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gretavangroupie · 11 months

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Valor - (Chapter 1)

Pairing: Jake x Reader, Daniel x Reader

Word Count: 17.1k

Warnings: Cursin', Smokin', Drinkin', Allusions to Drug Use. Angst: Struggle and Poverty, Emotional Manipulation, Cheating, Abandonment, Jealousy, Mentions of Violence, Mentions of Weapons, Mentions of Death, Allusions to Suicide, Allusions to Shady Activities. Smut: Kissing, Allusions to Sex.

Valor Playlist: Apple Music | Spotify

A new project in collaboration with my talented co-writer @gretavanmoon.

HER POV

You could hardly see out the back window, your entire life piled up to the roof of the car. You were thankful on days like today, that you had a car big enough to fit it all. Your every worldly possession, reduced down to a handful of boxes and trash bags, now occupying your backseat. You shifted into reverse and turned your body to look out the back window of your old ‘73 Scout. Your eyes peeked through the visible sliver of the rear window, but not before catching sight of the dress you were slated to wear just 3 months from now. That, however, was the reason you were packed into this car in the first place.

‘Go ahead and try to leave. You’ll be back when you realize I’m as good as it gets for you.’ his words still echoing through your head as if they were being played through a loudspeaker. ‘You need me. You have nothing without me. You’ll never make it on your own.’ And that’s exactly what he wanted you to believe. He’d told you that so often you wondered if it was himself he was trying to convince instead of you.

You were set to marry Peter the second week of July. The plans were made, invitations sent. But as you stopped by his office to deliver his plate lunch, what you’d walked in on was not the scene of a man ready to be greeted by his soon to be wife. No, it was a very different scene, straight from one of those Playboy magazines you could buy at the Quik-Stop on Douglas.

You can still hear the sound of the ceramic plate shattering against the terrazzo floors. The gasp of air that left the lips of his new bookkeeper, sprawled out across his desk. You can remember the way the peas scattered across the floor in every direction and the way they felt smashing under your shoes as you fled his office.

You waited for him to come home that night. Your things were already packed away in bags and boxes by the time he finally meandered through the front door of the apartment. Then came the excuses. The begging and pleading that quickly turned vicious and accusatory. The ‘maybe if you put out more, I wouldn’t have had to look elsewhere’ lines, that you knew to be a load of shit. You knew Peter wasn’t one to shy away from clearing his conscience at someone else's expense. Your mind was made up before he ever came home. You knew you couldn’t stay here, not with him. Not after this.

You aren’t sure why you brought the dress with you. You could have easily left it at your mothers, letting it hang in her guest room closet to collect dust and rot until the end of time. But you didn’t, you knew that bringing it would give you that reminder of why you were leaving. So with fifteen dollars of gas in the tank, and your Bruce Springsteen 8-track, you and your things began the trek towards Atlanta, ready to start again. Ready to live a life uninhibited. Ready to find an adventure.

—

The chorus of ‘State Trooper’ played through the fuzzy car speakers as you popped a cinnamon hard candy into your mouth. Your eyes caught sight of the welcome sign as you crossed the Iowa-Missouri border in a blur. It had been quite a few years since you’d been back to Missouri. Actually, you hadn’t visited since your family moved in the third grade. It was an abrupt move, your parents pulling you from school midway through the year with little to no explanation. You were placed in the back of your parents' Taurus and the life that you had known flashed by in a matter of the five minutes it took to make your way from one side of town to the other. You liked Iowa though. You made friends there, had a life and were active in school extracurriculars. It’s where you met Peter, and fell in love, though now that part didn’t exactly fit the narrative of your happy story.

As the song began to fade out into the next track, you heard it. The metallic grinding beneath the hood. The hell is that? You spun the volume knob down to zero, listening again for the noise, wondering if maybe you had just run over something on the freeway. As you passed mile marker 22 you heard it again, louder. Whatever it was had your heart pounding in your chest. You didn’t know the first thing about cars, definitely not enough to fix anything. Then it became more frequent. Persistent. Something was really wrong.

In a panic you pulled off the road into the overgrown grass of the shoulder, pulling out your roadmap and unfolding it across the steering wheel. You tried to get a sense of your surroundings, knowing you’d crossed the border not too long ago. You pinpoint your location in search of the next town you’d come across in what you knew to be a collection of nearly abandoned mining towns. A bead of sweat collected on your forehead, the wind dying down as the sun began to set. The impending darkness adds another factor of stress to an already stressful situation. As your finger traced a line up the interstate, you saw the familiar name. The place just on your mind mere minutes ago. You don’t remember too much about Joslyn, but what you do remember of it, is that there was an auto repair shop, and you were in desperate need if you were going to make it to Atlanta. With an estimated thirty miles to Joslyn from your current spot, you started your car back up, and pulled back out onto the road, praying you would make it there without doing anymore damage.

The metallic noise seemed to stay consistent, but with every mile that passed you knew the dollar signs were adding up. Of course you took the money stashed away for the wedding, he didn’t get to keep that. Why should he? Consider it severance. However, car repairs was not how you wanted to spend that money. You planned to use it for a deposit and first month's rent on an apartment, hoping it would be enough to tide you over until you found a job.

You knew you had plenty of useful skills, you were near the top of your class in school. You planned to work with Peter at the accounting firm after you married, and you hoped you’d be able to find a similar position in your new city. You were snapped from your daydreams as you saw the sign welcoming you to Joslyn, however, the old decrepit sign, about twenty years past needing to be replaced, sent a cold chill down your spine. The way it barely hung on to the wooden stakes made you feel anything but welcome, and your instincts told you to turn back. As you limped your car further into town, you realized that the vibrant city you left all those years ago had been in steady decline ever since. Homes abandoned and pillaged, with broken windows and spray painted siding. Cars sat deteriorating in driveways that were barely visibly under the overgrown grass and trees. You had no sense of ‘home’ despite this being the town you were born in. You barely recognized it, until you saw Louie’s.

Knowing you would find answers there, you pulled into an empty parking space, almost afraid to pull the key from the ignition, wondering if it would turn on again when you got back inside. You grabbed your fringed purse from the passenger seat, and pushed your sunglasses to the top of your head as you jumped down from the driver's seat. The gravel crunched beneath your feet as you walked towards the front door of the diner, seeing a few older patrons lining the bartop and scattered through a few booths through the large windows.

The bell rang as you pulled the door open, alerting everyone of your presence. Ten heads turned to look at you all at once, and suddenly you felt like a spectacle as you stood there in your halter top and waist hugging jeans.

“Take a seat anywhere ya’d like, hun.” a lady in a pink apron called out from across the room. Her voice was gruff and far deeper than it should be for a lady, you thought. You made your way towards an empty bar stool, leaving a space between you and an older man in a newsboy cap, sliding his fork through a piece of cherry pie. You gave him a curt smile as you settled on the stool and placed your bag on the counter. It smelled good, and you felt a small rumble in your stomach as you watched plates being sent to the window. If you’d had more time you’d probably enjoy a late lunch, but you didn’t, so you couldn’t.

The same woman approached you, handing you a laminated menu and gesturing a coffee cup towards you in silent question. You nodded your head and smiled, placing the menu down on the counter.

“What’ll ya have, sugar…” she asked, pouring coffee into your mug from the yellow stained carafe.

“Oh, I’m great with just the coffee for now, thank you.” you responded, seeing her eyes rake over you with curiosity.

“Just passin’ through?” she asks, placing the carafe back on the counter.

“Sort of. I’m on my way to Georgia, but I think I need a mechanic to look at my car. Started knocking when I hit the border. This was the first town I thought might have one.” you answer.

The lady’s eyes flash over to the man next to you. He looks over at you and looks back at her giving her a slight nod. “Yeah we got one.” he says, twisting his stool to face you. “You’ll have to try and get it down to Ace’s, well Jake’s now I reckon. But he should be able to get ya fixed up.”

“Would you be able to give me directions?” you ask, digging into your purse in search of a pen. You grab a paper napkin from the dispenser, and click the end of your pen on the countertop as he nods his head.

“Yeah, so you’re gonna take a left out of the lot here, go down ‘bout 2 miles ‘er so, you’ll see a Church of the Nazarene and take that left there. Go up that hill ‘bouta ‘nother mile and you’ll see a dirt road on your right. His shops’ at the end of the drive there. Can tell him Bubba sent ‘cha, and he’ll help out a pretty lady I’m sure of it.”

You quickly scribble down his directions, and toss the napkin and pen into your bag. “Thank you. I–I really should be going, It’ll be dark soon and I–”

“Should finish your cup there at least.” the lady says, leaning onto the counter. “You sure you’re not from ‘round here, honey? You look awful familiar.”

“Not exactly.” you say, cutting the conversation short. You place a few dollars on the counter and grab your bag, “Thank you. For the directions. I appreciate it.” you say, watching the man tip his hat to you as you make your way out of the diner and back to your car. Jumping into the front seat you send up a quick prayer that she’ll start and as you twist the key you hear the engine roar to life.

With the napkin sitting on your leg, you pulled out of the parking space heading further into town. The clock on the dash read 4:43, and you hoped you’d catch them before they closed up for the night. You saw the church he spoke of up in the distance, what was probably once a pristine white building, was now showing wear and tear with no one to fix it up. You took the left, the metallic clicking beneath the hood growing louder as you pressed forward on the gas pedal to climb the hill. With the windows down the sound was deafening, the cool breeze blowing through the window alleviated the sweat forming on your neck. In the dissipating sunlight you saw the orange dirt road and hesitantly turned to travel down its short path. A multitude of old abandoned cars littered the premises, and you wondered if that was a good sign or a bad one. You slowed your speed to a crawl, the clicking from your engine announcing your presence as you pulled closer towards the building.

Your headlights lit up the front of the building, an old gray sheet metal building, flash rust covering most of the sign that read ‘Ace’s Garage’. Two men in old rotted patio chairs stood slowly as you put the car in park. You shut off the engine and took a deep breath as you jumped out onto the dusty dirt road.

“Hi, I’m sorry, am I too late? I know it’s close to closing.” you murmured, stepping around to the front of the car. They both just stood there in their faded blue coveralls that looked like they hadn’t had a washing in some time. The taller man had his unzipped and the sleeves tied around his waist. A dirty white t-shirt beneath concealed what seemed to be a plethora of ink adorning his body. Neither of them jumped to respond to you, and your eyes searched theirs for any sort of answer as the shorter man begrudgingly flicked his cigarette to the ground and stomped it out with his dirty boot. “Closed at 4:30.” he says.

“Shut up Jake. No. We heard you coming ‘bout a mile away.” the other, taller man said with a curt smile. His dark disheveled curls were tied up in a messy bun that hadn’t been touched since he put it there this morning. Wisps of hair surrounded his head in a halo of sweaty dark strands. “Doesn’t sound too good. Sounds like you’ve got something going on under the hood.”

“It just started doing it about an hour or so ago. Right after I crossed the border. Never heard it before, and I have a long trip ahead of me so I figured I should probably get it checked out.” you reply, twisting your hands around the strap of your purse.

“Could be a number of things…” he pauses, stepping over towards your car. He places a grease covered hand on the hood of your baby blue Scout and turns to look at you. “These Scouts are pretty good little cars, but they are notorious for having engine issues. Afraid to say you might be a victim of that. Though, maybe it’s just a bad wheel bearing.”

“Nah.” the other man, who you now know as Jake, says suddenly, stepping forward slowly with his arms crossed across his chest. He doesn’t say much, just places his hand under the hood and opens the latch. He steps up on the front bumper, and takes a look into the engine compartment, resting his tattoo covered hands on either side of the frame. After a few quiet minutes he steps down, and closes the hood staring at the taller man. “Collapsed lifter, but that’s the least of her issues. Camshaft is fucked.”

“When did you say it started doing this?” the curly haired man asks.

“About an hour ago. I know it’s bad but, what’s that mean?” you ask nervously.

“Means you better call your husband to come pick you up.” Jake said, looking out towards the field in the distance.

“Husband?” you question, seeing his eyes travel to the diamond on your left finger. You quickly flip it around and look back to him. “Oh, I’m not married. I don’t have a husband. I don’t live here. I was just passing through.”

“Shit place to get stranded.” he quips, turning on his heel and making his way towards the door of the car. He spits towards the ground as he pulls the door open and climbs inside.

“Stranded?” you blurt out, catching the eyes of the taller man.

“Daniel, get her out of the fuckin’ way.” Jake says calmly, leaning his head out the window as he starts your car.

He grabs your arm and ushers you out of the way as Jake pulls your car forward into the empty bay beneath the buzzing fluorescent lights. He nods, motioning for you to follow him towards the garage, the air dusty as your tires kicked up dirt. The car shuts off and he jumps out, his boots making a loud thud as they land on the dirty concrete floors. As you follow Daniel into the garage he stops, placing his hands on his hips as he watches Jake lift the hood once more. This time, he grabs a ladder and a work light, hanging it from the inside of the hood. You look around at the garage, noticing the side you occupied was slightly more messy than the bay on the opposite side. Tools scattered about but in a way that you could tell they were exactly where they were supposed to be.

As you turned further you noticed a tan cover hanging loosely over a car parked between the two bays, you didn’t pay much mind to it, as your brain was bouncing from object to object. Your eyes caught Jake’s as he peered up from the engine compartment, quickly flicking them back down as he examined the condition of your motor. You let out a sigh and leaned backwards, resting your weight on the covered car. Daniel snapped his head in your direction seeing you before looking over at Jake. He quickly turned back to you, and pulled your arm to stand up again. “Probably don’t want to lean on that one. Here, let’s go find you somewhere to sit.” he said, walking you further into the garage. You looked over to Jake again, seeing him concentrated on his task, a single strand of brown hair hanging long in his face.

You followed Daniel as he led you to a plaid nylon folding chair, similar to the ones they arose from earlier. The once white fabric was now a dingy, dirty gray, stained with oil and grease. He offered you a sorrowful smile as he gestured for you to sit. “Thanks.” you squeaked, checking your wristwatch for the time.

Daniel walked back over towards the car, peering in as Jake inspected the damage. You watched his back muscles flex as he placed his hands on the open hood, his white t-shirt pulling tightly against his back. You could see the shadow of a dark image through the white cotton of his shirt, a large tattoo must be under there and you couldn’t help but wonder what it was. It was almost as if he could feel your eyes on him as he turned around to meet your gaze as he continued talking to Jake. Jake turned around too, catching your sight and you knew that the news they were about to deliver was probably not what you wanted to hear.

Jake unhooked the work light, and closed the hood, stepping down off the ladder and wiping his hands on his coveralls. He used the back of his arm to wipe the sweat from his brow as he looked over towards you again. They both began walking over towards you, stopping short as they reached you. You stood to meet them, watching as Jake shoved his hands in his pockets.

He was the first to speak, “I can fix it, but I will have to order the parts. Don’t see too many of these come ‘round here.”

“Oh, so it’s an easy fix? Good, maybe I won’t be here too long.” you said cheerfully.

“No. I didn’t say that.” he bites back. “I said, I can fix it.”

You furrow your brow at his harshness and turn to Daniel.

He rolls his eyes and looks at you, “What he is trying to say is that you need some major work done. We don’t have the parts we need– he needs, to be able to do it, so he will have to order them. Only problem is that the delivery truck only runs on the 15th of the month.”

You look down at your watch seeing the tiny ‘2’ in the window. “And today is the second…”

“Right.” he says, kicking his shoe against the floor.

“I can call and order the parts tomorrow when the supplier opens, can give you a proper estimate then, but I’m gonna warn you that this ain’t no cheap fix.” Jake says, flicking his eyes up to yours. There is a smudge of grease on his cheek that catches the light. Your eyes travel down his face seeing a scattering of tattoos that decorate the side of his neck, disappearing down into the zipped coveralls.

“I have the money.” you sigh, fiddling with the strings on your purse.

Jake nods his head, “Right, well, see you tomorrow.” he says, turning to head towards a set of stairs at the side of the garage.

“Jake. The fuck…” Daniel shouts, causing Jake to stop and turn around.

“What.” he answers, slowly walking back towards you.

“What do you mean, what? You’re gonna have to drive her down to Wanda’s.” he says, “I can’t take her on the bike.”

“No.” he says, far too quickly.

“Jake, what else is she supposed to do?” he says, throwing his hands into the air.

“Dunno. Figure it out I guess.” he scoffs, trying to retreat again, before Daniel grabs his arm.

“It’s Wanda’s or here. Make your choice.” Daniel growls.

“Why do you care?” Jake barks back.

“How about you quit being a prick for a minute? You’re going to take this nice, paying customer down to the Motel, so that tomorrow she can come back and pay for those parts, and you can fix her car, hm?” he seethes into his ear.

Jake rips his arm from his grip, and walks over to the dirty, stained wall, snatching a set of keys from a hook. “Fine. Let’s go.”

You scurry over to your car, attempting to grab the few things you’ll need for a few nights stay at a motel, before quickly jumping down and looking around for Jake. You hear an engine roar to life outside the shop, seeing Danny pointing towards an old, Green Ford truck. His headlights flash on, practically blinding you as you start to walk towards them, turning to thank Daniel for his kindness as you run off towards your ride.

—

The ride to the motel was silent for the most part, the sound of the static coming across the radio the only noise filling the cab of the truck. You sat shotgun while Jake rested his wrist on the steering wheel of the old Ford, the sullied fingertips of his opposite hand rubbing across his unkempt mustache as he slowly made his way back through town.

“You can ask me.” He finally spoke, his eyes dashing quickly back and forth from the rear view mirror and the road.

You cleared your throat, suddenly surprised he spoke. “Ask you what?”

“Where you know me from. I can tell you wanna ask.” He answered, his voice only a tiny bit louder than the rumbling engine.

Damn, he was right. He did look familiar to you, and so did Daniel. But your mind was so frenzied with the anticipation of finding out what was wrong with your car, and then the news that the damage was far worse than you thought, that you pushed the thought far from your mind.

“I mean, you do kind of seem…”

“…familiar? Yeah. I remember you.” He mumbled, his eyes still never traveling your way. “You went to St. James Elementary, right?”

“Yes…”

“So did we. Probably why you recognize us.” Jake turned the wheel a hard right, forgoing a blinker as he flicked his eyes to the rear view again.

Ah, that makes sense. You had started the first grade here many years ago, and made it to the third before your parents ripped you away and set off toward Iowa. But the more you thought about it, the more you remembered them. Both of them. But that was over twenty years ago, how the hell did he remember you now?

“Shit, that’s right.” You glanced to the floor, trying like hell to stretch your mind back to the tiny hallways lined with lockers, and the playground out back where many of your earliest memories were made. “I remember now, you were what, a year older than me?”

“Yeah. Danny’s a few years behind me.” Jake reached in his front pocket and pulled out his half-empty pack of Lucky Strikes, patting the box on the heel of his hand before he pushed the lighter into the dash, waiting for it to heat.

“So wait, you were the one that climbed to the top of that old Sycamore that day at recess…couldn’t get back down when the bell rang so you jumped down and broke your arm…” your memory probably didn’t serve you all the way right, but you couldn’t have made up the tall-tale.

The lighter finally popped free, and Jake raised his left knee to steer the truck while he grabbed the handle, shielding the wind to light the butt of his cigarette. You watched as he inhaled, then cranked the window the rest of the way down to let the smoke filter through.

“I didn’t climb all the way up. Just halfway. And I didn’t jump, I fell.” He tapped his cigarette in the tray of the dash, not caring one bit that the residual ashes fell into the floorboard. You watched them flutter down before fizzling out completely.

