#i have a headache i haven’t texted my cousin back in a week

[stripesysheaven]

in chaos mood

[hawks-supremacy]

Golden Swirls

summary: when Sakusa's sister told him how people found their soulmates, he was disgusted. or at least until he found his.

pairing: sakusa x reader

genre: fluff and angst

word count: 3.2k

a/n: i finished this a week ago but didn't like it so i completely redid it. i also tried to write in 3rd pov which i don't think i'll do again, i'll probably just stick to 2nd pov but i wanted to try something new! anyway i hope you enjoy!

Sakusa Kiyoomi didn’t consider himself a germaphobe. Even though his cousin, Komori Motoya, liked to say he was, he still wouldn’t consider himself one. Although he said it in a joking manner it still made him think, do other people see him like that? He didn’t mind sitting or laying on the floor to do his stretches before practice, and dirt outside didn’t bother him much either. It was just other people and their germs that he didn’t care for. He doesn’t know where people have been or who could potentially be in the beginning stages of a cold and not know it. He was cautious around people, and bigger crowds made him nervous.

So when Sakusa learned about soulmates and how people found theirs at the age of 8 he was a little grossed out. What he remembers from the story his older sister told him was that everyone in the world has a soulmate, and the way you find yours was that when you made contact with your soulmate, the area you touched each other would light up in a sort of golden color. She told stories about how people would go around and try to touch everyone they thought could be their soulmate.

That’s what Sakusa thought was gross, trying to touch every single person on the off chance that they're your soulmate. Maybe it’s because he was always sick as a kid and that’s why he didn’t like the idea of other people’s germs. So as he grew up and saw people leaving gentle touches on the arms of everyone they met he couldn’t help but curl his lip in disgust. It wasn’t like Sakusa never wanted to find his soulmate, but he didn’t like the idea of people invading his personal space to find out.

High School for Sakusa was difficult, even though Motoya constantly told him he was a bit brash and abrasive that didn’t stop people from wanting to see if they were his soulmate. He managed to dodge nearly everyone who tried but occasionally there’d be a few who snuck in there with disappointed stares as their touch didn’t cause the warm golden glow signalling that they were soulmates.

Now Sakusa was a professional volleyball player for the MSBY Black Jackals and dodging the fleeting touches of fans only seemed to get harder the longer he was in the spotlight. He watched from a distance as his teammates shook hands and hugged every fan that approached them, watched as the shoulders of fans slumped at the lack of gold in their touch. Watched as fans jealously stared when his captain Meian Shugo found his soulmate in the crowded court after a game.

He had just left the locker rooms and glanced in the gym to see another crowd of fans desperately trying to see if they were one of the team member’s soulmates, another crowd of fans disappointed when the outcome they were hoping for didn’t happen. “You’re not soulmate searching in the crowd of fans?” He glanced over, startled at the sudden voice next to him. He wasn’t used to the new presence quite yet.

L/n Y/n was the new manager of the Black Jackals, having started less than a month ago. They had already begun to learn everyone’s mannerisms and habits, knowing that Sakusa was one to avoid the crowds and interviews after games, opting to keep to himself. They knew that everyone else on the team had no issues meeting the fans and finding out if their soulmates were in the crowd much like Meian’s was.

Sakusa didn’t know a lot about Y/n, but they knew quite a bit about him just from observing their practices and games. Sakusa wasn’t sure if their views on soulmates matched his, if they also thought that the act of having to touch every person in hopes of finding “the one” was odd and not appealing. He wasn’t sure if they had simply just found their soulmate already and didn’t need to bother with everyone else. What he did know was that they kept their distance at practices.

Y/n always greeted everyone from a distance when they entered the gym for practices or before their games had started. When they brought their water bottles they set them on the bench rather than handing them to everyone on the team. When the team was gathering to talk about play strategies they would be sat at the bench, close enough to listen, always jotting things down on their clipboard. To Sakusa Kiyoomi, L/n Y/n was an enigma.

They were someone who kept to themselves, never getting too close to anyone else. On the occasion that they went out for dinner after games that the team had won and felt proud of, they always sat at the end of the table, never saying many words. They were quiet and soft spoken when they did speak. Giving gentle reminders or suggestions to the team. Even though they were quiet and kept to themself they still managed to become friends with almost everyone on the team.

They exchanged excited words with Bokuto as they exchanged stories from when they were in their high school years. They gave friendly but stern scoldings to Atsumu as he did something he knew he shouldn’t have, like swinging from the bars in the gym just because Hinata made a bet that he couldn’t. They gave silent smiles as they listened to Hinata enthusiastically shout sound effects as he described his favorite volleyball plays. They gave Sakusa words of encouragement while still keeping their distance because they knew that people he didn’t really know made him uncomfortable. But Sakusa didn’t know much about Y/n.

So as he looked down at them sitting on the floor across from the back entrance to the gym, waiting for him to answer their question, he wasn’t sure how to approach the conversation. “Or have you already found your soulmate?” They asked after Sakusa still hadn’t responded to their first question. “Uh no I haven’t found mine, have you?” He finally responded as he lowered himself to the ground, still a good distance away from them. They shook their head as they kept their eyes closed and their head leaning against the cold tile wall of the hallway. “Why are you sitting on the floor?” Sakusa asked after a few seconds of silence from both parties.

“I have a headache but Bokuto is my ride home, so I have to wait for him to finish greeting every fan and then he showers. So I’d say I still have a good hour to wait.” They replied, opening their eyes and tilting their head to look at Sakusa, “Why are you sitting on the floor?” He wasn’t sure how to respond, he didn’t have a reason for why he sat on the floor, he just sat there because they were also sitting on the floor.

“I can give you a ride home if you want Y/n.” He offered, changing the topic at hand. He wasn’t quite sure what compelled him to offer them a ride home, he just felt like it was right. “You don’t have to do that if you don’t want to. I’m perfectly content sitting here and waiting for Bokuto.” They said, closing their eyes again and turning their head towards the ceiling. “You have a headache Y/n, let me give you a ride home so you aren’t sitting here for an hour.” Sakusa said as he got up and looked at them expectantly. As they opened their eyes they sighed and got up, “Let me text Bokuto to let him know that I don’t need a ride and then we can leave.” They reluctantly agreed as they pulled out their phone to send Bokuto a text. He wouldn’t get it until he got to the locker room but at least then he would know. “Okay let’s go.” Y/n said as they started walking towards the exit with Sakusa still standing in the hallway, only beginning to follow them after they were halfway towards the exit.

As they drove home Sakusa learned a little bit more about Y/n. He learned that they had met Bokuto through Akaashi who was a distant cousin of theirs, so they were closer to Bokuto out of everyone on the team. He also learned that they lived in the same apartment building as Bokuto so they carpooled every morning, which is why they always showed up at the same time. He didn’t learn much about before they joined the team as the manager any time he asked they waved it off or changed the subject.

As Sakusa entered his home, a familiar ringtone started to chime from his coat pocket. Taking his phone out of his pocket he pressed the answer button seeing it was Motoya calling. “Hey Motoya, what’s up?” He held the phone between his shoulder and ear as he slipped off his shoes before correcting his grip on the small device. “Was just calling to let you know we have a game against each other coming up next month. Did you just get home from your game? I thought I heard the door close.”

“Yeah I got home late because I drove the new manager home. They were waiting for Bokuto, but they had a headache and he was going to be a while.” Sakusa explained as he walked over to his kitchen to find something to eat. “Oh you guys got a new manager? Who is it?” Motoya asked curiously. “Their name is L/n Y/n. They just started a few weeks ago, so I don’t really know much about them.” He said as he got out ingredients from the fridge and went to wash his hands.

“You mean L/n Y/n from Itachiyama?” As Motoya asked what he thought was an innocent question, Sakusa felt himself freeze, “Who was that again?” He asked hesitantly. “You don’t remember Y/n? You hated them, or at least it sure seemed like you did.I mean you were cold and distant to everyone but it seemed like it was worse with them.” As Motoya continued to explain to Sakusa who Y/n was he suddenly felt very terrible. From what he remembers Y/n wasn’t always shy and soft spoken. They used to be bubbly and friendly, always trying to include everyone, including him.

It wasn’t that he was mean to them by any means. He didn’t go out of his way to bully them, but one day he had enough of their bubbly and outgoing personality and just snapped. He wasn’t having the best day and hearing them just kind of set him off, and now he felt terrible, because Sakusa knew that sometimes all it took was one person to yell at someone who was outgoing and suddenly they weren’t as outgoing anymore as before. He doesn’t quite remember what he said but he remembers that after he yelled at Y/n, they were more quiet.

“Motoya, I didn’t even recognize them. They’re so different from when we were in high school, they’re so quiet now.” Sakusa said as he leaned on the counter with his head resting in the hand that wasn’t holding the phone. “Yeah they started being quiet after you yelled at them. Didn’t talk as much.” Motoya’s voice got softer the more he talked about it. “I don’t even remember what I said, Motoya.” Sakusa sighed. “Well first of all you told them that no one cared what they had to say, and then you said something along the lines of how you feel bad for whoever their soulmate is if they're going to be that loud all the time. It was pretty bad, Kiyoomi.” Motoya changed the subject and they talked about something else for a bit before Sakusa had to eat something and then shower if he wanted to go to bed at a decent time.

It was the next morning and Sakusa was heading over to Y/n’s house to try and apologize. He wouldn’t see them today since they usually have the day after a game off so that the team can rest. He was suddenly very nervous as he knocked on the door to their apartment. “Bokuto, you have to learn how to cook something at some point, I can’t feed you all the time!” He heard their voice get closer to the door as they walked towards it, and soon the door was pulled open, “Oh you’re not Bokuto. Sorry, he usually comes over around this time every day on our days off. Uh come in?”

As they moved out of the way and opened the door more Sakusa noticed that they wore an Itachiyama sweater and suddenly felt stupid that he didn’t realize sooner. As he stepped in and slipped off his shoes he took note that the apartment was pretty clean other than a few things here and there. “Sorry it’s a mess, I was going to clean today and then well you showed up.” Y/n said as they went through and picked up a few things, “Are you hungry? It’s about noon, have you eaten? I was in the middle of making lunch, but I made enough for like four people because I don’t understand that I can cut the recipe down.” He watched as they rambled and walked around the kitchen to finish cooking the lunch they had started before he arrived.

“Yeah I’ll eat if you don’t mind. I didn’t eat anything before I came over.” He said sitting down on one of the stools by the counter. Even as he was around them for just a few minutes he couldn’t comprehend why he would yell at them like he did. Their presence was so warm and inviting, they were so caring and observant of everyone around them. Now he felt like even more of an ass before he came over to their apartment.

“Not that I don’t want to hang out with you or anything, but why exactly did you come over to my apartment today?” They asked setting down two plates of food on the counter and taking a seat across from Sakusa. Sakusa moved the food around his plate for a bit while he nervously thought about how to start the conversation. “I’m sorry.” He said and looked up, “About what happened when we were at Itachiyama.” Y/n paused, their food halfway to their mouth, and set down their utensils. “Oh, so you do remember that.” They said fidgeting with their hands, “I had honestly thought you forgot. It’s okay though Sakusa, it’s been what? Five years since that’s happened? I’ve moved past it, we’re different people than we were back then. I kinda get it though, I was a little much huh?” They asked, beginning to eat again.

“It wasn’t okay though, I shouldn’t have talked to you like that just because I was having a bad day Y/n. People care about you and what you have to say, and I guarantee your soulmate will love how bubbly and excited you always are.” Sakusa apologized again, he wasn’t sure he would ever be able to apologize enough to them. “Honestly Sakusa it’s fine, I’ve gotten over it, besides I might never find my soulmate anyway.” Y/n said as they finished their food and put their plate in the sink. “I know you got more quiet because of what I said. You’re not as outgoing or bubbly anymore, you’re more shy and reserved than before and I feel awful for that. I didn’t realize that what I said could have that big of an impact on you-”

“Well it did.” Y/n interrupted him, “It impacted me so much Sakusa. I was just trying to include you so you didn’t feel left out during group projects or activities. I was just trying to be nice to you Sakusa, you know it’s really stupid I even had a little crush on you. I know that’s dumb because the chances of us being soulmates is basically zero, but you were nice to me. You talked to me, helped me on the homework, and somewhere along the way I developed a crush. Then you yelled at me.” Y/n took a deep breath and laughed pathetically, “You yelled at me, which is really stupid, because people told me all the time that I was “too much” and needed to calm down. But it was different coming from you, coming from someone who I had thought had become a friend of mine.”

