sharp beauty. Swirls of color cloud your vision, loud bass rings your ears. Vibrations flow from your toes up to your knees, a circle of laughter around you is contagious. 

You can’t stop the giggles, you weren’t sure who was laughing or why but it seemed so fitting. 

You throw your head back, the room spins and you squeal when your waist is held tight. 

“Ethan!” You hug him again, you can’t stop patting his sweater. “Wanna do some shots?” Ethan shakes his head, “no, you want some water.” You stop, “oh my god, yeah, that sounds so good.” Your lower back is nudged, you’re guided into the kitchen where you see a blur of motion. 

Stumbling, your back collides into another body. You spin quickly, you can’t believe it’s taken this long to see him. 

“Peter, hi!” 

Your arms loop around his back, you pull him tight to you and sigh. He’s broader than Ethan, but his shirt can’t match Ethan’s sweater. Peter feels oddly frozen, you shuffle into him further, an awkward pat is granted to the middle of your back. “Hi.”

“No, no, like this.” You fix the placement, it’s like he’s never given a hug in his entire life. Peter’s offering no warmth, it feels like he’s just allowing you to have this moment. You give him an unsure glance when you pull back, “I’ll make you better, don’t worry.” 

You’re stopped before you could try and teach Peter a proper hug. “Let’s not hug, Parker.” You blink wildly at your lab partner, before looking back at Peter, he has an unimpressed gaze on Ethan. “No hugs? You don’t like hugs?” 

It’s unacceptable, you pull at Ethan’s arm. “Here, show him how it’s done.” Ethan tries to shake his head, you loop around his waist tightly. “See, Peter? This is how you hug.” 

“I know how to hug.” 

You smile and nudge away from the cashmere, your arms open wide. “Okay, show me.” 

“No.” 

A frown takes over, since he’s being mean, you can too. 

“Fine. I don’t like your haircut, how about that?” Peter lacks the reaction you want him to give, “thank you.” You narrow your eyes at him, “Christine should’ve given you the mushrooms instead, you’re kinda grumpy.” 

Ethan pushes you back, “okay, D.A.R.E. Water.” You took the bottle and looked between the two friends. “Be honest, did you guys know they were hooking up?” 

Peter furrowed his eyebrows, you had the urge to rub it out. Ethan slapped your hand down. “Who?” You hold a finger up to pause the conversation, water has never tasted so clear. 

“Mmm…” you blink awake. “Harvey and Christine. Did you think he wasn’t planning on me finding out? Was he fully prepared to try and bang me after he got head from another girl? Cause, I don’t think so.” 

A song you haven’t heard before plays, it sends waves of warmth over your skin. 

Ethan shrugs, “sounds like Harvey, yeah.” 

You jeer around the plastic bottle, “boo.” Peter’s short circuiting in his brain. You were hooking up with Harvey? The pieces were muddling. His Harvey? That guy sucks. Peter reacts subconsciously, grabbing whatever you handed him. An empty water bottle, you smile, “thanks!” He grunts before tossing it in the kitchen sink. 

“This party would be so much better if Taylor Swift was playing.” 

It takes everything in Peter not to roll his eyes, Ethan one ups him in a second. 

“Which album?” 

You gasp, Peter swears he sees a sparkle in your eyes. For a split second he regrets not asking you the same thing. “Any of them! Do you like her too?” 

Peter thought his best friend read between the lines from their earlier conversation. He assumes he didn’t.  

“She’s alright, I have a few of her vinyls.” Record scratch, Peter just lost you. Your hand grabbed Ethan’s shoulder, you leaned in closer and gave him doe eyes. “No way, I don’t believe you. Which ones?” 

Ethan laughs, “I have them in my room, swear to god. I like her sister albums.” 

Peter watches your hand slide down his sleeve until you latch around his wrist, “show me.” Ethan shrugs, “alright, we can-” Peter steps in front of him, the path blocked. 

“Keznek.” As in, you’re not doing what I think you’re doing, right?

“Parker.” As in, do you really think that low of me?

A third name is brought into the mix, Peter looks down, you’re smiling big at him and for a second he feels like he’s smiling back. 

“Who’s that?” 

You point at yourself, “me.” 

He finally has your name, it’s fitting. He doesn’t think he’s ever thought a name could fit a person, until he heard yours. A weird urge to compliment it tugs at him, he buries it down. Witch. 

Attention back on Ethan, “you swear you have them?” He’s almost offended you’d ask, “promise.” You look to Peter, “can you confirm?” Peter sucks in a breath through his teeth, he shakes his head slowly. “I can’t.” 

The answer is obvious, “I have to verify, if you’re telling the truth you’ll win cool points forever.” Plan impeded, the chapter president just walked through the kitchen, a gleam in the wolves eye. His hand clapped Peter’s chest, the light abuse caused you to frown. 

“Nice to see you’re making friends with Parker.” 

You flip the script, a fake smile. “I’m sorry, who are you?” Ethan laughed behind you and was immediately silenced with a harsh glare from Trent. “Watch it, Keznek.” Peter’s face hardened at the tone. 

“You’re taking my advice, I love to see it.” 

Peter has his eyes on you, it takes strength to ignore it. “Wanna talk about advice? You should play some Taylor Swift.” Trent scoffs, “get fucked.” Peter speaks up before you have a chance, “hey, woah.” The head of the house wasn’t about to be talked to like he was a chapter officer, even if he was. His response was pushing Peter back and walking away. 

“I understand why he’s the president,” you watch the room swirl together. “He’s super mature.” Smacking your lips, you blindly reach for Ethan. “Do you see these fucking lights right now?” Peter glances around, it’s the same party lighting they use each time. 

“Are they dragging?” You focus in, when you move your head slow trails of light follow. “Yeah, woah.” Peter clears his throat, the sound cupped around your ears. “Your friend here, freshman?” You spin, “who’s friend?” 

Peter looks at Ethan for a second, you’re busy trying to pull at a loose thread on Peter’s sleeve. “How are you getting home tonight?” You twirl the strand around your finger, the tension snaps it. When the blood returns to your fingertip, it warms your entire hand. 

“Dunno yet. I’ll figure it out later.” You look down at your feet, they seem like they’re a million miles away from you. The floor shifts underneath you, it makes your knees shake, you clutch Ethan’s arm to balance yourself. “Pirate ship?” You nod, “ahoy, matey.” 

Peter shifts when you take him in, more or less just focused on his face. He stands a little taller, then questions it, because why would he care about how tall you perceived him to be? “Peter,” he waits. Pointing behind you, “wanna do a shot? Ethan refused, like he hates me or something.” You can’t stop looking at him, the lights dance over his face, casting him in an angelic glow like no other. 

“You think mixing shots with mushrooms is a good idea?” You move around, like your body couldn’t stand holding still. “Just one.” One wouldn’t hurt, and it’s not like he’s doing it for you or anything, he planned on having a shot anyways. You were just another person to pour for. 

“Sure. Pick the poison.” You answer quickly, an honest response. “Rat.” Ethan starts to laugh and it’s contagious, you start giggling too. You don’t know why he’s laughing, but it feels good to have someone to laugh with. Peter tilts his head to the ceiling with a heavy sigh, “no, freshman. I meant booze.” 

“Oh! Not vodka, I hate vodka, I can taste it in anything, even when Ally mixes it with Hawaiian Punch. So, please never give me vodka. I hate it.” 

Peter smirks at Ethan, “so, vodka?” You sputter, you wonder if you confused love and hate in your speech. You shake your head quickly, “no, no, no, Peter. I hate vodka, please don’t give me any.” 

Ethan slides a bottle down to Peter, it’s a party classic. Peter waits on you, “this good enough for you, princess?” It was sarcastic as all hell, but it still made you feel warm and fuzzy. “Yes, prince.” Peter just shook his head while he poured them up. 

Raised glasses, you wait for the toast. “Here’s to A’s, C’s, and double D’s.” The words made you send a glare to Peter, it seemed like he was waiting for it. “You know, like grades?” It’s not what he meant, all three of you knew it, but you couldn’t fight him on it either. It still works, a cheer is a cheer.

Normally, you’d find Fireball warming, tonight, you find it burning. You almost choke on it, holding it in your mouth for longer than you should’ve, the instant sting had caught you off guard. “Jesus Christ, freshy. Swallow.” It’s like you need a reminder, you’re able to take it down; a shutter takes over your body. 

You turn to your lab partner, a sour look on your face. “Why did you let me do that? You’re supposed to be smart.” Ethan holds his hands up, you’re not about to throw him under the bus. “Hey, I tried. You’re the one that only wanted Parker’s opinion.” 

SATURDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 9TH. CATHEDRAL HALL. 

Peter was dragged out of his bed a little too early for a saturday in his opinion. He woke up to Trent hanging over his bed, poking him harshly on his shoulder. “The fuck do you want, Simpson?” If Peter had to guess what time it was by the shadow in his room, it was pushing early morning. 

“Get up. We need to go somewhere.” Peter blinked quickly, dragging a heavy hand up to rub the sleep from his eyes. “Now?” Trent started to stab, Peter slapped his hand away. “The fuck, man?” His president wasn’t playing around. “Get the fuck up, Parker.” 

Only when Peter sat up did Trent back away, “don’t wake anyone up. I need you downstairs in five.” When his door was shut, Peter squeezed his eyes shut and allowed himself to taste the idea of sleep one more time. Then, he got up, tugged on sweatpants and a hoodie, and silently crept downstairs. 

Peter tried to ask what was going on, and where they were going, but Trent just kept saying, ‘you’ll see,’ and ‘shut the fuck up and trust me.’ It wasn’t until he was walking up the steps to Cathedral hall, he had an odd feeling, a slight buzz in his stomach. It heightened when they took a turn for the girls section. 

“Hey, Simpson, if this is a planned parenthood thing-” 

“Shut the fuck up, Parker.” Out of nowhere he stopped, Peter almost ran into him. Trent banged on an decorated door, a whiteboard with Ally’s name, the other one had been swiped, the name unclear. “I thought Ally was at the house?” Trent beat the door harder, “she is.” 

Peter’s eyebrows furrowed, he was about to ask, yet again, why they were there. The answer came when the door flew open, eyes squinting at the hallway lighting, stands you. “You’re not Ally.”

Peter’s slightly surprised you’re home, he had no idea when or how you left last night. He also doesn’t really care. 

“No shit,” you lightly scoffed when Trent shoved his way in, your shoulder hitting the doorframe. “Good morning to you, too, dick.” Peter gently walked in, making sure not to bump against you. It made you smile lightly, “good morning, Peter.” He nodded back, “morning.” Trent bounced on Ally’s bed, it produced a loud creak. “No wonder she’s always at the house.” 

You sat on the edge of your own bed, gesturing to the spot next to you or your desk chair for a seating option for Peter; he chose the chair. Peter looked over your face while you woke up, your eyes puffy from being rubbed at, you stretched with arms over your head, a peek of skin showed your stomach. 

“You look sick.” It snapped you from your daze, you frowned at Trent. “Thanks, it’s my natural beauty.” Trent pulled a sour look, “that’s what girls look like without makeup?” Peter doesn’t really notice a difference, and that’s not a bad thing. “It’s too early for your shit, Simpson.” He looks towards you, you poke your tongue out at Trent, a childish moment to prove you had someone on your side and not his. 

Peter watches you lean back, velvety thighs on display. A hand goes behind your back, a plush resurfaced. Spider-Man sits on your lap, arms wrapped tight around his waist. He thinks it’s a squishmellow of some sort, he remembers he hooked up with a girl last year with at least twenty on her bed. She didn’t have a Spider-Man one though. 

“How are you feeling?” You look tired, maybe a little hungover. Little to no energy. Peter thinks it’s the comedown of your previous night's choices. You grin, holding Spider-Man a little tighter. “Like a champ, you?” 

Trent scoffs, “enough bullshit, wench. You know why we’re here.” Peter feels the hair on his neck stand up, Trent can be a prick, but he really has a vendetta against you. “Jesus Christ, Simpson. She’s a human being.” It’s the bare minimum, but it still makes you feel warm and fuzzy. “It’s okay, Peter. He’s just mad he can’t satisfy women.” 

Trent flies up, “fuck you! I’m doing you a fucking favor and-” Peter stands up just as quick, pushing Trent back down with a hand on his shoulder. “Sit down, Simpson.” With Peter as mediator, you don’t worry about standing up for yourself. 

“You’re not doing me a favor, I’m doing you a favor! You’re the one that couldn’t hold up your end of the bargain, you asshole!” Trent fights against Peter’s hold, “you’re the one that came to me!” You throw your Spider-Man to the side and step up, Peter backs up against your chest, literally using his body as a barrier. “You’re the one that involved Peter!” 

Peter shoves hard on Trent’s chest, it sends him flying back into Ally’s bed. You step back, Peter’s doing his best to look between the two of you. It’s exasperated, “involved me in what?” It goes silent, you weren’t going to say anything, you were the one who told Trent to fix it. Trent’s the one that brought in Peter, Trent’s the one to surprise you with a visit. 

Trent’s breathing is harsh, he’s more worked up than you are. You don’t know if it’s the situation or your comments, but you’re not saying a word until he does. “Look, your friend here, she’s the one that got us the intel on the other frats.” Trent’s a lot more gentle this time around, you think it may have something with the way Peter’s looking at him, daring him to try and make a move. 

Peter glances back at you, you look away, a poster more interesting. “She needs something in return and I can’t help her. I told her to ask you and I’d look the other way, but someone had to be difficult.” 

“I held up my end, Simpson. You do the same.” Trent huffed, “I fucking told you-” he lowered his voice at Peter’s glare, “- that I couldn’t do anything. I told you to ask Parker and you were the one that stormed out all pissed. I brought him here, isn’t that good enough?” 

Your arms cross, no, it wasn’t good enough. “I never wanted to involve Peter, I told you that last night. I just wanted you to figure out a way to fix it.” Trent throws his arm out at Peter, “I did! He’s fucking here! He’s gonna fucking fix it!” 

Peter feels like he’s going crazy, “fix what?” His chapter president rubs at his forehead, a heavy sigh. “You need to pledge… Fuck, what was his name?” You roll your eyes, you have little to no hope. “Isaac Barns.” Trent nods, “yeah, him. Parker, all I need you to do is pledge him and this-” an allover gesture to your body, “-goes away.” 

Peter takes a second to let it sink in, he almost laughs, but it seems a little too real to be a joke. “Dirty rushing, really? You do know what’s at stake if I say yes, right?” Trent’s jaw looks like it’s about to break into a thousand pieces with the tension it’s under. “Yes, Parker, I know what I’m asking.” Peter runs his tongue over his teeth, “right, so you understand why I have to say no.” 

You jump in, your hand on Peter’s arm, pulling him to face you. He’s staring at the placement, it’s sending a burn up and down, radiating heat. You pull away before he can shake your hold off, “please?” Peter steps away from Trent with a final warning glance, “tell me, freshman. Are you in a sorority?” You frown, “no.” He nods, like he already knew the answer. “Right. And are you aware of what could happen to me if I agree?” You have an idea, and it tells you it wouldn’t be good. “That’s if you get caught, you have Trent’s go ahead.” 

Peter laughs, he doesn’t give a shit Trent’s right there. “You think I trust him to have my back? He’d throw me under the bus in a second.” Peter doesn’t know what you know, you look in Trent’s eyes when you respond, making it clear that that would never happen. “Then trust me, and trust me when I say he won’t.” 

Trent looks away from Peter, he makes the connection in a second. 

“What do you have on Simpson?” You sputter, you feel a flush of warmth coat you. “I’m not like… some blackmailer or anything.” Trent shouts out from the bed, “ha!” Your eyes flash to the same poster from before, nothing has changed. “Oh, I’m sorry, Mr. President. Do you want to share with the peanut gallery?” Peter raises his hands, displeased, “don’t insult me and ask for a favor in the same breath.” 

“Look, Parker, just fucking pledge the kid, alright? It stays between us. Don’t think I don’t have shit to lose by letting this happen. I have the same risk you do.” Peter disagrees, “you’re not the one pledging.” Trent stands up, “but I’m cutting whoever she tells me. We’re both playing dirty.” 

Peter’s trying to think about it logically, he just doesn’t understand why. You have all the answers, they’re only there because of you. “Why?” You pause, “what, this guy your boyfriend or something?” You shake your head quickly, “no, no, no. Not at all. He doesn’t even know I’m doing this. He’s just a person I know who’s rushing, that’s it.” 

Peter kisses his teeth and shakes his head in disbelief, “yeah, I don’t know about that.” Total defeat, you were at a loss. Your answer was Trent, if Peter wouldn’t do it, Trent needed to find someone who would. “Trent,” it comes out as a whine, a defiant toddler pointing at Peter. 

