#More than a Vancouver sunset

[zuucc]

MORE THAN A VANVOUVER SUNSET: What if…

… Mat had given in?

Summary: What If Mat had given into Emma, that night in his car? What if he’d thrown his principles out the window and given into what they both wanted so badly? This story is a spin on what would’ve happened in Mat’s car that night after their trip to Sunset Beach - the trip that definitely was not a date - if Mat hadn’t been so stubborn, and so adamant about taking her on a date first.

Warnings: Smut, more cursing than actual sentences

Word Count: 3600 (including excerpt)

Author’s note: I wrote the first 50.000 words to More Than a Vancouver Sunset when I was supposed to be writing my bachelors thesis. That´s just about three years ago now, which is just mind blowing on its own. The fact that this story still spins through my head still, is maybe even worse? Anyways, I’ve got a week long exam and just like before, that makes me want to write everything but that. It´s not like MTAVS doesn’t have enough smut as it is, but banging my head against table has got me coming up with all kinds of shit. Needless to say - it’s spicy. I know I’m not really on here anymore, and for most people I’m just someone you’ll occasionally see on someone’s Mat Barzal, Tyson Jost or William Nylander fic rec list. I don’t even think half the people I used to talk to on here back then are still here, but I hope this finds someone who’s interested. And this could be read as a stand alone, you do not have to have read the 80k nightmare that is More Than a Vancouver Sunset to read this.

I hope you enjoy.

In cursive, you will find an extract from More Than a Vancouver Sunset, with what leads up to this story. If you haven’t read the full story - Mat has previously stated that Emma is not the kind of girl he’d just fuck, he would like to take her on a date first. He’s brought her to watch the sunset at the beach, but didn’t call it date out of fear. Though it really feels like a date to Emma and he did end up kissing her.

~

His hand started laced with hers, their fingers intertwined, resting in her lap as they began the drive back home. The conversation flowed freely, and it hit Mat square in the chest that though their lives had taken completely different paths after high school, they still shared many of the same experiences and they still had so much in common – hell they’d even ended up in the same city. Soon, his hand was gripping her thigh lightly and Emma’s own hand curled around his wrist, moving back and forth in a soothing manner. 

“I have to admit, my crush on you came back pretty quickly,” he hummed, looking over at her for a split second before he turned his attention back to the road ahead, causing Emma to laugh. 

“Yeah, a little faster than I’d like to admit,” she agreed, and Mat nodded along. He was pulling onto her street, but he didn’t want to let her go just yet. The digital clock on his dash had pushed past eleven and Emma’s parents’ house was dark when he pulled into the driveway. He turned the car off, already knowing that he wouldn’t just be saying goodbye and backing out again. He looked over at the beautiful girl sitting next to him, and she was already looking back at him. They both smiled, looking at each other for way too long before they both burst out in giggles. They’d talked non stop all the way back and now it seemed that they were both out of words. 

“Come here,” Mat chuckled, pulling her closer by her hand and meeting her halfway. They both smiled into the short kiss, their eyes meeting for a second before their lips did, though this time the kiss was loaded with all the sexual tension that had seemed to make the air thick all around them. Emma’s nose brushed against Mat’s before the kiss deepened, the open mouthed kiss sending warmth through both their bodies. While Emma slid her hands up his chest, Mat’s dropped to her thighs, his grip a bit tighter and moving a bit higher than where it had been on the way home. 

Mat hummed into the kiss when her hands slid back to his neck, her fingers instantly moving into his thick hair and curling into fists. Their tongues met in a slow slide against each other, sending a wave of want crashing between Emma’s thighs, as she moaned into the kiss – not even embarrassed at the sound, simply just wanting his lips on hers, or anywhere else on her body – that’d be fine too, and his hands roaming. Mat could feel his pants getting tighter with every kiss they shared and Emma seemed to get more impatient; little moans slipping past her lips, her fingers clenching in his hair, doing everything she could to press herself closer to him, only to be stopped by the center console. Mat reached for the little button on the side of his seat, taking his seat the last few inches back. 

“What are you doing?” Emma asked, not pulling far away, her lips still moving against his while she spoke. 

“Just come here,” he hummed, kissing her hard but quick as he placed one hand on the back of her thigh and the other sliding across her back to curl around her waist. He pulled her body closer to his before he simply lifted her over the center console with very little help and effort from Emma, letting her straddle his lap. That in itself had Emma grinding her hips down onto his immediately, making a groan escape his throat in unison with the moan she pressed against his mouth. 

“Fuck, Em,” Mat said, groaning into her kiss, his hands on her hips as she ground against him. The shortened version of her name falling from his lips along with his hardening member under her, hit her perfectly between her legs whenever she rolled her hips over his, and it was pushing her further along the road to desperation. His hands moved slowly up her sides as their lips slotted together, so slowly it nearly had Emma placing her hands on his to push them to where she wanted them most. He pulled away from her lips, his own glistening and swollen as he looked up at her with dark, lust-filled eyes. Emma looked back at him with the same look on her face, her lips parted as she tried to catch her breath. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly and Mat’s attention was caught, his hands finally covering her breasts. He kissed her deeply, but only for a few seconds before he started a trail down the side of her neck as Emma pushed her hair back out of the way for him. 

“Let me take you out on a date,” he spoke, his lips moving against the sensitive skin right beneath the line of her jaw. One of his arms wrapped around her waist while the other stayed on her boob, massaging it in his hand. Emma’s neck craned back to let him have as much space as possible, her hand fisted in his dark curls. 

“I thought this was a date,” She breathed, her body pressing against his, desperate to be with him – desperate to have him naked against her, desperate for him to be inside her. 

“No,” he said, shaking his head against her as he kept leaving kisses down her neck. Emma moaned as he found a particularly sensitive spot. She rolled her hips into his and she could feel him fully hard beneath her. She was sure the particularly nice thong she’d decided to wear was soaked through. 

“You don’t have to take me out first – before you fuck me,” she moaned, clenching her fist in his hair. The words falling from her mouth along with the pull of his hair had Mat groaning and pulling back from where he’d been leaving kisses on her skin.

“I’ll take you out – tomorrow,” he said, making Emma swallow hard. He really wasn’t going to fuck her tonight, and she didn’t know how to deal with the fire burning in the pit of her stomach. She pressed her forehead to his, closing her eyes. They were both breathing hard. 

“You have no idea what you’re doing to me,” she sighed, brushing her nose against his. Matt chuckled, kissing her lightly, but long enough to leave a tingle on her lips. 

“I’m sure you can feel what you’re doing to me,” he breathed, placing his hands on her hips and pushing her against him. A breathy moan fell from her lips, making a soft smile tug on his. 

“I’m so wet right now, I’ll probably leave a mark on your pants,” Emma told him, not even embarrassed about it. He was wearing a pair of dark green cargo pants that did wonders for both his ass and his thighs, so no, she wasn’t going to be embarrassed about leaving a mark on them. Not when he was making her feel like this. 

“You can’t just say that,” he groaned, letting his head fall back on the headrest. Emma smirked, trailing her fingers down his chest, towards his abs. Mat locked his gaze to her fingers, following them down his torso all the way until it slipped under his t-shirt. He looked up at her again as her hand flattened out over his abs. 

“And you can’t just look like this, and kiss me like that, and expect me to not be wet for you,” she dared, feeling brave and risky now. She was horny, and she’d practically begged for him to fuck her already, so she had nothing to lose. This time it was Mat who smirked.

“What made you decide to wear this dress tonight?” he asked, his smirk turning cocky as his hands moved from her hips to her thighs. Emma smiled, looking out the window for a second to compose herself. 

“I like the way it fits around my hips,” she grinned. He somehow managed to look even more smug than he already was with his fingers curling around the side of her thighs, pulling her just a little bit closer. 

“So, you did this on purpose?” he asked then, his hands moving back to her hips, but this time under her dress. His thumb rubbing back and forth on a spot right beneath one of the double bands on her thong, and then slipping under it just to tease. 

“I did – I even put on nice underwear for you,” she said. He could hear the hitch in her breath when he pulled his thumb away and let the band smack back on her skin. 

“You’re not even wearing a bra,” he smirked, having already figured that out when she climbed into the car hours ago now and he’d sure gotten it confirmed when he had his hands on her earlier, only feeling the thin material between his hands and her boobs. 

“Doesn’t mean I’m not wearing a nice pair of undies, though,” she smirked back, finding his smug expression faltering just a little bit. With his attention fully on her, Emma moved her hand out from under his shirt, finding the hem of her dress instead and lifting it just enough for him to see the white lace covering her most intimate part, and the two bands sitting high on her hips. 

“Fuck,” he muttered to himself, letting his hands fall back down to her thighs, his thumb sliding underneath the lacy fabric. He looked up to meet her stare, keeping eye contact as the finger slipped further down to where the material was actually soaked. Pushing the thong to the side, he let his finger slide through her slit, watching her as her mouth fell open and her eyes closed. 

“I thought you had to take me on a date first,” she breathed, letting her head fall to rest her forehead against his, her fingers finding their place in his hair again. 

“That was just before fucking you,” he smirked, though through his tone it was clear that he was nearly as affected as she was. Emma moaned as he slipped closer to her hole, almost falling against him. Their noses brushed against each other and their lips met just as he slid one long finger into her. The desperate moan vibrating against his lips sent blood rushing towards his dick, even if he’d been hard for a long time already and he could feel himself twitching in his pants. The moan that followed when he pressed another finger into her had him wondering what sounds she was going to make when he’d get to push his length into her. He would’ve fucked her right there in the front seat of his car if he hadn’t been so fucking stubborn. But there was the fact that he didn’t want to have sex with her for the first time in his car in her parents’ driveway. He wasn’t really much of a romantic, but he’d like to take his time with her – in a bed. 

“Fuck, Mat,” she groaned, her lips capturing his before she pushed her tongue against his. Oh, what she’d do to have his tongue between her legs right now. Mat loved the way she said his name, and he looked forward to hearing her moan it again as he placed his thumb on her clit and started rubbing circles. He started pumping his fingers in and out of her, her juices running down his fingers and making him want nothing more than to lick it all up. Her mouth fell open as he curled his fingers inside of her, her head falling back as a string of moans left her lips. 

“Just want to taste you, baby,” he mumbled as she gasped at the loss of his fingers, her eyes heavy as she followed them into his mouth, his lips locking around the two long fingers dripping with her arousal. The pet name sent another wave crashing through her body, and that, along with the sight of Mat licking her juices off his fingers, had her falling forward, her lips and tongue against his as soon as his fingers were pushing back inside her. The taste of herself mixed with what she learned was the taste of Mat, was something she could definitely get used to. 

“Oh my god,” she moaned against his lips, the feeling of his fingers deep inside her too much, yet far from enough all at the same time. She pulled away from his kiss and immediately reached for the straps of her dress that were tied in little bows on her shoulder, tugging at their ends and letting the front fall down to expose her bare chest.

“It’s too fucking hot in here,” she whined, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Mat’s lips hung slightly open, lips burning red and and glistening from kissing her. His eyes were dark and lustful, alternating between her face and her naked chest, her pink nipples begging him to touch them.

“You are unbelievable,” he mutters, more so to himself than to Emma. She grins, unsure if it’s her body or her persistence he’s referring to, but happy with herself either way. She grips his t-shirt in her fist and pulls him closer, pushing up on her knees in order to let him fit his mouth around her nipples. The moans erupting from her throat were so desperate that she’d normally be embarrassed, but she was desperate and she couldn’t care less in that moment.

“Fuck, Emma,” he cursed again. She’d started meeting him halfway as she fucked herself onto his fingers, meeting his knuckles as he thrusted the length of his fingers into her.

“You’re really making me do this, huh?” He asked, more so rethorically. His words were barely audible as he dragged his lips from one of her boobs to leave a trail of wet kisses up to her collarbones.

“What?” Emma breathed, too focused on the feeling that was filling her body and gathering into a big ball of pleasure in her lower stomach, begging to explode.

“You’re making me break my promise, baby,” he whispered, his lips having made their way up her neck, stopping right beneath her ear. He couldn’t take it anymore, he needed to be inside her. Never before had he wanted something so badly. Sure, he could make her come with his fingers, and she would be somewhat satisfied, but the way she was begging for him? It did things for his ego that he couldn’t really explain and he needed to give her what she wanted - what they both wanted. He’d never felt so wanted by anyone. And truthfully, it was starting to hurt with how incredibly hard she was making him.

“Fuck, really?” She nearly cried, gasping as he pulled his fingers out of her. His fingers were wet with her arousal, but neither of them cared when he placed both hands on her hips and pushed back on his thighs. He nodded to answer her question.

Emma hurried to get her hands on the waistband of his pants, opening the button and pulling down the zipper as fast as she could. Simultaneously, Mat slipped his thumbs into both his pants and his boxers, ready to pull them down as soon as she’d gotten them open. Emma cursed again as his erection finally sprung free and slapped against his abs - his t-shirt having ridden up ages ago.

“Fuck, Emma, come here,” he begged, reaching out to grab her hip to pull her closer with the one hand and finding the button on the side of his seat, reclining it in order to make the ordeal easier. It would’ve been easier to move to the backseat, or just sneak into Emma’s bedroom, but right now this just needed to happen as fast as possible. He needed to be inside her as fast as possible.

“Oh god,” Emma breathed as she maneuvered her legs in the tight space, watching him spit into his hand before wrapping it around his dick and lathering it up.

“Come,” he demanded, and Emma felt herself fall towards him. Her hands found his sturdy shoulders and she lifted herself up from his lap for him to finally line himself up with her opening.

“Fuck, Mat,” she sighed as he pulled her underwear aside and let his tip run through her slit. They both moaned in relief as she finally sunk down onto him.

“I just need you to know- fuck,” Mat started, but interrupted himself as she lifted herself off of him before quickly sinking back down. Emma wanted nothing more than to cover his lips with hers and just get lost in it, but it seemed like he needed to get something off his chest.

“I want you, in every single way,” he went on, stopping to breathe and curse to himself. His hands had found their way back to her, one hand on her hip and the other was gripping her ass, helping her keep a steady rhythm as she rode him.

“Not just like this. But god do I want this, too,” he managed to tell her. Emma’s lips spread into a wide smile, feeling full in every single sense of the word.

“Me too, Mat, me too,” she agreed, leaning her forehead to his and very willingly complying when he pressed his lips to hers. Everything that had happened between them up until then had happened fast, and so had this. But Emma knew it was right, even if it was absolutely terrifying at the same time. Emma’s fingers fisted into the thick locks of hair on the back of his head, and their tongues finally met. They made out desperately as their hips met repeatedly, Mat planting his feet into the floor of the car to be able to meet her hips every single time she came sinking down on him.

“I’m so close, Mat,” Emma sighed, adjusting her feet on the side of the seat to be able to up her speed.

“Me too, baby,” Mat agreed, letting his head fall back to watch her as she sat spread out on top of him, her chest glistening with sweat and her arousal having spread out on her inner thighs and Mat, too. One of her legs were extended over the middle console and into the passenger seat and that way Mat could see the way he was buried inside her, how he was covered in her juices. His thumb found its way to her clit and he watched her close her eyes in pleasure, her teeth clamping down on her bottom lip.

“Oh, god, now,” she cried, pushing herself forward to fall against him again. They’d never done this before, but somehow Mat knew what she meant. His arms wound around her, holding her close to him, as he thrusted up into her with all the power he had as she moaned and clawed herself to him - leaving marks on his shoulder as she finally came. He didn’t let go himself until he could hear her moans slowing down and coming to an end.

“Fuck, Mat, that was just… Wow,” Emma managed to say, still breathing heavily. She lifted her head from where she’d collapsed into his shoulder, a wide smile spreading on her lips when she pulled back and saw the one already on his lips.

“I know, I’m… I’m glad we did that,” he admitted, even though he had been so adamant on waiting til after he’d taken her on a date.

“Me too,” Emma laughed, relaxing into his lap again. The feeling of his softening dick inside her was warm and comfortable.

“To be fair, I really thought that was a date,” she grinned and Mat shook his head with an embarrassed smile on his lips. A blush crept up his already pink neck - Emma might not be able to see it with how hot they both were, but he could feel the blush settle on his neck and cheeks.

“It was supposed to be, but when I saw you this morning I just didn’t have the balls to call it that,” he admitted, his hands were running up and down the outside of her thighs as they spoke.

“You didn’t have to call it that, Mat. You didn’t have to say the word date for me to understand that the guy who’s been flirting with me for weeks and even told me that he wants to take me on a date and then fuck me, is asking me on a date when he’s asking me to come watch the fucking sunset at the beach. Like, I thought we’d established that I am quite smart a long time ago,” Emma laughed, and Mat had to cover his face with his hands as he laughed along. She was right, it definitely sounded like a date.

“So, if it makes you feel better, we can just say that it was a date,” she shrugged, smiling that gorgeous smile that Mat had been falling for every single time he’d seen her since he was assigned seats next to her in high school.

“Okay, fine. But I’m still taking you out tomorrow,” he grinned.

“I’m not gonna stop you,” Emma mirrored his smile, leaning forward to press her lips to his again.

“I meant it though, what I said about wanting everything, not just sex,” he reminded her, struggling to keep eye contact as he said it. It was important to him that she knew how he felt. She was more than just a one time thing.

