#his grave is a public restroom waiting to happen

[thebangtancloud]

The Touch of a Stranger ~ Jung Hoseok

Word Count: 1,380

Genre: Angst, a sprinkle of fluff.

Summary: A certain protective stranger, tall and kind, saves you from the dirty hands of a pervert.

Footsteps heavy with urgency and fear resounding through the narrow hallway, your fingers clenched tight over the phone that just had to give up on you when you needed it the most. You couldn’t shake off the panic, evident in your alert eyes and flushed skin. And just when you realized you made the wrong move, it was too late to reverse your mistake.

In your panic, you thought that walking into a bathroom stall with the tiny stick figure of a woman with the inverted triangular dress over the door would stop the man that was following you from reaching you. But to your dismay, you knew that that wasn’t going to happen.

Yep, you might just die tonight.

Your bag fell from your hand, wide eyes welling with tears when he entered, a smug smirk on his face as he stopped right by the door. One hand reached up to swipe against his lower lip, head dropping and gazing up at you through his lashes.

“Aye babe,” he whined in a sickly rough voice, “Why don’t we have some fun?”

Your head shook even though you told yourself to not look as panicked as you were, hands clenching into fists as you pushed yourself further into the wall behind you. “No.”

He laughed heartily, head falling back in the process. He then took one step towards you, just enough to stand in front of the rectangular mirror in the tiny space of the public restroom. He turned to look at himself in the mirror, a deep smirk switching from one side of his mouth to the other before his line of sight traveled to you, shamelessly letting his eyes run over your body.

“It won’t hurt you, I promise to make you feel good.”

You shivered at his words, thighs closing in tighter, feeling even worse to have more than three-fourths of your legs exposed to the cold air and the tall man in front of you. Why did you even decide to wear this skirt to work? Why didn’t you just carry along a pair of leggings to change into after work as you usually did?

“I said no.”

“Aye,” the man took another step towards you. “Don’t be shy.”

Your eyes slowly fell to the door to your left, considering running in there and locking the door. But then again, the space over the door would do you no good. It didn’t look like anything could stop this man tonight.

“I’ve been trying to make a move on you for hours now,” he whined in complaint. “You’re making me impatient now, babe.”

“Please, don’t do this,” you whimpered, disgusted at how weak you sounded. But you’ve never been in such a situation before, and the man who was now just at arms distance from you made you feel such grave amounts of fear that it made your knees tremble.

“Please.”

“Oh, I’d love to hear you say that again,” he whispered, hot breath hitting your face, the strong smell of cigarettes making you hold your breath.

“It would be better if you enjoy it, babe.” He reached a hand up, a slight tremble in his fingers that were darkened with dirt and had a thick black layer beneath each of his nails. Before he could touch the soft hair that had fallen to your face, a voice stopped him.

“What are you doing?”

The man in front of you jerked around in surprise, an obnoxious laugh rumbling through his chest when he moved to stand in front of you, your frame hidden from the person who had entered the stall.

“Hey man,” he tried to come up with an excuse, “We were just trying to have some fun if you don’t mind,” he shrugged sheepishly, pointing to the door and signaling for him to leave.

“Fun?” you heard a deep, stable voice reach you.

“With my girlfriend?”

The man standing tall above you froze, eyes now widening as he took in the appearance of the stranger in front of him. “Oh- oh wait, she didn’t tell me she had a man, bro,” he laughed tightly, turning to face you.

“She was having fun with me, maybe she wanted to-”

Before the man could continue, you heard the stranger walk up to the two of you, the sudden movement making the man in front of you flinch. He bent, reaching down to pick up your bag and phone with a tiny grunt. That’s when you felt a hand take a firm grip of yours, arm stretched around the male and reaching out to you. Within a moment, you were pulled behind the stranger who you noticed was much taller, broad shoulders completely covering you yet his hand still holding yours behind him.

It felt warm, moist with sweat and you didn’t think much of the nervous shake in his fingers, but somehow, you knew that this man would do anything to protect you.

“If you even think of looking at my woman again, I’ll make sure you never see.”

And without another word, the strangers swiftly turned, his black coat swinging by his knees, pulling you with him and rushing out of the bathroom. Walking for a total of three minutes in complete silence, the stranger suddenly turned to face you, stopping under the streetlight near a convenience store.

When you looked up, your eyelids blinked out a tear that was brimming the edge, the sight of his worried features making you break. Soft tufts of hair reached his eyebrows in gentle curls, the front edge of his cap shadowing most of his face. He looked anxious, almost scared, shrugging off his coat and placing it gingerly over your shoulders.

“Are you-”

He paused when a sob broke through you, your head bending, cold fingers covering your eyes as you cried bitterly. You heard him let out a concerned sigh, when all of a sudden, he pulled you into his embrace.

Soft pats to your back, the stranger sighed again, looking up at the night sky as his breath puffed out into a cloud of white smoke. He shook his head in disappointment, wondering why there were still such pathetic men in this world, tenderly comforting you with the warmth of his arms when he felt your fingers grasp at the material of his white dress shirt.

Had he not seen the fear in your eyes as you walked hurriedly into the restroom not too long ago, he would’ve almost let that man take advantage of you.

“Hey,” the stranger whispered gently, “You’re safe now.”

“I was so scared-” you choked on your saliva, violent coughs shaking him along with you. He patted your back a little harder than before, smoothening it out into soft rubs up and down the length of your spine. “You’re fine now.”

He held you for as long as you needed him to, before gently releasing you. When his fingers tugged on the edge of his coat, tightening it around you, the air around you both suddenly turned tense. His hands dropped back down to his sides, awkwardly clearing his throat.

You didn’t seem to have the confidence to meet the eyes of your savior, so you mumbled the quietest ‘thank you,’ leaving him somewhat relieved.

The tall stranger called out for a cab that was passing by, patting your shoulder once, then again, before pointing at the coat around you. “You can keep that.”

You nodded meekly, “Thank you, again.”

He smiled, opening the door of the cab. “I’ll follow you with my car until you reach home, just so that I know you’re safe.”

You swallowed, feeling indebted to him yet not finding it in you to refuse. He did, after all, just save you from something that could’ve turned really bad. “Thank you.”

The man smiled, walking to the front and instructing the driver to wait until he brought his car out. Just as he was about to turn around, you called out to him.

“Wait!”

He turned, eyes locking with yours.

“Who are you?”

The stranger laughed at your choice of words, expecting you to ask for his name or something else instead. “Me?”

He watched you stretch your head out the window slightly.

“You can call me your hope.”

~

Masterlist

[elsanna-shenanigans]

June Contest Submission #10: Behind Stern Flowers

Words: ca. 1,900 Setting: modern AU Lemon: no CW: fluff

—

Knock. Knock, knock, knock. Knock, knock.

“Wake up, sleepy beauty. Dad’s home and he brought back dinner.” said Anna.

No response from the other side. She must have been really tired today.

“If you don’t open up, I will be barging in.”

Still no response.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Three, two, one.”

The knob twisted and the door creaked as the door pushed inside lightly. The door opened ajar, just wide enough for Anna to poke her head through. She peeked through the opening just to see a grown female Homosapien lying on the bed. The room is lit by a bed lamp at the far end. The bed is decorated with jasmine flowers placed around the edge of the bed. She wore an alabaster nightgown, which gave out glossy sheen from the bed lamp.  Her hands rested on her tummy with a slow rise and fall of her chest. The sensual and sweet scent from the flower evoked the girl standing in the doorway.

Anna tip-toed her on the side of the bed and kneeled. She picked up the flower from the edge and placed it around Elsa’s head. She smiled at the sight of her sister. She looked so peaceful. Anna then bent down and planted a deep kiss on the older sister’s lips.

Elsa opened her eyes with a smile plastered on her.

“Hello, sleeping beauty.” said Anna. “Did you sleep well?”

Elsa chuckled, “I did. Thanks for asking.” She glanced at the door and her reaction turned sour. “Anna! Why didn’t you close the door? Mother could have seen what we did.”

Anna was sad when Elsa got mad. “Sorry. I didn’t ‘cause she’s not home yet. And I was hypnotized by the smell of the flowers.”

She placed her hand on Anna’s thigh, “I’m sorry that I’m mad. It’s just that I’m worried that mother might catch us again. You remember how cross she was when she saw us.”

“I do,” Anna said, pouting.

“Come here,” Elsa pulled her back and planted a kiss on her lips. “Better?”

“Mmm-hmm,” Anna hummed. “More, please.”

“I would but we don’t want dad to wait any longer.”

“Wait, you didn’t exactly sleep just now?”

“Mayhaps.”

For that, Elsa received a tickle on her tummy.

—

Agnarr sat at the dinner table, waiting for his daughters to come down. Some time had passed since Anna had gone upstairs. He wondered what took them so long.

“Perhaps they are having a sisterly moment,” he said to himself.

The wait was over when footsteps raced down the hall and shook the house. Anna stomped her way down on the wooden stairs as she could smell dinner getting stronger. The stomping caught Agnarr’s attention as he chuckled at his youngest daughter’s eagerness to eat.

“There’s my butter cakes. How are you girls doing to—,” he was cut off when the girls stormed towards their old man and pulled him into a giant bear hug. “I love you two.”

“We love you too, dad.” The both of them kissed their dad’s cheek.

“What took you girls so long? Did you two do—”

“No, Dad,” Anna interjected, laughing softly. “You know how hard it is to wake up this sleeping beauty.”

“It’s true,” Elsa agreed.

