#Sleepover Saturday

[solar-sunnyside-up]

You can try and tell me people are inherently bad but I will never believe it, not for a second. Not when the only reason any of us are here is because we've shared resources, information, stories and small joys, and terrible heartbreaks, and hope.

Because all of this- from the first loaf of bread to the phones and internet we are collectively reading this on is only standing because we stood together.

[snoopyracing]

8 & 16 from the fluff list with lando please? 🥹

hi! here you go 😊

lando + having a tender moment in the early morning + "how are you so comfy?"

it was too early to be up and the fact that you knew you had to be up early had you waking up every little bit to make sure you didn't oversleep. and when your alarm finally went off it felt like you had just gone to bed.

it was lando's fault that you guys had to be up at 3:30 in the morning. when he told you the other day that your flight to belgium was at 6 a.m. you wanted to strangle him. and the groan coming from him at the sound of the alarm put a told you so look on your face.

"oh my god why did we book this early of a flight?"

"we? you did that all on your own norris." you stated as you started to get out of bed, but your actions were halted by his hand gripping your arm, pulling you back into the bed.

"no stay and cuddle for a little bit please."

you knew you shouldn't. you had a flight to catch and if you allowed yourself to succumb to his pleas you knew you guys would be missing that flight. but even in the darkness of your shared bedroom you couldn't resist the desire to be held by the man you love. "5 minutes lando. that's all we have to spare." you stated, full knowing you'll both fall back asleep.

"well it will be the best five minutes of my life then."

your head rested on his chest as his arms wrapped around you and if there was one place you felt the most secure and loved- it was in lando's arms.

it had definitely been past five minutes, but neither of you budged on being the first to get up. in fact you thought lando had fallen back asleep until he spoke.

"i love you. i hope you know that. with every fiber of my being i love you."

it was still dark in the room, but you lifted your head to look at him. your cheeks hot over his words even after being together for some time.

"i know you do. you tell me all the time lan, but for what it's worth i'd say i love you more."

a small laugh came from him as one of his hands cupped your face. "baby, we are not having this competition again because i will win everytime."

"you just think you do."

he was thankful that it was dark in the room as he playfully rolled his eyes at you before leaning in to kiss you. the action catching you off guard but you quickly kissed him back. his kisses were addictive and once you had one you needed at least five more to suffice.

but before it turned into something else you pulled away, reclaiming your spot in his arms. and as you laid your head back down on his chest you couldn't help but ask "how are you so comfy?"

"i'm just filled with so much love." he stated. and you could sense the smirk on his face as he said it.

"oh my god quit."

come chat it's sleepover saturday!!

[kiwiana-writes]

hi MJ!! for the sleepover weekend asks, i'd love some fluffy and a few hurt/comfort firstprince fic recs! and and for fmk: bea, june and nora from rwrb! okay thats it byebye ~saturday xoxo

Forgive me: I sat on this one for so long it's now officially NEXT weekend, at least in my part of the planet, so I guess answering this is also me kicking off this weekend's slumber party 😅

I'm doing FMK first, even though I need you to know this is CRUEL. Fuck Nora, marry Bea, kill June, but I am absolutely relying on Nora's smarts/Pez's cash to get her out of this situation.

Anyway:

FLUFFY FIRSTPRINCE FIC RECS

take me back to San Francisco by @getmehighonmagic: this has a sequel languishing in my emails for that magical future day when I'm capable of reading again but I have no doubt it'll be just as incredible as part one, which is FUCKING DIVINE. Also I just... really wanna go to San Francisco.

You love me! You love me? by anarchyat4am: How often I shoehorn a rec for this fic wherever it might be even remotely applicable is sort of a running joke by this point but I stand by it actually. This is a massive comfort fic for my trans ass.

Confidential Memorandum by @sherryvalli: this fic is so stinkin' cute I feel like I need to book a dental appointment every time I read it.

Dick, Dick, Dick (You Down) by @everwitch-magiks: do I feel a deep abiding kinship with Henry's anxiety being read as rudeness in this fic? Maybe, shut up.

Getting Clinical by @cha-melodius: Yes I'm biased because this was a gift for me, no I don't care, IT'S A FUCKING DELIGHT.

In His Wildest Dreams by @myheartalivewrites: This fic is a fucking fluffy blanket of joy.

If at first you don't succeed by @clottedcreamfudge: I am lowkey obsessed with CCF second first impressions and Alex being blissfully unaware until he's not.

HURT/COMFORT FIRSTPRINCE FIC RECS

a shard or two by @aeithalian: you don't read WIPs? I don't care. Read this one. I beg of you. Hands down the most criminally underrated fic in this entire fandom in my opinion. It is so, SO good. I reread it all the time in between chapters, I am hoping DESPERATELY the author will let me ficbind it when it's done, and I will scream about it from the fucking ROOFTOPS to convince y'all to read it. No cliffhangers, no relationship drama, just the meatiest post-canon deliciousness.

(but i knew you) baby, kiss it better by saintsnames: age gap my beloved, sex bloopers my beloved, two idiots in love MY BELOVED.

i ask you how you’re doing (and i let you lie) and even though we know it isn't true by @matherines: double-reccing even though these can be read separately because HAHA OUCH MY HEART. Both of these fics just fucking flayed me alive????

you were more than just a short time by @hypnostheory: DAVID 😭😭😭😭😭😭 mind the living fuck out of the tags but FUCK this is good. Heartbreaking, but good.