You laughed at the memory, finding it hard to believe that you’d found yourself here again, remembering things about your childhood that you hadn’t even come close to thinking about in years.

“It wasn’t funny.” Jake said stoically, puffing the cigarette again.

“Sorry. No, it wasn’t. But, I remember being glad you didn’t get hurt worse than you did.” You replied, hoping to warm up his ice-cold composure.

“This is you.” He mumbled as he pulled into the lot of the old motel, the truck lurching forward as he put it into park. You popped the door open and slid out of the old bench seat, slamming the door behind you as you rounded the side of the truck to grab your suitcase from the bed. Jake didn’t get out of the truck or offer to help you with your bags, but after his less-than-happy attempt at making cordial conversation, you didn’t expect anything less.

You perked back up to the open passenger window, seeing that Jake’s eyes were still darting from side to side out the windows. Why was he so paranoid?

“Thank you for the ride, I really appreciate it. You’ll let me know when the parts get ordered, and I can give you the cash?” You asked, really not knowing any other way to go about this.

He nodded his head, biting his cheeks in.

“Okay, let me go check in, and I’ll come back and tell you my room number so you can phone me.” You said, walking toward the check-in office.

“I’ll just call and ask for your room.” He muttered, throwing the gear shift into reverse.

“But, you never even asked me my–”

“I remember your name, Y/N.” He spat, spinning his head around to check his surroundings before he whipped the truck from the parking spot, kicking up dust as he flew back down the road.

——

Upon entering the check-in office, your eyes had to do little to adjust, as there were barely any lights on at all. The stench of the room itself was like must and rotting wood, with just a hint of Borax and lemon-scented cleaner. You glanced to the large counter that spanned the room, leaving your suitcase behind while you approached it. After a minute or two of waiting, you let your palm gently tap on the bell that sat on the desk, ‘Ring for Service’ written on an old note underneath it.

“Hi, hello. Could I get a single room for the next week, please?” You asked the gruff woman that finally limped her way from the back room.

“HUH?” She all but yelled, squinting her eyes as she held her hand up to her ear. She must be hard of hearing.

You cleared your throat to speak a bit louder. “I’d like a room for the next seven nights, please.” You spoke loudly, mouthing the words clearly as you watched her read your lips.

“Only room I got’s a double efficiency.” She barked, grabbing a pen as she lifted the glasses that hung from a chain around her neck to rest on her nose. You snarled your nose up in confusion, remembering that you only saw another one or two cars in the lot.

“I don’t need something that large, it’s just me, if you want to put me in something smalle–”

“Double efficiency.” She said, writing down some number into her oversized ledger book. “It’s $35 a night. I take cash upfront for the whole stay. Fresh linens every other day.”

“Thirty-five a night? Ma’am, isn’t that a bit high?” Your voice was raised on its own now, out of pure surprise at the price.

“Either that or you ride down to the new Ramada an hour and a half South, and seein’ as how Jake brought you here, it’s lookin’ like the double efficiency for yeh.”

You seethed as she scribbled the math into her book, her jaws gnawing together as she chewed on nothing. “Two forty-five rate plus sixty-seven tax gives us…” she tapped away loudly at her printing calculator. “Three hundred twelve for the week.”

You felt like throwing up. That took a good chunk from the cash you brought along, but thankfully didn’t drain you completely. Luckily, the money you’d saved up for the wedding was well above what you’d need to survive on, so it didn’t hurt too badly as you begrudgingly counted out the bills from your wallet.

“Write your name and date here, signature here.” She pointed in her book for you to sign next to room number 7. She smiled a large grin as you laid out the bills for her, her mouth showing no more than a few teeth. As she gave you her best fake smile, you noticed her right eye was almost completely glossed over with a blue sheen. “Need a receipt?”

“No, thank you.” You chirped, wanting to get the hell away from this eerie woman and into your double efficiency as quickly as possible.

“I’ll bring fresh linens day after. No guests. Here’s your key, don’t lose it, I only got the one. Shower takes a good five minutes to heat, and don’t be smokin’ none of that grass in the room. Stinks up the place.” She said at a high volume while she wagged her finger toward your face.

You raised your eyebrows at the irony of the smell of the place, nodding her way as you grabbed the key from the countertop. She turned away, taking your wad of cash with her back to the room she came from. “Name’s Wanda if you need anything.”

It was getting to be dark outside now, the dull streetlights barely illuminating the sidewalk enough for you to see the room numbers on the front of the doors as you passed.

“Five…six…seven.” You whispered to yourself as you dropped the heavy suitcase beside you to fish the key from your pocket. As you slid the key into the slot and twisted the old knob, you were immediately met with the same stench as you were in the lobby. Old and grimey.

You brought your bag inside and quickly turned to lock the door behind you, sliding the hanging chain into place. You inspected the room, seeing the two beds with old brown comforters laid across them, a nightstand in between, and a single TV on the chest of drawers in the corner. It’ll do. The bathroom wasn’t much better, and it looked as though the calcium and lime deposits on the shower head could kill a man.

You sighed a deep sigh as you listened to your stomach rumble, your decision to forgo a late lunch at the diner earlier now seeming like a bad idea. The apple you had stashed away in your bag would have to suffice.

After unpacking a little bit of your clothing from your suitcase and hanging a few things in the closet, you decided to turn on the television and tuck in early for the night. You twisted the knob, watching as the light on the screen came to life, the high-pitched squeal of the staticy screen making your skin crawl. You adjusted the antenna, trying your best to get a better picture of what looked to be the evening news, but it was no use. But, some sound was better than no sound.

You slipped your top and jeans off and folded them neatly over the bed, planning on wearing them again tomorrow to save on any kind of laundry you’d end up needing to do. An old t-shirt from an old high-school boyfriend would have to be your choice of pajamas for the night. You flicked off the light, and climbed into the starchy sheets, the pillow feeling rock hard under your head. You shook your head as you looked at the ceiling, wondering how in the hell you got yourself into this mess.

This was supposed to be an adventure. A period of regrowth. A time to just live, find yourself again. Maybe join up with a new tribe of people, try new things, see where the wind would blow you…

But no. You’re here in your old hometown in a sticky motel, with a broken-down car, and no dinner. On the first day of your escape. You crossed your arms across your chest, allowing yourself a second to pout. For a split second, you contemplated going back to Iowa, back to your mother’s, back to the comforts of home, but you’d never return to Peter. Not in a million years, the scumbag.

You twisted up your nose as your legs rubbed across the hard mattress and scratchy sheets, wondering who the hell the last people to sleep here were, or worse, if Wanda had actually even washed them when they left.

—

The sound of three quick knocks on your door awoke you from what must have been a light sleep, the noise making your heart immediately pound. You hopped up, snaking across the floor quietly and peeking out of the peephole. You half expected to see a murderer standing at the door, but then, why would they have knocked?

Must be Wanda.

No, she doesn’t care about anyone but herself, apparently.

You squinted your eye to see a ruffle of dark curls in the pale light, standing and swaying back and forth while he waited for you to open the door.

“Daniel?” You whispered, pulling the door open wide enough that the chain lock pulled taut. “What are you doing?” You pulled the chain free, opening the door all the way.

His eyes popped out of his head as he took in a quick breath, the look on his face completely surprised, and a little embarrassed.

“Hey, um…I’m sorry, I…” he muttered, pulling his arm behind his head.

“No, it’s fine, you just surprised me, that’s all. Is everything…” you pause, noticing he wasn’t shying away from his awkward stance. You suddenly felt the breeze blow across your almost completely uncovered lower-half.

“Shit!” You yelped, pulling your t-shirt down as far as it would go over your legs. You bounced back into the room, pulling the comforter from the bed to cover yourself. “I’m sorry, I completely didn’t even…”

“No no, I’m sorry.” Danny admitted from the open doorway. “I just came to…”

You wrapped the linen around yourself, a complete cocoon now as you waddled like a mummy back over to him with a shy smile on your face.

He laughed, his bright white teeth a contrast to the dark complexion of his skin. You felt the pit of your stomach fall at the sight.

“I just came to see if you wanted to grab a late dinner with me, seeing as how you can’t drive to get anything, and there’s no such thing as room service in a place like this.” He said, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“Oh, no, Daniel, that’s awful sweet of you to offer. But, I had an apple, so I’m…all set…” you admitted, the pit of hunger in your stomach getting bigger as the minutes ticked on.

He furrowed his brow. “You can…call me Danny, if you want. We aren’t complete strangers.”

You felt your eyes sparkle at him. Stop it, Y/N.

You swallowed. “Okay, Danny…”

“An apple? That’s all you’ve had all day?”

“Yeah. And well, a few sips of coffee earlier…” you admitted, waving him off. “Truly, I’m just fine.”

He stood and stared at you a few seconds longer, his eyes slipping past you and into the empty room behind you. The light of the static-snowed screen reflected off his features, accentuating his face, his jawline, his lips…the tattoos that crawled up his neck…

“Okay, well. I’ll see you around then?” He stated more than asked, before turning on his heels and disappearing down the sidewalk.

Shit. You were starving. And bored. And not sleepy anymore. And, after letting your eyes wander a little too long on him…you felt…

“Danny!” You called back, seeing him turn with anticipation. “Let me put some pants on?”

He grinned again, and began making his way back toward your door as you popped back inside to re-dress yourself. You quickly pulled your jeans and halter on, and took a second to fluff your hair without him seeing. You grabbed a light jacket and pulled it over your arms, and made sure to slip your room key into your purse before throwing it over your shoulder.

You stepped back outside the door, catching Danny leaning against the wall smoking. “That was quick.” He said, blowing smoke into the air. You noticed it smelled different than what Jake smoked, it was sweeter and not as rancid.

“Did you walk here?” You asked him as you locked the door, noticing that there were no new vehicles in the parking lot.

“Hell no.” He chuckled. “I brought Ruby.”

“Who?”

As you rounded the edge of the building, you saw what he was referring to. An early model motorcycle, a little rusted and definitely dirty, but you could see the red paint peeking out from underneath the dust.

You watched as he lifted his leg and straddled the seat, pulling his weight over to kick the stand up. He turned the key and revved the engine, walking it forward just a bit as you watched. He motioned with his head for you to hop on, of which you quickly denied.

“No no, I’ll walk, it’s fine.” You muttered, the engine drowning out the sound of your voice. You backed away, crossing your arms nervously. No way you were going to hop on the back of a motorcycle with a man you hardly knew. In the dark in a strange town, much less.

“Ah come on, it’ll take you twenty minutes to walk there.” He yelled over the purring, again tilting his head back for you to climb in behind him. He slowly pulled the tie from his hair, letting his elbow-length waves fall before re-gathering it, and twisting at his neck again. He gave you another side smile, raising his eyebrows as he playfully revved the engine again.

Fuck it.

You bashfully stepped forward, hiking your leg up over the seat to fit right in behind him, the seat forcing you to press against his back a little more closely than you were comfortable with. And to make things even more awkward, you weren’t sure what to do with your hands. You let them drop to your thighs as he walked the bike forward a little again, turning it before he caught pavement and took off down the road without warning.

You squealed loudly, your unfamiliarity with riding on the back of a motorcycle startling you completely. Without hesitation and in fear of falling off, your hands wrapped around Danny’s torso, and your feet fell in behind his on the racks.

“Oh shit!” You yelled as he took off down the road, your arms gripping him tighter as you tried to get your balance. You were positive if you let go for even the tiniest second, you were going to eat rocks.

“You alright back there?” He asked, turning his head slightly.

“No, not really! I feel like I’m gonna fall!” You admitted, the wind whipping your hair in all directions.

“You won’t fall, I won’t let you.” His left hand came down to grasp your fists gathered across his chest, and slowly pushed them downward toward his stomach, instantly making you feel leveled out, and a ton more balanced. He patted your hands there, telling you to leave them.

Then his hand found your thigh, running his hand along the outside seam of your jeans from your knee to right below your asscheek. What the fuck? Before you could slap the hell out of him, he gripped up under your leg, jerking your forward on the seat to press your chest hard against his back.

Instantly more centered.

“Is that better? Still feel like you’re gonna fall?” He asked through the wind.

You gulped, the rush of the past 13 seconds making your head spin. But he was right, you no longer felt like you were going to topple over.

“No, yes…it’s better…” you choked out as he began to pick up speed.

“Good. Hang on.” He ordered, speeding up significantly as you barreled down the dusty pavement. And hang on you did. The wind across your face was literally taking your breath away, and making your eyes water. You blinked away the tears as you focused, truly getting your bearings and relaxing your body against Danny’s to get a feel for the bike beneath you. You took a breath and let your body fall into his back a bit more, the motions of his flexing back muscles pressed up against you as he lifted his foot to switch gears.

What the hell are you doing? What is happening?

After a whirlwind two or three minutes, you were slowing down and pulling into the parking lot of Louie’s, the same diner you had stopped into earlier for directions. Danny slowed the bike to a crawl and walked it forward before lowering the kickstand. You instinctively pulled your feet to the ground too, only the tips of your toes reaching the dirt below them.

“Don’t tell me that was your first motorcycle ride…” he said as he leaned his body weight to one side, standing all the way up on solid ground. You followed his action, letting your shaky legs hop off the bike with the help of Danny’s strong hand.

“Yeah, uh. It was.” You tried to sound nonchalant, like it was no big deal, while on the inside, your body was screaming with nervous adrenaline. You patted your hands over your hair to calm your flyaways, trying your best to keep your cool girl composure.

“No shit? Well, if I’d have known that I wouldn’t have taken off so quick. You felt like a natural once you got your balance…” he flitted his eyes your way as you began to make your way to the door.

You gave him a shy smile back. “Are they um. Are they still open? It’s getting late…” you glanced at your watch, finding it to be 9:20pm.

Danny swung the glass door open, frowning as you walked inside before him. “Oh, yeah. They’re open ‘til midnight. And it’s pork chop night, I never miss pork chop night.”

You walked inside the now neon-lit diner, finding many of the same shady-looking characters as you had seen earlier in the day. You nodded toward the man who gave you the directions to Jake’s, of which he returned with a curt smile.

“Bubba!” Danny exclaimed, forcefully throwing two hands to the back of the man’s shoulders, startling him from his coffee. “Save any pork chops for me?”

“They’s a few back there, I’m sure. Ain’t too many people in today.” He answered, turning back to his coffee. “Geraldine! Danny’s here for his special!” The man yelled across the bar, moving sideways to see if he could see in through the opening in the wall to the kitchen.

Just then the same woman in the pink apron waltzed through the double-swinging saloon doors, putting on a giant smile as soon as she saw you and Danny. She made her way around the bar, taking Danny’s face between her hands and squeezing his cheeks. “Evenin’, honey.” Her gruff voice said as she swatted his face.

“Evenin’, Geraldine.” He answered, obviously this was a woman he respected. She turned and found her place again behind the bar, reaching into her apron pocket for her pen and order pad. You and Danny walked to a booth in the middle of the restaurant, and you moved to sit down before he stopped you.

“Hmm-mm, let me sit there. Wanna see the door.” He said, grabbing your shoulders to scoot you sideways to the opposite booth.

“Okay…what for?” You questioned.

“I recognize this one from earlier today, hardly touched her coffee. You make it to Ace’s, honey?” Geraldine interrupted without making eye contact with you as she scribbled something down on her order pad.

Danny cleared his throat and looked to you, raising his eyebrows.

“Oh! Me! Yes ma’am, I barely made it, but uh. Got it there before it could die on me. They’re going to fix it right up.” You answered, feeling silly for having to practically yell your business across the diner to answer her. You watched the man you now knew as Bubba turn in his stool, holding the same flat smile as he did when you first came inside.

“The normal, Danny?” Geraldine asked.

“Yes please, thanks.” He replied, poking his wrapped silverware onto the tabletop.

“And for the lady?” She went on.

You looked down to see no menu in front of you, so you decided to go with your gut. “Um, I’ll have what he’s having?” Your tone was questioning.

Geraldine smiled. “Pork chop in gravy, mashed potatoes, carrots, and peas, sweetie.”

“Oh, perfect. All but the peas, please.” You replied, watching as Geraldine nodded and made her way back into the kitchen.

“Why don’t you like peas? They’re good for you.” Danny said, stretching his arm across the back of the booth behind him. You swallowed hard, recalling the memory of the peas rolling across the floor of Peter’s office. The smell of them smashed against your shoes, still fresh in your mind, and easily makes your stomach turn just from the thought.

“Never been a fan.” You answered, resting your chin in your hand.

Danny pursed his lips together, leaning in now across the table toward you. You watched as a tiny strand of hair fell in front of his eye, his tongue stuck to the back of his teeth as he inhaled. “I would’ve eaten your peas, Y/N. Tsk tsk.”

You looked at him in amused confusion, unsure of what his angle really was. After being around him only a grand total of maybe an hour the entire day, you gathered that you could hardly tell if he was joking or serious at any given time. But his overall demeanor was kind, and playful, and he had invited you here tonight, so you intended on learning him better.

Just while you were here, of course.

Suddenly two steaming black coffees were placed in front of you, the aroma bringing your senses back to life again. “Cream, sweetie?” Geraldine asked, placing a tiny metal pitcher full of the milky liquid in front of you and turning away before you could answer.

You poured the cream in, stirring it together until it was mixed, and you blew on it before you took a slow sip, Danny watching your every move intently.

“Something I can help you with?” You asked him, commenting on his unwelcome stare.

He snarled his top lip as he shook his head and readjusted in his seat. You took a second to look at him, hoping to maybe intimidate him right back. His dark waves still balled up at his neck, the loose strands falling as curls in front of his face and behind his ears. His tightened jaw and cocked eyebrow letting you know he was still sizing you up. His old black Ford Motors t-shirt stretched tightly across his buff chest and arms, the worn holes around the collar letting you know it was well-loved and worn-in.

“So. Elementary school. You were there…” he finally spoke up, lighting another sweet-smelling smoke.

“St. James, yeah. I think you were a couple of years behind me.” You answered, sipping your coffee.

“Mhmm.” He hummed, taking a puff. “You left in the middle of the year.”

“How do you remember that?” You asked, realizing he would have only been in the first grade when you left.

“Because suddenly we didn’t have enough people to have even teams for kickball. You left and we were a man short. Had to ask Willie Addams to play and he couldn’t run for shit. Had the coordination of a fuckin’ baby giraffe.”

You giggled at him, almost spitting out your coffee. “Ok, how do you remember that?” You pressed. “You were like 6.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Jake says I have the memory of an elephant, whatever the fuck that means. Anyway, enough talk about zoo animals. Where were you really headed, Y/N? Before you got stuck here with us…” He leaned again, and you noticed his eyes began anxiously darting around, just like Jake’s had done earlier.

You purposely waited for him to make eye contact with you again, finding it rude that he was looking everywhere but at your face after asking you a question. When he finally did, you answered.

“I was heading to Atlanta. From Salvation, Iowa.” You replied honestly. “Why?”

“People don’t normally just casually cruise back through their hometown unless they’re looking for something.” He said dryly, taking a sip of his coffee. The white ceramic mug looked tiny in his giant inked hand.

“Well I’m not people. I wasn’t looking for anything, I just—”

“So you were running.” He raised his eyebrows again, knowing he had struck some type of gold from the obviously surprised look on your face.

You stayed silent for a beat. He laughed through his nose.

“I wasn’t running, I was…just, getting away. It’s different.” You tried to dismiss his prying questions, wanting nothing more than for Geraldine to bring you a heaping pile of mashed potatoes so you wouldn’t have to go on about your wasted adventure with a man you hardly knew from Adam.