“Y/n I’m so sorry, I didn’t know.” Sakusa said as he made his way toward them. “I know you didn’t, Sakusa. I told you I’m over it. I guess I just wanted to yell back at you for it, even if it is five years later. Honestly I forgave you two years after it happened. I’m still bubbly and outgoing, it’s just that I wasn’t sure if you would’ve hated that at practice so I toned it down. Ask Bokuto, he’ll tell you.” Sakusa had felt a little better after hearing that from Y/n. He wasn’t sure he’d ever forgive himself if they had never gone back to their excitable personality.

“Here let me help with the dishes.” Sakusa said as he reached for the plate in their hand. They were about to protest when they felt a warm go on the tip of their index finger where his hand brushed theirs. Sakusa watched in awe as golden swirls danced around both of your finger tips, somehow in sync like a dance that wasn’t quite complete without its partner to help hold the rhythm of the number. The warmth of his hand was nothing like his sister had described to him. It felt like the first rays of sun in the morning on a warm autumn day with more of a comforting warmth than a hot one.

Neither of the two said anything as they watched the golden swirls fade away, but still felt the warmth of them underneath the skin still. “I know I said I had a crush on you earlier and I should be ecstatic that this is happening but a part of me can’t help but find this really ironic.” Y/n said laughing, still staring at their hands. “What do you mean?” Sakusa asked with a confused stare as he looked at Y/n. “You don’t think this is ironic? You literally told me my soulmate would find me annoying and now you’re my soulmate. It’s kind of funny.” Y/n explained, finally looking up at Sakusa.

Sakusa thought for a minute with furrowed eyebrows before realizing what they meant. “Would you be quiet about that?” He asked now laughing at the situation as well, “We just found out we’re soulmates and you’re making jokes? I’m glad you’re back to your old self but come on Y/n.” He gave a gentle shove to their shoulder as they laughed more at the situation and Y/n continued to make jokes and lightly shoved him back.

Outside the apartment Bokuto lowered his ready to knock fist with a smile, deciding to come back at a later time as he heard laughing coming from the inside of the usually quiet apartment.

[tomtenadia]

Remember Us - 7

I know we are in full Rowaelin month but I thought to give you part 7 as a present...

There is a small library scene in perfect theme with Day 4. (This is not part of Rowaelin month. Just a coincidence)

The chapters are getting less angsty. As I mentioned in a post a few days ago... i Finished the story and it has 10 parts. That was the original plan and I promise a HEA

-------

Rowan had spent the entire day going through all of their albums. Evalin had offered to look after Freyja, but instead he had kept the girl in his arms while sitting on the carpet and and album in front of him.

He had just finished the one about Thomas and now opened the one dedicated to his daughter. They were both still a working in progress as it looked like Aelin would just record the stages in their lives.

“Look, who is this one?” The little girl pointed at the picture and babbled something.

“This is you.” He told her in a loving tone “the most precious thing in our lives with your brother.”

“You did it, Fireheart.” Rowan kissed the head of an exhausted Aelin, while the doctors were busy cleaning and checking on their daughter.

The nurse walked to them with a bundle in her arms and gave it to Aelin “I think your daughter is ready to meet you.” And placed the baby on Aelin’s chest.

Rowan sat at her side, his arms around her shoulder as he drew closer his two women.

“She is like you, Ro.”

He kissed her forehead “I love you both. Madly.”

In another photo he saw Thomas in the hospital bed near her mother, kissing his sister head and the caption read Thomas is officially a big brother and he finally gets to meet his sister. 

“ ‘Mas” babbled Freyja, pointing at the photo.

“Yes, that is your brother.”

Page by page he followed his daughter life and as it happened for Thomas, some moments became familiar all of a sudden.

Looking at photos had been a great idea but with Aelin’s captions had been even better as it was as if someone was actually telling him the story.

He looked at a couple of more albums but then he felt an headache coming and his vision was getting tired as well, so he grabbed Freyja and went to lie down on the sofa, making sure that she was tucked in safely between him and the back of the sofa. Evalin was busy doing chores around the house. He pulled the little girl to his chest and he started humming a tune while his hand caressed her head.

Not long after they were both asleep.

Evalin appeared back in the living room not long after and when she saw the scene in front of her she almost cried. Then she took her phone and snapped a picture and sent it to Aelin Your husband and your daughter are having some quality time together.

*

“How’s the study session going?” A younger Rowan paused beside a table in a university library.

The blonde woman in front of him groaned in exasperation “med school. Of all the degrees I choose from, I went for the worst one.” Her head collapsed heavily on the books in front of her “I want to be a neurosurgeon, I don’t care about the kidneys. Why am I studying this crap?”

Rowan smiled and placed a cup of coffee on the table “you need caffeine.”

Aelin lifted her head “yes, in IV.” She extended her arm and Rowan chuckled “you are the doctor, you will have to perform that on yourself.” He laughed and patted her head “I can tell you the legal repercussions of me performing such a procedure without a licence.”

Aelin grabbed her coffee and drank avidly “smartass.”

“A smartass you love?”

“Keep dreaming, Whitethorn.”

When he woke up again he was not ready for the splitting headache. He tried to sit up but dizziness hit him hard and then a wave of nausea. He jumped off the sofa but crashed on the carpet. Rowan fought to stand up but his body refused to obey “Evalin,” he croaked, grabbing his head in his hands.

A moment later Evalin was at his side “Rowan, are you okay?”

He crashed back down on the carpet and groaned. Evalin slowly helped him to sit back up and she felt panic rise “I should call Aelin.”

“No,” said Rowan in a whisper as he stood shakily and sat at the opposite side of the sofa away from his sleeping daughter. He should not be around the kids. No one should be around him while he was in that state.

And in that instant nausea hit again and he grabbed his stick and slowly dragged himself to the bathroom, collapsed on the floor and emptied the content of his stomach in the toilet.

***

Aelin had just finished surgery when she noticed the worried text from her mother. Rowan was not well.

She changed from the scrubs, paged her second, told him she had a family emergency and that she had to go back home. They all knew her situation and he was understanding. She had finished her surgeries for the day so finishing early was not much of an issue.

She drove home with her heart racing with panic. She knew the complications after a brain injury and she was worried. Her mother had not specified what happened but her tone seemed frantic.

Once in front of the house she parked quickly and once in the house she found it quiet. Her mother was sitting on the sofa reading to Freyja and Thomas was on the carpet playing with his toy cars.

“Where is he?”

Evalin looked up at her “in bed. He was sick, complaining of strong headaches and he said he was tired.”

Aelin dropped her backpack and ran for the bedroom and found him asleep.

She walked to him and sat at his side at the edge on the bed and slowly caressed his head. Her strong, amazing husband looked fragile, tucked in bed and sleeping on his side. The time in the hospital had left his mark and his frame was now thinner. Her hand ran through his hair once again and then deposited a gentle kiss and in that instant his eyes popped open as she chastised herself for it.

“Hi you,”

“Hi,” his voice gruff “you are home.”

“Mum texted me that you were not well.”

He tried to sit up but Aelin kept him down “you need to rest. What are your symptoms?”

Rowan’s head collapsed back on the pillow “headache, dizziness and nausea.”

Aelin’s hand was in his hair again “it’s normal. From one to ten, how bad is the headache?”

“Seven.”

She stood and came back a moment later with a glass of water and a tablet “Just a light dose to help you a bit.”

Rowan took the water and the medicine and once he was done Aelin lay down at his side, snuggling  close to him, her hand on his chest. Rowan’s arms as if on instinct went around her frame but did not hug her tight. He had no energy.

“I dreamt…” he closed his eyes for a second “I dreamt of us in the library. You were complaining about your degree and kidneys,” he told her softly “I brought you coffee.”

Aelin chuckled against his chest. She did remember exactly the day “that was when I started to fall for you.”

“Tell me,” he said, his lips brushing her hair.

“Somehow you had memorised my schedule,” she began her tale “so you would pop up in the library and keep me company studying. You with your laws and me with my crazy med stuff.” She looked up at him and found her husband staring at her “during my anatomy exam you offered to be my skeleton and I revised on you.” She flicked his nose and the gentle flinch of his nose reminded her so much of him, his usual reaction “At the end of a crazy exam you brought me cake and once my session of exams was over you asked me out.”

Rowan gave her a weak smile and she could see the tiredness in his face “you asked me to move in with you on my birthday and my present were the keys to your flat. I moved out of mine the next day and Aedion moved in with Lysandra and took my place.”

“Are we good friends with them?” He asked with interest. So far they had never discussed their friends and he thought it was time to try.

Aelin nodded “Aedion is my cousin. Lys and I were flatmates and she is my best friend.” Her hand brushed his hair once again, the gesture was relaxing and Rowan seemed to enjoy it too, his features much more relaxed “then we have Lorcan and Elide and the six of us kinda form a nice tight group.”

“Do they know about my condition?”

Aelin nodded “I explained to them and the only reason they haven’t visited is because I knew it was going to be too much so I told them to wait.”

“Thank you,” he said softly while his hand brushed her back “I can’t just yet.”

Aelin nodded again and his expression morphed as if he wanted to ask her something but hesitate. His hand moved “can I?” And Aelin knew what he meant. She took his hand and pushed it under her t-shirt and on her tiny baby bump “I don’t know yet if it’s a girl or a boy. I have a check up in two weeks and will see if we can find out the sex.”

His thumb moved gently as if to greet their child with his free hand he pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” he said a bit too quietly.

“I should let you rest,” Aelin tried to move but his hand grabbed her writs and pulled her back down against him. He had been enjoying that moment they had shared. His arms went around her frame and pulled her to him. 

“You love to cuddle.”

“Do I?” He told her rising an eyebrow.

“Sometimes when mum takes the kids we do enjoy a lot of naked, adult cuddling.”

Rowan’s heart raced in terror “I am not…” he stopped “I can’t yet.”

“Shh…” said Aelin, placing a gentle finger on his lips “We are not doing anything you do not want to do.” She told him with love.

He pulled her even closer and tucked her head under his chin, and the position felt familiar all of a sudden, her scent enveloping his nostrils. Everything about her felt familiar, the shape of her body against his, her scent, they way she fit perfectly in his arms.

They were in silence for a moment until two small cyclones joined them.

“Dad.” Shouted Thomas quite loudly and Rowan groaned, his head not appreciating the decibels coming from his son.

“Quiet, Tom, dad is not well.”

The little boy zipped his lips and climbed in bed. Freyja padded to her father’s side and extended her arms in a gesture to be picked up. Rowan turned and lifted his daughter in his arms and pushed her under the blankets with Thomas and Aelin joined them a moment later.

“We are keeping company to dad but we need to be quiet. Can we do that?”

Thomas nodded eagerly and Freyja kept sucking on her pacifier. The little girl climbed on her father chest and Rowan rolled on his back to help her curl up properly. Thomas was tucked in at his side and Aelin’s arm reached over and enveloped them.

“Sorry, they really missed you.”

Rowan shook his head “this feels really nice and normal.”

Aelin smiled and brushed Thomas’ hair “believe me on a weekend it is, and if I am not working the four of us love a long morning in bed together.”

He chuckled and loved the image “What about the names?”

Aelin grabbed Freyja’s hand in her and kissed it “Thomas was a character in a sci-fi series that we both love. He is an Admiral and quite amazing. He is actually my fictional husband. Freyja, we took it from a mythology book.”

Rowan laughed “so I have competition.”

“Can you be an admiral?”

“I order you to kiss me, soldier.” Rowan felt a smile tug at his lips and Aelin stared at him with fondness. Then leaned forward and pressed a kiss on his lips.

“Bleah,” said Thomas in protest. Aelin stamped a big kiss on his cheek “feeling better now?” And the boy grinned and climbed down from the bed “lego.” And he ran away.

Aelin sighed “he has a lot of energy.” And now that her son space had been vacated she scooted closer to Rowan and her hand was on the girl’s back on top of Rowan’s.

“I love the kids. It’s been only a few days but I love them madly already.” He whispered looking down at his sleeping daughter. Then back at Aelin and for a brief moment he saw sadness in her eyes. Loving the kids had been easy. His feelings for her were far more complicated. He felt something but could not put a name on it yet.

“With you is…” he paused, searching for the right words. He had caused enough pain already “complicated. There is something, I can feel it, but I don’t know if it’s just the memories or my actual feelings.” His hand ran through his hair “I don’t know how to explain it clearly.”

Aelin kissed his forehead tenderly. For as much as she wanted her husband back, she was not going to rush him. He would need time and she was willing to wait. She had waited at his bedside for so long to have him awake again that she was happy to take even the small acts of affection he was willing to give her.

“I want you to have your husband back, and I am trying…”

“Shhh…” she said to him, a gentle kiss on his lips “I have him back, and I can see more of him coming back everyday. You don’t realise it but he is there.” She patted his chest “My husband is right here in my arms.”