Downburst by @cricketnationrise had me clutching my face from start to finish I swear to god.

So I Will Weather the Storm by @sparklepocalypse: while reading this, picture me just screaming ALEX YOU FUCKING DUMBASS at my computer the entire time and it'll be like you were right here with me the first time I read it!

The Domestication of Household Spiders by @cultofsappho: if Spider-Man Alex has no fans I am dead etc etc. This is so fucking SOFT from start to finish.

[Sleepover weekend!]

[petals2fish]

What's your favorite drawing of James Potter?

HAVE YOU MET MY LORD AND SAVIOR JAMES POTTER SHIRTLESS: SERIES

Ask me anything or send me a fic to review

[sorchathered]

shut up and kiss me already.

with BRADLEY BRADSHAW, please.

I AM DOING THIS BEGRUDGINGLY BECAUSE I LOVE YOU. 😂😂😂

He was infuriating. Bradley Bradshaw was the most infuriating, irritating man you’d ever met.

And you were absolutely in love with him.

The biggest problem? He wasn’t yours anymore.

He’d strutted into the Hard Deck with his stupid Hawaiian shirt and his aviators perched on his nose, and all the girls in the bar swooned. You didn’t have any real reason to be jealous; he wasn’t yours and honestly he probably never would be. But that didn’t stop you from being a complete grump the whole night, scowl etched on your pretty face as some tag chaser chatted him up at the bar.

“Why don’t you just go talk to him?” You heard a quiet voice say as you peered up from your second- no third glass of wine. Sweet Bob Floyd couldn’t stand to see his friends hurt, and he knew Rooster missed you just as much as you did him, the two of you just needed a push.

“I can’t. What would I even say? I ruined everything Bradley, I was scared of how serious we were and tanked it. Please take me back?” You scoffed, but patted your friend’s hand as a thank you for his kindness.

You paid out your tab and headed out, if you had to watch him take home another girl it might just kill you.

Just as you crossed the threshold you felt a hand on your arm, a gentle tug turning you right into the arms of the love of your life.

“Bradley- not tonight, I can’t do this-“

“Did you mean it? What you said to Bob?”

Shit. He’d heard you, and now you were going to have to pack up everything you owned and run for the hills.

“Yes but I-“

“No y/n, no buts. Stop overthinking it, shut up and kiss me already. I want you and you want me, there’s nothing else that matters baby.”

You melted into his touch as he pulled you close, tipping your chin up to kiss him as you fisted the front of his ridiculous shirt. When he’d made sure your knees were jelly and you had that glossy look to your eyes he pulled back, cocky smirk on his face because he knew if he could just get you to kiss him again you’d be hooked.

“Come on sweetheart, you know there’s no point in fighting it, you’re my girl and I’m not letting you go again. Now be a good girl for me and get your pretty ass in the Bronco, we’ve got some lost time to make up for.”

[c2-eh]

Hey love ❤️

Would you like to share your top 5 Charlos moments from 2023?

uuuu hi baby <33 yesss of course and with pleasure!!

1. the bracelet video. carlos calling charles darling. kiss kiss. you just had to be there. i love how playful and cute they are and so comfortable with each other 🥺❤

2. CAR REVEAL!! everything about that honestly. from tiktoks to photos to them talking on the radio. HELLOOOOO babe MATE!!!!!!

3. goggle games. the whole video tbf, they are so extremely cute in that and laughing the whole time, touchy feely, the hand holding.... i love them sm

4. c2 music challenge but especially this little moment... i mean. look at them :'))) i miss them doing challenges bc it looks like they have soooo much fun.

5. charles driving carlos at drivers parade in miami. idk this was so very important to me

i honestly love every single interaction but i can't fit it into this and my limit of 5 is reached!

[magpie-to-the-morning]

Anyone down for a sleepover? My askbox is open for:

Spicy thots/headcanons

Questions about my fic/takes on characters

What you’re reading right now (fic or otherwise)

What you’ve been meaning to read

Tell me what you order at the movie theater

✨Secrets✨

FMK

Whatever, let’s just chat!

[mollywog]

Sleepover Saturday: -pulls out an assortment of nail polish- what's the best thing that happened for you this week?

Ooo I’m wearing a dark green atm but do you have something sunny yellow or Barbie pink?

My youngest’s birthday was this week! They turned 4 and had the ‘best day eber!!’ At one point we met up with a friend and they announced their birthday by saying ‘I’m older today!’ 😆

How about you?

[7-wonders]

Request pretty please? Morpheus with subtle smut starter, It’s hot when you talk back, you don’t have to be gentle I won’t break

This was also sent in June but it's my blog and I decide when I get motivation y'know?

"You are mad," Morpheus guesses, cutting you off in the midst of your diatribe. You look at him and throw your hands up in frustration.

"I'm not mad!"

Okay, that's sort of a lie. You are a little mad at the fact that Morpheus, when you had gone to find him upon him being late for a date that he himself had planned, had literally shooed you away and told you that he was busy. While you would normally understand, after the man of the hour himself told you that this date was the most important item of the day on his agenda and then treated you like you were the problem, you were feeling a little heated.

"It just upsets me when you dismiss me like I'm one of your subjects. You don't get to just send me away when we had plans, Morpheus. It's cruel, and I deserve some sort of an answer as to why."

"You're right." In the span of a few seconds, Morpheus's demeanor has completely changed. "You do deserve an answer, and you don't deserve to be sent off."