“Oh, so you didn’t wake your sister up with a kiss?” Agnarr raised a brow, a playful smirk forming on his lips. “Like that movie we watched last night? I know for sure that Anna would have done that.”

“Dad!” the sisters screamed simultaneously.

“Hm, that’s what I thought,” he said smugly.

They settled down for dinner. The sisters sat beside each other.

“So, dad. How was work today,” Elsa asked.

“Nothing big today,“ Agnarr shrugged nonchalantly. “Got a case today where this kid got caught peeping into the public restroom. Thank goodness that kid was smart to take the offer and paid a grand for the fine. If not, he would have ended up behind bars for the rest of his life!”

He kept a straight face until the end of his sentence. He looked at his girls’ reactions, wide-eyed and completely believed everything he had just said.

“Just kidding,” he grinned, breaking his grave façade. “His sentence was only six months. It’s not long but he will be wasting his time doing nothing instead of growing up like normal people.”

Elsa and Anna breathed a sigh of relief.

“That’s great, dad. You’re so kind to help that kid, even if he was a pervert,” said Anna in disgust.

“Nah, he was an idiot, but their idiocy didn’t justify the long sentence. Well, from my humble opinion.”

“Glad you’re considerate enough to give them a chance.”

“Well, I usually give them once, but if they do it again, go straight to the horny jail.”

They all laughed. Anna laughed so hard that she almost hurt her chin, while Elsa closed her mouth with her hand, stiffening her giggles.

The doorbell rang. The girls’ laughter faded because already they knew who was behind that door.

“I’ll get the door,” Elsa strolled to the front door. Once she opened it. She saw the feminine figure stood tall in uniform and with a shiny boot. Her hair is tied into a bang with fringe hair. Her face looked weary, but a slight stern was still visible.

“Elsa.”

“Mother.”

Iduna strutted inside while passing her bag to Elsa and headed toward the dining room.

“Good evening, Anna. Darling.”

“Hey, darling,” Agnarr greeted. “It’s nice to see you. How was work today?”

“Someone files a report of an incestuous relationship between siblings,” Iduna replied stiffly.

Anna froze there while Elsa dropped the bag abruptly.

“Oh, that’s not good,” said Agnarr, brows furrowing with concern.

“Yeah, I know. Thankfully, it was between a brother and a sister. The police will look into it,” she paused as Elsa sat back on her chair. “So, girls. Have you done anything that wasn’t platonic today?” Iduna looked at them sternly.

The girls did not answer.

Iduna looked at them for a few moments before letting out a heavy sigh. “I’ll just- go to my room and freshen up before I head to bed.

“But honey, don’t you want Chinese food?” Agnarr interjected. He flashed her a wry smile. “It’s your favorite.”

“Thank you, but I’m not that hungry tonight,” Iduna waved her hand vaguely. She looked tired, even more so than usual. “Do store the leftovers in the refrigerator please.” Iduna collected herself and climbed the stairs with a slight slump in her shoulders.

“Oh, dear. That’s not good,” Agnarr frowned. “You girls finish up eating. I’m gonna see your mother.”

“Good luck dad,” Anna sent him an encouraging smile as he ran up the stairs to catch up with his wife. Once he was out of sight, Anna sighed softly. “I wish mother wouldn’t be so paranoid about us. We’re already adults.”

Elsa looked at her sister and took her hand in hers. She rubbed the back of Anna’s hand with her thumb as a soothing gesture. “You know how she is. Sometimes working at the station while keeping our secret in mind can be hard.

Anna nodded solemnly. “Yeah… I know.”

—

“Do you want me to help with the dishes?” Anna asked, sneaking up behind Elsa.

“Nope. You can go upstairs first.”

“Aww, thanks, Elsa. You’re the best sister.”

“I know,” Elsa responded with a smile, if not a little smug. Anna rolled her eyes and leaned up to peck Elsa’s cheek.

Anna climbed up the flight of stairs but heard the arguing voice behind the master bedroom door. Her curiosity made her eavesdrop on her parents.

“They still love each other,” said Iduna.

“I see that as a good thing,” her father insisted. “Which one is better? Sisters who hate each other? Or sisters who love and care for each other?”

“Of course I choose loving and caring any day, but there’s a law that does not allow them to be together like that. I can’t stand it anymore. Do you know how hard it is to keep a secret from my colleague about our daughters? What makes matters worse is when someone files a report similar to our daughters’ relationship.”

“Anna, what are you doing?” Elsa’s voice came from behind her, and she couldn’t help but jump in surprise at Elsa’s sudden appearance. “Are you eavesdropping on our parents?”

“Yes, Elsa. Can you please quiet down? I’m trying to listen.”

“Suit yourself,” Elsa strode away to her room.

“Hon, relax. I understand that you’re scared for our daughters. As long as no one reports them, things will be alright. If anything happens to our daughters, you know I could defend them. For free. Besides, people give a pass when sisters act clingy like them. They think they’re cute.”

“Well, that’s true,” there was a pause before Iduna let out an aggravated sigh. “I just want to be safe. I don’t want them to go behind bars because the law is not on their side.”

“Hey, we’re going to protect them. As long as they are with us, they will be safe. That’s a promise.”

—

Anna walked back to her sister’s- or their room now by how frequently they slept together. While on her way there, a thunder’s rumble echoed through the hallway, leaving Anna frightened a bit. Anna instinctively rushed towards the room in hope to take cover under the blanket.

When Anna opened the room, she saw Elsa sat at the head of the bead, glasses perched on her nose as she held an open book in hand. Anna crawled up to the bed and snuggled into Elsa’s chest. A soft, plum breast with her sister’s beating heart soothed her, damping the thunder’s rumble.

“Anna, are you okay?”

“No,” Anna mumbled.

“Aww, what’s wrong baby? Is it something you heard?”

Another thunder came which made Anna planted face deeper.

“Yeah. It’s just … People always see it as an abusive relationship. Instead of it just being like a normal, healthy relationship between two people who love each other.”

“Maybe the law wanted to protect the younger people from going into a relationship at a very young age.”

“That might be true, but nothing said adults consenting into a relationship.”

“That’s true.”

Silence fell upon the two girls, minus the heavy rain outside.

“You know, Anna,” Elsa started. “There’s always a place where incest is legal.”

Anna propped her head up to look at her sister. “Really?”

“Yes. I did some digging and there are a few states where incest is allowed, and family members could marry each other. If you’re serious with this, we could move to a place where incest is legal and live our lives there.”

“Elsa, that’s a great plan!” Anna’s face brightened, though it dimmed just as quickly. “Although, dad would be sad if we leave him.”

“Children will leave their parents someday,” Elsa said softly. She held Anna closer and sighed.  “It’s just a matter of time before that happens. Besides, we can always come back to visit him.”

“If that’s the case,” Anna pondered. “It’s a deal. We’re going to do this together.”

“Together.”

Anna leaned in, meeting Elsa halfway into a kiss.

Smooch.

Anna leaned back to see Elsa, how much she adored her sister and how cute she was with all that flowers before. Speaking of flowers…

“Oh, I have a question, Elsa. Why did you decorate the bed with flowers just now?”

“Just want to reenact the scene from Snow White that we watched last night.”

“Aww, that’s so sweet. But weren’t you scared that we almost got caught? You kind of got mad at me for it.”

“Nope, mother texted me that she was going to come back home late. Also, I wanted to see you pout.”

Anna pouted, “You’re a big meanie.”

“I always have been.”

—

[vgckwb]

P5R: Rebel Girl (A FeMC Story/P5R Rework) Chapter 23: Two Awakenings

Saturday, after school, Ann excused herself to use the restroom. Ren decided to wait for her. Suddenly, Mishima walked up to her. “Hey” he said. Ren was curious. He seemed excited. Mishima looked around. He then leaned in to whisper. “So, you, Takamaki, and Sakamoto are the Phantom Thieves, right?”

Ren was surprised. “Well, uh…”

Mishima chuckled. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. In fact, I’m here to help.”

“Ummmmm, K?” Ren said.

Mishima pulled out his phone. “Have you seen this?” he said, showing her his screen. “The Phantom Thief Aficionado website. And you’re looking at its creator.” Ren was incredibly taken aback by this. “What you did was nothing short of amazing. It made me realize that I don’t just want to sit back and let life happen to me. I want to help. So I made this!

The Phantom Thieves save people. But they can’t be everywhere at once. This is where I come in. I help facilitate the public image of the Phantom Thieves as heroes of justice! There might not be a lot of support right now, but just you wait!”

He scrolled around. “And check this out.” He found a section of posts. “Some people are already leaving requests. I’m sure you can work your magic and help those who need help. And don’t worry, I’ll be there every step of the way.”

Ren was impressed. “You seem really invested in this.”

“Heh, well, I do what I do,” Mishima said. He then got a little less playful. “Listen, I don’t know exactly HOW you guys do all of this, but it’s clear you have a lot on your plate. So, let me try and lighten the load.”

Ren took note of Mishima’s understanding nature.He seemed really eager to help out in some way. He truly believed in the Phantom Thieves, much like he truly believed in her when he didn’t go along with Shiho’s plan. She smiled. “Alright then. But as the leader, I’d like to check in on you every so often.”

Mishima grinned. “Done and done.”

I am thou... Thou art I… Thou hast acquired a new vow...

It shall become the wings of rebellion that breaketh thy chains of captivity.

With the birth of the Moon Persona I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall lead to freedom and new power

Moon-Yuuki Mishima: Rank 1

“Well then, till we meet again” Mishima said. He left.