“I know, Mat. Me too,” she said, kissing him once more.

“But I really do want the sex, too,” he smiled cheekily, making Emma throw her head back laughing.

“Me too,” she agreed, leaning in again for a deep kiss.

[hugheshischier4313]

YOU MISS HIM DON'T YOU | Q. HUGHES

𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 | Quinn Hughes x fem!reader 

𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 | Emotional cheating (not on Quinn),  angst, fluff, oblivious!reader and Quinn, soft!Quinn, neighbors-to-lovers, reader x OC (Andrew, reader's boyfriend), alcohol, flirting. 

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 | Months into your friendship with Quinn the two of you finally admit to what's been there all along. 

 🎧 Playlist | 📷 Pinterest Board

Based on a scene in Season 3 of Desperate Housewives (No spoilers in the writing. Bolded words are quoted from the show): “Don't tell me nothing happened. We’ve been fighting over this all week. You miss him, don't you?”

𝗪/𝗖 | 6.8K

𝗔/𝗡 | hi lovelies, thank you for being patient with me for the full fic of this idea. The lines indicate time jumps, they jump back and forth to different scenarios of reader and Quinn through the time they have spent together. I absolutely love these two and this idea and I couldn't find a perfect ending. I rewrote multiple endings and ultimately decided to just make a part two when I finally figure it out. Hope you enjoy, love ya!

It had been a wonderful night, the wine glass in your hand still full, the bottle sitting on the coffee table. The random episode of Bob's Burgers in the background forgotten, adding nothing more than a soft glow to the room. As you sat there listening to Quinn talk about his summer back in Michigan, you found yourself examining him. The way his eyes roam the room as he speaks, the smiles before he lets out a laugh and the way his hands run through his hair occasionally.

"You should have visited, even for just a weekend. You would have thought this was way more entertaining if you were there." Quinn teased as he finished his story. You pushed down the feeling of guilt as you smiled back at him, poking a finger into his shoulder. "I wouldn't have let you live it down if I had been there. So it's probably for the best," You teased back, but the truth was you had wanted to visit Quinn over the off-season, but when the time came, life had another plan.

_________________________________

"You should come down for the week. The sunrise and sunset alone would make the trip worth it. Imagine spending your week off by the lake, a beautiful sky for you to take pictures of. I can send you a ticket, just say the word." As the smile crept onto your face, so did the slightest tinge of pink. You had been putting away groceries when your AirPods had read the message out loud. Quinn had a habit of making fun of your love for the sky. Always calling you out, shrieking, 'The sky is so pretty' like you had repeatedly done (in a terrible attempt to match your voice). You swear you could hear it through the text despite him being over 2,000 miles apart. 

When Andrew's call came through, you found your phone and typed the text about sending it. "Y/N! I got it, I got the promotion!" His voice came booming out, and the excitement was evident in his voice. "Congratulations, Andrew!" you reciprocated his excitement. "And what better time than before you have a week off. I was thinking of going away for the week, maybe Banff? I'll rent us the cabin we had when we went last time." He kept ranting, too excited to keep anything in, but his voice was drowned out by the thought of Quinn. 

"I have to go, but I'll send you the flight information later tonight. I can't wait to see you." Andrews's voice didn't falter, almost like he was on autopilot, just rambling what he knew to say. They exchanged their quick goodbyes before he hung up. 

As if to taunt you, the next sound into your ear was' NEW MESSAGE FROM QUINN 'Or even just for the weekend if you have other plans for your week off.' As you looked back down at the phone and saw the unset message,  'A whole week of sunset pictures? Count me in Q'; the thought of deleting it weighed heavily on you. 

The truth was you had truly missed Quinn this summer. You had moved to Vancouver for grad school in the fall, and as luck would have it, Quinn lived in the apartment next to you. In the past 10 months, you had known each other; the only time you hadn't seen each other was when he had away games. And even then, when he returned, he made it up to you by devoting time to be with you. He bought you a postcard from all the cities he played in, and you had them displayed on your fridge. He signed all of them after the few glasses of wine you shared after one of his longer roadies.

You had (in your tipsy state) jokingly told him to sign one so you could sell them if he ever decided to be a jerk to you. And as he did, you knew you could never sell them; they meant too much to you. He had made a joke about writing nonsense on them to lower the value if you tried. Over the off-season, you found yourself religiously turning them over to look at his little notes, his penmanship holding inside jokes that you held dear to your heart.

As you stood there staring at the postcards on your fridge, thinking of the brunette, you couldn't help but feel the guilt in your chest. The nagging thought that your friendship with Quinn may not be as platonic as the two of you acted.

Why were you standing there thinking of another man when you were just on the phone with your boyfriend? You hadn't and would never cheat on Andrew, but the world seemed to disappear when you were with Quinn. Time slipped by faster, and you longed to sit on a couch with him again.

And at that moment, it had become apparent that you no longer had a choice; you had to choose between the two men, Andrew or Quinn? But then again, it wasn't really a choice between the men; it was a choice between right and wrong.

'Sorry Quinn, I can't this week. Take lots of pictures for me. Can't wait to see them when you're back.' Send. It was vague, and you knew he could send them to you whenever, but you also knew that, at least for this week, he couldn't be your primary focus. You needed to focus on your partner and his accomplishments.

_________________________________

As you had sat in a surprisingly unpopulated section of the airport for a Friday night, you haphazardly skipped through Instagram stories until you were faced with Quinn's private story of him on the boat with his friends. You had no reason, or right, to be this upset, but as you looked at the sunset on the picture's horizon, you couldn't stop yourself from hitting the call button. 

The phone barely rang once before you heard his voice, and you let out a breath you didn't realize you were holding. "Hey, I was j-" His voice was laced with exhaustion as if whatever physical activity he was doing was still fresh. And you found yourself more clam than you had been in days. Oh, how you had missed his voice.

"Are you upset with me?" The words were rushed and tumbled out before you could comprehend the repercussions. You knew that now was not the time to be having this discussion. You were sitting in the corner seats at the airport, waiting for your plane to begin boarding. But it had been two days since that last message you sent, and you had heard nothing from Quinn.

You had been a little hurt when you spent all of Thursday waiting for a response from the brunette. He had never taken more than a few hours to respond to you, which is why you had given him the benefit of the doubt that Wednesday night after you sent the last message. But now that you had spent the entirety of your workday contemplating writing a new message, you were upset, and the Insta story had only added fuel to the fire.  

"No, of course not. Why?" His voice was genuine and calm, a nice contrast to the loud background on both sides of the phone. You figured he was still on the boat with his friends. "Oh, I just figured you were upset since I haven't heard from you." You felt stupid for calling and continuing to talk despite it being obvious he wasn't alone. "But I'll let you go; sorry for calling." you hit the red button before you had time to overthink. Your voice had become weak, and you hated that you were taking time away from him and the time he had to spend with his friends and family.

You had the overwhelming feeling to cry, but you didn't know if it was because of guilt for Andrew or Quinn or because any doubts you had that Quinn was mad at you had disappeared. NEW MESSAGE FROM QUINN: 'Give me 10 minutes, I'll call you back'. The message held an inevitable dominance over it; there was no question that it was a conversation that had to happen, and it had to happen now. 

_________________________________

Quinn had known about your boyfriend from the very beginning. He had seen you together, bringing boxes to the apartment beside his, and noticed you immediately. He wished he could say it had all been innocent, but the first thing he saw was how your legs looked in the tennis skirt you had been wearing. You bent down to pick up a fallen pillow as he exited his car in the parking garage. His eyes lingered on you, and he forced himself to turn away before you noticed. He swore he would offer to help you before he met eyes with Andrew as he stepped out of the parking garage elevator.

"I didn't mean to; it just happened. You were bent over, in a skirt, right outside my car; it was hard to look away when I didn't expect you to be there." Quinn had a slight pink tone to his features right now, and you were smiling, trying to suppress a laugh. You stood in the kitchen, pouring the margaritas into your cups.

"You mean the skirt I'm wearing right now? Is that why you mentioned it? Quinn, you could have kept that secret forever. I mean, you couldn't waterboard that information out of me." You were always more giggly when drinking, which was contagious to Quinn. "But since you didn't, I'm gonna use this against you for the foreseeable future."  The laugh left you when you got back to Quinn's couch. "I'll try not to make any sudden movements that may catch you off guard," you teased as you stood before him and handed him his drink.

"It's not funny; I've felt bad about this for months." he tried to be serious, but the smile never left his face. As you nodded with a smirk on your lip, you turned from him after he grabbed the glass, "Y/N, I'm serious." He wasn't; he could never stay upset with you, even in a joking manner. 

"I guess I'll just go back to my apartment then; I don't want to bring back any of your past shame." your body once again turned towards him as you leaned down over to hug him, "Bye, Hughes, I'll make sure to only wear this when you're out of town." He let out a sarcastic 'ha.' "You don't have to leave; I can control myself. I promise." he rolled his eyes and slowly got up to stop you.

"I don't know; I think the only logical answer is to wear your Drew sweats." You had pivoted and ran to his room before he could reply. You had bugged him countless times to try them on over the past months; you had just wanted to see if they were worth the hype because the black sweats had been sold out forever (and maybe, subconsciously, because of your past love for Justin Bieber). And every time he said no, you took this as your opportunity to try them and bug him simultaneously.

Being in Quinn's room was familiar to you. You had spent most days at one of the two apartments, and sometimes that meant laying in his bed watching TV after he had just returned from a string of away games or after a challenging game or practice. You had worn his clothes before, too; it was always in a platonic way, the first time you had locked yourself out after being out on a run when it started raining. You lost your key on the run, and the concierge was gone for the night. You had also spent the night; he let you sleep in his bed and took the couch. 

As you ran into the room, you closed the door behind you and walked into the closet, closing that door, too. You had found the sweats and slowly walked out of the closet. There was no sight of Quinn, and the bedroom door was still closed. You walked towards the door, sweats in your hand, as you called out to him, "Q? Are you -" But you were cut off as he tackled you onto the bed next to you.

The two of you lay on the bed laughing before turning to face each other. The laughter died down, and you were smiling and looking at each other. The two of you lay there for a while, not saying anything until you broke the silence, "Your eyes are a different color every time I see you, but today I can see every shade in them." You don't know why you needed to share your observation with him, but it felt right. "You cut your hair." He reached out to tuck a strand behind your ear and play with the end of another. His voice had been so him, soft yet dominant. It was true; you had gotten a slight trim the day before and a few longer layers at the bottom of your hair, a small and simple detail that could have been missed. In fact, he was the only person to notice; none of your classmates or even Andrew, although over Facetime, had noticed. 

The room felt heavy as you looked from his hand in your hair to his eyes again, stopping to look at his lips for a second. And when you reached his gaze, it was unreadable. "I -" A phone began to ring as Quinn was about to speak. You could see a shift in his demeanour as you continued to look at him. He got up to find the cause of the sound. "It's your phone." He walked it over to you before heading out to the living room again. The phone illuminated ANDREW CALLING.

You looked towards the empty doorway as you brought the phone up to your ear. "Hey you," your playful voice sounded forced, and the smile on your lips was even more so. "Hey, I have a surprise for you. The notification said it was in the lobby." This shocked you, not only because it was a surprise but because Andrew was never one for small gestures. It was always something big like him ordering 4 dozen roses to your desk after your fourth date. But he had never just sent you or given you something randomly.

Andrew could be a sweet guy; you worked together before he asked you to have dinner with him. You knew you were moving and had no intention of starting anything serious before moving to Vancouver, but he had been so persistent, and it felt nice to have a distraction with all the craziness of moving. But living in different provinces has brought no comfort to either of you. It felt like pen pals most of the time. You would call him a few times a week and talk for an hour before he had to go. There had been a few times where you could have sworn you heard someone else there, but the times you mentioned it, it felt like the fight had been more trouble than the issue itself.

And maybe subconsciously, you felt like a hypocrite. Your relationship with Quinn was platonic, but the number of times you were confused as a couple in public could be seen another way. In fact, you hated to admit it, but it felt like you communicated more with Quinn when he was away than with your boyfriend. 

"There's something for me in the lobby of my apartment complex? Andrew, what did you do? It's 7pm?" As you started talking, Quinn walked into view, bringing your drinks and extending to you. "It's a surprise; you should go get it now; I'm assuming it's just on the concierge desk based on the picture." You stared up at Quinn as you listened to Andrew, "Okay, I'll be down in a minute, and I'll call you back once I have it." The phone call was quickly over. 

"What did you order?" Quinn asked with a smile, used to all the packages you've received. A few that had been too heavy for you to carry on your own that Quinn had taken himself. Even when they hadn't been too heavy, he would carry them for you if he was there. "I'm not sure, Andrew sent it to me." You could have sworn there was a look on his face that was gone as quickly as it appeared. "You want me to go with you in case you need help?" there was no hesitation in your quick reply of 'yes.'

As the two of you walked down the hall, you were overly aware of the distance between you. It was no different than it had been in the past, but there was a particular charge. The words shared and unshared in the bedroom hung heavy. "So I never got to even put the sweats on," you joked while waiting in front of the elevator. "You can borrow them when we get back up if you want," his answer made your breath hitch. He had never let you try them on, much less borrow them.

He looked at you, letting you walk into the elevator first. The ride down was quick and quiet, but how you looked at each other made everything race faster. Your heartbeat quickened as you saw his slight deviation towards your lips before making their way back up. "Quinn," your voice came out as a low plea; whether it was to continue or to stop was uncertain. He stepped closer to you as the two of you stood in silence for a brief moment before the doors opened. As you stepped out, your heart felt heavy.

As you made your way towards the front desk, you saw the back of a man at the desk, but when you heard the voice,  it made you freeze. Andrew he was in your lobby waiting for you, Quinn failed to notice your pause and ran into you. However, before you could tip forward, Quinn had steadied you with a hand on your arm and waist. Andrew called out when he turned around. 

"Andrew! What are you doing here?" You didn't miss the look he gave the sight of the two of you or how his gaze only lingered on Quinn's hand on your waist as he walked closer. You unhooked yourself from Quinn to hug Andrew. The hug was stiff; he held himself higher, and his head hadn't moved from the position it had been in before. You figured he was still looking at Quinn. 

"I wanted to surprise you; we settled a case earlier than expected, so I took a few days off." You had pulled yourself to his side, a view of both him and Quinn. They kept looking towards each other, completely ignoring you. "Well, Andrew, this is my friend I always tell you about, Quinn. He introduced himself the day I moved in, remember? He lives next door to me." Andrew smiled down at you as you continued. "Quinn, you remember Andrew." Quinn looked from you to Andrew before extending his hand. "Good to see you again, man." Andrew hesitated before shaking his hand. 

There was a quick silence before Quinn grabbed his phone from his pocket and looked at the screen, excusing himself, "I have to make a phone call; I'll see you around," but before he could walk off, you gave him a side hug goodbye. You had done it a thousand times before, and feeling like you couldn't because Andrew was there didn't feel like a good sign, so you did it anyway. "I'll text you," you quietly said as you let go.

The next few days had been uneventful, showing Andrew around Vancouver. The hallway had felt unusually empty each time you passed, hoping to run into Quinn. A string of away games was starting that Monday, and when you came back from dropping off Andrew at the airport on Sunday night, you noticed the bag sitting in front of your apartment door. 

The black sweats were inside with a note, 'I'll pick them up when I'm back. Enjoy :). ~ Q" He never asked for them back

_________________________________

"Hey," his voice was clear despite the pixilated quality of his Facetime call. He was wearing a white T-shirt, his hair was wet, and he had a look on his face you had never seen. "Hey Q," your pulse felt overwhelming as if anyone who looked at you could see it throbbing against your neck. "Are you having a good time back home?" It was a buffer; you didn't know what Quinn wanted to say, and judging by the look on his face, you weren't sure you wanted to.

"Andrew called me." His voice was blunt, direct to the point, despite the few seconds he stared at you, hesitating to continue. "He asked if I was sleeping with you." His eyes held yours while the rest of his face had no expression. "What?" The nervous laughter that filled the air around you was nothing more than a way to suppress the hurt and anger of this new confession.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry Quinn. I don't know why he's been so paranoid lately. It seems like he misinterprets everything I mention to him as something else." For the last two months, you had known that Andrew suspected your friendship with Quinn was something more. He had brought it up the last time he was in Vancouver and again over the phone a few weeks ago (although it had been in retaliation to the question you had asked him about the girl with him in a video his friend had posted on their story). 

"Did he misinterpret it, or did he just see what is obvious that you and I can't admit?" The question was loaded with truths that weren't meant to come out. The look that the two of you shared through the screen had only confirmed it. In a split second, months of ignorance had led to a confession when the two of you were thousands of miles apart.

His breathing was heavy; you could hear it through the phone; he had a look on his face that closely resembled his look when his team lost in the Playoffs. It was the look you saw in the mirror this morning when you had not heard from him. It was the split-second look he had in the lobby the day Andrew surprised you.

Everything playing in your head; all the nights he would knock at your apartment after a game with a box of food, the way you would pack him an 'after-game snack' consisting of oranges, a granola bar and a fruit snack (which he teased you about until you mentioned it was like they did in little leagues), the way your breath hitches every time he gets shoved or falls. 

