#brown media console

[emvozbaixa]

Living Room - Transitional Living Room Inspiration for a large transitional formal and open concept brown floor and vinyl floor living room remodel with white walls, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace and a tv stand

[carsonmell]

Grand Rapids Family Room Game room - mid-sized contemporary open concept carpeted game room idea with white walls, a media wall and no fireplace

[scarletmoments]

Tampa Transitional Basement An illustration of a sizable transitional walk-out basement with a dark wood floor and a brown floor, gray walls, and no fireplace

[adammitchellambertgifs]

Open - Living Room Living room - mid-sized coastal formal and open concept light wood floor and brown floor living room idea with blue walls, no fireplace and a media wall

[stradivariusscalpel]

Tampa Transitional Basement An illustration of a sizable transitional walk-out basement with a dark wood floor and a brown floor, gray walls, and no fireplace

[dinahjane97]

Enclosed New York Large elegant enclosed family room photo with blue walls, a wall-mounted tv, and medium-tone wood flooring.

[tonksnymphdora]

Home Bar New York Small elegant enclosed carpeted and beige floor living room photo with a bar, brown walls, no fireplace and a tv stand

[miarren-chill-klaine]

Formal Living Room

[elise-rosy-unicorn]

Contemporary Living Room (Calgary)

[barcaracing]

you’re wearing his kit pt. 2 | pg8

summary: pedri and y/n go public with their relationship and it doesn't take long before the media digs up her past with another barcelona player whose name happens to be on the back of her kit in one photo

pairing: pedri x reader ft. platonic!gavi

warnings: angst, fluff, language

a:n: here’s part two to you’re wearing his kit! it's been sitting in my drafts for FAR too long bc i couldn't figure out the ending, but i’m so excited to see what u think. it’s a lot. in every way. 6k words from my family to yours. enjoy!!

*******

"You're not Aurora," you say, frowning. The person on the other side of the threshold gives a small smile. He inclines his head a little as if he was caught in the act and stares at you almost shyly through his lashes.

"Sorry to disappoint. Some people say we have the same nose if that's any consolation."

You lean against the door frame and arch an eyebrow. "You do not have the same nose."

He tucks his hands into the front pockets of his jeans and shrugs. "I don’t see it either but it’s what they say."

"Well, if that’s what they say," you drawl and cross your arms in front of your chest. You both fall silent, glancing around awkwardly as you wait for the other person to speak first. To no one’s surprise, it ends up being you.

"Pablo?"

He meets your gaze with a questioning look.

"What are you doing here?"

He fiddles with his sleeves and shifts his weight from one leg to the other, practically squirming.

"And where's your sister?" You glance behind him. "She said she would pick me up at noon. It’s 12:30 and you’re obviously not her."

"No," he says, "but the nose—"

"Gavi."

He loosens a breath. "I wanted to talk to you, but you didn’t return any of my calls or texts. You even ignored the spam mails I sent you." He narrows his eyes accusingly. "I expected better from my mystery lover."

You make a face. "Mystery lover?"

"One of the nicknames the press calls you." He grins. "I also like Gavi's Kitmate and Number-Swapping Seductress. But my favourite is the Jersey Juggler. It's hilarious."

"It's mortifying," you say, sounding as exasperated as you feel.

Grimacing, you push yourself off the door frame and consider the brown-haired boy before you. He keeps fidgeting and it’s starting to make you feel nervous as well. You sigh. “Fine,” you say, nudging the door open with your foot. "Come in."

Gavi's eyebrows shoot up. He’s quick to enter your flat without question, kicking off his shoes and tailing you into the kitchen where he heads straight for the fridge.

"I'm glad you let me in." He scans the content and picks up a container with leftovers to smell it. "Your neighbours probably thought I was harassing you." He puts the lid back on with a grimace and rummages through the rest of your food.

"You were harassing me," you say, hopping onto the kitchen counter next to the fridge. You watch him pop a grape into his mouth before taking out the entire bowl and two water bottles. He places one of them next to your legs, which are propped on the kitchen island, then sits on it and opens the other bottle to take a sip.

"So," Gavi says, balancing the bowl of grapes on his legs as he settles his feet beside you on the counter. "How have you been?"

Your head falls back against the cupboard and you stare up at the ceiling. "I was looking forward to seeing Aurora again. We wanted to grab some food before our flight later, but you know how that worked out."

Gavi hums. "You know, it still weirds me out that you're friends with my sister when I knew you first."

Your lips twitch. "You're aware we can have other friends besides each other, right?"

"Have some faith." He snorts. "I’m fully aware that you're dating my best friend and teammate."

His eyes widen.

He clamps his mouth into a thin line and shifts awkwardly. "Sorry," he mutters. "I wanted to ease into that a lot smoother but, er, yeah. I don’t think it worked."

"It's fine," you say half-heartedly, choosing to ignore how your chest rapidly fills with anxiety. "I appreciate the effort."

"How have you been dealing with that?" He twists the bottle between his palms, looking at you carefully. You really do appreciate how he powers through this. Gavi has never been much of a talker. If it was up to him, he would rather just give you a hug and offer you gum.

Still, you can't bring yourself to meet his effort with an answer, so you raise your shoulder in a weak shrug. There's not much that comes to mind. These past few days have bled into each other until all you can recall are tear-stained pillows and stuffing almost everything you own into a box in your closet because they remind you of Pedri.

"I haven't really dealt with it, I guess."

"You haven't?" Gavi looks surprised.

"No." You frown, staring at your socks. "I don't even know what’s left to deal with."

You hate how fragile you sound. You especially hate how every word holds some truth that you’ve been avoiding with every fibre in your body. The uncertainty is crushing you. There is no more of the anger and frustration that gripped each nerve of yours after you had left Pedri's flat.

It only flared up again when you saw the video of him accepting the girl's number. For days, all you could see was red. You felt betrayed and hurt. God, so hurt. You haven't let yourself truly think about it because the moment you do, it will turn into grief and that's the last thing you want.

You know grief is just love that no longer has a place to go, but you don’t want to carry that with you. You won't mourn anything yet. Not before someone calls an end to this relationship. That's the least Pedri can do.

"I don't know what happened between you, but I can piece it together seeing how he hasn't talked to me in days. Hasn't talked much to anyone during practice, to be honest. He also keeps losing every rondo." He scratches his jaw in deep thought. "I didn't even know that was possible for a midfielder. He also looks like shit if that makes you feel any better."

It doesn't, you think miserably to yourself. You shake your head. "I’d hate for him to play badly because of me. I still want Spain to win tomorrow, you know.” You knock your legs into his with a small smile. “Speaking of, shouldn’t you be in Málaga?”

Gavi bumps his legs into yours as well. “Ansu’s covering for me. They probably think I’m in my hotel room, resting like a saint.”

“You’re insane,” you say because he is. “Aurora knows?”

The corner of his mouth tugs up. “Knows that I’m insane? Hopefully. I’ve got it from her.” You roll your eyes and stretch out your hand, asking for some grapes. He dumps a few in your palm. “She knows I’m here, yes. I’m actually here to pick you up for your flight. She’s already in Málaga.”

“What?” The grape nearly falls out of your mouth. “Why?”

Gavi shrugs. “Didn’t say, but she probably knew that you needed someone to talk to and that it should probably be me.”

“That’s betrayal,” you say, completely fond of her.

He hums. “She also wanted to make sure that you still come to the match and she knew you could never say no to me.”

“That’s not true,” you sputter, although it is, sadly, very true.

Gavi knows that as well, so he just grins like the idiot he is. His smile lingers and for a moment, you’re just looking at each other.

Beach strolls in the winter and kicking a ball around on a random pitch at midnight come to mind when you look at the familiar brown of his eyes. You’re grateful to have a friend like him. His presence is comforting. But it doesn’t take long for the air to grow thick. His gaze drifts to his lap.

“Remind me again why we were never together,” he says jokingly, but his voice is gentle and earnest and it doesn’t quite feel like he’s teasing.

You let the last grape roll around in your palm as you think about his question. “We went on one date and it was the most awful thing that ever happened to us.”

“Right.” Gavi chuckles, delighted by the memory of you two sitting in a stuffy restaurant, talking about things that you already knew about each other.

You laugh softly. “We were awkward, bored, and sick of each other after 10 minutes. At some point, I considered climbing out the window while you ripped every napkin they gave you to shreds because you couldn’t stop fidgeting. So we just promised to stay friends. Very wise decision.”

“Wise beyond our years,” Gavi agrees. “No offence, but I nearly puked that night from how wrong it felt to be on a date with you. If I learned anything, it’s that some people are just meant to be friends.”

You nod, smiling easily. “At least we got that part down.”

He winks and offers you another handful of grapes. “We make a good pair. Completely platonic pair.”

You hum supportively and pick at your grapes. You sit in comfortable silence as you eat. Then he clears his throat and you find him already looking at you.

“It is, right?” He asks carefully, adjusting the bowl in his lap. “Completely platonic, I mean.”

You blink at him. “Are you joking?”

“I–“ He clears his throat again. “I’m just wondering.”

“Oh my God, Gavi.” You stare at him in disbelief before aiming a grape at his face. He swats it away. Couldn’t even have the decency to let it hit him.

“Of course, it’s completely platonic! I haven’t felt anything for you since that cursed day.” He nods to himself and exhales in relief, prompting you to narrow your eyes. “Except maybe disgust and intense dislike like right now. I can’t believe you asked me that when I have a boyfriend.”

“Sorry, I was just—” He holds up his hands when you chuck another grape at him. It bounces off his chest. “I just needed to make sure we’re on the same page here because someone clearly thinks we aren’t. Again, I have no idea what happened. I’m just here to feed you and get you on a plane.”

"Not doing the best job, are you?" You hold up the grapes and fix him with a look.

“We'll get something to eat on our way there.” He shrugs and sets the bowl aside, running a hand through his hair multiple times, obviously wanting to say more. Gavi’s eyes drift to the ceiling. He closes them with an exhale.

"I just need to know that you weren't fighting because of me. I really did like you for some time, Y/N, and I know it was reciprocated, but that was a long time ago and before we realised we'd never be anything more than friends. When Pedri asked you to be his girlfriend, I saw how happy he made you and I just knew no one would ever come between you. I'd really, really hate for that person to be me.”

You gawk at him. This is the most honest and rambly you have ever heard him, and you can't put into words how much that means to you. But you won't even have to do that because the great thing about Pablo Páez Gavira is that you don't need words to talk.

All you have to do is slide down the counter and sit beside him on the kitchen island. You lay your head on his shoulder and feel him wrap an arm around you, squeezing once before letting go.

"It wasn't your fault," you say quietly into the room, prompting Gavi to glance at you. "You did nothing wrong. Pedri just...there are some things we need to talk about, but we'll be fine, I think." You cringe inwardly at how unsure you sound. Gavi arches his brows in a way that tells you he heard it too.

