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The Evolution and Impact of the American Soccer Ball
The American soccer ball has come a long way since its early days, evolving from traditional leather to high-tech, smart, and sustainable versions. These advancements have not only improved the quality of the game but also made soccer more accessible and enjoyable to millions of players across the United States.
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Sims 4 Dunkin And Shell Gas Station
Dunkin And Shell Gas StationÂ
- Functional
- Location (Willow Creek)
- Size 40x30
- Retail
Yall need basemental drugs and wicked whims i took mine out of this download because I have to update minesÂ
Make sure to enable bb.move objects on before placingÂ
Download
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Can I be your favorite. â¤ď¸
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#Best Sneaker Releases October 2024 Week 5 Nike Air Max Sunder GORE-TEX âBlackâ and âHyper Crimsonâ HAL STUDIOSÂŽ x ASICS GEL-KAYANO 20 Nike B#Asics#One week of the 2024-25 NBA season is in the books and itâs shaping up to be a year to remember for basketball. Meanwhile#âtis the season for spooky times as Halloween is just around the corner and continues to serve as a focal point for the footwear industry#which is back with another 10 sneaker drops to look forward to this week. Nike#ASICS#New Balance and Jordan Brand have all contributed to the latest lineup of kicks#however#before we go through the roster#letâs review what news caught our eye the past seven days since our previous installment in the series.#Two features touched down on the site#including an interview with none other than Rihanna herself. Our conversation with the superstar centered around her new Fenty x PUMA Avant#what to expect from him in his sophomore season and more.#Nike stood out on the traditional news side of things by unveiling its collaborative campaign with the Wu-Tang Clan for the return of its b#word of a fragment design x Union LA x Air Jordan 1 for 2025 caught the industry by surprise. Thatâs not all for the AJ1 either#two âRare Airâ colorways surfaced alongside a better look at their AJ4 âRare Airâ counterpart. Rounding things out for the Swoosh#word of an Awake NY x Air Jordan 5 popped up.#Elsewhere in the sneaker space#adidas and KoRn are back with their third collaboration#presenting looks involving the Superstar and adilette Slides. It was a big week for brand ambassadors as Converse announced Charli XCX as a#UNAFFECTED offered a complete preview of its forthcoming ASICS GEL-KAYANO 20 campaign#featuring three monochromatic colorways.#Now that youâre up to speed on whatâs been going down in footwear#letâs check out what sneakers are due to drop this week#starting with two GORE-TEX takes on the Nike Air Max Sunder. Once you make your way through the list#be sure to slide by HBX to shop styles that are available now.#Nike Air Max Sunder GORE-TEX âBlackâ and âHyper Crimsonâ#Release Date: October 29#Release Price: $210 USD#Where to Buy: SNKRS
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Man I need to remember that while I may not like the way I present sometimes, that doesnât mean I look objectively bad. Like itâs ok to look fem and people noticing it doesnât mean they donât like it, even if I donât like it.
#I'm coping today#thing is TODAY I like how I look because I'm wearing my pyjama combo of Giant T-Shirt Sweatpants and Hoodie#but I can't go out like this#I'm just mildly dreading tomorrow when I have to don my normal people clothes#I need to buy some more gender affirming normal people clothes like a nice boxy black t shirt and black pants#sometimes I like my 80s librarian clothes but today they're making me dread going out#BUT. that doesn't mean. Other people will feel that way. I Will Be Ok.#actually I just need it to be summer now?#t-shirt and basketball shorts weather#thinkin about dressing like. Well. Sans Undertale rn is making me feel confident#listen my goal is to look like a respectable pile of laundry#... I miss my old school uniform#an excuse to wear a bedraggled shirt and tie and for that to not be weird
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Shop Seo.
Iâm selling my merch.
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told you so.
kate martin x reader
2.9k
woooooh this is a fucking doozy guys. literally received one (1) anon and then i blacked out for an hour and a half soooo hereâs this ! realized during this journey that kate martin means an unfathomable amount to me and itâs like . Actually concerning đĽđĽ
ANYWAYS itâs giving Kate martinâs controversially hidden girlfriend that goes lowk public at the wnba draft like SHUT UP
18+ AS FUCK
âbabe, quit looking at me like that.â
if thereâs one thing you know, above the fact that you were certain there was gonna be an unsuspected draft tonight, was that kate martin could be such a bitch in the morning.
not that this was new for you, in any senseâ youâd been more than used to it since the dawn of your relationship, learning all the little things about her that made her tick. whether that was her favorite to least favorite foods, or teams, even her obsession with fucking hot sauce.
you knew she still slept with her childhood blankie, the one currently curled under her chin atop the hotel comforter because sheâs ridiculous, and because nobody has ever and would ever disrespect her blankie game.
and above all, you knew how much she wasnât a morning person.
âyouâre so dramatic,â you snort, pushing yourself up onto your elbows with a tired, but mocking voice as she emits a slow groan, turning to shove her face into the pillow, her body curling away from yours in an act of indignance that only makes you laugh.
you were far too used to her acting like a baby, so the action only made you sit up on your knees, slinging a leg over her so you could straddle her sides, leaning down to pepper kisses against the side of her face as she lets out a string of groans that turn into halfhearted chuckles, until her hands are planted firmly against your thighs, bare due to the oversized IOWA shirt that she insisted on you wearing.
âfor good luck,â you remembered her snickering, something you knew was really just âeasy accessâ.
her voice is still hoarse from sleep, quiet and raspy and tinged with that midwestern accent that youâll never give up on bullying her for, when she whispers, âdude, youâre so annoying.â
of course, she proves it by hoisting you off of her, onto the bed, simulating something like a WWE smackdown moment as she rolls over onto you, mumbling something that you really canât decipher due to her face in your neck, your chest, basically every place she knows will pull that hysterical, annoyingly high pitched laugh out of you, that for some reason, she loves.
âcanât believe you made it here.â she murmurs quietly against your cheek, lips moving lazily against the skin before she lays a smacking kiss there, and itâs almost gross, how much saliva she uses, but you snicker anyway, hand coming up to stroke through her blonde strands.
in all honesty, you couldnât really believe it either. it had been soemthing close to hell trying to get it all straightened out, from clothes to hotels, to transportation and getting from des moines to brooklyn, not to mention just how fucking exclusive it had been to even get a seat open with all the hype surrounding womenâs college basketball, the posterity that the final four teams had brought to the sportâ not to mention, the fact that you and kate werenât public in the fucking slightest, so having to account for that definitely sucked.
of course, it was a huge accomplishment, one that would definitely go down in the history of sports in general, so of course it was a huge fucking honor that your girlfriend was apart of itâ
but also, you just thought it was hot.
in fact, the thought makes you smirk to yourself, corners of your mouth curling upwards in a self righteous grin as you turned your head, bumping noses with her to whisper, âcanât wait to see you all dressed up, baby,â she snickers at that, and you kiss her lips once, twice, three times before continuing, âand, i canât wait to see where you get drafted so i can buy myself a plane ticket.â
the subsequent groan you receive is expected, but it doesnât deter you even slightly, âand to watch you play on a professional fucking team, like, kate, iâm basically wet thinking about it right now.â
that makes her laugh out loud, and it warms you just a bit to hear it.
itâs not like kate has been super confident about it recently, usually choosing to not speak or avoid talking about how bad she wants itâ especially considering the night being mainly for caitlin, an old teammate of yours from school and one of kateâs best friends on the squad, and arguably, one of the best players in the league (next to kate, of course).
still, it didnât change your focus, or the unyielding hope you had for the possibility of kate getting draftedâ no matter how late in the draft it could be.
âbabe, quit selling yourself short, okay? youâre a legend. it would be literally, fucking stupid to pass you up, okay?â she doesnât respond at first, her eyes closed and lashes brushing her cheeks, before she flutters them open just a crack, blue peeking through as you offer her a grin, one that she only rolls her eyes to, but kisses you regardless. you knew how much she hated to talk about it, but it didnât matter.
you knew you were right, anyway.
âmmmiloveyou.â it comes out in one smushed whisper against your mouth, before you nip at her bottom lip, hand sneaking under the sports bra she wore to bed to brush your thumb across her ribcage, âget off of me and get ready, okay?â
â
caitlin was top draft pick, which was heavily speculated and yet still unexpected to a degree as you stood from your seat with a cacophony of shouts and hollers from around you, pride swelling thick in your chest. youâd known the girl since you two had been in middle schoolâ seeing the same tall little girl that had hated losing in an elementary school gym turn into such an infamous champion was something alike to a parent watching their kid go off to college or something, youâd swear it.
but, to say it was nothing short of nervewracking would somehow be an understatement, and as much as you felt the impending pressure with each name called, you could only imagine how kate mustâve felt.
it wasnât hard to tellâ the way her molars steadily worked the inside of her cheek, the way her tongue would dart out to wet her lips again and again. her hand, jittering too much to be held stationary within your own, drumming along your bare thigh beside your dressâ âself soothingâ, sheâd explained in a whisper, a halfhearted, almost weakened smile on her face when youâd given her a lifted eyebrow at the hand placement considering the amount of cameras that surrounded you, but somehow, despite the rush of adrenaline, decided you didnât care either.
thankfully, you both werenât anywhere too accessible, but it still made you wonder whether kate had been bullshitting just how anxious she actually had been the whole time for her to need your touch so badly, and for an aching moment of tenderness as you glance at her, you want to kiss her, hard, rub the tension between her eyebrows, relax the trouble in her eyes.
still, gabbie and jada were good eyes too, considering anytime the camera would so much as even pan past you two, jada would hit you with a solid elbow, one to remind you that your poker face was shit, and perhaps youâd have to try just a little harder to pretend you werenât totally, irrevocably in love with the woman beside you.
but slowly, it was all starting to click into place.
the cameras began panning to kate more and more, your own eyes flickering to the set and noticing how everytime youâd look, thereâd be an official looking right past you, right at kate. a surge of excitement rose within you, one that had the words bubbling from your mouth in an urgent whisper,
âbaby, i thinkââ
until an official, dressed in black with a wireless pair of headphones in each ear and a smile, touched kateâs shoulder.
âms. martin, weâre gonna go ahead and have you and your party move down the aisle just a bitâ thereâs been a slight seating issue, if thatâs okay with you guys?â
jada elbows you extra hard this time, and for some reason it solidifies that feeling you get, one that makes your heart leap as you all nod, getting to your feet without argument, only as kate turns to give you a look thatâs supposed to be scolding, but fuck, you can see the glimmer of hope in it that makes your chest constrict, your eyes burn in pride.
âyouâre giving me eyes, and for what?â she hums, the teeth against her cheek working overtime as you all settle into the new seats, kate at the end of the aisle, and a fluttery feeling in your chest, âno reason.â you say it almost smugly, as if you know something she doesnât, and you donât, but god, you can feel it.
the names fly off, left and right, number 16, and kateâs knee starts bouncing slightly, number 17 and your heart feels like itâs going way too fucking fast, number 18, and jada peers around you to glance at kate, and thenâŚ
las vegas, acesâ kate martin.
if watching caitlin win had felt like a parent watching their child, this mustâve been adjacent to winning the fucking lottery.
youâre on your feet in mere seconds, the tears that had built finally dripping down your cheeks, a fact youâd only come to find embarrassing once you realize how visible they are on the playback, but fuck it, your girl was going pro.
she wastes no time in wrapping you up, her face ducking into your shoulder as your arms twine around her middle, thinking subconsciously of how you know you shouldnât risk it, but kate doesnât seem to mind, only releasing you with a single arm to embrace jada, and then gabbie, before sheâs back to you.
of course, it doesnât occur to you in the moment, that itâs a hard launchâ no, it doesnât really sink in until she kisses you hard against the temple before sheâs breezing down the aisle, the subsequent eruption in applause leaving you starstruck, in silent awe.
after that, itâs somewhat of a blurâ she takes her picture and accepts her jersey, the newscasters going off on some spiel about your girlfriends work ethic, her attitude, her endurance, everything you already fucking knew, had known for so long, that sheâd finally have a chance to prove.
the moment sheâs back beside you, it also doesnât register to you that she mustâve been just as accepting about the reveal, because itâs only a second that sheâs in her seat before she plants a soft kiss to your mouth, the dark lipstick youâd been steadily biting off in anxiety sticking to hers and sheâs grinning, bigger than she had all day, and for a moment, you think you might actually collapse because god,
you love her. so fucking much.
âtold you so,â you make out between the tears, smiling through the tightness in your voice that makes you sound warbled, whimpering even as she just laughs at you, her thumb careful to wipe beneath your eyes, âguess you did.â
of course, itâs only customary that after such a good night, everyone must get fucked upâ so, thatâs exactly what happens.
you get to gush to caitlinâ hugging her tight around the neck and congratulating her a million times, to which she reciprocates when it comes to you and kate, garnering a blush on your already alcohol flushed cheeks, rolling your eyes as you punch her arm.
âwhatever, fever.â
âwhatever, âaceâ.â
you pretend you donât notice the quotations she puts around it, and give her a friendly middle finger insteadâ if kate was an ace, that meant you basically were too, at least by proxy.
âhey money,â you call to kate affectionately, seeing only the back of her head as she talks to gabbie, your arms sliding around her waist to hold her tight from behind.
âmy love,â she greets with a smile, looking over her shoulder to pucker her lips at you, expecting a kiss that you so easily return. it feels fucking terrifying, in all honesty, to be so open, but you canât find it within you to care enough to give it upâ not when sheâs this happy.
âdude, you totally knew, didnât you? thereâs no way you wouldâve started crying like that unless you knew.â sheâs drunk, chattering at a volume level beyond whatâs needed considering you were right behind her, hand sneaking beneath her blazer, but you canât help the way you shrug, âiâm always right, huh?â
later that night, she shows you just how right you are.
itâs past a decent hour to still be tugging off clothes from the night priorâ the clock read four in the morning, but the windows spoke of the twinkling lights that surrounded, the city not quite awake, but never asleep.
âyouâre a pro,â you hum against her mouth as you tug off her blazer, hands making quick work of the belt that kept you from exploring, smirking at the look she gives you, daring and all too fucking sexy, âitâs so hot to think about.â
âyeah?â her fingers hook beneath the straps of the dress until sheâs dragging them down your shoulders, âyou want me to show you how professionals do it?â
the next thing you know sheâs between your legs, nothing but a white top and her slacks on, unbuttoned, as she hikes a leg over her shoulder, kisses along the inside of your thigh with an intensity only comparable to how she is after a really good game.
âfuckâ!â it leaves your mouth in a sound thatâs almost unrecognizable, the realization that youâd been pleasantly and uncomfortably horny ever since the draft had ended making itself known considering just how much kate had been unrelenting during pressâ hands on your hips or on the inside of your thigh, toying with the hair on the back of your neck or grasping the inside of your elbow to lead you along.
she knew it drove you crazy, you knew sheâd make it up to you later.
her mouth makes easy work on you, tongue long and flat as she laps against your cunt, rough in all the ways that she knew you could handleâ thumbs pressing fingerprint bruises into your skin, breath hot and heavy against your clit, hips moving on their own accord as you gasp out a string of incoherent whimpers. âshit, baby- just⌠just like that.â
it wasnât like kate had ever failed at getting you off, but tonight, she performed as if it was her last game, greedy almost as she drinks you in, making sure to not leave one bit of you unchecked. her tongue is almost sinful in the way it makes your voice careen, high and whining, your hand finding a permanent tangle into her already mussed hair.
but sheâs cocky tonight, presumptuous right before you orgasm as she raises her head to kiss your thigh, biting the skin before sheâs climbing onto the bed beside you, too tall to be graceful, but youâre too fucking horny to even spare her the laughs you usually give.
âup, câmere.â sheâs breathless still, but she doesnât let you rest for even a second, leaning across you to curl her fingers around your thigh to tug you up from your laying position, rousing you from the hazy, almost delirious state of mind as you push yourself up, letting out a shaking breath when sheâs sliding your leg over her chest, hands grazing up the back of your thighs until sheâs pulling you, right over over her mouth.
âkate, wha- youâre soâ fuck.â
any semblance of words or sense seem to leave you in one second, as she flattens her tongue against the wetness thatâs collected, the friction almost unbearable when her head tilted upwards, nose brushing hard against your clit in a way that pulls a cry from your lips. sheâs unfaltering, diligent, unabashed in the way sheâs moving your hips, the way she pairs each grind against her nose with a curl of her tongue, and really, itâs over before it fucking starts.
her mouth is glossy, damp when sheâs done, and she smiles and itâs arrogant as sheâs sliding you back down to sit you against her hips, the mere control she had of your body making you bright red as you pant pathetically, reduced to fucking nothing by her mouth.
it makes you throw your head back with a whimpering sigh, âdonât fucking look at me like that.â you complain, legs still open, thighs still trembling as she races her hands along them, âtired already?â
funnily enough, you were far from fucking tired.
âactually⌠was thinking about showing you some celebrity treatment?â you muse softly, as she peels off her own top, eyebrows raising, her thumb swiping along the edge of her lip before sheâs placing it on the bottom of yours, pressing until it dips into your mouth, the heady taste of what you knew was yourself finding a place on your tongue.
she smirks, tongue poking between her teeth as your stomach fucking turns almost, arousal prickling unforgivingly at you once again.
âooh,â she muses under her breath, eyes laser focused on the thumb sheâd placed between your lips, voice coming out in a whisper, âi like the sound of that.â
sheâs smirking though, because sex between you two have never been anything completely seriousâ thatâs just not how kate operates, âace money martinâs got a ring to it, huh?â
âshut up.â
âmake me.â
so, you do.
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Toxic bff Abby that denies she is in love with you but is extremely possessive over you and basically treats you like her gf, but still fucks other girls imagining you; getting jealous seeing ANYONE else come near you. NEED IT PLS
toxic!bff!abby x reader
Abbyâs so insecure and she lets it rule everything she does. she can't seem to get it right -- more plot and angst than i intended. lesbian smut under the cut - men and minors dni
*ŕŠâŠâ§âË*ŕŠâŠâ§âË*ŕŠâŠâ§âË*ŕŠâŠâ§âË*ŕŠâŠâ§âË*ŕŠâŠâ§âË*ŕŠâŠâ§âË*ŕŠâŠâ§
it happens every time. abby gets drunk when you have a fight and does something stupid to forget about you. she could see you dancing up against her from the rival basketball team. and although abby would usually rip you from their arms and dance with you herself â feel your ass grind up against her crotch, let you control where her hands went as you dance â she canât do that tonight.
abby had seen you at the bar for the pre-party, the girl youâre with buying you drinks, resting her hand on your thigh, inching ever so close to your face and leaning in for a kiss, and abby seethed with every brush of your lips. finally seeing red when you get down from your bar stool to stand between her legs.
abby could see the girl you were with now and it coloured her vision crimson. ellie fucking williams. of all people you could flirt with. abby had to think you were being vindictive â trying to get back at her for when she ditched you to get with tammy instead of take you to an art gallery like sheâd promised for weeks.
