#but GOD. and don’t even get me started on the thing with the cone. it’s this godawful plastic thing that obviously mabel hates

[fingertipsmp3]

Not to be all ‘I know better than a medical professional’ or anything, but I do think the people at Mabel’s vet are kind of useless

[reidmotif]

Popsicle Love

Summary: Reader and Spencer are at a ridiculously hot precinct station, getting on each other's nerves arguing. Reader realizes she can get back at him, using a certain sweet treat.

Prompt: Spencer can't deal with how much Reader loves popsicles/ice cream cones

Couple: Spencer Reid/Fem!Reader

Category: Smut

Content Warning: Reader POV, rough sex, hair-pulling, dom!Spencer, coworker relationship, oral sex (m receiving), fingering (f receiving) , dirty talk, heavy making-out, unprotected penetrative sex, bathroom sex, hate-fucking, pure smut

Word Count: 3.2k

“It is too fucking hot for this” was my first thought as he began talking to me. Fuck Spencer Reid, because he was the who decided that today, in the sweltering Georgia heat, was the day he would annoy the ever-loving shit out of me. 

“You’re going about this all wrong!” Spencer said, rolling his eyes. His sleeves were pulled up, and there was anger in his eyes. I crossed my legs, feeling my skirt ride up but I honestly couldn’t care less. It was scorching, and I was determined to not lose this argument to Reid. I let out a breath of air, meeting him with my own annoyed, exasperated expression. 

“Reid, you’re being absolutely childish right now.” I retorted. “Sort through the paperwork first, then analyze it! Not everyone wants to do things the way you insist on doing them!” I say, furrowing my brows. 

“Not everyone can.” He says, cockily, a smirk gracing his lips. That motherfucker. 

I was about to get up and honestly hit him square in the jaw, half from my delusion in the heat, and half from how fucking smug he sounded. I wanted to knock that smirk off his face, and maybe ruin that pretty smile of his in the process, just as an added bonus. 

Thankfully, before I could do anything rash that would definitely result in me losing my job, one of the officers of the station quickly came to interrupt us. 

“Hey, one of the officers brought in popsicles. If any of y’all would like any, they’re in the breakroom.” She said, turning away. Thank God for Southern hospitality, I suppose. 

I sighed, getting up from my spot. Spencer and I clearly weren’t getting anywhere when it came to our disagreements, and that’s how it was, and how it would remain to be. The man was a pain-in-the-fucking ass, and it was an honest shame, considering the fact he was actually pretty hot, especially when his mouth wasn’t moving. 

Spencer walked ahead of me, the idea of something to cool him down enticing him just as much as it did me. We reached the breakroom and he opened the freezer, taking out the box of popsicles, and looking into it. He pulled out two, presumably one for me, and one for him. 

“Blue or red?” He says, holding out the brightly colored packages, offering me a choice of one. 

“Red.” I say, reaching over with no hesitation and grabbing the red-colored packaging in his hand. “Duh.” I added, starting to unwrap the treat. “It’s the best flavor.” 

He scoffed a little, opening up his own, blue package, and I rolled my eyes at the sound. 

“What, are you going to argue with me about my choices in popsicle flavor too now?” I say, with a disbelieving tone. 

“No, it’s nothing,” He says, shrugging, with that same, shit-eating, self-satisfied grin.

 God, I hated him. 

I gave a deep exhale through my nose, forcing myself to calm down. I decided it’d be for the best if I walked out, left him here alone to avoid another fight. He called out before I could even walk two steps. 

“You have to eat here.” He said, taking licks at his popsicle. “The officers- they’re old fashioned. I don’t know.” He adds, “If you wanna be yelled at though, be my guest.”

I grumbled internally at that, but I knew he was right. I didn’t want to be yelled at. 

I took my place, leaning against a table that had been placed in the breakroom and taking my own popsicle out of the packaging, beginning to eat it. I sighed happily as I felt the taste settle on my tongue, the coolness blooming throughout my mouth. I began by licking the sides before taking it in my mouth. I suckled for a minute, and I could feel it already melting down my fingers a bit, due to the heat in the station. I released the popsicle in my mouth with a pop, before going to lick the sticky residue off my fingers. It was a little childish, sure, but it was hot and it wasn’t like anyone was watching me. I continued this cycle, softly sucking at the popsicle and wrapping my tongue around it until I heard what sounded like ... a whimper from across the room? I let my eyes drift up, noticing a seemingly flustered Spencer in the corner of my eye. He leaned away from me, crossing his legs. I knitted my brows, before putting the pieces together, realizing what had happened. 

He was a guy, after all. And I suppose the way I was eating my popsicle could come off as suggestive, but come on! How else was I meant to eat it? And armed with the knowledge that my innocent action was enough to provoke him, I decided a little more intent in my movement couldn’t hurt. 

I began to take the popsicle a little more vigorously, bobbing my head a bit. My lips wrapped around the treat, and I could feel Spencer’s eyes shamelessly on me and internally grinned. Good. He had annoyed me all day, and the idea of him dealing with a hard-on with no way to relieve himself was definitely karmic justice in my eyes. I closed my eyes, savoring the taste, but also in the way I could feel Spencer shifting around, trying to hide what seemed like a fast-growing erection. When I hollowed out my cheeks, and swirled my tongue around the sweetness in my mouth, I could hear a sound from the back of his throat escaping his lips. I let the popsicle out of my mouth, and in that moment, a melted chunk seemed to fall off, landing itself on my chest. I hissed, feeling the coldness of the tacky liquid running down my bare skin. 

“Shit.” I said, trying to flick off the liquid off my hands and realizing I’d need to clean myself up. I dropped the remainder of the popsicle in the trash, not bothering to look back, before I walked over to the bathroom. I let out a breath of air as I opened the door to the precinct bathroom, looking at my chest and sighing, grabbing a handful of paper towels to run under the sink to wash myself with. 

Before I could do that though, I heard the door swing open, and saw through the mirror it was none other than Spencer Reid.  I crossed my arms, putting my back to the counter of the sink as I turned around to look him up and down. 

“What are you doing here?” I remarked, with a displeased tone. 

He looked absolutely furious, and there was a slight part of me that was excited, knowing I could rile him up like this. He was breathing heavily, and moving closer to me, trapping me in between the counter and his body, and what felt like a very noticeable hardness pressing against my thigh. 

“The better question is, what the fuck are you doing?” He asked, his tone low and menacing. 

I rolled my eyes, before feigning a look of innocence, making my eyes wide. “What do you mean, Spencer?” 

“You know exactly what I mean.” He responds, gripping a piece of hair at the back of my skull and pulling slightly, forcing me to bare my neck to him. “Where do you get off doing something like that to me, huh?” He murmurs, leaning closer and letting his lips brush over the shell of my ear. 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I retorted hastily,  but I could hear the shakiness in my voice. The way he was speaking, the pull he had on my hair- it thrilled me, and contributed to a growing heat between my legs. 

He pushed himself further and further against me, and I could feel his erection against my thigh even more so than before, and felt my stomach flutter at the feeling. My jaw dropped a bit, letting out a soft sigh, sensitive to the sensation. 

“Oh is that right?” Spencer replies, nodding as he spoke a little cruelly. “You like acting like this? Like a goddamn slut?” He grunts out. He twists and pulls my hair a little more, eliciting a soft moan from my lips. 

“You like it when I pull on your pretty hair like that?” He said, snarking the words at me. “Like how wet I make you?” He whispered, venom in his voice. 

Without warning, he placed his fingers at the growing wet patch at my underwear, roughly pushing it aside before starting to rub harsh, tight circles around my clit. I nearly lost my mind at the sensation, nearly doubling over with pleasure. 

I whimpered softly, and I could feel his smirk as he started to kiss up and down my neck. “So wet for me, mm?” He says, starting to move his fingers faster over my swollen clit. “I’ve barely touched you. You’re fucking needy for me, yeah?” 

I groaned, not processing enough of what he was saying to warrant a response. My brain was foggy from how good he was making me feel. I tried to not think about the fact that this was Spencer, the Spencer who’d annoyed me from the moment I’d joined the BAU. The Spencer I despised, the one I was supposed to hate- but here was, making me orgasm in a precinct bathroom with his fingers alone. 

He rubbed a bit faster, before thrusting two fingers into my needy cunt. I moaned again, louder, and he responded by burying his fingers even deeper into my core, pumping harshly. I could feel the room spinning, gripping onto the counter behind me to stabilize me as my orgasm began to approach me rapidly. He watched me intently, his gaze hot and intense before smirking. “Come for me. Come all over my fingers, (Y/N).” He whispered. 

I did, nearly on command, convulsing against him as I felt myself clench around his long, slender digits, my moans reverberating around the small space.

He withdrew his fingers suddenly, leaving me painfully empty before he began to grab my face roughly, forcing me to look at him.

“Say that you want this, bitch.” He whispers harshly, pulling my hair and eliciting yet another moan from me as he pushed me up against the counter. 

“Spencer..” I murmured, feeling my knees go a bit weak at how roughly he was manhandling me. He spun our positions around, and I felt him using the grip on my hair to push me down to my knees.

“Say it!” He said, a little more firmly now. “I need to hear you say it.” 

I felt the desperation in his tone, weakly looking up at him from this angle before I nodded quickly. 

“I want you. I want this.” I wailed, arousal coursing through my veins. I no longer cared about the humiliation of letting him use me like this. I wanted to chase this feeling forever, wanted to be at his mercy for as long as he wanted, as long as he could continue to make me feel this good. 

I felt him groan above me, before he pulled me closer to his bulge, raising an eyebrow. He looked absolutely wild from here, sweat dripping down from his brow, and sleeves pushed up. He breathed heavily, his chest heaving up and down.

“Go on then. This is what you wanted, wasn’t it?” He mocked, but I could tell his voice was strained with the exact same need I was feeling in the moment. 

I gave no protest, using my deft fingers to quickly undo his slacks, pulling them down along with his boxers, watching his heavy cock bob in the air for a moment, before looking up at him, my jaw slightly agape. 

Was this really happening?

He nodded, as if to give me an okay, and I didn’t need any more encouragement than that. I swirled my tongue around his tip,  watching in fascination as I heard a groan from him, his head falling back as he moaned. “Fuck, (Y/N). Just like that.”

I grew bolder with his praise. I began to take more of him in my mouth, using my hands where my tongue wouldn’t reach. I gripped and worked his base, while suckling on what my mouth could reach. As I got used to the intrusion in my mouth, I moved down slowly, eventually taking the whole of him. He moaned loudly at this, and gripped my hair tighter, starting to move me up and down his cock. I relaxed the muscles in my mouth, letting him use me as he pleased. I watched from the lower angle the best I could, the sight of him coming undone at my mouth absolutely gorgeous. I could feel the tears pooling in the corner of my eyes, the saliva dripping down from my mouth and covering my chest. I wanted to watch him fall apart, to be at my mercy just as much as I was at his. 

He moaned at the feeling, and I could feel myself get wetter at the sound. “Oh fuck. You feel so fucking good.” He groaned out, before grabbing my hair yet again, and holding my head in place. He started to fuck my throat roughly, and the tears began to flow a little more rapidly, feeling the pooling of saliva down my chin as I felt him hit the back of my throat.

“You like this, huh?” He teased from above, between pants and sighs. “Wanted me all riled up, so we could do this, right?” 

I nodded desperately, incoherent begs and whines coming from my mouth before he pulled me off with a tug. I felt delightfully dirty, as he forced me up again and kissed me roughly. I barely registered him turning us around in my lustful stupor, bending me mercilessly against the sink and lifting up my skirt, pulling my underwear down in a clean swoop. I could feel him squeezing the fat of my hips and moaned at the way he controlled me so easily, to which he let out a smug chuckle. 

He gripped my hair again, pulling my head up and forcing me to look at myself. We looked sinful, his cock pressing against my wet folds, teasing me. 

“See that? You look like a fucking whore.” He snarled, breathing heavily. 

I wasn’t going to let him win so easily. Even though I wanted the same things as him, I knew the more I teased him, the better I’d get from him. I  raised an eyebrow and breathlessly murmured, “Are you going to stand there and look at me, or are you going to  fuck me, Reid?” 

He bared his teeth at me, thrusting into me roughly with no warning. “Oh, you wanna be fucked? Then take it.” He groaned, starting to buck his hips against me like a man possessed. 

I moaned at the sudden feeling, letting my jaw drop fully to let out all my noises. I could feel the slaps of his skin against mine, and the smell of sex filling up the small space. His fingers gripped so tightly into my stomach I swear I could feel the bruises already blooming over my stomach. I let him fill me up, his thick cock passing through me roughly, over and over again. 

“So fucking warm and wet. You feel..” He paused, moaning and jutting against me faster. “So fucking good.” 

I could see the sweat dripping down his brow, and the way it collected down his neck. In this moment though, the only heat I could focus on was no longer the one around us, but the one that came from every brutal pass of his cock, creating a delicious burn I reveled in with every moment he stayed inside me. I moaned loudly, feeling myself get hotter and hotter with every second. 

I watched through the mirror as he fucked me into the counter with no restraint, his head thrown back, eyes shut as he continued to use me, plowing into me from behind. I could feel my knees getting weaker, feeling his cock twitch inside of me as I arched my back to take more of him. He groaned at the sensation of him bottoming out, the rhythm of his hips becoming irregular as he continued to rut into me. I rolled my hips against him, hoping to spur on our impending releases. He thrust into me once or twice , until I felt him come with a loud moan,  a familiar warmth pooling into my deepest point, but even then his hips didn't still. He fucked his own arousal into me, and I could feel my orgasm rapidly approaching, his lazy thrusts doing me in, and soon enough I was spasming over his cock, moaning loudly. 

He pulled out of me, and my eyes fluttered shut at the sudden emptiness. I could feel his cum dripping down my leg, and his eyes watching in fascination as the mixture of both of our releases leaked out of me. He pulled up my underwear, immediately soaking up the liquids, and I groaned at the feeling. He pulled me up, leaning me against the sink. 

I watched as he panted against the sink, and I swear, I would’ve fallen over without his steady grip on my hips. He and I were both flushed, my hair absolutely ruined from how hard he’d been pulling it, my tear-stained face still contorted in an expression of pleasure as we both recovered from the highs of our orgasms. 

“Did I hurt you?” He asks, in between his breaths, looking genuinely concerned. “I wasn’t too rough, was I?”

I laughed a little bit at that, shaking my head. “You were the perfect amount of rough. Don’t worry.” I say, waving him off a little, assuring him that I got just as much out of this as he did. 

As he tucked himself back into his pants, he grinned at me for seemingly no reason. I met his eyes with a confused expression, raising an eyebrow, pressing my lips together. “What are you grinning about?” I ask, trying to fix my hair as I look at him.

He walked over to me, turning me to face the mirror. I felt his chest against my back, and one of his large hands came to wrap themselves around me, before he ghosted a finger over my chest and whispered against my ear. “You still have some of that goddamn popsicle on you.” He says, trying not to laugh. 

I rolled my eyes, chuckling a bit as I remembered the entire reason he’d been provoked to do this, and went to go finally wipe off the sticky residue once and for all. “Oh yeah. Popsicle.” I said, teasingly. 

“Never do that again.” He says, starting to move away from me as he worked on making himself presentable enough to leave the bathroom with me. 

I paused, turning around to look at him, still appearing completely fucked out and dazed as I smirked a bit. “If it gets you to fuck me like that? No promises.” 

wow! a short fic from me?! crazy!! i wanted to try my hand at writing something smutty, but short. this was specifically written for @imagining-in-the-margins summer sunshine challenge, so go check that out :3 thank you for any likes, reblogs or comments. <3 i'm eternally thankful

[exerotica]

The Ice Cream Man

Explicit 18+, Instant Weight gain, Force Feeding, M/M, Sexual Themes

Flipping through the channels Jake passed by the news where he noticed the heat index was 105 right now. Even inside he was feeling it, his AC was barely able to keep his ancient house at 85. Thankfully his parents were gone for the day and he could lay on the couch shirtless without comments about the small flab he’s put on since starting college. He was thinking about cracking open the fridge and freezer to cool himself down when the faint sound of an ice cream truck pricked his ear, “Perfect,” he sighed.

Jake threw on his favorite shirt and hat and stepped out the front door, the wet boiling outside air hitting him like a wave of lava. Squinting, trying to adjust his eyes, he looked down the street and met the met the bright colorful box that called to him like a siren. He met the truck where it stopped, “Hey Connor, thank god you’re here!”

