#abrupt ending because the rest of the song didn't fit but

[le-chevalier-au-lion]

MM93 x champion

If I can live through this, I can do anything

[csolarstorm]

Just finished season one of Peacemaker, and I have to say, it's the best entry in Gunn's The Suicide Squad "trilogy". It has tons of heart, action, humor, and some really deep characters. There's lots to chew on that I don't have energy to go into right now. Something about testing what Peacemaker is willing to do to uphold peace. Something about the way violence changes you inside. But you can tell that Gunn was really passionate about this show. And DC was desperate enough to just let him do his thing. And is even more desperate now.

And surprisingly, this is the least gory out of the three projects! Kaiju gore doesn't count. (A surprising amount of sex though. Maybe not that surprising.) It fits though that this would be the least gory, because it's actively exploring the pain that killing leaves you with, provided you have that type of brain. And you can tell that just because Vigilante doesn't have that problem, doesn't mean his sociopathy doesn't cause other problems for him. He's basically Peacemaker if he hadn't reflected on his mistakes throughout the series. Vigilante is stuck in that lifestyle, and Peacemaker and the rest of the group are the closest thing to peers that he has.

I love Adebayo's character as the anti-Amanda Waller that is nonetheless talented at her job in the ways Waller can't be. I love when stories show us the objective value of sincerity, empathy, and friendship in a team mission rather than using these concepts as platitudes and perpetuating this idea that platitudes are all they are.

I felt really bad when Goff took Detective Song. She had no idea what was happening, she was just a completely innocent bystander rightfully determined to do her job.

Last comment - I don't know about Peacemaker ending up with Harcourt. It felt like her character arc was in the background. Maybe I need to watch it again, but at some point she softened, and it felt abrupt to me. I didn't take it as reciprocation when she told him that 15 percent of him is a good guy. But maybe I'm just not seeing it.

This makes Creature Commandos, surprisingly, the weakest of the "trilogy". Even though I complained a lot about the violence and gore, The Suicide Squad was a really good movie, absolutely as well written as a super violent version of the original Guardians of the Galaxy. Creature Commandos felt like a collection of character biographies held together by a plot that was either under-cooked or needs another season to make it make sense - or both. Nonetheless, it was Creature Commandos that made me want to catch up on Gunn's DC projects. It's a pretty damn fun show regardless of its flaws.

Peacemaker makes me a lot more confident that Gunn can handle Superman and any future DC projects he wants to write. I know he can hold back on the gore for more family friendly properties like Superman, or at least go for fake monster gore instead. And if he can make his Clark Kent anything like that 15 percent of Peacemaker that's a good guy, or Adebayo who is better at this than she thinks she is and also makes a good human torpedo, then the new Superman is in good hands.

[transgothicgenre]

bleed out liveblogging

training montage: excellent as always. chorus is my favorite part mostly because the imagery of the other verses are discordant for me for some reason, but it still goes hard as fuck

mark on you: i think i actually only listened to this a few times before the album released and originally i only liked the chorus but the song as a whole is incredible. revenge songs my beloved

wage wars get rich die handsome: please release an instrumental/karaoke track of this one it goes so hard. it goes so hard even without the lyrics. i don't think i'm allowed to drive while listening to this one. the abrupt ending is so sexy tbh

extraction point: first new one yippee!!! i like how fast-paced it sounds especially juxtaposed with the calmness of the vocals. every time johnny boy mentions dreams in his lyrics that song gets +1 so this one is doing really great for me so far. loving the chorus. the vocals are quieter than the rest of the album has been so far which is throwing me off a little bit but i can vibe with it

bones don't rust: OH HOH HOH. the lyrics on this one immediately have me going ham. i didn't type anything else i was too busy listening to the song

first blood: reminds me of corsican mastiff stride. it's very upbeat and i'm grooving to it. there are a lot of references to things in this song that i don't understand but that's half of all tmg music so i'll just close my eyes and imagine what they mean and also check genius lyrics in a few days. "we worship nothing in the foxholes" reminds me of a poem! i will find it later

make you suffer: another revenge song let's fucking goooooo. i will have to listen a few times to figure out how to fit the second verse into the rest of the song but i understand on a subconscious level. AW YEAAAH another +1 for mentioning dreams. don't give up on revenge you always need to strive for it!!! adding this to the list of songs i'm not allowed to drive while listening to. oh my god the OUTRO. delicious

guys on every corner: why do you as a man have guys on every corner (original joke by yadriel(c) 2022). that aside the rhyming is really winning for me. big enjoyer of this song. it really reminds me of fight club which is a red flag if anyone else says it but don't worry guys i'm a weirdo. the last verse is decadent fuck yes

hostages: hey why is this one so long. ohhhh man it's good. i know each song in this album is telling the story of a mini action movie and whatnot but i think, excluding the fact that i haven't listened to the last 3 yet, that this one accomplishes that the best for the format. does that make sense? like the story it's telling is best told through a song and the song is the best vessel for telling the story. if i say it reminds me of die hard does bruce willis come out of the vents and kill me

need more bandages: oh DELIGHTFUL. i am already shouting the chorus while driving despite not being in a car at all. this one reminds me of tintin but like. the bad guys from tintin. y'know? i was really into tintin when i was younger. WHEN THE SHOVELS BREAK WE'VE STILL GOT OUR FINGERNAILS!!!!!! once again +1 for the dream. this one also reminds me of mad max fury road oddly enough. you're right mr goats we ARE going to need more bandages

incandescent ruins: i like the chorus. i have to admit i spent the majority of the time listening to this trying to parse the lyrics and their meaning. again this is one that i'll have to listen to a few times and get to know before i have more thoughts about it but it's very pleasant to listen to

bleed out: 30 seconds in and this is already . woagh. wow. he's gonna bleed out yknow? "every story needs a child...end up just like me" these lyrics are fucking insane. AND THE PAPER RUSTLING NOISES RIGHT AFTER? the g in mountain goats stands for genius. okay wow. this is already one of my top favorites from this album . once again it is 7 minutes long but i completely understand why it's 7 minutes long because it literally couldn't be not 7 minutes long. i love how the last song on albums always feels like a sledgehammer to the ribs. the mountain goats truly understand how to do it. the way jd's voice is cracking toward the end of the song is the cherry on top.

album thoughts as a whole: definitely going to convince my coworkers to play this tonight at work. pretty much all of the song titles are great and i'm a big fan. they really slayed!!!

[j-amespotter]

★ the last great american dynasty - s. b.

“i had a marvelous time ruining everything.” 

Pairing: Sirius Black x Muggle-born!Reader 

x. x. x.

Summary: A one-shot diving into Sirius’s complicated relationship with Grimmauld Place and where the Muggle-born he falls for fits in.

Genre/Warnings: angst, emotional abuse, alcohol, language, mentions of death & war 

Word Count: 1.9k

A/N: so.. this is more of a character study on sirius & his dynamic with his family – i know this song is meant to be about a woman but it also screams sirius to me. i’m a sucker for romance so it’s a reader-insert. fun fact, i was almost done writing this when i realized i wanted it to be a wolfstar fic, but i was too lazy to change it, so just putting that out as a concept lol. let me know what you think & if you’d like me to tag you in future works!! 

masterlist

When Sirius first showed signs of his rebellious nature, Walburga wasn’t worried. After all, many children were incapable of sitting still in large gatherings, mouthing off to their parents, or incessantly teasing their younger siblings. “He will be kept in good company. He will learn,” Walburga would say to her husband. He often exasperated her, but there was no denying her immense pride. Despite his antics, even at a young age, Sirius displayed impressive magical ability and had a commanding presence – excellent qualities for the heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. 