Ryuji and Ann walked up to Ren. Morgana popped out as they came over. “So, what was Mishiman talking to you about?” Ryuji asked.

Ren smiled. “He’s the creator of the Phantom Aficionado site. He knows who we are, and is on our side.”

“What?!” Ryuji said.

“Calm down!” Ann said. “I don’t think he’d expose us.”

“Well, maybe not purposefully,” Ryuji said.

“I don’t think we need to worry about it too much,” Ren said. “But I’ll be checking in with him just to be sure.”

“Well, if you're doing that…” Ryuji said.

“Oh, and look!” Ren said. “His website even has request posts. Maybe we can look into them to find our next target.”

Ryuji smiled. “Alright. Now we’re talking.”

Morgana thought for a moment. “Hey. Can we head to the subway station today? I think I might have something to show you guys.”

“Um, sure?” Ann said.

“What is it?” Ren asked.

“It has something to do with the requests” Morgana said. “If they are what I think they are, then it’ll be important.”

“Man, you’re always so vague. Just spill it already” Ryuji whined.

“It’s...easier to just show you!” Morgana protested.

“Fine,” Ryuji said. “It’s not like I wasn’t gonna do it anyway.”

“So, now that we’re all in agreement, let’s roll!” Ren said. The four of them headed to the station.

Meanwhile, Sumire was at ballet practice. She had begun to open up to some of her classmates a little more, which made her a bit happier. She also felt like she had never been better at ballet. However, after one routine, Coach Hiraguchi’s face told a different story. “Did I do something wrong?” Sumire asked.

“Sumire…” Hiraguchi said in a disappointed tone. “It’s great to see you in higher spirits, but I don’t know how much it’s doing for your ballet.”

Sumire looked despondent. “I am trying. What am I doing wrong?”

“Well…” Hiraguchi said. “You’re not doing anything wrong, per say, but it just feels like you’re sliding back into Kasumi when doing your moves.”

“Ummmm, how is that a bad thing?” Sumire said. “Kasumi was the best. Doing her moves will guarantee our dream of becoming the best to come true.”

“This is what I’m talking about,” Hiraguchi noted. “Kasumi performed her moves with a passion only she could provide. You’re just doing a pale imitation of them. They’re technically impressive, but emotionally, they feel hollow.”

Sumire was shaken. “Coach…”

“I know it’s hard to hear!” Hiraguchi interrupted. “But if you want to make it to the top, you need to perfect YOUR moves. You need to understand that what people want to see is Sumire Yoshizawa as herself.”

Tears began to form in Sumire’s eyes. “But...no one does want that… I’m never good enough. I know you care for me. I know people care for me. But no one is expecting me to make it to the top. They all expected Kasumi. And...and I ruined it. If Kasumi can’t make it to the top, and Sumire can’t make it to the top, then who is going to make it to the top?”

Sumire ran to the locker room. She threw off her leotard with hardly a care. She was too distraught. She put her clothes on, and then ran out the door. Coach Hiraguchi noticed this and tried calling out to her. “SUMIRE!” Sumire didn’t hear her. She kept running through the city, trying to deal with the emotional turmoil of everything.

After running a few blocks, she thought to herself Wait. This is just like what happened last time. She slowed down, and took a deep breath. I don’t want to cause another death. Heh. Even from beyond the grave, Kasumi is saving me.

She looked around. Maybe I just need to clear my head for a bit. I don’t know what I want right now. Maybe I haven’t found as much of myself as I have thought. But where to go? Sumire continued walking. I guess I’ll see where my feet take me.

The Phantom Thieves made their way to the subway station. They began looking through some of the requests on the Phan-site, but none of them felt all too dire. That is, until they found a post about one Natsuhiko Nakanohara; a municipal teller stalking his ex girlfriend. “Ugh. What a creep” Ann noted.

“So, we’re in agreement then?” Ryuji asked. The others nodded. “Alright, now let’s figure out where his palace might be.”

“Hold on,” Morgana said, taking charge. “This is why I brought you here today. Try the word ‘Mementos’.”

“Umm, alright,” Ryuji said. “Mementos.” Suddenly, the world shifted around them. The bustling station was now empty, and Morgana had taken on his Metaverse appearance. “Huh?”

“What’s going on?” Ann asked.

“I figured as much,” Morgana said. “C’mon, let’s head down.” Morgana headed down the platform stairs. The others just shrugged and went with it.

A few moments before, Sumire had made her way to that exact subway station in her stupor. She sighed. “Maybe I should just head back. I haven’t found anything. She glanced up and noticed something across the station from her. “Isn’t that senpai and her friends?”

“Navigating” her phone said.

“Huh?” Sumire noted. She got out her phone. “How come I haven’t noticed this app before?” she asked herself. “It looks strange.” Suddenly, she felt the world change around her. “Huh?” She looked around and saw no one.

Sumire was in disbelief. The once crowded station was now barren. “What’s going on?” She looked around, only to find herself more confused. She looked back and saw that Ren and company were going down a flight of stairs. She looked determined. “Maybe senpai knows what’s up.” She decided to follow them.

Once down the stairs, the thieves were greeted by a few surprises. The platform was there, but instead of rails there was a field of dirt with a bunch of flowers growing in it. They were also in their Phantom Thief attire. “Woah! What’s this?!” Ann asked.

“Is this that Nakanohara guy’s palace?” Ryuji asked. “Why is it here? Why is it a garden?”

“Hold on,” Ren said, remembering this scenery. “This seems familiar.”

“Hm hm hm” Morgana chuckled. “Well, you’re sort of right Skull. But, you’re sort of wrong as well. Mementos is everyone’s palace.”

The thieves were confused. Ryuji sputtered “Everyone’s…”

“...Palace?” Ann finished.

Morgana nodded. “Not everyone has a palace all to themselves. Only those with incredibly distorted desires. Most people’s shadows, you’d just find here. This place is basically the thing that connects all human minds.”

“So, how do we get this guy’s attention?” Ryuji asked.

Morgana grinned. “We already have.” Again, everyone was shocked. “That Phan-site is a useful tool. It can act as a calling card for people without palaces. And, since their desires aren’t as warped, it’ll have a longer effect on them.”

“Huh” Ann said.

“So, we can just go and get that Nakanohara guy now?” Ryuji asked.

Morgana nodded. “Let’s go!”

“But, um, how?” Ren asked. “I mean, this place seems big.”

“Never fear!” Morgana said. He posed. “Morgana transform!” he transformed into a car.

“WHAT?!” Ryuji said.

“We can go like this,” Morgana said.

“How can you turn into a car?!” Ann asked.

“Oh, well, uh, you see, it’s a common perception that in fantastical situations, cats can turn into cars. And since we’re basically in the collective unconscious...”

Ren just shrugged. “OK.”

“What? You’re just gonna accept that?!” Ryuji asked.

“Why not? It makes things easier” Ren chuckled.

Ryuji sighed. “Well, we’re already this deep.”

“Yeah, it might be easier to not question things,” Ann added. The three of them got in.

“Um, why aren’t we moving?” Ryuji asked.

“I’m a car!” Morgana said. “Someone needs to drive me!”

“Oh” Ryuji said. “Um, since he’s sort of your cat, do you want to drive him?”

Ren simply said “Sure.” She got into the front seat and took off.

Meanwhile, Sumire managed to make it down the stairs to see Ren, Ann, and Ryuji in strange looking suits getting into a car that looked kind of like a cat and drive off. “Huh. That’s, um… unusual…” Sumire looked around. “This is also unusual.” She looked at the path where the car drove down. “Well, I don’t suppose I’m going to get any answers just standing here.” She hopped off the platform and followed the car on foot.

As they were driving, Ann asked “So, um, not for nothing, but why didn't you do this at the palace Morgana?”

“A big car like this would attract too much attention when we’re trying to sneak around” Morgana answered. “Plus, it was way too narrow to do anything in.

“I guess that’s true,” Ryuji said. “I’m wondering why you didn’t tell us all this ‘bout Mementos beforehand.”

“Well, you know how you reacted when he turned into a car, right?” Ren answered. “Basically that.” Ryuji knew she was right, but didn’t want to say it out loud.

They reached a strange looking portal. “What’s this?” Ann asked.

“I’m sensing a specific shadow there,” Morgana said.

“Nakanhara?” Ryuji asked.

“Most likely,” Morgana said.

“Bring it on,” Ren said. She hit the gas and drove through. On the other side, there was a smaller plot of land. In the middle of it stood Nakanohara. Growing from it was a small thorny vine.

“Let’s get him!” Ann said.

“Hold up,” Ren said. She observed the vine.

“What is it?” Ann asked.

Ren thought some more. She sighed. “In my initial vision, I saw the subway system turn into this garden. That vine… Something feels off about it.”

The other thieves looked at it. “You think it’s protecting him?” Ryuji asked.

Ren stared some more. “No. I think the opposite.” Everyone else was confused. “If Eris is giving people the power to exact revenge on those with palaces, that vine might be the equivalent of that here.”

“You mean that vine is from his ex and it wants to kill him?!” Morgana said.

“Well, that’s my working theory anyways,” Ren said. She smiled. “So, it doesn’t change much. If we steal his heart, that vine can’t destroy him.”

“Alright!” Ruji said. “Now you’re talking!”

“Let’s go!” Ren said. The four of them headed out of the shadows to Nakanohara.

Nakanohara noticed them. “Hm. Are you those so-called Phantom Thieves? I bet you’re here because of what my girlfriend said about me.”

“Don’t you mean your ex-girlfriend?” Ann snapped back.