“Hey Jake, figured I’d see you today. How’s it been going?”

“The heat index is 105, I’m not NOT getting ice cream man. Summer has been flying by until this heat wave hit, I can barely move in my own house without breaking a sweat”

“Not too sure that’s all to do with the heat Jake. Freshman 15 is a real thing, and I distinctly remember that shirt not fitting so tight last semester”

“You sound just like my parents, I don’t mind a few pounds, especially in the off-season. I just need something to cool off, I’ve been dying today”

“The usual?” Conner had an ice cream cone ready in a few seconds. They caught up and talked about plans for next semester while some of Jake’s neighbors ordered from the Truck. Connor had clearly been consistent with the gym even during the summer, he was much buffer than Jake remembered from last semester. Jake finished his cone by the time his neighbors dispersed and still wasn’t quite satisfied. “Hey how about another cone?”

“Another one? People are gonna be calling you ‘big guy’ next semester if you keep this big back activity up man haha”

“Listen, you parked almost a block away from my house, this one is so I don’t die of heat stroke on the way back.”

Connor smiled, rolled his eyes, and had another cone in Jake’s hand within a few seconds. Jake enjoyed his second cone but lingered and kept chatting with Connor a bit more. He caught sight of Jake’s underbelly as the wind flipped it up against the soft outline of his belly button pressing against his shirt. He couldn’t help himself, “You know Jake, if you’re really looking to cool off, this was my last stop so I have time to kill, hop in.”

Jake raised an eyebrow and smirked, “If you’re planning on kidnapping me, I’m going to community college, so it should be pretty clear my parents can’t afford a ransom.”

“Get in smart-ass,” Connor closed the side door and let Jake in, watching his pudge ripple as he hopped up the steps into the back of the ice cream truck.

“Oh fuck, it’s so cold, can I live here?” Jake closed his eyes and let the cold wash over him for a bit. Connor showed Jake the freezers, topping buckets, and ice cream machine.

Jake tapped the machine as it emitted a slow consistent hum, “Damn this thing looks old”

“Yeah, most of my work honestly is running and keeping this thing clean. The owner like to take really good care of it, ‘none of that new fake shit’ he says.”

“Can’t say he’s wrong, I love the stuff”

“Clearly. Course, on a day like today, you’re the only fatass who can finish the ice cream before it melts.” Connor chuckled to himself as he tidied up around the truck.

“Who needs to worry about melting when you can get it straight from the source?” Jake quickly kneeled and twisted his body so that his head faced the roof of the truck and locked his mouth to the spout of the machine. Turning the knob and letting the soft freezing cream slither into his mouth and melt down his throat, cooling his entire body.

“Jake! What the fuck man, you’re lucky I have to clean that anyways. I didn’t realize you were THIS much of a pig.” Connor paused as he saw Jake’s body pressed out from kneeling backwards and his shirt riding up past his belly button, exposing his soft pudgy belly. Connor couldn’t help but get hard watching Jake chug the ice cream, his body plump frame getting stretched and rounder.

Jake gave a few final strained gulps and sat upright on both knees, holding onto his gut and wincing. “burrraahhhhh… fuck that was heavier than I thought it was going to be.” Jake’s shirt was practically skintight, his love handles and underbelly finally free from his shirt, acting more as a crop top with two soft breasts still pressed away inside.

He looked over at Connor and from his kneeled position had a direct view of his hard on pressing against his skinny beige slacks. “Looks like I wasn’t the only one who enjoyed that, Connor.” As he nodded to Connor’s waist.

Connor walked over to jake and stood in front of him, still kneeling Jake was inches from Connor’s cock and could clearly see just how big the outline was. “I just knew your fat ass couldn’t resist” Connor said, looking down at Jake’s soft features staring back up at him.

“I could use some help for round two..” Jake had barely finished speaking before Connor knelt next to him supporting his head as he pressed his lips to the machine. Connor flipped the level and cream started flowing again down Jake’s throat. He felt the cold liquid strain in his gut as it kept pumping into him. Connor pressed his buff frame against Jake’s as he rubbed and groped his fat, jiggling his love handles and reaching up his tight shirt to access his man tits.

“That’s it fatass, keep going. Look at how big that fucking gut is getting.” As Connor encouraged Jake, he noticed Jake’s body getting bigger. Not just his belly, but his tits, love handles, ass, everything was growing right in Connor’s hands giving him more and more to squeeze and jiggle. Connor could take it, his cock practically tore its own way out of his pants and started grinding against Jake’s fat blubber.

Jake’s moans muffled by the machine had grown louder and deeper. He felt his body growing and his clothes straining against his new fat which was starting to spill out everywhere. His mind was fluttering barely thinking anything more than just how good it all felt. Connor’s fat cock pressing into his doughy frame with a constant stream of fat flowing straight onto his frame. His belly pressed out from his once skinny frame, freely hanging over his pants and jiggling like jello with every touch of Connor’s hand. He could barely control himself when Connor had freed his cock and started jerking him off, so much sexual input coming from his body was sending his brain into a frenzy.

Ice cream pumping into his fat greedy gut and Connor fucking one of his newly formed fat rolls, Jake struggled to breath trying to moan and tensing up he shot rope after rope of hot cum onto Connor and the floor of the truck. Connor joined in and as he repeatedly forced his cock against Jake’s blubber, causes ripples of Jake’s fat to run across his body. He grit his teeth and groaned as he pumped cum all over Jake’s new fat for what seemed like an eternity.

Jake’s naked obese body collapsed onto the floor of the truck the moment Connor turned the ice cream machine off. Connor got on top of him and pressed his hard muscley frame into Jake as he held his head and kissed his chubby face. Jake’s brain still in its haze, “I can’t believe I’m this fucking big.” Connor slapped his gut causing Jake’s belly to ripple and him to moan, “That sweet tooth of yours just finally caught up to you big guy.”

[futbolfatale]

Social media AKA Hell on Earth

Pairings: Rachel Daly X Reader, Millie Bright X Reader, Alessia Russo X Reader, Ella Toone X Reader,

Tags: Pre-Established Poly Relationship, Minor Cyber Bullying, Minor Angst to Fluff

WordCount: 0.6k

Instagram could be a cruel place if you knew that and still, it hurts to see people saying negative things about you. You had attended the Germany game the night before like you always did. You would never miss one of your girl's games. But There had been multiple times Less and Toone had gotten mildly distracted by you while they were supposed to be playing.

These trolls posted pictures of you they had deemed attention-seeking and tore you apart in the comments about how you wanted them to lose and that it was all your fault. It's frustrating to see people who have never even played professional football criticize you and your family. “Whatcha Looking at” Rachel startles you out of your phone-induced haze. ‘ just looking at Instagram” you force a smile as Rachel sits down on the couch next to you. “Mills and I were thinking of going out for ice cream if you wanted to join us?” you gladly accept Rachel’s offer and you head out to the car where Mills is already Waiting.

“There are my favorite girls”  She teases as you both load into the car. “Do you know what you are going to get?” Mill Questions as you pull out of the drive. “I Dunno, Maybe Cookie dough ohh or cotton candy. What about you?” It’s Easy For you to settle back into this calm space they've provided for you. “Raspberry I think”-” This is my song Mills turn it up” You laugh as Rachel starts singing along to River Deep, Mountain High “ Sing It with me baby” You roll your eyes but join in on the fun.

After The Ice cream is acquired you decide to walk around the park. It’s just dark enough to be comforting and Weirdly quiet. “Do you guys think It is my fault We lost?” You ask barely loud enough for them to hear. “No one is saying that I will beat them up for you.”Mills stops walking and holds your shoulder in her free hand. “Millie You Can’t Beat up our Fans you would cause an uproar.” Rachel jokes wrapping her free arm around your waist. “Well, the fans Don’t know Anything. It was a hard game and you not Being there would have only made us play worse. We always do better When our lucky charm is in the stands.” You smile softly holding in a couple of tears. “How about We head home and we can watch a movie and have some pasta,” Rach Suggests with a slight smirk on her face. She already knows you will agree it is your favorite way to spend a night in. “Let's do it” You laugh as Mills shoves the last of her ice cream cone in her mouth before picking you up and spinning you in a little circle, almost forcing you to drop your ice cream. “Come on Ladies, we should get home before Toone and Less burn the house to the ground. Rach takes off running towards the car and you can’t hide the smile that takes control of your face as you chase after her.

By the time you get home you're buzzin you've decided on watching Man on Fire. You bounce into the house ready to stealth attack toone and less. Knowing them they are sat on the couch playing FIFA. You slip your shoes off and creep in behind the couch where they are both sat. They don’t even break away from their game as you creep up behind them. “Who is winning?” You ask, throwing your body over the couch and landing on top of them. “Baby girl you scared the piss out me my god” You laugh as they return to their game. Life is good even if the Fans Will never truly understand your world it doesn't matter because you have the people you love.

[eiightysixbaby]

breathing deeply, walking backwards

roller coaster, favorite ride, let me kiss you one last time

word count: 5.7k

pairing: best friend!eddie x fem!reader

summary: an evening at the fair leads to a big confession from your best friend (who you just so happen to have feelings for)

cw: mentions of food/eating, friends to lovers, use of y/n, and that’s literally all I can think of bc this is a bunch of sweet fluff

author’s note: this is just a sweet little idea that’s been hanging out in my brain all summer, and I’m excited to put it out there finally! it’s really just a bunch of sickeningly sweet ooey gooey fluff, the stakes are not very high here lol I just wanted to write something cute that didn’t feel as daunting to work on. I love the idea of going to the fair with eddie, so this was fun for me. enjoy!

Hawkins Fun Fair, summer of 1986. The warm air was sweet. It smelled of kettle corn and cotton candy, kissed your nose with the enticing scents and lured you in. The sun had just began to set, casting the sky in orange and violet and pink. All around you kids ran rampant, excitedly stomping over the grass with snow cones in hand. You found yourself getting lost looking at the big lightbulbs blinking on all of the carnival rides, when suddenly you felt a pair of arms wrap around your middle, picking you up and hoisting you over a shoulder.

“Eddie!” you squeal, laughing and pretending to pound on his back in protest.

“Come on, space cadet, you were trailing behind! Don’t want you to get lost now do we?” Eddie chuckles, walking quickly to keep up with the rest of your group.

Steve, Nancy, Jonathan, and Robin had all gone ahead, debating on what to do first. The kids had run off to god knows where, Lucas and Dustin arguing over which ride to go on first. You breathe in Eddie’s scent, cologne and weed and boy, and it mixes to create the most enticing combination. You want to climb into his cutoff tank-top and live there forever. Eddie finally sets you down on the ground once you’re caught up with the rest of your friends, having found them in line for some funnel cakes.

“Wanna get one to share?” Eddie asks, wiggling his eyebrows to get a laugh from you.

“Is that even a question?” you reply, already pulling out your wallet and a few dollar bills.

You give Eddie a glare that says, ‘I’m paying, so don’t even try it’ before he can protest. He usually always pays when you two go out together, even though you insist he doesn’t have to. He’s just sweet like that, always has been.

The two of you have been friends for only a short amount of time, joining forces at the start of the last school year - your first senior year and Eddie’s third (and final!). But man, did you guys get close over the span of less than a year. You’re basically attached at the hip, your other friends already knowing that if you or Eddie are invited somewhere, the other is tagging along.

The only issue is that you’ve started catching feelings for the curly haired boy you spend all of your time with. You hadn’t told him, just let the ever growing feelings consume you in silence. You’d confided only in Robin and Nancy, who both let you ramble on and on whenever you needed to. They’ve told you countless times to go for it, that Eddie would be silly not to be into you, that he totally is sweet on you, but you just can’t bring yourself to do it. What if it makes everything awkward?

What you didn’t know, was that Eddie had feelings for you, too. Big feelings, heart wrenching feelings for you. Steve and Jonathan were his confidants, his right hand men in trying to convince him to take the plunge and confess to you. Jonathan told him how he once asked Nancy if she thought you might like Eddie, to which Nancy got flustered and awkwardly denied, which he found suspicious. Of course, Eddie hardly listened to any of this. He wanted to confess to you, so badly wanted to open the doors to wonderful things if it all went right. But if you didn’t reciprocate the feelings, it could ruin everything. That was a very big ‘if’ to Eddie, and he couldn’t risk it.

So, you two were just friends. Really close friends who cuddled on the couch during movie nights and basically went on dates without calling them dates, who gave each other the biggest heart eyes constantly yet didn’t realize it.

A warm funnel cake on a paper plate is placed into your hands, Eddie grabbing a fistful of napkins beside you. The smell of the dessert wafts into your nose, making your mouth water. You delicately rip off a piece, letting the warm dough and sweet powdered sugar practically melt in your mouth.

“Mmm, so fuckin’ good,” you groan around your mouthful, licking the white powder off of your fingers rather ungracefully.

Eddie sighs blissfully as he takes his first bite, a much bigger piece of the cake than yours, and he swallows before you could even catch if he chewed it first.

“It’s almost as sweet as you,” he says, grinning as he, too licks the powdered sugar from his fingertips.

You catch Nancy and Robin giving you a look after he says it, and you blush a little under their gazes.

“What’re you buttering me up for, Munson?” you ask playfully, elbowing him in the side as the group continues to walk.

Eddie just shrugs, a smirk on his face as he continues to pick at the funnel cake. You don’t want to tear your eyes away from him, his big chocolate brown eyes so sincere when they look at you and his dark curls cascading over his shoulders, shaking when he laughs too hard. You can’t help but watch every time he brings a powder-covered finger to his mouth, licking the sweetness off of it. You swear he’s doing it slowly just to drive you crazy. You flush at all of the possible scenarios that swirl in your mind with that image and stare down at your shoes as they trod through the grass. You’re torn from your thoughts when he grabs your arm excitedly, pulling you over to a carnival game booth with huge fluffy teddy bears hanging from the backdrop.

“I am so gonna win you one of these,” he says confidently, cracking his knuckles like he’s about to kick some ass.

“Are you doing this because you want to win me a bear or because you want prove that you can win these rigged games?” you tease, watching as he rubs his hands together eagerly and passes the attendant some tickets to play.

The objective seems to be simple enough - throw some darts, pop six balloons and you win a big prize. The catch is, you only have ten darts. Eddie’s first attempt goes alright, but he only ends up popping four balloons.

“Aw, it’s okay Eds,” you say, getting ready to turn and walk away from the booth before he stops you.

“Ah-ah. Nope, no way I’m giving up that easy,” he shakes his head, handing the attendant more tickets.

You roll your eyes at his determinedness, never willing to back down from a challenge. Your heart races though, secretly loving the idea of him winning you something. His tongue pokes out of his mouth, his eyes narrowing as he eyes the targets. He wiggles his ass exaggeratedly, getting into position and making you snort. He draws his arm back, dart poised between three fingers, and then he lets go.

Pop!

He pumps his fist, flexing his biceps at you, really putting on a dramatic show for this. He’s so gorgeous you feel like you could die.

“You still have nine more to go, Munson. We’ll see if you can do it again,” you tease, hiding your affection, making him clutch his chest in mock offense.

Much to your surprise, he pops the remaining five balloons almost entirely in a row. Eddie is nothing if not competitive and determined, and his desire to win you a prize fueled him even more.

“Haha! What did I tell ya, sweets? I knew I could win,” he boasts, rocking on the balls of his feet.

The worker hands you a large, brown, fluffy teddy bear with a pink bow wrapped around its neck. You squeeze the bear with a grin, giving Eddie a hug and a thank you for winning you the prize. You hoist the bear over your shoulders so it looks like it’s sitting on them, holding onto its fuzzy legs carefully. You run ahead to catch Steve and Jonathan, who laugh at the size of the bear.

“Geez, Eddie, think you picked a big enough prize?”Steve asks.

“Mmm, no, but this was the biggest they had,” he contemplates, giving you a big smile when you meet his eyes.

You walk ahead with Steve and Jonathan, the latter turning around to mouth to Eddie, ‘ask her out!’. Eddie just laughs and shakes his head, but he can’t deny the way his heart pounds as he watches you excitedly show off your bear. Smitten with the way your eyes light up, the happy bounce in your every step.

Deciding that you’re hungry again, the funnel cake simply being a filler snack, you get in line with Eddie and Robin for some actual food to munch on, finding Max and Lucas already waiting at the same stand. Your eyes scour the small menu in indecision as you talk to Robin, and Max overhears you telling her that Eddie won the bear for you, turning to Lucas with her hands on her hips, ready to rile him up.