All the times, the two of you had gone for a drive when life felt too heavy, and you shared secrets you had never told anyone before. The way he took off your makeup when you had gone out one night or how he knows your coffee order for every cafe you go to. Quinn and you had been in the in-between since you first hung out. 

"I mean, how long are we going to pretend like nothing is happening?" His voice was calm and demanding, with a hint of subdued anger or annoyance you hadn't picked up. "Quinn, I -" You were at a loss for words; nothing could genuinely capture how Quinn had made you feel. 

You knew you were safe with Quinn around, not only in a physical sense but emotionally. The way he made you feel heard and seen. The two of you were floating in two separate worlds, but the weight that engulfed you was the same. You understood the complication of pressure and leadership; you understood needing to be the most prominent presence in the room, even if you weren't the loudest. You understood the pressure of wanting, no needing, to be the best for everyone else even if it tore you apart. 

It was all those things and more that drove you together, the ability to soothe the ache the buildup of burden had left sacred on the two of you. When you felt a crushing weight on you, the only thing that could alleviate it was being around the man who had quickly become your best friend. Immediately, he knew whether you needed to just sit and cry while he comforted you or go for a drive so you could yell out lyrics or if you needed him to just talk about mundane things.

And you do the same; you knew by the way he left the ice, by the way, he knocked on the door, by the way, he walked down the hallway toward your apartments. You knew when to go over to him so he could catch the recaps, and you knew when to invite him to yours to force him to ignore the criticism. You knew that even after a winning streak or after a goal, he needed comfort, understanding the overwhelming feeling of the slightest reprieve until the next game.

And the honest truth was that you had pushed back any romantic feelings because you knew without a doubt he was your person. You had never been one for friendship with men, and when your friends asked about what you could have in common with a professional hockey player, you never knew what to tell them. Because from every book, movie, series and scenario you knew, as cliche as it was, the only quote that could describe what the two of you shared was, 'Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.' 

"Y/N, please." His voice was barely above a whisper, a plea to say anything. "It doesn't have to change anything. I just need to know; I didn't mean to hurt you; I tried to give you space. I've tried to respect your relationship." He had been ignoring you to avoid hurting your relationship, and in the process, the two of you were the only ones who were hurt. "Quinn." There was only one way you could describe it: "You consume me." Despite the tears that fell, you stared at him through the phone, wishing he was there with you, wishing your plane was going to Michigan. 

"Now boarding flight-" The announcement couldn't have come at a worse time; there was so much to say, and an airport right before boarding was not ideal. "That's my flight." You wiped your tears as you stared at the man on the screen. "Y/N, I'm sorry for bringing this up now; it's not my best moment." he was trying to cheer you up; he wanted you to know that everything would be okay. "Quinn, I don't know what to do," your voice was a quiet plea to understand what was to come.

"Given everything that was said and that we're in two different countries right now, I think we should take some time to digest. I know you're spending time with him, and I don't want you to feel overwhelmed. I think we should take the next week or two." your heart was breaking, but your mind knew that was the best option. And for the first time since the beginning of the conversation, you thought of Andrew, and the slight tinge of annoyance arose again. 

Quinn must have noticed because he was quick to interject his following comment with the most sincere look, "But before you go, I just need you to know that you consume me too." He had his signature half smile as he continued, "You are the most amazing woman I have ever met. I think about you constantly. I think about you when I look at the sky, when I'm practicing with my brothers, when I go out with friends and when I lie in bed. I watch for you in the crowd during warm-ups. You've become one of my favourite people so quickly, and I'm so glad of all the apartments in the city, or even just in the building; you moved into the one next to mine." 

You smiled as the tears fell; if there had ever been any doubt, you now knew for sure that Quinn was your person. "I'll be forever grateful that the universe brought me to you too." And with a quick goodbye and promise to reach out in two weeks, you were in your seat on the plane. 

Your mind racing with thoughts of Quinn and the revelations that had come to light and then again to Andrew. You didn't know why, but your annoyance was morphing into slight anger, the idea that he had called Quinn and accused him of sleeping with you. What annoyed you more was that he had done that and hadn't mentioned it to you. He hadn't mentioned the idea of your friendship with Quinn being something more since that one phone call a little over a month ago. 

You sat with that feeling for the rest of the flight. 

_________________________________

"Okay, fine, you are mad at me! But name one thing that I have done to deserve it!" Andrew was standing on the opposite side of the room. His breathing was heavy as he ran a hand through his hair. "You called Quinn." your voice was laced with a hint of sadness and betrayal. The statement was simple and direct but held a meaning that both of you knew would change everything. 

The argument had started with something so small: the two of you walking on eggshells the past few days and your passive-aggressive comments when he mentioned anything related to Vancouver. Over the past few days, you had tried to get Andrew to admit to calling Quinn; he wasn't stupid; he had connected the dots and was simply choosing to ignore it (which infuriated you even more). The days dragged on; waking up and getting ready in silence, spending the day exploring, trying to avoid long conversations at all costs, getting ready for bed with few words and getting into bed facing away from each other. 

Andrew's response had taken a second longer than it should have. His hesitation made it clear that he was surprised by the direct approach, almost as if he hadn't thought you would say anything.  "You're damn right I did, I've seen the messages, the glances, the pictures. What was I supposed to do? Pretend that nothing was going on?" His voice was slightly louder as his eyes narrowed on you. 

"Nothing was going on. He never touched me." you raised your voice, but the words weakened. Your hands were flailing around, trying to emphasize your point.  The tears behind your eyes aching to be let free. It was too much, and you knew the implications of your words. This time, however, Andrew didn't hesitate to answer; his reply, even louder than before, came out the second you were done talking. "And I wasn't gonna sit around and wait until he did."  

The two of you stood there staring at each other, chests heaving, eyes full of emotion. You sat on the counter stool beside you before looking away from Andrew and placing your head in your hands, elbows propped on the counter. You heard his footsteps getting closer, and soon, Andrew was pulling out the stool next to you. 

You glanced at him from your peripheral view; he was staring at the kitchen in front of him, a look of contemplation on his face. "Do you have feelings for him, Y/N?" you diverted your eyes back to the counter. The question caught you off guard, "Hmm?" you could feel his eyes on you again, but you couldn't gain the strength to look up. "Do you have feelings for Quinn?" Each word was emphasized by the slight pause he took between them. 

Although you couldn't meet his eyes, you mustered enough courage to look up from your hands towards the kitchen. "I would never cheat on you, you know that." you shook your head as you said it, knowing it wasn't the answer he sought. "That's not what I asked." you wanted to look at him, to tell him he was all you wanted, that there was nothing between you and Quinn, but that wasn't the truth, and all you could do was continue the slight head shake you had started. 

Andrew didn't say anything for a bit, but you could hear the sound of his movement as he repositioned himself on the stool and leaned closer to you. "Did you fall for him?" His voice was softer and more quiet, slightly above a whisper. You tried to speak, but the tears beat you. As the tears left your eyes, you looked towards Andrew. His eyes were glued on the fridge, his expression hurt, and his eyes held a slight gloss. "Oh god," he was avoiding eye contact with you now. 

You stared at him a moment longer, trying to calm down, "Nothing happened." your voice was shakier than it had been all night, and the tone held no conviction. He turned his head slightly, the two of you locking eyes. "Don't tell me nothing happened. We've been fighting over this all week." He turned away before he even finished his sentence. Your tears continued, "You miss him, don't you?" The look on his face had hardened, but his voice remained the same. He knew the answer; it had been evident every time he called you, and you were alone or when he would try to call, only to be met with a text saying you were on the phone but would call him back. 

You kept your eyes on him; the guilt weighed heavy on you. The implication of every choice you had made since the first interaction with Quinn ran through your mind. You couldn't put your thoughts into words or rationalize your feelings. "I'm sorry." It wasn't even a valid answer, but it was all you could think of. Your emotions were running too high, and you needed a breather. He leaned back on the stool and let out a breath, but a few tears trickled down as he did. "Damn" His voice was barely audible; if you hadn't been looking at him or if the room hadn't been so quiet, you would have missed it. 

_________________________________

It hadn't been your intention to end things with Andrew that way. Despite all the issues the two of you shared, you didn't want to hurt him. When you talked everything through the following morning you both knew the relationship had been over longer than either of you cared to admit.  It had been as civil as a breakup could be, and the guilt that had once overwhelmed you started to blur.

As you looked out the plane window and saw Vancouver, you felt the missing pieces of you start to come together. It was strange how life finds a way to bring you exactly where you need to be. Accepting your graduate program at The University of British Columbia led you to a weekend of exploring and apartment hunting in Vancouver. You had found your apartment complex by accident; you had been lost looking for another building when your eyes landed on it. The large winders on every floor practically shoved you into the lobby, and when you applied, only one unit was available for your expected move-in date. It had been a long shot, and somehow you ended up winning. 

You could recall the sound of a car pulling into the attached parking garage as you pulled a box out of your trunk, unintentionally knocking down a pillow in all the commotion. As you bent down to pick it up, you could hear the car door open and close before hearing a few footsteps. They stopped as you located your missing pillow; as you stood back up, you turned to find the stranger but found yourself searching for Andrew after hearing his voice. As you stood there waiting for him to grab another box, you looked towards the elevator and saw the stranger standing there. You couldn't see his face; he was just a blur of brunette hair and a gray outfit as the doors closed, and although you couldn't make out all his facial features, you could have sworn you saw him give you a smile before the doors closed completely. And before you even had a chance, Quinn captured your attention. And unbeknownst to you then, you had made a lasting impression on him, too. 

As you stared at the city, music in your ears, in the back of the Uber home, you could see every moment you and Quin shared. Every mundane moment, from knocking on his door in the morning with breakfast bagels and coffee to drunk conversations in the back of a car after a night out celebrating to sitting in either of your living rooms watching a movie with your commentary. It was like watching a montage scene, and it felt freeing because, for the first time, there was the possibility for something more. The feeling of longing had been hidden underneath your guilt, coming hand in hand, and now both were gone, instead replaced with something positive. 

"Miss, you have a package." The voice of your building's concierge brings you back to reality. It was a relatively wide rectangular box; you hadn't ordered anything that would come in a box of that size, which fueled your curiosity even more. "Thank you." You smiled and offered a kind goodbye before walking to the elevator. 

Without hesitation, another image of Quinn flew into your mind as the elevator doors closed. The first time you spoke was in the elevator up to your floor. He smiled, encouraged you to enter the elevator first, and asked if you needed help with your box despite carrying his bag. However,  after declining his offer, he made no other effort to continue the conversation. The two of you casually glanced at each other as the doors closed, waiting for the movement to begin, but when it didn't, you looked over to the right side of the door and laughed slightly. "What floor do you need?" he asked with a slight chuckle. "Sixteenth, please." You returned his chuckle and smiled. You watched as he clicked the sixteenth button but no other. "Are you on the same floor?" You could hear excitement in your voice, but you pushed it down. "Yeah, guess that means we're neighbour neighbours" Once again, that damn smile felt contagious; he felt contagious. 

When you reached your floor, you found yourself walking faster than usual to reach your door. It had only been a week; somehow, everything was completely different yet utterly the same. You walked into the apartment and set the package down on the counter, needing to know what was inside. Opening the lid, you are met with the most beautiful arrangement of your favourite flowers. There were different shades of your favourite colour, layering beautifully on each other, but what caught your eyes was the distinct blue rose in the middle, an envelope sitting directly on top. 

The envelope had your name written on it with the handwriting you had come to memorize. Inside was a postcard from Michigan, "Y/N, I can't get you out of my head. Only two more weeks left before I'm back in Van, and I can't wait to see you again. I found this while I was out, and it reminded me of you.   -Q" You held the card close to you for a second; it had the faintest mix of florals and Quinn's cologne. You looked at the fridge before deciding to keep the note in your room. It felt intimate, something you wanted to keep between you. Something caught your eye when you took the flowers out of the box and into a vase. Inside the envelope was a small plastic bag; you reached for it and found a necklace. 

A delicate chain with a small pendant with a sun and a moon, and when you turned it over, your breathing hitched; there was a small 43 engraved. When you read the note, you assumed the postcard was what he had seen, but it was the necklace. He had seen a necklace encompassing the sun and moon, something you were passionate about, and he had added something personal. The engraving must have been something he did; the probability that it had been done in manufacturing was slim to none, making it all the more special. You put it on and never wanted to take it off. 

You grabbed the postcard off the counter and lifted it closer to your chest before taking a close-up picture from your lips to showcase the necklace and postcard, "I'm thinking about you too. To the longest two weeks that will ever exist. To the sun and the moon and back." And as you hit the send button, you couldn't help but think about what was yet to come.  

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[bordysbae]

hey!!! it's me again :) i was just wondering if you could do a fic where the reader is trevor's sister, and she's with luke, but the fic is based on a combination on mine, stay stay stay, and that's the way i loved you by ms. taylor herself

ps. i actually love your writing sm 🫶

“my michigan boy”

luke hughes x zegras!sister

do you remember we were sitting there by the water, you put your arm around me for the first time.

as you and luke watch the sunset lower by the second, he wraps an arm around you as both of your guys’ toes dangle off of the dock. you rest your head on luke’s shoulder, embracing the final days of summer. the final days until you both head off to college, and before your guys’ brothers head back to california, new jersey, and vancouver.

“i’m gonna miss this, i mean i miss every summer spent at the lake house, but especially this one,” you state softly.

“and whys that?” luke mumbles, nearly lost in the orange and pink sky.

“because of us. it’s been too long of us just being awkward around each other, i’m glad we finally made it to where we are now. but it sucks, you’re staying in michigan for college and i’m going all the way to wisconsin”

“i know, but we’ll keep in touch, i promise. plus we’re both gonna see each other on winter break, and spring break too.”

“luke, it’s just that-“ you begin to say, but you’re cut off by trevor calling you both over to the fire pit to make s’mores with everyone. luke stands up and hurries over to make sure he gets a s’more, but you walk slow behind him. your older brother walks over closer, and grabs your attention by standing directly in front of you. “you okay?” he asks.

“yeah, just thinkin’”

“what about?”

“me and luke. we aren’t dating, but we’re definitely more than friends. anyone can see that, but we’re going away to college next week. there’s no point in dating, but i don’t want us to be left as nothing, y’know?”

“don’t date him, that’s a dumb idea. you’re going away to college, and you don’t want to be held back by a long distance relationship. plus luke is gonna be focusing on hockey. if you guys are really meant to be it’ll happen when it needs to,” trevor tells you.

“since when are you such a romantic,” you playfully elbow him, earning yourself a smack on the back of the head, “yeah yeah, shut up.”

and he says, “you look beautiful tonight.” but i miss screaming and fighting and kissing in the rain.

you and luke left things quiet in michigan. you never addressed the elephant in the room—the elephant being that you were both going away to college— so now you’re on a date with a guy you met at a bar last month.

“you look beautiful tonight,” he smiles, making you blush.

“oh thank you, aaron! you don’t look too bad yourself,” you smile, as you both head into the restaurant. aaron is sweet, but he’s just not luke. this is the second date, and he’s just careless in a way. he loves to talk about himself, and sure, he listens to what you have to say, but he doesn’t listen to the way luke did.

“what are your plans for winter break next week? you staying here?” aaron asks you, catching you off gaurd. he never really asks much about you, so you’re happy to be able to get some words in about yourself.

“oh! i’m going to michigan, my parents live there! i’m staying with my family friends at their lake house, which technically doesn’t serve the same purpose it does during the summer, but it’s always fun to go ice skating on the lake!”

“oh cool! i was hoping maybe we could hang out, but i guess i’ll just have to text you!” aaron chuckles, making you blush slightly.

it’s not that you don’t like aaron, you very much do, it’s just that he isn’t the same as luke. you and luke could talk about any and everything for hours, but with aaron it’s all just a little too unfamiliar for you. you even missed the fights you and luke would have. i mean sure, they sucked in the moment, but as soon as they were over, they were immediately forgotten. and then luke was your world’s axis again. he made your world spin.

you took the time to memorize me, my fears my hope and dreams. i just like hanging out with you, all the time

back in michigan, all is going well. you and luke are slightly awkward, since the tension from summer was never resolved, but you guys are still close as always. but what you didn’t expect to happen was for your brother to accidentally spill the beans about aaron, in front of everyone.

“ew, you still talk to aaron?” trevor exclaims, as he tosses your vibrating phone at you from from across the living room.

“who’s aaron?” quinn asks, pestering like the annoying boy he is.

“yeah y/n, who’s aaron?” luke questions, turning his head towards you. your heart begins to race.

“we went on a couple dates, that’s all,” you begin to explain, but before you can finish your explanation luke leaves the room. everyone’s eyes follow him as he exits, then they all turn back towards you with sheepish smiles. you sigh, and chase after luke. you hear him close the back door, so you go outside onto the deck. he’s sat under the awning, with his head resting upon his hands.

“luke, let me explain,” you sigh, as you sit next him.

“no don’t, it’s not like we were dating anyways. i mean we’ve both hooked up with other people while away at college, i don’t know why i’m upset. you don’t have to explain yourself, you did nothing wrong,”

“oh luke, yes i did. i knew all along that all i wanted was you, but i saw you going to these parties and shit, so i felt like i needed to move on too. i toyed with aaron’s feelings, just for it not to work,” you say, making luke look up from his lap at you.

“what are you saying?”

“that i love you, luke hughes,” you smile, making him blush.