“C’mon, Parker. Think about this. You’re smarter than your own good.” Peter sizes his president up, he really doesn’t like what he’s implying. “And I’m supposed to trust you?” You push on Peter’s arm, “no, you’re supposed to trust me. Trent won’t touch you, no matter your answer. Even though I really wish it was yes.” 

Peter’s doing his best to push down all emotion, because if he wasn’t, he’d find out that he wanted to say yes. Just because you asked him. And that’s not who he is, or what he does. He’s known you for a week and he’s about to put his entire academic career at hand, it’s dehumanizing to himself. Witch. 

“Fine.” You cheer, Peter’s whipped into a side hug. He claws your arms away from him, “I didn’t say yes. I’ll think about it, okay?” You nod, it’s enough for you, “thank you so much, Peter. Thank you, thank you, thank you.” 

Trent throws his hands up, “hello? You’re welcome.” You sneer at him, “you did nothing but put it all on Peter.” Peter tilts his head, he didn’t think about it like that, but you’re right. “You’re insufferable and will never find a man to put up with that.” That was a blow, a harsh one at that. You’re pretty good at brushing things off, or firing back, but Trent went a little too far. He hit that deep down, hidden, insecurity. 

You just really wanted to go back to sleep, the thought of Peter in your room no longer slightly excited you. You just wanted to be alone. “Jesus fucking Christ, Trent. Who the fuck says shit like that?” You shrug, “it’s obvious he was just giving me constructive criticism.” You try to joke, it doesn’t really work. 

Peter looks down at you, it’s like you sunk down into the floor. Trent made you feel small. “It’s not funny, nothing about that was funny. That was fucked up, Simpson, the fuck is wrong with you?” There’s not an ounce of remorse on his face either, “sorry.” Peter wants to break his arm, instead he shoves him towards the door, nothing near gentle. “You’re a fucking dick.” 

“Yeah, and you just wanna stick yours in her.” If he wouldn’t be at grounds of expulsion from the frat, Peter would’ve laid him the fuck out right then and there. “Shut the fuck up, Simpson. Just leave it alone.” He does, and throws the door open before parting you with a middle finger. 

Peter pauses at the door, his eyes on your figure. It’s not like he cares about you or anything, Trent was a dick, an uncalled for amount of mean. “Don’t listen to him, he’s still reeling from that ‘can’t please a woman,’ comment.” You give a small smile, “thanks, Peter.” 

Peter’s hand holds the door handle, a tight lipped grin. He doesn’t know why, but he feels like he just has to tell you. Clearing his throat, “hey, freshman?” You perk up, he finds himself looking down at your mouth, eyes trailing towards your collarbone. Peter stops himself, it’s not about that right now. 

“You’re not… you’re not totally insufferable.” 

Something about it makes you explode, you can’t stop the cheek hurting grin. For a second, Peter matches it. “Are you saying I’ll find a man to put up with me?” Peter shrugs a shoulder, “the world is pretty big, freshman. There’s gotta be at least one.” 

At least Peter won’t think you’ll die alone, he might even be at your side. “Thanks, Peter. For everything. And for thinking about it, it means a lot to me.” Peter closing the door on himself, he briefly pauses, “just because I said I’d think about it, doesn’t mean I’ll do it.” You nod, “I know.” 

“Good. I just didn’t want you to get disappointed.” Your eyes brighten, “you care about disappointing me?” 

It goes unanswered, instead, Peter takes a deep inhale. “I’ll see you around.” With that, you were alone with Spider-Man once more. 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH, ESU DINING HALL.

The plastic chair next to Peter slides out, nickel legs scratch the tile underneath them. 

“So, how are we feeling about a verdict?” 

Peter doesn’t even flinch, he takes a bite of his sandwich. It was better before it was ruined by the presence of a demonic presence. Your hands drum on the table like you’re building yourself up for a yes, Peter thinks it’s funny you find him so easy. 

“It’s been two days, freshman.” You huff dramatically, “not a freshman.” 

“You act like one.” 

This is the part where you question your attraction towards him, it’s proof to the saying ‘you can’t pick who you love.’  You lean closer, it’s not about semantics. Peter pulls back when you get too close, he must be scared of another hug. 

“It’s a pretty easy answer, Peter. If you won’t do it, fine. But your president better figure out another way and quickly. We already have the PNM list, you make the choice sunday.” 

It isn’t his problem but the more he knows about it, the more it becomes his. Peter can’t deny the curiosity, for a witch you have no real magic, beyond what you’ve casted on him. 

Peter sighs, “alright, explain it to me. Sell it to me.” You sit straighter and fix your hair, clearing your throat you interlock your fingers on the table and begin to pitch. “I’m going on the ski trip this year, yay you.” You pout dramatically, “I needed money because my boyfriend isn’t a member of the frat and I wasn’t budgeted in.” Your words were a nod towards Ally, as if she couldn’t pay for it herself if she needed to. 

Peter wants to bang his head against the table, there’s no fucking way he had to spend a week with you in a house. That’s constant communication. That’s hell. 

“We bet every year on a member that makes it in, if we win, we get the money. I upped the stakes this year, and I know someone who signed up to rush.” You smile and poke at his arm, it’s solid. Peter looks down at your finger, you pull back and finish. 

“That’s where you come in. You pick him.” 

Peter crosses his arms over his chest while he tilts his chair back, he’s mulling it over in his mind. He looks over your face while he pokes at his cheek with his tongue, if that’s his concentration face, you hope to make him think a lot more. 

“What do I get out of it?” In Peter’s mind, it’s a bit unfair. He’s putting his reputation, spot in the frat and possibly academic probation on the line. And he gets nothing out of it. He doesn’t even want anything in return, or nothing he can think of at the moment at least. It still feels like he has to bargain for something, he’d regret it later. 

You try to hide the shock, you didn’t think Peter was that kind of guy. You didn’t know him, but you didn’t take him for a sexual favors type of person. You wanted to hook up with him, sure. But when he felt like it was owed to him, it felt icky. 

“Oh,” you look around the room, your voice lowers. The deal took a dirty turn. “What, um…” You look back at him before escaping eye contact, you don’t feel as bold. “What did you have in mind?” 

You didn’t hide the shock well, Peter’s chair is back on four legs with a slam. “No, god no.” Okay, he wasn’t asking for sex, but god no? Peter worded it wrong, you took it as a personal offense. “Not…” He’s not even going to try and explain that one out, he ditches the part where he would try to say ‘not that I wouldn’t have sex with you, because I would, but…’

“I’m not asking for you to fuck me, I just meant I’m putting a lot on the line for a girl who assaulted me and a guy I barley like.” Assault is a harsh word, you’d fight him on it but the last part mattered more. You could give him the dirt on Trent, he said if anyone knew he would prefer it to be Peter. 

“Wanna know what I have on Trent?” You have his attention, suddenly Peter looks very interested in what you have to say. He nibbles on his bottom lip for a second before nodding, for this part, you really lean in. 

“He failed out. The school sent him a letter saying he was dismissed, he had a fourteen average.” Peter’s trying to connect the dots, for once, he truly had no idea what was going on in the frat house. “His dad donated eighty-six grand, anonymously, and the next day? Bam. Reenlisted and all roles reinstated, like nothing ever happened.” Peter’s not surprised one bit, it’s very on brand for the Simpson family, to pay their way out of trouble. At least he can say you didn’t leave him empty handed, it’s good ammo to have in the back of his pocket. 

“I’ll consider your request more seriously.” It’s something, and you’ll celebrate it, you pull him into a hug, just for a quick second to squeal in his ear. You’re shrugged off in a second, you don’t care. “Thank you! See, I just knew I picked the good one!” 

The good one? 

You’re up and pushing the seat in, your bag hung over a shoulder. “I’ll see you friday?” In relation to the weekly party, he nods slowly, like you’re an idiot. “I do live there, yes.” You’re unfazed, you’ve come to realize he’s just a mildly grumpy person. It’s mostly cute. 

“Will you let me know then, is that enough time?” Peter will do anything to have you leave, he wants five minutes of peace with his lunch before he has thermodynamics. “Yeah, sure, whatever.” Your eyes sparkle, he has to look back at his plate. “Thank you, Peter. You’re the bestest.” 

You really, truly are a witch. Because his sandwich tasted a whole lot sweeter when you walked away. It turned into sog the second you placed yourself at Ally and Paul’s table. Ally’s eyes flashing over to his, a grin when he was caught looking your way. He finished in record time, he needed to get out of the room, it was starting to get a little too warm for his comfort. 

Ally started in the second you placed yourself across from her, eyes flashing to where you previously were. “Hanging out with Parker?” You shrug, if it helps getting her off your back, it helps. “He’s cute.” A squeal, she pulls at her boyfriend's arm. “Did you hear that? Matty, ask Parker if he’s into her.” 

Matt crushes a coke can, a burp follows. “No.” Ally’s face scrunches up, “why not?” Matt’s swiping at his phone, you can’t tell what game he’s playing, the glare from the lights are too bad. “Cause it’s not my business, or yours.” Ally pulls away from him entirely, her arms crossed over her chest in a huff. Uh oh, she’s mad. 

“Babe, can you get me a water? My wallet is in my backpack.” When she makes no move, he peeks over, “please? I can’t pause this level.” It’s a huff from his girlfriend, “what? You’re mad at me now? Look, I can’t even ask him if I wanted to, he’s leaving.” You look over your shoulder, Peter’s walking out with headphones stuffed in his ears, blind to the outside noise. How lucky. 

“Yeah, good thing you don’t live together or anything, Matt.” It has his total attention, “no need for that hostility, honey. If you want me to ask, I’ll ask.” It’s the right move, and he played right into Ally’s hand. A cluster of kisses to his cheek, “thank you, Matty. Love you.” A smile’s back on his face, his reward was his request being honored. 

The second Ally’s out of earshot you laugh at her boyfriend. “She plays you like a fool.” 

Matt doesn’t care one bit. “Yeah, love makes you do that. You’ll find out, she-devil.” 

You just hope you’re not the fool.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH, QUEENS, NEW YORK.

A six car pileup on the bridge caught Spider-Man’s attention, adrenalin courses his veins, any traces of that six egg omelet from Linda weighing him down vanishes. A screech of his name, he clocks it instantly. A woman, barely fourty. Spider-Man knows who it is, it’s the reporter that called him a Spider-Menace last week. Oh, how the mighty fall. 

A head tilt at the woman, she’s panicking. Thrashing in her seat, crumpled between glass and leather. She’s begging him for help, he watches for a moment before speaking over the screams. “Calm down, I’m gonna help you. Just felt like being a menace.” Tears, she speed runs apologies, tells him it’s just a job and her son loves him. 

“Alright, alright, come here.’ A grown woman, clinging to his hip is almost comedic. “Thank you, thank you, thank you…” Spider-Man doesn’t need to hear it a million times, it doesn’t mean much to him after the first one. “You’re alright, just wait over here for the fire department, okay?” 

There’s countless other shouts, he’s already running back up the freeway. Spider-Man has no plans to stay in the city after this, no, instead Peter is going to take the long train back and listen to a podcast. But right now, Spider-Man has a job to do. 

CATHEDRAL HALL. 

Three copies of the same page, everyone calls a name.

Ally starts, “I call Conner Frise.”

 Prince next, “Sam Mason.”  

Ally pokes your shoulder, “c’mon, what’s your pick?” 

You pretend to think about it, two pairs of eyes waiting expectantly. You grin, “Isaac Barns.” Confidence spills, “and I’m gonna win.” 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH, SIGMA NU CHAPTER HOUSE

Peter’s clouded in infatuation. If he was animated, he’d have hearts and stars swirling around his head. Maybe it was the booze that had him feeling so loose, for once dropping the urge to push you away, and to pull you closer. Or maybe it was you. All he could smell was your perfume, it choked him in the right ways. Something he’d be smelling long after you were gone, something that made him want to breathe in against your neck. 

You haven’t left him alone all night, circling back over and over until all he could think about was you, you, you. 

He didn’t know a neck could be so pretty, how he’d kiss over your pulse and hope it would race as much as his. And he never really noticed hair, until it framed your face. Peter was never much on picking up sounds, but now he’s heard your laugh, the one he pulled from you, he’d never be able to unhear it. 

And your voice. It whispered a song into his ears, it sent him leaning in, begging for more of the inflections. Peter didn’t care what you were talking about, as long as you were speaking to him, he’d listen. He wasn’t one to notice clothes, only when they fit just right or left little to the imagination. But on you, everything was your color. 

Peter can’t think of anything else but your lips, they’re puffed while you spin words. Velvet tumbles produced, hints of a smile around your ‘S’s. It’s like you don’t notice him getting closer, as he steps forward, you step back. You weren’t trying to escape, it was subconscious, you were making more room for him, you don't realize he doesn't want space. 

“It was really kind of sad, because the whole time you were rooting for the main character,” he’d asked you about a book he saw in your room. He doesn’t really care about it. 

“Right,” one step closer. 

“But then it all comes down at the end and you realize he really wasn’t a good guy,” Peter takes another step, your back brushes the brick wall. Little pricks dig into your shirt, it doesn’t stop you. 

“And then?” 

You smile, “this is where it gets good,” Peter leans his hand on the wall next to your head, you make no notice. “It is.” It’s more of a statement than a question, he’s relaying it to his own situation. 

“You find out he set up his friend,” it was the twist, you’d been setting it up, but Peter has no reaction. You wonder if he was even listening to you, maybe it would’ve been better if he had read it himself. 

“Are you listening to me? Cause I just kind of just spoiled the whole thing.” 

Peter can’t stop himself, he leans in. His head hangs low, you raise your chin to look in his eyes. How have you still not picked up on his hints? “Why’d he set him up?” You hum, a sparkle forms in your eyes, he was listening. 

“Well, if we're talking about my personal analysis, I think it’s cause-” 

Your lips are pillowy, puffed under his mouth as they’re wrapped around your words. Your skin is warm under his hands, he can feel your hips burning his palms over your clothes. Peter tugs you closer while simultaneously pushing you further into the brick, when you hum into his kiss, he licks your bottom lip. 

Open mouth kisses, your hands tug at the curls on the back of his neck, he’s not one for girls playing with his hair. But you, he wants you to touch wherever you want. He can’t fucking breathe, but he doesn’t care, you’re enough of a breath of fresh air. Peter feels more alive in this moment than he has in a long time. 

You pull from him, puffs of air tumble. Peter’s desperate for more, you’re just so sweet. Wet marks dot from your jaw to your neck, your hands tug at the lapels of his flannel. “Peter,” it’s breathless, he wonders if it’s the kiss or him. 

Hands tuck under your thighs, you gasp as you’re pulled up to equal height on the wall. Your legs loosely straddle his waist, nails digging into his shoulder when he hums over the middle of your throat between gentle bites and smoothing his tongue over the attack. “Fuck,” it’s a whimper, you don’t mean to, but fuck. 

Maybe he shouldn’t have cornered you like this, but what’d you expect looking at him like that? 

Peter retraces his steps, all you can think is that he tastes as sweet as he feels. It was everything you’d been pining for, and more. You were screaming in color, each grip of his hands felt like water paint, soaking deep and spreading. 

Would it be selfish if you wished he felt the same? 

“Parker, you out here?” 

You squeak, your feet hit the ground. Peter’s head is spinning, his instinct to get as far away as possible. “Yeah,” it’s airy. He clears his throat, you look over his face, he’s avoiding eye contact. “Peter,” you feel a jolt when he backs away. A stab when he steps around the corner, you try to follow, he’s quicker. 

You feel everything crumble when you realize he doesn’t want anyone to know he was with you. 

“Where you at? We’re mixing everclear for the PNM’s.” 

“Peter,” it’s on deaf ears. He doesn’t even look at you, how could he kiss you like that and then act like it was nothing? Why would he kiss you like that if it meant nothing? 

“Right here,” you watch his back disappear. “Tequila if we’re evil, beer to make them puke.” His frat brother laughs, “you’re a sick man, Parker.” 

It really, really doesn’t feel nice to be left behind in the cold. Especially when he just made you feel so warm. And it really doesn’t feel right when you want to cry, and it feels humiliating when you give him a grace period, just so you didn’t follow him from the back of the house. Just so no one would see you, just so no one would know what just happened. 

Just so you could keep it to yourself. 

You feel nothing when a shoulder hits yours, your fingers feel hot from the contrast of the breezy outdoors to the crowded, humid room of bodies. Ally’s arm hangs over your neck, you want to scream. 

Peter’s eyes catch your frown, he should’ve done more. But if he doesn’t understand anything, how would his frat brothers? He feels bad, and a little more sober than he should be, a little too sober to have done what he just did. A line of shots, Peter adds an two extra, but he doesn’t add everclear, he chooses Fireball. 

A pink, plastic shot glass slid in front of you. You look up, Peter’s waiting and watching, he raises his own. “Cheers, freshman.” It’s something, he’s waiting on your call, you’re so close and you can’t blow it now. You plaster on a smile and shake Ally’s arm off, you raise it up. 