It wasnât completely her fault although abby could come up with a million excuses to absolve herself but the prevailing one would always be that she was a fucking coward. it felt too much like a date. a real date that she wants to take you on â not as her friend. but abby couldn't stand the thought of you rejecting her.
she could see it so vividly in her head -- you turning away from her, your face contorted in distaste "but abby, we're just friends." you would say "i could never see you like that." and abby would understand. because you were too good for her -- too smart, funny, kind, you gave her too many chances because your heart is so big. abby didn't deserve someone who could colour the world and scrub out the black and white monotony of every day life.
abby didn't realise she was gripping your arm so tight it could be bruising, she'd been glowering down at ellie, seething and her mouth practically foamed with her hard ragged breaths. "the fuck is wrong with you anderson?" ellie snarls, abby twists her mouth and "you, are all over my best friend,"
"and you're best friend -- who is right here -- is fine with it," you snatch your arm from abby's grip. you couldn't even fight her at this point. she was colder to you recently, she sold you excuses for her distance, came to your apartment still dewy and smelling like someone else. she'd been rubbing it in your face that she wanted nothing to do with you. you ignored that she didn't reply when you'd casually told her you loved her after she dropped you off at home last week. but you couldn't keep walking into apartment as other women walked out past you, a drunken smile plastered on their faces. she did this every few weeks and you were sick of it, but this time was worse than usual.
"go hang out with tammy or whoever," you back into ellie rubbing your arm and abby swallowed, her eyes catching yours -- hollow as they'd never been when looking at her. but just last week you had told her you loved her. could that change so quickly? had she gone too far? abby's fists clenched, bouncing on her weak knees.
"I- we need to talk," abby says without thinking and she immediately wanted to punch herself.
'talk about what?' abby thought to herself, she could never tell you that she loved you back, that more than that she worshipped you. she could neve tell you that every time she looked at you -- she fought not to let her face heat up. abby couldn't tell you that her chest puffed up with pride that she could call you -- something so precious hers. her best friend. you are the only person she ever wanted to be around really.
"I'm leaving," you say with a deep breath as ellie puts a few paper bills on the bar counter, one in the tip jar and slides her hand onto the small of your back. "get yourself together. i'll see you later maybe."
now abby had to watch you dance with ellie, smiling with your arms draped over should shoulders while ellie whispered in your ear. she downed her shot and then decided not to beat ellie up because she didn't want to be benched the entire season. so, instead she put her jacket on and approached you with her head hanging low.
your movements halt as abby stands near the both of you, "can we talk?" abby asks, her watery blue eyes slowly rising to meet yours. you sigh and turn to kiss ellie's cheek goodnight before leading abby out of the house and down the street.
"I'm really sorry," abby says as you walk slow into the crisp autumn evening.
"for what abby?"
"everything," she shrugs and tries a chuckle but coughs awkwardly when you glare at her. "so, you don't have anyone to take home tonight?" you question and abby sighs, running her hands over her face. "come on, don't be like that," abby says and stops in front of her truck opening the passenger door for you.
"I'm not getting in unless you tell me what you're sorry for."
abby groans, clenching her jaw and resting her hands against her bumper, leaning on it and ducking her head.
"I'm sorry I've been such a sloppy asshole this week. I'm sorry i tried to make you jealous and I'm sorry that I didn't reply when you said it. because I should have."
you know what abby is talking about but god, she can't even say it. it fucking wrecks you because she doesn't value you enough to even tell you what you mean to her, if you mean anything at all. you start to walk past her, "hey wait, oh my god -- I love you!"
abby yells, her mouth parts but no other words come to her. she swallows thickly when you turn around, the tears on your face matching hers.
"I'm sorry I'm a fucking idiot and I didn't tell you sooner but i don't love you like a friend. I am in love with you, okay? and - and I'm a shitty person and I don't wanna mess us up,"
abby can't stand your silence but when she looks up, there you are. standing so close to her she can feel your warm breath on her cheeks.
"do you promise to at least give us a chance?"
abby, cups the back of your neck and presses a soft kiss to your mouth as her answer, pulls your body flush to her so she can lean over you and lick into your mouth. moan as you suck on her tongue.
"m'sorry, so sorry sweetheart," abby whispers in between kisses as she feels your tears on her cheeks, "let me make it up to you."
abby drives you not far down the road to her place, her hand on your all the time, pressing kisses to your knuckles until she shuts the door behind you and kisses you again, this time her hands going down to your ass, gripping and squeezing, her mouth beginning to pepper kisses up and down your neck.
you whine when abby backs you into the hallway of her loft, behind the kitchen wall ands falls on top of you on her bed. "i swear to god, everything will be different," abby moans, as you grip her hand and bring it to your breast, where she takes the liberty to start pressing kisses to your chest, removing your clothes feverishly. you whine as she pulls away from you, catching her breath.
"do you not?" you ask shakily and abby cups your cheek.
"i do, i do. i just wanted it to be different. I didn't want to be fighting with you." abby whimpers when you grip her and pull her close so she's laying on top of you. "then, show me it'll be different."
abby takes her time lathering you chest when she removes your bra, kissing your tits and moaning as she sucks your nipples into her mouth, her hips starting to falter against you thigh. no matter how many women she'd been with. she never could get off. she didn't feel much of anything unless she thought of you, played your three words over and over again in her mind. but now, now she had the real thing and she's too desperate stop herself.
she flicks her fingers over your wet nipples, "so fucking pretty," she whines against you, massaging your tits and sucking marks between your chest as she pulls them close to her chest, moaning and grinding down on your hips going again to suck and swap nipples to wet and play with while your hips started to buck against hers.
"shit fuck, m'gonna cum, fuck i'm so sorry," she's utterly embarrassed, hides her face in your neck and she whines loudly, her fingers still playing with your nipples as she cums. you gasp and chuckle, unbelievably wetter at watching her cum just from sucking on your tits.
"i'm so fucking sorry-" "for what? for feeling good?" you mumble and press a kiss to her mouth, guiding her hand between the two of you so she can feel how wet she's making you, "always been a mess f'me," she groans, her fingers starting to circle your clit, hearing you moan she ducks her head into your neck again to kiss and mark you.
"i love you," abby moans as her fingers dig into your panties and start to slide into you, your gummy, wet walls inviting her in. "christ, you're so wet," she moans and she kisses down your torso and removes your shorts and panties, her mouth latching to your clit and she starts moaning, licking and twist her head so she's making circles on your clit while her fingers curl and fuck into you.
"fuck, abby! yes, yes please more," you yelp, your legs falling open and abby pulls them over her shoulders licking the wetness around her fingers in your cunt and groaning as she does so at your taste, another finger twisting into your sweet pussy she can't help but grin against you, licking and lapping at your clit, as you cum, her thumb coming to circle it instead.
"you look so pretty all fucked out f'me," she moans, pressing a hand down on your belly and fucking her fingers deeper, moaning at the way your mouth falls open, and your legs start to shake, "i love you, i fucking love you baby," she whines and you're spurting against her hand, licking up over your clit and sucking it, your taste filling her mouth.
"swear i'm gonna be better, i promise," abby says as she gently caresses you, cupping your cheek and rubbing her hands over your body. abby silently presses a sticky kiss to your temple and disappears as you catch your breath.
"haven't used it with anyone else," abby assures you when you look at her strap on quizzical and yet biting your lip as she clambers over you. "you're everything to me, i'm so sorry for everything," abby says as she lines herself up with you, her strap already covered in lube. you nod when abby hovers over you and she sighs when she finally sinks into you, your eyes crossing at the way it curls perfectly into your gspot, the ridged cock stimulating every part of your pussy.
"was saving this for you- fuck," she whimpers as the strap starts to vibrate against her and you whine loudly as it tremors inside you. "wanted to feel this good with you and you only" she moans gasping into your mouth as you press her close when abby starts to fucking into you.
you're both so overstimulated it doesn't take much of her deep, wet thrusts until you're crying against her shoulder, biting into it as you both cum again. you push abby out at the pain of the overstimulation and she rips the strap off of her in the same manner, turning it off.
after abby rocks you both to sleep, she's woken by her phone ringing, at reading the caller ID she moves into her bathroom, pressing a kiss to your shoulder and whispering into the phone.
"i fucking told you not to call," abby whispers, turning over to look at your sleeping form under her sheets.
"no, tammy -- enough. I'm done fucking around," she groans and near hangs up until tammy whispers something over the line, something you can't quite make out, all you can hear is.
"jesus christ, okay, I'll be over soon."
"where are you going?" you ask as abby gets dressed, "tammy-" "are you fucking serious?" you chuckle in disbelief pulling your clothes on in a hurry.
"no, you don't understand -- wait!" abby calls as you pick your jacket up from off the floor and shuffle your shoes on.
"I'm done waiting for you abby. you couldn't even last a day."
"please, stay -- i just, you don't understand," abby pleads, holding onto your forearm.
"then explain,"
abby fumbles for something, anything. you weren't supposed to hear anything, you were supposed to stay asleep. abby just needed to be gone a few hours, she just needed to take care of things with tammy one last time and then she was yours. she just wanted to make sure.
"so, you're not sure you love me?" you roll your eyes as abby rubs her face in her hands.
"if i stay, abby, what does that say about me?" you sniffle and snatch your arm from her grip for the last time today.
"i hope you get what you're looking for anderson," you nod and pull your phone out of your pocket, texting ellie to pick you up if she was still awake.
ellie: be there in 2 mins.
"see you around," you purse your lips and close the door behind you, your ears rushing with blood so loudly you can't hear abby breaking into sobs behind the door.
tags: @lesbian-useless @sexysapphicshopowner @iamaboringrattat @sapphicsgirl @bimboprincezz
#lesbian#lesbian smut#abby tlou smut#abby tlou#abby anderson smut#nsft lesbian#abby tlou x reader smut#tlou smut#tlou x reader smut#abby anderson x reader smut
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this is (not) easy. (m.l)
PAIRING: mark lee x reader GENRE: fwb, f2l, crack humour, fluff, smut, angst WORD COUNT: 13.2k
SYNOPSIS: getting into a friends with benefits situation with your all time best friend was so (not) easy
CONTENT WARNINGS: explicit content, oral (f & m receiving), fingering, squirting, unprotected sex, sofa sex, doggy, creampies, big dick mark as always (he gets cocky bc his cock is big), a lot of crack humour, kissing, make-outs, sorta slow burn, heavily implied jaemin x reader moments, alcohol consumption, mentions of weed
[AN]: a thank you gift for being patient with me while i take some time off, and also a thank you gift for the follower milestone. you guys are insane.. i love you.
âWait, you what?â You screech incredulously, not caring about the loudness of your tone as you abruptly straighten up in your seat, the legs squeaking against the wooden flooring of the library. Other students with their heads shoved in books and laptop screens peek over to shush you angrily, one warning you about the volume of your voice but you pay them no attention as youâre staring wide eyed at Mark who sits across from you sheepishly.Â
Mark Leeâone of the hot throbs living on campus, the smartest and kindest guy in class, and the biggest marvel freak has been your bestest friend for the past few years, having met in the middle of a schoolâs basketball court where fourteen-year-old Mark had tried to shoot some hoops to impress his newfound friends, only for the ball to come flying straight at your face and leaving you with a swollen eyeball and a busted up nose.
Mark was unbelievably apologetic, buying jellies and ripping up flowers from potted plants to give to you, begging for your forgiveness over and over again until you socked him in the face, giving him a hefty nosebleed and a bruised cheek. A toothy grin was spread across your cheeks as you had taken the gifts out of his hands, a happy ânow weâre even!â leaving your lips as you had ripped open the packet, offering a jelly, offering your friendship.
The two of you became inseparable and if someone saw one of you, they knew that the other would be trailing along behind them. You were two peas in a pod, the dynamic duo. You were so joined at the hip that when you both enrolled for college, you tried signing up for a dorm on campus, wanting to be roommates.Â
It didnât happen much to both of your dismay. Mark ended up rooming with one of his friends, Jaemin, while you got stuck with some girl you didnât even know but had become acquainted with over a short period of time.
Still, you and Mark never strayed far from each other even with your roommates lingering around. Mark slept over at your place from time to time and vice versa, youâre certain that he even has a drawer for himself in your dresser filled with spare shirts, sweatpants and underwear. A lot of your mutual friends found it suspicious how you two could be so close with nothing going on, complaining how neither of you could be just friends even though it was the truth. You are just friends, youâre best friends.
âIâm just saying youâre complaining about not hooking up with someone for a few days while I havenât slept with someone for, like, a monthâ Mark repeats to you with flushed cheeks, adjusting the black cap on his head with one hand while other skilfully flips a pen around his fingers, bottom lip jutting out. âTimes are hard, dude. I got assignments coming out of my assââ
âThereâs no way you havenât hooked up with someone recentlyâ You hiss between teeth, refusing to believe a word that comes out of his mouth when heâs talking about such nonsense. A student from the table next to yours turns around in their seat in annoyance to look at you, pressing their finger aggressively against their lips to tell you to quiet down and you scoff, throwing them the middle finger with your own irritancy and annoyance.
âCan you not?â Mark scolds you as he wraps his hand around your own, squeezing in warning as he pushes it back down to the table and sends the student an apologetic smile, and as always, it works like a charm as they shyly smile back and return back to their book. It makes you scoff again and Mark is quick to look at you, âIâm telling you the truth, you knowâ
âBullshitâ You murmur, sending him a glare. âThat girl from my study group was over at your dorm last weekendâI saw her snapchat storiesâ
âDude, weâre in the same study group. She came over for some of my notes and stayed longer because Jaemin offered her an ounce of his âpremium weedââ Mark explains, putting emphasis around the word âpremium weedâ which has you snorting, knowing that there was nothing premium about Jaeminâs stash. âShe eventually ended up sleeping over and fucking Jeno anywaysâ
Your face contorts into a look of confusion at that, âWhat? Jeno isnât even your roommate?â
âI know,â Mark grimaces. âJaeminâs sheets are still in the dryerâ
âOhâŚâ You pause, humming as the realisation finally hits you. âSo thatâs why Jaemin didnât have any sheets on his bed when I came over on Mondayâ
âYeaâwait, you came over Monday?â Markâs head snaps towards you, eyes narrowing in on you as he jabs his pen in your direction. âDid you fuck in my bed?!
âNo, of course notâ You scoff, deeply offended by his accusation and Mark lets out a sigh of relief, relaxing his shoulders as he leans back into his chair. âWe actually fucked on the sofaââ
âAre you fucking kidding mââ
âThatâs besides the point!!â You cut him off before he can grill into you, silencing him as you raise your hand in front of his face as he tries to retaliate again. âYou havenât fucked anyone in a month, Mark. Thatâs⌠thatâs blasphemy!!â
Mark deadpans, âIâm pretty sure thatâs not blasphemyâ
âWhatever, you know what I meanâ You discard it, shoving your books and pens as far away from you as you possibly could, no longer interested in studying the endless amount of words on that page now that youâve discovered your best friend hasnât gotten laid in so long. You sit comfortably in your chair as you fully face him, tucking your legs beneath you. âI canât believe you fucked someone in a monthâŚâ
âYouâre telling meâ Mark huffs, deciding to push away his studies too for the time being as he rubs at his face in frustration, groaning beneath his palms. You console him with a frown, rubbing his shoulder in pity and Mark drops his hands to his lap, looking over at you with a glare. âI canât believe you didnât believe me, dude⌠why would I lie about something like that?!â
âI donât knowâyou fuck more than I do, of course Iâm not gonna believe a word you say when you tell me something like that!!â Youâre quick to defend yourself, both you and Mark knowing youâre speaking the truth.Â
Mark does fuck more than you. His boyish charm and adorable face doesnât hide the fact that his body count is currently sitting in its twenties and that his online bank statements show how many packs of condoms heâs buying weekly, and maybe a few plan Bâs lingering there somewhere for extra precaution. He was always on the safe side which didnât surprise you, he was nowhere ready to be extremely stupid and possibly impregnate someone, especially a stranger.Â
âDude⌠you didnât have to say it out loud like thatâŚâ Mark mutters under his breath, cheeks dusting a slight pink as another student turns around in their seat to glare at the pair of you and comically widens her eyes as she meets Markâs, shyly tucking her hair behind her ears with a kind smile that Mark reciprocates. You scoff at her reaction and lean back in your seat just as Markâs attention is brought back to you. âAre we done with this conversation? Iâd like to change the topic from my non-existent sex life to something more appealingâ
âFine⌠you still going to Johnnyâs later?â
âNah, heâs got some important family thing to go to so weâre hanging another timeâ Mark sighs softly, taking the cap off of his head to run his fingers through his hair before adjusting it back on. âYou cool if I came over with you?â
âSureâ You grin, already shoving your books into your tote bag, eager to leave the library as soon as you possibly can. Mark snorts in amusement but follows closely behind as he shoves his own belongings into his backpack and rests the strap on his shoulder. You turn your head to see the girl still staring over at Mark and you smirk, slamming one hand on the desk in front of her to get her attention before jabbing your thumb in Markâs direction. âIf you want his number, I can give it to you. Heâs been stuck in a dry spell recently soââ
Markâs fingers curl around your elbow, dragging you away from the traumatised girl with a huff, âMoveâ
âIâve been thinking about somethingâŚâ You begin after a few hefty hours of studying and bingeing out on food, dropping your chopsticks in the empty ramen cup and pushing it to the side. Mark sits beside you on the sofa, his own ramen cup in hand as he stares at his laptop screen, taking in the words that need to be remembered for his class.
Mark gives you a pointed look as he slurps his ramen, âThat doesnât sound goodâ
âWow, hilariousâ You deadpan with a roll of your eyes as he chuckles under his breath, turning his head back to the laptop screen. âAnywayâand hear me out before you say some dumbass shitâIâve been thinking about something that relates to that little problem we both have, and I may have just thought of a way to fix itâ
âWhy are you still hung up on this?â Mark whines between mouthfuls. âI donât want to be reminded that Iâm not having sex, dudeâ"
âAh!â You hold up your hand to shush him and he goes cross eyed to stare at your palm. âI said hear me outâ
âOkayâ
âGreat! Okay, so, me and you are the best of friends, right? Like, we always help each other out andââ
âWhere is this going?â
âHear. Me. Outâ You warn once more and Mark sighs, nodding his head to let you continue. âWe always help each other out, right? And thereâs no awkwardness between us at all which makes us close. Do you remember that time we had to make-out in front of Sejun so he would stop awkwardly hitting on me? And that time I pretended to be your girlfriend so Rina would get the hint that you didnât want to fuck her anymore?â
âThat didnât exactly work out because we slept with them a few days after it happenedââ
âThatâs not the pointâ You say as you frustratingly rub at your temples. âThe point is that we always help each other out, no matter what the situation is because weâre best friends. So, as best friends, I think we should help each other out with our little situationâ
âAnd how can we help each other outâ
âBy fucking each otherâ The second those words leave your lips, Mark chokes on his ramen, fist banging against his chest as he coughs, eyes watery and face red and it has you cackling, wishing you had your phone nearby to take a picture. Mark takes deep breaths as he finally consumes air, reaching down to grab his bottle of water that rests beside the leg of the sofa, gulping it down almost immediately. âYouâre so dramaticâ
âAnd youâre crazy!!â Mark shoots back, water droplets falling from his chin as he looks at you with wide eyes. âDo you realise what you just said?â
You grin, âPerfectly!â
âWeâre not fucking each other, itâll be too weirdâ You instantly find offense to that, your jaw dropping and Mark rolls his eyes. âWeâre best friends. Best friends donât do that type of shitâStop looking at me like that!â
You huff, turning your head away from him childishly, âIâm just trying to help us out. I donât think itâll be weird, people have done weirderâ
âDo you know how many friendships have been ruined because they fucked?â Mark questions you and you take a moment to ponder, wincing as you can easily name a few from the top of your head. âExactly. As much as I find you attractive, Iâm not going to ruin our friendship. Weâve been best friends for too longâ
Your head slowly whirls back to Mark whoâs already staring at you and you smile, flirtily batting your eyelashes at him, âYou think Iâm attractive?â
âYouâre unbelievable, jesus fucking chriââ Mark cuts himself off, rubbing his forehead as he exhales deeply due to his frustration. You beam at the thought of getting under his skin, but you roll your eyes and reach over to press your foot into his side to bring his attention back to you.