You falter, the fight having gone out of you due to your confusion. "Yeah, exactly. We have to be honest with each other, or else a relationship isn't going to work"

It's such a sudden change in the proud being that you know and love that you take stock of him to try and figure out why he's changed his tune. Taking his head in your hands, you move him back and forth to look at him. His breathing (breathing that he doesn't need, by the way), is rapid, and the stars in his eyes are twinkling violently.

"Are you okay?"

"In the interest of being honest with each other?" You nod, encouraging him. "I find that it is...attractive, when you talk back. To me."

A sly grin spreads on your face, and you bring his lips to yours for a kiss. "It is, huh?"

Any anger is forgotten as you two begin to exchange heated kisses with each other, touching any uncovered skin that you can get your hands on. You again notice just how lightly he's touching you, as if he's worried that he's going to hurt you if he applies any sort of pressure. This has been a recurring theme in your intimacy with him, and you find that you need to know why that is.

"You don't have to be gentle, y'know," you mutter against his lips. "I won't break."

"No, you won't. But I might, if I am to truly give into what I want."

As he says it, you notice the way his hands shake against your waist, like he's trying to desperately to hold himself back lest he ruin everything.

"So do it," you encourage him. "Break. I'll be here to keep you together."

Morpheus nods almost nervously, but you hold true to your promise and refuse to let him break as you create something beautiful.

Together.

Join in on Sleepover Saturday!

[sinners-go-to-drink-the-wine]

a little deeper but what are your thoughts on gvf not being active on social media at the moment?.

then second part, what are your thoughts on fans who are losing interest or getting angry at them for giving us nothing?.

(i personally am missing them dearly so not saying that’s not okay i just wanna know what u think abt the people who are saying the wait is too long and it’s boring)

They do not owe you anything. Im glad wherever people are expressing this, it's not on my timeline. If you feel comfortable openly posting that a person is obligated to give you content of themselves constantly and consistently I don't want to know you.

of course, we can "miss them" parasocially, and joke about it, but if you're actually upset with them or feel like they're somehow doing something wrong for not supplying you content while they're taking a post tour - prenext album break...

they're on vacation, they're seeing people, they're resting, they're living normal human lives for a bit, is that ok with you?

{Sleepover Saturday Asks!}

[winniemaywebber]

Ooh, 15 a lone silver earring for either?

hi friend! thanks so much for this. You've got the whole gang at Thorpe Abbotts in this one 🤭

(from this prompt list and my inbox is open for more!)

under the cut to save space <3

The return of Harry Crosby had been a big one - the gang welcoming him back with open arms from his furlough, with plenty of whiskey in celebration of his news: his beloved Jean was pregnant, his four companions cheering at the news. Once things had quietened down, the night had taken a turn. They'd sat in silence in the Officer's Club, Croz being the first to talk after a long sip of whiskey.

“So, nothing of Rosie?”

“Nothing, pal,” Dougie replied quietly, staring into his glass. “You know we'd have told you the moment–”

“I know,” Croz replies, accidentally cutting his friend off. Dougie shakes his head to show it didn't upset him, reaching down to take Olive’s hand.

“I've been writing to Jo. Weekly, as usual. It's hard, Croz. I barely know what to say.” They all see Val’s eyes fill with tears, a rare occurrence. “I'm trying to keep her spirits up but it's…it's tough.”

“I saw. I know she's grateful for you doing that, trying to help her through. She has Jean by her side and you in writing.”

“All of us,” Ev joins, beginning to raise his glass. “She has all of us, because all of us have each other now. A toast,” he pauses, clearing his throat before speaking again. “To Rosie. May he return to us in one damn piece.”

“To Rosie.”

***

“Ollie,” Dougie sleepily whispers, nuzzling into her to stay warm. “You've gotta go before Red catches you.”

“Mhm,” she responds, eyes still closed. “Quit snuggling so I can even think about getting up.”

“I can't seem to stop,” he laughs. “You're stuck here.”

“Good to know you'd take being chewed out by Red and the Colonel just for extra snuggle time.”

“Oh, yeah. Absolutely.”

“Hey, Ol?” a voice calls from the other side of the hut.

“Yeah, Val?”

“There's a silver earring on Croz’s nightstand.”

“What's wrong with that?” Olive asks, finally sitting up. “You don't think–”

“I do think! He's been back in the country for less than a week, his wife is pregnant and he's…”

“You really think he'd start all that again after being with his wife for a month?”

“He's a man, Olive.”

“Hey!” both their men complain simultaneously, Dougie placing a hand on his chest in mock angst. “Ouch!”

“She's not wrong, James.”

“Look, are either of you sure it isn't yours? You could've left it here by mistake one of the times you've been in here.”

“Doug, I wouldn't wear this,” Val says, having made her way to its location and picking it up.

“Right. And I only wear gold so it sure as hell isn't mine.”

“Do you really only wear gold?” Dougie asks, his eyebrows stitched together in confusion.

“Be so for real right now, honey. How have you never noticed that?”

“I, errrm…anyway, this earring.”

“Good job you're cute,” Olive murmurs, pinching his cheek.

The group all join Val at the nightstand, all beginning to squabble.

“Maude, you sure it isn't yours?” Ev yawns, scratching at his head as he stretches.

“Everett Ernest, I answered that question a few minutes ago if you'd open your darn ears!” Olive lightly swings at him, the back of her hand making contact with the side of his head as they break into what can only be described as siblings play fighting, slapping gently at one another.