He knocks his shoulder into yours and cracks a smile. "Very convincing. Now tell me what happened because I can't think of any more ways to make you understand that I don't know—"

"What happened. Got it," you say, rolling your eyes playfully. It wasn't your intention to keep this from Gavi. It's just that you haven't told anyone anything yet. In retrospect, you haven't really spoken much at all these past few days. So when you do, it feels relieving. The words simply tumble out of your mouth without any order or purpose, and you let them carry you through the events that took place almost two weeks ago.

How Pedri posted a beach selfie of you grinning into the camera with him sitting behind, arms wrapped around you and pressing a kiss into your shoulder. How he tagged you in the photo and threw his phone across the room in a panic only to walk back over to delete the app and turn off all notifications before pulling you close by the waist, spinning around the room, laughing. How liberating, nerve-wracking, and terrifying it felt to have the world know of something so precious and lovely and only meant for you two.

You don't realise you've been smiling the entire time until your face gradually drops and you start talking about the moment where everything went wrong.

How you wanted to scream and rip your hair out when Pedri and Fer looked at you like you were a stranger, but you still had no clue what had happened. How you felt betrayed and hurt that your own boyfriend didn't trust you and never gave you the chance to explain, making you feel helpless because you saw how hurt he was, but there was nothing you could do except let him try to inflict the same pain by flinging words at you that still clawed holes into your chest.

By the time you're done, Gavi is visibly simmering and you have to call his name twice before he snaps out of it.

"I’ll talk to him," he promises, his voice unusually hard.

"Okay?" You say, taken aback. "And what are you going to say?”

-✩-

"You're a dickhead, you know that?" Gavi slams the door behind him. He locks it, then strides into the dressing room, stopping a few steps away from Pedri who's sitting on a bench and taking off his cleats, barely reacting to his teammate's entrance.

"Still not talking to me." Gavi huffs, throwing his hands in the air. "Of course, you aren't. And here I thought I got lucky after you knocked me over right in front of Xavi. A real gem you are, by the way."

Pedri keeps his gaze on his shoes as he unties them—or rather yanks on the laces with a lot more force than necessary. Gavi watches him manhandle his footwear a moment longer before his patience runs thin. He snatches the shoe from his hand and casts it aside.

Pedri's head snaps up. He narrows his eyes at him, then turns around to toss the other shoe into his locker. While going through his stuff, he shakes his head and mutters, "Unbelievable."

Gavi glares at the back of his head. He's got to be kidding. One word. That's all he gets after nearly two weeks of silence. One word mumbled under his breath. Oh, he really is a dickhead.

"What is?" Gavi snaps, sounding as irritated as he feels. "Just fucking talk to me. I'm so sick of—"

"You ran into me five times today!" Pedri cuts him off, spinning around. "Five times in a 40 min practice session. You know that’s insane, right?”

Gavi halts.

He didn't really expect to get a response. But now that he got one, he realises that he'll just have to do anything to keep him talking. Easy enough.

He shrugs. "So what?"

Pedri blinks violently. "What do you mean so what? You just kept barreling into me like a mad person. Jordi wouldn’t even leave my side anymore after you tackled me to the ground."

Gavi coughs to conceal his laughter. Perhaps he did overdo it. He waves him off. "It's football."

Pedri stares at him in disbelief. "You shoved me over during recovery."

"Yes, well." He shrugs again. "Serves you right."

Pedri gapes at him. Then, he rolls his eyes and goes back to looking for something. "I don't have time for this."

Gavi swears his eye twitches. If there's anything that pisses him off more than being ignored, it's being dismissed. Especially by a teammate and friend. Apparently, he'll just have to drop right into it.

"We need to talk," he says firmly. Pedri simply takes off his training kit and puts on a fresh shirt, apparently back to ignoring Gavi who is close to strangling him. "Why haven't you apologised to Y/N yet?" He continues, and that seems to get Pedri's attention.

He stops, hand hovering at his locker. Gavi can practically see his brain short-circuit as his shoulders grow rigid with tension.

"What?" Pedri asks, gaze fixed on the locker door.

"You were an asshole to her and I refuse to believe you don't know that," he says, eyeing Pedri as he winces and stares down at his feet. At least he’s reacting to it. Gavi loosens a breath and takes a step forward. "I know you and I know her—"

"Seems like it," Pedri mumbles before shutting his locker.

"Look," Gavi says, treading carefully, "she told me what happened and it's shitty of you not to believe her, but I swear that nothing ever happened between us. We’ve always just been friends and you know that. Those pictures are old and she's only wearing my kit in them because I gave it to her, but—"

"You gave it to her?" Pedri looks up with a frown.

Something about his demeanour shifts. Gavi isn’t sure why but he gets the distinct feeling that whatever is approaching is important to him. It's huge. He's just missing some information on what it is. Pedri continues, "So she didn't buy it. That's your actual kit that you gave her and she wore?"

"Well," Gavi scratches his cheek, still failing to see the point. "Yeah? I don't understand—"

"You told me once that you'd only give your kit to the girl who would be it for you," Pedri says, his voice growing quiet as the room falls silent.

Gavi stiffens. There it is.

"You thought it'd bring bad luck if you didn't give it to the person you know you’d want to see wearing it for the rest of your life.” Pedri’s gaze is hazy as he’s recounting the memory. “You said it to me last year.”

Gavi stares at him, feeling stupid for not having seen it coming. It's ridiculous how he got blindsided. His mind is loud—a stark contrast to the deafening silence. It rings in his ears. All it takes is one look at his face before Pedri drops to the bench with his head in his hands. "So it's true."

"Pedri."

"I know I messed up, okay?" He runs his hands over his face and through his hair. "I know it. The way she looked at me broke my fucking heart, and it's been killing me that I did that to her."

Gavi decides to take a hesitant step forward. Every conversation he's had today didn't go as planned, so he's not certain about anything anymore. Less than he usually is with words, anyway. But something tells him that his best friend is about to spill his guts. He wants to be there for him. So he sits beside him and waits.

"I tried to call her," Pedri goes on quietly, eyes still fixed on the ground. "But it was only once and she didn’t pick up. And even if she did, I still have no clue what to tell her. I mean—I believe her. Of course, I do. I would trust her with my life, but I'm just…" Pedri bites his lip, brows knitted.

He sighs. "It hurts. It fucking hurts to see her wear your name and number, not caring that everyone can see it. But when I asked her if she wanted to wear my kit to a game, she said no. Every time. She gave her reasons, and I understand and respect them; told her it was fine, but what you said just kept repeating in my head and I thought, here I've found the person I want to see wearing my kit for the rest of my life and she doesn't want it." He looks away and swallows.

Gavi's heart breaks for him.

"She wanted yours. And now I find out you wanted her to have it as well." Pedri shakes his head. He finally looks up and meets his gaze. "Well, fuck, I want her to be happy, don’t I?"

The look in his eyes is devastating. Gavi furrows his brows and wracks his brain for the right words. Any words, really.

"Hermano, this is a conversation you should be having with Y/N," he mutters more to himself than to Pedri. He rubs the back of his neck. “I did say all that, yes, but I wasn't thinking of it when I gave her my kit. She went to a few matches with Aurora and wanted to support me as a friend."

Gavi pauses to think about how he can best put into words what he's about to say. The last thing he wants is to kick a guy who's already on the ground.

"I think some part of me liked seeing her in my kit," he says, carefully. "I guess I got used to it. But I never imagined actually seeing her wear it for the rest of our lives because I just never felt anything that intense for her. It was just a crush. A temporary thing. And whatever my feelings were, they disappeared anyway after that date we went on. You know the one we told you about that was so bad, Y/N considered never speaking to me again? That one."

When Pedri doesn't respond, Gavi adds, "Look, I know for a fact that Y/N doesn't have any feelings for me either, and that's exactly how we want it and how it's supposed to be."

Pedri fiddles with the hem of his shorts. "What makes you so sure?"

"The way she looks at you," Gavi answers right away. "She never looked at me that way. Anyone who has spent less than a minute with her knows she's in love with you."

Pedri stops fidgeting and Gavi swears he can see him blush. Finally, he meets his gaze. "I’m in love with her too."

"Of course, you are."

"I'm terrified."

Gavi can't help but snort. "Are you?"

Pedri's brows draw together.

"When you think of her, what do you feel?" He gives him a knowing look. "Because I don't think it's fear. And I think you know that as well. Don't lose her over this, Pedri. Don't lose her ever but especially not over this. You're good for each other."

Gavi is almost relieved to see him ponder his words. Gradually, his face clears and there's a small sparkle in his eyes that Gavi recognises from when Pedri sees an opportunity during a match. A space that holds endless potential and no matter what, he can't help but rush towards it. He can't even count how many times he has caught Pedri looking at you like that.

"I want her to be happy." He says it with so much conviction and finality that Gavi doesn't feel like it needs an answer.

"She is happy," he insists anyway and adds, "With you." Because he really is Cupid himself today.

Pedri nods, absent-minded, and rises to his feet to pace the room as he mumbles numbers to himself. Gavi watches in amusement as he gestures around, counting off things he's going to say and do. Finally, he comes to a halt and turns around, eyes twinkling.

"It takes less than two hours to get to Barcelona, right? If I leave now, I can make it back by 4. That's still 5 hours of sleep. It will only work if there's a flight leaving right now, but I'll make it. I have to. I'll probably be late for morning practice and it'll likely just be 4 hours of sleep, but it's fine because Norway—"

"Okay!" Gavi stands up, helplessly grinning. "None of that will be necessary."

Pedri frowns. "But I need to see her before the match or I’ll explode or score an own goal because my head’s a mess."

"That'd be embarrassing," Gavi says. "Especially in front of Y/N."

"What?" Pedri slowly shakes his head as if Gavi is the one who doesn’t understand. "I'm lucky if she'll ever want to see me again. I don't think she'll come all the way out here to watch a match if I'm playing in it. She wouldn’t."

"You're not wrong." Gavi chuckles. "But she promised Aurora she'll go with her to the game since my parents can't."

Pedri blinks, mouth opening and closing. "Oh."

"Exactly." Gavi’s cheeks hurt from how much he's smiling. "She's in Màlaga. Hotel room probably."

"Is it—"

"Yeah."

Pedri dashes off. Only to trip over his discarded shoe and go flailing to the ground. Gavi wheezes with laughter as he helps him up.

"My bad," he chokes out but Pedri barely even hears it, already out the door.

-✩-

"Oh," you say, staring at the hunched-over figure that just knocked on your door like the hotel was on fire and you were all going to die. "You're not Aurora either."

Pedri looks up and blinks through the sweat dripping from his forehead, gasping for air. "Huh?"

"Nothing," you mumble to yourself, "just mourning the fact that I'll apparently never see my friend again." You shake your head and shift on the spot. Pedri is still breathing heavily, hands resting on his knees and staring at you with a dazed look on his face.

His face is flushed the way it is when he plays football and somehow that just seems especially cruel. Your mind is still trying to grasp that Pedri is standing in front of you. Here. Right at your door. You were actually delusional enough to think that you’d somehow be able to avoid him.