“Cheers, Parker.” 

Peter must’ve had more than he thinks, because wow, what a gross feeling. 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH, SIGMA NU CHAPTER HOUSE

Peter does his best to be a good person, part of that is knowing when you fuck up. And what he did at his party on friday, was a fuck up. It wasn’t that he particularly cared about you, or your feelings, but he could admit that he pulled a shitty move. So shitty he dodged you the rest of the night and left you high and dry with his answer about your favor. 

You didn’t even have a way to try and contact him, other than beating down his door but even you knew that would be a bad idea. Which leads him to now, standing on the front lawn, with thirty two potential pledges. 

Peter’s turn to bid. A terrible idea. But all he could think about was getting back in your good graces and how much it fucking annoyed him to want that. Peter can feel Trent’s eyes burning into him, he takes a step forward, boldness in his chest. 

“I bid Isaac Barns.” 

It would either be the worst or best decision of his life and for whatever reason, you’re worth the gamble.

CATHEDRAL HALL

its.parker requested to follow you.

Your eyes widened, suddenly you’re very awake. Peter’s the one that kissed you, Peter’s the one that walked away, Peter’s the one that ignored you. Peter’s the one that followed you. Mixed messages, but it proved something. It wasn’t his main with ten pictures, it was his personal, his finsta, the one full of his personality. 

You nibble on your bottom lip, it shouldn’t be that easy for him. Tapping on his account you hit the request button, just because you follow him doesn’t mean he gets to follow you. Mind spinning, you replay friday night again. 

The tension eased and multiplied in one action. Peter had made you feel butterflies in the deepest pits of your stomach, when he kissed down your neck, when he wrapped your legs around his waist, when he went in for more, when he kissed you first. 

Even thinking about it makes your cheeks hurt from a grin, you squeal out and kick your feet in your bed. Peter Parker kissed you, and it meant something. It had to, something tells you that Peter doesn’t jump without thinking. 

Peter’s holding his breath while refreshing his page, still no notifications. He’s worried he blew it that night, not that it matters, it was just a kiss. Everyone kisses, if you really think about it, kisses don’t mean much. At least that’s what he tells himself. 

spider.luvr66 requested to follow you. 

If he acts now, he’d be a bit crazy. You hadn’t responded to him, but he doesn’t care. He’ll wait a couple minutes, then respond. It feels like his brain is melting, he’s not supposed to, and doesn’t feel like this. It’s against who he is now. 

But, fuck, you make it difficult for him to not think about you. Peter swears you’re a witch. 

Accept. spider.luvr66 is now following you. 

Follow request accepted, you are now following its.parker.

You sit up, it was quick, you wonder if he was waiting for the notification. It doesn’t matter, you have the Peter Parker bible in your hands, and you were about to do some research. 

You finally had access to his posts, and you were about to scroll through every single one. But the most recent one was the most important of all. A picture of Peter, crossed arms back to back with a slightly familiar face. The caption told you everything you needed to know about Peter. 

‘big brother season.’ 

You had your bid and he posted the proof.

Whatever he did friday was forgiven. That wasn’t who he was, but this, putting himself on the line for you, this was his true character and whether he wanted you to notice that or not, you did.

And it was a bold act for a guy who pretended he didn’t kiss you breathless. 

[t4taletyler]

Noah(TDI) and Queer characters in media.

In 2007 Teletoon premiered Total Drama Island, Apart from that cast was Noah. Noah quickly became a fan favorite along with Cody in the episode 'The Big Sleep' where Noah is shown to be kissing Cody's ear in his sleep, The two wake up and freak out. They quickly run away from each other.

This becomes a running gag of sorts, As in the episode 'Haute camp-ture' We see all the characters who got voted off this far in the show at the resort Playa Des Losers.

We see Noah featured in some of these scenes in the episode, As Noah is describing his experience on Total Drama Island he says he's gotten nothing out of it and that it was completely uneventful to him. We see Izzy pop in and say, "He kissed a guy!" The two bicker back and forth about whether it happened or not, Trent rebuttals Noah's no's with "He totally did" and then shows a flashback to Noah and Cody kissing with Noah saying he has no comment. We see this gag again in Total Drama Action in the Aftermath show, We are introduced to the people who didn't end up making it on TDA. In Noah's introduction, we are shown a clip of him kissing Cody AGAIN. They are also shown sitting with each other in a lot of the TDA aftermath segments.

One question I have is why is this gag shown over and over again? In the episode where it came from it didn't move the plot along, it was just a few-second gag. I feel as if this was hinting at Noah being gay, Freshtv who was producing the series has made gay characters before in their other show 6teen. I firmly believe that Noah is queer-coded at the very least. When Justin is introduced to us in episode one of Total Drama Island we see Noah, Owen and Trent all swoon over him much like the girls

In the Total Drama flash game 'Oh No U Di'n't' we see Noah say this about Cody

Though this saying can be said by any of the characters in the Flash game about Cody it sounds the most like Noah, especially with his sarcastic voice. Noah's personality is also a gay stereotype, at least in the first three seasons. In the 2000s typically gay men were depicted as feminine, sassy, and sarcastic. We can see this in TV shows such as Sex in the City and the movie The Devil Wears Prada. Noah emulates a lot of these traits with his sarcastic personality and how sassy he is. He is also depicted as skinny and having a 'girly' scream, shown in the special Total Drama Drama Drama Drama Island.

A lot of these scenes are played as a joke as LGBTQ+ representation was very hard to find that wasn't played as a "haha funny" moment.

In Celebrity Manhunt we see Cody and Noah parallel two straight pairings in this scene. We don't see Noah actually smile a lot but the times he does we see him with men such as Cody,Alejandro and Owen

(aftermath show)

(Newf kids on the Rock)

(I see London..)

On FreshTV's now-deactivated Tumblr blog, they said in response to an ask about Noah

This along with the existence of Nemma (Noah x Emma from rr) has always confused me, Why would Fresh TV go back on their character and suddenly change him to be less sarcastic and sassy? I think if they addressed Noah's queerness they would get backlash because he is A stereotype of a gay man BUT! I think the way they did it was actually more harmful to the queer TDI community. It made a lot of Noco,Alenoah and Nowen shippers face backlash till this day. Now with the TDI reboot we finally have two canon queer characters that are dating which is exciting and I'm glad they fought so hard to keep them but i think this was a way to pay their respects to characters they couldn't make queer like Noah and Owen.

Final Notes/TLDR;

Noah is a queercoded character that wasn't allowed to be queer which still hasn't been answered to this day. I hope with future seasons of total drama we will get more queer rep!

[nellie-elizabeth]

The Legend of Vox Machina: Cloak and Dagger (3x07)

My heart hurts! I've been waiting to get here!

Cons:

Small thing: I feel like I haven't heard anyone calling Keyleth by her full name all season! It's like... always Kiki. I liked that better when it was an occasional thing.

Big thing: What was that song at the end, when Vex is running to Percy? Like... that is the first time the music on this show has missed hard, and it's such a bummer that it happened over such an intense moment. I was scratching my head wondering how they could have ended up with such a tonally awkward and lyrically basic song here. They've always been so good about the music in the past! The song felt symptomatic of something I was noticing throughout this episode, that the dialogue was a little too on the nose and didn't allow for the audience to come to its own conclusions. Everything with Ripley and her motivations, and Percy choosing mercy over vengeance, it just felt a little more one-note than I would have expected, and that song was the capstone to it all in the worst possible way. It may be the single thing in this entire show so far that I've liked the least. A big, big miss in my opinion.

So like, there's this category of "criticisms" that I think everyone has about this show that isn't actually "this was bad" but more like "there was a very specific vibe or moment from the campaign that I loved, and this new version means I won't get to see it." And it's all a personal preference thing. There are a million little moments that weren't particularly precious to me, and so seeing them get altered didn't faze me in the slightest. But to someone else, that particular character beat might have been one of their favorite moments. For me, I think the big thing about Percy's death that they changed isn't a bad narrative difference for this particular show, but I do have to shout it out. I miss this being more of a group vibe, a group grieving, a group effort against Ripley. I will always remember the "Vox Machina, how do you want to do this?" the solemnity of Matt's voice, the way the group took on that mantle of vengeance from Percy in order to avenge him, because he was their friend and they loved him.

Now, we may still get that in some way, seeing as Anna is still alive? But the entire vibe of Glintshore, the stakes and the combat with the area of effect spells and the entire group unable to take her down in time to stop her from going after Percy... it's really just one of my favorite combats that the campaign ever did, and I'll never forget the way it made me feel to watch it! So again, this isn't a "what the show did was bad" complaint, it's a "this was one of those episodes in the campaign that I would have loved to see play out the way it always is in my head, from back in the day, and I don't get to have that. Oh well."

Pros:

But honestly, setting aside that weird as fuck song choice, I did still think this episode kicked some major ass. These people know how to make good TV and I cannot deny that.

Anna Ripley's backstory to start things off was I think a really smart move. Not just in the sense that giving villains a tragic backstory is the only way to make them more complex, but specifically as a way to underline the Percy and Ripley parallels. This could have been Percy. This was the life path Percy was on. His family dead at the hands of mages, and a burning desire to make the people who hurt him pay for what they've done. Orthax, the invention of fire arms, all of that: it comes from a place of deep bitterness and resentment. How is it fair that some people get to have all the power in this world? Why not make the playing field a little more even? It's not a good idea, but the perspective is totally reasonable and you understand why Anna would be seduced by this life, and why Percy, if he hadn't met Vox Machina when he did, might have become the same thing. Also! Was that a Trent cameo?? Man, I'm excited for the Mighty Nein show.

This season has been so focused on the romances, which I love, but I'm glad that we still get little beats of friendship and other relationships tossed in here. Since there's not a lot of time in each episode to cover the extensive plot and all the character beats, the show leans on very small indicators of this group and how their banter and friendship operates. We have Pike being a little dork about the investigation stuff, and Vax saying how cool it sounded. We have Vax with the nicknames, always. And then we have the more angst-y stuff. I really liked that even in the midst of a Percy/Vex focused episode, when Vex was first influenced by the mind-altering gas, she's hearing her mother, and she's calling out for Vax. Vax is her person, and has been for a long time. We get these hints of sad twin backstory here that I think are important setup for what's to come with the dragons, but also continue Vex's thread of being afraid that her love is dangerous. And then more angst when Pike wakes Grog up from his hallucinations and she's weakened by using her magic, and Grog says "Pike? Did I hurt you again?" Like... rip my heart out, my dude! That was so sad!

What is going on with Pike, though? It's so interesting to have this new plot thread just completely added to the story and weaving in with all these moments. She's got her Vestige, but now when she reaches for the Everlight, it's... something else, coming forward within her. She ends up using some sort of... devilish red spell to wake her friends up, something we're meant to understand in contrast to her usual Everlight healing magic. Also, got to see Zerxus being a sinister reminder of all that we do not yet know about Pike, so that was really cool!

But let's talk about the Percy and the Vex of it all. I love how just utterly and completely down bad he is for her, and how much he wants to find a way to make both of them happy. It's so interesting, because you'd think Percy would be just as angst-y and avoidant about love as Vax has proven to be this season, but on the other hand, this trajectory gels more with what we saw in the campaign. Percy knows his darkest inclinations, he knows the kind of man he has been and might become again. But he also knows he wants to be better, he wants to be happy, and he's not afraid to lean into the things that are helping, the things that make him grounded and successful at keeping that darkness at bay. It's refreshing for such a character type not to go ten rounds being too miserable to allow themselves to be happy. That's what we have Vex's insecurities for, in the end!

That "I'm in love with you" scene, with the sunlight washing over Vex's face? Contrasted with her broken cry of "No!" as she runs to Percy and cradles him in her arms... I mean, some A+ acting from Laura Bailey and some A+ work from the animators. They really sold me on Vex's whole messy avoidant deal. Every word out of her mouth in this episode was such delicious irony for those of us who knew what was coming, as she's talking about how Scanlan will tease her, Keyleth will call her a hypocrite, and Vax will... well, the implication is that Vax will beat up Percy for being with Vex, which is SUCH a fascinating little detail. Because, well, Vex has to know that's not true! She's banking on an earlier and incomplete version of their sibling relationship, this idea that her protective brother Vax will always stand in the way of other people's interference in their lives. But Vax has grown past that, and Vex is well aware. And then Percy is probably just sitting there going... "but in that very awkward hot tub scene, Vax basically gave me his blessing!" I loved the beat where the rest of the gang is looking on at Percy and Vex and rolling their eyes about how obvious it is that the two of them have been hooking up. Even Grog has not been fooled in the slightest.

Percy really gets to complete a journey of self-actualization here as he rejects Ripley's offer and then refuses to kill her, really cementing his turn away from vengeance. He wants to do the right thing. He wants to prove to himself and to the world that recovery and redemption is possible, even after terrible harm. It's so beautiful because in the last episode Percy was talking about how all he wants is to have a life in Whitestone, and then Whitestone is razed to the ground. And then here he just wants a chance to keep growing and changing and getting better, and that is seemingly stolen from him as well. But Percy is a good man and he's brave and he'll keep fighting for what's right, even when everything goes wrong around him. We love him for that!

Combat-wise, we have to talk about what a COOL battle sequence the Ripley (and Orthax) vs. Percy showdown was. I love the steam-punk-y vibes of these characters, I loved the red and black, I loved seeing Orthax taking over Anna the way we saw him taking over Percy in season one. I loved Percy jumping and tumbling around to escape from things and saying "Vax makes that look so easy." I loved him using his gauntlet "Diplomacy" to turn a handshake into an attack - that's the most Percy thing I can think of. And I love that he gets to be a bad-ass, he does the trick with the black powder, and then... No Mercy Percy does just the opposite of what his name implies, and he tries to offer Anna another chance.

It's such a tragic and poignant moment, and despite my personal mourning for certain aspects of Glintshore that didn't play out like they did in the campaign, I thought this was a wonderful moment of storytelling, and a truly tragic ending to the episode! Percy combines his true genius and cunning with a radical type of openness and hope. He truly is a Character of All Time for me.

So... yeah, this might be an episode that has some polarizing feelings from fans. I can imagine a lot of people a tiny bit outraged that Anna Ripley is alive and gets away again here at the end of the episode, which was frankly very much not what I was expecting. As for me, I had a great time watching this episode, and I will just do my best to forget that weird song at the end ever existed.

8/10

[itsclydebitches]

A new stupid Ted Lasso drabble? Oh worm? 👀

“Would you still love me if I was a worm?”

It was too early for this shit.

Roy turned to find Ted staring intently at his computer screen, with Twitter—no fucking wonder he was losing his mind at 7:00am— encroaching on the Richmond desktop. Across from him Beard licked his thumb and deftly flipped a page of The Secret Garden. Had they planned this?

“Yes,” Beard said, not bothering to look up. Ted let out an explosive breath and smiled, like Beard’s promise of worm devotion meant fuck all when they had actual shit to do. Keeley was still waiting on a statement. Rebecca had a small library for them to sign. Higgins— Roy shuddered—wanted to talk finances in half an hour.

Which meant that instead of prepping for any of that in any way, Ted’s gaze crept towards him.

“Fuck no,” Roy barked.

Ted pouted. No, no, if Phoebe couldn’t sway him with doe-eyes at the tender age of six then Ted Bloody Lasso wasn’t going to do it around a fucking mustache. Roy set his teeth against the sliver of an apology trying to force its way out. “You’re a worm,” he said, as if that explained it all. Because dammit, it did.

“What kind of worm?”

Head jerking, Roy schooled his look of betrayal at Trent taking this seriously. He had his glasses off and everything, tap-tap-taping against his mouth as he stared contemplatively up at the ceiling.

“Uhhh...” Ted consulted the digital hellfire, but apparently no answers were offered up. Figures. “I don’t know. Just a worm? Are there a lot of ‘em?”

“Oh yes. Well over twenty-thousand last I checked.”

Roy twitted involuntarily. Twenty-fucking-thousand? And how the hell did Trent know that? Was he the goddamn worm whisperer? Made sense, given what a spineless pest he was.

Not anymore a voice whispered, sounding suspiciously like Ted. Yeah. Fine. He’d changed or what-fucking-ever. Roy growled and resigned himself to a worm lecture as penance.

“Worms are as varied as any species,” Trent was saying, curdling Roy’s stomach with every word. He took his pen out, mindlessly twirling it as he gathered his thoughts. “Silkworms, tapeworms, the humble earthworm. They seem quite simple on the surface and yet they’re a vital part of our ecosystem. Forget the bees; remove the worm and you risk a near total collapse of our agriculture. Ah, and did you know that the leech is a worm? Certainly they’ve been invaluable to the medical community as a natural anticoagulant. Science will always advance, but sometimes all you need is a good old-fashioned blood sucker—”

“Stop,” Roy groaned, fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt. Trent glanced over, one eyebrow raised.