She worried only a little when he preferred to spend time with Andromeda, who was clearly becoming disillusioned with their family values, and Alphard, who Walburga believed was beginning to get a little too soft. Still, the Blacks were not raving lunatics. They were traditionalists, committed to upholding the high standards of Wizarding society. Sirius would not defy them, not when the weight of their bloodline rested on his shoulders, not when Regulus would never be able to stomach such responsibility.

On his first night at Hogwarts, Sirius didn't write home. It wasn’t until the morning after that Narcissa delivered the dreadful news to her mother. Walburga’s sister-in-law relished discussing this most recent embarrassment, as the family’s attention was now off her daughter’s courtship of a mudblood. Young Sirius, their direct heir, was sorted into the House of Muggle-lovers and blood traitors, into the House of Godric Gryffindor.

Blown apart by this development, Walburga turned to her younger son. She had no intention of repeating her mistakes and resolved to train him for the responsibility that should have belonged to her eldest. That way, if she was unable to correct Sirius’s behavior, she had back-up. Her legacy was secure. 

During every subsequent holiday, she noticed that the damage was getting more-and-more irreversible. Sirius unabashedly consorted with infamous blood traitors and pathetic half-bloods. He seemed to dread seeing his family as much as she dreaded seeing how much of him she had lost. She tried; no one could say she didn’t. But she was too stern with him. He had inherited his flexibility, or lack thereof, from her. She pushed him too far away. Soon, he stopped returning home for Christmas. When he was sixteen, she spat at him as he closed the door to Number 12 Grimmauld Place one last time, without sparing her a final glance. 

He never expected he would have to return. Offering up the property to the Order seemed like a good idea at the time – he hardly put any thought into it. That was how he made most of his decisions. His track record certainly proved so. When Remus didn’t have anywhere to stay, and neither did the newly-reformed Order of the Phoenix, Sirius knew that his family estate in London was not just their most ideal option, but also the only one they had. 

He managed to enter undetected in his Animagus form with Remus. He had to hand it to fate – there were no extra security measures to keep him out. It was as if she anticipated his arrival. Swallowing, he absorbed his surroundings. Despite the eerie silence and decomposing furniture, it looked like an image straight from his memory. Sirius suddenly felt sixteen again. 

What he did not expect to see, however, was a currently-sleeping life-sized portrait of Walburga Black in the hallway. Though now in his human form, Sirius growled inadvertently. She knew. She always knew that he would come back. She wanted to be there when he did. Unbelievable, he thought to himself. 

Aware of Remus’s wary gaze on him, Sirius walked forward and began pulling on the frame. “Get off, you hag! Remus, help me get this off!” 

Remus went to join his old friend in what seemed like a fruitless mission in his mind but came to an abrupt halt when the portrait, disturbed by her son’s grunts, awoke in a flash of fury. “Filth! Scum! Abomination of my flesh! You are no son of mine,” portrait-Walburga hissed. 

“Shut up, just shut up!” He had not heard her voice since he was near a Dementor, reliving the worst of his teenage years. The visual made it much, much worse. 

“Permanent Sticking Charm, it seems…” Remus said to appease his friend, pulling the withering velvet curtains over its towering frame with all his strength.

“This is torture,” sighed Sirius. “Maybe we can find another place.” 

Remus refused to meet his eye. “For now, it is all we have, Sirius. If it was going to be a problem, you should not have offered it to Professor Dumbledore.” 

Sirius frowned. “It’s all I’m able to do this time around. It’s not like I can go around trailing Death Eaters and infiltrating the Ministry with everyone else.”

“Hopefully, it’s only temporary,” assured Remus, though he was equally as uncertain about Sirius’s fate as a fugitive. “Try not to let this place get into your head, okay?” 

Sirius Black was never good at keeping promises. He had three-and-a-half decades of evidence to back that up. In the weeks following, the Order settled in, consisting of many highly competent Aurors, half-a-dozen Weasleys, and an ex-Death Eater he could do without seeing. Sirius found himself never too far from alcohol, itching for more access. He longed to see Harry and to get away from his wretched house-elf, along with the constant, stinging reminder of his mother's existence. 

But there was something else inside of him, something he couldn’t describe. It was an emotion that was egging him on. He felt it inside of him every time Kreacher muttered complaints about wandering red-headed blood traitor brats. It swirled in his stomach when his mother shouted scathing insults at the clumsy half-blood and filthy half-breed that took temporary refuge in the former pure-blood paradise. 

Then she came. 

She was new. She worked at the Ministry; many of his houseguests were incredibly fond of her. He recognized the innocence in her eyes. It was the same innocence that he had when he first joined the Order seventeen years earlier. It was the same innocence that differentiated every new member from every returning one – they had yet to see tragedy in its fullest form. 

“Hello,” she greeted. She seemed strangely unperturbed by the fact that she was in the presence of an alleged mass murderer. “I’m (Y/N). I’ve been told this is your house. Thank you for playing host.”

“My pleasure,” responded Sirius. Involuntarily, he reached for her hand and kissed it. Suddenly, he became painfully aware of his hollowing cheeks, untamed hair, and liquor-infused breath.

She flushed slightly at the gesture. Black family habits die hard. Just because he chose to refrain from practicing them did not mean he had forgotten, nor did it mean that he wasn’t any good at them. 

Walburga Black’s portrait watched her son fall in love with her. Sirius watched her watch him. There was no telling how she would react. Regulus was dead – it was up to him to preserve their family’s name and purity.

(Y/N) was witty and flirty and incredibly intelligent. He found himself feeling a decade younger as he enjoyed their banter and her overall easiness. Before long, she kissed him in his dimly-lit pantry, and he was too selfish to stop her. They would kiss in every corner of the house, hardly caring that anyone was watching, ignoring the ghosts living within the walls. For Sirius, (Y/N) was his greatest act of defiance. She was born to non-magic parents. As narrated by a disgruntled Kreacher to his now-helpless mistress, she was nothing but a “filthy mudblood.” 

One night, weeks after the children departed for Hogwarts and the house was, as on most days, empty, he caught her staring at the Black family tapestry. Without making a sound, he inched behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Hello, beautiful,” he whispered, pressing a kiss on her shoulder. “Sickle for your thoughts?” 

She leaned into him. As the days went on, she would tire easily. Still, she found happiness in Sirius as he did with her, and they both were old enough to know to reach for it in any capacity they got. “It’s nothing. It’s stupid. Let’s get to bed.” 

“As much as I’m a fan of that idea,” he started with a smirk, “you look upset. Is it work? Fudge?” 

“No, nothing like that.” Her fingers traced his blasted name on the wall. She looked thoughtful. “I’ve just… noticed something about you.” 

“Oh yeah? What’s that?” 

“The way you look at your mother.” 