Rowan’s hand grabbed the back of her head and pulled her to him for a fierce kiss. Aelin melted at the contact. The kiss felt like coming home and for a moment it swept away all her fears.

“Does your husband kiss you like that?” The smirk on his face and his playful tone was him and she pulled back, coming up for air. 

“Seems like you remember this part very well.”

“It does help that my wife is stunning.”

Aelin smiled. He had called her his wife. Had he accepted his life? Had he accepted them?

She looked at him in his pine green eyes looking for an answer.

“Yes.”

[angst-fairygodmother]

Taken Care Of (Derek x Reader)

A/N: I love a sick fic. It’s good, low-stakes hurt/comfort style fluff. The title was originally “Is it really love if he’s never seen you shoot snot rockets?” but since there was no actual said rockets, it seemed misleading. 

Apparently, also my writing is prophetic because I’m finishing this under feverish duress of some sort of cold (its 81 degrees, I’m wearing a hoodie, and I'm freezing. This is bullshit.)

Word Count: 2437

Rating: G - descriptions of illness (mostly pain, dizziness), crying and self-deprecation

For what will soon become obvious reasons, this is set pre-movie.

“Derek? What are you doing here?” you asked, crossing the school lobby quickly to greet him, your friends trailing behind a little slowly.

“Hey Baby Girl,” he said with a grin. “You've been so busy, I feel like I don't ever see you. I missed you,” he gave you that pout he was frustratingly good at, the one that made you melt like butter no matter what else was going on, as he laced his fingers between yours.

“So you decided to visit me at school?” As glad as you were to see him, part of you wished he hadn’t just shown up. This hadn’t been how you planned for him to be added to this part of your life, and it wasn’t exactly good timing. 

“I thought we could get lunch? I didn't know you'd be hangin out with your friends. Don't let me interrupt.”

His words nudged you, and you hastily made introductions. 

“Oh, so you're the mysterious Derek. I always knew Y/N had good taste,” Alli hummed, looking over him with a flirtatious hunger.

You felt your stomach clench at the look she gave him. It wasn’t quite jealousy, trusting him far too much for concern to ever cross your mind, but something like fear settled over you. Or maybe it was just the nausea you’d felt all week, you tried to tell yourself. Derek seemed to sense the tension you held in every part of your body, and gave your hand an affirming squeeze.

“I don't know about mysterious,” he chuckled, “Y/N reads me like an open book.”

Jen laughed. “Perfect answer,” she slung an arm over your shoulder with a grin. “I like him. Definitely approve.”

“Ladies,” Alexi said, interrupting on their way past. “As curious as we all are to meet and drool over the boy Y/N’s been keeping to herself, let her have him to herself.” 

They hooked their arms through the other two’s elbows who planted their feet and refused to be dragged away. You couldn’t help but laugh at your friends' antics, as tired and slightly embarrassed as you were. Derek was grinning at them, still holding your hand and keeping you tucked against him. 

“Wait wait,” Jen protested. “Y/N. You’re taking him to Aida’s right? You have to.” 

“I don’t know…” the smirk on Alli’s face continued to roil your stomach. “I’d just take him home.” 

“What’s Aida’s?” Derek asked, hiding his face in your hair, surprising you that he was actually embarrassed by your friends’ comments.

“Only the best food ever,” Alexi answered with a smile. “Y/N can tell you all about it on the way. Just do that cute thing and share a milkshake with two straws, or I’ll hunt you. Byyyye.” 

Giving up on pulling the others, they decided to push you two out the doors instead. Rather than dealing with more of their nonsense, you let yourselves leave, and stopped just out of range. 

“Aida’s is a place around the corner. Cheap. Definitely knows how to cater to the student crowd. Good food, pretty amazing milkshakes. And coffee has unlimited free refills in a two hour window.”

“Sounds great. I wanted to take you to lunch. Do you want to?”

“It’s no big deal,” you shrugged. “I go there all the time. We should do something special, since you came all this way.” 

“Y/N. You know I don’t care about that. I’m happy anywhere you decide. Besides,” he leaned closer to purr in your ear, words like honey sending a shiver down your spine, “I want to know all your places.”

“You’re terrible. Maybe another time. It’s a longer walk but...I’m feeling ramen?”

“Lead the way.”

You felt your steps dragging as you and Derek walked, trying your best to hide it from your boyfriend. Your lungs burned despite the walk normally being well within manageable, and several times you stumbled, doing your best to stay upright in the wake of a wave of exhaustion.

“I know you wanted to get lunch,” you said suddenly, pausing, “but can't we just get to-go and go back to my place? I’m pretty tired, and I really don't…I was just hoping for a nap before work tonight.”

He caught your hesitation and frowned. “Baby, what's wrong?”

“Nothing. I just...haven't been feeling myself for a couple of days. It's been a hard semester, that's all. The walk’s making it hit me a little.”

Derek stopped, turning to face you, eyes tracing over your face. No doubt he was taking in the deep, almost bruise-colored bags under your eyes that were only sort of hidden by your makeup. Or maybe it was the glossy sheen behind them. Once he had spotted one, the other signs started to jump at him: your fever-flushed cheeks and discolored skin, your dry, cracked lips, the slump of your shoulders, even your unusually loose and ill-fitted clothing. 

You watched his jaw working as he struggled to contain whatever thought was on the tip of his tongue.

“Go ahead and say it,” you said with a sigh, throat burning with the exaggerated airflow.

“Say what?”

“Whatever you’re holding back.”

“Baby girl, you look awful,” his tone was flat and his face apologetic. 

You tried to laugh, but it came out in more of a wet cough that made you wince, partially from the feeling, but mostly from the look he now wore.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were sick?”

“I’m not. It’s just a little cold,” you protested, the argument weakened by another coughing fit, this one hitting harder and leaving you wheezing. The fit, or the way you swayed, dizzy and unsteady as the blood rushed back out of your head when it was over, seemed to be the last straw.

“That’s it,” he said, tone serious and sharp. “We’re going to my mom’s and she and I are gonna take care of you.”

“But--”

“Nope. You lost your protest privileges.” He was already steering you back in the opposite direction of where you were headed. “You can call Nino and tell him you won’t be in while I drive.”

“I don’t want to rob you of lunch,” you tried to fight anyway, voice weak and throat raw.

“I’ll eat somethin at home. I can’t believe you’re still tryin to...” he shook his head, muttering fondly about stubborn Irish pains in the ass. 

~

After begrudgingly making the call to Nino, who sounded shocked but completely forgiving, you decided on one last ditch effort to escape admitting to and dealing with being sick. 

‘Help I’m being held hostage!’ you texted Sean. 

His response came only a moment later. ‘What??????!’ 

‘Your stupid bestfriend is making me admit I’m sick and keeping me from going to work.’

‘He’ A second text came through a moment later. ‘Good.’

‘WHAT? You’re my cousin, you’re supposed to be on my side. Rescue me. Before he sics his mother on me.’

There was a long pause, more than you thought Sean should need to respond. When the message finally came through, you couldn’t help glaring at the screen.

‘I’d rather fight an actual bear than Ma Sandoval.’

‘Ah. So you’re in on it. I see how it is. Your betrayal will not be forgotten.’

‘Feel better soon.’ He added a smile to the end, and you could practically see it as his signature smirk.

‘I hate you.’ 

You sighed, shoving your phone back in your pocket and slumped down in the seat. You closed your eyes, hoping that it would combat the movement of the car and the effect it was having on your headache. You were frustrated at Derek for making you admit something was wrong (even though you knew really that he was right to) and at the fact that it seemed like the minute you admitted it, the symptoms seemed to get immediately worse. 

The next thing you knew, you were stirred from a light doze by a change in movement. Instead of the steady, rocking vibration of the car and the smooth, cool feeling of the glass under your cheek, you were pressed close against something warm and solid, bobbing in a more natural, if uneven, rhythm. Your mind was sluggish but after a moment, and a soft, familiar chuckle as you buried your face into him to escape the sun in your eyes, you realized that it was because Derek was carrying you, bridal-style across the lawn and into his house. 

You suppressed an involuntary whine and the urge to cling to him as he settled you down in his bed. Heavy blankets that smelled like him were pulled up around your shoulders, the sudden warmth making you realize how cold you’d been.

“Not sick my ass,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to your hairline. “Get some sleep baby girl.” 

The door clicked quietly behind him and you let the comfortable darkness pull you back under.

~

Some unknown time later, there was a knock that pulled you out of strange, feverish dreams and you croaked something that you hoped sounded like come in, squinting against the light that poured through behind the person.

“Y/N, you should wake up for a little while,” Derek’s mother said, flicking on a bedside lamp. “I made you soup.” 

You pushed yourself up into a seated position and smiled gratefully at her. “Thank you Mrs. Sandoval.”

“How many times do I have to tell you, you are dating my son, you at least call me Ma. Just like everyone else.”

“Sorry,” you looked down bashfully, the word tasting foreign in your mouth. “Ma.” 

“Why are you not taking care of yourself?” she tutted as she set the bowl down and sat on the edge of the bed. “You are so busy trying to be able to be a fancy lawyer and change the world but you can’t do that if you drop dead. And of a little cold?” 

“I--”

“And you made Derek worry.” She placed a wrist against your forehead to check your temperature. “He’s going to fret over you forever, now. It’s how he shows his love. I hurt my back a few years ago, and still he is ‘Mami you shouldn’t reach so high, Mami let me get that for you, Mami don’t carry so many heavy groceries.’ Imagine when you have children. They won’t be able to scrape a knee. If your doctor doesn’t put you on bed rest, he will.”

Her words made you choke on the food you had just sipped into your mouth, sending you into a coughing fit that left you short of breath.

“See, you wouldn’t be doing that if you said you were sick to begin with.”

“I just...thought if I took some cold medicine, it would go away on its own. I’ve been so busy. And I didn’t...want anyone to worry, or think anyone would care?” you admitted sheepishly, looking down at the soup in your lap and the blanket over your legs and trying not to think too hard about what you were telling her.

“Mija, look at me,” she said firmly but kindly. When you didn’t follow her instruction, she used a hand to tilt your head up. “You have family now. You don’t have to do everything alone. Now eat  your soup.”

The sentiment, and the matter-of-fact way she delivered it, broke down a dam inside you, and suddenly you were crying, and she was hugging you, rubbing small circles on your back with one hand while the other cradled your head against her. You wanted to attribute your overwhelmed feelings to being sick, but in your heart you knew: it was a kind of acceptance and love that you had never expected, especially from someone who didn’t even have to like you. 

After sitting like that for several long minutes, letting you sob and offering you comfort, she shifted back to nurse-mode. 

“You need more fluids, not letting them all out through your eyes. Eat your soup, and I’ll go make you tea,” she said, nudging you back to rest against the headboard and standing. 

You laughed wetly and tried again to thank her, only to have it waved away.

~

“How is she?” Derek asked, almost as soon as he walked through the door a few hours later.

His mother laughed, shaking her head wryly. “She will survive. Just needs to rest for a few days. It’s a cold.”

“That’s like asking the tide to take a few days off,” he chuckled, until his mother fixed him with a glare. 

“Maybe if you told her the truth about how you felt, and she didn’t feel like she was on her own trying to be everything, she would.”

“Ma that’s not--”

“Derek Michael Sandoval, do not argue with me,” she crossed her arms over her chest. “You have been telling me for weeks now how much you love this girl, and it is obvious to a blind saint. Yet she is sick and doesn’t tell anyone because she thinks it would be a burden no one would want. Now what would give her that idea?”

Derek felt his stomach twist guiltily. It was true that he hadn’t told you he loved you, even though he was completely certain he did. But he thought it was for your benefit, to not scare you off by pushing too hard. He had never considered that it might be making things worse. He opened his mouth, looking for an answer to give his mother and found that he couldn’t get any words out. Instead, he just looked at her helplessly. 

She rolled her eyes. “You are both so stupid.”

~

You were fast asleep when he slipped through the door, and as he got ready for bed as quietly as possible, he kept finding himself stopping to look down at you. You were burrowed deep in the blankets, wrapped in one of his hoodies in addition as the fever made you shiver. You looked so small and fragile and vulnerable there in his bed, and his chest ached with a need to protect you, a desire for taking care of you and loving to be his entire purpose in life for the rest of his life and it nearly knocked him on his ass. 

As he slid under the covers beside you, you seemed to cuddle closer instinctively, and he wrapped his arms around you.

“I love you, Y/N,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to your hair. “And I know you can’t hear me right now, but baby girl, I promise, I’m gonna make sure you know, soon.”

[bsbloglife]

September 23, 2021…tomorrow I leave my family for 3 weeks, to care for my parents back home. I’m nervous, scared, excited, sad, relieved, and so many other emotions that I cannot begin to name off because my mind is a jumbled mess. I’m looking forward to finally seeing my parents after a little over two years, but so heartbroken to leave my children and husband behind. I do have a sense of relief that now I’ll finally be able to take care of the issues regarding my parents’ needs.

