#especially since school started back up for everyone and we're all out of the house again due to work

[little-pondhead]

does anyone have any tips on how to cheer up a dog? should i give her the world? give her a golden apple? would that help? ╥﹏╥

[midnightbluebells03]

⋅˚₊‧ ✶ ‧₊˚ ⋅ Ellie Williams soccer drabble ⋅˚₊‧ ✶ ‧₊˚ ⋅

NSFW at the end - little bit of x reader - Basketball Abby

Joel got Ellie into soccer in middle school. Trying to give her somewhere to put all that energy she had, since he was growing tired of her running around the house. She took to it almost naturally, finding a place to put her emotions into.

She likes how carefree she can be on the pitch, how she can go with the flow. Even if the coach keeps begging her to stick to a game plan.

She's an astrophysics student but does art as a hobby, designs the posters for games/fundraisers

Swears she takes her position as captain seriously but smokes weed and drinks almost every weekend when she drags you to parties. Always swearing she knows her limit.

Has played hungover one too many times but started to take it more seriously after a headache made her lose possession and cost them a game. She was so embarssed for weeks afterwards.

Is super cocky on the pitch but you know she's a huge dork, constantly telling you about her newest game or comic book while you play with her hair. Sometimes she fumbles her words because she just can believe you two are dating. At heart she's just a big softie.

Can't tie her hair up because of her shaggy mullet cut but let's you try and tame it with a million clips. You try to match them to her kit or her hair but sometimes you only have bright coloured ones left. And her team will pick on her the whole time while she just smiles and says "hey my girl did it!"

Geeks out over new kit designs from her favourite teams, owns a jersey from each of them. So her whole wardrobe is graphic tees and football jerseys

Reckless. Puts her emotions into her games which can lead to her being sent off for arguing with the ref or for doing a dangerous tackle.

She often finds herself injured in some sort of way, ranging from a nasty bruise to a fraction or sprain. Despite how often Joel has told her she needs to play nicer or she isn't going to be playing for much long.

Has a fantasy soccer league that she takes more seriously than her own team.

Lied to her coach about needing a new jersey so she could give it to you because despite her weekend job at a record store girl was broke. Didn't stop her from trying to spoil you though.

You are practically the teams water girl at this point. Handing everyone over their bottles and making sure you give Ellie a kiss before she has to get back on the pitch. Just a little pick me up to give her a second wind.

NSFW

Her pregame ritual is eating you out the night before. Insisting that since you two started dating her score rate has gone up. She even pulled out the game stats to prove it to you. So now you spend the night before her games with your hand in her hair and your hips shamlessly grinding against her tounge. Ellie just looking up at you, moaning with a pussy drunk expression as she coxes out your second or third orgasm. "Yeah we're definitely gonna win now baby" she'll say with a huge smile as she slumps down next to you, letting your rest on her chest.

One time you had fell asleep the night before too early, so Ellie begged you to let her eat you out in her car. You just couldn't say no to her puppy eyes, especially since she parked way in the back and you guys were already early. So you push back the passenger seat and let her. Having to walk to the bleachers afterwards with your thighs trembling and your breath is ridged as Ellie runs onto the pitch with a shit eating grin on her face.

[hwaslayer]

wildfire (cs) | intro.

—spotify playlist | series masterlist

—summary: assistant professor in bioengineering, incredibly attractive, lonely and divorced; that’s how most people describe san. but despite the events that have happened in his life, san has a lot going for himself. he’s a successful, sought out professor due to his brilliant contributions to science at just an early age of 32. he worked hard to get where he was now; head deep into his research, his publications, building his lab and creating a name for himself. everything was good and smooth sailing— until it wasn’t. because when he meets you, a bioengineering grad student interested in rotating in his lab, he finds himself ready to risk all the blood, sweat and tears he put in throughout the years just to keep you close— his need for you spiraling out of control like a wildfire.

—pairing: asst. professor!choi san x grad student!f. reader

—genre: (18+ - minors dni) strangers to lovers, grad school au | fluff, angst, eventual smut

—word count: 2.0k

—warnings: nothing much; cussing, very general description of research topics/neuroscience experiments including mentions of mice research (no details)!, mentions of infidelity (not oc or san)

—a/n: ty for being patient with me <33 here's the lil intro to professor choi 🤪 i think i'll keep the same update schedule i've had (every other weekend) but ofc will let everyone know if i cant update for whatever reason!! enjoyyyy this rideeee 🖤

Clunk.

San throws his glasses onto his desk before leaning back in his chair, hands coming up behind his head for a stretch. He had been working on his progress report for one of his grants since this morning, and he was starting to feel the migraine come on.

"Fuck." He mutters, pinching at the bridge of his nose before he gets up to grab another cup of coffee from his Nespresso machine— popping in a pod with a level 9 intensity into the slot and pressing start. It's around dinner time, but quite frankly, San isn't too hungry. He'll eat something small. He's just tired, especially because of this progress report. But, it's due next week and he needs to finalize his class schedule for the upcoming quarter at the same time. He won't have as much time to get through the technicalities if he waits any longer.

He's pretty immune to the different intensities of coffee at this point; having eaten it for breakfast, lunch and dinner during his postdoc years. It won't do much for long, but it'll at least keep him going for the next couple of hours before he calls it a day and lays in bed. 

When his coffee is done, he pours some creamer into his mug and gives it a good stir before settling back into his office. His house is too big for one person, but he enjoys the stillness. The quiet. He used to hate it. He used to hate when every corner reminded him of his ex-wife. Now, he's gotten used to it. He's learned how to live alone, how to enjoy his peace. He lets out a small sigh, taking a sip of his hot coffee as he resumes to look at the computer screen to his side. Suddenly, his phone goes off and he's quick to shift his attention to it because it's slightly odd for this time of day. People don't normally call him unless he's settled on a phone call meeting ahead of time, and he doesn't remember booking any calls tonight.

"Hey." San picks up when he realizes it's Jongho. Okay, so he maybe he lied. He does take a few calls from close friends, most who are also professors at the same university. "What's up?"

"How's your T15 report going?"

"Long. It's terrible."

"Well." Jongho laughs. "Perks of being you, I guess." San rolls his eyes. 

"Yeah, thanks. Very enlightening."

"Anyways, I wanted to call really quickly. I figured you hadn't seen it yet, but wanted to put it on your radar. I looped you into an email for a possible collaboration. We're trying to meet this week if you're free. Might be good to see what it's worth, could get us more funding. Open more collaboration opportunities in the future." San presses the phone against his ear, holding it with his shoulder as he navigates to his inbox on his computer. He has a bunch of unread emails that he'll eventually respond to, paying a tad more attention to the pressing ones when he has a moment. He's not gonna lie, he does ignore a few if it's not of interest to him, or something he doesn't feel like he can contribute much to. He'll typically respond with a 'so sorry, no can do' if people get pushy and constantly follow up, but for the most part, he does his best to keep up and respond where it's warranted.

San sees the email Jongho is speaking of, but right underneath it, he sees another email from a student inquiring about rotating in his lab for the upcoming quarter. He's always interested when students reach out to rotate in his lab, but he can't accommodate all, especially when he doesn't feel like his research aligns with their goals. He usually takes 1 per quarter if it fits, otherwise, he doesn't have any at all. 

Out of curiosity, he clicks on the email since it has been awhile since anyone rotated in his lab. 

From: yn@atz.edu To: choisan@atz.edu Dear Professor Choi, I hope this email finds you well. My name is Y/N, and I'm currently a bioengineering grad student who is interested in rotating in your lab for the upcoming quarter. I have been thinking about diving deeper into computational analysis, mice behavior, 2-photon excitation and opto-stim work. I've spoken to your postdocs, Sunwoo and Belle, about their current projects and potentially collaborating since they seem to be touching up on all these aspects. I was hoping we can find a time to meet and chat a bit to see if it would be a good fit. The deadline to submit my rotation selections is coming up, so I'd like to make sure we meet beforehand. Let me know, happy to work with your schedule! Best, Y/N Y/L/N

The thing about San is that he's pretty good at picking up on a student's vibe through their emails. It's the tone, the professionalism, the way they write and carry themselves. He can tell when some people are a little more egotistical and ignorant, and he doesn't want people like that in his rather small, but mighty lab. His current grad students and postdocs all get along well, and they're bright people who are very passionate about their work and studies. He doesn't need people thinking they're above the others. In addition to that, he can also tell when students are just trying to get their name on a published paper doing work in his lab, or when they're just trying to wing their way through grad school. It's a shame, but he definitely has come across a few students in his inbox. They do exist.

You, though? He's intrigued. You seem bright. Genuinely passionate about the specific areas you're interested in diving into. Poised. He appreciates that. He quickly scans over your CV and the little blurb at the bottom that highlights the work you've done in your undergrad years and internships. Your work history. He sees that you've already dipped your toes in a few of the different areas you've mentioned. Worked with a few professors he knows. You've volunteered at a couple of places.

An all-rounder.

"Did you see it?" He almost forgets he's on the phone with Jongho.

"Mm, yeah. I'll respond in a bit, I think I can meet on Thursday. Sorry, I just got a little distracted. Saw another email about a potential rotation student."

"Gonna take one on this quarter?"

"Maybe. If it fits. She seems to be interested in a lot of the work we do. She knows Sunwoo and Belle."

"Oh, nice. That'll be cool."

"What about you? Taking on a rotation student?" Jongho is an assistant professor in the electrical engineering department, and he is often bombarded with inquiries himself. He usually always has a rotation student, and they almost always choose his lab to work in after their rotation program is up. San doesn't blame them— Jongho is brilliant, and his work creates a lot of different pathways for students to navigate and try. San's can be a hit or miss; it's quite niched, and students often find that it genuinely is tough to play around in his field.

"Yeah. Think so." 

"Alright. Thanks for giving me a heads up. I'll check my calendar and respond in a bit for sure." San eyes the email. "It does sound like a good collaboration."

"Figured you'd say that. Thanks, my guy! Take it easy and good luck on your progress report."

"Appreciate it." San gives off a toothless smile even though Jongho can't see him. He slides his phone off to the side and checks his calendar, upholding his promise to Jongho about responding to the email ASAP. He keeps his email short, letting the group know he can make the meeting at the desired time on Thursday to talk about the potential collaboration across labs.

Then, he pulls up your email and checks his calendar once more.

From: choisan@atz.edu To: y/n@atz.edu Hi Y/N, Thanks for your email - for sure! I think there's a lot of possibilities we could visit, especially with Belle and/or Sunwoo's projects. Can you pop into my office on Tuesday morning? 10am good? We can chat then. — San

"Oh shit." You slow your chewing when you see the email notification pop up on your screen during dinner.

"What?" Felix asks, turning his attention towards you and causing Jiung and Eunchae to do the same.

"Professor Choi answered my email."

"That was quick." Jiung takes forkful of food into his mouth.

"Professor Choi as in San or Jongho? Cause they're both hotties." Eunchae swoons and twirls her hair, making Felix scrunch his nose.

"San." 

"I'd kill to be a rotation student in their labs." Eunchae giggles. "What'd he say?"

"To meet him at his office on Tuesday to chat more."

"Well, that's good! Which other labs were you looking at?"

"I'm not sure. Song Mingi, Kang Yeosang, Jeong Yunho. Kim Namjoon—"

"Isn't Professor Choi's ex-wife with Professor Jeong now?" Jiung looks up with a squint.

"Yeah, apparently when it all went down, it was a mess." Felix chimes in, and you continue to type away at your phone. "Imagine your wife having an affair with your bestfriend."

"Harsh." Jiung does a head tilt.

"I guess they don't interact much anymore, do they? Seems to be water under the bridge."

"I don't think so, but Professor Lee works in the Chemical Engineering department so they might have to from time to time if students in her lab wanna be co-advised or collaborate with him. Professor Jeong, though."

"Awkward. At least they can keep it civil." Felix shrugs at Eunchae's response.

"They lowkey have no choice." Felix looks up in thought before shrugging. "Still sucks to know your bestfriend was involved."

"Seriously." You add.

"Either way, those are good labs to possibly rotate in. It'd be cool if you could get into Namjoon's lab. Heard he's cool as fuck even though he's the department chair." Felix tosses his napkin into his empty paper bowl.

"Yeah, same. I'll keep you guys updated." You send off your response to Professor Choi with a small sigh. "There. Hopefully my rotation will be settled for the quarter."

From: yn@atz.edu To: choisan@atz.edu Hi Professor Choi, Yes, I can meet you at 10am on Tuesday. Thank you, and see you then! Best, Y/N

"Maybe you'll get more out of the rotation, especially with Professor Choi." Eunchae nudges your side and you let out a small yelp before you playfully pinch her bicep.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jiung snorts.

"I'm just saying, he's successful. A hottie. Young. Single—"

"Here she goes." Felix lets out a breath.

"Bro. Calm down." Jiung laughs. "He's still a professor."

"What if you two get close during rotation and he falls in love with you?" She looks at you ever so seriously. 

"Relax." Felix laughs. "What kinda movie did we fall into?"

"Eunchae, please." You poke her cheek. "You know we rarely ever see the professors in lab. We get like.. five minute meetings with them and that's about as much of a personal interaction we'll get. They're busy people. Sorry to burst your bubble, bae." She shrugs.

"It was fun to think about." She giggles. "But no, that'll be a good experience for you if you get to join his lab for rotation. The others are great, too. Is he your first choice for a dissertation advisor, though?"

"As of now, yeah. But, we'll see how it all goes."

"Keep us updated." Jiung sips some water. "I think I need to reach out to one more professor for this quarter. Needa figure out my shit before classes start."

"Same." 

Meanwhile, San sees the notification from your email pop up in the corner of his screen and he immediately presses on it. He smiles a bit when he realizes how easy scheduling that meeting was— most of the time, people say they'll work with his schedule but end up pushing back. He slots you into his calendar before he can forget and switches his attention back to the progress report he's close to finishing up. 

San thinks it'll be nice to host a rotation student again, as the experience has always been useful, eventful, productive. He thinks it'll be like any other time; the experience being useful, eventful. Productive. He trusts in his group, the students, to come up with great ideas and be able to execute from start to finish.

So, he doesn't think much of it. He thinks he can hand you off and trust you with Belle and Sunwoo.

Little does he know that's where he gets it all wrong.

—taglist: @asjkdk @interweab @woojirang @svintsandghosts @cheolliehugs @persphonesorchid @mxnsxngie @jycas @cowboydk @vcutparis @chngbnwf @struggling101 @sanhwalvr @lynnsqueendom

[serxinns]

Could you do a yandere class 1A where reader is Aizawa’s kid?

Teachers Kid

(yan! Class 1a and platonic Yan aizawa x Aizawas kid reader

Tw: Mentions of abuse, Neglect and cheating

Aizawa was very overprotective of you as a kid Ever since your mom neglecteded you, cheated on him, and left the both of you with another scumbag, he remembered the way you reached your little toddler hands towards her while the snake cling to the scum's arm while they both giggled leaving while she said her final goodbyes it wasn't any Genuine he can hear how eager she was to leave this family the door shutted and you started crying calling out to the snake to come back with ur little grabby arms his heart stung he promised to protect you and to make you don't gotta deal with it again but 1st he had to take care of that woman...

•You lived with your dad your mom wasn't present in your life your dad told you that she did something really bad and now she's getting "Punished" Aizawa homeschooled you through elementary school to middle school it was fun at 1st but you felt a little sad when other kids played with their friends brought back cool stuff like toys and candy while you were stuck in the house either training with him with or without your quirk

•at a young age you dreamed of being a hero like your father and go to UA to be just like him as much as Aizawa loved to look up to you he could never let you be a hero but always shut the topic down with a strict warning you kept pressuring him trying to convince him, bribe him anything you even did the puppy eyes he secretly loves so much but he stood his ground and said no his final answer

•Aizawa was teaching his boring lesson to the class when he heard his ringtone but it wasn't his usual ringtone "Dad pumpkin spit a hairball in your shoe" he quickly turned his phone off flushed red in embarrassment he slowly turned to see the class in shock and some of them giggling a bit "YOU HAVE A CHILD?!"

• the classrooms were in chaos they were now fixated on their teacher's kid they were all asking questions about ur description, Quirk, Personality everything they wanted to know everything about you, Aizawa quickly quieted them down "Everyone needs to quiet down! Yes that's is my kid they're the same age as you all and is are HAPPLIY homeschooled that's it now let's continue " the class tried to answer more questions but Aizawa shut it down completely which made the class groan while Aizawa looked annoyed in the outside in the inside he was panicking, his class all discovered about you and they seem eager

•Even after school they all couldn't stop thinking about you whenever someone mentioned you in their heart. started to race and started to blush they haven't even met you yet so why do they feel this way... They gather around starting to wonder what are you

•while Aizawa was driving home he was just panicking even more his class found out about you he thought he was hiding. you so well why did he have to slip up he didn't want to put you in public high school it was just too dangerous especially if villains are now spawning up more commonly and he thought of something something he didn't like but it was his only choice

•"Y/N!, Kid we need to talk" you walked downstairs to see that your father was looking really serious like this was gonna be a long talk you gulped mentally "yea Dad also did you get my voicemail?" "That's the one we're talking about," your father said his eyes narrowing at you "But another thing since villains these days are commonly targeting heroes these days and I was worried about what would happen to you when you're home alone so I decided to nezu about enrolling you to Ua High-" just when you said that you jumped in his arms hugging him so tight "YES YES THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU" Aizawa may be defeated and nervous but seeing you bleamed up like you used to as a kid made him think you'll be fine "Alright then you start tomorrow im sure my class will love you"

[be-with-me-so-happily]

Friendly Favor

ONE SHOT

<< Request >> "If you take requests for one shots could I please give one ? Soo the good ol’ trope where Harry and you are best friends but he thinks he likes someone else so he asks you to fake date him to make the other person jealous but during the process he realises that he loves you and happy ending . I’d be thrilled if you do write something for this but it not that’s totally cool too thanks anyways and have a great day 😍" - ANON

~~~~~

Summary: When YN's best friend Harry asks for a favor, she knows it'll be difficult, but she loves him too much to say no. However, it's a dumb plan, and those usually don't end how you think they will.

A/N: This is my first fake dating trope fic. Hopefully it came out good.

Warnings: some explicit language, alcohol consumption, jealousy, arguments, fingering, hand/blow job

~~~~~

"I think this might literally be the dumbest idea you've ever had, H!" You laugh, grabbing a french fry from the plate sitting on the couch between you and Harry. You look over to find his arms crossed over his chest and a pout formed from his bottom lip. That adorable pout, with his pretty pink lips, that always seems to work on you despite your attempts to stand your ground.

"It's gonna work…" He grumbles, taking the plate of fries and moving them to the other side of him, just out of your reach.

"Seriously? You want me to pretend to be your date to a house party, so Chloe will get jealous and want to go out with you?" You laugh again in disbelief and lean over him in an attempt to reclaim your favorite comfort food. "That's seriously so dumb!"