“The point—sorry, my editor is always on my case for ‘overly verbose prose.’ As if she’s one to talk with those emails—the point is that if you were a worm, Ted, you would remain just as valuable a member of society as you are now. Of course we'd still love you. And why shouldn't you remain a part of our lives? I would determine your species and then set about finding a suitable environment for you. One that, hopefully, we would all be able to visit with frequency. However, if you’re a tube-worm I’m afraid you’re, well, shit out of luck, if I’m allowed to be crass. None of us are going anywhere near a hydrothermal vent and that’s even if I knew how to swim. Most land-living species would be doable though.” Trent bit his lower lip, considering. “If you were a worm I’d research everything I could about your nutrition, enrichment, life cycle. Given the magical nature of these events—I assume in this hypothetical you weren’t always a worm, yes?—I would take steps to ensure you were well looked after, should your life extend past mine. Luckily, Amelia already had a fondness for all things creepy and crawly, so I’m sure she’d be thrilled to receive you in the will. In the same vein, I’d use whatever contacts I still possess to connect with the leading researchers in Nematology and Helminthology, see if we couldn't find some way to communicate with you. I have no qualms about you being a worm, Ted, but I would miss our chats.” Trent smiled, a little wistfully, and then shook himself like a man coming out of a dream. “Why do you ask?”

“Jesus Fucking Christ,” Roy said, thunking his head down on the keyboard. Whatever these two nerds had going on he needed to bottle it and sell the shit. He'd make a fortune.

Ted let out a strangled noise. “No reason,” he said, clearing his throat. “That’s a mighty kind offer of yours, Trent, and I do appreciate it. Yes, ma'am, I do. I suppose you could say I—”

“Don’t,” Roy growled.

“—wormed my way into your heart?”

And he was done. Nearly tripping himself in his haste to leave the office, Roy unfortunately still saw the high-five Beard gave Ted—complete with a “Booya!”—and the heart eyes Trent was sending his way, fierce as fucking laser beams. Honestly, they were disgusting, the lot of them.

Still, that question was going to haunt him now...

“Wonder if Keeley and Jamie would love me if I was a worm,” Roy muttered, ignoring the look Higgins cast him and the question of where he was off to with their meeting on the horizon. Fuck finances. Worms didn't care about finances.

Roy took a right towards the exit, towards KJPR, and hopefully an answer half as romantic as the dork's.

[jsprnt]

Healing Hearts PT.8 | Virgil van Dijk

Would a fresh start bring you more than just a new job?

WC: 3.280

Summary: Y/N L/N is a very skilled and praised physiotherapist. A certain event pushing her for a fresh start, as a physiotherapist for Liverpool FC. One question always being in the back of her mind: Will she be able to let go of her past and allow herself to experience new things?

I throw my heavy bag onto the red chair, placed in the corner of the medical room. The match today was against Aston Villa, and I was insanely nervous, but curious about how it would play out.

Not having Virgil in the starting center-back position, was something unusual. Though, we did have Joe and Joel to take care of that today and surely they would be more than capable to successfully defend the team.

I walk back out to watch the warm up, coming across Ryan as I walk towards the tunnel.

"So, how do you feel? Does it feel real to become a Liverpool player?" I ask him.

"Feels insane, I'm so excited to watch the game."

I pat his shoulder, giving him a smile.

"You deserve it. I've seen you become an amazing player. I'm sure you'll fit right in."

We both walk onto the pitch as I give him a second to take the stadium in. Anfield was definitely a beauty to observe.

I greet the players as they walk onto the pitch, observing them carefully for any injuries. Thankfully, no one seemed to look uncomfortable or injured.

I walk back into the medical room, sitting down and watching the match kick off. Getting fully invested into the game, eyes piercing the flat screen as if it would send the ball flying towards the goal.

Only three minutes in, Trent is given a corner to kick. He shoots, totally missing everyone. I stand up from my seat, nails digging in my palm as I watch the screen intently. Dom gets the ball as it kindly drops in front of him and GOAL. His first Liverpool goal!

I cheer to myself, a bright smile planted on my face as I hear the stadium erupt in cheers, yelling being heard through the thick walls.

A sudden hand makes contact with my arm slightly gripping it, surprising me. I whip my head around, eyes widened and fist clenched as I raise it almost punching a shocked Virgil. He stares back at me. I drop my fist immediately, clearing my throat.

Why the hell was he here?

I had been overly sensitive and aware of my surroundings lately, dropping my guard for a bit made me realize how tense my body actually felt.

"What the fuck? You surprised me!" I swear, brows knitted in confusion.

He smiles sheepishly before letting go of my arm, something glistening in his eyes. "You almost beat me up!" He exclaims loudly.

"Of course I did. I was just chilling and celebrating. You just shocked me by grabbing my arm duh!" I say, hands now planted on my hips.

"I'm sorry, I'll knock next time. I promise." He says, walking to sit on the medical bed. I can't help but watch his movements, his tall frame walking away from me. I observe his outfit, and raise my brows. Still in club clothes, even when he's not playing.

"You're-I didn't know you'd be here. Thought you'd be home or at the training center." I say, standing up to go up to him.

"Decided I'd come to support my team. A captain should always be there, right?" A cocky smile placed on his lips, he folds his arms up to his chest. He's practically man-spreading as he looks down at me, since his frame was still taller than mine, even when he was sitting.

My eyes travel up and down his stature, raising my brow at his comment. My heart skips a beat when I notice a bit of smugness in his eyes.

"Well, captain does that title include lashing out at the referees when you're mad?" I tease, hands motioning. The sound of the match fading in the background of our conversation. The occasional yelling heard through the walls.

He scoffs, leaning forward a bit as I stare into his dark eyes. "Are you referring to me defending my club?" He whispers his voice deeper, and I hold back a squeal in the back of my throat. This man was definitely trying to fuck with me, and it was working a little too much.

"If that's what you call it- yeah." I mumble, a chuckle escaping my lips. I cut him off before he can respond. "Why did you get so mad last week though? I've seen captains just take the red card and leave. Were you just frustrated since you were 1-0 behind?" I say, it had been the question I had been wanting to ask the entire week.

He lifts his hand to rub his face, as he ponders over my question. "I don't know. Guess I didn't think it was worth a red."

I sigh, walking closer to him and leaning my hip on the bed. "Well now it's cost you two games and a hefty fine."

"Do you still just lose your temper after like ten years of professionally playing? It's not something you get used to?" I ask, curious.

Throughout my years as a physiotherapist, although, it might not be seen as many years. I had always loved getting to know every player I worked with, the conversations and topics brought up during them contributed to the way I'd started to see my own life. Hearing the perspectives of other humans of all walks of life, the only thing common being the industry they worked in, taught me to always look at every dilemma in multiple ways. This was very important to me. Since I, a twenty-five-year old am young, still trying to find my way and position in society.

Despite that, I also very much loved speaking about less serious subjects, a simple conversation about something that happened during a game or something personal a player wanted to share was always welcome.

I am so fortunate to have healthy work environments so far, as a woman even in this day and age that still is something many of us dream of and strive to have. Granted, there would always be compromising situations I could find myself in. The world, sadly isn't a place of flowers and sunshine. It just had to be so that I would be able to speak up and defend myself when it became time to do so.

"Is that a diss or a serious question?" He asks, his brows raised, as his body is positioned defensively.

I mirror his pose, arms crossed on my chest as I stare up at him. "I'm being serious here, like what goes through your mind in those situations? Anger, fear or disappointment maybe?"

I watch him ponder for a moment, eyes tracing his facial features. Noticing the slight stumble on his upper lip.

"It's- difficult to describe. I mean as a captain of course, you're aware of the responsibility you carry. You're in this team, all bonded with passion and love for the game. Millions of supporters counting on you and cheering on you. Puts pressure on us, really. Especially during away games. I remember when I was way younger and it would be insanely overwhelming. You have this huge stadium, full of people, yelling and shouting the craziest things. I think it's part of the game now for me after so many years. Being a captain puts more responsibility on my shoulders. You want everything to go perfectly and win every game you play obviously. We can analyze and practice and substitute, but in the end it's football. It's sadly going to be unpredictable at times. So, getting that card whether it's me, or my teammate it's going to be hard to accept." He explains, hands motioning as he speaks.

I nod along, taking in all of his words. I hum as he stops talking.

"I get that I do. Guess it puts more pressure to do well. Sometimes players lose their cool and do deserve that card, right?" I say, trying lighten up the mood.

"You're right obviously, but sometimes things just happen in the heat of the moment." He says, a slight smile tugging on his lips.

Our conversation is cut off by the sound of loud cheers. Our heads snap to look at the long forgotten TV. After an attempt to score by Darwin, the ball bounces back against Aston Villa player Matty Cash and had resulted in an own goal.

"Oh wow 2-0 already, don't think they need you."

I tease, laughing at his expression.

He rolls his eyes at me offended. "That hurt you know." He says, hand placed on his chest.

"I'm joking obviously. I just think they're doing well. I'm not hating on you."

We focus back on the game, a comfortable silence in the room. He sits on the medical bed as I walk back to my chair, left leg propped up to lean my head on it.

The first half passes with no further change in scores and we move in the second half with no injuries. A goal from Mo sets the team up with a nice 3-0.

Sadly, Trent gets subbed off due to an hamstring injury as the team brings him into the medical room.

"You played really well at least, Captain. Definitely got that player of the match award in the pocket." I say trying to lighten the mood, as I examine his injury, holding up an ice pack to reduce swelling. I glance back at Virgil as he raises his brow at my words and I hold back a chuckle. 

"It doesn't feel like it's a major injury." Trent says.

"I'm sure it isn't that serious, but you'll need some further scans. I'm not confident about you being able to play in the national team, but I won't say anything until your scans are back." I state, stepping away and filling in a form.

He sighs, frustration plastered on his face. Virgil puts a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Sorry man." He says a comforting smile on his face and I can't help but admire their bond. I was always envious of the bond athletes, primarily footballer had with their teammates. It played a huge factor in winning and executing game plans perfectly. Teamwork definitely made the dream work, no doubt.

The match ends with a 3-0 for Liverpool. The players walking through the tunnel with tired but happy smiles on their faces. I high five some, complimenting their hard work.

I return to the medical room, grabbing my bag and walking out to the stadium garage. I hear my name being called as I step outside. I look around and catch Virgil standing next to his car. I raise my eyebrows, deciding to walk up to him.

"Are you leaving?" He asks, leaning against his car in a rather smooth way.

"Yeah, I was just about to step into the team bus. Why?" I say, hands full with my heavy bag.

"You know since I drove here myself- I can drop you off." He says. I stare at him for a second then nod. I mean, he's driven me home before. So what would be the problem?

He reaches out to my hands, grabbing the heavy bag and placing it in the backseat as I observe him. He walks back, opening the passengers seat door for me. Damn, he's just going to keep opening doors for me like that?

I mumble a quick 'thank you', stepping into his car and fastening my seat belt. Just like the first time he drove me home, after that creepy guy harassed me. I crouch slightly as we drive away from the stadium, hoping no one will recognize Virgil, or at least not see me with him.

"When are you guys leaving to go back home for the national matches?" I ask, breaking the silence in the car. He glances at me before refocusing his full attention to the road.

"Tonight." He says, a soft sigh leaving his lips.

I turn my body towards him in shock, eyes widened.

"Really? Tonight already? That's fast." I blurt.

"I know, but the Greece game is on Thursday. That's in four days already." A twinge of sadness in his voice as he taps the steering wheel in a self-soothing way.

"Oh- so what do you think. You ready to beat the other countries and serve your country, Captain?" I ask, poking fun at him.

He scoffs, before nodding his head repeatedly. He raises his hand to salute me playfully. "Of course, I'm always ready."

I chuckle at him, leaning back in my seat, propping my head up the headrest.

"Are you tired?" He asks, glancing at me.

I snuggle further in the seat, a yawn leaving my lips. "Yeah, woke up really early." I say.

"Why? I think you had to be at the training center at twelve. Are you not sleeping well?" He frowns.

I sigh, wrapping my arms around me for warmth.

"Just can't sleep these days really. Sleeping was okay for a while, then it got worse." I confess a little embarrassed, looking out the widow to see the familiar buildings of my neighborhood.

He doesn't respond, as he keeps on driving to my home. We park a little further away from my apartment building, mostly hidden from pedestrians. He suddenly turns to me, and I watch him from the corner of my eyes.

"Hey, look at me." He says, his tone stern but warm. I turn my body towards him, dropping my hands to my lap and waiting for him to speak.

He leans forward, grabbing my hand off my lap and holding onto to it tightly.

"How am I supposed to leave you for a week and a half when you're not sleeping well." He mutters, looking into my eyes with a gentle look.

My body warms up instantly, the heat flushing to my cheeks. My brain short-circuiting as I think of a reply, staring at my lap like a fool. He's worried about me?

I hear him click him tongue, his body leaning closer to mine. Reaching over to pull me into a warm embrace. His arms wrap around my back, a hand soothingly running up and down.

I sigh into the crook of his neck, worries and sleepless nights running through my mind.

He looked and sounded very calm and collected, almost like an immovable mountain. Whereas my emotions and thoughts went wild, comparable to an ocean with crashing waves, and I was at the mercy of those waves.

He pulls back, face getting closer to mine, hand reaching to fix a bit of my hair.

"Are you okay?"

"Why are you asking me?" I say, my brows furrowed.

"You've definitely look more tired since- that happened. Even when I ask if you're okay, you brush it off and put a smile on."

I look away, embarrassed someone had caught on to the facade had put up.

He lifts a hand, grabbing my chin gently to face him. "Don't lie to me y/n." He says, gazing into my eyes. His thumb rubbing circles on the back of my hand. My eyes water, becoming glossy as the tears brim the edges of my eyes. I try blinking them away, sighing to myself as some of them drop down my cheeks. His thumb wiping them away with a soft sigh.

"You can cry, let it out." He urges softly. I shake my head, softly shuddering. "I can't." I say.

"Why? You're safe with me."

"That's just what I've done in the past- and now I can't let that wall I've built crumble into pieces." I confess, my voice hoarse.

He sighs frustrated, hand holding onto mine tightly. "I know I can't force you- to do anything. You're a very stubborn woman." He says, a small smile on his face to change the mood.

I chuckle at him. I definitely was a very stubborn person. When my parents were around I remember being so mad that they were always gone. They were times I didn't speak to them out of stubbornness, always fighting with them in the end.

"I should go-" I say, looking around to see if anyone recognized him. His eyes widen in realization, as he nods pulling his cap on as he walks out to give me my bag.

"I'll see you. Take care, don't get injured and win those games!" I demand, holding onto his arm and shaking him.

He chuckles, head down to hide his face from the passing people. "I will work hard as possible. Promise me you'll contact me throughout the week?" I hum in agreement.

"I will, I promise." I say, and he pulls me into a hug. "Safe flight." I mumble, waving as I walk away to my apartment building. "You don't want me to carry your bag up?" He says. I shake my head, telling him to leave to get on his flight. He doesn't reply, staring as I turn back to wave one more time and open the apartment building door.

It had been about a week since Virgil had left. I had become occupied at work with Trent and Ibou's injuries. Both of them making great progress in healing their injuries. I hear my phone ping, a message popping up as I stir the honey into my tea and take a sip. The warm liquid soothing my throat.

I open it and am greeted by a photo of Virgil. In his national team kit. They won their matches against both Greece and Ireland. I had been cheering on them on Thursday and tonight, having snacks with Sofia or by myself like now as I snuggled on the sofa.

I smile to myself as I observe the photo. He always looked good in his LFC kit, no doubt about that, but seeing a man in his national team kit made him ten times hotter immediately. Let's not forget the captain armband, that had me kicking my feet and flushing. You might think military men are hot when serving their country, but have you seen an athlete serving their country in a pretty kit and passion flowing through their veins? It was to melt for.

I reply to his message with compliments, but still nagging at him for managing to get a yellow in the added time. He doesn't reply immediately, probably busy with press and the other players.

He suddenly sends me a message to turn the TV on, for his post-match interview.

I chuckle to myself as I see his face on my screen, a giddy feeling taking over my body. This man made me feel like a damn teenager and a military wife at the same time. The interview ends and I take a short video of me and the screen, sending it back to him as proof that I had seen him.

He doesn't reply fast after seeing it, sending a red heart with a 'pretty' next to it later on.

I throw my phone onto my sofa, kicking my feet and burying my face into the cushions in my flustered state.

I decide not to respond to it, to not embarrass myself and opt to ask him when he'll return to Liverpool.

'In three days.' He replies and I can't help but feel a little disappointed. I had missed his presence immensely, but would I admit that to him? No way.

I send him a sad sticker, before telling him to sleep and rest well. A threatening 'good night and you better sleep well' sent by him shortly after. I laugh to myself, shifting on the couch after reading it, deciding to call it a night and going to bed.