Mark looks over at you with a deadpan expression and you grin softly, tilting your head to the side as you admire the view. Youâve always found Mark attractive even if it was in a friendly way, and youâd be lying if you said that sleeping with him has never crossed your mind, but thatâs because youâre nosy and want to see what all the fuss is about when you continuously hear the girls gush about what heâs like in bed.
Some say heâs pretty giving, tending to their needs in all ways possible while others say he comes across as needy and desperate, begging for his cock to be sucked. It piques your interest immensely⌠Maybe it was wrong of you to think that way about someone you know so well, but youâre human after all, sometimes you canât help the way you think.Â
âLookâŚâ You speak first. âWhat I said was just a suggestion, okay? If you donât want to do it then thatâs fineââ
âHow do you know that it wonât ruin our friendship?â Mark cuts you off and your eyebrows raise in surprise at the question. âWeâve been friends for, like, nine years or something, dude⌠I donât know about you but I donât want to throw that all away because we messed up and decided to fuck each other just because weâre hornyâ
âWeâre not going to get into anything seriousâ You tell him, crossing your arms over your chest. âSure, weâre probably going to be in some type of friends with benefits situation but weâre not going to include any of that âofficialâ or âexclusiveâ bullshit. We just fuck each other for a release when we canât find it anywhere else, itâs as simple as that. No complicationsâ
âSoâŚâ Mark purses his lips in deep thought. âWe can still fuck other people?â
You scoff, âOf course. You think Iâd drop Jaemin for you that easily?â
âFuck youâ
Your lips curl into a smirk, âIâm hoping you wouldâ
Mark stares at you before chuckling, shaking his head as his tongue pokes at his cheek. The little act spurs you on but you remain seating, wanting Mark to make the first move if he was game in fucking you to help relieve the stress youâre both feeling, maybe Mark more than you considering you fucked Jaemin a few days ago, but you were desperate to be filled again.
You watch Mark ponder for a moment, his bottom lip jutting down deep in thought, brows pulling together as he thinks about the pros and cons. His hands come up to pull the cap off of his head, his hair messily falling in front of his eyes and your thighs press together at the thought of seeing it between your legs with your fingers tangled through the locks. You snort at how deluded you sound.
âWhat time does your roommate come back tonight?â Mark questions you, his low voice bringing you out of your thoughts and your body buzzes with excitement, reaching over to snag your phone off of the coffee table to check the time and you grin wildly when you realise she wonât be home for another three hours. You inform him immediately and he nods, âCool. Good to knowâ
âSo?â You press, chucking your phone back onto the coffee table as you look at him expectedly. âWhatâs it going to be?â
âNo titlesââ
âNone at allâ
âWe can still fuck whoever we wantââ
âEven the neighboursâ
âAnd most importantlyâŚâ Mark pauses with a deep sigh, leaning closer to you and holding up his hand with his pinky finger outstretched. âWeâre still best friendsâ
âItâll be like nothing ever changedâ You say softly with a smile, raising your own hand to curl your pinky finger around his own, squeezing tightly. Itâs silent between you both for a while and you can clearly see the cogs turning inside Markâs head as he thinks about his next move, yet youâre the one that takes the initiative.Â
You rip your hand away from his to throw your arms around his shoulders, dragging him towards you to plant your lips on his in a heated kiss. Youâre surprised at how fast Mark responds as his palms come up to cup your cheeks, tilting his head to the side to kiss you deeper as his tongue moulds with yours.Â
The few drunken kisses youâve shared with Mark to help each other out of situations is nothing like the kiss youâre experiencing now and it catches you extremely off guard. You almost expected him to allow you to take control of the situation and lead him through, but with the way Markâs pushing you down to the sofa and crawling in between your open legs with his lips still attached to yours, youâre stumped.Â
âWaitâ You stop him, pressing your hand against his shoulder to push him back and Mark moves away with puckered lips, his fingers hovering above the waistband of your shorts which causes you to snort, âWhy are we doing this on the sofa when thereâs a perfectly good bed in my room?â
Mark glares down at you, âThat didnât stop you and Jaemin fucking on my sofaâ
âActually, there was no sheets on Jaeminâs bed, soââ
âThink of this as paybackâ Mark smiles at you sweetly and you snarl, knocking your knee against his side with force and he laughs through clenched teeth, âBesides, youâve probably fucked a lot of people on this sofa��. Do you really care?â
âAre you implying that Iâm a slutâ
âYeahâ
âGod, thatâs so hot of youâ
Mark snorts out a laugh and leans down to reconnect your lips as his hands pull your shorts and underwear down your legs, carelessly throwing them somewhere to the side and you hiss at the cold air that hits, yearning for warmth.Â
Markâs lips trail down your throat and to the collar of your shirt, heading south to where your thighs shake in anticipation, watching as he shifts down to lay between your legs, hands pushing against your knees to spread you apart further.
Your hand reaches down to pull the cap off of his head, revealing his messy hair beneath and you toss it over the sofa, caring so little about where it lands as you thread your fingers through his locks, trying to tug him closer but he barely budges, staring up at you with his brows laced together.
âHurryâ You whine.
âAre you always this impatient?â
âOf courseâ You look at him like heâs stupid. âWeâre both doing this for a reason and itâs to cum, not to take our sweet little time andâOh fuck!â
âYou talk too muchâ He drags his tongue through your folds, the pink muscle swirling around your clit and your body jerks, a gasp flying past your lips as you dig your fingers further into his hair, the feeling of his tongue wiggling between your folds and licking upwards to flick over your clit before his fingers tease at your entrance.
Your body goes slack against the sofa cushions as he eases his two digits inside the warmth of your walls, curling his fingers upwards as his lips wrap around your sensitive bud and you whine, tugging on his hair a little harder which causes him to groan, the vibrations causing goosebumps to rise to your skin.Â
Youâre in shock at how well Mark uses his tongue and fingers against you. Youâve heard stories from your girl friends and Mark himself, but you didnât realise he was this good and it completely caught you off track, unable to control the noises that rip from your chest when he begins to pump his fingers in and out of your pussy while his tongue continues to work wonders on your clit.
âMarkâ You say his name with a moan, thighs twitching and closing in around his head and you feel him smile against your cunt, causing you to squeeze around his head in warning, âStop itâ
âYou gonna cum already?â He asks as he lifts his head, mouth glistening with your arousal and his fingers hitting the spot that has your toes curling and back arching against the cushions. âYou can cum, if you want. Let it goâ
âYouâre so cockyâ You chuckle, but your amusement slips away and is overcome by pleasure as he pumps his fingers a few more times, the tightening band in your stomach snapping as you cum all over his hand, gasping through high pitched whines and trying to control the convulsing movement of your body.
âThatâs itâ Mark hums, pressing a quick kiss to your clit. âThere you goâŚâ
âOh my godâ You choke out, your hand falling limp on his shoulder as it drops from his hair, your fingers twitching over the material. âWhat the fuck was that?!â
âMe eating you outâ He answers simply with smugness in his tone, popping his fingers into his mouth to lick them clean and your mouth drops in shock at the action. âYou good?â
âYeah, goodâ You nod dumbly, completely astonished at how nonchalant Mark is, watching as he tugs his jeans and boxers down his legs awkwardly when he sits up, your eyes immediately zoning in on his cock that slaps against his stomach once freed from its confinements.Â
Truthfully, youâve seen Mark naked as heâs so comfortable stripping in front of you without any thought. But, youâve never seen Mark hard and the sight alone is enough to have your mouth watering in anticipation. Your best friend is huge.Â
âOkayâ Mark speaks to himself, shuffling forwards on his knees and hooking his hands under the back of yours to pull you closer, his thumbs caressing your skin. âYou ready? You know thereâs no turning back from this, right?â
âAs ready as Iâll ever beâ You grin, wiggling against him excitedly. âGive me what you got, baby!â
âDonât call me that, dudeâ Mark tuts, shaking his head as he slowly slides his cock into you. Your eyes slowly start to widen at the stretch, the burn obvious in your thighs and your hand flies down to his in hopes to slow down his movements despite him going as slow as he possibly could.
You breathe steadily through your nose, lips pressed together tightly as you wince at the uncomfortable ache that spreads, your pussy squeezing down on him as if you were trying to prevent him from entering any further.Â
âOwâ You mutter beneath your breath, twisting your hips to try and get comfortable and relax but you wince at the movement you make, causing Mark to raise his head from where youâre connected to look into your eyes, his own pooling with concern.
âYou alright?â
âMhmâ You hum with a curt nod. âNothing of that significant size has been up there before, you know? Iâm just⌠feeling uncomfortable, thatâs allâ
His lips curl into a grin, âYou calling my dick big?â
You give him a hardened glare, âNot as big as your fucking headâ
Mark laughs loudly, his hand laying flat across your lower tummy as he adjusts himself in between your legs, head ducking down to watch himself carefully push into you once more but the second your legs tense up, he sighs apologetically and strokes your tummy as he slides out of you and you whine at the feeling of emptiness, looking at him with a pout.
âHold onâŚâ He tells you softly, gently grabbing your waist to help flip you over on all fours, his hands sliding around your back and pressing down slightly, arching it to hold you in place as you feel his cock prod at your entrance. âThis should feel better. But tell me if it still hurts, okay? I donât want to hurt you anymoreâ
âJustââ You grit your teeth together. âJust fuck me, Markâ
âOkayâ Mark whispers as he eases himself into you again at a slow pace and you gasp, your fingers gripping the arm of the sofa, your head dropping to rest on the cushions as you try to control your breathing. The new position was definitely better than the last, but you can still feel him stretch you out to fit you around his cock. âIs my dick really that big?â
âAre you asking because youâre concerned or because you want me to boost your ego?â
Mark smiles, âMaybe bothâ
You donât even get a chance to retaliate as Mark begins to fill you up completely, his hips pressing against your ass and you whine at how full you feel, unable to think properly as he pulls his cock out, leaving the tip nestled in your cunt before thrusting back in.Â
He curses loudly behind you, fingers digging into your hips as he rocks his hips into you, his powerful thrusts sending your body jerking forwards. You squeeze around his cock and he moans, his pace speeding up and you canât help but fuck yourself back onto him, whining and panting at the pleasure that swirls in the pit of your tummy.Â
The sound of skin slapping against skin is enough to have your eyes rolling back, the lewd sounds driving you even closer to the edge along with his rapid thrusts and continuous cursing. Youâre positive you can hear him mumble about how âfucking tight your pussyâ is. You wouldâve never guessed he was into such dirty talk, Mark continues to amaze you.Â
Your pussy swallows around his length when you feel his hand sneak beneath your body to reach between your fingers, the pads of his fingers rubbing diligent circles on your clit and you mewl, your own hand coming down to latch around his wrist.
âSh...shitâ You slur, drool seeping past the corner of your lips. âSo goodâFuck, donât stopâsâgoodâ
âIâm not gonna stopâ You hear Mark whisper and you could feel the tears build up in your eyes as Mark leans over your body, holding himself up with one hand on the arm of the sofa, his other playing with your clit as he quickens his thrusts, his cock hitting deeper than before that it has you seeing stars. Your toes curl and your body tenses up as his cock ploughs into your cunt, repeatedly hitting that spot over and over before your second orgasm of the night hits you violently.
Your screams are muffled by your own hand, walls pulsating around his cock as you cum, struggling to hold up your weight as your body falls limp on the sofa, pleasure buzzing through your veins and sending your mind whirling as Mark fucks you through it to reach his own high, moving his hand from your clit to rest on your lower back, arching your ass up to fuck you deeper.
âWhere do you want me to cum?â He pants, his thumb stroking the top of your ass cheeks. âFuck, tell me where I can cumâ
âAnywhere you wantâ You garble your words, turning your head to the side to look at him, noticing how his eyes widen slightly.Â
âAnywhere?â Mark repeats as he slows his hips and you nod, yelping in shock when he pulls out of you completely and flips your body around once more, staring at him in surprise as he crawls up your body, resting his one hand on your cheek and pulling down your bottom lip with his thumb. âHere?â
Instead of giving him a verbal answer, you open wide and Mark grins, pushing the head of his cock into your mouth and sighing as your lips close around him, letting you suckle on his tip as he cums in long spurts down your throat, brows lacing together in pleasure and moaning softly as your tongue presses against his slit, drinking up everything he gives to you.
Itâs silent between you both as Mark removes himself from above you, opting to crash down in the limited space between your body and the sofa, running his fingers through his sweaty hair as he breathes heavily.Â
It takes you a few seconds to comprehend what had just happened, staring between Markâs naked lower half and yours before you abruptly sit up, rolling onto your knees as you stare down at him incredulously.Â
âDude!â You screech, punching his shoulder with such force that has him wincing.Â
âOw! Jesus Chriââ
âWhat the fuck?! Why did you tell me you were that good?â You immediately cut him off, not allowing him to speak as you shake your head. âWe shouldâve done this years ago!!â
Mark rolls his eyes in annoyance despite the grin that spreads across his lips as he throws his arm over his face, âShut upâ
âOkay, so, let me repeat thatââ Renjun pauses to chew and swallow his sandwich, pointing between you and Mark on the opposite side of the table ââyou two decided to fuck each other last night because neither of you have fucked someone in a long time and now youâve made some sort of deal that when you canât find release elsewhere, youâll go to each other?â
âYeahâ
âWhat the fuck?!â Renjun exclaims, looking at you both as if youâve grown an extra head before abruptly turning to Donghyuck and Jaemin who sit silently together, watching everything unfold. âWhy arenât you guys saying anything?!â
âI donât think itâs as bad as youâre making it out to beâ Donghyuck shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly as he turns to look at you with his brows laced together, âAlthough, Iâm kind of offended you didnât ask me to fuck youâ
You grimace, âIt makes me queasy thinking about where your dick has beenâ
âWhen was the last time you got tested, Hyuck?â Mark teases, a slight smirk curling at the end of his lips as he leans back into his chair, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his pants. Donghyuck rolls his eyes and retaliates by throwing him the middle finger to which Mark laughs at.
âAnd youâre okay with this?â Renjun questions Jaemin who slowly nods as he rolls a blunt beneath the table, lips pursed in concentration.Â
âWhy wouldnât I be?â He grumbles, lifting his eyes to Renjun and raises a brow before looking back down to his lap. âBesides, sometimes I get so faded that I canât even get my dick up. She needs good dick and I canât give it to her when Iâm that out of itâ
You gasp in awe, reaching out to pinch his cheek, âYou are so thoughtful!â
âSo Iâm the only sane person that thinks this is a stupid idea?â Renjun shakes his head in disbelief, biting into his sandwich with a sigh. His eyes widen, a piece of lettuce hanging from his mouth as he erratically pats his pockets, âWhereâs Jeno? Somebody text Jenoâ
âYou know damn well Jeno isnât going to give a shitâ Donghyuck cackles. âPretty sure he fucked his best girl friend last yearâ
âYeah? And where is she now?â Renjun looks at you all for an answer and you frown, sinking into your seat with your arms crossed over your chest, âExactly!!â
âCome on, dude, itâs not like thatâŚâ Mark tries to explain. âWe talked about it. Weâre not doing any of that exclusive or official stuff, weâre not making it weirdâ
âMeaning we can still fuck whoever we wantâ You add on, turning to look at Jaemin with a pretty smile and he looks back at you with a smirk, dropping his left eye into a flirtatious wink before resuming back in rolling his joint.Â
âSo, what Iâm hearing isââ Donghyuck pauses, leaning his elbows on his table and resting his chin on the palm of his hand as he bats his eyelashes at you, âThereâs still a chance for you to fuck me?â
âI have more of a chance of getting fucked than you, Hyuckâ Jenoâs voice interrupts from behind and you whiz around in your seat, grinning as you see Jeno nearing towards your table with his jacket in one hand and his books in the other.Â
He greets you all with a smile, placing his belongings down on the table before grabbing an empty chair from another, scraping the metal across the floor as he drags it to place beside Mark, slapping his hand down on his shoulder in greeting as he sits.
âAnyway, what are we talking about?â
âMark and Y/N fuckedâ Renjun immediately jumps into it and you sigh, throwing your head back in frustration as Mark laughs beside you. âAnd theyâre going to continue to fuck whenever they have no one else to, soââ
âCoolâ
Renjun stares at Jeno incredulously. âThatâs not cool!! Youâre all helpless, every single one of youâ
Jeno pulls a face, âYou know, itâs not as bad as youâre making it out to beââ
âThatâs what I said~â Donghyuck sings.
ââand besides, theyâre grown adults, they can do whatever they wantâ Jenoâs words make your brows raise with little surprise, watching as he flips open his book and grabs the pen that rests behind his ear, tugging off the cap with his teeth before looking at you, âIâm surprised it took you this long to actually hook-up, I thought it wouldâve happened months agoâ
âWhatâs that supposed to mean?â
âJust means I thought you two wouldâve fucked months agoâ Jeno smiles and shrugs innocently, blowing the cap out of his mouth and catching it with his hand before he begins scribbling on the pages and you roll your eyes, craning your neck over your shoulder to look at Mark who shrugs his own shoulders, not fully understanding the meaning of Jenoâs words but chooses not to dwell on it any longer as he reaches for his drink, sipping through the straw as he gives his attention to Donghyuck who angles his phone in his direction to show him something that you could barely see.
Renjun shakes his head in disbelief, shoving the last remaining bite of his sandwich into his mouth and grabbing his own book out of his backpack to take notes alongside Jeno before comically raising his head up to point his pen at you and Mark.
âAlso, I donât want to hear any complaining from either of you when this whole âfriends with benefits relationshipâ bullshit ends up going to literal shitâ Renjun warns before slowly turning the pen to point it as himself, âBecause I will laugh in your face and simply say, âI told you soââ
A scoff leaves your lips as Mark speaks up, âRelax, dude, everything is going to be fine. And besides, it could just be a one time thing⌠It might not even happen againâ Mark eyes you, âRight?â
Your lips curl into a smile as you lean your elbows on the table, chin resting on the palm of your hand as you give him a short nod, âRightâ
âMark, Mark, Markâ You moan out his name repeatedly, back arching off of your bed and gripping the pillows behind your head, mouth open wide as Markâs fingers pump in and out of your pussy, waves of slick splashing onto the sheets below and his boxers. He laughs as you shove your face into your arm, body trembling and whines slipping past your lips from the overwhelming sensation of him fucking you with his fingers.
Your legs clamp shut around his hand but heâs already prying you back open with his other, holding them down to the bed as his fingers curl up into the sweet spot that has you trembling through your orgasm, almost bringing yourself to tears at the pressure in the pit of your tummy.
