#but ! he offered to buy me stuff so i told him to buy me sunscreen and the killer album zine ver 😳

[notyuta]

my brother goes to sk next week and he was like you should have asked off work next week instead of now and come with me ... well you could've told me

[invisibleraven]

Why can't we go on as many

AO3: Day 3: Beach + Regal Butterfly

For someone who grew up on a farm, Reggie loved the beach. He loved the sand, the scent of salt on the breeze, the cool waters of the Pacific as he dove through the waves, even the sound of the gulls. 

But what Reggie liked most was the girls. 

Girls in all manners of bathing suits and bikinis, slathering their miles of skin in suntan lotion and SPF. Digging painted toes into the sand, laughing as the gulls tried to steal their fries, playing volleyball or chicken. Squealing as they splashed in the waves, or showed him up on a surfboard. Laying out to turn their already golden skin a shade or two darker. 

Not that Reggie ever had much luck with the girls though-he flirted, carried their things, did whatever they asked, and sometimes he got a number or two-sometimes it was even a real one. But mostly he just got told what a good friend he was, and nothing more, unless they felt like buying him an ice cream. He got over it quickly though-usually they were just a cute and fleeting memory, and nothing more. 

Then he met Flynn and Julie. 

They went to school with him and he thought they were super cool-and pretty to boot. Of course he fell hard and fast, he was prone to that. However they were also super into each other, so Reggie figured there was no chance there, but he was happy enough to be their friend, surprised they wanted even that, given he was a D&D playing nerd and they were the coolest girls in the school. But they genuinely seemed to want to hang out with him, even suggesting a beach day one long weekend. 

“Malibu or Venice?” Flynn asked. 

“Oh, I, um, I live right next to Silver Lake?” he said. “I know it’s not like, a real beach, but it’s way less crowded, and really nice.” 

“I’ve never been there,” Julie admitted. “But I am definitely down for less crowds.” 

“No tourists or muscle head douchebags who stink of tanning oils? Sign me up,” Flynn commented. 

So that Saturday, Reggie ambled down to the bus stop, waiting for the girls-he had offered to come get them, but they said they liked the bus, and it didn’t make sense for him to make a round trip. He had already set up some beach chairs-there weren’t many people around, but you always staked out your spot regardless. 

Flynn got off the bus first, laden down with an oversized bag containing towels and the like that Reggie immediately hefted over his shoulder. Julie came next with the picnic basket-she had offered to bring them lunch, since there wasn’t a bevy of food trucks in the neighbourhood. Sure the Meyerson’s old place was a noodle shop, but that was hardly beach food. 

Reggie kind of wondered when a business would make his parents an offer they couldn’t refuse-theirs was practically the only house left on the waterfront. Sure he was almost 18 and would be out of there soon, but still-he loved his easy access to the beach, and couldn’t imagine coming home to anywhere else. 

Reggie lugged the stuff to the spot he picked, getting approving nods from the girls as they all set up. “There’s cabanas a little ways down if you need to change,” he offered. 

“Pssh, we came prepared,” Flynn said, whipping off the t-shirt dress she had been wearing to show off the funky orange one piece she was sporting. Julie shimmied out of her shorts and unbuttoned her blouse, showing off a stunning purple tankini and Reggie was sure all the saliva dried up in his mouth. 

He was just in his plain black and red board shorts, but he did take off his tank top, preening just a little when he saw the girls looking-but chalked it up to simple aesthetic appreciation, nothing more-he was used to those looks from countless girls who simply wanted eye candy and someone to carry their stuff. “Sunscreen time?” 

Flynn pulled out a tube of stuff that Reggie didn’t recognize-but she was always cutting edge with brands he had never heard of. He was alright with his simple bottle of Coppertone, slathering it on his skin-he was always prone to burning. 

“Do you need help with your back?” Julie offered. 

“Yeah, that would be great,” he replied, handing her over his SPF. 

Julie’s hands were soft, gentle, and a little cool. Reggie tried not to shiver as she spread the lotion over his skin, wondering why Flynn was smirking as she finished her own application. “You need me to do your back?” 

“Jules got it, but you can do hers after if you want,” Flynn replied. “I’m gonna let mine soak in before we take a dip.” 

“Don’t fall asleep,” Julie cautioned. 

Flynn flipped her off before lying on her towel, her oversized sun hat obscuring her face. 

All the while, Julie’s hands never left his back, like they were lingering, and Reggie was sure his face was burning. “A-all done?” 

“Oh yeah!” she squeaked. “Can you do me?” 

Again, Reggie was sure his mouth became as dry as the Saharrah. Look, he knew Julie and Flynn were madly in love, but that didn’t mean he still didn’t find them wildly attractive, and if given the chance wouldn’t turn down a date with them. So comments like that fried his brain chemistry in the worst way. 

Reggie tried to do Julie’s back quickly, not wanting to be a creep, but her back was soft, and when would he ever get a chance to touch her again? Still he pulled away after only a moment, declaring her done. “You wanna go look for shells until Flynn’s ready to swim?” 

“I’m going to tell you something-Flynn isn’t a big swimmer. She kind of hates going past her knees in the water. She just comes to indulge me,” Julie confessed. 

“She’s a good partner.” 

Julie’s face softened then. “Yeah, she is.” 

“You two are disturbing my nap,” Flynn grumbled, not even moving the hat. “Go find me a pretty shell Molina.” 

Julie stuck her tongue out at Flynn, not caring that she couldn’t see it, then grabbed Reggie’s hand and a bucket they had brought, running down the beach. Reggie couldn’t help but giggle as they disturbed the dunes, uncaring that the sand was probably sticking to his freshly applied sunscreen. 

The two of them skimmed the shoreline, picking up anything of note they found, and Reggie didn’t exactly mind that Julie kept a hold of his hand, swinging them together as they walked, the surf tickling their toes. 

“Oooh, do you think Flynn would like these?” he asked, picking up a small set of spiral shaped shells. “They look like they might get turned into fun earrings.” 

Julie’s face softened at that. “She’d love that, but she’d also insist on making the both of us something too, so let’s see if we can find more.” 

“I don’t think I can pull off the puka shell look,” he joked, but did find a few shells Julie might rock. 

“How about this?’ she offered, holding up a small piece of beach glass, green and almost rectangular. “It almost matches your eyes.” She flushed at that, and Reggie had to wonder if it was him or the heat making her do so. She had been kind of…flirty? 

“I never realized you paid that much attention to me,” he joked, giving her a chance to pedal back, or to joke around-he did the same thing with his friends to let them know his flirtations were not meant to be genuine. It didn’t stop him from flirting, but no one in his group had been eager to cease his compliments, so he always took it as a green flag to let them fly. 

“Well I do,” she replied, her eyes shining. “We both do.”

“Both?” 

Julie chuckled, ducking her face for a moment before starting them back up the beach. “Flynn and I…we like you. A lot. And we’re cool if you don’t feel the same.”

“I do!” Reggie almost shouted. “But…I don’t wanna like, come between you or anything. You’re like, the best couple ever.” 

“We are pretty awesome,” said Flynn who was now sitting up on her blanket, and Reggie hadn’t even realized they were back until he saw her smirk. “But I think we could be better with you in the mix.” 

“Like all three of us?”

“If you’re cool with that,” Julie replied. 

“I am like, ice cool!” Reggie sputtered, then groaned. “And also very lame.” 

The girls giggled, then each planted a kiss to the sides of his face. “So adorable,” Flynn cooed.

“Isn’t he?” Julie said with a grin. “And look at the cool shells we found! These ones are for jewelry.” 

“Ooh, good taste Peters!” Flynn exclaimed, taking the pieces-including his piece of sea glass into her bag. 

“I mean I like the two of you, I thought that was a given,” he replied in a futile attempt to be smooth. But given the girls pleased smiles, he figured that just maybe, he pulled that one off. 

And as they enjoyed the rest of their day-their first official date, topped off with ice cream flavoured kisses as the sun set, Reggie grew a whole new appreciation for the beach. 

Plus the next time they went? They were all sporting the pieces Flynn had crafted for them, and Reggie could only grin as his girlfriends held his hands as they scoured the tide pools and shoreline for more.

[holidaywishes]

I don't get you...

  Requested: 👍

  Summary/Request: Can I request just some like filthy smut with Fred? Maybe sugar daddy Freddie? But like there’s actual feelings involved and maybe the reader flirts with Auston and it makes him jealous then he tells them he loves them then fucks the living daylights out of them...or something along those lines

  Warning: smut as per request, some angst, a little bit of fluff

  Author’s Note: So, anon, I'm not sure this is exactly what you wanted. I went through a lot as I was writing this, so that's part of the reason why it took forever to get this out. But yeah, it started out as something short and filthy and then moved to something exceptionally long and fluffy and I nearly forgot that I was supposed to be writing smut. Also, I'm really in a ✨summer vibes✨ kind of mood lately and I really want to go to the beach but because I can’t until the borders open, I guess I’ll write about it. Hope this can give everyone a bit of a reprieve from everything for a little bit! Stay Golden, loves! <3

  masterlist

  the other masterlist

xx

Freddie’s P.O.V

  You never expected her to agree to the arrangement, you didn’t think she was the type, but you weren’t looking for a relationship at the time. She told you she’d never had a sugar daddy before but she was happy to try it out

  “I’ve met people who’ve done it and they seem to be really happy,” she said

  “Well, yeah, I would think they would be,” you joked, “a little bit of money for a little bit of pleasure...”

  “That makes it sound like prostitution” she giggled and you nodded

  “It’s not, I didn’t mean it like that...”

  “I mean, it’s not far off, I suppose”

  “But you’re okay with it?”

  “I’m okay with it, but I’m curious,” she asked, “if you’re willing to spend money on me and fly me places and do literally everything a partner does... why not actually be partners?”

  “I just think we’re better off doing this”

  “I know,” she added, “but why?”

  “My life... is a lot for a relationship. I don’t want to put anyone in a position where the fans or the media can tear them down”

  “But you like me enough to do all the same stuff?”

  “Yeah, just... as a secret” you admitted shyly

  “Alright” she finally said, leaning in to plant a kiss on your cheek before your hands latched onto her sides to pull her closer and station her on your lap. “I have to go...” she whined and you groaned in response

“But you don’t” you laughed

“I have to do a presentation tomorrow that I have to work on”

“Skip it,” you mumbled, “you know that you don’t have to work”

“I still like to work”

“Just stay a little bit longer” you urged, kissing her neck and squeezing her hips tighter

“Freddie...” she moaned before you picked her up and carried her to your bedroom, dropping her onto the big mattress. She giggled as she bit her lip, waiting for you to lay your body against hers, “come here.”

xx

  The arrangement was simple. He wanted a warm body just not a relationship. You were in debt up to your eyeballs but you still had very, very expensive tastes and Freddie was all too eager to get you whatever you wanted. There was never any real talk about never developing feelings or what would happen if either of you eventually did but his lips fit so perfectly with yours and your bodies knew instinctively what to do for each other and the way his fingertips grazed the sensitive skin on the sides of your neck made your vision blurry and you weren’t sure how long you could keep this... simple. You were able to work enough that you were chipping away at your debt while Freddie indulged in your materialistic cravings. His gifts were relatively tame so far. Some jewellery, a few designer handbags, some very expensive lingerie, a pair of vintage Chanel stilettos that you almost never wore and when you asked why he didn’t get you Louboutin’s, he smirked and said ‘that’s what every other guy gets his girl. You deserve better than that.’ He really did know just how to say the right thing to make you feel important to him without fully taking that next step but when he started to offer bigger gifts, things started to feel different

  “You can’t buy me a car!”

  “Why not?”

  “I barely drive!”

  “Okay, what about a house?”

  “I’m sorry what?”

  “A house. I mean, not like a mansion but an apartment or like a cottage. By the lake...”

  “That’s too much” you scoffed, fluttering around your kitchen putting away dishes and wiping off the counter before your roommate could complain that the house was a mess

 “You shouldn’t have roommates. Not if you’re with me” he replied and you furrowed your brow before leaning on the cold granite of the counter

  “But I’m not with you...” you corrected, “not like that. How am I supposed to explain to people how I suddenly have enough money to have a cottage by the lake when I’m still paying off student loans and credit card debts?”

  “Tell them it was a super great deal!”

  “Because they’ll definitely believe that” you sighed, walking over to him and pecking his cheek before he followed you to the couch

  “Then say it was a gift”

  “From who? Who would gift something like that to someone? Am I supposed to tell people that you’re my sugar daddy now?” you teased

  “You could say you won the lottery,” he suggested but you ignored it, instead turning toward the TV and switching it on, “I mean that happens right?”

  “Freddie... it’s sweet but it’s way too much” you repeated softly and he dropped it

  “Come hang out with me this summer. I have a place right on the water, it’s beautiful there”

  “Where?” you asked curiously

  “Muskoka”

  “You wanna take me to Muskoka?”

  “It’s romantic there,” he added, creeping over to kiss your shoulder before his body hovered over yours and his lips slowly connected with yours, “and it’s private, too. We don’t have to worry about people interrupting us”

  “People don’t interrupt us he--”

  “(Y/N)!” your roommate yelled, interrupting your moment with Freddie and completely destroying your words even before she came down the stairs, Freddie putting as much space in between the two of you as to not give anything away. “Hey, where is.. oh sorry, I didn’t realize we had company”

  “Stacey, this is Freddie,” you smiled awkwardly, hoping your face wasn’t too flushed, “Freddie, this is my roommate, Stacey.”

  “Nice to meet you” Freddie greeted politely

  “Yeah, you too” Stacey replied, almost suspiciously and you scoffed

  “So what were you looking for?”

  “Huh?” she was clearly lost in thought now, “oh right! That big bag of sunscreen, where did it go? I thought it was in the closet in the bathroom but I didn’t see it. Did you move it?”

  “I did,” you admitted, smiling as you stood up, walking to the bathroom upstairs to show her, “it was just taking up so much space so I took them out of the bag and put them under the sink separately”

  “Ahh, okay. Thanks”

  “No problem,” you said, turning to walk downstairs

  “Wait!” she exclaimed, stopping you, “who is that?”

  “Freddie?”

  “Yeah, I mean... are you two dating? Why have I never met him before?” she rambled before her eyes went wide and panic rushed through your chest, “is this a first date?” you exhaled in relief, laughing in response

  “No, it’s not a date. First or otherwise. He’s just a friend, I met him at a work party last year”

  “Oh, right...” you could tell she didn’t believe you but you weren’t going to try to argue, fearing if you did that you might let the truth slip. She finally let you head back downstairs but before you reached the bottom, your phone chimed

  “Had to go” Freddie’s text read and you sighed before dropping your head

  “You didn’t have to...” you replied

  “I did but the offer still stands. You, me, the lake, Muskoka. Come”

  “I’ll think about it.”

xx

Freddie’s P.O.V

  After weeks of constant begging, (Y/N) agreed to go to the cottage with you over the summer and it was perfect. You almost never left the bedroom and when you did, it was to take a drive into the city to get a few groceries and then you’d lock yourself back in the house, drawing the curtains to block out the light. After that, she asked to go back the next summer and you were more than happy to oblige

  “You liked it huh?” you teased as the two of you lay in bed

  “I had a lot of fun,” she smirked, lifting your hand up so she could trace her finger along your palm mindlessly, “pretending like the world didn’t exist”

  “You sure you don’t want me to just.. get you your own?”

  “No,” she scoffed, “I like yours. As yours, don’t think about giving it to me”

  “Fine” you laughed at her figuring you out before you could even get your suggestion out.

  “Fine” she mocked, rolling over to kiss your cheek and lay on your chest, tracing her fingers across your skin

  “God you’re beautiful” you exhaled as you brushed her hair away from her face

  “YO ‘ZILLA!” you heard Auston yell as he crashed through your front door

  “Shit!” you panicked

  “What is he doing here?” she asked in a hushed voice

  “I don’t know, I thought he was gonna be playing golf all afternoon”

  “FREDDIE?” Auston yelled again

  “Just get dressed, I’ll go talk to him”

  “Okay” she laughed

  “Yo, Tony, what are you doing here?”

  “Hey!” He exclaimed, “I came to hang out with you... am I bothering you?”

  “No of course not. I just thought you’d be at the course for most of the day...”

  “Yeah.. it wasn’t all that exciting today. What have you—”

  “So I think that Shelley was right!” (Y/N) yelled as she came down the stairs, interrupting Auston with some lie that you couldn’t even follow. “I think we did do an event down the street,” you smirked, watching her eye-line go past you and to Auston, “oh, hi...”

  “Hi...” he hesitated

  “I’m (Y/N)”

  “Auston. It’s nice to meet you” he greeted and you watched as the two of them stared at each other

  “Matts, (Y/N) is a friend of a friend and she wanted to see a vantage point... from upstairs”

  “Not a vantage point. See, I work at an event planning company, I’m an intern but I help with a lot of events and one of them was an MLSE fundraiser and, Shelley, my friend that’s also Freddie’s friend,” she rambled and you had to stop yourself from laughing, “she said that Fred’s apartment was nearby but I didn’t believe it...”

  “Right,” he smirked, “well, now you know right?”

  “Right,” she smiled brightly, “but hey. I should go, I have stuff but thanks, Fred, for letting me look. It was nice to meet you, Auston.”

  “Yeah.. nice to meet you, too. Maybe I’ll see you again?”

  “Now now,” you intervened, “no flirting”

  “Bye Freddie” she chuckled before walking out the door.

  “She’s cute,” Auston said to you and you could sense that he was trying to get more information, “young for you though huh?”

  “We’re not dating” you tried

  “So she really was just here to scope out the view?” he teased

  “I guess so” you tried, making your way to the kitchen to grab a glass of water

  “You wouldn’t mind, then, if I asked her out?” he asked, forcing you to sigh at his incessant attempts not to drop the subject

  “No, go for it...”

  “I will” he smirked and that was the end of the conversation. You found out a few days later that he had actually asked (Y/N) out for dinner but she told him she had to think about it

  “What am I supposed to say, Freddie?” she asked, following you around your apartment, her annoyance apparent as she waited for an answer

  “You should say yes” you replied

  “Is that what you want?”

  “I mean you said it yourself, we’re not together. We’re not dating, we just sleep together every once in a while and I buy you stuff. I don’t care who you date...”

  “It’s not tha..” she stammered, shaking her head hastily, “it’s a little more complicated than just me dating someone else. This isn’t just some guy you’ve never met before who wants to take me out on a date. This is your teammate, your friend. He has a key to your apartment. You watch his dog... so it’s not as simple as what you think it is”

  “I’m fine with it. We’ll still do what we do, if you want, and Auston doesn’t have to find out” you added, sitting down at the kitchen island, fidgeting with your water bottle

  “And what if he does?”

  “He won’t”

  “You really want me to say yes?”

  “If you say no, he’s going to think something is going on with us,” you admitted, “if you say yes, he won’t. Simple”

  “That’s all this is?” she sneered, “I’m surprised you haven’t told him already. It’s not something that you’re ashamed of. Unless... are you ashamed of me?”

  “No” you replied. She sat down slowly in the seat across from you and dropped her head to her hands before exhaling

  “Fine,” you groaned, “I’ll say yes.”

xx

  It was the last thing you really wanted to do but Freddie seemed intent on you going on a date with Auston. It wasn’t awful but it didn’t feel right but the two of you stayed in touch, which created its own issues between you and Freddie, just like you knew it would. After nearly a year, you had grown a lot closer with Freddie’s teammates than you thought you would and you were starting to feel like part of the group, whether or not that was a good thing remained to be seen. It did allow you to spend time with Freddie outside of the bedroom but it led to questions about why you never carried a wallet or offered to pay for meals

  “I’m all for chivalry,” Morgan chuckled, taking a sip of his drink as the server took everyone’s plates away, “but you can clearly afford to foot the bill every here and there. I’ve seen all these fancy things before, I’ve bought a few of ‘em for Tessa, so...”

  “This stuff...” you stalled, gesturing to your purse and your clothes, “they’re all gifts”

  “Some friends who get you those gifts” Auston laughed

  “Who said they’re from friends? What about family?”

  “Or a boyfriend?” he teased, your eyes darting to Freddie quickly to gauge his reaction; nothing, completely stoic

  “No boyfriend. I’m not much for the ‘shower me with gifts’ kind of relationship” this comment earned a round of scoffs from the boys in front of you and you just rolled your eyes in return. Freddie offered you a ride home which you took gladly because you wanted to see where his head was at

  “So...” you started before Freddie huffed

  “The guys are coming out to the lake next week. You’re welcome to come but it won’t be like last year”

  “Are you mad at me?” you asked, turning your body to face him

  “No, why would I be mad?” he chided, keeping his eyes on the road

  “I don’t know,” you replied, turning back to face the road yourself, “but I’m glad you’re not mad. I love the lake so I’m happy to go, even if it won’t be like last year...”

  “Great” he sighed

  “Perfect” you replied, pursing your lips as the rest of the drive was spent in silence. He drove into the underground parking lot, turning off the ignition before looking at you

  “They really like you” he said and you furrowed your brow

  “Yeah... I’m likeable” you joked

  “It’s good,” he said, “but maybe after the lake, you should keep your distance”

  “What?” you scoffed as Freddie opened the door and made his way to open your door, leaning his hands against the side of the car and caging you in lightly

  “Or we need to end this arrangement”

  “So, it’s an ultimatum? You or them?” he nodded, sliding his arm under your legs to pick you up and carry you upstairs. It was a strange request but you could barely concentrate on your thoughts with the way his hands began roaming your body once he set you down. After the week had passed, and you managed to patch up things with Freddie, you were on your way back to the place where you had come to know as if it were your own. You wondered how different things would feel there, with ‘the boys’ being there, and if Freddie would keep his distance from you or if the tension would be too much to bear.

xx

Auston’s P.O.V

  You spent most of your time in the water, or watching (Y/N), while everyone else seemed to find other things to occupy their time. You couldn’t believe that (Y/N) hadn’t pursued more of a relationship with you, especially when you thought the date went really well; you decided to make it your mission to get her to fall in love with you or find out if there was something else going on.

  "So..." you grunted, taking a seat next to (Y/N), "how are you liking the cottage?"

  "It's beautiful out here" she answered with a smile

  "Isn't it though?" you said

  "Are you mocking me?" she laughed

 "I would never"

  "You're still mad that I didn't want to date you, aren't you?" she asked, taking you a bit by surprise and you weren't really sure how honest you should be

  "Why didn't you want to date me?" you said curiously, "I mean the date that we went on was good, wasn't it?"

  "It was fine, yeah," she replied, unimpressed as she seemed to remember the date in her mind, "I just have a bit of a complicated situation going and I didn't feel like adding more to that. But, I'm sorry, that wasn't fair to you"

  "Oh," you really were hoping that she would've made some joke about it all instead of... actually telling you the truth, but here you were. "Thank you..." you hesitated before chuckling, "I'm over it anyway. Let's just enjoy the summer, okay?"

  "Yeah" she grinned. As the night drew on, Freddie got the barbeque ready while setting out snacks as Mo, Mitch and Cogs grabbed a seat around the fire.

  “HEY! YOU TWO, COME HANG OUT BY THE FIRE!” Fred yelled to you and (Y/N) as the two of you stayed on the dock

  "I wanna go in the water!" she yelled

  "YEAH ME TOO!" you chuckled in return, seeing Freddie's distaste from where you stood before (Y/N) slipped by you and ran into the lake

  "HOLY SHIT IT'S COLD!" she screamed, her body already shivering from just a few inches of water crashing against the bare skin of her legs

  "What did you expect?" you scoffed, wading the water as you neared her, lowering your body so the water covered your chest

  "I don't know.." she hesitated, trying her best to maintain the composure of her voice before her shivers took over, "I just didn't expect it to be that cold..."

  "Well now you know" you smirked, catching her stare just as your body reached her space, letting your frame hover over hers as the two of you stood in the cold water; the waves splashing against your hips and trying their best to drag both of you into the current.

  "Right" she whispered, unable to tear her eyes from yours

  "Right" you returned, squatting down in front of her, your lips grazing her chest while your gaze stayed trained on her. You could feel her breathing build in her chest as your fingers traced her skin before you picked her up and she squealed

  "STOP!" she laughed as you threw her over your shoulder

  "What? I'm not doing anything!" you joked. She started to squirm in your grasp before eventually straightening her body which, luckily for you, meant that your face met her chest; you felt her hands rest gently on her shoulders as you shamelessly stared at her breasts before looking back up at her

  "Don't do it" she breathed

  "Do what?" you replied quietly

  "I know what you're thinking" she said and you smirked

  "No, no I don't think you do"

  "Don't do it Auston..." she repeated

  "You need to get used to the temperature," you replied, a grin growing on your face, "and the best way to do that is just to do it..."

  "You throw me in and I'll take you down with me" she threatened but you weren't going to listen. You stopped only for a second when you heard Freddie call to the two of you and you turned around to see him on the shore. You grinned before turning back, throwing (Y/N) in the water before feeling the tug on the back of your neck; both of you crashing into the water. When you finally came to the surface, you splashed water at her which she reciprocated before looking over at Freddie, "we should probably head in."

xx

Freddie's P.O.V

  You watched as the two of them held onto each other in the water, not able to discern their emotions from the distance you were at, but you didn’t like it. You called them in one more time before Auston tossed (Y/N) into the water and they began splashing water at each other. She looked back at you before wiping the water from her eyes and saying something to Auston, the two of them making their way back to shore.

  “Hey,” Auston said breathlessly as he walked past you

  “Finally had enough of the water huh?” you teased to which Auston just smirked, looking back at (Y/N) then back at you

  “Hi” (Y/N) said when she got close to you but your irritation from what you’d witnessed caused you to all but ignore her as you turned to walk back to the fire. The six of you sat around the fire, drinking, laughing and telling stories while you felt (Y/N)’s eyes on you, begging you to look at her without having to say the words

  “Well,” she sighed when you kept your eyes away from hers, “I’m exhausted from all that fun in the water. I’ll see you all in the morning” she laughed, Morgan and Andrew standing up to showcase their chivalry

  “Have a good sleep” Andrew smiled as (Y/N) made her way back inside. You weren’t sure how long you should wait to talk to her but you knew it couldn’t be too much longer

  “I’m gonna get some sleep as well” you said, finishing your drink as you stood up

  “Oh yeah, sure...” Cogs teased and you rolled your eyes at the tone

  “Goodnight. Please don’t destroy the deck” you said, making your way inside and turning down the hall toward (Y/N)’s room, letting yourself in

  “Hey!” she exclaimed, irritated that you didn’t knock, “what are you doing?”

  “I came to talk to you”

  “Oh really? You’ve sure done a great job of ignoring me all night. What do you have to say now?”

  “You can’t act like that,” you said under your breath, referring to how she was with Auston

  “Act like what?!” she argued, raising her voice as she stepped toward you

  “Like that!” you repeated, gesturing to the lake, trying your best to keep your voice low. “Throwing yourself all over Auston like that. Half naked and soaking wet no less”

  “Oh my god,” she scoffed, “you’re jealous”

  “Jealous?” you huffed at the suggestion

  “Yes. I have no idea why you would be but it sounds an awful lot like jealousy how you’re talking to me right now” she urged, anger covering her face

  “What if I was jealous?”

  “Why would you be jealous?”

  “BECAUSE I’M IN LOVE WITH YOU!”

  “What?” she whispered, stumbling back

  “I love you,” you said calmly, vulnerably, as you studied her expression

  “You don’t love me, you’re not in love with me” she argued, shaking her head in disbelief

  “I do!”

  “YOU DON’T!” she yelled, “YOU— I— ugh” she groaned

  “What?”

  “I don’t get you,” she sighed, “one second you say you don’t want a relationship and you want to be my ‘sugar daddy’ then the next you say you’re in love with me? Which is it?”

  “Both”

  “Both?” you could feel the disgust in her words but it almost made you laugh

  “Yeah, both,” you countered, “I didn’t set out to fall in love and get into a relationship, especially when I met you,” you noticed her mouth drop, realizing you had to backtrack. “I wanted to protect you from my life but I liked being around you. And the sex was amazing”

  “So all you wanted was sex”

  “Maybe that’s where it started,” you admitted, “but somewhere along the way I fell in love with you and I realized I would still be paying for everything either way but this way I’d get you all to myself”

  “Oh so now it’s about possession?” she growled and you rolled your eyes

  “I’m not trying to possess you,” you groaned, “I just wanna be with you because I love you. I have no idea why because you’re impossible to deal with and you test me every god damn second like I’m still in school but I can’t help it” you bit your bottom lip as you thought about tearing off her clothes, taking a step closer to where she stood. “I see you and you make everything... different. My heart races and I blush and I sweat and I just want to be around you. All the time. It’s infuriating. But I love you and I think I have since the beginning” she stood silently in front of you before you boxed her in with your arms, letting her eyes linger up your chest until they found yours, placing your hands on her hips to bring her even closer to you

  “Show me,” she said softly, watching your lips. You let your fingers slide up her body until they reached her neck, cupping her face as you kissed her softly. Her body moving closer to yours, forcing your feet to move backward until you felt the bed behind you, stopping only for a minute to pick her up

  “I love you” you repeated and, as if something possessed her, she bit her lip and pushed you onto the mattress

  “I want you to fuck me”

  “You’re n—”

  “Fuck. Me” she interrupted, moving across your body to straddle your lap. You honestly thought she’d say it back and it was throwing you off that she wasn’t. “What’s wrong?” she groaned when she finally realized that you weren’t exactly following through

  “I can’t do this” you sighed, pushing her off of you to walk across the room, dropping your head in your hand

  “What?” she scoffed

  “I...”