“See, Lucas? Why don’t you be a good boyfriend like Eddie and win me a bear?” she teases him, laughing when Lucas gets flustered and stumbles on his words.

You and Eddie avoid eye contact, Robin catching the way you squirm after Max’s implication that Eddie is your boyfriend.

“I’m not….” Eddie starts.

“He’s not my-” you say simultaneously.

But Max is no longer listening, now playfully arguing with Lucas. Your cheeks feel hot, flustered by the situation. You peer cautiously over at Eddie, whose cheeks are pink as he chews on his bottom lip - a nervous habit. He meets your eyes and gives you a sheepish little smile, before you’re taken from the moment by the food truck employee asking for your order.

The awkwardness is washed away once your food arrives, you and Eddie sharing a tray of cheese fries to go with your chili dog. You immediately retreat back into your comfortable friendly nature as you pick at the steaming pile of fries. You can’t help but wonder, though, what was going through his head when Max said what she did. He didn’t seem offended, or repulsed, or anything like that. He seemed shy and flustered just like you, nervous even. Your head spins trying to piece it together, before you’re shaken from your thoughts at Eddie reaching towards you, wiping a stray bit of gooey cheese sauce that had been left on the corner of your mouth.

“Can a girl get a warning first?” you laugh, watching him wipe the cheese on a napkin.

“Sorry, sweets, y’made a mess. Wanted to help,” he grins, knowing you can’t keep up your teasing when he flashes his smile at you.

Before you can really react, or even blush at his actions, Nancy’s calling your attention.

“Come over here, let’s get in line for this ride!” she’s beaming, Robin waiting eagerly at her side.

“Can I trust you to hold Mr. Bear while I go on this ride?” you ask Eddie, looking him over in pretend contemplation.

“Cross my heart, doll,” Eddie swears, his index finger drawing an x over his heart.

You hand him the stuffed toy, running to meet the girls in line. The ride in question has a bunch of little cars on a platform that spins, and the cars themselves have wheels in the center so you can spin yourselves at your discretion. It doesn’t take long before you’re loading into a blue car with flashing lights on the outside, the three of you positioning your hands on the large wheel in the middle.

Eddie stands off to the side, chewing the inside of his cheek as he watches you. His thoughts won’t let him catch a break, replaying your reaction to Max referring to him as your boyfriend, taking note of the fact that you didn’t necessarily seem upset about it. He thinks about your smile when he won you your prize, thinks about Jonathan and Steve giving him ‘the look’ and imploring him to ask you out.

He swears he feels his heart soaring as the ride starts, and he watches as you laugh under the blinking lights and the last bit of a glow from the setting sun. He wishes you could see yourself the way he sees you in this moment, hair blowing in the breeze, mouth open in a never ending laugh, happy and surrounded by friends who love you dearly. The feelings he harbors for you are clawing at his insides, fighting to make their way out. He doesn’t know if it’s possible to hold them down for much longer. Butterflies take flight in his stomach when you catch his eye, giving him a little wave as your car spins round and round.

The ride ends and you come bounding giddily out of the exit gate with the girls by your side, crying laughing at Nancy’s hair - which is now windswept and sticking every which way. Eddie stands waiting for you, smiling at you as you come up beside him.

“Have fun, ladies?” he asks, giving Nancy a raised eyebrow over her hairdo.

“Don’t even say it, Munson,” she laughs, leaning into Jonathan’s side, who’s appeared next to her.

“It was so much fun,” you beam at him, eyes bright as they meet his. “I’ll have to get you on a ride with me.”

“Anything you wanna do, sweets,” Eddie grins.

“Did you take good care of my bear while I was gone?” you ask him, reaching for the stuffed toy.

“Oh yeah. We had a very enlightening conversation,” he jokes, handing the bear back to you.

You giggle at this, watching as Eddie pretends to whisper something in the bear’s fuzzy little ear before handing him back to you. He shyly excuses himself to find a bathroom, leaving you standing with the rest of the group - save for Steve who got dragged somewhere by Dustin.

In all honesty, Eddie just needed a minute away to get his thoughts straight. His body feels like it’s vibrating he’s so head over heels for you, and he’s unsure what to do or how to do it. He doesn’t even find a bathroom, just paces around, weaving in and out of groups of excited kids and less excited parents. He doesn’t feel like he’s coming to any sort of conclusion, supposing he should’ve brought Jonathan along with him to bounce his thoughts off of. One thing he knows for sure, is that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to be strictly friendly towards you. Something’s gonna slip one way or another, and Eddie thinks he wants to have control over that situation.

He starts to circle back in the direction that he left you, palms sweating in the pockets of his jeans as he overthinks himself into a frenzy.

He stops dead in his tracks when he spots you huddled with Nancy and Robin on the side of one of the carnival booths, seemingly deep in conversation. Ducking away before you can spot him, he lingers just around the corner from where you are. He knows he shouldn’t, but his curiosity gets the best of him as he cranes to listen to what you’re saying.

“-and Max referred to him as my boyfriend, and he didn’t seem, like, mad about it? Or, I don’t know, repulsed by it or anything. I swear to god he blushed and I just don’t know how to take it,” your voice rambles.

“Y/N, he won you a fucking teddy bear. That’s about as obvious as he could be without putting a flashing neon sign above his head that says ‘I love Y/N L/N’,” he hears Robin retort, and his cheeks flush with slight embarrassment.

“Okay, listen, even if he likes me let’s not get carried away and say he loves me…” you try to defend.

“I’m with Rob on this one, hun,” Nancy butts in, “this is just the icing on the cake of all of the other things you two do that are so much more than just friendly.”

“Thank you, Nance,” Robin enunciates. “Seriously, babe, I just think it’s about time you admit your feelings to him. He deserves to know, and he’s totally going to reciprocate because he’s so clearly wildly in love with you, but even if he didn’t reciprocate this is Eddie we’re talking about and he’s just a walking teddy bear and he’d never be mean about it or-” Robin’s word vomit spills out, but Eddie can’t focus on her voice anymore.

It’s time you admit your feelings for him. You have feelings for him? Eddie feels his heart rate speed up, turning on his heel and walking away before any of you catch him eavesdropping. He ducks behind a cotton candy stand, his hands trembling with excitement. It’s like a switch is flipped in his brain, all of his reservations about confessing his feelings for you slipping away with ease. He knows what he has to do now, what he should’ve done ages ago. He can’t spend another day in a world where you aren’t his, and so he won’t.

Once he regains some composure, he walks back towards where he saw you and the girls talking. You see him coming this time, waving the arm of your teddy bear at him in greeting. He laughs, his heart feeling warm at the adorable gesture.

Jonathan, Steve, and now Dustin are standing there as well, and the girls’ previous conversation with you appears to be over. Dustin gives Eddie a look as he approaches, the older boy’s eyes trained on you the whole way over.

“What’s up with you? You look like a lovesick pup-” Dustin starts, but Eddie elbows him in the side before he can finish his sentence.

“Ow! Dude!!” Dustin remarks, but Eddie’s no longer listening, having fully turned his attention to you.

He’s about to make another smart comment, but Steve catches him before he can even get a word out, pulling him away and distracting him with the promise of an ice cream cone. Eddie can practically feel Jonathan, Nancy, and Robin’s eyes on him as he listens to you talk, excitedly pleading with him to go on another ride with you.

“I told you before, anything you wanna do I’m game for,” Eddie gives you a small smile before adding “….except that stupid roller coaster that goes in one big continuous loop. I am not risking my life today,” he points a finger at the ride in question, shaking his head as the riders are whipped upside down over and over.

You laugh at this, assuring him you’re not going to make him go on that one, instead leading him in the direction of a different ride. Eddie has hearts in his eyes as you lead him through the crowd of people, and he can’t help himself from eyeing the way your skirt bounces with every step, showing off your thighs. You turn back with a gleam in your eyes, like you’re so unbelievably happy to see him standing there, like you forgot who’s hand you were pulling towards your destination. Your ride of choice, admittedly, isn’t much more favorable to Eddie than the stupid loop-de-loop coaster. It’s designed so you stand against the wall in the big circular structure, and it spins so fast you’re basically pinned to the wall as it flies.

“What, big shot, are you nervous?” you tease him as you find a spot to stand in.

He waves you off with a shaky hand, “Me? Nervous? Pffft, yeah right,” he rolls his eyes. “Are you nervous? Need me to hold your hand?” he teases right back, shrieking when you slap him playfully on the arm.

“This ride’s always been my favorite, so, no. I think I’ll be fine,” you assure, standing up straighter as if to prove your confidence to him.

In actuality, you haven’t been on a ride like this since you were a little kid, and now as you waited for it to start the nerves were setting in a little. Before you can debate it any longer, the door shuts and rainbow lights flash inside the ride, illuminating the darkness. It starts moving, and you grip the handles beside you, watching as Eddie does the same. You squeal as you start to spin faster, listening as Eddie lets out a very nervous groan beside you. He squeezes his eyes shut, and honestly he thinks he must’ve blacked out for the worst of it because before he knows it, the spinning slows. He comes back to reality, looking down and processing that his hand is gripping yours, his knuckles white where they’re linked between your fingers. It’s not like you two haven’t held hands before, you certainly have, but this time has a different context, at least in Eddie’s mind. He has new knowledge now, and he blushes ferociously as his eyes stay locked on your linked hands.

You felt Eddie grip your hand in the middle of the ride, your brain laser focusing on it as the world spun around you. You catch his eyes finally now that the ride is stopped, and the two of you just look at each other for a moment. You ignore the people exiting around you, zeroed in on each other. The way Eddie’s looking at you feels different, and you don’t know why but it’s making your pulse hammer in your chest. It takes the ride attendant calling stragglers off to get you to drop Eddie’s hand, fixing your hair as you walk off the ride.

Neither of you say a word, and honestly you don’t think you could get words to form right now if you tried. Your head is spinning, and you can’t tell if you’re dizzy from the ride or just overly in love with your best friend. You wish he’d take your hand again, wish he’d never let it go, but before you can think about it for too long, Steve is approaching from where he stands by a metal fence surrounding your ride, holding your teddy bear out to you. Eddie jumps beside you, as if he forgot there were other people around him, and you wonder if he was just as lost in thought as you were. Robin and Nancy’s voices ring in your head. You need to confess your feelings. He deserves to know.

“Come on you guys, quit dragging your feet! We have to go on the ferris wheel while they do the fireworks!” Steve says, hurrying both of you along.

Oh, right. Fireworks. You loved the fireworks Hawkins put on every year, always dragging your friends to see them with you. You’re more than excited to get to share them with Eddie this time around. Your chest vibrates with a euphoric feeling, Eddie still walking beside you as you head towards the ferris wheel.

“Wanna sit with me?” you ask him teasingly, knowing he’d never tell you no.

“Hmmm, I’ll have to think about that one, princess,” he says, pretending to contemplate as you shove his side lightly.

He’s grateful for the conversation starter from you, glad you pulled him out of his nervous brain.

“I suppose the bear is sitting with us, too?” he smiles.

“Well, duh, we can’t make him sit alone. That would be rude,” you say, matter-of-factly.

“Oh, of course, of course. Forgive me for even implying such a thing,” Eddie offers the bear an apologetic bow, almost tripping over a stray electrical cord, which sends you into a fit of giggles.

Eddie loves the sound of your laugh, he strives to be the cause of it whenever he can. He’s going to tell you how he feels. On this ferris wheel, at the top as you watch the fireworks, he’s going to tell you. He stands in the line with you, palms sweating in the pockets of his jeans. The lights on the giant wheel blink intermittently, bright colors flashing and casting a glow over you as he watches you watch them. You both step up to the man taking tickets, and you step forward into the open bench seat that waits for you. You’re busy stuffing your bear into the seat beside you when Eddie passes the attendant a twenty dollar bill.

“You’ll be doing me a huge favor if you stop us at the top during the fireworks,” he murmurs to the guy, who gives a firm nod in response, pocketing the cash.

Maybe twenty was a bit steep for a small favor, but anything’s worth it when it comes to you. Eddie needs his perfect moment. You’re just about to turn and question whether he’s coming or not when he appears at your side, sliding into the seat beside you. It’s the bear on the left, you in the middle, and Eddie on the right. You’re giddy like a child when a tester firework gets set off, preparing everyone for the real show. Eddie swallows thickly, watching you as your hands grip the metal bar that secures you both in your seat.

Soon, you’re moving slowly backwards and up, stopping periodically to let more people on more empty cars. The sky is a rich navy blue, stars peeking out and blinking down at you as you look up. Your heart races for a reason you aren’t sure of, your mind still stuck on Eddie grabbing your hand earlier, amongst a million other things he’s done. Your car stops perfectly at the top, and you peer down to see that the other cars are all full.

“Oooh! We’re going to be right at the top for this!” you grip Eddie’s arm excitedly, and he thinks he’d be perfectly fine if the smile on your face right now was the last thing he ever saw.

He shares in your excitement, thanking the ride attendant in his mind for not just pocketing his money and not complying with his request.

“I think this might just be the best seat for fireworks, ever,” you say, turning to look at him. “Mr. Bear agrees,” you add, giggling when Eddie rolls his eyes.

“Mr. Bear has nothing to compare this to. Of course he agrees,” he says, feigning hurt when you slap him gently on the arm. Nevertheless, he’s ecstatic that you’re this happy about your viewpoint for tonight’s show.

Before you can continue the bit, a couple of fireworks light up the sky, booms rumbling in your chest.

Eddie takes a deep breath, grounding himself. This is it, he thinks. You have to do it now.

“Hey, uh, sweetheart?” he asks, wincing when his voice cracks ever so slightly.

“Yeah, Eds?” you reply, barely turning to face him as you watch the glittery explosions in the night sky.

“There’s something I need to tell you…” he says, his mouth going dry. You actually look at him now, brows furrowing.

“What’s up? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah I’m fine, it’s not- I mean I hope it’s not a bad thing. What I’m about to tell you, I mean,” he’s nervously rambling now, you know he gets like this. You squeeze his hand, calming him.

“What is it, Eddie?” your voice is soft, and the way you’re looking at him is making him melt.

“I don’t want to just be friends with you anymore,” he starts, squeezing your hand back. “I like you, I like you so fucking much, sweetheart,” his eyes are searching yours, his voice surprisingly calm given his frantic look.

“Eddie, I-”

“I’ve been hiding this for so long, I didn’t wanna ruin what we have already, but… I overheard you talking with Robin and Nance before, and unless I misunderstood I have a feeling you feel the same way,” he’s smiling shyly, and you can tell even in the dim light that he’s blushing.

More fireworks boom and crackle, your heart pounds with a timbre that rivals them.

“I do, Eddie,” you reply, and you can’t even try to hold back the grin that spreads across your face. Neither can he, his pearly white teeth on display for you, and he’s so beautiful. “I didn’t say anything for the same damn reason,” you laugh a little, shaking your head. “I guess we’re both stupid for not seeing the signs, huh?”

“Yeah. Yeah we are,” he agrees, his voice soft as he lets himself melt into your eyes.

He thinks you’re the prettiest thing in the world. He’s glad he can tell you that now with no fear.

“You’re so beautiful,” he says, voice breathy now.

Your heart is beating a mile a minute at his compliment, eyes looking away in a rare moment of shyness around the man you’ve been the closest to for months now. You don’t respond, can’t get the words out when he’s looking at you the way that he is. You let him lean in closer, let him rest his palm on your cheek, let your eyes flutter shut as his nose brushes yours.

Then, he’s kissing you. He’s finally fucking kissing you.

Eddie feels like his foot is about to start thumping like a dog that’s being scratched in the perfect spot. You feel like your heart might burst right here, right now on the ferris wheel seat. Your lips slot against his like you were made for each other, molded just right. Fireworks go off in your chest, rivaling the display in the sky. When you finally pull away, both of Eddie’s hands are cupping your face, and your hands are fisted in the collar of his shirt. His smile is radiant, the only thing you want to look at for the rest of your life.

Sparks crackle in the sky, quicker now, and you know the show must be ending soon. Your head goes to rest on Eddie’s shoulder as you both watch the bursts of color erupt. They seem to reach out to you, it feels like you could touch them if you stretched your hand out far enough. His arm wraps around your waist, pulling you as close to him as possible. You feel like there’s a million things you could say to each other, but it can wait. The fireworks show pounds and bangs and sizzles to a vibrant close but Eddie’s touch sends its own sparks over your skin, zaps of electricity flowing through you. You feel like you’re floating when the ride finally takes you back down to the ground and you step out of your bench seat, holding Eddie’s hand. He pulls you to him as soon as you’re away from the crowd of people shuffling through the fairgrounds, his hands resting on your lower back.