“i love you too, y/n zegras,” he says, leaning in to kiss you. he cuffs your cheeks, as your hands make their way through his curly hair. suddenly luke pulls away and gasps, startling you.

“remember when you said you’ve always wanted to kiss someone in the rain? cmon!” he exclaims, immediately pulling you up from the small step, and into the pouring rain. your guys’ laughter could be heard from a mile away, until it’s silenced by luke’s lips crashing against yours.

“i like hanging out with you luke, we should do this more,” you giggle, making luke smile.

“do what, kiss more? or hang out more?”

“both. you’re my michigan boy.”

[multistanw0m4n]

Synopsis: Kevin and crew go skiing in Vancouver but what's hotter, the romantic drama or the chocolate?

Word count: 1.5k

Pairings: Reader x Canada Line??

Warnings: Fluff, very slight Kevin angst, hot tub scene, best friend Chanhee, I think that's all...

Author's note: This is my first Tumblr story sooo take that as you will.

It's HEAVILY inspired by scenes from 'To All The Boys I've Loved Before' and 'Boy Meets World' S5: E14 (but you don't have to know either to enjoy). It came to me after what Kevin said in their Ultimate Bias interview. Also I'm a new deobi so I hope I wrote everyone correctly.

______________________________________

Kevin takes his 11 friends (The Boyz + Y/N minus Jacob) to his favorite ski resort in Vancouver. He chose a resort specifically knowing that Chanhee didn't plan on going out even once. They all arrive in the resort's lobby at around 6 p.m. and sort the rooming situation (Y/N of course getting her own). Once situated, most of the boys rush up stairs to drop off their stuff and put on their gear.

"Ready to see the slopes?" Kevin ask in English, directing his question towards Y/N. Y/N looks at the excitement on Kevin and Eric's face, then sides eyes the boy next to her, Chanhee looking less than happy to be surrounded by snow.

"I think I'll miss out today. The sun looks like it's going to set soon and I'm not trying to learn snow sports in the dark." She rubs her arm.

"Yeah, it gets more dangerous as the day goes on." A soft English voice catches the group off guard, them turning to see a boy around their age in a doorman uniform.

"Ja-Aye-Cobuh." Eric pronounces, sliding his finger across the boy's golden nametag.

"Yes, Jacob's the name, and if you and your friends want to keep cool, I'd suggest staying in tonight and helping yourself to our complimentary hot chocolate bar!"

"Hot chocolate? I'll take a cup, thanks buddy." Eric says patting Jacob's shoulder before turning away. "Anyways Y/N you in or out?"

"Yeah, there's no such thing as 'keeping cool' up here. Come on Y/N." Kevin pleads. She looks at him and ask herself how she could say no to those eyes, but she glances at Chanhee's blank expression and makes up here mind.

"You guys be safe. And save some energy for me tomorrow, okay? How does hot chocolate and Korean skincare sound?" Y/N turning towards Chanhee and speaking so that he can understand. He nods and Kevin sighs before waving them goodbye.

Flash forward to Y/N's solo room, her and Chanhee on opposite sides of bed. Y/N's laying down on her back allowing gravity to keep her Hello Kitty face mask on. Chanhee's sitting crisscrossed and facing her, the TV behind him.

"Why didn't you go skiing with Kevin? I know you're like, in love with him."

She quickly sits up, mask plopping down onto her lap.

"I'm not 'in love' with Kevin and damn it Chanhee, you made me waste good collagen!"

"Sorry but there's no way you came all the way on this trip just to pity me and not to make out with Kevin."

"Sure did, I knew there's was no way you'd stay warm with out your, bestie!" Youngie jumps up to hug Chanhee, him cringing and resisting.

"You know, there's another way we can warm up." The boy teases.

Next thing you know the two are outdoors surrounded by trees bigger than their hopes and dreams. A bright sunset quickly changed to a black sky filled with stars, the deafening silence of the night interrupted by the sound of cicadas shaking their wings.

The hot tub bubbles, a teal blue light illuminating the air around it.

Chanhee steps in first, his gray swim shirt turning darkening where the water meets it. He chuckles a visible breath, a result of the grueling outside temperature. He offers Y/N his hand, her untying her robe before taking it and stepping in.

They aren't alone for long as their friends hurry past them and towards the resort, whooping and hollering as the snow crunches beneath their feet. Kevin stops, and heads towards Y/N's corner of the hot tub, leaning down to whisper in her ear.

"You look nice, Y/N. Do you mind if I get changed and join?"

A chill goes down her spine as he grins and walks away.

"Want me to leave?" Chanhee ask.

"You better not." She sighs. They suddenly hear more footsteps and the pair turns to see Jacob from earlier. He's in a long-sleeve black swim shirt but the sleeves are rolled halfway up. His blue swim trunks littered with rubber ducks work in contrast, showing off his cute side.

"Come to call curfew?" She questions, remembering he spoke English.

"Actually, I'm off the clock. This is my favorite way to wind down." He slowly steps in, taking up one of the remaining empty sides as to not sit next to Y/N or Chanhee across from her.

They chat some more before Kevin and Sangyeon join them, both in their trunks but neither wearing a shirt.

Y/N quickly looks down, growing nervous at the sight.

Kevin sits next to Jacob and Sangyeon's with Chanhee, the two striking up their own conversation.

"You missed the perfect ski." Kevin says, eyes on Y/N.

"I guess, but me and Chanhee created some fun of our own."

"Okay... but promise you'll join me tomorrow?"

"I promise."

"Come here and prove it." He dares, holding out his pinky.

"Can't you just take my word?"

"Nope, get over here." He pats the space next to him, now feeling the eyes of Jacob.

"Why do you want me over there so bad?" She hesitantly stands up making her way to him.

"Don't worry about it." He quickly ends as she sits so close that their legs touch, but neither of them move. She reaches out and connects their fingers, Kevin taking this chance to use his other hand and poke her side. She gasp at the tickle and shoves some water at his chest. "Oh it's on!"

The two splash water at each other, not hearing Jacob's silent objections on the matter.

Finally, Kevin takes a handful of water and throws it blindly, it somehow ending up all over Chanhee's face.

"Bestie!" Youngie shouts, making her way over to him to quickly wipe the drenched hair off his face.

Sangyeon takes Chanhee's side, the two rush inside and upstairs as Y/N grabs her robe and stays with Kevin and Jacob in the lobby.

"I'm so sorry." Kevin looks down. Y/N looks distant, worry for her friend clouding her mind.

"It's okay, but we at the resort take safety very seriously. Maybe let's just have everyone stay in their rooms for the night." Jacob ends and Kevin nods. His eyes flash to Y/N before making his way to his room.

Y/N stays in the lobby, water dripping from her swimsuit as she's lost in thought.

"You're probably cold. Let me grab you a blanket and some hot chocolate." Jacob smiles.

"You don't have to, I know you're off."

"I don't need to be paid to help out." He says. His smile puts her at ease as she takes the mug from his hands. He sips on a cup of his own as he sits down in a large bay window.

She follows, taking in the scent of her beverage.

"So, what's it like working in the mountains?"

"It's great. I always feel best surrounded by nature, which is why I've come here every winter since I was 16."

Y/N hums, sipping from her mug, whip cream covering her top lip.

"Oh, I got you." Jacob slowly leans in, their eyes meeting as their faces sit centimeters apart. He lifts a napkin to wipe her mouth, letting out a soft chuckle as he leans back. Y/N could only pray he didn't hear her heart pounding. "And what about you? What brings you out here?"

"I- I prefer warmer weather, but my friend Kevin has talked about bringing us to his favorite resort for the longest time, I just couldn't let him down."

"Ah Kevin, I see him and his family come in pretty often. The last time was around February, except he only came with one other person. Some girl I didn't recognize."

Wait, Kevin brought a girl here in February? Like his birth month February? Back then Y/N had tried to thrown him a suprise party but he claimed he could make it do to a last minute family emergency. Was he lying?

It's been 10 months since and she's still chasing after someone who's never seemed to like her back.

"I guess it's kind of romantic up here." Y/N looks out at the snow.

"Yeah, I've always dreamed of falling in love, snow falling as I'm snuggled up by a window, hot chocolate in my hands... " Jacob says looking opposite of them at the roaring fireplace.

She smiles up at him and he returns it, his presence making her warm inside and out. She'd never felt this way about anyone other than Kevin before. In fact, right now she wasn't even sure if she'd ever felt this way about Kevin.

They chat some more before their trance gets broken by a group of male voices.

"Last one up the hill buys everyone coffees!" Haknyeon shouts, Changmin and Sunwoo pushing to get in the front.

"Y/N? You're still in your robe?" Juyeon ask, Chanhee by his side, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Yeah, I should probably get changed and ready for bed."

"Bed?" Hyunjae ask, zipping up his puffer jacket.

"At 7 in the morning?" Younghoon's question follows as he adjust his shoes.

"7!? What do you mean 7!?" She whips her head back to the window, the sun rising for what felt like was just an hour into the night. "We talked all night?" She mumbles to herself, not missed by Kevin.

"You talked to him all night?" His voice filled with confusion and hurt.

[smileysvech]

What are some of your favorite hockey boy fics? 🥰

this is not an exhaustive list by any means, so you can check my fic rec tags here and here, but these are some of my favorites (most of these include smut so please respect authors’ warnings if you’re not 18+)

andrei svechnikov

fake numbers and date numbers by @matsbarzal

glittery by @comphy-and-cozy

the love countdown series by @behoright

meet me at midnight by @senditcolton

the mystery of love by @comphy-and-cozy

playing pretend by @idontgiveaflyinggrayson69

sundress season (and the sequel) by @comphy-and-cozy

when it gets crisp in the fall (and these follow up fics in the same universe: x x) by @idontgiveaflyinggrayson69

andrei svechnikov/brady skjei

the after party and the after party II by @comphy-and-cozy

andrei svechnikov/dylan coghlan

919 temptations by @hoesforthecanes

brady skjei

adore you by @comphy-and-cozy

do I really have to tell you? by @senditcolton

midnight rain by @comphy-and-cozy

mat barzal

more than a vancouver sunset by @zuucc

praising you by @eberles

we've come so far baby by @mendeshoney

mat barzal/tyson jost

summer nights by @hookingminor

jt compher

our love was made for the movies by @jostystyles

slow mornings by @comphy-and-cozy

something to dream about by @comphy-and-cozy

mikko rantanen

bad for business by @comphy-and-cozy

you’re the reason I come home by @senditcolton

tyson jost

baby, you make me crazy series by @hookingminor

how I look on you by @hookingminor

like this series by @matbaerzal

longshot by @flashyfucker

open your eyes by @matbaerzal

matt martin

matt martin x sugar baby!reader blurb by @comphy-and-cozy

we're a bad idea by @senditcolton

[toasttt11]

questions

October 12, 2023

Connie had accepted Kevin’s invitation to hang out with Alex, Lukas and him.

Alex has spent the day showing them all around some parts of Chicago and they eventually ended up going to one of the beaches in Chicago that has a pier and they decided to start walking around for a little while before they all head back to their separate homes.

Kevin and Lukas both gasped excitedly in unison seeing a corn dog cart and they both immediately went off running towards the corn dog cart just leaving Connie and Alex alone.

Connie awkwardly played with her fingers having not spent any time alone with Alex yet and he makes her very nervous but a different type of the normal nervous but she was not sure what type.

“Those two.” Alex shook his head chuckling fondly watching as Lukas and Kevin were running and pushing each other.

Alex spared multiple glances towards Connie as they walked at a calmer pace than Lukas and Kevin. Alex is still in awe of her eyes every time he sees them. Alex does not want to admit how much he thinks of Connie with barely even knowing her yet and it does not help at all that her eyes are just unforgettable.

“What’s your favorite color?” Alex randomly blurted out and bit his lip for just blurting out random question.

“My favorite color?” Connor repeated looking very puzzled and Alex did not blame her as it is a very random question and very random to just ask that.

“I want to get to know you more.” Alex shrugged smiling slightly bashful at her making her nod.

“Blue.” Connie said before softly adding, “But not bright blue but light blue soft like the sky in the early morning.” Connie slightly rambled and blushed when she realized she had been rambling, something she does not do often.

“Light blue.” Alex smiled softly enjoying her reasoning and glad he got to hear her reasoning, “I like Orange but not neon orange, soft orange like the sunset.” Alex gave her a lopsided smile making her smile softly back at him appreciating how he responded.

“Favorite season?” Connie softly asked as they stopped walking sitting and decided to sit down on a bench as they watched Kevin and Lukas waited in line for corn dogs and waited for them to come back.

“Summer. I love being out on the water and the warm weather is my favorite.” Alex easily responded, summer was when he got to spend the most time with his family.

“Hmm, i don’t like warm weather.” Connie scrunched up nose slightly having always hated the heat, she grew up in Vancouver warm weather is not something she likes and the warmest in Vancouver is still very comfortable, “I like winter because it snows.”

“I do not like the snow.” Alex scrunched his nose shaking his head, he has always hated the snow and it was something he never looked forward to every winter.

Connie blinked looking shocked for a moment, she couldn’t understand how anyone doesn’t like the snow. “You don’t like the snow.” Connie deadpanned looking at Alex oddly making him laugh shaking his head no.

“I like being warm.” Alex smiled making Connie reluctantly nod understanding not everyone likes cold weather.

“What’s your favorite food.” Alex questioned, he is really glad their friends got distracted so he could get the chance to learn more about Connie but also spend time with her alone.

“Sushi.” Connie quickly answered no hesitation in her answer, Sushi has always been her favorite food since she could remember.

“Really?” Alex hummed surprised that was her favorite food.

“I’m from Vancouver.” Connie’s reply had more sass to it that she rarely let out and Alex couldn’t help but smile wider glad he gets to hear it.

“True.” Alex agreed as Vancouver is near the bay so seafood is very good there, “So you got lucky getting drafted to Chicago then?” Alex asked rhetorically, Chicago has some of the better seafood as well.

“Mhm.” Connie nodded in agreement so far everything seafood she has had here is very good.

“What’s yours?” Connie asked looking around the pier and let out a sigh not seeing any cameras pointed at them yet and felt some tension leave her shoulders.

“Burgers.” Alex reasoned chuckling at her disbelieving face, “I know it’s basic.”

“It’s what you like.” Connie just shrugged smiling sweetly.

Alex smiled back enjoying Connie’s natural sweetness and her genuine kindness she seems to always have.

Kevin and Lukas both sat down on either sides of Connie and Alex happily munching on their corn dogs that were definitely not on their meal plans making Alex and Connie share an exasperated look and smile.

The four all decided to head home after Kevin’s and Lukas finished their corn dogs having been out the whole day already exploring and already walked most of the pier.

Kevin had drove them all and Lukas was sitting in the front seat with Connie and Alex sitting in the back seats.

Kevin drove to Connie’s apartment first and pulled into the front entrance of her apartment building.

“Thanks Kev.” Connie softly mumbled to her friend as she got out of the car.

“Always Beds.” Kevin smiled at her watching as she got out of the car closing the door and waving at them.

“Hold on i’ll be right back.” Alex blurted out to Lukas and Kevin and hopped out of the car quickly catching up with Connie.

Lukas and Kevin shared a very suspicious look of Alex’s behavior towards Connie, they have noticed how he seemed to stare at her a lot and was always glancing at her but haven’t thought anything of it, but maybe they should have.

“Connie!” Alex soflty called out jogging slighty as he caught up with Connie right as she stepped inside the front lobby.

“Alex?” Connie looked confused as Alex was now standing next to her.

“Let me walk you up?” Alex soflty asked looking nervous as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.

Connie narrowed her eyes not sure why he wants to walk her up, “Sure.” Connie nodded and continued walking towards the elevator.

Alex could see the hidden question Connie had for why he is walking her up, “Just wanted to see you get home.” Alex sheepishly explained, he just didn’t feel right letting her walk to her apartment alone and it felt wrong to not make sure she got home safe.

Connie soflty nodded seeing he was being kind and she could appreciate that, “Thank you.” Connie softly thanked him giving him a small smile as the elevator dinged opening up on her floor and she walked out with Alex following her.

“This is me.” Connie gestured to the door she stopped in front of and she unlocked the front door and opened it.

Alex got a glimpse of her apartment and noticed it was pretty bare and didn’t have much in it.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” Alex said as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. They had a morning practice tomorrow.

“Yeah.” Connie nodded and stepped inside her apartment waving bye as she closed her front door.

[pyotrkochetkov]

Do you have any fic recommendations for when you need a pick me up? I’d appreciate some.

this comes at the perfect time because i could use a pick me up right now and these always make me feel warm inside:

warm honey - mat barzal

praising you - mat barzal

more than a vancouver sunset - mat barzal

mini fan - andrei svechnikov

adore you - brady skjei

fake numbers and date numbers - andrei svechnikov

all i've tried to hide - andrei svechnikov

baby svech - andrei svechnikov (part of the when it gets crisp in the fall universe but every svech girlie has probably already read that)

love countdown series - andrei svechnikov (my allllll time favorite characterization of drei like he is written perfectly it makes me feel so smiley and insane i cannot @behoright bitch come back pleaseeee 💔)

eye on you - andrei svechnikov

love me tender love me sweet - andrei svechnikov (and all of her svech fics basically she has a lot)

(and because i'm a whore a good threesome will pick me up)

919 temptations - dylan coghlan/andrei svechnikov

how the gold glisten - pyotr kochetkov/andrei svechnikov

open invitation - anthony beauvillier/mat barzal

the after party - brady skjei/andrei svechnikov

i also have a fic rec tag with a lot of amazing content that you should also check out :)

[piousperjuror]

I still think I should have asked her.