"But it's a party. It'll be fun either way." He attempts to convince you.

"Full of people I don't know. I'd rather eat chalk." You respond, giving him a sarcastic glare, aware that your stubbornness will begin to crack any moment. Especially with his sultry dark scent currently floating around you.

"Come on… we're best friends… if you do me this favor, I'll… buy you something nice!"

"Harry, your idea of a nice gift is fuzzy socks. That's not really enticing." You giggle, reaching further across his lap, stretching your hand out as far as it will go but failing immensely.

"No, this'll be good. Promise. Plus you wear those socks all the time." He affirms, in that low, deep voice that causes a subtle shiver down your spine every time he uses it.

You and Harry have been best friends for years. Since right before 9th grade, in fact. You had moved in next door as the last school year ended, and quickly clicked with each other before it started up again. Since then, you two have been inseparable. At first, everyone thought you liked each other, but you both were quick to dispel those rumors. You didn't. You were just really good friends. But the older you got, and the more Harry denied it, the more bothered by it you became. He was everything to you. You trusted him, you felt safe with him, you had fun with him. You liked him. You loved him. Was it such a crazy idea that you two could be together? To you, the answer was always yes. He is very charming, and of course, very good looking. Every girl around swooned if he even looked their way, and melted away if he uttered the simplest "hello". He could be with any girl he wanted, and you were just you. Just his best friend. That's all you'd ever be to him, so that's what you'd settle for.

"Fine." You sigh, knowing that even if it hurts you, unfortunately you love him too much to say no. "I can do that. But I better get this gift even when this plan fails."

"If it fails. And it won't." He assures you, an annoying confidence beaming from his chest.

"Whatever." You reply, internally kicking yourself for being such a sap for him. He reaches around the back of your head and pulls it close to place a kiss on your temple.

"Thank you, babe." He replies, handing you back the plate you ended up forgetting about completely when his lips touched you. You love that nickname, but you hate it too, because you hate every girl who has heard it in the way you wish he meant it with you.

"Yeah, well, what are best friends for…"

×××

Nerves suddenly flood your brain as you walk up to the front door with Harry. Not only do you have to put on this little "girlfriend" charade with the guy you wish was your own, but you are worried you won't really know anyone inside, making an already awkward situation even more uncomfortable. He only mentioned Chloe being in attendance, because of course she is the only one he cares about being there. You know who she is, you have mutual friends of friends, and have been at the same hangouts or parties a time or two. You always thought she was a bit vain, and a big flirt with every guy who gave her the time of day, but she has clearly made an impression on Harry due to the fact that you're walking through the front door with a plan to make her jealous for him.

Harry immediately wraps his arm around your waist and you swear your knees could go weak at the gesture. You look up to where he stands next to you, watching him give you a quick wink, thankful that the lights are dim and covering up the blush rushing to your cheeks.

"Harry! What's up?" You hear, turning your attention further inside the house.

"Hey, love." He responds, giving a quick hug to Layla, a friendly face you are grateful to see. The three of you met this year, your junior year of college, all bonding over moving from small towns to this big, state university. You don't know her well, but at least you know someone. "Hey, YN! Welcome! I'm so happy you're here!"

"This is your party? This house is… wow!" You exclaim, your eyes wide as you look around the giant living room that makes your off-campus studio apartment look like a small cardboard box.

"Thanks! It's my parents, but they're never home, so I make good use of it." She shrugs with a smile. "Now, the drinks are in the kitchen, and everyone seems to have congregated in the living room. It's where the music is! So, have fun!"

She giggles and swiftly twirls around, waving as she finds more people to greet.

"Alright, girlfriend… drinks first?" Harry asks, chuckling as his palm leaves your waist and grabs your hand. This would be the sweetest little gesture if it actually meant anything real to him.

"Definitely. I'm definitely going to need one." You respond, letting him lead the way through a small crowd of people.

"Is it that difficult to even just pretend to love me?" He laughs, and you roll your eyes. It's the best motion you can think of to counteract every muscle in your body that wants to show him the exact opposite.

"Easy there with the love stuff… boyfriend… this is supposed to be a new relationship, right?" You remind him, and yourself.

"Right." He replies, giving you a quick kiss on the cheek. He's easy to love, but this won't be easy to get through. He lets go of your hand and pours you a drink. "Let's mingle, really sell our story, yeah?"

You exhale heavily and nod, getting that firm reminder of the reason you two are really here, and that Chloe is actually the one he wants.

You take a gulp of your drink, grabbing his hand as he leads you to a small group of people you've met once or twice before.

"I didn't know you two were together." Someone politely states, causing Harry to squeeze your hand as a signal to really start up this charade.

"Yeah, s'kinda new." Harry shrugs and looks over to you with those sparkling green eyes you wish you could dive into. "But we've been best friends forever, so it was bound to happen."

Ouch. What a cruel thing to say, if he actually knew how true that could be for the two of you. If he actually felt the same as you.

But this is just a performance. For him. And since you genuinely feel the way he wants you to pretend that you do, you figure it will be easy to play along. So you will.

"Yep! He finally realized what he was missing out on." You smile as you turn your head to the group, your attention almost taken back by the way Harry clears his throat.

"I knew it would happen eventually! You're super cute together!" Layla exclaims, looking between the both of you with a tipsy smile. "And YN, you look fucking hot tonight, girl!"

You let out a laugh of disbelief. Your outfit is nothing special, even if you do feel good in it. Harry's hand wraps back around your waist and he squeezes your side.

"Yes she does." He agrees, looking over to you with a mischievous smirk. Those damn dimples could make any girl feel wanted. And, unfortunately, it does the same with you.

You shake your head and take another large sip of your drink, hoping the alcohol can kick in soon and get you out of your thoughts. You want to relax. You need to relax. You need to get through this night.

As the group disperses, you feel Harry pull you in tighter towards him, resting his forehead on your temple as he brings his mouth to your ear. Every hair in your body stands up immediately.

"You do look really good, babe." He states, causing your heart to flutter. As much as you know he doesn't mean it in the way you want him to, hearing those words causes your teeth to bite down on your bottom lip.

"Okay, hot shot, don't waste a compliment if people aren't around." You reply, trying to keep your composure and not completely melt at the whisper of words that just flowed out from him.

"M'serious." He sternly replies, causing you to turn towards him and be met with a frown. If he was truly yours, you'd run your thumb over to smooth it out and keep him calm.

Your eyes flicker down to his, then back up to the tension between his eyebrows. You're not truly his, but you're pretending to be, and this is your opportunity. You bring your thumb up to the line, slowly running it over and seeing him instantly relax under your touch.

"Thank you." You state, staring into his eyes for a moment before quickly bringing it down and patting his chest to push him back.

He gives you a wink and grabs your hand, pulling you to yet another small group of people, wrapping his arm around you in some way or another, and frequently placing sweet kisses on your cheeks, probably not wanting to do much more and cross the line. You weren't going to complain. You could enjoy this. You could definitely enjoy this.

×××

"Hello ladies." You hear that sultry British accent state, as Harry sits down beside you at the campus cafe.

"Harry. Please tell YN that she should come to the club this weekend with me and Seth!" Your friend Eva exclaims, causing you to roll your eyes. You don't mind parties, especially if you know people, but clubs are something different. Most of the time you avoid those situations and hang out with Harry instead. You find that to be a much better way to spend your time.

"Ummm… I was actually hoping she'd go to a party with me…" He replies, turning his attention to you.

"Again?" Your brow furrows in confusion, and Harry's eyes dart between you and Eva. She begins to look between you and Harry, rolling her eyes as he keeps a tight lip around whatever it is he wants to say next.

"I'm not giving up." She points at you as she stands up, grabbing her stuff and walking away.

You chuckle as she heads out and then glance back at Harry.

"So…"

"My plan didn't work." He states.

"I'm absolutely shocked!" You reply sarcastically and dramatically, throwing your palm against your chest.

"Shut up." He glares at you, returning his expression by sticking your tongue between your teeth. "But if we go to this party-"

"Seriously, H? Come on." You pinch the bridge of your nose, shaking your head slightly at his desperation. Why does he have to be longing for Chloe's attention? You'd give it all and then some, for real, if he wanted it.

"Please, babe! Pleeeease?" He scoots closer with a pout on his lips, and you hate that he knows that this tactic works well on you.

You sigh, in what is most likely defeat. You want to say no. You want to be selfish. You want him to give up on this plan and have him all to yourself.

"I'll give you a really, really nice gift…"

"I can't believe you're bribing me. And I can't believe it's working."

"Yeah? It's working?" He grins, wrapping his arms around your waist and pulling himself closer for a hug. He looks up and you can see out of the corner of your eye that he is batting his lashes in fake innocence.

"Fine. I can do that. But no more help if this doesn't work out." You state, hoping that it won't. Really hoping that it won't. Even if he doesn't feel the same for you, at least you can keep your best friend around.

×××

The days leading up to the next party were the same. Almost the same. Harry met you every day with a coffee, walked you to most of your classes, and hung out with you at lunch each day, as always. The thing that changed was all the little kisses on your hands, cheeks, and temple. The wrapping of his arm securely around your waist and the occasional squeeze on your hip when his hand dropped down slightly. The way he surprised you by grabbing your arms from behind, and mumbling "hey babe" into your ear. It was only a week, but it was the best week.

However, it was all just for show, and it was going to end tonight.

As you get out of Harry's car, you instinctively place your hand in his, intertwining your fingers as he leads you to the front door.

You're less nervous about this party, because it is once again at Layla's house, and at least you know the place, so maybe you'll also know some of the people this time. Plus you have Harry by your side. So as soon as you walk in, you both make your way to the kitchen for a drink, and he walks behind you, holding your hip, while you move over to where the rest of the crowd has gathered.

His palm rests on your shoulder and begins to stroke it back and forth. A warmth rushes over you at his touch. His now familiar, yet still exciting touch. You look up at him, being met by those deep, inviting dimples, and a seductive smirk. Your breath halts for a moment, and your teeth sink into your bottom lip.

He leans his head down and rests his chin on your shoulder, causing a subtle hitch of your breath. You squeeze your eyes shut, hoping he didn't hear your embarrassing reaction.

"We're pretty good at this boyfriend-girlfriend shit, yeah?" He asks in a low mumble, not helping the rumble of butterflies in your stomach.

If he only knew you weren't pretending. You could just tell him you aren't. But you actually can't. You'd ruin his plan, and most likely your friendship. You don't want to lose him, even if you can't fully have him.

"I'm a great actress!"

"Yeah." He replies, standing up straighter and releasing his hand from you. "M'gonna get another drink. Want one?"

"Sure." You reply, downing what is currently left in your cup.

"I'll be right back." He states, walking towards the kitchen and leaving you to stand alone in the corner of the living room. You pull out your phone, hoping to distract yourself from the awkwardness of being by yourself, waiting for Harry to soon return.

×××

You don't realize, until you look at the time on your screen, that you have been standing there in the dim corner for twenty minutes.

You shake your head and make your way to the kitchen to retrieve the drink that Harry has clearly forgotten to bring you.

You turn the corner and glance around, stopping in your tracks when you find your best friend, leaning against the refrigerator, chatting with the woman sitting opposite him on top of the counter. Of course, it's none other than Chloe.

Your heart tightens. This was the plan. This is what he wanted. And he ended up being right, because clearly it worked out in his favor.

You slyly make your way to the other end of the kitchen and pour yourself a generous amount of tequila into a cup, finding the best thing available to mix it with before chugging half of the cup and refilling it to the top.

If he gets to have his fun now, you might as well try to do the same.

You put your head down and make your way back out into the living room, bumping into a tall presence before reaching your destination.

"Sorry! Shit! Sorry!" You exclaim, wiping the small bit of drink from your top, and looking up to find a wide smile and even wider eyes.

"I bumped into you, YN, it's all good." The guy replies, causing you to squint your eyes at the confusion of how he knows your name. He chuckles as he notices your expression. "Trevor. We had English 1A together last year."

"Oh my god. Yeah! Hey!" You blurt out, smacking your palm against your forehead in embarrassment. "Sorry."

"Like I said, it's all good." He chuckles, placing his palm on your shoulder. "Are you okay though? You seem a little… frazzled."

"Frazzled?" You giggle at the word, then sigh at the realization that his observation was probably pretty accurate. "I think I just need to sit down."

"Follow me, the comfiest couch is this way." He states, motioning for you to follow him as you both make your way to the other side of the large living room. You find the giant sofa and plop down on it next to him. There is a lot of space, but you don't shy away from sitting close.

"Better?" He asks, resting his arm on the back.

"Much! Thank you."

"So, would you like me to ask you what's going on, or distract you with my incredible array of celebrity impressions?"

You bring your legs up onto the seat, pulling your knees to your chest and taking another sip of the liquid concoction that now seems less intense than before.

"Ooh, impressions, please." You reply excitedly. This is something you can distract yourself with. He is somebody you can distract yourself with. At least for tonight.

"Okay, get ready. You're going to be amazed!"

×××

The night moves on as you continue to talk to Trevor, feeling a lot lighter than you had at the beginning of the night, even if your body is full of tequila.

"Have you had the barbeque chicken at that place down the street from campus?"

"No, but now I think I definitely have to." You giggle, not for the first time with him. The more drink that enters your body, the more you relax, and apparently the flirtier you get.

"Maybe we can go someti-"

"YN! I've been looking all over for you!" Harry exclaims, doing his best to hide the frustration only you can tell that he is withholding.

"Clearly not hard enough." You mumble under your breath as you roll your eyes at him.

"Can you come with me, babe?" He asks through a forced smile, his hand subtly balling into a fist at his side.

"Actually… babe... Trevor and I were just talking about a barbeque place I want to try." You snarl, pointing to the man seated beside you, wishing you could manage to ease the intense confusion plastered all over Trevor's face.

"It's all good." Trevor states suddenly, standing up and giving you a small smile. "Maybe we can chat later."

He gives you a thumbs up, which you assume is to ask you if you're all good, and you nod. He turns to walk away and you watch Harry's eyes follow him until he is out of sight.

"Come on. Please." He utters as he reaches his hand out to you, reluctantly being met with yours as you glare up to him.

He pulls you hastily through the crowds of people, simply nodding as some of them attempt to get his attention, and finally stops at the end of the long downstairs hallway.

He spins you around, your back resting against the wall, and his palms on either side of your head.

"Harry, what the hell is your problem? What was all that?"

"Me?" He growls, his chest rising and falling quickly as he looks around, his eyes resting back on yours with a great deal of intensity. "You're just sitting there, flirting with that fucking guy, when we are supposed to be together…"

"Are you serious? Are you actually serious right now?" You question, feeling the breath being drawn out of you the longer he stares. "I served my purpose, and now I'm having fun."

"Served your what?"

"My purpose! I was only here to tell you to make Chloe jealous right?" You sigh when your chest tightens, hating every bit of your statement. Also angry that he can't seem to let you have any fun of your own. "And you seemed to have gotten what you wanted. You definitely had her attention in the kitchen."

"No. I mean, yeah, we were in there talking-"

Suddenly, you're interrupted by the bathroom door swinging open, seeing Trevor step out and glance in your direction. Harry immediately grabs the back of your neck, pushing his lips against yours with more pressure than you thought would be needed to sell the moment. You hear footsteps become more distant and you push on Harry's chest in an attempt to move him back.

"What's wrong with you? He's not the one we needed to make jealous, you idiot!"

Harry's breathing becomes shallow as his green eyes pierce into yours, flickering down to your lips before rejoining your gaze.

"Kiss me again." He whispers.

Your eyes widen in shock and your head quickly swivels back and forth to search for anyone nearby. There's no one around. There's not even anyone to make jealous anymore since he has the one he wants.

"Why do we-"

"Just… kiss me again."

You are about to give some sort of rebuttal when his warm palms meet your cheeks, coating them in a heat that could burn handprints into your skin. He steps closer, your back now completely flush against the wall as his body presses into you. His lips quickly find synchronicity with yours, and you begin to melt. Your palms grab onto his shirt, desperately wanting to claw at the tattoos on his chest. His tongue parts your lips and you move to bite his lower lip, causing him to reach one hand down and squeeze your hip. Your fingers intertwined with his hair. His palm slowly moves its way up to your waist. You subtly push your hips towards his and let out a small whimper.

Then everything stops.

"Harry, why-"

"Fuck. I shouldn't… m'sorry. I shouldn't have done that." He fumbles, taking a step back and running his ring-clad fingers through the curls that yours were just tangled in.

"It's…" You begin to state, completely stunned by what just happened. By the way he just touched you, and kissed you, and held you tight. By the way it seemed to have been about something more than a stupid plan about someone else. By the way he suddenly halted it all. "It's okay, H."

"I'm… you're… we're too drunk for this. I think I just got… caught up in the moment…" He mumbles, refusing to look into your eyes and fixating his down to the floor.

"Oh. Ummm, okay. It's okay." You reply, suddenly feeling so embarrassed and so vulnerable.

"You were right. This was a dumb idea. It… it was a mistake."

Your stomach turns into knots.

"Harry…"

"We're friends. That shouldn't have happened."

The knot instantly grows tighter and your heart begins to sink.

"Like you said, I… I got Chloe's attention, so you're off the hook. You can go… be with that Trevor guy if you want."

Every muscle in your body is frozen from shock, and your mind can't seem to comprehend how the two of you went from what seemed like a passionate make out, to him basically waving you off.

"Right." You scoff in disbelief. You knew what the plan was, you knew the outcome he was hoping for. But you definitely didn't think you'd be hidden in the corner of a dark hallway, pressed against the wall by your best friend, practically feeling his heart pounding through his chest as he kissed you. You also didn't think he'd kiss you and then immediately dismiss you. You frown at yourself for momentarily believing that anything different was going to happen. Whatever the past week has been, and whatever that kiss was for you, clearly it wasn't the same for him. Just a drunken mishap while trying to convince others of this fake relationship, and you don't want to stick around to see him actually give someone else what you thought that moment was for you. "So, I'm just gonna head home."

"Wait, YN, you don't have to leave."

"You can consider this a breakup or whatever. Have fun with Chloe." You feel a pressure of tears beginning to build, and the breath in your body begins to escape you.

"YN-"

"Goodnight." You state, pushing past him and heading out to the living room, quickly thanking Layla for her hospitality.

Before you reach the front door, you feel a gentle grasp of your wrist and turn to find Trevor's concerned eyes turning downwards.

"YN, are you alright?"

Tears threaten to form as you cover up your sadness with a subtle nod.

"Do you need me to take you home?" He inquires, a softness in his eyes that could probably calm you in any other situation.

Your eyes shoot over to Harry, instantly finding him leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the room, arms crossed over his chest and a daggered glare shooting towards the both of you.

Sadness is suddenly accompanied by anger and you gaze back at Trevor.

"I'm actually meeting up with some friends. But… could you wait with me outside while I order an Uber?"

He smiles and nods, placing a hand on your back as you begin to twist the door handle. You shoot one last look back to your best friend, and see him standing up straight, eyes wide and fists clenched.