I take off from Orlando in the early afternoon, to arrive in Toronto a few hours later, only to wait for 3+ hrs before my flight to Montreal. My sister-in-law will be coming to the airport to pick me up, then we’ll be heading over to the hotel where my parents have been holed up for over 4 and a half months. My parents don’t know I’ll be arriving tomorrow, but the caregiver is aware. She’ll be waiting for my call to say that I’ve arrived and that I’m on the way. In fact, I’ll be the one caring for my parents the first weekend that I arrive. My father is the one who needs the most help, hopefully he’ll be ok with me cleaning him up when he needs it. This will be interesting! Maybe he won’t recognize me and think that I’m another caregiver. I’m laughing at the thought, but it’s painful to think he won’t remember me. We’ll soon find out. Tomorrow this time I’ll be at the hotel with my parents.

In fact, tomorrow almost didn’t happen. I received a call today from my son’s middle school and as soon as I saw that name pop up on my phone at 1:15pm, I knew it wasn’t going to be a good call. When I answered the phone I waited a few seconds, hoping that maybe it was one of those automated calls from the principal. After a few seconds when I didn’t hear that automated voice come on, I knew something was wrong, so I said “hello?”, to which the school nurse proceeded to tell me her name and that she was calling about my son. I’m sure my response, “oh no, this is not good”, confused her a little bit, which I sensed from her hesitation to continue on. I said that for a few reasons; 1 - she’d only be calling me if something bad happened, 2 - I was leaving for Canada the next day, this seriously cannot be happening, and 3 - what if he has Covid?? I would have to reschedule my trip. I think other things popped in my mind, but right now I can’t remember what they were. She then said he was not feeling well; sore throat, chills, headache, but no fever. I told her I’d be there within 10 minutes. When I got to the school he looked ill, with those glassy eyes and sad face, trying to pull his arms into his shirt because he was getting chilly. I carried his bag and we headed to the car. He told me that he was sorry to put pressure on me because he knew that I had to leave tomorrow. I told him that I believed everything happened for a reason and maybe it wasn’t meant for me to go. My first thought was having to reschedule my trip, because if he had Covid I didn’t want to bring it home to my parents. Then I thought that I would need to get him tested, just to be sure. If he was positive, then I would reschedule the trip. If he was negative, then I would continue as planned. Stupid me, I thought that picking up a Covid Home testing kit would be easy. Just go to the closest pharmacy. Little did I know that these testing kits were like hot cakes and everybody wanted them! There were no Covid testing kits to be found…anywhere!!! My very good friend Bri helped me find one of the last remaining kits in town, after she searched and searched and searched, even going to the closest Walmart by her place to pick up a kit which was supposedly in stock. Only to find out that she missed the last kit by a few minutes! She drove with me to the only pharmacy in town with a kit. You know, that’s a real friend. You find out who your real friends are when they inconvenience themselves to help you, but they truly don’t think they are going out of their way. They are helping you because they genuinely care, when anyone else would be telling you, “good luck finding a kit”, instead she said, “let me get dressed and go to my Walmart that says they have them in stock. I’ll pick it up for you then meet you.” I mean, seriously?!?! Then she drove across town with me to get that last remaining kit, which she found after calling several pharmacies in town, and then begging them to hold it for her. I’ll never forget her kindness. I’m sure she had other things to do than to spend hours searching for a rapid Covid testing kit for my son. What was really beautiful, was that she never made it seem like a hassle. She made it seem that she actually enjoyed helping me. I cherish this girl! (Btw, my son was negative, thankfully!!)

Speaking of kindness, when I texted my cousins back home to tell them that I was coming, they offered me their homes to stay in, they offered me cars to drive, they offered me support in any way that I needed it. My one cousin offered me his daughter’s car, only with her permission of course. I told him that I didn’t mind driving his Maserati, just in case she didn’t want me to drive her Mini Cooper. I still haven’t heard back from him regarding this…. Walter? Hello?? My cousin Nadia was there for me that weekend when I decided to resign, because I needed to talk to someone about my decision to leave my career to care for my parents. She understood my pain. She too worked very hard for her career. She listened, offered her advice and helped me decide that the right thing to do would be to follow my heart. My heart wanted to be there for my parents. If I didn’t follow my heart, my conscience would never be clear and I would be useless to my family. I’ll never forget my cousin Alain and how he took care of my parents needs the day after the fire. He went to the house and dealt with the insurance people and helped my parents navigate the first few days of this terrible event. He was my savior, and theirs too. These kindnesses will never be forgotten.

My best friends back home Tina and Karen, offering me clothing, food, a place to stay. Even offering me their time when painting, decluttering and whatever else I’ll need to get done at the house. I cannot do anything without their support…without all of my friends and families support. My sister-in-law Anna will be there for me when I first arrive and each and every day that I am there. She lives just down the street from my parents place and has often been the one that my mom has called when they needed help. I cannot repay any of these people for their goodness, kindness, love and support. I can only hope that someday I am able to provide them with the same.

Here at home, one of my best friend’s has changed her whole schedule at work to accommodate taking care of my son every morning while I’m away. She rearranged her life for mine. She has literally become the family that I don’t have that lives just down the street. You know what I mean, that family member that lives close by that cares for your kids because you don’t have anyone else?? She literally rearranged her entire life to help me. I cannot thank Lisa and her son CJ enough for caring for my son like he is their family. She spoils him like she does her own sons. I told her to back off a little, because I didn’t want my son to like her more than her likes me. She laughed and said that wasn’t possible, because all my son did was talk about me. He better, good boy!

Speaking of family, tomorrow morning our friends, who we call family and in fact made them godparents to our son, will be driving me to the airport. I feel bad for Pat and Kelly, because they’ll be hearing me cry as we drive away after I say goodbye to my husband and children. I know those painful cries won’t be easy to handle. They’ll be seeing me off at the airport, which I know won’t be easy, because this will mean that I’m really leaving.

Honestly though, I really couldn’t do any of this without my family’s support, especially my husband. If he didn’t have my back, supporting my decision, and taking on most of the responsibilities with me gone for three weeks, then none of this would be possible. He has supported me financially, emotionally and spiritually. Without him I couldn’t do this. Without my children helping me by not begging me to stay, I am able to go. They have cried, they have told me they didn’t want me to go, but they haven’t forced me in a corner where the guilt of their pain would make me stay. I couldn’t do it without their support. My daughter stepping up to the plate by being me for the next three weeks, picking up my son from school, making sure he gets fed and taken to his activities.

Part of me thinks that I’m being such a big baby about this. I should just shut my mouth, stop the crying and just face this head on without fear. I want to, I really do. I feel ashamed that I can’t handle this with the grace and dignity that I know most people in my position would have. I try to have the courage and strength that I need to go forward, but the fear of the unknown has me scared. I’m afraid of leaving my family, what if something happens. It won’t be easy for me to come back home. I have to get a flight. I have to get Covid tested, which takes a day or two. I can’t just jump on a plane and come back. I’m scared I won’t be here if I’m needed. I try to get those things out of my head. I try to have relief knowing that I cannot control things out of my control, I have to let whatever may be just be. Then go from there. I know that this needs to be done and now I’ll finally be doing what I set out to do when I resigned from my career. This is the decision I made, now I will continue on with this journey.

Onward and upward!

[patagucci34]

Partners for Life~ Tyson Jost

Warnings: swearing, some playful touching.... 

Word Count: 11k

All you wanted to do was change into comfy sweats, pour a heavy glass of wine, and forget about the awful week you had at work. But of course, there had to be something else to make this day even worse. When you were about 5 minutes away from your apartment it started down pouring. You cursed to yourself and picked up the pace.

Once you were in the comfort of your building, you let out a sigh of relief and made the trek up to your apartment. When you stepped out of the elevator you were met with a smiling face, one that normally would melt all of your worries away, but today, it only helped a little. You forced a smile back when his smile turned into a concerned frown.

"What happened to you?" He asked, stopping in front of you.

"I got caught in the rain on the way back from work."

He nodded and grabbed the bags out of your hands so you could unlock your door.

"Thanks, Tyson." You said with a small smile, hoping he would leave you be now. Normally you would welcome his company, but you really wanted that glass of wine and quiet night in by yourself. But it wasn't looking like that was the case when he strolled over to your fridge making himself at home. But that didn't stop you from wandering down the hall and taking a warm shower. Maybe then he would get the hint?

Nope. When you walked back out to the living room he was cozied up on the couch. A little bit of your annoyance dissipated when you saw the two wine glasses on the coffee table in front of him. So you grabbed one and plopped back into the couch.

"Rough week?" He asked, grabbing the other glass.

"You have no idea."

"I'm sorry, you wanna talk about it?"

"Not really.…" you sighed, "no game tonight?"

"Nah, we're leaving for a road trip tomorrow."

"Ohh nice, where to?"

"We're going to Florida."

"Ugh, I'm so jealous. I would love some nice weather right now."

Tyson chuckled, "yeah it might do you some good. You're looking a little pasty."

You rolled your eyes and pushed him playfully. "I meant mentally, but thank you for that."

"I know, I'm just messing…" he said patting your thigh "…are you sure you're okay?"

You sighed, "yeah, I just had an awful week at work, and my family has been harping on me a lot lately and I'm just over it all."

"I'm sorry, Y/n/N, what's going on at work?"

"My coworkers are just the worst. We had a huge project due this week and it seemed like I was the only one doing anything. And of course they got all of the credit. But it's fine, things should be better next week."

"What about your family?"

"Where do I even start…lately it's just been about me not having a boyfriend. I just don’t understand the fascination with my love life. My cousin is getting married soon and they really want me to bring someone…but like who cares? I'm 23, I don't see the urgency. But I also don't want to get shit for it the whole weekend. I don't know, whatever, it'll be fine, I'm just annoyed right now."

"When is the wedding?"

"A few weeks from now…why?"

"Is it the All Star break?"

"Ummmm…." you said while checking the dates "yes…why?!"

"I could be your date if you wanted…"

"No, Tyson, I can't ask you to do that."

"You're not asking, I'm offering."

"I don't know, Tys…"

"Come on, you'll have good company, you won't have to hear about how single you are…"

"Wait, you want to go as my boyfriend?"

"Well I don't think going as your friend would help…"

"You'd really do that?"

"Yes! I want to."

"Alright.…I don't know if it'll work, I'm not sure my family will even believe me."

"Oh, we can make it believable."

You eyed Tyson suspiciously but then gave in. "Okay…alright. I owe you big time."

"Let's just see how the weekend goes…" Tyson said with a smirk.

The rest of the night was spent watching New Girl. Tyson kept refilling your glass and you ended up pretty tipsy. Before Tyson left he helped you into bed and locked up your apartment on the way out.

~~~~~

The next morning, you woke up with a headache, cursing yourself for getting wine drunk. You loved being wine drunk in the moment but hated the hangover. You also cursed yourself at the thought of the little plan you and Tyson had come up with the night before. It's not that you weren't excited to spend an entire weekend with Tyson, it's just that you were pretty nervous about the whole thing. You had grown very close in your time as neighbors, but it was always just as friends. You'd be lying if you said you didn't have a crush on Tyson, but you always kept it to yourself because you didn't want to ruin their friendship, not to mention you didn't think you were his type. You were also nervous about your family buying their 'relationship'. Not only had you been telling your family that you were still single, but they would never believe that you were dating one of the Colorado Avalanche.

You tried to push it from your mind and focus on getting rid of the hangover. You made your way to the kitchen and guzzled down a glass of water accompanied by a few Tylenol and then rummaged through the fridge to make something to eat.

You posted up on the couch after you ate and watched movies all day. You were able to be a bit more productive on Sunday and cleaned your apartment and went grocery shopping for the week.

~~~~~

You didn't see Tyson until Wednesday night. He had texted you earlier in the day asking if you wanted to get take out. When you got home from work, Tyson was already in your apartment with the take out.

"I could kiss you right now, I'm starving." You said as you dropped your bags on the floor and sat down at the table."

Tyson smirked, "it might be good practice…"

"Oh my god, I actually kind of forgot about that…we should talk about our game plan."

"Yes, I like to excel so I need everything there is to know about your family so I'm fully prepared."

You rolled your eyes, "of course you do…well, I mean how long have we been dating for? I've been telling my family I'm single, but I'm sure I could come up with some excuse why I haven't told them."

"Yeah, it might be kind of weird to take your boyfriend of two weeks to a family wedding…"

"Okay, so how long do you think?"

"6 months?"

"Is that too long?"

Tyson shrugged, "I don't know, I think that's fine."