“SHE’S MINE!” he screamed. “Tch. I don’t even know why you’re here! Why not take on someone who deserves it?! Like Madarame!”

“Madarame?” Morgana said.

Ren struck a pose. “We are the Phantom Thieves. We are on the side of justice. Hence, we shall steal your distorted desires.”

“Yeah! You can’t just act like a creep because other people are worse!” Ryuji added.

“Grrrrr” Nakanohara. “GAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!” he transformed into a shadow that could not be reasoned with any longer. “SHE’S MINE! MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE! I WON’T LET ANYONE ELSE HAVE HER!”

“Let’s go!” Ren said. The thieves fought Nakanohara’s shadow, and won.

After that, Nakanohara reverted back to himself. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I just-” he sighed. “I lost everything to Madarame. I had hopes and dreams, but he took them all away. I had to settle to be a teller. So, when my girlfriend left me, it just opened up old wounds.”

“That’s no excuse for stalking!” Ann said.

“Heh. You’re right” Nakanohara said. “I’ll apologize and leave her alone. But please. Steal Madarame’s heart.” Nakanohara vanished and a small treasure appeared. Ren grabbed it. She looked down and noticed the thorny vine had also disappeared.

“So, we did it,” Ryuji said. “Let’s go.”

“Hold on!” Morgana said. “There’s something else we need to do.”

“For real?” Ryuji said. “Well, if you say so.”

“Yeah, you’re the expert Mona!” Ann said.

Morgana blushed. “Thanks Panther.” He turned back into a car. They drove back to Mementos proper.

“Huh?” Ren said, looking back. “That portal closed behind us.”

“Well, we stole Nakanohara’s heart,” Morgana said. “It has no reason to exist anymore.”

“I guess that’s true,” Ren said. “Alright then, what’s next.

“Find another platform” Morgana said. “Not the one we came from.”

“Alrighty then,” Ren said. She drove off, exploring Mementos for a little while until coming to another platform. “More stairs?”

“Yeah,” Morgana said. “Mementos isn’t just a one floor structure. It keeps going.”

“How deep?” Ryuji said.

“That I don’t know,” Morgana said. “But I know at the bottom is the source of all of this...probably.”

“So, that’s where Eris lives, I presume?” Ann asked.

“I’d think so,” Morgana answered. “Anyways, let’s head down.” They got out and headed down the stairs.

Meanwhile, Sumire was still trying to find Ren. “Man, this place is confusing.” She kept walking. Unbeknownst to her, a large thorny vine was following her.

On this new floor, it was just a straight path to a strange looking door. “What’s this?” Ann asked. Ren felt like the door was calling to her somehow. She walked over. “Hey, wait!” Ann said, trying to stop her.

Ren placed her hand on the door. The door then opened up. “Woah” Ryuji said.

Ren looked at her hand. “Huh.”

Morgana smiled. “I knew you could do it!”

The three teens looked at him. “Um, do what?” Ryuji asked.

“That door's been locked for the longest time,” Morgana said. “But now, we can open it.”

“Um, do you know why it’s been locked?” Ann asked.

“I’m thinking it’s a power thing,” Morgana said. “I was originally exploring Mementos, but I hit this dead end. So, I met up with the two of you in Kamoshida’s Palace to try and gain power by stealing his treasure.”

“Hmmmm” Ren said. “I don’t know if that’s entirely correct.”

“How so?” Morgana asked, confused.

“Well, you’re right that we needed more power,” Ren began, “but it might not be raw power. This place is basically the collective human unconscious, right?” Morgana nodded. “So, I’m thinking the power needed is the power to make an impact on this unconscious.”

“Ohhhhhhh” Morgana said.

“Wait, how’d we do that?” Ryuji asked.

Ren grinned. “We stole Kamoshida’s heart. People are talking about the Phantom Thieves now. We’re not nothing to the public anymore.”

Ryuji was dumbfounded. “I guess that makes sense.”

“So, let me get this straight,” Ann said. “In order to progress through Mementos, we need to keep making an impact by stealing more hearts from people with palaces.”

“Seems like it,” Ren said.

“Well then let’s do just that!” Ann said.

“Of course” Ren said.

“Hmmm” Morgana said.

“What’s up Mona?” Ann asked.

“Nakanohara gave us a name,” Morgana reminded them. “Madarame. I think that’s worth looking into.”

“Hm. You may be right” Ren said. “It could be our next big break.” Ren looked at the recently opened door. “Wanna continue, or should we call it here?”

“Well, we’ve learned a lot,” Ryuji said. “It might be better to collect ourselves for the time being.”

“You have a point Skull,” Ren said. “OK, let’s head back for now.”

“Right, but remember,” Morgana began saying, “ we need to make occasional trips here to deal with shadows like Nakanohara’s.”

“Right,” Ren said. They headed back up the stairs. Morgana turned back into a car and they were on their way back.

“Hey, this looks different,” Ann said.

“That’s because Mementos is always changing,” Morgana said. “Because so many people are influencing it, no two visits will be the same.”

“Huh” Ann said. They continued to drive. On their way to finding the platform that will take them up, Ann spotted something. “OVER THERE!”

The others looked. They saw a small boy next to a tipped over car that was on fire. Ren turned the car to meet with this mysterious boy. She got out.

“Oh, hello” The boy said. He was wearing a white coat with star patterns on it, with matching boots, black pants, and wearing a pair of goggles.

“Hello,” Ren said. “Um, who might you be?”

“Oh. I guess that’s the human thing to do” the boy said. “My name is Jose.”

“Wait. ‘Human thing to do’?” Ryuji asked.

“Does that mean?” Ann asked.

Jose nodded. “I am not a human.

“You look like one,” Morgana said, pouting a little.

“While that might be true, I’m just a dweller of this universe created to study humans here in Mementos” Jose explained. “Or, at least I was.”

“Was?” Ren asked.

Jose nodded. “These weird, plant-like things sensed my presence and destroyed my car. I guess they didn’t like that I was trying to drink them.”

“Drink...plants…” Ryuji said. “Alright, I’m officially giving up trying to understand things.”

“Don’t worry, we’re all mad here,” Ren said.

“The plants I’m trying to drink are the essence of humanity” Jose explained. “Well, before they were tainted by this garden of madness.”

“So, why study humanity?” Ann asked.

“I was asked to by my creator,” Jose said. “He wanted to know what I thought humans were like.”

“Why couldn’t he just do it?” Ryuji asked.

“It’s complicated,” Jose explained. “But now I can’t do it, My car is destroyed, and those shadow things keep attacking me. But I can’t go back to him empty-handed.”

Ren felt sorry for him. She smiled. “Hey Jose,” she said. Jose looked up. “Wanna come with us? I’m sure you can learn a  thing or two about humanity by studying us actual humans.”

Jose smiled. “I’d like that ma’am.”

“NO!” screamed a voice. The group turned toward the source to see a cabal of shadows. “Humanity will be brought to its knees by chaos. We won’t let this interloper interfere!”

“Bring it on!” Ryuji said. The Phantom Thieves put themselves between Jose and the shadows and began fighting.

Jose looked on. “These shadows. They want to stop me. But these humans. They wish to aid me? Those shadows are trying to force their beliefs by stopping me, while these humans wish to help. If humanity really will descend into chaos, why aren’t these humans allowing it?”

He looked on to see the Phantom Thieves fighting. He got a determined look. “If you humans are so willing to help me find the truth about humanity, then these shadows are wrong!” he yelled.

“Well done” said a voice in Jose’s head. He started to struggle. “Stand up to those who would hide the truth from you. They proclaim truth, but in reality are pushing lies. Are you ready to seek the truth? Are you ready to spread it, even if people aren’t willing to listen?”

“...Yes...of course…” Jose answered.

“Hm hm hm” the voice continued. “Very well. I am thou. Thou art I. Call upon my power to bring the light of the truth to the world!”

Jose gripped his goggles and tore them off his face, blood flowing from the tear. “Galileo!” he called. Suddenly, his persona appeared behind him. Galileo looked like a balding man with a beard, wearing a black cloak and black pants, with a white collar. He had a telescope in one hand, and a book in the other. Nothing really changed about Jose’s outward appearance though.

“Holy shit!” Ryuji said.

Ren smiled. “Looks like he’s one of us” she said.

Jose looked angry. “Let me join in.”

“You got it!” Ren said. Jose rushed in to help defeat the shadows with his new persona along with his weapons of choice: A hammer, and a sniper rifle.

After the fight, Jose was breathing heavily. “WOO!” he exclaimed. “That felt great.”

“You’re pretty good Jose,” Ann said.

“For real,” Ryuji said.

“It’ll be nice to have you on the team,” Ren said.

Morgana stared at him. “Yeah, he’ll be fine.”

“Aww, are you jealous?” Ren asked. “Don’t worry, you’re still important to the team. But we need all the help we can get.”

“I guess that’s true,” Morgana relented.

“Thanks,” Jose said. “But, who are you guys anyway?”

The four of them were shocked. “Oh, right, well…” Ren said.

“AHHHHHHHHH!” someone screamed.

“What was that?” Ryuji asked.

“It sounded like someone screaming” Ann pointed out.

Ren went pale. No way. Could it be? She ran off in the direction of it. Everyone else followed suit. When Ren got there, she came face-to-face with what she feared it was. “SUMIRE!” she called out. Sumire was being tied up by vines and was about to be enveloped by this plant-like thing.