âThere we goâŚâ Mark hums, milking you for every drop you can give. You quiver and gasp as Mark comes to a stop, grinning as he pulls his fingers away from your cunt and you mewl, struggling to raise your foot and kick him in his side but he captures your ankle in his grasp, drawing circles with his fingertips. âYou good?â
âYou goodâ You mock with a scoff, arms flopping to your sides as you take a deep breath, ignoring the way Mark laughs again. âI felt like I was going crazy... that was intenseâ
âThank youâ Mark cheeses, eyes beaming as he slips off of your bed. âYou need to change your sheets thoughâ
âSo gentlemanly of you to offer to helpâ You mutter sarcastically under your breath with a tut, standing up from the bed and your knees buckle beneath you, causing you to reach out and grab onto a surface to steady yourself, throwing your middle finger up in Markâs direction as he snickers.Â
He tells you to go shower while he takes care of the sheets and you immediately oblige, patting his arm in a quick thank you as you wobble out of your bedroom and into the bathroom, eager to clean yourself up after previous activities.Â
You take a little longer than usual to shower, taking your time to scrub your body clean and even wash your hair, not even caring about what Mark could be doing inside your home as he waits for you, but you pause your routine as you begin to think about your relationship with Mark.
Youâve been hooking up for almost three weeks, showing up at each other's place whenever youâre in need of sex and getting the deed done before hanging out, getting a bite to eat or even watching something on the TV. You still sleep with Jaemin, youâve even fucked Jaemin and Mark on the same day. Mark doesnât care, and personally neither do you, but you start to recall the amount of times you have chosen Mark over Jaemin, and it was a lot.
You and Mark fuck whenever you have no one else to go to, yet given the choices⌠you still choose Mark.Â
âDude!â Mark bangs his fist on the bathroom door, yanking you out of your thoughts, âI need to piss, hurry up!â
âJust come in!â You yell back at him, frowning as you face the stream of water to let the soap run off your body as you mumble, âItâs not like you havenât barged in beforeâ
You hear the door yank open behind the shower curtain and you poke your head around just in time for Mark to unzip his pants to relieve himself, his head tilting back with a sigh. His eyes meet yours and his brows pull together, giving you an odd look.
âWhat?â
âCan I ask you a question?â He blinks before giving you a nod, âAre you still fucking other people?â
âYeahâ That answer relieves you a bit. âI was with Arin last weekendâ
âOkay, I have another questionâ
âWhy are youââ
âIâm asking the questionsâ You cut him off and he chuckles, nodding for you to continue as he zips up his pants and washes his hands. âHas Arin, or any other girl, been available on the same day that Iâve asked you to come over?â
âUmâŚâ Mark ponders for a moment, his bottom lip poking out in deep thought as he dries his hands on the towel. âYeah, I think soâ
âAnd who did you choose to go to?â
âYouâ It shocks you at how fast he answers and you grip the shower curtain for support, the slippery floor of the shower almost making you tumble. He chose you too. Is that wrong? Youâre uncertain and it makes you feel a little uneasy. Surely there must be a reasonable explanation to why you choose each other instead of fucking the other available people. âWhy are you asking me that anyways?â
âCuriousâ You say as you close the curtain shut to block him out and continue showering, ignoring the way heâs laughing and muttering beneath his breath how funny you are. âWait, I have another questionââ
âAsk me when youâre done showeringâ
âWhy?â Your voice turns sultry as you begin to smirk, âIs knowing that Iâm naked behind this flimsy shower curtain turning you on?â
Mark doesnât answer, instead his arm shoots out from behind the curtain, hand curling around the tap to turn the temperature of the water, laughing like a maniac as he hears you scream from the cold water that splashes on your skin.Â
You hated birthdays.Â
Realistically, you hated your birthday. You hated knowing youâre getting older every year, desperately wanting to go back to the ages where all you worried about was not making a fool of yourself in front of someone you crushed on or not knowing the biggest high school gossip about who was seeing who behind whoever's back. Now, at your growing age, all you worry about is failing college and not being able to get a good job to provide a future for yourself.Â
You wish nobody knew it was your birthday, but having such close friends who knew you better than you knew yourself, it wasnât going to be easy, and you nearly spun around and darted out of campus when you saw Donghyuck twirling a gift bag in hand with helium balloons that spelled out âbirthday girlâ in big, bold letters tied to his wrist.
âOh! There she is!â
You wanted the ground to swallow you whole.Â
âHappy birthday!â Donghyuck yells loudly when you reach their circle, letting your backpack drop to the grass beside Jaemin who looks up at you with a dopey smile. Donghyuck shoves the gift bag into your lap when you finally sit down, huffing at the weight of the bag. âI bought you something!!â
âWe told him not toâ Jeno tells you, a cigarette hanging between his lips as he looks at you through his bangs, âBut as always, Donghyuck doesnât listenâ
âAnd I never willâ Donghyuck chirps, untying the string of the balloons from around his wrist to tie them around yours instead, ignoring the dark look you give him as he smiles cheekily at you, âLook inside. Itâs all the essentials you need, prettyâ
âI swear to god, If youââ
âShhâ He presses his fingers against your lips. âLess talking, more lookingâ
You roll your eyes, whacking his hand away from your face before peering into the bag, a soft laugh leaving your lips when you first see two bottles of your favourite alcoholic beverage and a few chocolates, but you immediately deadpan when you see a pack of condoms and a plan B box sandwiched between the pair, staring back at you.
Jaemin peers over your shoulder to drop a premade joint and a few gummies into the bag for later but makes a funny noise when he sees the condom pack, dipping his hand inside the bag to pull it out, throwing it back at Donghyuck who fumbles to catch it.
âHeyââ
âShe doesnât use condomsâ
Donghyuck gapes, slowly turning his head towards you with his eyes wide as he leans forward, his nose brushing against yours as he speaks lowly, âAre you sure you donât want to fuck me?â
âPositiveâ You giggle and pat his cheek as he whines in defeat, slumping back into his own space. âThank you for the gifts, but please⌠you know I hate celebrating my birthday. And were the balloons really necessary too? Did you have to make it more obvious?â
âBut the balloons are prettyâ Donghyuck frowns, tugging on the string.
âShe doesnât like balloons, dudeâÂ
Your head whizzes around so quickly that youâre positive you could hear it crack at the speed, grinning wildly when you see Mark standing behind you looking at your balloons in disgust, and your brows raise in surprise when you see Arin beside him. You greet her with a wave and she reciprocates, wishing you a quiet happy birthday which you thank her for and you gesture them both to join you in your circle but Arin shakes her head with an apology, announcing that she has to meet up with someone else.Â
You watch as she places her hand on Markâs bicep and asks if they can meet up later but Mark shakes his head, telling her that he already has plans and her face deflates before nodding in understanding, bidding him and the rest of you goodbye before leaving.
Mark lets out a huff as he drops down to the grass, stretching out his legs and knocking his foot against yours, mouthing you a quick happy birthday and you smile in gratitude.
âArin seems to be hanging out with you a lot recentlyâ Jeno points out, taking a drag of his cigarette and blowing out the smoke in Renjunâs direction, causing him to cough and swat the smoke away with the book heâs got his face buried in. âYou like her?â
Mark shakes his head, âNo. She was just asking me if I wanted to come over this weekendâ
âAre you?â
âNahâ Mark mindlessly starts plucking the grass, avoiding everyone's eyes as they zone in on him. âI donât have time, got some assignments to finish for my classesâ
Hearing him say he hasnât got the time sparks interest in you and you begin to wonder if Mark would end up asking you for some well needed release. It excites you, especially when you realise you havenât been under or on top of him in a few days and you press your thighs together at the thought of possibly being dicked down sooner rather than later.Â
Itâs a birthday gift, you think to yourself when you try to give an excuse to why youâre so needy to be fucked by Mark. Itâs just a birthday gift. Yet, you have Jaemin right beside you, someone whoâs easily available and someone who used to be frequent in giving you the best birthday sex.Â
You could ask Jaemin to come over tonight, but why isnât the question being asked? Why does it feel like youâre stopping yourself from asking something so simple and easy? Perhaps youâre so used to sleeping with Mark that it doesnât even occur to you to ask someone else anymore. Jaemin doesnât seem to be bothered, maybe because heâs been getting his fix elsewhere too, so why does it bother you?
A soft call of your name brings you out of your thoughts and you turn your head towards the source, seeing Mark looking back at you with a kind smile. He shuffles further into the circle to get closer to you, voice dipping low as he speaks.
âCome home with me later? I have something for youâ
âWhat is it?â You ask back, excitement filling your voice. Even though you werenât a big fan of celebrating your birthday and receiving gifts, there was no doubt in your mind that Mark was probably one of the best people to receive gifts from, knowing he usually goes above and beyond to give you the most memorable birthday. You smile when you remember the three-day spa voucher he gave you last year when he had taken you away for the weekend.
It was the most breath-taking cabin you have ever been to, the sunset above the lake still photographed in your memory. The sight was beautiful, and you were grateful to have seen it with your best friend.
âYouâll find outâ Mark tells you with a smile, refusing to give you a hint of any sort as he turns his attention to Renjun to engage in a conversation and you pout, shoulders slumping in defeat and Donghyuck knocks his arm against yours, voice dipping low as he whispers in your ear.
âThat plan B will come in handy after allâOUCH!â
âThis is fucking ridiculousâ You giggle as youâre blindly walked in Markâs apartment, his hands covering your eyes to prevent you from seeing anything even though you tried to peek through the gaps between his fingers. Markâs chest rumbles against your back as he laughs, waiting for you to toe off your shoes at the entrance before leading you further into the apartment.
You have the layout completely mapped out in your head from the amount of times youâve been at his place, already knowing that heâs bringing you into the kitchen just by the cold marbling that you feel beneath your feet.
You almost trip as Mark plants you down on a chair and he whispers a countdown in your ears before he removes his hands from your face. Your vision is blurry for a moment and you try to adjust to your surroundings with a few blinks, your jaw dropping in awe as the splotches begin to disperse, allowing you to see whatâs in front of you.
âAre you kidding me?â You whisper softly in astonishment at the gifts that are presented in front of you on the table. You spot a few of your favourite scented candles stacked on top of each other, a bottle of perfume that you were 100% sure that was sitting in your wishlist on an online store you were browsing a few days prior and a miniature bag with the logo of your favourite jewellery store.Â
You feel overwhelmed, the urge to cry becoming harder to keep at bay as your eyes water and sting, throat tightening over how thoughtful Mark had been. You turn your head towards him with your bottom lip quivering and Mark snickers, pulling a party hat from god knows where and comes closer to you
âYou assholeâ You insult jokingly, using the sleeves of your shirt to wipe at your eyes, hoping that the tears wouldnât dare fall as Mark secures the pointed hat on top of your head. You point to it, âIsnât this a little cheesy?â
Mark rolls his eyes, snapping the elastic bad against your chin for extra measure and you hiss at the slight sting it causes, punching his arm in retaliation but he pays no mind, smiling to himself as he faces his back to you as he pulls open the refrigerator door to pick up a white squared box. He balances it on the palm of his hand with ease, using his foot to kick the refrigerator door shut as he makes his way back to you.
Youâre grinning widely at the thought of what could be inside the box even though youâve already guessed its cake, rubbing your hands together excitingly as Mark places it on the counter and gently slides it over to you, the box still in his grasp as it stops in front of you, drumming his fingers on the cardboard.Â
Sensing your eagerness, Mark lifts the lid off of the box and the excitement on your face drops almost instantly, turning blank as you peek inside to see the miniature watermelon themed cake staring back at you. You raise your head at Mark whoâs already grinning at you, tongue poking at his cheek as he opens up a drawer to retrieve two plastic forks, twiddling them between his fingers.
You deadpan, âAre you sure weâre not celebrating your birthday right now?â
âShut up, you like watermelon just as much as I doâ Mark scoffs, handing you one of the plastic forks and you take it out of his grasp with a smile. You go to take a piece but Mark makes a weird noise, causing you to freeze mid cut. âWaitâdudeâjesus, let me take a photo firstâ
You roll your eyes but happily oblige as Mark fishes his phone out of his pocket and angles it towards you. You pose, pointing to the cake with a wide grin, almost blinded by the flash when Mark takes the picture and you immediately rub at your eyes, trying to get rid of the blotches with a few creative curse words that make Mark laugh.
He quickly takes this opportunity to slide beside you and holds his phone high to take a selfie of you both. You poke out your tongue, using your free hand to make bunny ears behind Markâs head who grins and uses his own free hand to grip your cheeks and squeeze to force you into pulling a weird face.Â
Before you have the chance to complain, you gasp in shock when you feel the coldness of the cakeâs frosting touch your cheek and the shutter of the camera goes off when Mark takes another photo, capturing you mid chaos as you dig your fingers into the side of the cake to smush a piece against his cheek, grinning evilly as the green frosting covers his skin.
âAlright, I deserved thatâ Mark sighs with a light laugh, making sure his phone is tucked away and out of the icing zone. âMakes a good blackmail photo though, donât you think?â
âIf that goes anywhere, I will kill youâ
âYou already know that's going on my Instagram, baby~â Mark teases you and you scoff jokingly, shaking your head as you reach for the napkins that are laying on the side, trying your best to wipe away the frosting before it drops and stains your clothing.Â
Mark manages to clean himself easily but notices you struggling, deciding to help you out as he picks up another napkin and takes a hold of your chin, facing you towards him as he gently taps at your cheek, careful not to rub too hard at your skin.
Youâre suddenly aware of the close proximity and you grow silent, watching as he cleans you up. The concentrated look on his face causes your stomach to whirl and chest feel warm, his brows furrowed and eyes narrowed in on the area he needs to clean, tongue swiping over his bottom lip.
âMarkâŚâ You call out his name softly to grab his attention and he pauses, staring right at you. He seems to notice how close you both are too as he takes in the limited space between you both, slowly taking his hand away from your face but he stops himself with a quiet noise, bringing his hand back to finish his job.
âHappy birthday, dudeâ Mark whispers to you as he finally wipes the frosting off of your cheeks, smiling down at you with adoration swirling in his eyes.
Your breathing stops for a moment at the affectionate gaze, unsure of what to say or what to do with him looking at you the way he is. Your hands move up to take the birthday hat off of your head, dropping it to the side carelessly as you curl your arms around his shoulders, pushing up onto your tiptoes to embrace him.
Markâs arms slither around your waist, holding you close to his chest as he hugs you back, burying his face in the crevice of your neck and exhaling deeply.
âIâm so thankfulâ You mutter, squeezing him tight as the emotions within you struggle to be contained. âTruly, Mark. Iâm grateful too⌠Thank you for making this birthday special againâ
âItâs not over yet, you knowâ You hear him mumble. You go to pull back, to ask him what more he could possibly give you to top everything else but heâs already bending his knees, arms falling down to lock around your thighs and throwing you over his shoulder with a huff, smacking his hand roughly against your ass as he carries your giggly self to the bedroom.
Friday nights will always be your favourite nights to let loose and party: dressing up in your prettiest outfit that makes you feel confident, decorating your body with the shiniest jewellery you own and drinking the most intoxicating drink you could find while mingling with your friends.
Talking with your girls face to face after a week of classes had unfailingly lifted your mood, catching up with all the gossip you missed or briefly discussed over the phone, adding your own two cents into a situation which they eagerly agree with a nod their heads, tapping their cups to yours before taking a sip.
âSpeaking of unusual relationshipsââ Sakura, one of your dearest friends, speaks up as she turns to look at you with a grin. ââgirl, howâs it going with you and Mark? Things turned weird yet?â
âNopeâ You shake your head, buzzing happily. âWeâre fine. The whole hooking up with your best friend culture isnât as complicated as everyone makes it out to be. Everyone gets dramatic about that shitâ
Sua lets out a heavy sigh, nursing her drink in her hand. âI donât know how you do it⌠I couldnât imagine hooking up with Yeonjun. I mean, heâs attractive, but weâve seen and know too much about each other to get physical on an intimate level. Props to youâ
Heejin looks at you. âDo you still fuck Jaemin?â
âOn occasionâ You admit. âBut honestly, Iâve been so wrapped in assignmentsââ
âAnd Markâ
You give Sakura a smirk, ââthat I havenât really had time to call up Jaemin and ask to fuck. Besides, he doesnât mind. Heâs been busy smoking and selling weed for extra cashâ
âWhat about Mark? Is he still fucking around?â
You pause at that, lips pursing deep in thought before you shrug your shoulders. âI donât know. I havenât asked recentlyâ
Sua gestures over your shoulder, âLooks like youâre about to find out the answerâ
You crane your neck to follow the direction sheâs pointing in, noticing Mark standing near a back wall with a drink in hand, deep in conversation with Arin whoâs smiling and nodding to each word heâs speaking to her.Â
Feeling your eyes on him, Mark looks up to capture your gaze, raising his drink in greeting and you grin, lifting your own cup and watching as he resumes back in conversation.Â
You take in his appearance with interest: a baggy white shirt paired with some loose fitted pants and doc martens youâre certain he stole from Donghyuck. A silver chain hangs from his neck and a cap sits backwards on the top of his head, you stifle a laugh at how much of a fuckboy he looks but you must admit, he looks good.
âSubtle with the lovey dovey eyes, sweetheartâ Sakura teases, nudging your shoulder to bring your attention back to her and you laugh, tipping your head back to finish the contents of your drink. âHe looks good though, so I donât blame youâ
âWhen was the last time you fucked Mark?â You aim your question towards Heejin who shrugs her shoulders.
âI donât rememberâ She smacks her lips together. âDefinitely more than two months, thatâs for sure⌠No disrespect to you but god I miss his cock. How he walks around with that thing completely baffles meâ
Sua's eyes widen. âIs Markâs cock big?â
âYesâ You and Heejin answer instantly, causing you both to laugh and high five each other. You drone out the complaints Sua makes about wanting to fuck someone with a huge cock and how Yeonjun always recommends her people that are both shitty in bed and lack personality, too focused on looking around the room to find a clear path to get more drinks, dismissing yourself from the girls for a moment as you spot Jeno and Jaemin pouring vodka into each others cups.
You bound over to your boys, throwing your arms around their shoulders and startling them both with your presence, but Jaemin lazily smiles when he sees it's you and presses a chaste kiss to your temple as Jeno pats the back of your head in greeting, offering to fill your cup up which you happily give him.