  “Should I go ask Auston? I bet he’d be more than happy to fuck me” she teased, smirking when she saw the glare on your face. You promptly made your way back to her, harshly grabbing her hips and turning her around where she stood; moving your hands up her body to clear her hair from her neck to bite at the sensitive skin between her neck and her shoulder. You felt her hips push back into yours and you grinned at her sudden neediness

  "Is this what you want?" you whispered

  "I told you. I want you to fuck me" she breathed, placing her hand on yours to guide it onto her breast and she leaned against your chest, continuing to back her ass against your growing erection. You pushed your hands into the waistband of her shorts and underwear, tearing them off her body, kissing up her legs and removing her shirt before forcing her to lean against the bed, keeping her back straight. “Freddie...” she whimpered when you stepped back, making sure not to touch her just yet

  “Shh,” you hushed before pushing your shorts off to expose your hardened cock. You ran your finger down her spine until you felt her shiver underneath your touch, holding yourself in your free hand before you began running the tip along her folds; letting her moan fill the room before you pushed yourself into her entrance. "Shhh," you repeated as her sounds started to get louder, "you don't want everyone to hear, do you?" she let out another moan before she nodded her head, looking at you over her shoulder and smirking as she watched you fuck her. She rocked back into you, sending vibrations through your body and encouraging you to dig your nails into her hips, fucking her harder. You moaned lowly as your pleasure began to increase, slapping her ass to give her the playful punishment you thought she deserved for teasing you earlier

  "Fuck" she shouted breathlessly, earning a growl from you as you tried to fuck her into silence. You weren't surprised when her panting filled the room and she brought her body up so she could lean against your chest. "Fuck" she repeated, quieter this time, as your fingers lingered to her core, pressing on her sensitive bud as your thrusts became stutters and grunts continuously left your lips. You came, messily, inside her but kept your fingers moving against her clit as you took yourself out of her, kneeling down in time to find your juices leaking down her leg; snaking your head between her legs to lick up the liquid teasingly. "You need to cum, don't you?" you baited, your finger poking inside and curving to find her g-spot while you gently swept the tip of your tongue across her clit

  "Fuck, yes," she panted, "faster baby. Make me cum" you smirked at her pleas. You quickened your ministrations until her legs shook and she was unable to stand, falling to her knees while a sigh exited her mouth. Her hand lazily rested on your chest as she attempted to compose herself and you could only chuckle

  "Oh we're not done yet"

  "What?" she gulped, eyebrows raising in surprise

  "Oh no no no no," you laughed, "you wanted me to fuck you. I'm gonna fuck you senseless. Until you can't speak without feeling me inside you. Until you see my face with every breath you take. Until you feel the heat from my body against yours just by walking across the room. Until you need to beg for mercy at any given second because I'm still making you cum."

  "T--" she hesitated, pushing herself up as best she could while still not being able to use her legs, "that sounds good to me"

  "You sure you can handle it?" you asked

  "From you?" she replied, raising her hand to stroke your cheek, "any day. All-day"

  "I do love you" you admitted once more, hoping she'd say it back but helping her up gently so you could continue to fuck her, as you promised you would

  "I love you, too" she confessed and you kissed her quickly, lifting her up and carrying her to the bed. It was at that moment, when you saw her smiling underneath you, that you didn't care if the guys heard the two of you. She was yours and you were hers. You had her and she had you. Nothing could ruin that.

[smolchildlevy]

A Day Off

Karasuno x F!Reader

(Not including the side characters sorry.)

Warnings: suggestive, fluff, language

A/N: This is part 4, and I still have so much in mind I- Well anyway, this is another long one.

It was just another regular, boring day in school. Doing projects and so much work. It was tiring to say the least.

It’s a Friday. The team is supposed to have a Saturday practice.

You’re in your last class, 8 minutes before the dismissal bell sounds. Everyone is chatting and on their phones.

You get a notification. “I wonder who it is” you think to yourself.

You decide to check it.

-1 Message from Captain ✨-

“Oh, it’s Daichi”

Captain ✨: Y/N, can you head to the gym early? You don’t have to, but I asked everyone to since I have an announcement.

Y/N: I’ll try. My teacher likes me so I’m sure she’ll let me go if I tell her why.

Captain ✨: Good! See you in a few :)

Y/N: See ya! 😊

-Captain ✨ and Y/N are offline-

As you thought, your teacher was more than happy to let you go a little early.

You head to the gym once again, curious as to what Daichi has to say. On your way, you spot Asahi, who was buying water from a vending machine.

Walking up next to him, you say, “Asahi! Do you wanna walk together?”

“AH- oh. It’s just you Y/N..sorry.” He laughs, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. “But yeah, I’d love to.”

“Great! Let’s go see what Daichi wanted us for.”

Side by side you proceeded to walk to the gym, chatting along the way.

Opening the door, you notice everyone’s there. “Maybe it’s a practice match with another team later?”

The both of you head to the group.

“Okay! Now that everyone’s here I have an exciting announcement to tell you.” Daichi declared.

“What is it Captain?” Asahi questions.

“Coach told us we have a break day tomorrow! So, Suga and I decided to go to the beach in Tokyo.”

“YAY!!!” Hinata, Noya, and Tanaka exclaimed.

“Tch.” Tsukishima hissed.

“Sounds fun, but I can’t go.” Kiyoko smiled.

“Awww ok. But yay! Beach day!” You grinned.

After a while of discussing the plans for tomorrow, Daichi tells everyone to pack up clothing and everything else they needed.

~~TimeSkip~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

7:00 am

It’s the day of the trip. After a long night of deciding what to bring, you hop off your bed and put everything in a [insert favorite color] bag.

Then, you get ready— getting dressed, brushing your teeth.

You had put on an nice outfit. (Pick one of these ^ ^)

Walking over to the meeting point (the front of Karasuno), you put on some music in the headphones you were wearing, humming to the song.

As you approach, you hear two voices shouting.

“I GOT HERE FIRST!!”

“NO I DID BOKE!”

You identify the voices as Hinata and Kageyama.

“SHUT IT, BOTH OF YOU!” You hear Suga yell.

They see you approaching and immediately calm down. Then the automatically blush at how cute your outfit looks on you.

“THE PRINCESS HAS APPEARED!” Noya declares.

“Hey!” You sang.

They all say hello to you. Right after that, the bus arrives.

“Y/N, Can I sit next to you?” Suga asks.

“Sure! As long as I can sit next to the window!”

“Mhm! Let’s go.”

“HEY NO FAIRRR!” Hinata complains.

The rest of the boys glare at Sugawara. But he just looks back and smirks.

“Lucky bastard...” Tsukishima mutters.

Both you and Suga sit in the back of the bus together.

On the way, you and Suga watch memes on his phone (with headphones) and laugh at them.

~~~~~~~TimeSkip of a few hours (sorry-)~~~~~~~~~~

10 am

“Everyone get up, we’re here.” Daichi exclaims.

One by one, you all get off the bus.

“Where do we put our things?” You question.

“Oh, the coaches booked us rooms in a hotel. The problem is that it’s three per room with one having four, so we have to decide who goes where.” Suga points out.

“Oooh. Well why don’t we write our names down on paper and mix them?”

“Good idea! I have a notepad in my bag so we can use that.” Suga offers.

He takes it out and writes everyone’s names on small pieces of paper. Then, he puts it in a small empty pocket on the side of his bag.

“Y/N, why don’t you draw three to see who are the first roommates?” He asks.

“Ok.”

You pull out the pieces in sets of three. Daichi writes down each room and who is in it.

Here’s the groups:

(Yes I wrote them myself but I accidentally forgot Suga lol)

“YEA! I GET TANAKABRO!” Noya approved.

“Why do I have to get Saltyshima?!” Hinata murmurs.

“Oh god, this is gonna be chaotic..” Kageyama grumbles.

“Yay! I get Captain, Asahi, and Suga!” You squeal.

Daichi, Asahi, and Suga mentally congratulate themselves for getting this opportunity.

For a second, you thought it was funny that you get a room with the third years.

“Okay, now that it’s been settled, let’s go check in and set our things in our rooms.” Daichi ordered.

You all head to the hotel and check yourselves in.

“After we get settled, get changed into your swimming outfits and we will meet in the front of the building.” Suga advises.

Walking with the third years, you go into your room. After opening the door, you notice something.

“Uhh there’s only three beds.” You say, also noting they are queen sized.

“W-what?-“ Asahi stiffens.

“Coach didn’t tell us that-“ Suga defended himself.

“I guess two of us could lay next to each other.” You shrugged.

“I suppose.” Daichi sighs.

“Daichi I’ll lay with you since you’re the closest to me right now!”

“O-okay then, if you’re alright with it.”

“Dang..” Suga says under his breath.

Once talking it out, you decided to lay with Daichi. But since it’s a queen bed, you wouldn’t be that close so even though the other two were bothered by it, it wasn’t that bad.

—After putting your things down—

“Y/N, do you mind if Suga, Asahi and I go first? It’s so we can make sure everything is in order after we change.”

“Sure! I’ll remind everyone to bring sunscreen and stuff.”

One after the other, they get changed in swim trunks and a shirt and walk out to check on the others to see if they’re doing alright.

Then, you go and change into your swimming things.

Choose one below:

When you were done changing, you put on some clothes over it. (You would take it off when getting in the water.)

You get a text from the group chat saying they were all going to the front.

Smiling to yourself, you walk down to where they said to go.

~~~~TimeSkip to when you get to the beach~~~~~~~

12 pm.

“Ok! Go put down your stuff and you’re free to go!” Daichi affirmed.

“Yes!” Everyone replies.

Everyone goes off on their own, some immediately running for the water.

“Hey Suga, I’m gonna go to the bathroom to put on sunscreen since I forgot. I’ll be right back.” You mentioned.

“Be careful.” He tells you before going to the water.

You skip your way to the closest bathroom near the beach.

Grabbing your sunscreen, you put it on while making sure it’s in every right place. Then, you take off the clothes over your swim suit and put it in the small bag you were carrying.

“Heyy.. where’s Y/N?” Hinata asked Suga, upset that he doesn’t see you.

“She went to the restroom to put on sunscreen. She’ll be back in a second.”

“Dumbass forgot to put it on.” Tsukishima commented, with Yamaguchi snickering in the background.

“Language.” Daichi warns.

After finishing what you were doing, you happily walk back.

“Sorry I had to go for a sec guys!” You apologize.

“It’s alright Y/N-“ Asahi says, suddenly tensing up and becoming flushed.

“What’s wrong Asahi?” Noya questions loudly, then he looks where he was looking. “Oh.”

The rest look away from what they were doing, and look at Noya and Asahi before looking at you.

Just then, their faces become just as red. (Noya, Tanaka and Kageyama even have nosebleeds I-)

“Y-you look nice Y/N!” Yamaguchi spoke up.

Everyone nods.

“Thank you!” You grin while getting in the water as well, a faint blush on you since you’re around several shirtless men.

The day goes really well. Everyone, even Tsukishima, had fun.

3:30 pm.

Now that everyone has gotten tired, you all decided to go back to the hotel.

“I wanna go to a restaurant! My treat of course.” You gushed.

“You don’t have to-“ Suga tries to say, before you but him off.

“I insist! Come onnnn”

“Ok, sure. Let’s do it at around 5:45 pm.”

“YESSS,” Hinata and Noya exclaim.

When you get back, you watch TikToks on your phone and vibe until the time you go to eat.

After eating at the restaurant, they all thank you as they head back to their rooms.

Today was a great day.

Ahhh this took me forever sorry (￣∀￣)

I enjoyed writing this part though

[knuffled]

Just Practice - Chapter 15

this is the most important chapter in the story so far since chapter seven, so i hope you enjoy this! if you could drop a comment and/or reblog to support all the hard work, it would mean a lot to me! 

here’s the ao3 link

The first thing that greeted Annabeth when she stepped out of her car was the sound of crashing waves and the smell of sea salt carried on a gentle breeze. She leaned against the side of her car and drank in the view of the ocean, relishing in the way the wind tousled her hair. The beach was packed with families and college students on spring break, and for good reason. It was late March, and the weather was absolutely perfect outside. The sand was pleasantly warm between her toes, and seagulls cawed overhead in a clear blue sky.

Coming to the beach for spring break had been Rachel’s idea. Her father owned a villa not far from the shore, and she had offered to let them all stay there overnight. It was exactly what Annabeth needed after the past month and a half. After Percy’s victory at state, Annabeth had been absolutely swamped with school work. Nearly every week there was some new project deadline, essay to turn in, or exam to study for, and by the time finals rolled around, Annabeth found herself running on fumes. She hadn’t realized how bad it was until she came home after her final exam and promptly passed the fuck out in her room only to wake up the following afternoon, seventeen hours later.

Annabeth gave herself some time to just stand barefoot in the sand until Piper texted her, informing her that she and Jason were setting up camp further down the beach where it was more secluded. Taking that as her cue to move, Annabeth leisurely made her way down the beach and found Piper and Jason a few minutes later, trying to set up a beach umbrella. The umbrella was an ancient red and white striped monstrosity that looked like it had seen better days. Annabeth watched her friends struggle for a while, amused by how frustrated they were getting when the base of the umbrella slipped in the sand, until Piper noticed her and scowled.

“Are you just gonna stand there and watch or do you plan on helping out?” Piper huffed.

“But you were doing oh so well without me,” Annabeth said innocently. “I wouldn’t want to get in the way or anything.”

Jason put a hand on Piper’s shoulder before she could snap and offered Annabeth a tired smile. “We could really use your help, Annabeth.”

“Well, since you asked so nicely.”

Piper muttered something foul under her breath, but Annabeth couldn’t help grinning anyways before she went to help Jason. It took longer than she would have liked, but eventually the three of them managed to get the umbrella to stay in place, just as Hazel, Frank, and Leo arrived.

Leo pointed at the umbrella and said, “That thing looks like it came straight out of the fifties.”

“Shut it, Valdez,” Piper snapped. “We just spent nearly twenty minutes trying to get that fucker to stay still.”

Leo held his palms up in surrender. “Ok, apologies. Looks like someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. I get it. It’s cool.”

“That wasn’t an invitation to keep talking,” Piper warned.

Leo pantomimed zipping his lips, making Annabeth grin. Rolling her eyes, Hazel unzipped her backpack and handed each of them a bottle of homemade lemonade.

“Hopefully, it’s still cold and all the ice didn’t melt,” Hazel said.

Piper took a sip and moaned, “Hazel, you’re a goddamn lifesaver.”

“Don’t make noises like that in public,” Annabeth quipped.

Although she wanted to glare at Annabeth, Piper spotted Rachel and Percy further down the beach and called out to them instead. Annabeth’s heart suddenly began pounding harder in her chest, and she found herself involuntarily searching for him over her shoulder. They had barely talked or even seen each other since State, so she had expected to be more excited to see him, but she found herself strangely nervous instead. The nervousness only grew worse for some reason when Percy noticed her and sent her a warm smile.

“Sorry we’re late,” Percy said. “Rache forgot something so we had to drive back to her place.”

“Let’s not sweat the details,” Rachel said, waving her hand dismissively. “Now, I don’t know about you all, but I am dying to get into the water. Anyone know where the changing rooms are?”

“I saw some on the way here,” Hazel said. “Annabeth, did you want to join us?”

Annabeth cleared her throat and shook her head. “Uh, no, I’m wearing my swimsuit under my clothes already.”

With that, Hazel nodded and left with Rachel for the changing rooms. The boys went down to the water, but Percy stayed behind since he had brought some beach towels with him. He spread them beneath the umbrella so they wouldn’t have to sit on the sand. Piper left a short while later once she was done applying some sunscreen, leaving Annabeth and Percy alone. Annabeth borrowed Piper’s sunscreen as an excuse to leave after Percy did, but he plopped down beside her with a sigh instead.

Annabeth couldn’t help sneaking a quick sidelong glance at him. He looked good, really good. His unzipped black sweatshirt billowed in the breeze and stood in sharp contrast to the white shirt he wore underneath. There was a relaxed, easy smile on his face, and his sun-kissed skin made him look positively radiant.

“Hey, stranger,” Percy said, derailing her thoughts. “Haven’t seen you in a hot minute.”

Annabeth tucked her hair behind her reddening ears and said, “Y-Yeah, not since State, I think.”

“Glad to see you’re still in one piece,” Percy said.

Annabeth breathed a laugh. “Not entirely sure about that.”

Percy cocked his head to the side and studied her. “You do look a little worse for the wear.”

“Rude.”

“And who’s fault is that?” Percy asked, raising an eyebrow. “I distinctly remember warning you not to take three AP courses your senior year, but you wouldn’t listen to me.”

Annabeth scowled and said, “You don’t have to sound so smug about it.”

Percy laughed and leaned back on his elbows. “And what would be the fun in that? It’s not every day that you get to tell Annabeth Chase that you told her so.”

“Someone sure sounds awfully pleased with himself.”

“Oh, believe me, I am,” Percy said, grinning. “But I do suppose I can cut you some slack. You know, considering how we’re at the beach and all.”

“How magnanimous of you,” Annabeth deadpanned.

Percy made a show of clapping mildly. “Oh, well done. That sounded like an SAT word.”

Annabeth barked a laugh despite herself and shoved him, but that only made his grin widen. She was relieved to feel the awkwardness dissipating between them, but her respite was short lived because Percy suddenly removed his shirt and tossed it on the towel beside her.

“W-What are you doing? Why are you taking off your clothes?” Annabeth stammered, unable to hide the panic in her voice.

Percy looked at her like she had sprouted a second head. “It’s kind of hard to go swimming when you still have your clothes on.”

Annabeth looked away to hide the fact that her face was turning pink. “I know that! But can’t you go change in the changing rooms?”

Percy blinked in surprise and said, “Oh, sorry. You’ve seen me do this like a hundred times, so I didn’t think that you’d mind.”

He was right. She had seen him shirtless more times than she could count, so why was she suddenly being so weird about it? She needed to get a fucking grip. And yet, it was everything she could do not to stare shamelessly at him. Christ, at this proximity, the scent of his cologne was inescapable, and it only served to make her feel even more flustered.

“Annabeth, are you okay? You’ve been acting really strange,” Percy said.

“I-I’m fine,” Annabeth squeaked. “Just tired.”

“Alright, try not to push yourself,” Percy said, standing up. “I’m gonna head down to the water now. Let me know if you need anything.”

Annabeth nodded, still refusing to look at him. It was only after he was gone that she stopped holding her breath. She screwed her eyes shut and buried her face in her hands. What the fuck was she doing? Why was she acting so weird? All her feelings seemed to contradict one another. She felt a bizarre mix of exhilaration and anxiety, like thousands of butterflies fluttering about in the pit of her stomach. Her eyes were drawn to Percy even though she couldn’t bear to look at him. There was definitely something wrong with her.

Annabeth took a deep breath and forced herself to stand up and head down to the water. For now, she resolved herself to just make the most of her time at the beach instead of wallowing in her own awkwardness. Nevertheless, she did make a point of avoiding where Percy was to give herself a breather. However, in her momentary lapse of concentration, Piper snuck up on her and tackled her into the sea, sending salt water rushing up her nose.

She surfaced sputtering and discombobulated only to find Piper laughing uproariously behind her. Annabeth chased after her in a murderous rage, but Piper quickly retreated to the sea and put some distance between them. Piper had always been the better swimmer, so it took a few minutes before Annabeth finally caught her, but once she did, Annabeth dunked her underwater for a full minute as payback.

Eventually, Rachel and Hazel returned from the changing rooms and joined them in the water as well. They all splashed around together for a few hours under the midday sun, and Annabeth forgot all about how awkward she felt around Percy.

They broke for lunch after that and settled on a shack that sold burgers further up the beach. Unfortunately, the only vegetarian option on the menu was fries, so Piper had to drive herself to a nearby Taco Bell. Annabeth couldn’t help feeling sorry for her when Piper returned twenty minutes later, absolutely livid, because the rest of them had already finished eating.

“I can’t fucking believe there are still restaurants in this day and age that don’t have vegetarian options,” Piper fumed.

“Remind me to buy some stuff for dinner tonight so you don’t have to do this again,” Rachel said, yawning.

“How far away is your villa again?” Frank asked.

“Just a fifteen minute drive or so,” Rachel said, finishing her salad. “We’ve got a firepit out back, so we can have a bonfire tonight! We can make smores and everything.”

“Dibs on lighting the bonfire,” Leo said quickly.

“Abso-fucking-lutely not,” Piper said vehemently.

“C’mon, I promise I’ll keep it under control this time, Pipes,” Leo pleaded.

“The last time you were in charge of the bonfire, you nearly burned my fucking house down,” Piper snapped.

“That was like three years ago!”

“It was at my birthday last June.”

“I’ll handle the fire, Leo,” Jason interrupted. “You can help me out if you’d like.”

Leo sank in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest. “You guys are no fun.”

“A bonfire sounds nice,” Frank said, ignoring him.

“Yeah, it’ll be chill,” Rachel said, nodding. “We’ll have a section of the beach all to ourselves. I think my dad probably has some alcohol stashed away somewhere in the house.”

“Percy, watch over us and make sure we don’t do anything stupid,” Piper said, throwing an arm around his shoulder.

Percy gave her a wary look. “I don’t recall volunteering to be a babysitter.”

“But you’re the only one here that doesn’t drink,” Piper protested. “Pretty please?”

Percy raised an eyebrow. “Buttering me up isn’t going to work, you know.”

“Annabeth, help me convince your boyfriend,” Piper whined.

Annabeth paused mid-drink and looked between them. “Don’t look at me. I’m not the one that’ll get black-out drunk and try to like hunt for mermaids or something.”

That got a laugh out of everyone, much to Piper’s chagrin.

After they finished eating, they returned to their spot under the umbrella. Hazel and Frank went back to laze around in the water while Rachel and Leo decided to go build sandcastles on the beach. The rest of them sat under the umbrella and talked amongst themselves for a while, but eventually Jason left for the bathroom. Percy joined him because he said he had spotted a shop selling snow cones on the way here, leaving Annabeth alone with Piper.

Once they were out of earshot, Piper turned to Annabeth with a wolfish grin. “Lovin’ the swimsuit, babe.”

“This is hardly anything special,” Annabeth said, rolling her eyes. She was just wearing a plain black two piece she’d found at Target the summer before.

Piper raised an eyebrow and said, “Percy certainly seemed to think it was. Boy couldn’t take his eyes off you.”

Annabeth blinked in surprise. Piper had to be trolling her. Sure, she had felt his eyes on her a few times, but that didn’t mean anything.

“You’re obviously fucking with me.”

“I’m being serious,” Piper laughed. “You look hot, Annababe.”

Annabeth looked down at her swimsuit and felt her face heat up. She didn’t really think she was much to look at honestly. It wasn’t like she had low self-esteem or anything, but her body had always been more of an instrument to her than a source of beauty. If you asked her, the only things she really had going for her were her height and the slender, toned physique that she had built over years of running long distance. Beyond that, Annabeth thought she was rather plain.

“Thanks,” Annabeth mumbled.

“You’re welcome,” Piper said, stifling a yawn. “I wonder what’s taking him so long.”

Annabeth shielded her eyes from the sun and scanned the beach for Percy, but she didn’t see him anywhere. Instead of sitting around and getting stuck in her thoughts, Annabeth decided to take her mind off things and search for him instead.

She stood up and brushed the sand off her thighs and said, “I’m gonna go look for him.”

“Ok, stay safe,” Piper said. “I think I’m going to take a nap.”

Annabeth nodded and made her way back in the direction of the parking lot. Percy had said that the snow cone shop was on the other end, but he still should have gotten back by now. Maybe he was having trouble carrying all those snow cones by himself or perhaps the line was really long. She made it all the way to the shop without running into Percy, and she couldn’t see him standing in line either.

She scanned the surrounding area for him without much luck and almost gave up on her search when she spotted the familiar outline of his back. He was cradling a carton of snow cones in his arms and talking to two college aged girls. Annabeth took a step forward, trepidation filling her chest. She couldn’t make out the look on his face because his back was turned towards her, but she thought she caught a glimpse of a polite, confused smile on his face, like he wasn’t entirely sure why the girls were talking to him.

Annabeth balled her hands in fists at her sides and clenched her jaw. It was obvious by the way the girls laughed sycophantically and twirled their hair, practically thrusting their tits in his face, that they were hitting on him. What did the idiot think would happen if he was gonna waltz around the beach shirtless like that?

She had half a mind to go over and interrupt them, but for some reason she found herself rooted in place. Annabeth wasn’t sure why she disliked them so much, but the more she thought about it, the less reason she realized she had to interfere. Percy wasn’t actually her boyfriend after all. Besides, he was free to leave at any time, but he hadn’t which probably meant he wanted to be there. In any case, it was none of her business to step in.

And yet, she couldn’t force herself to simply turn on her heels and leave either.

But then one of the girls, a haughty looking redhead, started tugging on his forearm insistently. Percy made a small show of resistance, enough to show he wasn’t interested, but apparently they didn’t seem to pick up on that because the other girl decided to help her friend by tugging Percy’s other arm.

Annabeth moved without realizing what she was doing and pulled Percy against her chest. A possessive thrill rushed through her when the look of discomfort on his face gave way to relief once he saw her.

She positioned herself in front of Percy and glared at the girls. “What’s going on here?”

The redhead’s eyes flashed with irritation, but she forced herself to muster a saccharine smile. “Oh, we were just inviting him to come have some drinks with us.”

“Can’t you see he’s clearly uncomfortable?” Annabeth asked. “I’m guessing he even told you he doesn’t drink too.”

The girls exchanged looks with each other. “I mean, he was obviously joking about that.”

Annabeth raised an eyebrow. “Or maybe you just don’t know how to take no for an answer.”

The girls recoiled like they had been slapped across the face. Annabeth took the opportunity to whisper to Percy that they were leaving and led him away by the hand before the girls could react. The girls protested behind them, but the only thing Annabeth could focus on was the feeling of Percy’s hand in hers. Blood pounded in Annabeth’s ears, and something simmered in her veins like magma. It took her a while to realize that Percy was calling out for her to stop.

“Annabeth, slow down,” Percy said. “You’re hurting me.”

Annabeth dropped his wrist like she’d been burned and looked away. “Sorry.”

Percy set the snow cones down and rubbed his wrist. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you sur-”

“I said I’m fine,” Annabeth snapped.

Her tone was harsh enough to prove she was lying, but she couldn’t help it. Something dark smoldered in the pit of her stomach, making her restless. She didn’t know what it was, but the sensation was intolerable and she wanted it to stop.

Percy put a hand on her shoulder and forced her to face him. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

Annabeth balled her hands into fists and stared at her feet. “I-I don’t know. I’m just- I don’t know, I feel really weird.”

“What do you mean?”

“I just hated it, seeing the way they were clinging on to you,” Annabeth said tightly. “Why didn’t you just leave? It was like you wanted them to fawn all over you.”

“I tried but they wouldn’t let me leave.”

Annabeth met his eyes for the first time. “If you really wanted to leave, they wouldn’t have been able to stop you.”

Percy blinked in surprise and furrowed his brow. “Are you- are you jealous?”

Annabeth crossed her arms over her chest, and her face began to prickle. “I-I don’t know. I just didn’t like it.”

Percy’s lips tugged upwards involuntarily in a smile, making Annabeth even angrier. “What’s so funny?”

Percy hid his smile behind his hand. “Oh, um, nothing. Sorry. I just wanted to say that you didn’t have anything to worry about. They were making me super uncomfortable.”

Annabeth pursed her lips and said, “I find that kind of hard to believe.”

“Annabeth, come on, you could tell that they were creeping the fuck out of me from a mile away,” Percy said exasperatedly.

That was enough to coax a smile out of her. “You mean you didn’t like getting eye fucked by total strangers?”

Percy gave her an incredulous look and said, “You know, having tried it, I can’t really say it’s for me.”

“Yeah?” Annabeth asked, grinning.

“Yes,” Percy said flatly. “Besides, I already have a lovely fake-girlfriend willing to save me when I’m a damsel in distress.”

Annabeth’s heart skipped a beat. “Sounds like a real catch.”

“Oh, she most definitely is.”

Annabeth knew that Percy had meant it as a joke, but it made her heart squeeze a little in her chest all the same. She turned away before her face turned red and fought the ridiculous urge to smile. Christ, she needed to get ahold of herself.

“You good?” Percy asked carefully.

Annabeth nodded. “Yeah.”

“We should get going then,” Percy said. “The snow cones are starting to melt.”

“And who’s fault is that?” Annabeth said, raising an eyebrow.

“Don’t be rude to the guy that bought you a strawberry-rhubarb snow cone.”

“A thousand apologies, your majesty.”

Percy hummed happily to himself. “That’s more like it.”

:::

After sunset, they finally left the beach and made for Rachel’s villa. The villa was massive, easily twice the size of Annabeth’s house, and designed in a Spanish style. Annabeth took a moment to admire the terracotta tiled roof, and the large windows that allowed for a generous view of the Pacific. The villa had six separate bedrooms, which she personally found a bit excessive, but it proved to be for the best since there were eight of them. After Rachel took a room for herself, the rest of them drew straws to determine who would have a room to themselves, and Annabeth somehow managed to win.

Annabeth’s first course of action after dropping off her luggage was to shower. She didn’t like having to shower after spending so much time in the ocean since it made her skin all dry and wrinkly, but it was still a relief to finally wash off all the sand that had stuck to her all day. Unfortunately, Annabeth had been forced to pack in a hurry, so she could only change into what she worn earlier that morning. She had only brought a single change of clothes with her and that was for tomorrow.

She took some time to admire her room while she towel-dried her hair. It wasn’t particularly large, but it was tastefully decorated. A large queen bed sat in the center of the room, flanked by a small cherry wood drawer. Sheer linen curtains framed a tall window that looked out over the ocean. Annabeth leaned against the open window sill and drank in the view of the Pacific. The full moon hung directly overhead and cast its pale, diffused reflection onto the dark water below.

Just as she finished drying her hair, there was a knock at her door. Percy peered into her room, fiddling with the zipper on his sweatshirt.