Well, one of you got what they wanted tonight.

×××

You had surprised your friends by arriving at the club. And you shocked them by showing up without your usual companion, Harry.

As you wait for the bartender to hand you some shots, you explain everything to Eva and Seth.

"So, lemme get this straight…" Eva begins, resting her elbows on the countertop, an eyebrow raised from your recent story. "Your best friend, who you are clearly in love with, asked you to be his fake girlfriend to get another girl jealous enough to want to be with him."

"Yeah. Dumb idea right?"

"But… you said yes…" She adds with a still raised eyebrow… "YN, that was just as dumb!"

"Well, I didn't-"

"Didn't think it would work?" Seth adds, shaking his head.

"Right."

"Still seems really dumb." Eva adds, causing you to glare in her direction and open your mouth to make your case.

Shot glasses are suddenly placed in front of you, and you are thankful for the interruption. You shoot yours down quickly, and look over to see Eva refuse the one she was handed, so you take it from her and shoot that one down too.

"Slow down sweetie." Eva suggests.

"I'm fine." You wave her comment off as you get the bartender's attention for another. You're not sure if your intention is to finally have some fun, or to drown out the events of earlier in the evening. But either way, you're going to drink enough until one of those things happens.

"YN…"

"Let's dance!" You shout, after downing your next shot.

"You never dance at clubs…" Eva replies, with what you assume is inquisitive concern.

"Come onnnn… let's dance!" You exclaim, grabbing the hand of each of your friends and dragging them to the dancefloor.

They follow you, seemingly reluctant, but begin to dance with each other as the next song plays. If they weren't your good friends, you'd be put off by their displays of affection for each other. But only because you'd be a little jealous. And now you're suddenly aware of the open space around your body.

You furrow your brow and explain to your friends that you'll be in the bathroom. Eva offers to go with you, but you insist that she continue to dance with her boyfriend. If Harry was there, it wouldn't be a problem. But now you're a third wheel and you're not about to ruin their night. You've already had enough of that for yourself.

You enter the bathroom and immediately pull out your phone, not hesitating to dial the first contact on your 'favorites' list. No one else could hold that space.

"YN?" You hear on the other end, a gentle tone coming through the speaker.

"Harry, your idea was fucking stupid!" You immediately exclaim, shouting to be heard over the music in the venue, even though the bathroom is only affected by a quiet thump of the bass. You'd take a moment to be more impressed if you weren't so drunk and angry.

"Yeah I know." He sighs, which begins to anger you even more.

"I fucking hated it. It was stupid. You're stupid." You begin to fumble, leaning against the bathroom wall as your knees begin to wobble the same amount as your words.

"Are you… drunk?"

"No!" You shout, grabbing onto the nearby sink to steady yourself. "Maybe."

"YN…"

"That's what you do when you break up with someone right?"

"What?"

"Even though it was fake. Fucking fake. But still..."

"Where are you?" He asks sternly, and even in your intoxicated state, you can picture every detail that is most likely displayed on his face. The serious furrow of his brow, the inward pull of his lips, the shifting of his weight from one foot to the other. You know every part of it.

"Don't worry about it. I'm fine!" You snap back. "I've got Eva and Seth. And not you! And it's fine. I'm fine!"

"YN-"

You pull the phone away from your ear and press the button to end the call. The shots have not given you results for either of the options you were deciding between when you got to the club, so you choose to gather yourself and go to grab another.

You bring your other hand to rest on the sink and look up into the mirror. You're not too much of a mess, but you notice tiny lines of mascara running down your cheeks. You didn't even know you had been crying. Crying for Harry, who isn't even yours. Wasn't yours before, wasn't yours tonight, and won't be yours ever. At least, not in the way you really want him to be.

He really can have whoever he wants. And it's not you.

You scold yourself for letting any feelings for him form, and then grow. He's your best friend. And obviously that'll never change. Unless you aren't even friends anymore. He looked so embarrassed after kissing you. He agreed it was a dumb idea. He told you it was a mistake.

A mistake.

So, he can fuck off. You can do what you want, and right now, that's going to get another shot.

You walk out and back over to your friends, ignoring the mildly concerned looks on both of their faces.

"YN…" Seth begins, stopping his movements from behind Eva.

"Please don't. I'm fine." You respond, beginning to dance and twirl around with his girlfriend. Seth offers to grab some water for everyone and leaves the two of you on the dancefloor.

You glare at the back of his head, quickly following his footsteps towards the bar.

"Three waters please." You hear him state.

"And another shot!" You add, crossing your arms as he glares back at you, as if you're locked in some kind of parent-child standoff.

You grab the shot glass and instantly shoot it back, taping it on the countertop to ask for another. You turn back to Seth with a smug look on your face, at least you're hoping that's what you are portraying, but you notice his gaze is focusing just behind you.

Your shoulder becomes warm and weighted with a palm twisting you around, and you turn to be met with those glistening green eyes.

"Oh, what the fuck. What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here, YN?" Harry asks, his hand still firmly, but somehow also tenderly, on your shoulder. You hate yourself that just this simple touch is getting your heart fluttering again.

"I'm having fun… with my friends… nothing new."

"Oh really? Since when do you go to clubs, and knock back shots like there's no tomorrow?" That familiar furrow of his brow appears and your instinct wants to smooth it out. But your anger quickly convinces you otherwise.

"Since tonight." You reply, crossing your arms again and doing your best to stand your ground. Physically and metaphorically.

"I think I should take you home." He suggests, moving his hand down your arm and gently holding your hand.

"I think you should fuck off!" You begin to shout, yanking your hand from his hold, letting the alcohol take over your judgment and your tongue.

Harry steps back and you can read the disbelief all over his face, as if it were an open book sitting right in front of you. If you're honest, you are a bit shocked by yourself too. You've never spoken to him like that before. Fought with him? Of course. You've known each other so long, that's only normal. But that? A statement like that isn't normal for you to make towards him. To be fair though, not much about this night has been normal.

"Come on, please. Let's get you home." He reaches out for your hand again, and once again, you pull it away.

"No!" You shout.

"Fine." He throws up his hands, never being one to push or force you to do anything you don't want to do. He turns around and begins to walk out of the club, but with the alcohol and the frustration mixing together, you huff and begin to follow him outside.

"Hey!" You yell from behind him, the cold air hitting your very heated face instantly, and causing a chill to spike all over your body.

He stops immediately, not turning around as you catch up to him, forcing you to move in front of him and stare into his eyes as if you were the one towering over the other.

"Yes?"

"You…" You begin to pant from the exertion from following him, and the cold air penetrating your bones. "You don't just… you don't just get to come here and... and act all protective and shit!"

"Why wouldn't I?" He scowls, suddenly switching back to the one who towers over you. "You're my best friend, YN! And you're wasted. I talked to Eva and Seth, they were worried about you."

"Right, Eva and Seth. Who I'm here with. Not you." You growl, glaring into his eyes as if to actually pierce your frustration into them.

"YN, I was worried about you too."

"I'm fine!"

"Yeah, you keep saying that…"

"And I… I am! You don't have to worry… not about me. You shouldn't fucking be here. You should be with… Chloe. "

"Is that why you left the party all of a sudden?"

"I left because… you got what you wanted! You didn't need me anymore!" You yell, feeling a mild heat return to your body as the alcohol reignites the absolute flustering anger.

"I did." He replies softly, taking a step closer so that his warm breath steams over your face. You momentarily close your eyes and the sensation washes over you. "I wanted you there."

"Are you really that selfish, H?" You scoff, crossing your arms over your chest, partly because of the temperature, but mainly to protect yourself. To protect your heart. "I did it… what you asked me to do… and you got what you wanted… you got Chloe…"

"I don't-"

"I didn't need to stick around… I didn't want to stick around!" Your tongue becomes numb and you can't seem to control the words as they spill out. "I didn't want to just stand off to the side… and watch you with her!"

"What?"

"Nevermind." You drop your gaze, hoping that you can get clear headed soon before you say something as dumb as the plan he had come up with. "I should've… I shouldn't have gone along with it. It was such a stupid idea!"

"YN…"

"You said it! It was a mistake!"

"Babe, please…"

"Don't call me that." You state sternly, lifting your gaze with the deepest furrow in your brow. Would he smooth it like you did for him earlier? No.

"What?"

"Don't call me babe. I'm not your babe." You take two more steps back and pull out your phone to call for an Uber. "Babe is for someone you're with, actually with. We're not together. I'm not your babe. It was just pretend."

"I've called you that for forever…" He replies, softening his tone as he steps a little closer, causing your breath to exit and forget how to reenter. How does he always manage to take your breath away?

"Yeah, well, you shouldn't have."

"YN, come on, you're drunk. Please let me take you home." He pleads, wrapping his hand around yours and rubbing his thumb over your knuckles. You look down at the gesture, feeling your cold demeanor begin to melt at the touch you've become accustomed to over the past week.

"No. I have a ride. Just go back to the party. Go back to Chloe." You grimace as her name leaves your lips, and your hand leaves his. "I've done my part in all… this.

"You know what, YN? You agreed to do it! But you clearly didn't want to and you didn't have to either. So whatever it is you're angry about, you can't blame me."

"Fuck off." You take every last ounce of self-control that you have to stop yourself from explaining why you're so hurt and admitting to what you've been feeling for years. It could only make things worse at this point. You sigh and look down at your feet, wishing you could be swallowed up by the pavement.

"I wouldn't have asked you if I knew that this, all of this, was gonna happen." He steps back and puts even more distance between the two of you and your heart sinks. Now it feels awkward. Now it feels wrong. "It was definitely a mistake."

"Definitely a mistake." You whisper back.

A car pulls up right in front of the two of you, and you know it's your ride. You look between the vehicle and Harry, not knowing which one to step towards.

"So, this… this is it." He crosses his arms over his chest, beginning to tap the back of one foot with the toes of the other, and clears his throat.

You step backwards towards the car. You didn't think this night could've gotten any worse, yet here it is.

"Goodnight, H." You state quietly, turning to grab the door handle, opening it, and looking back one more time at your best friend. If you can still call him that.

×××

The next day was painful for so many reasons, and the hurt just continued through that week. And then the next.

With how much you drank, you would think the night would be a blur, but the universe and your mind are cruel. You remember all of it. Feeling good with Harry, feeling hurt seeing him with Chloe, feeling distracted with Trevor, feeling ecstasy kissing your best friend, feeling embarrassed by his rejection, feeling way too drunk, feeling angry, and feeling hurt. Then, feeling nothing.

Nothing has been the same. Harry didn't walk you to any classes, or bring you coffee, or sit with you at lunch. He didn't come over every other night just to hang out, share food, and watch TV. He didn't call. He didn't text. Nothing. Nothing has been the same these past two weeks.

You had told your friends that you wanted to avoid any more parties, but with a bit of begging, Eva convinced you to go to Seth's birthday party. It was hard to say no to your second best friends, or maybe first now, especially when they mentioned that Harry never responded to their invite. It's not too surprising. He wouldn't want to be where you are.

So, you can be comforted by the fact that Harry won't be there. Although, 'comforted' feels like the wrong word. But Seth's parent's house is more modest, and you'll know a lot more people at this party, which should help you to relax even by a miniscule amount.

At least, you hoped it would. But whenever someone new walks through the door, your eyes dart over towards them. Your heart stops each time, until their name is spoken or you see their face.

You would grab a drink, but the anxiety building within is enough to fill you up, and you probably couldn't stomach it anyway. Plus you figure it'll be easier to leave the party early, since you are suspecting your ability and desire to hang out with everyone will be minimal.

×××

Whether it's the size of the house, or the actual number of people in attendance, this party feels a lot bigger than the previous ones at Layla's house. You've only talked to maybe a handful of people in this large crowd, but are overwhelmed enough to need some space.

You walk up to Eva and lean in to be heard over the music.

"I'm gonna get some fresh air." You quickly state, hoping your volume is enough for her to hear, but quiet enough for others not to. You'd rather be alone.

"Oh. Okay. But-"

"I'm not leaving…" You chuckle, knowing she wants you to stay as long as she can manage to. "I'm just going to the backyard."

"Okay…" She replies, her tone causing a mild curiosity in you, but brushing it off as just her drunken state.

You turn around and squeeze your way through the crowds of friends that Seth and Eva seem to have accumulated over the years. You don't know if you have even half the amount of friends they have here. One person seems to have taken away the need for a large group of friends. With just him, and a couple of close others, you've felt fulfilled. Complete.

Maybe you shouldn't take too long of a break. Maybe you should recharge quickly and get back in there. Maybe you'll need to start finding some new friends to fill that empty void you now have in your life.

No one else seems to be outside, much to your delight, and you catch a quick glimpse of a patio swing out of the corner of your eye, which you immediately decide is the place you want to be.

You walk around the outside furniture and barbeque, but stop as you look up to the swing.

Harry is there. Right there.

You can't tell if the sudden inability to breathe is due to an excitement to see the person you've been missing for two weeks, or anxiety seeing the person you were completely embarrassed and rejected by two weeks ago.

"YN?" He whispers quietly, his eyes wide at the sight of you.

"Oh. Sorry. I didn't…" You begin to back up with very small steps. "I didn't know you were here."

He sighs, and it's potentially the saddest one you've heard, but that's the only thing that comes from him.

"I was just, umm, trying to get some air. But I'll… come back out later." You add. The reason to come outside was to relax, and clearly that won't happen for either of you if you stay. You turn around and head back inside, the emptiness in your friendship creating an emptiness in your heart.

Tears begin to cloud your vision. You do your best to guide yourself through the group of bodies to find a safe haven for yourself. The guest bathroom has a crowd forming outside of it, but you remember an office being close by. So through your blurry view, you fumble your way to the, thankfully, unlocked door and quickly close it as soon as you enter.

You take several steps forward, resting your palms on the wide, wood desk, and pull in some deep breaths. They don't last long as the door begins to creak open.

"Sorry, no one should be in-" Your words are halted as you turn around and are met with the most beautiful face. The face you're so familiar with, the face you've missed a lot, the face you love so much. "Oh."

"Hi."

"Hi."

"Can we talk, please?" He asks shyly, his head down and hand gripping the handle, only halfway through the doorway.

"I didn't think you'd-" You mumble back with a shaky breath, nodding and waving him into the room, watching as he hurriedly steps in, closes the door, and locks it.

He takes one step closer, still leaving an upsetting amount of distance between the two of you. But you understand. Last time you were close, too close, which didn't end well. Even though it was an incredible moment for those few seconds.

You shake your thoughts out as you are snapped back into the current moment by the clearing of his throat. You cross your arms around your body, a reflex to keep yourself together.

"What… happened?" He jumps right in, and you are so taken aback that you can't even decipher the context of his question.

"What do you mean?"

"That last party… it seemed to ruin everything. Things are so fucked up now."

Your eyes grow wide in shock. You figured he is just as embarrassed as you are, maybe a bit upset from your fight at the club, but you didn't think he'd feel like this. This intense. This harsh.

"I told you that plan was dumb." You respond, not completely meaning to make the statement aloud.

"Yeah, I get it." He frowns as he stares at the ground, clearly not even being able to look at you now. That hurts. "It was a huge mistake."

That hurts even more.

"You shouldn't have asked me."

"You shouldn't have said yes!"

"You shouldn't have kiss-"

You quickly shut your mouth, regretting those words, not meaning to bring it up and not wanting to admit that it means anything to you when it didn't mean anything to him.

"I shouldn't have kissed you." He finishes your thought with a shallow breath. You can see his regret, you assumed that was how he felt, but it still hurts. Not only because it meant something to you, and not to him, but because this is what it has caused. An awkwardness between you two. Between you and your best friend.

But anger begins to boil at the fact that this was all because of him and his stupid plan to win over some other girl. And that he only kissed you like that after seeing you hang out with another guy.

"So then why did you? Why did you kiss me?"

"You were with that other guy… you were supposed to… be with… me."

"Why did that matter? You were with Chloe! You got her! You got what you wanted!"

"I didn't get her. And I didn't get what I wanted."

"Oh my god, then I'm so fucking sorry if I messed things up for you with her!" You scoff, rolling your eyes at how pathetic this all is.

"I don't want to be with her!" He growls, running his hands down his face, then back up to run through his hair.

"Then what the hell is it, Harry? What the hell do you want that you didn't get?"

"You! For sucks sake! You! I want you, YN!" He growls.

"What?!"

"All I've wanted to do since that kiss… is kiss you again. And again." He moves towards you again, close enough now so that you can feel his warmth, and inhale his sultry dark scent, and feel that familiar tingle down your spine. "And again."

"But… we're friends…"

"Yeah. We are..."

Your body kicks into fight or flight mode, but is frozen in place. You have no idea where this is going and you're not sure if you want to know.

"Look, YN, I miss hanging out with you, and joking with you, and just talking with you. But now…" He sighs, stepping closer and closer until you can feel his breath on your face. "But now I also miss holding you, and making you blush, and kissing you."

Your breath hitches at his confession, your mind racing and your heart pounding.

"I… I thought we were just… pretending."

"I wasn't." He shakes his head, reaching his hands out to gently hold yours. "Maybe at first, because I was an idiot. But being with each other and doing all those couple-y things together made me realize I already had everything I wanted… with you."

"Harry, I-"

"I didn't even want to be with Chloe by that second party." He clears his throat and his admission causes your heart to flutter. "And she cornered me in the kitchen. I couldn't get away. All… all I wanted to do was be around you."

"Oh-"

"And when I got free, and you were with that guy, I snapped." He closes his eyes and shakes his head. "I guess I kissed you because… I wanted… dunno. You pushed me away and I should've left it at that but I couldn't. I didn't want to stop. But after the second one, you gave me that look and I got scared that you didn't feel the same. That you didn't want more."

"But I-"

"If you don't, I can live with that. I don't wanna lose you. I need you in my life. You're my best friend."

"But I-"

"But I wanna be more." He admits, squeezing his eyes shut as he squeezes your hands. "I want more than that, and I just need to know-"

"Can you just stop talking?" You exclaim, taking your hands back and moving them up to his shoulders. His eyes grow wide, with an expression of mixed emotions. "Let me have a turn."

"Okay…"

"I got jealous. So jealous. I hated the plan. I hated seeing you around another girl, and wanting another girl. Because I want more. With you. And… I have for a long time."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Why didn't you?"

"Fair enough." He answers quietly with a small smile. "S'pose I just didn't want to lose you."

"Me either." You reply, a rush of pink appearing on your cheeks as you dip your gaze. A silence falls in the room, despite all the loud noises just outside the door.

"Do you want to be together?" He asks shyly.

Your brow furrows with sudden concern when you look back up to him, and his expression instantly matches yours. "Being together will change everything, Harry…"

"I don't think that's true." He shakes his head, using his thumb to smooth out the crease in your forehead, just like you did with him before. "It feels natural between us. We are comfortable with each other, we know each other, and we already spend lots of time with each other. This would just add… extra… perks…"

"Oh really?" You smirk, a tingle running through your body. "Like what?"