Sirius raised an eyebrow. “Well, it’s no secret that I hate her. I hope that’s not off-putting. You’ve seen what she’s like – it was worse when she was alive. I promise I’m a gentleman in general circumstances… for the most part,” he added cheekily. 

She smiled tightly. “No, I get it. It must be terrible for you, being back here.” 

“It is,” he affirmed. “I’ve got you, though. You make me happier than anything, love.” 

“That’s the thing,” she uttered as if it pained her. Sirius could stare at her fiery expression for days on end. To be on the receiving end was strange. “I can’t help but think that you’re only in love with me to spite her. Like your feelings aren’t love, they’re just a culmination of your hatred for her.” 

It took Sirius an eternity to process what she just said. Realizing that he was not going to say anything, she continued. “Believe me, I know you hate it here. But at the same time, you look so… satisfied. You’re hosting a bunch of blood traitors, half-bloods, and a werewolf in this place that was once the pinnacle of blood purity. You’re providing a haven against the bloody Dark Lord. And worst of all, you’re with a mudblood.” 

“Don’t call yourself that,” interrupted Sirius harshly. 

“It’s the truth. If you weren’t in this position, would we even be together?” 

“Of course,” said Sirius. To answer this question, he didn’t even have to think. “I love you because you’re you. You’re beautiful and smart and make me laugh until my stomach hurts. You’re so good with Harry and you can put anyone in their place. You make me feel new again… God, that’s fucking sappy, but it’s true. I indeed hate this place and I hate her but… but if I let her dictate my choices, even when she’s bloody dead, then she’s won. I don’t want her to win. If I was only with you for your blood status, then I would be no different from my mother.” 

She stared up at him, her eyes betraying a wave of emotions. She reached up to kiss him, tangling her fingers in his hair. “Thank you for saying all of that. Just hold on for a little while, alright? Soon, we’ll be out of here. We can have our own house – you, me, and Harry.” 

He smiled at her sadly. It seemed too unreachable of a goal to him at the moment. “By the beach?” “Wherever you’d like,” she answered, leading him to his bedroom, his only sanctuary in the horrible house. 

As they made their way towards the stairs, Sirius glanced at the tapestry over his shoulder, at the seven generations of Blacks behind him. He gently squeezed (Y/N)’s hand. For the first time in his entire life, he felt the weight of carrying his name lift off him. He’d done his part to corrupt his bloodline. It was time for Sirius to focus on himself in a way that the shadows of his past never allowed him to, even in his schoolboy days with James. Being a Black was a part of who he was, and even a disowned Black deserved his long-overdue happiness.

Tagging: @strawberriesonsummer​

[holdnarrytight]

I keep seeing mixed things about his new album and I'm kinda concerned bc As It Was really worked for me, even tho I wish they repeated for like 30 secs the bells part at the end, it would've been so exhilarating and less abrupt but anyway 😅 It took me a moment to realise that I don't like Fine Line that much. I have no issues being critical of all the things I love but for some reason, I wasn't with him until now. I think it's not my favorite at all and it's ok. Does his new album sound "experimental" like Fine Line, like going for old sounds from different eras or experimental experimental? If it sounds too much like Fine Line I'm screwed bc I'll simply never come back to it after a while...

Anon, I personally really appreciated Fine Line and thought every single song sounded unique, fun, catchy and well produced. If you didn't like Fine Line, then you are definitely not liking this one because it totally pales in comparison.

In fact, I can't believe As It Was came from this album, because it doesn't fit in with the rest as it's one of the few good songs in it, along with Late Night Talking and some other song that I don't remember the name of.

I'm genuinely baffled, Harry and his team are usually one step above other artists in doing exactly what the public wants to hear and see, but this time around he sounds like he was trying to mess with different instruments and sounds randomly to see what he could come up with, in complete disregard to the quality of the music.

That's what I mean by experimental. The songs don't feel like they have substance, there's nothing that catches your attention. They are all repetitive, similar and blend into each other seamlessly. It sounds like people who are inexperienced with music made this record, which is oddly not the case at all.

[shadyb00ts]

Review: Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land

If you were a teenager in the 2010s who listened to alt pop music, you most likely have crossed paths with Marina's music, back when she was FKA Marina and the Diamonds. I first discovered Marina through her sophomore album Electra Heart, which I always thought was a masterpiece of a pop album sonically and conceptually. To this day, that is an album that means a lot to me and helped me through some dark times back in those days.

Since then, I've been obsessed with Marina's discography and there isn't a single album of hers I dislike. The Family Jewels was an excellent debut and really highlighted her creativity. FROOT I maintain was very much underrated and it's probably my second favorite album of hers overall. Love + Fear is... Well, I understand why it's polarizing, considering it is her most commercial-sounding, radio-friendly pop album and probably her weakest in the discography, but there was still something about it that kept me hooked. It was one of my most listened to albums of 2019 because something about the songs, despite them being so basic by Marina's standards, was highly addictive for me.

So when this album was announced, I didn't really know what to expect in terms of her next musical direction. The singles she releases, namely Purge the Poison and Venus Fly Trap, gave me an indication that she was bringing back her signature Family Jewels-era style that is so distinctly her, and for the most part this album did give that quintessential, quirky Marina-ness that I really missed from her.

I reviewed Chromatica sometime last year and in that post I talked about how Gaga sacrificed a lot of her weirdness to adopt a more commercial, generic sound with Chromatica, and I feel like Love + Fear was that for Marina. Like Gaga, Marina is weird, and even though the songs on L+F I thought were enjoyable, they were definitely missing Marina's personality and snark for the most part. I'm pleased that we got to see that side of her come back for this album, Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land.

I think Ancient Dreams maintains that energy, because even from the opening title track, you're already taken for a ride. It's such a strong opener and it sets the stage for what the rest of the album is going to be like sonically and thematically. Then she continues with songs like Venus Fly Trap, Man's World and Purge the Poison, and all of these songs consecutively paint quite a clear picture of what she's going for in terms of what the album's about. At least that's what it seems like at first, but then it didn't take me long to notice that this album kind of has a cohesion problem.

(Side note, while I think Purge the Poison is a banger, I always thought the lyrics are kind of like she just Googled "feminism 101" lmao. It's full of a lot of feminist cliches and "daughters of the witches you couldn't burn" energy, but with that said, I can't make the song not bop.)

Marina is normally the queen of cohesion, but it feels like there's two sides of this album, which is kind of hilarious to think about because she wanted to play with the concept of a two-sided album with Love + Fear that ended up sounding very same-y. In this one, it's supposed to be one continuous body of work with only 10 songs, but there's a clear divide between the themes and the sounds. Somehow the concept of L+F worked better for this album despite it not being her intent. It's like this one should've been called Politics + Heartbreak.

Basically in like the first six songs of this album, she's talking about universal topics like politics, feminism, existentialism, independence, etc. But then in the last four songs, she switches gears abruptly and now we're talking about breakups? So it felt kind of jarring to me that the album had a massive tonal shift not only in the overall theme but also in the sound as well, cause most of these last songs are breakup ballads.