“Hey, ready to go? I think Jason and Leo are getting the fire started.”

Annabeth set her towel aside and nodded. “Yeah, let’s go.”

The bonfire was nearly fully lit by the time they arrived. Jason sat atop one of the four logs circling the pit and kept a watchful eye on the flames. Off to the side, Frank was helping Leo dump some charcoal into the mouth of an expensive looking barbeque grill. Rachel and Hazel chatted to themselves and cut meat and vegetables at the outdoor kitchen countertop. Piper was the only one that appeared to be missing.

Percy noticed that Frank and Leo were having trouble and went over to help them with the grill, leaving Annabeth alone. She didn’t want to be the only one twiddling her thumbs so she figured she would go and help Rachel and Hazel.

“Need any help?” Annabeth asked them.

Hazel shook her head. “No thanks. We are pretty much done here, but we appreciate the offer.”

“Besides, not sure how much I trust you in the kitchen with a knife,” Rachel teased.

“I’m not completely hopeless. I made Percy chicken soup when he got sick, and he said it was pretty good,” Annabeth protested.

Rachel laughed and said, “You could literally make Percy drink poison, and he’d tell you it was delicious if you were the one that made it.”

Blood rushed to Annabeth’s face, making Rachel laugh even harder. She patted Annabeth’s shoulder benevolently and said, “Trust me. It’s for your own good, Chase.”

Annabeth shrugged her off and sat on one of the logs with a scowl. “Where’s Piper?”

“Rachel forgot to get her ingredients, so she had to go buy herself dinner again, the poor girl,” Hazel said.

Rachel looked repentant enough for Annabeth to feel sorry for her, so Annabeth tried to comfort her by saying, “She’s probably more than happy to have Taco Bell twice in one day.”

Annabeth started when someone swatted the back of her head. She turned and looked up with a frown to see Piper standing behind her, holding a burrito.

“Heard that, asshole.”

“You’re literally eating a burrito right now,” Annabeth muttered.

Piper’s face turned pink. “It’s from Chipotle! You can tell by the size!”

“Wow, someone’s getting adventurous,” Annabeth deadpanned.

Piper sat down at the log across from her, beside Jason, and narrowed her eyes. “Bite me.”

Annabeth was interrupted by Leo before she could respond. He skipped over to them with a manic grin and said, “We finally got the grill working!”

“You’re not gonna accidentally blow us up or anything right?” Piper asked dubiously.

“Pipes, charcoal can’t explode,” Leo said flatly. “I know you’re a vegetarian and all, but that’s literally second grade science class.”

“You can never be too sure when it comes to you,” Piper sniffed.

Leo rolled his eyes and waltzed over to Hazel and Rachel. “Looks like you’re almost done! I’ll start taking things over to the grill to get started.”

“Frank, make sure you keep an eye on him!” Hazel shouted when Leo took a plateful of meat and vegetables with him.

Rachel declared to the group that she would go find where her father had stashed his alcohol and returned a short while later with an assortment of liquor and a tray full of glasses. They all poured themselves drinks, apart from Percy, and sat around the fire.

Annabeth had helped herself to some fancy looking bourbon, mainly because she had never tried it before. Her first sip made her throat burn and forced her to cough. Percy gave her a worried look, but she ignored him and took another sip. Once she got over how strong it was, she had to admit that the bourbon was really good. It didn’t take long for that familiar warmth to spread through her body and soften the harsh edges of the world around her.

It took some time for the food to arrive, but it was well worth the wait. Frank had found an array of spices in the kitchen pantry to season the meat with, so even the smell was incredible. After an exhausting day at the beach, they all practically inhaled their food. Piper finished her food first since she had a head start and set up a smores station for dessert. It wasn’t long before they were fighting for spots to roast their marshmallows on the fire.

Later, Rachel disappeared inside the villa and returned with an acoustic guitar. She strummed a few chords and started singing softly, the sound of waves and the crackling fire providing an ambient backdrop. At first, she sang on her own and they were content to listen, but as they got more drunk and uninhibited, they would join in whenever she played a tune they recognized. Barring Frank and Piper, the rest of them were practically tone-deaf, so it sounded so bad that it would send them all into fits of laughter.

It was at times like this that Annabeth was struck by just how lucky she was to have such good friends. She didn’t have many good things in her life, but this was one of them and it wouldn’t last forever. There was no telling where they would all be in a years time or if they would ever be this close again, but that didn’t make her feel sad. Instead, an overwhelming sense of love and gratitude surged through her veins, compelling her to drink in every moment and seat it into her memory so that she would never forget.

But through it all, Annabeth found her eyes drawn to the boy sitting beside her the most. She unconsciously pulled herself closer to Percy over the course of the night and luxuriated in the way their elbows knocked together, a reminder that he was there. Annabeth would catch herself staring at him and the way the flames lit up his laughing face, making him all look every bit as invincible as she felt. At some point, she caught his hand and tangled his fingers between her own, and when he squeezed her hand, she smiled so hard it hurt.

As the night wore on, more of them left, unable to stay awake any longer, until eventually Percy and Annabeth were the only one remaining. The quietness was welcome change after all the noise they had been making, but it was hard not to fall asleep the sound of the rolling waves. Annabeth struggled to keep her drooping eyes open, but Percy looked perfectly fine, probably because he was the only one who hadn’t drank.

“You should go get some sleep,” Percy murmured. “Look like you’re gonna pass out.”

Annabeth hummed and rested her head on his shoulder. “Don’t want to.”

“If you’re expecting me to carry you, you’re going to be sorely mistaken,” Percy said, raising an eyebrow. “You’re too heavy.”

If she had the energy, Annabeth would have scowled. “Rude.”

Percy grinned and looked out over the ocean with a pensive, almost melancholy look. Annabeth poked his cheek with her finger to get him to look at her.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Percy said. “About everything, I guess.”

“Hmm, deep.”

Percy laughed and said, “Alright, smarty pants, I was thinking about the future and my friends and you.”

“Then why do you look so sad?” Annabeth asked, sitting up straighter.

Percy blinked in surprise and said, “I look sad?”

Annabeth nodded and pressed a finger to his brow. “You’re giving yourself wrinkles, like you always do when you’re upset.”

There was a pause before Percy said, “Remember earlier when you saved me from those college girls?”

“What about it?”

Percy stared up at the sky and smiled bitterly. “I never imagined you would ever get jealous over me.”

Maybe it was the alcohol talking, but Annabeth found herself saying, “Neither did I.”

Percy turned to her with wide eyes, making her frown. “What?”

“I, uh, wasn’t expecting you to answer seriously.”

Annabeth rolled her eyes and nudged him affectionately. “I’m taking this seriously because you are.”

Percy smiled softly and said, “Thanks, I appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome, you dork,” Annabeth said fondly. “Honestly, since when did you become the serious, responsible out of the two of us. What ever happened to the kid that caught frogs during recess and put worms in Nancy Bobofit’s locker?”

Percy laughed and said, “Well, one of us had to grow up, so I figured it might as well be me.”

Annabeth half-heartedly jabbed him with her elbow. “Jerk.”

“You’ve grown up a lot too,” Percy said. “You just don’t realize it.”

“Yeah, how so?” Annabeth asked, raising an eyebrow.

“You’ve learned to temper yourself. When you were younger, it was like fire ran through your veins. You acted like the world and everything were promised to you, not out of some sense of arrogance, but like it was your birthright. I remember how you used to argue with the teachers and stuff in front of the whole class because it never occurred to you that there were people you shouldn’t pick fights with. I was always kind of in of awe of how stupidly brave you were. I still am,” Percy said, softly.

A lump formed in Annabeth’s throat. Percy was right, about everything, but that wasn’t what was getting to her. It was the fact that his words were a testament to the fact that he had been there with her since the beginning. He had seen her as a bossy, bratty little seven year old and had stuck by her side all the way till now.

“We have been through a lot together, haven’t we?” Annabeth asked thickly.

The tender look in Percy’s eyes made her heart squeeze a little in her chest. “Yeah, we have.”

Annabeth screwed her eyes shut, unable to look at him. She didn’t want this to end, but the moment was beginning to get too much for her, so she stood up suddenly.

“Alright, enough with all the sappiness,” Annabeth said. “Race you to the beach?”

Without waiting for him to respond, Annabeth took off for the water’s edge, running as hard as she could. Percy started a moment later, humoring her like always, and quickly made up the distance. If it wasn’t for the sand and the fact that she was super drunk, Annabeth would have won, but it wasn’t long before Percy caught up to her and slung her over his shoulder. Annabeth shrieked and pounded on his back.

“You better not dump me in the water, you asshole!” Annabeth yelled.

Percy ignored her and sped towards the water, making her fear for the worst. She braced herself for impact, but it never came. Instead, he set her down onto dry sand and grinned down at her. Annabeth scowled and stood up, dusting the sand off her shorts, watching as he rolled up his shorts and waded further into the water. The encroaching tide was cold enough to make her jump when it tickled her toes, but Percy seemed perfectly fine going knee deep into it.

The moonlight streamed down on him, illuminating half his face with its pale glow. Wind rustled his hair and billowed through his clothes as he stared out at the horizon. Under the moonlight, he seemed to age backwards and actually look his eighteen years - the hard lines of worry on his brow smoothened, and the tightness and frustration in his jaws released. There was something about his pale figure standing in the inky sea that made him look so beautiful and true that it made it hard for her to breathe. It reminded her of how Piper had said she had fallen for Jason, how he had seemed to glow, and she couldn’t help feeling like she understood exactly what Piper had meant.

Percy noticed her looking and raised an eyebrow. “What?”

Annabeth balled her hands into fists at her side. She wasn’t ready to say it. Not yet. “N-Nothing.”

Percy didn’t look convinced, but he shrugged all the same. Annabeth stared down at her feet so that she wouldn’t be forced to look at him, but her heart pounded in her chest urgently. She started when Percy draped his sweatshirt over her shoulders and stepped past her. It was warm, and it smelled like him.

“I’m gonna head inside,” Percy said softly. “Don’t stay out for too long, okay?”

Annabeth nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Percy lingered there for a moment longer before leaving. Annabeth waited till she heard him enter the villa before she collapsed down on the sand and hugged her knees to her chest. An explanation for her actions and feelings today were finally starting to dawn on her, which sent equal parts terror and exhilaration coursing through her as she stared up at the moon. Her inability to look at him conflicting with her desire never to leave him, the nervousness and exhilaration, the jealousy - all of it pointed to one thing. She was just having a hard time accepting it.

Whenever Annabeth had imagined falling in love, she had expected it to strike her like a bolt of lightning, illuminating her with a sudden, arresting, all-consuming knowledge.

She hadn’t ever imagined that it would be like this: soft and gentle, like an unfolding discovery, the way the petals unfurled when a flower bloomed. And yet, just as sure, just as certain.

Annabeth buried her face in her hands. Try as she might, she couldn’t deny it any longer.

Fuck.

She was in love with him, wasn’t she? She was in love with Percy Jackson.

[goodnightallwhites]

♥ Liz, Blacked ♥ by Zenalite

Chapter 0 - Friend ♥

Liz got dragged on a trip with her parents while her boyfriend, Kyle, stayed home. While they were both introverts that spent all day inside, Kyle remained hyper-jealous of any attention Liz received from other guys. It didn't help that Liz insisted on keeping an Instagram to "feel good" about herself. She would always take a picture of herself in jeans or shorts, her showing her big booty to the world. Liz was a chubby redhead with no chest at all, but her hips stretched wide and her soft ass remained incredibly round. When she wore tight jeans the buns would fold over her thighs, the fabric stretching so much that the pantylines came clear. It especially bothered Kyle when some of the senior guys called catcalled her down the school hallways. But it was always the black ones that made a grab for her ass while Kyle watched, all helpelss. Liz cursed them and told him she hated it - though her cheeks reddened and she always giggled when it happened. And it hardly stopped her from buying ever-tighter pants and uploading pics that would get thousand of likes from old pervs. Kyle never found the courage to stand up and tell her to cut it out. She was so sweet on all other matters, and he felt so lucky to have her and so afraid to lose her that he learned to keep his mouth permanently shut. When she arrived, Liz texted him a picture of a large cabin surrounded by looming pine trees and distant peak, insisting that she couldn't stop sweating and it was much warmer than it looked. That wasn't on his mind. What about the guys? How many guys were there? But Liz would answer that herself... :there's such an annoying guy here omg: :what's he doing?: :annoying me: :maybe he's just trying to be friendly: :i doubt it lol he keeps asking me if i have a boyfriend: An hour later she Instagramed a picture of her with a guy, captioning: My new best friend! A black guy a little older than they were, very skinny, with his arm wrapped around her shoulder as they both smiled at the camera. Kyle's stomach twisted in a knot and a cold chill went up his spine. Why did this have to happen? She later explained that the guy wasn't so bad and she ended up making friends with him. During the call, she kept giggling and insisting at that other guy to stop, till she finally told Kyle she would call back and hanged up. Kyle broke down. He wept, frustrated by this black guy that would steal his beloved Liz. He decided to write her an email, pouring in all his sadness, trying to make her feel his hurt while justifying his jealousy sparked by her careless behavior. Liz responded. She apologized for her behavior but also wondered what she could do to stop this from happening since it was out of her control. Nevertheless, she promised to keep away from the guy and reminded Kyle that they had been together for years and always would.   But that wasn't enough. What he needed to know was what had happened already. He answered saying that all would be forgiven, so long as she remained truthful. The question was whether or not the guy had touched her. :yes: :and what did you do?: :nothing baby... i'm too shy to say anything: :you didn't tell me anything either: :because i'm scared...: Scared... For him, the arousal began to kick in. Thinking that the was being cucked from so far away, imagining that guy's hands going all over her soft and willing body, his white girlfriend submitting to a black guy, perpetuating the meme... :where did he touch you: :my butt i guess: :he grabs your butt: :yeah: Kyle couldn't help himself. The one question he would ask was the one that confirmed all cucks and opened the road to their annihilation. :did you like it: No response. Maddening. In that empty period he searched and found that Liz had added the guy to her Instagram and vice versa. Not only that, but she was featured in a post of his. She bent down to get something, and he managed to take a shot of her ass from behind, the fabric of her kaki shorts stretching to the breaking point as his hand hovered a centimeter away from making contact. Gonna get this white ass soon. Why was it always the case that black guys wanted her so much? Even her followers were always black guys... Finally, Liz texted back. :i'm sorry for all this: But later that night, on his page, he uploaded another picture of Liz, this time with the two of them sitting at dinner. So she wasn't avoiding him after all... Lying bitch. What's worst was that Kyle didn't know how to breach the topic anymore at all. It was likely that so much more was going on, but how could he begin to admit it? If he messaged her now and said that he saw the post, she would just get the guy to stop posting and he would be on the outs completely. The next day she texted him saying she hadn't spoken to anyone and that she sent her love. Meanwhile, he posted yet again. Liz lying facedown on a blanket, sunbathing in a bikini, her pale ass glistening.   Had he been the one to oil her up? Kyle was dying to know. The cuck in him was willing to sacrifice his dignity just to get to hear about it. He wrote to her that he was sorry about before, that he was too jealous, and that he would not mind at all if she spent time with that guy. :really? but won't you get mad?: She went on. :what if he touches me again?: :i mean if you don't mind i don't mind but i'd like you to tell me about it: Spoken like a true cuck. That sealed the deal. After this point, whenever Kyle would ask her what she was doing, Liz would tell him flat out that she was hanging out with her "friend". Questioned a little more, she would admit that the guy was trying to touch her up and flirting with her all day long. :i can't do anything about it: :i don't mind it: :you're so sweet ♥: :i actually think it’s kind of hot lol: A pause. :me too lol: So she liked it. Of course she did. It was all true. White girls melted before black guys. :is he touching you right now?: In response, Liz sent him a picture of her leg. On her pale thigh, just where her shorts ended, his black hand rested possessively, wrapping around... :that’s so fucking hot ♥: Kyle cringed at his own messages. :thanks sweetie…: Liz went and posted it to Instagram under the tags #interracial #interraciallove #vacation #teamblackboys. The thousands of likes soon followed. So this was what it was like to be cucked. :can i please see more ♥: :lol maybe if you’re good ^_^: His profile was full of pictures and videos of her ass, and now it appeared that he began to squeeze it for real. He laughed in the comments section at the fact that her white boyfriend was okay with all of it. Kyle jerked and stared as the same thing repeated on his screen: his black fingers digging into her pale flesh while Liz giggled happily and joking asked him to stop. Yet another white teen getting blacked. Was that not how it should be? Kyle got what he wanted. Pictures and videos flooded both their profiles, with them doing all sorts of things together. Finally, Liz topped it all when she posted a video of the two of them making out at the dinner table, while her parents could be heard clapping in the background at the sight of it. Young interracial love. They did it slowly, their tongues reaching out for one another, exploring each other's mouth, his black hand moving through her red hair and down to squeeze her plump butt. And Liz found it necessary to broadcast this to the world. Thanks to my boyfriend for being the sweetest and understanding my needs. Kyle, I know you're reading this ♥. The girls in comments congratulated their relationship for being so progressive and open, while the many guy followers laughed at Kyle openly. Total humiliation. And it was just the beginning.

Chapter 1 - Liz Thoughts #1

Liz couldn't sleep. All night long she thought of Derek. He had entered her life like a storm, stirring in her feelings she had never thought possible. Her whole body tingled with desire from the moment she put her eyes on him.   There he was, this gorgeous dark man, standing there shirtless, casually going around in cotton shorts that showed his dick swinging freely. And so big... How could anyone have a dick that big? She always heard that black guys were well-endowed, and a lot of the stuff she watched on her own was interracial porn, but she had never expected to see anything like it in real life.... "Who are you, beautiful?" he had asked, coming right up to her. Liz remained speechless. She couldn't remember what she had stammered in reply, but Derek smoothly ran his fingers over her arm and said he hoped to see her later. Her pussy ran wet constantly from that point on. And Derek put his hands on her whenever he could. Wrapping his arms around his waist, grinding her into his crotch, moving his hand down to grab her ass... She could feel the gigantic cock pushing against her, hot and hard, sending shivers down her spine... Please... With her parents right there. Was this real life? Not only did they seem to approve, but even Kyle began to asking her how it was going. They were supportive? Kyle seemed more desperate to see her getting blacked by Derek than she was. Her friends were right, he was a real cuck. But that made her happy. It was cute, and it gave her the freedom she needed... She still couldn't tell how she remained sane when he massaged her. Her parents had made her sunbathe with them outside, and when Derek returned with his family from hiking, he overheard her mother's cry that she use sunscreen and offered to put it all over her. His dark hands explored every inch of her willing body. Liz trembled and did her best to stop from moaning. Derek applied pressure all over, but especially when he kneaded the buns of her ass, spreading the suncreen all over, letting one finger occassionally slip between her legs and brush against her melting pussy. Liz wanted him. Needed him. Desperately. The more she thought about the stereotypical black-obsessed, cheating white girl she was becoming, the more it turned her on, and the more she loved it. Posting that video of the two of them kissing to Instagram had made her lose her mind, and she spent half the night looking at it, reading through the comments, finger-fucking herself like a lunatic as she imagined Derek fucking her. Better yet, fucking her in front of Kyle. Yes, that would be best... Breaking her boyfriend before her eyes and then breaking her in turn like a white slut and filling her up with his sweet seed. How could she sleep with this on her mind? With Derek just a door down from her...

Chapter 2 - Linking Up 

Things were strange.  While the overall number of messages between them increased, the sort of things Liz said and asked of Kyle made him uneasy. Why was she so interested in knowing his opinion all of a sudden? :have you ever jerked off to my photos?:  That was her original question that he gave a normal, understandable, positive answer to. :have you jerked off to the photos of me and him?: :yes: :lol:  The reaction alone made his guts wrench. There was no other reason to pose such questions except to humiliate him, and she seemed intent on doing just that... :why:  He took his time before replying again. :because you look so good together: :awww thanks baby...:  Liz and her family were about halfway into her vacation. Kyle hadn't left his room, never mind his home, for days. This whole thing remained surreal. The idea that she would come home and he would have to talk to her in real life after all this happened, or, worse, that kids from school would ask him what's going on made him feel sick.  What was there even to say?  Liz's profile grew and grew. More people than ever were liking her content and commenting positively on it, which seemed to increase the frequency of her posts.  Every morning she would have a dressing-up vid where she started off in her boyshorts, only to force some jeans or yoga pants over her fat butt inch by painful inch, pushing the waistband into the white flesh and jiggling it for effect, showing off before her black male followers.  #pawg #goodmorning #toobig  Everyone knew what his girlfriend looked like.  And everyone knew she cucked him.  As hot as it was painful.  Only in the darker moments after he was all fapped out did Kyle think to wonder about their future. :do you still love me?: :of course!!! how can you even ask that?: :because you're spending all this time with your... friend: :well he makes me very happy but in a different way:  As for what way that might be she soon clarified with another message... :in a way that you can't:  That was the crux of it, wasn't it? It wasn't that he was bad. It wasn't that he had been a bad boyfriend, or anything like that.  But he just happened to be a white loser, when he needed to be a black bull in order to satisfy Liz.  He knew this now.  It was easy to tell from the way she had fallen head over heels for this guy that it was nothing rational, nor based on trust and romance as their relationship was.  Liz simply needed a black cock in her life to make her feel whole. And it seemed to Kyle that by letting her get that, she loved him for it, even if she couldn't stop teasing him about it. :am i a good boyfriend: :the best honey: :could i do anything better?: :well not as a boyfriend: :then as what?:  A painstaking half hour until her reply. Did she just do this on purpose? :you could be a better cuck:  Kyle's heart drummed so hard he could barely hear anything else. Did she mean that? Did she want him to... :what can i do: :be a bit more supportive... maybe start commenting on my stuff:  So he took the time to make an Instagram account of his own, and on it added a picture of himself without a description, and followed her. Then he liked all her posts, and planted emoticons in the comment sections of most. :is this good: :nooooooo: :okay but why?: :there's no picture of us!!!:  He changed his account picture and added one they had taken together at a local faire. :now?: :and description:  Description... He could write his name, his age, but what else? :what do i say: :exactly what there is to say:  A few minutes later, he had come up with a description.  I'm Kyle, honored to be the boyfriend of @paleredliz, and proud to be cucked by her. I know my place. :is that good: :♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥:  Next she uploaded a video in which she tagged him in the caption. She was on the couch lying on her chest, with her ass in the guy's lap. First she smiled, and as the camera panned behind her, his black hand slowly rolled back her shorts, exposing her pale ass. Then his fingers plunged into the deep flesh, kneading it hard as she began to giggle.  When had he ever touched her that way?  Never, and he never would.  That beautiful round ass was the property of black men only.  Kyle let it play over, and over, and over....  Thanks to my boyfriend @cuckiekyle for being so supportive of me getting all the love I need no matter where it comes from. I love you, honey!!! #pawg #interraciallove #teamblackboys  Kyle finally found the courage and commented as well.  I love you too, it's my pleasure. You two really look so good together. #interraciallove  He couldn't believe what his hands were writing and what he was posting and yet he did it anyway. His cock just hardened all the more at the thought of all those people reading that comment and knowing that he was real, and that he truly did approve of this and spurred it on.  And the comments did come...  The hottest thing was just how many teen girls wrote saying he was brave and a proper boyfriend and that they wished they could be with someone like him. Not ugly girls. Gorgeous ones.All encouraging each other to take the same path and convince their boyfriends of accepting BBC into their life for the good of everyone.  Of course, plenty of white guys all called him a stupid cuck, but going by their ugly faces and their soulless profiles filled only with pictures of food, cars, and their dogs, he doubted they were doing much better.  The message was clear: White guys neither wanted nor needed.  Why be proud and suffer when you could submit and live well?  Liz texted him. :thank you for that: :i was happy to do it: :you really are a good cuck baby ^^: :thank you...: :i have a surprise for you: :please show me...:  The gift wasn't what he was expecting. Rather than receiving a picture or video of Liz, the photo was of her bull's crotch. He wore a pair of shorts that outlined his cock snaking down his thigh perfectly... with the head even popping out of them a little.  He did not need her prompt. :it's so beautiful!!!: :right it's huge and tummy:  Here he was, admiring another guy's cock with his girlfriend. But how could he not? It was so thick and long and black. She needed it inside her. He desperately wanted her to have it.  It was his duty to make sure she got it. :i can't wait for you to taste it: :lol you're telling me: :i'm so much smaller than he is: :lol but it's okay you don't need to use yours:  That was true. He would never have to use it for anything ever again except stroking himself.  He was, after all, just a white cuck.  Fucking was for strong black males. :should i invite him to my room tonight: :please do...: :okay i promise i will if you want me to:  Kyle waited anxiously for it to get dark. :did you invite him: :yes baby i did: :and??:  A video went up of them in bed together shot from her POV. Liz had her thick leg wrapped around him, her naked thigh gently brushing against his rising crotch. His bulge was huge. His hand rested casually on her ass in the corner of the video, the contrast of it maddening.  He needed to take it out...  This was followed by a video of the two of them making out, their Liz giggling as her tongue smacked against his, their faces lit by the glow television.  He had never seen Liz look so desperate and at peace at the same time.  Kyle commented on what a perfect sight it was. :holy fuck baby it's so big:  That could only mean one thing. :did you touch it: :fuck yes lol it's amazing: :can i see: :sadly no but maybe soon... more tomorrow: :please just a little bit... at least tell me about it:  There was no reply. He insisted. :please?:  Silence. 

Chapter 3 - Loyalty

The whole night he stayed await waiting for a reply until he fell asleep. By the time he woke up Kyle found his phone drained on his chest. He rushed to find the charger, excited out of his mind to see what Liz had been up to. Surely she has to have sent something by now. First his phone showed no messages at all. But then the thing buzzed in quick succession like a man in need of an exorcism. There were twelve messages from Liz along with some updates from his instagram. :baby!!! :i’ve got such a surprise for you… :^.^ And then over the following half an hour: :baby are you there? :honey :aaaaaaaaa :where are you now? :i was so excited to share this with you :i guess i’m not important enough for you :huh? :oh well :maybe tomorrow Kyle couldn’t believe it. He had fallen asleep only minutes before she messaged him, and he missed out on all of it! The frustration built up to such an extent he was moments away from crying. He had missed this once in a lifetime opportunity… :I’M HERE NOW :I AM SO SORRY :SO SO SORRY!!! There were no pictures sent to him - nothing. With trembling hands he went to check her instagram page and found that she had uploaded two different pictures. The first, posted sometime last night showed her grabbing something through fabric. But it didn’t take much for Kyle to figure out that the thing her dainty white hand wrapped around must’ve been the bull’s shaft through his shorts. The people in the comments thought as much as well. They spammed with messages about how lucky Liz was and how she needed to show them the full thing. And then there were a few cucks posting about how they couldn’t compete with anything like that. The second, posted an hour later, showed her pale butt in the glow of the TV getting palmed by the guy’s hand. The fact that the strong black hand could only fill up about half of her asscheek proved just how round and fat her ass truly was.   Now the comments were going crazy with appreciation for her juicy white ass, and plenty of black guys were posting about how they wanted a turn with her as well. :god, your pictures are amazing :you’re amazing Kyle stroked himself gently, trying not to come as he waited for her to get back to him. He needed to hear about her experience firsthand. About an hour later she finally got back to him. :glad you think so… :shame you weren’t there last night :i was going to let you give me directions Fuck, he thought. I’m so stupid. How could he have passed out like that? :i’m really sorry… :how can i make it up to you? :i’ll think about it :but first i still have a surprise for you It said: Liz is sending an image… Kyle swallowed hard, unbelievably horny. He wiped the sweat from his brow and squeezed his pencil dick hard. Not to come, but to keep it from doing so… The picture that arrived wasn’t what he expected.   He thought that it would be Liz making out with her bull or stroking him, or at the very least a picture of her together with him in bed. But the picture didn’t even feature his girlfriend in any way. Instead, it only had the bull. Only his BBC. Kyle stared at the beautiful cock that appeared on his screen breathlessly. It was neither hard nor soft but somewhere in between. The shaft jotted out like a log from the base, then slowly curved along with the pull of gravity, tapering down to the uncut head. Glorious veins branched all over it - he couldn’t begin to imagine how it must’ve throbbed in her hand. :do you like it? < 3 Kyle felt no hesitation in telling her the truth. :it’s amazing :he’s teasing me with it a lot :getting me to do dirty things :before i’m allowed to do more :like what? :secret, baby, secret :at least for now :but i did make you a video last night :though... :i was thinking you should prove to me how loyal you are :in order to get to see it :how? The reservations about posting on his cuck account were totally gone. He would do anything to get to see more. Anything at all. :how about you order yourself a nice chastity cage? Ah. Of course. After reading through all these blogs he knew that was a necessity. :I’LL DO IT :good honey <3 :as soon as you show me :i’ll give you your surprise video His mind reeled at the possibility of what that video might be. Her giving him a handjob? A blowjob? More? Surely she wouldn’t tease him in this way for nothing. It had to be something. He went on a search to find the quickest place to buy have one ordered, then realize it would be quicker to just go and get it in real life. He couldn’t wait a day for this. Kyle greeted his parents quickly when he came out of his room, then hopped on his bike and went to the nearest store in town to get one. Am I really doing this? he wondered as he cycled back with it in the bag. There would be consequences to all this. How could he go back to school? But the worries of a month from now all faded away for the time being. He locked himself up as soon as he got home and sent her a picture of his pink chastity cage. His pathetically small white dick fit snugly in it. :awww, it’s so cute < 3 :i love it darling :this is exactly what i wanted His fingers shook the phone as he typed. :can i see now? Liz is sending a video…   How could anything be this slow?