"Answer me first." He whispers, closing the gap between the two of you and resting his forehead on yours. He places both palms on your cheeks, giving you every sense of comfort and excitement possible. "I need to know what you want."

"I want to be together."

"Yeah?"

You nod.

He pulls back while his eyes flicker down to your lips and he grazes them with his own. All the breath in your body leaves in that moment and your hands work their way up to the nape of his neck. Eyes locked on each other, you could swear that your heartbeats are the only noise that can be heard.

"Harry-"

Your words are cut off by the feeling of his plush lips firmly on yours. Again. But this time, much better.

"Is this okay?" He asks as he pulls away, just enough to give you two some space to catch a breath.

"Yes." You giggle, twirling your fingers into his hair. You could get lost in his curls and not even mind. "Now, kiss me again."

His dimples pops in quickly before your face is pulled back to his with one hand, and your body pulled in with the other.

Your lips meet again, passionate and desperate, as if they've been starved since the last time they met. His hands waste no time and begin to roam your body wildly. Rubbing your back, moving down your waist, grabbing your hips, and gliding over your ass. If you thought any of the other times he touched you were exciting, this was absolutely overwhelming.

His body presses further into yours, causing you to slide up onto the desk behind you. Your lips are parted by his tongue and each movement raises in intensity. One hand moves to your knee, slowly making its way up your thigh and every ounce of heat in your body travels to your core.

His lips leave yours and move along your jaw, landing right under your ear.

"Is this okay?" He whispers, nibbling on your earlobe.

"Ye-... Yes." You utter, eyes closed as his breath hits your skin.

His hand slides further up and you've never been more grateful that you chose to wear a skirt, as you feel him squeeze his way to your core. He grazes two fingers over your drenched panties and lets out a pleased exhale.

"Bloody hell." He whispers, as you feel a smile against your skin in triumph. His fingers run up and down, teasing you, and creating an unbearable yearning within.

"H…"

"You want it?" He asks, with the low, deep tone that makes your knees weak.

"Yes." You whine, opening your eyes to look at him and not only show your sincerity, but also your desire. "Please, yes."

He slips in your panties, running his fingers along you again, your bare skin excited by the touch. Your breath hitches as his fingers dip slightly into your folds.

"Harry, please…" You plead, letting out a soft moan as they enter you and you feel the coldness of his rings hit your entrance. "Oh my god!"

"You're so damn wet." He utters, slowly pumping his fingers in and out. The actual touch, and the knowledge that it's finally happening with Harry, quickly builds the pleasurable pressure that he's giving you.

Words escape you. The sensation is taking over. You don't even realize you've made any sort of movement until your eyes snap open at the feeling of his hard bulge trapped within his pants. He growls as you palm him, burying his face in the crook of your neck.

"Fuck… YN…"

Your fingers move to the button of his pants, surprisingly able to undo it without any trouble, and as you pull down his underwear, his cock springs out of its confines. Your eyes shoot down as you wrap your hand around it. He is big. Thick and long. You've only ever imagined what he was like. You knew it wouldn't be disappointing, there was no way. But the actual view of his cock within your grasp causes your breath to hitch, and with his fingers inside of you, you get even closer to reaching your peak.

He moans as you pump your hand. You moan as he thrusts his fingers. Your noises being drowned out to others by the thumping music throughout the rest of the house, and only being shared between the two of you.

Harry curls his fingers up, immediately hitting your most sensitive spot. Your body shudders and you throw your head back as an exuberant exhale leaves your lips. He thrusts faster, curling up each time, and your thighs squeeze together as your orgasm draws closer. He spreads your legs apart slightly and wraps his free hand around your back, pulling you as close to him as possible and getting deeper with the access.

"Oh my go-… Harry… I'm abou- t- cu-"

"Go on. I wanna feel it, babe."

With the nickname that you have so desperately wished meant something more to him, being uttered from him in exactly the way you've wanted it, your orgasm tips over and your walls squeeze Harry's fingers as if they're trapping them there forever. You moan out again, and again, as the ecstasy floods over you.

Your free hand grips onto the desk for leverage, keeping your body upright and stable, as you do your best to continue your motions around his cock.

"Harry! Oh my god!" You exclaim, still panting yet opening your eyes to see the widest grin on his face. "That was… so…"

"Good?" He chuckles, biting down on his lower lip.

"Amazing!" You reply with a breathy giggle.

His mouth falls open and his eyes close as both of your focus fully turns to your work on his cock.

"YN… fuck…"

He pulls into your body again, grabbing your hips as he kisses down your neck and across your shoulder.

"M'gonna… fuck… I dunno where to… to cum." He mumbles between moans.

You push on his body, sliding off the desk. He lifts his head up and you smile when you see his blown out pupils.

"Can I…?" You begin to ask, both looking down to where you hold and stroke him.

His eyes snap back up to yours, desire and concern written all over his face.

"Are you… sure? You don't have to."

"I want to."

"Fucks sake. Okay. Yes. Yes."

You lower yourself down to your knees, looking up through your lashes as you notice him swallow hard at the sight of you.

"Are you sure?"

He nods, exhaling strongly, his chest rising and falling faster as you stick out your tongue to lick his leaking tip. You lick up his base before taking him in, his cock filling your mouth so much that you try not to gag immediately.

"S'alright." He mutters, starting to pull away.

"Don't move." You state, grabbing his hip to keep him in place. "You're big, H. I just need to get used to it."

He growls at the compliment and grabs your hair. You move slowly back onto him, stroking in rhythm with your hand, and getting him deeper each time your mouth takes him in.

"Oh my-... god."

He begins to subtly pump himself in and out of your mouth, hitting the back of your throat, making you have to pull off quickly.

"M'sorry."

"Keep going."

"What?"

"Keep doing it."

"Bloody hell."

You take him in again, adjusting to his soft thrusts, humming against him as he gets deeper.

"Fuck… m'gonna… m'gon-..."

You cup his balls, which sends him over the edge with a loud moan, feeling his warm release spill down your throat.

"Oh my god, YN." He whimpers, his eyes fixed down on you as he thrusts in deep, making sure you swallow every last drop.

You pull off once he's done, kissing his fern tattoos, and pushing yourself back up to kiss his cheek.

"M'sorry babe." He whispers, still attempting to catch his breath.

"Sorry for what?" You ask, suddenly worried that this may have been another mistake to him.

"M'sorry we didn't figure this out sooner." He smirks, running his thumb along your lips and placing his firmly against them.

"Better late than never." You smile, entangling your fingers back in his hair, deciding to make it their permanent home.

He tilts your chin up to look him straight in the eyes. "You are incredible. That… was incredible."

"What are best friends for?" You chuckle, sticking your tongue out between your teeth, but pulling it back in when you see him frown.

"It's what girlfriends are for."

"Yeah?" You ask and watch him nod, peppering kisses on your lips and cheeks, making you giggle. He pulls away and his gaze flickers between each of your eyes.

"I do have one more favor to ask, though." He states quietly.

"Oh god." You chuckle, not anxious in the least at what this request could be. "What is it?"

"Let me take you on a proper date."

You grin widely, matched by one from him, and you press your lips firmly together, now addicted to the feeling that you've been dreaming of for so long. Butterflies awaken in your stomach at his request, and you nod when you see the amount of anticipation splashed all over his face. You kiss his forehead and rest yours against it.