Now, all you can think about is how the pink of his cheeks brings out his cheekbones and how his damp hair curls at the front and clings to his forehead. He looks really, really lovely.

Clearing your throat, you force yourself to look away. That seems to shake him out of whatever stupor he was in as well.

"Alright," he stammers, nodding supportively although he has no idea what you're talking about. "I'm sure she'll come around."

Your lips twitch and Pedri's gaze drops almost reflexively. You can't help but look to the side, running a hand up your arm as he clears his throat.

"Sorry, er, I...actually don't know what to say." He straightens and rubs the back of his neck as though it just dawned on him. He smiles sheepishly. "All I could think about on my way here was that you're in Màlaga and how happy I was that you came because I am—happy about it, I mean. I should've thought about what I wanted to say because now I'm just rambling like an idiot but I'm just—I'm so happy. That you’re here. I'm really happy you're here."

You nod hesitantly, not sure how to respond. For some reason, you feel the need to say, "I'm here because of Aurora. She asked me to go to the match with her tomorrow."

Pedri's eyes flickers between yours before they widen. "Oh no, yeah, I know. I knew that. I wouldn't have assumed—I didn't think you came because of me."

You nod again. "Okay."

He looks around the hallway, apparently keen on basking in the awkwardness before his eyes meet yours, seeming almost shy. "Hey, er, can we talk?"

Something inside you rips. The emotional whiplash almost cuts off your airways. You feel blissfully relieved because, yes, of course, we can talk. Always. You've been waiting for this moment. You want this. But the other half is prickling with dread and anxiety about how this talk will end. You have the willpower of a divine being when you force yourself to answer with a steady voice.

"Sure."

God, you're strong. So strong.

Giving you a small smile, Pedri makes to enter your hotel room, but you shake your head and step forward, pulling the door close by a centimetre. "No, not in there."

Pedri steps back robotically, looking puzzled as he glances behind you through the crack of the door. "Er, okay, that's fine. Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, it’s just—" You gesture aimlessly as if that would make him understand. "I just have to stay here for two more nights and depending on how this will go, I won't be able to put it all into a box. Since it's not my stuff," you add after a beat although that seems to only confuse him more.

"I'm sorry—what box?"

You wave him off and turn to grab the keycard before closing the door. "Doesn't matter. Do you know another place?"

Pedri blinks a few times. You can see him cast another confused look at the door before nodding. "Yeah, I know a place. Come on, I’ll show you."

He holds out his hand.

You look at it.

Before you can react, Pedri curses under his breath and retracts his hand, running it through his hair instead. "Sorry. Habit," he mutters, then turns around briskly, starting down the hall.

You follow without a word, not saying anything about how the tips of his ears are burning red. Or how he's walking around in training shorts and socks. You don't comment on his shirt that is inside out either.

You just keep your gaze ahead and focus on your heartbeat as it pounds like crazy. You barely even notice that you've arrived if it weren’t for the gust of wind that leaves a trail of goosebumps on your arms.

"The rooftop," you say, looking around. "Planning to push me off?"

"If you wish," he says. The ghost of a grin blooms on his lips. The wind blows again and you reflexively take a step forward to escape the cold. Distractedly, Pedri comes closer as well, his eyes on the sky above. "I don't think it's going to rain, but we can go inside if you want."

"I'm fine," you say, letting your gaze drift around. "The view is stunning."

"So are—" Pedri coughs. "So are the clouds."

"Hm?" You look up. "Oh yeah, they're pretty." A soft smile settles on your lips as you squint at the clouds, trying to make out any shapes. You can feel his eyes on you, and you try very hard not to think about how that makes you feel.

"Do you want to sit?" He eventually asks in a gentle tone. You tear your gaze away and nod, following him to the edge of the roof.

"So," Pedri starts once you're sat beside each other, legs dangling above the streets below. "I'm a dickhead."

"No, you're not," you mumble, eyes set on the view ahead. "It takes a lot to be a dickhead. You're just an idiot."

He gives a quiet laugh. "I'm serious."

"I thought you were a dickhead."

"I can be both," he says, gaze still locked onto the side of your face. "Look, I want to apologise—which I should've done weeks ago."

You can't bring yourself to meet his gaze, but he doesn't seem to mind. "I know it wasn't fair of me to say those awful things to you and then not let you explain, but I did it anyway and I have never regretted anything more. I hate that I wanted to hurt you. And I really hate that I'm capable of it, but I need you to know that I'm sorry, Y/N. I'm so fucking sorry."

You let his words linger between you. Taking a deep breath, you shift your gaze. The look in his eyes almost catches you off-guard. It's sincere and bare.

"You don't have to accept my apology right now," he goes on, "but I know a lot of things were left unsaid that day, so you can say them now and I'll listen. Yell at me if you want. Honestly, shove me off this building, I won't judge."

A smile tugs on your lips.

"Can't kill you now," you say, "still got a game to play." The corners of his eyes crinkle as he chuckles. You missed that sound. Pulling your legs up to your chest, you lean your cheek on your knee and lose yourself in his eyes. For a moment, it's quiet. There are cars below and birds above, but there's also quiet. Serene. Softly, you say, "You really hurt me, Pedro."

He nods slightly and adjusts his body so that he's fully facing you.

"I've never seen you get so mad before," you continue. "You barely lose your temper when you get a yellow card, but you did over those pictures and I just don't understand." You shake your head. "I know you get jealous sometimes but not like that. Not over Gavi. I've told you everything you wanted to know about our friendship, and you said you didn't mind any of it. You said you liked how close we are and that you trusted me."

You swallow the lump in your throat. "I want to know why you stopped. I know there's more to it than just me wearing Gavi's kit and I've been trying to figure it out every day because I keep thinking it must be something big and awful in order for you to just leave me." Your voice cracks. Your vision blurs and in the back of your mind, you know you're tipping over and you should probably reel it back but honestly? You don't want to.

"I want to accept your apology, I really do. I missed you so much, Pedri. So fucking much." He opens his mouth to respond before thinking better of it. You're grateful for it because you don’t doubt for a second that you’ll simply break down if he says it back. "But you hurt me so much more than that. You left me."

The words feel like venom on your tongue and by the look on Pedri's face, they burn like it too. "You know I was terrified of making our relationship public. There's nothing more terrifying to me than attention on that scale, but you said it would be fine and people could say whatever they wanted because you'll be by my side. Well, it happened. We did it. People said horrible things to me; to my friends and family. And you weren't there."

Pedri closes his eyes briefly, sucking in a sharp breath. You almost want to take it back and tell him it's not that big of a deal because you know you were close to mending things, but you feel so much lighter now that it's out. That has to count for something.

You feel fingertips brush your cheek. Dazed, you realise that Pedri has come closer to wipe away a tear you didn't even know was there. You don't lean into his palm and he doesn't let it linger either. Instead, he holds it out in front of you. Hesitantly, you reach out. The tips of your fingers graze the inside of his hand. His hand closes, gently holding onto yours.

"I'm sorry, Y/N. I really am." He holds your gaze even if his voice cracks. "You're right, I shouldn't have left you alone after convincing you to go public. I was horrified and ashamed of what I did and said just to hurt you in the same way I felt hurt. I couldn't bring myself to face you afterwards. I know it's not an excuse, but you deserve an explanation."

He takes a deep breath and squeezes your hand, seemingly without meaning to.

"A while ago, Gavi said something to me that kept bothering me. It crossed my mind every now and then when we talked about posting that photo, but it only really hit me when I saw those pictures and articles. That's when it became real and I guess I took it as confirmation of something I've always been insecure of." Pedri falters and looks to the side.

When you don’t respond, he quietly explains, "Gavi said he'd only give his kit to the person he knew he wanted to see wearing it for the rest of his life. That having anyone else wear it to matches would bring bad luck, so he’s waiting for the right person."

You stare at him.

Slowly loosening a breath you didn't know you were holding, you try to find your voice. "He said that?"

Pedri nods. You can feel him loosen his grip on your hand.

"Okay," you say, shaking your head to clear your mind. "Alright then."

You pull your hand back and let it fall into your lap, biting back a scoff. "You really are a dickhead."

*********

okokok i know u probably hate me rn, but i promise there's a part three :)) i wouldn't just leave u hanging like that lol i just wanted to get this out sooner than later and tbh there's still so much missing. the grovelling! the anger! the grovelling, people!!! anyway, feel free to leave some feedback, so i know if anyone even wants a third part. stay hydrated guys x

[good-chimes]

In honor of Life series four, Life Series Bake Off AU

NEW SERIES LAUNCHES:

Nation charmed by fresh crop of 12 amateur bakers including intensely competitive student GRIAN, ambitious cake artists BDUBS and SCAR, scientific bread experts TANGO and IMPULSE, and ETHO who has no discernible social media presence and, rumor has it, doesn’t officially exist. Married couple JOEL and LIZZIE raise eyebrows—will they be able to compete against each other?—but this is settled when Lizzie immediately announces she would murder Joel in real life to win and has bought the kitchen knife set for it, and Joel lovingly declares he keeps an axe under his pillow in case this happens.

The judges as usual are renowned cake chef PEARL, bread expert MUMBO, and our two inimitable presenters: BIGB, beloved by the nation for his gentle reassurances of weeping contestants, and MARTYN whose main contribution is his trademark eyebrow waggles as we find out from the judges who’s in trouble this week.

TART WEEK (1)

Tart week gets off to a strong start, with contestant REN charming both the judges and Martyn with his exquisite tarte au citron and his total inability to let a double-entendre go to waste (‘I’m just a tart triumph all over’ he proclaims, to Martyn’s immediate delighted riposte ‘Mm, but what do you do on the weekends?’). Law student JIMMY is not so lucky when a misreading of the recipe leads to ten times the correct amount of butter and a catastrophic oven meltdown. Star baker goes to early favorite BDUBS for an exquisite three-tier tart showstopper.

Week one elimination is, of course, the hapless Jimmy, and the recaps are united on two fronts: it's always nice to see someone on the show who reminds you of your own midnight experiments, but holy shit Jimmy, did it not give you a clue when the melted butter started pouring out of the oven like you’d stabbed the spirit of margarine to death in there. Jimmy's butter meltdown becomes a meme and he sells T-shirts; Joel immediately posts a picture wearing one.

CAKE WEEK (2)

Week two brings cake week and an impressive performance from SCAR, who embarks on a showstopper Baked Alaska in the shape of a snow-covered mountain. Tranquil in the face of GRIAN’S constant disparaging comments about his whisking technique and browned meringue, Scar perseveres and is crowned star baker for the week, while Twitter immediately declares Grian the villain of the season. A contingent of viewers theorising ‘could this be flirting’ are swiftly shouted down on social media and retreat to a dedicated subthread on a cookery forum.