"Alright, and I think we should stick to saying we met through being neighbors."

"Good idea, less room for slip ups…what are you going to use as an excuse for not telling them?"

"I guess maybe that I wanted to feel things out and also because you're kinda famous?"

"Kinda?! I'm hurt."

You giggled at Tyson's dramatics. "Okay, sorry, you're famous. Fully famous."

"Much better…so let's start with the family lessons. I know you have 3 brothers, Charlie, Ben, and Jack. Your parents are Kate and Steve… but I think that's all I got."

"I'm impressed! Yes, Ben is the oldest, he's a lawyer, he's married to Hailey who is a nurse. Charlie is next, he's a teacher, he's engaged to Casey, who is also a teacher. Then there is Jack, he's in his second year of med school and his girlfriend is Carly, she's a physical therapist. Then my parents, Kate and Steve. My dad is a lawyer, Ben works at his firm. And my mom is a nurse. Do you want me to write this stuff down?"

"No way, I'll get it. Just keep going."

"Alright...the cousin that is getting married is on my dad's side. His name is Tom, his fiancé's name is Lauren. Tom does something with finance, I'm not exactly sure what, and Lauren is a social worker. Tom has one sister, Maddie, she's an aspiring actress…" Tyson stifled a laugh at your face when you said her occupation. "My grandparents are Dave and Shelly, they're both retired, but my grandfather was a lawyer, it’s his firm that my dad and Ben work for. And I think I can just introduce you to everyone else as we go…"

"Alright, got it."

"Do you?" You questioned, not believing him.

"Okay, fine, not yet. But I will."

~~~~~

The next few weeks went by faster than you had wanted. As the wedding grew nearer you became more and more nervous. You had let everyone know that you would be bringing your boyfriend, and of course, the questions rolled in. You told them what you had practiced with Tyson, you weren't sure where things were going to go and didn't want to get their hopes up, and because he's a professional athlete you wanted to make sure everything was sound in their relationship before you went public. Although your mom was upset that you didn’t confide in her earlier, they were happy that you had found a boyfriend. It definitely made you feel guilty for lying, but you were able to get over it.

A few days before you were leaving, you went to Tyson's game. You weren't able to go all of the time, but you had a blast when you did. You had become friends with a few of the WAGs and of course a bunch of the guys.

They were all going out after the game to celebrate the beginning of the All Star break and Tyson had invited you to go so you went down to the locker rooms after the game to wait for him.

"Y/N!" You turned at the familiar voice and smiled and gave Andre a hug.

"Hey, Burky, good game!"

"Thanks, are you coming out with us?"

"I am!!"

"Good, Tys is more fun when you're around." He said, winking. You laughed a bit before a few of the others guys joined and talked about the plans for this evening.

A few minutes later, Tyson came up behind you and wrapped his arm around you.

"Hey, Tys!" You greeted him happily.

"Hey, babe." You rolled your eyes at his choice of words. "What?! I'm just trying to get into character." He defended, which made the guys laugh. They all knew about the arrangement and most of them were hoping this weekend would be the push you needed to actually date.

"You ready?" Tyson asked. You nodded and bid farewells until later.

Tyson drove you back to you building and you split ways to get ready.

"How long do you need?" He asked.

"I'll be ready in like 20??"

"Alright, I'll come over in a half hour." He said chuckling at himself, which caused you to roll your eyes but nod your head and go inside.

An hour later you were making your way through the crowd at the club to find everyone else. Tyson had gone to get them drinks while you sat down next to EJ and Landy. Landy was grilling you about the weekend, him being the number one supporter of you guys actually dating. Luckily he let up a bit on  you when Tyson came back and started in on him.

You kept downing drinks as the night went on and ended up being very drunk. Tyson had to help you through the club and he pretty much carried you to your apartment. He was nervous to leave you alone, so he ran over to his apartment to change and came back to stay with you for the night.

~~~~~

The next morning, you groaned as you peeled your eyes open. You were slightly confused about the arm draped over you because you didn't remember talking to any guys at the club. You relaxed when you looked over and saw that it was Tyson.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty." He said with a smirk.

"Morning….what are you doing here?"

"You were pretty loaded…I was nervous you might throw up in your sleep so I stayed with you."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to get so drunk…"

"I know, it's all good. You just will really be kicking yourself in the car today!"

"Ugh, don't remind me." You said and rolled back over.

"10 more minutes! Then you need to get up and get ready." Tyson reminded.

"Okay, mom." You muffled into the pillow as you fell back asleep.

An hour later you had the car packed up and were on the way. Thankfully, Tyson offered to drive, knowing your current state and just the fact you didn't love driving anyway. You played the music, luckily you had similar taste, so you jammed out for most of the 4 hour drive. You also quizzed him on your family, and just as he claimed, he remembered it all.

Tyson noticed that you had grown quiet in the last half hour. He reached over and grabbed your hand.

"Hey," he started softly, "it's going to be fine."

"I know, I'm just nervous. Even though they're happy I have a boyfriend, they can be so critical and rude. I'm going to apologize in advance for anything that they say."

"I think I can handle them…I'm used to criticism."

"I know…I just, even though we aren't actually dating, you are one of my best friends and I don't want them to scare you off."

"Don't worry about that…I'm not going anywhere." He said and gave your hand a gentle squeeze before pulling it away. You smiled at him and started to realize that this might not have been the best idea for your sake. You had been able to keep your feelings at bay, but this weekend might change that. You push those thoughts out of your mind as Tyson pulls the car into your driveway. You panicked a bit when you saw all of the cars in the driveway. It had been your understanding that Jack was going to be the only of your brothers home tonight and everyone else would be over tomorrow. Tyson noticed your panic and grabbed your hand again.

"What's wrong?"

"My mom told me Jack and Carly were going to be here tonight, not everyone else…"

"Well that's okay, we'll get it over with."

"I know, I just wasn't prepared for this. I'm sorry, I'll stop freaking out."

Tyson chuckled, "don't apologize. But don't worry either, okay? We got this." He reassured you and kissed your forehead. You blushed at the act, you guys had cuddled before and obviously shared the same bed, but this felt different, and it just made you even more nervous.

You both got out and grabbed your bags before approaching the door. You didn't even have time to put your bag down when it burst open.

"Y/N!!! I've missed you so much!" Your mom exclaimed while giving you a tight hug.

"Hi, mom, I missed you too." Once she let go, she turned to Tyson and you introduced the two. "Mom, this is Tyson, Tys, this is mom, Kate."

"Oh, it's so nice to meet you!!!" Your mom exclaimed again, pulling Tyson in for a hug.

"It's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Y/L/N. I've heard so much about you."

"Oh, please, call me Kate." She said as she let go. "Well, come in! Everyone's dying to meet you!"

You glanced at Tyson and he winked in return. You followed your mom inside and you put your bags down and went into the living room where everyone was sitting. Tyson put his arm on the small of your back and you leaned into him as you walked into the room.

Your brothers all shot up and surrounded you in a hug, separating you and Tyson. You rolled your eyes but laughed and welcomed their embrace. Once they finally let you go, your dad stepped up and gave you a hug and kissed your cheek. "Hey, baby girl. It's nice to see you."

"It's good to see you too, dad, I've missed you." He gave you one more quick squeeze and let you go so you could introduce Tyson to everyone.

"Well, everyone, this is Tyson…" At this point your brother's partners had joined them. "…Tyson, this is my dad, Steve, Ben and Hailey, Charlie and Casey, and Jack and Carly."

Tyson shook all of their hands as you went down the line.

"It's nice to meet you all." Tyson said with a smile.

"It's nice to meet you too, we're glad she's finally bringing someone home to us!" Your dad joked, causing you to roll your eyes.

"Okay, well, we're gonna bring our stuff upstairs. See you in a few." You said grabbing Tyson's hand and dragging him back into the hallway.

"No funny business!" Your brother Charlie called, laughing at himself. You heard Casey scold him and smiled to yourself.

You led Tyson to your old room, telling him you'll give him a tour once you put your bags down.

"That wasn't so bad…" He said as you plopped down on the bed.

"Yet…it's been 5 minutes."

Tyson chuckled and cupped your face with hands, "hey, what did I tell you? Stop worrying."

"I know, I know. I just can't help it."

"Come on, let's go. I'm ready for the grand tour." He said taking your hands and pulling you up. You sighed, but obliged and led him out of the room.

"….and this is the kitchen!" You said as you finished the tour. Your mom smiled at the two of you as you entered the room.

"Your home is very beautiful, Kate." Tyson said to your mom.

"Oh, you're too sweet…do you mind helping me finish up dinner, Y/n/N?"

"Sure. Tys do you want to help?" You asked, not really wanting to throw him to the wolves with your brothers in the next room.

"Yeah, I'll help. What do you need us to do?" He asked sweetly.

"Can you two finish putting the salad together? All of the stuff is on the counter over there."

You nodded and went to the sink to wash your hands and then you and Tyson started cutting up vegetables. You actually were having a lot of fun, Tyson was trying out some of his new jokes on your mom, which she loved. The whole scene felt very domestic, and of course you couldn't help but think about your feelings for him. You were brought back to reality when Tyson gave you a questioning look and mouthed "are you okay?" You forced a smile back and nodded and went back to cutting vegetables.

Once the three of you finished up, your mom called everyone into the dining room for dinner. Everyone took their seats and dug right in.

"This is delicious, mom." Jack complimented with his mouth full. Everyone chuckled and agreed, your mom blushing from the compliments.

"Well, I had good helpers." She said acknowledging you and Tyson. You both smiled and went back to eating.

You were starting to get nervous because your brothers hadn't really said much to Tyson. They had always been very overprotective and tried to scare off the guys you brought around and even though Tyson wasn't actually your boyfriend you were really nervous for what they might say. You knew better than to think that maybe they grew out of that stage, so it just made you more and more anxious for when it was going to come.

You caught Jack's gaze and he gave you a devilish grin. You gave him a warning look but he just shook his head. This was it. It was coming and there was nothing you could do to stop it. You looked at Tyson and he gave you a small smile and squeezed your thigh under the table.

"So, Tyson…" Charlie started "…hockey, huh?"

You shot a glare at your brother but he just smiled sweetly.

"Uh, yeah, I've played ever since I was young."

"How reliable is it to play professionally?" Ben asked this time.

"Ben…" Your mom scolded.

"It's okay, that's a fair question." Tyson defended. "I would say it's pretty secure, as long as I'm playing well and staying healthy."

"What happens if you get injured?" Jack asked.

"Well, if it's minor I'll get treatment until it's healed and then start playing again."

"And if it's not?"

"Well, I guess, I'd be done playing hockey."

"Okay, that's enough." You said glaring at all of your brothers.

"We just want to make sure you're in good hands, Y/n/N." Jack said sweetly.

"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself with my own salary, so Tyson's job security shouldn't be of concern." That shut them up for a little, but you knew they weren't done. Not with this dinner and certainly not for the rest of the weekend. Tyson squeezed your thigh again, that definitely being his way of telling you not to get too worked up.

Thankfully, your mom changed the subject to talk about plans for the weekend, but that didn't hold for very long.

"So, Tyson…" Jack started this time "…it must be pretty demanding being a professional athlete, do you even see Y/N that much?" You shot him another glare but he just kept smiling.

"Yeah, it can be, we live across the hall from each other so I pretty much see her whenever I'm home."

"Why does it matter to you how often we see each other?" You asked.

"We're just looking out for you, Y/n/N." Charlie defended.

"Well stop, you're just being rude."

"Alright, let's not fight at the table…" Your mom stated, trying to keep the peace. "Hailey, how are things at the hospital?"

You were thankful she changed the subject again, but you still weren't convinced it would put a total end to the grilling.

And you were right, a few minutes later, Jack spoke up again.

"Tyson, you must have a lot of girls after you, being a professional athlete and all."

You didn't even give Tyson the chance to defend himself before you lost it.

"Are you kidding me right now, Jack?! I cannot believe you would even ask that! Can you not be a dick for like one fucking weekend?!" And you stormed off up the stairs.

Tyson excused himself and followed after you. You sat on the bed, too mad to even cry, which you were thankful for. It was embarrassing enough that Tyson just had to sit through and witness what just happened.

"I'm so sorry, Tys." You apologized as he sat down next to you.

"No need to apologize, Y/n/N. It's not your fault your brother is a dick." You cracked a smile at his comment.

"I just didn't think he'd be like that. They've always been super overprotective, but that was just too much."

"It's really okay. Honestly, I can't say that I wouldn't have asked something similar to my sister's boyfriend. I get it. You're their baby sister, they just want what's best for you. I can take their crap, alright?"

"You're too good." You said with a huff, which made Tyson chuckle.

"Only for you, babe." He said and kissed your forehead. You both settled back on the bed and he tucked you into his side.