His lips find yours once more amidst a clash of teeth, both of your smiles too big to stay out of the way. “Eddie, Eddie, wait,” you say, still smiling as you pull away. “What does this make us, then?” you ask, eyes searching his as he holds you in place.

“Well, that depends. Do you want to be my girlfriend?” he asks, a boyish grin playing on his lips.

“Well now that depends. Do you want to be my boyfriend?” you counter, your top teeth tugging at your bottom lip.

“It would be an honor to hold that title, sweet girl.” Eddie says, bowing slightly, the dramatics in full swing as usual.

You erupt into giggles, mock-curtsying in response. “Then I would love to be your girlfriend.”

Eddie lifts you off the ground, spinning you before he kisses you again. He feels like it’s just you and him in that moment, his brain blurring out the laughter and conversations from passersby. It’s only when Robin’s gasp shakes you both from the moment that he comes back down to earth. He sets you down, you shyly leaning into his side as your friends look at you, amused and smug at the fact that they were right this entire time.

“Finally,” Nancy smirks.

“Took you long enough,” Jonathan adds, patting Eddie firmly on the back.

“Yeah, yeah, okay everyone. You were right, we get it, blah blah blah,” Eddie rambles. “Now if you’ll excuse us, my girlfriend and I are going to head out for the night I think,” he says, looking down at you with a lovesick grin.

“Ew,” Dustin groans. “I don’t even wanna know what you guys are planning on doing,” he grimaces, Eddie stepping forward to ruffle his hair.

“Get your mind out of the gutter, Henderson, I’m gonna take my lady to get some food,” Eddie says, turning around to face you. “That sound good, sweetheart?”

You nod eagerly, taking his hand as he steps back to you, your bear tucked under your other arm. You bid your friends goodbye for the night, laughing at the wolf whistles from Steve and Robin as you walk away hand-in-hand.

“Where are you taking me, handsome?” you ask, swinging your hands as you walk.

“The diner sound good? That’s our usual haunt but, now it’s a real date,” Eddie knocks his shoulder to yours, shyness poking through his boisterous demeanor.

“Sounds perfect,” you say, dropping his hand then. “I’ll race you to the van.”

“Oh, and you’re so gonna lose, baby,” he enunciates the last word, letting it sink into your skin. It catches you off guard just how he wanted it to, and you stand there stricken as you realize how much you like hearing him call you that.

“No way you’re winning now!” Eddie calls, having already started running.

“Hey! You’re a dirty cheater!” you gasp, trying and failing to catch up with him.

Everything feels right with the world as you sprint past children and food stands and bright lights. Your eyes stay focused on the man running ahead of you, like he’s your bright light guiding you. His giggles and taunts can be heard as he throws them over his shoulder at you, and his laughter’s never been more beautiful. It’s just you two against the world now. The way it always should have been. Navigating life with Eddie is your favorite ride, and you laugh wildly as you imagine what’s yet to come.

[jaynemia]

"Confession On Marley"

Armin Arlert x gen-neutral!reader

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❥┆Tooth aching fluff, slight angst

❥┆WC: 2039

❥┆Notes: Openings and closing aren't my strong suit LET ME COOK also sorry for grammar mistakes 🤕

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You and your best friend, Armin, had just finished getting off the ship that led you and the rest of the Eldia Scout Regiment to Marley. Amidst all the chaos and tragedy that had surrounded you, you found peace in the cheery air and bright sky.

“Welcome to the continent of Marley!" Onyankopon exclaimed. "I’ll guide you to the Azumabito estate.”

As the others, meaning Hange, Connie, and Sasha, seemingly grow infatuated by what Hange calls a "car,” you stand next to Armin, absolutely bewildered.

“Huh,” you chuckle, “so much for ‘don’t stand out.’ Do you think they’ll be alright, ya’know, being like that out here?”

Armin nods and quickly shakes his head. “No, yeah, I’m sure they’ll be fine. Come on, I wanna learn more about this place!”

“What’s there to learn about?” You ask curiously while trailing after him as he walks off. When you catch up to him, you can’t help but smile at his eager expression. He’s not that different from the rest of the group after all. It was nice to see a change in demeanor. Ever since this war started, Armin’s changed. He had no time to act shy, insecure, and hopeless. He was more on edge than he ever was in his entire life. When you two met as young children, you always had to protect him from threats like bullies. But now? Now bullies are just silly, and you found yourself being protected by him more than the other way around. It left a bittersweet wound in your heart.

“Well,” you hear his voice again, causing you to snap out of your thoughts. “Uh, you know. I think this will be a great learning experience..” He explains, but quickly trails off while trying to get closer to a food stand without you noticing.

You can’t help but chuckle at the sight and take a satchel of money from your pocket. “What’s this? Never seen it before. Looks good.” You chime.

“Oh! Uh, no, no.. I’m just looking!” The blonde squeaked and scratched the side of his cheek. He was always like that: wanting you to never do anything for him if it meant you spending something of value, whether that was money or even your time.

“Well, these actually looked good so.. why don’t we share?” You said while softly elbowing him. His grateful expression was evident by his grin as you held a tan cone with white cream up to his face. Armin hesitantly bit a small chunk and his eyes went wide.

“Woah..! It’s cold! And sweet?” He mumbles with a mouthful of what the vendor called ice cream. “Try it!”

You lean forward and lick the ice cream, immediately feeling a wave of satisfaction overcome you. “Mm,” you hum, “I’ve never eaten anything like this before. Are we even doing it right?”

“I’m sure it can’t be that hard to eat this thing.” He smiles. You can’t help but smile back since you provided him with something he wanted. It made you feel good.

However, thoughts of the future flashed before you. Will this ever last? Being happy with him? What if he gets mixed into something terrible? What if you weren’t there to stop it?

You bit your inner cheek and cursed yourself for thinking about these thoughts again. You knew that normal friends don’t think about their futures with their best friends so dearly like that. It took you a while to realize your infatuation with Armin was actually just a crush, but you also figured that the best course of action was to let it be a crush and a crush only. You knew you couldn’t pursue it. There’s no time for romance in the middle of a war. It’s not like it didn’t hurt, though.

“No, not the time. Just be happy.” You thought while trying to push your mind into a positive headspace. God, you fell hard.

══════

Soon after, you found yourself roaming around with your best friend by your side, letting him lead you to different places and trying different foods. It was like a festival that you and Armin could never get bored of. You had even convinced this random stranger to drive you and Armin around a lap in his car. Food, entertainment, friends, and each other. But how could you have fun knowing you’d have to leave this moment of solidarity? Your head couldn’t stop aching with bitter thoughts. You prayed you’d get to experience this again. You prayed it wouldn’t be just a memory.

“Hey,” you heard a soft voice call out, followed by the feeling of a hand on your shoulder. “You’re spacing out. Do you wanna stop walking? We can find somewhere to take a nap.” It was getting dark after all.

You blink a couple times and shake your head. As you look forward, your eyes glisten against the lights below you. The sun began to set and the buildings seemingly awoke in different lights and lanterns.

Armin had previously led you two up to a balcony by the help of a shop owner. As you begin to reminisce about that entire interaction, you also remember him talking to the owner, glancing at you every now and then and seeing the other man chuckle and nod at your best friend's words. Maybe he was lying just to get a good spot to hang out on? Unfortunately, he had to push you aside and talk to the owner privately in order to persuade him. "Weird," you thought, but didn’t care to dwell on it.

“I’m not that tired,” you say as you shrug off your indifference, “this is a nice view, man. Thank you for bringing me here. I needed a break.” You breathe in the cool air and sigh, feeling content with where your feet stand and the person you’re with at the very moment. It was nice.

Your brief moment of fulfillment quickly comes to a halt when you notice Armin fiddling with his fingers in the corner of your eye. His anxiety was something you took note of, but he usually relaxed around you. He wasn’t like this before, either.

“Are you okay? Maybe you need rest,” you suddenly speak in between a chuckle, making him jolt slightly at your inquiry. This made you tilt your head in confusion. You shift closer and whisper. “Hey, seriously, what’s wrong?”

“Ah- um..” The way he fumbled over his words made your heart melt. “Tell- I need to tell..”

“Armin, take your time-”

“No!”

Without another word, he grasped your hands and held them in his own. Your eyes widened after he cut you off so soon, but to your disappointment, you couldn’t read his expression at all since he was hanging his head low.

“Armi-”

“I-I.. I can’t.” He raises his head and looks at you with glossy eyes. “I can’t continue to live a good life knowing m-my life is- will be cut short.”

Armin's words are sharp, yet his tone is evidently not as confident as he’d like. His voice wavers as he continues to speak.

“And.. I, uh- even if we get over this, and we get to live, I mean- all of us get to live, what’s the point?!”

Your eyes begin to prickle with tears as he raises his voice and looks back down.

“I have to die after a few more years. M-My titan curse will not only be the cause of my death, but also an excuse. An excuse that- an excuse that will pull me away from you! Because I’m a coward!” He desperately explains, but to no avail, you have no idea what he’s talking about.

“I-I don’t follow,” you choke up.

He fully faces you with a soft tint of pink tainting his cheeks. The sight made your stomach churn out of guilt because you suddenly felt a glimmer of hope.

“I’d be a coward because there wouldn't be enough time to tell you how I feel. So that’s why I need to do it! A-And I need to repay you! For all the things you’ve given me my whole life. Not only for making my heart feel happy every time you walk by, b-but for giving me a spine!”

Armin grabs your forearms and grips your skin, keeping you close. “You make me feel confident, you make me feel so.. so strong, and it’s destroying me because all I do is burden you. I-I don’t want my- my death to be a burden too..”

He begins to sniffle and allow tears to run down his cheeks. You blink the tears welling up in your eyes down as well when you notice his last sentence growing quieter and quieter. All you could do is stare in silence.

“And, before I do that..!” He cries out while his voice cracks, “I want to live with you! A-At least.. no- I wanna be yours. Yours forever, until we both die!”

Armin completely breaks down, hiccuping in between sobs as he pulls away, seemingly to prevent himself from burdening you further. You both knew how impossible it would be to stay with each other until a natural death, but.. even so-

Without another thought, you instinctively pulled him in and held him so close in your arms.

“I love you..!” You gasped. “All this time I’ve been trying to erase these thoughts I’ve had for you. For years, I thought I could find peace and stay satisfied with being the guest in your wedding, a-and I..” Your throat closed up and you shook your head. You refused to think about the potential future you had to face.

You break away from the hug and cup his wet cheeks with your hands. His beautiful blue eyes that glistened under his tears made your head ache. When his expression softened, he looked down at your mouth, and you looked down at his, glancing between his lips and his gaze.

“And I can’t. Heaven knows I can’t.” You whisper in between a pathetic chuckle. “So-”

Armin lets out a soft whimper after you press a long, long kiss against his lips. The softness of his skin and the warmth of his cheeks got you so flustered and satisfied at the same time. While you brush your thumbs against his face, he wraps one arm around your back and the other clutching your hair. The two of you refused to let go as if Ymir’s curse would hit him in just a couple seconds.

It was only after you needed to breathe that you pulled away, and you were met with the heartbreaking, yet endearing sight of Armin’s needy eyes.

“Okay..” He whispers so gently, as if everyone in the world could hear you two. “O-Okay..”

You press another quick kiss and let the sound of Armin’s whine echo in your ears.

"Mmnh..!"

“I’m not giving up, I promise you.” You say with a more confident tone as you grip his hands.

He sniffles again and quickly nods his head. “I won’t either! I promise. I’m happy, I’m so, so happy.”

This time, Armin wraps his arms around your neck and kisses you. You found it so adorable how he seemingly just gained the courage to. Feeling so proud and so content, you place your hands on his waist and let his hips rub against yours, finding this special moment to be both intimate and sweet. He lets out a shaky moan upon feeling your tongue against his, and you both just hold each other. Until the end of time.

══════

Upon going back to the boat to return home, you decide to walk around, looking for your new boyfriend with a wide smile on your face. Without warning, Jean walks past you and bumps into your shoulder.

"Sorry.” He says.

Before you could even apologize as well after looking back to face him, you suddenly feel startled at his own face. He looked so.. dejected.

“What the hell? What’s wrong with you?” You ask.

“You’re lucky..” he said in a tone that sounded like his soul left his body. "Must be nice to get the one you want, huh?”

Your eye twitched for a moment. “Hey, man.. uh, it’s gonna be okay.”

══════

[moremaybank]

YOUR EYES OPEN — j.m

day six childhood friends to lovers with jj maybank

pairing jj maybank x fem!reader

summary you and jj visit a fortune teller for a laugh at the first annual obx carnival, but her predictions end up coming true. (loosely inspired by all american 3x07)

warnings jj licking your fingers in a non-sexual way (lmao), pretty sure that's it. just hella fluff with bestie!jj

obx week ‘23 masterlist ;; jj masterlist

“For a moment your eyes open and you know.” - Keane

You plucked a tuft of pink cotton candy from the cone in your hand. “Last piece. You want it?”

“Hell yeah. Give it to me.” JJ grabbed your wrist gently, bringing it toward his face so he could eat it. He goofily licked your fingertips to get rid of the stickiness, and your nose scrunched up in disgust. 

“Ew, J. You actually have no boundaries.” You wiped the residue of his saliva on his shirt.

“We’ve been best friends since we were nine. What boundaries do we have left?” 

Truthfully, you couldn’t argue with that. You and JJ had seen it all together. You’d been as vulnerable and open as two people could get with each other. You shouldn’t have been shocked by his…gross action. The man passed all kinds of gas around you twenty-four-seven. He’d eaten foods far past their expiry dates. You’d seen him drink spoiled milk on a dare (though you can’t say he wouldn’t have done it if he wasn’t dared to).

That’s not to say you two weren’t good for each other, because you undoubtedly were. JJ’s wild spirit helped you break out of your shell. He pushed you to try new things, push your boundaries, and make you see that you had all this untapped power inside you. You didn’t think he could surprise you any further, but he still managed to every day, even now in your twenties. 

On his side of things, your calming presence grounded him. It provided him with the safety and the domestic feeling he’d longed for while living his life with Luke Maybank as his father. No matter how chaotic things became, all he had to do was take one look at you, and his mind calmed. You, even as a child, gave him a comfort he never knew he needed until he had it in the palm of his hand. 

“I guess that’s true. You’re still gross though.” 

He winked at you with a cheeky grin. “You love it.”

The sun began to dip below the horizon, and the warm hues of pink, orange and yellow painted the sky as the two of you made your way through the colourful maze of booths and rides. Laughter and music filled the air, and your mouths watered at the sweet smells of funnel cakes and caramel apples. 

Your eyes wandered over all the activities surrounding you, and one specific booth caught your eye. You tugged on JJ’s arm. “J, look!” 

His eyes followed your pointed finger to a quaint, candlelit tent a little ways from where you both stood. He squinted, trying to focus on the large lettering of the sign above the booth. “Madame Zara’s Mystical Fortunes. Are you for real?” 

He couldn’t deny that it piqued his interest at least a little bit, but he also wasn’t sure about wasting ten bucks on words of ‘wisdom’ that you could easily get out of a fortune cookie. 

“Why not? It’s all in good fun anyway.”

“Y/N/N, I can give you a fortune right now for free. Watch this.” JJ stood, raising his index fingers to his temples and closing his eyes. His voice picked up a spooky tone. “I predict that we’re going to go on the tilt-a-whirl in the next thirty seconds.” 

His eyes open, and he points to the ride right next to you, clasping a hand over his heart with a shocked look on his face. “Oh my god, look! The tilt-a-whirl! I was right!”

You rolled your eyes at his mockery but still let out a laugh. “Come on. Do it for me?”

JJ looked into your pleading eyes and your jutted-out bottom lip, and felt himself starting to crack. He’d always had a soft spot for you. How could he deny your wishes when you looked at him like that? 

He let out a large sigh. “Fine. But we’re hitting the tilt-a-whirl as soon as we’re done. And I don’t want any complaints about how fast I spin us.” 

“Deal.” 

You stepped into the dimly lit tent, where an older woman with piercing eyes welcomed you. “Welcome, young ones. I sense that you seek answers.” 

You and JJ exchanged amused glances as you spoke. “Sure. Why not?”