The other thieves were just as surprised by this sight, as was Jose. However, Jose noticed something else. “HEY!” he called, pointing to Eris. The thieves’s attention was now on her. “You’re the person controlling these plants, right? You destroyed my car!”

“She did this?” Ann said.

“Grrr. Why do you always have to cause so many problems?!” Ryuji howled.

“We should just stop you right now!” Morgana added.

“Hehehehehehe” Eris snickered. “You can only open one door. What chance do you have against me?”

“LET HER GO!” Ren demanded.

“What? You mean her?” Eris said, pointing to Sumire. “No can do.” She laughed. Ren tried to run to save her, but some shadows stopped her. “You don’t get it. Unlike you, she’s not here to save anyone. She’s here to bury herself in the depths of Mementos with me.”

“Bullshit!” Ryuji said.

“Yeah! She’s not just something for you to claim!” Ann said.

“Oh, but she’s always been mine,” Eris said. “I’m the only one who will accept her.”

“That’s not true!” Morgana protested. “We accept her!”

“Really?” Eris said. “Well, maybe for now. But what will happen when I show you this?!” A giant flower grew and blossomed. It presented a large screen. Appearing on it, a girl who looked like Sumire with brown hair in a ponytail, and a mole on her face.

“Oh no,” Sumire said.

“Today was brutal, huh?” Kasumi said on the screen. She looked at the camera. “Feeling OK?”

The camera shook its head. “It’s not that,” Sumire said in the video, who is now revealed to be the camera. They keep walking. “Why am I doing so bad?”

Kasumi looked at her sister. “Your growth spurt has just changed your eye level. See, you’re as tall as me now.”

“We practice the same amount,” Sumire said. “But you’re the one that’s always getting first place.”

“You know why?” Kasumi asked. “Because it’s my right as the elder sister.”

“We’re in the same grade though,” Sumire pointed out.

“Aw, don’t be so down,” Kasumi said. “We’ll reach the top of the world together. That’s our dream, right?”

“You don’t get it” Sumire said, sadness in her voice. “You’ll never understand how I feel.” She started to run. We can hear her thinking. Kasumi...if I were like you...things would be so much better.

“Hey! Wait up!” Kasumi cried out.

Kasumi’s the one people want.

“Look where you’re going, the light’s red! Hey!”

The talented one who CAN reach the top of the world.

“Sumire! Stop! Listen to me! SUMIRE!” Sumire felt a push, as Kasumi shoved her. She heard a car pull up.

After Sumire had gotten up from the shove, the next thing she saw was Kasumi dead in the middle of the road. “Kasumi?”

It is there that the video ends. Everyone was in shock. “That’s right,” Eris said. “She killed her own sister by attempting to die. What a truly horrible thing to do. She really is a monster, destined to join the shadows down here forever.”

Sumire was crying. “She’s right,” she muttered. “After what I did to Kasumi...after taking her from this world...I can’t...I can’t…I can’t forgive myself.”

There was silence. Sumire was slowly sinking into the plant, resigned to become the monster she thought she was. “NO!” Ren shouted, surprising everyone. Sumire looked up. “You are NOT a monster! You are NOT horrible! You are Sumire Yoshizawa! You are kind! Gracious! Welcoming! And I will do everything to help you see that! PERSONA!” Ren summoned her persona and started fighting the shadows.

“Pathetic,” Eris said.

“You're the one that’s pathetic, Eris!” Ann shouted. “Preying on people’s emotions to get what you want! It’s disgusting!” She joined the fight. “And I won’t let you do it to one of the sweetest people I’ve met! Sumire! Don’t give in!”

Sumire was stunned. “But..but I-”

“No you didn’t!” Ryuji chimed in. He started fighting too. “It ain’t your fault the situation turned out shitty! You’re not worthless! You mean something!”

“He’s right!” Morgana added. “You have more power than you think you have!” He started to fight. “You just need to channel it!”

Jose was fighting some shadows already. “From my limited observations, these humans fight for what they believe in. And they believe in you. You must be something special if they’re willing to fight like this.”

“SUMIRE!” Ren said. “You said that you’d be able to handle anything hard if it was from me, right?! Well here’s something hard! Kasumi died saving you! She did that because she believed you were worth saving! Is this any way to honor her?!” Sumire was shocked.

Ren went on. “If she felt like giving her life to save you, then so will I! SUMIRE! I’LL FIGHT FOR YOU TILL THE END!” The group kept on fighting the shadows.

“My my” Eris said. “They just can’t accept the way things are, can they?”

Sumire looked on, as her new friends risked everything for her. The inspiring words they said. The bitter fact that Ren was right. Kasumi did sacrifice her life for her’s. “...everyone…”

“Hm?” Eris said, looking at her. “You can’t really believe that, can you?” she asked. “You’re a pathetic weakling. You’ve always been pathetic. And you always will be!”

“SHUT UP!” Sumire shouted, gaining the attention of everyone. “I’m THROUGH being weak. I’m THROUGH running away! I’m THROUGH needing others to save me! Senpai! Everyone! They have their own demons to fight! And yet, they continually help me fight mine!

Well. This is no longer going to be a one way street! From now on, I’ll help them too! Because that’s what I do! Because I am Sumire Yoshizawa! And I will NOT let my sister’s gifts go wasted!”

“My, what a forceful person” A voice in Sumire’s head rang out. Sumire started to struggle under the wraps of the vines. “But if you are here, then all is good. Only go for success. Your sister will always stay in your heart.”

One of Sumire’s hands broke out of the vine. The voice continued. “She is grateful you have not accepted a life of cinders. That you now strive towards splendor. One question remains. Will you fill these shoes and dance with me?”

“Yes,” Sumire said, a mask appearing on her face.

“Then we shall dance to the end. I am thou. Thou art I. Accept this contract. This spell I cast upon you.”

With one swift motion, Sumire ripped off her mask, leaving blood spattered on her face.”CENDRILLON!” she called. The energy of her summoning her persona forced her out of the plant. When she landed, she found that she was dressed in a leotard, a coat with three flaps, stockings, heels, a belt with a violet on it, and her hair was tied back in a ponytail with a black ribbon. Sumire quickly jumped in to fight the shadows.

Eris was growling. “FINE! You can have her! But know this. I will always be watching. Waiting. And the moment any of you have doubts, I’ll be there.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Ryuji said. “Like it matters what you say at this point.”

“You laugh now!” Eris continued. “But once humanity has embraced chaos, they will evolve! Beyond the need for suffering! Beyond the need for hate! Beyond the need for saviors like you!” Eris vanished.

Ryuji wanted to try and chase her, but Ann stopped him. “Let’s fight this fight first!” she pointed out. Ryuji nodded. With all six of them, the shadows went down.

Sumire was breathing heavily. “We did it! I did it! We won! I won!” She passed out.

“Sumire!” Ren shouted. She ran to catch Sumire as she fell.

“Let’s get out of here!” Morgana said. He transformed back into a car. Ryuji got in. Ren handed Sumire to him. She went around to take the driver’s seat.

Ann stepped in. She turned to Jose. “Hey!” she called, reaching her hand out. “Wanna come with us?”

Jose smiled. “Sure. You’re an interesting bunch. I feel like I will learn a lot from you.” Jose took Ann’s hand, and the both went in together. Ren began to drive to find the exit to Mementos.

They reached the platform. Everyone left, and Ren took Sumire back. Morgana transformed back, and they all headed up the stairs. They used the app to leave Mementos and appear back at the subway station.

When Sumire came to, she was staring at Ren’s eyes. “Senpai,” she said. She gave Ren a little hug. Ren got slightly embarrassed.

“Ahem,” Ren said. “How are you feeling?”

“Well…” Sumire said. “Right now, that seems like a loaded question. I’m feeling all sorts of things.” She looked back at Ren. “But I’m glad you found me when you did. I’m glad you’re here.”

Ren’s face was now as red as a ripe tomato. She looked at Sumire. “I’m glad you’re here too, Sumire.”

“SUMIRE!” Coach Hiraguchi called out.

Sumire looked up. “Coach?” She got up to see her coach had come looking for her.

Hiraguchi found her. “Sumire!” She ran over. “I was looking all over for you. I was worried.”

“I’m sorry,” Sumire said. “I guess I’m not as over everything as I thought.”

“And that’s fine,” Hiraguchi said, placing her hands on Sumire’s shoulders. “No one’s expecting you to be fine after what happened.” Hiraguchi gave her a hug. “I just don’t want anything bad happening to you.”

Sumire was awed. She gave her a hug back. “Coach. Thank you.”

The two ended their hug. Hiraguchi turned to Ren. “You’re Amamiya, right?” Ren nodded. “You found Sumire then?”

Ren nodded again. “Yeah. She was wandering about when I came across her. She explained to me some of her problems, and then I helped her work out some things. She passed out, feeling exhausted.”

Hiraguchi smiled. “Well, I can certainly see why Sumire has taken a liking to you.”

“Coach!” Sumire said, her face now turning red.

Hiraguchi smiled. She checked her phone. “It’s getting late. If it’s alright with you, I can take you home, Sumire.”

“Oh” Sumire said. “That’s fine.” She waved at Ren. “Seeya, senpai!” She and Hiraguchi walked off. Ren waved back. She then got out her phone and texted her.

Ren: Hey. If you wanna talk about all that stuff about Personas and stuff, meet me tomorrow at Leblanc.

Sumire: Wait.

Sumire: That was real.

Sumire: I thought that was a dream I was having.

Ren: Nope.

Ren: It’s real.

Ren: Believe me.

Sumire: …

Sumire: Well, I guess it would be helpful to understand it all.