âWhere have you been?â Jaemin asks you, taking your hand in his and whirls you around, whistling lowkey as he takes in your dress. âYou look prettyâ
âCatching up with my girls because I spend way too much time with you guysâ You explain, but cheesily grin at the compliment he gives you on your outfit and bow. Jeno hands you your drink back and you thank him, taking a quick sip as your eyes glance around the room. âWhereâs the rest of the guys anyway?â
âDonghyuckâs trying to get laid and Renjunâs around here somewhere chatting up a girl from his classesâ Jeno informs, gulping down his drink with ease. âMarkâs been talking with Arin for the past hourâsweet girl is trying to make her moveâ
âWhy arenât you trying to show off your charms tonight?â
Jeno stares at you suggestively, smirking behind the rim of his cup. âWhy would I when I got you and Jaemin right here?â
Your tongue pokes at your cheek, struggling to fight the urge not to smile. âNot funny. It was a one time thing, Lee⌠You were only there because Jaemin felt guilty he couldnât last long enough to make me cumâ
âStill had you screaming on my dick thoughâ Jeno teases, gently knocking his fingers against your cheeks as you laugh. âAnd donât worry, I havenât told anyone. Pretty sure if I tell Donghyuck I actually did get to fuck you before him, heâd end up losing his mindâ
You ponder it for a moment, âIt would be kind of funny thoughâ
âWhat would be funny?â
âDonghyuck!â You squeal as he appears beside Jeno, staring at you all with a confused look but grins when you throw yourself in his arms to hug him tightly, swaying you both back and forth. âI thought you were trying to get laid?â
âI wasâ Donghyuck sighs, pulling away from the hug but keeping an arm wrapped around your middle. âBut she had a boyfriend and heâs, like, six foot something and I didnât feel like getting my ass handed back to me by slenderman himselfâ
You pout, pinching his cheek. âWhat a shame. The dry spell continuesâ
Donghyuck leans into your touch, batting his eyelashes prettily at you with a smirk. âYou can change that for me if you wantâ
âIn your dreamsâ
Donghyuck sighs jokingly, dropping his head low as his shoulders sag. âGuess Iâll keep on dreaming then. You sound even prettier when youâre moaning my name thereââ
âWhatâs going on?â
The sound of Markâs voice speaking up behind you causes you to whiz around quickly, beaming as your eyes meet his but it falters slightly when you notice the fake smile heâs sporting, wanting to turn the question around and ask him whatâs going on.Â
But you didnât want to bring attention to the subject, knowing itâll make Mark uncomfortable putting him on the spot despite him continuously being open with the others. Itâs not something to speak publicly about if itâs serious.
You touch his arm and give him a comforting squeeze to which he seems to relax, using your grip on him to tug you into his side and for Donghyuckâs arm to slip from your waist.
âThe usual. Donghyuck trying to get her into his bedâ Jeno fills him in, fishing a strawberry flavoured vape out of his pocket to take a drag and Jaemin retches at the smell, wafting it away with his hand. âHowâs Arin?â
âFineâ Mark quips, licking at his lips as he turns to you. âDo you want to get out of here? Just me and youâ
Donghyuck immediately takes offence to that, âWhat about us? We all came here together, man!â
âIâm taking her home to fuck her, Hyuckâ Mark deadpans, giving him an unamused look while your tummy swirls with excitement. âDo you want to watch?â
âWellââ
âI was kiddingâ
Youâre in complete bliss with Mark hovering above you, your back arched, bare chest pressed to his as he nips and licks at your neck, his hips lazily grinding into yours, cock hitting deeper than heâs ever been.
The pace is slow, something that youâre not used to when it comes to Mark, but you donât find the voice within yourself to complain, fingers winding through his hair with cries spilling from your lips, legs hooking over his waist.
Heâs grunting in the crevice of your neck with each deep thrust, one hand caressing the side of your face while the other rests beside your head, stopping himself from laying his entire body weight on you.
Youâre whining from the loss of contact when he moves his head away, missing the feeling of his teeth on your skin and looking up at him pleadingly but heâs frozen staring down at you, despite his hips thrusting automatically into you.
âFuck, youâre so prettyâ You barely hear him mumble and your heart pounds in your chest at the compliment, body feeling a little more heated and warm.
âMarkââ
He cuts off your words by planting his lips on yours with the most sweetest and soft kiss, and you melt into the touch, fingers untangling from his hair to cup his cheeks in your palms, gasping through the kiss as Markâs cock slowly pulls out of your pussy before pushing back in, causing electricity to shoot up your spine.
The band in your tummy tightens with each slow but powerful thrust he gives you, thighs quivering around his frame, unable to keep up with his kisses as your mouth falls open with short gasps and whines, white specs flickering in your vision as you feel yourself inching closer and closer over the edge.
âCumâ Mark whispers, breath fanning over your face. âDo it. Cum on my cockâ
You wail as the band snaps, orgasm crashing down on you violently. Your body convulses, pussy squeezing around his cock, keeping him buried deep which has him moaning, his own hips stuttering as he cums. You feel him pulsing inside, painting your walls white as he fills you up.
Markâs head slumps down on your shoulder as you try to catch your breath, cringing and wincing as you feel him slowly moves his hips back to pull his cock out of your sensitive pussy, your hand falling from his face to drop down to your centre, gathering his cum that pools out on your fingers.
âIâm sorryâ Mark mumbles against your skin. âIâm sorry, Iâshit, I shouldâve asked if I could, you knowââ Mark raises his hand to make a jerking off motion which causes you to snort. ââI got too overwhelmed. Iâm sorryâ
âItâs kinda cute that youâre apologisingâ You admit, gently pushing him off of your body to sit upright. âBut you donât need to apologise. This isnât the first time you came in me, Markâ
âI knowâ Mark runs his fingers through his sweaty bangs. âI usually ask thoughâ
âMark. Itâs fineâ You reassure him, placing your palm on his bicep. âIâll forgive you if you help clean me up thoughâ
Mark smiles softly as he slips off of the bed, disappearing out of the room for a moment and returning with a wet towel. He sits between your legs as he gently cleans up the mess, gently dabbing around your sensitive areas and whispering apologies after apologies every time you hiss at the contact, thighs closing around his hand which he carefully pries open to resume his job.
You watch in silence as he cleans you up and you frown at the troubled look you see on his face, not used to seeing Mark being so closed up with his feelings and emotions. Mark hasnât been open with you in a few weeks, he hasnât come to you and asked for your reassurance or help. It makes you feel a little bit defeated.
Something was different, and you struggled to pinpoint what it was.Â
The questions lay on the tip of your tongue, desperate to be asked and even more desperate to get the answers youâve been craving. Your relationship with Mark has changed since the proposition youâve made about sleeping together, but he was still your best friend.
âWhatâs going on?â You finally ask. Mark freezes, hand clutching the wet towel in his grasp tightly. âAnd donât lie to me. I can tell when youâre being truthful or notââ
âWhat am I to you?â Mark questions and you're a little stunned at your question being answered with his own question. He takes his hand away as you blink at him, feeling confused. âEven with all, like, this going on⌠what am I to you?â
âYouâre my best friend?âÂ
Mark seems to frown deeply at that, âSo nothing has changed? At all? Even with us sleeping together? Iâm still your best friend?â
âIâof course!â Youâre baffled, assuming that with the way Mark is speaking about yours and his situation that he was worried that youâd have negative feelings towards him. Youâre eager to reassure him, to let him know that everything is okay. âMark, youâll always be my best friend. We promised nothing would change. Iâm keeping that promiseâ
Mark closes his eyes as his shoulders sink, âDude, Iââ He drops his head with a sigh. âI canât do this anymoreâ
âDo what?â You ask quietly, bringing your knees up to your chest.
âThisâ He gestures between the two of you. âI justâI canât. Not anymore. I canât continue sleeping with youâ
âOhâ You swallow thickly, a little surprised. âWhy?â
âThings have changedâ His voice is quieter now and it makes your heart crumble at the tone. Does he hate you? âI canât continue whatever this is and be your best friend. It has to stop, itââ Mark sighs, rubbing at his forehead. âIt canât go on, Iâm sorryâ
âItâs okayâ You mumble as your chin rests on your knees, hugging your legs closer to your chest to cover your modesty. You refuse to look at him now, finding interest in the sheets below you both as your throat tightens at the thought of him hating you so much that he canât do anything with you no more. âIâm sorry too, by the way. I donât know what I did you make you hate me, but Iââ
âWait, what?â
ââIâm just sorry. Especially if I came across too strong and for putting you in such a positionâ Youâre babbling your words now, unable to control yourself due to the overwhelmed feeling that washes over you. âFuck, Iâm so sorryâ
âWait. I donâtââ
âLetâs just not tell the others, okay?â You raise your head to meet his eyes this time. Heâs looking straight at you, confusion and disbelief swimming in his irises but you ignore it, chewing the inner skin of your cheek. âMostly Renjun. I donât really want to hear him laugh in our faces and give us the whole âI told you soâ speech he threatened us with at the startâ
Mark calls out your name softly and reaches out to touch you but youâre already climbing off of the bed, looking for your underwear and dress that was thrown across the room due to prior activities.
Youâre too embarrassed to continue the conversation, to ask him what exactly you did to make him grow to hate you. Truthfully, you didnât really want to dwell on it too much, the pain of losing someone like Mark already making your heart ache.
You just wanted to go homeâto be in the comfort of your own bed and curse yourself out, and probably cry to the point you might forget everything that just happened. You are feeling a little teary, but you wouldnât dare to cry in front of Mark right now.
âIâll, uh, see you aroundâ You mutter, shoving the heels onto your feet, casting one final look his way. âIâm sorryâ
It's been almost two weeks since your last encounter with Mark.
You shouldnât be avoiding him like you are. Itâs childish. But you canât force yourself to face someone who used to be your best friend and now hates you.Â
Maybe you shouldâve waited a few more minutes, to give him time to explain the entire situation and how he was feeling but you were selfish, you didnât want to hear him explain in detail what you had done to make him change his feelings towards you.
You miss him. Of course you miss him. Heâs been your best friend for yearsâyour other half, more like. There was no you without Mark and vice versa. You werenât exactly sure on how you could continue functioning with Mark by your side, as dramatic as it sounds, but youâve always been dramatic.
The other boys have been blowing up your phoneâcourtesy of you ignoring them too, not wanting to hear Renjun rub it in your face on how the âfriends with benefits bullshitâ you had with Mark did actually go to shit. And you didnât want to hear the others continuously question what had happened and what had changed.
Even your roommate, someone who keeps herself out of your business and hardly ever bothers you, had cornered you one morning at breakfast, asking why you looked so glum and why the âshirtless Canadian fuckboyâ wasnât joining you both.Â
Youâre not the type to let anyone know your worries, but youâre surprised when you find yourself explaining to your roomie what happened.
She gave you a deadpanned look, calling you stupid for not staying behind and listening despite you voicing that you couldnât bear to listen to why his feelings had suddenly turned negative towards you. Your face twisted and turned, offended at her harsh words but you allowed yourself to let her talk and not jump in even though you desperately wanted to.
âYouâre jumped to your own conclusionâ She told you when she was clearly up the dishes. âYou know, for two close best friends who talk to each other every second of the day, you sure have some serious miscommunication issuesâ
So thatâs what leads you to now: you sitting alone in the living room with your phone in hand, staring down at yours and Markâs chat room with your thumb between your teeth, biting down on the skin anxiously as you try to figure out how to start a conversation, to let him know you will listen.
you: i think we need to talk.
mark: iâm almost at ur house anyway i had to go get something
you: ???? u coming over
mark: yeah mark: i was going to make u listen to me mark: its important dude.
You snort at his last message, sending a quick thumbs up emoji before throwing your phone to the side, awaiting his arrival. You catch your leg nervously bobbing in the corner of your vision and your brows furrow, placing your hand down on your knee and squeezing tight. As if that will stop you from feeling nervous.
Youâre about to hear the reason why Markâs feelings had changed for you so negatively, nothing can prepare you for it. Bite the bullet. Take it like a champ.Â
The rapid knock on the door rips you out of your thoughts, slowly turning your head with a confused look plastered across your face. Was that Mark? Mark never knocksâhe freely walks in like itâs his own place usually, always makes himself at home.
You push yourself up from the sofa and make your way towards the door, peeping through the hole to see Markâs form, teeth nibbling at his bottom lip with his hands behind his back, swaying back and forth nervously. You grow even more confused and concerned, unlocking the door and pulling it open to face him fully.
âWhy did you knoââ
âHate you?!â He cuts you off with a shout, immediately startling you with his tone. His eyes are wide as he stares at you, full of disbelief. âHate you, Iâjesus christâhow could I hate you?! Dude, Iâd never hate you⌠god, youâre so frustrating sometimesâ
Your lips quirk upwards, âNice to see you tooâ
âI donât hate you, at all⌠When I said to you that things have changed, I didnât mean anything bad by it⌠itâs actually quite the oppositeâŚâ Mark trails off and before you can get the chance to ask him to explain what he means, your breath hitches at the back of your throat as he pulls his hands from behind his back: a bag of jellies in one and a handful of ripped up flowers in the other. Your heart thumps rapidly. âIâm going to tell you something and I justâI need you to listenâ
You barely whisper, âOkayâ
âBeing in this friends with benefits relationship with you was not as easy as I thought it was going to beâ Mark tells you, his honesty making you pull your attention away from the things in his hands to his eyes. âWe promised each other that weâre not going to involve any of that official or exclusive title bullshit to make it complicated for us⌠yet here I am standing in front of you right now with the same jellies and flowers in my hand from when we first met about to confess my fucking feelings to you, Iâm soââ
âYouâre ramblingâ You cut him off quietly, a smile creeping onto your lips.
âRight, yeah, of course I amâ Mark laughs with a shake of his head, awkwardly scratching his neck before he straightens out, keeping his eyes on yours. âI fell for you. I think I sort of realised it on your birthday but I didnât want to say anything just in case I wasnât really thinking straight⌠but when we were at that party and I saw the guys flirting with you, I realised how much I actually do like you and that it wasnât my dick talkingâ
You snort as you repeat, âDick talkingâ
âShut upâ He smiles at you, his own laugh fleeting past his lips. âIâm in love with you, dude. And I totally get it if you want to reject me because of how weirdly this turned out but, uh, I would like to continue seeing you if I could be your... boyfriendâ
Youâre too busy repeating his confession in your head to notice that Mark is waiting for an answer, bottom lip tucked between his teeth as he bites down nervously, visibly shaking for excitement or the fact that he just confessed his entire feelingsâyou werenât sure.
The silence from you kills Mark, and his face drops when you step forward to quietly take the flowers and the jellies out of his hand and step back inside the house. His shoulders slump in defeat, taking your non verbal response as a rejection to his proposal of him being your boyfriend and he goes to turn around, to get the fuck off of your doorstep and hope that the intense embarrassment that he feels coursing through his veins is enough to make him disappear quickly.
But he freezes mid escape when he hears the rustling of you ripping open the pack of jellies, turning his head to see you looking at him with the most gentlest smile. He watches, chest erupting with warmth as you reach your arm out, angling the treat in his direction and a grin spreads across his face, unable to control the giggles that leave him.Â
Youâre giving him a jelly, youâre giving him a relationship.
 Šđ đĽđđđŚ
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Mike Wheeler: S4 Outfits & Identity Crisis Analysis
One of aspects of s4 I find the most interesting is Mike's costuming. We see him in 4 distinct outfits in this season (not counting the white t-shirt look since it's not a separate outfit), and they are all interesting in their own right. But ultimately, they all contrast each other and represent different aspects of Mike's internal conflict and identity crisis.
s4 is the season where Mike's internal conflict is externalized via his costume design. Heâs trying to figure out who he is and â like for so many queer teens â it starts with his hair and his clothes.Â
Shout-out to @glisten-inthedark because it was during a fantastic discussion that I drafted out a much shorter, much rougher version of this analysis!
*Disclaimer: While a lot of my analysis is formatted as statements â more out of habit from years of writing academic essays than anything â much of this is still speculation and subjective opinion. If you have a different perspective or disagree with my analysis, that's perfectly fine! This is just my interpretation.
1.
First up, my second favorite outfit: The Hellfire outfit.
If you put this Mike beside any of his s3 outfits, the difference is incredibly stark. s3 Mike has bright colors, neons spread throughout the palette, nearly all of them collared shirts. Yet the first outfit we see Mike wear in s3 is edgier: nearly all-black, featuring the word HELLFIRE loud and proud, the face of a tiefling or daemon, and weapons. This is also the first time we've seen Mike wear a graphic tee, which is more up Dustin's alley.
Not only this, but his hair is long enough to brush his shoulders, the longest we've ever seen it. Finn Wolfhard calls it "kind of the most metal Mike's hair has ever been."
So why is this so important? Let's talk about modeling for a second.
Dustin models himself after Steve in parts of s2. He listens to Steve's romantic advice and styles his hair like Steve's for the Snow Ball. For Dustin, Steve represents the masculine, heternormative ideal: the kind of guy who girls want to date, a "ladies man." When Dustin does find a girlfriend who loves him for him, he stops modeling after Steve in terms of outward appearance and returns to his own personal sense of style in s3. In fact, it's Dustin who ends up giving Steve romantic advice in s3, because their roles have flipped: Dustin is comfortable in who he is and his romantic prospects, whereas Steve is struggling. ("Instead of dating somebody because you think it's gonna make you cooler, why not date somebody you actually enjoy being around?"
Lucas wears a Karate Kid shirt in s3 bc Max thinks Ralph Macchio is attractive, so he wears clothes that reference him to appeal to her, his girlfriend, but he mixes it with his classic camo bandana because Lucas has a very strong sense of self that was only rocked in s4, when he tries to model after the basketball team, who are also representative of (1980's) socially acceptable masculinity and heteronormativity, for popularity's sake. But he ends up rejecting their blind conformity and regains his sense of self by the middle of the season.
And MikeâŚ..models after Eddie. Eddie âforced conformity is whatâs killinâ the kidsâ Munson. Not just in clothes, but in his more "metal" hairstyle. Eddie even makes a note about Mikeâs wardrobe change during the cafeteria scene, saying heâs no longer wearing whatever his mom buys him at the GAP, which highlight this change for the audience.
This is significant because even though Dustin and Lucas are his fellow nerds, even though both Dustin and Lucas end up being chased down by Jason & Friends for their status as members of the Hellfire Club, even though they're labeled as outcasts and reject conformity in their own way â
â they still model themselves after classic heteronormative and socially acceptable representations of masculinity, while Mike is the only one who actively models himself after the school âfreak" and vocal non-conformist.
Sure, Dustin wears the Hellfire shirt too, but Dustin is the graphic tee king of the show and he still wears an iconic baseball cap and overlays his graphic tee with a fun and funky button-up in s4. How he dresses in s4 is wholly consistent with his identity throughout the rest of the show. Whereas Mike's first outfit of the show contrasts heavily with all of his outfits from the previous seasons particularly s3.
And this is intentional. This is what Amy Parris, costume designer for Stranger Things says in this GQ interview about it:
Mike's Hellfire Outfit represents his growing internal resistance to and rejection of conformity and societal expectation.
2.
....which is exactly why the airport outfit gives the viewer such insane whiplash.
It is bright, gaudy, dorky, cartoonish and a completely different person than we were just shown. It's no version of Mike we've ever seen. Sure, we've seen him in shorts, and that surfer shirt is technically a button-up, but that hat? Those glasses? Flip-flops? It's so clearly an act that it's laughable.
Amy Parris, in the same GQ interview as before, goes as far to say, "We knew we'd wanted something that felt like an outfit maybe he would've bought at the airport before he got there."
This isn't Mike. This is Mike's attempt at conformity, post-meeting and modeling after Eddie. This is Mike feeling like who he is in Hawkins â the edgier Mike who models after the school "freak" â isn't the "right" version of himself to immediately present to El after months and months apart. Almost like he feels the need to wear something more similar to what he wore in s3, the shorts and the bright colors, to "ease into" the rest of his wardrobe, because when he's with El, he strives to present as "normal."