[misiahasahardname]

Thoughts on

Katie and Sadie

Mike

Trent

Dakota

and Sierra?

katie and sadie -

they have very little screentime so i don’t have much to say about them. i have definetly seen a lot of girls like them, but that was usually when i was primary school age, not as a teenager. at times they can be really annoying, but their friendship can be pretty wholesome at times. reminds me of how attached i was to my friends at… well, not their age. there’s nothing really bad about them, but not much good either? really indifferent about them.

mike -

fresh tv did NOT know how to write a character with a mental disorder… besides the bad representation, i think mike is a pretty nice guy! i love silly-with-a-hint-of-mental-disorder characters like him. he’s one of the better characters from gen 2, and he’s… sweet? that’s how i’m going to word it. also. i‘m going to say it right here. i LOVE svetlana (or swjetłana, as they call her in the Polish dub). my favourite alter (i think that’s the term?) of his. totally not just because she’s slavic and i crave representation, she’s just a very fun character and a very skilled gymnast! i also like vito. he’s cool. very unfortunate what they did with mike in ass stars!

trent -

trent is a very interesting character. i could go on for ages, analysing his behaviours, figuring out his past traumas and what caused him to end up the way he is. there is so much to talk about with trent! that’s why i love trentcourse: it’s just a bunch of people talking about this guy!! he’s a sweetheart. his chill, coolheaded, and a really kind person. he’s not made much real enemies, and. ugh. i love his relationship with gwen. just,,,,, so pure. action kinda fucked him up a little bit, but in a way it gave him a bit of depth? my personal theory on why he kinda just. snapped was that since action started so early after island, he hadn’t gotten the chance to pack enough meds, and anyone who’s needed to take any sort of medication for that kind of thing will probably know that if you’re going to go off of medication/start taking medication, you need to do it gradually, and that’s for a good reason!!!!!! anyways i love trent. he and cody are the traumatised boyfriends.

dakota -

I LOVE LOVE LOVE DAKOTA!!!!!! SHE’S SO FUCKING SILLY. genuinely. she is my favourite character of gen 2 alongside jo. she’s a bit how i used to imagine myself to be in the future! fashionable, famous, rich, successful, and in a healthy relationship!! (samkota is SO WHOLESOME) her turning into dakotazoid was actually really great. i kinda prefer her that way! she could still be confident with her body despite being a twelve foot tall mutant! i don’t fully understand people who draw her as ‘healed’ from that because like. i don’t think you can reverse something that drastic. and also she’s comfortable with it! she doesn’t seem too upset about it (iirc of course. been a while since i’ve rewatched roti). anyways dakota is amazing, i love her and her relationship with sam, and i think she and zoey should be best friends!!

sierra -

ok i don’t know if you’d want to hear it but. i’m sorry. i hate her. like every moment she was on screen i’d get SUPER uncomfortable. her actions towards cody were horrible and i am not going to ignore them even though yeah she’s a fictional character!!!! i don’t know if her actions were meant to come off as jokes or not but either way it’s not funny at all. i like her design, her voice acting is AMAZING, her face is very expressive (and i love that in a cartoon!), paris in the springtime was one of the best songs of the season (but it will never beat her real name isn’t blaineley), but she’s just. not a good character. she had potential! i would’ve loved it if she was a villain, like, you set up alejandro to be the main villain but them BOOM! sierra is actually a manipulative mastermind who will blackmail anyone and get them eliminated!! or something like that. but yeah i don’t like sierra.

i hope this is an ok response!

[sheher-gayboy]

Mutant Mayhem was stellar!!! I'm a longtime TMNT fan of (almost) all its renditions and it was a great time. Some unorganized notes:

-I love that they're young teenagers! I was a bit worried on how it play but they were really charming and fun. There's a part where they keep riffing on each other and I have been stuck behind that group of 14 year olds in a McDonald's slowly turning into an anti-natalist.

-Really excellent work on the voice actors parts especially! Like yeah, celebrity voices were good, honestly took a second for some of the cameos to click but the kids are great in it.

-Did Trent Reznor use the riff from "Friends" from Miami Connection during the Splinter fight scene or am I crazy? I don't think I'm crazy.

-And Splinters fight scene was great! Really felt like an animated Jackie Chan fight scene. I really wanna see a behind the scenes bit about how that came about.

-Something that made me feel like I was crazy but no that was actually in the movie, the version of Hey Ya that they used was specifically the He-Man meme one. I wasn't 100% sure until I heard the skeletor "And he tries!". Fucking wild!

-Liked the changes they did for the lore. Totally fair to drop most of the "Ninja" stuff, it's a lot and the riffing on Daredevil and ninja movies is just something that doesn't play to modern audiences who aren't total dorks. Plus it allows them to frame Splinter as just a really nice dad who is sad, drop all the bloodline revenge if ya gotta.

-Though, with the end credits reveal, I do wonder how they're gonna incorporate some of that stuff going forward.

-Similarly like the choices for Stockman/Superfly.

-Oh! And of course! The animation looked amazing. Worth seeing it for that alone.

[hjcoolartnerd]

TDA Rewrite Episode 2 Alien Resur-Eggtion

A/N: I'm placing a Pause on my TDAS rewrite and My fan Season of TDC so I can write TDA, TDWT and TDROTI and establish what i wrote in TDAS about some characters and change a few things.

Previous Episode: Monster Cash

Recap Voice Over:

"Last time on Total, Drama Action! 17 returning teenagers, 1 new fresh blood, one engaging host, a dilapidated film lot, and a whole lot of coin. Ka-ching! Oh, and did I mention a remote-controlled monster?" Chris laughs "I love this show. Some Fared better than others. Owen ran for his life, but didn't make it very far until he chowed down on fake food props and scored the reward, first pick of the cast trailers. Shockingly, Owen picked the wrong one. The girls hope of victory were crushed, a long with their new digs. Who will be one step closer to the million bucks? find out on another thrilling episode of.... Total! Drama! Action!"

[Intro]

Dear Mom and Dad I'm doin' fine, You guys are on my mind. You asked me what I wanted to be and now I think the answer is plain to see, I wanna be famous.

I wanna live close to the sun, Go pack your bags, 'cause I've already won, Everything to prove, nothing in my way I'll get there one day. Cause, I wanna be famous!

Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na! I wanna be, I wanna be, I wanna be famous (Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na!) I wanna be, I wanna be, I wanna be famous (Whistling in tune)

[End Intro]

The camera fades into black as it begins to pan a close up towards the Craft services tent, The day wasn't hot but it wasn't cold. The Crew mates were going to have breakfast. Heather was holding her food tray as Chef served her the food. While the rest of them where in line. Down the line was Geoff and Bridgette making-out "Keep the line moving, love birds" Duncan said to them as they moved out of the line, Eric leaned towards Justin "We aren't turning like those two right?" He asked "Oh please, We won't This season we came to win not to make out" He said as Eric agreed. "More eggs and Bacon for me." DJ said holding up his tray "Keep 'em coming, Chef!" Bryan's eyebrow raised at DJ, Chef just growled as DJ move out of the line "How can you guys eat this food!" He said looking at the serving of eggs served on his plate. "This is just what i needed to start my diet...." He said moving from the line "Forgot how hungry I got last year, eating on Chris's wrecked schedule" Duncan said as Chef served him the slop of eggs. " i know!" Gwen began "Got to the point where I'd Kill for Chef's disgusting food. " She said as she walked forwards as Duncan moved "No offense, Chef." She replied to Chef as he stared at her with a glared "None. Taken" He serves the Eggs on the floor. She moved from the line towards Duncan "You can have my burnt toast Big mouth." Duncan said with a smirk "Judging from that gut, I thought you'd be all over the extra carbs." She replied as Duncan laughed "Nice. " He said as Trent walked towards them "You can Have my toast, Gwen." He said smiling "Thanls, but I can't take enemy toast." She replied to Trent smiling. "Enemies? We're not enemies" He replied. "In this game, We are all enemies" Bryan smirked from his spot as he then glanced at Eric "even brothers" Trent, Gwen and Duncan looked at him and he feels the tension so he moves on.

"Wow Tough crowd. I need to win some allies fast." Bryan crossed his arms "Being the new one on the cast means that I'm a stranger to them which is a double edge sword.... I just have to use the edge that wont stab me right back!"

"He might be new but he is right" Duncan said once Bryan was out of their circle. "Except for me and Gwen." Trent quickly said "I'll always have her back, no matter what." She smiled "Right back at you babe." Gwen said smiling. Eric rolled his eyes at that interaction as He moved to take a spot, It was choosing to sit with, The love birds, or Cody, or the BFFs Lindsay, Ezekiel and Beth or Heather and Bryan.

"This feel awfully familiar, Trying to chose where to sit during lunch time. with the loner simp, the bad seeds, the love birds or the establish BFF group where I'd be an outsider." Eric said sighing.

Eric chose to sit with the Girls and Ezekiel. He kindly smiled at Eric as he sat down. While the girls talked about make up and Nail polish. Just then It's Owen's turn to get food "ugh." He said walking forward "No eggs and bacon for me, Chef. I'll Just have this" He said grabbing the bowl of prunes. nice bowl of prunes "Everyone gasped in shock to Owen picking the prunes over the eggs and bacon. "What?!" Owen asked as everyone was staring at him

"Is it the end of the world? Owen just picked the prunes over Eggs and Bacon!" Cody was shocked "What's next Heather actually Being nice?"

"My, uh, plumbing's been clogged, ever since I ate all those fake food props. Pressure build-up's killing me." Owen said trying to fart as his stomach rumbles. "Come on Colon! don't fail me now!" He hears a squeck "Oh! I hear bells."

Everyone is sitting In one table we have Harold, Bridgette and Geoff, Izzy, Leshawna, Justin, Heather and Bryan. On the other table we have Beth, Lindsay Ezekiel, Gwen, Cody, Trent, Duncan, Owen, and Eric as They finished their food. "Welcome to day two of Total! Drama! Action!" Chris said as entered the Craft services tent. "Are you gonna do that every time?" Duncan asked "Yes. Yes, I will" Chris replied with a smile "All right then" Duncan answered "That won't get boring at all" Bryan said with sarcasm. "Today's Movie Genre... Aliens!" Chris said "Our unpaid interns have been hard at work\ figuring out what makes an alien movie successful." He explained "Chef?" Everyone Turns to Chef "You got three basic rules." He began "Aliens want to take over the world and start making lost of baby aliens. People fight back" He continued "Then the military's called in." He flicked a green goop from his spoon which hits Owen. "My pops ain't never shown me no fancy pictures of Aliens!" Ezekiel said from his spot "He told me they are real, eh" He said as everyone turned to him "Don't be silly homeschooled" Bryan spoke "Aliens aren't real" He added "Yeah! They've ruined pops crops back at the farms, eh" He replied to Bryan. "I believe in Aliens too" Lindsay said. "Oh me too" Beth said smiling. Eric exchanged glances with Gwen, Trent and Duncan and then shrugged. "Yo Chris! Where's my paycheck at?" Chef spoke taking the attention away from the BFF trio and Bryan. "Its... in the mail!" Chris replied lying as Chef glares "Today's challenge " He pulled out a map from the bag "Find an alien egg and return to home base before mama alien finds you" Chris explained "The two fastest get to pick the teams this season." He explained "Seems easy enough" Bryan smiled "And you just doomed us idiot" Eric replied to Bryan. "I figured one of you would say that." He said laughing "Mama Alien would be played by non other than..." Chef walks back in from the kitchen in an Alien suit "You call that Slime? Make-up! More slime over here" He shouted as someone poured slime over chef. "Oh great we are running from chef for a third time in this game... fantastic." Eric sighed. "I hate my life" Chef said "Here are your GPS devices" he said tossing the devices "Complete with maps of the film lot. Find the eggs, but be careful 'cause today you're all on the Chef's menu." Chris finished explaining as Chef laughs.

They then are in the Alien movie set as all walking in a straight light together. not breaking the simple rules of a horror/survival movie, that apply to alien movies too,. The sound of leaking, the beeping of the GPS' and their foot steps on the metal ground echoed on the Alien set. "Hey Follow me!" Izzy began breaking the tense silence "I know aliens. uh-huh" She said "I've been abducted loads of times. There is a tracking device in my neck." She pointed to her neck "See?" Harold takes a closer look at the Tracking device " does it hurt?" He asked her "Only when I hiccup" Izzy said and just on cue she hiccupped and the Tracking device hurts her "Ow." She exclaimed. "See! guy!" Ezekiel said from next to Lindsay and Beth directed to Bryan "Aliens are Real, eh!" He said as Bryan rolled his eyes "Oh please. We all know Izzy is Crazy and her stories are as real as the food Owen ate yesterday" He said as Heather agrees with him. Just then Leshawna stops right Infront of a door and stares at it. she shudders "Oohh! Can you feel that?" She asked the rest of them "It's like there's something in there, cold as ice, with no soul." The camera pans inside the room to show Chris inside there sitting on a chair "Thanks!" He laughed "Now take that!" He pressed a button that released some steam. The steam scares Izzy, Harold, Leshawna and Owen as Harold jumped to Lashawna's arms

"I've already told that skinny little tadpole that things between us aren't meant to be." Leshawna said as she looked at her nails "Guess he can't get over the lusciousness that is Leshawna"

"I'm Pretty sure Leshawna isn't over me yet. I see the way she looks at me, like she is unpantsing me with her eyes" Harold said as he smiled like an Idiot "Her beautiful brown eyes, like chocolate almond-- ooh"

The big group kept walking in a straight line, the atmosphere being the same as before as they kept walking. "How come we're the only dot's on the screen!" Heather said frustrated "Where's chef?" she added "Here let me help you" Bryan said taking the GPS from heather as he analyzed it. Justin stopped and turned to them "How did you get into our group?" He asked her Eric smiled

"Did I said I like when Justin actually says something like that? Especially to people like heather?" Eric smiled happily sighing.

"There are no groups yet." Heather replied to Justin then Bryan came to her defense "Plus! there is only one way we can go." He said pointing to the direction they were going.

"Even though Heather is really mean, that doesn't mean we should be mean right back, right?" Beth said before looking at Lindsay and Ezekiel "Buddha says you can lead a sheep to water, but you can't make it nice." She said "That is so deep!" Lindsay replied with admiration "And, uh, ain't that the truth, eh? You know, back home with our sheep, it's just like that," Ezekiel added, nodding knowingly.

The group kept walking and now added to the beeping, Leaking and Metal footsteps was the sound of slurping. Everyone stops once they hear the sound. "Shh" Gwen turns to all of them just as a fart escapes from Owen. "Ah, Yes!" He exclaimed "First one!" He laughed "Smell it!" everyone glared at him "Sorry" He then apologized. Then the slurping grew louder "What is that?" Trent asked concerned. Automatically everyone turned to look at Beth. "Ever since I got my braces off, I don't do that sound anymore." She explained. "Chris! That you?" Leshawna asked. "It must be Chef." Duncan exclaimed "You wan't to run?" He asked. "Or you want to kick some alien butt?" He asked "I prefer running Thank you" Cody said from beside Eric. "Let's kick some Alien Butt!" Gwen said and at the same time Cody and Trent said "Yeah, let's... kick some alien butt!" they said "So, who want's to go first?" Harold asked "Please, Please, After you?" Leshawna said "Oh no no Bryan you go!" Eric smiled "Prove to Heather you are worth her time" He added but only Bryan heard him. The slurping continued "What? NO" He said and turned to DJ "Let the Big man go" HE said "After you" Dj turns to Owen "I insist" He said as Owen turned to Izzy "Don't Worry Izzy. I'll protect you" He placed his hand on Izzy's shoulder and she grabbed his hand and with easy flipped him to the ground. "It's Kaleidoscope. E-scope for short." She said Yes sir! E-scope sir!" Owen saluted from the floor. "Okay!" DJ said "Let's do this!" He gets infront of the camer "Mama, If you are listening. You can have my limited edition Raptors Draft Cards." He said. "They are worth some serious coins. " Bryan crossed his arms at Dj. "I didn't suffer through eight years of Braces, headgear saliva spittle and the ridicule of my peers" Beth began saying as she stopped towards the front of the group. "So I can Hide from life!" "You go, Girl!" Leshawna Encouraged her as the slurping continued. "Watch out, alien Chef, 'cause here comes Beth!" She said turning the corner to find.... where the slurping came from. Bridgette and Geoff sucking faces. "oooooh.... It's just Bridgette and Geoff!" She called out to the rest. Duncan walks to Beth's side "Ugh, Nice. Don't you two ever get sick of sucking face?" he asked them as everyone rounds the corner and Bridgette and Geoff Keep making out. "I'm thinking that's a not." Owen said "Enough messing around!" Gwen spoke "We've got Alien eggs to capture." She said as Eric walked closer and Stood next to Trent who was lowly counting to 9.

"I wasn't worried about Chef, Alien costume or not. I mean, I did place second last year." Gwen said as she crossed her arms smiling "I know Exactly what I'm doing."