Now around the time that this album came out, I was going through a pretty shitty breakup that broke my heart, so some of these songs did tug at my heart strings and made me feel things. Out of all the random breakup songs tacked on, I think my favorite is I Love You But I Love Me More. This one doesn't really count as a ballad since it's a little more uptempo, but it's probably the one that resonated with me the most and the only one I go back to.

Even though I was able to relate somewhat to these breakup songs and had an emotional reaction to a few of them, the critical side of me still felt a little perplexed by this album's direction. Maybe if the tracklist had been distributed differently and the breakup songs were more spread out, I might've overlooked it, but because those four songs were all clumped together at the end, the abrupt change in tone was extremely noticeable.

The highs of this album are the high energy tracks like Purge the Poison and Venus Fly Trap, where Marina's snarky, quirky personality we fell in love with in The Family Jewels and Electra Heart really show through. The first half of this album shines so well and really grabs you, but unfortunately it's another one of those albums that fizzles by the last few tracks. Hell, I'd even say this album would've worked better as an EP with the last four songs removed. They just didn't fit with the rest of it.

Overall, is this album enjoyable? Yes, there's a lot of songs on here (mostly the ones in the first half) that I go back to all the time, cause this woman is still just really damn good at making music. I don't even think I can say that any of the songs on this album are bad, really, my biggest issue is just that it should've been more thematically clear or cohesive. Usually Marina's really good at that.

If you are a Marina fan then you will love a lot of these songs, the ones that are bursting with her personality. If you've never listened to Marina, then you should probably go through the majority of her discography first before you give this one a shot. Like I said, she's not for everyone.

[antigoneidk]

Nothing's gonna hurt you baby|t.h.

A/N : something special for this special day heheh I hope you like it! It's a little different from what I've done before.Also I'm sorry for any mistakes. I love youu(you can listen to the song if you want to,trust me you won't regret it it's in the end)

Warnings : fluff and a little smut

_

She woke up hearing the birds singing outside,flying,being free. Her eyes blinked from abrupt contact with the bright sunlight and her head switched to the other side. Although she just woke,she felt exhausted and barely moved. Her cheeks were puffy and her small eyes were like fire. Everything burnt,the worst kind of pain. The sheets were cold next to her. A man's body was missing. Moments from the previous night came to her tired mind,as feelings overwhelmed her heart.

"Babe?"her voice sounded like a melody to his ears."Do you want to watch a movie with me?"his eyes met hers. He couldn't resist to this soul, who was now lying next to him.

"Of course my love,whatever you want"she laughed like a little kid, clapping her hands together. He watched her from behind. Her hair long, covering the half of her back, looked soft and brighter. Her curves, her hands, her legs, the way she was focused on searching a movie to watch. She could literally have any man she wanted or wished for. But she chose him, she was with him.

Their legs warmed one another, her head resting on his chest, going up and down. His lips on top of her forehead, kissing it every two minutes.

She felt the most luckiest girl. His arms wrapped around her, giving the comfort she never felt in her life. Her cheeks hurting from the bright smile she wore and from the heat, causing them to turn into a light shade of red.

None of them was paying attention to the movie. Were lost in their feels. They looked at each other at the same time, giving them a good amount of laughter, before their lips connect. The world stopped spinning. People stopped moving except these two lovebirds. The kiss was slow, expressing their inner feelings. They couldn't  hear anything but their hearts beating at the same tempo. She jumped to his lap, her hands now exploring his chest and neck as his hands were placed to her waist pulling her as much closer as possible. Their tongues fighting now,their hunger to taste each other's bodies.

She wanted to feel him inside her listening to his moans, kissing her neck and whispering sweet words like every other time.

He wanted to feel her around him, hearing her moans, feeling her quick breath to his shoulder, telling her how much he loves her.

In minutes their clothes were on the floor. His tongue rediscovered her body, her breasts, her belly, her pussy. So did his fingers. Every inch was something new. It was like the universe put an effort to make this piece of art that he had under him, moaning at his touch and taking his breath away whenever she called his name.

Her hands were scratching his back and later his curls. She wasn't able to speak from the pleasure she felt at that moment. The pleasure he was giving. He looked like an angel that was sent to this world to save and take her at a better place.

"Tom"she whispered at his ear, feeling him inside her, hitting her spot. He met her eyes only for a moment before she closed them again, leaning her head back and moan his name once more. He was the luckiest man in the world.

Her heart was exploding through her chest,not being able to calm. Her legs around his body, shaking and burning. Her skin was so hot under his touch, it wasn't even possible for a woman to feel like this. He had this power over her and he wasn't even realizing.

In fact he was scared that someday she'll fly away from his arms. She'll find love somewhere else, far away from him. This was the main reason he felt the need to express his love to her always, making her feel good in so many different ways. Kissing her,spoiling her, dancing with her, sing to her, writing about her, making love to her. He saw her eyes getting brighter, her smile bigger, her hugs longer. He knew she was going to be forever his, but still the fear of losing her was present.

Y/n was terrified too. That he will get bored, that his love for her will stop at some point, that one day he might me gone. His arms will hug another person's body, his lips will not longer kissing hers. The thought of it was enough for her to tear up. She didn't want to lose him. He was her soulmate, her world, the meaning in the miserable life she was drowning. He was her savior.

And although they were scared for the other person's feelings, the only thing both didn't doubt was their unconditional love they felt for each other. She was in love with him. He was in love with her.They knew they wouldn't stop loving and cherish the other. They were convinced that this was their destiny, to be in love.

"I love you"their voices blended so well. Their bodies started to move faster and both couldn't breath easily. Their moans filled the entire house, and even further, not being ashamed if the neighbors were able to hear them. They didn't care about the rest of the world. It was just the two of them, in that bed screaming as they were closer to the edge.

They finished at the same time. Tom's body moved to the side trying to catch his breath. She turned to him, placing her head to his bare upper body, giving little kisses.

"I'm gonna make something to eat okay?"she smiled as she watched him breathing hard and barely speak. She was responsible for that, but he did more to her in ways she couldn't express, and probably never will.

A satin robe covered her naked body. She was standing in the kitchen, moving every now and then to take things, add some, throw some others, mixing, baking. She wanted to thank him. He was the only one to take her away and travel in places even God had forgotten. He was the only one to make her smile so much. He was the only one that made her feel so weak just from a touch. He was much more than just a man walking down the streets every day and night. But she didn't know that she was the one that saved him.

When you are feeling lonely, it seems that everyone is happy except yourself. You don't have someone to talk to, share thoughts, laugh with, give your love to. Just silence. And then you start feeling less and less. That's how he was feeling the day she accidentally threw her drink all over him. She became that person he was searching for years. That made him start feeling again. Who knows where he would be of they didn't met there.

He leaned against the door, just watching her cook. Her hair up now, showing her neck that was full of hickeys he left moments ago. Her body so flawless, that made him want to feel her again.

"Y/n"she stopped and looked at him. "Can I have a dance with you?"

"What about this?"he grabbed her hand and started walking to the living room. She laughed a little and waited for him to put a song. She didn't know why his heart desired dance so much. She loved watching him dance around the living room though, he looked like happier like that. And she was always looking at him with a full heart.

His hands pulled y/n's body closer to his. He started swinging and she followed fascinated from him and the way he looked under nothing but the moonlight.