Finn Wolfhard says this about Mike in s4: "I think Mike's just trying to be as normal as possible and trying to keep on a normal path." Yet Mike says this in s4: "Have you ever considered that we don't want to be popular?"
If Mike isn't trying to be "normal" in Hawkins and is sitting at lunch with the school "freak," then in what ways he is trying to be "normal"? It's when he's with El in California, particularly their first day before everything goes to hell. Yet we see that "normal" = not himself.
Amy Parris notes in the GQ interview that they picked an orange (a rather yellow orange) button-up because it's the opposite of what Mike normally wears (blue tones).
The purple shirt is also an attempt for him to appeal toward El because purple, according to Mike, is one of her favorite colors. He is trying to appeal to El's taste/likes while wearing the literal opposite of what he normally does.
Mike's Airport Outfit represents his attempts to conform to heteronormativity and society's expectation of what a "good straight boyfriend" does, is, and looks like â and how unnatural and unlike himself this attempt is.
3.
This plaid look is my personal favorite Mike look in s5. This is one of the very few times we see Mike with an untucked shirt â possibly the first time we see him wearing a button-up/collared shirt and it's not tucked in. Untucked makes him look less preppy, taller, and more mature. It's a very flattering look and especially refreshing after the airport look.
But, I also have a lot to say about this symbolism of this particular outfit.
The rich blue is a standard Mike color, so it's the first outfit he wears in s4 that feels familiar to us. Additionally, the hint of yellow is commonly speckled throughout Mike's wardrobe. However, look at the pattern. It's plaid.
We all know by now that Mike is the king of stripes. Stripes and the color blue are the most consistent aspect of his wardrobe other than his calculator watch. But plaid?
There are only two instances in the entire show where Mike wears plaid. (I've triple-checked this, but if I still somehow overlooked anything, please let me know!) Here, in s4, and in his final scene in s1:
(top row is unedited, bottom row is brightened â no I couldn't get a flattering screenshot of the second image lol)
A blue plaid with (faint) yellow accents. Hm. How intriguingly familiar!
In s1, we see Mike experiencing conflicting emotions in his final scene. He is very happy that Will is back and that Will is having fun with his DND game. But he is also sad that Eleven is gone and experiencing survivor's guilt. His emotions are split between Will and El. This emotional turmoil is illustrated with the use of much busier pattern than Mike normally wears, but because that pattern is plaid, a pattern Will often wears, it aligns him with Will.
Why does plaid connect Mike to Will yet not El, even though El has worn plaid before? Because El has only worn plaid because of her circumstances, not her own personal style.
El first wears plaid when Hopper gives her his flannel in s1. This continues into s2 when she begins living with him. She's receiving either hand-me-downs from him or boy's clothes because he's having to hide the fact that he's sheltering a girl wanted by the government. If Hop were to start buying girl's clothing/more feminine clothing, that would be suspicious. When El goes on her shopping spree with Max in s3, after Max tells her to focus on what feels like her â "not Hopper, not Mike, you" â she picks bold, bright colors and abstract patterns, completely avoiding plaid. Then, in s4, El is living with the Byers and receiving their hand-me-downs and borrowing from their closets.
Amy Parris confirms this in the GQ interview, that what El wears in s2 is meant to feel mismatched, borrowed, and hand-me-down because she is trying to figure out who she is in Lenora.
She also says this:
It was intentional that when El wore plaid in s4, it was meant to remind the audience of Will and look as though she was wearing his clothes.
Which means Plaid = Will, not El.
So let's put this all together: Mike has worn plaid once before, when he was experiencing conflicting emotions torn between Will and El. Plaid is Will's pattern, not El's. Blue is Mike's color, and it's commonly known that yellow is Will's, which means that not only is Mike wearing Will's pattern, he's wearing a hint of Will's color. On a more minor note, the return of the black jeans and converse from his Hawkins/Hellfire outfit means that the facade had dropped and he's slipping back into what he's more comfortable in.
It's also notable that Mike wears a blue plaid shirt the very next day after Will wears a blue plaid shirt. (Also, Will's blue plaid shirt has more white, which suits his wardrobe more than black, whereas Mike's blue plaid shirt has more black, which suits Mike's.)
And this is the shirt Mike wears during his fight with Eleven, where she calls him out on never saying, "I love you," accuses him of thinking she's a monster, and he calls her ridiculous and tries to place the burden of their relationship issues on other people ("You can't let those mouthbreathers ruin you! Ruin us!")
Visually, the plaid tells us what's going on in Mike's head and heart.
Mike's Plaid Outfit represents his internal conflict between Will and El while simultaneously betraying where his true feelings lie: with Will.
4.
Last outfit! The outfit he spends nearly a full week wearing, the teal outfit.
Right off the bat, this color is one we've seen him wearing before in s3. However, as @hawkinsschoolcounselor points out in this brilliant post, the teal polo he wears in s3 looks nearly identical to one his father wears in the same season.
This has a few nuanced implications.
Firstly, in s3, it carries the visual implication that s3 Mike is currently on a path that could cause him to turn out like Ted. What does s3 Mike do? He neglects his friendships to spend time making out with his girlfriend, tries to reject his childhood hobbies and passions as childish (Ted disdainfully calls toys "hunks of plastic," in s2) and something he needs to grow out of, and, like Ted, makes a comment that could be interpreted as a homophobic slight â ("It's not my fault you don't like girls!" â a comment that I believe is a moment of projection for Mike due to internalized homophobia, not legitimate homophobia toward Will. In s3, Mike is trying to be "normal," "grown-up," socially acceptable and heteronormative.
Remember how I talked about modeling earlier? Yeah, s3 Mike models after Ted in mild aspects.
Yet the very next season, it's revealed that his rejection of his hobbies, passions, and games like DND was a complete farce. He returns to wholly embracing DND and, other than this teal color, stops dressing like Ted. He stops modeling after his father, much to Ted's disappointment: "Might as well call [Hellfire] the high school dropout club."
Secondly, because this teal color ties Mike to Ted, it's notable that this is the color that Mike wears when he tells Eleven he loves her.
(Now if you've read this far, my guess is you're a Byler fan and you've read 50 million analyses of the I love you speech, but if you haven't, the gist of the conclusion of those analyses is this: Mike felt pressured to say he loved El in order to save her and because he believed she commissioned the painting, but he tells provable lies during it that will be dismantled in s5.)
If teal is a color Mike wore during a season where he's modeling after Ted, a husband who the show makes very clear is lacking in passion to the point of his wife feeling unsatsified, a father emotionally distant from his two eldest children, and a man who is the epitome of heteronormativity and the typical mundane nuclear family man â this does not bode well for the success of Mike's romantic relationship with El, nor does it frame his romantic relationship with El in a healthy light.
Thirdly, there are several key differences between s4's teal shirt and s3's teal shirt.
Mike's s3 teal shirt is buttoned-up to the top button (in most of his scenes wearing this shirt) and is tucked into higher-waisted black shorts. It's solid-colored, neat, and preppy, and gives two hilariously contrasting impressions: the outfit of a little boy, and the outfit of a tween trying to dress like an adult.
In s4, however, Mike's outfit is partially unbuttoned, revealing a white tshirt beneath, with gives it a more sporty or even outdoorsy vibe. It's also not a solid color and has angular grey accents â particularly, triangular and diamond shaped accents.
This is what Amy Parris has to say about those grey accents, + what she says about how they purposefully added triangles to Robin's outfit as LGBTQ+ symbolism:
Because of this, it is not a stretch to speculate that the angular accents and, in particular, triangle design on Mike's breast pocket is a nod to his queercoding.
It's no coincidence that this is the shirt Mike wears during his bedroom talks with Will, the van scene with Will, his interrupted pizza parlor talk with El (that reads more like an impending apology and amicable breakup, not a confession â just mute the music look at his face during that scene, and El's), and his speech to El.
Most notably, it's the shirt he's wearing during this moment:
Look at Mike's face. Look at how conflicted he is. How guilty. This is the first time since Mike put on this teal shirt, the first time since he had his two separate bedroom talks with Will, the first time since "as a team," and "best friends," and the van scene & painting, that Mike has to deal with Will and Eleven at the same time.
Mike's Teal Outfit represents the tug-of-war between two contrasting concepts: his internal struggle with practicing comphet and heteronormativity (pursuing a romantic relationship with El and pretending to be straight), and his growing internal resistance to comphet/hetnorm and desire to embrace a truer, more alternative/noncomforming identity (his true romantic feelings for Will and accepting his queer identity).
Conclusion
I could honestly continue this post with analysis of the s5 outfits we've seen from Mike and what that means for his characterization/arc in the final season, but this post is long enough already. Perhaps when we get more content/trailers for s5, I might put out a speculative post in anticipation for it.
If you have a different perspective and want to share it, feel absolutely free! I'd love to hear other people's thoughts.
#byler analysis#byler#mike wheeler#mike wheeler analysis#stranger things#stranger things analysis#please let this show up in the tags i swear if it doesn't!!!#long post#i should figure out how many words this is
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#Best Sneaker Releases December 2024 Week 5 Nike Book 1 âSedonaâ New Balance âLunar New Yearâ Collection Nike LeBron 22 âMogulâ New Balance 1#New Balance#Itâs officially time to say goodbye to 2024. The year was chock-full of sneaker drops â exciting#wacky and everything in between â and weâre here with one final list to carry us into the new year. Itâs clear that most brands are enjoyin#Jordan Brand and Reebok releases#however#there are still some pairs worth checking out. Before we get things started with the latest from Devin Booker and Nike Basketball#letâs first review what news hit the footwear space this past week.#Kicking things off#Nike shared its third annual review of the most popular SNKRS releases of 2024. Per usual#Travis Scott topped the list with another Air Jordan 1 Low OG collaboration#a surprise came in the form of Jordan Brandâs dominance. As for drops due to arrive in 2025#release details regarding Lil Yachtyâs Nike Air Force 1 Low âLucky Green/Mystic Redâ and another rumored Supreme collaboration featuring th#providing a unique look into their design process.#As for Jordan Brand#the Air Jordan 4 is poised to have another big year as a first look at Nike SBâs âNavyâ colorway of the AJ4 finally appeared after being ru#Januaryâs return of the Air Jordan 3 âBlack Catâ was teased by the Swoosh with official imagery.#The Lunar New Year is the subject of one of this weekâs top drops but was also highlighted with new collections from both adidas Originals#embracing the Year of the Snake. Rounding out the news#MM6 Maison Margiela brought forth its new Sprinter silhouette â a nod to Nikeâs original âMoon Shoesâ from 1972.#With all of the past weekâs key sneaker headlines reviewed#letâs dive right into which 10 drops you should consider picking up this week. Afterwards#you can avoid having to wait for future drop dates by hopping on HBX and shopping styles that are available today.#Nike Book 1 âSedonaâ#Release Date: January 1#Release Price: $140 USD#Where to Buy: Nike#Why You Should Cop: Stepping into the new year#Devin Booker and Nike Basketball are continuing to outfit the star guardâs first signature shoe with unique colorways. Embracing the great#this âSedonaâ iteration looks to the picturesque Arizona city for inspiration. Its upper sees a topographic pattern overlaid atop a red-ora
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21 WIT NO KIDS
masterlist
bitch bad no kanye
prelude.
âcome on, g, you havenât gone out in so long! show that sexy ass off.â gwenâs friend, jackie, was begging her to go to tedâs tonight. she had so much homework to do and she had to edit the girls media day photos but shit, jackieâs shrill voice makes her just want to slam her head against the desk.
âfine, letâs go, fuck.â
the blonde hopped up and ran to the brunetteâs closet. âyou should wear this, you look so hot in jeans. like for real your ass in denim is crazy.â jackie paused, holding up a low waisted denim skirt. âare you listening?â gwenâs head shot up from her phone, âyeah.â
in a short while gwen was stuffed into a skirt and a âgoing outâ top as jackie called it. she watched from the bar as jackie did awful kanye karaoke. gwen spotted a few familiar faces, a few girls from her photography class, some football boys, some girls from the soccer team whom sheâd taken photos for.
âgwen!â a voice rang out beside her, a bubby (tipsy) kk arnold stood, smiling at her. kk was always the nicest to her, all the girls were extremely nice but kk was persistent, gwen was a closed off person. kk always tried to break down her walls, getting the other girls to celebrate gwenâs birthday or get her a christmas gift or inviting her to friendsgiving, which gwen always refused.
âhey, kk, how are you?â gwen smiled, her tooth gem winked at kk in the dim lights. kk hopped on the bar stool beside her. âyou know, good. genoâs up my ass, but whatâs new.â kk took a sip of her drink.
âyo, pause.â a blonde slung an arm around the shorter girl. paige smiled and nodded at gwen. âhey, gwen. how you been, ma?â it was no secret that paige thought gwenyth was hot, the girls teased her about it all the time but paige wasnât embarrassed. nah, anyone with eyes could see gwen was sexy. from her silk press to the chunky hoops and bangle bracelets to the dermals in her hips that were always on display with her low waisted pants.
paige stood, abs on full display. her black cargos hung low, showing the calvin klein boxers she wore. her white crop top rose a bit as her arm was up over kkâs neck. âiâve been good, p. how about you?â
âoh normal shit.â paigeâs phone dinged, tearing her gaze away from the gold navel piercing. when her gaze returned her pointed to it, âthat new?â gwen touched her stomach and looked down. âoh, nah, i just donât wear it often.â
kk had looked at paige with narrowed eyes. âpaige, why donât you invite her to sit with us?â
paige elbowed kk in the side making her yelp. âyou, uh, wanna sit with us?â gwen raised one eyebrow and put her tongue in her cheek.
âfuck it, sure.â gwen said as she looked behind paige and waved to the team the was sitting in a booth in the corner. they all scrambled to look like they were doing something other than staring at paige and gwen.
gwen brushed by paige and walked to the booth, âvodka soda, will you?â paige chuckled and smirked but still watched her walk away.
âstop looking at her ass, perv.â kk rang out, making paige roll her eyes.
âbro, i wasnât.â paige said before buying a dirty shirleyâŚand a vodka soda.
âyouâre her bitch.â kk teased before she walked over to the booth where the photographer and the basketball players were laughing.
when we do it, we do it our way
i honestly kinda was gwen for myselfâŚ. but if you donât want your fmc wtf r u doing fr. hope you enjoy my loves
#azzi fudd#ncaa#ncaa wbb#paige buckets#paige bueckers smut#paige bueckers uconn#paige bueckers x female oc#paige bueckers x oc#paige bueckers x reader#paige x oc#paige x reader#paige bueckers#paige blockers#kk arnold#geno auriemma#uconn wbb#uconn huskies#uconn womenâs basketball#uconn x reader#ncaa womenâs basketball#paige x fem reader#paige bueckers x fem!reader#fem oc
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Hey, I recently developed a small obsession with the song "Crush" by Tessa Violet and I was wondering if you could share some thoughts about it ⨠Maybe Katsuki feels like a hopeless loser as he crushed over Reader, not knowing that the Reader has already these feelings? Overall, just fluff hehe đŤś
authors notes: aw I listened to the song and itâs cute, i definitely see him being a sucker for reader and thinking she doesnât feel the same way :(
context: fluff, university au (18+)
It was the week before fall break, some classes were either canceled for teachers vacation or there wasnât much going on. On Friday, the school through a mini festival in celebration of fall break and for good luck with new season.
Everyone was allowed to either dress up, wear their uniforms, or costumes depending on whether or not they were in the festival. You decided to wear black leggings, brown boots(like uggs), a white long sleeve with a cute brown jacket and a scarf (color of your choice). It was cold so everyone was wearing pants, long sleeves, scarves, and whatever to keep themselves even remotely warm.
â
âBakugou!â
You noticed him shooting hoops at a basketball game outside with Kirishima as you walk over to them.
âHey y/n, nice fitâ
Kirishima was always good with compliments, kept it respectful and causal.
âThanks kiriâ you softly smile at his compliment. You look over at Bakugou who hasnât even bat an eye at you. Him and Kirishima were in their school attire which looked so good on Bakugou. He wasnât even wearing the sweater, just the white button down and tie and oh God-
âWhatâre you staring at?â
He was talking to you.
âSorry I was-â and then you stopped talking, realizing he still wasnât looking at you. Whatâs his deal? Usually heâd at least acknowledge you with a âhere to bother me?â Or âwhat do you want.â
His demeanor this time seemed so dismissive, you figured it was because he was focused on the game so you waited until he was finished.
Ding Ding Ding
âCongratulations young man, you can pick any prize up there of your choiceâ
The game manager looked at Bakugou as he walked off, huffing under his breath.
âDonât want one.â
Your eyes also follow Bakugou as he walks away.
âHow much is that panda?â You politely turn to ask the man, hoping it would make him feel better and to excuse Bakugouâs behavior.
âWell if you play itâs free if you win but if youâre talking cash itâs [___]â
You slightly frowned, not thinking it was worth it so you politely declined before looking back to try and find Bakugou.
You finally found him and as you began walking towards him you noticed a girl come up to him. She was also in the school uniform but she seemed⌠flirty? Her hand gently nudging Bakugou as she laughed and smiled, was she blushing?? You couldnât see Bakugouâs face since his back was turned to you, but you didnât want to see him. The girl pulled out her phone and handed it to Bakugou and thatâs when you turned around.
You walked away, as far as you could. He was being a jerk to you but had the patience for a girl heâs never even met? Your heart was beating against your chest, you knew you liked him and assumed it was jealousy. Maybe it was. Or maybe it was the way you were hoping heâd at least comment on your outfit. You found a nearby bench and sat down, allowing your mind to relax as your emotions began circling around you like an endless whirlpool.
You looked around the scenery. It was packed with university students and some teachers. There were so many food trucks, game machines, and etc. it was busy. In hopes of taking your mind off of it you decided to buy some cotton candy.
â
âCan I get strawberry?â You politely ask the young man. He seemed to be in if not your grade at least the grade above.
âAnything for a pretty girl like youâ
You smile at his compliment, âThank youâ at least someone aside from Kirishima noticed your presence.. but it wasnât him.
You paid for the cotton candy before walking off, as you were about to take some you felt a strong hand pull you back, now taking a piece of your cotton candy.
âHey-â you notice itâs Bakugou, you look at him before handing him the cotton candy.
âHave it.â And you turn to walk away before he pulls you back by your arm.
âI never said I wanted it.â
âThen throw it away.â You were giving him attitude and he was not having it.
âThe hellâs your problem.â
âI donât know go ask your girlfriend.â
âHah-?!â
âYou heard me, that girl that was obviously flirting with you.â
âI donât want her. Thatâs why I told her to âfuck offâ, whatâs it to you?â
You bite your lip, youâve had enough with these stupid feelings and the way your heart races every time heâs near.
âI like you. Iâm not sure if Iâve made it obvious, but if not then now you know. So sorry if im a bit of a grouch seeing another girl flirt with the guy Iâve liked since high school and today seemed to not even bother acknowledging me until now.â
Wow- you really let it all out huh? There was a moment of silence and he just stared at you. You looked away for a moment and closed your eyes before sighing..
âLook-â but your words were cut off when you opened your eyes and saw the expression on his face, your body growing hot all over from shock.
âWhat did you just say?â
He was red. His cheeks, nose, ears, all red. He looked like he would pass out from a 104 fever right then and there. Why was he reacting this way??