She gestured for you to sit across from her at a small table, covered in a rich, purple velvet cloth. She took your right hand and JJ’s left, closing her eyes as her fingers traced invisible patterns on your palms. 

“There’s an abundance of energy between you two,” she began in a hushed tone. “This night you embark upon…it’ll offer you both clarity, unlocking secrets hidden in the depths of your hearts.” 

JJ laughed softly as a smirk took over his features. “Clarity, huh?” 

You kicked his leg under the table, trying not to laugh. Madame Zara continued, though, unfazed by your shared skepticism. 

“Remember, clarity often reveals truths you’ve chosen to ignore.” 

You thanked the fortune teller and exited the tent. “That was…something.”

“It was a load of bull,” JJ laughed. “I mean, clarity? Clarity about what?” 

“Who knows,” you replied. “Alright, we can go on your beloved tilt-a-whirl now.” JJ grinned at that, grabbing your hand and tugging you over to the ride. 

You two spent the evening going on every ride you could manage and indulging in all the sweets you came across. You’d be sick to your stomachs by the night’s end, but you couldn’t bring yourselves to care.

The night wore on, and you found yourselves atop the ferris wheel, overlooking the brightly lit carnival below you. The twinkling stars above you seemed to be in perfect alignment. JJ had grown eerily quiet, which was odd for him, seeing as he was always bouncing off the walls with an energy you couldn’t quite comprehend. 

You turned to look at him, planning to break the silence, when you caught his heated gaze. Your brows furrowed. “What’s that look for?” 

He licked his lips, turning his body toward you slightly. “Nothin’, I was just thinkin’ that psychic lady was right.” 

“Right about what?” You asked. All of a sudden, things had turned serious, which was rare for you two. Everything about your friendship was fun and lighthearted, but it didn’t feel that way anymore. At least, not at that moment. 

“About me needing clarity. Y/N, we’ve been best friends for so long. I mean, we’ve been through everything together. But sometimes…sometimes it feels like there’s somethin’ more. Somethin’ we both kinda deny.” 

Your eyes searched his for an understanding. “What are you saying, J?” 

“I think— Nah, I know. You’re my world. You make everything better, make everything brighter. I love you, pretty girl. I’m in love with you.” 

Your heart raced as you processed his words. Suddenly, the fortune teller’s prediction didn’t seem so foolish or ridiculous. In that moment, that same clarity JJ felt washed over you. The lightbulb switched on inside your head. You realized that you weren’t just in love with the idea of your friendship; you were in love with him. 

“I’m in love with you too, J,” you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper. Your hand found his, and your fingers intertwined. He smiled at you brighter than he ever had, and his eyes sparkled as the moonlight bounced off of them. 

“Can I kiss you now?” 

“You definitely should.”

JJ TAG LIST (JOIN HERE!): @surftrips @oncasette @taintedxkisses @maybankslover @goldenroutledge @penny4yourthoughts @bmo-bri @hemogloban @princessbetsy123-blog @slytherhoes @whoisdrewstarkey @aliyahsomerhalder @dreamingwithrafe @vigilanteshitposting @poppet05 @wildflwrdarlin @adoreyouusugar @f4ll-for-you @tell-me-when-ur-ready @bbycowboi @jjmaybankisbae @enhypens-hoe @loverofdrewstarkey @earth2starkey @angelofcigs @koalalafications @aerangi @cantstoptheimagines @sarah5462 @slut4drudy @lvvrgrl @somerandos-world @peachpitlover @sya-skies @emmalandry @gillybear17 @thatsthewaythechrissycrumbles @madelynie @urbestieboo @abbybarnesstuff @lovelyxtom @camelliaflow3r @dirtytissuebox @runningfrom2am

[hannahssimblr]

I feel bad for Liam, and eventually do extend a pity invite to what I intend to be a quiet night in with a couple of beers a couple of nights later. It’s been a day just like all of the others, spent alternating between kicking a lightweight ball from the tourist shop about, barefoot on the sand, and jumping into the sea when the sun gets too hot. 

In the late afternoon, when the skin across my nose feels tight and my hair wild and crunchy from the salt, I queue for ice cream at the Surf Shack where Liam is slinging cones and coffees. I have a sense that Liam suffers. He must, while slaving away in that tiny space between the counter and the grill that’s always sizzling with the chips and burgers that his father is flipping. He smiles widely at me when I reach the head of the line, sweat pooling on his forehead and that feeling of sympathy intensifies inside me. My sympathy, partially, because I’ve never really tried to be nice to him for reasons that neither he or I can fully understand. I invite him over on the spot.

A part of me hopes he won’t come, that he’ll be too awkward, but, of course, he does. His mother drops him off outside and he knocks on the door with a big, jolly smile and a big plastic bottle of coke. I bring it to the kitchen counter with our crates of beer and bottles of vodka. 

“Will you have a glass of this?” I offer, “Or you can have a beer or something.”

“Whatever you’re having.”

“Oh, well I’ll have vodka, probably… I’ll mix it with the coke or whatever.”

Liam, thrilled that I have chosen to make use of the drink he brought, perks up as I unscrew the top, “Okay I’ll have the same then!”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, that sounds lovely.”

I pour some for him and we head down to the living room together, where Joe and Kasper are arguing animatedly about whose ipod should be connected to the aux cable. As I sink onto the sofa next to Jen, she puts her head on my shoulder. 

“You were nice to invite him,” she says, and we watch Liam as he strikes up an enthusiastic conversation with Shane about football.

“Yeah well,” I mutter, “Keep an eye on him. My money's on him getting hammered tonight.”

I don’t know if Liam gets hammered, I stop paying attention to him after an hour or so, because I, in fact, am the one who drinks too much that night. It starts when Joe starts pouring doubles in the kitchen, and Kasper starts up a dangerous bragging game, claiming that he can hold more drink than all of us combined. 

“Even more than you!” he claims, his finger stabbing at my chest, “Mister big guy. Polish can drink more than the Irish.”

“You mean American,” Joe pipes up, “Or, I dunno, what are you?”

“Not sure,” I say, and slosh an undetermined measure of vodka into my cup. It breaches the rim and splashes on the floor a bit, but I’ll definitely clean it up later. To make a point I neck the whole thing in five seconds, then Kasper tilts his head and swallows his whole cup too, wiping his mouth with a smile and a shrug like it was easy. I know I’m in trouble. 

It’s hazy after that, and when I’m pushing the living room furniture out of the way and forcing Jen to dance with me to some Armin Van Buuren song, she squeals in my arms. “God, no! I hate dancing!”

“But you love dancing with me.”

“You are so drunk, show me your face,” she grabs my cheeks and looks right into my eyes, and she’s swimming in and out of focus, “Oh my god, yes, you’re smashed.”

“I love you, Jenny.”

“I know.”

I kiss one cheek then the other, and repeat, “I love you.”

“I thought she was lesbian,” Liam comments from the sideline. 

“Come on,” she peels me off her, clamping her hand over my mouth, because she doesn’t like the way I’m trying to sing words I don’t even know into the side of her face, I try to lightly bite her palm, “Hey! Come outside with me, I’m going to have a smoke.”

“Okay.”

She takes my hand and leads me upstairs and through the kitchen where our shoes are tacky on the floor. “Ugh, sticky.”

“I’ll clean it sometime.”

“Uh huh, sure you will,” she rummages through a cabinet and produces a pack of cigarettes from behind my parents’ champagne flutes. 

“Why do you keep them in there?” I wonder. 

“Because you’ll sneak them from me if you know where they are, and then one by one they’ll be squirrelled away, but rest assured, I’ll find a new spot to hide them tomorrow.”

“I don’t smoke.”

She smirks, “okay.”

“Not properly,”

“Then don’t ask me for one,”

I was going to, but don’t, to make a point. 

She unlocks the balcony door, “I saw a film recently that I think you’d like.”

“Really?” I don’t know how she thinks I can be involved in a discussion about films right now, but I suspect she doesn’t, that she's trying to distract me so that I don’t start bumming any of her rare and precious cigarettes. My brain doesn’t have the functioning nor the willpower to let her know I’m in on her little trick, so I just listen, or half listen to her go on about it. 

“...kind of that vibe, like you think it’s a simplistic, kind of run of the mill, then all this bonkers shit starts happening and like… oh hang on, c’mere, can you bring me out that lighter in there?”

“Over there?”

“Yep, on the table.”

I grab it and bring it to her, taking a risky move and tossing it, but she’s quick, she catches it before it careens over the edge of the balcony, proving her coordination a lot better than mine in this condition. I rest my elbows against the tempered glass of the railing because I’m losing trust in myself to stay upright. Is she talking about a David Lynch film? I should have listened to her at the beginning of this conversation because now it’s too late to ask. 

The world is churning, but I am invested in watching her try to light the cigarette, because there are two lighters, two mouths, two Jens. The sight of it is funny enough to make me laugh, as both her faces float around in front of my eyes like some magical illusion. 

“Feck sake,” the lighter sparks but fails to ignite, “This one is out of juice. Here, I think there’s another one in that bowl downstairs.”

She doesn’t trust me on the balcony alone, I can tell by the things the muscles in her brow are doing, the way she tugs me away from the edge, and I don’t think I trust myself either. I picture myself falling over the railing onto the sand, and decide that I would prefer not to be paralysed or dead before I ever see Berlin. I follow her back to the kitchen. 

Beginning // Prev // Next

corresponding LG chapter

[witchlingcirce]

AHHHHH we got Promo for the new season today so I wanted so share my thoughts and opinions 🫶🏼❤️‍🔥

First off… THE OUTFITS, OMG ACTUALLY GORGEOUS. They’ve obviously upped the quality this season and I am FOREVER grateful. Emma D’arcy and Olivia Cooke look absolutely STUNNING.

I really enjoy how they went with a very Daenerys season eight looking outfit for Rhaenyra. It’s probably a reference to her gradual decline into cruelty (ugh hate how this happened to Dany in season eight but irrelevant). Love how there giving Rhaenyra good old Targ colours!!! GORGEOUS.

Don’t even get me started on Alicent, Olivia Cooke is one of the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen. The outfit is so flattering, the fabric is gorgeous SHE IS GORGEOUS. The detailing on this dress is actually so stunning. Green and auburn/red hair is actually like perfect Olivia.

I’m really liking the expression on these two ladies as well. In the bigger poster that this promo is apart of, you can see that it’s Alicent kind of looking at Rhaenyra. I feel like this is meant to represent Alicents inner turmoil with her decision. I think ultimately she kind of regrets, I’ve read some 🚨leaks that say that Aegon stops listening to her, and I think that ultimately makes her realise maybe all of this wasn’t worth it🚨 while I do think it’s a look of regret, I mostly think it’s a look a grief. B&C causes Alicents daughter to go into horrible grief and also leads to the death of her grandson. Very interesting! Cant wait to see what Olivia Cooke has in store this season.

For Rhaenyra I think it’s a look of determination. She completely looks past Alicent and it looks as if she’s looking at the iron throne. I’m so happy that this season there giving Rhaenyra the same cunningness and agency she had in the book. I kind of hated how in the show you didn’t really feel the desire she had for the throne. But THIS SEASON! I have so much faith.

There both so gorgeous as well!! I think these are my favourite promo images.

Hmmmm I wonder if this promo could foreshadowing to any possible events in the future….hmmm…..hmmm…..

Anyways, both of these promos are really cool. I really like how they both have there swords out (ofc Aemond sword isn’t as cool as Darksister…), there both in front of there banners ready to fight for there team!

I’ll be honest I don’t really have much to say about these promo’s itself other than it’s obviously setting the kind of rivalry these two have (sort of.)

Although for these characters I’m really curious on where there characters are headed. I think at the end of season one we saw that Aemond kind of regretted his decision in killing Luke (whether that’s cuz he didn’t wanna actually kill him or didn’t wanna deal with the consequence) I’m really interested in how he will handle it. I don’t think he’s in Kingslanding when Jaehaerys dies but I wonder how he will handle the news. ‘Son for a son, an eye for an eye’.

Daemon I’ll be honest I can kind of assume will probably stay the same, I feel like the type of character he is was set up nicely ect ect. I’m curious with how him and Rhaenyra’s relationship will be. Obviously it’s a bit rocky, with him choking her, and also him organising B&C against her wishes, I’m very curious! Matt Smith will be phenomenal.

Aegon I hate you but you ate this ONEEEEE little thing. His promo ate so bad guys I’m sorry like… who let him serve that much?? Also RHAENYS IS FREE FROM THE CONE HEAD! THANK GOD! I PRAYED FOR TIMES LIKE THIS.

Overall Aegons promo is probably the most ‘symbolic’, in the corner you can see one of the swords going through a green banner, probably to symbolise his usurpation and how the throne isn’t ‘his’. I also find it really interesting how he’s holding his crown and not wearing it, whereas Rhaenyra is wearing hers. I think it’s to show how the iron throne is something that Rhaenyra WANTS it’s something that was promised to her for most of her life Vs Aegon who was kind of forced upon the role.

Also interesting that Cristons hair is long and in BTS pics we see that he has short hair, I wonder if he cuts it during the season. I also like how he’s next to Aegon, “kingmaker” also a sign to how he becomes Aegons hand of the king.

I dont think theres anything to say about Rhaeny’s and Corlys other than that RHAENYS SLAYS!! Thats my queen FR.

Also, I want to point out at Aegons window we can see Vhager (you can tell by the sag, lol.) and at Rhaenys we can assume thats Meleys… Rooks rest anyone?💔

ALL the promos where so amazing, good job to everyone who worked on them and I will BE DISCUSSING THE TRAILER TMRW.

BONUS:

Olivia Cooke posted Trailer(s) I saw someone on twitter mention how maybe there will be a team green trailer and a team black trailer??? I HOPE SO.

Im really hoping that we see Jace and Baela in tbe trailer tomorrow… guys i miss jace 😭

[schmooplesboop]

Drops of Ice-Cream

Pairing: Alex X Male Farmer/Player

Rating: Teen, bc Alex's brain goes dirty for half a second

He was coming. Haley was chattering on about a bunch of new, cute clothes she’d ordered online, but her voice had retreated to the far reaches of Alex’s mind, because he was walking over. The farmer who’d inherited old man Sawyer’s farm at the start of the spring. Colton.

Alex adjusted his cap, hating that they made him wear it. It was so dumb. Why did he need to advertise the ice-cream stand while he was literally working at it? Who would even see it outside Pelican Town? Lame.

His hands were sweating. He picked up the ice-cream scoop just to have something to occupy himself. Vaguely he was aware that Haley had stopped talking. She’d spotted Colton too.

“God, he’s so hot…” She leaned close to Alex, keeping her voice low so the approaching man wouldn’t hear her.

Alex had thought about dudes that way before, but definitely not as much as he thought about women. But… yeah, Colton was different. Taller than Alex by an inch or two, muscular, but not as broad as him. When he wasn’t farming, he was surfing so Colton’s skin was a golden tan and his short, wavy sandy blonde hair was slowly being bleached by the sun’s rays. His eyes were a deep, warm brown that never failed to make Alex feel tingly all over when they fell upon him. So. Yeah. Colton was hot.

Aloud, Alex grunted noncommittally to Haley and she rolled her eyes.

“Hiiiiiii, Colton!” She waved enthusiastically, sounding somewhat breathless.

Haley had an instant crush on the farmer the second he moved onto Gullwing Farm. The jealousy had been confusing at first, Alex unable to decide if he was jealous of Haley liking Colton because he liked Haley too… or because he liked Colton. Turned out, it was the latter. Colton was friendly from the start despite Alex’s chilly, jealousy-fuelled reception. And as the spring went on Alex found out that they had a lot in common. They were both absolute sports nuts and loved the outdoors as much as they loved their dogs. Since summer had begun Alex had gone for a beach run with Colton and his dog Finn (Alex’s own dog was too old to join them, but Dusty still got plenty of pets from both him and the farmer) almost every morning. It was something that Alex was starting to look forward to.

“Hello, Haley!” Colton called out in his deep, friendly voice, stepping up to the little ice-cream cart. “S’up, Alex?”

“…Hi.” Alex replied quietly. Today Colton wore board shorts patterned with palm leaves and a loose orange tank top that left absolutely nothing to the imagination. Alex could feel his face heating up. He didn’t know where to look. He felt Haley’s shrewd gaze on the back of his head. “What can I get for you?”

“It’s cheat day, so an extra-large waffle cone with vanilla ice-cream, caramel drizzle, and a pinch of sea salt please!”