“What on Earth is going on in here, kids?” Harry Crosby saunters in, the remains of his scrambled egg on his mouth in a spot he'd missed when wiping, his voice breaking through the childlike arguments. “Been practicing my dad voice. Getting pretty good, huh?”

“Harry Crosby!” Valencia yells, pointing her freshly manicured nail at him. She turns, picking up the earring and holds it out in front of her. “What is this? You've been back not even a week!”

“Yeah, Croz. That's just not good, pal.”

“What are you all talking about?” Croz asks, hands on his hips as he tries to answer Dougie's remark. “The earring?”

“Yeah!” Olive says, taking it from Val and placing it in his hand. “Val saw it. If you're pissing about again, Harry…”

“Good God, no! I ended all that before I left. The earring,” he says, closing his hand around it as his face softens, “is Jean’s. It got caught up in one of my undershirts and I packed it by mistake.”

“Oh!” They group say, the relief palpable. “So, it's not–”

“No! Like I said, it's over. Jean knows. I know where I belong, too.”

“Aw, Croz,” Dougie says, patting his friend on the shoulder. “That's sweet, pal.”

“Yeah. Her earring is on my nightstand so it feels like I'm at home. She leaves everything everywhere. Gives me a little comfort while we wait for all this to be over.”

Olive pushes through the others to get to Croz, and hugs him tightly. “Glad to have you back, mate.”

“Glad to be back.”

He turns to Dougie, and nods in his direction. “Come on, bud. We've got a phone call waiting for us.”

[solar-sunnyside-up]

[snoopyracing]

hello! for your sleepover, could you please write a small drabble op81 + first time seeing the other in their swimwear (from the sultry list)

hi!! here you go! hope you like it :)

oscar + first time seeing the other in their swimwear.

you shouldn't be this nervous about being in a swimsuit, but here you were standing in front of the mirror about ready to tell oscar that you're sick and that you can't make it to the beach today.

the two of you hadn't been dating for that long, not even a month. and today was going to be the first time he would see you in a swimsuit- hence the nervousness. but you pushed it aside and sucked it up, throwing on a t-shirt and shorts before heading out the door.

oscar was already sat in one of the lounge chairs by the time you arrived. a baggy t-shirt and swim shorts adorned his body, which thankfully was covered by an umbrella. the boy burnt like no other even though he was an australian.

his cheesy grin when he spotted you caused those all too familiar butterflies to flutter in your stomach. the two of you chatted for a while and when oscar finally suggested getting in the water you didn't want to seem like a baby, so you hurried up and stripped off your shirt and shorts.

you weren't even concerned about how oscar was looking at you at the moment, all you could focus on was his broad shoulders and back in the sun. the way his swim shorts hung low on his waist and the way your stomach turned to knots at the sight of his happy trail should have been criminal. you'd seen oscar shirtless before, but there was something different about him today, maybe it was the atmosphere or those short swim shorts he had chosen to wear. his thick thighs nearly bursting the seams when he squatted down to shove his shirt into your bag. oscar had you feeling all kinds of things and you prayed the ocean water was cold.

oscar had tried to be nonchalant with his staring, even trying to tear his eyes away by putting away his shirt, but it was no use. the moment you took off that shirt and shorts he was a goner. you were glowing in the hot australian sun, your hair blowing in the breeze, and that damn swimsuit made him want to take you back to his car and have his way with you. how a swimsuit could make him this feral was beyond him, but he knew that if he didn't get into that water soon the tight swim shorts he had chosen would become even tighter.

come chat it's sleepover saturday!!

[kiwiana-writes]

Ooooh please can I ask you about the rockstar!Alex WIP? I cannot explain how INVESTED in that AU, I gobbled up all the snippets of it that you've posted 👀

ABSOLUTELY you can, because I’m also invested in that one 😅

So this fic started out as a tumblr game. The basic idea was “send me an idea for a fake AU and I’ll give you five facts about that AU.” And @tintagel-or-cockleshells sent me “An AU in which Henry and Alex are exes, also Alex is a rockstar who puts a lot of himself into his songwriting. And there’s a happy ending.”

And… here’s the thing. Up to this point, I’d never had a conversation with tintagel one on one. I’d commented on some of her stuff, she’d commented on some of mine, we’d reblog each others WIP snippets on tumblr. We didn’t know each other outside of that. But EVERY DAMN TIME I did games like this, she would ALWAYS come in with something that made me REALLY wanna game fail and actually write whatever it was. She was just impressively tapped in to the sorts of things that make my brain go brrrrrr 😂

The other thing about tintagel is that she’s on, effectively, an opposite timezone to me. So by the time I answered the ask, she was already in bed. I also hit post on the answer and then immediately went into an hour-long meeting…

And came out of said meeting to like 40 notifications and a DEEP sense of confusion until I actually opened them. It popped off, and I absolutely succumbed to the peer pressure. Which meant that by the time tintagel was back online in her morning, this fic had run the full gamut from “this is a fake AU” to “this has a google doc and oh my god I think I’m writing original songs send help”.

At first I thought it would be MOSTLY epistolary, because I was really attached to #3, and then I had a brainwave about how I could make that epistolary, so… now it’s fully epistolary. I’m gonna have to create MULTIPLE new skins for this sucker. As well as like… recording original songs, because I have never made a sensible decision in my life.

And if you think I can’t inflict immense emotional damage via epistolary, I have a lot of Schitt’s Creek pals who would be HAPPY to prepare you for the Suffering ™️😂

[Sleepover weekend!]