Would it have been rude? Could I have taken her aside?

I ask these questions when I recall the nights before she gave birth. She had an uneasy smile about her. It was winter, and night fell quickly. She was sitting on the couch, centred against the backdrop of the upstairs front windows. She glowed without daylight, as she always does… did. She did.

She mocked herself for her swollen, golem feet. I remember the hens gathered around her on the floor, trying to keep everything light and airy. We were suspended in that moment above a terrifying reality that had not been actualised, but one which was inevitable.

My cousin N was murdered last summer. It is genuinely difficult to say that. I have said things are difficult to say before without knowing what that saying meant. The words do not form easily. I cannot dwell for long periods of time on the subject. It hurts me to try and feel what that means.

The last time I saw her was in my parent’s backyard, two summers prior. She had a knack for making everyone feel blanketed by the warmth of her compliments. She seemed better. We knew she had stayed in Vancouver for a while. We spoke about men: our shitty exes, stalkers, and horrifying experiences as women. We sat on the wooden bench next to the out-dated glass table. We rested our feet on cool concrete, surrounded by the afterglow of a sunset and the sound of intermittent traffic.

Admittedly, the attention was focused on my first cousin, M. She was stunning, but her ostensibly cold exterior hides the anxious heart of someone who has known how to be one of the ugliest versions of herself. M was now someone who knew they could not go back.

I knew during my year abroad she had been in a terrifyingly abusive relationship with that guy. That guy who thinks of nothing but his next high and his own feelings - because his family taught him nothing else is important. His mother, betrayer of her own sex, belittled M’s claims. Her neighbours, strangers to her pleas and witness to the precursor of a potential fate, did not. I am grateful to these strangers, and it made me feel guilty I did not do more. How I despised those Italian-Canadian wives who spoilt their sons and ignored their daughters.

Growing up in a traditional Italian diaspora of Toronto has challenges. Family image is paramount. We are all told without telling how we must be at home, contrary to what is taught by our Anglo, mangiacake schools.

I was lucky to be born into a family without that ‘sacred’ family structure. I was raised in the more diverse areas of the city. I was exposed to many cultures and freedoms: some of which my suburban high school colleagues were not afforded.

However, instilled in me was a virus that was planted in my early adolescence: the belief that silence is of better measure than truth.

And silent I was, thinking about the phone call I received early morning in Manchester from Costa Rica while M took her first trip with that scumbag, low life, slug. My texts were frantic, and I panicked thinking my cousin was stuck in a foreign country. She never mentioned him. I had no knowledge of this relationship starting. You can imagine the surprise when he texted me from her phone to admit defeat. Foreign numbers, unsaved, sending her “I love you” apparently warrants a test call from a paranoid abuser. One who is currently not where he should be: behind bars and removed from any society or greater opportunity.

My rage. How could she let this happen? Didn’t I tell her? Did I tell her… ?

I texted her. I gave her my cursory opinion. Never direct. We must never be direct - lest it is your fault. They have to realise it on their own, K.

Silly me. Remember what others do.

Sitting in the dark and being ‘eaten alive’ by pests, we continued hearing her stories. I couldn’t help but feel if I had called her incessantly she might have saved herself.

N was usually quiet when she was high. Always giggling. She felt, off? After M was finished her story, holding her leg close to her chest, we all froze. It was as if our shared experiences closed around us, and we collectively understood. It was eerie - as if a cloud of heavy armour had been shed. That is when N started to speak.

It was surface level speak. The speak women speak like to other women in our culture when they cannot or will not divulge too much directly. Who else runs away to the other side of one of the largest countries in the world to get away from their son’s father? And why else?

I told her how she should find herself someone like my husband out there. Was this to break the tension? Did I feel awkward and not want to press her? I remember feeling I wanted to know more. I can see myself now screaming at the shadowy memory of who I was before for not asking.

Would she have told me? I don’t think she would. She told the cops, or so she said. She had “no faith in them. They’re useless.”

And they were. The courts were less than useless.

Looking back, we should have seen the signs. I struggle with that guilt. I am asked, “did she not tell you because she didn’t know if anyone would want to listen?”

The day it happened, I found the news articles from that year prior to the pandemic. He had been charged with uttering death threats, and breaking into her home where she had continued to rent. He had been charged with possessing a weapon, and potentially assault.

Why weren’t we told, Mom?

Everything has a habit of coming out after it is too late. When the time for proper actions has passed.

Global News took hours and several reposts to get the story right, but they were the only ones that cared. She shared a headline with another woman who was killed by her ex-partner. I manically flicked through all the coverage I could find.

It is hard to accept that I will not see her again.

I found a video of N recently from D’s baby shower where she won a prize. The last shower she had been to involved her hiding a pregnancy.

She nearly chokes on all the water during the game. She walks back to our table, struggling through laughter and correcting her breathing. You can hear my trademark, inherited laugh:

“Don’t die.”

[rockislandadultreads]

New Title Tuesday: Mysteries

A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao

1914, Fiji: Akal Singh would rather be anywhere but this tropical paradise—or, as he calls it, “this godforsaken island.” After a promising start to his police career in his native India and Hong Kong, Akal has been sent to Fiji as punishment for a humiliating professional mistake. Lonely and grumpy, Akal plods through his work and dreams of getting back to Hong Kong.

When an indentured Indian woman goes missing from a sugarcane plantation and Fiji’s newspapers scream “kidnapping,” the inspector-general reluctantly assigns Akal the case, giving him strict instructions to view this investigation as nothing more than cursory. Akal, eager to achieve redemption, agrees—but soon finds himself far more invested than he could have expected.

Now not only is he investigating a disappearance, but also confronting the brutal realities of the indentured workers’ existence and the racism of the British colonizers in Fiji—along with his own thorny notions of personhood and caste. Early interrogations of the white plantation owners, Indian indentured laborers, and native Fijians yield only one conclusion: there is far more to this case than meets the eye.

Murder at Midnight by Katharine Schellman

Regency widow Lily Adler is looking forward to returning to Hertfordshire to spend time with the family of her late husband. She is also excited that Captain Jack Hartley, her friend and confidante, will be visiting his own family after a long voyage at sea. With winter quickly approaching, Lily is most excited at the prospect of a relaxing and enjoyable Christmastide season away from the schemes and secrets she witnessed daily in London.

At a neighborhood ball, she soon becomes reacquainted with a friend of her late husband, Peter Coleridge, a wealthy man who not only manages Irish investments, but also a fund that most of the locals of Hertfordshire take part in. There, she also learns Jack’s sister, Amelia, is the subject of much of the neighborhood gossip—although Amelia refuses to explain if there is any truth to it. For a brief moment, Lily wonders if she ever really left London.

When a snowstorm forces several guests, including both the Adlers and the Hartleys, to stay the night, Lily quickly deduces that all is not well this holiday season. In the morning, a maid discovers the body of a guest in the poultry yard, shot to death—and he is the same man that is scandalously linked to Amelia.

Lily accepts the offer to assist in the investigation, but will she find more than what she bargained for the more she digs? Or will she herself be buried deep within the snow?

This is the fourth volume of the "Lily Adler Mystery" series.

The Body in the Back Garden by Mark Waddell

Crescent Cove, a small hamlet on Vancouver Island, is the last place out-of-work investigative journalist Luke Tremblay ever wanted to see again. He used to spend summers here, until his family learned that he was gay and rejected him. Now, following his aunt’s sudden death, he’s inherited her entire estate, including her seaside cottage and the antiques shop she ran for forty years in Crescent Cove. Luke plans to sell everything and head back to Toronto as soon as he can…but Crescent Cove isn’t done with him just yet.

When a stranger starts making wild claims about Luke’s aunt, Luke sends him packing. The next morning, though, Luke discovers that the stranger has returned, and now he’s lying dead in the back garden. To make matters worse, the officer leading the investigation is a handsome Mountie with a chip on his shoulder who seems convinced that Luke is the culprit. If he wants to prove his innocence and leave this town once and for all, Luke will have to use all his skills as a journalist to investigate the colorful locals while coming to terms with his own painful past.

There are secrets buried in Crescent Cove, and the more Luke digs, the more he fears they might change the town forever.

The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp by Leonie Swann

It has been an eventful morning for Agnes Sharp and the other inhabitants of Sunset Hall, a house share for the old and unruly in the sleepy English countryside. Although they have had some issues (misplaced reading glasses, conflicting culinary tastes, decreasing mobility, and unruly grandsons), nothing prepares them for an unexpected visit from a police officer with some shocking news. A body has been discovered next door. Everyone puts on a long face for show, but they are secretly relieved the body in question is not the one they’re currently hiding in the shed (sorry, Lillith).

It seems the answer to their little problem with Lillith may have fallen right into their lap. All they have to do is find out who murdered their neighbor, so they can pin Lillith’s death on them, thus killing two (old) birds with one stone (cold killer).

With their plan sorted, Agnes and her geriatric gang spring into action. After all, everybody likes a good mystery. Besides, the more suspicion they can cast about, surely the less will land on them. To investigate, they will step out of their comfort zone, into the not-so-idyllic village of Duck End and tangle with sinister bakers, broken stairlifts, inept criminals, the local authorities, and their own dark secrets.

This is the first volume of the "Agnes Sharp Mysteries" series.

[zuucc]

Vet jeg er noen år for sein lol men jeg har lest boken din sånn tre ganger nå, den er sååå bra omg

(Også alltid morsomt å finne fellow nordmenn in the wild;))

Jeg er nesten aldri på Tumblr lenger, bare innom av og til, men herregud så hyggelig dette var å se i innboksen❤️❤️ Tusen takk

[liosmithsworld]

Trending Now: The Top Travel Destinations for 2025

By 2025, people in the world are eager to travel around the globe to visit unusual attractions and to come back to the famous places. Thanks to recently emerging global tourism and many cheap flights being offered by airlines, there has never been a better time to travel. Here is a list of the ten best travel destinations for 2025 where tourists will get only the most exquisite experiences, while spending much less than expected.

1. Seoul, South Korea: A Modern Cultural Hub

Seoul is a progressive city with palaces that show traditional customs combined with the modern age newest technologies. According to others, on the bustle of the Myeongdong street and the silence of the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul is the only city of the kind. There is now a plethora of cheap flight offers for tourists who would like to visit South Korea.

Top Places to Visit:

Gyeongbokgung Palace

N Seoul Tower

Myeongdong Shopping Street

2. Medellin, Colombia: The City of Eternal Spring

Well known now for its climatically temperate weather and dramatic geographical terrains, Medellin has evolved into a youthful and hospitable city. Take cable rides to get great city sceneries, visit Comuna 13, and learn to hang out at night. Colombia on this South American gem that can be visited in the year 2025 once you purchase the cheap airline tickets available.

Top Places to Visit:

Comuna 13

Plaza Botero

Arvin Park

3. Santorini, Greece: A Romantic Escape

Santorini is famous for its immaculate white houses, azure blue-domed chapels and spectacular sun sets; it is paradise for the individual traveler and honeymooners. With low cost flights to Greece this is the time to get to know this mesmerizing island. Akrotiri Archaeological Site. Tic Escape Santorini’s iconic white-washed buildings and stunning sunsets make it a dream destination for couples and solo travelers alike. Cheap flights deals to Greece make this enchanting island more accessible than ever.

Top Places to Visit:

Oia Village for sunsets

Akrotiri Archaeological Site

Red Beach

4. Sydney, Australia: The Harbor City

Today it steals the heart with its symbols that include the Sydney Opera house and the Harbour Bridge. Ride a ferry towards Manly Beach, walk through the Royal Botanic Garden, and taste the Sydney’s newest food offerings.

Top Places to Visit:

Sydney Opera House

Bondi Beach

Royal Botanic Garden

5. Prague, Czech Republic: The City of a Hundred Spires

Prague enchants visitors with its Gothic and Baroque façade which facilitates its position as a unique tourist destination in the New Europe. Visit the famous Charles Bridge and got to its legendary beer gardens, observe the Astronomical Clock work.

Top Places to Visit:

Charles Bridge

Prague Castle

Old Town Square

6. Kigali, Rwanda: A Gateway to Natural Wonders

Kigali is a clean and safe city through which is easier to access Rwanda’s amazing wildlife. Volcanoes National park is where you can go gorilla trekking or take a boat ride on Lake Kivu here the waters are calm.

Top Places to Visit:

Kigali Genocide Memorial

Volcanoes National Park

Kimironko Market

7. Vancouver, Canada: Urban Living Meets Wildlife

Vancouver is that dual city, where you can hike nearby mountains and swim in the sea, and together with it – be surrounded by big city’s character. See the sights of Stanley Park, dine all around the world, or go for a drive up to Whistler.

Top Places to Visit:

Stanley Park

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Granville Island

8. Buenos Aires, Argentina: The Paris of South America

Buenos Aires does particularly well to enchant tourists through the richness of its heritage, impressive architecture and sensual dances. Explore the Art Nouveau neighborhood of La Boca, walk pass the Colon Theater, and taste Argentine steak.

Top Places to Visit:

La Boca Neighborhood

Recoleta Cemetery

Teatro Colón

9. Auckland, New Zealand: Adventure Awaits

New Zealand has a unique feature that will attract tourists and that is; Auckland will be the best place to start discovering New Zealand natural beauty. The Auckland skyline is best viewed from Mount Eden, world–famous Waitomo Glowworm caves are relatively close by, and the city boasts a pleasant, maritime atmosphere.

Top Places to Visit:

Sky Tower

Waiheke Island

Mount Eden

10. Marrakech, Morocco: The Red City

Marrakech makes startling sensorial impressions, stretching from its souks, which are as animated as they are visually intense, the extramural gardens, and the palaces, many of which are mesmerizing. Walk through the markets of the Medina, go to the Majorelle Garden, and relax in a Moroccan hammam.

Top Places to Visit:

Jardin Majorelle

Bahia Palace

Medina Souks

Notes on How to Get a Cheap Flight

1. Book Early: Get the cheapest fares when you book your flights a few months in advance.

2. Be Flexible: It’s important to note that when traveling few travelers go during off peak seasons or mid-week and thus air fare will be cheaper.

3. Set Alerts: Consult flight comparison sites to constantly check for fares and to sign up to for notification of cheap flight deals.

4. Consider Budget Airlines: Most of the time you will find that the budget airlines provide these airline tickets at a cheap rate to various tourist attractions.

5. Bundle Deals: There are usually always listings of low cost flights and hotels that are affordably priced as part of the package.

Final Thoughts

The world is large enough to offer wonderful places to visit. With nowadays wide variety of cheap flights, there is no better year than 2025 to start planning your travel and go on an adventure. To and from cultural attractions, stunning landscapes, or tranquil retreats – all these great choices attract tourists of any type. Now is the time to start planning, and book your seats with cheap flights and bring your travel dreams into reality.

[eranjayne]

Andrea's Sunset Session | Tsawwassen Photographer

Perfect weather, perfect attitudes and perfect photos!

Man oh man, do I love the people that I get to see every year (and sometimes more than once a year)! Andrea’s extended family of 6 makes the trek from Vancouver every summer to come wander the fields and beaches of Centennial Beach with me. The two grandmothers are best buddies and usually they travel together in one of their sporty little Mazda Miatas, and it puts a smile on my face every time I…

[gautammander]

Best Places to Visit during a Winter Vacation in Canada

Canada is a winter wonderland that offers many experiences and stunning vistas. It is known for its wide and diverse terrain. This jewel of North America is the second largest country in the globe in terms of total area, spanning the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. Canada is a magical place to visit in the winter with its vast plains, stunning coastline areas and impressive mountain ranges. There are countless experiences to be had, from vibrant cities to peaceful towns blanketed in snow.

Canada has something for any winter fan whether your dreams involve skiing in the Rockies, touring colourful cityscapes or relaxing in warm winter resorts. Major cities like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver as well as the nation's capital, Ottawa, provide distinctive seasonal attractions that highlight the rich cultural and environmental legacy of the nation. Get your Canada visa now to avoid missing out on these amazing locations and start planning an amazing winter getaway!

Here are the Best Places to Visit during a Winter Vacation in Canada

1. Turkey’s Bolu:

Bolu a hidden gem in northern Turkey situated between Istanbul and Ankara, is well-known for its amazing winter sports and cold-weather activities. The region's varied terrain which consists of rough mountains and lush forests, makes for the ideal setting for outdoor activities. A great place to start your exploration of Kartalkaya a top ski resort known for its immaculate slopes and beautiful views is Kaya Palazzo Ski & Mountain Resort. Bolu provides a distinctive combination of winter sports and cultural experiences, whether you're hitting the slopes or touring neighbouring historic sites and national parks.

Bolu offers more than just skiing; in addition, travellers may explore its museums and old mosques to get a true sense of the local way of life. The town's colourful past and historic architecture create a rich cultural tapestry that goes well with its wintertime activities. Bolu offers a wonderful winter escape, complete with local cuisine to enjoy and a tranquil mountain setting. Bolu is a great option for people looking for adventure and culture in a breath taking winter environment.