[spideyscnse]

seaside - p. parker

(sci-fi, part ii)

pairing: peter parker x reader

word count: 2.2k

warnings: none! fluff <3

summary: y/n is terrified of the sea, but this is completely unbeknownst to peter, who asks her out on a date—to the beach. luckily, though, they were together, and the water wasn’t too cold today.

note: please do not plagiarise my work! (a/n: this is a continuation of sci-fi, which is a bookstore au oneshot that i wrote (it will give you more context) which you can find here but this can also be read on its own!)

masterlist

*

You didn’t know why you agreed to go to the beach. You hadn’t been in years, and you hadn’t swam in a pool since kindergarten—let alone the ocean.

Rubbing the sunscreen into your arms, you glanced into the floor-length mirror and tried to practice looking not-so-scared-of-the-water. You hoped that your nervousness wouldn’t be too apparent, because while you were excited to hang out with Peter, you would have rather just gone to a café or something.

“Oh yeah, also, are you free on Saturday?” Peter had asked, as the two of you were walking home one evening, after spending the entire afternoon reading together over some fruit smoothies at the shop.

“Uh, I think?” You shrugged, “Why?”

“Do you wanna go to the beach with me? I swear it’ll be fun,” He said, rubbing his hands on his jeans, and looking incredibly jittery. You weren’t sure why; you’d known each other for months! Surely he was comfortable enough by now?

At his suggestion, you sucked air through your teeth, hesitant at accepting. You’d never found it important enough to tell people, but you had always feared the ocean, and the idea of going, voluntarily, so close to it, kind of freaked you out.

When Peter realised you hadn’t responded and noted your expression, his face fell a bit and he quickly said, “I’m sorry, you don’t have to, it’s okay if you don’t want to go with me, I understand you might be—,”

You were very quick to stop him, “No, no, it’s not you, it’s just I—,” and just as you were about to decline, you sucked in some courage and changed your mind at the last second, “actually, no, it’s okay, I’ll go.”

You weren’t sure what compelled you to agree, (maybe it was the fact that his puppy-dog eyes were just far too cute) but his eyes immediately lit up and he started telling you all about the beach excitedly, and soon your nervousness was forgotten.

But now, that nervousness had returned, in all of its glory. It was kind of pitiful; weren’t teenagers supposed to love going to the beach? You heaved a sigh and pulled your bag over your shoulder, preparing yourself for the trek to the bus stop that would take you to the shore.

When the bus finally pulled into the station after twenty minutes of waiting, it was packed full, probably because it was a Saturday and everyone was trying to get to the beach, which made everything a million times worse.

The crowd left you itching in your newly bought swimwear, sitting underneath your cover-up. because you didn’t own any before Peter had asked you. Thankfully, a quick shopping trip and a rather awkward conversation with a clothing shop employee had fixed that problem, with the nice lady reassuring you that this was what people wore to the beach nowadays, and that it looked fine.

When the bus pulled to the side at the beach, half of the crowd got off, and you were spat out of the bus as the excited children and their exhausted parents swarmed out of the vehicle. You did a quick check that you still had all of your things, and then pulled out your phone to call Peter. It seemed that wasn’t necessary, though, because as soon as you hit dial and did a quick scan of the boardwalk, you found the boy you were looking for leaning against one of the fences, glancing around.

You caught his gaze and couldn’t help the smile that lit up your face, despite the incredibly fast rate of your heart and your jitters. Even the sound of the ocean made you more nervous than you would have liked, and you hoped it wasn’t too obvious.

Peter pushed himself off of the fence post he had been sitting on and rushed over to you, immediately offering to take one of your two bags. You gave him the lighter of the two after much insistence on his part to take at least something for you.

“The bus was more crowded than usual, huh?” He said as the two of you started making your way down the path. You weren’t sure where you were going, but at least it was away from the crowd that had just gotten off the bus and were still huddled around the stop. You chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear as the wind pulled it out of place, “Yeah, I mean, it’s Saturday, and the beach is a popular place, I guess. Do you come here often?”

Peter shrugged, “Not really, I mean, I really like to swim and everything but I have the internship and school, and I don’t get time to come. Really would like to come more often, though,” He seemed to think for a brief moment, before adding quickly and nervously, “Especially if it’s with you.”

A blush rose to his cheeks and he rubbed the back of his neck shyly.

You were left speechless, far too flattered to form a coherent sentence, and sputtered, “Uh-yeah, oh, I’d love to go out—uh, hang out—uh, yeah, uh more.”

Your words only made the situation more awkward—and instead of comforting Peter and quelling his embarrassment, it only seemed to make his blush a deeper shade of tomato.

“Uh, sorry,” He said, finally breaking the silence after walking wordlessly for several moments, “I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable, I was just—,”

“It’s okay, really,” You assured him, giving him a small smile, glancing up so that you could meet his eyes, “It’s true. I really like—uh, hanging out with you.”

The relief that spread across his features was almost comical; and you tried to bite back your giggles, but they still spilled past your lips, too insistent to be held back, and he exclaimed with a laugh, “Hey, don’t make fun of me, Y/N, I’m really bad at this and I don’t know what to say to—you know—,”

You tapped his shoulder lightly and told him, “Don’t worry about that, Peter,” and with a bout of newly found bravery, you said, “You’re too cute.”

He blushed again, but this time the rosiness in his cheeks was accompanied by a bright smile and shining eyes.

***

When Peter had first suggested going to swim, you’d scrambled for an excuse, and managed to make one up— “Hey, um, I’m kind of tired from the bus ride, do you wanna grab some ice cream as a refresher?”

He hadn’t objected; instead, he’d been quick to agree and quite excited as he admired the massive array of flavours spread out in front of him as the two of you entered the cute little ice cream shop by the seaside. The shop was surprisingly empty—you supposed it was because the store was located a bit further away from the bus stop, and most people probably went straight to the water.

Ah, the water. You shoved all thoughts of the stuff out of your mind and focused on picking a flavour.

You quickly made your order of two scoops of chocolate, and received it, instantly starting to eat it, but Peter was very indecisive about his flavours. There seemed to be more flavours than he’d ever seen, because he tried several of them and seemed extraordinarily excited by all of them, before ending up just getting strawberry.

He sat down opposite to you, and started eating his ice-cream cone, as well, though you noted, amused, how he kept casting looks back at the countless flavours behind the glass, and then turning to glance at you.

“Did you want another flavour instead?” You said, raising an eyebrow curiously, and Peter bit his lip and quickly turned back to you.

“Nah, I just haven’t really…felt this, you know, normal, for a long time,” He admitted, “I mean—I just haven’t had ice cream in a while, I guess.”

You considered his words, “But normal is good, right?” “Yeah, yeah, it’s good,” He said immediately, without hesitation, “It’s what I need, and I just…you know, I have the internship, and I’m always surrounded by the Avengers, and it’s tiring sometimes. This is…really nice,” He met your eyes shyly.

“I get what you mean,” You said, holding his gaze and smiling, “You’re so busy all the time, it’s kind of a miracle how you always find time to show up at the shop.” He brushed his hair out of his eyes and blurted, “Nah, I’ll always find time to see you.” You felt the heat rise to your cheeks, and felt the butterflies in your stomach before Peter’s cheeks turned pink. But, they did, half a second after yours, and the two of you returned to eating your ice cream quietly, until you just couldn’t bear watching him eat anymore.

“Peter,” You exclaimed, with a deep frown, “Did I just see you take a bite out of your ice cream? A bite? With your teeth?” “Yeah, well, I don’t want to get spit all over it by licking it—,”

***

By the time the two of you finally got even relatively close to the water, it was almost half-past four. You’d found other things to do; spending almost an hour in the ice cream shop alone, and then wandering through the various stores and buying little keychains and souvenirs. You’d found several ways to stall actually having to deal with your fears. You didn’t know how to swim. Even thinking about it made you feel embarrassed, even though it wasn’t really anything to be ashamed of. Still…

You were at a beach. With a cute boy. In swimming clothes. And you didn’t know how to swim.

When you finally reached the shoreline, after tentatively crossing the beach. The sand was kind of nice between your toes, but the thought of actually going into the water—that endless expanse of blue that you could probably very easily get lost in and never be seen again—made your head spin. Peter eagerly approached the water and walked in until he was knee-deep in the sea, beckoning you to come closer, and you bit your lip.

“Hey, it’s not too cold today!” He said excitedly, “Come on, Y/N! Oh, I forgot how nice the beach is, wow.”

“Uh, Peter, I…”

“Come on, it’s not too cold today, I promise,” He called out, and, not wanting to disappoint, you slipped off your cover-up and approached the water hesitantly.

You sucked in a deep breath and first put one foot in, then the other, but a particularly large wave washed in and then suddenly you were knee-deep in the water, you yelled out, jumping back, “Pete, I don’t—,”

“Y/N, are you okay?” He said, almost instantly at your side, his face laced with concern, “Have you swam in the ocean before? I’m so sorry I didn’t check with you, I was too excited—,” “It’s not your fault, Pete,” You shut your eyes tightly, “I don’t know how to swim.”

“What?”

This was it. He was going to be so disappointed, and then you’d have to go home on a silent bus ride, and he’d never talk to you again, and then he’d never ask you out ever again, because you were far too boring for him, and then—

“Y/N,” He said softly, taking both of your hands gently and meeting your eyes, “It’s okay. If it’s too much then we can head back, I’m sorry—,”

“No, no, I’m okay,” You insisted, and he let go of your hands carefully, letting you regain your balance. You’d gotten this far, after all. It was the first time you’d ever even touched seawater, and it was kind of nice—the way the water foamed against the sand and the glimmer of the ocean beneath the sunlight.

“Do you wanna…hold on, then?” He bit a lip as he held out a hand tentatively, “We don’t have to go too far, and you can hold—uh, my hand, if you want to—,” You took his hand.

“Thank you, Peter,” You said, the feeling of his hand in yours almost instantly making you feel much safer—at least you had someone to hold on to. You wouldn’t be lost at sea, you wouldn’t be washed away, because Peter was here. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, I was really embarrassed, and I didn’t want to make you feel bad for inviting me here, so—,”

“It’s okay, Y/N,” He said, shaking his head and carefully leading you, step by step, deeper into the water, “I understand, it’s scary. I’ll help you, though,” He said his tone brightening, “It’s not so scary when you have someone with you, is it?”

No, it really wasn’t.

“It’s so much better,” You said, unable to help the smile that crept across your lips, “Thank you, no one’s ever done this for me before.”

“This is okay, right?” He said, the waves now reaching up to your hips, “It’s kind of nice, isn’t it?”

“It is really nice,” You said softly, overwhelmed with the smell of the sea, and Peter’s smile, and the warmth of his hand, and it was just—

Nice. This was normal—it was what both of you needed, and it was nice.

[lexxierave]

Au Revoir to My Heart - Billy Russo Part 5

A/N: It’s finally here! Thank you for being so patient with me!!

Got this gif from @kevinfeiges

Though Curtis had helped you bring the boxes up you didn’t unbox anything right away. You took your time over the next few weeks unpacking your things into Billy’s place, afraid that the time he spent overseas would allow him to realize this was a mistake but the more you unpacked the more you noticed he had already moved some of his things to the side to allow room for your stuff. Ever the planner, he had clearly thought about this and made sure you knew he meant it when he handed you the key.

In the coming weeks, you started to unpack. You were growing comfort in the calming quiet that his place brought you but you’d be lying if you said you didn’t miss Billy and his witty banter, among other things.

You did what you could to keep busy, spending as much time with Lisa and Jr and reassuring them that you were here for the long hall and that there were no more short visits.

It didn't take long for Maria to noticed the distracted look you had about you though and so she invited you to accompany her when she went to buy stuff to send over to Frank. 

"What do people even send over there?" You asked her as you moved down the aisle scanning the various food items as you went.

"Non-perishables, sunscreen, some basic need stuff, and maybe something from you." She replied giving you a small nudge. You knew when you agreed to this trip Billy would be brought up.

"Is it bad that I don't know what the hell he likes?" You questioned looking at her.

"If you knew that, I'd be suspicious that you guys hadn't hooked up before." She laughed, "I'll help you with what I know."

~~~~~~~

 Hey, Russo,

I’m still here. You’ll be happy to know your place is feeling less cold but it’s still missing something to make it truly feel homey. It’s just missing you.

AJ

Those were the simple words you had written before slipping it into the box and sealing it up. You looked over at Maria who had a huge grin on her face.

“What?” You questioned as you handed her the tape to close her own box.

"I'm just glad to see you finally happy. Especially after all you've been through." She smiled at you. You couldn't help the smile that graced your lips. 

You were glad to be able to have these moments with Maria again and this time you had nothing but time to spend with her and her family.

"I'm going to have to go out of town for a bit for the reading of the will, I'd like to take you and the kids with me." You nonchalantly said as you started writing down the address information.

She paused her motion of taping up the box and stared at you in surprise. You rarely offered to take her to your hometown, mainly because you wanted to keep her as far away from your ex as possible but now that the problems with him were over you wanted nothing more than to show her where you came from and create new memories there

~~~~~~~~

That trip was about a month ago and you hadn't heard back from Billy about the package, you weren't even sure if he got it yet, so you focused even more on unpacking. 

You were unpacking a box of books when you heard a knock at the door. Setting the books down on the coffee table you walked over to the door and opened it to reveal Curtis with a bag of takeout.

“I come bearing food and a helping set of hands.” He greeted with a smile.

You smiled at him as you stepped aside to allow him entrance. “Always good to see food.” You joked taking the bag from him, “Oh, and of course you too, Curtis.”

“I see you still have jokes.” He said as he walked further in, looking around at all the little changes you’ve made. "And you’ve been busy.” He commented as you shut the door.

“Not really. I still have a lot to unpack but I don’t want to feel like I’m taking over his place, it’s only temporary anyway.” You tried to reason which only made Curtis laugh.

“It’s only temporary if that how you want it to be. This,” He gestured to the shelf holding mixes of your books and Billy’s, “Isn’t something Billy does for temporary reasons, even if that’s what he told you. He’s got it for you bad.”

You gave a small nod as you tried to make room on the coffee table for the food. This had been a topic the two of you talked about frequently. 

Curtis glanced around the room before he looked back at you. He gave a small smile at the idea that came to him.  if you and Billy weren't going to reach out to each other, he was going to have to step in and make something happen. You two just needed a push, in the right direction.

Curtis made it to your situated comfortable eating the food that he had brought before he pulled out a small laptop from his back. You weren't paying much attention to what he was doing while you were preoccupied with your own thoughts. He had made it a habit to stop by with food and check on you and while you ate he'd work on some stuff to help his small but growing group of veterans.

It wasn't until you heard a foreign but familiar voice on the other end that you looked over to see what Curtis was doing. You were shocked to see Billy's face on the screen.

“Billy?” you voiced out in surprise.

His own eyes widen at the sound of your voice, neither of you knew what Curtis had planned.

He gave you a coy grin as he turned the laptop towards you, allowing you and Billy to see each other for the first time in months as he silently got up and headed to the kitchen.

“Hey, I..uh..got your package.” He finally said as he took in the sight of you.

“You did? Did you like it?” You asked =, your voice was filled with uncertainty.

Before Billy could answer a big hand attached itself to his shoulder and Billy was pushed to the side.

“Hey, AJ.” Frank’s voice boomed through the speaker before his face came into view. Billy clicked his tongue against his cheek in agitation and you could help but laugh. 

“Hey, Frankie.” You greeted with a small wave.

“I’m just here to convey the things Billy would otherwise keep to himself. He was a real pain in the ass when he didn’t get anything from you when Maria’s first letters came in.” He conveyed to you as he kept Billy away from the screen.

“Was he now?” You asked as you raised a questioning eyebrow to both me.

“Yeah, but he was over the moon when he got that care package. Keeps the letter in his pocket with him at all times.” He said before being finally pushed away from the screen.

“Thank you for that Frankie.” Billy gave a small playful glare to him.

“Is all that true, Billy?" You gently asked as your eyes locked with his.

You wanted to know if he thought about you as much as you thought about him. You needed that type of reassurance, that this was something to him too. You needed to hear it from him. 

"Yeah. Yeah, it's true." He admitted pulling put a piece of folded paper from his pocket. "Gotten me through some rough times. I...uh….I never had someone waiting back home that cared before." 

His eyes fell to the paper in his one hand, tracing the letters of your name, while the other hand ran through his hair.

"Well then you better come back to me in one piece, and that's an order, Russo." You said in a mock form tone.

He looked back up, locking eyes with you once more, a smile graced his features, "Well, I've never been one to disappoint a woman." He cheekily said.

"We'll see about that when you get back home." You teased licking your lips a bit.

Before he could reply, there was another voice in the background, one you didn't know.

"I have to go," Billy announced, a little crestfallen that your time would have to be cut short.

"I'll be when you get back. Just make sure you keep that big lug safe will you, I know he can be too stubborn for his own good sometimes." You replied giving him a reassuring smile.

He smiled back in relief before give you a wink at he signed off.

You sighed closing Curtis' laptop down before leaning all the way back against the couch.

"I take it that went well?" Curtis asked stepping back into the room with a coffee in hand.

"Yeah, it did. Thanks, Curt." You said with a smile on your face. 

This wasn't what you had pictured when you got up that morning but it was a welcomed change of pace.

Tag List:

@lysawayne

@ms-delos

@rogueshadowkat

@the-blind-assassin-12

@likeorions ​

@suchatinyinfinity

@something-tofightfor

@lynne1993

@editboutique

@whovianayesha

@luminex3

@petersunderoos96

@gollyderek

@strawberriewithchocolate-blog

@mrspeacem1nusone ​

@drinix

@wangmangagavroche

[complicatedandstained]

The Other Day at Hot Topic: Kingdom of Isolation

Xion’s plan had been to get to the mall early. And not just the regular kind of early. The ridiculous, what-the-heck-was-I-even-thinking-?, now I have to go buy a coffee and scroll through my Instagram feed twelve times kind of early.

The plan had been to surprise Roxas. Roxas being her college roomie and favorite human bean and best friend since they split a grilled cheese and tomato sandwich in fifth grade.  

“Hey bestie, I got a job next door to you and now we can hang out on our breaks and Christmas shop together and gossip about your SEXY NEW GINGER CRUSH and give each other rides home and chit chat and stuff.”

Just, you know. Something along those lines, maybe.

Except Xion does not get to the mall early.

She was going to leave on time—really, she was—but then she started watching the second half of this Hallmark Christmas movie that she couldn’t remember if she had seen before or not. And then, it was time to leave, but the movie wasn’t quite over yet.

And Xion needed to know if the middle-aged, big city celebrity chef lady was going to stay with the smexy, small town cookie baker with the heart of gold that she used to date in high school, and thereby rediscover the magic of Christmas, or if she was going to go back to the gorgeous, but kind of boring, but definitely more financially secure, attorney she had been seeing back in NYC, who, footnote, plays the prince in a different Hallmark Christmas movie.

Also, Xion was all curled up on the couch of her parents’ condo, nested in pillows and blankets, and her chubby black cat, Pete, was sitting on her lap, and he looked so peaceful, she didn’t have it in her heart to disturb him.

Also, she hadn’t quite finished her mug of tea.

So, by the time that the celebrity chef lady and the small town cookie baker had their tasteful yet disgustingly romantic first kiss during the first snowfall of the season, just after they had won the town’s annual baking competition and donated the prize money to the local children’s hospital, and Pete the Cat had deigned to move on to another part of the loveseat, and her tea was gone, it was well past when Xion should have left if she wanted to be the regular kind of on-time.

The best part of running late is that, because Xion is literally running, she does not have to exert as much effort as she usually does to force herself not to go into Hot Topic and buy half of the inventory.

The worst part of running late is, of course, the actual running, which is making itself known as the air enters her lungs with an unusual sharpness, and sweat glues her long-sleeved white blouse to the small of her back and the inside of her elbows.

The second worst part of running late is that she does not get to surprise Roxas.

And the third worst part of running late is that when she skids to a halt in the entrance of Claire’s, her black combat boots squeaking like rubber ducks, and her breaths a bit heavy, nobody actually notices.  

Xion lifts her phone from one of the pockets of her black denim overall mini-dress by its pink bunny ear attachment and checks the time.

Five minutes early.

“Fuck,” Xion mumbles, and then slaps a hand over her mouth as a five-year-old trying to fit an entire candy cane in his mouth jostles her knee.

*

The new woman’s wearing sheer black hose with black combat boots, under a short black dress with overall straps and a long-sleeved white blouse. Looped around her arm is a black handbag shaped like the head of a cat, with three yellow eyes. Her own dark eye make-up makes her eyes enormous.

She’s nodding gently to a kiddo with half a candy cane in its mouth, who is animatedly explaining to her what kind of dinosaur it wants to be when it grows up.

Sizing the new young woman up as he, Larxene, and Marly approach, Axel can’t help but think Saïx will be a little disappointed Hot Topic didn’t nab her first. She’s so on-brand, it hurts a little. Axel’s half waiting for her to welcome him to Night Vale.

Then again, he sees why Marly called dibs.  

Aside from a short, choppy black bob that would have looked more at home in the flapper era, she is every inch Kairi 3.0.

She has, objectively speaking, the world’s softest smile. She’s short and slender, her face too thin and heart-shaped, her skin the kind of pale that doesn’t tan. Although, unlike Kairi’s 1 and 2, he can still see a smear of hastily applied sunscreen thumbed across one cheek.  

“I’d want to be an Apatosaurus,” the new employee replies in a soft voice to the kid without prompting. “Maybe we could be herbivore friends, is—” She pauses, eye catching on someone in the crowd. “Is that your mommy looking for you?”

The Claire’s newbie turns the child by the shoulder.

A relieved looking woman with another two kids hanging on either arm, alongside at least four shopping bags, hustles over to corral the third one, offering Newbie a grateful smile.

Think I just met your soulmate, Axel will text Naminé later that day. How’d you feel about a pastel goth? Naminé will send back seventeen question marks in response and not receive a reply.

*

“Over here.” 

Marly waves Newbie over to Axel and Larxene. They have paused near Axel’s piercing station, just beside the shop window, only a few feet away from the mouth of Claire’s, so that Marly can continue to monitor the traffic trickling in and out while they chat. 

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Larxene mutters to Axel as she catches sight of the approaching Newbie. Larxene’s obviously seeing what Axel saw because her eyes get bigger and her lips twitch—whether in disdain or amusement, he can’t tell. 

Axel nods his reluctant agreement. “Think you’re outdone yourself this time, Marly.”

“Her hair is completely different than Kairi’s…” Marly argues, scowling as Larxene playfully swats his arm. 

“That’s the only thing.” Larxene takes another long look at Newbie. “What are you and Vexen growing these things in a lab or something?”

The heavy electronic beat of the club overtakes the hum of Christmas music, and Axel’s nostrils fill with the sickening sweetness of e-cigarette smoke instead of vanilla bean. 

The gaunt face of the med student with his pin-straight, platinum blond hair materializes in Axel’s mind’s eye, his pale, narrow lips curling up as if at the tail end of yet another condescending remark.

Axel winces, hisses, “Larxene, really?” His gaze shifts to Marly, concerned. It’s difficult to imagine what’s whirling through his head. Axel’s not sure if Marly never told Larxene what happened between him and Vexen; if it slipped her mind; or if she’s just 100% that bitch.

Marly’s own smile has evaporated, but not his composure. His posture remains sure and confident as ever, though his arms cross with an air of impatience. “Now’s hardly the time for this conversation.”  

Axel makes yet another mental note to ask Marly when he last went out with somebody. Axel and Marly aren’t exactly best friends. In fact, he’s not sure Marly would bless him with basic human interaction at all if Marly and Saïx weren’t so close, and they are so close—a gardening club of two, high-end fashion snobs, closet The Bachelor addicts.  

Axel and Marly, not so much. So, ordinarily, Axel would mind his own, but under the circumstances, he might be the only man for the job.  

If Larxene doesn’t know what happened between Marly and Vexen, and Saïx definitely doesn’t know what happened… that just leaves him. He’s not exactly Mr. Matchmaker, but he supposes he could give it a whirl. 

Larxene doesn’t miss the tension that passes between her two favorite coworkers, and she rolls her eyes. “Axel needs to get over it already.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Axel counters, tone gone hard, cold, hoping she’ll drop it, if she realizes the wound is still fresh. Which it is—it’s just not him bleeding.

“Everybody knows, Axel.” Larxene plants her hands on her hips. She leans closer, in his face. “You and Saïx and Marly and Vexen went out and drank too much. You flirted with Marly’s date all night long and then got pissed when he made a pass at you. Saïx found out, so you blamed everything on Vexen, and now he’s fired. How’m I doing?” 

She reaches out to rap her knuckles against Axel’s chest. “Because if you’re not careful, you’re going to wind up doing the same damn thing to your new buddy boy.”

Axel grits his teeth, something burning in his chest. Months. It’s been months. He thought the worst of this was done with. Leave it to Larxene to dredge it up. 

No wonder she’d gotten in such a snit about Roxas.

“Well, you seem to know what you’re talking about.” Axel’s just as tempted to tell her everything as he is to tell her off. She’d feel like shit if she knew. She would understand. 

But it’s not his place. 

This isn’t the response she’d been expecting. Her confidence slips for a second. “Am I wrong?”

Marly steps between them. He places a hand on Larxene’s shoulder, “Shut,” a hand on Axel’s, “up.” 

Marly doesn’t look like he’s hurting, there’s no pout to his lip, no wild, injured animal wideness to his eyes, but the command in his voice is sharp and the grip on Axel’s arm is firm and insistent. Hurt doesn’t always look the same on everybody. 

The message is clear. Keep your mouth shut, Axel. You promised you would. 

Axel can’t help but glare at Marly, Marly stares back, wearily. Realizing how misdirected his anger is, Axel’s expression softens. He covers Marly’s hand with his own, and smirks at Larxene. “None of your business, babe.”

Ordinarily, this would make her absolutely explode, but with Marly grounding her shoulder and the approaching Newbie stopping just in front of her, Larxene becomes painfully aware that she’s standing in the middle of Claire’s in a goddamn flower crown. 

Larxene blinks at Axel, the kind of calm that’s too calm, the eye of a storm. “Fine. Sorry I brought it up.” 

Marly’s hand loosens on Axel’s shoulder. There’s something in his nod like gratitude. Axel wishes it made him feel better. Doing the right thing really sucks. 

They shift their attention to the new recruit whose wide blue eyes scream: SOS. What the fuck did I sign on to?

Which honestly sounds about right to Axel. God, forget Kairi. This is Roxas all over again. 

“I’m so sorry if I’m interrupting…!” Newbie exclaims too quickly in her quiet voice. Her lips halt in an apologetic pout and her hands clutch tightly at the strap of her alien cat head handbag. 

Axel and Larxene both sigh and ease out of their locked glares, but the air still feels a bit thick, almost staticky with tension. Frozen’s “Let It Go” seems to be playing six times as loud as it should be. 

“Not at all,” Marly says, but it doesn’t come out sincere enough for anybody’s taste.

 *

Xion had certain expectations about what her coworkers at Claire’s would be like: bubbly, chatty, smiley females, maybe a little shallow, maybe a little dumb. Maybe she had been stereotyping. Maybe she had watched one too many Christmas movies. Maybe she’s jumping to conclusions.  

Watching the trio in front of her, flower crowns settled in their vibrant hair, bickering in quiet tones dripping with sarcasm, almost launching into a full on, fist-clenched argument as Queen Elsa belts her heart out overhead, Xion is not sure whether she wants to laugh or cry.

But then the crazy tall one with his wild red mane and the well-dressed, The Rock level muscle-y one with the pink hair that had seemed so nice and pleasant when he interviewed her and talked to her earlier—Marluxia—seem to come to some kind of abruptly tender understanding. So, the angry blonde chick seems to reign in her temper. 

And that makes Xion feel just a smidge better about things. She’s a sucker for a happy ending.   

And at least they didn’t realize she was late. 

But then all three of them turn, these expressive, snide, emotionally-charged Claire’s people, and they are looking right at her, their neatly manicured brows raised in question.

Xion feels a little bit like she had day one, back in the middle school cafeteria, before Roxas had offered her a seat and a half of his grilled cheese sandwich, looking out at the strangers, wondering which sharks to throw herself to. The strangers looking back up at her, wondering what the hell the new kid who hadn’t said a word all day was going to do now.

Fuck. 

[razieltwelve]

Trainee (RWBY AU Snippet)

Weiss met her end at the tender age of eighteen. It came courtesy of a stray coconut that just so happened to fall as she strolled underneath. The knock to the head wasn’t fatal. Unfortunately, it was disorienting. Weiss stumbled into traffic shortly thereafter and was promptly struck by a passing bus.

Now, it was a testament to the bus driver’s quick reflexes that he managed to hit the brakes in time to turn the accident from fatal to merely injurious. Alas, the impact of the bus threw Weiss off a bridge whereupon she found herself severely concussed, badly bruised, and in very deep water indeed.

She was also still very much alive.

Right up until the same coconut that had started the whole thing rolled off the bridge and clocked her over the head a second time. And that, as they say, was that.

X     X     X

“Am I dead?” Weiss fought to open her eyes. The last thing she remembered was looking up at the bridge, only for that damn coconut to hit her again. Finally, she managed to open her eyes.

“I am so sorry!” A silver-eyed girl in a red cloak was bowing repeatedly. “I am so, so sorry!”

“Huh?” Weiss sat up. “What? Who are you? Where are we? Why are you apologising?”

“We’re in the afterlife,” the girl said. “And you’re dead.”

“What? Dead?” Weiss shot to her feet. “I can’t be dead…” She trailed off as she found herself watching the police pull her body out of the water. “But… I… what?”

“I am so, so sorry!” The girl bowed again. “I’m just a trainee reaper, and my Uncle Qrow is like the god of bad luck, and we were going out to buy pizza, and he bumped into you, and then the coconut hit you, and, you know, he’s the god of bad luck, so then things got really whacky, and the next thing I knew I had to collect your soul.”