[petals2fish]

Genius

Summary:

After Lily breaks her iPhone, she finds herself at the Genius Bar on Valentines Day, and an old flame is there to help her in all things technology and romance.

read on A03

Marlene McKitten: babes you're missing out on blackberry margs!!

Lily Evans: I’m sorry! It was the only time I could schedule a time for my phone to get fixed!

Marlene McKitten: you just hate me, its okay, you can say it

Lily Evans: you’re a drama queen, Marlene McKinnon 

Marlene McKitten: you love me anyways…find me a hot date at the apple store so I can get discounts!!

Lily Evans: if I find a hot guy he’s mine for the night

Marlene McKitten: further proof that you hate me 

Lily Evans: I’m here. … Pray this doesn’t take five hours and I can come meet you for drinks. 

Marlene McKitten: how hard will it be to replace a screen? … I bet I could do it myself with youtube and a little superglue

Lily did not reply back to her friend, she didn’t have the heart to tell Marlene that superglue and youtube weren’t the answer for everything. Even if superglue had proven effective at keeping Lily’s favorite mug together after it broke in the dishwasher. 

Lily just couldn’t believe she was spending her free time at the Apple Store because she'd somehow cracked her phone screen. In all her years of owning a phone, of course it would be the most expensive phone she’d ever had that broke. Even her flimsy flip phone had been more sturdy than her iphone. 

“Hi, are you here for an appointment?” A scrawny kid about her age asked, holding the iPad too close to his face as he approached her near the front doors.

Lily nodded quickly. “Yeah, Lily Evans, for a screen repair.”

“Gotcha.” The kid's nametag read ‘Peter,’ and he barely looked up at her as he typed away on his screen. “I checked you in; just go wait at the Genius Bar.”

“Thanks.”

Lily maneuvered around the cramped store, sighing all the while as she made her way to the Genius Bar. It was rather depressing to be alone on Valentine's Day, but it was almost extra disappointing that she’d had to skip lunch with her girlfriends to come here. Lily couldn’t believe she was missing out on the tacos at Casa Grande, a tradition that went all the way back to Uni. She nervously picked at the crack on her screen, most annoyed that she’d somehow forgotten to add the screen protector when she got her new case two months ago. Another sigh escaped her lips before she finally took a look at her surroundings.

There were three boys at the counter, each of them so different from the other. The first, on Lily’s left, was a bloke with a leather jacket, emitting a touch of emo metal head from his persona. The one on the right definitely looked like he belonged at the Genius Bar in the Apple Store, thanks to his perfectly pressed sweater vest and nicely combed hair. The man leaning against the table opposite Lily, typing into his iPad, was a sporty-looking bloke wearing slacks with a rumpled button-down shirt.

She thought to herself, Actually, no, that sporty bloke looks really familiar… Oh. 

It hit her like a freight train. 

She couldn’t remember his name for the life of her, but he’d somehow gotten hotter in the year since they graduated from college. It’d been almost that much time since they’d danced at a party, stumbled up the stairs to his bedroom, and he’d fucked her on his bed. Not even a quick go. No, she had woken up in his bed to find his arms around her, her clothes all over the room, and her phone dead from going all night without a charger. 

He’d been such a gentleman when he woke up. He had practically stumbled over his words when he realized she was there, in his bed, naked with him. They had both been drunk, so even he admitted it had probably been a bad idea. They’d parted ways an hour later, Lily promising that she’d be okay to walk back to her dorm, and he had let her go so she assumed he really hadn’t wanted anything more than a once go in the sheets. 

More than once, she'd thought about this bloke, wondering what happened to him. 

His black hair was in a mess of waves around his head, and he didn't look up from his iPad as she stared in shock. She didn’t know what she’d say to him if they did make eye contact. The last thing she’d said to him was ‘thanks for the sex’ which somehow grew more and more embarrassing the longer she sat here and recalled it. She kept picturing his naked body in that bed in the morning. What would she say if he looked up right now and she was there remembering the contours of his body? 

Hi, I almost didn’t recognize you with your clothes on.�� 

She’d save that gem for later. 

Probably never. 

Lily felt disappointed as he walked away without looking up, disappearing through a door that likely led to the back. Her heart slowed in her chest, just slightly, but she felt like her throat was drier than the desert. She cleared it twice, earning a look from the guy in the sweater-vest, but he just went back to his task at hand.

Since the other two men at the Genius Bar were preoccupied, she took that to mean she was going to have to wait for help. She checked her Tumblr, finding nothing of consequence, just some idiots in her ask box telling her to eat dirt and choke on it. A usual occurrence on her blog thanks to internet trolls with nothing better to do than hate strong women like Taylor Swift and Captain Marvel. Lily was fully convinced people just liked to find something to complain about. She tried really hard not to complain or take anything a bunch of internet ghosts said to heart. She scrolled through her favorite Taylor Swift blog and saw there had been a new song mashup released. She wished she had brought her headphones so she could at least listen to the music while she waited.

London Boy crossed with This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things would be absolutely disastrous and she was here for it. She reblogged it for later, then exited out of the app, settling for people watching instead. 

Around her, couples were looking over new computers, AirPods, and various other electronics. All the girls wore really pretty dresses, and all the partners kept one firm arm around each other's waists. Lily’s dress was pretty too, and she played with the edges of the corset cut as she stared at the door through which the fit bloke had disappeared.

Had he spotted her and run? Did he remember her? Did he forget her? She wasn’t sure what would hurt her more, if he walked away because he saw her and remembered her, or if he walked away because he forgot about her.