Colton grinned. Alex couldn’t decide if that was for him or his cheat day treat so he ducked his head, cheeks burning, and scooped ice-cream into a cone. Out the corner of his eye he could see that Haley had stepped up beside the stand with a funny little smile on her lips. Please, don’t let her blurt out something embarrassing.

She didn’t. “How are things on the farm, Colton?”

“Melons are really finicky, I’m learning.” Colton replied as Alex squeezed caramel onto the ice-cream and sprinkled sea salt on the top. “Had half a batch die on me. Not giving up, though.”

“That’ll be $3.50,” Alex mumbled, holding the ice-cream out, trying not to blush even more than he already was as Colton’s fingers brushed against his as he took the cone from him.

“Keep the change,” Colton said cheerily, handing over enough cash for nearly three ice-creams.

So much for not blushing even more. Alex’s face felt like it was on fire. “Oh, no. I couldn’t—” He stammered. Haley was definitely smirking at him.

“Farming has taught me that standing in the hot sun all day sucks. Keep the change, Alex. Maybe buy yourself your own cheat day treat.”

Those warm brown eyes were on him, making Alex’s knees feel like water and his belly like a knot of hot chilis. “…Thanks.”

Okay. Colton had his ice-cream; Alex had his cash. He could leave now, and Alex could calm down before his face erupted like a volcano. Right?

Colton did not leave. Instead taking a long, languid lick of his ice-cream that had both Alex and Haley staring. “So, how’s the rest of your summer look, Alex. Any plans?”

Alex’s brain was short circuiting, eyes riveted to the drops of ice-cream, starkly white against Colton’s tan skin, that rolled down the man’s wrist before he licked them off.

Thankfully, Haley decided to take pity on him, “He’s going to one of those sportsball training things in a few weeks.”

“Gridball training camp? Really? That’s amazing, dude!” Colton exclaimed.

Yeah. One he had to pay for, not one he’d earned a spot in. Haley didn’t know that, of course. No one did. He didn’t have the guts to tell them. Alex inwardly squirmed in embarrassment and outwardly put on his cocky façade.

“Yup. Gonna be the best gridball player around. Gonna go pro some day!” God, he hated the way he sounded. Like very douche that had shoved Sebastian into the lockers in high school.

The farmer was looking at him like he’d invented fire. It made Alex feel both guilty and pleased.

“Remember me when you’re famous, hey?” Colton chuckled, licking more errant drops of ice-cream off his wrist before slurping up half the cone in one go. Yoba, trying to keep thoughts of Colton sucking on other things like that out of his mind was an ordeal.

“You can be my number one fan.” Alex said with instant regret. Ugh. Why’d he have to say that? So fucking lame.

“Already am, dude.”

Alex blinked. He couldn’t tell if Colton was being serious or not. Haley’s gaze was bouncing between them like she was watching a particularly interesting match of tennis, hands clasped in glee.

Alex was saved from answering when the farmer’s watch began to beep. “Ah, shit! I gotta water my crops!” He jogged off, splattering ice-cream everywhere and raising his free hand in a wave. “Bye, Haley! See you for tomorrow’s run, Alex!”

“Byeeeee, Colton!” Haley called, waving.

“Bye.” Alex wanted to drop dead on the spot.

Haley turned to him, a truly wicked smirk on her face. “Oh, you two have it so bad for each other.”

Apparently, she wasn’t the jealous type.

[wastingawayinmyroom]

@regulus-cannot-swim @shamelesswolfstarshipper @mars-randomly-rants i just finished lol

warning: slightly nfsw, not explicit, tons of cussing

…

That fucking jumper. That was the start of all his problems.

Remus had been over at he and James’ apartment, and fucking hell, he was beautiful. Sirius had to resist the urge to kiss him right when he walked in, wearing that cute jumper which looked so soft and removeable. He wanted to take it off slowly, undress his love in kisses, then watch him fall apart below him on the small mattress Sirius always found too cold.

Alas, that didn’t happen. What did happen was Remus getting too hot, removing that hot jumper in Sirius’ room, and leaving without it. Thankfully, James didn’t seem to notice, because Sirius had some plans for that jumper.

It was in a little heap on his bed. His bed, the one where he had so many fantasies of what he wanted to do to Remus Lupin. Kiss him slow. Kiss him fast. Fuck him in too many ways to count. And each fantasy ended up the same, with him using his hands to pleasure himself instead of having someone else do it for him. 

He buried his face in the jumper and sobbed. He loved Remus. More than just in his bedroom, but in the ice cream shop they were at last week, the chocolate delight dripping down his cone and onto his hand. Sirius has wanted to lick it, to taste Remus’ body and commit the joy to memory. 

He inhaled the scent of his best friend. It was so… so him. He wanted to wear it everywhere and never wash it. That scent was beautiful. It was home.

Oh, god. The amount of times Sirius had wanted to slowly peel this off of him in the past hour. The fantasies, the daydreams, they came back to him in a rush, and suddenly his pants were on the floor and he was moaning into the crook of his elbow, praying that James wouldn’t hear him.

…

The crush was getting unbearable.

Ever since he’d jerked off to the smell of Remus’ jumper— that sounded so stupid— he hadn’t been able to get the scene out of his mind. Peeling of Remus’ clothes. Feeling every line and scar, worshiping that body and knowing it like his own. 

“I don’t like him,” he muttered, stress-cleaning a pan. “I don’t like him.”

“What?” James asked, turning away from his computer.

“Nothing!” He took a breath. “Nothing. Just…” He waved his hand aimlessly. “Do whatever you were doing.”

James raised an eyebrow, but let the subject drop. God. He needed to do something, go somewhere, and it had to be right now.

A distraction, he thought, and twenty minutes later he was at a bar, completely regretting the decision because right there. Right there, in the corner, was Remus Lupin. Fucking reading. In a bar.

It was hot, alright? Watching this cute boy with a perfect ass stand in the corner of a dimly lit, alcohol-smelling catastrophe, reading some romance novel (oh, romance) and softly smiling to himself while turning pages. It was more than hot. Sirius wanted to fuck him even more.

So he made his way to the center of the place, dancing as suggestively as possible, making out with strangers and flirting with every person who walked by him. But Remus still read, undeterred. The music was so loud, he wondered how Remus could even focus on his book. He wanted Remus to focus on him. Not the book.

He closed his eyes, his hips swaying, trying his best not to give a shit about the man in the corner. 

Then he felt a hand on his waist. He opened his eyes. “Enjoying yourself?” Remus Lupin asked, smirking, and Sirius almost died. 

The panic on his face must’ve been pretty obvious, because the next thing Remus said was, “Don’t worry about the jumper. You can keep it.”

Sirius smiled. “It’s too large for me,” he said, and he and Remus were dancing together, hips swaying, arms tangled. 

Remus laughed. “Use it like a blanket, then. I think that’ll work.”

They danced together, exchanging a few words or a glance every so often. Remus kept leaning down and whispering the most delicious things in his ear, and Sirius’ blush kept getting redder and redder. 

“Come on,” he said. “I’ll show you something else I can do with my hips.”

Sirius couldn’t handle it. He knew Remus was joking, but still, oh my god. He was so fucking hot, Sirius just blurted out, “I jerked off to the smell of that jumper.”

Remus just stood there. Sirius was mortified. “I— I mean—”

“You know,” Remus said, softly. “You have the real thing right here.”

“You— What?”

Remus pulled him closer, their faces inches apart. “My place,” he said, and kissed Sirius so thoroughly he forgot his own name.

That was the best night of his life.

[contemplatingoutlander]

These moments totally happened at the GOP primary debate

WaPo satirist Alexandra Petri add her spin on the Republican primary debate. This is a gift 🎁 link so that those who do not subscribe to The Washington Post can read the entire article. Below are some excerpts. Enjoy! 😁

If you said, “Would you like to watch Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Doug Burgum, Mike Pence, Asa Hutchinson and Chris Christie talk to each other for two hours? FYI, the place where they’ll do so is hotter than Beelzebub’s armpit!,” I would have said, “No, thank you.” But if you said, “The alternative is watching Donald Trump talk to Tucker Carlson on the website formerly known as Twitter,” I would say, “I can’t wait to hear what Ron, Vivek, Nikki, Tim, Doug, Mike, Asa and Chris have to say!” [...] Here is approximately how it went. Bret Baier: Hello. We have brought a bell just because we enjoy the sound of a bell. Martha MacCallum: Feel free to speak over it; it will give the evening a fun, musical vibe. Baier: Yes, and speaking of music, candidates, the number one song in America is something called “Rich Men North of Richmond”! Governor DeSantis, introduce yourself by providing a close reading of the subtle lyrics of this song. DeSantis: Hang on, first I have some prepared remarks! Joe Biden’s basement! Hunter Biden’s paintings! “Rich Men North of Richmond”! Taxes! Florida! Baier: Chris Christie, why would you be better as president? Christie: Bret, I have spent the last four years sailing around sharpening my traffic-cone harpoon for my hated foe (from hell’s heart I spit my last breath at him!), and the one question I did not expect was about a scenario where I could actually become president. Uh, I was governor of New Jersey? So, take that for what it’s worth.

[See more under the cut.]

Scott: I have come to this debate with some specific numbers at my fingertips! I was told everyone would be excited about specific numbers! If not, I would really like those hours back. Ramaswamy: Hello! You may be wondering, who is this skinny guy with a funny name? I’m not a politician who is going to offer you a series of prepared, meaningless platitudes. I’m a businessman with no political experience who is going to offer you a series of prepared, meaningless platitudes. Isn’t it time we stopped running away from things and started running toward things? I am not running for president so much as I am running for the title of Favorite Grandson of your Fox News grandmother. Have you ever considered that people don’t love God anymore? [...] Pence: Hello! I am here to recite scripture and keep referring to the Trump-Pence administration, and I’m all out of scripture. That was some Mike Pence humor; I will never be out of scripture! I am unquestionably the best-prepared person in this race, the single individual with the experience that is closest to being the president, with no exceptions that spring to mind. I have been in the hallway. I have been in the White House. Do you like what my administration did with the Supreme Court? [...] Ramaswamy: You think now is the time for incremental reform. I think it is the time for actual revolution. Pence: Good Lord, no thank you. I do not have any revolutionary proposals. I believe in mild, small, incremental change. Except for a nationwide 15-week ban on abortion, which I want to implement because I promised it to God. Haley: Let’s be realistic! Women hate hearing this. Let’s just admit that it will never happen. But we’re all going to say we want it to happen! But, ladies, it’s not going to happen. [...] Young Person: Please tell me that anyone on this stage believes in climate change, the only issue I care about because I anticipate living on this planet for at least 60 years. I am starting to get worried. Can we have a show of hands? DeSantis: No! We are not schoolchildren! We will not raise our hands or acknowledge the existence of science! Ramaswamy: As the only one on this stage who is not bought and paid for, I have a thought. Christie: I have had enough of a guy who sounds like ChatGPT and stole his opening gambit from Barack Obama. I came here to bludgeon Donald Trump verbally, but Trump is not here and I have a lot of verbal bludgeoning built up. [...] Baier: Why do we have homelessness, drugs and crime? Pence: Because Democrats talked about defunding the police, and everyone knows that if you say “Defund the police!” into a mirror three times, crime appears. It’s just science, or, as Governor DeSantis and I prefer, religion. Christie: I disagree. Crime went up because Hunter Biden did it.

Please use the gift link above to read the rest of Petri's cutting satire.

Just one thing I would like to comment on though. I grew up in NJ... BEYOND the exits on the Turnpike. Why does there always have to be a NJ joke?🤦🏻‍♀️There really are nice parts of NJ. Really. I mean it. 😉

[edited]

[taylor-tut-ocs]

Hello!! would it be in the realm of possibility to see Bonnie Bailey with a stab wound?

ABSOLUTELY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ENJOYING MY SPACE GIRLS!!!

“Look, we’re not interested in harming you. We won’t even touch anything. I just need to know if it’s been here. So I can know if we’re on the right track.” 

Technically, they’re not on the right track. In fact, they spend far less time on the planets that the military forces her to get samples from. She fudges the numbers and acts like their mission took 10 days when really, it had been just six or seven, just to build in wiggle room for visiting nearby planets to interrogate their people about the monster that killed her crew. Bonnie isn’t sure what she’d do if someone said “yes”. Would she chase it, risking discharge and the repossession of her ship once more? If Bonnie knows one thing, it’s that Audra would not survive another one. She barely survived the first time 25 years ago. It brought her to her knees and she’d drank a lot about it. Her days were a monotonous revolving door of alcohol, depression sleep, and dissociation. The survivor’s guilt nearly killed her, and that had been when she was on top of the world.Bonnie can’t even think about what would happen if it happened again. 

Audra is only halfway through her second plea when she feels a cold blade pressed against her throat. 

“Get out of here,” he warns, eyes the color of a sodium flame. “We don’t want military on our planet.” 

“We’re just a research ship,” she argues, and Bonnie is crushed instantly. Instead of appeasing him, she chose to argue? Doesn’t she care that Bonnie’s life is on the line? “We don’t want trouble. I just need to know.” 

The knife presses so firmly to her throat that she feels a thin drop of blood trickle down her neck. Oh, god. She’s going to die here because she’d idolized someone who put her career before compassion. 

“Fine. Let her go, and we’ll leave.” 

“No. You leave first, then you can come back for this one.” Audra rolls her eyes at the stupidity of that plan. 

“We’re not going to leave her here with you now that you’ve pulled a knife.” 

“Captain, please—”

“I don’t believe you.” 

“You probably shouldn’t.” 

Suddenly, Bonnie feels a punch to her gut and grunts in surprise, stumbling backward as the guy releases her. 

“There. Now you’d better hurry back to your ship, if you don’t want her to die.” 

Die? In what world is she going to die from a punch to the gut?

But when she moves her hands away from where they’ve instinctively clutched to guard her abdomen and all the precious organs within, she finds that her hands are covered in red. He hadn’t punched her. He’d stabbed her. 

“Captain!” she cries out. This morning, she’d been beyond giddy that she’d be asked to be on THE Audra Quinn’s team. Now, though, she sort of wishes that it could have been anybody else. For as much as she looks up to Audra’s dedication and determination, the flip side of the coin is that she’s the least likely to be swayed by something like this. 

To her surprise, rather than pressing the knife against the man’s own throat until he talks, she allows him to run as she rushees to Bonnie’s side and eases her to the ground. 

“Easy, kid,” she says in a tone that is to soothing what sandpaper is to pillows. “Cone on. Let me see that; move your hands.” Bonnie does as she’s told and Audra curses when she lifts her shirt. The wound must be pretty bad if even Audra seems concerned about it. She presses her comm on her watch and starts barking orders. “Bridge team, take us back up. Med team, ready the sick bay. Ms. Bailey has been injured. Ground team, you heard all that?” 

“How badly is she hurt?” Esther asks through the comms. 

“She just got stabbed her in the gut.” 

Bonnie misses their reactions as she drifts a little, eyes fluttering shut before Audra is tapping her cheek roughly. 

“I know you’re not about to take a nap on the job.” 

“S’rry,” she slurs as professionally as she can manage. She may have been stabbed, but this is still her boss. “Tryin’.” 

“Well, you’re fucking it up.” Even though she knows that this is just Audra being Audra, it still stings to hear her say the words. Her worst nightmare, really, and she flinches. “We’re only ten minutes from rescue. Just hang tight until then, okay?” 

Her eyelids flutter against her will and she attempts to force herself to sit up, hoping that it will help her remain conscious, but the blinding pain stops her and she cries out. 

“Don’t move,” Audra scolds. She doesn’t realize that her eyes have slipped shut until Audra is patting her cheek, much more gently than she’d expect from her. 

“Hey. Play a game with me.” Bonnie blinks in confusion, taking a long moment to process what would be hard to understand even without severe blood loss. 

“What kind of game?” 

“The kind that keeps you awake,” she says. Audra glances around and sighs. “I spy something white.” 

Through hazy, fuzzy vision, Bonnie scans the landscape. It’s mostly blurry blobs, but one of them has to be white, and she has to find it. If she falls unconscious, she’s terrified that she’ll lose the Captain’s respect.

“Come on, kid. Quicker than that.” Finally, she spots a thin white line in the sea of oddly colored leaves on trees and rocks. Squinting, she has to strain to see the that the line appears to be covered in blue spots that she recognizes as moss that the lab team had sampled earlier today. 