A little while later there was a knock on your door. You sat up a little bit and told them to come in. It was your mom.

"Hi, sweetie. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine, I just wish Jack wasn't such an asshole."

"I know, I'm sorry, and I'm sorry Tyson that he was acting that way."

"It's okay, I understand, I have a younger sister."

"Well, I think he feels bad he upset you like that…"

"Good." You stated, causing your mom and Tyson to chuckle.

"Alright, well I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Goodnight, you two."

"Goodnight, mom."

"Goodnight, Kate."

"I, um, don't usually freak out like that so, I'm sure it really made them feel bad…" You stated.

"Yeah, now I know to never piss you off."

You laughed at Tyson and cuddled back into his side. "That kind of freak out is reserved for my brothers. You probably won't ever be on the receiving end."

"Good to know." He said chuckling back. "You wanna watch New Girl?"

"Sure, I'm gonna go get changed first."

The rest of the night was spent watching Netflix, cuddled up in your bed. No apology from Jack but you didn't really expect one. He'll probably half ass one in the morning, and you'll forgive him, you always do.

~~~~~~

You were right. When you went downstairs for breakfast, it was just Jack in the kitchen. He looked over at you and held his arms out, signifying a hug. You looked at him and raised your eyebrows, awaiting those magic words.

"Come on, are you really going to make me say it?"

"Yes! You were so awful last night. You really owe an apology to Tyson…"

"Fine, I'm sorry, Y/n/N. I took it too far."

"Yes, you did. But I forgive you…as long as you cool it for the rest of the weekend!"

"I will, I promise."

"Thank you." You beamed and gave him a hug.

"Aww, how sweet!" Charlie cooed as he interrupted you and Jack.

"Hey, I think you and Ben also owe her an apology."

"No way, we didn't take it as far as you did." Charlie defended just as Ben walked in.

"Yeah, I agree, we were pretty mild." Ben agreed.

"Would it really be that bad to apologize to me?" You asked, fully knowing the answer.

"Yes." Ben and Charlie answered at the same time.

You rolled your eyes but went about your business.

"Where is lover boy anyway?" Charlie asked.

You shrugged, "still sleeping."

"Not out for an early morning run?" Jack teased, you rolled your eyes again.

"Stop!! You said you'd cool it!"

"Relax, I'm just teasing."

You rolled your eyes as you sat down at the table and your brothers joined around you.

"But seriously, Y/n/N. Are you happy?"

"Yes, Ben, I'm very happy. He's really good to me."

"Okay good, then we're happy. But as soon as he does something to hurt you…he's done for."

"I know, I know. Although…he is a professional athlete, are you sure you could take him?" You teased.

"Please, it's no contest." Charlie defended which made you laugh.

Just as he was about to throw a grape at you, Tyson walked in the kitchen.

"Good morning, Tys!" You called from the table. He came over and sat next to you and greeted your brothers. "Are you hungry? I can make you some eggs, or we have cereal, I could make pancakes?"

"How come you didn't offer to make any of us that stuff??" Jack whined. You just rolled your eyes and looked back at Tyson.

"I'll have some eggs, but I can help you." He said and the two of you got up and started cooking.

Everyone else ended up joining you in the kitchen so you ended up making breakfast for everyone else too, but you didn't mind. It was fun to hang out with everybody and you were glad that your brothers were done with third degree.

After breakfast you and Tyson went back upstairs to showered for the day. You wanted to show him around your hometown and have a chill day because the next two days were going to be filled with wedding stuff.

When you walked back into your room after your shower, Tyson was lying on the bed looking at his phone. You were just in a towel and while you and Tyson were pretty comfortable with each other, you expected him to go take his shower so you could change. He looked up at you and smirked when he saw your attire.

"You gonna give me a show?"

"Tyson!" You cried. "We're at my parents…and it's 10 in the morning."

"So you're saying you would though?"

"Seriously, that's what you took from that?"

Tyson smirked at you and moved to get off the bed. You watched him as he rummaged through his things and then started to move past you to go to the bathroom. Just as you thought you were safe, he slapped your ass and hurried out of the room. You gasped, though it wasn't very hard, you were not expecting that. You wanted to mad but you couldn't help but smile. If he wanted to play it like that this weekend, you were gonna give it right back.

You decided to only get half-dressed to start…you put on a sexy bra and super cheeky underwear. Once satisfied with your look, you laid down on the bed and waited for Tyson to come back. You didn’t have to wait long, a few minutes later you heard him opening the door.

"Hey, do you know if there is anymore-- whoa." You smirked at the thought of Tyson's face, you couldn't see because you were lying on your stomach so your ass was showing. What you didn't bargain for was for him to be so composed and not let it get to him. So just as you were about to turn around to see what he was doing, you felt a much harder slap to your ass.

"Ow, Tyson! What the hell!"

"Hey, you put your ass out here like that…I can't help it." He smirked and plopped down next to you.

"You're the worst." You grinned as you got up to finish getting dressed.

"You ready?" You asked a little while later after both of you had gotten dressed.

"Yes ma'am, let's get to it. Lots of history to see."

"History? I would hardly call this town historical."

"Yeah, your history." He said with a sweet smile. Your heart melted and you were really starting to wonder if you would make it through this weekend.

You started off by showing him the spot where everyone went to party, you didn't stay long because it was pretty cold, but he thought it was funny that a random spot in the woods was where you used to get drunk. "Hey, you do what you gotta do in a small town." You defended before moving on. You then took him by the high school, you couldn't really spend much time there either because kids were in school. Next you brought him 'downtown'. You walked around going into different little shops and boutiques. Then you brought him to your favorite place to eat for lunch.

The two of you talked a lot about high school and how different it was for both of you. You had never really talked much about your past during your friendship so it was nice to get to know each other a little better.

"So, tell me all about high school Y/N." He said once the two of you had ordered your food.

You sighed, "what do you want to know?"

"I don't know…were you popular? A jock? A nerd?"

"I mean…I guess I was popular…I played sports, I wouldn't identify as a nerd but I did do well in school…"

"Wait you played sports?"

"Yeah, soccer, hockey, and lacrosse."

"I'm sorry, what? You played hockey?? How come you never told me?"

"I don't know…I guess it never came up."

"We talk about hockey all the time…"

"Yeah, you playing hockey…professional hockey…not high school girls hockey. Besides, I really wasn't very good soo..."

"So what?! I can't believe you didn't tell me…I'm taking you skating as soon as we get back to Denver so you can show me your moves."

You shook your head, "nope. No way."

"Why not?!"

"Because I'm really not very good, and that's why I've never mentioned it because I knew that you would make me go skating with you."

"Oh come on, I seriously doubt you're that bad."

"Compared to you, yeah, I am."

Tyson rolled his eyes. "You are so ridiculous…so what else did you do in high school?"

"Well, I was in chorus…and don't ask me to sing for you because I will not be doing that."

"Come on, you're no fun." Tyson whined.

You laughed at him and shook your head, "yeah I guess I left all of it here."

"Anything else that I don't know about you that you want to share with me?? Crazy ex boyfriends?? Girlfriends??"

"I guess I should probably tell you…I do have an ex who will be going to the wedding…we dated for a few years but he was kinda shitty.."

"Shitty?"

You sighed, not really wanting to get into it but you knew that you should give him an explanation because you really didn't know what would happen this weekend. "It was a pretty unhealthy relationship…of course I didn't really know that at the time. It wasn't until I went off to college that I started realizing that something was wrong. I tried to end things while I was away but he wouldn't really let it happen so I tried again when I went back home for break and he, like, freaked out…and um, hit me, so I called my friend to come get me… I was able to get out of the relationship with some help but nothing ever really happened to him because I guess he was having drinking issues…"

"Wait, he hit you…and your family is still bringing him around?"

"Yeah...my uncle is really good friends with his dad so…"

"I'm so sorry, Y/n/N…are you gonna be okay this weekend?"

"It's okay.…it's been a few years now. I haven't really seen him much, I usually avoid the gatherings he goes to. I'm not really sure what will happen this weekend…"

"Well I won't leave your side the whole time. I'll protect you."

"Thanks, Tys. I'm actually so thankful you came with me this weekend."

"Of course. You do so much for me all the time…it's the least I could do."

Even though he meant that in the best way possible, and despite all of the flirty comments and advances, it just reinforced that he really was just here as your friend.

You spent the rest of lunch talking about random stuff. Tyson took his phone out and started taking a picture of you.

"Stop! What are you doing?" You said covering your face.

"Put your hands down!! This is great lighting. Smile, look cute."

You relented and let him take your picture. "You better not put that anywhere."

Tyson smirked, "too late."

"Tyson! I’m gonna kill you." You checked your phone and sure enough he tagged you in his Instagram story.

"It's fine, you look really pretty!"

"Okay, but you have so many followers! They're going to think we're dating."

"We are...aren't we?"

You rolled your eyes and focused back on your food.

"I can take it down if you really want me to, but that might look extra sus."

"No, it's fine. I just will kill you if you do it again."

There wasn't really much else to show him so after you finished you headed back to your parent's house.

Your parents were the only ones home so you greeted them and headed up to your room. Tyson went to the bathroom so you took the opportunity to change into some comfy clothes and put on Netflix. You didn't acknowledge him when he walked back into your room but he had the same idea you did, he stripped down and put on some sweats before lying next to you in bed. Normally you would snuggle up next to him but you decided you needed to start distancing yourself a bit otherwise you were going to end up getting hurt.

You ended up falling asleep and woke up an hour later and woke up with your head on Tyson's shoulder. Figures, you knew that would happen. You turned your head and noticed that he was asleep too and he had wrapped his arm around your waist. You sighed as you grabbed your phone from your nightstand and settled back into bed, not wanting to wake him up.

You opened Instagram and were met with hundreds of notifications. Luckily, you were private, but you had a ton of follower requests. Thanks, Tyson. You scrolled through them, most of them being random girls, a few cute guys that you took the chance and let them follow you. There were a few people with the little blue check mark, mostly other guys in the NHL, but one in particular caught your eye. Mat Barzal. You knew that Tyson was friends with him, and you'd be lying if you denied thinking he was attractive. You had always had a little crush on him, so you accepted his request and kept scrolling through. A few minutes later, you received a DM from Mat. Your heart started racing as you went to open it.

Tyson didn't tell me his neighbor friend was so cute ;)

Okay, now you were freaking out, you did not expect that. Obviously Tyson had told him that he was going to a wedding with you. But it was also more proof that Tyson thought of you as just a friend. I mean, he would have told Mat that he liked you, right? You were interrupted from your thoughts by Tyson shifting next to you.

"Who's that?" He asked groggily.

"Um, no one." You said quickly exiting out of Instagram.

"Obviously not." He said grabbing your phone from your hand and getting out of bed.

"Tyson! Give me my phone back."

"I just want to see who's DMing you." You tried grabbing it from his hands but he held you back with one arm. "Mat?" He asked, growing serious.

"You're the one who posted the story…I'm getting lots of requests from guys in the NHL."

"But Mat?"

"You're acting as if I have any control over this."

"You know he's my friend right?"

"Tyson, he messaged me, I don't know what you want me to do."

"Are you gonna respond?"

"I don't know, I don't really know what to say back to that."

"Do you want to?"

"Well I don't want to be rude, but if it's going to bother you I guess I won't."

"No, I'm sorry, you can respond. I guess it just caught me off guard." He said giving you your phone and leaving the room.

You huffed and sat down on the bed. You were so confused. Why would Tyson react like that if he just liked you as a friend? This weekend was really messing with your head and you were kind of regretting bringing him with you. You had already accepted that you should get over your feelings for him, but now you were worried that it was going to mess with your friendship.

You contemplated what to say back to Mat. You didn't want to upset Tyson but you also didn't want to leave him on read, it might be kind of awkward if you guys ever met in person.

Tyson came back a few minutes later and seemed to be in a little bit of a better mood.

"Did you respond?" He asked, sitting down next to you.

"Not yet, I don't know what to say…any ideas?"

"You wanna mess with him a bit?" He asked with a smirk.

"I don't know, Tys, I don't know him."

"But I do…he'll think it's funny."

You sighed and handed him your phone, "fine."

Tyson took it happily and started typing away.

"What are you saying?" You asked, trying to look over his shoulder. He moved the phone so you could see it.

You know Tyson?

You looked at Tyson quizzically, "where are you going  with this?"

"I'm gonna make it seem like you don't know who he is."

"Tys, that's just mean."

"Relax, it'll be fine."

You only had to wait a few minutes before he replied again.

Wait, Tys hasn't mentioned me?