Lily wasn’t a bragger, but she knew for a fact he had fun with her a year ago. She remembered enough of that night to know that he’d been really, really enjoying it. Not many men would get between her legs for her, and very few actually made her scream. No, he’d been one of two, and he’d been the best of all. 

Lily crossed her legs, trying to ignore the heat gathering on her face (and in other places) as she recounted that night. Sadly, her body wasn’t listening to her imploring thoughts. She felt like a damn animal in heat, the way her entire body was strung up, waiting for his reappearance. 

Beside her, the emo guy helping the old Lady change her voicemail sent her a sidelong glance randomly, and Lily felt a blush raise on her cheeks when his eyes grazed up and down her body as if he were checking her out. She didn’t drop his gaze, and instead offered him a smile. His gray eyes snapped back to the old lady and spoke to her in a smooth tone that didn’t seem the least bit flustered. 

She looked down at her candy-colored nails, the pink already chipping from scrubbing her hands too much at work. The phone on the table in front of her buzzed with a text from her girls' chat. Marlene sent a photo of a plate of tacos in the shape of a heart. Lily smiled and opened her phone, hearting the photo. As she did so, the grandmother finished her session and walked away, leaving the emo kid free. Lily looked up from her phone quickly, expecting him to turn to her, but instead, he had his back turned to her as he talked into his headset.

“No, I won’t stall for you—Prongs! Don’t argue with me.” He sounded stressed, as if whoever was on the other end was ruining his life. “Then get out here, you idiot.”

Whoever was on the other end was clearly addressing the whole store through that headset, as Lily witnessed the sweater vest-wearing, scrawny boy, and the long-haired brunette nearby all turning to send looks in Emo’s direction with raised brows. Lily couldn’t help but feel as if they were all looking at her too, despite her not being privy to the conversation happening.

“Hi,” someone touched Lily’s shoulder from behind, making her turn in surprise.

A baby-faced woman with bubblegum-pink hair smiled kindly. “Have you been checked in?”

“Oh,” Lily blinked owlishly, feeling stupid for thinking everyone was looking at her. “Uhm, yes, Lily Evans? Screen repair?”

“Our screen repair guy is stuck on the phone with a customer in the back,” she said cheerily, “but he should be out soon.”

“Oh, there’s a guy?” Lily said in surprise. “I thought screen replacements were kinda a universal genius bar thing.”

“Oh, we can all do it,” The girl’s name tag told Lily her name was Tonks, “but someone called dibs already.”

“Dibs?” Lily didn’t miss that Emo kid was cackling as he typed something into his iPad.

“Did I say dibs?” Tonks put a finger on her lips. “I meant he was assigned to you by the boss.”

“Who’s the boss?”

“He is.”

Suddenly, the door behind them slammed open, and a body stumbled out quite dramatically. Lily perked up at the sight of the familiar form. Sporty boy was back! His black hair was even more wild around his head, as if he’d been running his fingers through it non-stop since he’d disappeared. His glasses were skewed too, but it only made him so much more attractive, to see how flustered he was.

Tonks peered around Lily’s shoulder, her pink hair falling into her eyes. “Smooth entrance, Potter.”

“Thanks for holding down the fort, Nymphadora,” Potter said. “I can take her from here.”

Lily’s eyes traced his tall form, realizing it had been a long time since she’d been able to admire it. When her gaze returned to his face, her eyes met brown orbs that looked delighted to know she’d been openly checking him out. Lily’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. She brushed nervously at her red curls, biting her lip as James waltzed over to her at the bar, leaning against it so he was only a foot or so away from her.

“Hi,” his voice was smooth, like an ASMR streamer. “I’m James Potter.”

“Hi,” she almost choked on her own spit. “Hi.” 

James’ fingers trailed along the edge of the bar, casual yet deliberate, as he said, “I heard you rang for a genius?”

Lily’s mouth quivered when she heard Tonks sigh loudly. The emo guy slammed his palm against his head, as if James had embarrassed them all. Sweater vest physically gagged. James just kept smiling at her though, as if he could tell she was attracted to him regardless of his cheesy pickup lines. And it was true, she was. 

“I heard you are the only one in this store who can help me,” Lily flirted, watching his eyes light up at the challenge. “I had no idea you were so important.”

“Me either, to be honest.” He placed his chin on his hand, supported by his elbow against the bar. “What was your name again?”

Lily tucked her hair behind her ear. “Lily Evans? We met about a year ago at a party.”

His eyes seemed to sparkle as he replied smoothly, “Oh, I remember how we met, it was just your name that escaped me last year.”

The blush was uncontrollable now as she reached out a hand for him to shake. “It’s nice to see you again.”

“You have no idea how nice it is to see you again.” James’ grin grew wider. “And on Valentine's Day, no less.”

"I know how to make an entrance." She managed weakly. 

James' eyes were molten gold mixed with green flecks, "you sure do, especially in that dress." 

“Get a room,” the guy in the sweater vest muttered.

“How about yours, Remus?” James shot back, a bite in his tone.

Remus pretended to be interested in his customer's macbook in response. When Lily looked back at James, she felt a punch to the gut as she saw nothing but pure lust in his eyes. She could practically pinpoint where his mind had dropped, thanks to his eyes staring at her breasts, which were practically popping out of the corset cut top of her dress. 

“Like what you see?” She asked boldly. 

"Yes." He cleared his throat, and her eyes dropped to his mouth when he licked his lip and then curled the edges up to smile confidently.