“But you left home for a reason, right?” He went on. “If people plan to move, they usually bring along more than a couple suitcases and their old wedding dress, Y/N. You’re telling me you left your makeup vanity and trunk and sofa at home?”

Fuck. You didn’t wanna talk about this.

When you stayed silent again, he laughed in satisfaction. “You were running.”

You leaned in close. “Look, if you want to know every detail of my life, you’re gonna have to do a little more than invite me to dinner, Daniel.” You spat.

“What if I already planned to do a little more?” He inferred, sitting back against the booth and running his hand along his slicked-back hair.

You choked back. “That’s an awfully forward thing to say to someone you just met.”

“I didn’t just meet you. I knew you in the first grade. And I know I was upset when you weren’t there to play kickball any more.” His eyes began scanning the windows again, jumping back and forth as he spoke. Your heart began racing at his words.

“Why do you care, Danny? About what I’m doing here?” You asked, truly wanting to know.

He shrugged, taking another draw of his smoke. “You seem like a fun little challenge. I like challenges. Mysteries. Cracking codes…”

You scoffed. “Well, you sure as hell ain’t cracking anything of mine.”

“Yeah? We’ll see about that one.” The side of his lips curled up as you caught onto his flirtation. Danny let his smoke hang between his lips as he rubbed his hands together, his fingernails still dirty from the workday.

You were simultaneously turned off and turned on by his strange way of coming on to you; you knew that was what he was doing, but in some odd way, it was charming. You felt safe with him, even if his way of flirting was nothing like anything you’d ever seen before.

In the nick of time, Geraldine brought your plates over, setting them in front of you with harsh thuds. “Alright one sans peas, one extra peas. Refill of coffee, and I’ll be back in a bit to check on ya.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Danny muttered.

You held his deep gaze as you unrolled your silverware from the tight napkin, and dug directly in to the mashed potatoes without hesitation. He licked his tongue across his teeth as he followed your motions. The two of you ate in silence, and you let yourself enjoy the hot meal in front of you, wondering if Danny would let you forgo the motorcycle ride, and just walk home.

After a basically wordless and slightly awkward meal, Danny sat and watched as you finished off your coffee, still pushing a pea around the plate with the end of his fork.

“Good pork chops, right?” He finally asked.

“Might be the best ones I’ve ever had.” You replied honestly. But you had been so hungry, you might’ve thought shoe leather sounded appetizing had you waited any longer. That apple was long gone.

“I wouldn’t steer you wrong.” He growled, another sly smile creeping to his face. He stretched his neck, the thin lines of the spider web tattoo bulging over his artery. “What are your plans for the night?”

You placed your napkin and silverware on top of the empty plate, pushing it back a bit to fold your arms across the table. “Sleep.”

“Well that doesn’t sound like any fun.” He laughed, and if you didn’t know him any better, you would’ve thought he really didn’t believe you.

“What? That’s really all I’m doing…what else would I do?” You asked sternly. “I don’t know anyone, I don’t have a car, this podunk town doesn’t have much to offer, Danny.”

He sighed as he put his elbows on the table, the sleeves of the tight shirt pulling against his biceps. You took a second to glance at his arms, tanned and bronze from the sun. The black-lined and barely-colored tattoos that covered his arms instantly piqued your interest, but you couldn’t let him know you were looking. In your three-second glance, you noticed the set of dice on the inside of his wrist, some type of messy writing along the inside of his forearm, and a tiger’s face peeking out from under the short sleeve of his shirt. And that was only the few your mind comprehended.

“You’re right. Ain’t much here. But it can be a good time if you know what you’re looking for.” He raised his eyebrow in question.

You shook your head. “Not me, thanks. I’d rather not have my face hanging on missing posters around town next week.”

“Why would you say that?” He was taken back.

“Because you haven’t stopped darting your eyes to the door and out the windows since we got here. Your body language is forcibly relaxed, you’re a little on edge, and I think you’re kind of paranoid. I don’t know why, but you don’t seem like you feel safe in your own town, Danny.”

He huffed an exasperated laugh. “Of course I feel safe here, why would I live here if I didn’t?” He said defensively.

“How did you know what room I was in?” You asked, craning your neck sideways. “Jake left before I checked in today. Did you ask Wanda so you could keep tabs on me?”

You clicked your tongue as his eyes bulged from his head at your words. “That’s what I thought. Oh, and you have a switchblade knife stuffed in your boot.”

“How do you know that?” He muttered.

“Saw it when your pants hiked up when you got off the motorcycle.” You pushed the plate a little further back on the table, and grabbed your purse to make your way to the cash register. You pulled a few crumpled dollars from your wallet and tossed them onto the table. You stood and came to the edge of the booth, leaning down close to Danny’s face to whisper. “If I didn’t know any better, it’d seem that you’re the one who’s running, Danny.”

You gave him a displeased look and turned, snaking your way through the empty tables to pay Geraldine for your suppers. “Thank you, sweetie. Y’all have a good rest of your evenin…” Geraldine said as the cash register dinged closed. You gave Bubba another nod before making your way to the door. You glanced back to Danny, who was still sitting stunned in the wooden booth.

“You takin’ me back to the motel, or what?”

——

This time, finding your balance on the motorcycle was easy, like you’d been doing it for a hundred years. Danny hadn’t said a word since you left the diner, only offering Bubba and Geraldine a quiet “goodnight”. You pressed your front against Danny’s back, leaning into him as you wrapped your hands around his lower abdomen and sturdied your feet behind his. You let the shyness from earlier drift away, feeling more confident now that you’d spoken your piece to Danny.

As he picked up speed down the busted pavement, you let your mind wander a bit.

Ha, he thought he had you pegged. Thought you were another dumb female he could trick into his bed. Pshh. Asking you your plans for the night… please. Though going back to your room alone sounded less than exciting now that your stomach was full. And you were more awake than ever…and he had kind of offered…

No. No way. You didn’t know Danny.

‘It can be a good time if you know what you’re looking for…’

No. Horrible idea. Sleep.

Shower, and sleep.

Just as you made your mind up, you felt Danny’s hand run along the outside of your leg again. What is he doing? He wasn’t cautious, he was confident. Like the motion was the most natural thing he’d ever done. You could feel the heat from his hand radiating through the denim of your jeans, and though his touch was unwelcome, you let it happen. Why were you letting it happen?

He didn’t need to pull you forward into him like he had earlier, you were already pressed against him as far as you could get. You watched as his shoulder flexed as his arm reached back and down to your leg, his fingers gliding lightly over your thigh while he steered with his other hand. Shit, the heat of his touch…

You let your chest press into him just a little closer, and the contact made your nipples instantly stand at attention. Your choice to not wear a bra tonight was silently working against you. But damn, you couldn’t deny…this man was attractive. Very attractive. And you already couldn’t deny the physical chemistry between you, his hand so nonchalantly petting your thigh while his other gripped the handlebar.

You felt him take a deep breath, his grip tightening on your leg muscle. You realized your other hand had been resting gently on his stomach, holding on tightly as he navigated the bumpy streets. In an act of pure confidence, you let your thumb drift a few inches down, and loop into the hem of his jeans, your other fingers gripping onto his leather belt. With your motion, his hand tightened again, his thumb swiping back and forth as he let his hand drift further back.

Your mind was frenzied, suddenly your stomach felt tightly wound with an unknown and unwarranted anticipation. Danny removed his hand from your thigh, and kicked his right foot a couple times to shift the bike down. He gripped the bars and turned, and suddenly you were in front of your motel room door. Damn, you hadn’t even noticed you were here already.

He pulled the kickstand down as he shut off the bike, and you quickly pulled your hand from the way-too-intimate place near his groin. He stood and stepped off the bike, and you followed behind. You cleared your throat as you resituated your purse on your shoulder, suddenly feeling exposed. You pulled your jacket over your chest, and reached into your bag to find the room key.

“Thanks for the ride.” You purred.

“Thanks for dinner, I was supposed to pay, you know. I invited you out…”

“No, no. It’s my pleasure, seeing as how you thought of me, and all.” You answered, making your way to unlock the old doorknob. You felt Danny follow behind, walking you to the door. He had shoved his hands in his pockets, and his closed-off demeanor returned, quite the opposite of the confidence he dripped on the bike.

You unlocked the door and pushed it open, flicking on the light inside. Danny stood in the threshold as you dispensed your purse on the table.

“You were right. I did ask Wanda what room you were in. And before you get freaked out, it wasn’t because I was trying to keep tabs on you. Not in the way you’re thinking, at least.” He said, glancing side to side down either way of the sidewalk before he stepped inside the room just a little. “Y/N, look. You’re right. This town can be dangerous. It ain’t a five-star city. There is a lot that goes on behind closed doors here. So yes, I wanted to know where you were because—”

“You want to keep an eye on me. I get it. I owe you and Jake money, still.” You quipped, unsure of how to feel about that.

He nodded slowly, leaning his shoulder on the doorframe as he crossed his flexed arms. “Well, yes, but…It’s more for your well-being, Y/N. That’s all. There are some…shady creatures here.” He mumbled, stepping a little further inside.

You slowly sat down on the bed, feeling the stiff mattress squeak beneath you. His steps were heavy as he came further inside, slowly, his eye contact making you feel like you were going to forget how to breathe. You leaned back on your arms, the gritty brown comforter rough under your fingertips. “Are you one of those…shady creatures?” You asked, barely above a whisper as you found him standing almost directly between your legs.

He lifted his almost completely-inked hand and pushed away a tiny strand of hair that had fallen across your forehead, brushing it back to join the rest of your hair. Your heart rate picked up at his subtle touch, his calloused and dirty fingertips just barely grazing the side of your face. “Guess it depends on who you ask…” his words were slow, his bottom lip biting slowly into his mouth as he spoke.

Your breath caught in your throat, and you instantly felt the same chemistry as earlier begin to ravage your body again. He was towering over you so close, your legs pressed apart by the outsides of his. His knees touched the edge of the bed, and you could tell his hands were arguing with his brain about touching you again. Somewhere. Anywhere.

He pushed your hair back again, drifting his hand down your cheek and finally to your chin, his thumb and pointer working as a team to slowly crane your neck up to look him in the eyes. Your hands were begging you to rake your nails up underneath his tight t-shirt, just to get a feel of what was beneath it. But you didn’t.

“You’re different, aren’t you, Y/N?” He finally whispered.

“Mmm, what do you mean?”

He furrowed his brow as he lightly squeezed your chin between his fingers, his eyes studying every detail of your face.

“I dunno…you just have something about you. Can’t quite put my finger on it yet.” He bit his lip again. You felt a ragged breath escape your lungs, and you hoped to god your body language wasn’t reflecting how you felt right now.

“But, I intend on figuring you out.” His thumb drifted up a bit, barely ghosting over your bottom lip. It took everything in you to not pull it into your mouth, reach your tongue out and taste him, but you stopped yourself. Can’t go there tonight, as much as you really wanted to.

Against every coherent thought, your knees pressed in toward each other, searching for some type of relief, causing Danny’s body to move in a bit closer to you. A low laugh left his chest as he continued to brush his thumb over your lip, pressing a little harder when you made him fall into you. “A fuckin’ gem, aren’t you?”

You swallowed, unsure how to answer. Or how to think, for that matter. This gorgeous man standing between your legs in your hotel room, you barely know him at all…but already you felt like you could grip the soft cotton of his t-shirt and yank him down into the bed beside you, and have your way with him until the sun came up. Because, what do you have to lose?

“Will have a ride for you tomorrow. Get some sleep.” He muttered, his eyelids hooded over his deep brown eyes as he peered down to you. You watched his Adams apple jerk as he swallowed, regaining the same composure you were begging yourself to find. He stepped back and turned to exit through the still-open door. “Lock this behind me.”

And before you could gather even the simplest thought, he was gone.

—

You stood naked in front of the scratched and lopsided hanging mirror in the bathroom, waiting the long five minutes for the shower to heat, just as Wanda had said. Your skin was still flushed from the close intensity from Danny just a few short minutes ago, and your heart rate was just now slowing from the interaction.

Shit. You aren’t supposed to feel these things…you just left Peter. You were on the search to enrich your life, go wild, not add drama and danger to it…

But, you had set out in search of an adventure, could this be it? Could this strange, gritty, already confusing mechanic be your ticket to letting loose? You’d never had those young years to explore yourself and sow your oats; Peter was one of your very first serious boyfriends ever, and one of only a handful of partners you’d had before that. Half of your mind was terrified from Danny’s words of warning, and the other half of you said fuck it, chase it. Why not? What do you honestly have to lose at this point?

You stepped into the now steaming shower and began to suds up the plain white bar of soap that was wrapped up on the countertop. You let the hot streams of water calm your muscles and your nerves as you ran over the events of your crazy day.

‘Will have a ride for you tomorrow…’

What did that mean? You chalked it up to he would probably be picking you up again in the morning to go back to the garage to give a down payment, or something. Either way, you’d wake up to a new day, and you were already hoping it’d be just as eventful as today.

——

The growling sound of an engine outside the motel startled you from your daydream as you watched the picture on the television blur and scatter back and forth. A glance at your watch told you it was 10am exactly, and you walked to the peephole to see who had pulled up.

It wasn’t the person you expected to see. You unlocked the door and swung it open, the still misty morning air chilling your face.

“Jake, morning. What are you—”

“You ready to sign your quote? I’m ordering the parts today.” He interrupted as he slammed his truck door shut.

“Yeah, yeah. Just let me grab my bag.” You stepped back inside, slightly confused; you fully expected to see Danny pull up on his motorcycle to whisk you away again.

You stepped outside and locked the door behind you, and you and Jake both hopped up into the truck. Jake was silent again, and you were coming to realize he didn’t speak unless it was completely necessary, or unless spoken to. He was a man of few words, but you gathered that he probably wasn’t being outwardly rude, just was his nature to be quiet. You hoped, at least.

He reached down and cranked his window, the air blowing his freshly-showered scent around in the cab of the truck. The scent of Brut after-shave tingled in your nose; you’d know that smell anywhere. It made you look his way, seeing that his skin was actually visible now that he wasn’t covered in grease and dirt. His hand gripped the tree, shifting it to third as his speed leveled out on the road.

His hands were completely covered in tattoos just like Danny’s were, and they crawled up his wrist and forearm, all the way to his shoulder and into his neck. His cutoff t-shirt exposed his chest and side, also covered in a swirling piece of art that was laced with deep reds and blues. There were hundreds of them. And you were willing to bargain that each and every one had a story.

His ever-present cigarette hung between his lips as he stayed focused on the road, his shoulder length locks whipping around in the wind. You hadn’t seen him like this yet…clean, natural, and normal. His demeanor was the same as it was yesterday, straightforward and no-nonsense.

“That’s yours, if you want it.” He gestured between you on the bench seat, pointing to a large biscuit wrapped up in wax paper. “I couldn’t eat two.”

“Oh, that’s nice of you. Thanks.” You began to unwrap it and tear off little pieces, bringing them shyly to your mouth. “Didn't poison it, did you?”

He huffed what you think was a laugh through his nose. “No. If you died I’d have to steal the part money from your purse, and I don’t want to do that.” Was that his attempt at a joke?

You giggled, again unsure how to take him.

“Where’s Danny? I figured he’d be the one scooping me up after last night.” You asked, taking another bite of biscuit.

His head shot your way, his eyes narrowed. “Last night?”

“Yeah, he picked me up on his bike, we got some food at Louie’s. Said he’d be back today.” Now that you thought about it, he never actually said he would be the one picking you up, just that there would be a ride for you here today.

“Ah, so he took you on a date.” Jake muttered, his voice low again over the radio.

“No, it wasn’t a date. He just invited me to eat with him. Knew I shouldn’t walk through town to get food by myself. He was being thoughtful.” You suddenly felt defensive of Danny.

“Thoughtful. So, a date.” Jake responded, blowing smoke out the window before flicking the cigarette onto the road.

“So what if it was?” You decided to play along. “What would it matter?”

He shook his head with a mock laugh. “Danny is a nice guy, but he doesn’t take women on dates. That I can assure you.”

You felt offended. “So, what, just a one night stand kind of guy?”

Jake let a one-syllable laugh fall from his lips as he raised his eyebrows, shifting back down to make the tight turn up the hill to the shop. “Guess you could say that.”

Why was he always so vague?

Just as you were nearing the shop, Jake reached his arm across the bench seat and across your lap, leaning almost all the way onto you to crank the window all the way down. He rolled the handle quickly, his bicep muscle flexing hard right in front of your eyes.

“Oh, sorry, I could have done that–” you sputtered.

“It’s a son of a bitch to roll, requires a little bit of elbow grease.” He said before throwing the truck in park and shutting off the engine. “I’ve got your paperwork ready, all you have to do is sign for the total and put half down. Rest will be due when it’s fixed.”

He was halfway out of the truck and still talking, so you clambered your way out, too, to make sure you caught the tail end of what he was saying. The two of you walked into the shop, vehicles already pulled into the bay with the hoods popped. Loud music was coming from an old radio on a high shelf, an old Johnny Cash song bouncing off the walls.

“Daniel, can you please turn that fucking shit down? Jesus Christ!” Jake yelled.

You watched as Danny’s curls emerged out from underneath an old Cadillac, his feet pushing him out as he laid on a creeper. He gave you a quick tiny smile when you made upside-down eye contact.

“When you open the shop on time and get in here when you’re fuckin’ supposed to, maybe I’ll consider your goddamn propositions, Jake. I mean shit, we live here.” He rolled all the way out and stood from the creeper, watching as Jake slowly ascended the old metal stairs on the side of the building. “I’ve been the only one here since fuckin’ 7:00. Why the fuck would I turn my music down if I’m the only one getting my fuckin’ hands dirty?” Danny spat.

You looked up onto the lofted area of the shop, watching as Jake topped the steps and walked across, flipping Danny the bird from above before looking to you and switching his middle finger to his pointer, signaling for you to ‘come here’, and follow him up the stairs.

You hopped into action, making your way to the staircase to follow Jake to the top. When you got up there, you looked around to find this was the office area. Tons and tons of old papers stacked away in messy piles, collecting dust and dirt. Boxes that held forgotten parts, shelves filled to the brim with old 3-ring binders, dusty photos on the wall, and in the center of it all, an old wooden desk with a chair that had seen better days. You watched as Jake pulled the string hanging from a single fluorescent light, plopping into the chair as the light buzzed to life.

He pulled on a pair of thin wired readers, peering down to a ledger that looked similar to the one Wanda took your room reservation in. He was fingering through a parts manual and double checking his work on a calculator, so you took a second to look at a few of the black and white photos hanging framed on the wall.

One, a larger photo, hung right in the middle of the rest. It was a man in a white tank top, dirty as can be, a pair of old slacks pulled up to his belly button. He was leaned with his back against an old black Chevelle, a cigarette hanging from his lips. He wasn’t smiling, just standing stoically with his arms crossed across his chest. He looked strikingly exactly like Jake, except the photo must have been taken when the man was a bit older than Jake is now.

“Jake, this man looks just like you…is he—”

“Was. My father, yes.” He said, voice flat.

“Handsome…” you muttered. “Was this his shop before it was yours?”

He nodded, still looking to his ledger. “Yeah. Ace.”

You pulled your eyes from the photo, walking slowly back to the desk. “Ace…Ace’s garage. How long has he…been gone?” You wanted to put the words right back into your mouth as soon as they left it. It wasn’t any of your business.

“He died the day before my eighteenth birthday. You wanna come sign here?” Jake said, extending a pen out for you.

Damn, Jake. That’s heavy.