"Whispered something in your ear, it was a prevented thing to say but I said it anyway, made you smile and look away"

Her head was resting on his shoulder, her eyes closed enjoying the dance. Tom's head was resting on the side of hers, his lips next to her ear.

" Nothing's gonna hurt you baby. As long as you're with me you'll be just fine. Nothing's gonna hurt you baby, nothing's gonna take you from my side"

That's how she felt with him. He was the shield she needed. Nothing was getting to her anymore, 'cause he was the one that protected her. She never felt unhappy or worried about things she used to. Tom was the person that made her feel happy, loved, carefree.

And that's how he felt with her. Y/n took the pain away from him. She was there when his friends couldn't. She listened and cared. Only beautiful emotions got through him because of her.

"When we dance in my living room, to that silly 90's R&B. When we have a drink or three, always ends in a hazy shower scene"

He picked her from the ground, her legs around him. She rested her forehead to his looking to his brown eyes, darker that usual. Her butterflies flew inside her entire system. Their lips connected again as their emotions got the most of themThe only thing that bothered him was that robe that blocked her beauty. He wanted to see her from head to toe naked every day all day. She was like a drug, the most dangerous one he couldn't say no to. She was allowed to ruin his life if she wanted to.

They lay down, hunger take over them for the second time. Just with kisses and she was already wet enough.

"Waterfall is overflowed"he whispered to her ear, his fingers playing with her, moans coming from her mouth.

"Nothing's gonna hurt you baby. Nothing's gonna take you from my side"

He was now inside her, the pleasure hitting him like electricity. She was tight around him, fitting him better than anyone. His heart next to hers, his eyes scanning her expressions one by one. Every girl would be jealous from her beautifulness and every guy was wishing to be him right now.

"When we laugh into the microphone and singing, with our sunglasses on to our favorite songs"

They both remembered the same day. Their first road trip. It was a hot summer day, music was loud and they were singing, or dancing, or laughing, or kissing. A day spent away from where they lived, next to a river just the two of them.

She finished first only a few seconds before him. The moon was even smiling seeing their tired bodies come closer, hugging one another. She kissed his lips with lust and mostly love. She tried to make sure he knew she was there for him. And she was staying.

She got up from the bed, sun watching her naked body. She got her robe again and made her way to the living room where she found him. He was standing next to the window with a cup in his hand, only wearing his grey sweatpants. He knew that they would drive her insane and she knew that he was aware of that weakness.

"Good morning baby"her voice made him smile before he felt her hand to his curls.

"Good morning"he kissed her." How was your sleep?"he asked as he caressed her cheek.

"I slept good"she laughed."When did you moved us from the ground?"

"A couple hours ago" he sipped from his cup,pulling her to a hug." I made you breakfast. Well you did last night but something came up"

"Yes I know. What a pity!" she smiled at him before starting running around the furnitures with him behind her.

____________

I hope you enjoyed it. Here's the song:

[sunkxss]

Pianoforte

a matsuhana fic

Matsukawa Issei learned how to play the piano and compose music when he was still in elementary school. At the time he had thought it was fascinating and hard, but not something that really interested him too much.

It took up a lot of time and his parents wouldn't let him go play with his friends until his daily practice was done, and only if it were done right. So he diligently practiced the scales and sheet music that his teacher gave him without much emotion or heart.

The music was played well, but one could tell that it was lacking something. It was lacking passion.

Matsukawa could easily read, write, and play music, but the emotion just wasn't there. Try as he might to fake it - it just wouldn't appear. It frustrated him. His parents finally let him discontinue his lessons in middle school after weeks of expressing his wishes to do so, but made sure to see to it that he practiced occasionally, so that his hard earned skill wouldn't be lost.

So he took it upon himself to practice twice a week. An hour every Monday and Friday right after dinner.

That is until he found volleyball. Twice a week became twice a month, twice a month became one, and so on until he only played when he was procrastinating on his school work (which was often but he didn't really practice - it was more of a tapping of some random melody he made up on the spot.)

Volleyball and school became the forefront of his mind and eventually playing the piano just became a distraction that only held his attention for only a couple of minutes. Volleyball was something that he was actually interested in. Something he was able to become passionate about.

Along the way he made friends, played against crazy strong opponents, won a lot of games and lost some, but most importantly, he fell in love. He fell in love and it ignited a small flame in chest where the grave of his musical ability laid untouched; burning the cobwebs away and shedding a small, warm glow on the sheet music of his heart.

Hanamaki Takahiro and Matsukawa Issei quicky became friends when they met during their first practice at Seijoh in their first year. They had immediately saw something of themselves in each other and clicked like a lock and key and were practically attached at the hip since. They were able to sit silently and enjoy each other's company while also being able to joke around and play pranks, always knowing what mood the other was in and how to respond accordingly.

They fit together like missing puzzles pieces that were finally connected.

It wasn't until their second year that Hanamaki had found out that Matsukawa played piano despite him being over at his house almost every weekend. The door to the piano room had always been locked and closed until the day Mattsun had left it slightly ajar when he had gone in to clean the baby grand prior to him arriving unannounced.

Hanamaki had found out when he had gotten bored of studying for his upcoming test and went to grab a snack from the kitchen when he noticed that the door was open. Being the curious person he was, he toed it to fully open and stepped in. He was greeted with an airy room that had a piano right smack in the center, and the faint smell of cleaning products.

The glossy black polish of it reflected the evening light that was filtering in through the window in distorted waves, music displayed on the small rack that was ready to be brought to life, and a small spread of booklets he could only assume were music were neatly stacked next to it.

A large grin had taken over his once neutral expression.

Soft, almost silent footsteps had alerted him that a second person had joined him to stand in the doorway. He didn't have to turn to know who it was, he knew it was his friend.

Makki turned to him, "Do you know how to play it?"

Matsukawa looked at his best friend for a moment and slid his gaze to the instrument he had cleaned earlier. He shrugged and went over to take a seat on the bench. He stared at the glistening, ivory keys wondering how Hanamaki was going to react. Of course he didn't really care but he just didn't see how him being able to play would be something anyone would want to know.

"Kind of."

He took in a deep breath and lifted his hands to the keys, feeling that small flame in his chest grow just a little bit brighter. He played a couple of scales to warm up, after all, he hadn't played in a while and needed to jog his memory, and figure out what he was going to play. Matsukawa looked over at his friend and saw him waiting excitedly. He rolled his eyes and tapped out a few experimental sounds.

Then, without any warning, music erupted from his fingertips.

Hanamaki watched as Matsukawa's eyebrows furrowed in concentration, lips set into a tight pout, and how his hands roamed the length of the keyboard, barely able to keep track of which keys had been pressed before they had moved to another another.

The music that came from his friend was. . .explosive. It was loud and fast but also exciting. It was fun and colorful. Hanamaki could have sworn he could see the story behind the notes his friend played, but not quite either. Like it was moments that followed a timeline that he could uniquely imagine and it would be different from how anyone else perceived it.

Melodies swirled and flowed together perfectly, swells and decrescendos carried the dramatics of the playful piece. It told a story of an instant connection; of exciting adventures that had already come to pass and more sure to be made. And just as suddenly as it had started the song came to an abrupt end with the last note ringing in the air. The final note had seemed to express that it was not the end–that the story didn't end there.