Tyson started laughing when he read it and you just rolled your eyes, wishing you had never agreed to this.

No…sorry :( Tyson cackled as he sent back,

"It’s not as funny as you think it is, you know."

"Oh, it's hilarious."

Damn, well then I guess I'm gonna have to get you to fall for me all by myself

You laughed as you watched Tyson react to the response.

"Guess that didn't work as well as you thought it would." You teased, grabbing your phone.

"Wait, let me say one more thing!!"

"No, you've done enough. I'm telling him it was a joke."

"You are absolutely no fun." Tyson whined.

You shrugged, "sorry!"

Hey, I’m so sorry, Tyson saw that you DM'd me and thought that it would be funny to mess with you…

I know who you are haha

Of course he did…what a relief though, you are very pretty I would love to meet you sometime :)

I'm sure we could make that happen…as long as Tyson doesn't get in the way.

"What are you saying?" Tyson asked when he saw you grinning at your phone like a teenager.

"Why must you know everything?"

"Because you're both my friends…"

"Fine." You said and showed him what you said. "Looks like you have to introduce us."

Tyson rolled his eyes, "we'll see."

You chose to just ignore him because you didn't want to argue anymore.

"We should probably go socialize…" You said sighing and getting up.

Tyson let out a sigh too and rummaged through his things to find a shirt to put on. Once he put one on the two of you headed downstairs.

Your mom, Casey, and Carly were in the kitchen getting started on dinner. You asked if they needed help but they said no so you went into the living room where your dad, Jack, and Charlie were all watching TV. You took the open loveseat and Tyson put his arm around you and you cuddled into his side. Although things were a little weird between the two of you, you had to keep appearances up. There wasn't much talking going on, although you were glad that your brothers were being pleasant with Tyson.

Tyson was focused on the TV while you were scrolling through Twitter. You hadn't even noticed that Tyson was now looking at your phone with you until he squeezed your shoulder and laughed at the tweet you just liked. You relaxed a little bit more in his arms, glad that things were becoming more comfortable again.

Dinner was much better than it was the night before. Everyone was laughing and making jokes, no one was grilling Tyson…

You helped your mom clean up while everyone else went into the living room to set up for a game of charades.

"So, how are you?" Your mom asked.

"Um, I'm good…why?"

"What? I can't ask how you are?"

"Well, you can, it just seemed a little out of the blue."

"I haven't really had any time alone with you…"

"I know, I'm sorry. I just worry about leaving Tyson alone with them…"

"How come you never told me about him?"

"I told you mom, I didn't know if things were serious or not, and we wanted to keep it kind of private, hockey fans can be crazy."

"I know, but I'm your mother. I want you to feel like you can tell me things like that."

"I do mom, I really do. I'm sorry, I should have told you earlier."

"Things are good with you two?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Things seemed a little tense tonight…"

"We just had a little disagreement earlier, but it's all good."

"Okay...he seems like a really great guy, Y/n/N, and the way he looks at you…it reminds me of how my father looked at my mother…he's really in love with you sweetie. I hope this works out for you two."

You smiled sweetly at your mom and gave her a hug, even though that was the last thing you wanted to hear right now. At this point, you had stopped getting your hopes at little signs because they never ended up meaning anything.  

Once you were finished cleaning up, you and your mom joined everyone else in the living room. You sat down next to Tyson and he put his arm around and kissed the side of your head. You were not looking forward to this game, your family was very competitive, and although you knew Tyson was too, it could get out of hand pretty quickly.

You were split into two teams, thankfully you were with Tyson, Charlie, Casey, and your dad. Jack and Ben are the worst to have on your team because they are the most competitive and they get super pissed when you're not performing well. Your dad and Charlie were also really good at charades so you'd probably win.

It actually ended up being a lot of fun. Thankfully, Jack and Ben didn't get too worked up and of course everyone was drinking so everyone was laughing and having a good time. Your parents called it quits when Ben and Hailey left to go back to their house. The rest of you stayed up and talked for a while before everyone slowly tucked in for the night.

When you and Tyson finally laid down you were exhausted.

"Well tonight went much better than last…" Tyson said, pulling you closer to him.

"Yes...thankfully. I was a little nervous, Jack and Ben can be a little crazy when it comes to games."

Tyson chuckled, "you're one to talk…"

You scoffed, "hey! I am not that competitive."

"Um, I have a monopoly board that would say differently."

"Oh my god, okay, I was really drunk…I don't usually get like that."

"Whatever you say…"

You shook your head and reached over to turn the lamp off.

"Do we have to be up early tomorrow?" Tyson asked.

"No, I don't think so. I think we have to be at the church by 3."

"Perfect, I want to sleep in, I'm exhausted."

"I know, me too."

"Are you gonna sleep in?" He asked, wrapping his arm around your waist.

"I'm gonna try…why?"

"It was hard to keep sleeping once you got up…"

"You want me to stay in bed until you get up?"

"Pretty please?" He asked, sticking his lip out.

You shook your head and chuckled, "yes, I can do that, but not if it's super late!!"

"Okay, deal. Night, Y/n/N."

"Goodnight, Tys."

The next morning you were kicking yourself for the deal you made. You were so tangled up in Tyson it was going to be impossible to even move. You tried to carefully grab your phone so you could see what time it was. 9 am. You relaxed and began checking all of your social media. You were careful to avoid your DMs, you didn't want him to wake up and see anything that would upset him. Although you still wanted to know why he actually cared so much about Mat messaging you.

A little while the arm around your waist tightened and Tyson's head poked up.

"So much better when you're in bed with me." He said groggily. "…just wish we were naked."

"Tyson!" You said shooting up to a sitting position. You looked over at his smug little face. "You are such an asshole."

"You love me." He shrugged, putting an arm around you.

You rolled your eyes, "you disgust me."

You laid there quietly for a few minutes before Tyson spoke up again, "you ready for today?"

"Pretty sure that should be a question for the bride…"

“`Yes but the whole reason I’m here this weekend is to help you get through it.” “Okay, yeah...I’m sure it’ll be fine. Seeing you with me should shut everyone up.”

A smug grin appeared on Tyson’s face, “I can’t argue with you there…”

You shook your head and laughed before growing serious again. “I just am a little nervous about seeing Jake...I don’t know if he’s still drinking and I’m worried he’s going to cause a scene.”

“Well if he does than fuck that. It won’t be your fault either so don’t feel bad if he does.” “I know, it’s just, everyone has always pitied him and let things slide because he’s an alcoholic. I just don’t think my family will see it as his fault...they’ll blame it on me for bringing some new guy around even though that’s all they talk about. I just can’t win with them.”

“Okay, well let’s not get too ahead of ourselves here. Hopefully everything will be fine and we won’t have to worry about it. If it does, we’ll deal with it then, okay? Just try and relax and have fun. Weddings are supposed to be fun.”

“I know...thanks, Tys. I know I keep saying this but I really do appreciate you being here with me.”

“And I will keep telling you that it’s no big deal, sweets.” You smiled as he kissed your forehead. You were quiet for a few moments before he spoke up again. “So...have you heard from Mat at all?”

“Not since last night…” You said softly while Tyson just nodded. “Why?” Tyson shrugged, “just wondering.” You gave him a pointed look. “What? I am!”

“How come you seemed so upset about it last night?” “I didn’t mean to seem upset, I just, I don’t know, it caught me off guard. But I know you think he’s attractive so go for it I guess.” He said enthusiastically.

“Okay, well I don’t care what you say, it clearly bothers you in some way, so I’m not going to talk to him.”

Tyson rolled his eyes but didn’t argue so you figured that meant there was some truth in your statement.

You laid in bed for about another hour talking about random stuff before you got up to shower and start getting ready.

“Alright,” you started as you untangle yourself from Tyson, “I’m gonna get in the shower.” “Wanna save some water and shower together?” He asked with a cheeky grin, grabbing your wrist to keep you in place.

“Absolutely not.” You said as you shrugged his hand off of yours and walked out of the room.

Tyson looked up when you walked back into your room. He opened his mouth but you cut him off before he could even say anything.

“Whatever you’re about to say, the answer is no. Go get in the shower.”

Tyson pouted, but did as he was told, not before grabbing your ass on the way out with a little giggle. You rolled your eyes and went about getting ready.

You couldn’t help but glance over at Tyson as he strolled back through the door a few minutes later. The towel he had wrapped around his waist was starting to fall off of his hips and you had a clear picture of his V line. You hadn’t really noticed that you were staring until you heard Tyson start talking to you.

“Like what you see?”

You blushed and rolled your eyes turning back towards the mirror to finish your makeup.

Once you were finally done with your makeup, Tyson had stepped out of the room so you took the opportunity to put your dress on. You slipped it on and tried your best to zip it up but you couldn’t quite reach. When you heard the door open again you turned to ask Tyson for help.

“Hey Tys can you help me-” You stopped when you saw him staring at you. “Is everything okay? Is there something wrong with my dress?” You asked, starting to panic a bit.

“No, no, not at all. I, um, you just look really beautiful.”

You visibly relaxed and smiled at him. “Thanks, Tys. Could you help me zip up though?” He nodded and stepped towards you and turned back around so he could help you. You could feel Tyson’s breath on the back of your neck. Once he zipped you up you turned around slowly, Tyson not moving a muscle. You looked up at him, his face just inches from yours. He cupped your chin in his hand and he brought your face to his and kissed you softly. You closed your eyes and welcomed his lips on yours.

Tyson pulled away after a few moments and turned away. “Shit, I’m sorry, I…” He trailed off and sat on the bed.

You grew sad at his reaction. Although he initiated the kiss it seems like he also regrets it.

“It’s okay...I, um, I’m gonna go downstairs.” You said and quickly left the room. You ducked into the bathroom and leaned against the counter willing yourself not to cry so you wouldn’t ruin your makeup. You took a few deep breaths to compose yourself and you made your way to the door. Just as you were about to turn the knob there was a knock.

“Y/n/N? Can I come in?” It was Tyson. The tears that you just suppressed were quickly coming back. You opened the door and retreated back to the counter.

“Jesus, are you crying?” You covered your face with your hands because the tears were now rolling. “Please don’t cry Y/N. I didn’t mean to upset you, jesus…” he trailed off as he placed his hands on your shoulders. “Please stop crying...I don’t know why I did that…” “It’s fine, Tys, you got caught up in the moment, it’s fine.” “What? No, not the kiss...the kiss was amazing...I totally meant to do that. I don’t know why I pulled away like that. I guess I just thought maybe that’s not what you wanted and I thought I messed everything up. I guess I did that anyway…” You didn’t say anything and you didn’t move for a few moments. “Will you look at me please?” He asked, softly guiding your chin up to look at him. “I’m sorry, Y/n/N. Please don’t be upset.” “You’re wrong you know…” He gave you a puzzled look but you just kept going. “I’ve wanted you to kiss me so badly...for so long. I just thought maybe you regretted it and that’s why you pulled away…”

“Not at all, babe...not at all.” He said, moving in, grabbing the sides of your face and kissing you tenderly.

This time when he pulled away his hands stayed where they were and he wiped away the remaining tears with his thumbs. “God you are so gorgeous.”

You couldn’t help but laugh a little, “Tyson, I’m crying and my makeup is everywhere.”

“That’s what makes you so beautiful.”

You shook your head and smiled at him, taking his hands in yours and bringing them to your sides.

“Come on, let’s go get you fixed up.” He said, leading you back to your room.

It didn’t take you too long to fix your makeup, and before you knew it you heard your mom yell up the stairs telling you guys to hurry up. You grabbed your shoes and sat on the bed next to Tyson to put them on. You started to open the door to leave and Tyson took your hand to stop you.

“Tys, we need to go what ar-” He stopped you with another kiss that you melted into.

“I know, I’m sorry, I just can’t get enough of your lips right now…”

You chuckled and rolled your eyes, “if we go now you can explore all of my lips later…”

Tyson’s eyes widened and he hurried both of you downstairs where the rest of your family was waiting.

~~~~~~

It was a beautiful day, although still pretty cold, the sun was shining and the snow was shimmering. The church looked gorgeous, they had decorated it with tons and tons of flowers, it looked like a garden and it was beautiful.

You held onto Tyson's arm as you followed the rest of your family to sit down. You got there on the earlier side, so there weren't too many people there yet. You found yourself looking back at the doors quite often, waiting for Jake to arrive. Tyson noticed, because you really weren't being very discrete about it, so he took your hand in his and squeezed it gently. You looked at him and smiled. You were so happy and relieved that you two finally shared how you felt and that you could finally be together. You wanted to believe that nothing would ruin such a beautiful day, but if anyone could, it would be Jake.

You were successfully distracted from the door by your brother's ridiculous argument over which of your cousins was going to get the most shitfaced. By the end of it you had placed $20 on who you thought I'd be.