You walked over to take a look at the estimate, seeing that the price was actually not as much as you thought it would be. “So half now, half when it’s done?” You reiterated, signing your name across the slip of paper.

“Yep.” He responded shortly.

You reached into your purse and pulled out the white envelope of your cash, counting it out in hundreds and fifties. As you slowly counted out loud, you took special care to run your fingers over the stiff new bills, making sure none stuck together. In the middle of them all was an old fifty dollar bill, a giant red “X” drawn across the President’s face.

“Someone didn’t like Grant, I guess.” You laughed, trying to break the awkward silence as he watched you count.

When you were finally finished, you gathered the bills up and handed them to Jake in a nice neat stack. “Thanks.” He said, taking the cash and stuffing it in a till box before shoving it in a safe.

“Thank you. Hey, think I could use your restroom really quickly?” You asked, feeling like your bladder was about to burst with shitty motel room coffee.

He threw his glasses down onto the table and pulled the light off, giving you a funny look before leading you back toward the stairs again. “Only bathroom here is mine and Danny’s, probably ain’t the cleanest.” He said as he quickly jumped down the steps.

“It’s no problem.” You answered. How bad could it be?

He led you underneath the loft and through a door, into a dark hallway with multiple doors. “Last one on the left.” Jake hit the wall with his palm before walking back into the bay.

This must be the part they live in. As you passed by the other doors, one was closed, and the other was cracked open to reveal what looked to be a messy bedroom. A mattress on the floor covered in disheveled blankets, liquor bottles on the makeshift nightstand, and clothes strewn about.

When you finally reached the bathroom door, what you found inside was nothing short of disgusting. Although he had warned you…

One light bulb hanging from the ceiling, the sink full of hair and stained black from the grease off their hands, a completely black toothpaste tube that didn’t have a lid, flattened toothbrushes that were missing half of their bristles…

The list went on as you looked around in utter disgust. Men are so gross. You were positive the place had never been cleaned.

You swallowed and held your breath as you opened the broken toilet lid, finding it less-than-desirable with a ring in the bowl. You shuddered at what you were about to do, but if you didn’t pee right now you were going to have to resort to the woods out back. Would probably be cleaner out there, actually…but at least there is toilet paper.

You tried not to think too hard about it as you quickly relieved yourself, using a small piece of toilet paper to touch the lever handle to flush.

“Ew ew ew ew.” You mumbled, deciding to not even wash your hands at the risk of dirtying them further. But even if you had, your drying options were toilet paper or their stained to hell bath towels hanging over the rod.

You were entirely grossed out, and decided to get back out to the bay as soon as you could. You flicked the light switch and reentered the hallway, noticing that the closed door across the way was opening at the same time.

To your surprise, a woman emerged from the room, slowly closing the door behind her. She had to be about ten years your senior, at least.

“Hey, Sug.” She murmured, rubbing sleep from her eyes. When she turned to face you, you noticed what she was wearing.

Danny’s black Ford Motors t-shirt he had on last night.

Your stomach dropped, suddenly it hit you exactly why he wasn’t the one picking you up this morning.

You gave her a tight smile and a simple “Good morning” as her keys jingled in her hand. Her makeup was definitely left over from last night, and she was carrying a pair of red high heels.

“I haven’t seen you ‘round here before…” she said, her voice still raspy with sleep.

“Oh, I’m…I’m a customer. They’re fixing my car. Just was…using the restroom.” You explained.

“Oh honey, no one’s ever just a customer…” She winked, before leading the two of you back out into the bay.

Whose room did she just come from?

—

JAKE POV

Fuck this god damn piece of shit Chevrolet.

Two weeks you’ve been working on this fuckin’ truck, and in those two weeks you had gotten barely anything accomplished with rebuilding the motor. And now you had another to do on top of it.

Isn’t it supposed to be Fords that have engine trouble? American muscle my ass. They’re all shit.

You stepped up onto the step ladder and peered back down into the belly of your newest arch-nemesis, cursing at its guts with every turn of your wrench. You look down to the floor spitting before turning your attention back under the hood.

Come on Ace. What is wrong with this son of a bitch? Help me out…

You glanced over to Danny, watching as he walked outside to empty his stomach again after the late night he’d had. Out all night drinking with his latest piece, stumbling back into the shop at 3am. Then he was back up at 7? You weren’t sure where he got his stamina…maybe he just didn’t sleep at all.

As you compiled the list of parts you’d need for Y/N’s engine last night, Danny swung by your office to tell you he was leaving, only to peer over your shoulder and see her name at the top of the Quote sheet.

“She’s a fuckin’ smokeshow…”

“Can you please try not to sleep with this one? She seems like a decent human being… You don’t have to sleep with all of them you know.” you’d joked.

“Jesus, Jake. I’m not that bad of a person. Cut me some slack. Just cause you haven’t gotten laid in few months doesn’t mean you have to shit on me…”

You’d pushed up from your chair and slammed your hands into his shoulders, pushing him back against the wall behind you, but his height was no match for you.

“Fuck you, Daniel. Just…listen to me. I saw her making eyes at you…Don’t fuck this up for us.” you said.

“Did you really?” You’d watched as his gears began to turn. “What was her room number?”

“I don’t fuckin’ know, Danny. You’re not going to her motel. Just leave her be.” You tried your best to warn him nicely. “Like you told me, she’s a paying customer. We need her to pay us…”

He sighed when he realized. “Shit. You’re right, damnit. Okay, okay. I won’t go.”

But, from the conversation you had with Y/N on the ride in this morning, you realized the fucker lied to you. He went anyway and she was clearly all about it.

You wanted to warn her. You tried to tell her that Danny was a one night stand type, that he didn’t wine and dine like the regular guy would, but apparently she didn’t listen, either.

As a bolt finally popped loose, it fell into the engine, tipping you over the edge of insanity.

Fuck! This! Truck!

You jumped off of the ladder and went over to the fridge under the loft, grabbing a cold Budweiser from the dirty shelf. You held the neck of the amber bottle on the edge of your toolbox, smashing your fist down on the lid, effectively popping it off. You tilted it back, letting the cold beverage run down your throat as you swallowed. Nothing like a breakfast beer.

Just then, you heard the shop door close and two sets of footsteps making their way out. All you could do was watch as the perfect storm brewed right in front of your eyes. How the fuck was he gonna explain this one... Y/N, Danny, and whoever his woman of the night was, all waltzing into the middle of the bay at the exact same time. As you caught sight of the woman you let out a scoff.

Fuck, Danny.

Tanya. The woman that lived in that house down on Robertson, hardly any personality at all, great tits, and apparently she was a panther in bed. Or so you’d heard. She was nice enough, and Danny always ended up bringing her around every couple of months. You didn’t dislike her, but you sure as hell didn’t want to be her friend, either. You didn’t trust her as far as you could throw her, and last you heard, she was involved with some folks you didn’t need to be associating with.

You paused with your beer in hand, sticking the other in your pocket as you watched the scene unfold. Your fingers twirled around a lug nut as your eyes followed Tanya, walking directly up to Daniel, wrapping her long skinny arms around his neck, and pulling him in for one last long, and especially involved, goodbye kiss. This wasn’t her typical goodbye, and you knew she was marking her territory in front of Y/N. Which is why you laughed, knowing that she wouldn’t hear from Daniel for at least a month. However, it wasn’t lost on you, the tense nature of Daniel’s body as she kissed him. His eyes open wide and looking across the bay towards Y/N.

Your eyes drifted directly to Y/N, watching as her face fell into utter disbelief. Her jaw fell slack for a second before she clamped it shut again, obviously feeling something unexpected from the sight in front of her. Whatever little daydream she had dreamed up between the two of them had all just come crashing down.

You noticed she suddenly felt out of place, bringing her embarrassed eyes to meet yours in question. You smirked, raising an eyebrow as you sipped your beer as smugly as you could. You shrugged your shoulders and raised your beer bottle in the air towards her as you watched her face flame red.

Hate to say I told ya so, baby.

—

HER POV

You have got to get out of here.

But where the hell are you gonna go?

You let your feet carry you out the bay garage door out into the heat of the day, wanting to be anywhere but inside that damn building right now. Why did it matter? Why did you care?

The moment you and Danny shared last night was anything but fantastic, but it was still there. It was intimate, though he had done nothing but skim his fingertips across your face.

You didn’t care. It’s no big deal.

But why did he look at you while he kissed her? And why was Jake so amused by it?

You stomped across the dirt parking lot to your Scout, flinging the door open to dig around and find anything that could offer up a distraction. You unzipped a suitcase, finding all of your clothing still neatly folded and tucked away. Underneath a pair of old ratted bell bottoms, you pulled out your ticket to diversion from Danny for the rest of the day: Maya Angelou’s complete collection of poems.

Perfect.

The book was worn around the edges, you had read it so much as a kid. You practically had every poem memorized.

After replacing your folded clothing neatly back in the suitcase, you decided you had to make your way back inside at some point…you knew they had a full workday ahead, and it would be rude to ask for a ride back to the motel at this point.

You slammed the door shut, shielding your eyes from the bright sun directly above. The shadowy silhouette of Tanya was walking toward you as you walked toward the building, still barefoot and wobbly as she crept across the dirt and gravel toward the road. You swallowed hard, knowing an interaction was unavoidable at this point.

“Catch ya around, sweetcheeks.” She said as your paths crossed. She let her body come close to yours, her shoulder bumping into your chest as she stumbled. “And just so ya know, the tall, dark, and handsome one?” She pointed her finger tip into her own chest. “Mine. Got it, Iowa?”

You snarled your nose up to her at her display; you could still smell the liquor on her breath from last night. Her eyes were hazed and obviously still high on whatever it was she was doing the night before.

“No worries on my end.” You said blankly, wanting to get the hell away from her while simultaneously wanting to punch her in the face for assuming you wanted Danny.

You kept walking past her back into the shop, walking on the other side of the truck Jake was working on to stay as far away from Danny as you could. You didn’t want to risk him noticing that you even cared.

You sat down in one of the ratty, dirty lawn chairs alongside the wall where Jake was working, getting as comfortable as you could before opening your book. You wanted to get lost in the words, letting them bring you back down to earth in a way only poetry could.

You glanced to Danny as he stepped up on the wall of shelves on his side of the bay, reaching high above his head to turn the knob on his radio up to a higher volume. He hopped down, a giant cheesing smile across his face as ‘Fortunate Son’ blared from the speaker. Jake slowly raised his head from under the hood of the truck, shaking it from side to side as he stared Danny down. You realized then that’s why Danny put his stereo up so high, so that Jake physically couldn’t reach it.

You flipped the pages of your book for the next half hour or so, letting Maya’s words take you to another planet entirely. You listened to the sounds of their socket wrenches and power tools as they worked away, providing a surprisingly relaxing background sound.

“Whatcha reading?” Jake’s voice was barely audible over the loud noises around you. You closed the book cover, holding your fingers between the pages to keep your spot.

“Maya Angelou’s poems. Kinda corny, I know. But–”

“The caged bird sings with fearful trill

of the things unknown but longed for still

and his tune is heard on the distant hill

for the caged bird sings of freedom.”

Your jaw fell open as Jake finished reciting Maya’s most famous poem to a tee, not faltering over any word and pausing at the most perfect times for the poem to hold its structure.

He hadn’t pulled his focus away from what he was doing until he realized you didn’t respond, then grinned a smile so big it made your heart stop.

“How did you…? You know Ms. Angelou?”

“My mom loved her. Read me her poems as a kid before I could even walk. I don’t remember the sound of my mom’s voice, but those words stuck with me.” He said, only glancing up to you every few words as he kept focused.

You were floored. This was not something you expected from Jake, let alone for him to open up about his explanation as to why he knew of her work. You felt a warmth in your stomach…maybe there was something sweet under his tough exterior after all.

After a bit, the shop telephone started ringing. You looked to both of the guys as they worked, realizing neither of them even noticed it was ringing. Maybe the phone doesn’t work? A couple minutes later, it started again, ringing and ringing off the hook for so long the shrillness started to irritate your ears.

“Do you want me to go get that, or what?” You asked. Jake scoffed an exasperated sigh, hopping backwards off his step stool as he pulled his red towel from his back pocket of his coveralls. He wiped his hands as best he could as he rushed up the steps to answer it.

You glanced to Danny, watching as he leaned over the hood of the car he was working on, wiping the sweat off his brow with the back of his arm. You hadn’t made eye contact or spoken since Tanya left a while ago, and you had to admit, it pissed you off a little. After last night’s…moment… he at least owed you something, right?

Once he noticed Jake was all the way upstairs, he confidently walked over your way, twirling his own towel in his hands. “You gonna let me buy you lunch today?” He asked.

“Why should I do that?” You answered blankly, not looking up from your book.

“Because I’m hungry, I know you’re hungry, and you bought dinner. It’s only fair.” He was so matter of fact.

“Are you not meeting back up with Miss Red High Heels for lunch today?” Shit. Your attitude ended up getting the better of you.

“Who, Tanya?” He asked, pointing his thumb behind him. “Fuck, no. She’s just–”

“A good lay?” You inquired, pulling your eyes up to him finally, flicking your eyelashes in the most sarcastic way you could.

He let his arms fall to his sides in defeat. “Listen, Y/N. Just let me take you to lunch, please? I promise I’ll be the perfect gentleman.” He finished the end of his sentence with a smirk and a wink, instantly making your insides swirl. What the hell is he doing to you?

“Alright, I guess. But only because I’m hungry, not because I want to hang out with you.” You gave him a side smile as you agreed.

You watched as he leaned his elbows down on the side panel of the truck Jake was working on, resting his chin in his hand.

“Mmm, I bet you do want to hang out with me though, especially if you let me a little further into your motel room after…”

“We gotta close up.” Suddenly Jake was bounding down the stairs, his steps heavy as he barrelled toward you and Danny. “Close it up, let’s go.” He slammed the hood of the truck down as soon as Danny had backed off of it enough.

You stood from your chair in surprise. “Why, what’s wrong?”

You watched as Danny shoved his towel into his pocket, his expression immediately turning into alarm.

“Fuck, was it Teddy on the phone?” He asked Jake as he ran around, closing the lid on his tool box and wheeling it under the loft.

“Yeah, it was fuckin’ Teddy. Hurry up.” Jake hastily walked to the bay door, pulling on the long chain to lower the large garage doors down to the ground with a slam.

“What’s going on? Who is Teddy?” You asked in a panic as they ran around you like chickens with their heads cut off.

Danny closed all the doors on the vehicles in the bay, and threw a large black tarp over the motorcycle he had propped up on a block. They tossed all the rogue tools into the appropriate boxes, shutting the lids as they did so.

What the fuck is going on?!

Anxiety began to creep into your chest as you watched them rush around in a panic.

After a few minutes of fury, they met in the middle of the bay, in a fit of panted exhaustion and sweaty skin. They stood with their hands on their hips, looking around the shop. Jake pulled his Lucky Strikes from his pocket, nervously lighting one up with a zippo he pulled from his pocket.

“Fuck!” He muttered as the smoke left his lungs. “Did we miss anything?” He asked Danny rhetorically.

“No, how long do we have? Do they want a game?”

“Yeah, they want a fuckin’ game. They’ll be here at sunset. Shit.” Jake answered, both of their eyes still darting around in shifted motions.

Finally, at the same time, their eyes landed on you standing before them in complete and utter shock.

“Have her help you set up, then take her back to my bedroom. Lock the door.” Jake finally commanded Danny.

“No, are you fuckin’ stupid? I’m taking her back to the motel, she’ll be safe there.” Danny argued.

“No, god damnit! She’s staying here where we can keep an eye on her, the last thing we need is fucking free collateral, Danny. She stays here and hides.”

“Hides?! Wait, what the fuck–” your heart began pounding.

“If she’s here, they’ll know we’re hiding something, Jake! They aren’t stupid! If she’s back at the motel at least she’s far enough away—” Danny was raising his voice to Jake now in opposition, their chests almost touching as they spat in each other’s faces.

“Daniel, are you fuckin’ mental? You know Wanda isn’t trustworthy anymore. And Tanya was just here! You know Bubba found out who she’s been hanging around. And she saw Y/N! You think it’s a coincidence that two hours later, we get a call from Teddy?! Are you fuckin’ stupid?” Jake slammed a screwdriver across the floor, letting it bounce and glide across the concrete until it hit the wall. He stepped away from Danny, walking toward the back of the bay to continue what he was doing.

“I told you to stay away from that fucking crowd, and what did you do? Bring one of them back with you to fuck into the mattress all night.” Jake yelled, and you watched as Danny lurched his way toward him.

But before Danny could make it, Jake turned and held his elbow out, catching Danny’s body across the chest. “Don’t fucking come up on me like that Daniel, I swear to god. Go set up the fucking table, or get the fuck out of my shop. Take your pick.” Jake spat into his face.

Danny begrudgingly backed away, his hands balled into fists. “I’m not leaving you here alone.”

Jake’s demeanor instantly softened. “You better fucking not.” He mumbled, licking his lips. Jake motioned with his eyes for Danny to retreat to the back, just like he had asked.

Danny breezed past you as he walked, catching your arm and pulling you along as he did so.

“Come on, need your help.” He muttered.

You ripped your arm from his grasp, flinging it away with as much force as you could muster.

“Danny! Tell me what the hell is going on or I am leaving!” You yelled in his face, purely enraged that they were leaving you 100% out of the picture, while deciding what to do with you.

He sighed, eyes darting around again. “I promise you, I will explain everything soon. And I promise, I will take you on that lunch date.” His hand came up and brushed your elbow, while the other pulled your hair away from your face. His touch was so gentle, while he had just been seconds away from a brawl with Jake. His eyes bored deep into yours, somehow soft while yours were filled with fear.

“We’re gonna keep you safe. I’m not gonna let anything happen to you, you hear me?” He was gripping hard at your shoulders now, talking like he was hyping himself up instead of you. “I need you to trust me. Do you trust me?”

“Danny… I–I don’t even know you…” you mumbled, your fight or flight beginning to kick in as the sounds of Jake banging loud things together in the bay echoed off the walls.

“Yeah you do, you know me. You knew me a long time ago.” His eyes shot to Jake again, still loudly throwing tools into containers. Suddenly his face was close to yours, his grip on your arms now almost an embrace.

“I’m not a bad guy, Y/N. I swear I’m not. I’m just…” he winced as he searched for the words. “Listen, I like you, and even though you’ve only been around a day or two, you’ve been the only thing on my mind since the minute you pulled up at the shop, okay? You...you make me nervous. And people don’t make me nervous.” He licked his lips as his hands gripped the sides of your head. “But right now, I’m asking you to trust me. If not completely, just until tomorrow, okay? Please?” He pleaded.

Fuck, did you have a choice?

You threw all caution to the wind as your mind fought against every red flag presenting itself. You nodded quickly. “Okay. Okay, shit.” you finally agreed.

Danny’s expression fell straight to relief as he gripped his large, grease-covered hands over yours, pulling you back to their living quarters in a hurry.

“Then let’s go. We don’t have much time.”

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iibonniee · 11 months

Text

All Eyes on Her

Pairing: Minhyuk x Reader x Hyungwon x Kihyun

Genre: Smut

Warnings: foursome, oral (fem and male receiving), unprotected sex, double penetration, facial, masturbation, cum eating

Rating: R

Word Count: 7.2k

Summary: There was only so many ways to piss off her roommates. Going out without their knowledge was the top of that list

Masterlist | Tags: @beautifulworldandmore @kyunnielove @iamkyunie @doveslittlekpoparchive @dessianna1

(huge shoutout to @spacequokka for the proof reading and hype!)