âThat I- like you..?â You were confused.. what was the problem?
He covered his mouth with his hand before turning to look away.
âDumbass.â
He lifted his hand, a panda plushie? Wait. This was the one from earlier?? From the basketball game?? How did he-
âI saw you talking to the guy, I went back and asked him what you were talking about so when he told me I got it with the tickets I won from the stupid game.â
You gently cupped it with both of your hands before looking at it and back up at him.
âBakugou-â
âWhy didnât you tell me sooner??â
You slightly frowned, why did it matter? It seemed like he didnât like you anyways.
âI didnât know you felt the same way and here Iâve been trying to keep myself together cause I thought you were being an idiot and couldnât tell I liked you.â
What?
What did he just say?!
âYou.. like me too?â
âObviously idiot. Why do you think I never look at you when you talk to me?â He rubs the back of his head before sighing.
âYouâve been driving me insane since we graduated. Couldnât get you out of my damn head. When I told Kirishima he told me I liked you but I denied it.. then when I saw you the first day of school.. I realized he was right and I was being an idiot trying to say otherwise.â
âI didnât say anything because I didnât think youâd like a guy like me.â
âI donât think-â and his words were cut off with the sudden impact to his chest. You were hugging him. You wrapped your arms around his back, the plushie still in hand as you buried your face into his chest.
âYouâre right.â
And his heart aches for a moment at your words.
âI know-â
âYou are an idiot for thinking otherwise and for thinking I wouldnât like a âguy like youâ.â
His eyes widened a little in surprise, you looked up at him and smiled.
âIâve liked you for a long time, it hasnât changed except for the fact that the longer I knew you the more I wanted to be with you. Youâre a good person.. kats. You shouldnât feel otherwise. Youâre more than enough for me, okay?â
Oh you pulled on a heartstring.. the minute you buried your face back into his chest he hugged you tightly. Now burying his face in your neck as he smiled against your shoulder.
â
âYouâre too damn good for me.â
âAnd youâre perfect for me.â
Ah I hope this was okay, I feel like I rushed it a bit but I wanted to finish it for you. I really hope you like it if not itâs okay đĽ˛, this was a cute concept though, Bakugou definitely would think heâs a bit too much for you but with you reassuring him heâs enough I think all he can do is melt for you more. Iâm a sucker for loser Bakugou who melts for reader.
#bnha x reader#bnha bakugo katsuki#mha bakugou#bakugo katuski#bakugou x reader#bnha bakugou#bnha x fem!reader#bnha x y/n#bakugou katsuki x reader#bakugou x you#bakugou katsuki#katsuki bakugou#bakugou fluff#bakugou katuski x reader#bakugou x y/n#katsuki x reader#bnha katsuki#katsuki x you#katsuki bakugo x reader#katsuki fluff#katsukibakugou#katsuki bakugo mha#katsuki x y/n#bnha imagines#bnha fluff#mha fluff#mha x y/n#mha x poc!reader#mha x you#my asks
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purple string rings | birds of a feather
pairings: paige bueckers x black!oc
summary: paige and cecilia will be together forever and always even when paige randomly hard launches their relationship
warnings: fluff galore, mentions/illusions to death
notes: new series while I think of stuff for the other oneđ
Paige has been married for eighteen of her twenty one years of life. Married to the love of her life at that.
Paige, ever the extrovert, sought out the shyest kid in her kindergarten class on the first day of school and declared they were best friends. By recess, Paige declared she and - were married.
"Cecilia, I love you," five year old Paige stated, holding Cecilia's hands in hers. The two stood under a tree secluded from the rest of their class. "Will you marry me?"
Cecilia who was still learning the English language and was quite shy, decided the best thing to do was to just nod. Paige smiled brightly and hugged Cecilia.
From that moment on, the two were stuck together like glue. Where ever Paige was Cecilia was and vice versa. Paige isn't at the basketball court? Oh, she must be down the soccer field watching Cecilia practice. Cecilia is at the field? She's obviously with in the stands watching Paige and Drew goof around.
Paige hated it when people said the two weren't wed.
"Paige, you can't exactly marry someone this young," Bob Bueckers tried to explain to his daughter.
Paige stomped her foot down and crossed her arms, "No, Dad! We are married! Cece is my wife." She even made Cecilia a ring out of purple yarn and strings, but she wore everyday until she couldn't anymore. Little Paige made sure everyone knew who her wife was.
Eventually, one day in eighth grade the paper ring became a real ring, something Paige saved all her allowance to buy. It was nothing extraordinary, but a simple gold band that Cecilia cherished with her whole heart.
At the end of their eighth grade year, Cecilia gifted Paige a ring. The same day Cecilia left to for Spain. Cecilia slipped the matching silver ring onto Paige's finger with a wobbly smile, "Now we both have something to prove our marriage."
"I love you, Cecilia."
"I love you too, Paige."
That ring was kept on both persons at all times. Paige opted to tie it with her shoe laces during her games and while Cecilia couldn't wear any jewelry during her games, she kisses her right ring finger before every game.
It didnât take long for the media to notice Paigeâs ring on her shoes as a freshman at UConn. After UConn upset Syracuse, an interviewer finally asked. âPaige many people have noticed the ring stringed in your shoe, would you like to offer an explanation?â
Nika and Aubrey sat at either sides of Paige and both laughed when the question was asked.
âItâs from my wife,â Paige bluntly said. The media room when quiet as they all absorbed the words.
âExcuse me?â
âMy wife got it for me,â Paige held up her right hand that bore the ring. âPretty neat, right? Iâm really proud of her, she recently won the Golden Girl Award.â
âUh, Paige,â a different interviewer asked, âis your⌠wife the young Barcelona star Cecilia Buscatells?â
âYep.â
The room erupted with questions as Geno shut down the press conference, âThatâs all for today, thank you.â
Paige, Nika, and Aubrey walked out in silence.
âCece is going to kill you,â Nika said as they continued their journey to the locker room. Aubrey hummed in agreement.
âShe is, isnât she?â
#barca femini x reader#paige bueckers x reader#woso x reader#fcb femeni x reader#paige bueckers x black!reader#paige bueckers x black reader#paige bueckers fic#paige bueckers#birds of a feather series
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I'D RATHER PRETEND
CHAPTER FIVE
tags: @angryflowerwitch @avvwritesstufff @melpthatsme @rebecca-woso @bueckersg1rl @l0verl4ne @clouded-whispers @dolliest-thena @katemartinlvr @numberonepartyanth3m @glamourdaya @pbbucks @unadulteratedcyclepaper @paiges-1vur wc: 6.3k notes: masterlist ahead? uh yeah i sure hope it does! decided last minute i didn't really care about any real plot action this chapter outside of tess and paige so if you are disappointed by that, sorry but it's better this way, tess and paige are the plot nowđ¤ accidentally made this chapter kinda important, it lowk got away from me, but i hope you all enjoy đŤś
âThis Month in Review - The Cutest Sports Couple Since Megan and Sueâ
Whether youâre a sports fanatic or a casual watcher, there is no denying that Paige Bueckers and Tess Kennedy have taken the sports scene by storm. They are a topic of conversation in every room â and for good reason. Bueckers and Kennedy were top recruiting prospects out of high school, with Bueckers leading the pack as the #1 recruit and Kennedy following close behind as the #2. They are the current leaders of two superstar programs and despite not having played their full collegiate careers, Bueckers and Kennedy have already cemented themselves as players that will go down in history as the greatest to play college basketball at their institutions.
Bueckers and Kennedy are a power couple through and through, and while neither of them have made anything official, it is clear that they have spent this entire offseason together â even several hundred miles apart. Fans have pointed out that their recent TikTok reposts make references to missing a long distance lover or are largely relationship focused. Their Instagram stories often feature each other. From Kennedyâs Instagram, a recent story showcased a short clip of Bueckers holding a LEGO rose, winking as she blew a kiss to the camera. From Bueckersâs Instagram, a recent story included a FaceTime screenshot of Kennedy, grinning as she threw a thumbs up for the photo, and it was affectionately captioned, âMy duo đŽ.â
Additionally, they have been noticeably active in each otherâs Instagram comment section:
[IMAGE TRANSCRIPTION: MAY 30, 2023 | BUECKERS IS PHOTOGRAPHED WEARING A LEG SLEEVE, BLUE AND WHITE PATTERNED BASKETBALL SHORTS, AND A BLACK LONG SLEEVED SHIRT ROLLED UP TO HER ELBOWS. SHE IS MID-JUMPER, LEFT ARM EXTENDED AND RIGHT WRIST BENT. USER PAIGEBUECKERS: âTUNNEL VISION ON A MISSION âłâ | USER TESSKENNEDY25: âI AM LOOKING RESPECTFULLY đď¸â END TRANSCRIPTION.]
Their galavanting didnât end there. They made their relationship known through TikTok live one night, featuring Bueckers, Kennedy, and some of Bueckerâs UConn teammates including Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl. The TikTok live was a source of endless laughter, jokes, and games. Again, nothing was officially confirmed, although many viewers posted various screen recordings the morning after, and all fans can agree on is that Bueckers and Kennedy are not slick.
Many are comparing their relationship to Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe, and we have to admit, the similarity is there. Bueckers and Kennedy are both standout athletes and leaders on dynasty teams. Fans are eagerly awaiting the hard-launch, if only just to confirm what we all know is true.
-Penelope Lancaster, Bleacher Report
JUNE 20, 2023
âDo you have everything, piccola? Brace, heating pad, charger?â
Making a conscious effort to fix her face, Tess resists a sigh and responds, âYes, mamma, I have everything.â She knows that her mother is just looking out for her, but sheâs been through all of her belongings three times now and she knows for a fact that she has everything. If something was missing, sheâs certain Paige would have an extra or sheâd be able to buy a new one in Massachusetts.Â
She got the call from Amaya only a few days ago. To no oneâs surprise at all, the media was eating up her and Paigeâs fake relationship. Their brand deals were feeling secure in their investments once more and the tabloids were far more concerned about Tess & Paige than they were about Tessâs month-long crash out. With everything aligning once more, Bose actually wanted to sign a joint deal with her and Paige and get them to advertise a new product â standard NIL endorsement stuff, but the icing on the cake was Amayaâs cheerful, âYouâre married now!â that nearly made Tessâs heart fall out of her ass.
Tess doesnât make a habit of being a gullible person, but she genuinely thought Amaya was going to make her and Paige scrap the whole âsoft-launchâ idea and just come out at the altar with wedding rings. Amaya was quick to clarify it wasnât actually like that (Thank God), but the Bose representatives wanted to do something corny, monopolize on their traction as a duo, and Tess and Paige would henceforth be named Mrs. and Mrs. Bose.
It was pretty stupid, but a little funny, and as soon as Tess saw her payout, she couldnât really complain.
âAnd Paige is getting you from the airport? No Uber?â her father asks for the second time, mostly to clarify.
Tess canât stop the flush from spreading across her cheeks like sheâd been caught red-handed. Truthfully, her parents werenât haters by any means. They were oddly invested in her and Paigeâs ruse â which made lying to them about it so much more difficult, but the both of them seemed to genuinely like Paige despite never speaking to her. Theyâd been begging for weeks straight for Tess to bring her home so they could meet her since itâs âgetting serious,â although they were pleased to know sheâd probably be around by Christmas. She and Paige had this commercial to film, then Paige would have to return to Storrs for summer practices (Tess wouldnât be returning until the semester officially started â she wants to work as much as she could with Terri, no hate to Craig), then Paige was set to spend early August in Europe with her teammates. Both of them would be extremely busy in the coming months, especially once the season started, so they werenât expecting to see each other all too much outside of FaceTime.
âYes, Paige will pick me up,â Tess confirms, zipping up her backpack one last time. âShe flew in this morning.â Tess tactfully leaves out the part where Paige had completely rearranged her flight schedule for her. Paige argued that it âwasnât safeâ to put her safety in the hands of a random Uber driver given her knee and that she hated late flights anyways. Tess knows that Paige truthfully doesnât give a fuck about flight times, but arguing with her was near impossible.
Her father gives an approving nod, and much to Tessâs well-hidden anxiety induced annoyance, the three of them do one last check of her belongings before they load up in the car to drop her off at the airport. Tess tries her best to tune into the conversation, although part of her is still nervous about flying. Sheâs been cleared to travel for a week or two now. Despite that, she canât help but anticipate the worst going wrong. Amaya splurged on first class so sheâd have plenty of leg room and sheâs flying on a very reputable airline. She has to remind herself that realistically, sheâll be perfectly fine.
Itâs a quiet morning at the airport as her father pulls into the drop off lane, putting the car in park. âText us as soon as you land, okay, piccola?â her mother tells her.
Tess flashes the both of them a comforting smile, leaning forward to give them quick hugs. âOf course.â And with that, she grabs her suitcase and her backpack, says her goodbyes, and waits for her parents to pull off before she walks through the airport in search of her gate. Sheâs only stopped a few times by fans asking for photos, which she dutifully poses for, then she makes her way to the counter to check in. She only has to wait a few more moments to board the plane. Amaya set her up with a secluded seat in the back. She snags a quick photo of the tarmac and sends it to Paige, whose response comes quickly.
Tell your pilot to take a shortcut or sum I miss you
you use that line on all the girls back home?
Is it working?
maybe a little
Then no All my lines are for Tess Kennedy and Tess Kennedy only
good
đ¤ Are you forgetting something?
miss you too pb đ
I know đ
so modest gtg weâre about to take off
Iâll be waiting đŤś
Tess simply reacts to Paigeâs last message with a heart, unable to wipe the smile off her face. She shuts her phone off and settles in for the hour long flight.
When the plane touches down in Framingham, Massachusetts, Tess is full of restless energy. Itâs equal parts relief and excitement; however, after spending the morning traveling, sheâs ready to get back to the hotel and get a nap in before she has to be productive. She hauls her bag over her shoulder and exits the plane with the other passengers as she waits for her phone to power back on. When it does, she sees that a text from Paige is already waiting for her.
I got your suitcase Iâm like right in front of the gate
Tess sends back a thumbs up, something sheâs sure Paige is annoyed by, and slides her phone back into her pocket. She follows the crowd out. Her heart thrums with anticipation, even as she tries to shove down those complicated feelings. Friends are allowed to miss each other, but her longing feels different somehow. She and Paige were practically inseparable for the month they were apart. Knowing that theyâre about to reunite in person leaves her giddy with anticipation.
The crowd clears. Paige stands tall and proud in the center of the boarding area, an easy smile on her face and her arms hiding something behind her back. When Paige finally spots her, her smile widens and she begins taking swift steps towards her. Tess matches her strides, falling into her embrace with a soft laugh and overwhelming relief. One of Paigeâs arms loop around her waist, squeezing her gently. âMissed you,â Paige murmurs, her cheek pressed to her head, and Tess doesnât bother fighting the flush or the enamored upward curve of her lips.
âMissed you too, P,â she confesses. Paigeâs arm tightens around her waist and she can feel the smile the blonde presses to the crown of her head. She pulls back, uncaring of the way the crowd clamors or the phones pointed at them, fully focused on Paige. Her hair is pulled back into a wavy ponytail, her face bare (yet sheâs still undeniably beautiful), and sheâs dressed in a UConn hoodie and a pair of grey sweatpants. Simple, but Paige is good at pulling just about anything off. With a mischievous grin, Paige displays the bouquet of flowers sheâd been hiding behind her back, and Tess canât quite hide the surprise on her features. âPaige â what?â
Paige carefully pushes them into Tessâs hands. Theyâre roses and in shockingly good quality, as if theyâd been plucked directly from a garden rather than purchased from a grocery store. âSaw âem and had to get âem for you. Figured you deserved a little better than that LEGO flower after these past two months, yeah?â
Tess is speechless, her mouth opening and closing much like a fishâs. No one has ever gotten her flowers before, high school graduation aside. Paige did this completely on her own whims, and that thought alone makes a fresh blush creep up her neck. She glances at Paige, a soft smile spreading across her face. âThese are beautiful, P. Thank you.â
Paigeâs grin turns tender, her face clearly pleased as she pulls Tess in by her waist once more, careful to not squash the flowers. ââCourse, ma,â she says like itâs the easiest thing in the world, which, for a girl like Paige, it probably is. That thought alone is sobering and Tess remembers where they are, adrenaline rushing into her mouth as Paige releases her. âReady to go, Mrs. Bose?â
âSo fucking corny,â Tess groans, but Paigeâs joke is enough for the tension to melt away, for Tess to forget all about the sudden sadness sheâd felt as Paige hugged her. âLead the way, Mrs. Bose.â Paige cocks a wry smirk at her and does just that, her left hand reaching for the handle of Tessâs suitcase. Her free hand brushes against Tessâs, a silent question in her eyes. One glance at the crowd makes her heart race, but Paigeâs eyes are soft, understanding, and all the convincing she needs. She links her fingers together with Paigeâs, relishing in the squeeze Paige gives her in reassurance. Tess tries not to think too hard about how well their hands fit together â the blondeâs are just slightly larger, enveloping her own in a way that should not be as comforting as it is, and her thumb mindlessly brushes against her knuckle.
Paige leads them through the busy airport, the crowd parting for them, and Tess hardly pays it any attention as she gets lost in her racing thoughts. Theyâre just friends. Sure, no one in her life is as close to her in the way Paige is right now, but they just have their own thing going on right now. Pretending to be each otherâs girlfriend requires a lot of commitment that neither of them have otherwise experienced. Tess was never one for romance â it wasnât in the cards for someone like her. Growing up, she was taller than most other girls â and boys â her age. A lot of people werenât into that. Then she realized she didnât even like boys, which never bothered her, but she felt as though she was missing out on some crucial part of girlhood because she wasnât desired or yearned for. Sheâll be the first to admit it sounds stupid. Thereâs many people out there with issues far more serious than whether or not they were somebodyâs crush in high school. Sheâs out of her element in so many ways, and she canât help but think back to that initial burst of anxiety she felt as soon as the severity of the situation finally hit her. Sheâs in way over her head, sheâs realizing it now, and she fears that it wonât be long until people realize she has no idea what sheâs doing.
But Paige? One glance at her, at the easy expression on her face, the slight furrow of her brow as she scans the airport signs for the exit, and Tess can tell sheâs not freaking the fuck out like she is. Paige is vastly more experienced in this situation than Tess is and they both know it. Paige said she could do casual. This is essentially what this was, right? All of the romance without the intimacy. Tess should have told her right then and there that she was not built for casual. It always spins out of control, and Tess is probably living proof of that.
This is all physical, she tells herself, unsure of if she even believes it. You donât actually like her. Sheâs attractive â thatâs all there is to it. And for now, that explanation is good enough for her. Sheâs going to do these commercials with Paige, hard-launch their fake relationship, and then theyâre going to be far too busy to see each other until the holidays when they visit each otherâs families to, again, hard-launch their fake relationship and tell the biggest lie to the people closest to them. That time apart will be enough for Tess to get her head back on straight and realize there's absolutely nothing going on between her and Paige that should be of any (reasonable) concern.
She almost believes that. At least until Paige smiles at her as she loads her suitcase into the trunk of her rental, opening the passenger door for her. Tessâs heart swells and she realizes just how unfathomably fucked she is.