Hazel eyes.

His eyes were hazel, and she’d forgotten that, so now all her memories were being replayed with coy hazel eyes that undressed her without even trying. He wasn't even trying to hide it, especially not right now. 

“Well, what can I help you with today?” James asked, breaking her concentration on his eyes. 

Dinner. She thought desperately. A quick go in the back of the storage room. Instead she offered, “I think I cracked my phone screen.”

James looked down at the phone in question. Lily picked it up, popping off the blue protective case in one fluid motion, before handing it to him. She fiddled with the case as he turned the phone over in his hands once. 

“And you’re sure it’s not just the screen protector?”

Lily shook her head no, “I tried to pull it off, twice, but couldn't get it, so I’m pretty sure I forgot to put the protection screen thing on when I got my new case.”

“Oh Lily,” James clucked his tongue, “always use protection.”

Oh, that was the wrong thing to say. 

Her brain immediately fluttered into the pit of her stomach with ideas of all the things they could do with protection. God, she hadn’t been so turned on since the last time he’d gotten her into bed with him…only this time it was daylight and she hadn’t had a single thing to drink. 

Pure thoughts, Lily Evans. She thought. He’s just a guy. A hot, cool, incredibly charming guy. Fuck it, I’m screwed.   

James casually picked at her phone screen, seemingly ignoring the desire flickering in her eyes as he remarked, “The glass shouldn’t stick up like that; I think it’s just a screen protector.”

“I really don’t think–”

Watching in mortification, Lily winced as he used his thumbnail to pry at the glass. Suddenly, a sound of unsticking reached her ears as he removed a screen case from her phone's actual glass. Redness flooded her face for an entirely different reason. She’d been a total, utter, helpless idiot for bringing her phone here.

It hadn’t been broken at all. 

“Oh my god,” she whispered, “Oh, no, no, no, no!! I am such an idiot.”

“No!” He quickly reassured her, “You’re not an idiot!”

Lily felt herself spiraling with embarrassment, realizing she just hadn’t pulled hard enough to separate the sticky tape from the glass. “I swear—I tried so hard—I thought it was the screen.”

His thumb brushed the side of her wrist in comfort, but instead of soothing her, it sent a wave of shame coursing through her stomach. “It’s an honest mistake; it was securely fastened.”

“Yeah,” she squeaked, noticing he had leaned closer over the counter, now mere inches from her face.

“Seriously,” he seemed so amused, and that only humiliated her further, “it’s fine, I won't even charge you.” 

She didn’t know if she’d ever felt more stupid, and in front of the hottest guy she knew, too. “I’m really sorry for wasting your time.” He searched her face as if seeking something within it. Lily withdrew her hand from his shyly and then grabbed her phone. “I’ll just go, thank you, um, bye.”

Trying to escape the awkward situation, she hurried out, acutely aware of the stares from those around them who had witnessed the embarrassing exchange. She slipped her unprotected phone under the strap of her dress and brushed her hair behind her ears as she rushed to her car in the parking lot.

“Dumb, stupid, idiot.” she muttered over and over to herself, repeating the whole scene in her head. “How did you graduate college with a science degree, but you can’t even pull a fucking phone condom off.” 

She reached her car in record time, the lingering sense of humiliation mingling with a cocktail of other emotions churning in her gut. Her plan now was simple: she would rendezvous with her friends at the taco place and immerse herself in a flight of margaritas. Maybe if she got intoxicated enough, she could erase this entire fiasco from her memory. As she finished flinging her bag onto the console of the passenger seat, she heard footsteps approaching from behind.

Turning abruptly, she was startled to find James from the Genius Bar standing there, a friendly smile gracing his features. “Hey, Lily.” 

“Hi,” she managed, her voice high-pitched from her embarrassment. 

HIs eyes dropped to the phone, precariously held between her pale skin and tiny spaghetti thick dress strap. “Why do girls stuff everything right there?”

Lily looked down at her phone and then back up to him, feigning tucking her hands into the folds of her dress skirt, “most girls clothes don’t have pockets–so we improvise.” 

“Interesting.” He then asked promptly, “Did you know that I worked here?”

“No,” she swore, as the wind made her skirts gather around her legs, “I swear, I had no idea.”

A light flickered in his eyes, “that’s a shame.”

“Why a shame?”

“I was hoping you made up that entire thing about the glass cracking just to talk to me.” He grinned. “But you genuinely thought it was broken, didn’t you?”

“You were hoping I was lying?” Lily blinked owlishly at him, “really?”

He lifted a lunchbox in his hand, smiling awkwardly. “I only have an hour for lunch; why don’t we catch up, and we can talk about what I was hoping for.”

“What?” Lily asked, not comprehending anything because her hormones were cheering excitedly.

“Sorry,” he tucked the lunchbox behind his back again, “did you not want to eat with me? I think I may have gotten mixed signals from you back in the store…”

“Eat with you?” she repeated. “ With you?”

“I know it’s been a while,” he was rambling, “I know we aren’t even like–friends–but you showed up and I–I nearly had a heart attack seeing you again. A heart attack in the good way–not a bad way. You are definitely good. All good. So good.”

Lily still had one hand on her car door, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to find the words. “I–I’m an idiot who can’t tell the difference between a screen cover and a phone screen…and you want to have lunch with me?”

James shrugged, “despite working at the genius bar–” Lily offered him a snort of amusement, “--I prefer idiots, don’t you?”

“You're not an idiot,” Lily said, motioning to all of him, “you’re–you’re that .”