The city was ablaze with Halloween spirit; twinkling orange lights adorned every lamppost while smiling pumpkins stared down from each window. The usual humdrum of the city had morphed into a chorus of high-pitched laughter and teasing catcalls, echoing against the walls of the high-rises.

Amidst the crowd of excited buzz and anticipation, individuals wander with faces hidden behind masks, from classic vampires to slutty nurses, each strutting their raunchiest and most creative costumes. There was an electrifying tang of mischief and lust in the air, the boundaries of common decency momentarily put at bay with the scapegoat of horror-themed revelry.

Skimpy witches revealing a little too much ‘hocus pocus,’ flirtatious vampires showcasing more than just their canines, and provocatively dressed devils smirking at their sinful antics sauntered down the bustling streets, their laughter rising into the chilled air. While the cityscape was a treat, the people were the spectacle under the Halloween moon.

A palpable excitement fizzled through the crowd as they flocked towards the city’s center, where grand parades, Halloween parties, and bars offering dangerously potent ‘witches brew’ awaited them. The chilling thrill of Halloween quickly ignited into a fiery celebration, prophesizing a night of reckless abandon and racy encounters.

As the night fell, the city became the perfect playground for these supernatural imposters, ready to indulge in their darkest fantasies. The ‘trick or treat’ didn’t concern candies anymore, and the only spell that mattered was the intoxicating stimulant of the night - wild, wicked, and wonderfully suggestive.

As if on cue, the city’s heartbeat quickened, mirroring the palpable pulse that thrummed through the mingle of Halloween revelers. Y/N, lost in the sea of provocative costumes and devilish laughter, somehow managed to weave through the boisterous crowd. Three of her friends, who had decided to venture into the night together, barely noticed her sneaking past—such was the intoxicating allure of the Halloween spectacle.

Y/N took a hasty gulp from the mysterious concoction in her hand, the ominous label of ‘witches brew’ at the bar only fueling her adventurous spirit. Its potent ingredients quickly washed over her, a familiar haze clouding her vision. The alcohol warmed her veins, the heady sensation making her limbs feel heavy yet oddly cheerful. At the same time, the crowd around her swayed like an intoxicating dance of shadows.

Pumped up on the adrenaline and the dangerously potent brew, she felt bold and invincible. She was just another face hidden behind a risqué costume, seduced by the promise of reckless abandonment. Embracing the night’s madness, she let herself be swept up in the waves of laughter and playful catcalls.

Her world was spinning, the city lights blurring to form endless streams of orange and black. The pounding music from nearby parties became a pulsating rhythm in her chest, the enticing beat luring her further into the night’s embrace. The roommates, the rules, the norm – everything that caged her was forgotten, lost in the hedonistic pursuit of a Halloween adventure. Y/N was perfectly adrift in the Halloween ocean, ready to plunge into whatever wickedly delightful encounters the night had in store for her.

Suddenly, the buzz of her phone broke through the symphony of raucous laughter and pulsating music. Fumbling in her small purse, Y/N retrieved her disobedient phone, squinting at the sudden bright light. The screen displayed a flurry of messages, quickly piling up from her roommates, who had noticed her absence.

“Y/N? Are you okay?”

“You’re not at the apartment!”

“Weren’t you feeling unwell? Where did you go?”

Their messages were tinged with worry and mild reprimand; they hadn’t expected her to ignore their advice and dive into the wild tangle of Halloween nightlife. At any other time, a pang of guilt might have washed over her. But tonight, under the spell of intoxication, cloaked in the stringency of her risque costume, Y/N felt free, audaciously untamed.

With a dismissive laugh, she typed a quick, vague reply: “I’m out; don’t worry. Just embracing the night.” Before the incoming reply could pull her to reality, she silenced her phone and shoved it back into her purse.

Reality and its naggings could wait; tonight was all about stepping into a world of fantastic desires. Drowned in the seductive whispers of the festival, she allowed herself to be adrift in the giddy ocean of celebration.

Her roommates, their well-intentioned rules, and worrying had no place here. As she moved deeper into the city’s pulsating heart, Y/N felt an exciting sense of freedom. She was alone - lost yet freed, intoxicated yet in control. Redefining the limits, she plunged further into the intoxicating fervor, ready for whatever wickedly delightful encounters the night had in store.

Y/N drank in the freedom. She was free from Kihyun’s alert gaze, constantly scrutinizing those who dared enter her personal space. There were no towering presences of Hoseok and Hyunwoo, ready to scare off any potential troublemakers, no Minhyuk lingering around her ‘just in case.’ Minhyuk, Kihyun, and Hyunwon, who had decided on a quieter night in, were far from the raucous festivities of the city center.

Meanwhile, Hyunwoo, Hoseok, Jooheon, and Changkyun were lost in their own adventures, leaving Y/N to navigate through the irresistible maze of the night, undisturbed and unhindered.

For Y/N, this was uncharted territory - exciting, intoxicating, and filled with an array of wicked possibilities. The Halloween spirits danced around her, caressing her senses and painting her vision with a tantalizing kaleidoscope of adventures. Echoed chuckles, flirtatious banter, and enticing rhythms led her deeper into the city’s pulsating heart, where the intoxicating fervor of Halloween was brewing at its peak.

Unrestrained and unhindered, she was lulled by the siren call of the city’s enchanting revelry. Her senses were filled with the intoxicating allure of the night, promising a treasure trove of wickedly delightful experiences beneath the Halloween moon.

The unplanned glamour of the night, free from the watchful eyes of her roommates, offered Y/N a wild freedom. With each heartbeat matching the risque rhythm of the Halloween sway, she was ready to hitch a ride on the Halloween roller-coaster and let it take her wherever it wandered.

The club was inviting, a beckoning call for anyone who dared to enter. The line was long, a promise of fun if the wait would be granted. Her eyes followed the crowd of drunken and giggling bystanders laughing at anything and everything. Halloween always felt like a night to let loose.

As Y/N stepped into the disorienting embrace of the club, she found her way to the bar, ordering drinks that fizzled and popped in neon hues, mirroring the hedonistic surge running through her veins. She allowed herself to get lost in the pulsating music and the intoxicating drink in hand, her worries slowly dissolving in the pounds of the bass.

Suddenly, amidst the crowd, she noticed a figure moving towards her. The male was dressed as a Kingpin, with a playful smirk and an inviting gaze; he made his way through the crowd. He perched onto the stool beside her, his overwhelmingly charismatic charm barely concealed. He began to flirt, his words a mix of praises and playful banter, aiming to enthrall and captivate.

Her intoxication amplified the already intense charm radiating from him. Her defenses lowered and her guard down. And just like that, a potentially dangerous scenario was painted; Y/N’s actions were guided by the impulsive rush of alcohol, the stranger’s intentions hidden under the playful banter, and the unforgettable night carrying on its unpredictable stride.

“And what are you supposed to be?” He finally asked the burning question. His smirk never left his face as she realized the alcohol had taken over him. “You have been driving me crazy.”

“Well, tonight, I’m nobody. Just here to enjoy the night,” Y/N slurred, her voice full of alcohol-induced delight. The man chuckled, introducing himself as Jungkook with a voice as smooth as the whiskey she held in her hand.

Jungkook, moving even closer to her, whispered playfully, matching her audacious tone, “Then nobody, you sure know how to attract attention.”

Caught in Jungkook’s entrapping charisma, Y/N was further intoxicatingly entertained by his flirtatious banter. The room was spinning, the colors merging into one, and the sounds became a distant echo. She was, however, rudely brought back to reality by a distinct, familiar voice slicing through the music.

“Y/N, have you lost your mind?!” Kihyun rushed towards them and, with a swiftness that misrepresented his anger, placed himself between her and Jungkook. The fury evident in his voice and expressions was enough to bring the room’s spinning carousel to a jarring halt. As he forced her to stand, he physically distanced her from Jungkook, the lingering intoxication started wearing off, replaced by the chilling realization of her actions. Despite the immeasurable confusion, one fact was clear: the night was far from over, and it wouldn’t be easily forgotten.

“Kihyun?” She gasped suddenly, aware of her roommate’s presence. The more time that had passed, the more she realized that Kihyun had turned his attention to Jungkook.

“Isn’t she a piece of work?” Jungkook muttered to Kihyun, utterly unfazed by the tension. His words, intended to provoke, met their target. Kihyun’s glare intensified, his body stiffening as he towered over Jungkook.

“Y/N isn’t here for your amusement, Jungkook,” Kihyun retorted, the sharp tone of his voice owning the immediate space around them. “So I suggest you fuck off.”

Despite the rising conflict, Jungkook merely smirked, goading him further. “Oh, she seemed pretty amused just now, didn’t she?”

Those words threw Kihyun over the edge. “She’s had enough for the evening, Jungkook. This is your only warning. We both know your track record here so station your charm somewhere else before I forget about my respect for this place.” threatened Kihyun, his voice dangerously low.

Caught between the tension of the two, Y/N was jolted to sobriety, the remnants of her euphoria fizzling out, replaced by the harsh reality and an all too familiar sense of worry. The flare in Kihyun’s eyes made her realize this wasn’t simply about an overprotective friend; this was about something much more tangled, their past colliding with the present all at once.

“Kihyun…” She tried, only to be shot down once she noticed how his glaring eyes snapped back to her. Once she realized that he wasn’t going to calm down, she sucked in her breath, wishing that the alcohol that was mixed in her veins didn’t wear off as quickly as it did.

Ignoring her meek attempt to interject, Kihyun fixed his glare back on Jungkook. “This isn’t a joke, Jungkook. You are crossing a line here,” he hissed, making his irate state clear to everyone in their immediate vicinity. “Keep trying stupid shit, and I promise you, you won’t like what comes after.”

Unfazed, Jungkook laughed, “Seems like somebody needs to chill a little, hey Y/N?”

Before Y/N could even open her mouth to respond, Jungkook, sensing the opportunity to further provoke Kihyun, chimed in again, “You better keep her close, Kihyun. Or she might just end up in my bed next time.” With that, he chuckled, the sound echoing loudly in the otherwise noisy room. “Can’t let a beautiful thing like her out of your sight.”

Kihyun’s glare turned into a furious stare, and without another word, he shoved Jungkook back. The force surprised those nearby, and a hush fell upon their immediate surroundings. “She is not an object to be won,” Kihyun growled menacingly. “So I suggest you watch your tongue.”

Turning back towards Y/N, he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the exit, leaving a smirking Jungkook and stunned spectators behind. The drive back home was tense, with Kihyun’s anger still palpable.

He picked up his phone and dialed their housemates, recounting the night’s incidents in a heated tone. Throughout it all, Y/N sat quietly in the passenger seat, sipping her water and coming to terms with the night’s unsettling revelations.

As Kihyun began retelling the happenings of the night, his knuckles turned white, gripping the steering wheel with such intensity it bellowed of his still simmering rage. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down as he tried to tell the story.

“She was in a bar on the other side of fucking town. Jungkook was there being a fucking pest and snuggling up to her as if he knew… Y/N you should know all the shit he’s done.” his voice trailed off, replaced by a bitterness Y/N could taste even from her spot in the passenger seat.

With every grumbled sentiment and colorful adjective, Kihyun painted Jungkook as the embodiment of disrespect and insolence. His rant was punctuated occasionally by his grip tightening on the wheel, each outburst coinciding with a particularly vehement part of his tirade.

Y/N could only sit silently, absorbing his anger and the weight of his words. Despite the anger directed towards Jungkook, part of her couldn’t help but feel the sinking sensation that she was also to blame. As the car moved steadily along the deserted roads, the silence stretching between them threatened to unveil the underlying issues she was trying to avoid.

Once they arrived at the apartment, its comfort was replaced with an atmosphere of stark disappointment. Waiting for them, Minhyuk and Hyungwon looked up, their faces filled with concern and evident disapproval. She shivered at their piercing gaze, shying away and trying to make herself look small as Kihyun told the two the story of what happened once more.

“Jungkook acted like he’d won a prize, treating Y/N as an item,” Kihyun informed them, his words laced with biting contempt as a tearing anger shook his voice. Turning his frustrated gaze on her, he didn’t hold back. “You played along. You laughed at his indecent jokes, making him believe you enjoyed his attention. It was crude, Y/N, and you seemed to revel in it,” he accused, the hurt evident in his tightened voice. “Tell me, what was that?”

Y/N felt a wave of guilt crash over her as she caught Minhyuk and Hyungwon’s piercing stares - they held the same disappointment that Kihyun had vocalized. She took a deep breath, opening her mouth but quickly shutting it once she realized all she would spill out was utter lies.

“If you want to behave like a whore, getting passed around as if it’s a game, we can ensure that it becomes your reality.” Kihyun declared, his tone filled with an unexpected, unsettling fury.

Against the attack of bitter accusations, something unexpected stirred within Y/N. It was not the guilt or the shame that was meant to follow such a degrading tirade - instead, it was a thrilling heat. His words, cruel and harsh as they were, sparked an intensity within her, a reaction she was struggling to understand, much less control. As Kihyun’s bitterness continued to pour, Y/N felt the bizarre feeling twist, churning into a strange form of excitement. His anger and dominance somehow translated into an unlikely stimulus, opening the door to a place within herself she had never explored before.

Sensing the change in herself, Y/N found an odd sense of power, soaking in the scorching onslaught of accusations, transforming them into fuel for her unexpected defiance. Gathering her courage, she responded to Kihyun’s hostility with a cheeky retort that completely derailed him.

“Is that a threat…or a promise, Kihyun?” she bit back, a hint of rebellion dancing in her eyes.

The bold question hung heavy in the silent room, thick with growing tension. Kihyun’s eyes widened at the unanticipated challenge, soon replaced by a dangerous glint. He tilted his head, studying Y/N’s transformed demeanor. This was a side of her he had never seen, and despite the initial shock, the intrigued in him woke up with a start. An unsettling thrill slowly replaced his initial anger, and a surge of desire began to cloud his judgment.

Y/N’s snide retort might have ignited another wave of anger. Still, this time, it was mixed with a spark of unexpected exhilaration that was impossible to ignore. The air between them crackled with an unspoken challenge, a brewing storm that promised a level of intensity neither had experienced before.

“Okay then, let’s see how long you’ll last playing this game,” Kihyun drawled darkly, his voice promising dangerous games.

As Kihyun commanded Y/N to step towards him with a finger, his intimidating aura took over the room. There was a silence as she walked over, her gaze steady, accepting his challenge. Stopping before him, he wordlessly turned her around so her back was against his chest. He slowly brought his hands up to her body, his touch causing her to instinctively hold her breath. His hands lingered at her waist for a moment before sliding upwards at a dangerously slow pace.

Her eyes involuntarily flicked towards Minhyuk and Hyungwon. Seeing their intense gazes upon her fueled an unusual thrill, a sense of being wanted. Kihyun wrapped one arm around her waist, and the other began to explore, his fingers drawing lazy circles on her exposed skin. The room was filled with an electrifying tension as the three men watched Y/N, her expression reflected in their eyes.

Y/N could feel the heat of Kihyun’s breath against her neck and the hardness of his body against her back. It was a power play, and she decided to call his bluff. Biting her lip, she leaned her head back on Kihyun’s shoulder, meeting his eyes with a challenging gaze. She was playing with fire, but it was a game she was willing to partake in. The anticipation, mixed with the exhilarating thrill of the unknown, had set the room ablaze, rapidly igniting a spark that promised of a rough encounter.

“Look at them,” Kihyun’s command was a whisper against her ear, his hot breath sending shivers down her spine. Obediently, she turned her gaze towards Minhyuk and Hyungwon, who had been quiet spectators until now, their expressions a mixture of anticipation and desire. “They look so hungry, don’t they?”

Kihyun’s arm snaked around to her front, his hand beginning to explore her upper body. His touch was electrifying, sending an adrenaline rush through her veins, her body tingling in response. As his hand found her breasts, Y/N couldn’t help but let out a soft moan, her body instinctively arching into his touch. He smirked at her reaction, his ego stoked by her enjoyment of his touch.

“You love being the center of attention, don’t you?” he asked, a teasing edge to his words. His hand continued to deftly manipulate her breasts, and her breath hitched, an undeniable wave of pleasure washing over her. As Kihyun’s skillful touch continued to stir her pleasure, Y/N’s mind surrendered to the overwhelming sensations, forgetting everything else at that moment.

“Just say the word Y/N, and tonight we will break you.” Kihyun’s words were a dangerous promise, a challenge that sent the room into a heart-stopping silence. The power dynamic had shifted, the game reaching a new, intense level. Shared glances between the men and Y/N exchanged mutually understood messages; Tonight would not be easily forgotten.

Kihyun’s lingering touch and tempting words sent an intoxicating thrill through her, a promise of untamed pleasure hanging heavy in the air. She cast a glance toward Minhyuk and Hyungwon, meeting their greedy gazes. The twin flames of desire flickered in their eyes, igniting a fever within her that she hadn’t known was dormant. Their intense scrutiny was intoxicating, stoking the blaze within her even more.

“Do it,” she agreed, her voice barely a whisper, yet holding a firm resolve. Her trembling response only fueled their anticipation further, every muscle in their bodies tightening in anticipation of what was to follow.

“On your knees, Y/N,” Kihyun commanded, his voice as compelling as the predatory glint in his eyes. A wicked smirk pulled at the corners of Kihyun’s lips. Conveying a silent command, he gestured towards the floor. The smirk on his face was a stark acknowledgment of the havoc his words were wreaking, coupled with the genuine understanding that tonight, they’d dwell in a world where they would embrace their most primal desires. “Tonight, you are ours. You did consent to that, no?”

All three of them watched as she nodded her head almost too eagerly.

As if spellbound, she carefully lowered herself onto her knees. The harsh reality of the cool, hard floor beneath her did nothing to dampen the electric energy surging in the room. Minhyuk and Hyungwon now circled around her like predators, their eyes shining with an insatiable hunger.

Minhyuk was the first to crouch down before her. His fingers traced a gentle path across her face, his tender touch contrasting starkly with the wicked gleam in his eyes. His hand curled into her hair, the sudden firm grip causing her to gasp. The sweet smile he had been wearing morphed into a wicked grin that promised sinful delights. “Who would you like to choke on first, darling?” His voice held an ominous edge, setting her heart pounding.

“Remember, Y/N, this is your punishment,” Hyungwon chimed in from her other side, his voice burnished smooth like whiskey. His reminder echoed ominously around the room, a reminder of her indiscretion. His comment hung in the air, heightening the sense of control and dominance they collectively held over her.

A moment of suspense hung in the air as she glanced from one face to the other, her eyes flickering with evident desire. Considering the inescapable thrill of the situation, Y/N finally decided, her gaze landing on Minhyuk. The choice was apparent in her answer, said in barely more than a whisper, yet it echoed deafeningly in the silent room.

“Minhyuk,” she finally spoke, watching as his wicked grin turned into a victorious smirk.

Minhyuk’s victorious smirk transformed into a look of unmasked desire, his nimble fingers working to rid himself of the confining fabric of his pants. His impressive length was now on full display, the sight making Y/N’s breath hitch in her throat. The intoxicating mix of trepidation and excited anticipation sent shivers down her spine.

Just at the edge of her periphery, she witnessed Kihyun and Hyungwon seating themselves comfortably. There was a predatory glint in their eyes as they prepared to be spectators to the sinful show that was about to unfold, their heated gazes soaking her in anticipation. Their dangerous looks only served to fan the flames of her desire, the weird sensation of being watched expanding the inner tumult of pleasure.