He waited with a baited breath to see if any more of the story were to fly out of the instrument. He let out a breath in slight disappointment when there wasn't.

Matsukawa lifted his hands from the keys and dropped them in his lap, fidgeting with his fingers as he expectantly looking at his friend for his thoughts about what he just created. The flame in his chest flickered, growing and shrinking in nervous anticipation.

The other boy blinked at him, trying to wrap his mind around what he had just heard and witnessed. He blinked once, twice, three times before letting out an impressed whistle.

"I thought you said that you could kind of play."

"I haven't played in a long time. I rarely come in here now."

"Didn't sound like it."

Mattsun's lips twitched up in the corners into a tiny grin. Maybe it was because it was the first time that he felt that spark. Something so profound that only Hanamaki was able to create it and force him into actually wanting to play and enjoy it. It was the story of their friendship, tinged with hope of becoming something more.

Maybe it was because he fell in love with his best friend, and maybe it was precisely because of that he started to understand what it meant to play with passion; to express himself in a way that words and playing a sport couldn't. Falling in love with his best friend made him want to create movements after movements just for him, to tell him what words cannot.

So Matsukawa just looked at Hanamaki and motioned for him to next to him on the bench with a soft smile and a promise to teach him how to play. And when his best friend, the person be loved, sat impossibly yet familiarly close with an excited expression directed at him, watching him with his attention soley on him, that flame called passion filled his entire heart and warmed the rest of his being.

[archived-gtronpa-account]

Sizeshifter Shu sizeshifter Shu!

Aaaa I'm just a sucker for emotional sizeshifters those anxious babies are just neat, so here

Summary: The killing game, the mastermind, the death of Rantaro Amami... All those events seem to make poor Shuichi's emotions go awry. Kaede notices his emotional distress, but is surprised to see the... extreme effect of that on his body.

Word count: 2133

___

Keade reached out and held Shuichi's hand.

"Kaede...?" His hand was cold, shaky; she squeezed it tighter, holding onto it like a lifeline.

"I wish there was a piano here, I would play you a song to cheer you up! For you... Oh, maybe 'Clair de Lune by Debussy! It's a soothing song that calms your heart, like the moon's reflection on water..."

She noticed Shuichi's shy, avoidant gaze look away from her eyes and linger on her hand. She swallowed back the tightness in her throat.

"You noticed, huh? Yeah, I'm shaking too... But if be a mess if you weren't here," she has to be strong for everyone, for Shuichi, for herself, "I would've been so lost without you. I'm glad you're with me, Shuichi," with him by her side to ground her and give her confidence and courage, she knew she could take on the mastermind, end the killing game, and get out with all of her friends.

"Please, be more confident. I believe in you, so you should definitely believe in yourself!"

She felt his hand shift and slide away from hers. She glanced down at it, but it hadn't moved away; if anything, it had shrunk down and balled up in a fist, so she readjusted her grip to hold on the small, shaky hand.

"Okay, I'll try..." The detective lifted his chin up and looked at Kaede right in the eyes, maybe for the first time since she had met him, "I don't know if I can, but I'll try..."

He reached a hand out to lift his cap up, but it slid back down over his eyes. She chuckled at the cute, fun sight. But the fun of it wore off when he kept struggling to pull his cap back up; it seemed a bit too big for his head, even though it had looked like a pretty tight fit moments ago.

"Uhm..." He looked away, slightly nervous, and slid his hand away from hers. She tried to grab it to calm him down, but paused when she saw it.

Maybe he was a bit scrawny for a boy, but his hand was definitely not that small.

"Shuichi...?" She looked back up, confused and worried. Her mouth fell agape when she looked at his cap-hidden face.

Kaede was sure she was not taller than Shuichi.

"Sh-Shuichi!"

Somehow, that seemed to snap him out of a trance. His eyes darted in her direction from under the loosely hanging cap, filled with worry and something akin to fear. He bolted upright up and took a few, stumbling steps back.

Kaede, still somewhat lost, stood up slowly from her seat, afraid any abrupt movement might scare him like a frightened kitten.

He shrunk down under her gaze, but his cap seemed to fit; and besides the fearful aura around him, he seemed just fine.

She stood at her full height, and somehow, Shuichi looked tall again, even taller than her. She'd always had the impression he was a bit of a short boy. Was he always that tall?

A music blarred in the classroom, pounding against the walls as if the room was a drum.

Kaede yelped and turned to look at the monitor. It displayed a weird movie with pawns being killed.

"Ah, Kaede!" She shot a glance at Shuichi, whom held up the receiver that had gone off.

"It's buzzing- somebody moved the bookcase!" She exclaimed. Her heart pounded against her ribcage to the beat of the insufferable music.

"L-Let's go see it!" Shuichi fled out of the room.

"Ah- wait for me!"

Kaede didn't think further of the spooky height change at that moment, deciding it was either a trick of the light from the setting sun, or the boy's strange position on his seat.

She thought of it again after the body discovery announcement.

She stood behind Shuichi, staring in horror at the cold body on the ground. Rantaro Amami lay dead on the library's floor.

In her frightened state, she almost didn't notice the change in Shuichi. But it was hard not to notice that when he stepped back and bumped into her, he was a good foot taller than her.

"Shuichi...?" She reached a hand up- well over her head, and placed it on his shoulder. He jumped at the touch and turned around to see her, but his eyes widened in horror when he found himself having to look down to meet the girl's eyes.

Kaede wasn't fast enough to speak. Shuichi had already bolted out of the room.

"Hey- wait!" She ignored the other students' confused gazes and rushed out of the room after the detective.

The boy had hidden in a nearby classroom. By the time Kaede reached it, she was wheezing and panting. The perk of being so tall was to be a fast runner, she supposed. But Shuichi had certainly not been a foot taller than her earlier that day; and even as she chased him in the hallways, she could have sworn he had grown even taller.

She gulped at the thought. Shuichi Saihara, the shy and anxious detective boy, was growing taller in his fear and panic.

Kaede pushed her own fear aside and grabbed the classroom's door handle. No matter how tall and no matter how short, no matter how scary and no matter how confusing, Shuichi was still her friend. Poor guy seemed even more terrified than her. So, even if she was afraid and apprehensive of what lay behind the door, she decided that she definitely had to be by his side, just like he had been by her side.

She pushed the door open and confidently stepped in.

"Shuichi...?" She called out. The last golden sunrays shone through the windows, casting a dim light inside the room.

It was easy to spot Shuichi, curled up in the corner of the room with his head almost touching the ceiling.

Kaede, in gentle movements, closed the door behind her and stepped towards the unusually large boy.

He lifted his head up in her direction and shied away as she approached. His back was pressed so hard against the wall she feared it might crack and crumble under that force.

"Shuichi? Calm down, it's just me," she tried to give her best reassuring smile and hoped it didn't turn out to be a grimace.

"K-Kaede, please... go away," in contrast to his size, his voice was so small and weak she barely caught the words.

She took a few steps closer to him, until she was standing to his side. The ground shook under her feet, and she realized it was because the giant boy was shivering.

"Come on, it's alright Shuichi, you don't have to be scared of me," she reached a hand out and patted his arm, unsure what other reassurence she could provide.