Sumire: Alright, I’ll come over.

Ren: Thanks.

Ren: Seeya!

Ren: And get some rest.

Sumire: I will.

Sumire: Thanks.

Ryuji, Ann, and Jose walked up. “Well, we should probably head back too,” Ryuji said.

“Yeah,” Ann said. “But what about Jose?”

They looked at him. “Yeah, you’re right,” Ryuji said. “We can’t just leave him alone.”

“Maybe we could,” Morgana said, riding in Ren’s bag. Ren rolled her eyes.

“Actually, Mr. Kitty is right,” Jose said. The thieves looked at him, surprised. “Don’t worry about me for now. I can figure something out.”

“...Well, if you say so,” Ann said. Morgana groaned. 

Ren smiled. “Hey. Jose. Wanna come over to my place tomorrow to discuss everything?”

“Sure,” Jose said. “If you tell me where you live.”

“Oh. Right. I live at a place called Leblanc” Ren said. “If you ask, I’m sure you can find it.”

“Noted,” Jose said. “Oh, before I leave, what are your names?”

The thieves were surprised. In all the hubbub, they didn’t mention them. “Well, my name is Ren. This is Ann.”

“Hello.”

“This is Ryuji.”

“Sup.”

“And Mr. Kitty here is Morgana.” Morgana pouted. “Don’t mind him,” Ren added. “He’s just going through some things.”

“I see” Jose. “And Sumire was that girl from before, correct?” Ren nodded. “Thank you. I’ll be sure to stop by then.” Jose walked off.

“Boy, I’m exhausted,” Ryuji said.

“Same,” Ann said. “I can’t wait to get home and relax in a bath.”

“I’m just gonna chow down on meat and then watch anime till I pass out” Ryuji said.

“Sounds fun,” Ren said. “I might do both of those.” They all walked off. Ren went to a public bath not too far from Leblanc and enjoyed some leisure time to herself, as Morgana waited outside.

Once she finished, she headed for Leblanc. She used her key to open the door. She noticed Sojiro wasn’t there. “Hm.” She began making food for her when a thought occurred to her. Wait…

She remembered what Eris said. “You laugh now! But once humanity has embraced chaos, they will evolve! Beyond the need for suffering! Beyond the need for hate! Beyond the need for saviors like you!”

But didn’t those shadows that attacked Jose say…?

“Humanity will be brought to its knees by chaos. We won’t let this interloper interfere!”

Hm. Well, we’re meeting tomorrow. I don’t need to think about this today. I’m too tired. She finished cooking. She went upstairs with her food, changed into her pajamas, turned on the TV, and ate. Once she was finished eating, she continued watching TV until she fell asleep.

[yehet-me-up]

Say My Name

Pairing: Chanyeol x reader (female)

Word Count: 3,718

Genre: Domestic!AU, smut

Rating: (M) for language and explicit sex

Summary: On your first date night since having your son, you and Chanyeol can’t wait until you get home to reconnect.

‘To Brian Anderson,’ your husband says from across the table, holding up his glass. ‘The biggest fool in the world. And the man I owe everything to.’

‘To Brian Anderson,’ you repeat. Your lips pull into a lopsided smile as you raise your glass of white wine and clink it to his. You regard each other as you drink, contentment lingering in both of your gazes. Both always thankful to the man who stood you up for a blind date, six long years ago. 

His name is your husband Chanyeol’s favorite toast when you come back to this restaurant on special occasions. His rallying cry; the man who let you go, and conversely, the man that brought you to him. As you turn your attention to the menu for a moment you’re struck with déjà vu, thinking back to that night.

You look around the restaurant, trying to keep the motion natural so as not to show the nerves you feel. The diamond teardrop earrings, classic red lip, and subtle black dress, your calm expression and serene smile, make you look to the rest of the world like a woman waiting for her boyfriend. But underneath the table your crumpled napkin tells a different story.

He’s late. By a lot. You sigh in frustration and move the napkin to the top of the table, smoothing it out over and over. This was such a mistake you think, picking up your water glass and taking a steadying sip. The cool water is the final push you need to abandon this attempt.

Why you ever agreed to a blind date is beyond you. The fact that its in public just makes it so much worse. Pulling your phone from your purse you stare at the last text you sent.

Perfect, see you there! - sent hours ago while you were covertly hiding your phone under the table during a long meeting, the last of the day. The excitement that had run down your spine at the prospect of meeting him now exists as bitter disappointment low in your gut.

Stephanie in the office had thought you guys would be ‘a perfect fit!’ given your shared interests in art house films and expensive sushi. For weeks she’d regaled you with tales of this Brian; building him up to be some Colossus, and for weeks you’d resisted looking him up online to get a peek.

You drop your glass back to the table with more force than you intend, watching with disinterest as some liquid spills down the side. One more minute, you tell yourself.

You’ll give him one more minute to arrive and then you’re more than ready to leave. Frustration rises in your for a second, thoughts swirling. About never being chosen, about no one making the effort, yet again. Not even a text to say he wasn’t coming. All at once the fight drains out of you, leaving exhaustion in its wake.

Abruptly a man slides into the seat across from you. He’s dressed far more casually than you’d have expected for such a classy restaurant – longer black jacket, light jeans, his hair soft and messy on his forehead. You regard him with confusion, taking in the half-full glass of amber liquid he carries, the exuberant yet awkward way he sits down, the look on his face that is at once both sheepish and determined.

‘Are you Brian?’ you ask in a rush, torn between amusement and disbelief.

‘No,’ he says firmly. ‘But I’ve been watching you from the bar for almost half an hour and I can’t take it any more. Whoever he is, he doesn’t deserve you. And I’m more than ready to correct his grave error and have dinner with a beautiful woman,’ he says, his words tumbling out, his low voice igniting the extinguished spark of hope inside you.

‘If you’ll have me, that is,’ he adds, a token acknowledgement to the fact that you might belong to someone else despite his need to claim you as his.

You inhale deeply, your mind trying to absorb this new reality. Where a moment ago there existed only empty space, the broken promise of something that was supposed to be - now there sits this man. His energy is barely contained in his form as he watches you with a mischievous glint in his eye, waiting for your answer. As if his whole world waits on this axis, depending on your choice.

A wave of something that feels like destiny rises in you and you look around the restaurant once more. This time you look because you want to commit every detail to memory. You want to remember every square inch of the moment you felt your life change.

The miniscule chip in the finger nail polish on your thumb. The waitress at the table next to you, reciting the night’s specials in a pleasant voice. The lower lip of the man across from you, basking in the fact that you know in your bones you’ll have the pleasure of tasting it, maybe even tonight.

‘All right then,’ you say meeting his eyes. ‘What should I call you, stranger?’

His mouth pulls into a smug smile, a flash of triumph warming his irises. But there’s nothing arrogant about the look he’s giving you, no hint that he assumed you’d say yes. Only a wonder and an excitement that you did. 

‘My name is Chanyeol, but I’m hoping you’ll call me yours,” he says with a grin.

The surprised laugh that erupted from you at his statement is one he’s drawn from you dozens, hundreds, of times over the ensuing six years.

On your second date the following day when he pulled out a comically oversized bouquet of flowers from behind his back; the riot of colors delighting you. 

The day he proposed, down on one knee on the wet sandy beach in the early morning light; your breathless, giddy laugh in the face of an impossible dream coming true.

The last time was two days ago, when you’d woke up at three in the morning, bleary-eyed with exhaustion. In the dim light from the baby monitor you saw that your tiny bundle of love was still sleeping soundly, just like your tree of a husband. 

He’d fallen asleep on top of you, inside you, you’d realized with a laugh. You’d clapped your hand over your mouth to muffle your giggle, which had quickly turned to a yawn. 

The baby had blessedly, finally gone down for a nap in the other room and you’d stumbled into bed to find him hard and ready and desperate for you after long weeks filled with diaper changes, baby food, and sneaking scraps of sleep where you could. Crawling in beside him his hands had found you instantly, retracing familiar territory, aching to become reacquainted.

Thinking back through the haze of sleep you remembered that he’d pulled you under him, stripped off your leggings and frantically swirled his fingers around your clit. You’d clung to him, pressing hot, open-mouthed kisses to his neck, just as desperate as he was to find connection, release – a moment of delicious pleasure in the midst of this domestic marathon of the early days of being a family of three.

After fumbling for a condom he’d trust in, wild, needy the second you were ready; his groan in your ear nearly sending you over the edge then and there. Ten strokes was all it took. Ten strokes and his hand hastily working itself in circles and you both fell over the edge with a sigh. He’d pressed a loving kiss to your forehead before you both had apparently fallen asleep from exhaustion.

You’d woken him up with a stifled laugh, giggling together under the covers and agreeing that you needed a real date night. Your best friend was more than happy to watch your son for a night so the two of you could have some time to yourselves. You both missed him terribly, but the sight of your husband in his button down shirt across from you, his hair swept off his forehead, was easing the ache considerably.

You fall into an easy conversation borne from years of honesty and mutual interest after ordering drinks. For five minutes you do your best to pretend that all either of you can think about isn’t fucking each other and wondering how far you’d get on the table before you got thrown out.

His hand finds you under the tablecloth and strokes broad circles around your kneecap, his fingers dipping behind to tease the skin behind your knees. You glare at him, laughing when you realize you should have known he’d go right for the jugular at the first opportunity. In hindsight you’re impressed you made it all the way to the restaurant without fucking in the car.