Minhyuk stepped closer, his length brushing against her lips, the sinful sight igniting an unquenchable fire within him. A moment’s hesitation was all it took before she opened to accept him, wrapping her warm mouth around him. The room was charged with electrifying energy, the sensation of her mouth coupled with the tantalizing sight of Y/N on her knees, pushing them all towards a precipice of exciting danger.

The moment Minhyuk made contact, her lips gracefully glided across his length; the wet warmth of her mouth contrasted with the cool air around them. His self-restraint wavered on the edge as she leisurely explored him, testing his patience with her tantalizingly slow pace. Low groans echoed in the room as she assuredly consumed him, each movement of her head sending waves of pleasure coursing through his body. His hands glided through her hair, occasionally tightening their grips, eliciting a suppressed whimper from her, which only served to drive him further toward the brink of self-control.

Hyungwon and Kihyun, absorbed by the spectacle before them, their eyes never strayed from the sight. Their hands moved in rhythm with Y/N’s head, each stroke perfectly mirroring her pace, fueling their own pleasure. The sight of her submission, combined with the sinful sounds echoing around them, only heightened their arousal.

Hyungwon’s low moan, almost a growl, gave voice to their shared pleasure, “Such a filthy sight... You’re swallowing him whole, aren’t you, Y/N?”

Kihyun chimed in with a barely suppressed moan, his hand strokes hastening, “So eager to please. Don’t take it easy on her Minhyuk. Don’t forget what she did tonight. If she was sucking my cock right now, she’d be choking on it. Begging for some mercy.”

As the room was filled with a symphony of soft groans and heavy breaths, Minhyuk, caught up in the heady sensation, smirked down at Y/N, his fingers tangled in her hair as he began to set a relentless pace. The sudden change from her leisurely rhythm made her choke slightly, her gag reflex pushing against him, only serving to ratchet up his pleasure.

“That’s it,” he muttered gruffly as he thrust himself into her mouth, the debauched sounds of his pleasure punctuating his words.

Running his fingers mercilessly through her hair, the grip tightened with every movement, forcing her to take him deeper. His hips jolted forward, each forceful push revealing an aggressive side that contrasted with his initial tenderness. His lust-filled eyes bore into hers, pushing her beyond the limits of her endurance.

Meanwhile, Kihyun and Hyungwon were driven wild by the sight in front of them. Their hands stroked themselves faster, each sound from their lips only serving to encourage Minhyuk further. Overcome with the decadent sight and the symphony of heavy breaths.

Hyungwon couldn’t help letting out a few words meant to provoke the situation further: “Can she take it? Minhyuk, don’t you think you’re being too kind to her?”

Echoing Hyungwon’s sentiments, Kihyun added, biting back a groan, “Absolutely, don’t forget she needs to be taught a lesson. Treat her like the whore she’s been tonight.”

Their words filled the room, the thrill coursing through them as they watched Y/N’s resolve being tested under Minhyuk’s forceful pace.

In response to Hyungwon and Kihyun’s provocations, Minhyuk’s smirk deepened. His predatory gaze met Y/N’s eyes, noting a flicker of uncertainty mixed with arousal, which only spurred him on.

He tightened his grip on her hair, tugging her closer to him, “She can take it, can’t you, darling? Show them.” he muttered, the roughness of his voice contrasting with the one she had initially known. “I bet you fucking like this.”

With a sudden surge of force, Minhyuk drove himself deeper into her mouth, his rhythmic thrusts growing more persistent, setting a punishing pace that left her gasping and choking. Each guttural groan he released seemed to echo in the room, amplifying the tangible tension and anticipation amongst them all.

“She’s doing so well, isn’t she?” Minhyuk taunted, his voice dark and laced with raw arousal, not missing the way both Kihyun and Hyungwon’s hands moved faster in response.

The sight before them was driving them both to the edge, their self-induced pleasure heightened by the sinful scene being played out before them. Unable to resist, Kihyun added fuel to the fire with his provocative words, “See how well she takes you, Minhyuk? Remember, she’s ours tonight.”

Hyungwon, feeding off the growing intensity, growled, “Make her choke, Minhyuk. Show her what happens when she misbehaves.”

Their husky commands were a stark reminder of the intense night that was still to unfold, their words echoing ominously in the room, winding the heat and anticipation to an unbearable pitch. Minhyuk, lost in the sensations coursing through him, only smirked in response, disciplining their shared toy in the way they all craved.

Just as Minhyuk was wavering on the edge, on the verge of surrendering to the pleasure, he abruptly pulled back, leaving Y/N bereft and confused. His eyes danced with mirth at the stunned, disappointed expression on her face and the way her lips parted in protest.

“Not so fast, darling,” he murmured lowly, a chuckle threading through his voice. “Did you think I would reward your indiscretions that easily?”

He guided her up, his hand firm on her arm, leading her to the plush couch. He ran a single finger down her cheek, a single chuckle leaving his lips when she scowled up at him. Pushing her gently onto the comfortable cushions, he took a step back, grinning at her frustrated pout, “Sit down and make yourself comfortable.”

Once she was comfortably arranged on the plush couch, Hyungwon moved into position, his gaze scorching as he appraised her. With a devilish smirk playing on his lips, he settled in between her trembling thighs, his warm breath bathing her in anticipation.

Teasingly slow, he moved his hands up her legs, his thumbs tracing sinful patterns on her sensitive inner thighs. He could feel his pulse quicken as he trailed kisses along the crease of her thigh, deciding to tease her a little longer. His tongue flicked out to taste her, a sigh escaping his lips at the intoxicating flavor.

A soft whimper left her lips as she involuntarily clenched her fingers on the edge of the couch. This simple reaction spurred him on, his tongue delving deeper, exploring the folds of her sweet warmth. Hyungwon taunted her with his skilled tongue, flicking her sensitive bud before lapping at her juices that soaked his mouth. The gasps and moans echoing in the room only amplified the erotic charge of their encounter.

His hands found the soft curve of her hips, thumbing at her flesh as a silent plea for her to open wider, to offer more. Listening to his quiet command, he deepened his efforts with his tongue, sending wave after wave of pleasure through her body, turning her pleas into a mix of husky moans and soft gasps. Hyungwon continued his attentive servicing, driven by the taste of her on his tongue and the sweet symphony of her moans filling the room.

As Hyungwon serviced her eagerly, Y/N met Kihyun’s gaze from across the room. A smirk adorned his face, one hand leisurely pumping his thick length as he watched. He hummed in appreciation, his actions shamelessly open and teasing.

“Look at you,” he moaned in delight, his voice husky with desire. “So fucking beautiful when you’re spread out, being devoured.”

Minhyuk, unable to resist any longer, moved closer to join in on the teasing. His fingers danced up Y/N’s trembling thigh, adding more sensation to the blazing pleasure that Hyungwon was evoking.

“I bet she tastes so good, Hyungwon,” he murmured, his eyes locked onto the erotic sight, a sinful grin tugging at his lips. Hyungwon gave no verbal reply, only flicking his gaze briefly to meet Minhyuk’s, the grin on his lips echoing Minhyuk’s words. He continued his relentless torment, his tongue expertly teasing and tasting. “I’m jealous.”

This bold display, coupled with the sound of Kihyun’s self-pleasure and Minhyuk’s teasing touch, sent Y/N spiraling towards a precipice of pleasure. Her noises turned to fervent pleas as various hands, mouths, and words drove her toward an explosive climax.

When Y/N was close to reaching her peak, Hyungwon suddenly pulled away. A surprised moan slipped from Y/N’s lips, her eyes fluttering open to meet his gaze. His smirk grew wider at her confused and needy expression.

“Oh, darling,” Minhyuk crooned, his voice thick with amusement. “Did you really think we’d let you get off that easily? After what you did to us tonight?”

Hyungwon chuckled, resisting the urge to dive back in and finish her off. Instead, his fingers lightly traced over her now overly sensitive folds. “It’s not that we don’t enjoy your reactions,” he murmured, his voice dipping to a seductive growl. “We just think... you’ve been a little naughty tonight.”

Her soft gasp of protest when he barely touched her clit with his thumb told him she was teetering on the edge. “And naughty girls,” he added, smirking at her frustrated twitch, “don’t always get what they want.”

Hyungwon pulled back from the intoxicating girl beneath him, his lips gleaming wickedly. With a knowing smirk, he moved from his previous position to glance back at Kihyun and Minhyuk, who were intently observing the spectacle. Their heated gazes met approvingly, their silent exchange speaking volumes.

Kihyun finally broke the deafening silence, his command echoing against the room’s walls, “Hyungwon lay down.”

Hyungwon, taking Minhyuk’s place, swiftly lay down on the plush rug, his gaze never leaving Y/N as he made himself comfortable. He watched in fascination as Minhyuk moved behind her, pressing his body flush against her, his hands running illicit trails up her trembling thighs. He tilted his head, whispering something in her ear that made her blush scarlet.

From his standing position, Kihyun merely watched the scene unfold, a shameless, unhurried hand pumping himself. He chuckled lowly, his gaze catching Y/N’s. He moved to stand in front of her, eyes glinting with anticipation, his body ready to be served by her beckoning lips. The intensity of the situation only seemed to amplify as they all knew the tantalizing night was far from over.

“Can’t forget about me now, can we?” he purred, directing his length into her welcoming mouth.

The large room amplified their sounds; the orchestrated symphony of their shared pleasure no longer whispered secrets but public declarations. The unmistakable sound of wet skin slapping against skin, coupled with their fervent gasps and moans, created a heady, ensnaring atmosphere of pleasure — a testament to their relentless pursuit of passion and desire.

“All filled up now, are we darling?” Minhyuk cooed into her ear, his words laced with sin as he relentlessly pushed into her ass. His hips snapped forward, driving into her with a rhythm that only heightened the pleasure coursing through them all.

Hyungwon’s eyes rolled back in pleasure as a guttural moan left his lips, “So tight...” he managed to rasp out, echoing Minhyuk’s sentiments but lost in his own world of pleasure. His hands gripped her hips tightly, matching Minhyuk’s thrusts, their timing as exquisite as their pleasure. “Fuck.”

Encased between these men, Y/N was lost, her cries muffled by Kihyun’s length, her own pleasure reaching soaring heights as her body was filled in ways no one else could. The distinct sensations within her — Hyungwon’s unwavering length, Minhyuk’s relentless tempo, and Kihyun’s sinful claim — had her perched on the edge, her climax coming closer with every pulse and thrust.

Their greedy moans echoed throughout the room, the rawness of their passion, the intensity of their desire, and the intimacy of their shared pleasure amplified tenfold as together they headed towards a dizzying peak, lost in a world of sinful delight.

As the sinful scene unfolded, the distinct sound of the front door clicking open echoed through the lavish apartment. Hyungwon, Minhyuk, and Kihyun barely missed a beat at their interruption. Managing to keep their involvement steady with Y/N, their intense gazes flickered towards the entrance as the new arrivals took in the impassioned tableau laid out before them.

Changkyun, Hoseok, Hyunwoo, and Jooheon stood at the threshold, eyes wide and mouths hanging agape at the sight that greeted them. The normality of their evening seemed trivial compared to the carnal spectacle unfolding in their shared living room.

“God, can’t you three keep it in your pants for one night?” Jooheon finally exclaimed, a teasing grin spreading across his face, misrepresenting his exasperated tone. Changkyun gave a low whistle, his eyes roaming Y/N’s body with gleaming admiration. At the same time, Hoseok and Hyunwoo simply shrugged as they opted for silent observation.

The undisguised staring from their additional audience had the color creeping onto Y/N’s cheeks. Still, it didn’t slow down the rhythm of the three men currently using her to satisfy their pleasure.

Kihyun, however, couldn’t let the comment pass unchallenged. He lifted his head from where he was currently engrossed with Y/N, glaring at their bandmates.

“Shut up, Jooheon, or get out,” he warned, sharp and impassive, his pleasure temporarily pushed aside by impulsive irritation. “That goes for you three. If you don’t care to watch, fuck off. I mean it.”

“No, no,” Changkyun quickly interjected, raising his hands in surrender as he smirked. “Please, continue. It’s quite the show.”

The three new arrivals took the liberty to make themselves comfortable around the room, finding seats with the perfect vantage point to enjoy the continued proceedings. Their presence added another dynamic to the sinfully charged room, their eyes feasting on Y/N, who was the center of pleasure and desire.

Having made their point, the hard trio immediately resumed their activities with renewed gusto: Hyungwon maintaining his steady rhythm, his hips snapping upwards to meet Y/N’s downward motion, Minhyuk plunging into her from behind, matching his pace hypnotically, and Kihyun sliding back into her mouth, his thrusts becoming more insistent.

The room, yet filled with moans of pleasure and the undeniable sound of skin meeting skin, now also held the hushed whispers of the newcomers as they watched what unfolded before them. The sight of Y/N being endlessly pleasured by their bandmates had each of them growing hard and anxious, jeans suddenly too tight. Each took their arousal into their own hands, steadying their breaths as they pumped their lengths in sync with the rhythm echoing in the room.

“Couldn’t have imagined such a sight,” Jooheon murmured lowly, his hand working his length as his gaze was fixed on the writhing figure of Y/N, sandwiched between the three men. “Fuck, you three are so lucky. We’ve all been wanting to take a turn at you, Y/N, but it seems like you’re already in good hands.”

“I agree with that.” Changkyun hummed in response, similar thoughts running rampant in his mind. His eyes danced across the spectacle, each sight more sinful, more erotic than the last. His hand slid over his arousal, a low groan slipping past his lips as he watched the trio and Y/N lose themselves to pleasure.

Both Hoseok and Hyunwoo seemed to be unaffected by their commentary, choosing to focus solely on the live show before them. Hyunwoo’s hand moved over himself, a quiet grunt echoing in his throat, his mind imagining it was his hands, his mouth, causing the tantalizing moans and cries to slip past Y/N’s lips. Beside him, Hoseok groaned at the sight, his lip caught between his teeth.

Amid the orchestra of moans and hip thrusts, the newcomers’ hushed whispers and the rhythmic slick sounds of their self-pleasure added another layer of carnality, making the atmosphere thick with unchecked desire. As the room echoed with the sounds of pleasure and need, the tension heightened, leaving everyone on the brink, waiting for the climax of this sinfully delightful scenario.

“God, Y/N,” Hoseok managed, his voice laced with raw desire as he watched her sandwiched between the three men, “you’ve never looked so gorgeous. Can’t wait to paint that gorgeous face.”

Hyunwoo merely hummed in agreement, his focused gaze on Y/N, his hand moving faster over his hard length, shifting in his seat as he attempted to deal with the pooling desire in his lower abdomen. His restraint barely hanging by a thread, amplified by the sight of Y/N writhing in irrevocable pleasure under their joint gaze.

Their added voices, heated gazes, and unrestrained yearning doubled the layer of carnality, the atmosphere thick with unchecked desire. From the rhythmic thrusting against Y/N to the shared collective pleasure among them, the heightened tension appeared to be reaching its apex, everyone teetering on the brink, waiting for the climax of this sinfully delightful scenario.

Succumbing to the intense buildup, Hyungwon, Minhyuk, and Kihyun simultaneously reached their peak. Each man removed himself just enough to release inside her, their combined climax filling Y/N to the brink.

Kihyun, in his last throes of pleasure, came in her mouth with a long groan. He held her head steady, encouraging her to take and swallow every drop of him.

Stepping forth, they each aimed toward Y/N’s face. Their releases splattered across her lips, cheeks, and exposed neck, completing the salacious imagery of their joint desire. Shuddering breaths echoed throughout the room amongst muttered praises and shared satisfied grins. The scene before them served as the climactic finale to their unanimously enjoyed, sinfully tantalizing event.

“Fuck.” Hyungwon’s voice came out as a gravelly groan, the primal sound resonating through the room. Both his and Minhyuks eyes bore into the lewd spectacle before them, Y/N’s trembling body, their cum leaking from her and streaking her thighs. His lips pulled into a self-satisfied grin, the white droplets a stark contrast to her flushed skin painted an explicit portrait of their shared pleasure.

“She took it like a champ,” Changkyun voiced from beside him, arching a brow, his own climax held in check as he watched the scene with a determined gaze.

Hoseok’s chuckling response was muffled as his attention was solely focused on marking her skin with his climax. The sight of her drenched and filled with their desire fueled him towards his own explosive finale. And with a grunt of completion, he emptied himself over her form, the sight of his release pooling in the hollow of her collarbone a gratifying sight.

They savored the aftermath, the residual tremors of their climaxes still echoing in the room. This would be a memory to revisit, a testament to their shared desire, a sinfully delightful scenario etched indelibly into their minds.

“We need to do that again. Next time, we should all fuck her.” Jooheon’s words hung heavy in the room, his gaze avidly fixed on the shiny trails of his climax sluicing down her face. His quirked lips and the gleam in his eyes revealed the extent of his satiation and unspoken promise of future escapades.

“Absolutely,” Changkyun voiced his agreement from the side, eyes hooded and voice laced with seductive gravel that hinted at a hunger yet to be fully satiated. His hands already wandering with suggestive intent, confirming his eagerness to plan the next round with Y/N. “Next time should be now, though. I’m just suggesting. It’s not fair they have all the fun...”

That was the cue they all needed, their corresponding murmurs of agreement echoing in the room, punctuated by shared grins and lingering glances cast toward Y/N. Promises and illicit whispers about future pleasurable promises hung in the air, awaiting a complete promise.

Despite the exposed desire on display, they were all bound by the shared sensation and undeniable chemistry, fueled further by their shared need. As they pored over the shared memories of this lustful wonder, the thrilling prospects of the next event began to mark another chapter of their intoxicating shared desire.

“Can’t I rest?” Y/N’s words whispered through ragged breaths, struck a chord of amusement amongst them. At her question, a scatter of chuckles colored the heavy silence, their carnal satisfaction mirrored in the full smiles curving their lips.

“Rest is for the weak,” Hyunwoo distinctly teased, his hearty laughter bouncing off the room’s walls in sharp contrast to the lewd canvas they’d just painted.

“You forget, Y/N — we’re just getting started,” Minhyuk added with a suggestive wink in her direction, driving the point home. A mischievous grin stretched on his face, and his words steered towards the pleasure-filled adventures they had yet to step foot on. “You’re in for a long night. They don’t even know the stunt you pulled yet.”

162 notes · View notes

asacredthebread · 20 days

Text

cover by @no-other-mashter

A Cabin In The Woods - Ch.1

•☽────✧˖°˖☆˖°˖✧────☾•

Sam x F!Reader

𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚛𝚒𝚏𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 - 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚒𝚌𝚎?

Warnings/Themes: Enemies to Lovers, Douche Sam, Ex Danny, Soft Twins.

wc; 8425

a/n: finally a series!! this little idea was fleshed out with the help of @dannys-dream . please enjoy!

taglist : @musicislove3389 @peaceloveunitygvf @jazzyfigz @sarahbethgvf @fleetingjake

You glance around the room, taking in the scattered reminders of your lives intertwined. A few empty soda cans on the coffee table, remnants of your last gaming session. The stack of board games, some still in their boxes, others half-assembled, waiting for another night of laughter and playful competition. The anticipation thickens in the air, and you can almost hear the sounds of their arrival—a chorus of friendly banter, footsteps heavy with eagerness, the slam of the door as they burst in, bringing with them the energy of a weekend where everything seems possible.