Weiss took a moment to process what she’d been told before she grabbed the girl and yanked her up into the air by the scruff of her cloak. “Are you telling me that I’m dead because of your uncle?”

“It was an accident!” the girl protested. “He didn’t mean to give you bad luck!”

“Bad luck? I was hit by a coconut, then by a bus, then thrown a bridge, and then the coconut finished me off! I think that’s a lot worse than some bad luck!” Weiss snarled. “Fix this! you said you were a trainee reaper. What does that even mean?”

“Well, um, collecting souls is like really hard because there are so many mortals now compared to before, so there’s like a whole army of us reapers who go around collecting souls. I’m a trainee.” The girl proudly showed off the badge on her chest. It said: Ruby, Trainee.

“Well, just put my soul back in my body. You can do that, right?”

“I mean… I could,” Ruby explained. “But I’m not really good at the whole healing people thing. So… you’d kind of be a zombie.”

“…” Weiss gaped. “A zombie?” she screeched. “A zombie?”

“Well, yeah. You know because your body would still be dead but it’d also still be kind of alive.” Ruby pried Weiss’s hand off her. “But I’m sure we can work something out. I’ll make a few calls, and we’ll see what Management says.”

“Make the call.”

Ruby made the call, and Weiss was forced to wait as the girl hemmed and hawed her way through what seemed like a very awkward conversation. 

“So…?”

“Okay. I talked to Management. They agreed that you probably shouldn’t be dead. Unfortunately, there’s a real big backlog on unintended deaths, so it’ll be at least, maybe, a month before they get to your case.”

“A month?” Weiss bellowed. “What am I supposed to do for a month? My body is going to get buried. It’s going to decompose. What am I going to do then?”

“Management did offer you an upgrade on reincarnation, so you’ll be guaranteed a longer, happier life in your next life.”

“What about this life?” Weiss wailed. “I liked this life! I was going to be a singer!” Weiss fell to her knees. Tears welled up in her eyes. “I was making it, Ruby! I had an audition next week for the best music school in the world. I don’t want a better next life! I want this life back!”

Ruby patted her awkwardly on the shoulder. “I can, uh, try calling Management again, but I don’t think they’re going to budge. Budging isn’t really something they do.”

“Isn’t there anything you can do?” Weiss asked. “What about your uncle?”

“I think that getting my uncle involved would only make this worse. Like… your body might spontaneously combust or something.” Ruby rubbed her chin. “But there might be something I can do. I mean… I’m not much good at healing, but I know somebody who might be able to minimise your whole zombie thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“How do you feel about maybe being a vampire?”

“…” Weiss glared, and Ruby cringed. “A vampire?”

“Technically speaking, you can use vampire blood to reanimate a freshly dead corpse if you know what you’re doing. Now, I know a vampire, and she might be willing to help us.”

“How is being a vampire better than being a zombie?”

“Well, you wouldn’t rot, for one, and with enough sunscreen, you’d even be able to go outside during the day.” Ruby gave her a thumb’s up. “It’s a win-win.”

“…” Weiss looked heavenward. “Fine. Let’s go find this vampire.”

X     X     X

Blake stared at the reaper on her doorstep for a moment before shutting the door. 

“Blake!” Ruby wailed. “Don’t shut the door!”

“I’m a vampire, Ruby. You reapers are basically the enemy.”

“But I need your help!” Ruby whined. “And I brought tuna.”

Blake opened the door a crack. “Tuna?”

“Yeah.” Ruby waved around the freshly caught tuna she’d purchased on the way there. “See?”

“Fine. Come in.” Blake paused. “And who’s the… ghost?”

Ruby pointed. “Oh, that’s Weiss. My uncle might have accidentally killed her, which is why I’m here.”

“I’m not going to like what you’re about to say, am I?” Blake drawled.

“It’s not that bad.” Ruby handed Blake the tuna. “But I kind of need to borrow some of your blood, so that I can sneak into the morgue, find Weiss’s body, and then reanimate her as a vampire, so she can keep on living her life.”

“…” Without a word, Blake handed the tuna back to Ruby and slammed the door.

“Blake!” Ruby clawed at the door. “Come on! Weiss had her whole life in front of her and everything!”

“I do not need a fledgling, Ruby, and that’s what she would be.”

“I’ll give you Yang’s number,” Ruby offered.

The door opened again. “I thought you said she was going somewhere… away.” Blake gestured vaguely. “You know wherever dragon-kin go when they’re not hanging around the mortal world.”

“Hey, give me some credit,” Ruby said. “Management has phones everywhere, even in the Otherworld. If you help me out, I’ll give you her number.”

Blake scowled. “Fine. I’ll help you. But I’m going with you to the morgue. If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do this right.”

X     X     X

Weiss cringed as Ruby and Blake crept into the morgue. Although nobody could see her, it was very obvious that people could see Ruby and Blake.

“Can’t you turn invisible or something?” Weiss asked Ruby. 

“I’m currently on probation,” Ruby said. “Since I’m a trainee and stuff. They’ll know if I use my powers and stuff, which would be really bad since what I’m doing is kind of super illegal.”

“Oh.” Weiss grimaced. “Well, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Ruby pointed. “I think that’s the one.”

Blake pulled the drawer open, and Weiss gaped. That was her in the drawer. Tears prickled at her eyes again. “Hmm… not too bad.” Blake hefted Weiss’s body up onto one of the nearby tables. “This shouldn’t take too long…”

They both froze as the door opened.

The janitor stared at Blake, Ruby, and Weiss’s body. Blake, Ruby, and Weiss’s ghost stared back at him.

“What are you -”

WHACK.

The janitor slumped to the ground, and Blake lowered her hand. She’d used her vampiric speed to get behind him before giving him a good, old whack on the noggin.

“Blake!” Ruby hissed. “What are you doing? What if he’s dead? Oh, crap, that would be two ‘accidents’ in the same day!” She breathed a sigh of relief as no spirit appeared above the janitor. “Oh, thank Management, he’s only unconscious.”

“Still,” Blake said. “There might be more janitors around, and the ritual could take as long as two hours. We need to do this somewhere else.”

Ruby cringed. “So we’re going to steal her corpse?”

“It’s not stealing,” Weiss pointed out. “You’re simply giving it back to me.”

“I… I guess.”

X     X     X

Four hours later, Weiss was still not in her body.

“Why is it not working?” Weiss growled.

Blake glared back at her and then glared at her body. “You didn’t tell me you have werewolf blood in your family. You can’t turn someone with werewolf blood into a vampire.”

“You’re a werewolf?” Ruby gasped. “No way!”

“I am not a werewolf!” Weiss shot back. “And everyone knows werewolves aren’t real.”

“Weiss, you’re talking to a vampire and a trainee reaper. I’d say werewolves are definitely a possibility.” Blake frowned. “And I’d say you’re about an eighth werewolf. Anything less, and I’d still be able to turn you into a vampire.”

“So what do we do now?”

“Well…” Ruby winced. “We could get a more powerful vampire, right? I mean… that would work, right?”

“It would,” Blake said. “But do you know any more powerful vampires?”

“What about your parents?”

“No.” Blake glared. “I am not going back to them.”

“But Weiss needs help!” Ruby put one arm around Blake. “Think about it. We could put her body in the fridge to preserve it while you call your parents and ask them to come here and help us out. When Weiss is back as a vampire, she can tell Yang about how kind and wonderful you were to help her. Isn’t that right, Weiss?”

“Yes. Definitely.”

“…” Blake glared again.

“Please,” Ruby begged. “Look at Weiss. She doesn’t deserve to die early. She deserves to live a long, happy, vampiric life.”

“You so owe me,” Blake growled as she reached for her phone.

X     X     X

Author’s Notes

And thus began the whacky adventures of Weiss, the ghost, Blake, the vampire, and Ruby, the trainee reaper. Seriously, though, this is something I threw together in about half an hour because it sounded like a funny idea in my head, and I was curious to see what it would like on paper (or on the screen… you know what I mean).

You can find me on fanfiction.net, AO3, and Amazon.

Definitely check out my Amazon stuff if you enjoy my sense of humour.

[celestialvoid-fanfiction]

Our Last Moments, Together

Stiles and Scott have been taken by the Grave Digger and buried underground. The team has eight hours to find them.

Scene stealer, based on BONES season 2 episode 9.

Stiles let out a weak groan as he blinked his eyes open, his head pounding and the air hot filling his lungs as he drew in shallow breaths. His eyes were heavy as he blinked them open, the muffled sound of a radio reaching his ears. He could see the green glow of the car radio, his surroundings lit by the dull light of the overhead light.

He pushed himself upright, wincing at the searing pain that tore through his body. His hand shook as he lifted it to the back of his neck, feeling the tender, bruised skin and the swollen welt.

He turned off the radio and fell back against his seat, bursts of light filling his darkness as he tried to focus, tried to remember what had happened. He was investigating a case: two boys – Ethan and Aiden Steiner – were buried alive in a silo, held at ransom but their father had been too late.

There was a quiet groan from the back seat.

Stiles wheeled around, his eyes focused on the figure slumped in the back seat.

“Scott?” he gasped. He pushed himself out of his seat and climbed in between the front seats, looking at his friend. His heart lurched into his throat when he saw Scott’s leg; his shin had been torn open, blood soaking the leg of his pants. The metallic stench was sickening. “Scott, what happened to your leg?”

Scott let out another groan. He blinked his hazy eyes open, looking around. “Where—where are we?”

“We’re buried alive,” Stiles answered. “I think he got us.”

“Who?” Scott asked.

“The Grave Digger.”

  Derek pressed play on the voice message, the distorted voice ringing through the speaker.

“Stiles Stilinski and Scott McCall have been buried alive. Wire transfer eight million dollars to the following Grand Cayman account or they will suffocate to death. Upon receiving the wire transfer I will provide you with Stilinski and McCall’s G.P.S. coordinates. You have eight hours. This will be my last communication.”

“He learnt from the Steiner boys,” Derek said, his voice tense. “He got two of them. He cut the deadline in half.”

He glanced over to where Isaac set up his tablet, a timer set – eight hours from when Derek had gotten the message – and ticking down.

“But why is he demanding so much?” Lydia asked. “He’s always been so understanding about how much the person he’s demanding the money from can raise in the time given.”

“I don’t know,” Derek said. “All I know is Stiles was on his way to the library before heading home.”

“Scott went after him to tell him something,” Allison added.

“So what do we do?” Isaac asked.

“We keep investigating the case,” Derek answered. He turned to Isaac. “I need you to find out what it was Scott wanted to tell Stiles. Lydia, check the evidence again, see if there’s anything we might have overlooked.”

“What do I do?” Allison asked.

“Call Melissa,” Derek said. “Let her know what’s going on. I’ll call Stiles’ dad.”

  “Where are we?” Scott asked again, his unfocused eyes taking in their surroundings.

“Buried,” Stiles repeated. “Underground.”

“I don’t remember how I got here,” Scott said.

“I think the Grave Digger ran you down when you tried to stop him from taking ma and then pumped you full of drugs to ruin your short-term memory,” Stiles said.

“Same as Ethan Steiner.”

Stiles nodded.

Scott looked around at the interior of the car. “How long have we been down here?”

“I don’t know,” Stiles admitted. “Two hours, I think.”

“So let’s say this vehicle has twenty percent oxygen, two people…” Scott shook his head. “My brain’s not working.” He dragged his hand down his face. “If we started with twelve hours of air, we’ll be unconscious in ten,” he said. “After that, if no one pays the ransom, we’re…”

“Dead,” Stiles finished. “We’re going to be fine.”

Stiles pushed himself back into the front seat, grabbing his bag from the foot hole and emptying it on the passenger’s seat. He emptied his pockets and began to sort through what they had.

“Two bottles of water, a mini first-aid kit, ibuprofen, a digital camera with a backup battery, a book, some pens, and a cell phone with no battery,” he listed.

“Two,” Scott corrected, digging his phone out of his back pocket and passing it to Stiles.

“Two cell phones with no battery,” Stiles said, setting the phone down on the seat.

“And this.” Scott pulled a small vial out of his pocket.

Stiles cocked an eyebrow. “Perfume?”

“For Allison,” he explained. “Nothing says ‘I love you’ like perfume, right?”

Scott flinched, wincing.

“What’s wrong?” Stiles asked.

“My leg,” Scott wheezed, tears pricking his eyes.

Stiles shuffled back between the seats, helping Scott lift his foot onto the centre console.

“I think you might have compartment syndrome,” Stiles said, studying Scott’s leg.

“Is it terminal?” Scott asked. “I mean, within the next few hours?”

“No,” Stiles answered. “But it is going to get painful.”

“More painful than now?”

Stiles nodded. “Slip-into-shock-and-die painful.”

“And there’s nothing we can do about it?” Scott asked, the dull light casting shadows across his worried face.

“There is,” Stiles said. “But I’m not a doctor, Scott.”

“I know, but if anyone can do it, Stiles, it’s you.”

“It’s fifty-fifty, Scotty,” Stiles said. “If I do this, then I could send you into shock and kill you sooner.”

“The upside? Me not breathing doubles your survival time,” Scott said reassuringly.

Stiles shook his head. “I’m not interested in surviving that way.” He let out a measured breath. “Okay, fine. I’ll do it.”

“Can you walk me through what you’re going to do?” Scott asked. “So I can ready myself for it.”

“I’m going to make a long incision in the fascia and squeeze the blood out to release the pressure in your leg,” Stiles explained.

“How long is a ‘long incision’?” Scott asked. “Actually, don’t tell me.”

Stiles grabbed the book from the passenger’s seat and a pen, passing them back to Scott.

He didn’t have to be told what to do, he took the pen and tore a page from the book, hastily scribbling a note before folding it and slipping it into his pocket.

Stiles opened the mini med kit, finding bandages and gauze. He grabbed another pen, using his phone to smash the plastic to a sharp point. He rolled up Scott’s pant leg and poured some water over Scott’s leg, clearing away some of the dry blood.

“Wait,” Stiles carefully dug into Scott’s wound, pulling out a sliver of blood soaked, coloured aluminium.

“What’s that?” Scott asked.

“Evidence of what happened to you,” Stiles said, grabbing the book and setting it between the pages.

He shrugged off his jacket and rolled it up, sliding it beneath Scott’s ankle. He turned back to Scott.

“Ready?” he asked.

Scott pulled up his shirt, bunching it in his mouth and biting down into the fabric. He wound his arms around the arm rest and the cushioning of the back seat, digging his fingers in.

“It’ll be best if I do this fast and without empathy,” Stiles said. “And don’t try to fight passing out.”

Scott nodded.

Stiles let out a measured breath. He pressed the jagged edge of the broken pen against Scott’s leg, pushing down until it broke the skin.

Scott cried out, his screams muffled by the shirt in his mouth. Tears streamed down his face as Stiles tore open his leg, blood streaming from the wound. His cries died out as his eyes fluttered shut and his body fell limp against the car door.

  The blaring horn woke him with a start. He bolted upright with a gasp, wincing as throbbing pain flooded his head.

“Shit,” Stiles gasped, clutching a hand to his chest. He let out a heavy sigh. “Thank God, I didn’t kill you.”

Scott offered him a weak, reassuring smile. “How long was I unconscious?”

“A while,” Stiles answered. “How’s your leg?”

“Better.” His brow furrowed with confusion as he looked over the shoulder of the driver’s seat at Stiles. “What are you doing?”

“Hot-wiring the phone to the horn to give it enough of a charge that we can send a message,” Stiles explained.

“From underground?”

“We get radio reception,” Stiles pointed out, nodding towards the car radio. “Direct current of the 12-volt will burn out the circuits in a 4.2-volt cell phone in a microsecond unless I jury-rig a resistor. That might buy us just enough time to send a single burst transmission. Derek or my dad can trace it to the nearest cell phone relay tower.”

“Smart,” Scott said. “Where did you learn this stuff?”

“Parrish,” Stiles answered. He glanced over his shoulder with a panicked expression. “Please don’t tell my dad.”

Scott let out a quiet laugh. “Your secret’s safe with me.” He watched Stiles for a moment. “And what message shall we send, ‘Goodbye’? ‘Nice knowing you’?”

“What are we surrounded by?” Stiles asked, ignoring his question.

“Pain, despair, and a subsoil accumulation of agglutinate aridisols.,” Scott answered.

Stiles looked over his shoulder, levelling his gaze on Scott.

“Ash,” Scott reiterated. He grabbed a handful of the dirt that was scattered across the back seat and sniffed at it. “Hits of nitrogen and sulfur.”

“So, where are we?” Stiles prompted, turning his attention back to wiring the phone.

“Coal country,” Scott answered. “Virginia.”

“We need more than that,” Stiles said.

“Pass me the laser pen” Scott said.

Stiles reached over to the seat beside him and passed it back to Scott.

“We need benzophenone.”

“What?”

“Benzophenone,” Scott repeated. “It’s in soaps, plastic packaging, sunscreen.”

“We don’t have any sunscreen,” Stiles replied.

“The perfume,” Scott said, pointing to the vial on the passenger’s seat. “And the camera.”

Stiles passed them both back.

Scott used his teeth to pry open the perfume’s lid, pouring it into the handful of dirt he had cupped in his hand.

“It smells nice,” Stiles said.

Scott set the empty vial down and picked up the camera, switching it on. The camera whirred, the flash blinding as he took a photo of the handful of dirt. He looked at the photo displayed on the digital screen, straightening with excitement as he said, “I know where we are.”

“How fast’s your texting?” Stiles asked.

“Lightning quick,” Scott answered.

Stiles passed him back the hot-wired phone. “You have about four seconds to enter a message and hit speed dial. You ready?” Stiles asked, holding his palm against the worn leather of the car horn, waiting.

Scott drew in a deep breath, his thumbs over they keypad. “Ready.”

“Three, two, one.” Stiles slammed his hand down on the horn.

The baring sound filled the small space as Scott rapidly typed the message. The phone sparked, electricity crackling as the rancid smell of smoke burnt their nostrils.

Scott yelped as the current shocked his hands and the screen went black.

Stiles took his hand off the horn, the two of them staring at the dead phone. “Did… Did it send?” he asked.

“I think so,” Scott answered, uncertain.

  “Eight million?” John repeated, stunned. Fear and helplessness filled him. “I don’t have that kind of money.”

“I do,” Derek confessed. “My family has bonds and property. If we can’t find them in time, I’ll pay.”

“I can’t ask that of you,” John said.

“Stiles is my friend,” Derek said. “I want him back too.”

John opened his mouth to say something when Derek’s phone chimed.

He fished it out of his pocket. His heart skipped a beat when he read the name.

“It’s Stiles,” he called out, quickly writing out the message on the nearby whiteboard for everyone to see.

6   7   16     M1.4

“Does it mean anything to anyone?”

They shook their heads.

“They’re getting low on oxygen,” Lydia said. “Hypoxia leads to confusion.”

“It’s Stiles,” Derek interrupted, his voice firm. “It means something.”

“It’s not a G.P.S. location,” John said.

“It doesn’t matter,” Isaac said quietly.

“IT does matter,” Derek snapped.

The boy shook his head, pointing at the timer.

0.00.03

0.00.02

0.00.01

0.00.00

“We’re out of time,” Isaac rasped.

“No,” Derek growled. “We can’t give up.”

“Derek—" Lydia said quietly.

“This is Stiles and Scott we’re talking about. They can be idiots a lot of the time, but they worked out how to do this—” He gestured at the code on the whiteboard. “You think they didn’t they somehow found a way to extend their air supply? I’m not giving up until we find them.”

“Who was it meant to get to?” Allison asked, her eyes focused on the code.

“Stiles’ phone to mine,” Derek answered. “So, it was meant for me?”

“But it means nothing to you?” Allison asked.

Derek shook his head.

“What if it wasn’t Stiles texting?” Isaac asked.

“It was Scott,” John offered.

“So, it’s meant for Allison,” Lydia said.

“But it’s numbers,” Allison said. “So, it’s meant for Lydia.”

“Scott would have written poetry for Allison.”

Lydia stared at the code, her jade eyes misted with thought. “It’s not math,” she said. “Six, seven, sixteen: carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur on the periodic table. They’re buried in coal-rich soil.”

“Keep going,” Derek encouraged.

“The mineral components in coal are all the same. It’s the organic components that provide a unique fingerprint. They’re called macerals. They fluoresce at different levels. A reflectance of 1.4 is quite rare, suggesting a high concentration of inertinite.”

“Tell me you know what that means,” Derek pleaded.

Lydia’s eyes lit up. “I know where they are.”

  Stiles slumped against his seat, skin soaked with sweat. His lips trembled, hot air dancing across his lips. His eyes were growing heavy and his vision as blurring. He felt lethargic, his body aching as he pulled his shirt up and wiped the sweat and dirt away from his face.

He grabbed the broken pen he had used to operate on Scott and climbed into the back seat.

“What are you doing?” Scott asked, watching Stiles pull down the flap in the centre seat that opened up into the boot.

“Hoping for a miracle,” Stiles whispered as he reached into the darkness. “Don’t talk. Save your breath.”

His hands patted the old carpet until his fingers brushed up against something solid. ‘Thank God’, he mouthed as he reached further into the boot and pulled the spare tyre forward. He grabbed the broken pen and slammed it into the side of the tyre, grunting as he strained to pierce the thick rubber.

There was a quiet hiss.

Stiles pulled the pen out, listening to the air that rushed out of the punctured tyre.

Stiles and Scott both leaned towards it, drawing in breaths as relief filled their body.

“That’s not going to last us,” Scott rasped. “Why prolong the inevitable?”

“Derek will find us,” Stiles whispered.

“You have a lot of faith in him,” Scott said.

“Not faith,” Stiles replied. “I’ve seen what he can do. I know he’ll find us.”

“We’re buried underground, running out of air, we have no idea if our message got out there, let along if anyone understood it; what you have is faith,” Scott said.

Stiles couldn’t help but smile a bit.

Scott nodded to the punctured spare tyre. “How long will that ask?”

“Long enough for me to try one last thing,” Stiles said. “But it’ll kill us.”

“What is it?” Scott asked.

“The air bags.”

“They aren’t actually full of air,” Scott pointed out.

“I know. I’m going to use them to blow our way out of here,” Stiles said. He climbed back into the front seat.

“Using the explosives from the air bags? That could defiantly kill us.”

“So will doing nothing,” Stiles pointed out.

  “I’m scared to ask where you learnt this,” Scott said.

“Parrish,” Stiles answered. “He was int eh bomb squad before he got a transfer.”

“So, what’s going to happen?” Scott asked hesitantly.

“I’m not really an explosives expert but the dash might shape the charge enough to blow out the windshield,” Stiles answered. “If we’re less that four feet below the surface, the charge could blow is to freedom.”

“And if we’re buried more than four feet beneath the surface?” Scott asked.

Stiles hesitated for a second before answering, “Then the concussion will turn out brains to jelly.”

Stiles tore a page out of the novel before passing it back to Scott again. They were both silent as they wrote their letters, folding them up and shoving them into their pockets.

“Try and get as far away from the explosion as possible,” Stiles said, watching in the rear-view mirror as Scott carefuly moved his leg, laying himself out across the back seat. Stiles set the explosive on the windscreen.

“Care to join me?” Scott said, jokingly holding his hand out to Stiles.

Stiles chuckled as he climbed into the back seat again. He reached into the front seat and picked up the wires.

“So, this is it?” Scott whispered.

Stiles looked down at the wires in his hands, tears welling in his eyes. “This is it.”

“You should get in the boot,” Scott said, taking the wires from Stiles’ trembling hands. “You’ll be safer in there.”

Stiles shook his head. He looked at Scott, tears trailing sown his cheeks. “Scott, you’re my brother. So, if you’re going to do this…” he shuffled closer, setting his hand on Scott’s. “…you’re going to have to take me with you.”

Scott fought back tears as Stiles pulled him closer, hugging his friend one last times.

Scott detonated the charge.

The last thing he remembers is the sound of muffled soft rock on the radio before the thundering bang tore through him, agony flooding his head. There was a deafening rumble as dirt flooded through the broken windscreen, the weight bearing down on them.

Stiles fought the instinct to fight back, trying his best to hold his breath as the darkness crashed over him.

It felt as if his lungs were consumed by a raging inferno, the jagged claws of firebirds tearing at the tissue as they tried to dig their way out of his chest. His pulse thundered in his ears, deafening. He tried to move his body, but it was no use; the weight bearing down on him was too much.

His body grew weak, his lips trembling as he fought to hold onto his breath.

Finally, he let go.

He felt the tension fade away as the darkness consumed him.

  “Stiles…”

The voice seemed to drift about in the nothingness. The deep, husky voice seemed so familiar, so soothing.

“Stiles, open your eyes. Please, open your eyes.”

Stiles let out a weak groan, coughing up the dust and ash that filled his lungs. Strong arms held up upright as he slowly blinked his eyes open to the glaring sunlight.

Slowly, his vison came into focus, looking up at the man that held him.

He had a square jaw that was darkened by stubble and wore an old black leather jacket that was covered in dust. He ran his hand through his thick, dark hair, trying to tame the mess that was tousled by the wind. His fingers raked his hair away from his face, exposing his pale green eyes.

Derek.

Stiles let a sigh of relief fall past his lips.

“Scott,” he muttered, straining to look around.

Allison and Isaac were nearby, holding onto Scott he coughed up lungfuls of dust.

“He’s okay,” Derek reassured him. “Paramedics are right behind us.”

“He needs a hospital,” Stiles rasped.

“And so do you,” Derek replied.

“I’m fine,” Stiles said dismissively.

“You’re going to hospital,” Derek said with finality.

Stiles reluctantly submitted, letting his body weaken in Derek’s arms. He looked across the dusty ground at Scott.

He was alive.

They’d made it out alive.

  Stiles jumped at the sound of someone clearing their throat behind him. He spun around to see Derek standing a few feet away with his hands buried in his pockets and an unamused expression on his face.

“I went to see you in the hospital, they said you discharged yourself.”

“I’m fine,” Stiles lied.

“No, you’re not,” Derek said.

“The doctors pumped me full of painkillers and antibiotics. I’m fine,” Stiles said. “I need to get back to work.”

“You need to rest,” Derek argued.”

“This guy’s still out there, Derek. He’s not going to stop,” Stiles snapped, turning to glare at Derek.

“And we’ll stop him,” the man promised. “We’ll start tomorrow. All of us.”

Stiles turned away from him, letting his shoulders sag as he let out a defeated sigh. When he spoke again, his voice was quiet.

“I can’t… I can’t sleep,” he admitted.

Derek took a step closer. “I thought they gave you something for that?”

“No, I mean, every time I close my eyes I feel like I’m back in that car, except…”

“Except what?” Derek asked.

“Except this time, you’re not coming; this time you don’t find me in time,” he said. He couldn’t bring himself to look Derek in the eye, his mind racing as he began to ramble, “You know, when you’re drowning, you don’t actually inhale until right before you black out. It’s called voluntary apnoea. It’s like no matter how much you’re freaking out, the instinct to not let any water in is so strong that you won’t open your mouth until you feel like your head’s exploding. Then, when you finally do let it in, that’s when it stops hurting. It’s not scary anymore. It’s actually kind of peaceful.”

“Hey,” Derek whispered, crouching beside Stiles and levelling his gaze with his. “I’ll always find you,” he promised.

Stiles smiled weakly.

“Come home with me,” Derek said softly.

Stiles blinked in shock. “What?”

“You can sleep at my place tonight,” Derek said. “That way, when you open your eyes, I’ll be there.”

“Really?” Stiles asked.

A sweet smile lifted Derek’s lips. “Really.”

[AO3]

[geekofmanyforms]

New Beginning

Chapter Nine

*This chapter has been edited by my Beta Casey. Thanks for the follows, reviews, and favorites. Please let me know if you think things are progressing too slowly. Im worried that everything isn't running as smoothly as I hoped. Constructive criticism is always welcome. Your feedback gives me motivation, so don't be a silent reader. I promise I don't bite...too hard;)*

I opened the door to the house just as Jeremy was heading upstairs. I tossed my bag on the couch and followed him up. Oddly enough, he made his way into Elena's room. I had thought they were on the outs, but they were talking as I walked in. I ignored whatever they were saying and threw myself on Elena's bed. I wasn't much for open displays of affection, but after the crap day I'd had to deal with, I could really use a little sibling time.

"Gah, this day sucked, Lena!" I said, throwing my head in her lap and ignoring the oomph of protest that escaped her.

I covered my face with my hands and listened to her and Jeremy's conversation.

"Is Vicki in there?" she asked, nodding her head in the direction of his room.

My eyebrows rose at the revelation. Well, well, well little Jer getting it on with naughty Vic...

"You and Vic? Wow, I hope you wrapped it, Jeremy," I said without thinking.

Elena's mouth shot open, and she grabbed her pillow and used it to pummel me in the face.

"Ewww! Ellie that's disgusting. I don't wanna hear about what our brother does with Vicki or anyone else!" she shouted.

Jeremy was laughing loudly at our little display. I pulled myself away from Elena and jumped up beside Jeremy.

"What!? It's a valid and important thing to ask. I don't wanna be an auntie yet! Plus, Vic is...experienced. I just wanna make sure he is being safe," I tossed the nearby pillow at her face, then looked at Jeremy with a fixed expression. "So, you are being smart, right, Jer?"

He tried to hide the red shade the was beginning to cover his face without success. He put his hands over his eyes with a grumble. I laughed at his embarrassment and pulled his hands away, revealing his cherry red features.

"Ya know Jer, they say if you're too embarrassed to discuss sex than you're too young to be having it." I joked.

He pulled away from me and threw himself on Elena's window seat with a huff.

"We are being careful, El, and I know all about her past — it doesn't bother me," he said, indignantly

I sat back down beside Elena and laid back in her lap, shrugging.

"Okay then, that's all I wanted to know,"

Elena ran her fingers through my hair as we were all quiet for a moment.