2. The Rideau Canal:

Skating on Ottawa's famous Rideau Canal makes any winter visit to Canada incomplete. Almost eight kilometres long, this ancient skate way is the largest in the world, comparable to nine interconnected Olympic-sized rinks. More than a million people visit the canal in January to take in the essence of winter in Canada. Skating along the canal provides a distinctive viewpoint of Ottawa's wintertime appeal, complete with breath taking views of the city's monuments and a joyous ambiance.

3. The gentle Tofino sunsets: 

Tofino is a quaint hamlet on the west coast of Vancouver Island, known for its untamed natural beauty and breath taking sunsets. Tofino is known for its mild environment, but wintertime there provides a special chance to see the striking contrast between calm sunsets and wild waters. The town's historic woods and sandy beaches are especially more charming in the winter offering a peaceful diversion from the busier summer months.

4. The Arctic in Canada: 

Located in Canada's Arctic archipelago, Nunavut is a large and sparsely populated region that offers a genuinely unique winter experience. This isolated area, renowned for its bitter cold and bleak surroundings, provides travellers with an opportunity to see some of the world's most breath taking winter vistas. There is nowhere else on Earth like this strange, extraterrestrial setting with its bitter cold temps and vast, snowy landscapes.

In addition, wintertime in Nunavut offers a unique chance to witness the captivating aurora borealis which is frequently visible in all of its splendour under clear night sky. Those who face the bitter cold are rewarded with breath taking natural beauty and cultural insights into the indigenous Inuit way of life even though the extreme conditions are hard for the weak of heart. For those looking for a genuinely spectacular winter experience, the Arctic winter in Nunavut offers a remarkable encounter.

5. Concrete Block: 

The World Pond Hockey Championship is held in Plaster Rock, which is a prominent location in the center of Canadian ice hockey tradition. Encircled by wintry woodlands this sleepy village becomes the focal point of an exciting ice hockey competition that draws teams from the US, Canada and Great Britain. The tournament is a unique winter event that highlights the community's intense love for the sport because of its beautiful environment and competitive attitude.

6. Vancouver: 

Renowned for its breath taking scenery Vancouver is a top winter destination with a wide variety of activities. The city's moderate winter temperatures let visitors enjoy outdoor activities without the bitter cold, making it a nice change from snowier locations. World-class restaurants, shopping, and museums are just a few of Vancouver's many cultural attractions, which make it a desirable winter retreat for anybody looking for a mix of sophisticated urban living and rustic charm.

Conclusion:

Travellers of all stripes can find a wide range of destinations in Canada's winter paradise. Every place offers a different way to experience the season, from the arctic adventures in Nunavut and the serene sunsets in Tofino to the snow-capped peaks of Bolu and the ice charm of the Rideau Canal. Whatever your winter holiday needs exciting winter sports, cultural excursions, or tranquil natural beauty Canada has it all. The first step in realizing your wintertime ambitions for individuals who intend to visit these amazing locations is to apply for a Canada visa.

Anywhere in Canada you decide to travel, you will have an amazing trip thanks to the wide variety of winter activities available there. The vibrant urban life of Vancouver and the thrilling ice hockey action in Plaster Rock are just two of Canada's winter travel spots that offer lifelong experiences. Get a Canada visa, embrace the season, and experience the wonders of a Canadian winter by setting off on a journey that highlights everything this breath taking nation has to offer.

[newsbites]

News from Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, 14 July

It is the start of a major summer event—more than 100,000 people are expected to view sand sculpture creations featured during the annual Parksville Beachfest, which starts today.

President of the Beach Festival Society Cheryl Dill says this year's theme should lead to some outstanding works of art.

Wonders of the World is the theme of this year's creations.

Sculptors spent yesterday beginning their masterpieces. 22 sculptures are expected. The gates open today at 2:00 o'clock.

2. The BC Maritime Employers Association says work has officially resumed at ports after a 13 day strike.

The news comes after about 7400 longshore workers and their employers at more than 30 ports along the BC coast reached a tentative deal yesterday.

The union has not commented on the agreement, but the employers association says workers returned to work late yesterday afternoon.

The four year pact is subject to ratification by both sides.

3. A student has every reason to smile after landing a $100,000 scholarship.

18 year old Paul Wu is a recent Schulich Leadership Scholarship recipient, one of 100 students to secure the honour across the country and among 1500 nominees. Wu is headed to Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, for the next four years to study computer sciences.

4. The weather is poised to be perfect for a movie under the stars.

Coastal community are hosting Sunset Cinema once more across the mid-island. Tonight, in Nanaimo's Maffeo Sutton Park, Minions, The Rise of Gru will be shown on a three-storey inflatable big screen. On Sunday, there will be a showing of the Super Mario Brothers movie in Parksville Community Park. Shows begin when it's dark enough with proceeds from the event going to the Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island.

5. The classification of aspartame—a sugar-substitute—as "possibly carcinogenic" by WHO is being reviewed in Canada.

The Canadian Cancer Society and Health Canada are reviewing the World Health Organization's classification of aspartame as "possibly carcinogenic" due to limited evidence linking it to liver cancer.

Despite the classification, aspartame is still considered safe to consume at the current recommended daily limit of 40 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.

Both Health Canada and the WHO recommend the same daily limit for aspartame consumption.

[charlesandmartine]

Monday 19th June 2023

A day all at sea is a commodity needing serious planning. We slept in but were in time to join happy campers in the main dining room. As a feeding forum this is by far the most gentile option on board compared to Windjammer where the object of the exercise is see how tall and diverse a pile of food could be collected from a selection of counters onto one average sized bit of porcelain and conveyed without loss back to a table. A feat perhaps more difficult than you might think especially considering the waddle required for an oversized person to negotiate a straight line against the sway of the boat. Not a pretty picture and not one repeated in our dining room where eager young waiters flit around the white table cloths taking orders and dispensing more modest meals to a far more discerning clientele. So it was that around 10.15 we removed ourselves from the hallowed confines of our breakfast experience.

Further exploration of the ship produced the location of the gym where we intended to go later in the day. Others commenced line dancing in the auditorium; an ancient art of foot shuffling to music with a woman in a black leotard yelling instructions.

Overnight we had lost sight of Celebrity Eclipse, but in our wake Holland America was still close by. No doubt a novice navigator on board nervous of being alone in this vast ocean. Before sunset yesterday we had been following the inner passage between Vancouver Island and the Mainland but now we are out into the vastness of the North Pacific Ocean heading towards the Gulf of Alaska. Then by midday all signs of Holland and Barrett had gone.

Since days at sea time management can appear to be dictated by mealtimes, we decided a hurricane swept turn around the decks would be advantageous; more accurately 12 turns around the deck 12, equalling one hour, then lunch in case too many calories had been indudiciously burned, then back to reading our books. An American woman chirruped that she thought she had seen at distance the blow spout of a whale, but I think she'd made that up.

Ovation of the Seas was large brash and noisy. Brilliance is far smaller and sedate and whilst it does not necessarily conduct itself across the ocean in complete silence, it was possible to relax in the main auditorium in comfortable armchairs and read whilst a musician scratched a living playing melodic classical guitar several floors below. Girl from Ipanema, Cavertina, Moon River; generally lulling rifts designed for rest and relaxation. Then an American girl with loud gob got up on stage and announced it was time to get the party started. We left.

The gym became a quieter refuge to repair to and vital calories were worked off before dinner. Tonight was the first formal night of the cruise although not many DJs as far as I could see. Just as well I didn't make the effort. Then to the show where there was a shy retiring little thing called Michelle Murlin who screeched a load of songs at us until we could take no more and left the theatre.

Tomorrow we dock at Sitka for a grand day out bear watching, not forgetting of course to put the clocks back one hour tonight.

[zuucc]

MORE THAN A VANCOUVER SUNSET: What if...

... it was Mat instead of Sam?

Summary: What if Emma had ended up losing her virginity to Mat instead of Sam Brown, the douchebag that had spent the rest of the summer boasting about how he’d been the one to take it - making Mat so angry about how he spoke about his crush friend, that his friends had to stop him from fighting Sam on several different occasions? Mat sees Emma at that post-graduation party, sneaking away with the hockey team’s biggest asshole. Instead of pretending he didn’t see them, he goes up to them and somehow manages to steal her away. 

Warnings: smut, alcohol, cursing

Word count: 9k

Author’s note: Again, MTAVS does not need anymore smut than it already has but my mind is procrastinating writing my exam spinning with spicy ideas, so here we are. Again, you can still read this even if you haven’t read my eightythreethousand word book about Mat Barzal and his steamy summer romance with his former math class partner in crime slash crush, it can be read as a stand alone. I will give you the information you need :-) 

Please enjoy!

In cursive, you will find a short extract from More Than a Vancouver Sunset that explain where this What if? is coming from, along with a short paragraph that will also provide some insight.  

~

“I wanted to lose my virginity to you,” Emma admitted as she pulled away from the kiss.

“Really?” Mat asked, his eyes widening, as well as his smile. Emma had kept her crush on him all to herself during high school, and the girls had asked so many times, but she always said that it wasn’t anyone special she wanted to do it with. But it was, and that person was definitely Mat. Emma and the girls had spent countless sleepovers talking about sex, and Mat was always the one she had in mind when they did. On Monday after a weekend of all-nighters and hours spent giggling in Laura’s basement, when Mat came running to ask her some stupid question about that very specific line in the French novel in her hand, when his hand touched hers and his arm pressed into hers as he stood towering over her – she’d always find herself involuntary pressing her thighs together.

“Mhm, but instead I ended up losing it to fucking Sam Brown on the night of graduation,” she sighed, shaking her head as she looked at Mat. Even though it wasn’t exactly the best memory she had in her mind, she still couldn’t stop the smile on her lips as she looked at the man beside her.

“Oh I forgot about that, he was boasting about it all summer. I was so jealous, and so pissed off because of the way he was talking about you,” Mat said, his nose scrunching up in disgust as he thought about his former teammate that summer after high school. He’d seen Emma from afar a few times that summer, but he didn’t talk to her – it was not like he had any French homework to use as an excuse anymore. Luckily he’d grown a pair of balls since then.

“Ugh, I know. It’s sweet that you were mad, though,” she smiled, reaching out for that one curl that kept falling into his face, pushing it back. Mat got lost in her eyes for a little bit, deciding to save the story about how he’d almost gotten into a drunken fight with Sam the weekend after graduation, have it not been for Jason being a little bit more level headed than him, for a later time, and just kissed her instead.

~

...that one time Mat had showed up to the party Emma was at and he’d wracked his brain trying to come up with something to say to her – it wasn’t like he could go up to her at a party and ask her about French homework.

~

Emma shouted a quick goodbye to her parents before she hurried out the front door and down the couple steps from the porch, making sure to disappear out of view from the kitchen window as fast as possible, without looking suspicious. They knew she was going to a party, she’d graduated that Friday, after all. She was going to sleep over at Laura’s after, and in her overnight bag, along with PJs, toiletries and a few outfit alternatives, were also two bottles of wine that she’d bought from Francesca’s older brother. Each carefully wrapped in a piece of clothing, placed on each their side of her bag with a full makeup bag shoved between them in order to keep them from clinking and making any sort of noise as she hurried down the stairs from her bedroom.

She made her way down the street to Laura's house, slipping through the opening in the hedge and in through the backdoor, going straight for the stairs down to the basement, where she knew she would find her group of besties.

"Did you make it?" Francesca asked before she could even get down the stairs and greet them 'hello'.

"Of course," Emma said like it was that easy. Her parents weren't strict on many things, knowing that she was usually quite responsible. Though an incident when she was sixteen and had a bit too much, had made them wary of alcohol. Maybe the lack of such incidents ever since had made them forget.

An hour or so goes by and Laura's parents announce that they're leaving to go visit Laura's aunt in Vancouver. The girls sit in silence until they can hear their car pull out of the driveway, and just as Laura sees them disappear down the road - she's pulling red solo cups out of thin air and drinks are being poured.

"So, what's the POA tonight?" Jessie asked, making a grimace as she swallowed another sip of the drink Francesca had mixed for her. Needless to say, the vodka to orange juice ratio wasn't quite right.

"The P-O-What?" Sophie asked, turning her head in Jessie's direction so fast that Emma, who's got Sophie's hair wrapped around a curling iron, nearly burns both her hand and Sophie's forehead.

"Plan of action, duh," Jessie rolls her eyes at her cousin, making everyone else laugh as they didn't actually know what she was talking about either. Thankfully, Sophie was always willing to ask first, making the rest of them look smarter.

"Depends on what kind of plan you're looking for," Laura chuckles as she pulls the fourth crop top over her head, before reaching for the one she was wearing in the first place. Emma was sure she was gonna go through the cycle of those four tops at least two more times before they leave for the actual party. Maybe even try a fifth, nearly identical one.

"Well, does anyone have any prospects for tonight? You know, dick-wise? Virginity-wise?" she asks, turning towards Emma and Sophie, the only two virgins left in the room. Emma couldn't see Sophie's face as she was currently looking for any straight pieces at the back of her head, seeing if she'd missed some, but she was pretty sure that Sophie rolled her eyes in unison with herself.

"You're such a dude, Jess - only thinking about sex," Sophie exclaims, again, nearly making Emma burn herself again.

"We've literally only talked about sex for like four years straight now, you're just as bad," Francesca argued, turning it back to Sophie. Emma laughed, motioning for Fran to pour some shot into her mouth as she curled the last piece of Sophie's blonde locks. Sophie rolled her eyes again, though this time with a cheeky smile on her face.

"Emma has a POA, apparently," Laura laughs, "otherwise she wouldn't be taking so many shots."

"I do not!" Emma tries to sound believable, but fails immensely as a wide smile and a blush creeps up her cheeks.

"You so do!" Jessie calls out, a huge shit eating grin on her face.

"I swear I don't!" Emma failed again, not able to keep a straight face at all. The alcohol wasn't exactly helping.

"Who?" Laura asks, just as interested as Jessie. The rest of them turning their full attention to her as well.

"I don't know! I'm just thinking of getting it over with, that's all. Like, I do not care at all. Or like a little bit, but it doesn't have to be meaningful or anything like that. I feel like it's gonna take forever if that has to be a criteria," Emma explains. She did have someone in mind, that was for sure, but that person was unattainable, and not someone she was discussing with her friends. She would rather jump off a cliff than face that kind of embarrassment.

"I get that - just go for it," Francesca agreed while Sophie made a grimace - Emma wasn't sure if the grimace was because she disagreed or because she really wasn't a fan of red wine.

"I mean, there's lots of guys who would fuck you," Jessie shrugged.

“Let me know if you hear of any willing then,” Emma rolled her eyes, before motioning for Laura to change places with Sophie.

“Yeah, we’ll just go around asking if anyone’s willing to do you. We’ll have a line up for you to choose from at the end of the night,” Francesca chuckled, making everyone laugh. Emma included.

“Yeah, right,” she shook her head, praying for another topic or for the attention to turn back to Sophie. She took a long sip of her wine before she started sectioning Laura’s hair for curling.

“Seriously, Em, I literally heard Brownie and Tommy F. discuss the length of your skirt like two days ago,” Jessie argued, throwing her hands out in emphasis.

“Maybe they wished it was longer,” Emma shot back, making them all groan and roll their eyes. Emma laughed to herself, satisfied with her own self deprecating joke.

“Oh yeah, sure sounded like it when they talked about how you’d bent down to pick up your pen from the floor or something and Brownie had tried to catch a peak,” Jessie retaliated, making them all gasp in disgust.

“No way in hell you’re losing it to, Brownie, Em,” Sophie chimed in.

“You know what, maybe I will fuck Sam Brown. At least I’d get it over with,” Emma said, refusing to refer to any of them by their stupid hockey nicknames. Again, she was internally hoping, praying, begging for the topic to change. Sophie grimaced again, and this time Emma knew it wasn’t because of the wine or any other booze Fran had managed to supply them with.

“There’s always Barzy. He’d probably beg to be the one,” Laura came in with a more sensible option, mumbling the last part under her breath. Sensible, though completely unrealistic, Emma thought.

“Laura, you can kiss my ass. Fran, please pour something strong down my throat,” Emma finished the conversation. Before she’d managed to chase the vodka shot with white wine, Laura had started loudly doubting her fashion choices again, and the group of girls moved on.

Another hour went by too quickly and Emma had made sure that everyone's hair was curled to perfection, Sophie had consulted everyone's fashion emergencies, Jessie had painted every single nail in sight, Laura had provided comedic relief and Francesca had made sure that every single one of them had taken at least five shots and downed three cups of their alcohol of choice. They were ready to go.

Francesca's brother came through again, picking them up in their parents minivan. He deserved more than the 20 dollars they'd promised him for spending fifteen minutes just getting the five drunk girls into the car, let along pulling up with the screeching of "You Belong with Me" by Taylor Swift on repeat for another twenty while he drove them to the party. The party was to be held at Christopher Maxwell's house - their class' resident rich kid who everyone depended on to throw a huge party whenever the occasion called for it. Be it prom, start of summer, end of summer, graduation or just a random Friday night.

The ground was slightly wobbly beneath Emma’s feet as she made her way into the Maxwell villa, pulling at the tight skirt Sophie had convinced her to wear as it kept riding up with every step she took.