With a sudden burst of energy, you jump up and move around the living room, tidying up just a bit. You gather the cans and throw them away, arrange the games into a neat, crooked pile, and adjust the throw pillows on the couch for an inviting look. As you work, you think about each of your friends and the unique role they play in your little group. Josh, the planner, always with a map in hand and ideas for adventures. Jake, the jokester, whose humor lights up even the cloudiest day. Danny, the quiet but observant one, who often surprises you with his insights. And Sam, the wanderer, whose spontaneous spirit often leads you to places you'd never thought to explore.

After a few minutes, you pause to listen again, straining for any sound of them arriving, but all you hear is the mesmerizing chirping of birds outside. You cross back to the window, pulling back the drapes to peer out at the driveway. The sunlight dances on the pavement, an empty space waiting, just like your heart wants to be filled again with the laughter and camaraderie that only this group can bring.

You think back to the plans you had made, each one a thread weaving the fabric of this weekend together. Hiking in the woods, fishing by the lake, maybe even telling ghost stories around the fireplace. Memories of weekends spent laughing until your sides hurt and sharing secrets that only deepened your bond float to the surface. You can almost picture how it will be: the five of you piled into the cabin, the air filled with chatter and the smell of snacks being prepared, the excitement of adventures awaiting just outside the door.

Time drags as you check your phone again, scrolling through messages but finding none. You switch to your playlists, letting the melodies fill the room, hoping they’ll calm your impatient heart. The music swells, wrapping you in its embrace as you move to the kitchen, the aroma of freshly baked cookies still lingering from earlier. You grab a couple, hoping the smell will entice your friends upon their arrival. You take a bite, savoring the rich sweetness that temporarily distracts you from the ticking clock.

Minutes crawl on, and your imagination takes flight, picturing each friend’s face, their expressions as they step through the door. You imagine Josh already trying to set up the itinerary, Jake’s inevitable quips punctuating the details, Danny’s dry humor, and Sam’s enthusiastic agreement peppering their discussions. The thought brings a smile to your lips, and you allow yourself to get lost in it.

You lean against the counter, glancing again at the clock. The hands seem stubbornly fixed, but finally, you hear it—the soft rumble of a car engine breaking through the afternoon stillness. Your heart skips a beat, and you rush to the door, peering out through the glass pane. It’s not just one car, but two, the familiar shapes of their vehicles parked haphazardly on the gravel.

Adrenaline courses through you, and you throw open the door, taking a moment to soak up the sight. Josh is the first out, already waving excitedly at you, his backpack slung over one shoulder. Sam tumbles out next, nearly tripping over his own feet, laughter spilling from his lips. Jake hops out of the backseat, a mock flourish accompanying his arrival. Then there’s Danny, who emerges more slowly, his presence calm amidst the whirlwind.

You step out into the open air, and as they draw nearer, the energy in your chest ignites into a full flame. Josh is already unfolding a paper with scribbled plans, Jake is regaling you with a story from the ride, and Sam is juggling a bag of snacks like a circus performer. You laugh, your voice mixing with theirs, as the worry of waiting melts away.

“About time you got here!” you tease, gesturing dramatically to your watch as they gather around you.

“Sorry! There was a weird traffic jam. Blame the ducks,” Jake shoots back, somehow managing to sound both sarcastic and sincere all at once.

The laughter that erupts is warm and infectious, wrapping around you like a cozy blanket. You know that this is just the beginning; the weekend stretches out ahead of you, full of messiness and adventure, laughter and shared moments, just waiting for you to dive into it together. As the initial chaos of greetings dies down, there’s a gentle tug in your heart as you catch sight of Sam, now standing a little farther back, his hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie. His expression is unreadable, a mix of wariness and stubbornness that you’ve seen before. It wouldn’t be your first time navigating this peculiar distance that seems to have blossomed between you two since the breakup.

You take a deep breath, trying to shake off the feeling of discomfort coiling in your stomach. You remember when Sam was just a kid, tagging along with Danny, wide-eyed and full of curiosity. He idolized his older brother and you, too. But as the years rolled on, things shifted—the innocence of childhood faded, and the complexities of adulthood crept in. Once an eager participant in your little adventures, Sam now stood at the fringes, a silent observer in a space that used to feel so inclusive.

You flash him a smile, hoping to breach the silent wall that’s grown taller between you over the years. “Hey, Sam! You ready for this weekend?” you ask, trying to keep your tone light and inviting.

He responds with a tight, almost imperceptible nod, his gaze shifting to the grass at his feet. “Yeah,” he mutters, his voice barely audible over the excitement buzzing from the others. The wave of disappointment crashes over you like a cold breeze, leaving you shivering even in the warmth of the sun.

“Awesome! We’ve got hiking and fishing on the agenda. You’ll love it,” you say, keeping your voice steady, even though every word feels like a fragile bridge being built between you and him. You want him to feel included, to remember the fun the five of you shared—but something always seems to break that connection.

He shrugs but doesn't respond, and you can't help but notice how much his demeanor has changed. This is not the same Sam who once giddily climbed trees with you in the backyard or raced across the playground, his laughter mingling with yours. No, this version of Sam stands guarded, like he’s built a fortress around his emotions, and you’re left on the outside, struggling to find an entry point.

Josh, oblivious to your unspoken struggle, throws an arm around you and Sam, pulling you both into the group. “I brought the marshmallows! We need to find the perfect spot for making s’mores, right?” he announces, attempting to lift the mood.

You can feel Sam stiffen slightly against you as Josh continues to speak. You wonder if he even realizes how much the past has influenced his views on you, or if he’s even bothered to tell Danny how he feels. You want to reach out, to talk to him alone somewhere quiet, but the fear of making things worse holds you back. Hadn’t you tried before? You think back to the moments after the breakup, sensing that Sam’s icy glare had been directed at you more often than not.

Danny notices the tension, shooting a glance back at you. He’s always been the peacemaker among your friends, but even he hasn't managed to bridge the gap between you and Sam. He steps closer, trying to draw you back into the group dynamic. “Alright! Let’s load up the cars. I’ll grab the bags,” he says cheerfully.

You watch as Danny hustles away, a familiar sense of comfort and guilt flooding through you at his actions. He’s still your friend, even after everything, making this situation increasingly complicated. You had shared a deep connection, a bond that was special, but now that connection felt fragile, with threads fraying as each day went by. The decision to remain friends with him had been simple at the time, rooted in mutual respect and affection for one another, but you hadn’t fully anticipated how it would affect your relationship with Sam.

“Why does he still talk to you?” Sam’s voice cuts through your thoughts abruptly, and you turn to find him glaring at you, confusion etched across his features.

You blink, taken aback by his straightforwardness. It was a question not merely about your friendship with Danny, but something deeper, one that suggested unresolved feelings.

“What do you mean?” you reply, trying to keep your voice from wavering.

“Just… why? After everything? You broke up. It’s not fair to Danny, you know.” His eyes narrow, and there’s no mistaking the defensiveness that wrapped around him as he stood his ground.

Your heart sinks at his words. You had expected some tension, but you hadn’t anticipated this raw confrontation. “Sam, it’s not like that,” you respond gently, striving for sincerity rather than defensiveness, but it comes out muddled. “Danny and I are friends; that doesn’t change the past, but it doesn’t mean we can’t be there for each other. What happened between us was… well, it was years ago.”

But Sam isn’t ready to ease off. “Then why’s he still so close? Doesn’t it bother him? You just act like nothing happened.”

You feel a wave of frustration and hurt rise within you. “It’s not like we pretend it didn’t happen,” you counter, your voice barely above a whisper. “We’ve moved on. It was a mutual decision. But you haven’t even tried to understand.”

“Understand?” His voice cracks like glass, sharp and brittle. “You think it’s that easy? You hurt him—and you hurt me. Don’t act like you didn’t.”

And there it is, the voice of a protector, a younger brother shielding his older sibling from the pain you had inadvertently caused. Regret gnaws at your heart; you hadn’t anticipated how deep the roots of the past would grow, or how they would fester.

The moment stretches, a fragile silence hanging between you. You want to explain how even though the breakup had been tough, it was healthier for both of you to let go. You want to tell him that your friendship with Danny no longer carries the weight that it once did. But as you look into Sam’s frustrated eyes, filled with the hurt and resentment that he carries, you realize that words alone may not be enough.

You take a step toward him, lowering your voice, “I’m still the same person, Sam. I care about you. I always have. And I never wanted this. If I could take everything back, I would.”

There’s a flicker of vulnerability in Sam’s expression, but it’s quickly masked by a wall of defiance. He shakes his head, the battle between his emotions evident. “But you can’t. You can't erase the past. You’re just… you’re just not the person I thought you were.”

The weight of his words hangs in the air like an oppressive fog. Deep down, you know this isn’t just about you; this is Sam grappling with his loyalty, with the fragments of his innocence being directly affected by choices made long ago, neither of you fully prepared for the landscape of change that followed.

A voice in your head whispers that perhaps this moment isn’t the time to press further. What he needs might be different than what you want. So, instead of pushing, you simply take a deep breath and offer him a small, tentative smile. “I hope one day, you’ll see that,” you say quietly. It’s a promise to yourself, a commitment that you won’t give up on him, no matter how tough he chooses to be.

Josh calls out for everyone to grab their things, pulling you back into the present. The others have wandered off to the cars. You feel the pulsing uncertainty hanging over your head, yet a flicker of hope ignites amid the tension. While things may not settle overnight, perhaps this weekend spent together in the cabin can lay the groundwork, the first tentative steps toward rebuilding what feels broken.

As you approach the vehicles, your heart still heavy with the confrontation but your resolve steady, you glance back at Sam. He stands a little apart, watching as the others prepare for the adventure ahead. You can only hope that somewhere in him, beneath the hurt and the resentment, lies the same Sam who once laughed with you, the one who could still find joy in the shared moments to come. In the complicated web of friendships and past relationships, all you can do is be patient. And for now, that has to be enough. As you gather your things, moving methodically through the motions without allowing yourself to get attached to the feelings brewing within you, you can feel the invisible barrier remaining firmly in place between you and Sam. Over the months—no, the years—you’ve grown increasingly indifferent to his indifference. You’ve learned to encapsulate your disappointment in a box labeled “Sam,” pushing it aside among the remnants of a past that no longer holds the warmth it once did. It’s a survival tactic more than anything, one that helps you navigate the reality of being with the group without constantly feeling the sting of his coldness.

You toss your backpack into the back of the car, and from the corner of your eye, you catch a glimpse of Sam’s silhouette. He is leaning against the trunk of his own car, arms crossed defensively as he furtively shoots glances your way, as if keeping track of your every movement. The feeling of animosity between you both has morphed into a standoff—one that has grown all too familiar. Civil, yes, but you’d be lying if you didn’t think of him as an enemy of sorts.

“Hey! You ready?” Josh’s voice pulls you back into the moment, a jovial spirit breaking through the tension that lingers over you like a storm cloud.

“Yeah, let me just grab a couple more things,” you reply, pushing away the distractions of the cold exchange with Sam. You put on your friendliest face, hoping it radiates enough warmth to block the chilly vibes from the younger brother.

As you turn back to your car, you can feel Sam’s eyes boring into your back. The sharpness of his gaze is enough to make you almost cringe. In a moment of pure habit, you catch his glance across the distance between you, but instead of engaging, you look away, resignation washing over you. This is your new normal—walking around each other with an almost practiced ease, avoiding topics that felt like landmines, running the motions without the heart.

You join Josh, who is animatedly motioning toward the pile of bags ready to be loaded into the car. He lifts your duffel bag, tossing it into the backseat. “You know what? I think this weekend is going to be pretty epic,” he says with an enthusiastic grin, and there’s a spark in his eyes that suggests he might be cooking up something devious underneath the cheerful exterior.

“Yeah, it’s gonna be fun,” you respond, keeping your tone light, but the spark of excitement doesn’t quite match what you feel inside. You know you’re only here for the rest of them—not for Sam, but for the camaraderie that the others bring. The thought serves as a bitter reminder that this weekend isn't going to be the joyful adventure you once experienced; it’s veiled in complications now.

“You don’t sound too thrilled,” Josh observes, tilting his head slightly as he watches you. His playful smirk hints that he knows you better than you’d like to admit.

“I am! I just— I don’t know. It’s hard with all the… dynamics,” you admit, glancing back at Sam, who is now leaning against the car, scrolling through his phone, feigning disinterest in everything around him.

Josh catches your gaze and follows it. “Ah, Sam,” he says knowingly, his smirk widening. “You know how to handle him, right? Just give him some space. He’s a brat, but he’ll come around… eventually. Maybe.” There’s a lightheartedness in his tone, but you can hear the flicker of truth beneath it as well.

You sigh softly, refraining from saying a whole lot. It’s tiring, dwelling on Sam and the gulf that has opened between you two. “I’m just here for the rest of you,” you finally say, attempting to shake off the weighty atmosphere hanging between you all.

“Oh come on, don’t sell yourself short,” Josh nudges playfully. “You’ll have a good time. Trust me; I’ve got plans. Just wait.” His eyes glimmer with mischief, promising something that you can't quite articulate but makes you feel a sense of intrigue mixed with a sprinkle of apprehension.

“Plans?” you raise an eyebrow, instantly curious. “What kind of plans?”

Josh just smirks and shakes his head. “You’ll see. Just… keep that excitement brewing. You’re going to need it.” He glances over your shoulder at Sam, who’s obliviously shifting his weight between his feet, looking anywhere but at you. “And if you want to help Sam thaw out, I’d say surprise him this weekend.”

You can’t help but snort. “Yeah, because that’s worked so well in the past,” you reply, rolling your eyes playfully. There’s a moment where you and Josh share a genuine laugh, an infectious moment that lifts your spirits—if only for a heartbeat.

But as the laughter fades, you find yourself swallowing the edges of optimism that Josh had carefully woven among your words. Everything feels like it’s wrapped in prickly layers, and you can’t quite shake off the lingering frost that Sam has established around himself. You glance back at the car, the rest of your friends mingling as they load their bags, and you know that whatever happens this weekend, the shadows will continue to linger.

But for now, you focus on the group—the familiar sounds of friends, the camaraderie that still exists, and the small moments where joy can weave through the complexities. If nothing else, you can hold onto that, at least for a little while longer.

The excitement builds as the group begins to finalize the car arrangements, laughter and chatter filling the air like the sweetest of harmonies. Meanwhile, you stand by your car, your bags safely stowed in the trunk, watching as Danny, Jake, and Josh cram themselves into one vehicle. Jake is behind the wheel, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing toned forearms as he adjusts his sunglasses.

“Hey, we’re all set over here!” Danny calls out, giving you a wave with a grin that feels impossibly bright against the growing shadows of your own swirling emotions.

“Great! How's it looking?” you ask, attempting to maintain the upbeat spirit that the others seem to exude.

“It’s a tight fit,” Jake chuckles, shifting a few duffel bags to open up his side. “But I think we can manage. It’s like a fun little challenge. Just squeeze in!”

Your heart sinks a little. There’s no room for you to join the fun trio. There’s the undeniable reality that someone has to ride with Sam, and as fate would have it, that someone is you. The mental calculation runs through your head as Josh leans over. “So, it looks like you’re stuck with our favorite ice-cold brother,” he teases, a smile dancing on his lips.

You force a smile back, but the corners of your mouth barely lift. “Yeah, sounds like a blast,” you say, your voice dripping with false enthusiasm. But you know better; you’ve moved past hoping for a magical transformation between you and Sam. Instead, you brace for the awkward silence that awaits you.

“Just try not to kill each other,” Danny chimes in with a laugh, clapping Jake on the shoulder as he climbs into the backseat. The two of them crowd in with Josh, leaving you standing at the edge of the parking lot, bags in tow, feeling more like a reluctant passenger on a sinking ship.

“Have fun!” Josh throws over his shoulder, a teasing tone layered beneath genuine friendship. You merely nod and turn back toward your own car, steeling yourself for the ride.

As you approach Sam, who has finally peeled himself away from the trunk, your heart sinks a little deeper. He stands there, arms crossed, head tilted slightly to the side, like a statue carved from ice. You wonder if he’s ever going to ease up, but you have your doubts.

“Ready?” you ask, trying to inject a hint of excitement into your voice, but it falls flat, met by a lackluster nod from him. Definitely not the response you were hoping for.

He opens the passenger door for you, the gesture surprisingly formal, but no warmth underlies it. You slide in, feeling the chill envelop you like a thick winter coat. The atmosphere in the car is immediate—stark, heavy with uncomfortable silence. It hangs between you like a thick fog, dense and unyielding.

Sam quietly takes his place in the driver’s seat, starting the engine and fumbling with the radio. He seems determined to ignore your presence, staring straight ahead as if making an escape plan from the vulnerability of sharing a confined space. You wish there was a way to breach the awkwardness, to find a thread that could pull you back together, but as the tires crunch against the gravel, any hope for easy conversation dissipates.

Seeking some semblance of normalcy, you reach for the radio dial. “Let’s put some music on,” you suggest, flipping through the static-filled channels, your fingers finding the familiar rhythm of pop tunes and classic rock. Anything to drown out the suffocating quiet.

You land on a station playing an upbeat track—something that hints at carefree moments and happy adventures. As the music swells in the car, you glance over at Sam, who seems indifferent, his eyes fixed ahead on the road. The contrast between the vibrant sound and his unyielding silence sticks out like a sore thumb.

As the first chorus filters through the air, you attempt to find solace in the lyrics, tapping your fingers on your knee. The momentary distraction feels almost comforting, wrapping you in a bubble of familiarity, but the more you look over, the more the disconnection between you gnaws at your insides.

With each passing song, you steal glances at Sam, noticing the set of his jaw, the way he focuses entirely on the road, as if the scenery outside holds his full attention. It’s as though he’s cast you out completely, maintaining an air of impressive detachment. You feel the weight of his emotions pressing down upon you, and the lack of dialogue hangs heavily in the air, making you painfully aware of how this car ride is just another continuation of the unspoken animosity.

“Can we at least talk?” you break the silence after what feels like an eternity, your voice coming out more tentative than you intended.

A flicker of surprise crosses Sam’s features, but it’s quickly replaced by that familiar coldness. “What’s there to talk about?” he replies, his tone clipped and almost disdainful.

You don’t have an answer for that. Instead, you return your gaze to the road ahead, willing yourself to fade into the background. As the landscape lazily unfolds outside, you tap your fingers absently to the rhythm of the songs, clutching tightly to the momentary escape they offer while the awkwardness seeps into any crevice it can find.

The music continues to play, but the sound no longer feels potent enough to bridge the gap. And so, you sit in silence with Sam, together yet entirely alone, gripped by the cold tension that still looms overhead as the car speeds into a weekend that feels far from the promise of the adventure it should hold.

The thrum of the tires against the gravel grows faint as Sam pulls the car to a stop. The abrupt halt rouses you from your thoughts, your body tense and coiled from the ride. You can sense the anticipation in the air as you sit in silence for a moment longer, taking in the surroundings. The cabin abruptly fills with the chirping of birds and the gentle rustle of leaves—a serene welcome that feels almost surreal after the oppressive silence of the drive.

With a burst of adrenaline, you fling open your door before Sam has even turned off the engine. The cool breeze greets you like an old friend as you hop out, not waiting for any farewell or parting glance. Your feet hit the ground with a thud, and you cherish the feeling of freedom as you stretch your legs and breathe in the fresh, earthy scent of the outdoors.

“Finally!” you exhale, shaking off the lingering weight of the car ride as you make your way towards the others, who are unloading their bags with animated chatter. You spot Danny first, his voice carrying over the excited hum of everyone’s arrival.

“Hey! You made it!” he calls, a warm smile brightening his face as he waves you over.

“Yep! I survived,” you reply, injecting a playful cheer into your words as you approach him. He raises an eyebrow playfully, sensing there’s more to your story than your upbeat tone conveys.