Last week’s star baker BDUBS seems distracted by his new-found friendships with the quiet ETHO, who spends hours on the surprisingly unambitious Victoria Sponge. A conspiracy theory emerges that Etho invented the Victoria Sponge, refuted by weak counterarguments like “cannot possibly be true” and “he would have to be several hundred years old.” Meanwhile the nation is won over by JOEL and LIZZIE’S chemistry as they trade quips and spatulas, unfortunately Joel is eliminated after a jam mishap, at which he declares “at least I went out after Jimmy.”

TEA-TIME WEEK (3)

Tea-time week brings florentines and shortbread, but it’s a sad week for love as REN is out after his overambitious scones fail to impress. “I’m heartbroken,” Martyn announces, and cannot be consoled even by Scott’s superb showstopper petite-fours. Ren was a good sport to the end, everyone agrees. Ren spotted at a Covent Garden coffee shop with Martyn three weeks later.

HALLOWEEN WEEK (4)

The mood is jovial for Halloween week, with judge MUMBO in fake vampire fangs while ETHO bakes cookies in the form of anatomically correct skulls. LIZZIE starts off with adorable witch-hat cupcakes in little witch hats, then spends the rest of the episode precisely and effortlessly crafting a blood red mirror glazed sachertorte which the presenters refuse to look at because it “makes them uncomfortable”, and is subsequently awarded star baker for the most genuine aura of threat ever achieved by a cake.

Meanwhile GRIAN and SCAR continue to genially snipe at each other throughout. TANGO asks BDUBS to turn his oven off at a crucial moment; unfortunately Bdubs forgets and then blames Tango for relying on him, leading to the charred mess of Tango’s showstopper and a social media uproar dubbed “OvenGate”. Bdubs alternately sorrowful and dramatically dismissive. This cruel betrayal knocks Tango out of the tent; a public petition is started for his reinstatement.

WEDDING WEEK (5)

Puppet theater designer CLEO has her star turn in wedding week with ranks of beautiful marzipan figurines on all her bakes. An intense rivalry develops between her and wedding-enthusiast BDUBS, who declares his magnificent fondant confection a dry run for his impending marriage to ETHO, a stranger he met ten days ago. When asked by presenters how much of this is a joke, Etho laughs and says “I guess?”, which leaves the nation none the wiser. Unfortunately IMPULSE’S canapes are considered uninspired and he is uninvited from both the wedding reception and the series.

BREAD WEEK (6)

The feared bread week comes around and all the artistic cake-makers wobble badly. SCAR and GRIAN just scrape through, but CLEO’S triumph last week turns to tragedy despite the trouble she has gone to to model a realistic centaur out of sourdough. Bdubs makes an impromptu speech to camera about how she was robbed but he intends to triumph in her honor.

MEDIEVAL WEEK (7)

The experimental medieval week takes the bakers on an outdoor camping trip where they will attempt to build their own stoves and use them to replicate historical bread techniques. BDUBS’S enthusiasm for this and his drive to impress ETHO turn out to be his downfall as, distracted, he builds a stove that bleeds heat and fails to brown his bread. Etho meanwhile excels at both the survival and breadmaking aspects, leading to a divide on Twitter on whether this level of competence is hot or just very concerning, potentially the cake equivalent of a serial killer. The Victoria Sponge theory is raised again. Etho alleviates some concerns by getting lost three times in an open field over the course of the episode, which loses him enough baking time that dark horse SCOTT pips him to the post of star baker.

WINTER WARMTH WEEK (8)

Week eight arrives and five bakers remain: LIZZIE and SCOTT are known to be good all-rounders, ETHO is the reigning technical expert, SCAR remains the favorite on the cakes side, and GRIAN is mainly known for his habit of constantly sneaking spoonfuls of Scar’s cake mix so he can mock the taste. Social media opinion is divided into “Grian is a good baker actually”, “Grian is only still in because of executive meddling”, and the small but determined contingent of “no guys we really think they’re flirting??” who have emerged from their cookery subthread unbowed and with compilations of video evidence.

The set gets cozy with winter warmth week. Brandy-based showstoppers are the order of the day, and LIZZIE wins the episode by crafting a biscuit unicorn with a mane you can set on fire. ETHO invents an intricate brandy plumbing system to shoot flaming alcohol above his plum pudding—this attempt is in fact a good deal too successful and instead sets MARTYN’S hair on fire. GRIAN comes to his aid but ends up adding more brandy. Judge PEARL extinguishes the flames with a bowl of cinnamon milk. The judges are clearly not feeling merciful when it comes to the scores and Etho’s run comes to a premature end.

DOUBLES WEEK (9)

Some old favorites return for doubles week, where each of the remaining four bakers is helped out by an eliminated contestant on the other end of the phone. GRIAN for once assesses the limits of his own talents and asks to pair up with ETHO, a plan that immediately pays off when the contestants are challenged with a tricky technical that sees them baking the perfect pumpernickel bread. SCAR, having asked to pair up with BDUBS, is quickly underwater as neither of them understand yeast.

Scar’s floundering proves too much for Grian, who belligerently passes along his pumpernickel tips from Etho, saving Scar’s technical enough for him to scrape through. When challenged by Martyn, Grian grudgingly admits, “I just want Scar to stay in, okay?” Some recaps clear him of his villain status; others are still convinced it’s a fluke.

Meanwhile SCOTT turns in an efficient technical with help from CLEO and also JIMMY, who is apparently sitting in Cleo’s living room just to heckle Scott. LIZZIE calls on husband JOEL, but a combination of overconfidence and flirting distracts them both, leading to a burnt crust and Lizzie’s elimination from the final four.

MERINGUE WEEK (Final Episode)

In the finale, SCOTT, SCAR, and GRIAN face off over a series of escalating meringue-based challenges. Whatever alliance sprung up between Grian and Scar in the last episode is clearly water under the bridge as the two of them obsessively steal each other’s ingredients and annoy each other into trivial mistakes. This escalates into a noisy quarrel over the main challenge of the week: an edible diorama of a cactus ring. Scar’s attempts to ‘aesthetically correct’ Grian’s mountain diorama leads to Grian melting his sugar-spun cacti with a crème brulée torch.

The two are no longer speaking by the showstopper, where Grian embarks on a desperate attempt to make up points with an ambitious trifle in a castle-shaped wall of macarons while Scar builds his own grand macaron diorama. The clock ticks down. Scott is creating an impeccable strawberry pavlova. The trifle is going badly. Grian is covered in sugar and regret. BigB pats him reassuringly on the shoulder.

At the last moment, Scar sacrifices half his perfect macarons to donate to Grian’s diorama. Grian, for once lost for words, grabs his apron and kisses him right in front of Martyn’s swiftly-derailed countdown. “Grian had a beautiful artistic vision,” Scar says sentimentally afterwards. “You have to respect the craft!” They snog behind the tasting table. Mumbo gamely attempts to award points. Pearl in a laughing fit behind the cameras. Martyn and BigB solemnly wrap up the shot with Martyn’s best cake-based innuendoes. Grian and Scar do not notice.

Scott wins the series. He got so many more points on the cactus ring technical.

[ggomos-maribat]

1 | a perfect day

Part 1 of Marinette Dupain-Cheng is Dead | Masterlist

The place they reserved was beautiful: the greenhouse-type of dining with ferns and orchids hanging from the glass ceiling and walls, a lush green against the pristine white of their chairs and table napkins. The day was blessed with fair weather so just the right amount of sunlight was cascading down on them which fit the light hum of the festive music from the speakers. Even the hostess herself was a sight to behold—a flowery off-shoulder dress, curled brown hair, and pastel manicured nails.

Sabrina truly felt she was in another world.

Their hostess stood up, holding her wine glass in one hand. "I'd like to make a toast." She beamed. "To everyone here, who accepted my invitation for a humble reunion."

She looked at them on by one, first at Alya who seemed to cling at her every word, then moved down the table to Nino, Rose, Juleka, Max, Kim, and so on. These were faces of now acclaimed people, successful in their respective fields. "It seems it was just yesterday when we were only students in Ms. Bustier's class," she continued, "But in reality, we've been through a lot. Ups and downs, pains and losses. But I'm proud of us for sticking together, for keeping in touch after all these years."

A star in the social media field, and a proud founder and CEO of her brand. Lilia Ross. That was the alias she had been using when she was stepping into fame. But to Sabrina, she'll always be Lila, the charming girl who once was a transfer student in their class.

"To us!" Lila cheered, raising her glass up in the air. They all followed suit, some laughing a little and others bursting into lively conversation.

Sabrina took a sip of her drink, turning to her left. "It really has been so long, hasn't it, Chloe?"

The blonde appeared to be in some kind of stupor, but her friend's words shook her out of it. "Huh?"

"I said it's been so long."

Chloe rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Uh, yeah, you're right."

"Are you okay?"

She gave a smile of reassurance. "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry, it's just . . . stress from work."

Sabrina was about to suggest she get some rest first when the wooden doors opened, revealing another familiar face from their teen years. Large sweater over a collared piece. A priceless watch. Golden hair fixed to look stylishly unkempt.

The man greeted them, "Hey, I hope I'm not too late?"

At the head of the table, Lila's jaw dropped open. "A—Adrien?"

"That's me," he chuckled lowly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Long time no see, everyone."

The others, too, couldn't mask their shock—understandably so. Adrien Agreste had been out of the public eye for the past seven months, halting his modeling career and laying low in god knows where. Even Sabrina couldn't remember when she had last seen him.

It was Alya who stood up, grabbing a seat for their new guest. "It's been so long!" She said. "Come here, sit. Where have you been and why were you so unreachable?"

"Yeah, man, I even tried visiting your old house in Paris. They said you weren't there." Kim, meanwhile, passed a plate to him.

"I'm really sorry for that." Adrien gave a sheepish look. "I was too focused on taking time for myself. I'm on hiatus from modeling—I didn't mean to cut everyone off. But I wanted to make it to this reunion!"

At that second, Sabrina's phone began to buzz a notification.

"It's alright to take a break sometimes," Mylene consoled. "Are you going back to modeling soon?"

Adrien shrugged. "I'm not sure yet; I might try out other things and see what works for me."

The phone vibrated again, a few times in succession this time.

"What about working with me?" Alix offered. "I need some extra hands around the museum. Minimal experience needed! I'll teach you everything I know."

The nth buzz sounded and Sabrina pulled out her phone from her purse to completely silence it but then she caught a glimpse of Chloe. She looked pale as a sheet, staring down at her unfinished plate.

Sabrina leaned. "Chlo—"

Buzz. Buzz.

Frowning, Sabrina unlocked her phone to check what the incessant ringing was all about. There were tweets, articles, posts, and messages filling up the screen like something had blown up. And something might as well have.

Her eyes widened when she tapped on an article.

Alya's voice rang out. She, too, was looking at her phone. "Hey, Lila, what's this all about?"

"Hm? Is it about my magazine feature?"

"No, it's not," Sabrina whispered.

There in bold letters the words were summoning up a storm: 'The Truth About Lilia Ross: She's Not Who You Think She Is' .