"I can do that."

~~~~~

Main Masterlist

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If you like what I post, and want to just send some extra support, I have a ko-fi account. Even the smallest amount is greatly appreciated. There is no obligation or expectation to donate, because I am honestly just so grateful that you're here! 💗 Bee xx

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[breezybrii]

ੈ♡˳ꜱᴛʀɪᴋɪɴɢ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ！- BLLK

-meguru bachira ；f-reader

-part one ！

݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ .

❥ : being the new student isn't easy, especially in a new country. as you are trying to get used to the new surroundings and a new school. on your walk back from getting a drink, you notice the soccer field. the boys were playing around. out of curiosity, you make your way down the hill to watch. someone specific catches your eye as he swiftly steals the ball from the opposing team while wearing a pinnie with the number 8. using fancy moves, he takes the ball up the field, getting around each defender. after passing the last person, he takes a shot at goal, hitting the crossbar. the ball bounces off, flying in your direction. you hold your nose in pain, watching the ball bounce along the pavement. "wow what a bad header! hey there!" you looked up. "sorry about that. are you okay?" it was him. number 8.

❥ contents: transfer student reader, international reader, basically all the bllk boys go to the same school, just some cute romance bubbling up with bachira :)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘᴏᴠ:

"i want to go home mom," i said into the phone. i heard my mom sigh.

"you'll be okay, we'll be over there in a few months i promise, just focus on school and stay well, bye." she hung up.

i moved to japan about a week ago after my dad got a new job over here. though, i'm the only one here because something came up at my moms job. mom wanted me to start school on time so here i am. in a new house, in a new country, all alone.

------

i start making my way to school, passing the sound of the busy street. compared to the u.s, there are so much more people walking. i'm used to the bus.

"hey y/n!" i heard someone yell.

i turned around.

"i didn't know you took this way!" it was kyo. my new friend.

"i usually don't but i wanted to just go around the town for a bit more," i said, smiling.

"well start walking this way more often, then we can walk to school together!" she yelled excitedly, brushing her hair out of her face.

i like kyo, she's sweet. she invited me to eat with her at lunch when i first moved here and ever since then we've been pretty much inseparable.

"say y/n...," kyo began. "we should def hangout outside of school," she said as we walked through the school gates.

"yeah im so down, it can be at my place since my parents still haven't moved out here yet," i replied.

we walked towards our lockers, changing our shoes.

"hey, when we hangout, does tonight work for you?" i asked.

kyo slammed her locker, making everyone look at us.

"of course it does! i'm so excited oh my god!" she shouted. i covered her mouth with my hand. "everyone is looking at us," i laughed.

"sorry," kyo giggled. "i just can't wait, im so excited!"

"yeah yeah now come on, we're going to miss the morning announcements AGAIN if we don't hurry," i told her.

kyo shoved her books that were lying on the floor in her bookbag, throwing the bag over her should. "yeah i'm ready, lets go!"

------

"ugh im so dead, i can't wait to eat!" kyo yelled as she pushed her desk to face mine. "the lesson today was SO confusing, i don't know how i'm going to pass the midterms."

"well it would be easier if you were awake for more than 15 minutes kyo," i laughed, taking out my lunch bag.

"oh crap," kyo said as she opened her lunch bag up. "i forgot my drink and bread..." she looked up, giving me the eyes.

"oh no, i'm not doing this again kyo." i combatted. kyo pouted her lip, trying her best to give "cute eyes".

"pleaseeeee y/n pleaseee, just the drink PLEASE," kyo begged.

this is the second time is week kyo forgot something for her lunch.

i rolled my eyes, pushing my seat back.

"sure, but this is the LAST time, next time you're getting both by yourself," i sighed, giving in.

kyo got up excitedly. "thank you so much i literally LOVE you! i promise this is the last time."

i shook my head, smiling. i just know that isn't true.

-----

"i hope this is the drink kyo is feeling today," muttering to myself, pressing the button to dispense a yogurt drink.

kyo has a different favorite drink every week so i really hope i don't have to make another trip back.

i started making my way back to the school building but while on the walk, i noticed a soccer field. there were some boys playing there.

i got a little curious so i made my way down the hill to watch for a bit.

i noticed one boy. a boy with the number 8. with his quick movements, he steals the ball away from someone on the opposing side. his fancy footwork mesmerized me. the way he got past each defender with such ease was so cool.

he takes on the last defender, beating him easily. i gripped the drinks, awaiting to see what happens next.

he takes a shot on goal. it hits the cross bar.

next thing i know, i'm holding my nose in pain. opening my eyes to see the drinks on the floor.

"wow what a bad header! hey there!" i looked up towards the voice. "sorry about that! are you okay?"

it was him. number 8.

"uh um yeah, psh, i'm totally fine," i answered.

he looks down at the floor, bending down and picking up the drinks. he hands them to me.

"oh uh thank you, sorry about not catching the ball for you," i said, watching the ball roll down the hill.

"don't worry about it! i was the one that kicked it! sorry about that again!" he scratches the back of his head.

"say.. i've never seen you around here, are you new?" he asked, drying the sweat on his forehead with a handkerchief.

i nodded.

"yeah i moved here about a week ago actually, from the u.s."

his eyes widened.

"oh my god i've always wanted to meet a foreigner! what's your name?" he asked excitedly, shoving the rag back into his pocket.

"my names y/n..." i replied. "what's yours?"

"my name is meguru bachira! nice to meet you y/n!" he said smiling.

"oh my god y/n!!! there you are!!!" we both turned towards the noise. it was kyo, running with a bag full of pastries in one hand.

when she made her way over to us, she was breathing heavily from the running. "i was looking for you everywhere! where have you been?" she questioned.

"well i was getting us a drink and i got a little distracted. then the next thing i know i got hit in the face with a soccer ball by this guy," i said, pointing to bachira.

kyo's eyes widened. "are you okay? is your head okay?... wait...," kyo looked over at bachira. "no way...," she gasped.

"uhh is there a problem?" i asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"no nothing! come on lets get going y/n!" kyo exclaimed, dragging me by my arm.

"oh uh okay...," i accepted as i caught up to match kyo's pace. i turned my head back at bachira, "bye, i'll see you later." i waved.

"bye y/n i'll see ya!!" bachira shouted, waving his hand vigorously while smiling.

i turned back to kyo, "what was that about?"

"since you're new you probably didn't know but bachira is one of the best soccer players here! he's also pretty cute so a lot of girl like him," kyo said, letting go of my arm.

"ohh well it wasn't really anything. he was just the one that kicked the ball that ended up hitting me in the face. he was just being nice," i reassured her. "but, since you say a lot of girl like him does that include you kyo?" i looked at her with a smirk.

kyo shook her head, "no of course not, he's not my type. the only boy i have eyes for is my man takeru satoh."

i laughed. "girl i have no idea who that is ..."

kyo gasped. "he's literally the CUTEST actor in the world, how do you not know who he is?"

i smiled at kyo, nudging her shoulder. "guess i get to see some of his shows today."

i looked back down at the drink boxes, one was a little bent inwards because of the fall.

i touched my nose, feeling a slight sting from the impact.

remind me never to do that again.

----

HEY GUYS!! WELCOME TO MY BACHIRA X YN FF!!!! i hope yall like it because i literally could not get over writers block </3 please let me know what yall think! thank you!! waka-chan out.

[lmh8903]

Benny Rodriguez x Reader Pt 1.

Lil intro: Hi, my name is Y/N McClennan, I'm the older sister of Alan McClennan, but everyone calls him YeahYeah. I am 17 years old, a junior, and I have the best boyfriend ever, Phillips.  I love baseball. I used to play at the Sandlot with the boys, but when I started dating Phillips, the boys got really pissed at me. It's been about a year since I've touched a baseball or even talked to my old friends, which was when I started dating Phillips. This has been incredibly hard since the boys have been my best friends for as long as I can remember. However, the only thing  I can really do about it now is to accept the fact that I broke their trust. Especially Benny's. 

Actual Story: Y/N's POV

I was incredibly excited for today. It was finally the official last day of my junior year. After a long and anticipated wait, school just got out, and now it's time for one of my last summers in the San Fernando Valley.

Of course, as part of my everyday routine, I walked up to Phillips's locker. "Hey," I said.

"Hey, baby," Phillips replied as he kissed my cheek. He grabbed my hand, and I gladly took it, but out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something unusual. Benny was looking at us, and it was clear he wasn't too thrilled.

This made me a little upset and curious because Benny and I were best friends for almost as long as I can remember. The day that our friendship ended was the day that I told him I started dating Phillips, which will be a year in two days. Everyone except Scotty and my brother rebelled to get me off their team, and we haven't talked since.

I still remember how he looked when I told him. He didn't look pissed off, he just looked sad and disappointed. The pain in his eyes, the betrayal. I understand that he and Phillips don't get along, but as my best friend, I was hoping he would have been supportive. I didn't realize I was thinking so much until Phillips cut me off.

"You okay babe?" Phillips asked.

"Yeah, of course, I'm fine," I replied with a slight smile.

He turned around, clearly knowing I was lying. Benny was still looking at us. "You're looking at Rodriguez?" Phillips asked.

"Oh, um yeah. I just wanted to make sure he saw this," I said as I passionately kissed Phillips. I don't even know why I did this. I would've liked to have mended my relationship with Benny, but this just shows that I don't care. How could I be so fucking stupid?

We pulled away when we heard a locker door and a door slam. I looked at where Benny was standing. He was gone. I could tell he was infuriated. I could kind of feel his pain in a way. It was obvious Benny was irritated when he saw us before I made the rash decision of kissing Phillips in front of him. I should have just left it at that.

In all honesty, I've always had a little crush on Benny. The way he is so passionate about baseball, it's pretty hot. Once Benny and I talked about the future, and what we wanted. He made it very clear that he did not have time for a relationship, nor did he want one. I knew at that moment I had to move on. So, I went with someone who had put in the effort of trying to impress me and decided to give him a chance.

I love Phillips, I mean, he's great, and we're super happy, but sometimes I wonder how happy I would be with Benny. I really miss him. After all, he was my best friend. I'm going to talk to Yeah-Yeah when I get home to see if the boys would let me back on the team. They really were the best and most loyal friends a girl could have. And what did I do? I started dating their enemy. Like who does that? Thinking about it now, I see why they kicked me off the team, and I wouldn't blame them if they didn't want to be friends again.

After thinking, Phillips and I start walking to his house. It's only a couple of blocks, so we don't feel the need to drive. It's nice walking with him. It's giving me time to clear my head and push out any doubts that I have.

Phillips then breaks the silence, "Y/N, are you okay? You've been acting weird since we saw Rodriguez." I sigh and reply, "I don't know. I just really miss my friends. I love you, and you know that, but I just wish they would get over it." Phillips responds, "I know you miss them. You also need to understand that, besides Rodriguez, there's an age difference there. They're only 14 and 15. Them being like this is somewhat valid, they're supposed to be immature, you know? Rodriguez, on the other hand, that's just immature." I don't say anything; I just give him a peck on the cheek and smile. We look up to see that we're standing outside his house. We go in, start watching movies, and cuddle.

After we get done hanging out at his house, I kiss Phillips goodbye, get in my car that I drove over to his house before school, and drive home. I start bawling in the car. Phillips made a lot of sense, but it doesn't hurt any less. I reach my driveway, park my car, and then head inside my house. I walk to Yeah-Yeah's room to go talk to him and see how the boys are doing. Once I get to his room, he's not in there. I guess he's still out with them. I then walk to my room and try to go to sleep in order to prevent myself from crying again. 

After struggling to fall asleep for a few hours, I left my bedroom. I look in Yeah-Yeah's room to see if he's home. He's passed out cold. I have no one to talk to currently, so I  walk to the one place I can fully clear my thoughts. 

Lmk if y’all want part 2!! <3

[bubblegumvolcano]

𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐞 (ʳᵉᵐᵘˢ ˡᵘᵖⁱⁿ ˣ ʳᵃᵛᵉⁿᶜˡᵃʷ! ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ)

ᵐᵃˢᵗᵉʳˡⁱˢᵗ

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬; nothing i think, and this can be read as any house tbh!!

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭; 1,973

𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭; here !

꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶

You and Remus hated each other. You both knew that, everyone else knew it, and you were okay with that. It was old news that had been around since the beginning of time.

No one was shocked anymore when they’d hear the two snap at each other in class. It was a common occurrence. 

The only times it did get annoying was when you two would fight in the middle of social gatherings. Especially due to the fact that you guys shared the exact same friend group.

You’d be sitting in the Gryffindor common room with all your friends, and as soon as Remus joined, it’d either get silent or extremely loud. 

Certain people (Sirius) called it sexual tension, but you and Remus found it ridiculous. And when you told Sirius that, he'd give you a look. A knowing look. But you would never let the mere idea of liking Remus like that seep into your head. It was wrong. You never stopped once to think about it.

If you had, you probably would’ve noticed sooner.

You would’ve noticed how you wait for him to join class so you can immediately bicker and have him bicker back. 

You would’ve noticed how you stare at him in “hate” when he answers something correctly.

You would’ve noticed how sad you get when he gives up on trying to compete with you.

Neither you or Remus saw the potential until the detention.

One single detention completely turned your mindset on Remus.

It was a cold afternoon when you and Remus found yourselves in detention together.

Neither of you usually get detention. But the cause for this one? Disrupting the class' learning. McGonagall had enough of it, especially since it had been going on the whole school year.

However, neither of you knew you'd be there together until the moment you walked in. There were no groans, but instead an awkward moment of eye contact.

Professor McGonagall had tasked the two of you with sorting out her homework for her to grade, and immediately left.

As you both hesitantly began the boring task, the silence between you was thick with tension. Bickering seemed almost wrong in this setting. The room was silent except for the sound of papers rustling against each other.

Halfway, though, all sound from Remus' side of the room paused.

"You know, this fighting isn't really getting anywhere, is it?" he said, but not turning your way.

You paused for a moment, studying him silently from the corner of your eye. There was a tone in his voice that you had never heard from him.

The walls you built up against him were slowly falling, and you found yourself speaking honestly.

"I guess not. But I don't even know if we can stop."

Remus smiled at you, his features softening.

"Well, we're both smart. Instead of trying to outdo each other, maybe we can start working together sometimes." He avoided eye contact as he made the suggestion, but you looked at him with surprised eyes.

The idea was completely out of the blue, but it intrigued you a little. To work with someone you had been at odds with for so long was an alien concept.

-

As you continued sorting papers, you and Remus shared thoughts about the subjects you both loved. It was refreshing to talk with him about something you both had knowledge in.

As the detention progressed, you learned more about Remus beyond the surface. You discovered his deep love for reading (you knew he liked reading, but not this much) and his strong loyalty to his friends. You'd never expect to see Remus this open, but it was surprisingly endearing.

When detention was over, the two of you had managed to make a lot of progress with the papers. As you walked back to your own common rooms silently, you both realized that there was some understanding now. Something shifted, and you weren't sure if you could really label what you had for him as hatred anymore.

Over the next few weeks, you found yourself seeking Remus out more often. You'd argue and tease, but it lost the harshness it once held. Your friends noticed the change in demeanors immediately. They could hang out with you two now without as many awkward arguments and silences.

Lily even teased, saying she'd be waiting for the wedding invites. You always rolled your eyes, though. There was no way you'd ever see Remus like that. Besides, you were just getting used to not disliking him.

But Lily really started taking note of every little thing after one interaction you had with Remus after class.

Remus caught up with you and Lily outside of the classroom, a shy smile playing on his lips. "See you tomorrow?' he asked, and as you nodded with a smile, you couldn't ignore the face Lily was making.

"What now?" You groaned once he walked away.

"You guys are in love! It's so cute."

You scoffed at Lily's comment, but you didn't even know how you felt about Remus. Yet, at least.

"That's ridiculous, Lily."

But as summer came along, you slowly started to notice how Remus seemed to go out of his way to spend time with you, even outside of classes and group gatherings. It made you feel a certain way, but you almost didn't even want to admit it to yourself.

~

One evening, you were sitting by the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room waiting for Lily to return from the bathroom, when Remus approached you with a book in his hand.

"I thought you might like this one," he said, holding it out to you.

Sirius and James were at a corner table, silently watching Remus.

You took the book and looked at the cover, realizing that it was a topic you had mentioned during one of your conversations.

"Thank you, Remus. That's so thoughtful of you," you replied, genuinely surprised by the gesture.

Remus flashed you a soft smile, "Well, I noticed how much you were talking about it, and I thought it might be a good read," he said, a slight hint of bashfulness in his voice that you didn't miss.

Lily finally returned from the bathroom and immediately noticed the sweet moment between the two of you. She went over to James first before interrupting.

"They're so cute, don't you think?"

"That could be us."

And with that, Lily walked back to you in silence.

"This is so sweet! Is this the same guy you used to snap at every chance you got?" Lily looked at you playfully, watching your face heat up.

Remus blushed slightly, looking down at you shyly, "I can put it behind me."

You smiled, poking Remus in the side. "Oh, how mature."

As the conversation continued, Sirius and James walked themselves over to where you all were and sat down. The conversation quickly shifted to their next prank.

As you sat there, you noticed Remus stealing glances at you from the corner of your eye, making a smile form on your lips.

Over the following weeks, you and Remus spent more time together, but alone this time. You'd be seeking out quiet spots around the castle to talk and share random thoughts. Remus would bring you books he thought you might like, and you'd bring him chocolate and words.

-

Another afternoon, you were in the same spot as last time in front of the fire, but this time with Remus. He looked at you with a hint of nervousness in his eyes that you didn't really notice.

"I, um, I wanted to ask you something," he stammered, breaking the silence.

You turned to him and raised an eyebrow playfully, "Go on."

He took a deep breath and looked down at his hands before finally looking up at you. "Would you, um, like to go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend? Just, you know, as friends."

You couldn't help but smile, feeling your heartbeat speed up. "I'd love to, Remus."

His face lit up with relief, and a shy grin spread across his lips. "Great. It's a date then."

You playfully nudged him, "Oh but it's a friendly outing, right?"

His blush returned, "Right, a friendly outing."

-

As the weekend approached, you found yourself looking forward to spending even more time with Remus. You had only hung out with him around the castle, but now you were hanging out alone alone. This somehow felt more intimate than watching the fireplace silently with him.

When day arrived, the two of you walked side by side around Hogsmeade, laughing and talking like you had been friends forever.

You shared a milkshake, (which you were overthinking about a little) talking about what you'd like to do after school's done. It felt like you'd come completely full circle.

You looked up at him softly, "This is nice, Remus."

He smiled shyly at your comment, "It is."

Your eyes were pierced onto his, trying to get him to look up at you. When he did, you smiled softly so it wasn't so serious.

He smiled back, but soon after that, you noticed something. His face was starting to come closer, and his eyes began to flutter shut.

Your heart dropped, and you turned away.

"We should get fries for this!" You fake smiled, but you could only concentrate on the clearly hurt look on Remus' face as he pulled away.

"Y-yeah, I'll go order those."

He gets up, his brows furrowed as he orders.

You wince to yourself at the table. You put your face in your hands, cringing at the whole interaction. It wasn't even that you didn't want to kiss him, you just seemed to malfunction for a moment.

As Remus returned with the fries, you tried to shake off the painful moment. You knew that you were the one who had backed away, and it wasn't fair to leave him hanging like that.

Remus kept smiling and talking like nothing happened, and it made your chest ache slightly.

"Remus, about earlier..." you started, trying to find the right words.

He looked at you, his smile still gentle, but wavering. "I'm sorry, Y/N. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"No, it's not that," you replied, fumbling with your words. "It's just that I... I got scared, and I don't know why. I feel the connection. Don't think I wanna ignore it."

You noticed Remus was looking down at his hands.

"You don't have to lie to me, Y/N. It's okay, seriously."

"I'm not lying," you said earnestly, reaching out to touch his hand gently.

"I like you, a lot. There was literally no reason for me to turn away. If I didn't feel that way, I don't think I'd even be sitting here anymore."

Remus finally genuinely laughed, and you felt your body relax.

There was a small moment of silence. This time, it was comfortable.

You finally spoke up, "Maybe we could try that again. Minus the me turning away part." You gave him a soft, hopeful smile.

Remus' eyes sparkled subtly. "I'd be up for that."

You leaned in closer to Remus carefully. "How about we try again right now?" you suggested shyly.

Remus raised an eyebrow, a playful but bashful smile tugging at his lips. He leaned in slowly as he spoke back, "Are you sure?"

You chuckled, feeling a warmth spread through you as you nodded. "Yeah, I am," you replied, and finally closed the small distance between you and him.

Your lips met in a gentle, slightly hesitant kiss. It was sweet, and just intensely soft. Neither of you were experienced, but as far as you could tell, it was perfect.

When you finally pulled away, you were bot left with hot faces.

"So we've been fighting for nothing."

"Basically."

[writtenonreceipts]

Rowaelin Month Day Twenty-Seven: Single Parent @rowaelinscourt

Month Masterlist // Story Masterlist

Story is hidden on Ao3 for the time being, but can't resist sharing for today's prompt.

Warnings: None, ~3.5k words

Summary: After a flashback disrupts Rowan's progress in town, Aelin and Meiri spend the day at the park.

.*.*.*.*.

Where We've Been, Where We're Going--Part Nine

Rowan didn’t return to the house that night.

Aelin tried to not let it bother her.  Tried to assure herself that everything was alright and she hadn’t somehow insulted him.  Not that she cared of course.  He could do whatever he wanted.  He wasn’t a prisoner nor did he owe her an explanation.

But after Aelin had picked up Meiri from Nehemia’s, she hadn’t seen any sign of Rowan’s truck in town.  And then once Meiri was in bed--Rowan still hadn’t returned.

She didn’t know why she cared.  Or maybe it was unease and a cold shift of distrust.  She remembered nights when Arobyn would come back late and she had no idea what mood he’d be in.  It usually wasn’t the best mood and often led to fights.

Which was why Aelin shouldn’t let herself care about Rowan.  Because he didn’t need it.  He didn’t need her nagging him or worrying.  He probably loathed it anyway.