“Eloquent,” his smile was so wide, his eyes crinkled at the edges. “But I’m 100% just as much an idiot as you.”

“How so?”

“I was an idiot for ever letting you go without a number to text you at.” 

She felt her stomach erupt with pleasant butterflies. “What?”

James looked down at her body, then back up at her eyes with a coy wink. “Truthfully, I've been wondering where you disappeared to for a year now and would really like to catch up. I’d also really love your number, for your working phone, just in case you ever need a genius to fix it again. Is that okay?”

Lily felt like she might be dreaming. She pinched her arm. It hurt. Thank god. “This isn’t a joke, right?”

“No,” James walked forward, almost flush with her person now. “I do love a good joke, though.”

“Really?” He was so close, she could count the tiny freckles dotting his tan nose. 

James' hand brushed her arm, sending shivers racing up it. “What’s the best book to read while eating breakfast?”

Lily felt a smile replacing her confused expression as she leaned up on her tiptoes, allowing his free hand to cup her chin. “What book?”

“Much Ado About Muffin.”

"You're right, you are an idiot." She rolled her eyes, but her tone was flirtatious, "a really, really cute idiot."

"They'll hire just about anyone to work the Genius Bar these days." 

Lily didn’t wait anymore; she grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled him down, letting her lips muffle his laughter.

She could still feel his smile through the kiss though, even when he opened his mouth to taste her with an eager fever she had forgotten about. She kissed him back harder, especially when she heard his lunch bag fall to the ground near their feet, and both his hands grabbed hold of her long hair to keep her firmly attached. He tasted like mint gum, like he'd just been chewing it before coming to find her. Like he'd planned for this exact scenario to happen. 

She almost swooned at the thought. 

Finally, what felt like only a second later, he broke off the kiss. When her eyes opened, she saw nothing but him, and that only made her smile grow wider. His hands remained in her hair, but he tugged them forward to cup her cheeks, bringing the red strands with him. 

“So,” he said somewhat breathlessly, “lunch date?”

"What'd you have in mind?"

"Calling out of work, taking you home, and ordering pizza for a long movie we won't watch." 

Lily stepped forward, about to kiss him again for suggesting it, but then she felt her chunky heel step on something, and a resounding crack filled the air. Lily thought it might be the lunch bag he’d dropped, and for just a second she hoped, but whatever was under her foot was smaller. She looked down, face white, and all she saw were broken bits of glass under her heel. Her heart plummeted from its high as she stared down at her broken phone. 

“I broke my phone,” she realized, lifting her foot to show a screen in tiny bits and pieces. “Oh my god, I really broke it this time.”

James untangled himself from her and leaned down, picking it up carefully, and they watched as it disintegrated into multiple pieces in his hand. His eyes lifted from the phone to her. She stared back at him. Lily fell against her car, pressing her hands into her hair as she processed her disbelief. James' mouth was partially open, like she'd just stunned him to silence. 

“I can’t believe this!” she half laugh, half cried, while wiping her eyes. "I can't fucking believe this!"

Then, James doubled over with laughter, weeping from the irony of it all. Lily crossed one leg over the other as she laughed too, her head rolling back against her car. Passerby in the parking lot shared attempts like they were lunatics for laughing so hard. It only made them laugh harder.

"What am I going to do?" Lily cried, her side in stitches. "Oh god, I haven't even paid that phone off yet!"

"I can't believe you broke it!" James wiped the tears from his eyes, "oh my god, your luck!"

"Oh fuck," Lily pressed a hand to her forehead, "I don't know why I'm laughing, this is actually so bad, I need my phone for work."

James walked forward to plant a firm kiss on her mouth before reminding her, “Don’t worry, you know a genius who can fix it.”

~~~

+44 7123 456789: Lily??? Are you Alive??? Your bedroom doors been shut since yesterday?? have you even been home???

Lily Evans: holy shit I am so sorry, who is this? I have a new phone and forgot to switch my contacts over from the cloud

+44 7123 456789: ....Marlene....HOW BROKEN WAS YOUR PHONE??? It was a scratch the last time I saw it??

Lily Evans: funny story...

Marlene McKitten: where are you?!

Lily Evans: do you remember that one time I got super drunk at a party and woke up in a hot guys bed?

Marlene McKitten: ya...why?

Lily Evans: I'm currently in his bed right now 

Marlene McKitten: ??? get home right now or so help me god I'm tracking your phone and coming to you 

Lily Evans: save yourself a drive and meet us at the Genius Bar, he's taking me over there to fix my old computer I thought was broken. 

Marlene McKitten: ?????????????

[sorchathered]

talk to me about overstimulated rhett, his hands tied to your bed frame with your lace panties 🤭 – @bobgasm

He just had to run his mouth.

He knew he was in trouble when you slammed the truck door and stomped off to the hotel without so much as looking in his direction. Some guy had asked you out at the bar, he decided to be a dick and pick a fight, and now he was definitely going to pay for it.

Sweat slicked all over, trembling as you alternated between taking him in your mouth and riding him, never letting him get to what he so desperately wanted while his hands were bound tightly in your little black panties, he could easily rip them in half and take what he wanted; but where would the fun be in that?

You swore he enjoyed getting punished like this, a panting, tear streaked mess just begging you to let him get off, babbling nonsense and half ass apologies until you finally decided to be sweet and give him what he needed.

And the self satisfied smirk on his face as he fell asleep almost made you wish you’d left him hanging.