***

Saturday morning saw Jason Todd at the Wayne manor's dining table, munching on a piece of toast with jam. He stayed the night after patrol upon Alfred's insistence, and then remained for breakfast after some more badgering.

The second eldest raised an eyebrow when Bruce strolled into room wearing office clothes.

"Event at WE today," Bruce explained, making a coffee for himself. "Tim, feet off the table please."

Tim, who was stuck to his phone, let out an incoherent mumble before putting his feet down.

"Lilia Ross," uttered Bruce. "Does that name ring a bell?"

"French-Italian, founder and CEO of Lilia Designs, sells clothing and cosmetics," Tim supplied in a monotonous voice. "She's more famous as an influencer though. In the past few days, there have been a lot of rumors popping up about her. Why do you ask?"

"PR at WE asked me. They wondered if I knew her."

"What does she have to do with Wayne Enterprises?" Damian chimed in.

Celebrities and trends never piqued Jason's interest—he focused on eating, debating internally if he should purchase more handguns to replace a couple that he lost.

"She's been promoting our products even if she's not legally affiliated with WE," Tim explained whilst gulping down his daily dose of caffeine. "She's just trying to fish for a real sponsorship or partnership. Her brand's getting famous in Gotham, you know."

"It's not much of a concern for the company then. Our lawyers will be able to handle it if her so-called scandals affect WE," said Bruce.

"True, but it's still weird. This is her first major backlash on the internet and there's a lot of—" Tim did air quotes with his fingers, "—'anonymous witnesses' coming forward to show her 'true colors'."

"How is that different from the usual celebrity rumors?" asked Damian.

Okay, maybe Jason was a little curious.

He discreetly pulled his phone out to check the articles popping out online. And there were many, as if testimonies were spewing from a never-ending fountain.

'eiffelparis12: don't fall for it. she bought all those views and likes. fake *****'

'coffeecake: I worked as a stylist in a studio once. She was at our show...I didn't expect her to be so two-faced! She was so rude to the producer's assistant and kept bossing her around. The poor guy didn't even get to eat.'

'seaasss: her products arent even that good. lol.'

'venusred: she bought her way to be in our blog's feature. i'm pretty sure she has an anonymous sponsor.'

'harpyre: OMG! does she even pay her employees enough?'

'silverberry640: no way, lilia doesn't deserve this! there's no proof.'

'ngc5195: this is what fame does to all of them......sad.'

Jason looked up again when Bruce spoke. "For now, WE isn't obligated to proceed with legal action and we're not actually involved anyway. I'm sure this will pass on its own."

He wasn't wrong. Scandals came and went; people liked to throw stones at one person then move on to the next after the damage was done.

"Or not," Tim suddenly said, staring at something on his phone "Shit."

"What is it?" asked Bruce.

Tim read the words aloud. "Influencer Lilia Ross, accused of murdering former classmate." 

[slasherbvnnie]

Who's Watching Billy | Part II

Hi again, long time no see! This is brought to you for no reason other than I am ovulating and thinking wayyyy too much about Billy Loomis.

Part I

Word Count:2359

His eyes flashed across the screen in front of him, dark brown hair and eyes shining in the dark room as his computer screen flashed onto them. He seemed entranced as he slowly moved the mouse around, eyes closely watching the cursor dance across the screen. A smirk came to his lips as he continued to stare at the screen in front of him, reaching over to his nightstand and grabbing the drink settled on it.

Billy had spent his last few hours searching all over social media for you, his new partner and the pretty girl he sat next to in chemistry. Despite having Sidney by his side, it was only a superficial love, all part of his plan to get back at her and her family for the harm they had done to his own. But you…he was captivated by you the second you wondered to the classroom. So luckily for him, you didn’t keep your social media private and went by your name on them as well. Just one little search for your name and he had access to just about every account, he was pretty sure he could even get your number and address if he dug a little further, but he didn’t want to show he was that obsessed, not yet.

Within the next few weeks, Billy sleuthed even more through your social media, but also did his best to try and get to know you in person. He first brought up ideas because of the project you two had to plan for chemistry, mentioning different topics as suggestions for it but he was happy when he brought up horror movies that you knew quite a few. When you suggested the idea to monitor the two of your heart rates while having a marathon of them, his fluttered and skipped a beat.

That night was when he knew he had become obsessed, when your head had lulled onto his shoulder after you two had finished his favorite movies, he couldn’t help but stare down at you. He was curious about you, wondering why you would befriend him so easily, but also which part in his master plan would you take on. He was conflicted with himself when his first thought was one of the survivors. That was just asking for being found out, but he hoped deep down inside of himself that you wouldn’t rat him out, not if you were in love with him. As his dark eyes stared down at your sleeping frame, he made a promise to himself, that he would keep you safe and make you fall for him.

When fall came around and he and Stu decided to have Casey and Steve be their guinea pigs, Billy made it clear to Stu that you weren’t to be touched under any circumstance. The only thing that wasn’t on his list was being accused by Sidney of being the killer, so when Stu called to make him seem innocent, he was praying the blabber mouth group didn’t reveal anything to you. The second time Billy’s heart skipped a beat was when you said you didn’t believe Sidney’s accusation, and while it made him question your naivety, he was happy it didn’t affect your view of him. He was more than happy to replace Sidney with you, a bit frustrated at your well-established morals regarding his new found single life, but nonetheless knew he could use his charm and puppy dog his way into your heart.

Now Billy’s heart began to skip a beat for the third time while in your presence, chuckling at the joke about Stu’s porn stash. “I think it might be a little out there, Stu seems like he’s into weird stuff,” he said with a smirk as you turned around.

“and what is your definition of weird,” you asked him in a teasing tone.

“not sure, I’ll know it if I see it though,” he said as he led you to Stu’s room, opening up his door and allowing you inside before slipping in after you.

You looked around, heading over to a stack of dvds he had by the tv and console in his room, you sifted through the movies, giggling softly at what you saw. It was a horror fan’s wet dream, Silence of the Lambs, Halloween, Friday the 13th, Carrie, Donnie Darko, The Shining, Sinister, My Bloody Valentine, the list went on and on. You were pretty sure there was even a signed copy of a Wes Carpenter movie in there. “Are we going to be having another marathon,” you heard Billy ask from behind you as you smiled and turned to him. “We can if you’d like,” you said as he smiled, moving over and settling a hand onto your waist as he looked over the dvds. You blushed slightly, taking in the scent of his cologne as he browsed the movies.

You pulled your eyes away from him, instead focusing on the cover for the dvd he had picked out, laughing softly. “Psycho,” you hummed as he nodded. “A great classic,” he said as he turned on the console, placing it inside before going over to Stu’s bed. You followed, sitting down next to him as he started up the movie. “Are we just going to be watching movies,” you asked as he looked over to you with a raised brow and a small smirk. “Is there something else you wanted to do,” he questioned you as you shook your head. “Drink, maybe,” you said as he chuckled, “I think you’ve had enough, I can smell the alcohol on you,” he said as he reached over and ruffled up your hair. You leaned in to his touch, just relaxing and watching the movie.

After a bit, the two of you were now cuddled up together, watching lazily as the moview played on. He looked down at you, his hand wrapped around you protectively before he began to speak up. “Why is it you didn’t believe Sidney? Everyone else seemed pretty convinced it was me,” he asked, you looked up into his eyes and shrugged. “The police let you go, didn’t they? Besides didn’t the killer call her later that night,” you said as he shook his head. “You didn’t know that yet,” he told you. You gulped, wondering for a second if the killer had you in his arms right now, wondering if you were just a little pawn in the game of his.

“I just…you don’t seem like the type to kill…” you said softly before he smirked. “Seem like it, huh?” He asked as he nodded, “there’s no other reason,” he pressed on before you shook your head.

He stared into your eyes for a moment, his dark eyes just boring into you, making you cower slightly in his gaze. He leaned in, pressing his lips to yours. You were surprised, allowing the kiss before meeting his eyes. He was still staring at you, into you, making you nervous. Still, your body grew less tense and gave in to the kiss, happily kissing him back. His hands moved from your waist to cup your face, his eyes finally closing when yours fluttered closed as well.

You two stayed like that until one needed breath, pulling away slightly as the two of you caught your breath. “Are you really sure there isn’t another reason,” he questioned as you pulled him in for another kiss. He chuckled against your lips, this time changing positions slightly. He sat the two of you up, leaning over you as he deepened the kiss. You moved from underneath him, instead planting yourself in his lap. He smirked, hands finding their way to your hips to hold you against him as you pulled away from the kiss, biting down slightly on his bottom lip. “What? You want me to admit I’ve been jealous this whole time,” you said as you looked down at him. “I’ve been waiting for the day you dump her, Billy. Ever since I met you, I wanted you to kiss me in front of her, fuck me in front of her, anything,” You admitted as he looked up at you, eyes shining as he smiled. “Just fuck me now, please,” you begged him, in an instant his lips were on yours. This time it was filled with lust, hands flying to your bottoms and peeling them off as you lifted your hips to help him. Billy was practically drooling at the sight in front of him, finally after months of waiting, he truly earned his prize. The thought had his dick twitching in his pants, which you felt pressed against your core. You grinded down on him, moaning softly when his bulge caught on your clit. He groaned, lips tracing your skin as he kissed down your neck, relishing in absolutely every second of this. Every time he was alone, you were always on his mind, wondering what the curves in your body looked like under your clothes. Hell, even that cute smile and laugh of yours got him hard after awhile, he was bursting at the seams now having you in his hands.

You were in the same boat, happy to finally have him guilt free. The dreamt up version of what he looked like naked was nothing in comparison to what was in front of you as your hands snaked under his shirt and lifted them up. You could feel your arousal growing now as you stared at him shirtless, his lips back to attacking your neck in an instant.

You placed your hand on his chest, getting him to lay back before you moved and took off your shirt and bra. His eyes glistened with lust, growing darker by the second as he did his best to imprint the image of you into the back of his mind for safe keeping. You lifted your hips, undoing his jeans and pulling them down. Once he was naked in front of you, you pumped his cock in your hand. He moaned, biting down on his bottom lip as you took off your panties. You held his dick, grinding your core against him and moaning every time his shaft rubbed against your clit. You looked down, growing even hotter when you could see your slick now coating him. You heard him groan, “shit,” he grumbled out. “Baby come on, I know you need me,” he said, attempting to sit up before you pressed his chest down again so he would stay laying down. “Baby,” he pleaded as you smirked. “What is it that you want,” you taunted as he groaned, “don’t be a brat,” he huffed, you smiled and stroked him, earning a moan. “What is it you want me to do, baby?” You asked again as he sighed, “ride me, sweetheart. Wanna see that pretty face when I’m inside you,” he said as you smirked. “Wasn’t that easy,” you teased as you lifted up your hips. You lined him up with your entrance, sinking down slowly and moaning.

It felt like heaven having him inside of you, when he finally bottomed out and was all the way inside you, you slowly moved your hips. The both of you were in a world of pleasure, his hands roaming your body as you rode him and chased after your high. You had finally allowed him to sit up, which he gladly took to his advantaged as he leaned closer to your body, hands wrapped around your torso as he kissed down your neck to your breasts.