When morning came and there was still know sign of him, Aelin told herself not to worry.  It wouldn’t have surprised her if he’d just gotten tired of being in Terrasen and decided to leave, break all the promises he’d made and not look back.  She wouldn’t judge him.  At least…she’d try not to.

With the day off from work, Aelin was determined to spend it all with Meiri.  It had been a while since they’d had a mother-daughter day so the extra time would be nice.

As Aelin made oatmeal and cut up some banana’s Meiri pattered into the kitchen with her princess blanket over her shoulders.  She climbed into one of the kitchen chairs that creaked beneath her before glancing around.

“Where’s Rowan? He’s gonna miss breakfast!” 

Aelin hid her wince as she turned to grab the milk from the fridge. “He’s helping Uncle Malakai, remember?”

“He never misses breakfast, though,” Meiri pointed out.

She looked up at Aelin with her big blue and gold eyes looking so expectant that Aelin decided she hated Rowan Whitethorn.

“He just needed to get an early start,” Aelin said, pouring a cup of milk for Meiri.

Hopefully that would be the end of it.  Aelin had no desire to lie for Rowan.  Especially not like this.  She’d never really had a reason to lie to her daughter.  Even when it came to talking about her father, Meiri accepted the small half-truths given.  And she still didn’t ask about him a lot.  But it felt different where Rowan was concerned.  Especially because she hadn’t wanted this.  She hadn’t wanted another man in her life that would just let her and Meiri down again.  Yet somehow he’d carved a place in their home.

Irritated over that reaction, Aelin returned to the kitchen table with the milk and the oatmeal.

“Are you excited about our day today?” she asked, eager to distract Meiri. “We can go see Marion and then go to the park.”

It was still August which meant they had a few weeks until the school year started in early September.  Aelin wanted to make sure they used their summer up in the best possible ways while the weather was still good.

“Yeah!” Meiri said excitedly. “Do you think they fixed the big blue slide?  It’s my favorite.”

A few high schoolers had thought it would be fun to disconnect a few pieces of playground equipment last week which left a lot of the park unusable.  Aelin didn’t know if the kids had been caught but she did know that Chaol had a whole slew of community service activities ready for when they were found.  

“I hope so,” Aelin said. The parks department also had a nearly nonexistent budget and a lot of things were slipping through the cracks, especially when everyone was so concerned about seeing the county fair be successful.

Meiri attacked her oatmeal with gusto before taking her dishes to the sink.  She dashed upstairs to get ready for the day while Aelin finished her own breakfast.

Her phone remained quiet on the table before her.  All it would take was one text to Rowan and she knew she’d feel a little better.  But what would she even say?

Hey just making sure you didn’t abandon us.  Or if you did that’s fine just wanna check and see.

Because that was normal.

All he was doing was crashing at her place until he was ready to move on.  Nothing else.  Just the way it was meant to be.

Aelin shot off a text to Marion letting her know of their plans before she got up and made sure the dishes were washed before heading upstairs to get ready for the day herself.

…

With a pile of books between them, Aelin pulled into the small parking lot for the park.  It was another beautiful day in Terrasen with the bright sun and scant clouds in the sky.  Aelin would take these days for as long as she could get them.  Not just the heat of the day, but times where Meiri was bouncing with excitement and chattering on about how much she loved her books and which one she wanted to read first.

Aelin smiled to herself as she got out of the car--Meiri already unbuckled herself and was rapidly piling books in her arms.  As Aelin gathered the old picnic blanket from the trunk as well as her own book, she made sure Meiri was keeping to the grass and nearby area of the park.

They’d never had trouble here, nor in the town for that matter, but Aelin wouldn’t take her chances.  Even after nearly six years without a sign of Arobynn--Aelin knew she’d always be looking over her shoulder.

“Rowan!” Meiri yelled suddenly.  

Aelin’s head snapped up, glancing around the park.  Sure enough, there was the familiar head of silver hair in the mulch of the playground.  His giant toolbox was at his feet and he had a battery hand drill in hand as he carefully maneuvered the big blue slide into place.  His truck sat in the far corner of the lot, somehow staying hidden beneath the large oak tree on that side of the park.

Hearing his name, Rowan froze before looking around and finding Meiri running towards him.

“You missed breakfast!” Meiri shouted as she ran closer.

Rowan said something that Aelin missed and she couldn’t see his face given the slant of the sun.  He wouldn’t say anything bad would he?  There was an obvious reason he’d avoided returning to the house--maybe it had something to do her or Meiri or--

Meiri let out a squealing laugh.  Rowan had handed her the large drill and knelt before her as he showed her how it worked.  It reminded Aelin of when her father had made her a small trophy case for all of her medals and awards for playing the piano.  Rhoe had constructed a small case for her and showed her the wood and tools he’d use and consulted her in what color to paint it and everything.  As far as Aelin knew, it was still sitting in her old bedroom.  Unless her parents had tried to move on.  It had been seven years since the last time Arobynn let her talk to them after all.  She was twenty-six, her birthday a few weeks ago.  They’d move on by now, wouldn’t they?

Meiri laughed again as the empty drill bit whorled.

Aelin collected her book and blanket and the small cooler packed full of snacks.  She didn’t bother locking the car, knowing they’d stay within eyesight of it.  She went over to where she and Meiri usually camped out, beneath the long spindly branches of a maple tree, and set things down before walking over to the playset.

Meiri had given back the drill and watched in rapt attention as Rowan drilled in a bolt.  He set the drill down and gave the slide a hefty shove.  It remained in place.

“Wow!” Meiri said. “You did it!  Momma, Rowan fixed the slide.”

Aelin couldn’t help but smile at how pleased Meiri was over the new development.  Already, Meiri hedged closer to the ladder that would take her to the top of the slide.

“He did, didn’t he?” Aelin glanced at the man in question, brow raised. 

Rowan just shrugged. “I ran into Chaol this morning and he mentioned it, thought I’d have a look.  It should be good to go.”

He pushed on the slide again.  Even when it didn’t budge, he didn’t seem convinced that it would remain fixed.  

“Can I play, Momma?” Meiri asked.  She tugged on Aelin’s hand all while looking back at the playground.

If Rowan’s relentless shoves weren’t going to get the slide to move, Aelin figured he’d repaired it better than it had been when first installed.  So Aelin ruffled her daughter’s hair and urged her on.

“Have fun.”

Meiri launched onto the playground, scrambling around the ladders and steps.

Rowan shifted almost imperceptibly and Aelin could have sworn a small caution was on his lips before he clamped up entirely and only watched Meiri continue to play.

“She’ll be fine,” Aelin said, “you probably made the slide immovable even in an earthquake.”

He didn’t say anything until Meiri launched herself down the slide, squealing the entire way.  When she reached the bottom of the slide, Meiri ran straight back to the ladder and to the top.  Completely unharmed if rather static-y.

“Right,” Rowan said.  Shaking his head, he knelt down and gathered his tools. 

Aelin almost asked him about where he’d been last night and this morning, but it didn’t matter, did it?  Prying would say more about her than it did him.  And if him leaving was going to get any easier it would do well to distance herself now.

So, Aelin stepped back to where she’d left the blanket, book, and cooler.  She smoothed everything out and settled into an easy reading position where she could see the entire playground and watch as Meiri dashed between slide, swing, and monkey bars.  

It was an otherwise quiet day with the occasional bird chirping overhead.  This park was on the far west side of town and, honestly, no one really liked it.  It was often empty and easy to get parking.  Which was also why Aelin preferred it.

Maybe that was why she was so surprised when Rowan came to stand at the edge of the blanket, still looking out over the playground.

Aelin looked up at him.  There standing beneath the maple, he was covered from the sun and she could see the stubble growing again and the dark circles beneath his eyes.  He looked exhausted.  And Aelin knew what that kind of tired did.  It was bone weary to the point that you simply had to embrace it and live with it and hope that something, somehow, would keep you going and going and going.

“Did you tell Luca about Emrys?” Rowan asked.

Aelin set her book aside. “Yeah, I swung by Chaol’s place this morning.  He was really excited.”

“He gonna help you with the party?”

“Only by making food suggestions,” Aelin said.

A small smile flashed across Rowan’s otherwise harsh features.  Even that bit of softness was fascinating.

“Though,” Aelin added, “I think we’ll just do it as the diner.  I don’t want their house getting too crowded and my place…well.  The diner’s more local anyways and I know a lot of people will want to be there.”

Slowly, so slowly and without looking at her, Rowan lowered himself to the ground.  He stayed off the blanket, didn’t even touch the worn edges.  It took him a minute to settle there, legs stretched out before him, frown back in place.  Aelin wondered how long it had been since he’d truly taken time to himself to just exist.

“I was going to leave,” Rowan finally admitted.  He picked at a thick blade of grass and carefully began ripping it lengthwise into small strips, hardly looking at it and instead watching as Meiri latched onto a sliding pole and went careening at almost concerning speed. “But I’m already enough of a bastard--I only made it a few miles out before pulling over.  Slept out there too.”

Aelin vaguely remembered the messages she’d seen on his phone.  Someone was expecting him in California and others too were still trying to reach out to him in one form of friendship or another.

She wondered if it had anything to do with that--that he’d finally broke and chose to fulfill whatever duty still on his ledger.  She almost told him as such.  That he could just leave.  That no one would blame him or begrudge him that.

“I should have told you what I was planning, or that I was--” Rowan cut himself off, lips pressed together.

They stayed like that for several minutes.  Aelin figured it would do well to let him proceed as he wanted.  Prying into someone’s life had never worked out well for her in the past.  But Rowan seemed to be measuring his words, carefully considering them instead of holding back entirely. 

Rowan let the pieces of grass fall from his fingers before he spoke. “There was an accident last night that Chaol mentioned where a kid had…the kid died.”  He looked at her, straight on and direct and Aelin had a feeling she would not like where this story ended. “And all I could think about was when I let this kid, only a year younger than me, I let him scout out a building we were watching.  And he was always wanting to do something, always wanting to be busy and be active y’know?”

His gaze fell back to his hands. “I could have stopped it if I’d actually thought about what was happening.”

Aelin felt her stomach twist in knots, felt the cold brush of the reality of what Rowan had experienced.  He continued to stare at his hands and Aelin wondered what those hands had done.  Had they held his friend's hand?  Has he tried to staunch the bleeding?  Had he found who was responsible?

Arobynn had never told her what training was like, only that he was in charge.  He’d never told her about his deployments, only that he was in charge.  He’d never told her anything, only acted on his own pain.  And when that happened it was always upon her.  She knew well how to be silent.  She knew well how to listen and carefully craft a response even if it never was spoken aloud.

But Rowan, Rowan was different.

Wasn’t he?

“I never made it back for the funeral, but his mom sent me letters after,” Rowan continued. “I tried apologizing, tried telling her I did everything I could.  Tried telling her it was my fault.  And she only sent me pictures of the family garden and told me that Danny had wanted to give her something before he left.  So he started that garden for her and she’d been keeping it on ever since.”

“How long has it been?” Aelin whispered.  

“Six years.”

So it wasn’t what drove him back stateside.  That would be another painful story.

Once Aelin would have pulled out the beer and the vodka that Arobynn told her were only for special occasions.  She would have kept pouring glasses while trying to fix dinner.  She’d never touch until he would put her on her knees and tell her to distract him.  She always did what she was told back then and never anything more because if she ever did something she wasn’t supposed to…well…there was a reason she told Yrene to delete her file at the hospital after Meiri was born.

But now, Aelin wanted so desperately to reach out to Rowan.  She herself would want even the simplest of touches.  Even a hand to hold or a shoulder to lean on.

“Do you still get pictures of the garden?” Aelin asked, unsure what else to say.

On the playground, Meiri had begun collecting rocks to stack against each other in a sort of cairn.

“Yeah,” Rowan said, “the tomatoes always do well.  Danny’s sister even got married in the yard with all these sprawling plants in every picture.” 

He smiled, barely, at that.

“I’ve never been able to grow anything,” Aelin mused.  She paused and gestured to Meiri. “Except that.”

Meiri chose that exact moment to screech and kick all the rocks she’d collected in varying directions.

“You’re doing a good job at it,” Rowan said.

Aelin returned her attention to him.  He was back to watching her with that guarded expression he wore so well.

“Well, I’m running out of ways to cut her pancakes so a revolution may be on our hands.”  Aelin settled back on her elbows, letting the warm summer breeze cool her sweaty skin.  She had a few water bottles at the ready and would call Meiri back soon to make sure she was getting enough to drink.

“Dragons and aliens?” Rowan suggested.

“Done and done.  Poorly.” Aelin grinned. “I am a failure of a mother for that, according to Meiri.  No amount of syrup was enough to save it.  Emrys is better at pancakes than me.”

Rowan shook his head, running a hand over his mouth as he tried and failed to hide his amusement.

“Your daughter can be a bit brutal,” he said.

“Well, she has to get it from somewhere.”  Aelin called Meiri over and handed her a water bottle and snack.

Meiri took the items before trotting over to sit on the edge of the slide.  Apparently a grasshopper had been sticking close to the area and she wanted to try and catch it.

“So,” Aelin said, “why California?”

He’d never exactly explained that choice and Aelin was admittedly curious about it.

Rowan shifted and stretched one leg out before him, the other bent so he could rest his elbow in his knee.

“Well, I’d just got back from Kovac,” he said, “and didn’t have anything holding me in New York.”

The words were slow as Rowan took his time to explain.  Aelin almost told him to forget it, that it really wasn’t her business, but he continued before she could.

“One of my squad mates is in California right now,” he continued.  “After…after my last tour.  Well.  I’d never gone on a road trip before, so why not now?”

He was leaving things out, not that Aelin could blame him.  There was something heavy in his voice and the way his shoulders slumped just a little.

“My squad mate was injured, pretty bad, and we’d all said we’d meet up when we were all out.  So I started driving.”

“I’m sorry about your friend,” Aelin said.

“It got me to go to Kentucky,” Rowan admitted, “it’s where Danny was from.”

He paused, lost in thought.  A look of regret flashed over his face.  She knew that look.  It wasn’t one of exact misery but it was painful nonetheless.

“He told me to go hike Mammoth Cave, that it would be the best thing to do to make me feel alive,” Rowan added. “That and go to the county fair his town always hosted.  It wasn’t fair season, so I ended up hiking most of the day, got lost a few times and eventually made it back.  Then I had to find the nearest store to find these dumb little pink candies that taste like chalk, but it was a tradition his family had.”

“That sounds like a good day,” Aelin said.

He smiled, barely. “It was.  It was supposed to be the entire squad.  We were all supposed to go out and do that one thing for him.  But…well.  Things happen.”

Aelin didn’t know if that meant everyone else was dead but him or they’d all just drifted apart after they returned.  She wasn’t sure if she even wanted to know.

And then before she could stop herself, she spoke. “I left my boyfriend, or fiancé, technically he just gave me the ring and told me to put it on.  He wasn’t…he wasn’t a good person.”

“Aelin,” Rowan spoke softly.  He reached across the distance between them, fingers barely skirting the back of her hand.

“He doesn’t know about Meiri,” she said, smiling as Meiri stuffed the last bite of sandwich into her mouth with all the elegance of a five year old. “She’s everything to me.”

Rowan wrapped his fingers around hers, giving them a tight squeeze.  It was enough.  For just that afternoon, Aelin would let herself be comforted.  It was the most information she’d ever shared about herself with someone that wasn’t Marion or Nehemia.  She hadn’t even told Emrys or Malakai about her past, though she had a feeling they both had a close enough idea to what she was running from.

But for now, Aelin let herself accept Rowan’s comfort.  

For now, she let herself imagine that everything was going to be alright.

[ahgasegotarmy116]

Still With You | A Jeon Jungkook Series | Chapter 5

Summary: Jungkook comes to pick you up for your "date". Pairing : Luna (reader) x Jungkook and Jimin, f2l love triangle Word Count: 5.7k~ Warning: Explicit Language, a panic attack and mentions of death by car accident (nothing graphic) a/n: I already had this written so I thought I would post the next part to kind of fill up the gap before the next update for Just Take It Start from the beginning

After coming back to the store from my meet up with Jimin I can't help but space out while, waiting for time to pass by. Jungkook's coming to pick me up for our "date" as he likes to call it soon and I get a bit nervous thinking about how things are gonna go. I hope he likes what I have planned but knowing him, he would probably enjoy doing anything as long as we're together. 

That's why our friendship work so well. We can literally be laying down on the floor and staring at the ceiling and still have so much fun just talking about anything and everything. Then once we run out of things to say we never feel pressured to keep the conversation going. We just sit in comfortable silence. 

I do admit that half the time when that happens I end up falling asleep, but Jungkook doesn't seem to mind. He'll just sit there or lay there next to me and play with my hair which only helps me fall into an even deeper sleep. My favorite place in the whole world is when I'm with him. I just feel so safe that it doesn't even matter where we are. 

I can't help but smile thinking of all the times we've spent together and how much he's helped me since the beginning. He was there for me when I got my first period and even though he didn't know what was going on, he still stayed with me and helped take care of me. We were in middle school but he still showed that sense of maturity in him that I always admired. Although I wish some of it would've rubbed off on me. 

I feel like I've still got a lot to learn and I'm still so naïve when it comes to a lot of things. Jungkook is there for me when times get tough that I'm not sure if I could've gotten though half of the things I've gone through if it wasn't for him.

The time that Jungkook and I met wasn't the happiest time in my life and but somehow he showed up and helped me through it. We met on the day of my parent's funeral. 

I was only six and I was in the car with them but I was the only one who survived. Everyone came back to my old house after the funeral service was done and I just couldn't handle being there without my parents by my side anymore so I ran to the park and hid on my own behind a tree and cried my eyes out. 

I hadn't cried since the accident happened and I knew that if I broke down in front of everyone or went to my room I would just get scolded. They would probably say I was being selfish and some of them resent me because my parents didn't survive, especially my grandmother. 

She used to be kind and loving but once my parents died she blamed me for taking her son away from her. She even told me that she would trade me for him if she could when it hit the ten year anniversary of their death. 

The time she said that was the last time I ever saw her. I was seventeen and done with being reprimanded for the fact that I survived. They act like I was the one who caused the crash or that I could've somehow prevented it. 

While I was crying at the park after the funeral a little boy came up to me because he had heard me crying. 

Some kids might tease you for crying or try to figure out why you're upset, but not him. He simply sat next to me and stayed with me until I calmed down. He asked me what my name was and I told him and he offered up his name right after "My name is Jungoogie but my real name is Jungkook. But you can call me whatever you want" he said simply with a smile. 

He reached out his hand to help me up off the ground and asked me if I wanted to play with him. I was hesitant at first but said okay and we played for hours before he had to go. "I'm sorry Luna but I have to go now, my mom says dinner is ready. Do you wanna play again sometime?" he said with a cute bunny smile. I noded my head in turn, happy to have made a new friend.

He waved goodbye and ran off towards his mom "Meet me back here tomorrow and we can play tag!" he yells turning to me and waving once more before running down the street back to his house. After that day we played together everyday after school until it was time to go home. 

I moved to a different part of the city when we got a bit older but Jungkook begged his mom to send him to the same school as me and so we could stay together. We were in the same class, we joined all the same clubs, we even had the same backpack. We were inseparable. 

Grey came along later and with how antisocial and lonely she seemed most days in class I couldn't help but adopt her into our friend group. She had come in at the middle of the year school year in 6th grade and I just wanted her to have at least one friend. 

I know I hated being left out when I was younger so I just kept bugging her everyday until she finally accepted the fact that I wasn't gonna leave her alone. From then on the three of us have been the best of friends. Although most days Grey still acts like she can't stand us I know that she loves us in her own way.

Once I start to come out of the fog that is my daydream I realize that it's almost time for him to come get me. 

"I so excited for tonight!" I gush to Grey. "Did I ask?" she responds checking out her cuticles sounding uninterested. "Oh come on I know you're just jealous" I say nudging her shoulder teasingly. "Jealous? Of you and Jungkook? I'm just happy you two are gonna leave me alone for the rest of the night. Just make sure to finish up your share of the work before you leave" she says reminding me that I am in fact still on the clock. 

"Shit, yeah about that" I start off tentatively. "No Luna you've been slacking off all night, you cannot leave me to do all of your work for you" she says ready to cut me off before I can even ask. "Oh come on, I promise I'll make it up to you I swear! Plus you came in late today so I could've had this all done if I wasn't left alone for so long" I say guilt tripping her. She rolls her eyes and I can see her defense slowly crumbling. 

"Lunch for a week" she huffs out. "Thank you thank you thank you! You're an absolute gem!" I say giving her a quick squeeze. "Yeah whatever, can you at least straighten up the snacks over there until he comes to pick you up?" she says waving her hand over towards the shelves in question while scrolling through her phone clearly becoming more and more uninterested in my existence. "Yup you got it!" I say while heading over to take care of it.

I end up humming some random song while rearranging all of the various misplaced items. I wonder if I should buy some to go along with the other food I brought. I ponder this while putting the finishing touches on the section. "Guess who" I hear someone say behind me while covering my eyes. 

"Kook! Happy Friendiversary!" I say while turning around to give him a huge hug. "Happy Friendiversary Luna but haven't I told you to stop day dreaming while at work. Someone could really end up sneaking up on you or wor-". I hold my hand up to stop his lecture before it goes any further. 

"No more nagging tonight, it's a special occasion right? Let's just relax and have a good time alright?" I say bringing my hand down and grab his in turn. "Wow Noona when did you suddenly become a rapper?" he says with a cheeky smile. I lift my arm up to hit him but he dodges before I can make contact. 

"Alright alright no more nagging" he says, finally giving in. I thought for sure that he would try to protest a bit further but luckily he decides against it. "Are you ready to go?" he asks starting to perk up again. "Yep last thing is for us to pick out some snacks and drinks before we leave and then we'll be good to go. Do you have anything in mind?" I say already knowing his answer but I can't help but want to see the joy on his face as he picks out his favorite snacks. 