“The tree trunk,” she finally says, and her vision must be worse than she thought, because she swears she sees her almost smile. 

“Good, Ms. Bailey. Your turn.” She glances at her abdomen against her better judgment. 

“I spy something red.” 

“Not funny.” 

“Fine. I spy,” the next breath she takes does nothing to stave off the feeling of oxygen starvation, “something purple.” Audra’s eyes are focused and serious as she searches, never releasing pressure on the wound. 

“That rock,” she says, pointing. It’s so far out of her line of sight that she has to turn her head to see it. 

“Wrong.” 

“Hm,” she hums. “The lichen on that rock.” That’s not even purple. All she’s doing is baiting her, trying to sustain her attention by continuously guessing. 

“You need,” a breath, shuddering and painful, “your eyes looked at.” 

“Maybe I do,” she replies. Everything is spinning. She feels like she’s circling the drain in terms of consciousness. “Hey. Eyes open.” She tries to force it, but she only has the energy to make them flutter slightly. “Me. Bailey,” she calls, patting her cheek once more, this time with less success. “Ms. Bailey.” But unconsciousness pulls her under, anyway. 

When she wakes, it’s to five IVs with three drips total. No one is in her room, but she doesn’t know whether that’s because she’s been out for so long that they’ve had no choice but to leave, or because no one cares. That stings. 

“Bonnie,” Esther greets, poking her head around the corner. She hasn’t made a sound that she’s aware of—she must have some sort of sixth sense to know exactly when she wakes. “How are you feeling?” 

She takes survey of her body and shrugs. “How long was I out?”

“12 hours total, but you’ve woken up a few times. You probably don’t remember.” She shakes her head. 

“Well, I’m giving you blood, antibiotics, and something for the pain to keep you comfortable. Are you comfortable?” 

Of course she’s not, she thinks, but this is probably as close to it as she’s going to get. 

“Just about,” she says. “Has anyone—” She cuts herself off before she can finish the sentence, but Esther is too intuitive for her own good. 

“Has anyone visited? Yes, everyone in the lab, at some point.” Damn. So the Captain hadn’t even stopped by. For some reason, even though that’s completely predictable, she feels so crushed that her eyes fill with tears that she swipes away aggressively with a single hand. 

“The Captain told me to ping her when you came to. I wouldn’t expect for her to visit, though.” 

So she had cared? 

“Oh. Okay.” She doesn’t know what else to say. 

“You should get some rest. Do you feel like you could sleep, or do you need something to help relax you? What you went through must have been a pretty big yikes, so I’d understand if you needed something for the anxiety. It might help, but Bonnie is nothing if not stubborn. 

“I’ll be fine. I’m just going to read.” 

“Sure. Here,” she says, reaching below the bed where she’s stored the things from her pockets and bag. “Don’t strain yourself. Pick something with a happy ending, alright?” 

“I think that’s what I need,” she agrees. “Thanks.” 

Indeed, she does not receive a visit from Audra. But she does see her shoes under the curtain. 

[loveletterstoeverything]

on smelling the flowers

Walk One

My dog takes great pleasure in our evening walks. I have not always felt the same. Our walks, historically, go like this: she pulls on her leash, and I follow behind doom scrolling social media on my phone. The heat of the evening feels oppressive, the breeze hot and taunting. She is happy, and I think only of getting back inside to lay down in the AC. She insists on smelling every fallen fruit and darts after bugs with joy. I endure.

On one of our very first walks together, Daisy rolls on her back, feet in the air, happier than I have ever seen her. I pull out my phone to take a quick video of her joy, feeling it rise in my chest as well, until my nose catches up with the situation. My dog, finally out of the shy shelter dog phase, has rolled in feces. Any joy I felt is lost in the realization that I will now need to wash a three legged dog who hates bath time and that I might be late to work because of it. Daisy, despite being covered in shit, seems to be even happier. 

I envy my dog for her seemingly natural propensity for joy, especially in the face of hard times. I brought her home 10 days after she lost her hind leg to a car accident, her side still scraped and scarred from the pavement. And yet the first moment we met she came bouncing over, sat in my lap and licked my face. She was sniffing flowers with her entire cone in the bushes, tail wagging like nothing bad had ever happened to her. Could I ever do the same?

In church I grew up hearing that happiness was a feeling, but joy is a choice. To a 17-year-old with severe depression, this sounded like bullshit shared to shift the blame of our pain from God to ourselves. I spent my life with a clenched fist, nails digging into my palm, enduring what the church might claim was God’s plan for my life. Expressing unhappiness was met each time with a smile and a condemnation: happiness is a feeling, joy is a choice; your feelings don’t matter, do a better job at getting rid of them. Truthfully, I still believe that this mantra was shared with the purpose of absolving the Almighty of any hand in our affliction, though I have found meaning of my own in them since.

Walk Two

My favorite time to walk with my dog is right before the sun fully sets, when the heat has started to seep out of the concrete and dissipate into the air but it hasn’t quite become dark yet. We walk along the fence of our complex, where bushes of purple flowers bloom when it rains. My sweet dog, with her flopping ears and wagging tail, has always believed in smelling every single flower for as long as necessary. I, with my allegedly important life, believe in shorter, functional walks. I believed that feeling joy and that noticing the beauty of this world and this life was something I could only achieve through time and medication and luck. 

I want to be clear: medication is for many (and certainly for me) a prerequisite to study and participate in joy. But I thought medicine would be magic. I was disappointed to discover that it functions more as a life jacket than a cruise ship. I wanted joy to happen to me, and I was frustrated to find that all the mood stabilizers and anxiety meds in the world wouldn’t bestow immediate happiness upon me. 

But here was this dog sniffing flowers. 

Why could I make hours of time for things that made me miserable but not take these ten minutes to be present, outside, a spectator to my dog’s delight? Why was I so annoyed when our walks would take longer while she took the time to smell every fallen olive from the trees, as if each would be a brand new scent? Maybe they are to her. Maybe each sniff makes her heart feel lighter, more excited to go to the next, the way I read books when I was young and joy was easy. Maybe if I stood here with her, I could learn her secret to happiness. 

Walk Three

I think Daisy knew what all dogs innately know: to experience joy we must choose to participate in it. Every walk, she knows to smell everything in reach of her nose: pink and purple flowers, a grasshopper before it leaps away, even the occasional snake. I wish I could say it only took one or even a handful of walks for my perspective to change. But it took years of walks (and of therapy, and of finding the right balance of medication) before anything clicked. Walking a dog is consistent; it requires intentionality and participation. Joy is similar. 

We cannot choose the perfect set of conditions to experience joy any more than we can make flowers bloom, but we can choose to seek all those places where the conditions are right for it. And when they do bloom, soft orange petals bursting open to the light, dirt still soft from the rain, we can choose to give into it. When we are consistent in looking for where our heart finds joy, in noticing where that little pull in our chest whispers “pay attention”, we can choose to experience that joy fully. 

Daisy reframed joy and happiness for me. Happiness is a feeling, yes – one of the many across the spectrum I can experience and express fully and with no shame. And joy is a choice; even when I might be covered in shit from my roll on the grass, I can choose to feel joy that I am alive, joy that there is grass to roll in, joy to not have a cone around my neck any longer. Daisy would.

On our walks now, when Daisy smells a flower, I smell one too. The yellow ones make me sneeze, and the purple ones smell a little like feet to me, but each time I breathe in the flowers with my dog I find myself smiling and marveling at what it is to be alive. Daisy rolls in the dirt, and even though a part of me wishes to pull her back to avoid trying to de-mud a 3-legged dog who hates baths, I take off my shoes and jump in puddles with her. I laugh and her tail wags and I realize that this is the way we choose joy. 

[fookinavocadosman]

episode 1: paradise blues {HS}

It’s the first day of the retreat and y/n is struggling not to pounce on Harry. Secrets are revealed and more secrets are being made. 

warnings: none really. teasing. smut... (maybe)

word count: 2.5k

This morning was a rude awakening.

Literally.

First, Harry decided to tease me awake by using the hand he had on my stomach, letting his fingers play with the tiny bow on my underwear. Then, before I could fully be aware of my surroundings the lights in the bedroom turned on causing, everyone to groan. I bury my head back into the pillow as Harry nuzzles closer to me when a ding is heard throughout the room.

“Good morning. Today is your first full day at the retreat. Enjoy your first day of celibacy.” Lana announces throughout the room and no one makes a move to get up. Harry pushes his hips into mine pulling me closer to him with his arm.

“I don’t want to get up.” He mumbles and I sigh reaching my hand back to thread my fingers through his hair.

“Neither do I.” I mumble back. We all stay in bed before someone actively starts to get ready for the day. I eventually get Harry to let me go and I get ready putting on a black and white bikini before heading out to the pool. I join Niall, Louis, Ava, and Riley in the pool while Sage and Zayn lounge around on the chairs.

“So how are y’all feeling about this retreat so far?” I ask them and most of them respond with shrugs. 

“Upset that I took time off work to do this but it’s whatever nothing I can do now.” Ava says and Riley agrees with her. 

“Who knew that getting chicks would bite me in the ass.” Niall comments and we all laugh.

“God I can’t believe we're getting cockblocked by a fucking cone.” Louis also comments making us laugh even harder. Once everyone settles we begin to talk about our home lives among other things and I begin to observe everyone's behaviors. Niall and Riley seem to be getting close as well as Ava and Louis but I can’t tell what everyone’s motives are towards each other. Eventually, the topic gears back to the retreat when Riley asks a question.

“How much do you guys think the fines are going to be?”

“I think like a peck is going to be $100 and then like a make out would be like $300.” Ava is the first to speak up and I agree with her but Niall shakes his head.

“Knowing that this is supposed to be “rehab” it’s probably worth a good chunk of money. Like a kiss is probably $1000 or something ridiculous.” I shrug my shoulders also agreeing.

“Yeah but let’s hope it’s the first one so we can break the rules more often.” I say and everyone laughs. We stay in the pool for a little more until switching spots with Sage and Zayn. As we relax and dry off in the sun we make small talk about everyone else.

“So if you guys had a free pass to kiss anyone here who would it be? Personally I’d kiss Louis.” Ava asks everyone. Louis says Ava, Riley says Niall, and Niall says Riley to no one’s shock until it’s left to me to answer.

“Uh, probably Harry.” I answer and Ava squeals.

“Oh spill.” She instigates and I roll my eyes flipping onto my stomach.

“I mean we’ve basically been attached at the hip since the moment he arrived and he was pissed yesterday when Zayn kissed me. And he’s fucking fine. Like if this was the actual show I signed up for I’d be fucking him as much as possible.” I explain and Ava and Riley are engrossed while Louis and Niall are having a conversation of their own.

“I get it girl, I’d be jumping Niall if it was under normal circumstances.” Riley supports me while Ava nods.

“Alright I’m going to head out guys I’ll see y’all later.” I tell them waving goodbye to the boys as well as Sage and Zayn. I walk around before finding an empty area with day beds away from everyone. I close my eyes letting myself cool down in the shade until a throat clears. I peek one eye open seeing Harry standing in front of me.

“Is there room for one more?” He asks and I nod moving over so he can fit in. He gets comfortable laying on his back before turning his head to look at me.

“I haven’t seen you since this morning what have you been doing?” He asks me and I shrug.

“I was at the pool with Niall, Louis, Riley, and Ava.” I answer him and he nods.

“How was that?”

“It was good. We just hung out and talked.” I smile as he rolls onto his side to face me his eyes tracing my body up and down. His hand comes to rest on my stomach and I take in a deep breath. He removes his hand from my stomach places it on my hip and rolls me onto my side so we face each other. Our foreheads touch and if I lean any closer we would kiss.

“Careful. We don’t want to break any rules.” I tease him and he smirks letting out a small chuckle.

“You’re right.” He leans back slightly, his hand rubbing up and down my side.

“Lana never said anything about teasing.” Harry says and I shake my head.

“Don’t you even think about it.” I chastise him, bringing my hand up and pausing his movements. A smirk lines his lips as he pulls me into his chest. I sigh as my head rests on his chest hearing his heartbeat. 

His hand rubs up and down my back playing with my hair every couple of passes and I feel peaceful. I eventually move my head up to look at Harry and I see he’s already looking at me. The tension between us is thick. He dips his head down as I crane mine up and we are about to kiss but he pulls away.

“Don’t want to break the rules now do we?” He teases me and I let out a breath shaking my head as he smiles. He gets up from the day bed holding out his hand and I gladly accept it letting him pull me up. We head inside to the bedroom and see Zayn, Liam, Sage, and Kate all sitting on the bed playing with condoms. I stop in my tracks as I stare confused.

“Where the fuck did you guys get condoms?” I ask and they turn toward me before laughing.

“They were in the cabinets!” Sage laughs while Kate starts blowing one up. I make my way towards them grabbing one to open. I blow it up and tie it off before tucking it under my arm.

“Guys meet Dickie.” I announce holding him up and everyone laughs. I put him on the bed Harry and I share as Harry shakes his head at me.

“Am I getting kicked out of bed for a condom balloon?” He asks and I shrug.

“Be good and we’ll see.” I tease him. He rolls his eyes at me as I sit down on the bed letting myself decompress. A while passes when someone new enters the room and I notice it’s Niall.

“Hey, guys Lana wants us to meet in the cabana.” He tells us and we all nod making our way outside. I sit next to Sage as Harry sits next to me resting his hand on my thigh. We all talk as everyone makes their way to the cabana and once everyone is there Lana dings.

“I have news for everyone.” She begins and people start murmuring about what it could possibly be.

“There has been a breach of the rules.” Everyone’s jaws drop and Harry turns his head to look at me. I widen my eyes not knowing what to do and he squeezes my thigh to reassure me.

“Alright fess up who did it?” Kate asks looking around and I shrug my shoulders staying quiet. No one speaks and people start getting upset. I look back at Harry and he sighs.

“Y/N and I kissed last night.” He announces and I drop my head as everyone shoots theirs to look at us.

“Bloody hell.” Liam groans and Sage lightly slaps my shoulder.

“Your rule break has cost the group $3,000. The prize fund now stands at $97,000.” Lana breaks the tension in the room causing everyone’s jaws to drop. I hold my head in my hands as Harry wraps an arm around my shoulder. I feel a head drop onto my shoulder and soon a voice whispers into my ear,

“Was it at least worth it?” Sage asks and I nod my head and I soon feel her pat my back. I get up from the couch muttering a sorry to everyone before heading inside. Why do I feel so guilty? I’m broken out of my thoughts by Harry calling after me making me stop in my tracks. He catches up to me putting his hands on my face tilting my head up.

“Are you okay?” He asks and I shrug my shoulders.

“I don’t know. I feel bad.” I tell him and he slightly pouts his lips.

“Do you regret it?” He finally asks the looming question and I sigh.

“I know I should but I don’t.” I tell him and he stays silent.

“Do you?” I question back and he immediately shakes his head.

“After even knowing everything that happens I would do it all over again.” He tells me and I let out a slight chuckle dropping my head.

“Keep saying things like that and we’re going to lose another 3k.” I mumble and I hear him chuckle.

“Don’t tempt me.” He whispers kissing my forehead. As the night continues Zayn and Sage get sent on a date by Lana and we all watched from the cabana. It seems like it went well considering when they got back to the bedroom they climbed into bed together.

Harry and I make small talk when the lights go off considering neither of us are tired. His hand runs up and down my side under the covers. As we talk every once and a while his fingers will stop to toy with the band of my underwear. 

When my eyes start to droop he turns me over pulling my back to his chest letting his right arm act as a pillow for my head as his left trails down my stomach his fingertips just barely going past the band of my underwear. I take in a slight breath at the action and he lightly sushes me. His fingertips go past the band but that’s as far as he goes, his hand stays there his thumb moving back and forth along the top.

“I’m pretty sure this is against the rules.” I tilt my head as close as I can to his ear and he lets out a light chuckle. He dips his head down so his lips graze my ear making sure the camera can’t see the movement of his lips.

“No one will know as long as you don’t make a fuss.” He whispers back placing a kiss to my ear before returning his head to its original position. His hand then slides down a little more so his fingertips rest just above my clit. It takes everything in me to keep my breathing steady and not buck my hips against his hand. His lips graze my ear again as he leans in closer.

“Now be a good girl and turn your head into the pillow and pretend like you’re falling asleep.” His voice is raspy, the lust too much for him to handle. I nod my head making it look like I’m snuggling my head into the pillow and I feel his chest vibrate as he hums in approval. 