You moaned, using one hand to pull on his hair and pull him closer to you, the other settled on his thigh to help keep you riding him. At this point you began to whimper, taking in every little bit of ecstasy your body was wracked with as it all went towards that knot growing in your stomach. It wasn’t long before Billy looked up at you through lashes, moving one hand from your torso down to your clit. This only caused you to sink down further on to him, both of you groaning in pleasure.

“Fuck baby, cum on my cock for me, yeah?” He whispered to you, you tugged on his hair again, moaning in response as you moved your hips to chase after your high. “Such a pretty girl, god you’re gorgeous,” he groaned out, shifting slightly to thrust up into you. Your head lulled back, feeling that knot in your core threatening to break as you grew closer to your climax. He rubbed your clit, your vision turning white as you finally tipped over the edge. You clamped down on him, milking his cock as he continued to thrust in to you. You were still riding out the high as you felt him cum, moaning softly as he groaned, burying his head into your neck as he rode out his orgasm.

The two of you panted, catching your breath before he looked up to you, kissing you as he moved you off of his lap. “You okay,” he asked, slightly amused when he saw how fucked out you were. You nodded, sitting up and blushing. “I’m fine,” you said, about to get up before he pulled you down, kissing you once again. “Get dressed, we can have another round at my place,” he whispered into your ear. You laughed softly, smiling as you grabbed your clothes. “Just going to fuck in your best friends bed and leave?” You teased as he chuckled. “I’ll say sorry tomorrow,” he said as he turned off the movie, getting dressed himself.

You two snuck downstairs after getting cleaned up and cleaning up poor Stu’s bed, seeing Stu still flirting with a few girls. He saw you two, winking and smirking towards you guys as he wrapped his arms around the two girls. “Sorry for the mess!” Billy called out before you two ran down the steps, hearing Stu yelling something out as you laughed. “Come on baby, this time I’ll get you back for being a brat,” he said as he pulled you in close and kissed you.

[ell-alexanderarnold]

Still in Paris

Summary: Trent breaks down the season with Y/n when he comes home after the last game of the season.

Fluff

Note: This boy deserves the world ❤️

﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋

A loud sigh came out from you when the referee blown the whistle. It’s finally over. A difficult season with both good and bad moments, many nights of comforting your boyfriend who’s been taking a lot off shit from the media. Many nights of Trent lashing out on you after a bad match, there’s also many nights of making love after a good match.

You sat patiently waiting for Trent to come home, you figured it would take some time so you decided to kill the time and went out for a walk with the dogs.

The birds were chirping and you could feel the spring breeze and relief flowing through your body. Trent could finally rest now you thought, without having to worry about what people will say about him. You’ve been there for him through everything, and it’s been a long season so you’re glad it’s over.

You came home after walking the dogs and Trent wasn’t home yet. You were missing him, you wanted him to know how proud you are of him that he’s done his best throughout the whole season.

You know he’d be hungry so you started cooking his favourite meal, even though you weren’t the best cook you still managed to finish it without any obstacles.

The hours felt like days and your ears were eager to hear the sound of the door opening, and at last it finally happened. Trent was home.

You rushed to the hall to hug your boyfriend who was tired and exhausted from a long season.

“Welcome home my love” You greeted and hugged him, Trent rested his head on your shoulder and you stood there for a while.

“You’ve done so well T, so well” You whispered as he pecked your forehead before taking off his shoes and jacket.

“Have you cooked something? It smells really nice” Trent wondered and you giggled, took his hand and led him to the kitchen where his favourite meal were.

“Thank you babe, I really appreciate it” He smiled and took his bowl of spaghetti carbonara to the dinner table.

You sat down and joined him at the dinner table, watching him eat up your homemade food. He looked up at you and smiled, but you could see that something was bothering him. It couldn’t be the food you thought, so you figured that he was just tired from a long season.

”I’ll go and have a shower” Trent said after putting his dish in the dishwasher.

While Trent was in the shower you finished cleaning up the mess you made in the kitchen, at the same time your mind was full of thoughts. You were overthinking, what if he didn’t like the food? What if you’ve said something wrong during the past few days? You tried to calm yourself down but it didn’t work out, at this point you knew the only thing who could help you calm down was talking to Trent.

You walked upstairs to him and opened the bedroom door, seeing him sitting in the bed with a frown on his face.

You sat down beside him on the bed and stroke his arm as he closed his phone and paid his attention to you. His head was again on your shoulder and he let out a big sigh which made you more concerned, so your heart needed answers.

“Trent, what’s bothering you?” You thoughtfully asked and looked him in the eyes, the brown big eyes who looked furious and sad.

“Nothing, I’m tired” He simply answered and you instantly knew that was a lie.

“Trent, I know somethings up” You pushed and sighed as he ran his hands over his face in frustration.

“Tell me baby, I don’t want you to feel like this” You consoled and stroke his back, feeling helpless.

“I’m just not happy how the season turned out Y/n” He admitted and you immediately wrapped your arms around him, feeling his hand on your arm and soft sniffles from him.

“Oh Trent, I’m sorry” You comforted and he continued to cry a little before you wiped off his tears from his cheeks.

“You did your best, that’s all you can do. I’m really proud of you alright?” You explained and he cut you off.

“Yes but I feel like I’ve let the fans down and I-

“No T you haven’t let them down baby, you’re enough” You affirmed.

“I’m tired from all the media bullshit, they’ve been chatting about me the whole fucking season, and now in the end they have good things to say, Y/n I don’t understand” Trent cried out as you felt your heart shatter a little. You knew he’s been under a lot of stress this season, you could count how many times you’ve told him to not go on Twitter and read all the things everyone has said about him. It hurt you to see him so low and still have to go on playing football when he said to you that it felt like the whole world was against him.

“Shh it’s okay Trent it’s over now” You reassured and he nuzzled his face against your chest.

“It feels like a part of me is still in Paris”

You could feel your heart sink remembering how the final went and sad Trent was after losing it. Seeing him walk by the trophy with a disappointed face made you wanna go out on the pitch and take him home with you, so you could just hug him and try to make him forget what happened.

“You know everything time when I’m involved in a goal I feel like I am standing on that pitch in Paris, it still hurts Y/n” Trent revealed and you didn’t know what to say other than to continue stroking his back.

You were grateful for the moment you were having. It is rare for you to see Trent like this and opening up to you. You were glad it did happen because you wouldn’t want him to carry all this weight by himself.

“What defines us is how we rise after we fall Trent, remember that. I mean look at you now at the end of the season, you’ve been amazing for the team and even slowly converting to a new role” You noted and felt a kiss on your cheek, you turned to Trent and kissed him back and laid your head on his chest.

“I really don’t deserve you Y/n” Trent whispered in your ear and played with your hair. You could feel how you slowly started to get more and more drowsy and eventually, you fell asleep on Trent who was filled with your love and your wise words that will keep him motivated.

He has done his best and he couldn’t have done it without you by his side.

[storytellerwhims]

Introduction:🗒️

Welcome to the Tragic Tales of Life Legacy Challenge. This legacy challenge is a realistic story and goal-oriented legacy challenge. That revolves around real life tragedies and drama that happen. This is a more simplified written and less heavy on goals legacy challenge. This legacy challenge was inspired by the Crybaby Whims Legacy Challenge and the Joy of Life Legacy Challenge! I hope you enjoy this tragically fun legacy challenge!

Before You Play:🔞

This legacy challenge is for players who are eighteen and older. This legacy challenge covers heavy topics. That could be triggering or uncomfortable for some people. This legacy challenge uses most of the packs. And also, is a modded legacy challenge so you can’t play it on console. But I have other legacies that are un-modded so if you want to check them out! I would really appreciate it. I hope you enjoy the legacy challenge!

Each generation will specify if there are required mods or not! Here are some mods that I recommend to enhance your gameplay!

Recommended Mods:🖥️

MC Command Center/Mc Woohoo

https://deaderpool-mccc.com/

(18+) Wicked Whims/Wonderful Whims 

https://wickedwhimsmod.com/manual-mod-installation

Basemental Drugs (18+)

https://basementalcc.com/adult_mods/basemental-drugs/

Lumpinous Relationship and Pregnancy Mod

https://lumpinoumods.com/woohoo-wellness-and-pregnancy-overhaul/

Realistic Childbirth Mod by: Pandasama

https://www.pandasama.com/realistic-childbirth-mod/

Rules:🗡️

-Must play on Normal lifespan

-No cheating money etc. unless it’s at the beginning to start the legacy challenge.

-Must complete all the goals to move onto the next tragic tale.

-If you enjoy the legacy challenge please share and give proper credit! 

📲(Use the hashtags #sims4tragictaleslegacychallenge or #sims4ttollg) If you play this legacy challenge and share it on social media, I'd love to see your sims!🥰

___________________________________________

The Tragic Tales (The Generations)☠️

 Gen.1 Single Parent Who Has a Drinking Problem👩‍👦🍺

You're someone who hoped for a beautiful love life like the one you always saw on tv. But that wasn’t your reality. You fell in love with the wrong person and now you're stuck. Living alone with your child/children that reminds you of your tragic romance. You try to pick up the pieces and work a regular job as a teacher but that still was tiring. So after a long day of reprimanding kids you come home to your own child/children. As a person who didn’t want children it’s rough so when they're asleep. You start to sip on alcohol and it becomes a habit. After a while you start to realize you have a problem and try to fix it. To at least become a better version of yourself for you!

Gen.1 Requirements: 

Lifestage: Young Adult

Traits: Hates Children, Romantically Reserved and Bar Drinker 

Aspiration: City Native

Colors: Light Brown and Red

Career: Education

Required Mods:

Basemental Drugs (18+)

https://basementalcc.com/adult_mods/basemental-drugs/

Bar Drinker Trait by: KiaraSims Mods

https://kiarasims4mods.net/2020/05/08/bar-drinker-trait/

Starting Out:

-Start out living in an old apartment in San-Myshuno. Or in a one-star apartment building with the filthy lot trait. 

-Start out with Zero Simoleons

-Have the basic amenities in your apartment

Goals:

As a Young Adult-Elder

-Live in an old apartment or apartment building.

-Be in the Education Career and reach level five of the career.

-Max the Research and Debate and Mixology Skills. 

-Have a child with someone you fall in love with and become a single parent.

-Have a bad relationship with the other parent.

-Start drinking once you become a single parent. (with the basemental drugs mod.)

-Have a negative relationship with your child/children.

-Decide as an Adult to quit drinking for yourself.

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Gen.2 Neglected Child As an Adult Develops Anger Issues🚫😡

As a child you were neglected while your parent got buzzed. Through the pain of feeling unwanted you grew up bitter. At everyone and everything you started to have tantrums on people. That’s when you knew you needed to direct your anger into a career. So you become a Detective throwing criminals in the slammer. Which made all your rage fade away and you start to become a great cop, one that people admire. So much so you get asked out by someone who likes your uniform. You date and marry them, have kids. Life seems good till they realize what a hot head you are! They love you but you severely trouble them but you both stay together. You try to keep calm for them and your kids but your past precedes you.