"Looks like Trent began his 9 obsession again" Eric said sighing "I caught him multiple times last season doing things 9 times since the merge and Even may seem helpful to him.... it seems weird."

Gwen now had one of the GPS as she looked at it and everyone was staring at her as they waited. "Good thing we are all lined up in a row, huh?" She said "Yeah, Ready for Chef to pick us off one at a time." Trent replied. "I think we should split" Eric said "Even if it's the wrong option we can cover more ground than if we are together and Chef can't be at multiple places at once" He explained. Suddenly an alarm repeating the word Danger begins to sound from their GPS. "Let's get out of here!" Heather said frightened "Which way do we go?" Justin asked "North is nice, but east is least" Lindsay began "West is best!" She finished "Can't argue with that!" Leshawna said "Wouldn't even know how to." and just like that Leshawna, Justin, Lindsay, Beth and Ezekiel went west. "Well if they are going west. I'm going North." Eric said as he began to walk. "Wait up!" Cody said following Eric. "The map says the boiler room is east from here." Gwen said "Alien eggs are always in the boiler room" Duncan replied. "Uh, Yeah totally. East it is." Trent said as He, duncan, DJ and Gwen went east. Duncan stops and turns to Bridgette and Geoff, Just as Heather, Owen, Izzy, Harold and Bryan left another way. "Where do you think you're going?" He asked them "With you to the boiler room." Bridgette said "Sorry, but the love birds, are on their own" he said as he walked away from them and they gasped.

"In any alien flick, the kissing couple's always the first to go." Duncan explained "There's no way Romeo and Juliet, are gonna ruin my chancer at a million big ones, uh-uh"

The camera changes to Heather, Owen, Izzy, Harold and Bryan walking together as Owen, Izzy and Harold stopped as the heard the kissing from Geoff and Bridgette. "Everyone!" Heather began snapping her fingers "snap out of it. If we don't band together, we are gonna lose this challenge." She said her hands on her hips "Now who is with me?" Bryan smiled nodding at her words "Uh, it's hard to say" Owen began "Um... does being with you imply some sort of an Alliance?" He asked her " 'Cause we don't like you." Izzy replied after Owen as Harold just stared. Bryan crossed his arms "Okay forget being with her" He quickly said trying to save heather for the hole she dug herself. "Who's willing to walk beside her. in mutual pursuit of our goals, with no commitment of any kind?" He asked them as Heather looks at everyone who agreed to what he said. Just when Chef fell behind Harold "Did Anyone else hear that?" He asked

"I may not be the best-looking guy, or the best dressed, or the most buff" Harold said "But I get my butt Kicked a lot so my senses are totally heightened. I can sense when something's coming." He does karate hands "Nothing gets by me."

Owen, Izzy, Heather and Bryan's face contort as the see Chef behind Harold. He was doing Karate hands when he feels someone tap his shoulder. He turns around and there is Chef holding a paintball gun "Say hello to eternity." Chef said as He shot the gun sliming Harold. "I'm Hit! I'm Hit!" He said as Owen's Gut rumbled "Aagh. It's Time" He said as he runs to Chef "Take me out! I beg you! It's an emergency!" He said as Chef looks at Owen before shooting him. "Oh thank you! Thank You!" He said shaking Chef's hand then running off with a trail of Farts as he left a Fart that makes Geoff stop kissing Bridgette and dropping her.

"Ah Man! I didn't think I was gonna Make it" Owen said and Laughed "But these Bowels never let me down. Great Job Guys!" He then farts "Oh! Ha-ha! I think there's more" He runs out "Coming through!" He leaves as a hand spays air freshener.

Chef stalks towards Heather, Bryan and Izzy, as Heather Hides Behind Izzy and Bryan Looks terrified of Chef. Chef begins to laugh, Heather uses Izzy as a Shield "I am not going down with out a fight," She began "You glorified dung beetle, lozard, Whatever!" She said Chef glared at them "One of us isn't getting out of here clean" She pulled out a paint ball gun. Both Bryan and Heather backed away. "You call that a paint ball gun?" He asked as he pulled out a bigger gun "This is a paint ball gun Izzy laughs "Fun! I love this game!" She pulls out a bigger gun as well. "Okay, Well, I'll just let you two have at it" Said Heather as She and Bryan left them to fight. The two tried to distance themself as much from Chef as they could "This is not How I envisioned my Run for the money" He told Heather as she rolled her eyes "Well You should have expected that after seeing last season from Home Bryan!" The stopped running and kept walking "Yeah I saw. Eric was plain gullible to fall for your trick" He laughed as she smiled "Man I wish i could have been there, he would have gone home sooner too" He added. "well he was lucky to make the final 5 due to his... friendly nature" She said as they bumped to Chef "Oh... C**p" Bryan said. as the began to run from Chef Heather was in front of Bryan as He served as A shield for her. Chef followed them and held up his Gun "First take care of her body guard" He said shooting and hitting Bryan causing him to fall. "Dang it!" He said.

"Yeah I could have ran faster than Heather, But I need her trust. seeing that most people are realizing Eric doesn't trust me that will probably cause people who he is close with to also no trust me." Bryan said smiling "And I have a contingency plan in case of that"

Chef ran toward Heather passing By Bryan "Run Heather Run!" He shouted at her. "This is for last season!, when you put laxatives in my brownies!" Chef said following Heather "The only thing that should give people the runs is my undercooked meat!" He said shooting at her. and The slime hits her making her fall as her wig flies off her head. "My wig!" She exclaimed as It begins to fall down the holes of the floor She tries to get the Wig back but fails. "No!" She yells "Don't look at me!" She tries to hide her bold hair

"Ever since my head was shaved last season, my hair is growing in all patchy and uneven" Heather said her arms on her hips "I have tried everything lotions, lasers, Traditional burmese medicine" She takes a sip of a cup and then spits it "Oh! Loser Shaman!"

Lindsay, Justin, beth, Leshawna and Ezekiel walked into a room with a dead end "Um... How did we get here?" Lindsay asked as she looked at the other "If we Knew, We wouldn't be lost" Justin replied "You are so smart, Justin" She said smiling "And Gorgeous!" She added "What a Knockout!" Leshawna said Swooning. "Totally Gorgeous" Beth also agreed. Ezekiel grinned widely, his eyes lingering on Justin. "Man, ain't he just... uh... mighty fine? Like, jaw-dropping fine," he said, a hint of infatuation in his voice, echoing the sentiments of the girls. Justin smiled at the compliments he was receiving as the Door was closed. "I hate to be the bearer of big bad alien news, " Leshawna said pointing to the door "but I think this may be a trap." they all went to hug Justin for 'protection'. When suddenly From the ceiling it began to rain slime on to them "Gross" The girls exclaimed. "oooh!" Justin said as he passed his arms over his slimed body "Feels so.. good" He said "Looks even better,"

"Uh, well, um, you see, uh, Justin, he's, uh, really, uh, well, uh, you know, he's like, uh, really, uh, attractive? Yeah, like, uh, super attractive. I mean, uh, not that I, uh, don't appreciate the other, uh, girls, but, uh, Justin, he's, uh, just, you know, different. And when, uh, that slime started raining down, uh, it was like, uh, kind of gross, but, uh, then, uh, Justin, he, uh, said it, uh, felt good, and, uh, I couldn't help but, uh, agree? Yeah, uh, he's, uh, just, uh, something else." Ezekiel could barely say his cheeks flsutered.

"You know what?" Beth said "Models are people too. We stare at them, but they've got feelings just like the rest of us. They've got hopes and dreams. My dream is to marry Justin.... Even if I already have a boyfriend back home named brady" She smiling even more "My mom says that if I concentrate really hard, one day all of my dreams will come true!"

Cody and Eric found themselves wandering aimlessly without a GPS. "I shouldn't have given my GPS to Lindsay… Now we're completely lost!" Cody lamented as they passed the same corner again. "And isn't that the corner where Bridgette and Geoff were making out, leading to our separation?" Cody pointed out. "Wait, you mean… we went in a huge circle?!" Eric's frustration was palpable. "Well, that's just great. Back to square one," he sighed. "I think the others went that way," Cody suggested, pointing east. "Let's try it. Maybe we'll stumble upon someone who isn't Chef," he said, hoping for a stroke of luck. "I wonder how many players are left in this challenge," Eric pondered aloud, oblivious to the fact that they were being followed by Chef. They walked for a while until they eventually heard DJ cheering in the distance. "Hey, that's DJ! Maybe they found the eggs! Let's hurry!" Eric exclaimed, and they broke into a run. Suddenly, Chef swiftly pulled out his gun and shot slime at them, hitting them both. "What the?! Where did he come from?!" Eric exclaimed, startled. "Was he following us? Did we lead him straight to the others?" Cody wondered aloud as Chef dashed past them.

"Great! Taken out right close to the end! This is pathetic!" Eric said, his frustration evident. "But maybe it was my fault for not having a GPS. So, I can't be too upset."

"Eric's a great guy, but what he did wrong was leading us in a big circle without a GPS. That was his biggest mistake," Cody said, shrugging off the disappointment.

After Being take out the two guys returned to the cast trailer, where they saw everyone who had been taken out. Eric sighed as he walked closer to them. Then they waited for the remaining people on the challenge. They were both edging to see who were the two winners of the challenge. Eric was standing between Justin and Cody as they waited. They were all each doing their own thing, Bridgette and Geoff kissing, The BFFs talking, about Justin. Not long after Trent and Gwen arrived with the eggs "We have our two winners!" Chris announced following behind them with a slimed Duncan right behind him. "Our only two winners! The rest of you really stink. " He said as he turned to Trent and Gwen "As our winners, Gwen and Trent will now be able to pick their team," Chris explained "Which means they'll be competing against each other this season." Trent and Gwen's Smile faded as Chris said that. "Oh, Dude, No!" Trent quickly said not liking it. Chris just laughed "Bet you didn't see that one coming!" He then continued "After we vote off two cast members in the most thrilling Gilded Chris ceremony yet." Everyone gasped "Yes, you heard me. I said two." He smiled wider I'm liking the twos today. Must be Tuesday." He said as everyone rolled their eyes at his joke. "Yeah, I don't get paid to write this show" He said shrugging.

The Gilded Chris Theme begins to play as It's now dark and People begin taking their seats Like previously people took random spots, Lindsay and Beth sat at either side of Justin and People running from Ezekiel as if he had the plague, Eric sat next to him and a few feet's from Eric sat Bryan. Chris entered the stage wearing a blue Tux. "It's time to cast your votes! Under your seats, you'll find your voting devices." He began explaining "Just press the button of the person you want voted off" Everyone had their voting Device "Oh and No peeking or it's 'Na-na! na-na-na-na! Hey, Hey! Good Bye!' " He laughed as everyone then casted their vote "The votes have been cast!" Chris said as Chef walks in wearing a pink dress that was transparent on the bottom half. Everyone laughs at Chef. "If you Get a Guilded Chris, it means you're safe for now." Chef glares as Chris continued "And the Gilded Chrises go to..." he began "Trent, Gwen" He announced as Chef tossed the first two Gilded Chris. "Harold, Duncan, and Izzy" he said as Chef continued tossing the Gilded Chrises "E-Scope!" Izzy corrected as She grabs her Gilded Chris "Fine. E-Scope." Chris replied "Lindsay, Justin Beth are also safe" He said as Both Lindsay and Beth cheer hugging Justin, just when the Gilded Chrises go their direction Beth and Justing Catch them as Lindsay is hit with hers. "So Is Owen! My man!" Chris shouts as he catches the Gilded Chris "Ah, Thanks, Chris!" He laughs "And Thanks, Chef For doing what the prunes couldn't" Owen added. "Next is Dj and Cody" Chris announces as they catches it. "Eric, Bryan," He said as Chef tossed the Brothers their Gilded Chrises "Surprisingly Heather." He continues as Chef gave Heather Hers "Even More Surprising Ezekiel," He said as Cheff tossed another and Ezekiel was also shocked as he catches it "I'm really Safe?" He asked not believing it "Nice dude!" Eric smiled placing his arm on Ezekiel's Shoulder "You get to stay!" He smiled at a shocked Ezekiel "Egh" Bryan replied rolling his eyes. "And, Least but not least..."He say as he extends the tension between Geoff, Bridgette and Leshawna. "...Leshawna!" He finally said as She cheered and hugged Bridgette and Geoff "Yeah!" She said before stopping "Oops. My bad" She said as She catches her Gilded Chris "But- But, I thought everyone like us" Bridgette said " 'Liked' Being the operative word" Duncan said "Any final words?" Chris asked them as the began kissing and walking towards the Lame-o-sine as the left the Film lot

"Who will Gwen and Trent pick for their teams? Will Izzy ever answer to her actual name? How Long will Ezekiel last This time? Will Owen finally get some lunch?" He said as Owen Spoke from his seat "Thank you!" "Tune in next time, for another exciting episode of... Total! Drama! Action!" The camera begins panning back Showing the full Gilded Chris Stage and Chef who then walks out of Frame as The camera fades to black.

[Outro]

[End Outro]

TDA Exclusive Scene: Geoff and Bridgette in the Lame o sine.

Next Episode: Riot on Set

[spottedenchants]

Let's try a weird one and see if I've double up on it too XD

Joshua by Simon Curtis for Caleb.

now this is some PRIME amv potential for Caleb's self-loathing and longing...

many words, so see under the cut for Thoughts :3

I'm so tired of people always saying that I'm a good person, 'cause I'm not It's like, if they could only see what was in my head

So our intro is Caleb's standing conclusion of his character and backstory c. ep 18 when he tells Beau and Nott the story of how he killed his mother and father:

"But you didn't know what you were doing--"

"So what?"

"You were brainwashed."

"So what?!"

"Programmed."

"Doesn't matter, I should have-- I'm a disgusting person. It doesn't matter."

[Instrumental]

Backstory time! Titles over pleasant shots of Bren and his parents and Frumpkin :3

Little boy's coming to his own He's gotta make them big decisions 'cause he's grown He's gonna get a rude awakening if he don't realize Who really loves him, who lies

This bit could covers the beginning of the Caleb origins comic pretty well, I think. First line, a smiley Bren heading into Rexxentrum, getting settled. Second line: excelling in his classes and getting picked by Trent alongside Astrid and Wulf. Third line is the haircutting and 'endurance training' with residuum. Fourth line starts with blumendrei cuddling up in the tower and then the 'lies' hits with Trent's grin as he sees them the next morning.

Do you ever stop to wonder if they love you When you look into the mirror do you see the truth Or do the voices in your head still got you confused Do they make you wanna say

More Caleb origins. First line: blumendrei teamwork torture and bath. Second line: blumendrei going home (good end) and then 'do you see the truth' goes with Trent's Modify Memory. Third line: back to Blumenthal, murder time. Fourth line: fire, screams, yowling.

I-I'm not who you think I am I-I-I-I-I'm not who you think I am I-I-I-I-I'm not who you think I am

1: Bonk -> in the Sanatorium 2: Aging/beard growing 3: Mind cleared + escape -> Trevor Albrecht

Who I am Who I am Who I am

1: Eren Angermeier 2: Colin Krämer 3: Philip Sommer

I'm not a good boy

In jail (Max Degenhardt) -> Caleb Widogast

Wonder if you ever stop and think About whatever happened to me Did you ever maybe think that I was victimized By those who said they loved me, they lied

Line 1: Trauma response in the manticore cave -> Molly's slap + forehead kiss. Line 2: Party's on the road! Line 3: Victory Pit Trent sighting + High Richter house Fjord sword moment. Line 4: Nott saying her fake name is Bren.

Do you ever stop to wonder if I love you When you look into the mirror do you see the truth Or do the voices in your head still got you confused Do they make you wanna say

Line one is totally this moment: "You should just go. You have told too much. I am going to go. It's time to go. He sits there for a solid five minutes. Then two hours. Wait for everyone to wake up."

I-I'm not who you think I am I-I-I-I-I'm not who you think I am I-I-I-I-I'm not who you think I am Who I am Who I am Who I am I'm not a good boy

Pirate arc montage maybe? (<- is in desperate need of a rewatch)

Ooh, do you know that you broke me down-down-down Ooh, and I'm letting it go, I'm breaking it down-down-down-down

Would be fun to flash forward and back here

1: "You made vulnerability look so easy" 2: "Light them up, pretty."

Ooh, forever I know you've broken it down-down-down-down Ooh, I just want you to know you can turn it around

this time back and forward

1: "Your people were doing experiments and trying to find out and harness the power of-- What? It's your people! It's the people that you know and trained with." 2: "Maybe if I could talk plainly with you and see one inch of change, then I wouldn't believe we're all damned."

[Instrumental]

This bit from ep 49:

"I'm not a very good person."

"Well, I don't think our actions define who we are all the time. Good people do bad things sometimes. Even bad people do good things. I think you're a good person."