"God, isn't it weird how adult our conversations have become? I can remember when we were all fighting over each other's toys. Where did the time go?" Elena asked.

Jeremy and I looked at her, our faces overcast with memories.

"We grew up, Lena. I miss our childhood as well but try to remember that we get to experience new things now. Like college, marriage, children," Jeremy said. "there is still so much to come,"

I quickly wiped the tears from my face as I imagined their lives. It was a sad and beautiful thought. I only wished I could be there to share it all with them.

"Ugh, enough of the heavy stuff. Now, how about we discuss why Lena is a pouty potato?" I said in a sing-song voice.

Elena smacked my forehead and sighed deeply. "I'm miserable," she said petulantly, her bottom lip sticking out a bit.

"Aww, poor little Lena. What happened?" I asked playfully.

I was hoping to lighten the mood because I knew exactly what was wrong with her. Stefan was still continuing to hide everything from her. She continued to play with my hair and looked down at me with a sullen expression.

"Stefan and I had a fight,"

My thoughts were confirmed. My eyes shifted to Jeremy, who had been tapping his foot impatiently. I could tell there was something he was hiding.

"Well, you should go get something to eat," he said.

I gave him a quizzical look as I slipped off of Elena's lap. I grabbed her hand and pulled her off the bed.

"Jeremy is right. I'm pretty sure I saw some strawberry ice cream in the freezer," I said.

I pushed her out the door and down the stairs. When I made to follow her into the kitchen, Jeremy grabbed my wrist and held me back. He put his finger against his lips and smiled at me. We waited in the living room, and I understood why as soon as Elena said Stefan's name. Jeremy pulled me back toward the stairs.

"He is gonna fix her dinner as an apology. He asked me if I'd help lure her downstairs," he said.

I shook my head and bit my bottom lip as we headed back up the stairs. "I really wanted that ice cream," I said, longingly.

Jeremy's laugh was all I heard as I pouted all the way into my room.

I was looking at myself in the mirror, eyeing my purple and black two-piece with a hateful glare. Why had I allowed myself to be talked into this stupid car wash? I wasn't even a cheerleader! I pulled at the top trying, in vain, to cover more of my cleavage. I felt incredibly exposed. My suit was just an average two-piece, apart from the black jewel placed conveniently between my breasts, but I still felt like I was basically naked. I mean, I could remember the days when a woman would be called a whore for revealing her legs, and here I was now, leaving very little to the imagination.

Damn Caroline and her shopping addiction. I should have known she had ulterior motives for offering to buy me a swimsuit. I gave the suit one last spiteful glare before throwing on my purple shorts and a tank top. Gods, this is gonna be so humiliating...

I grabbed my matching purple flower-shaped sunglasses and hooked them onto my shirt. I quickly braided my hair and sprayed on some sunscreen before headed downstairs. Elena and Bonnie had left five minutes ago, so according to 'Caroline Standard Time,' I was running late.

I yelled my goodbyes to Jenna, who was still somewhere in the house and made my way to my car. I hopped inside and winced as my skin met the hot leather. I turned the air on full blast and switched the radio on.

I was already nodding my head to the beat of the music as I pulled out of the drive. I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel, singing along to the music when a black blur sped past my window. I screamed and tried to keep from swerving when I noticed a crow flying towards the windshield.

At the last minute, it changed direction and once again flew past my window. My breathing was rapid and substantial as I tried to calm myself down. My mind raced frantically when I realized that the crow had been much more than a bird. It was Damon.

I turned into the school parking lot and parked my car. I leaned into the steering wheel and let a few tears escape. He was calling for me, but what could I do? He was dangerous and explosive — he would be out for revenge, and that would lead to so much unnecessary loss. I heard a loud whistle and wiped my face before looking out my windshield to see Caroline. She threw up her hands and ushered for me to get out of the car. I waved and took a deep breath as I climbed out. I locked my car and ran over to Caroline, who was talking to a small group of people all wearing their own suits of torture.

"No friend discounts. No freebies. No pay-ya-laters. We are not running a charity here," Caroline barked, her hands on her hips, "No, we are not,"

I stood next to Elena and Bonnie, both smiling at Caroline in exasperation.

"No, we are not," Elena whispered, with barely restrained laughter.

I kept my mouth closed; too many thoughts stole any amusement I could have felt at Caroline's forceful attitude. Caroline looked down at her clipboard and began barking orders. I looked over to see Stefan heading towards us and sidestepped away from him. I wasn't ready to talk to him yet. My guilt was still too thick. I wasn't sure what he would do if he knew Damon was calling out to me. Luckily I was distracted by the hurricane that was Caroline Forbes.

"The event is called Sexy Suds, ya know. Why are you still dressed?" she asked.

I looked down at my shorts and tank top with a sigh and pulled my shirt off over my head. As I was slipping off my shorts, I could see Elena and Stefan kissing off to the side. I almost tripped in a mild shock. It was so strange seeing them kiss. All I could see was Katherine, which confused me because oddly enough, I never saw Katherine when I looked at Elena...until now.

"Okay, put your clothes in your bag and head over to Bonnie and Matt. You'll be pairing off with Matt while Bon works with Tiki and Tyler," Caroline ordered.

I looked away from the little public display of affection that had me baffled and moved over to Matt. I could see Matt was feeling just as sick by Elena and Stefan's presentation as I was.

"Uh-uh, no. None of that tortured pining stuff," Bonnie told him.

I couldn't help but smile at this.

"I'm just observing," Matt said.

I patted his shoulder as I passed him. I put my clothes in my bag and laid it on the ground next to Bonnie's stuff.

"Okay, let's get soapy," I said, earning a laugh from Matt.

I grabbed a sponge and began washing the red car in front of me. I ignored the stares I was getting from the guy we were washing the car for. I jumped slightly when the grey figure of Rebekah appeared beside him. She was looking him over with disgust on her face.

"God, look at this guy, Ellie — as if he'd ever have a shot with you. Ugh, he is disgusting!" she said aghast.

I bit back my retort, knowing how crazy I would look just carrying on a discussion with an invisible person. I continued to wash the windows trying to avoid the water Matt was flinging at me.

"Ya know, I have a few brothers that would love to meet you. One in particular," Rebekah said to the man who was now greedily staring at my ass.

I stood and adjusted my suit in embarrassment. Matt noticed my unease and grabbed the bucket of water that sat between us. He caught the eye of Tyler, who was standing behind the guy. They both tossed their buckets of water at the creep. Rebekah jumped out of the way, even though she didn't need to, just as the water hit him. He screamed in surprise and started to chase Matt and Tyler around the car. They were both laughing and shooting me smiles. I giggled along with Bonnie, who had used her powers to splash a rude Tiki after she had started whining about us mistreating the customers. Our fun was quickly ruined when Caroline stomped towards us in a blonde storm of fury.

"What are you guys doing?" she yelled.

We all looked at one another, all speaking at once. Caroline grabbed the creep by his ear and pulled him towards his car.

"Get outta here," she said.

The guy flipped her off and jumped into his still soapy car and sped off.

"Elena is out of towels and those shimmy things," Caroline told me pointedly.

I nodded sheepishly, "I'll go get some," I said, smiling back at Matt and Tyler.

They saluted me as I walked away and towards the school. The cold air greeted me and sent a shiver down my spine as I entered the empty halls. The eeriness of it all made me jump when my shoes squeaked on the freshly waxed floor. I kept my head down and tried to ignore the weird feeling that walking through the halls at school in my bikini gave me. I could honestly say it was an experience I never wanted to repeat. Finally, I reached the supply closet. I made to open the door when a shadow at the other end of the hall made me stop.

"Hello? Care?" I said, squeezing my eyes shut in annoyance.

I was the dumb girl at the beginning of every scary movie ever. I grabbed the handle of the door and pulled it open — I was not getting killed today. I grabbed what I needed and kicked the door closed behind me. I quickly headed back the way I came when I heard a familiar, pleading voice behind me.

Dammit.

Slowly I turned around to see a flickering version of Damon.

"Elandra. Elandra, help me. Help me,"

I stomped my foot down in anger when the image flickered again and disappeared. He was totally gonna make me regret this. I dropped the towels and ran outside to my car.

I sped towards the Boarding House, slamming my hands on the wheel repeatedly.

"Fuck, Fuck, Fuck!" I yelled with every hit.

What the hell was I doing? He was going to hurt people! Yet, I couldn't turn around, not after hearing his voice call to me. He was still my Damon and was once my best friend, and I would be damned if I left him to mummify and suffer.

I wasn't the kind of person to leave him like this — It was almost like another curse. I trusted and saved people until I had nothing left to give. Angry tears filled my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I would just have to deal with whatever this caused. I could bury the guilt — I had too.

My tires squealed as I sped into their drive. I had to hurry; I wasn't sure how long Stefan would be gone.

Stefan, Gods he was gonna hate me.

I shook my head forcefully, I didn't have time for depressing thoughts. I entered the house quickly and scanned my surroundings for Zach. Luckily I found him on the couch asleep. I quietly stepped beside him and touched his head, causing him to fall into a deeper sleep — I didn't want him to get hurt. I would hate to be the reason the Salvatore bloodline was lost.

"Elandra, please," Damon said, his voice lilting through the air almost seductively.

I ran to the cellar door and carefully took the narrow steps one at a time. I finally made it to the door and looked in through the tiny window.

"You called?" I said sarcastically.

His eyes were lifeless, and his face was a sickly pale color. He licked his dry, cracked lips, and I could see his hunger. I felt pity surge in me, and I started to unbolt the door. I stopped and looked him over again.

"Don't kill me, Damon," I said.

His blue eyes cleared for a brief moment as he took in my words.

His weak face turned grave, " I would never hurt you, Elandra," he said, his voice dry.

The corner of my mouth lifted in a sad smile, "Now we both know that's not true, Damon," I whispered.

He turned away from me and started to fall, his strength giving out. I swung the door open and lowered myself down next to him, only just then noticing I hadn't changed from my bikini. I shifted slightly and felt the rush of blood in my neck and face. I sat on my knees and lifted his heavy head onto my shoulder.

"Damon, Damon! I'm gonna need you to drink, okay," I said.

His eyes were closed, and breathing was erratic. I looked around in panic. My gaze landed on a jagged stone by my foot, and I grabbed it in determination. I held the cold stone in my shaky hand and took a deep breath.

"Okay. Okay, I can do this," I whispered.

I took the sharper end of the stone and laid it against my neck, I dug it into my skin and let out a rush of air through my teeth. I could feel blood trickling down my throat as I tossed the rock behind me. Grabbing Damon's head, I laid his lips against my neck. I let out a relieved laugh as he started to lick the blood from my skin. I kept my eyes on the wall in front of me when he began to hold his own weight. A jab of pain told me he had finally inserted his fangs into the small gash I had made. He wrapped his arms around me and held me close as he drank my life's blood. The hand I had on his shoulder started to falter as I grew weaker — he was taking to much.

"Damon," I murmured, barely able to keep myself awake.

Slowly he pulled away, allowing me to see his vampiric face. It was frighteningly beautiful. In my weakened state, my mind was having trouble processing what was happening, but I was almost certain he let out a pained moan when I ran my fingers across the black veins under his eyes. My eyelids fluttered closed, and my hand dropped from his face.

"El, stay with me. Here, drink," Damon rushed out.

I could feel his wrist on my lips, and I parted them as best I could as the salty, coppery taste of his blood filled my mouth. I gagged and tried to spit it out, but he kept my head still and bent down to my ear, "You have to swallow it, sweetie. I took too much, and you're weak," he mumbled in my ear.

My mind caught up finally, and I allowed myself to accept his blood. I instantly felt better and let him help me sit up. I ran my hand across my mouth and wiped the red liquid from the lips. I looked up at his nervous face and couldn't help but grin at him.

"Well, that was something," I said.

He chuckled and stood up in front of me, offering his hand.

"Thank you for helping me, El," he said.

I brushed off the dirt from my legs.

"But, you didn't have to dress so...provocatively," he slyly said, obviously knowing how uncomfortable I felt.

I slapped his arm and growled, less than menacingly, at him. A noise from above drew our attention to the fact that we were not alone.

"That's Zach. Please don't hurt him, Damon. He is still your family, please," I begged him, taking hold of his arm.

He pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my head.

"Okay, as long as he doesn't try anything, I will let him live. But, Stefan is gonna pay, El," he said menacingly.

I looked up at his face the pale grey look was gone. He was back to his annoyingly beautiful self.

"Just leave Elena out of it," I said.

He kissed my head again, lingering for a brief moment before, with a rush of air, he was gone. I looked around at the dark and empty cellar with dread filling me. Things were about to go to hell.

[natysadventureblog]

My one day in Sept-Îles

04-Aug-2017

I was very tired, but it was my only day in town, so I got up at 8h. I saw it on google maps that there was a Walmart not too far from here, so I went to check it out (cause I know Walmart in the US and in Brazil, and the products/brands are very different, so I had to know what the one in Canada had to offer), especially because I'm getting a ride to the research station, tomorrow, and I need to kind of know what I'm gonna get, otherwise it will take me too long.

According to my phone, it was 14°C, and partially cloudy, so that's what I dressed for... well, it was at least 20°C and sunny!!

Walking around was nice... I felt like I was in a movie... and there are so many beautiful plants everywhere!

As for the Walmart, I was happy with it until I realized there wasn't much food to choose from... it was mostly canned/boxed stuff... but I did get a little something for my nephew (my brother's dog) and breakfast (donuts). It's right by the water though, so there's a nice view, with lots of birds!

BTW, I didn't bring my camera with me because I needed to buy a new one (which is a lot cheaper here), so until I get to the station, I only have that 10-year-old one, that I used in Namibia.

I took my time there and got a bit lost on the way back to the hostel, so I got there at 10h50, to find a note on my bed from my roommate, saying that he had left with a friend at 10h30, for Les Croisi��res du Capitaine, if I wanted to try and join them. Well, first I had to figure out where that was, then I quickly changed and left, in the hopes that they would still be there (we didn't know what time the boat would leave for the island).

I got there a little after 11h, but they weren't there... but they didn't get on the boat either, because it had left at 10h, and the next one was only at 14h. So I sat by the water and had my donuts... made friends with a seagull that kept wanting to get close to me... then I walked around the area and decided to go back to the hostel to put on some sunscreen and get more water.

I took a different route, and it's just so nice!! Sept-Îles reminds me a little of Garopaba, that town in Brazil where I went last year, to see the Southern Right Whales, and fell in love with it!

I got back at 13h30 and there was my roommate! We paid for the trip ($25, both ways) and left... it was actually just the 2 of us.

In spite of being a warm day, it got pretty chilly on the boat! But the island is quite close, so it was a short trip.

As soon as we got to Île Grande Basque we could see that it's quite pretty! And the water on the beach is super clear!! Of course, it's also super cold!! Oh, btw, the tap water here is either hot or freezing cold; there's no in between!!

We talked to the guides (well, he did most of the talking, because they didn't speak much English, and I don't speak much French) and they told us where we should go, after explaining the rules, and off we went!

The vegetation is so different from all the other places I normally go to... it's mainly pine trees!! And it's beautiful!!

We went up to the look out, and the view was stunning!! $25 is a lot for me (around 70 in my currency), but it was worth it! Canada is such a beautiful country!!

We only had 2 hours until the boat left for the continent, and it turn out that it was a preeeetty long trail that they had suggested, so by the end we had to really hurry not to miss the boat!! My legs were dying!! But it was good!! We still had to wait for the guides, who weren't back yet.

I was sitting on the opposite side, but they saw a minke whale, when we were already pretty close to the continent!! I turned around and was pretty sure I saw one or two dorsal fins, but that was it... still, pretty cool!!!

I wanted to walk in that direction, to see if I could find them, but I was dead tired, and my legs were hurting, especially the one that was already hurt from the accident, so I just went back to the hostel with him.

Once we were there, I sat on my bed for a little while, and started to not feel too good... I remembered I hadn't had anything savory to eat all day, so I ate the mini pretzels from the plane, before getting in the shower, because I knew my blood pressure would drop with the hot water and I would pass out if I didn't... I felt better and went to shower... well, that wasn't enough and I almost passed out anyways! I really thought I wouldn't be able to walk out of that bathroom, but after a long time (probably half an hour or so), I managed to do it... little by little... then I just lied on my bed and dried my hair like that... reminded me of my first time in Africa, when I got really sick and had to dry my hair lying down because I was too weak... I just lied there until I was back to normal, then went up to the kitchen to eat a couple more donuts. =P

I didn't stay up for very long, afterwards. Even though I'm feeling fine, I'm still dead tired, and tomorrow should be a long day!

[joeybelle]

Oh, how the tables have turned - Part 7

Clyde Logan x Reader

Inspired by @clyde-prompts: “Some guys are rude and use ableist slurs against Clyde. The reader is with them, and although she feels bad about what’s happening, is too scared to say anything in front of her “friends”. She comes back to the bar a couple nights later to try and show him she’s not a bad person. They get to know each other and fall in love”. Doesn’t fully follow the prompt. 

Warnings: Language, first person POV 

Word count: ~5000

Rating: Mature

Setting: Pre-heist

Tags: @lonelyravenclaw @kyloren-supreme-ben @onmyknees4steve @elsablackswift @helloimindelaware @mwcritics @makingtimemine @littlekylo

Mellie showed up as we were picking everything up and bringing the leftovers inside.

“Sadie, sweetie, your mom sent me to pick you up. She wants you to go shopping today,” she told her, after saying hello and giving me a hug.

“Awww…” Sadie whined. “But I don’t wanna leave yet! We didn’t even finish making all the muffins.” She looked at me with pleading eyes, as if I could do something about it.

“I’m sorry sweetie, but your mom said it’s for the pageant and you have to go today.” Not even hearing the magic word could make her feel better, her face scrunched into the most pitiful frown I’d seen in a while.

“I’ll make the rest and send you some,” I tried offering an alternative, because even if I wanted her to stay, her mother was the one to decide. “And then you can come another time and we’ll make more. Hopefully it won’t be as hot as it is today so we can make cupcakes and I can show you how to make animals out of frosting.” A spark of enthusiasm flashed through her eyes, but then she crossed her arms, disgruntled. “Come on, it’s for the pageant,” I insistent. “Didn’t you love pageants?”

“It’s just shopping…” she mumbled and ended it with a dramatic sigh, but didn’t argue anymore.

I went to the kitchen to pack the rest of the muffins and give them to the girls. A while back, I had bought some cute paper boxes that I really didn’t need, but would now prove useful. Plus, they’d make me seem fancy for owning colourful, paper boxes.

“I hope the boys aren’t giving you too much trouble,” Mellie said, entering my kitchen.

“Nah, why would they?”

“I don’t know,” she shrugged, smiling, and I wondered if maybe she knew something I didn’t. “They can be a handful sometimes. And so can Sadie.”

“Everything’s fine,” I laughed. “My kitchen needs a little cleaning, but otherwise everything is great. I did have a lot of fun today and I really appreciate the help,” I said, putting the last few muffins in the colourful boxes, and handing them to Mellie. “Sadie was the master baker today.”

“Oh was she? Wow, and your kitchen is still pretty much intact, that’s surprising.”

I laughed and assured her that Sadie had been a very good student. She deserved to get a little praise, because she was really a genuinely good kid. I could see how proud Mellie was of her, and it made me happy.

In the end, there were no tears, but it was still a pretty emotional goodbye. Nah, I’m joking, we just hugged and they got into the car and left, after making her dad promise that they’d come back another time. I didn’t really mind, I actually enjoyed their company. They were really nice people that I enjoyed having as friends. And to my surprise, there had been a lot less teasing than I had expected. I guess I had been surrounded by assholes for so long that I kept expecting the worst from people. But Jimmy hadn’t mocked me and didn’t do anything to try and embarrass me in from of his brother, even though by now he probably noticed my crush.

But the hard part was only starting, I realized a little later, as I was washing the dishes. Without Sadie to act as a distraction, it wasn’t that easy to keep my eyes off of Clyde. Especially since he decided he didn’t need his t-shirt anymore so he just took it off and was now walking in front of my window in all his bare-chested glory. I huffed and finished washing the dishes, keeping my head down and hoping he wouldn't be able to see my blush.

I kept myself busy with cleaning the kitchen, while the last batch of muffins were in the oven. I kept glancing at Clyde from time to time, because self-control wasn’t really my forte. And to be honest, what else could I have done? There was a really hot, half-naked man constantly moving into my field of vision. I tried keeping my eyes down for the most part, but he was like a magnet.

“You’ll get a sunburn if you don’t put some sunscreen on,” I said, leaning on the counter. The afternoon sun was quite strong, I could feel it burn through the open window. It definitely wasn’t the time to be exposed to it, especially with Clyde’s skin type.

His head snapped in my direction and I could actually see how his cheeks became gradually redder as realization dawned him. I wondered if he’d forgotten I was even there and could see him. Somehow, he seemed a little too shy to have done it on purpose.

“It’s ok,” he mumbled.

“No, it’s not,” I laughed, shaking my head.

“It’s just too hot… And the t-shirt is wet,” he said averting his gaze, as if he was trying to apologize for being shirtless.

“With that light skin of yours you’ll get the mother of all sunburns in a couple of hours. I’ll try to find something for you.” I didn’t give him the chance to protest and bolted into the living room, looking for some sunscreen.

I knew I had some, I just didn’t know where. Since my life was mostly spend indoors, trapped in the neverending cycle of home-car-work-and home again, I didn’t really have much use for sun protection, besides the one provided by my face moisturizer. But I remembered buying some cosmetics a couple of weeks back and receiving a promotional bottle of sun spray, since summer season was almost here, but I just didn’t remember where I put it.

I found it eventually, at the bottom of a storage basket in my bathroom. I looked at the bottle and laughed. It was for kids. Well, at least it had high SPF, exactly what Clyde’s fair skin needed. And it smelled really nice, I thought, shoving my nose into the cap.

“I found it,” I said wiggling the bottle.

Clyde was sitting in the shade of one of the trees, drinking a glass of water and smiled as I approached. His skin had already become a little pink on his shoulders and I realized I might be a little too late.

“Do you want some help with this?” I asked. I was pretty sure he wasn’t able to reach everywhere, I knew I wasn’t and I didn’t have a prosthetic arm, but I didn’t know how averse he might have been to being touched. As far as I’d noticed, he seemed to keep his distance from people and didn’t seem the touchy-feely kind.

“Ummm…” He seemed to think about it for a moment. “Yes please,” he mumbled, almost inaudibly, looking at the ground.

“Okay, brace yourself cause it may be cold,” I warned, before generously spraying his shoulders and handing him the bottle, to spray the places he reached.

“Why is it green?” he asked, running his hand over the lotion and rubbing it between his fingers.

“I don’t know. It’s for kids,” I shrugged, bringing the sunscreen down on his back, leaving a green trace. His skin felt really hot to the touch, and I was fascinated by all the freckles and beauty marks contrasting beautifully on his pale skin. “I guess kids just like colourful stuff.”

“Why do you have sun lotion for kids?” he asked, frowning at the bottle, and handing it back to me.

“I got it for free. I don’t complain about things I get for free. But don’t worry, the colour disappears after you rub it in,” I said, spraying more on his back. He did have quite an impressive back, it was impossible for me not to notice, and I could feel my cheeks starting to burn. I knew I shouldn’t be enjoying this as much as I did, but to my surprise, he didn’t seem tense or uncomfortable. He had his eyes closed, I noticed when I shifted a little to reach his right arm, and seemed quite relaxed.

There was something really beautiful about the way his hair fell in waves to his shoulders. His big ears sometimes poked through the curtain of dark hair, like an invitation to kiss them. I smiled, and was thankful that he wasn’t looking at me right now.

“All done,” I said, once I was satisfied with the amount of sun protection he had on. He blinked a few time, adjusting to the light and thanked me. “Wait no,” I said and sprayed some products on my fingers. “Close your eyes.”

I ran my fingers over his nose, coating his skin in the most unhealthy shade of green someone could come up in a lab. It almost made him look like an alien, his freckles dotting his now green skin. I started laughing so he laughed too, forcing me to grab his chin to make him stop moving around so I wouldn’t get any lotion in his mouth.

Somehow I didn’t expect him to open his eyes and look at me with such a soft expression, one that made my heart almost break out of my chest. If I hadn’t been blushing already, I was sure I was burning up right now. I tried spreading the lotion on his face, focusing on something else, but it was incredible how flustered a simple look could make me.

But it wasn’t just a look. As I was kneeling in front of him, his hand found its way to the small of my back, pulling me closer. I lost my balance for half a second and my hands went to his shoulders for support. His bare skin felt even hotter than before, but maybe it was just me. He was still looking, his gaze much more intense than before, sucking me in, and I couldn’t look away. I let my fingers brush over his shoulder and then entangle in his hair, something I wanted to do for a long time.

He pulled me even closer, until our faces were mere inches apart. His lips were slightly parted and his breathing a little more laboured than before. He seemed to be waiting, looking at me with slight uncertainty. But it was his turn to make the next move, I knew and I hoped he did too. I wasn’t gonna force myself onto him, so he had to give me clear signs that he wanted this just as much as I did.

Eventually, he took a deep breath and moved forward, pressing his lips onto mine.

“Clyde!”

We both jumped apart, Jimmy’s voice pulling us out of the moment. I cursed him in my head for picking the worst moment possible to need something. I barely even got a taste of his lips.

“Shit,” Clyde muttered, getting up and going to see what his brother wanted.

I ran my hands over my face, giggling like an idiot. Ok, that happened. He kissed me. My mind was screaming at me and my heart was beating a million times a minute, and I knew I needed to take a few moments to come down from this high. It was like I was a teenager once again, being kissed for the first time, that’s how flustered I was. But it was understandable, I thought. This wasn’t your typical date, where you knew what everyone was there for, trying to see if there was enough chemistry between you to move forward. This was a little childish, a game, two people dancing around each other, unsure what to do. I liked it. It felt alive.

I got up and decided to go inside, to give us some time to cool down and think about what happened, before that atmosphere became too awkward. I stopped at the bottom of the ladder just in time to hear Jimmy ask Clyde what the hell was on his face.

“Uhhh… sunscreen,” came his shaky response.

“I’m gonna head back inside,” I said, making Clyde’s head turn to look at me and Jimmy’s pop out of the attic. “I’ll bring you some drinks and snacks later, if you want to take a break. And if you need me, just yell.”

“Alright,” Jimmy said. “What did you do to my brother?”

“What? Green suits him,” I laughed. “Gives him a little hmmm… mermaid? Merman vibe?”

“More like swamp monster,” Jimmy laughed and earned a frown from Clyde.

“Aww… that’s mean. Anyway, I’ll be inside doing some stuff,” I said, pointing towards the house.

“Don’t let us keep you.” Jimmy’s head retreated into the attic once again, leaving me and Clyde alone once again.

Clyde looked at me from above and I could see he was struggling to say something, but in the end he gave up and just nodded. I went inside and doused my face in cold water.

I spent the rest of the afternoon doing some chores I had been neglecting. I did my laundry, vacuumed the house and ironed some work clothes. I kept an eye on the boys and regularly brought them cold drinks and snacks, so they wouldn’t shrivel in the heat. I even went up with Jimmy and he explained to me that he replaced the broken tiles and some of the old rafters. It wouldn’t leak anymore, but the whole framework was old and would eventually give in. He even replaced some of the insulation that had been damaged by rain, so mould wouldn’t form. He offered to come and help me repaint the ceiling one day, but I told him it looked cool the way it was.

The truth was, I kinda wanted to paint the house myself over the holidays. It was a goal I set for myself when I moved in. I wasn’t very handy, but it seemed like something I could pull off on my own. It would give me a sense of accomplishment and it would definitely make the house belong to me.

I finished baking the rest of the muffins and popped the casserole in the oven for dinner. I had used my oven in one day more than I’d ever used it, and it made me feel good about myself. I’d gotten used from my time in New York, where I’d come from work so late that I’d just eat whatever I could get my hands on and then fall asleep, to just skip cooking and resort to what I took to call ‘deconstructed sandwiches’ (basically a piece of bread in one hand and a random piece of protein in the other) for dinner. Maybe it was time to get my shit together and stop living like a cave troll.

Living with someone would definitely help in that aspect. I allowed myself to imagine for a moment what it would be like to wake up next to Clyde, make him breakfast in the morning, see his sleepy face every day, but then I shook my head, trying to snap out of it. Live in the present, woman, I told myself, before you end up disillusioned.

It was still pretty hot when they boys finished, although the sun wasn’t burning as badly as earlier. I knew it was going to be one of those nights I’d have to sleep with all the windows open and it would still feel like the depths of hell. Thank you, Global Warming!

I didn’t know when they finished and loaded the remaining materials into the truck, I just suddenly noticed there was no more noise coming from my above me, so I went outside.

“It has been done,” Jimmy announced in a theatrical voice, closing the door on this truck.

“Already? That was fast.”

“Is that how little confidence you have in me, Baby?”

“Nope, I’m just pleasantly surprised, that’s all,” I said, picking up some spider web from his hair. “You guys should shower, dinner’s ready.” I turned my head to look at Clyde and burst into laughter. “Oh my god, you’re radioactive!”

And he could have been: the skin on his shoulders and back was a bright, angry shade of red. The redness went down to his mid back, and looked insanely painful. At this point, I was sure he’d be glowing in the dark.

“He spends too much time in that dark cave of his,” Jimmy scoffed and I figured he was talking about the Duck Tape. “This is what happens when you don’t see the sun for months at a time.”

Clyde frowned, but didn’t say anything. The skin on his nose and cheeks was also sunburnt, making him look like he was blushing. It wasn’t a bad look on him.

“Go inside and take a shower,” I told him, “I’ll look for some after sun lotion in the meantime.” He nodded and grabbed a change of clothes from the truck.

Jimmy sat on the porch while I looked for the lotion. After I found it, I grabbed two beers from the fridge and sat next to him.