Kaede had to crane her neck up to meet his gaze. His eyes darted between her and the door, either wishing she would leave him alone or wishing he was still small enough to go through that door.

"Shuichi, calm down. I know you're scared right now, but all of us are. We have to stay strong in these times, and you don't have to be alone! I'll always be by your side, no matter what," some of the tension left her body. Had it been anyone else, Kaede wouldn't have been so calm and confident, but that was Shuichi; her friend, whom she trusted with her life and knew would never hurt anyone, whom she could rely on to end the killing game and protect everyone.

"So you're... You're not afraid- of me?" He breathed out, in a voice lower than a whisper, he looked down at her, then averted his gaze to look down at his lap.

His hand rested on the floor a couple feet away from Kaede. She knelt down next to it, and with some strength, lifted it up in her arms to her chest in an improvised hug. "Of course not, silly! You're the most reliable and trustworthy person in this entire school. Even if you were taller than this entire building I'd still trust you with my life," she rubbed the back of his hand, and chuckled "What were you even thinking?"

There was no answer. Silence stretched between them as long as the shadows on the ground; it wasn't a tense silence however, it was a calm, peaceful quiet where no words needed to be told to understand each other.

The pianist felt the cold, shaky hand fall limp in her arms, unmoving aside from the large fingers delicately brushing against her torso in small movements.

Kaede felt the hand slide off her grip and grow smaller and smaller at a steady pace. She kept her gaze down, afraid that if she looked up she would embarrass the boy and ruin the moment.

A few minutes passed, before Shuichi ended up on his knees besides Kaede, back at a somewhat reasonable height, maybe a bit short though.

"Kaede, thank you..." He looked away. The girl noticed the pink dusting his cheeks and something of a small smile under his cap.

Right, his cap. It was hanging off his head again like a big funny hat.

Shuichi was still getting shorter by the second. Kaede freaked out, thinking he still wasn't feeling alright. But he reached out and grasped her hand in two small, steady ones. He seemed fine, rather serene. She supposed serenity made him feel shorter somehow. So that was why he always seemed reclusive and reluctant to show his feelings. It was still weird to understand the emotional whole size-changes thing, but the pianist was gladly willing to try if it was for a close friend.

"I'm so glad I didn't drive you away even though I'm a freak, I'm so glad you're not scared, I'm so glad you're still here with me..." He vented, still keeping his gaze low and timid. Kaede brought a hand out and placed on his back for comfort. Her breath hitched in her throat at the sight; her hand practically engulfed his back, and his own hands could barely hold two of her fingers. He was so small, even smaller than a baby, maybe as small as a kitten. A black little kitten hidden under a huge cap.

After a while in the silence, Shuichi finally regained his full composure, got up at his full height of maybe a foot or so, and looked up at Kaede, sheepish. The girl watched as he stepped away from her and his body stretched out as he grew again to five feet seven. He was so fast about it that her head was spinning by the time he reached his usual height.

"Ah, geez! I really can't get used to your size-shifting thingy, it's always catching me off guard!" She chuckled nervously.

"A-Ah, sorry... It's a bit hard to control when I'm so emotional. This is embarrassing... Sorry," he stammered out, unsure how to justify his sudden outburst. It was hard to explain such embarrassing situation, "I-It's kind of like... wearing a shoe that's one size too small, once you take it off it feels so liberating that it's hard to put back on, kind of... It feels a bit tight to stay at a normal height all the time, especially after a slip-up... But now," he brought a hand to his chest and sighed deeply, "Now I'm alright, so... Thank you, Kaede," he offered a hand to help her stand back up. She held onto it tightly, thankful she could do that much after that hectic little episode.

"So, you'll... keep my secret?" He mumbled out, timid gaze looking away from her.

"Well, of course! if you're feeling good right now then I'm glad! But, Shuichi, it's okay to be emotional when you're in a stressful situation, so you shouldn't hold yourself back. No one here will judge you or think you're a freak or weak or whatever! And if they do, I'll punch them square in the face!" She shouted in a courageous voice and pumped a fist up in the air, earning a chuckle. "You should open up to the others. But if you want me to stay silent, then I'll take your secret to my grave!"

And she did.

____

The next morning, Shuichi left his cap on his bedside table, left his room and went to the cafeteria where everyone was gathered. Everyone but two of the sixteen students.

All gazes were on him as he came in, head free from the obscuring cap. He stood upright and took a deep breath, already feeling the tingling sensation in his limbs. He could do it.

"G-Guys... I have something to tell you."

____

Hnng ok this is my peak, anything after this and the last Keebs one will be trash in comparison cuz,,, I put more thought into this one than usual ! The rest will be messy lil drabbles. I don't otp saede but hot damn aren't they a good couple.

[gretavanfleetlife]

Only Time Will Tell: Chapter One

AN: This is the first fic I’ve ever written and I’m so excited to share it with you guys!! This will be the first chapter of a gvf series so there’s much more to come. I love you all so much, thank you for the support! Hope you enjoy!!

Also an enormous thank you to @aliensforleaders for inspiring me and being a massive help, I couldn’t have done it without you!!💕💕

Warnings: swearing

You stare mindlessly at the ceiling while you lay sprawled across your best friend's bed, humming along to a record that you knew all too well. You slowly open your eyes as the record stops spinning and the music becomes silent.

"God bless Bob Dylan," Josh says, "a true legend."

"You've been saying that since you were eight years old," you reply, smiling and looking up to see him walking towards the bed and flopping down next to you.

"And I'll keep saying it because it's true and you know it," he says and looks over at you. You scrunch up your nose and he sticks his tongue out at you. You and Josh have been best friends since you were three years old and he was six. He's always felt like an older brother to you, and the two of you became inseparable despite the clear age difference. You were only four years old when your mother passed away, and Josh's family took care of you when your father couldn't. You've grown extremely close with his family and closely bonded with Josh's brothers, Jake and Sam.

"When are you gonna get a boyfriend?" Josh asks suddenly. The abrupt question brings you out of your daydream.

"When are you gonna get a girlfriend?" you smirk.

"I'm serious y/n."

"You're never serious." Josh rolls his eyes, fighting a smirk that tugs at the corner of his lips.

"Ok well, this one time I am. You haven't gone on a date in, what, two years?" Josh questions, rolling onto his side to look at you, "don't you think it's been more than long enough?"

"Give me a break Josh, I dated Cam for a year. Don't you think I deserve as much time as I need after that?" you reply, meeting his gaze as he rolls his eyes at you. The last time you were in a relationship you were cheated on after almost a year of being together, and you didn't want to have to worry about that happening again.

"That was forever ago! It's time for you to get back out there and I'm going to help you find a guy if it's the last thing I do." Josh decides as he jumps off of the bed, "and I know just how you're going to do it!" The mischievous glimmer in Josh's eyes makes you nervous to hear his idea.

"Uh oh," you mutter as you prop yourself up on the bed to face him.

"I'm gonna throw a party tomorrow night!" You groan and bury your face in a pillow. "Hey, I know your excited y/n you don't have to hide it," Josh says, crossing his arms. He was right, you did feel excited as you smiled into the pillow that you held against your face. Sometimes you feel like Josh knows you better than you know yourself.