In retaliation you take exaggerated sips of your drink, winking at him as the liquid slides down your throat, his eyes glued to your swallow. His grip on your knee tightens and he begins looking for a place, anywhere he can take you. Spying something behind you his eyes go wide before narrowing in anticipation.

He leans over across the table to you, watching you through his lashes. ‘Meet me in the family restroom in two minutes,’ he orders, putting his napkin on the table. ‘Be ready for me.’

He stands abruptly, smoothing his hand over the front of his suit, trying his best to hide his arousal. Once he’s behind you he drops a hand to your shoulder and bends down to speak in your ear.

‘I can’t wait to stretch that tight cunt until you’re screaming into my hand,’ he growls. With a breathy laugh that sends a rush of hot air to the delicate skin behind your ear, he leaves.

You stagger in the weight of his absence, clutching the edge of your chair to ground yourself. Closing your eyes you can’t help but get flashes of what will happen in just 120 seconds. You squeeze your thighs together, almost moaning audibly when you think of how long it’s been since he’s been inside you for a satisfying amount of time.

Memories flash in front of your closed lids as you sit there, counting the seconds. 

The first time you fucked, hastily in the back of his car two nights after you met. 

Your wedding night, bent over a fancy hotel sink, his hands gripping your thighs tight enough to leave fingerprints in your skin. 

The night you got pregnant. If you’re right, it was the time he fucked you against the dining table, your legs over his shoulders, your fingers reaching desperately for any surface to hold onto.

Moisture gathers at your core, distracting you from the rest of the scene of the restaurant. You’re ready to spring from your seat, counting down the last few seconds until you can join him. Just when you’re about to stand up you hear a pleasant male voice.

‘Are you ready to order or do you want to wait for your companion?’ he asks, and you fling your eyes open to look at the young man waiting patiently, his pencil poised.

Fuck, you think. You hastily pick up a menu, eyes glazing over as you imagine Chanyeol waiting in the bathroom for you, already hard and needing to be buried inside you. You rattle off something about chicken and a steak and the second he leaves you bolt from the table and head off on unsteady legs in search of the bathrooms.

You find it at the back, past the men’s and women’s rooms, and hurtle towards the black door like it’s the antidote to a poison in your veins. You throw open the handle and feel him on you before you’re even completely inside.

‘What took you so long?’ he demands, burying his face in your neck, his hands reaching impatiently for your hips.

He slams the door shut, frantically reaching behind him to lock it. In the dim light of the fancy restroom all you can see is his mass in front of you. Your hands grab desperately for his shoulders while he presses you against the door, his lips finding your neck.

‘The waiter came just when I was getting up,’ you manage to get out, hands pushing his jacket off his shoulders.

‘I was just about to come out there and grab you by the hair to drag you in here. I need you, woman,’ he says with a laugh. ‘Now.’

A moan works its way out of your throat as he presses his hips against yours, his erection digging into your sensitive core. In this moment you feel powerful. Alive. Reborn in the wake of his desire after so many weeks and months of thinking only of this other being you were literally creating. Now that your body feels like yours again all you want to do is give it to him; any way he wants.

‘God, I need to get lost in you,’ you say, voice high and needy. ‘Please.’

He breaks from you for a beat to rip off his jacket, pulling back to cup your face in his hands. The look on his face ignites a ferocity in you that you haven’t felt in months. His need matches yours, as it always has.

‘Tonight I’m going to remind you you’re mine,’ he manages to get out, his voice so thick with desire you’re amazed he can speak.

You almost weep with relief, digging your fingers into him as you grip the backs of his arms to bring his lips to yours. He presses closer, dropping his hands to grip your hips, holding you so firmly against the door you can hardly move. But it’s been far too long since he took everything you have to give, and it’s still not close enough for you.

His mouth sears against yours, the heat between your lips starting a wildfire low in you. You whine into his open mouth, insistent, needing to be pressed against every inch of him you can reach. Knowing your tell after so many years he catches on immediately, reaching his hands to cup the globes of your ass, pulling you up into his arms.

Instinctively you wrap your legs around his waist, your dress riding up and exposing you to him. Your head falls back as his hardness meets the wetness at your core, even through the thin layer of your underwear. He groans against you, resting his forehead on yours and pulling your lower lip into his mouth to suck possessively.

Holding you flush against him, he walks over to the sink, depositing you onto the wide porcelain surface. His broad hands spread your legs wide and he steps between them. You lean back on your hands, bracing yourself as his mouth trails along your jaw, nipping at the skin there and making you mewl.

You rock your hips into him, ankles digging into the backs of his thighs to pull him closer. Both of you are breathing deeply, pupils blown so wide there’s almost no color left. After feeling bereft of him for so long you whine in relief, the strangled sound echoing in the small room and you smirk at it.

He drops his lips even further, tongue darting out to lick along your collar bone. His hand moves to your lower back, tipping you towards him at just the right angle for your clit to hit his hardness as it strains through his slacks.

‘I want to fuck you so hard you can’t walk. Can’t breathe. Can’t think of anything but me and my dick inside you. The only thing I want on your lips for the rest of my life is my name,’ he breathes into your sternum, the vibrations against your skin sending a wave of arousal straight to your core.

‘Do it then,’ you tease. The two of you never pass up an opportunity to play with fire, whipping each other into a frenzy that can only be extinguished by the release of your completion. You tilt your head back to meet his eyes, a moan falling from you at the wild look in his eyes. ‘Now.’

He nods, a strangled noise of satisfaction caught in his chest. He steps back an inch so he can tear at his belt buckle. You help him, untucking his shirt, fingers toying with the sensitive skin at his happy trail. With a grunt he shoves the material of his pants and his briefs to his ankles, hands greedily reaching for you.

His grip tears the fabric of your underwear so suddenly you gasp, far more aroused than you’d thought for such a barbaric action. But when it comes to him, the more he wants you, the more desperate you are for him. The more you want his touch on every inch of your body like a brand. You want him to live inside your skin, to feel his heart beating inside yours, to feel him inside you every waking moment.

Finally free of any barriers between you he lifts you, pulling you to the edge of the counter, positioning himself at your entrance with one hand while his other wraps hotly around your lower back. You brace your hands on the back of the sink, wrists cramping as you prepare yourself for the pressure they’ll exert shortly.

‘Say my name,’ he demands, thrusting into you in one motion, burying himself to the hilt.

You gasp, an incoherent noise of pleasure leaving you as your eyes screw shut. He feels so good you can hardly think, can hardly even recognize yourself as a human anymore. He pulls out, achingly slow, and thrusts back in just as rough, drawing another cry from you.

‘Say my name,’ he repeats harshly, pulling back so only his tip is inside of you.

You bite your lip around a wide grin, shaking your head. ‘Fuck me harder,’ you tease, gasping in a breath.

He drops his head to your shoulder, pulling back his lips to sink his teeth softly into the flesh there and you tighten around him, desperate for him to shove back into you. You buck your hips forward, trying to sheath him inside of you again but he pulls away, leaning back to give you a knowing look.

‘Say my name and I’ll fuck you harder than you ever thought possible,’ he promises and you feel yourself give way.

Any pride you had at not caving first vanishes at the thought of how hard you’ll come. You know he’s always given you everything you need, pushing you beyond any edges you’d ever believed yourself to have. The idea that there’s something more, some animalistic part of him you haven’t yet seen, lights a fire at the base of your spine.

You lift a hand and fist it in the hair at the base of his neck, pulling him back to look you dead in the eye. His gaze swims with desire, but after a beat he focuses on you, his mouth open against the frantic breaths he’s sucking in.

‘Chanyeol,’ you breathe, his name a prayer on your lips. An invocation of the holiest word that’s ever been on your tongue.

He grunts and spurs into action, both hands sinking into your hips as he pulls himself against you, sliding so deep within you its almost painful. You gasp and reach for him, moving your hands into his shirt and grasping for purchase. The hard edge of the counter digs into your ass as he tilts you to meet him, holding you balanced as he thrusts into you with precision. Relentlessly slamming into you.

Your moans turn desperate after only seconds, his length hitting that spot deep within you neither of you have paid much attention to in the past, always stopping and lingering at other pleasure points. Desperate pleas leave you as he fucks you into the counter so hard you’re sure you’ll crack the stone with the force.

‘Who do you belong to? Who owns this pussy?’ he grits out in time with the snap of his hips into you. ‘If you don’t say my name again in three seconds I’m not letting you come for a week,’ he challenges.

You clutch him as you do your best to meet his thrusts unable to gain much purchase in this position, but needing to match him. ‘Chanyeol,’ you repeat over and over, gasping in breaths.

You squeeze your thighs on him, taking him deeper than you ever thought possible, a brutal orgasm building in you as he hits your cervix with precision. He pulls you against his chest, your torsos molding together as he fucks into you over and over. Both of you are making incoherent noises, already so lost in feeling you don’t care who hears.

‘I’ve got you, baby. One hand on your clit until you come. One hand on your mouth so no one hears you but me,’ he commands, wildly fucking into you as his own orgasm threatens to knock him off his feet.

You obey immediately, sealing your palm against your open mouth, smothering your needy cries. At the first swirl of your fingers around the aching numb your orgasm bursts forth, throwing you out of your body as explosion of pleasure tears through your veins. He finds his release at the same time, a strained ‘fuck’ the only sound he makes as he bucks wildly into you, riding out his own high.

You collapse against each other, his hands barely able to lift you back up onto the ledge of the sink before he slumps, spent. You rest against him, nuzzling into his shirt as the aftershocks of your orgasm work through you. You grin weakly, sliding your hands to hold onto his back, pressing him against you.