“Dinner is ready,” I said, handing him a bottle. “I could set the table on the porch if you’d like.”

“What’s with you and food?” he asked, a little amused. “You kept feeding us today, like you were afraid we’d starve.”

“Well you didn’t let me do anything else, so I had to do something,” I ranted, embarrassed. “I needed to feel like I’m being useful, otherwise I would have probably just hovered around you asking if you needed any help.” I was a bit of a mom friend, I had to admit, and I really wanted everyone to be fed and comfortable, especially when they were at my place.

“It’s better that you didn’t,” he admitted, jokingly.

“I know, right?” I laughed. “Anyway, we should talk about payment.”

“What payment?” He frowned at me.

“For the materials, and your work.”

“Nah. You don’t have to pay me.”

“Jimmy.”

“Seriously. I fixed a leak in Mellie’s roof earlier this year and most off the materials were extra from that job. You don’t have to pay me anything for something that was just gathering dust in my garage.”

“Well then I’ll pay you for your work,” I insisted.

“Do you ever take no for an answer?” he asked, scratching his forehead.

“Rarely.”

“Told you, you don’t have to pay me. You cooked for us, entertained my daughter and saved me from the wasps, you’ve repaid me enough. Seriously, you don’t have to,” he laughed, but I still opened my mouth to protest. “You can repay my brother if you want to,” he cut me off before I could say anything, so I shut my mouth before something stupid came out of it.  “I’m gonna let you figure out how,” he added with a wink.

I took a swig of beer, hoping to hide my blush behind the bottle. “Okay,” I mumbled.

“He’s a good kid, you know,” he said, looking away, like the conversation was taking on a more personal tone and he wasn’t really comfortable with that. “He’s just not that good with people. And ever since he came back from Iraq, he just…”

I placed a hand on his shoulder in what I hoped would be a reassuring gesture. “It’s okay,” I said. I wasn’t really good at comforting people, so I really didn’t know what else to say.

“I just want him to be happy, that’s all.”

“Me too,” I said, flashing him an encouraging smile, which was probably a little rusty since I’d spent the best part of the past ten years frowning. He smiled back and turned his head to look at the door.

“Well, the swamp demon has emerged,” Jimmy announced, as a wet Clyde was joining us on the porch, a towel still on his shoulders. “My turn to abuse the shower,” he said, quickly getting up.

“Be my guest,” I said, getting up to fetch the lotion.

A clean t-shirt was hiding most of the sun damage, but as far as I could see, his skin looked even redder thanks to the shower. The redness on his cheeks still made him look like he was blushing and with his still damp hair brushing his shoulders he looked a little like a wet puppy.

“Take off your shirt,” I said, unscrewing the cap. “It’s after sun lotion,” I explained,“it will calm the burn considerably and it will make your skin much feel better.”

“No, it’s alright,” he mumbled. “It doesn't hurt.”

“Yet,” I said, giving him a look. “I get it that you wanna be manly and real men don’t use lotions, but trust me, you’re gonna regret it if you don’t listen to me. It’s gonna hurt like hell and keep you up all night.”

“Alright,” he gave in, and it looked like his perpetual blush became a little deeper as he took his t-shirt off.

“Here we go,” I said, squirting a considerable quantity of product in the palm of my hand.

I started applying it as gently as I could, knowing that even if his skin hadn’t started hurting yet, there would still be a considerable amount of discomfort. He hissed when my fingers made contact and I jumped slightly.

“I’m sorry,” I said, retracting my hands. “I didn’t think…”

“Two,” I heard him chuckle and suddenly I didn’t feel sorry anymore.

“Oh, so that’s how it is?” I said, realizing that he did it just to get an apology out of me. “Well I can play dirty too.” I said as menacingly as I could while also stifling a laughter. I placed my hands on his shoulders, massaging roughly. If he wanted to pretend to be in pain, then maybe he should experience some. He didn’t even wince. I guess he had a lot more self control that I thought. So I had to bring out the big guns.

I grabbed him by the sensitive skin right above his elbow, and pinched. Clyde sucked in a deep breath, but still kept silent. I wasn’t about to give up so I pinched harder. And harder.

“Okay, okay it hurts,” he blurted out, trying to get his arm out of my grasp.

“Magic word?”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry,” he mumbled.

“Three!” I laughed and let go of his skin, vigorously massaging the sore spot. He groaned, but I really didn’t care. “Have you learned you lesson, Mister Logan?”

“Yes?” he said looking at me over his shoulder, but the tiny grin that was just forming in the corner of his mouth told me otherwise. So that’s how he wanted to play. Okay, I could do it too. Just wait and see.

I poured more lotion into the palm of my hand and started gently massaging his shoulders, like it had been the plan before he decided to trick me into apologizing. He sat in silence and let me pamper him, and I had to admit I was taking a little longer than strictly necessary. He smelled like pomegranate from the lotion and my favourite shampoo, and I really wanted slither my arms around his torso, rest my head on his shoulder and nuzzle into his hair. I wondered if he’d mind. After all, he just kissed me a few hours back.

My fingers absentmindedly brushed along his side, and I could feel him shying away from my touch.

“Are you ticklish?” I asked, moving around so I could better reach his chest.

“A little, yeah,” he smiled.

“Hmm… good to know,” I tried to appear mischievous, but he didn’t really take me seriously until I started wiggling my fingers closer and closer to his skin. He laughed nervously and kept moving, trying to get away from me, but I persisted until he grabbed one of my hands, pulling it away from his skin. My heart skipped a beat.

“Please don’t,” he said, still laughing.

I looked away, hoping that he wouldn’t notice the blush that I knew was starting to form on my face. He still hadn’t let go of my hand. “I won’t, but only if you stop fidgeting,” I said, poking a finger in the open lotion bottle, trying to get more product on. Having another free hand to pour the lotion would have been useful, but I realized that I’d gladly give up the use of one hand if he was the one holding it.

“Close your eyes,” I warned him before leaving a trail of lotion on his nose and gently spreading it out. His face relaxed and went back to his usual somber expression. He didn’t look sad, I noticed. That was just his resting face. However I missed that playful smile in the corner of his mouth. I wondered, if I kissed him, would that make him smile?

One moment of hesitation on my part and the moment was gone, interrupted by the sound of the bathroom door opening and closing. I quickly got up and started screwing the cap back onto the bottle, keeping a safe distance from Clyde. I didn’t want Jimmy to get any ideas and start teasing us, something I knew neither Clyde nor I would like.

Clyde looked sad. He looked at his hand like the sudden absence of mine left an empty spot. I didn’t want him to feel like rejected in any way, and I definitely didn’t want him to think that I was somehow ashamed or didn’t want his brother to see us together. It’s just that… fuck it, I thought, took a step closer to him and kissed his cheek, then turned around and entered the kitchen without looking back.

“I’m gonna plate everything,” I said loud enough for everyone to hear, “but if you guys wanna eat on the porch, I’m gonna need someone to carry the table outside.” The taste of sun lotion lingered on my lips, a bit bitter and not tasting at all like the pomegranate scent it had.

“I’ll do it!” I heard Jimmy yell from the living room. “How did you manage to short-circuit my brother?” he asked, entering the kitchen and starting to fold the table.

“I did nothing,” I said, throwing him a quick smile over my shoulder. “I’m innocent.” I didn’t sound innocent, but oh well.

“Yeah, sure.”

“It must be the heat,” I suggested, but I was still smiling.

“Oh, it’s heat alright!” he laughed, grabbing the table and taking it outside.

We moved everything to the porch and ate outside. It was lively and fun, and I realized how much I’d missed spending time with friends. I felt tired, but tired in a good way and I knew I would fall asleep instantly that night.

Clyde and I kept exchanging glances when we thought Jimmy wasn’t looking. And he usually wasn’t, too preoccupied with his beer or the stories he was telling. Sometimes it gave me the impression that he was doing it on purpose like he was trying to give us a little space. Any time there was something that we needed from the kitchen, he wouldn’t let me get up and get it.

After dinner I packed them a few of the remaining muffins in those cute little boxes. I packed another extra box for Sadie too, and Jimmy promised he’d pay her a visit the next day before lunch to ‘deliver the goods’.

“There are mostly blueberry in yours,” I told Clyde as I has handing him the box. “The others are some of my favourite.”

“Thank you,” he said, and looked genuinely thankful.

“And the lotion bottle. This will be your friend for the next few days,” I said, giving him the bottle of lotion . “Remember to keep the skin hydrated and don’t scratch once it starts itching.”

“Thanks,” he said, reluctantly taking it. And then once again he looked like he wanted to say something else, but didn't know how. I just smiled and waved as the truck took off.

The house felt empty after they left. It was suddenly much too quiet, so I turned on the tv as I finished washing the dishes from tonight’s dinner. It was still early and enough adrenaline was running through my veins so I knew—contrary to my initial belief—that I wouldn’t be able to sleep anytime soon, so I decided to pamper myself and take a long ass bath, with scented candles and bath bombs. Without wine, cause I wasn’t that fancy. I just soaked for a while until I was sure I’d relaxed enough to go to bed. It wasn’t very easy. Everytime I closed my eyes I felt Clyde’s lips on my own and a new wave a of giddiness took over me.

I regretted not being bolder. I should have just grabbed him by the t-shirt and—or by something else when he didn’t have a t-shirt—and drag him somewhere where no one could see us and let him kiss me until I’d turn blue from the lack of air. But I wasn’t that brave, and neither was he.

I eventually emerged from the bath, but not before turning into a wrinkled raisin. I changed into my pajamas and got into bed, turning off the lights, only to notice my phone’s screen light up with a notification.

‘You were right,’ said Clyde’s message. ‘It hurts.’

I couldn’t help but laugh. I knew it was wrong laughing at someone else’s misfortune, but a part of me was glad that I was right and another was happy that he’d messaged me.

‘More lotion. And consider taking some painkillers,’ I texted back.

‘Nah. It’s not that bad,’ he replied after a few moments. ‘You should go to sleep.’

‘I’m working on it,’ I said, checking the time. It was pretty late, but not that late that I would regret it in the morning, especially since I knew I could sleep in. I assumed he was also pretty used to staying up late.

‘Night,’ said his next message.

I was tempted to try and find something to keep the conversation going, but I decided that we both needed rest. Clyde more than me, the memory of his sleepy face in the morning making me giggle.

“Good night, Clyde,” I replied. Tomorrow was another day. And thanks to his sunburnt shoulders I had a reason to check on him. ‘Sleep well.’

‘You too.’

I snuggled next to Clyde the Bear and fell asleep with the phone in my hand.

Masterlist

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[zoraydas-domain]

My First LA Pride Weekend (Day Two)

Day one here

Day two!

Day two started off with me getting up around 7:30 and hopping in the shower. Having learned my lesson the day before, I packed much lighter and didn’t bother with wearing a lot of clothing; I wore the tank top I’d bought the day before and a skirt with some sneakers.

Hopped into the Uber early to get a good spot at the parade. Made it there an hour early after picking up and dropping off another couple, and sat at the curb close to West Hollywood Park so I could go right into the festival afterwards. People were handing things out again, including a free coffee shot that was flavored like Hershey’s chocolate. I accepted gratefully.

The street was highly decorated with flags and balloons, music was blaring from the restaurants across the street. Some girl climbed the tree at some point to see the parade better.

A guy passed by us, selling shades, so I bought a pair. Fabulous.

There were some friendly people nearby, including my temporary Pride buddies for the day--Enrique and Hannah. They were younger than me, friends who were meeting up with old high school buddies inside. We chilled out together; Hannah really seemed to want to connect with people here.

The parade started and it was hot, and achingly sunny out. I felt myself getting crispy all day. A pair of younger teens were to our left in little clothing, and a girl in a sparkly rainbow bikini top and shorts. I offered them sunscreen and they accepted while holding my stuff so I could get it out for them.

I filmed a lot of video of the parade. There were transgender people marching, some riding in on bikes. There were drag queen floats and the Mac float, there were people with crazy hair and animal heads. One was a unicorn.

There was a poster of two unicorns humping each other with some kind of message of having safe sex. There were people running by with flags and ribbons and all sorts of things. One of them was cool, with each row in the march carrying an individual color ribbon of the rainbow.

There were protests and marches for various political reasons, including discrimination versus LGBT people and for unionizing workplaces for better conditions. It was a conglomeration of all my beliefs in one place. 

I felt so tied to everyone in the crowd, in the parade and march, like all the things I’d correct people on or debate about or insist upon in my daily life were cemented by everyone acting proud just to be themselves.

I started feeling myself get too crispy in the sun despite the sunscreen I tried to keep myself covered with, and headed inside. Hannah and Enrique went with me, but we split up so they could do their thing while I headed right over to the Mac stage to get some glitter and sparkle. In line I chatted with a friendly gay couple and took their photo upon request. The guy who had asked of the two seemed really happy with them.

Up on top of the Mac stage I got myself glittered up on my face and arms, and was sprayed with special refreshing face stuff that felt really good in the hot sun. I let the lady do whatever she wanted on me and she just loaded on the glitter.

This time I took my time wandering and exploring, resting frequently in the shade. I sat on the grass in the shade after the parade and getting makeup to get some water and take a breather, and Hannah texted me to meet up for a while. I told her where I was and she met me there, resting as well.

Sitting with us was a lesbian couple who had somehow managed to smuggle in their pet corn snake, Silas. It was very active and curious, flicking its tongue when it sense the sunscreen its owner put on. 

Hannah and I went around to explore together while Enrique danced at the far stage across the park. We went and spun some of the wheels at the tents, earning free stuff and playing games. I got chapsticks, orange shaved ice, and another bi bracelet. I bought myself a little gay Tokidoki unicorn to put on my shelf later.

We went to a little karaoke trailer where there were limited songs to choose from and met more people in line--a trans couple named Samantha and Connor. Samantha was tall and had a personality like a cat. Connor was easygoing and very laid-back and had really cute freckles.

Samantha helped me do my hair up more, sticking flags into my ponytail along with my rainbow hairbow.

They joined with us to make a group in the karaoke trailer. We sang Madonna, though I knew the words better than my younger friends. We rocked it, but the trailer was essentially like being ants under a magnifying glass in a hot box.

We were melting in the midday sun again so we showed the pair our resting place, where we met more of Hannah’s friends (Daisy and a few others). The two boys had each halves of a paopu fruit from Kingdom Hearts on their necklaces/collars, which made my brain melt from how cute it was.

They wrote things on each other and put body glitter on themselves, which blew in the wind onto some poor sleeping guy on the grass. I apologized profusely. 

I chatted for a while with them, getting into a conversation with Connor about furry stuff (he was one also and was showing me his various characters and different fursonas). I showed him some of my artwork and we swapped websites before he and Samantha ran off to do their own thing.

Eventually I left the group to wander by myself for a while, wanting to see and do things without the restrictions of the others’ preferences and because I was getting pretty tired. I passed by a tent that caught me by surprise... a Republican tent in a very Liberal LGBT event. I didn’t stop to ask questions.

I felt satisfied at all that I had experienced and decided it was time to head home. On the way out, a gay couple asked to buy my wristband. One had one, the other didn’t; I let them buy it for just the price I’d paid for it and nothing more, and bought myself a quick dinner (sushi again).

There were some tired festival-goers and partying LGBT couples inside, and this was the first time I had someone give me trouble for my bisexuality. An inebriated gay guy asked what my flag meant, and I told him it was for bisexual people. He asked what it meant and I said it meant I was (at a very basic level) into both men and women (though personally I like a few other genders in between as well). He told me I was indecisive, that it was one or the other.

I didn’t care to continue that conversation and just headed to the bar for my meal. Honestly, as much as I’d feared the response to my sexuality, I feel that I’d handled it just fine, and I was so full of energy and happiness from the whole weekend that it barely dampened my experience.

Someone stopped me and asked to take my picture, saying I looked so colorful and like Pride that he wanted to keep it with him. Smiling, I did so, requesting for a photo for my phone, too.

The ride home was quick because I’d gone home so early before the crowd started leaving. My Lyft driver was really friendly, and we talked about nerd stuff the whole way.

At home my boyfriend realized how burnt I was, but I showered and put lotion on before dropping into bed, totally exhausted. I was happy and had had a wonderful time, and I’ll definitely be back next year!

[fanta-ceo]

Communication is Key

pairings: Baekhyun x Reader, Kyungsoo x OC, Chanyeol x OC, Sehun x OC, Jongin x OC

genre: romance, angst, unrequited!love, cruel!Baekhyun

word count: 8,870

description: He cracks a smile, and your heart thuds. You have to glance away, smiling slightly even as your heart twists painfully, because that look, when his eyes turn to warm crescents, and his grin is soft… That look should be reserved for only the woman he loves. If only she had ever treasured him the way you still do.

~*~

“This heat hurts,” Baekhyun complains, throwing an arm over his face and glancing out the corner of his eye at you. He cracks a smile, and your heart thuds. You have to glance away, smiling slightly even as your heart twists painfully, because that look, when his eyes turn to warm crescents, and his grin is soft… That look should be reserved for only the woman he loves.

If only she had ever treasured him the way you still do.

You snort, downplaying the effect his smile has on you. “That’s why you’re not supposed to come to the amusement park in the middle of the day,” you remind him, and Baekhyun sighs dramatically.

“It isn’t my fault,” he complains, but you don’t even have to look to recognize the smile in his voice. “If you had woken up earlier, we could have left in the morning before the sun came out.”

You scoff good-naturedly. “Well maybe if you’d actually tell me when you plan on taking me to an amusement park, I’d set my alarm earlier.”

“Your alarm should have been set early already,” he huffs, dragging you over to a table near some food trucks. They’ve been at the amusement park for barely thirty minutes, but you’ve been whining about your hunger since before Baekhyun even picked you up. “I told you we had a fun day ahead of us since your weekend is going to be busy with that stupid wedding. You should have wanted to wake up. And you should have eaten.” He points a finger in your face as reprimand, and you swipe it away.

“I assumed you’d be taking me out to eat,” you point out. “You know, somewhere nice. Like you usually do when you’ve planned a fun day.”

Baekhyun laughs, setting his backpack down on an old, dirty wooden table and retrieving his wallet. “Ah, [y/n]. You underestimate me so much. There are more ways to have fun than eating delicious food.”

“So you’re feeding me crap,” you deadpan. “And we’re walking around in the hot weather—“

“Your fault,” he reminds you, smiling sunnily.

“And I’m probably going to be burned because you bought crappy sunscreen.”

At this, Baekhyun’s smile turns suddenly into a pout, and he reaches into his backpack, digging out the sunscreen. He holds it out to you, but you recoils. “The trick is to apply lots of it,” he says wisely, squirting a heap of sunscreen onto his hand and offering it to you.

“I’m still greasy from the first time you made me apply that,” you accuse. “I’m not putting any more on.”

Baekhyun shrugs, as if he had expected this reaction. Setting the bottle down on the table in front of you, he instead immediately starts slathering the sunscreen onto his face in a thick, disgusting white smear.

You watch, with no small amount of distaste as he struggles to get the massive amount of sunscreen to soak into his skin. But then his eyebrows pinch cutely, your stomach drops, and you have to look away. “You don’t need that much. You don’t even burn.”

He pauses in his application, raising his eyebrows at you. “Ah… I don’t see the problem. I do tan. I don’t want my beautiful pale skin to go dark just because I spent some time out here with my girlfriend.”

Your jaw drops, and Baekhyun smiles. “Baekhyun!” you shriek, and he laughs, throwing an arm around your shoulders and smearing a bit of sunscreen on your nose with his index finger. You recoil backwards, coincidentally ending up pressed even closer into his side.

“Ah, [y/n], don’t be so hard on yourself. I know you don’t think you’re good enough to be my girlfriend, but honestly I think we make a cute couple.”

Girlfriend. Girlfriend. Your chest aches at the word, and your head is spinning because… That’s confusing. They’re friends, not dating. You would definitely know because that’s usually the kind of thing you’d tell your girlfriend.

He retracts his arm to continue lathering the sunscreen on in peace.

Foolishly, you wonders if maybe this is because Baekhyun’s weird. Maybe he’s still in love with Taeyeon but willing to give you a chance too. Maybe he just…forgot to mention it, that you were apparently dating, maybe he forgot to ask because he knew how you felt anyways and didn’t think it was that necessary in the first place.

Or maybe he’s asking now. Maybe he wants some kind of response, for you to throw your pride to the wind and just say “yes.” You keep your mouth shut tight though, fear and confusion silencing any possible reaction you could get out.

When you don’t reply with any clever retort or backlash, Baekhyun frowns, tilting forward and peering at you sideways and eye-level. “[y/n]?”

You laugh immediately, though it falls flat, and ends prematurely. He straightens up, looking uneasy, and you could kick yourself for being so obviously fake in your cheer. “What did you mean by girlfriend?”

“Ah, that…” Baekhyun trails off, tutting thoughtfully, though he seems a lot less concerned. “I was only teasing.”

Your stomach drops, your heart twisting painfully, and you just stare at Baekhyun for moment as your brain really wraps around those words. Of course. You hadn’t even considered that.

“Oh. Yeah.” You laugh again, and this time, even though you can hear how off it is, you maintains it until Baekhyun is joining in. Ready to change the subject, and not wanting to answer any follow up questions (“Ah, [y/n], did you think I was serious about you being my girlfriend? Don’t you remember Taeyeon?”), you are quick to change subjects as you wipe the cheap sunscreen off your nose. “How are you going to get that stuff off your face?”

Baekhyun is apparently thrown by the subject change, a look of confusion washing over his face, but he adjusts quickly, reaching a hand up to his face to check how much sunscreen was left. He stares at his fingers for a moment, now coated in white goop, and lets out a self-deprecating chuckle. “Aish… I suppose I’ll have to wipe this off.”

“Yeah,” You agree, your spirits lifting irrationally, because Baekhyun isn’t your boyfriend, but he is cute, and he’s here to spend time with you. And while you may not be the luckiest girl in the world, because you doesn’t have his heart, you definitely comes in a close second for having his time.

Baekhyun nods, reaching into the backpack with his unsoiled hand to retrieve his wallet. “I’ll go get napkins for my face and buy us food. I promise it’ll be delicious.” He smiles winningly. “As payment for eating the greasy cheap food, I’ll even buy you dessert, okay?”

“I want Dots,” you deadpan, and Baekhyun’s smile widens.

“Dots it is.” And with that, he’s abandoning you at the gross table in a hurry, going to the nearest food truck to beg for napkins. You sit down at the table and pull your phone out the second he’s gone to send an emergency text over the group chat.

You: Baekhyun just called me his girlfriend.

Minah: WHAT A PIG

You: Minah what

Minah: THIS IS EMOTIONAL RAPE

Jisoo: Wait, [y/n], did he just ask you to be his girlfriend?

You: I DON’T KNOW

You: No he didn’t, he said it was a joke.

You: I’m panicking. I don’t want to be here anymore.

Jisoo: What the heck.

Minah: HE’S A PIG

Eunhae: [Y/N] JUST TELL HIM YOU WANT TO BE HIS GIRLFRIEND FOR REAL

Haemi: He’s flirting with you.

Minah: NO HE’S NOT

You: MINAH WHY

You: She’s not wrong though. He literally always seems like he’s flirting, but he never is.

Jisoo: Or MAYBE, [y/n], he’s ALWAYS flirting.

You: No, I don’t think so. Baekhyun’s not the type of guy to go six months without making a move.

Minah: [Y/n], maybe you should tell him how you feel.

Haemi: You know, if you guys had let me add Chanyeol to this group chat, then HE could tell us how Baekhyun feels.

Eunhae: If anyone knows how Baekhyun feels, it’s Sehun.

Jisoo: I’m pretty sure Baekhyun hangs out with Minseok more than he does anyone else.

You: He’s such a ho.

Minah: Well MY boyfriend isn’t friends with Baekhyun

Jisoo: Since when is Minseok my boyfriend?

Eunhae: Since you obsessed over him for two months.

Jisoo: I’M DATING JONGIN

Minah: YOU’RE LITERALLY NOT

Jisoo: I’M GOING TO

You: NONE OF YOU ARE HELPING ME

“Are you talking about me?”

You startle, jumping a little bit at Baekhyun’s voice right behind you and the breath ghosting across your neck and ear. You turn around just as Baekhyun leans away from you, laughing lightly. He has two corn dogs in his hand, and his face is clear of all sunscreen. “Were you reading that?” you ask.

Baekhyun shakes his head, his smile widening. “Nope. Thought I saw my name on there though. Are you telling your friends about how amazing I am, treating you to both lunch and dessert?”

You roll your eyes, reaching out to take one of the corn dogs away from Baekhyun. He lets you and offers you the other corn dog as well. Your eyebrows shoot up. “Are you saying I can eat both?”

Baekhyun shrugs. “My [y/n] is a very good eater,” he says easily, dismissive in nature and tone. “And she forgot to eat breakfast this morning. I know she can eat both.”

You’re already taken a bite out of your corndog, and you frown, reaching out and grabbing the other out of his hand. You swallow. “Why are you talking like that? I didn’t forget, you just didn’t let me.”

Baekhyun laughs. “Ah, precisely why I needed to buy you two corndogs. This is breakfast and lunch.”

You take another bite of your corndog and stare at Baekhyun, confused. “What are you going to eat?”

The grin he casts you as he sits down across from you at the table is sheepish. “I ate before we came.”

“You what?” you demand, and Baekhyun laughs. “You weren’t planning on feeding me at all, were you?” you accuse, and he only laughs harder, clapping his hands together and leaning forward.

“Ah, silly,” he remarks, knocking his knuckles against his skull. “I should have known better than to expect my date to know to feed herself.”

“Date,” you repeat, your pulse picking up as you stare at Baekhyun, uncomprehending. You know it’s a joke, that he’s not serious, but it still makes your heart pound heavily in you chest, your pulse racing and your head spinning.

Baekhyun doesn’t bother justifying his joke this time around, instead just smiling pleasantly at you and patting his hands against the table in an incoherent beat. “As soon as you finish eating, we’re going to have a really good time today,” he promises.

~*~*~*~*~

“Today was actually really fun,” you say, opening the door to Baekhyun’s gray Honda civic and climbing out. You’re surprised when, for once, instead of simply dropping you off, Baekhyun gets out of the car as well, walking around to your side and escorting you to your front door.

“Do you want to come inside?” you asks as you start to unlock it, but Baekhyun slips in between you and your door, smirking.

“I don’t think that’d be appropriate,” he says lightly, folding his hands behind his back and leaning in even closer so that his face is only an inch or two away from yours. You stares back at him, your heartbeat quickening and your face heating.

“What?” you ask, your voice sounding nearly as small as you feel, and Baekhyun chuckles lightly.

He tilts his head sideways, blinking slowly before rocking back on his feet away from you again. “Aish…” He tuts, shaking his head. “And here I thought I was going to get a goodbye kiss.”

You choke out a laugh, but it’s not easy, and the sound of it falls flat in your own ears. Baekhyun looks troubled, clearly picking up on it in the same second you do, and you shake your head, speaking quickly before he has enough time to focus on the falsity of your laughter. “In what world does the girl initiate the goodbye kiss?”

“Ah.” Baekhyun is still looking at you oddly, but he chuckles, playing along with you despite it. “I feel like I did initiate though. I got very close, didn’t I?”

You rolls your eyes. “You’re still close,” you accuse, gesturing with your key to the door, and Baekhyun pouts, stepping sideways out of the way and instead leaning against your door post. You ignore him, staring down at the lock as you work the key.

You can feel his presence right next to you. And it’s not like you haven’t stood this close a million times before, because you have. Of course you have. But it feels so much more intimate now, and it’s entirely Baekhyun’s fault. You completely blame him because he’s a jerk for always making you feel like this. He just is.

“You weren’t initiating a goodbye kiss,” you explain as your door clicks open, and you push it inwards, stepping up into the threshold. Baekhyun’s hand catches on your elbow, and you frowns at him, pausing. “What?”

Baekhyun is staring at you, eyes searching over your face, and you school your features instinctively, as though you actually stand a chance at fooling Baekhyun. As though he hasn’t been able to read you perfectly since the moment you first met and he’d shoved his way past every single one of your facades and barriers and acts. He knows you, and that… is terrifying.

Baekhyun smiles awkwardly, dropping his hand and shaking his head. “Ah… Sorry for teasing so much today. It was all in good fun though. You know very well that I prefer my girls blonde.”

“What?” You are a hundred percent sure you and Baekhyun never talked about girls, or his opinion of them. You’d asked, of course, had been curious about his type. You’d asked him what he’d liked and disliked about his ex girlfriend, Taeyeon, had pushed and prodded and demanded answers. But he’d never responded with anything substantial, and eventually you had given up.

You would have known if he’d told you his type. You definitely would have known if he told you he was interested in blondes.

Like Taeyeon.

Baekhyun just laughs, pushing off of your door post and waving a hand. “I’ll see you later,” he chimes, and he turns around, trotting away before you can say anything more.

~*~*~*~*~

You have to go to a wedding reception, and your intended Plus One bailed on you.

Jisoo’s supposed to go with you, but her bitch of a mother called, and it always takes time for Jongin to finish doing damage control and picking up the pieces. So Jisoo had called sounding desperate and apologetic, and how could you give her grief when your friend was hurting?

“[y/n], I’m so sorry, but Jongin’s just literally not letting me leave, I’m so sorry, I promise I’ll make it up to you…”

Your backup plan had been Minah, who owed you for all the times you were her plus one, thanks to your sister’s crippling awkwardness. But Kyungsoo and Minah had been together for about a year now, and Kyungsoo had since been acting as the unknowing shield between Minah and her own awkwardness.

He’s cute and absent and uncaring, and he made Minah’s fear of going out in public that much less, thanks to coaxing and promises and the knowledge that, no matter what, Kyungsoo was always either adorably oblivious to his own awkwardness, or he just didn’t care. You had watched your sister transform with Kyungsoo’s help, and sometimes… you really hate him for it.