"Yes, and I'm paying!" he says, rushing around the store. "But wait I was the one who mentioned it!" I say in protest. "Yeah but you brought the rest of the food right?" he says. "Touché" I respond, shaking my head.

Once we're done I grab the picnic basket, my bag and some blankets from the back and we say goodbye to Grey as he leads me over to where his brother's truck is parked. "Wow is it just me or does this look a lot nicer?" Jungkook chuckles at me in response. "No it's not just you. He got a newer version of the same model" he informs me. 

"Oh okay that makes sense! Looks like it's a bit smaller though" I say concerned about the space. "Yeah it looks smaller but I promise once you get inside it's actually quite spacious. Why are you worried about that though? You've been very secretive about this whole thing so I'm starting to get anxious" he teases. 

"Hey have I ever let you down?" I say walking around to the passenger side and getting in. "Yes, multiple times" he responds with a straight face, answering the question very seriously in a way to tease me further while he goes and gets in on the driver's side. Leaving me scoffing in response while getting in the car. 

"Hey I'm just being honest here" he says with a mischievous grin on his face. "Do you really want me to list them off because it might take a while. Okay well there was this one ti-" "Okay okay I get it you can stop now" I say placing my hand over his mouth. I expect him to lick my hand in response like he always does but this time he decides to kiss it instead. I widen my eyes not sure how I should respond and I can feel my cheeks start to warm up. I yank my hand back after he decides to deliver a few more kisses clearly satisfied with my reaction.

"Why are you being so weird today?" I ask, laughing it off. "I don't know what you're talking about" he says ,sitting back to put his seatbelt on. I mirror his actions and try to shake off the butterflies that had suddenly crept up on me. He backs out of the parking lot and flawlessly with one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the back of my headrest taking quick glances to the back when necessary. I can smell his sent from here and I can't help but feel myself getting intoxicated by it. 

"You okay?" he asks, looking over at me now having turned his body a bit more to gain a wider view out the back window to make backing up a bit easier which ends up making our proximity closer than what I had anticipated. I mentally curse myself for glancing down at his lips which he clearly saw me do since he currently has his full attention on me. 

"I- um- yeah I'm fine" I say getting a bit flustered yet again. "You sure?" he questions further with a slight chuckle. "Mhm" I respond, afraid I'll say something stupid. 

"Okay so..." he starts, "So?" I question by echoing him, feeling a bit perplexed. "Are you gonna tell me where we're going or am I gonna have to read your mind?" he teases again this time accompanied with a half smile that makes my heart flutter. "Oh yeah my bad, just go here" I say putting the address into the navigation system. He glances over at me and shakes his head while making the first turn out of the parking lot.

"Okay spill there's clearly something going on with you" he says not giving up on me. "I'm just nervous about tonight. I'm afraid you might not like it or think it's weird" I say giving an excuse that isn't totally truthful but it'll work for now. 

"Luna you know that as long as we're together I couldn't care less what we do. Now just take a deep breath and pull up your playlist, you're the DJ this time" he says while handing me the aux cord. I glance over at him with childlike joy as I quickly plug my phone in and start playing some of our favorite songs. 

The atmosphere starts to get a bit more comfortable after I start to loosen up with the music and I eventually forget why I got so nervous in the first place.

"You know I really missed you" he says all of a sudden glancing over at me. "What makes you say that?" I say chuckling a bit at the random sentiment. "Can't a guy just miss his best friend? I feel like it's been ages since I last saw you" he says with a slight pout. "Kook you just saw me a couple days" I say laughing again. 

"So? I like spending time with you" he say defiantly. "Well unfortunately that's what happens when you grow up. We're not kids anymore Kook" I say starting to feel a bit sad at the fact. "Hey no sad talk! We're supposed to be having fun right?" he says pushing away those negative feelings. 

"Yeah, you're right" I say admitting fault. "Why don't you tell me about your day" he says showing interest but still keeping his eyes on the road which gives me a chance to admire his side profile. I can't help but notice the scar on his face even in this dim lighting and I still remember how he got it. Time really does fly.

"Y/n" he says calling me back to reality. "Huh what?" I say embarrassed that I got caught staring at him. "How was your day?" he repeats chucking at my awkward demeanor. "Oh um, it was okay, not very eventful. Although I did see a man outside chasing a pigeon for a couple of hours" I say laughing at the memory. 

"What? Why?" he says with amusement and disbelief laced in his tone. "All I know is he never did catch that bird" I end shaking my head. "Sounds like the bird put up a good fight" he says, shaking his head in unison. "Any grown man that's crazy enough to chase a bird around is definitely someone I would not want to be around" he finishes. 

"What about that one time the bird in our 6th grade class escaped?" I say teasing. "I thought we agreed to never speak of that day" he says suddenly getting serious. "Oh come on, it was hilarious the way he-" "Nope shut up" he says cutting me off. "Ya! How dare you tell your Noona to shut up!" I say faking offense. "But I'll let it slide this time since it's our anniversary" I finish with a cheeky smile. He rolls his eyes as we continue our journey to our destination.

As as we come upon the small mountain range the navigation system soon signals that we've arrived. "Um what are we supposed to do here?" he says a bit confused. "Shhh don't worry about it. Just go up here and turn right when you reach the dirt road and follow it all the way up okay?" I instruct. "Alright, you're the boss" he says laughing it off and following my instructions. 

Once we get to the end of the dirt road we reach a gate with a 'Private Property' sign hanging on it. "Hey I thought you said we weren't gonna do anything illegal!" he yells after me. "It's not illegal! Just, you know, private" I say brushing it off. "Uh huh" he says not convinced. I wave him forward after having opened the gate. 

"Have you been here before?" he asks once he turns the engine off and starts to get out. "Once, with Grey. Her family actually owns this property so you don't have to worry about us being here. Okay?" I say going up to him and placing my hand on his arm. "Okay" he says smiling down at me. I fell myself falling into his star filled gaze which eventually reminds me of why we're here.

"Oh! Right I forgot to tell you what we're doing here" shaking myself out of the slight trance I had fallen into. He shakes his head at me and waits for me to continue. "Stargazing" I say with childlike joy. "I know we had always talked about doing it some day but there are just too many lights in Seoul that it makes it difficult to see them so once I came here I just knew I had to bring you!" I finish off looking out at all the stars. 

I welcome the comforting embrace I feel wrapping around me from behind. "You're the best" he says resting his head on top of mine. "I know" I say in amusement. "No for real this is amazing" he says encouraging me to look up at him. "I'm glad you like it" I say smiling up at him. I feel those butterflies from earlier start to flutter again and I have to drag my gaze back up towards the sky. 

"Should we start getting the stuff out of the car?" I suggest. "Yeah, in a minute" he says tightening his embrace around me. This moment feels way more intimate than I had planned for but I can't help but enjoy the feeling. After another minute or two I nudge his side in an effort to get him to release me, "Come on let's set everything up". "Okay okay" he says, letting go but not before placing a soft kiss on top of my head.

Soon after we've finished putting the final touches on everything I step back and admire our hard work. We've laid down some blankets and pillows in the truck bed and we have a picnic basket full of all the food I had prepared, paired with the snacks Jungkook bought and my laptop fully charged with Netflix pulled up. Jungkook gets into the back and makes himself comfortable. 

"So are you just gonna stand there all night or what?" he says teasing me for not getting in fast enough. I throw my head back in playful irritation, letting out a sigh and coming back up to give him a slight smile. "Then come here" he says with his arm held out to help me up. Once I'm up and go to sit down he holds onto my hips and guides me down to sit right next to him. If I was any closer to him I would be on his lap. 

I look up at him after settling in his embrace. "What?" he questions with a sheepish smile on his face. "Nothing I say turning my attention towards my laptop. "So what are we watching?" I question. "I don't have anything in mind" he says looking up at the stars. "Well are you hungry?" I question laughing at his indifference. 

"Can you just put some music on? I wanna stargaze for a bit" he says, keeping his eyes on the sky. "Sure" I reply, smiling at his concentration. I put a low-fi playlist on low and lean back into his embrace. We stay there and look up at the stars in silence for a while, enjoying the peace and tranquility of the moment.

"Hey" I say in a hushed tone looking up at him. "Hmm" he hums, bringing his gaze back down to me. "Penny for your thoughts?" I ask, feeling slightly breathless at the proximity. He decides go back to looking up at the stars before he starts to answer. 

"Just thinking" he says mindlessly. "About?" I question. "Stuff" he says. "What kinda stuff?" I say playing into his game. "All kinds of stuff" he says and I can't help but get tired of the guessing game. I playfully hit his chest in response, "Ouch!" he groans looking down at me while clutching his chest. 

"I thought we told each other everything" I say pulling away and facing him with my arms crossed over my chest. "You'll know soon enough" he says poking me in my side making me flinch. "Yah! I told you to stop doing that" I say hitting his chest again. "I'm sorry your reaction is just too adorable I can't help it" he says laughing at my irritation. "Whatever" I say exasperated 

"So are you hungry now because I haven't eaten since lunch" I say hoping he's ready to start eating as well. "Nah maybe later" he says sitting back and dragging me along with him knowing that I won't eat without him. "Hey come on I'm hungry" I say, dragging my words out. "Alright fine let's eat" he concedes, sitting back up and letting me go but not before giving me another jab in my side.

Once we finish eating and pull up a movie to watch I can feel him getting a bit restless. 

"What's wrong?" I ask, pulling away from his embrace, concerned with his demeanor all through out the night. "What makes you think somethings wrong?" he answers my question with a question. "You've been acting really weird, like I don't know, different. You're starting to make me nervous" I admit. 

"Nervous how?" he say sitting up and reaching out for my hand. "I don't know I can't really describe it" I say jumping a bit at the contact. "Try" he urges while starting to play with my fingers. "I feel like every time you touch me my skin starts to heat up. When you look at me I can't help but want to either look the other way or get lost in your eyes. When you get too close I start to feel butterflies in my stomach. I'm confused" I say looking away, embarrassed to admit it and contradicting my previous claim. 

"Are you sure I'm the one that's acting different?" he asks, trying to catch my gaze. "Why are you making me feel like this?" I ask, hoping he has the answers like he always does. "Do you wanna know what I was thinking about earlier?" he asks, coming closer and bringing his hand up towards my face to cup my cheek. "Yes" I say getting breathless again. "This" he says leaning in and bringing his face closer to mine.

"I-" I choke out looking down at his lips and back into his eyes once I realize he stopped right before making contact. "I'm not gonna do anything you don't want me to" he says while letting his breath fan my face. "It's your choice" he says glancing down at my lips. I wait a second hesitating before I take a quick breath and close my eyes before leaning forward just enough to make contact. 

It's a soft chased kiss, he tastes so sweet and I can't help but want more. It's over just as quickly as it had started and he pulls away slightly making eye contact and once he sees that I wanted it just as much as he did he leans in again, deepening the kiss and placing his hand on my waist in an effort to pull me closer. 

I oblige and make moves to do just that and he accelerates the process by dragging me over making me straddle his lap. "Hasty are we?" I tease. "Shut up" he says quickly going back in to continue kissing me like I might disappear if he stops. 

It all starts to get more intense once he starts to add tongue, leaving me pulling away for a second, resting my forehead against his in an effort to catch my breath. "You okay? Is this okay?" he asks sounding just as breathless as me. "Yeah just- just give me a second" I say trying to clear the fog that's clouding my judgement at the moment.

"Kook" I say in an effort to get his attention which is ultimately unnecessary since he hasn't been able to take his eyes off me since we started kissing. "Hmm?" he hums waiting for me to continue. "I don't think we should be doing this" I say worried about what his reaction might be. "Why?" he asks, searching my face for answers since I'm not getting them out fast enough. 

"I don't know it's just- well you're my best friend" I start off. "And you're mine" he says reciprocating my statement. "We've been friends since we were kids and I really don't want to mess that up. I care about you too much to do that and I don't want to lose you" I say looking down at my lap suddenly getting shy. 

"Hey" he says placing his finger under my chin to angle my face up regaining eye contact. "You're never gonna lose me" he says with a slight smile. "Well what if we do this and it ends badly? What if one of us gets hurt and we can't go back to how we used to be? What if-" I ramble off but am soon cut off by Jungkook's lips on mine. 

"You worry too much. Y/n it's just me and I'll love you no matter what. You know that right?" I turn away and look off to the side, shy under his piercing gaze. "Kook I-" I start. "Do you love me?" he says cutting me off again. "Of course I love you" I say looking back up at him. "No but do you love me? Like do you think you might be in love with me?" he clarifies vulnerability written all over his face. "Do you think you could fall in love with me?" he says above a whisper, looking back down at my lips waiting for my response.

"I don't know" I say getting off his lap. "Don't know what? You don't think you could fall in love with me?" he asks, pleading for an answer. "I'm confused okay. I don't know how I feel about everything. It's all gotten so complicated, I just- I don't know okay" I throw my head into my hands and feel myself tear up, overwhelmed with all these old and new feelings resurfacing all at once. 

"Luna" he says placing his hand on my thigh when he starts to see the onset signs of a panic attack. "Y/n come here" he says, pulling me closer, shielding me for the cold that had suddenly become more apparent. 

He's been there for me through almost all of my panic attacks and knows exactly how to get me to ride out the wave and gradually calm me down. He knows that I feel safe with him and so he makes sure to use that when I need it most. Pulling a blanket over the two of us he holds me in a gentle embrace and places soft kisses on my temple. 

"It's okay you don't have to say anything, let's just focus on getting through this. It's just me, I'm sorry if I scared you. I'm so sorry" he apologizes, rubbing my back and bringing me back down, hoping to soothe all of the muscles in my body that started to tense up and bring my breathing back to normal. I grab onto his shirt and tug on it in an effort to ground myself, still shaking I start crying into his chest which only worsens the tight feeling I have coiled up in my chest.

My panic attacks aren't usually this bad but for some reason it just started to wash over me. I haven't had a lot of time to process much of anything these days and even when I do I fill up that time with distractions in an effort to drown out all of the thought running through my head that make me dizzy. 

I started to have them around the time my parents passed away and after I met Jungkook. Looking back on it he didn't really do much of anything, he just sat there and waited patiently for me to stop crying, just like he did when we first met. But once we got closer it evolved to him holding onto me to help calm me down and talking me through it a bit. 

Ever since the beginning he wanted to make sure I never felt the need to hide and cry alone like that ever again. He wanted to give me more reasons to smile and laugh than cry. Or at least that's what he's told me. He starts to make an effort to make his breaths more audible trying to get me to follow along with him and I so the best that I can. 

Once I do I pull away and keep my eyes turned down, trying to hide my embarrassment. You think by now I wouldn't be embarrassed by it anymore but I can't help it. Once I stop sniffling and he hears my breathing get back to normal he grabs my face and wipes off my tear streaked cheeks with so much love and care. I didn't realize until now that he really has been in love with me for a very long time, I was just too naïve to notice. 

"You okay baby?" he asks with the term of endearment he knows brings me so much comfort. I don't let anyone but him call me that, it just feels so right hearing it coming from his lips, especially when he knows that I need him. I nod my head finally feeling a bit more grounded.

"Can I have some water?" I ask quietly. "Of course" he says and reaches around me to grab one of the bottles he had bought. "Thank you" I say after he hands it to me. He starts rubbing my back again while I gulp it down, suddenly feeling incredibly parched. 

"How long has it been since you had one that bad?" he asks cautiously hoping it won't cause me to start spiraling again. "A while" I say looking down, knowing it's a lie, and he sees right through it. 

"Baby please I wanna be there for you when things like this happen. You've gotta be honest with me or I won't know how to help you" I nod in acknowledgment. I can feel him reluctantly start to drop the subject but I know he doesn't want me to shut him out. 

"I-it was last month" I say, clearing my throat to help me get it out. "Last month? Why didn't you tell me?" he asks gently. "You were hanging out with your college friends and I knew you were looking forward to it so I didn't want to bother you" I admit. "Luna if you really need me, especially for something like this you can always call me. You are my number one priority, you come first" he says holding onto my hand.

I look up making eye contact, knowing he truly means what he says. "Okay" is all I can say in response, giving him a sad smile. 

"We should probably head out, it's getting pretty cold" he says, bringing his arms back in, rubbing his hands together in an effort to get warmer. "Do you think we could stay out here a bit longer? The stars look so beautiful right now" I ask, looking up at the sky feeling a bit better. He sees the change in my mood and realizes that I need this. "Let me get another blanket" he says showing his agreement. I nod my head and continue looking up, not sparing him a glance this time. 

He comes back around after having rummaged through the car in search of some hand warmers as well. "You're so smart" I say catching the hand warmer and opening package shaking them to activate it. "I know" he replies, copying my cheekiness from earlier. I roll my eyes and toss one to him. 

"Luna" he calls after me. "Huh?" I say looking back at him and I can't help but notice that he's wearing the kind of expression you would see someone make towards someone they truly love. "Come here" he says repeating his sentiment from not too long ago. I rush over to him, this time getting as close to him as I can after feeling a sudden breeze blowing past us.

"Jungkook" I say, "Yes baby?" he replies, looking down at me. "Thank you" I say, giving him a slight smile. "You're welcome" he says, mirroring my smile knowing that no more words need to be said. I feel myself starting to get lost in his eyes once again realizing that the most beautiful stars were in his eyes all along.

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[sp00ked-banshee]

Hi, first of all, I loved your Heather x reader headcanons SO much!!!!!!

Thank you for writing it!!!

Can I ask for a part 2?

Like an AU where Heather survives to the mall massacre, and her and the reader ends up being part of Sam and Deena group to stop the killers?

That would heal me!!!!!!

OF COURSE!! I've always though Heather would've made a great final girl with Deena and Sam since so many of the other important side characters get killed off-

I hope you enjoy!

Survival

The shock she would be in after not only having Ryan try and kill her but wash him die above her-

I'd say she takes plenty of time off from school and work but, Shadyside doesn't have that much empathy, so she only gets a day off.

I don't think they mention if she's in marching band or any sports but pulling a page from Robin's book let's just say she is.

Would sneak you onto the bus with her when they're all heading to the Memorial thing. That's probably where she interacts with Deena, Simon, and Kate.

You'd be arguing with them about "The Witch". Your girlfriend was attacked by one of her friends AND had to watch him die, the reality of this shitty town isn't because of some scary story for kids.

She'd probably blow up at them if they kept talking.

"SHUT UP....You didn't know him, no one that keeps talking about it did! He was just a weird guy into video games and horror he wouldn't just try and kill people for something stupid like 'serial killer fame'...."

After the memorial and the car accident you two wouldn't seen anyone from the group till the next night or so.

Skull Face/Ryan showing up out her windows after he goes to Deena's would be the reason you're out walking to her house.

Her house is near the one Kate is babysitting at so when you see the group plus a Sunnyvale girl running in the street away from something they just kind of run with you into her house.

You and her are still pissed when Josh keeps bringing up "The Witch" and her supposed lore.

"So we're just supposed to believe a mad ghost from the witch trials hates everyone living in them town?" "Well I mean is it easier to believe ghosts or dead people coming back to life?"

She's read and seen enough horror content to know that going to the high school is a horrible idea.

She and you are waiting at the store when everything goes down.

Skull Face was after you and Heather. Pulling you away from her about to cut you open, only for Kate to ram into him letting you and Heather get away.

After watching the killers disappear after Sam momentarily died it's just fear and sadness left.

Heather and you join Deena and the others from that night in doing a small personal memorial for them that same night.

You two spend the rest of the night into early morning attached at the hip in Heather's room.

Having to see Ryan again after what happened, and watching Simon and Kate get brutally murdered was something that would probably never leave the minds of you two. Especially when Kate died saving you.

Heather was even more jumpy than the night at the mall, she'd hold in a scream when the phone started ringing non-stop.

You two head downstairs to answer hand in hand.

"Watkins residence..... what do you want?"

"C. Burman is still alive.... And...And something is wrong with Sam..."

Heather starts tearing up hearing Deena through the phone next to you.

"It's not over..."

AHHHH-I hope you guys like this!! I was originally going to post a Scream request I'm working on but it is taking a little longer than expected so I wanted to post this for tonight since I did say I'd post tonight- So to whoever requested Scream I'm sorry for the delay!!

[spell-jars-and-black-wolves]

Some devotional tips for closeted pagans, based on our own experiences

Not everything on this list will apply to everyone, and that's perfectly fine. Use what works for you and your practice, and leave what doesn't work. The beautiful thing about the pagan community is that we can each shape our own path based on our personal beliefs and practices. So without further ado, here's some things we do that might help you if you have to hide your spiritual beliefs.

Deity jars: this is one of the first things we ever did when we started leaving physical offerings for Loki a few months ago. A deity jar is basically a small jar filled with little things that you want to leave as offerings to the deity you work with, and it can be useful if you have to hide any objects that are of spiritual importance to you. We're able to hide ours in plain sight on top of our dresser where our altar is, and our mom just thinks it's another weird thing we like to collect. Our jar is filled with offerings to Loki such as a small pinecone, twigs, shells, a worm on a string (he loves those for whatever reason), and small coins.

Nonphysical offerings: sometimes you just aren't able to leave physical offerings for your deities on an altar like candles or food. What you can do instead is devote your time to them, especially if the activity you're doing is something related to your deity or is something they encourage you to do for your wellbeing. Shadow work and journaling are a fundamental aspect of our practice, so we always devote our journaling sessions to Thor and Loki. We also incorporate a lot of trauma work into our practice, especially our trauma related to storms and natural disasters; to honor Thor, we've developed a habit of thanking him anytime it storms where we live and use any moment where we work through our trauma as an offering to him since that's the main reason why he reached out to us.