And then Fjord and Jester with the one-two punch of:

"Also, I don't think a very bad person would care about us."

"I don't think a very bad person would care that he was very bad."

I-I'm not who you think I am

Cut to Caleb offering the beacon and Essek being all 😒

I-I-I-I-I'm not who you think I am I-I-I-I-I'm not who you think I am Who I am Who I am Who I am I'm not a good boy

Xhorhas arc + traveler con mayhaps

I-I'm not who you think I am I-I-I-I-I'm not who you think I am I-I-I-I-I'm not who you think I am Who I am Who I am Who I am I'm not a good boy

aeor montage

and then the outro getting staggered like so:

"You're a good person."

This isn't about you It's about me

"(sighs) I... could be."

[billie-venus-wrote-a-book]

[non-canonical Elmsbury Vampyre]

Chapter Two

“WARNING: Though the generator is turned off, the current may still be running. Steer clear: Electricity Kills”

***

              “You hear about Maisie Bailey’s dog?” Kat set their plastic tray down on the table in the crowded dinner hall, three weeks back at school and they were already treating uniform rules more so as guidelines reserved for people with no fashion sense, though some could argue that included those who wore skirts on top of trousers.

“What about it?” Trent was neatly picking the pieces of what looked like some form of red vegetable, probably chili peppers, out of his no longer steaming chicken tikka and arranging them in a pile on his paper napkin. It was Curry Wednesday.

“It’s apparently run away, I saw a missing poster for it on the noticeboard outside Professor Holly’s.”

“That sucks, I’d be devastated if Sir Pounce ran away,” Amy conferred. A flash of a memory of the rabbits from the graveyard popped up in her head, but she quickly dismissed it. She hadn’t had cause to think on it since it happened, and the three hadn’t seen anything like it since on their more recent explorations, which were becoming few and far between as school had started up again.

Kat laughed, “Sir Pounce would come sprinting back as soon as he realized the great outdoors doesn’t have home-baked treats or a three-tier cat tree.” They grinned, ripping a bite from their lukewarm naan, now speaking through the bread, “You’ve not got anything to worry about there.”

The dinner hall was very loud and very full; despite it being the Sixth Form area, some GCSE students had snuck their way in to get their hands on the better-quality food and wider selection of vending machines. It was an irregularly shaped room, technically a hexagon which became known to Amy when on a boring clean-up detention a few years back she had counted the walls and tried to calculate the total area of the place; the conclusion she came to was that it was not nearly big enough to contain all two-hundred-and-seven Sixth Form students plus unnoticed intruders. She pulled her chair even closer to the table they were sat at, so the edge jut into her stomach nearly slicing her in half, as a group of loudly-chattering members of the Netball team squeezed their way through the winding labyrinth of gaps between chairs, tables, and students. Amy noticed Kat’s gaze flick to a spot just over her shoulder from where they were sat on the opposite side of the table:

“Would you two ladies mind coming with me?”

The voice of Mrs Sharpe the lunch monitor was droning and monotonous, though high-pitched and nasal enough to cut through the buzzing background sounds of the cafeteria. Kat made a face when they saw the staff member’s line of vision focus on Amy, and stuck their two fingers up at Mrs Sharpe from under the table. Amy looked back at Kat, “Uh.. sure, like, now?”

Mrs Sharpe pursed her lips and nodded mock-solemnly, “Mm-yeah, just you two, Trent needn’t come along.” She waved a dismissive hand at the boy, who shrugged to his friends and continued working on deconstructing his curry back into its base ingredients.

Amy stood up, taking Kat’s blazer sleeve and dragging them up as well, assuming they were both being taken to the Sixth Form Office for another uniform violation. She could maybe see where they were coming from with Kat, though they had read through the rules that morning and nowhere did it say anything against wearing trousers and a skirt- which they were itching to bring up whenever they would be told to go home and change- but Amy didn’t think she was doing anything too out of pocket with her own clothing: maybe it was because she was wearing boots?

The two were marched through the winding corridors of the school, ducking under wooden doorframes that stood as the only remnant of the building’s original Stuart-era structure after the rest was totally rehashed in the late 60’s. It didn’t take Amy long to realise that herself and her friend were being taken up to Mrs Pratchett’s office; a round room with a shallow raised platform on which she conducted meetings and tellings-off located right at the very top of the school- led up to by a winding spiral staircase behind a ‘Staff Only’ door.

“Why’s she taking us to Pratchett’s?” Kat whispered to Amy, speaking out loud the very next thing Amy was going to wonder. Amy shrugged, mouthing a concurrent ‘I don’t know’ as she fought off the light dizziness one gets when climbing an annoyingly tall spiral staircase.

Mrs Sharpe knocked briefly on the large oak door, her narrow blue eyes reflected in the polished copper plaque on the front, watching the two students behind her intently. The door swung open and Amy and Kat were filtered inside.

Amy sat in a little grey chair opposite the desk, trying to smooth her skirt down as close to her knees as she could get it without having to noticeably roll it down. Kat tried their best not to slump huffily into their chair beside her, but still fell back into it with a little too much force, causing Mrs Pratchett to shoot them a stern look through the lenses of her crescent-shaped glasses, “I never thought I would have to have this conversation with you both,” she began a pre-written, but well-practised, speech, “but it has apparently come to this.” She clasped her hands together and leaned forward on the desk, her well-manicured fingernails shiny in the light of the desklamp, “But I think you both may know why I have called you in here today.”

The two students shook their heads.

Mrs Pratchett raised an eyebrow, “I would like to start off by saying that Elmsbury-Gallows Secondary has a zero-tolerance policy on violence and bullying—”

Kat concealed a scoff.

“—and that we take matters like this one incredibly seriously.”

Amy felt her stomach sink a little as her mind connected the dots on why they were both there.

“We received a report,” Mrs Pratchett continued, “from a student, whom I will not name but I believe you both know who I am talking about—”

Amy and Kat nodded hesitantly.

“—this student has put in a report of physical violence that resulted in physical injury and we, as a faculty, have a due diligence to follow up on his claim.” She was focusing her pointed stare on Kat for the most part, but Amy felt a twinge of telepathic blame seeping into her shoes. She looked down to check.

“Now, need I remind you both that this is assault?” she punctuated the statement with a drawn-out disappointed sigh, “and that you are very lucky indeed that the victim’s family have not chosen to pursue legal consequences.”

He bullies us since Primary but as soon as we do one thing to fight back you’re up in arms? Amy felt the thought radiating off Kat, whose head was turned away from her to focus on looking out a window to prevent themself from leaping over the desk and throttling their hexagenerian headmistress. Though their expression was obscured, Amy could see the pulsing muscles in their jaw.

“However,” Mrs Pratchett called the two’s attention back with the adverb, “that is not to say we haven’t decided on an in-school consequence,” she was clearly avoiding the word ‘punishment’, “for you both to face.”

Dammit.

“Myself, Mr Robins- head of Sixth Form, and the victim’s family have decided that you both will attend after-school detentions with your form tutor for the rest of the academic year.”

Kat muttered something that rhymed with ‘puck cough’.

“I’m sorry, what was that?”

“I said we deeply regret doing it and won’t do anything like it again.”  

Amy couldn’t deny that she felt the same way as Kat, no matter how much of a stoicist outlook she tried to have, she was angry about this.

“Good. And I am sure you both find this a reasonable consequence for your actions.” This was a command, not a request.

Amy and Kat motioned up and down with their heads, achieving something close to an agreeing nod.

“So, the detentions start today after school,” Mrs Pratchett continued, “and your form tutor is…” she flicked through a file conveniently placed to her right, “Professor Holly?”

A small twinge of relief soothed the ache in Amy’s stomach. At least this would make things more bearable.

The two nodded again.

“Okay, so you won’t have to move classrooms since you have History last period.” She smiled with something that could almost be identified as sympathy, “so your detention is an hour: 3:30 until 4:30.” She snapped the file shut, “glad to have this talk with you- honestly you two, I never expected this from you.” She took off her glasses and folded them neatly in her hand, “less than ten behaviour points between you both- excluding uniform violations- and from nowhere you have this outburst?” she tutted, before motioning that they were free to leave and Amy had never felt more at liberty to do something as quickly as she did then.

***

              “Well I think it’s a bloody pisstake,” Trent was astutely ignoring the research task, a blank word document open on his laptop, “remember when he poured milk over Kat in year ten? He got like a week’s detention for that- tops.”

“Yeah and the time he and his little nitty mates followed Amy back from school— I swear they didn’t even follow up on that one.” Kat’s eyes were the only part of them visible over the top of the table, they had slouched in their chair to an almost horizontal point, “should’ve got his whole head in the door as well.”

“You three better be getting on with the work.” Professor Holly looked over the top of his PC, his mouth obscured but his eyes smiling through his glasses, “and I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that from you Kat.”

“I know you’d never snitch on me Sir,” Kat gave him a comically large wink, shimmying upward, and leaning into the laptop and textbook- pretending to read it at first but eventually actually getting some work done. The lesson passed as quickly as it had started, Amy managing to get at least something written up, though not as much as she would have liked, finding it hard to divert her annoyance away from the whole Mike Gregory situation.

The sound of the class diminished as they filtered out to leave, Trent being the last to go, sticking next to his friends until he was forced out, “Should I pop to Cery’s or wait for you guys outside?”

“Go Cery’s- I’ll give you my fiver,” Amy fished around in her blazer pocket, retrieving the crumpled note, “wait at the place if you want but if you wanna go home and change you can.”

“Nah I’ll wait- I’d never run off from you guys.” He smiled, wished them both luck, and went on his expedition to get their snacks for the week from the little corner shop on Abbey Way. The door closed behind him, leaving Amy and Kat alone in the now silent classroom.

3:28.

“You guys want to tell me what happened?” Professor Holly swiveled himself away from the computer screen to face the two sat next to each other at the front of the class, on the table next to the one nearest to his desk.

“Mike Gregory’s a ratty little snitch is what happened.”

Amy kicked Kat under the table.

“Another thing that I’ll pretend I didn’t hear, Kat,” Holly very deliberately concealed a smile.

“He was trying to get into my house after, uhm, failing to scare us,” Amy was careful with her words: the last thing she wanted after this was to admit to her and her friends’ sordid past and active present of trespassing, “so Kat kicked the door to slam him out and accidentally got his fingers trapped.” She shot Kat a pointed glare, “didn’t you.”

Kat shrugged, “I can work with that, yeah.” They sat forward, “It’s just so unfair because, like, he never got in any proper trouble for that time he put Trent in a bin, or when he tipped milk over me, or following Amy home, or ‘accidentally’—” they gestured airquotes, “—dropping the ball on my toes on the year seven bowling trip—” Kat was now ranting quite exasperatedly, “—or, y’know, bullying us since literal Primary School. But noooo, all of a sudden when we react to it we get a year’s after school detention,” they laughed, “What’s worse is that Amy didn’t even do anything wrong! Like I get putting me in here, I probably maybe shouldn’t have actually reacted like I did,” they quickly caught themself, “and, uh, not realized my actions may end up physically hurting someone, despite the lack of intent to harm,” they took a huge breath in, “but c’mon Amy did nothing!”

Professor Holly took a moment to process the excess of word vomit that had just poured out of Kat’s mouth. He absently pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, “that is a very fair point, Kat- but I’m not allowed to voice my personal opinion on this, uhm, consequence.” He folded his arms, “but I can say that I definitely see where you’re coming from.”

Kat gave him another one of their comically exaggerated winks, “eh, I see Sir, I see.”

The pealing, shrill ring of the bell signified 3:30, and as if she had been stood waiting in the wings, Mrs Pratchett came coquettishly into the room, “Uh, Kat can you just move over there, so you and Bellamy don’t talk?” Mrs Pratchett pointed to the chair furthest from Amy in which Kat sat, making sure to show all their teeth in their best-practised passive-aggressive smile to the headmistress.

“Attitude.” Mrs Pratchett warned. She moved to sit in a chair under the whiteboard at the front of the class getting out her laptop, her acrylics making a spider-foot tapping on the plastic keys. This, for an hour, Amy groaned inwardly, God help us all.

***

              The walk up to their little spot was not a difficult one if you knew where you were going: a quick stop at Cery’s for snacks, then a thirty minute walk up through Church Close, past Elmsbury Common and down Gallows Trail to the old 1950’s radio tower that stood overgrown and bronzed with rust on the peak of a hill in the middle of the farmland. Up until Gallows Trail it was all pavement, afterward they had to hop a fence to get into the field by the hill, which was a little more offroad; but with the right shoes on it was just as easy as the previous twenty-minutes or so. This trip had always been a little more tiring in the heat, but the view from beneath the tower had been worth it for the three of them since year seven.

The entire span of Elmsbury-Gallows rolled out in front of them like a map, and Amy could point out every nook and cranny in the town from the spot on the hill- the first few times they went up there she would trace her route home as to avoid getting lost. The sun had slowly begun it’s descent behind the curtain of clouds in front of them to the West, dousing the town in a meek, diluted, sandy-yellow glow. From the top of the hill Amy could see on one side the small pocket of land where Johnson’s Farm sat, and over to the other the churning site of the mine renovations- once greys and browns overgrown and untouched, now spotted all over with bright yellow excavators and diggers.

The radio tower itself was overgrown with shrubbery and ivy, rusted an orangey-brown the same colour as the wooden fence around it, the only splash of colour being the faded yellow warning sign peeking out from the leaves on the fence. It pierced up into the sky, it’s needle-like form wobbling slightly as wind passed through it. Amy sat on her blazer in the grass, taking off her tie and putting it in her backpack’s front pocket.

“Well I’m just as mad as you are about it, Kat,” Trent cracked open a can of off-brand coke and handed it to them.

“I know right! It’s like, first they make the sixth-formers wear the GCSE students’ uniform and then they go and wrongfully persecute me and Amy for basically defending ourselves,” they slurped their soda before tumbling down to sit next to Amy, “I mean, persecute me for it, that’s fine I guess- wrong but fine- but, and I literally said this to Holly: Amy did literally nothing and she has to do detentions as well.”

“No, no Kat you don’t get it,” Amy reached up to take her can of coke from Trent, “I was a bystander- and as Mr Greensmith said:” she straightened up, putting on her best Devonshire accent, “I can’t stand a bystander, students! A bystander is like a bully who doesn’t even need to bully!” she reverted to her normal voice, “I was complicit in your heinous crime.”

“Ohh, right of course,” Kat leaned back on their elbows, “you deserve a million years of detention for standing doing nowt in your own house.”

“In all seriousness, you probably shouldn’t have done it, Kat.” Trent joined them both on the grass finally, “no matter how ‘just’ it was.”

“You’re right, you’re right, violence is never the answer,” they conceded and sipped their coke thoughtfully, “it’s the solution.”

“Kat no!”

“Kat yes!”

The three of them laughed, mock-panicking at Kat villain laughing and rubbing their hands together as if plotting their next devilish scheme. Before the laughter died into silence, Kat spoke again, “I’ll have to add it to my list of things to protest against.”

“That why you’re wearing the skirt-over-trousers combo?”

“Hm?”

“To protest the uniform change?” Amy added.

“Oh my God did I not tell you guys? I can’t believe I didn’t tell you guys,” Kat then launched into a spiel about how the uniform change for the older students was infantilizing and wrong, and simply unprofessional, with that usual hint of unserious, straight-faced irony that tinted all of their protesting exploits- always for the sole purpose of entertaining themself and the want to create a common goal between students. The roleplay of a real thing in a fake environment; it had been like this since year eight debate club.

When asked if the skirt-trouser combination would be too stifling for the, now dwindling, summer heat, they simply replied that “justice has no temperature.”

“You should make it a thing,” Amy offered, “get the whole school repping the trouser-skirt in solidarity with your cause.”

Kat wiggled their finger at their friend, saying how that was an excellent idea.

***

              Neil always stayed behind after hours in the school. He didn’t quite know why, most likely a combination of his inability to keep track of time and his love of evening drives; the twilight dwindling a blue sheen over everything, illuminated only by his daytime running lights, not dark enough to need any more illumination. It was the only time of the day that Elmsbury didn’t look completely brown. Most times he would not leave the premises until told to. He also found that leaving so late made it so he would have minimal interaction with other people on the way to his car.

“Neil, can I ask you something quickly?”

He had almost forgotten Mrs Pratchett’s presence in the room, her ability to move in near silence was almost impressive. He nodded to her to proceed with her question.

“Would you mind keeping an eye on those two, a little more closely? It’s just—” she sought and found the words she was looking for, “—I hear sometimes violent outbursts are a result of poor mental health is all, maybe you could try talking to them, see if anything’s up?”

This was odd to Professor Holly, he always thought Amy and Kat were quite happy people, albeit a little strange sometimes but never ill-spirited. Definitely more happy since GCSEs, which is what made this apparent spur of violence even more out of character. He made a noise of confirmation anyway, “Uh, sure of course, I’ll make sure they feel safe to talk if need be.”