Eunhae has plans with Sehun, and you know Sehun well enough to know that any attempt you make to steal Eunhae away will be treated as a direct threat to their relationship. If you invite Eunhae, then Sehun will tag along, and he will be a pouty attention hog the entire time, all the while hating your guts.

Sunjung is busy on the other side of the world working a hard job. Though, your friend does put in a lot of valiant effort to cheer you up, promising to send you baked cookies and pictures of her cute Asian friend, Jungkook. (You had shown Baekhyun Jungkook– He hadn’t understood the appeal.)

Haemi hasn’t been answering her phone, which you think is crap because it’s probably for a really good reason or it’s just Chanyeol. Either Haemi’s painting something amazing, or she’s catching up on sleep, or something else equally understandable, or… Or Chanyeol is being a butt and not letting her look at her phone. And knowing Chanyeol, it’s probably the second one.

So of course, you text Baekhyun to complain. It’s become a habit lately, complaining to him. He listens well and, though he tries to fix all of your problems even when it’s really not necessary (or helpful) he also never complains to you for raining on his good day.  

You expected him to find a solution, of course. He always does, and it’s never helpful but it’s always sweet. What you don’t expect is a stupid solution that only creates more problems then it solves.

Baekhyun: Why don’t you make this a date, then? Take that guy you were showing me pictures of.

You: Who?

Baekhyun: You expect me to remember the names of random, insignificant men? You expect too much, [y/n]~

You: Are you talking about Jungkook? He’s in Florida with Sunjung.

Baekhyun: Jongin, maybe? I swear you’ve gushed about him being hot before…

You: He is LITERALLY dating my friend. Stop trying to turn this into a date.

Baekhyun: Ah. Well, you could take Jongdae. You used to have a crush on him, right?

You: Baekhyun, what is this? It’s like you’re not even trying, you know he has a girlfriend. Plus I don’t want this to be a date.

Baekhyun: Hmmm… So you’re saying you DON’T want it to be a date, then?

You: I’ve said that FIVE TIMES

Baekhyun: I guess I’m the perfect candidate, then~ Since there are absolutely no romantic feelings between us at all~

You: You hate weddings.

Baekhyun: Correction. I hate tuxedos. And ties.

You: You’ll have to wear a tie. You know that, right? And a suit.

Baekhyun: Aish… For you, I will make that sacrifice. We ARE friends, after all.

~*~*~*~*~

Baekhyun looks flawless. He looks professional, and clean-cut, and broad in his well-fitted suit, which emphasizes broad shoulders and a small waist. His hair is styled perfectly, and it looks recently dyed, like he’d taken care of that the night before just for this event. You have to stop yourself from visibly gaping.

He’s overconfident and annoying about it too, trotting towards you and shoving his hands into his pockets with an arrogant smirk. He tilts his head to the side and bends forward to look at you sideways, lips spreading into a wide smile. “Wah~ So pretty,” Baekhyun coos, straightening up again. He takes a curled lock of hair into the palm of his hand and dips down to smell it.

You jerk backwards, surprised, and you glare at Baekhyun. “Did you just smell my hair? That’s so creepy, what are you doing?”

Baekhyun laughs. “I was checking to make sure you are taking care of yourself well. Don’t burn your hair for my benefit, [y/n].”

You falter, remembering the time Baekhyun had told you he liked your hair curled. You’d curled it every day for about a week before giving up and deciding it wasn’t worth it for a guy. Not even him.

Had he noticed?

“It wasn’t for you,” you snap, your fingers tracing the curl he’d touched instinctively. “And I didn’t burn my hair. Pabo.”

“Pabo?” Baekhyun’s eyebrows shoot up, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Did you just call me Pabo?”

Your face flushes, but you play it off nonchalantly. “Yeah, Minah started using it like crazy. I guess I picked up on it randomly.”

“Hm..” Baekhyun tuts, crossing his arms. “Do you want to know what I think?”

“Not really.” you say, pushing past him and towards his parked car. “You’re driving.”

Baekhyun laughs, trotting after you. His shoulder brushes against yours as he positions himself in front of you and opens the passenger side door. “M’lady,” he teases. You roll your eyes, sliding into the seat. When Baekhyun joins you on his side, he starts the car and immediately shuts the radio off.

For someone who never misses a chance to sing, that’s odd. “What were you listening to?” you ask, tone accusing, and you reach out to flip the radio back on.

Waiting for my love to break up, It’s crazy how your ass can walk through every night~

“Chris Brown?” you demand. “What the heck? That’s what you were listening to that you didn’t want me to hear?”

Baekhyun scowls, slapping your hand away and flipping the radio back off immediately. “How about we talk about what you said earlier instead?”

You stare at him, uncomprehending. “What did I say?”

“Pabo.”

“Oh, that?” You roll your eyes, settling back into your seat and buckling your seatbelt. “I already told you what happened. Minah’s been saying it a lot lately. Probably because of Kyungsoo.”

“Nope.” And Baekhyun’s grin is predatory. It’s not a look you’re entirely unaccustomed to, but there’s a touch of anger behind his eyes that startles you. What reason does Baekhyun have to be angry? “You’ve been watching Korean dramas, haven’t you?”

“What?” You reach across the car to shove Baekhyun mercilessly. He doesn’t give though, barely budging an inch. The strength of his steadiness throws you just long enough for Baekhyun to grab your wrist. It’s gentle, but it’s also firm, and you jerk backwards, stealing your hand away from his grip.

Baekhyun lets you go, instead staring at you for a long moment. You glare at him, tense and flustered. “So what if I’m watching them?” you demand. “They’re good. You used to want to watch them with me.”

Baekhyun returns your glare full force before shoving his key into the ignition. “Let’s go,” he mutters. “We’re going to be late.”

“We’re not going to be late. You got here twenty minutes early. What’s even your problem with Korean dramas?”

Baekhyun rolls is eyes. “No problem. I just think it’s stupid that you swoon over unobtainable Korean men. Because of me, you know, like, nine Korean men, but you’re not interested in any of them because they’re–what? Because they’re not as perfect as the men you see on TV? Tch.” He shifts into reverse, turning his eyes to the road.

Somehow, he misses the way you can’t breathe. He misses how obviously you’re drowning in the seat right next to him, because you do like one of them, but he’s just as unobtainable as Jung Kyungho on the screen, perfect only in his resemblance to the man right next to you. He’s just as unobtainable, as perfectly unobtainable as any Korean movie star she could ever hope to fall for.

And it hurts. Your heart aches to be near him almost as much as it aches to be away from him. His touch turns you to stone, his voice turns your mind to jelly, and when he looks at you, when he says your name like he treasures the sound of it on his lips… You thought you knew pain after your ex.. You thought you knew pain, and you thought you knew love. But that was nothing in comparison to the way he makes you feel nearly every day.

“You know,” you begin, your tone icy after a minute of silence has passed and you’ve found enough air to speak. “You’re certainly one to talk.”

“I don’t have anyone of interest within my reach,” he replies airily as he comes to a stop in front of a stop light. Baekhyun glances sideways at you, his eyes traveling up and down your figure before settling on the road ahead of him again. “Nope. Nothing of interest.”

That pierces you. It hits you right in the heart in a sudden, twisting pain. Your heart spasms and then stops, painfully, and your mind races. You don’t understand. Baekhyun knew, obviously. You’d always figured he’d probably known, but…

But he wasn’t supposed to point out how incredibly one-sided their relationship was. He wasn’t supposed to be cruel. Baekhyun is a lot of things, and while he’s not perfect and sometimes pushes the limit… He’s never been cruel before. And certainly not to you.

What had Baekhyun said?

I’ll never let another man hurt you the way he did.

It probably hadn’t even occurred to him then that he would have the capability to do exactly that. You wonder if he even remembers making that promise to you, if he regrets the way he’s been acting the last couple of days. You wonder if maybe it’s all in your head, if Baekhyun hasn’t even picked up on your feelings.

But no. That look-over had been way too pointed to mean nothing.

“Oh,” is all you say in reply, turning to look outside the window as your eyes sting wet. Your fists clench in your lap, and your jaw tightens as you hold off your body’s strong will to just let loose and cry. You can’t do that, not now. Not in front of Baekhyun.

~*~*~*~*~

Baekhyun has his arm around your shoulders as he lounges in the chair next to you, one leg crossed over the other. You’re stiff underneath the weight of his arm, but there’s no way to pull away completely without Baekhyun noticing. So you stay.

The bride, someone you barely knew in college, doesn’t bother saying hello to her guests once. And honestly, you don’t blame her. You get it. The girl is so engrossed in her husband, she hasn’t looked away once. They’re so happy. You barely knows her, but you’ve never seen someone laugh that much, or so purely. Her happiness is unadulterated and confident. She knows who she’s going to spend the rest of her life with, and…

And the way he looks at her makes your stomach clench.

The bride has everything you have only dreamed about. His world revolves around her, and she knows it. She is his absolute everything, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Every smile, every laugh… He’s watching her even more carefully than she watches him, and you’ve never seen anyone look at anyone like that…

(Aside from Jongin, who makes a habit of staring– You would have to be stupid not to notice that one)

“How do you know the bride?”

You are ripped out of your focus at the croaking sound of an old woman standing in front of you. She’s dressed in a pink pastel suit, and her eyes are kind. Kinder still are the eyes of the man standing next to her, arm looped with hers. He’s not looking at you. He’s only looking at his wife. His expression is only one that someone happily married for twenty plus years can pull off as he stares at his wife, infatuated like it’s his own wedding day. You clear your throat. “Oh… She was in my computer programming class.”

The old woman nods, smiling, and she glances pointedly at Baekhyun. You can feel him shift next to you, leaning forward and closer to you, but you keep your eyes trained on the old woman. You haven’t once looked at Baekhyun this entire time, and you don’t intend to start now. “Are you going to invite her to your wedding too?” the old woman asks.

You open your mouth to reply, but Baekhyun beats you to it. His voice is close to your ear, too close. You can feel the warmth of his breath ghosting across your cheek as he chuckles. “Oh no. [Y/n] and I are only friends. In fact, that’s all we’ve ever been. All we’ll ever be.” He hums pleasantly, squeezing your shoulder and using his free hand to sip from the coffee in front of him. “Neither one of us has ever had any romantic inclinations towards the other. Ever.”

Ouch. You elbow Baekhyun in the side, irritated, though you know your outburst probably looks irrational to anyone around you. “Baekhyun’s right,” you snap. “He knows my type.”

“And she knows mine,” he bites back, voice cutting and sharp. You flinch.

“Oh yeah,” you scoff. “He prefers blondes.”  Baekhyun’s jaw tightens, his arm tensing around your shoulders.

When you glance back at the woman, she’s looking down at you knowingly, and… disapprovingly. The old woman tuts, looking down her nose at the young not-couple and tugging her husband closer. “The youth these days,” she complains primly, dragging her elderly husband away with her.

You stare at their retreating figures for a solid moment before you feel Baekhyun unwrapping his arm from around you. You expect him to get up and walk away, to storm off in a final act of irritation and leave you alone at the empty table. But instead, you hear a loud, unattractive snort followed by hearty laughter coming from your side. Turning to look at him, you frown.

“That lady–“ He chokes on his own laughter, clapping his hands together and leaning back in his seat so that it rocks precariously on its two hind legs. “The youth these days,” he mimics in a high-pitched, croaking voice.

You crack a smile and shove him. “Stop,” you say, not ready yet to give up on the fight, but Baekhyun isn’t done.

“Come on,” he mimics. “Let’s leave these disgusting, unmarried youths alone and find some couples who are interested in hearing all my advice.”

You laugh, not necessarily because Baekhyun is being particularly funny (because he’s not), but rather the spark of delight in his eyes as he just barely holds back his own laughter. It’s just so cute, and the voice he’s using is ridiculous, and…

And you love him. You really, really love him.

“Shush,” you chuckle, shoving him again. “What if she hears you, did you consider that?”

Baekhyun sobers immediately, glancing across the room at the old woman giving them the evil eye, but it isn’t long before he’s grinning again, covering his quiet laughter with a hand over his mouth. His eyes have formed perfect crescents, and it’s all you can do not to laugh with him, just for the sake of sharing something as joyous and perfect as laughter with the man you love more than the world.

But you manage to maintain a relatively neutral expression as you push up out of your seat and grab your empty glass. “I’m going to go get some punch,” you announce, excusing yourself from Baekhyun’s side in a hurry.

You spend your time at the punch table trying to make sense of Baekhyun’s new attitude. Nothing makes sense, and you feels sick to your stomach. You try sipping punch, but the sweetness on your tongue repulses you, making your stomach twist and turn in discord with your heart. Nothing makes sense, and all you want is to go home. You regret coming, and you regret spending time with Baekhyun, and you regret… You regret everything.

You regret nothing.

You’re about to put your cup down and return to the table punch-less and apologetic when you see her.

Your eyes dart from Taeyeon to Baekhyun and back again, your heart pounding heavily in your ears. You feel faint, light and dazed as you watch Taeyeon notice Baekhyun. You brace yourself against the nearest wall, wanting to look away but unable to tear your eyes away as the love of your life finally gets his second chance with the only woman he’s ever wanted.

You want to be happy. A horrible, tired, self-destructing part of you just wants to be happy for him. But you aren’t that selfless, and the majority of you just wants Baekhyun to be yours.

You watch as Taeyeon, with her short, skin-tight dress and long perfect legs takes her seat next to Baekhyun. You watch Baekhyun’s eyes fall on her, his face lighting with a wide smile that is far less strained than when he looks at you, and they immediately launch into conversation.

You watch Taeyeon flip her hair and rub her hand down Baekhyun’s arm, and you wonder if that touch affects Baekhyun as much as his touch affects you. You wonder if Taeyeon leaves a trail of goosebumps under Baekhyun’s suit jacket, the same way Baekhyun does to you every time he initiates unnecessary physical touch.

You avert your gaze, frustration, anger, and a crippling feeling of inadequacy stinging your eyes with tears. You wipe at them carefully in an effort not to distort your makeup and set your empty cup down on the punch table. You are barely thinking straight when you make your escape, stumbling past people in an effort to get out as fast as physically possible. You feel nauseous.

The old woman from before notices you leaving. You hear her scoffing derisively, but you don’t have it in yourself to care or even take real notice. You have too much to think about, or to avoid thinking about… You can’t afford to care. You just don’t have it in you.

Stumbling down the steps outside, you grab your dress in one hand to prevent yourself from tripping over the floor-length gown as you descend the stairs, wandering irrationally into the grass besides the bushes where you’re at least hidden from the rest of the party.

You gasp, tripping over a decorative boulder and falling to your hands and knees. And it’s just perfect, isn’t it? Baekhyun is going to be happy again, with the woman he’s always wanted. He’s with her right now and you’re too pathetic to give yourself a fighting chance. Baekhyun’s probably not even wondering where you are, and now your dress is probably ruined, ripped or stained or both, and your scraped up hands hurt but they don’t hurt as much as everything else because how are you ever going to be happy again, with or without him by your side?

You sob brokenly, reaching your arm around so that you’re gasping into your elbow, The tears are falling freely at this point, and there’s no point trying to keep your makeup intact. Shoulders slumping, you push up so that you’re on your knees, head fallen forward and your face covered effectively with one arm. Your vision is blurry, but it doesn’t matter, because all you see is him.

The way he looks when he’s smiling, laughing, when his eyes are trained on your every movement, when he tells you he can’t look away because you’re so beautiful. The way he looks when makes you feel like the luckiest girl in the world, eyes tender and full of promises that he’ll never fulfill as he brushes your hair away from your face and chuckles at the blush you can never hide when he looks at you like that.

When you feel a hand on your shoulder, you irrationally assume it’s Baekhyun, come to save the day like always. But when you whip your head around, mouth already forming an incoherent explanation for why you’d run… All you see is the blurry unfamiliar face of a concerned stranger.

He’s speaking, but you can’t hear him over the sound of your own shattering heart. And it’s pathetic, you know. You know how ridiculous it is for you to have held out any hope that Baekhyun would come find you, would notice your absence and care. His dreams are coming true inside that building, and you… You aren’t his priority anymore.

You never were.

You allow yourself to be guided, disoriented mess that you are, to a sympathetic woman in her thirties. You’re hugged tightly, and the woman’s perfume smells expensive, but you barely register it as she wipes at your face. You’re numb as you answer questions–

[y/n]. Apartment 3, Windsor Park Blvd. Didn’t drive. No, you didn’t arrive with anyone. You’re a friend of the bride’s.

The cab ride home is lonely and cold, but it’s less lonely than your apartment. Minah’s out of the apartment, which isn’t surprising, because Kyungsoo has gotten good at stealing all her time even on days that they’re not technically dating. His courtship is simple and intense and you envy your sister for having everything.

~*~*~*~*~

You’re only just turning on your shower to wait for the water to warm when there’s a heavy pounding on your door. You check your appearance–disheveled, puffy-eyed, and nearly all of your foundation long since wiped off. You almost just opts not to answer the door and take your shower in peace.

But then the pounding won’t stop, and the nagging fear that it may be something genuinely important has you making your way over to your apartment’s front door and swinging the door open.

And standing in front of you is Baekhyun.

“Where the hell did you go?” he snaps the second the door is open, though before you can even process the question, Baekhyun’s expression is morphing into horror. He steps closer automatically, and you flinch backwards away from him. But as is usual for Baekhyun, he doesn’t let that stop him. He steps forward again, this time wrapping his arms tightly around you to prevent you from getting away. “You can cry,” Baekhyun says calmly. But you don’t have any tears left and Baekhyun’s embrace, for the first time ever, doesn’t make you feel any safer.

So instead you shake your head, pushing away from him. “What are you doing here?” you ask, your voice raw from your earlier breakdown. You don’t look at Baekhyun as you make you way into your living room, hugging your arms tightly around your chest.

You hear your front door shut behind you and Baekhyun’s footsteps as he makes his way back over to your side. Baekhyun’s hands automatically find their way to your shoulders, and he squeezes them gently. “I couldn’t find you at the wedding,” he says, thumbs tracing circles against your dress. “And you weren’t answering your phone… Did something happen? Is your family okay?”

Your family. Of course his mind would jump to that. Because Baekhyun is caring, and he knows you, but he’s also an idiot. Coincidentally, it just so happens that he’s usually an idiot at the worst possible time, when the last thing you need is to have to explain yourself. “It’s not my family,” you say, your mouth twisting bitterly, and Baekhyun squeezes your shoulders again.

“Do you want to tell me what it is, then?” he asks, gentle and prodding in his sincerity. You flinch, and before long, a sarcastic, painful laughter is bubbling out of you.

You don’t look at him as you admit it. “It’s you, Baekhyun.”

And it wasn’t the goal, but you feel irrationally, painfully relieved when his hands drop from you. You still don’t– can’t look at him. But your legs can’t support your anymore, and so you end up falling onto the couch, braced against the arm rest in exhaustion.

“I don’t understand.” At this, you scoffs bitterly, staring at your living room wall and wishing Baekhyun would just take the hint and leave you alone. But no… No, instead, he’s dropping to his knees in front of the couch, right in front of your face. Baekhyun’s expression makes you want to shut him out all over again, but his eyes are impossible to escape and you remain captivated by their confusion and pain.

“Why are you here, Baekhyun?” you ask again, and before Baekhyun can rush out his answer, you shake your head. “No, that’s not what I mean. Why are you here? You should be with her right now.” And he looks even more lost than before. You huff out in irritation. “With Taeyeon,” you say, by way of explanation.

The confusion doesn’t vanish from Baekhyun’s face, and he reaches out to rub his hand along your arm slowly. “Why would I…” He clears his throat. “Why exactly would I be with Taeyeon?”

Either Baekhyun is playing stupid or he’s actually an idiot. You honestly aren’t sure which one is the case. “She’s blond,” you say simply by way of explanation.

And finally, finally, realization dawns. Baekhyun stares at you, and you stare back stubbornly, waiting for him to respond, to confirm what you already know and get this all over with. You are tired. You just want it to be over.

His expression morphs from uncertainty to understanding, to confusion again, and then…relief. Baekhyun exhales sharply, bending forward and pressing his forehead against your knees. “All this time,” he complains. “All this time I thought… I honestly thought that…” Baekhyun huffs, sitting straight again, and this time he looks determined.

“Thought what?” you demand, because you’re tired of not knowing what’s going on. You’re tired of being out of the loop, you’re tired of hurting, and that’s not going to stop until Baekhyun finally just comes out and says it: I’m in love with my ex. Sorry not sorry.

Baekhyun shakes his head, laughing. And it’s cruel. It’s so, so cruel how much joy he seems to be deriving from this because his laughter is genuine, and it sounds heavenly, and you want to cry. “I’m sorry,” he says, like that’s enough of an apology even as he can’t stop smiling. “I seriously… I thought I misread you. But I didn’t, did I? I was right?”

You shakes your head, uncomprehending and mute, because Baekhyun still isn’t talking about Taeyeon and he should be. He really, really should be. “I don’t know…”

“You like me.” And he sounds so pointlessly, annoyingly smug about it even as your stomach plummets and your heart stops. But he doesn’t stop there. “You like me,” he repeats. “And…I like you too.”

“Me and…” Your face twists into that of horror, and you automatically kick out, landing Baekhyun right in the thigh. “Baekhyun!” you snap even as he lets out a meager, strangled, “Ow”. You kick him again. “You can’t get away with liking two girls!” And you’re pissed, really, you are. Because that’s a jerk, douche-bag move, but… It also means you have a chance, and even though you’re angry, you can’t resist the smile spreading.

Baekhyun, for once, actually looks more confused than you. “Wait, [y/n]… Two girls? What other girl? I only like you.” You scoff, but before you can land another kick, Baekhyun is sliding out of reach, hands raised defensively. “Yah,” he begins cautiously. “Stop attacking me and explain your meaning. What other girl?”

“Taeyeon,” you snap, grabbing the decorative pillow off the couch next to you and chucking it at Baekhyun’s head.

He catches it, like the obnoxious athlete he is, and sets it down gingerly in his lap, patting it and spreading his hands on top of the pillow.  Baekhyun clears his throat. “Did you just…say Taeyeon?” he clarifies, sounding vaguely strangled. “[Y/n]…” Baekhyun’s lips quirk into a smile. He looks torn between being in pain and laughing at you, but he restrains himself from both for the sake of clarification. “[Y/n], I’m not interested in Taeyeon. She and I have been over for…” He waves a hand. “I don’t even know how long. Why would you think…” Baekhyun falters. “Wait,” he demands suddenly, sitting a bit straighter and looking at you intensely. “Tonight… Why did you leave? Was it because of us arguing, or was it because you saw Taeyeon?”

“What do you think?” you snap, voice close to breaking. “Since when do I– Because of one argument?”  

Baekhyun looks thoroughly flabbergasted. “She just started talking to me… [Y/n].” And in a split second he’s off the floor and sitting next to you on the couch. “[Y/n],” he repeats, running a hand down your arm. Once again, he looks a split second away from smiling, but he restrains himself well. “[Y/n], no… When did I ever give you the impression that I still had feelings for her?”

“Lots of times,” you reply petulantly before actually racking your brain for a proper instance. “You said you liked blondes,” you point out wisely. “And… And she’s your ex, but you only ever say nice things. And she’s the one who broke your heart, Baekhyun, not the other way around.”

“Yah.” Baekhyun accuses, knocking his knuckles against your temple lightly. “What is going on in that head of yours? Was Taeyeon blond when I dated her? Do you expect me, a gentleman, to badmouth my ex-girlfriend? Am I not allowed to move on from a broken heart?”

“She’s blonde now,” you point out, and Baekhyun laughs.

“How was I supposed to know?” he asks, bewildered. “I haven’t been keeping up with her, and… Answer my other two questions. Do you expect me to be rude about her? Do you expect me to wallow in rejection for the rest of my life?”

“I don’t… Well no, obviously. I don’t expect either of those things, but–“ And before you have a chance to finish, Baekhyun is lunging forward, pressing your back against the corner of the couch as he plants his mouth firmly against yours. He doesn’t start out slow (something you will give him a lot of crap for later), and his hands on your waist are demanding as he presses closer. Your stomach drops in a surge of desire as Baekhyun tugs you closer.

“Mng-“ You push Baekhyun off suddenly, sitting up straighter and straightening your shirt and hair out. Baekhyun’s expression is one of flustered bemusement as he reaches out and runs his fingers through a lock of your hair and then down your arm.

“What…”

“No, stop. Baekhyun.” You scowl, swatting his hand away. He doesn’t look particularly affected by your rejection, probably riding on his own confidence. “Seriously.”

“Mm.” He smiles, leaning in close to you again so that his nose brushes against your nose, and letting his hand cup your neck. You have to steel herself before shoving him away again.

“Baekhyun, stop. Who do you think you are right now? You still have a lot to apologize for.” He pouts at you, but for once, he actually sits back, and nods his head in a  clear gesture for you to go on. You exhale heavily. “Okay. Good. Are you going to apologize?”

Baekhyun stares at you. “Um…” He laughs awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. “I mean…I kind of thought you were going to tell me what I needed to apologize for. Are you not? Is that not happening?”

“Baekhyun!” You hit his arm, glaring. “How can you not know? Do you not remember what you said to me? In the car?”

“Ah…” Baekhyun is clearly racking his brain as he nods slowly, rubbing his hand up and down his thigh awkwardly. “Right… Yes. I do, yeah. I said I wasn’t interested in anyone within my reach, right? [Y/n], you weren’t in my reach.”

You hit him again, this time with a whole hell of a lot more force, and Baekhyun automatically clutches his arm, letting out an indignant cry of pain. “What?”

“You literally looked me up and down and said you weren’t interested,” you snap. “Do you have any idea how much that hurt me?”

Baekhyun blinks at you, his mouth forming an “oh” and his eyes widening at the realization. It takes a moment for it to sink in, but the second it does, he’s automatically apologetic, lunging forward again to run his hands down your arms and cup your face. “I am so sorry,” he promises. “I never meant to hurt you, I didn’t-“

You shove him backwards again, and this time, you’re stumbling off the couch entirely to get away from him. He doesn’t budge, just watching you make your escape, and you heave out an angry, frustrated huff. “Baekhyun, seriously, if you don’t explain everything you did tonight right now, then you need to get out. Right now.”

He sits very still, like he thinks if he moves or even breathes wrong, you will follow through on your threat. He’s not wrong. “I…” He clears his throat, nodding. “The um… The other day. Our fun day, remember? It wasn’t supposed to be… It was supposed to be a date, actually.”

The knowledge hits you like a brick, but you’re too irate to let it pass. “You literally didn’t say that,” you snap. “And you didn’t even ask, Baekhyun, why would I ever think that was supposed to be a date? You have to ask in order for something to be a date. And then you joked about me being your girlfriend, how does that make it more like a date?”

“I…” Baekhyun flounders, his fists clenching and then running over on his thighs again as he calms himself for his response. He’s being careful. You appreciate that, at least, even if thus far all of his explanations have sucked. “I don’t know, I just… thought it was funny. I thought you liked me, so I didn’t think there was even a need to ask, I thought you’d know somehow…” And then, quick to clarify and ensure that he’s not putting the blame on you, Baekhyun rubs the back of his neck and laughs awkwardly. “That was probably a stupid assumption.”

“Yeah,” you agrees, feeling numb. “Yeah, that was probably a pretty stupid assumption.”

Baekhyun nods and continues on. “Anyways, I thought it was a date, but then I took you back to your house and tried to kiss you, but you just…” He backtracks quickly. “I mean, obviously I get it now, you didn’t know I was trying to kiss you. But at the time, it was like, ouch. And then I realized you never thought it was a date in the first place, and I… I mean, I guess I thought I’d made it pretty clear when I told you it was a date, but obviously you thought that was a joke, and when you still didn’t get it, I was just hurt and frustrated. And I’m really, really sorry. I’m so sorry.”

You don’t know when your arms crossed, but what felt angry before just feels like an extremely ineffective shield now. “You haven’t explained yourself yet,” you advise.

Baekhyun winces. “The rest is harder to explain,” he admits. “I was just trying to be… I was frustrated, and angry, and I just… I just wanted to emphasize the whole friendship thing, because I was butthurt over you not liking me, and I don’t even… It’s like I wanted to hurt you, but I didn’t think anything I said was actually going to hurt and I was just being immature and dumb, I know. But it’s like… I just wanted to say that I didn’t like you anyways, like you not liking me wasn’t even a big deal even though it was.”

Baekhyun is quick to rearrange his limbs so that he’s on his knees with his arms hanging by his sides. He bows forward. “Basically everything was entirely my fault. And I’m really, really, really sorry, and I will do everything in my power to never hurt you again if you’d give me a second chance. Please, [y/n], I haven’t even gotten to prove to you how good and considerate of a boyfriend I can be yet.”

You once again don’t budge, but you can feel your barriers breaking down as Baekhyun glances up, looking hopeful but reserved, like he thinks he did a pretty good job with his apology, but he doesn’t trust it to have been enough. You just nod, and you aren’t entirely sure what that means. But your hands fall to your sides, and it isn’t long until Baekhyun is crowding your space again. This time, you let him, sniffling into his shoulder. He apologizes again, and again, and again until it reaches a point that you’re laughing at him, but he doesn’t stop apologizing. He just holds you tightly and doesn’t let go.

You don’t part. You can’t part. Neither one of you budges for the rest of the night, pressed against each other until Minah comes home to find you both asleep, embracing on the couch. Minah cries scandal, Baekhyun hits her with a decorative pillow and a threat to sleep in your bedroom instead, and in the morning, when you complain about morning breath, Baekhyun kisses you anyways. When he confesses that microwaved eggs are the only kinds of eggs he knows how to make… Well. You still refuse to eat them.

Written by: Jongecca