JUNE 21, 2023
After a calm night spent watching Greyâs Anatomy â Paigeâs request, obviously â Tess and Paige were up bright and early Wednesday morning to drive out to the Bose main office for filming. Paige entrusted her with the aux and promised to not complain about her music choices as long as Tess bought breakfast, which was a deal Tess was all too happy to make as she directed Paige to the nearest Dunkin. She made sure to snag plenty of pictures for the Instagram hard launch they planned to post before they went their separate ways. Her personal favorite was the one of Paige sitting in the driverâs seat, legs wide and pressed against the door and the center console, sunglasses perched over the bridge of her nose as she held both of their coffees. The blonde sported an easy smile with her hair in her game-day braids and her thin, black fleece jacket was unzipped, showcasing the UConn shirt she was wearing under it. Paige made sure to get one of her, too, but it was less presentable and far too candid â Paige had swiped whipped cream across her nose and photographed her mid-gasp. Tess begged her to delete it, but Paigeâs infectious laughter caused all of the indignation to drain from her body.
With breakfast and coffee secured, Paige drives the rest of the way to their filming location as Tess hums along to Omar Apollo. The silence in the car is calm, both of them comfortable in simply sitting next to each other as the music plays. Paige shifts, her elbow resting on the center console as she drives with her left hand. Her fingers mindlessly twirl the straw in her cup. The movement catches Tessâs eye and sheâs suddenly overcome with the urge to grab her hand.
Itâs domestic, in a sense â sitting next to Paige in the car as they drive down the road with the windows down. The weather holds a gentle bite, not overbearingly cold, but chilly enough that it makes Tess feel a little more tethered, that sheâs exactly where sheâs supposed to be.
In her last session with Yvette, the psychologist recommended she just let go. As obvious as the advice is, and despite it being easier said than done, Tess is interested in giving it an honest shot. For years, sheâs carried so much anxiety with her, worried about whether or not sheâs doing something right or worried about how sheâs being perceived. Sometimes, it takes a little bit of discomfort to move forward.
Before she can talk herself out of it, Tess props her arm up on the center console. Paige is close enough that she can feel her jacket sleeve brushing against her arm. She can feel Paigeâs gaze on her, the gentle curiosity, but she keeps her eyes straight ahead, watching as the trees pass by in green blurs. Then she feels her move, feels her knuckles brush against her hand; and with her heart thrumming in her chest, Tess wordlessly unclenches her fist in invitation. Paige doesnât hesitate before sheâs linking their fingers together, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. Tess spots her smile from the corner of her eye, and knowing that Paige is watching her, too, she allows a smile of her own to grace her features. Nothing has ever felt as right as Paigeâs hand in hers in a long time. As she continues driving, Tess canât help herself from feeling at peace.
When the two of them finally make it back to their hotel room after spending the day filming, Tess collapses onto her bed with a dramatic groan, immediately reaching for her pillow and wrapping both arms around it, pressing her chin into the cushion. She hears Paige snort from somewhere in the room, followed by rustling as she shrugs her jacket off her shoulders and throws it haphazardly on her bed. âTired?â Paige asks teasingly.
Tess hums in confirmation. Tired doesnât even begin to cover it. She was up early, was on her feet for most of the day, and all of the reshoots and retakes werenât doing her any favors. She knows sheâs crashing out for no reason â this is literally her job â but sheâs equal parts tired and hangry and she honestly just wants a hot shower.
âWant me to DoorDash somethinâ?â Paige asks, as if reading her mind. She kicks off her shoes and falls into bed next to Tess, already pulling out her phone.
Tess cracks one eye open as the mattress dips under their shared weight, glancing at Paige, who crosses one leg over the other as she gets comfortable. âChick-fil-A?â she requests. âNuggets and fries? My cardâs in my wallet.â
Paige wrinkles her nose. âHell no. You got breakfast.â
Tess rolls her eyes. âBreakfast and the aux.â
âAll you played was sad, break-up R&B,â Paige grumbles. âI really should make you cover dinner after that bullshit. Feels like thereâs something youâre tryna tell me.â
âPretty sure Iâm not contractually allowed to break up with you,â Tess retorts. âSo donât worry.â
The blonde hums, unconvinced, before she turns off her phone and throws it in between the two of them. âDasherâs gonna be here in 15,â she says, gazing down at her. âYou good? Your knee okay?â
Figuring her current position probably isnât the greatest for said knee, Tess rolls onto her back and stretches her leg out with a sigh. Her elbow brushes against Paigeâs stomach and Tess shifts again, not realizing how little space sheâd left between them after she moved. ââM good,â she says. âShould probably get an ice pack just in case.â
Paige is rolling off the bed before Tess even registers whatâs going on. She watches her pull the lid off of the ice box on the desk, scooping up a handful and depositing it in a plastic bag. She tests the seal, and once sheâs satisfied, she wraps the makeshift pack in a towel, plucks a pillow off of her bed, and holds the ice pack in between her teeth as she gently lifts Tessâs leg, sliding the pillow underneath. Tessâs breath hitches at the slightest contact, and despite the chill of the ice pack, Paigeâs hands are inexplicably warm on her skin.
âIs this the Dr. Bueckers the ladies told me about?â Tess asks with a coy smile, trying to ignore the flutter in her chest. The way Paige was gazing at her left too much for her to want, eyes soft and attentive, and for Tess, it was easier to hide the longing with humor.
âYou play too much,â Paige says, but her words lack any real heat as she rounds the bed once more and crawls back in, reclining against the pile of pillows. Sheâs closer than she was before she left. Tess can smell her perfume, the shampoo sheâd used the night before. Paige is magnetic, that much Tess knew to be true â sheâd felt it the very moment Paige stopped her outside of the conference room to inform her that sheâd be tagging along for PT. Itâs only now that she realizes how strong her pull was as she unconsciously leans into Paigeâs space, the blondeâs arm raising to wrap around her, fingers splayed against her shoulder.
âDo I?â she asks, if only to fill the silence. Paigeâs thumb begins to trace soft patterns on her skin. Itâs difficult for her to focus on anything but that, but she cranes her neck, finding that Paige is already staring at her. Tess flushes under her gaze, though she refuses to break eye contact.
Paigeâs lips quirk as she responds, âYeah. You do.â She seems as though sheâs content to leave it at that, but a couple beats pass before sheâs speaking again. âYou want a lot of things you think you canât have.â Tessâs brow raises at her words, but she remains quiet. âI see it in film. Youâre an insane three-point shooter but you rarely take middies or layups unless itâs absolutely free. And you do this thing â itâs like youâre faking the drive, and I can tell you really want to do it, but you justâŚdonât. Youâre not faking. Youâre just scared to get out of your comfort zone and go for it. Scared to get close.â
Tess doesnât think theyâre talking about basketball anymore. Despite the sharpness of her words, Paigeâs tone is gentle, and the smile on her face is both confusing and frustrating. Frustrating because Tess knows sheâs right; confusing because Paige knows sheâs right, but it seems like sheâs not completely confident in Tess taking that leap. Honestly, part of Tess is tempted to prove her right. She knows they could drop this topic right now and Paige wouldnât press her. The other part of her knows theyâve come this far together, that sheâs come this far. Doesnât she owe it to herself, to Paige, to be vulnerable? To take the drive into the paint, risk getting fouled, instead of hovering at the perimeter to take the same shot sheâs taken thousands of times already?
She thinks she does. Tess is tired of wanting, of yearning for the things well within her reach if only she had the confidence to go after them. But perhaps there is a thin line between confidence and bravery, between knowing and trying. So she shifts, feeling a little braver, angling her body towards Paigeâs, fists the collar of her UConn t-shirt, and pulls her closer and closer until their lips finally meet.
Paige gasps against her, surprised, before her good sense returns and she melts into Tess. The hand on her shoulder skims across her skin to rest on the nape of her neck, her right hand reaching up to hold her face. As Paige guides her jaw to get better access, her kiss deep and consuming, she takes full advantage of Tessâs jilted sigh. Her hands fall from Paigeâs collar, finding purchase on her stomach and her waist in search of stabilization. Paige leaves her breathless and woozy, and if she didnât feel secure in the way she was holding her, then Tess would be afraid of floating away completely.
They break away, chests heaving, flushes down to their collarbones. Tessâs eyes open with a flutter of her eyelashes. Paige is already staring at her, her eyes wide in some sort of awe, pupils dilated. Her lips are swollen, shiny, and Tess canât help the feeling of smug satisfaction that comes with knowing she did that. Paige Bueckers looks like a mess and itâs all because of her. âStill think Iâm scared?â she asks, voice hoarse, her fingers gripping the fabric of Paigeâs shirt.
The smile that spreads across Paigeâs face is raw, real, visibly affectionate despite her next words. âYeah.â Tess almost rolls her eyes, but Paigeâs hand drops to the base of her throat, her middle finger brushing against her pulse point. She doesnât apply any sort of pressure, but the weight of her hand makes her head spin anyways. âBut sâokay.â
Tess chuckles. âTo be scared?â
Paige hums an affirmative, shifting again, and she presses her lips against Tessâs. Itâs different this time; firm, lingering, and insistent, almost as though sheâs trying to take everything she possibly could. The weight of Paigeâs body against hers is exhilarating and it makes her heart race. She can feel Paigeâs smirk against her lips. Tess is instantly reminded of the fact that Paige can feel the thrumming of her pulse. She pushes her back with a hand to her chest, smiling at the rumble of laughter that reverberates through her body. âSâokay to be scared,â Paige says seriously, her thumb wiping away the smear of gloss on Tessâs lip. âBut you donât gotta be. Not with me.â
Tess meets her gaze, studying her features, the sheer honesty in her expression. Paige releases her jaw, her hands reaching down to untangle Tessâs fingers from where theyâre still clenched in her shirt, fitting their hands together. âDonât overthink it,â Paige whispers, understanding Tessâs mannerisms by heart now.
But the peace is always short-lived. Tess frowns, her voice almost a murmur when she asks, âWhat are we doing?â Paigeâs eyes widen slightly. Tess wouldnât have noticed if she hadnât been so fine-tuned to Paigeâs every move for the past month. âThe rules, Paige, we agreedââ
âWe havenât broken any of the rules,â Paige states firmly. She squeezes Tessâs hands, her throat bobbing as she swallows. âWe communicate. We donât see other people. We donât tell other people. And weâŚâ Paige struggles to find the words. âWe donât have to label this. Itâs just us.â Tessâs face softens, the furrow in her brow relaxing. ââM justâŚglad it was here. You and me, no cameras. And... we can just say we practiced for the public, right?â Paigeâs thumb brushes against her hand as she stares at her imploringly, almost as though sheâs pleading for Tess to agree, to stop thinking and just do it.
Practice. That word fills her with simultaneous relief and dread, but she remembers Paigeâs words. Donât overthink it. Tess understands that theyâre walking a very thin line right now. Why should she let her brain ruin it? They donât have to complicate what they have right now. And for now, thatâs good enough for her. âPracticing is fine,â she confirms, feeling a little more confident.
When Paigeâs eyes light up, her lips quirking into a smile, Tess believes that sheâs made the right decision. âYeah?â
Tess nods, flashing a smile thatâs unexpectedly genuine. âYeah.â She pulls Paige in closer by her hands, their lips brushing again, but before she can melt into her completely, Paigeâs phone rings and the two of them snap apart.
âFuck,â Paige groans, her brows drawn tight in annoyance. She hardly looks twice at her phone as she picks it up and answers it. âHello?â Tess can barely make out what the person on the other end is saying, but the tension leaves Paigeâs body. âOkay, Iâll be down. Thank you.â Tess looks at her curiously as she hangs up the phone. âCockblocked by the dasher,â she says solemnly, unable to hide her pout. âGimme five minutes, I have to go meet him.â
Tess canât wipe the smile off her face as Paige rolls off the bed again, slipping on her shoes and rummaging around in her bag for her wallet. Before she leaves, Tess catches her by her wrist, pulling her down to her level and planting a chaste kiss to her lips â a far cry from the one theyâd been cheated out of. âHurry back,â she says. âIâm hangry.â
âTwo minutes,â Paige breathes out, grinning stupidly, pushing Tessâs hair out of her face. Then sheâs gone, and Tess is left alone in the silence of their room. If any of this had happened a week prior, Tess would probably be spiraling, but sheâs committed to turning over a new leaf. Sheâs not going to overthink it, sheâs not going to crash out, and most of all, sheâs going to accept this new development in her and Paigeâs friendship for what it is without trying to second guess whatever it could mean. They can just be friends who kiss now. Thatâs a thing. They donât have to label anything. They can just be them, and as far as Tess is concerned, sheâs okay with that.
Paige makes it back in record time, Chick-fil-A bag and drink carrier in hand and slightly out of breath. At Tessâs brow raise, Paige shrugs cheekily, handing over a milkshake. âYou said you were hangry,â she teases, sliding back into bed next to her. âIâm too young to die.â
Tess rolls her eyes as Paige begins dividing out their food, passing the sauce and napkins. âYouâre such an asshole,â she says good-naturedly.
âYou kissed me,â Paige reminds her, as if Tess could ever forget about that. âWhat does that say about you?â
âIâm a very charitable person,â Tess supplies modestly. Paige snorts like she doesnât believe that, but Tess smiles regardless.
They continue chatting throughout dinner. Paige pretends like she doesnât notice Tess stealing her fries, although Paige ends up using most of Tessâs sauce, so they call it even at the end. Paige throws their trash away while Tess scrolls on her phone, only glancing up when Paige returns, hooking her chin over her shoulder and throwing a casual arm over Tessâs waist. âTime to break the internet?â
âYou better not post anything embarrassing,â Tess grumbles, enjoying the weight of Paigeâs body on hers.
Paige hides her laugh in the fabric of her shirt. âI couldnât if I tried.â She pulls out her phone, opening Instagram and begins drafting a new post. Tessâs eyes catch on some of Paigeâs photos as she scrolls through them. Thereâs random screenshots of Bible quotes, a concerning amount of selfies, a lot of basketball related things, and pictures of Tess have somehow become a new trend in her gallery. From the photo of Tess with cream on her nose, FaceTime candids, to photos from their shoot today that Tess wasnât even aware Paige had taken. Tess softens. Most of the pictures were nice. âCould get a new one,â Paige suggests, opening her camera and pointing it at the mirror on the opposite wall, displaying the two of them pressed close together. Tess rolls her eyes, chuckling, but Paige takes the photo before she can react.
âPaige Madison,â Tess sighs. She can feel Paige smile against her.
âCâmon,â she goads. âWe look good.â Tess canât really argue with that one, so she leans her head against Paigeâs and begins drafting her own Instagram post. They work in silence as they select the best photos for the hard launch. Itâs only been a month and a half, but Tess feels both fondness and nostalgia as she scrolls through their photos and their memories. She has a couple of photos from PT with Paige, FaceTime screenshots, the photo of Paige holding their coffees, and photos of Paige trying to style the Mrs. Bose earbuds they were promoting. She knows there was a reason why Paige came into her life, but she canât help feeling like she showed up at the right time; it could have been anyone else â college athletics has an endless amount of controversial athletes who are in need of image repair â yet being paired with Paige feels like a stroke of fate.
Tess selects only a few photos, not wanting to go overboard. She includes their first picture at PT â Paige holding the ice pack over her knee, the FaceTime screenshot of Paige showcasing the LEGO rose, Paige and their coffees, and a mirror selfie theyâd taken after stylists did their hair and makeup for the shoot. She captions it âhereâs to tess kennedyâs worst kept secret. thank you for coming into my life when you did,â and while this hard launch is not real, the sentiment is.
Paige finishes at around the same time she does, a soft smile on her face as they swap phones to look at each otherâs work. True to her word, Paige kept the embarrassment to a minimum, although the first photo she selected was the one with whipped cream on her nose. Tess shouldnât have expected anything less, but itâs quickly growing on her. The rest of the photos consist of the mirror selfie Paige just took, a screenshot of Tess modeling the gold dress for her, a bible quote â 1 Corinthians 16:14 â and, shockingly enough, an older photo of them from their freshman year, shaking hands after the first game theyâd played against one another. Theyâre both cheesing. Tess remembers that loss vividly. The media called it The Battle of the Freshmen, mostly because it was the long awaited match-up between Tess and Paige, whoâd been hailed as freshmen phenoms, two top recruits. In that game, they both accounted for the majority of their teamâs points. Paige was responsible for 31 of UConnâs 63 while Tess led South Carolina with 30 of their 59.
Tess couldnât even be upset at the loss. She and Paige played their hearts out, and honestly, playing against Paige was the highlight of the game. From their expressions alone, you would have thought they both walked home with trophies that night. Tess could argue that she did. Playing with Paige makes you a better player, sure, but playing against her? Tess learned so much from her game, although she would never admit that to Paige; her ego is too overinflated and Tess will not contribute to growing it.
âWhereâd you find the last one?â Tess asks curiously, handing Paigeâs phone back.
Paige does the same, her face lighting up with a soft smile. âGot tagged in it a couple times,â she says. âFelt right.â Tess canât argue against that, smiling too. âAt the same time?â Tess hums in confirmation, her thumb hovering over the post button, and simultaneously, they both share the hard launch to their pages. There is a very brief period of stillness before the notifications and comments begin pouring in. Tess swipes over to Paigeâs post and only then does she read the caption, âAnd her pink skies will keep me warm.â
âCheesy ass Frank lyric!â Tess exclaims with a laugh.
Paige looks inexplicably smug, pleased with herself. âFull circle,â she says.
âFull circle,â Tess agrees, her smile turning tender.
Itâs at that moment that everything finally clicks. The lyrics filter through her brain. And a new day will bring about the dawn. And her pink skies will keep me warm. She can hear it perfectly, Frankâs voice singing to her, âAbandon mission, you must be kiddinâ, this shit feelinâ different, shit feelinâ different to me.â All of the thoughts sheâd been ignoring, the uncomfortable conversation with herself sheâd been avoiding. She tried to push it down, but the realization came into focus with stunning clarity. Tess liked Paige. Tess likes her.
That was the entire reason why everything has felt so different. It wasnât because she and Paige were spending so much time together, why Paige has become nearly synonymous with Tessâs recovery. It wasnât because their friendship was just different. It was because it wasnât friendship at all. It was always something more, even from the start.
Tess feels as though the floor beneath her could splinter, a giant crack down the middle that would send her tumbling to the ground below. She likes Paige. She has feelings for Paige. Calling it by any other name wouldnât do her any good. She broke their rules and itâs taken her this long to realize.
âYou good?â Paige asks her, her brows drawn into a furrow, concern etched onto her face as her hand reaches for Tessâs. She hadnât realized she was shaking.
Tess clears her throat, nodding. âYeah,â she lies, hoping that it sounds believable. Breeâs words come back to her. Youâre lying to Paige, which is why youâre fumbling the bag. She was right all along. Tess could laugh at the absurdity of it all if Paige wasnât sitting next to her. âJust need a shower, I think.â
She decides right then and there that Paige canât know. She canât know that sheâs close to ruining it all, close to undoing all of the work theyâd done to restore their reputations. That sheâd broken their rule after all. That she let this get out of hand, and if Paige knew, their friendship would be destroyed for sure, and Tess isnât sure if she could handle not having Paige around.
Paige hums, seemingly convinced, but all Tess can think about is what sheâs done.
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