Baking and cooking: this ties into the point listed above. If you're like us and enjoy working in the kitchen, making food for your deities is a great way to not only build your connection to them but also improve your skills. Thanks to the Internet, it's so incredibly easy to find recipes containing spices and other ingredients that your deities favor. Loki in particular loves it when we try new recipes that we've never made before, even if we're not entirely sure we'll like it.

Taking care of yourself: if you struggle a lot with your physical or mental health, this one is especially important. Sometimes the ultimate form of self care is doing what's best for you even when you don't feel like doing it, whether that's cleaning your room or getting a shower. We've all struggled with self care at some point or another, and the gods understand that. One of the greatest things you can do to honor them is to take care of your needs and be gentle with yourself, because they want what's best for us and understand that life can be a real pain in the ass sometimes. It's not always easy to get out of bed and eat or clean the house, but even baby steps are better than nothing and will make your deities happy all the same.

Giving back to those around you: if you're able to do something in your community that's related to your deity and would honor them, do it! For us personally, one of the biggest ways we honor Loki is to look after the younger neurodivergent and/or queer kids at school, because we've been in their place once and we understand how much of a difference it makes to have someone to look up to. It's common in the Norse pagan community for Loki to be the patron of those deemed to be social outcasts for whatever reason, so we've taken it upon ourselves to always look after our fellow outcasts and be a support for them whenever possible. For many of these kids, we're the first older person they've ever felt safe enough to come out to. And what could honor Loki more than that?

Again, these are all just based on our personal experiences and not all of it may apply to you. We're just sharing some things that we feel may help other folks out there who aren't yet able to be open about their beliefs, because we're in the same spot right now with our current living situation. And for those of you who can unfortunately relate to this: things will change. You won't have to hide such a core part of your being forever. One day you'll be able to openly practice your religion however you want, with nobody to tell you what you are and aren't allowed to believe in. -Blu

[theamityelf]

Been a while since you did the kidnapped amnesia makoto and as a potential idea what if for the 78th class during the start of the killing game they all felt like something was missing and also maybe have Celes know they are missing the lucky student or everyone assumes it’s Kyoko maybe that reminds her of makoto and also maybe Mukuro is freaking out a bit cause she wants to rescue makoto

Oh, this would be so fun.

Also, not for nothing, while the canon of the AU so far states that Junko pretty much just cuts her losses and goes on with the killing game without Makoto, I do love the idea of Junko being unwilling to do that and insisting on getting Makoto back first because He's supposed to be part of it, you lab rat! Maybe instructing the 77th class to try and get Makoto back, or using the hijacked airwaves to mobilize whoever still cares about hope to save the kidnapped Hope's Peak student. If they succeed, there's a swell of hope at this first-in-a-long-time victory against despair. A swell of hope that she gets to stomp on when she finally does her killing game.

(And boy, imagine Izuru dealing with people who try to trespass on his isolated home with Makoto. Izuru discreetly leaving the house, killing five interlopers, and returning with a neutral expression. Washing the blood off his hands, and it looks like he's just washing the dishes.)

I can also imagine a situation where she goes through with the killing game as planned, except she makes sure that all evidence points to Makoto as the mastermind. She could pull a "We all got chloroformed!" (Community reference) and be part of the killing game in person herself just to pretend Makoto is the one who stole their memories and came up with the killing game. Enjoying the cruel irony of having his name be the one smeared while she's seen as another victim. I imagine her ideal end for this scenario is, the 77th class recovers Makoto and delivers him to the school dazed and confused, the killing game participants vote to execute him or just kill him outright (bonus points if Kyoko kills him, thinking he's the mastermind), and then they find out that he's actually a dear friend to all of them who didn't do anything wrong.

But! Those are just stray thoughts.

More to the point, I love the idea that the 78th class, and particularly Kyoko, gradually remembers Makoto. Especially if, prior to memory wipe, she suspected that Izuru was up to something. She recovers memories about someone she loved, and the more she remembers about him, the more she dreads about the question of where he is now.

Only to eventually remember another person. A person who used to watch while pretending he wasn't watching. A person who was credited with the death of the student council and then suddenly disappeared. A person who was certainly capable of breaking into the school and who has exhibited motive to abduct Makoto.

Mukuro definitely knows from the start that Makoto was taken by Izuru and is really stressed about it. She's constantly bothering Junko.

"What's he going to do to him?"

"I already answered that, you clod."

"I can go after him. You said you wanted everyone here for the killing game. I can go find him, and-"

"Gee, yeah, guess I'll send you out to be killed by the Ultimate Everything so we're down two classmates instead of one. Great idea, A-cups! Our senpais will handle it or they won't. End of."

The others occasionally feel tempted to knock on Makoto's door, when they need help with something or want to talk to someone. I like to imagine his dorm room isn't locked, or else the keys can be found somewhere (like maybe he forgot his keys in the dryer in the laundry room and Junko didn't notice), and Kyoko investigates inside. The smell of his soap alone brings back memories.

Hey, by the way, Syo fully remembers him!

It would be very funny if Kyoko, Syo, and Mukuro ended up forming a team to go save Makoto.

[toujokaname]

Game master / Episode 9

Author: Akira

Characters: Niki, AkanP, Tatsumi

"I don't wanna worry everyone too much, so I'll at least put on a cheerful face."

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[ Read on my site for a better viewing experience using Ois~su ♪ ]

Season: Winter

Location: Amagi's House

About ten minutes later. In the Amagi Village, at Crazy:B's lodgings.

Niki: Ugh~... Ughhh~ I can't eat anymore~...

No, I've gotta eat... I was born for it... Bring on more plates, my stomach's a bottomless pit—

—Wh... Uh, huh?

Did I... doze off?

AkanP: Good morning, Shiina-kun.

Niki: Nn, nngh? Good morning~?

Nahaha... I'm sorry. Um, were you looking after me while I was out cold?

My bad for the trouble, Akan-san. And Anzu-nee-san too.

AkanP: Ahaha. Even though I'm older than Anzu-chan, I only get a mere "san," while she gets "nee-san"?

What's your logic behind the difference?

Niki: Ahh, well, the thing is—

Eh, wha? Akan-san, you're a lady?

But, when I first saw you... Oh, wait, did I misunderstand 'cause you were wearing a suit?

AkanP: Fufu. You're a rather interesting boy too, huh.

I thought that the public's opinion of you, both now and in the past, was that you were incompetent as an idol, a useless person who couldn't do anything.

Niki: Nah, that's just true.

When Rinne-kun first invited me, I couldn't just stand by and watch, so I helped out a bit—

I got fed up with it and quit right away. So, my incompetence should've been proven, but surprisingly, we're working together again as idols.

AkanP: Ahh, you did some idol work with Rinne-kun for a brief period in the past, right.

By that time, Rinne-kun had already left my hands—so I don't know the details.

Niki: We didn't do much of anything back then, honestly. Especially since I quit pretty fast before making any progress.

Even now, I don't really wanna get involved in the entertainment industry, 'cause of my parents' situation.

AkanP: Even so, you can't leave Rinne-kun alone, so you stay by his side.

You're a kind boy.

Moreover, you have a surprisingly good eye for people. You seem to vaguely detect something off about me as well.

Niki: Well, cooking's all for the sake of others.

If the goal's only to get nutrients, might as well let a machine automatically churn out food in a factory or something.

AkanP: Yes. That's true. And it applies to idols, too, right?

Tatsumi: Niki-saaan?

How are you feeling? It seems we're about to start the test of courage showdown. But if you're unable to move yet, will you be absent?

Niki: Oh, an unexpected person's here.

Tatsumi: Is that so? Well, we don't typically have much interaction, after all.

Niki: Right, right. While Crazy:B and ALKALOID get name-dropped together a lot, we don't usually talk together or know much about each other, huh.

Tatsumi: I feel the same. That's why I'm not sure how to behave towards Kohaku-san either, for example.

Yet despite that, I wish for us to get along in order to accomplish the same job, Matrix.

Niki: Right back at you~♪ Thank you kindly, I'll be counting on you! Let's be pals!

Tatsumi: Such a friendly person. Well, I suppose all the members of Crazy:B are like that.

Niki: Hm? But don't you think HiMERU-kun's pretty exclusionary? Or rather, irritable?

Tatsumi: These days, yes. But he wasn't like that in the past, he used to be more innocent and bright—

I wonder, what in the world happened to him...

Niki: Have you known HiMERU-kun for a long time?

Tatsumi: Ah, yes, we both attended Reimei Academy, he and I.

Niki: Huhhh... I only graduated middle school, so high school and college seem like different worlds to me. What was he like?

I can't wrap my head around HiMERU-kun as a student~♪

Tatsumi: Even now, he must still be just another regular high school student...

More importantly. While chatting is enjoyable, we're currently in the middle of work.

Niki-san appears to have been inevitably chosen as a "scarer" for the test of courage, so if you're motivated, let's move to our positions together.

Actually, I came to fetch you for that purpose. Mayoi-san was with me too, but he said he was "scared of being attacked," so I came alone.

Niki: Scarer? Not sure what that's about, and I'm never really motivated, but—

I don't wanna worry everyone too much, so I'll at least put on a cheerful face.

[ ☆ ]

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[lovelyladyabsinthewrites]

Hello! I know your requests are closed but I need you to hear out these dad!Soldier Boy(⁠人⁠ ⁠•͈⁠ᴗ⁠•͈⁠)

· I think he's honestly the "weekend dad" kinda dad, where he does his one thing the whole week and ok Sunday morning he pops out with "wanna go hiking" or "so... How's your grades?"

· He also would take you and Homie to some fast food in the middle of the night.

· I can imagine teenage Homie and him argue about their different ways of bringing you up while you play (or should I say "cut your hair") with scissors you found on a counter

· Also when the school called about the fire or maybe when you beat up w boy twice your size, SB was the proudest dad ever

· And with age you definitely start loving hanging out with SB more, because who else let's you drift on Tesco's parking lot

· Getting back to Homie, I can imagine that him pushing away your good friends and you'd end up finding a best friend just in Class of 09. Oh he would be so dissapointed and the worst part is that he can't get rid of her.

· I imagine you joining the 7 eventually and as much as Homie and SB would be proud of you, rest of the members would be confused by you being identical to HL. But hey, at least you get to hang out with Black Noir again.

Even if my requests are closed, I'll be more than happy to accept a small lil hc 😁 especially when it regards dad!SB and brother!HL

Agree that once a week (always on the Lord's day aka Sunday lol) Soldier Boy is actually an okay dad 😂 both you and HL can't wait for each Sunday. He'll actually take an interest in what his kids want. Call him soft for doing this, but Soldier Boy thinks this one act will make him a better dad than his own was. At least he gave you and your brother this much. You'll take whatever he's willing to give though. Hungry for his attention and favor.

but for the love of god do not ask him for math help. poor homie made that mistake long ago and was forced to explain to his teacher why all he had left of his math homework were shredded pieces of paper.

Late night McDonald's run? Doesn't matter if you want to go or not. Soldier Boy already has you in one arm and pulling Homelander along with the other hand. Maybe he just gets lonely at night when he doesn't have any ladies over to keep his bed warm. This is his way of finding comfort in the fact that he has two little human beings in his house.

I can imagine the three of you bundled together in his truck, you sandwiched between HL and SB. You're basically still asleep with your head nestled against HL's side, leaving Homelander to suffer listening to Soldier Boy's war stories. But once the food was in the truck, you were wide awake. Moments like that were rare in how calm the silence was between everyone. No lick of tension that usually swirled around.

you cutting your hair with scissors as HL and SB fight actually has the two supes laughing that they briefly forget about the huge issue at hand. they can't be serious when you looked like you had tweaker hair. Your big smile was what really got them.

SB will go up to bat for you if you're ever sent to the principal's office at school for fighting. Hell, everyone at your school was utterly terrified of SB

"So if you had it your way, you'd let that fucking piss baby get away with hurting my daughter? Fuck that."

Then he'll turn to you and call you that endearing nickname he rarely used "Come on sweet darlin'. We're getting ice cream and tomorrow when I drop you off I'm sure these useless dick stains will punish that boy equally."

He really shouldn't be so proud about you beating up another kid. Especially since you had the upper hand with your powers. But damn did it make him smile to see his little girl as a fighter.

you know the tesco drifting is something to be kept between you and Soldier Boy. If HL found out, he'd have an aneurysm and scold his own father about how unsafe it was to do that with you in the car.

you thought it was the most fun thing ever

HL has issues once you get friends of your own. as stated HL really doesn't like your female friends since they encouraged you to wear makeup at a young age and dress like a mini trollop. your friends didn't get the hint that HL didn't like them. In fact many of your female friends had huge crushes on your older brother (you wouldn't even get started on the ones that had crushes on your dad)

i think once you join the seven HL while being proud would also have an immediate desire to isolate you from the other members of the team. what if maeve lets slip something unsavory he did. or even the deep could tell you of the humiliating things that HL has made him do for the pure pleasure of it. also what if you prefer them over him?

you're stubborn though. You're Soldier Boy's kid. it's to be expected.

[monkey-network]

Good Stuff: Best of 2022

This current year I say was a better current year than the one before, I mean the Queen died and that was funnier than Elon Musk's whole existence beyond the fact he sucks at Twitter. Never mind the chaotic reality we have, I'm celebrating the 10 best animations to come out this year. The only rule being they had to debut this year so while these two were banger entries, Amphibia and Owl House have to be exempt because I want to be fair. Otherwise, ANYTHING GOES so let's go...

Number 10: Batwheels

This reached the list for the sheer fact that it feels like a joke but has a better punchline than it has any right to. It looks colorful with great animation, and even if it's a preschool series it's thankfully one that's just about the adventures of both the titular bat vehicles and the actual Batman characters. This isn't like Cars where there aren't any humans around and they're cleverly able to make everyone coexist in a way that never feels out of place. It works as a good morning cartoon and a kiddo's introduction to the Batman universe besides the comics or the 90s animated series.

Number 9: We Baby Bears

I feel like we all need that one shows that's just for cute vibes to curb the stress and mental instability that intrudes on you when you get home from work or school. Being the spin-off prequel to We Bare Bears, while it can be pretty plain in terms of premises it's cute and whimsical on its own merits. It reminds me of Klonoa where we're hopping from world to world, sometimes there are familiar faces but otherwise, it's just about having fun with the different environments with characters I bet most gen ziggas will be familiar with. I say it was a good series to start off the year and while Cartoon Network's future feels too uncertain, I don't think a show like this is such a front on their MO. Plus, bears are awesome.

Number 8: Sonic Prime

The fact that Sonic the Hedgehog basically gave us its take on Robot Pirate Island was enough for me to like this, but Sonic Prime works well as a new series. Low on the list because for eight episodes, it wasn't as fulfilling especially when it felt like the SatAM show but not as tight since it's a multiverse story. Not that it isn't fun, this has more jovial energy to this that feels like a mesh between SatAM and The Adventures of Sonic. The animation I say is peak for a Sonic cartoon, imperfect but it looks like they're let loose with movement and expression. Plus again, we got the battle of Robot Pirate Island ending with a funny abrupt bodying from Shadow. Overall, hopeful part 2 ups the momentum because this and the Mario Movie really look like we might be eating well next year.

Number 7: The Cuphead Show!

Cuphead changed the way we game. With the DLC released this year as well, we seriously got a franchise that earned its keep. It felt natural that we'd get a cartoon, running alongside the recent Looney Tunes and Mickey Mouse short series as a great resurgence of the rubber-hose animation style. I'll say though that the episodes are great for this show, gets really going when Ms. Chalice joins for real, but it's scattershot in terms of actual banger episodes especially when the Devil makes for the best episodes with or without the porcelain trio. They at least end the 3rd season on a high note so whether we get more or not, this was overall satisfying and worth the wait.

Number 6: ONI, Thunder God's Tale

Really sucks this was talked about by nobody beyond the Goomba Got Back dude, whose video on it was cool. This was an incredibly made miniseries created by the same studios behind DOMO, Rilakkuma and Kaoru, and the cutscenes of most modern Sonic games. I love the plush and clay look of the characters and the environments are insanely beautiful. Storywise it's one where it starts strong and gets stronger with every part like episode two's ending was a gut punch and the blows kept coming after that. I loved this world of yokai and kami and it was an emotionally warm tale of family and self-actualization. Seriously recommend watching this at least once, subbed or dubbed since both are pretty good. So yeah, everybody that proclaims "animation is cinema", where the fuck were you?

Number 5: Scrat Tales

Would've been wrong to not put this on the list since it was the last thing Blue Sky made before Bob Chapek took the studio out back. Even if Blue Sky never closed, these shorts were great, taking me back to when Scrat was at his best in the earlier Ice Age films. The animation is especially great and it just makes me wish Blue Sky got to do more because this really showed they were good with slapstick comedy and improved after two decades. Needless to say, this miniseries and their final short was them going out on a high note, giving the best middle finger to Disney after they tried to revive the Ice Age franchise with the Buck Wild movie. If there was anything to credit about this year, it was taking the bad with the good.

Number 4: The Bob's Burgers Movie

This was surprisingly the year when I watched a lot of movies. Thankfully I'm not a filmbro (yet...) but I've really appreciated the time I made in actually going to the theaters more than once, so yeah Bobby's Bunger. I say it works on its own but it's definitely more for fans of the TV series and even then you probably have to see the season that came before this to have better context. Besides that, you're just enjoying the good vibes that come from the characters, the humor, the animation, and the pinch of musical numbers we get; Sunny Side Up Summer was legit an earworm banger. It overall works when you know the Belcher family because they carry this film.

Number 4 (2): Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

Mate, when it reached a certain scene involving a poem, I was practically choking back my tears. You'll know there's a later stop-motion higher ranked, but this was the 2022 film that personally cut deep. I didn't think a film about talking shells would resonate with me this well, but this existed as more than just Youtube short films extended into a movie. There is a story here about grief, comfort, being internet famous, and community that I feel wouldn't have worked without it being like this. It had that cold but good reminder of how small you can feel with a world you can only wish to grasp in increments; that change is inescapable but that doesn't mean you should take that negatively. It's hard being fearless, risque as you can be with your opinions and ideas, especially with uncertainty. This I say is a great Autumn movie, wonderful in making the seasonal vibe feel more comforting.

Number 3: Smiling Friends

Yeah, it's high on the list. If it wasn't, that means Egoraptor probably made it. To me, Smiling Friends has the enjoyable chaos of Superjail and Aqua Teen with the thematic sincerity of Venture Bros or King of the Hill. It's the most easy-going adult cartoon that yeah, is funny as shit and is funnier the more you know behind the scenes. I gotta appreciate that this is the one time when people from the internet hit the big time and it doesn't feel like forgettable compromised trash. I'll say the Brazil episode was not good, but this was the consistently best show Adult Swim provided in a long while.

Number 2: Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio

Del Toro never gave up on this and what we got was better than expected. There are a couple story problems but it's more than made up by being an amazing retelling of the Pinocchio tale. I never grew up with Pinocchio mind you, I only got familiar with the story this year since it was everywhere, but I wanna say this was as strong an interpretation as one could make. Better than Disney's take I say where it's purposefully not squeaky clean in appearance or atmosphere making its poignant emotional moments hit a little harder. Being Del Toro's first fully animated movie, it's up there with Fantastic Mr. Fox as a film I'd consider a masterpiece on the dedication craft alone.

Honorable Mentions: Entergalactic, Hamster & Gretel, Minions 2, The Amazing Maurice, Chickenhare, League of Super Pets, Super Giant Robot Brothers, Cars on the Road, Little Demon, Pantheon, Baymax!, Turning Red, and Zootopia+

Number 1: The Bad Guys/Puss in Boots, Last Wish

I'll say it, Dreamworks truly owned the W this year. The fact that two-for-two Dreamworks gave us the best vibes in terms of films like it was nothing has to be appreciated. I was already a fan of Puss in Boots, the film and cartoon series worked as the Zorro franchise we could've got. The Last Wish enhances that with not only literal stellar and dynamic action, no bad characters, but an actual reflective story for Puss, like if the 1st film and series were about him being responsible this sequel was about him being humble, especially in regard to his own mortality and pride. This isn't just a regular adventure like before, there is genuine emotional weight behind what happens to the characters. Just saying, we didn't just get a fierce red-eyed wolf for furry-lusting sake, but an actually intimidating force that owns every scene he's in. Feels like this film truly marks the twilight of where the studio wants to go with its projects and I'm worried but faithful. Oh yeah, and The Bad Guys?

I didn't grow up with the OG books like I did with Captain Underpants, but this film both blew my mind and made me go back to see that the books were good too. Objectively, Puss in Boots was the better film but this was my personal year-round favorite. The VIBES this had with basically every other scene had me just as happy as when I saw the Captain Underpants movie. The animation, the banter, Diane who is everything, and the banging tunes like Good Tonight and the opening with Kitchen Clean were the cleanest scenes I loved all year. If Puss in Boots 2 was the modern Zorro movie I always wanted, this was the American Lupin the 3rd movie I never knew I would get.

All in all, Dreamworks put its best foot forward, far more than expected especially compared to last year or Disney this year. If anything, I'm definitely noticing a slow shift where more animated projects are... footloose and yards away from trying to look realistic or copy-pasted. Not saying it'll all work (remember when theOdd1sOut made a cartoon?) but it has me as faithful as before in seeing worthwhile stuff come to fruition. Then again nothing this year truly stacked up to the

ACTUAL NUMBER 1: SLIPPIN' JIMMY

I'm talking about the Breaking Bad masterpiece that earned a Slipjimmillion dollars in ratings and views, baby! The streaming service superstar of 2022 nothing could top it. Not Bluey, not Better Call Saul, not The Simpsons, not your dad, nothing came close! Slippin' Jimmy is the future!

WITH ALL THAT SAID, HAVE A GOOD NEW YEAR!