He adjusts his body slightly so he can move my leg so he has more access to me, his head nuzzles against my neck, and I assume he does it to hide any reactions or movements that can be picked up by the camera. His fingers tease me moving up and down but never touching my clit. After a while when it can be presumed, we're both asleep his fingers finally move down connecting with my clit. My breath nearly catches but I keep my breathing steady to not arouse suspicion.

He rubs lightly at first moving his fingers in a figure 8 but soon he applies more pressure and I feel my stomach start to burn. It’s taking every fiber of my being to stay calm and collected. His fingers eventually dip down playing with the wetness leaking out of my entrance and I feel his chest vibrate against me. His fingers lightly move up and down my slit before one is placed at my entrance. 

My core flutters against the tip of his finger and he takes a second before slowly pushing his finger into me. I subtly bite the pillow to keep any noises from coming out of my mouth as his finger fills me. He slowly moves his finger in and out, caressing my g-spot with every movement. I feel the tingle in my stomach and my hand under the covers grasps his wrist lightly and he stops his movements.

“Do you want me to stop baby?” He asks, voice muffled by the pillow. My voice is low and muffled as I respond. 

“I need more.” His hand moves so two fingers are now positioned at my entrance. As he pushes both in, a slight moan escapes me making him stop his movements.

“Shh baby.” He whispers, and he begins his movements again going slower. His fingers fill me perfectly. Thick and long hitting all the right spots. His fingers thrust in and out of me and I bite my lip muffling any sounds.

“Such a good girl for me.” His thrusts remain consistent until he curls his finger hitting my g-spot. I nearly scream as he continues hitting the sensitive spot, my thighs trying to close around his hand but failing because of the way he’s positioned me. My breathing begins to pick up and I can feel my body overheat. The coil in my abdomen tightens, my core tightening around Harry’s fingers.

“I’m gonna cum.” I whisper into the pillow and Harry��s movements pick up slightly. I push my head down into the pillow in an effort to muffle the noises that slip out of my throat. The coil breaks and my breath catches as the pleasure rushes through my body. His fingers work me through the high and I feel his lips pucker against my neck. 

When I come down I pull on his wrist and he stops his movements cupping my heat. He pulls his hand away slipping his fingers through the wetness now covering my panties as his hand comes to rest on my mound. I regain control of my breathing as he rubs his thumb along my stomach. He lets out a long breath pulling me closer to him and I can feel how hard he is against me. I bring my hand back palming him but he pulls it away.

“I’m fine, now go to sleep.” He whispers. I relax against his hold and let the rise and fall of his chest and the beat of his heart lull me to sleep. 

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[tellmealovestory]

Kiss Me - Chapter 5

Summary: 4 times you and Eddie kissed and it meant nothing and the 1 time you kissed and it meant everything.

Warnings: Little bit of angst, but other than that nothing.

Masterlist

After graduation the rest of summer passes by in a blur. 

It’s spent hanging out at The Hideout watching Corroded Coffin still play to you and mostly drunks. It’s spent sneaking out of your house and driving around town, music blasting from the speakers of Eddie’s van as you share the occasional beer. It’s spent popping in on Dungeons and Dragons games though you’re stuck enduring questions from Dustin about when you and Eddie are going to make things official even though you’ve both told him multiple times you’re not dating. It’s spent making memories while trying to figure out this next chapter of your lives. 

In the beginning of August you drag Eddie out to do some shopping for college. It’s not his idea of fun and he grumbles about it every aisle you push the cart down and every time you toss notebooks and packs of pens and pencils in the cart. 

The only time he stops complaining is when you bribe him with ice cream after you’re all done. 

Sitting in the back of his van with the doors wide open in a mostly empty Dairy Queen parking lot, the sun begins its lazy descent into the sky, a warm breeze washes over you as ice cream drips down the cone and onto your wrist and you wish you could bottle this moment up and stay with him here forever. 

That is until he breaks the peacefulness by leaning over and taking a large bite into your dwindling ice cream cone. 

“Eddie!” you laugh, the sound echoing out in the parking lot. “That’s disgusting and I’m not done with that!” 

He gives you a lopsided grin, shrugs his shoulder and leans over for another taste, but your reflexes are faster this time and you manage to pull your cone away at the last second. And manage to smear the side of your face and mouth with cold ice cream that makes you gasp. 

“Cute,” Eddie says, grinning wider by the second. 

“Napkin?” you ask, eyes casting around for one, but you come up empty. He shakes his head and you sigh dramatically. “Why do you not have napkins in here? You know what a mess I make when I eat ice cream.”

“I dunno,” he starts, “maybe cause I think you look cute when you make a mess.” 

The way he says it leaves you wondering if he’s joking or not. It’s difficult to tell when it comes to him sometimes. Your eyes cast around the back of the van again and you silently curse yourself for not thinking to grab napkins when you placed the order. 

You’re left with the choice of trying to lick your face clean or wipe it off with your hand and wipe that off on Eddie’s shirt for making this mess in the first place, but before you can do any of those he comes up with a better idea.

He leans forward again and murmurs a soft, “let me.”

You narrow your eyes in distrust and he pulls back, hands up in surrender. “I wasn’t gonna do anything bad,” he says with a chuckle.

“I swear to god if your idea of cleaning my face off is by licking me I will murder you. Right here in this parking lot. Good luck playing guitar then future rockstar.”

“You what?” He shouts, mouth dropping open in shock at hearing something like that come out of you.

He can’t stay serious for long and soon you’re both bursting into laughter that brings tears to your eyes. “You’re really gonna murder me? For helping you? I thought you liked me, princess, thought we had something special going on between us.” He gestures between your bodies with his own melting cone and the laughter continues for a few more seconds. 

“Ya know… the thought of using my tongue didn’t cross my mind till you brought it up and now I kinda like it. Who needs napkins anyway when I have this?” He wiggles his eyebrows, sticks his long tongue out and you slap his shoulder playfully.

The ice cream on your face continues to melt like a glacier and if you don’t get it cleaned up soon you’ll be a gross, sticky mess for the rest of the night and that makes your skin crawl. 

Eddie senses your discomfort because he motions you forward yet again with a nod of his head. Locking eyes with him you do as he asks and notice how the air around you seems to have gotten stiller, hotter, stickier even and it’s not something you can blame on the midwestern humidity. 

You’ve never experienced something like this before, only read about it in trashy romance novels in the library, hiding them from your friends who would make fun of you for reading them.

His fingers gently stroke your chin, the tip of his pinky finger dips into the melting dessert on your cheek and you can’t help the shaky exhale you let out at his touch. 

Your gaze switches between his honey brown eyes and his plump lips and as if on instinct you both tilt your faces toward one another. 

His warm breath dances over your face and his lips hover mere inches from yours, but just as they’re about to connect you turn your head at the last second and his lips smack against your sticky cheek instead. 

You don’t have an explanation for why you turn away and seconds after you do you regret it. It’s not like this is your first kiss, hell by now you’ve become a pro at kissing him. 

Just like you don’t have an explanation for the next thing you do which is blurt out, “why do you keep trying to kiss me?” You cringe at the way your voice rises and how panicky you sound. “Shit, sorry, that doesn't sound great. I mean…”

Eddie’s eyebrows rise up to his hairline. “I keep trying to kiss you? You keep kissing me!” Eddie shouts, voice matching yours decibel for decibel and you’re sure you make quite the pair sitting in the parking lot yelling about kisses.

“Are you forgetting all the times you kissed me? So you’re not innocent in whatever this is either!” you retort and it’s so childish and so immature, but it does the trick to slice through the tension and draw ridiculous smiles to each of your faces. Even when you fight or argue which is a rare occurrence in your friendship it’s hard to keep it going longer than a few minutes without one of you breaking, usually you.

Scrubbing a hand over your face you forget for a second half of it’s still covered in ice cream and you wrinkle your nose when your hand comes away sticky. 

“Offer still stands for me to lick it clean,” he jokes, nodding to your hand. His comment draws out another round of small smiles, but something has changed again in the air around you and you don’t know how to fix it without having to do the one thing you’ve been avoiding; talking about your feelings.

For a few seconds all that can be heard in the parking lot is the sound of tires crunching over gravel and birds cawing in the distance. The sky is lit up with dark shades of reds and oranges pierced through with cotton candy colored pinks and purples. You focus your attention on the sunset so you don’t think about other things… like the elephant sitting heavily in the back of his van involving all of these kisses and your growing confusion over them and what it means for you and Eddie.

Eddie’s the first to break the silence because of course he is. It starts with a heavy sigh pierced through with a crunch as he bites into his cone. His intense gaze bores into the side of your head and you continue to stare at the horizon. You don’t want to talk about this even if you were the one to bring it up and you’re kicking yourself again for doing it and not just letting him kiss you like every other time.

The back of the van dips a little as he scoots his body closer to yours, knees touching and it sends an unfamiliar spark through you.

“Maybe I keep kissing you cause I like you,” he says softly. A few seconds pass before he finishes his thought. “And I think you like me too.”

His words hang heavy in the air as he waits for your answer or even an acknowledgment that he spoke. You know that you’re being childish and stubborn, that you’re making this more difficult than it needs to be the longer you stay silent and when you do finally speak it only makes things worse.

“Of course I like you. We’re friends, Munson. It’d be a little weird if we didn’t like each other.” Even as the words escape you cringe as the joke lands flat amongst your feet. Hopping out of the back of his van you pace in front of him, toes of your shoes kicking at pebbles. The summer heat and humidity is almost unbearable or maybe it’s just you’re finally confronted with being honest about your feelings for once in your life and it sucks.

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” His words are laced not quite with anger, more disappointment and you think that’s worse and harder to hear. He rubs the back of his neck and for maybe the first time you start to realize that this isn’t easy for him either. Guilt hits you like a truck, but before you can say anything he’s talking again and also refusing to look at you which hurts even more. “We can uh forget about this whole thing. I should get you home I guess.” He gets up from the van and starts to head towards the driver's side, but you know you can’t leave things this way. 

Your heart crumbles around the cage you built it in as you watch him turn his back on you and walk away. How did you let things get this bad? Blinking back tears you listen as he opens the van door and something snaps inside of you. You can’t let things end this way.

The way you see it is you have two options. 

You can keep denying the feelings that have been bubbling up for a while and try to salvage what remains of your friendship after this disaster of a day. It’s the easier option after all. The one you’re more prepared to confront and handle.

Or… or for once in your life you could talk about your feelings no matter how much that scares the shit out of you. It’s the harder option, but it’s the right one and in the end you know that’s what you have to do.

Jogging over to him you grab his elbow just as he’s about to slide into the driver’s seat. Your heart slams against your ribcage, palms growing sweaty, mind racing with everything you want to say to him and everything you can’t say to him and you hate how difficult this is. 

“Eddie, wait.” 

The sound of his first name instead of his last makes him cock his head to the side, but he gently closes the door and leans against it. His dark brown eyes are mixed with hope and fear and once again you’re hit with the fact that you’re not the only one struggling with feelings and new situations here.

Swallowing the lump in your throat you finally make eye contact with him. The sky that had been painted such beautiful shades of red and orange has turned to a dark blue, night will be falling soon and as if on cue the streetlights in the parking lot begin to flicker on. 

“I’m an idiot,” you say with a humorless laugh. You half expect him to laugh or agree with you, but he doesn’t. Staring into his eyes is too much and you have to drop your gaze down to your shoes. Sucking in a breath you shuffle your feet and your heart rate begins to spike even faster and there are warning bells going off in your head that you should abort all of this and beg him for the love of god to forget this ever happened, but you push all of that to the back of your mind because you both deserve the truth, especially him. 

You do like him and you feel stupid that you didn’t realize it sooner. Not only is he your best friend, but he’s the first person you want to call when something good happens to you or when something bad happens. You miss him when you’re away from him for longer than a few hours. He consumes your thoughts and you look forward to talking to him always. You can’t imagine your life without him by your side. 

You want to tell him all of that and maybe someday you will, but not right now, right now it’s enough for you to get through these next few minutes intact.

“I don’t know why this is so hard, but it is, but I um I like you too,” you say slowly, enunciating those last four words so he knows this time you don’t mean it in a just friends kind of way. “I… I um I think I have for a while now?” Your eyebrows knit together and you give a quick shake of your head no because that didn’t come out right and you want to make another joke about your lack of skills when it comes to this, but he swoops in and saves you.

The smile that creeps onto his face is slow and he’s trying to fight it because there’s something a little cute and maybe a tiny bit sadistic about making you stand in front of him as you struggle to get your feelings out in the open. Seconds tick by and his smile grows larger and you swear the beauty and brightness of it could light up and power the whole city. 

“You really struggled there for a bit. Was talking to me about that so hard now?” 

Your shoulders relax and you let out a shaky breath that turns into a hopeful laugh. The truth is it was hard, but you’re better for having been honest.

“It really was.” You glance down at your arms and point to an invisible spot. “See? I think I’m breaking out in hives because you made me talk about my feelings. Don’t you feel an ounce of guilt, Musnon?”

Eddie snorts and you swear it’s almost as beautiful as his smile. Things seem to slowly go back to the way they were and always have been with both of you joking and unable to keep straight faces.

Lifting your gaze up to his you gasp at the intensity that’s reflected back at you.

As if you’re both operating on the same wavelength or maybe just because he seems to always know what you’re thinking he murmurs softly, “You did good, princess, but we don’t have to talk about this anymore tonight.” 

Your confusion grows at what he means and for a second your heart plummets to your stomach thinking that means that whatever is going on between you is over before it even really got started, but his hand cups your jaw, his rings which have always been cool against your skin whenever he touches you are even warm from the weather. 

His eyes search yours, head tilts to the side slightly and when you lick your lips he takes the plunge and presses his mouth to yours. 

The kiss says everything you aren’t able to say out loud and so much more.

It’s full of longing and wanting, deep desire finally being allowed to bubble up to the surface, it’s a kiss full of promises and a future together. And unlike all the previous kisses that happened during the spur of the moment and on holidays and as thank yous and because of good news this one is because you’re both desperate to physically show how much you like each other.

This is the kiss that matters.

Your eyes flutter shut and you reach forward, fingers twisting tight around his shirt you step to close the gap of space left between your bodies. His hands fall to your hips, to pull you flush against him and when you sigh into his mouth he takes the opportunity to deepen the kiss. 

His tongue glides along your lower lip before slipping into your mouth and it’s a little foreign, a little different, but you have to admit that you like it. He tastes like chocolate ice cream and you decide at this moment it’s now your favorite flavor. Another soft moan escapes your lips and Eddie groans, fingers digging into your hips. He only breaks the kiss when the need to breathe overwhelms you both. 

His forehead rests against yours and you both pant, hot breath mixing together and it takes you longer than it should for your eyes to open and refocus back on him. 

“Wow,” you whisper softly and it earns you a throaty chuckle from him.

“Good to know that’s all it takes to make you speechless.” 

“Where did you learn to kiss like that? Have you been kissing other women?” You mean for it to come out as a joke, but you fear there’s a possessiveness that lingers in your tone. 

If he notices he doesn’t say a thing. “Learned it all from your mom.” 

“Eddie!” you snap, slapping his chest and stepping out of his embrace. You dip your head down to hide your growing smile, but he catches it. 

“Oh, so you can make jokes about making out with my uncle, but I can’t make jokes about making out with your mom? Noted.” 

“You are insufferable and I’m beginning to question why I even like you so much.” 

He draws you in for another kiss, this one just as toe curling and breathtaking as the last one, but far shorter much to your disappointment. “Shut up,” he mutters before giving you another quick kiss. 

Now that your feelings are out in the open it’s impossible to keep your lips off one another. Not that either of you are complaining. 

“Now what?” he asks once he pulls away again. 

There’s a hundred different ways to answer that, multiple things you need to discuss about your future and where you go from here, but all of that can wait you think. Right now you just want to bask in this moment. 

“Now? Now I think you owe me another ice cream since you ruined my last one before we go on our first date.” 

“A first date, huh? You mean making out in the parking lot doesn’t count as a date?” 

You let out a playful scoff and slip your hand into his “No. Just what kind of girl do you think I am that I’d consider that a date?”

“The kind who likes me,” he sing-songs. 

The sounds of your giggles and his deep laughter penetrate the air once again as you both head back towards Dairy Queen to get another ice cream and this time napkins. There’s a lightness to both your steps and as you talk more seriously about plans for a first official first date you realize that talking about your feelings can be scary, but sometimes, during those conversations beautiful things can happen in the aftermath.

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