“If you’re planning to let it go tonight, you might as well let it ride up,” Laura grinned next to her, making Emma laugh.

“Might as well let everyone take a peak, see who volunteers,” Emma shot back sarcastically.

“Come on, let’s find someone for you to flirt with,” Laura pulled her under her arm, nearly making Emma trip on the threshold.

They slowly made their way through the house, stopping to talk to classmates and people they hardly knew along the way. It's weird how, all of a sudden, you’re talking to people you’d barely say hi to in the school hallway as soon as schools out and you’ve got some booze running through your system.

Halfway through the house, they lose Jessie and Sophie, and somewhere in the kitchen, they lose Francesca ass well. Somehow, Emma and Laura make it all the way out to the garden on the other side of the enormous villa before they split up. Laura got sucked into some conversation with some girls from her French class, and Emma finds herself placing one foot in front of the other in the direction of some nice patio furniture filled with jocks.

“Heyy, Emma,” a few of them greets her as she approaches them. Her drunken smile widens as they welcome her with somewhat polite compliments of how she’s looking tonight, helping her confidence just a little further. She scans the little crowd in front of her for a face she knows a little better than the rest, luckily finding Laura’s twin brother, Troy. He offers her a hand so that she can safely maneuver what feels like a hundred pairs of long legs between the sofa and the coffee table, all the way over to him where she finally sits down on the edge of his lap.

It’s easy then, to fall into conversation with Tristan from history and Corey who sits behind her in English. Ten-fifteen minutes go by and Corey becomes Tommy F. and Troy whispers in her ear that he’s going to the bathroom and pushes her to her feet in order to get up. She doesn’t bat an eye when another lap takes his place underneath her when she sits back down. They're all familiar faces, though soon, they're just that - familiar. She doesn't really know any of them. Mat Barzal sits down on the other end of the sofa, but he just shot her a short smile before he went back to his conversation with Jason Smith. In complete opposition to everyone else, he almost seemed less friendly here at the party than what he did in school. She tried to hide her disappointment.

When Tristan runs off with his on again, off again girlfriend and Tommy F. disappears to find Tommy D., Emma thinks maybe she should get up, too - at least move away from whomever's lap she was sitting in, now that the seat next to them were free. Tommy F.'s seat already taken by someone Emma was pretty sure graduated at least two years ago.

"Heyy, where are you going?" She hears the person underneath her saying, his hands finding her hips to pull her back and further onto his thighs, all the way until she's sitting sideways across his lap in the corner of the modular sofa.

"I'm not going anywhere, just thought I'd stop weighing you down," Emma puts on her flirty voice and cheeky smile.

"Oh, please, I can barely feel you there," Sam Brown grins before confidently placing one of his big hands on her thigh. Sam was huge and usually the one to end up some kind of brawl on the ice. He was also a little too cocky and a little too confident, though nice enough, and if you stared at him long enough he was handsome enough, too. His eyes were kind, though Emma knew enough girls who'd found themselves fooled by that. Luckily, Emma had no intentions that extended past tonight.

It became easy again, falling into conversation with Sam. Discussing his plans for hockey after high school and laughing along when he cheekily suggested that Emma became his trophy wife.

"I'm not sure, Sam, I'm no puck bunny," Emma chatted back, speaking his language and knowing exactly what she was doing when she placed her hand on his chest.

"Oh, please, just five minutes ago you were the only girl in a couch full of hockey players," he shot back, and once again, Emma laughed along. At this point, she was determined that he'd be the lucky one. It was clear that he was very much willing already from the second he started talking to her.

She kept talking to Sam, stealing sips from his beer in order to keep her courage going. The alcohol running through her system had her playing this role so well she almost believed it herself. Every now and then she'd catch Mat's eye for a short second, but it seemed like he pretended he didn't see her. Soon he was gone too.

"Hey, let's go inside," Sam suggested, disguising his proposal under the fact that Emma was getting cold outside in just a skirt and a short sleeved top.

"Sure," she smiled, flirtatiously. She let him push her to her feet with his hands low on her hips, as well as she let him escort her inside with his big hand low on her back. The same big hand that he'd slowly inched up her thigh, all the way until it was halfway under her skirt.

'Inside' soon became 'somewhere more quiet', and even though Emma had never done this before, she could tell that Sam had his way of going about this. She let him pull her upstairs to a quiet hallway, where he pressed a sloppy kiss to her lips. Emma was about to go back for more when a familiar voice called her name, somehow making her forget what the hell she was doing.

"Mat!" Emma heard her drunken voice exclaim excitedly, pulling away from Sam's grip to greet Mat, who was approaching them in the otherwise lightly populated hallway. Mat surprised her with pulling her into a hug, his arms wrapping around her middle while hers slid around his neck. She could recall hugging him once before, on his birthday back in May, but not like this. He even lifted her off her feet. Truthfully, she had no idea what was going on.

"How are you?" he asked, focusing all his attention on Emma, not even granting his teammate as much as a nod. Emma fell for it, right away. Falling into conversation with Mat easily, just like they did in math class, where they usually just talked to each other for 45 minutes straight rather than try to solve any of the problems Miss Lee presented them with. How either of them got through the year without failing math, she had no idea. Soon Sam was bored enough to dip into the bathroom instead of just standing there listening to their conversation and Mat saw his chance to finally pull Emma further down the hallway, away from Sam. Only then did Emma catch on to what was going on.

"Hey! You cockblocked me," she accused him, playfully shoving at his shoulder. Mat laughed lightly, but quickly found a more serious tone.

"What were you doing with Brownie, anyway? He's not a good guy, Em," Mat asked, settling his hands on her lower arms, holding her in front of him.

"I know that, Mat. I just- I just wanna get it over with," she admitted, feeling a certain color inch its way onto her cheeks.

"Get what over with?" he asked. He truthfully didn't know what she was talking about. Though, as he watched her cheeks turn completely pink in a matter of seconds, he had to smile. It was kind of adorable.

Emma couldn't believe she was about to tell Mat Barzal that she was just trying to lose her goddamn virginity, but that was what she was doing. She took a step closer and leaned onto her tippy toes to whisper it to him, but the music was coming from down stairs was too loud and the line to the bathroom was getting longer and chattier.

"What?" he asked, and Emma tried again, leaning in closer and resting her hand on his shoulder. To no success, though. After the third try of telling it to him without yelling it so loud the entire upstairs hallway heard it, she gave up.

"Oh my god, come here," she laughed, shaking her head as she took his hand and pulled him through the first unlocked door she found.

"What?" Mat repeated once he'd closed the door behind them. By the time he'd turned back around to face her, Emma had covered half her face with her hands in embarrassment.

"My virginity," she told him, surprisingly loud and clear.

"Oh," Mat blurted then, realisation dawning upon him. He even found himself blushing a little bit too.

"Yeah," Emma confirmed, "so thanks for that, now I’m not getting rid of it tonight," she threw out her hands in emphasis before she took a few steps back to the bed and fell back on it. It looked neatly done still, so chances were low that anyone had managed to christen it just yet.

"Well, I'm not really sorry. He's like the worst guy ever when it comes to that," Mat told her, sitting down on the mattress, right next to where she'd spread herself out. Her skirt had ridden up when she'd thrown herself back onto the bed, and Mat didn't know if he should ignore it or help her by pulling it back down for her. He'd always been easily entranced by the skirts Emma wore. Before he could decide, she was sitting up - her skirt returning to its proper length when she pulled herself up.

"I know, I just wanted to get it over with, like, no strings attached. No hurt feelings. It doesn’t have to mean anything,” she repeated the same words she’d told her friends earlier that night. Why the hell she was sitting on a bed in some rich boy’s mansion, telling this to Mat Barzal - the boy she’d secretly had a crush on since the third math class of last semester - she had no idea.

“I get it, Em. But I can’t tell you how many girls I’ve heard too many intimate details about in the locker room from him. It’s never ending and half of it is straight up fantasy. We’re talking everything from the size of their tits to some bullshit story he’s pulled from some fucked up porno he’s seen. And I just don’t want that to be you he’s talking about next,” Mat told her, calmly. He watched as her expression softened.

“Thanks, Mat,” Emma sighed, falling back on the mattress again. He was right, Sam wasn’t the right guy - even if she wasn’t looking for something meaningful and special. Not to mention how incredibly sweet that was of him, to go out of his way to stop her from making that mistake.

“Anytime, Em,” he sighed, laying back as well.

“Anytime, huh?” Emma tries to lighten the mood, looking over at Mat and finding him already looking at her.

“Yeah, wanna go take another spin around the villa? See if we find some potential matches? The night’s still young,” He shoots back, but his smile isn't as bright and goofy as it usually is.

“Hah, I’m sobering up now,” Emma groans, crawling her way up the bed to sit against the headboard.

“Maybe that’s a good thing?” Mat looks at her with a grin, soon following her to lean back against the headboard too.

“No, I can’t flirt for shit when I’m sober,” she chuckles.

“That’s not true, you flirt with me all time,” he teases, making Emma throw her head back laughing. The cackle pouring out of Mat’s mouth as he laughs along with her, has her smile spreading even wider.

"That's not true," Emma laughs, swearing that she was just being her normal self whenever she was talking to Mat. They just had a fun relationship, that's all. She would even go so far as to call it a coping mechanism for getting through math. And then there was the fact that she had that deep buried, never seen the light of day, crush on him.

"Well, that's what everyone says, anyways," Mat states, looking over at her, "not that they just say that about you, though. It's mostly me, really," he adds, laughing.

“Okay, okay, fair,” she grins, looking back at him. She has to pull her gaze away quickly, not able to keep her eyes on him long without blushing or staring at his lips. It was easier in school, then Emma was able to keep her somewhat hard exterior, but the vulnerability of the situation and the alcohol coursing through her system made all that was Mat Barzal a little bit harder to deal with. They both fell silent.

"I’m comfortable with you though. Makes it easier," Emma eventually breaks the quiet. This time she's keeping her gaze straight forward, not turning her head to the side to look at him. She could feel him looking at her though.

"Yeah?" Mat breathes, his voice low and laced with something hopeful.

"Yeah," Emma confirms.

"You’re like... safe," she adds, daring to look up at him for a second.

"Safe?" he asks, not really understanding what she meant by that.

"Are you trying to tell you're not? I'll be out of this room real quick," Emma turns the situation around then, making Mat laugh and shake his head no.

"You're safe with me, Em," he confirms, the smile still on his lips as he looks over at her, reaching over to give her two reassuring pats on her knee. Emma felt his touch on her skin long after it was gone.

"Exactly," Emma nodded, like that was just what she meant. She was safe with him.

"Why did you look at me like you barely knew me earlier?" she asks then, after a minute or two in silence. It felt safe to ask, and she honestly really wanted to know. Mat wasn't usually like that. She'd never really spoken to him at a party before, though, that was worth mentioning, but their paths hadn't really crossed either. But in school, Mat would always say hi, even go out of his way to come find her just to ask her some obvious question about their French homework.

"What, when?" Mat asks, but Emma could tell he knew what moment she was talking about.

"Earlier, outside on the couch," she clarified.

"I don’t know, I just - whenever I see you outside of school I just forget that we’re actually friends, like I think that I need to ask you something about French homework to be able to talk to you. But in reality, I could talk to you about anything," he explains, and this time it's him that's not looking at her.

"Okay?" Emma says, not sure what to gather from that.

"Like, I don't forget that we're friends, I just... I forget than I can talk to you about things that aren't school related, you know. And then whenever I see you at a party or something, I just overthink it," he went on. Emma just nodded, taking it all in.

"And I guess I was kind of jealous," he adds, kind of under his breath, but kind of not. He turns to look at her.

"Why?" Emma asks, looking back at him. Their eyes meet and Emma gets a little lost in the dark green.

"You were sitting on Brownies lap," he clarifies with a chuckle, like he's a little bit embarrassed to admit it.

"Oh?" Emma perked up, interested to hear more about this.

"I swear, that's not why I cockblocked you," he defended himself, a flustered smile spreading on his lips along with a redness on his cheeks.

"I don't know," Emma teased, the booze helping her compartmentalise the part where he apparently wanted her in his own lap. She couldn't focus on that part.

"I promise you, my intentions were completely pure with stealing you away from Brownie. I wasn't just saving you for myself. I meant everything I said about him," Mat defended himself, his expression softening when Emma's smile turned soft instead of amused.

"I know, Mat. I believe you," she said then, and Mat sunk down in his seat - only halfway sitting up against the headboard now.

"I'd just much rather you sit on my lap instead," he stated, putting the fact into the room. The fact that had been implied earlier, that Emma had just shoved away into the back of mind in order to not freak out.

"Oh," Emma smiled, trying her hardest to keep that smile at a normal width - to not let it get uncontrollably wide and take over her entire face. Her cheeks felt warm, too. Somehow Mat managed keep the color of his normal.

"Yeah," he breathed, keeping his eyes on her.

Emma couldn't keep looking at his face, though. That was too much. Her eyes traveled down his torso, over his white t-shirt and to his arm that laid across his stomach. His hands was really nice, she thought - long fingers and few prominent veins stretching from his forearm to the back of his hand. It wasn't the first time she'd noticed.

She felt his eyes follow her every move closely, she didn't dare look up to meet his eyes, but somehow worked up the courage to reach for his hand. He lifted it to meet hers, fingers spreading apart to let her right hand intertwine with his left. His thumb immediately starting to rub up and down the side of hers, slowly.

"You have nice hands," Emma complimented, her voice soft and barely audible. She dared meet his eyes and watched as the sides of his lips lifted into a smile.

"Thanks," he smiled, "yours are really soft."

"Thanks," Emma said softly, finding some deep buried bravery somewhere as she turned to her side, slowly swinging her leg across his thighs until she was straddling his lap. His eyes followed her every move closely, from the first turn of her hips until she settled on his upper thighs. Their hands slide apart slowly, Emma's settling on his chest while Mat's slowly slide up the side of her thighs, settling on her hips.

"Is this okay?" she asks, her voice soft and sweet. Vulnerable. Mat decides that he'll do everything in his power to make sure she's never uncomfortable.

"Yeah, I told you I wanted you in my lap, didn't I?" he smiled cheekily, but spoke softly. Emma laughed nervously. He'd started rubbing little circles on her hips with his thumbs, making her feel more secure immediately.

"You told me you'd rather have me in your lap than anyone else's. There's a difference," she flirted back, letting her hands slide down to his abs.

"I think you know what I meant," he said, his voice low and charming. His hands dropped to her thighs for a bit, before they slowly made their way back up her hips. Her skirt was barely hiding anything when she sat like that, but she didn't care. Emma bit her lip and took a deep breath. He was making her feel certain ways.

"Will you do it?" she asked bashfully, her bottom lip disappearing between her teeth again immediately as she finished speaking.

"Do what?" Mat asked, though he was positive she was talking about her virginity again. Emma rolled her eyes playfully.

"You know what," she told him, playfully pushing at his chest. His hands traveled from her hips to her waist, and then slowly back down again. Every touch made Emma feel unbearably warm.

"You’re asking me like it’s a chore, some bothersome task," he stated, his smile sweet but a little cheeky. He was an eighteen year old boy offered with sex, after all.

"Well, I don’t know how you ask for it, not like I’ve done it before," Emma chuckled, feeling more comfortable in her position by the second.

"I won't do it just to help you get rid of it, okay? Only if you really want to," he said then, and Emma wondered where the hell all this maturity came from. She appreciated the way he spoke about it, but the way she was feeling just from sitting across his lap with his hands wandering up and down her sides, told her that it was nothing she wanted more. He was the one she'd wanted in the first place.

"I really want to," she whispered, softly but filled with so much lust for him. It was almost like she could see his eyes darken as he took the words she said.

"Fuck, just... come here,” he groaned, moving one of his hands up her back and to her neck as he sat up, immediately pressing his lips to hers. Emma's arms wrapped around his neck as he kissed her, openmouthedly and hot.

His arm wrapped around her middle, while his other hand gripped the underside of her thigh, pulling her up in his lap and impossibly close. Their chests pressed together, just as their tongues met in, if not the best, but certainly the hottest kiss Emma had ever experienced. Mat's hand traveled from where he was gripping her thigh and further up, this time sliding in under the tight skirt that was bunching up around her hips. She felt his fingers gripping her ass, her body responding immediately by arching into him, moaning against his lips. The motion letting her feel what she was doing to him as well.

Their lips parted, red and swollen, eyes meeting for a second before Mat was attaching his lips to her neck, leaving wet kisses down towards her collarbones. One of his hands trailed up her side, covering her boob in his hand, applying pressure to the sound of breathy moans.

Emma clawed at his t-shirt, begging to feel him naked against her. Instead of letting her pull the garment off herself, Mat pulls away and reaches for the material at the back of his neck, pulling it over his head in the way that guys do. The way that every girl finds hot, Emma no different. She's quick to reach for him as soon as he's gotten rid of the shirt, her hands sliding from his chest to the back of his neck as their lips meet again. Mat's arm slides up her back while his other hand grips her thigh as he swiftly turns them around and rolls on top of her. The way he presses his bulge against her, earning him a moan. A gasp leaving her soon after as he just as quickly pulls away from her.