You throw the pillow at Josh and he lets it hit his chest and fall to the floor. He laughs as he walks out of his room without explanation.

"Josh where are you going?" You call out to him.

"Follow me," he calls to you as he walks downstairs. You let a small smile tug at your lips before quickly getting up and jogging after him. You get downstairs as Josh is putting on his shoes. "Sam! Let's go we're going out."

"Do I get a choice?" Sam asks as he gets up from his seat in the living room. You slide on your shoes as Josh opens the door, motioning you outside.

"Nope, hurry up," Josh responds.

As the three of you huddle into Josh's messy car, you ask him where you're going. Josh ignores you and turns on the radio, giving you a smirk before turning his attention back to the road. You cross your arms and share a smile with Sam, both of you impatient to know where Josh is taking you. After about ten minutes of you and Sam eagerly guessing your unknown destination, Josh parks the car in front of a clothing store.

"Oh no..." you mumble, looking nervously at Josh, who has a large grin on his face.

"Oh yes!" He replies, energetically hopping out of the car.

"Aw, I thought we were getting food! Why did I have to come?" Sam complains as the three of you walk towards the shop.

"I wanted a second opinion," Josh shrugs, earning an eye roll from Sam.

Walking inside the vibrant store, Josh and Sam make their way towards a small velvet couch beside the fitting rooms as Josh hurriedly shoos you away to look around. You leave the boys and turn your attention to the endless rows of shelves and hangers. As you flip through the dresses, you feel hesitant to take any off the rack. It's not that you don't want to catch a guy's attention, but you don't want to appear to be trying too hard. With a small sigh, your eyes land on a small black skirt. Picking it up and tucking it under your shoulder, you head over towards the back of the store where Josh and Sam are sitting. You pass the boys and walk into a fitting room, overhearing them discuss their band as you change into the light skirt. You smile and giggle quietly to yourself as you hear them bicker about their songs. They always talk about music extremely passionately, and you imagine Josh's elaborate hand motions as they discuss the newest song that they had written.

"Highway Tune is ridiculous!" Josh exclaims as you push the curtain aside and step out of your room to stand in front of the boys. Josh and Sam's conversation stops immediately and they turn their attention towards you.

"I like it," Sam says giving you a warm smile, which you happily return.

"What the fuck are you wearing?" Josh asks loudly, giving you a very confused expression.

"What does it look like?" you reply sarcastically.

Josh shakes his head in response, "It looks like you're not even trying. The whole purpose of the party is to get you a boyfriend can you please make my job a little easier y/n?" Sam's eyes widen and his shoulders tense as he stares at his brother. You groan and plop down beside Sam and he shifts uncomfortably on the couch.

"Fine! You go find something then," you shrug as Josh gets up and briskly walks away. You glance at Sam beside you and notice him quietly fidgeting with the end of his sleeve. Sam notices your gaze and quickly stops, clearing his throat.

"So Josh is throwing a party?" he asks.

"Yeah, tomorrow night," you reply.

"Do you know who's gonna be there?"

"I don't know the whole list, but probably everyone in our grade, plus Josh and Jake's friends. Why?"

"Oh no reason, just wondering." You notice Sam has gone back to fiddling with his shirt.

"Are you alright?" you ask gently.

Sam glances at you briefly before looking down at his feet. "Yeah of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Sam replies quietly.

"You just seem like there's something on your mind, that's all."

Sam looks up at you intently. He opens his mouth to reply but is interrupted by his older brother shoving multiple dresses into your arms.

"Honestly y/n did you even look? It took me about ten seconds to find these three," Josh complains loudly, "Well off you go then! Go try them on, we'll wait" he says as he returns to his seat.

You get up to walk back into your changeroom and glance at Sam, who's resting his head on his fist while he looks at the floor. You frown to yourself and close the curtains. When you open them again and stand in front of the boys, you have on a short golden dress that falls dangerously close to your butt and shows way too much cleavage for your taste. You roll your eyes at Josh's sense of style.

"What's with you and tight gold clothes?" you ask.

Josh's face lights up, "That's what I'm talking about! You look fantastic y/n."

Sam looks you up and down, his eyes landing on your chest for a moment before returning to meet your eyes. He swallows hard, "I don't really think it's your style, do you?"

"Yeah, you're right. This is too 'Josh' for me," you agree. Sam's shoulders relax as you walk back into your fitting room to try on the next one. You hear Josh let out an audible sigh as you force your body into a tiny, backless red dress. You were astounded as you finally got into it, walking out of the changeroom towards the boys.

"What size do you think I am Josh, negative four?" you snicker at Josh who nods his head in approval.

"Well yes dear, beauty is pain as they say," Josh chimes.

"Can you breath?" Sam says with a small laugh.

"Not really but thanks for asking," you snickered, shuffling back to your changeroom, "I think I'll have to pass on this one Joshie," you call out to him before sliding the curtain closed and changing into the final dress that Josh had picked for you. As you slid on the shoulderless maroon dress, you instantly fell in love with it. It showed off your curves and revealed just the right amount of cleavage, captivatingly complimenting your features. You knew the boys would love it too, so you quickly stepped outside and walked excitedly towards the velvet couch.

"That's the one!" Josh stated instantly, sporting a smile similar to yours as you gave him a quick spin, "how about it Sammy?" Sam silently stares at you, his lips parted slightly as his eyes rake over your body. Josh nudges Sam, "Well?" Josh says.

"N-no," Sam stutters while his eyes continue to scan over you. You frown, a bit hurt that Sam didn't like the way you looked.

"Oh, you don't think it looks good?" you ask Sam, second-guessing yourself.

Sam's eyes widen, "No, y/n that's not what I meant! It's just..." Sam stumbled.

"Just what?" you ask looking down at yourself. Sam tears his eyes away from your dress and looks at his feet.

"Nothing. You look beautiful," he sighs, slightly mumbling the compliment.

"Well if there aren't any obligations then this is definitely the one!" Josh says excitedly.

Josh insists on paying for your new dress, so you head out to the car with Sam. You hop into Josh's truck, claiming shotgun as Sam slowly makes his way to the backseat. You sit in silence as you glance at him through the mirror. Sam stares at his feet, fiddling with his hands as his eyebrows furrow in an emotion that you can't quite place. Sadness? Anger? Confusion? You're not sure, but you can tell something is bothering him. You ask Sam if there is anything wrong and he glances up at you briefly before turning to look out the window.

"Hm? No, I'm fine," Sam slurs unconvincingly. You've known Sam long enough to tell that he was definitely not fine, but you decide not to push it. You figure that he's probably just upset that he was forced into coming clothes shopping with you and Josh.

You flinch suddenly as you hear an enormous bang. You laugh and catch your breath as you see Josh sprawled out on the hood of his car, wailing like there's no tomorrow. He smiles at you as he slides off and throws himself into the driver's seat next to you, tossing a shopping bag containing your new dress at Sam, who doesn't seem impressed by Josh's spontaneous theatrical performance. Sam mutters something under his breath as Josh pulls out of the parking lot. As you made your way back to the Kiszka house, you sang along to John Denver at the top of your lungs with Josh and remained completely oblivious to Sam's frequent glances at you the rest of the way home.

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