Mrs Pratchett smiled in thanks, before leaving him alone in the room to tap away at his keyboard until dusk.

              Though it was the evening and now mid-September, the air was not much less thick nor hot than it had been at the peak of the day; Neil caught a glimpse of a sliver of blood orange disappearing under the deep phthalo horizon, and crammed himself into his brown VW beetle before the fog and the gnats could make their way after him. He blasted the air conditioning, the cold wafts making him sigh in a near euphoria after being stuck upstairs in his stuffy classroom full of students and their signature pubescent stench, “Home, home, home.” He muttered to himself, as if he were afraid he’d forget where he was going next. He turned the key, forgetting he had left his Peel Slowly And See CD in the slot, and he took off out of the staff car park and down the indigo streets around the northward-going-eastward part of Elmsbury to the tune of Run Run Run.

This was the newer part of the town, one might add, where the classic suburban houses with their modernist slanted rooves topped with roosting crows, and floor-to-ceiling windows glowing yellow with light and movement inside. He snaked his way past the outskirts of Elmsbury-Common, which was a little less inspired by mid-century American suburbia, home to those more classically British red-brick mining village homes, though the same yellow glow seeped out of the windows in small square patches on the pavement; he turned sharply onto the older, narrower body of Deerfolk Way, lined on either side by tall, bristling hedges with white flowers peeking out between the leaves like stars. He flicked on his dipped headlights as the sky darkened from dusk to evening.

And then he hit something. Hard.

Neil slammed his foot on the brake, his whole body seizing in rigor-mortis-like panic. Did he hit an animal? He tried to remember what the impact had felt like- as if he were recalling a far-off childhood memory and not the events of thirty-seconds ago.

Should I get out?

What a stupid question to ask himself- whether it was alive or not he would have to move it out of the way to get through the road.

He clambered out of the car, praying for some form of rock or cast-off bag laying in the middle of the tarmac, closing his door and standing with his silhouette illuminated by the headlights behind him, the sound of the next song muffled and constrained to the inside of the car. He slowly moved his eyes to look down.

The body of a white bichon frise lay at his feet, unmoving and half obscured by fog, its fur made opalescent in the deep blue of dusk. Neil suddenly felt very hot, like that rush of feverish heat you get when you’re about to throw up, “Oh God, oh God, oh God—” he paced up and down, looking about himself for any witnesses, trying to tell himself he was hoping for one, not praying there were none. He hadn’t killed the dog, right? There wasn’t any blood on it so he mustn’t have killed it, just run it over after it had died. He tentatively put three fingers to the chest of the thing, maybe he had hit it and it was injured?  He grimaced, reeling back as the his fingers sank through the tufts, not concealing the icy coldness of the dog’s skin which he pressed into, feeling rigor-mortis under his fingertips like a false rubber prop. Neil wondered then why the animal looked somewhat familiar, before suddenly remembering the noticeboard outside his classroom.

It was that girl’s dog- the student. What was her name? He can’t have forgotten her name not here, not like this, not whilst standing over her dead dog. Millie? Maisie? That was it, Maisie— Maisie Bailey. God, she would be devastated. Was he going to tell her?

“Christ, what would I even say,” he chided himself under his breath, “’Oh sorry Maisie I know I haven’t taught you since year nine but here’s your dead dog?’”  he paced back and forth in front of his headlights, “’no, no I promise I didn’t kill it, I just found it like that.’” He almost forgot what the thing looked like, and found himself glancing down to look at it directly again, making eye contact with one of it’s glassy, doll-like black eyes.

Oh God, oh God, oh God.

Neil hadn’t even fully resolved on what he was doing, feeling a choked sob escape him as he gingerly bundled the dog up in his jacket and put the neatly wrapped package in the boot of his car. He felt like a murderer. It wasn’t on purpose, so technically speaking he was just a manslaughterer. He didn’t like the joke. It didn’t even make sense- he hadn’t killed the dog. Just found it dead.

Am I really going to take this home?

***

              The sky was almost completely dark when Kat was on lookout for Professor Holly’s car: the three had a ritual since they found the tower that they would go home when they could see his car headlights turning into Deerfolk Way. Behind them Amy and Trent were talking about the new mine renovations, and how much they miss doing nearly nightly explorations and ghost hunts: “we should all go out soon, I think,” Amy called over to Kat, beckoning them to come gather to line up timetables, “or at least for half-term,”

“Ooh!” Kat grinned, “We could go out on Halloween!”

Their friends seemed to like that idea, penciling in ‘hunt’ on their planners for Halloween.

“Yeah, but we should go out a little sooner before that,” Trent was flicking through the pages, “what about, uh— oh, look there’s Holly.” He pointed to a pair of round yellow spots in the distance, turning into Deerfolk Way, “we should get going.”

The three resolved to talk about it on the walk back when Trent suddenly shushed his two friends, freezing in place crouched low to the ground, his eyes starting to move around the top of the hill, scanning progressively faster until they focused on what was making the soft, padding footstep sounds coming up the brow of the hill.  

“Holy shit, speak of the devil.” The loud, slightly rasping voice of Mike Gregory barked in the direction of the three, “well, devils, cause y’know there’s three of yous.” He was flanked either side by Harrison Burke and Henry Clarke, both taller than him, all turned out in beige or white sweatpants and Off-White and Lacoste t-shirts, single silver chain necklaces gleaming about each of their necks and pairs of white trainers on their feet: Mike in Yeezys, Henry and Harrison in Airforces. Their hair was well-trimmed and groomed, and was cut in the exact same style as if it had been copy-pasted onto each of their heads. In Mike Gregory’s left hand, the red tip of a smouldering joint glowed in the dusk, puffing out thin trails of smoke, his right was hanging casually at his side, the white bandages that wrapped his broken fingers together into a mitten almost luminous in the dusk, “Aren’t you guys like emo or something?” he took a draw from the joint then passed it to Henry, a small smile cracking up his face, “thought you’d be at the graveyard summoning demons or whatever.” He blew smoke in Trent’s face, laughing and getting his two friends to join in with him. Trent said nothing, turning to his two friends to leave, taking Kat by the arm and whispering to them to leave it before they had the chance to jump on one of the three boys and start gouging their eyes out. They were glad of this, albeit a little disappointed.

“Oi!” Mike called after them, causing Kat to turn around from habit. The three had gotten a few metres down the hill so that when Kat saw him, the bottom halves of his legs disappeared under its brow, and his teeth were white in the deep blue of dusk, the only light source between the three boys was the end of the joint glowing a deep cadmium red, reflecting faintly in his pupils. Mike Gregory held it out towards them, “don’t be rude: come hang out.”

“Go fuck yourself.” Kat called back, met with howls of laughter and coy jeering. Trent managed to steer them back towards the path home before they could run up the hill and put the joint out on Mike Gregory’s eyeball.

***

              Neil was trying his best not to look out of the window. It had been hours since he got home, and therefore hours since he buried the dog, yet whenever he looked down at his hands there seemed to be dirt under his nails despite him having taken a nail clipper to them, almost to the point that there was now not even much nail for there to be dirt under. His glasses steamed up when he looked back to the pot of soup he had been stirring almost reflexively, he tried his best to focus on anything else but his newest suspicion. He had been thinking about it since the mine opened, and since the missing poster appeared on the noticeboard it had lodged itself in the back of his mind consciously or otherwise; it may have been confirmation bias to begin with- starting to see more roadkill than usual didn’t feel at all logical which is why Neil pushed that feeling away, as he was currently doing with the sickness in his stomach that the state of the dog had given him. But something was still out of place for him; his eyes wandered from the small patch of newly re-packed dirt just outside the window to the doors on the cabinet in the hallway.

The books had come from his mother- she had found them in a garage sale in the Antique Books section whilst looking for things to pad her bookshelf with. He remembered her telling him the story of how she had been almost about to leave when a misplaced magnifying glass in a box next to the pile had highlighted in its lens a single name: ‘Phillip Fairfax’. What had struck her about it was that it wasn’t embossed on the spine like the other antique books she had seen, rather it was written in a spidery cursive on a sticker, which upon closer inspection, had been glued onto the book itself, and around its edges there had been faint fingerprints in ink. She had picked it up, of course, and it being the late 60’s she was delighted to see scrawled on the pages what looked like a mixture of old alchemic science and 19th Century mysticism. There had been two textbooks in total of what appeared to be handwritten notes on experiments and findings revolving around some flavour of occultism. Neil’s mother had never been able to devise exactly what denomination of religion it was, and she never extensively read the work as whenever she did she found she would suffer weeks, even months, of night terrors.

It was a good story, though Neil had come to understand as he grew up before he read the books himself, that the last part was most likely an embellishment. When he got round to reading the work, it was during the new age spirituality phase of his early-twenties, he found he got splitting headaches after flicking through the pages, and would see the words from the page imprinted into his vision as if he had been staring into a bright light; he often had to blink for a few minutes to shake the hallucinations completely. It was why he often got Jim to read them to him to make notes on: he never seemed to get the same affliction. Most of the knowledge from the time was lost on him: out of practice and stored now underneath the mounting pile of his subconscious.

He did remember a little from what he had skimmed however, namely the words on the page that he was rifling though delicately to find at this moment. He finished his soup, took off his pink ‘Kiss the Cook!’ apron, then sat down in an armchair to read:

***

18th March, 1841.

              My brother Alexander and I have been circulating theories for a while now on the existence of a supernatural being in the forest and farmland about the house. It has been a few weeks since we commandeered the library from Cassandra, and have both decided to conduct a rather dangerous experiment on what locals call ‘The Deer Man’. I would have been inclined to dismiss this superstitious myth as simply the imaginations of the peasantry, but ever since Alexander has been reading from the Collection, he has become quite obsessed with the presence of this potential entity. Although I myself am a man of Christian science and new head of the parish, I do not wish my brother to come to any spiritual harm in his experiments and am acting as a guide to deter him from witchcraft or any conjuring of daemons or the occult.

Alexander’s theory is that the entities in the surrounding area are of Celtic origin as they are spoken of in many texts from the earlier years of the Library’s existence in relation to creatures such as Pixies, Gnomes, or Imps. I, myself, conflate this notion and believe the creatures in the surrounding woods to be spirits or, more worryingly, daemonic creatures; however, where both of our theories overlap is in the notion that to encounter whatever entities there may be, one must first directly disturb them. So, my brother proposed that we must take note of the rate of activity as it is right now, and then take action to provoke the entity(s) and record on whether there is an uptick in happenings or not. Below are the notes taken on our small experiment on this hypothesis:

18th March, 1841

-Ventured into the forest surrounding grounds with Alexander; brought with us a rifle but no hunting dogs

-Made note of tracks which looked like hoof markings in dirt near reservoir, antlers shed in a tree, and what appeared to be feathers shaken off in a violent manner as if attacked by a predator upon a manmade dirt track; all of which are expected in a forest

-Nothing more of note, though this is expected

***

19th March, 1841

-Day two of observation: took hunting rifle into forest; explored with Alexander

-Mostly same occurrences: hoof markings, pawprints of what looked like a form of fox, feathers, pieces of old wood (possibly man-made but unlikely), and sheep’s wool on a wire fence

-Nothing more of note, though this is expected; all is in way with our hypothesis

***

20th March, 1841

-Final day of observation: took hunting rifle and Alexander

-Most things remained the same, however one occurrence of note being upon overturning a log I was swarmed all over by a nest of tiny silver spiders; managed to shake them off but found a few in my hair whilst writing this

-Nothing more of note, though this is expected; am nervous for the provocation stages, may take Bible; all is in way with our hypothesis

***

21st March, 1841

-First day of provocation stage, took hunting rifles with us into the forest, took extra ammunition

-Read up this morning on local legend, apparently you must not take from the forest lest you provoke the spirits; we have resolved to take back with us a stone each to test if this is a large enough provocation

-Took stones with no hassle, got back to the house without any hindrance whatsoever- may need a harsher provocation; may bring dogs out with us tomorrow

***

22nd March, 1841

-Second provocation stage day; took rifles with us though Alexander refused to bring the dogs much to my own protest

-Took paint and brushes with us to the forest today, marked two trees with red X markings; didn’t see much of note though did hear the sound of a tree being felled nearby without evidence of the occurrence itself (though this is chalked up to echoes and acoustics, my brother is going to ask around his tenants in case someone was felling a tree, since they cannot do so on his property)

-Nothing of note happened on the walk back to the house, however when placing my hand in my coat pocket I found a single milk tooth at the bottom of it, I assume placed there by one of my sons

***

23rd March, 1841

-Third day of provocation, I have persuaded Alexander to let me bring Merrylass and Vidge though not out of fear of the forest, just from my hearing of padding steps nearby us yesterday which I assumed belonged to a boar or fox

-Went out with intention to snap branches from trees as disruption, and to pick flowers since this feels a more violent taking than the stone method

-Ran into a hunter out in the forest, when Alexander warned him off his land the man smiled from a distance through the trees, whistling a tune to himself; this angered my brother who aimed his rifle at the man, threatening to shoot him for trespass; the man bolted away at a speed I thought inhuman; maybe he was the one felling a tree yesterday

-Undisturbed on the walk back, though we did come across a nest of those spiders again, both of us run over by the creatures and needing a bath once we got in

-The dogs did not like the forest and after supper I found Merrylass dead in a way I could not bear to show Alexander: guts spilled, flesh ripped, but no apparent presence of blood, as if it had been all but washed off of her body. She was sprawled out almost methodically, displayed like a diagram. I suppose some animal must have tracked her scent back in the forest and followed us back, for I found her dead outside I hypothesise that she must have escaped the house and been killed by the thing. What nags me is that she was not partially eaten whatsoever.

***

              In our observation since, some strange occurrences have taken place, favouring our initial hypothesis to what I thought would be my apprehension but instead I find is to my own morbid sense of curiosity. The nights have not been kind to my brother, I can hear him shuffling about the house from my chambers, a deep muttering taking root in his throat; on nights especially bad I can hear the grinding sound of the hinges of the first Gate, and know he is ventured into that library to use the hours of the night to study as well as that of the day. He has told me to note down occurrences that have happened solely to himself, and that I will do:

-Nightmares

-Hearing the sound of a pianoforte playing outside the house

-Visions of a large dog with flaccid teeth that flap like paper in its breath

-The sound of swarms of bees in the house

These are what he has asked me to note down, however from my own observation of him he seems to be a lot thinner, as if he is not eating. I have also noticed a new-founded, worrying, obsession with the Library and this ‘Deer Man’ that the locals speak of in particular. He keeps speaking of a great tree with the cave to the centre of the earth beneath it- he knows I do not like his talk of it, so he has stopped mentioning it as often. But I can see him thinking of it and in sparing a glance at his own textbook, it is vacant of notes and scrawled all over with the crooked illustrations of the branches of a wych elm.  

[pluckydean]

happy birthday @casismybestfriend! i couldn’t resist a tiny bit of ted/trent pining when this thought occurred to me.

Trent had certainly never told anyone at Richmond when his birthday was, so it came as a complete surprise when he walked through the locker room to find the office draped with streamers.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRENT was even written on three blue balloons tied to his desk.

"Well, shoot," came Ted's voice from behind him.

Trent turned to see him in the doorway with a large container in his hands. He could only stare at him, at a total loss for words.

"We were gonna jump out and shout surprise and everything," Ted said. "Didn't expect you'd be in so early."

"Ah," said Trent eloquently, "... thank you?" He had a habit of feeling off kilter whenever Ted's kindness was directed at him.

Trent's stomach did a series of flips when Ted smiled widely at him. His own lips twitched a little, like he'd forgotten how to smile while distracted by Ted's full attention on him.

"Happy birthday," Ted said, and he turned to pull two bags from behind his desk. "We'll wait to do the cake until everyone's here, and I got some poppers too. Definitely wait till Roy's here to use those- a party popper is the best cure for a party pooper." He held out the second, smaller bag. "And, well, I got you a little somethin'."

Trent blinked, still absorbing Ted's rapid-fire words.

Feeling a little dazed, he took the bag from Ted. Not from the sides or the bottom, but from the handles hooked around Ted's fingers in a brief but intoxicating touch. It was his birthday after all, he deserved a small indulgence.

He didn't have the faintest idea what he would find inside the bag, and was surprised by a beautifully crafted leather journal. He glanced up at Ted, who was still smiling, and back down to the journal. He traced over the embossed TC in the corner.

"It's lovely, Ted," he said sincerely. "Thank you."

And he's not sure how long they would have stood there gazing at each other if some of the players hadn't entered the locker room just then.

Trent took a step back, wondering when he and Ted had gotten so close, and decided to make a swift retreat to his desk. He sat there admiring his gift until the rest of the coaching staff arrived and he was distracted by the mention of "party hats". How strange his life had become, he thought and smiled to himself. Strange and wonderful.