‘Everything all right in there?’ you hear a muffled male voice call out following a knock.

You laugh against his chest, feeling his rumbling laugh against your cheek as he holds you to him. He calls out to the man that you’ll be out in a second, pulling back to look at you with adoration as satisfied smiles grace both your lips.

[danithebookaholic-blog]

REVIEWS! - TEEN ROMANCE

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Valentine’s Day was last month and I made sure to partake in all the romance reeds that I could get my hands on! If love is still in the air for you, then here are a few of the Teen Romances I read last month.

Just a heads-up: you’ll need a box of tissues, your gay best friend, your big-girl (or big-boy) pants ready to speak-up, and your iTunes subscription handy for this list of must reads!

📚Cheyanne Young’s The Last Wish of Sasha Cade (2018 YA Romance) 📚Erin Hahn’s You’d Be Mine (2019 YA Contemporary Romance) 📚Marci Lyn Curtis’ The Leading Edge of Now (2018 YA Romance & Realistic Fiction on Abuse) 📚Olivia Hinebaugh’s The Birds, the Bees, and You and Me (2019 YA LGBT Romance)

From one bookaholic to another, I hope I’ve helped you find your next fix. —Dani

The Last Wish of Sasha Cade 

By Cheyanne Young

Publication Date: October 2, 2018 Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Realistic Fiction

Synopsis:

The day Raquel has been dreading for months has finally arrived. Sasha, her best friend in the whole world -- the best friend in the whole world -- has died of cancer. Raquel can’t imagine life without her. She’s overwhelmed and brokenhearted.

And then a letter from Sasha arrives. Has she somehow found a way to communicate from the afterlife?

In fact, Sasha has planned an elaborate scavenger hunt for Raquel, and when she follows the instructions to return to Sasha’s grave, a mysterious stranger with striking eyes is waiting for her. There’s a secret attached to this boy that only Sasha—and now Raquel—knows.

This boy, Elijah, might be just what Raquel needs to move on from her terrible loss. But can Raquel remain true to herself while also honoring her friend’s final wish?

Purchase:

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / IndieBound

Review:

Young Sasha Cade is dying and has one last wish: For her best-friend, Raquel, to keep Elijah a secret and for them to complete the scavenger hunt, that Sasha devised, together.

If you are looking for a tear jerker, then look no further! The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is the teenage version of the movie P.S. I Love You, where friendship and love will survive the biggest hardships, even death.

The Last Wish of Sasha Cade is real as it gets, and shows that the grown-up world isn’t all rainbows and unicorns. Life comes with heartbreak and tragedy, but have no fear, life also comes with love and fortune. You just have to open your heart to both.

Get the box of tissues ready, because The Last Wish of Sasha Cade will have you reaching for them out of heartache and pure joy! I highly recommend to teens and adults alike.

 Dani's Score out of 5: 📚📚📚📚📚

You’d Be Mine

By Erin Hahn

Publication Date: April 2, 2019 Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

Annie Mathers is America’s sweetheart and heir to a country music legacy full of all the things her Gran warned her about. Superstar Clay Coolidge is most definitely going to end up one of those things.  But unfortunately for Clay, if he can’t convince Annie to join his summer tour, his music label is going to drop him. That’s what happens when your bad boy image turns into bad boy reality. Annie has been avoiding the spotlight after her parents’ tragic death, except on her skyrocketing YouTube channel. Clay’s label wants to land Annie, and Clay has to make it happen.  Swayed by Clay’s undeniable charm and good looks, Annie and her band agree to join the tour. From the start fans want them to be more than just tour mates, and Annie and Clay can’t help but wonder if the fans are right. But if there’s one part of fame Annie wants nothing to do with, it’s a high-profile relationship. She had a front row seat to her parents’ volatile marriage and isn’t interested in repeating history. If only she could convince her heart that Clay, with his painful past and head over heels inducing tenor, isn’t worth the risk.

Purchase:

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / IndieBound

Review:

Young love is always great, add some Johnny and June Cash, a spunky girl and a jilted boy to the mix and you have a great romance! For anyone who reads You’d Be Mine, I highly recommend - especially if you don’t know and Johnny & June Cash songs - to keep your phone near by so you can play the many songs mentioned while reading this book. It will not only help you to understand the story on a deeper level, but it will also set the mood, and make you a Johnny & June fan! (I also recommend listening to Heidi Newfield’s song Johnny and June for any song downtime while reading. It, too, will set the mood! 😉)

But You’d Be Mine isn’t just a country music teen romance, it also deals with loss, death, and destruction, drug addiction, alcoholism, and (somewhat surprising) God. It teaches you to work hard, fight for what you believe in, and reminds you just how important family and belief is, all while making your heart ache for Clay and Annie.

Looking for a swoony read? Then You’d Be Mind is totally the book for you this week! I 100% fell in love with Clay and Annie, their music and their story, and I think you will, too!

 Dani's Score out of 5: 📚📚📚📚📚

The Leading Edge of Now

By Marci Lyn Curtis

Publication Date: September 4, 2018 Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Mystery, Abuse

Synopsis:

Just when Grace is beginning to get used to being an orphan, her estranged uncle suddenly comes forward to claim her. That might have been okay if he'd spoken to her even once since her father died. Or if moving in with Uncle Rusty didn't mean returning to New Harbor. 

Grace once spent the best summers of her life in New Harbor. Now the place just reminds her of all she's lost: her best friend, her boyfriend and any memory of the night that changed her forever. 

People say the truth will set you free, but Grace isn't sure about that. Once she starts looking for it, the truth about that night is hard to find --- and what happens when her healing hurts the people she cares about the most? 

Purchase:

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / IndieBound

Review:

The Leading Edge of Now is not your typical romance, so if you’re looking for a swoon worthy read, this is not it, however, that doesn’t mean you should not read it, just be expecting a story that goes a bit deeper than the typical teen romance.

Grace’s story is one that unfortunately needs to be told. A story of a girl who is orphaned and who later comes out about the sexual abuse she endured and has lived with quietly for years. Sadly, too many girls so through this and are too scared to speak up about it. In Marci Lyn Curtis’ The Leading Edge of Now, you go through the struggle and mental wear-down that Grace goes through everyday of holding this secret in, and the relief she finally feels when she speaks up. It’s a powerful story with some very powerful messages that girls and boys alike should read and learn.

I don’t know if my review words can do this book justice, and so, instead, I’ll leave it with a couple of my favorite quotes - and lessons - from The Leading Edge of Now:

Because life is hard and it’s messy, but it deserves to be lived. And if you’re always turning away from it, you aren’t really living it. Living, really living, is standing on the very tip of the moment - right on the leading edge of now - no matter how heartbreaking or beautiful or terrible it might be.

I’m crying again, everything inside me ripping open and spilling out, the humiliation I’ve clutched so tightly the past couple of years, the anger I’ve stuffed into my rib cage, the fear that’s cleaved to my cells. God - fear of everything. Of living and dying, of loving and desertion, of friendship and loneliness. The stupid truth of it all is that day after day I’ve been trying to protect myself from things that have been out of my control. I’ve been worrying about getting hurt or getting sick or getting abandoned. But the fact is, people like me get raped every day. People like Dad die every day. People like Owen are involved in accidents that are out of their control every single day.

The world, with all its beauty and wonder and love, is a frightening place.

 Dani's Score out of 5: 📚📚📚📚📚

The Birds, the Bees, and You and Me

By Olivia Hinebaugh

Publication Date: January 22, 2019 Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, LGBT+, Sex Education

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Lacey Burke is the last person on the planet who should be doling out sex advice. For starters, she’s never even kissed anyone, and she hates breaking the rules. Up until now, she's been a straight-A music geek that no one even notices. All she cares about is jamming out with her best friends, Theo and Evita. But then everything changes. When Lacey sees first-hand how much damage the abstinence-only sex-ed curriculum of her school can do, she decides to take a stand and starts doling out wisdom and contraception to anyone who seeks her out in the girls' restroom. But things with Theo become complicated quickly, and Lacey is soon not just keeping everyone else’s secrets, but hers as well.

Purchase:

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / IndieBound

Review:

The Birds, the Bees, and You and Me is a very informative book without seeming educational. If you have a tween/teen (or are one) looking for answers about sex, then this is a great book to pick up to be informed, but not to an embarrassing degree. The Birds, the Bees… actually acknowledges the fact that most tweens/teen (and even some adults) are embarrassed about sex, and brings about the fact that it shouldn’t be embarrassing. Everyone should be comfortable with asking questions, finding out the correct answers to those questions, and having an education that supports all sexual lifestyles.

But The Birds, the Bees… isn’t just about sex. It’s about a group of wonderfully talented high school music students that are not only finding their way in the sexual world (identifying if they are heterosexual or a part of the LGBT+ community, and how to properly protect themselves), but also musically - Lacey, Evita, Theo and Alice form a band; where they want to go to college and want to do for a living. They grow apart and together as friends, band mates and partners. And they learn to stand-up for themselves and the education in which they are receiving.

The Birds, the Bees, and You and Me is a very powerful book, teaching those who read it how to make judgement calls when it comes to their life. While those around you may not agree with your beliefs, you have to stand up for your rights, beliefs and health and do what is right for you. A great non-traditional romance read that everyone should read!

 Dani's Score out of 5: 📚📚📚📚📚

Sorry, no wine pairing for these teen reads.

Have a book you’d like to suggest or one you’d like me to review? Please feel free to leave your comments down below.