"Need to lock the door," he smiles, almost innocently, as if he wasn't just pressing his erection to her barely clothed heat. Emma's head falls back on the mattress as Mat locks the door, making sure no one would walk in on them.

"Hey," he smiles when he comes back, climbing into the bed and positioning himself on his knees between her legs.

"Hey," Emma replies, smiling back at him. His hands fall to her bare thighs, slowly traveling up to the hem of her skirt that bunched around hips, surely showing him the lacy thong she had on.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asks, lifting one of thighs to rest at an angle. He's rubbing circles on the inside of her knee. All she wanted was for him to touch her where she wanted him most.

"I want you so badly, Mat," Emma told him, surprising both herself and him with the boldness of her words. Before he could say anything she reached for his arm and pulled him in closer. She leant up on her elbows, stretching her neck to meet him in a soft, but lustful kiss. She keeps her lips where they're almost touching his as her hand falls to his hands, slowly moving it to where she needed it.

"Can you feel how much I want you?" she spoke against his lips, pulling back slightly just to be able to look at him as his fingers found their way inside her thong.

"Fuck, Emma," he groaned then, falling forward just an inch or two, just to press his lips to hers again. He could feel her moans vibrating against him as let his finger run through her wet slit.

"What do you want, Em?" he asked, kissing her again before letting her answer - deep and toe-curling.

"Undress me," she demanded, and Mat was on it immediately. Hooking his fingers into the elastic waistband of her skirt, pulling it down while Emma helped by pulling her legs up. As soon as the skirt hit the floor, Mat was onto her top - Emma raising her arms above her head to let him pull it off, leaving her in the only matching set she owned, thoughtfully saved for Saturday night.

"You're so beautiful," Mat sighs, barely getting the words out before Emma is telling him to shut up and planting her lips on his in an openmouthed kiss, pushing him over to straddle him again. He curses against her lips as her hands immediately reach for his belt, opening it and undoing the button and zipper next - her hand disappearing into his jeans to cover his bulge.

Kissing down his neck and to his chest, Emma soon brings her hands back to the waistband of his jeans, pushing them down as she goes. She doesn't stop until her knees hit the edge of the bed, her lips just an inch or two above his bellybutton. Stepping off the side of the bed, she completely rids him of his pants. Her eyes fall to the bulge in his boxers before she's pulled back on top of him.

"You're fucking unreal," Mat beams up at her, smiling as he pulls her into another deep kiss. He's sitting up, Emma on her knees over him. Her hands are placed firmly on his shoulder and jaw, Mat's hands roaming all over her - traveling from her hips to her ass, up her back until he reaches the clasp of her bra.

"Can I?" he asks, pulling away from the kiss.

"Please," Emma just begs, leaning back in for more as his fingers work on opening the clasp, soon getting it and helping her pull the straps down her arms. They pull apart again, Emma throwing the black push up bra away as Mat is entirely too busy taking in the sight before him.

Rather than touching her chest, Mat brings his hands to her thighs, pulling them up until she's able to wrap her legs around him. His arm snaking around the small of her back allows her to lean back as he finally starts leaving sloppy kisses from her collarbones to her boobs, soon fitting his lips around one of her nipples - sucking it into his mouth to the sound of her breathy moans.

"Come on, Mat, I need you to touch me," she begs, halfheartedly grabbing at his hand to hopefully steer it on the right path. Instead of sticking his hand in between their bodies, Mat runs his hand over her ass and all the way back until he can stick his middle finger in between the soaked material of her thong and her slit, easily slipping the finger inside her.

"Oh, fuck, please," she begs him again, trying to push herself closer to him and the hard bulge sitting between his legs.

"Patience, baby," he mumbles against her skin, though she can picture the smile on his face as he says it. He earns another moan from her when he pulls his finger out of her and then pushes it right back in again along with his ring finger. The hand that she's currently got in his hair, tightens.

"I really need you to fuck me now, Mat," she goes on, soft and sweet and every thinkable contrast to what she's saying. He groans against her neck, pulling his fingers out from her and swinging her around to place her on her back in the middle of the bed.

Mat didn't really know what to do with himself, his fingers moved to the sides of her thong to pull it down her legs - he knew what to do, but damn if he knew how to handle someone like her. This wasn't his first rodeo at all, there had been two girls before her - one older that he'd lost his virginity to, and one who he'd had some kind of arrangement with, who he'd gone home with a couple of times after parties. But none of those experiences had been like this. No one had begged him to touch them before, nor fuck them. No one had been so sure of what they wanted, like Emma. He felt lucky to be her first, and he was terrified to, in any way, shape or form, fuck this up.

"Take off your boxers," Emma dictated, her eyes falling to his dick as soon as it sprung free from its constraints.

"Fuck," she muttered to herself, reaching out to wrap her hand around him once he was back in his position between her legs again.

"What?" Mat asked, barely getting the word out as she surprised him with a long stroke and her lips attaching to his neck. She pulled back to look at him with a smile on her face.

"Always thought dicks were kinda funny looking, but yours is kinda pretty," she grinned, loving the disbelieving smile that spread on his lips.

"Pretty?" he repeated her compliment in a question.

"Yeah, pretty," she confirmed, cheekily. She gave him a couple more thugs before Mat reluctantly placed his hand on top of hers. He didn't want her to stop, not at all, but he knew that it was necessary.

"Never heard that one before," he chuckled, slowly taking her hand away from where he wanted it, moving it to his side as he lowered himself down to lay on top of her. Though both still smiling, Mat pressed his lips to hers, immediately opening his mouth to let their tongues meet in a searing kiss. Emma moaned into it as he finally pushed himself against her bare heat, his hand disappearing between their bodies to place a thumb on her clit, moving it in circles while they slowly made out.

"Need you inside me," she pleaded in between kisses. Her nails running down the back of his head to his neck.

"Nothing I want more," Mat mumbled against her mouth, pulling away.

"I have a condom in my bag," Emma told him, pointing to the the little black bag that was on the floor, next to her shoes.

"Do you now?" he grins, putting one foot on the floor to support himself as he reached for her black, leather bag.

"Well, I came here with a fucking agenda, didn't I?" she chuckled, almost feeling embarrassed about the things she'd told him tonight. But now was not the time to be embarrassed, not when it was all working out and turning out to be so much better than she'd anticipated.

"It's in the little pocket, with the zipper," she clarified to Mat, who was now rummaging through her purse for the promised condom.

"Got it," he smiled, holding it up like he'd won a trophy, making Emma giggle.

"Your agenda worked," he added then, bringing them back to the original topic. He handed her the condom before climbing back into position, sitting down on his knees between her widespread legs. He let one of his fingers slide down her slit.

"Not really how I imagined it to work out, though," she said, leaning up on her elbows to watch what he was doing.

"No?" he smiled, cheekily.

"The way I see it, it worked out a lot better than imagined," she said, a moan interrupting her mid-sentence, as Mat pushed two fingers into her hole. Mat's smile widened and Emma didn't really know if it was from hearing what she said or if it was because he made her moan like that. Either way, she found it intriguing and weirdly cute how he was smiling like that as his eyes moved between her face and his fingers that were moving in and out of her.

"Yeah?" he breathed, giving himself a few short strokes before that hand came back to rest on her hip.

"Yeah, and that's one hell of compliment, considering you haven't even fucked me yet," Emma told him, playful tone gone and lust clouding her eyes. Mat looked up at her, biting down on his lip.

"Fuck, Em," he groaned before he pulled his fingers out of her, making a particularly loud moan fall from her lips. She took the condom to her teeth, biting down on its edge to rip the foil open.

"Here," she breathed as she took the condom out of its packaging and clamped the top between her thumb and her index finger. Mat came closer, cursing to himself again when she took him into his hand, holding his erection in place as she positioned the condom on his tip and rolled it down his length.

"You ready?" he asked, lowering himself down between her legs - one hand coming down to wrap around his length in order to position himself at her entrance. He knew the answer she'd give, but he asked anyway.

"Yeah, please," she begged, moving her gaze from in between their naked bodies to his face, right above her. She gasped as he pressed the head to the top of her slit, letting it slide down through her arousal before pushing into her. He wanted nothing more than to get lost in her, but he needed to make sure she was alright first. He watched her as her eyes closed and her mouth fell open.

"Fuck, that feels good," she sighed, opening her eyes to see Mat smiling above her.

"Yeah? You're good?" he asked, just to confirm. A wide smile spread on her lips.

"I'm so good," she grinned, placing her hands on the back of his neck and pressing her lips to his as he finally started pushing in and out of her. Mat's lips fell apart and Emma immediately licked into his mouth. With every thrust of Mat's hips, another moan vibrated against his lips.

"You feel so good, Em," he sighed, pulling away from her lips only to bury his head between her neck and shoulder. She moaned in response while she ran her nails down his back.

"Can you go faster?" she asked him, and again she surprised Mat with how vocal she was about her needs.

"Yeah," he breathed against her neck, adjusting his position to sit on his knees with his hands planted in the mattress on both sides of her head. He rolled into her at a faster pace, watching her carefully as her eyes closed in pleasure, her mouth falling open as moans erupted from her throat with every thrust he delivered. Her fingers clawed at his chest, desperately begging for something to hold on to.

"Oh, fuck," she exclaimed when Mat grabbed onto on of her thighs and pressed it against her torso, hitting even deeper inside her. His self control was running out, though, and after a minute more or two he was getting desperate.

"Wanna try something else?" he suggested, quickly pulling out as soon as she gave her approval, giving himself as much of a break as possible without completely stopping up. Placing his hands on her hips, he flipped her around quickly - a cocky smile spreading on his lips when she gasped in surprise.

"Fuck, Mat - even that was hot," she whined, making that smile of his grow even wider as he found his position behind her.

"Yeah?" he grinned, letting his fingers slip between her legs for a little bit, rubbing at her clit for a little bit before slipping through her wet folds.

"Yeah," she confirmed, a groan erupting from her throat as he stuck two fingers into her, fingering her for a little bit while he placed kisses down her spine.

"Please, Mat," she begged him, and she if she was begging for an orgasm or for him to press back into her, he didn't know, but he did feel like he'd bought himself some time before he needed to let go.

"Yeah, baby," he hummed, grabbing her hips and pulling them up to the perfect height. He lined himself up again and pushed into her, immediately finding a good rhythm. It was apparent in her moans that he was doing something right, hitting somewhere good.

Emma found herself getting closer and closer to the feeling that she'd only gotten to experience on her own before. Something was building up in her lower stomach, begging to break free. She snaked her hand between her torso and the mattress, pressing her finger to her clit.

"You close?" Mat asked, hoping he didn't sound as desperate as he felt. He saw the hand reaching towards her centre and hoped it meant she was just trying to reach the edge.

"Yeah, so close," she whined, desperately rubbing circles on her clit as he rammed into her from behind, making her feel better than she ever had before. His fingers were surely gonna leave marks on her hips from the way he was gripping her, but neither of them minded. Moving a hand to her shoulder, Mat made sure to go as fast as he possibly could, truly tiering himself out in the quest of getting her to reach her orgasm before he did. It didn't take long before Emma's moans became frenzied, then soft and breathy.

"Did you?" Mat asked, still going at it.

"Yeah," she breathed, letting go of the pillow she'd fisted into her hand.

"Fuck," Mat cursed to himself, finally letting go and emptying his load into the condom, almost collapsing on top of her as he did. He managed to tip them both to the side, though, making sure they ended up in a sort of spooning position instead of him falling on top of her - his length still buried inside her.

"Yeah," Emma sighed, still catching her breath from the intense activity.

Mat pressed a kiss to her shoulder before he pulled out and made his way into the ensuite of the totally random bedroom they'd ended up in well over an hour ago. He covered the condom in some toilet paper and threw it in the trash before quickly washing off, both his hands and his dick. The feeling washed over him just as he was stepping back out into the bedroom again, that maybe she'd feel awkward now, or regretful, scattering around to get her clothes back on. But Emma smiled bashfully to him, still very much naked, when he came back out.

Mat pulled on his boxers before he climbed back over her and laid down next to her, almost like he did when they'd first started the conversation. Again, he thought he was incredibly lucky to be in this position, able to just look at her as she laid there on her back, completely naked and still flustered from the orgasm she'd just had. He'd had a crush on her ever since that day in late August, when she sat down next to him in class, beautiful and charming.

"Thank you, I guess," she chuckles, turning from her back to her side, to face him. Mat rolled his eyes, though smiling.

"Don't thank me, Em. Like I said, it wasn't a favour. We did it because we wanted to," he told her, staying on his back but turning his head to rest in her direction.

"I know, I know. But still, you're so respectful and nice... and safe," she trailed off, smile still on her face. She reached for his hand, only to start making little trails across the palm of his hand.

"Well, that's just how it should be," Mat explained, thinking it wasn't fair to paint him as some sort of saint. Even if he knew that it wasn't a matter of course for everyone. Well, for most guys his age. Still, he didn't feel like he'd been the hero tonight - he'd gone in to stop her from hooking up with Brownie, and then he'd ended up doing it himself. He didn't like the way that it sounded. Not that he regretted it, though.

"But it isn't," she said, "and maybe it should be expected that everyone treats girls like you do, but that's just not the way it is," she added, and Mat agreed. He decided to let it go though, just take the win that she was so willingly giving to him.

"Do you feel any different? Now that you're not a virgin anymore?" he teases, turning the conversation in a slightly different direction, making Emma laugh.

"Except for the fact that I feel fucked and satisfied, then no," she grins, making Mat smile proudly.

“I have to say it, though, I really didn’t have any ulterior motives when I pulled you away from Brownie. I didn't mean for this to happen,” he repeats what he said earlier, after a few seconds of silence. It was on his mind and kind of bothering him.

"Hey, even if you had, I'm glad," Emma smiled, wrapping her hand around his wrist and pulling him towards her.

"I didn't, but I'm glad, too," Mat agreed, the smile on his lips matching hers. He willingly followed the pull of her hand, rolling to his side. She didn't let go of his wrist before she'd successfully placed it on her waist, her fingers then trailing up his arm and coming to a stop on his bicep.

Mat's gaze wandered down her body as he took in every curve and every dip. He observed how her chest rose and fell with every breath, how thin, pale stripes stretched over her hips, all while feeling the softness of her skin under his fingers. There was a slight hitch in her breath when his thumb ran over her erected nipple.

"You're so beautiful," he hummed, looking up to meet her stare. Her smile turning up on one side, before her bottom lip disappeared between her teeth.

"Thanks," Emma breathed, finding herself leaning closer to him without even thinking about it. It was something about the way he was looking at her; he was flat out staring at her body, but the look in his eyes felt everything but predatory. She felt admired and wanted, and suddenly she was reminded of why she hadn't wanted special and meaningful - this one was gonna hurt.

Mat saw how she'd leant into him, and sensed her apprehension to press even closer in the hitch of her breath. He thought that maybe he was making it up or completely misinterpreting it, but either way he moved in closer and pressed a kiss to her shoulder.

Emma's hand fell to the back of his neck immediately. Her breath hitched again when he made a trail of kisses up her neck and his hand dropped from her hip to her ass, grabbing it lightly. He continued leaving kisses up her neck, only stopping when he reached her cheek. Their eyes met for a second, just long enough to share a smile before he pressed his lips to hers again.

Even if Mat was grabbing her ass and Emma was raking her fingers through his hair, their kisses didn't get too heated. Mat pressed himself closer to her, and Emma moved her leg to rest over his. Neither of them were trying to initiate another round of sex, but both enjoyed the way their tongues slid against each other and how their naked bodies felt pressed together, just exploring.

"Oh, Mat," Emma sighed as she slowly tore away from the kiss, his fingers playing with her nipple and his thigh firmly pressed between hers. She rolled to her back, giddy smile on her lips.

"Emma," Mat smiled, letting his hand fall to a rest on her middle. She bit her lip again, eyes falling from his face to his chest, to the tent in his boxers. Mat followed her gaze as well, grinning when their eyes met again.

"Can you blame me?" he asked, making Emma laugh.

"Nah, I would've had a boner right about now, too, if I had a dick," Emma grinned.

"Oh, yeah?" Mat asked, touching her knee.

"Yeah," she breathed, letting her knees fall apart. She looked at him with an invitation, biting her lip when his fingers ran up the inside of thigh - a gasp sounding from her throat when his fingers finally hit her wet slit. Mat cursed to himself when he felt what he'd done to her, soon hearing breathy moans coming from her lips as he played with her. She moaned louder when two fingers finally slipped inside her.

Mat managed to make her come again, only using his fingers this time. Emma felt like she was on cloud nine when they eventually redressed. She was beaming when they made their way over to the locked door, hair finger brushed and mascara carefully wiped from under her eyes. Her phone was buzzing in her purse as Laura had been calling her once at least every three minutes for the last fifteen.

"Hey, you know," Mat started, stopping her by grabbing both her hands. He moved his hands to her hips and pulled her into him, leaning down to be able to press a deep kiss to her lips. He took a step or two forward, until Emma's back hit the wall.

"we've still got all summer," he went on, kissing her once more - this time with tongue. Emma rested her head back against the wall as she looked up at him, biting down on her lip as she took in what he just said. Mat thought maybe he'd gotten ahead of himself when she finally answered by wrapping her arms around his neck and stepping up on her toes, mumbling yeah against his lips as she kissed him even deeper.

This one was going to hurt, probably more than she thought it would - just not yet.