“How was the ride with Sam?” Danny inquires, leaning in closer, curiosity dancing in his eyes. You can’t help but let out a short, bitter laugh.

“It was… cold,” you say, searching for the right words. “I mean, really, really cold. Like, I thought I was going to need a parka.”

Danny’s expression shifts to one of mild concern mixed with amusement. He chuckles softly, his eyes glancing towards Sam, who is now focused on unloading bags from the car with an almost robotic efficiency. “Sounds about right. He can be a snowstorm in human form,” he jokes, but there’s an underlying seriousness in his voice.

You nod, the heaviness of the ride still looming over you like a lingering cloud. “I just don’t get why he has to be like that,” you admit, your voice dropping slightly as you try to keep the conversation light.

“It’s Sam,” Danny shrugs, rolling his eyes. “He’s always been like that. Don’t take it personally. He’ll warm up—eventually.” The reassurance sounds hollow, but you appreciate the effort.

Before you can respond, Josh jogs over, cutting into the moment with a laugh as he slings an arm around your shoulders. “What’s the scoop? Did you two drive the entire way without speaking?”

“Pretty much,” you reply, crossing your arms defensively as if that might shield you from the teasing laughter that’s sure to follow. “It was like a contest to see who could be the most silent.”

Josh pretends to gasp dramatically. “An entire hour spent without banter? The horror! Next time, I’ll bring a competition trophy for you both,” he says, grinning like a Cheshire cat. Despite the playful taunts, you feel a little warmth blossom inside you, a reminder that you’re among friends who know the perfect way to lift your spirits even when the situation feels bleak.

As the rest of the group gathers around, you can sense a change in energy, the camaraderie enveloping you like a well-worn blanket. You watch as Jake unloads the last of the bags, and you can see the excitement bubbling up among everyone, a collective anticipation for the weekend ahead.

Maybe, just maybe, you can set aside the awkwardness with Sam and focus on the fun awaiting you all. But the idea of staying civil with him still nibbles at the edges of your mind, lingering beneath the surface.

“Let’s get settled before we explore,” Josh suggests, gesturing toward the cozy cabin that looms invitingly on the hillside. “I could use a good stretch and some snacks to keep my energy up. Who's with me?”

You follow his lead, feeling the warmth of the group draw you in, leaving Sam behind in the background. The unspoken tension ebbed slightly as you turn away, making a conscious effort to step toward laughter and a sense of belonging.

But even amidst the joyful chaos, you can’t help but glance back toward the car, where Sam is still standing, finishing his task in solitude. His presence is a whispering shadow in the back of your mind, a reminder of the icy wall that still divides you. For now, you shake off the unease, hoping that somehow, the thrill of the weekend can melt even the iciest of barriers.

As the group disperses to settle into the two cabins, excitement crackles in the air, mixing with the sweet scent of pine and earthy undertones of the surrounding woods. You watch as Jake, Josh, and Danny haul their gear inside the same cabin, eager to dive into their music and brainstorm creative ideas for the next tour. Their laughter rings out, a cheerful melody that resonates against the backdrop of chirping birds and rustling leaves.

Meanwhile, Sam stands a few feet away, allowing the warmth of camaraderie to wash over him without fully engaging. His body language is closed off, as if he’s placed an invisible barrier between himself and the rest of the group. You steal glances in his direction, still ruminating over the constricting atmosphere from the car ride. But with all the excitement building around you, a part of you feels ready to push that unease aside.

“Alright, let’s get this party started!” Jake exclaims, clapping his hands together as he leads the way into their cabin. It feels right for them to be together, indulging in what they love best. But then your attention shifts back to Sam as he ambles toward the opposite cabin, the decision clearly marked on his face—he wants out. Out of everything.

“Hey, Sam, you want to join us?” Josh asks, half-joking but clearly hopeful for his inclusion.

Sam shakes his head firmly without turning. “I need a break from all this,” he replies tersely, a dismissal that nearly stings in the air. You can see his shoulders tense, a clear indication he’s not about to open up—about anything. It’s a bark of resistance, a wall of icy resolve that sends a reminder of the distance between you.

As you stand there, the tension in the air palpable, you feel a strange mix of anticipation and dread at the thought of cabin assignments. Jake, Josh, and Danny bustle into their cabin, laughter spilling out like sunlight, while Sam, ever the enigma, remains outside, his posture rigid with resolve. Your heart sinks a little when you hear the casual banter coming from the cabin that’s supposedly supposed to be yours.

“Hey, where’s the other cabin?” you ask, trying to mask the unease creeping in.

“It’s just over there,” Josh points, his demeanor as light-hearted as ever. “You’ll love it! It’s cozy, and the view is killer.”

Sam’s voice cuts in sharply from behind you. “I’m really going to need some quiet.” He slips past and heads toward the other cabin, and you can’t help the irritated glance you shoot Josh.

“What? I’m just suggesting you join us!” Josh grins, unfazed by your discontent. He winks, mischief dancing in his eyes. “Come on, it’ll be fun!”

With a resigned sigh, you watch Sam disappear into his chosen retreat. Deciding against further argument, you follow Josh, your heart sinking at the prospect of being ushered into the one space you hadn’t planned on. This was just typical, wasn’t it? The universe had a way of throwing you situations you never asked for.

As you step inside the cabin, you're immediately struck by its rustic beauty. The arching wooden beams overhead give it a charm, while large windows let in soft splashes of golden sunlight. A comfortable couch sits invitingly near a small fireplace, and the kitchen area glistens with warmth and promise of shared meals. There’s an instant feeling of home.

“See? Isn’t it nice?” Josh beams, stepping further in to gesturing for you to join. You can't help but find the ambiance enchanting, the essence of the cabin soothing.

“Yeah, it’s beautiful,” you admit, allowing yourself to be momentarily distracted by the quaint details—an assortment of vintage mugs hung from a rack, a checkered tablecloth draped over the dining table. Everything feels so inviting, and for a heartbeat, the knot in your stomach unravels. Perhaps it won’t be so bad after all.

But then, as you continue to stroll through the space, your gaze lands on the sleeping area tucked in the corner. The moment you realize there’s only one bed—small, rustic, and undeniably charming—you stop in your tracks, your breath catching in your throat.

“What?” You whirl around to Josh, eyebrows shooting up in disbelief. “There’s only one bed? Seriously?”

Josh holds up his hands defensively, a playful smirk on his face. “Hey, I don’t make the rules! It’s a cozy cabin, and they weren’t exactly built with… convenience in mind.”

“Convenience?” you huff, incredulity dripping from your tone. “We’re not in a romantic teen flick, Josh! I can’t sleep in a bed with Sam—he can be like a thousand ice cubes!”

“Relax, it’s just for a couple of nights,” Josh chuckles, clearly not fully grasping the discontent rippling through you. “Think of it as an adventure!”

You let out a frustrated groan, rubbing your temples as you try to process this unforeseen development. “An adventure or a nightmare?” Your thoughts race, imagining the uncomfortable moments that lie ahead.

“Look, just make the best of it! You never know, you might actually enjoy it.” He winks again, turning to head for the door. “I’m going to go grab the rest of my stuff. Just—be nice to him, okay? Sam can surprise you.”

As the door clicks shut behind him, you stand in the silence of the cabin, weighing your options. There is a certain comfort in the beauty of the place, but the knowledge that Sam would be your only companion when night descends fills you with dread.

What were the chances of this turning into anything less than awkward? You glance at the bed again, a small, perfect frame draped with a warm comforter, and you can’t help but let out a soft groan. There was no escaping this predicament. Not only would you have to confront the tension that lingered between you and Sam, but you’d also have to figure out how to share such an intimate space without succumbing to the discomfort.

With a cautious sigh, you decide that if you’re going to be stuck in this situation, you might as well make the best of it. Drawing a deep breath, you head back toward the door, determined to find Sam before the night descends—perhaps a little friendly banter could chip away at that frosty demeanor. Or at least, you hope it could. You stand for a moment, wrestling with the urge to chase after Sam. After all, he’s a grown man. This trip is meant to be a break for everyone, and he’s perfectly capable of taking care of himself, even if he seems intent on brooding in solitude. With a firm nod to yourself, you decide against following him.

Instead, you turn back to the cabin, allowing its warm atmosphere to wrap around you like a comforting blanket. Setting your bag on the cozy couch, you begin to unpack, slowly taking out your belongings. You lay out your clothes in the small dresser and set your toiletries on the counter, your fingers brushing over the well-worn wood. Each item finds its place, and with everything finally organized, the cabin begins to feel more like home.

Once you’re finished, you grab your book from the side pocket of your bag, the familiar cover a welcome sight. Plopping down on the couch, you curl your legs beneath you, settling in to read. The cabin is silent, save for the soft sounds of nature filtering in through the open window—the whisper of the wind and the distant call of a bird.

You find your place in the book, the words enveloping you as you lose yourself in the story. Time slips away, the characters pulling you deeper into their world while the sun sinks lower in the sky, casting warm hues of orange and pink through the windows. The ambiance is peaceful and serene, the perfect backdrop to an evening of escape.

But as the sky darkens and stars begin to twinkle overhead, the lure of the outside world beckons you. You set your book aside and decide to venture out. Stepping out of the cabin, the crisp night air hits you, fresh and invigorating. The soft glow of a campfire flickers in the distance, laughter and chatter weaving a warm, welcoming melody.

You make your way toward the group, and as you approach the fire, you spot Jake’s familiar silhouette, his laughter rising above the others. Instinctively, you feel drawn to him—the effortless way he seems to brighten the mood always brings a smile to your face.

“Hey! Look who finally decided to join us!” Jake calls out, his grin infectious. He pats the space beside him on a log that’s been pulled close to the fire. As you settle down next to him, you allow your body to relax, the warmth radiating from the flames washing over you.

“Sorry for the delay. Getting settled took longer than I expected,” you reply, glancing around at the other members of the group. Danny and Josh sit opposite you, animatedly discussing something that makes them all break into laughter now and then, while Sam appears a short distance away, leaning against a tree, arms crossed over his chest, watching the scene unfold.

Jake leans closer, his voice lowering a notch so only you can hear. “You know, touring can be exhausting, but there’s nothing like a campfire to recharge. The stories we gather, the people we meet—it’s all a part of it.”

You nod, intrigued. “What’s one of your favorite moments from tour?”

Jake’s eyes light up as he leans back, stretching his arms. “Oh man, there are so many! But there was this one time in Stockholm. We had a show, everything was fine, and then it just started pouring down. Everything was getting wet, crew were running out to try and cover everything, but we decided to go for it anyway. The energy in that crowd was electric. People were dancing in the rain, completely soaked, loving every minute of it. There’s just something magical about sharing those experiences, y’know?”

You listen intently, captivated by the enthusiasm in his voice. As Jake reminisces, you can see the clear passion he has for his craft, for the stage, and for those chaotic yet beautiful moments that make up a musician’s life.

The comforting glow of the fire creates a warm cocoon around the group, and little by little, you become absorbed in the shared tales of adventures, mischief, and unexpected mishaps. The feeling of camaraderie fills the space as stories pass around like cherished keepsakes—each anecdote drawing you closer to the rest of the group.

You steal a glance at Sam, noticing that he hasn't moved. He seems distant, lost in his own thoughts, but you remind yourself that you are not responsible for him. Tonight is about the warmth of friendship and connection, a reminder of the bonds you share with these people.

As the conversations swirl around you, you find a comfortable spot amid the laughter and storytelling, finally allowing yourself to relax. There may be unresolved tension with Sam lingering in the back of your mind, but for now, you embrace the moment—the crackling fire, the rich stories, and the sparkling stars above. As the evening unfolds, the warmth of the fire ignites a newfound energy in the group. Josh reaches into a cooler nearby, cracking open a few drinks, the sounds of cans popping echoing into the night. The laughter swells as everyone grabs their beverages, toasting to camaraderie under the twinkling stars.

“Cheers!” Jake calls out, holding his can high. The others echo him, clinking their drinks together, the sound of laughter mingling with the crackling of the fire. You take a long sip, feeling the refreshing taste wash over you, a perfect complement to the lively atmosphere surrounding you.

The night deepens, and the glow of the fire flickers and dances across everyone’s faces, creating a cozy enclave of warmth amid the cool night air. The conversation flows easily, stories bouncing back and forth, punctuated by the occasional jeer or hearty laugh. You settle comfortably into the moment, appreciating the ease with which everything seems to be unfolding.

As the evening progresses, you catch sight of Sam from the corner of your eye. He stands at the edge of the clearing, arms still crossed, leaning against a tree. He seems disconnected, observing from a distance, his expression unreadable. Yet, as you continue to watch, it’s clear he’s caught in the contagious vibe that surrounds the fire. You look away, not wanting to give it too much thought.

Just when you begin to wonder if he’d stay withdrawn, he edges closer, his presence almost tentative but still steadfast. Jake waves him over, and to your surprise, Sam steps forward, joining the group but keeping a careful distance from where you sit. He responds to the others with brief smiles and nods, his warmth reserved only for them.

A moment later, Josh stretches and calls out, “Hey, Jake! Switch seats with me!” Without hesitation, he stands and swiftly swaps places with Jake, who falls into a natural rhythm chatting with Danny on the opposite side of the fire.

Now seated next to you, Josh leans in with a grin that instantly eases any lingering tension. “So, I’ve been mapping out a hiking trip for tomorrow,” he says, excitement bubbling in his voice. “I found this amazing trail that leads to this gorgeous viewpoint. If you’re up for it, I think it'll be a blast!”

You perk up, intrigued. “Really? How long is the hike?”

“A few hours, give or take, depending on how much we stop to take photos,” he says, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “I thought it would be a great way to explore the area while also getting some fresh air. Plus,” he adds with a conspiratorial grin, “you can get a step ahead on your ‘adventure’ with Sam!”

You chuckle at the idea, but a part of you feels a little conflicted. “What if Sam doesn’t want to join us?” you muse, shooting a glance toward him. Even as he sips his drink, he seems engaged in casual conversation with the others, yet his gaze is distant, unfocused.

“Oh, come on!” Josh rolls his eyes dramatically, leaning closer, his voice a playful whisper. “He might be grumpy now, but when he gets out on the trail, the fresh air could do him wonders. Besides, it’s all about enjoying ourselves, right?”

You can’t help but smile at Josh’s infectious enthusiasm. “Okay, I’ll join you. Sounds like fun!”

“Awesome! I’ll make sure to bring some snacks. We can have a little picnic at the viewpoint,” he suggests, and just then, Danny breaks out into another story, eliciting laughter from Jake and the rest of the group.

As you settle into the conversation with Josh, a lightness begins to fill the air, and the earlier tension fades. You steal another glance at Sam, noticing he’s still holding his drink, but has started engaging more than before. It’s small, but you sense a subtle transformation with him—something that perhaps indicates that being around the fire is melting the ice a bit.

Everyone’s laughter mingles with the night sounds, the stars shining brightly above as the embers of the fire flicker and pop. You lean back, soaking in the moment. Tomorrow promises new adventures—one filled with hiking, laughter, and the spirit of exploration. For now, you allow yourself to enjoy that sense of belonging, sharing stories and warmth with your chosen family under the expansive sky.

The night begins to stretch on, each minute blending into the next, the laughter and stories creating a seamless tapestry of warmth and companionship. The fire crackles softly, slowly surrendering to the coolness of the evening air as the flames retreat into a pile of glowing embers. The comforting scent of smoke lingers, weaving through the crisp atmosphere around you.

As the group continues to chatter, the energy isn’t quite as boisterous as it had been earlier. Conversations begin to dwindle into soft murmurs, the warmth of the fire drawing everyone closer as shadows dance around you. You can feel the budding fatigue settling in; the day had been long, filled with travel and commotion. Glancing around, you catch sight of Josh and Danny, both leaning back on their hands, eyelids heavy with sleep.

Jake stands up, stretching with a yawn. “I think it’s about time we call it a night, huh?” he suggests, quickly met with nods and sighs of agreement. Slowly, everyone begins to rise from their places around the fire, reluctantly shaking off the comfort of the warmth.

“Goodnight, everyone!” Josh calls out, before he and Danny wander off toward the cabin.

The others follow suit, saying their goodnights as they drift in their separate directions, leaving you and Sam lingering by the fire. He stands nearby, his expression still somewhat distant, eyes flickering briefly toward the ashes.

“Let’s head in,” you say, breaking the silence as you turn to him. Sam nods but doesn’t say anything, still gazing into the dimming fire.

You walk toward the cabin door, Sam following closely behind. He steps through the threshold first, immediately letting out a breath as he brushes off the chill that clings to him. “Man, it’s cold out there,” he remarks, a hint of annoyance creeping into his voice.

You smile, turning back to the fire for one last moment before stepping inside. As you linger, you scan the darkened cabin, your eyes drifting toward the dwindling logs stacked in the corner. There aren’t many left for tomorrow, and while it tugs at your mind, you decide it’ll be a problem for a later time. Right now, the warmth from the fire still barely fills the room, and it holds a comfort that you want to stay in a little longer.

The embers crackle softly, glowing like miniature stars against the ashy backdrop, and as you watch, a small wave of peacefulness washes over you. But then, the moment takes a shift. You turn back toward Sam and notice he’s looking around the cabin, a scowl etched on his features.

“Huh,” he says. “I didn't realize there was only one bed.”

His tone is curt, and there’s a flicker of something—annoyance? Disappointment?—behind his eyes. You can’t help but raise an eyebrow, feeling the weight of the night's earlier warmth dissipate slightly at his words.

“Yeah, I guess it’s a small cabin,” you reply, trying to keep the tone light. “We’ll figure it out.”

Sam huffs, hands shoved deep in his pockets, the tension palpable. “What do you mean we’ll figure it out?”

“Well,” you start, taking a small breath, unsure where to steer the conversation, “we can always share the bed, given that all the other beds are... well, nonexistent.”

He rolls his eyes, his dissatisfaction clear. “Great. Just what I wanted—sharing a bed in a cabin that’s apparently meant for couples.”

You feel a flush creep up your neck at the unintended implication in his words. “It’s just logistics, Sam. It’s not a big deal.”

“It’s a big deal to me,” he snaps, his glare holding onto the shadows of the cabin. The air suddenly feels thick with tension, spiraling into an uncomfortable silence between you. You desperately search for the right thing to say, to ease the moment, but it seems nothing fits.

“Look,” you finally say, trying to keep the peace, “we can make the best of it, right? Maybe it’ll just be a fun memory to—”

Sam interrupts, his voice edged with frustration. “Yeah, a fun memory. Because sharing a bed with you will definitely be memorable,” he mutters, sarcasm dripping off his words.

You take a step back, a knot forming in your stomach. The atmosphere that had felt so warm and friendly by the fire now feels heavy and constricted. This isn’t how you wanted the night to end.

“Fine,” you say, drawing back slightly. “If you don’t want to share, you could always sleep on the floor.”

Sam’s expression shifts, caught somewhere between indignation and surprise. “I’m not sleeping on the floor.”

Silence lingers again, thickening the air. You both stand in the small cabin, the only sounds coming from the gentle crackling of the dying fire outside, your voices echoing in the corners of the room.

“Let’s just get some sleep,” you suggest quietly, hoping to soften the moment. He shifts slightly, the tension still palpable as he nods, but there’s an undeniable chill in the air that wasn’t there a moment ago.

As the last remnants of warmth flicker in the embers outside, the cabin darkens around you, pulling you both into an unwelcome reality—the boundaries of friendship challenged by the confines of close quarters.

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