Gen.2 Requirements:

Lifestage: Young Adult

Traits: Hot Headed, Nosy and Ambitious

Aspiration: World Class Detective

Colors: Dark Blue and Black

Career: Detective 

Required Mods:

World Class Detective Aspiration by: KiaraSims Mods

https://www.curseforge.com/sims4/mods/world-class-detective-aspiration

Goals:

As a Young Adult-Elder

-Move out of your parents house to any world you want.

-Join the Detective Career and reach level ten of the career.

-Max the Charisma and Photography Skills

-Have five enemies from throwing tantrums on people.

-Have a Bad Reputation

-Date, Marry and have kids with someone who you meet who likes you in your uniform.

-Have at least two children

-Gain the Workaholic lifestyle

-Have problems with your spouse but stay married.

___________________________________________

Gen.3 Art Student That Gets Into an Abusive Relationship🎨💔

You grew up in a home full of anger, but you refused to subdue that behavior. So when your parent got mad you shut down and kept quiet. To avoid having problems but as time went on that began to stress you out. So you focused your negative emotions into art. Which led you to graduate high school and get to go onto college. As an art student your world was filled with color and nude models. Whose bodies were art and you painted them beautifully. One day though you never knew could change everything in a terrible way. You meet someone who you think understands you. You date them after a while their true colors shine through and they're dark! You both argue day and night and to not start a fight. You let them seduce you till they get tired and pass out next to you. Your grades start to suffer so you start to avoid them to do what’s best for you. But all that gets thrown out the window when you find out you're going to be a parent! Your narcissist partner reels you back in because of the baby. So you stay but you fear for you and the baby/babies life! Once the baby arrives you make your escape with the baby/babies. Leaving your abusive ex behind you, move into a small home just right for you and your baby/babies. Then you go back to college and finish and become a freelance painter.

Gen.3 Requirements: 

Lifestage: Young Adult

Traits: Lovebug, Creative and D.V.S 

Aspiration: Academic

Colors: Soft Pink and Maroon

Career: Fine Arts Degree University Student/Freelance Artist

Required Mods: 

Trauma Bonding Mod by: Wicked Pixxel 

https://www.patreon.com/posts/trauma-bonding-106764079

D.V.S Trait by: Muva Simmer

https://www.patreon.com/posts/d-v-s-trigger-54622043

Goals:

As a Young Adult-Elder

-Move out of your angry parent's house to go to university.

-Be in the Fine Arts Degree at Foxbury or Britchester University

-Max the Painting and Romance Skills 

-Meet someone who’s toxic become their partner and date them.

-Argue and make up by woohooing with your terrible partner.

-Have a baby/babies with your narcissistic partner.

-Drop out of university to focus on your relationship and family.

-Move in with your abusive partner.

-Leave your awful partner after the baby/babies are born.

-Have a negative relationship with your toxic partner

-Move to a new world far away from your ex-partner.

-Go back to college as an Adult graduate and become a freelance painter.

-Have an art studio in your home where you find comfort.

___________________________________________

Gen.4 Geek Tries to Fit In and Becomes a Pill Popper👾💊

You're a true geek as they call you in high school. You learned from your parents horrible love life. To steer clear, not let raging hormones get the better of you! But yet after the popular kids called you out. You start to think differently you want to show them. You can be a true party animal! So you stop caring about school so much and hangout with the jocks! They show you how to be bad but still be adored! You all go to the nightclubs and sneak past the bouncers at bars. Get drunk and taking pills not prescribed  partying all night! One day they give you a makeover to make you look like one of them. You feel weird but excited taking it all in! Before you know it you're living the teenage dream! But it all ends when you find out that you/person you slept with. One wild night is pregnant! You never planned on your high school years turning out this chaotic! But now the popular teens left you spreading gossip about the pregnancy. So you're left on your own pregnant/going to be a teen parent. What happens now you stop being this pill popper and be yourself again. Starting a podcast about all the pill problems and teen parent struggles you went through. Now it’s up to you if you go and find someone but you have overcome so much at a young age!

Gen.4 Requirements:

Lifestage: Start as a Teen 

Traits: Geek and Party Animal 

Aspiration: Psychonaut

Colors: Purple and Yellow 

Career:  Podcast Host

Required Mods: 

Basemental Drugs (18+) 

MC Command Center/MC Woohoo (linked above)

Lumpinous Relationship and Pregnancy Mod (linked above)

Podcast Host Career By: KiaraSims4 Mods

https://legacy.curseforge.com/sims4/mods/podcast-host-career

Techie trait by KiaraSims4 Mods

https://legacy.curseforge.com/sims4/mods/techie-trait

Goals:

As a Teen

-Live with your parent still or move out on your own at an early age. 

-Have a B grade in high school before you try to fit in with the popular kids.

-Max the Gaming Skill

-Make friends with Popular Teens 

-Go to nightclubs and bars with your popular friends.

-Drink, Smoke and Do Pills at the nightclub/bars (Using the basemental drugs mod.) 

-Get a “cool” kid makeover with new clothes that look like ones the jocks would wear! 

-Get addicted to pills and keep doing them till you become a Young Adult.

-Have woohoo with one of your popular friends and end up pregnant/or get them pregnant! (Using Mc Command Center/Mc Woohoo Mod!) 

-Become a Teen Parent 

-Don’t do well in high school after you become a teen parent!

-Become enemies with your popular friends after you become a teen parent! 

As a Young Adult-Elder

-Decide to quit doing pills and go to rehab

- When you age up add the Techie trait by KiaraSims4 Mods

-Make money being a Podcast Host talking about your experience you had as a teen having a drug addiction, being a teen parent and being bullied.

-Reach level Five of the Podcast Host career

-Max the Charisma and Media Production Skills.

-You can decide if you want to date and get married when you're a Young Adult and older or not!

___________________________________________

Gen.5 Public Health Person Goes Crazy from a Disease Outbreak🥼🦠

(Inspired by Covid 19 pandemic.) 

You have always been a germaphobe but now you're making it through something terrible. You go into the medical field thinking it will be great you’ll help save lives. Well as a Public Health person the whole world's health rest’s on your shoulders. Now that there's a virus spreading you seek shelter in your home. Only going out with a mask you’re an philanthropist person this is not the way you hoped to spend. Your Young Adult life but now you're in charge of finding a way for this disease to be cured! Through all the testing in the lab and multiple reports coming in of deaths. It becomes too much for you to bear so you quit your job. Staying home becoming stir crazy from no social interaction. Suddenly you find that you made the worst mistake of your life. Quitting on all these people who can be saved from the outbreak. So you take care of yourself paint and do other hobbies. Then get back to the daily wear a mask save a life. After a couple years of research your the one that finds a cure! You're the hero and now everyone wants a picture with you! But you stay humble just happy you were able to help. You settle down after it’s all over with one of your fellow Public Health workers. You get married and have kids. But your job never ends by making sure you, your family and the public will be safe from future outbreaks!

Gen.5 Requirements: 

Lifestage: Young Adult

Traits: Erratic, Philanthropist and Researcher

Aspiration: Philanthropist 

Colors: Green and Blue

Career: Public Health 

Required Mods:

Researcher Trait, Philanthropist Trait and Aspiration By: KiaraSims4 Mods

https://legacy.curseforge.com/sims4/mods/researcher-trait

https://legacy.curseforge.com/sims4/mods/philanthropist-trait

https://www.curseforge.com/sims4/mods/philanthropist-aspiration

Public Health Career By: KiaraSims4 Mods

https://legacy.curseforge.com/sims4/mods/public-health-career

Mask for story purposes By: Daisy Pixels

https://www.patreon.com/posts/face-masks-for-37685044

Goals:

As a Young Adult-Elder

-Move to any world you want too into a house or apartment

-Join the Public Health career and reach level nine of the career. (You can have your sim go to University in the Biology Degree to jump ahead in the career.)

-Max the Writing and Logic Skills and Reach level five in any hobby skill such as painting. While your sim quits their job and goes stir crazy at home.

-Have your sim wear a mask whenever they go out. 

-Temporarily quit your job then regret it and join the career again.

-Become a Two Star Celebrity for curing the world of the disease.

-Meet, Date and Marry a fellow Public Health person.

-Have at least three kids (Have all of them wear masks to keep germs away.)

-Donate to Charity three times

-Volunteer at least five times in your lifetime.

-Teach your kids Good Manners have at least one of them gain the Good Manners character value.

___________________________________________

I'm still writing this legacy challenge so future gens will be added. And also, past gens may change a little bit if I need to edit them! Thank you for reading the legacy challenge!! 💜 @ts4challengehub

[talkfastromance4]

we might just get away with it–Bradley Bradshaw (Electric Touch oneshot)

Just One Time Masterlist

Warnings: smut, protected sex, slight dirty talk

Word count: 2.7k

Authors note: this won’t make a ton of sense right now but this is based off real events in my life and writing them down helps me. I wanted this little teaser to come out though so you can get a sense of the story.

Reblogs mean the world and I’d love to know what you think!

She adjusted her outfit for the twelfth time and checked her hair in her long floor mirror. Her make-up was as perfect as she could get it, she was lotioned up in her favorite scent and spritzed her most expensive perfume on. Now it was waiting time.

Her phone buzzed in her hand several minutes later, his name lighting up and electrifying her heart. Just like a dozen and more times before. She opened the notification.

“Here.”

She gathered the blankets she promised to bring. Her fingers smacked the light switch and she moved quietly through the townhouse so as to not wake her roommate, snatched her keys, and ran out the front door. She’s met with the muggy summer night air and a few cold raindrops splattering on her cheeks as she runs towards the bright headlights.

When she pulled open the door, his cologne swept over her and it transported her to when she was nineteen. One look at him also took her back in time, he had the same boyish grin and warmest brown eyes she’d ever seen when he’d pick her up for a date all those times before.

“Hey,” Bradley greets. His voice still had that same deep gravel to it and it brought her back to the present.

“Hi,” she smiles and climbs into the seat of the Bronco.

Cool air from the vents blew her hair and she settled the blankets at her feet. Her body was electric as she buckled up and when she turned to look at him, he was already looking at her.

“How’s it goin’?” he asks and pulls out of the driveway.

“Oh, ya know,” she shrugs, tossing her hands in the air.

“Yeah, I get it,” he chuckles and settles into his seat. “So, where should we go?”

“You’re sure your place is off the table?”

“Yeah, Penny would kill me.” He licks his lip, eyes glancing at her and the way she’s leaning toward him. He rests his elbow on the console so their arms brush.

That same electricity they shared years ago was still there, it was inevitable.

“Right…um…”

“I do have to get gas first, otherwise I’ll have to make a very awkward phone call for back-up,” he teases. “Don’t want anyone else to see you naked in the back when they pull up.”

“I think we’d have enough time to change,” she laughs.

“Been too long, sweetheart,” he shakes his head letting his fingers stroke over the wheel as he takes a turn. “I don’t want to pause for anything.”

Heat rushes to her cheeks. He’s always had a way of undoing her and her stomach tightens at the anticipation of him doing it again. Even after all these years, she’s still dazzled by his charms.

They drive around catching up about jobs and life and old memories they’ve shared. How he tells the story about taking her to the hospital, how his mom spotted them at the end of their driveway that one night.

Bradley vents a little about his ex as well. She listens intently, a frown forming as he explains what he endured for the last several years. She always thought he was happy when she’d check his social media posts; he had a family of his own, two little girls and living his dream of flying just like his dad. He seemed happy.

But his recollections tell otherwise as he explains they always, always fought.

To hear he was miserable in the relationship made her heart ache because she’s thought about him everyday for the last seven years. If she wasn’t the one to make him happy then she wanted him to be happy with someone else and now that wasn’t the case.

Could she have made him happier?

“Sorry, you probably don’t want to hear about my ex,” he shakes his head after pulling up to the gas pump.

“No, it’s okay,” she shakes her head, “you have to let it out. I don’t mind.”

When he got out to fill up, he kept the door open and leaned against it to stare at her. She stares back, cheek in her hand and a demure smile on her lips. The pump guzzles to a stop and he removes it and hops back in. As he pulls out, she asks about his girls and loves the way he talks about them. He really loves his daughters.

They’ve been driving around for another ten minutes.

“At this point I’m tempted to get a hotel room,” he snickers then takes a left.

“Me too, honestly,” she sighs.

They share a smile but then he pulls out his phone.

“Hang on…I know a place.”

As he’s looking down, the car veers to the left side of the road.

“Woah, hey!” she places her hand over his on the steering wheel moving them back in the correct lane.

“We’re fine, no one else is on the road,” he grins.

“We’re trying to avoid that and the cops could be out, you don’t know!” she says and he just laughs. She rolls her eyes. “Still the same Bradley.”

He pulls into a wooded area off a backroad that is covered in darkness. His lights shine on a small trail and a large wooden board full of park notices. He cuts the engine then looks at her and the backseat that is completely spacious, he shoved the seats back. He reaches for the blankets by her feet and crawls in the back.

“I feel like a teenager again,” he says and spreads the blankets down on the floor.

“Same,” she giggles watching him. “We keep each other young. Wow, there is a lot of space back here.”

“I know, you coming?” he asks, eyebrows raised.

She kicks off her flip-flops and climbs over the seats to join him. He removes his shirt quickly and she marvels at the sun-kissed tone of his skin and muscles that cover his whole torso. Another smile is exchanged and then it’s lips on lips, fingers tangling in hair.

He lays her down on the floor, his body heavy as he covers her, her legs opening at the precise time so he can slot in between her thighs. It’s a practiced dance they’ve danced so many times and have perfected. His kiss transports her back in time because he kisses her the way she remembers.

Bradley’s hand moves down her hip just as her nails scratch at his shoulder.

“Don’t mark me up,” he mumbles and pulls back. “I have the girls tomorrow and they’ll ask why Daddy is scratched like a cat.”

“I’ll try not to,” she pouts, “but you know me, I can’t really control myself. Can I bite?”

“Little nibbles,” he allows with a nod. He kisses her, tongue sweeping into her mouth. “I mean it, no scratching.”

She growls a little and he laughs then pulls back even further, his fingers tucking into her shorts. She lifts her hips in a wordless answer to his unvoiced question and he pulls her shorts and panties off together. They’re tossed carelessly behind him.

“Remember, go slow, it’s been a long time,” she reminds him as he yanks off his own shorts.

“How long?” he asks reaching for a condom from his pocket.

“Too fucking long,” she shakes her head.

“C’mere,” he sighs and kisses her again. He keeps himself braced with one hand on the back of her seat as the other slips between her legs.

His middle finger teases her slit, the pad goading inside her with each stroke. Her hips lifted each time his finger went in a little further, and he smiles against her mouth. He removes his hand and then it’s near the corner of her mouth. She turns her head to suck on his finger, salivating on it so it’s nice and slick.

When he’s satisfied he dips it inside her effortlessly but she still arches slightly at the feel of his finger. A quieted gasp escapes her and Bradley pumps his finger in and out languidly. Each insertion has her getting wetter and more turned on.

“So warm and wet for me,” he coaxes softly.

“Mhm,” she agrees absently. She focuses on his finger hitting that perfect spot, a spot that has been neglected for so long.

“Can’t wait to sink my cock into you,” he continues with a routine curl of his finger inside her.

“Please,” she whispers.

He pumps his finger a few more times before he tears the condom open and rolls it on. He spits into his palm, strokes himself twice and bends over. She opens her legs again and he nudges the tip against her folds.

“Slow,” she gasps, nails digging into the meat of his shoulders. Bradley nods and he concentrates as he takes his time.

It’s a new but all too familiar stretch as he enters her, the further he pushes the better it feels and when Bradley’s fully sheathed, she lets out a loud gasp. Her head is tossed back at being filled with him again.

“God, you feel the same.”

Bradley smiles and slowly pulls out before plunging back in, she moans at the contact. He does that technique a few times as she continues to adjust, noting how she feels the same as well. A dozen memories float to the forefront of his mind from other endeavors they’ve shared together. In his old truck, at his mom’s house, at Mav’s house, the shower.

He’s hypnotized by her moans, adores the way she bites her lips to try to keep quiet but it does nothing. He’s always loved how vocal she is, it spurs him on to keep her making those noises.

“Right there, right there,” she mewls. One leg rests along his seat so he plunges in deeper and her hands fit perfectly on his waist to guide him where she needs him. “Faster.”

“Yes ma’am,” he grunts and fucks her at a quicker pace.

Her hands are all over him, another thing he’s loved and missed. She moves with him easily, nails scraping lightly over his skin until they’re back in his hair pulling him down on top of her. She gives him a sloppy kiss that turns into her biting on his lower lip from pleasure.

“Talk to me,” she pants.

“You take me so well, baby,” he grunts. “So tight and warm for me. Take this cock so good.”

She mewls again and Bradley’s body ripples at the sound, he closes his eyes to concentrate. He lifts up her shirt, tweaking at one of her nipples before watching them rock and bounce with his motions.

“There, don’t stop, don’t stop,” she gasps and tilts her body back.

Bradley moves faster and deeper, her wetness leaking out of her, a telltale sign that her orgasm is nearing and he’s thankful because he’s not sure how much longer he could last. It’s been a long time since he’s had sex as well. He tucks his face in her neck, grunting with each frenzied thrust.

“‘M gonna cum,” he mouths in her ear and she shivers.

“Cum for me,” she whispers. Her lips graze his neck, nails pressing into his skin as she rocks her body up into his. When she moans loudly that’s when he loses it and spills into the condom.

His breathing is ragged, spots form in his eyes as he releases his orgasm and then he pulls out, pulsating on top of her. Her breath is hot, their skin is hot and a little sweaty. As they come down and their hearts settle, he hears a heavy rain on the windows.

When he’s caught his breath, he lifts his forehead from her chest to see her lick her lips. Her eyes are still closed.

“Wow that felt good,” she sighs, head rolling to the side. Her eyes open slowly, glossy and blissed out post orgasm.

“Yeah, it did,” he agrees and pushes himself off her. It took more control than he thought to pull away. But this is part of their routine.

He stares at her laid before him, half naked and glorious just like so many times before. It always was so easy with them, their bodies fit well together and knowing what the other liked/wanted was innate.

“You okay?” He huffs watching her as she breathes deeply to gather herself. “Are your legs shaking?”

“No,” she smiles lightly then opens her eyes. “No offense, it wasn’t that long to do that.”

He snorts. She’s always felt comfortable telling him how it is straight to his face.

“Next time we’ll have a bed and we can switch it up,” he suggests.

“That sounds nice. My head kept hitting the door.” She sits up then exhales, fixes her hair.

“I’m sorry, I should’ve brought a pillow for you.”

“It’s fine. I’ve been sore before,” she shrugs then sighs.

“These are yours,” he hands her shorts and panties to her.

They dress quickly and silently, the rain pelts on the truck and then Bradley moves to the front seat again and she’s still slipping her bottoms on.

“Damn, it got hot in here fast,” he sighs. The truck turns on and the air conditioning fans over him.

“We should’ve kept the car on,” she climbs into her seat.

“We definitely would have attracted attention then. All set?” he asks when she buckles up.

The talking continues as he drives back to her home, another thing that’s always been easy with them. They can talk about anything. He vents about his ex again, how she relies heavily on Bradley’s income but doesn’t trust him entirely with the girls.

“You know the sailboat Penny has?” he asks stopping at a red light.

“Yeah, we snuck on there one night,” she grins.

“Well, earlier this week was the first time I’ve had the girls on there with me.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, and they loved it. My youngest has no fear, she loved it. And the oldest stayed by me the whole time but she’s a Daddy’s girl,” he smiles.

“I’m sorry, you grew up on that boat and know how it works.”

“Yeah, we fought for quite some time before she finally agreed I could take the girls on it,” he sighs.

“Can I ask what you fought about so much in your relationship?”

“Anything really. We fought so much it started to affect the girls and that’s when I realized it wasn’t worth it to stay with each other if it was affecting them, too.”

“Yeah, that’s not good.”

The light turns green and he drives again, a comfortable silence settles between them. Until…

“It would have been easy if we raised kids together,” he says.

She looks at him. He’s looking at her and they share a moment. A moment of what could have been, maybe even what should have been.

“Honestly,” she breaks the silence, “I always thought if I were to get pregnant with anyone, it would have been with you.”

When he pulls into her driveway, he parks and they remain talking. Conversation flows easily, both of them making each other laugh. More memories are exchanged until he lets out a big yawn.

“I’m sorry for keeping you up so late,” he says.

“It’s fine. I miss talking to someone.”

“I do, too. It’s been a while since I had a decent conversation like this.”

She stares at him, his brown eyes lit up violet from the light of his radio screen. There’s a hole in her chest that’s been vacant and being with him, even for a short while, has filled that spot.

“I should get going, you probably have an early day tomorrow,” she says then grabs the blankets.

Bradley watches her fold the blankets together. They talked about things he’s always wondered about but there’s still a million more left unsaid. She gathers them in her arms and pockets her phone in her shorts, sighing as she stares at him.

“I’ll make sure you’re inside before I drive off,” he says softly.

“Okay.” She opens the door.

“y/n.”

She turns.

He blinks. She blinks. Then he stretches over the console to slot his lips against hers. Some of the things left unsaid transferred in that kiss, and they both understood it.

“Thank you,” he says when the kiss ended.

“Thank you,” she whispers and slips out of her seat and into the night.

They give each other one last look before the door closes and she runs inside. Both of them are left wondering if rekindling this old flame will break their hearts or bring them back to life.