When the ceremony was about to start, you looked to your left and your breath hitched. You grabbed Tyson's hand and looked at you before following your gaze across the room to where Jake was. He looked back and gave you a reassuring smile and kissed the side of your head. Thankfully, the music started to play and your focus was on the wedding party walking in.

The ceremony was beautiful, their vows were adorable, and all of the speakers and passages were very fitting. It wasn't too long either, which was also nice, you couldn't sit still for very long so you liked when things were quick.

Because of all of the people leaving the church, you avoided an encounter with Jake which you were glad about but you knew it was going to happen so the dread just set in. You were able to keep pretty busy throughout the night. Introducing Tyson to everyone and catching up with family you hadn't seen in a while. Tyson stayed by your side pretty much the whole night which was super comforting. You were nervous for him to leave you because you had caught Jake staring at you a few times, and you knew as soon as you were alone he was going to come up to you.

It didn't happen for a little while longer, which you didn't know if it was better or worse because you now had multiple vodka sodas in you. You had been sitting at the table with Tyson, taking a break from the dance floor, when your dad and uncles had come up to you and asked to steal Tyson. You tried to object but your uncles were insistent on spending a little time with him. You rolled your eyes and sat back, trying to push the anxious thoughts away. But that wasn't happening when you saw him approaching you. You tried to stand up but he grabbed your arm before you could take a step.

"Y/N, please. Just let me talk to you."

You sighed and sat down, making a point to shrug your arm out of his grip.

"So, who's the guy?"

"Tyson, my boyfriend." He scoffed at your reply. "What?" You asked.

"Nothing, I'm just surprised is all."

"Why?"

"Word on the street is, he's a professional athlete."

"So?"

"So, it's probably not going to last long. I wouldn’t say that you’re really his type."

"You don't know anything about me, Jake. We haven't talked in years. And I would really like to keep it that way, so please, leave me alone."

"Oh, come on, Y/n/N. Don't be like that. I wasn't that bad, you blew things way out of proportion."

"Did I? Because I'm pretty sure if your dad wasn't as good of friends with my uncle that you would have been in jail, not rehab. You're lucky you got off as well as you did. Me? I didn't get off that easy. You really fucked me up. I couldn't get near a guy for a year because of you. You were abusive. You were an asshole. And I wish that I hadn't wasted so many years of my life with you." You weren't really sure where you got the nerve to say all that, because as soon as it came out of your mouth you were scared of how he was going to react. He opened his mouth, but before he could get a word out, you heard a voice behind you.

"I believe the lady has spoken, you can go now."

To your surprise, he walked right away. It was probably Tyson towering over him that scared him off.

"Well, I was feeling badly that I left you out in the open but it appears my girlfriend is a total badass and was fine on her own…" He commented, wrapping his arms around you and placing his chin on top of your head.

"Yeah, well I'm surprised too. I have no idea why I thought that would be a good idea. I'm not sure what would have happened if you hadn't come over."

"Well, hopefully we never have to find out…are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good. It felt good to get that out."

"Good, fuck that guy."

"Yeah, fuck that guy." You said agreeing with him as you let go. "I need another drink…a stiff one."

"Anything for you, my love."

The rest of the night was pretty uneventful, however you downed a few more drinks and were very drunk. Tyson helped you to the car and then up to your room once you got home.

You stripped out of your dress and pounced on Tyson.

"Whoa, easy there killer." He said catching you and placing you gently on the bed.

You kissed for a few minutes before he climbed off of you. "Alright, bedtime."

"What?! Tyson…" you whined. "I've been waiting so long for this."

“Oh have you?!” He asked, quirking his eyebrows.

“Yes, now pleeeeeease.” She whined.

“You’re too drunk, and besides it’s a little weird with your parents down the hall.”

"Ugh, fiiiine." You pouted, taking your bra off and getting comfy in the bed.

"Can you put a shirt on?"

"Oh my god, Tyson, what is wrong with you?"

"I don't know if I can control myself laying with you naked all night. Just please." He said, throwing you one of his shirts.

You sighed and put his shirt over your head. He climbed into bed next to you and wrapped his arms around you.

"I'm so glad you came with me this weekend, Tys."

"Me too, I don't think I could have lasted much longer just as your neighbor."

"Yeah, it was starting to really get to me…"

"What do you mean?"

"I just was thinking that I was going to have to distance myself because I couldn't suppress my feelings anymore…"

"Well, then I'm definitely glad we had this weekend, I would have been really sad if you did that."

"I don't know if I could live with myself if I made you sad…not to mention I'd have Landy on my ass."

"He's been texting me all weekend."

"Really? Why?"

"Updates on if we're together or not."

"Did you tell him?"

"Nah, I want to mess with him a bit."

You chuckled and rolled your eyes, "what are you gonna do?"

"I'm just going to tell him that we had an awful weekend, we got into a huge fight and we're not even friends anymore."

"You're awful."    

"But when I finally tell him that we are together now, he'll be so happy he won't even care."

"Okay, just leave me out of it!"

"Oh you're in it now. We're partners for life."

"For life?"

"I hope so."

"Me too." You said with a small smile. You turned so you were now facing him. "Goodnight, Tys." You said softly, giving him a kiss before snuggling into his chest.

"Goodnight, Y/n/N."

~~~~~~~

The next day you had a big brunch with your family before everyone went their separate ways again. Now that you and Tyson were actually together you were so much more relaxed. Despite the hangovers, everyone was laughing and joking around. You were actually a little sad that you were leaving. But, you were excited to get out of your parent's house and spend some alone time with Tyson.

After what seemed like a never ending goodbye, you and Tyson were finally on the road back to Denver. The car ride was much more pleasurable. Again, you were more relaxed, the weekend was behind you, and you frankly couldn't wait to get back.

When you pulled into the garage, you grabbed all of your bags and headed upstairs. You parted ways so you could put your bags down. A few minutes later, Tyson strolled through your front door. You were grabbing a glass of water in the kitchen, so you got one for him too and then you went back to your room so you could unpack and start some laundry.

"Do you want to bring your laundry over here?" You asked him as you gathered your dirty clothes.

"It's alright, I can do it later."

"I don't mind, Tys. I'm doing it anyway."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, go get it."

Tyson gave you a quick kiss on the cheek and walked off to go get his laundry.

Once you had a load going the two of you went and sat on the couch. You started off just talking but then ended up making out a bit. Tyson was now lying on top of you and things were starting to get heated when his phone rang. "Shit," he muttered as he rummaged around trying to find it on the couch. "It's Landy, I have to answer, I told him to call me."

You rolled your eyes but sat up next to him as he settled back.

"Hey, man." He greeted solemnly. You mouthed for him to put it on speaker.

"Hey, are you home? What happened?"

"Yeah, I'm home…um, things didn't go so well."

"Oh no...what happened?"

"Well, things with her family weren't good to start with. Then the first night we got into a fight about her brothers, and then we got into another argument the next day and I almost just left…I ended up staying but I don't think we're really even friends anymore…"

"WHAT?! Why wouldn't you be friends anymore? What did you do???"

You had to suppress your laughter at Tyson's face when Gabe insinuated it was something he did and not you.

"Why would you think it was something I did?!" Tyson asked, obviously very offended.

"It's Y/N…she just doesn't do anything wrong."

"Okay, well, I don't know. We need a break from each other."

"What the hell, Tyson? Did you even tell her how you feel?"

"I was going to, but I figured telling her after we just had a screaming match wouldn't be the best idea."

"You screamed at each other??? Jesus, what did you fight about?"

"Mat Barzal."

"What?!"

"Yeah he DM'd her on Instagram and it pissed me off."

"Seriously? You screamed at her?! That's not even her fault, man."

"I know, I shouldn't have gotten upset with her, but I did, and now we're just giving each other some space."

"That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Go over to her place right now and make things right."

"I can't, man."

"You can, and you will."

"No, I really can't."

"And why not?"

"Because I'm already over here."

"What?"

"I'm just messing with you, Landy. We're dating now."

"Are you kidding me?! Y/N are you there? Were you in on this??"

"I wanted no part in it!!!"

"Ugh, Tyson, I want to be so mad at you right now, but I'm too happy for you!! It's about time, though. We were going to give you guys like another week, tops, before we took matters into our own hands."

You and Tyson both laughed, "who is we?!" You asked.

"Me, Mel, basically the whole team…"

"Well I'm glad we have lots of supporters." You commented as Tyson pursed his lips.

"NO one will be butting into this relationship…I'm serious Landy."

"I'm sorry that's not the way it works, Josty." Tyson rolled his eyes but you just giggled. "Anyway, I'm glad you two love birds finally figured it out. Have a good rest of your day and use protection!!!"

Tyson rolled his eyes again and hung up on Landy. "We're turning our phones off and spending the rest of the day in the bedroom." He commanded as he put his phone down on the coffee table. He looked at you signifying for you to do the same and you obeyed then followed him into your bedroom.

[epochofbelief]

Our couple just got together a while ago and they dont know each other habits yet. So when one of them sleeps really late and doesnt answer messages the other is really worried... I hope this is okay 😊 I dont have any preferences for our couple. But I think this would go well with Rowaelin.

i’m so glad I can always count on @queen-of-glass​ to provide me with a lovely and fun prompt:))))this is highly unedited lol

-----

The music thumped loudly throughout the house as Aelin and Lysandra pushed their way to the kitchen. She couldn’t remember whose house this was--Fenrys and Connall’s? Gavriels? It was somebody’s from the most popular group of senior boys. It certainly wasn’t Lorcan’s.

Finally, Lysandra left Aelin in the dust and returned moments later with two cups of beer. Aelin seized it, knocked her plastic cup against Lysandra’s, the they chugged in unison. This was their pre-graduation party, after all. No holding back, they had decided before they’d arrived. Aedion was going to be their DD, wherever he was.

They finished their cups in a few moments, squished against the wall near the staircase. Someone passed by with a bottle of vodka, offering it to random partygoers. Lysandra shouted, and the boy--Fenrys, Aelin could now see--let each of the girls take a shot.

“I’m going back for more!” Aelin shouted over the music.

“I’m going to find Aedion!” Lysandra responded, and Aelin rolled her eyes. If only her cousin and her best friend would DATE already. Barely two drinks in and Lysandra had to go find him, leaving her to fend for herself. Typical.

A few months ago, Aelin would have been able to go to Chaol. They’d enjoyed the few high school parties they’d attended for the few months they had dated. But that had been over for nearly two months. Ever since Lys and Aedion started... flirting? Talking? Whatever--ever since then Aelin had felt a little like a third wheel. She wanted them to be happy, of course, but her two closest friends were now so wrapped up in each other that Aelin had started wanting that for herself again.

Two cups of beer and two more shots later, Aelin found herself wandering around, looking for someone to talk to. Fenrys, her usual drinking buddy, was nowhere to be seen. The same could be said for Lysandra and Aedion. Without thinking, Aelin made her way up the staircase to the second floor. Despite the alcohol numbing most of her feelings, she still felt lonely.

She slipped into the first door on the right and found a teenage boy’s room behind it. It was clean, though, and sparsely furnished. The pile of basketball uniforms and gear in the corner was enough to tell her that this was Rowan Whitethorn’s room, and therefore that meant this was Rowan Whitethorn’s house. Shit. Aelin had been crushing on him since her freshman year. He was a basketball star, confident, reserved, a decent guy. She’d always figured she stood no chance with him, seeing as they ran in different circles.

“I’ll be right there!” A voice sounded from beyond the door and Aelin frantically looked for an escape room. There was nowhere to go.

So standing motionless in the center of his bedroom was exactly where Rowan Whitethorn found her, moments later.

“Hi.” He said shortly.

“Hi,” Aelin managed to breathe. Rowan really was quite good looking.

“Can I help you?”

“No...” Aelin was standing very still, trying to conceal how drunk she was. That would only make this more embarrassing.

“Well, is there any reason you’re in my room?”

Aelin couldn’t resist. “You tell me, Whitethorn,” she said in a low voice, fluttering her eyelashes.

Rowan blushed and pleasure coursed through Aelin’s body. Teasing, especially while drunk, was very fun.

“Funny, Aelin. We don’t even know each other.” He seemed fairly sober.

She shrugged. “Please. We’ve gone to high school together for four years. I know you’re good at basketball, you suck at English, and your math scores are off the charts good. You’re withdrawn, and...” Aelin realized she was rambling. It was her turn to blush as Rowan finally realized that she was drunk.

“So you’re saying that, since we know each other so well, you’re up here because you want to... what, Aelin?”

Aelin glanced at the bed. Rowan smirked. “You’re making fun of me.”

Aelin rolled her eyes. “Obviously, Whitethorn. But that doesn’t mean I’m not at least partially serious.” The alcohol was making her reckless.

He took a few steps forward. Maybe he was drunker than she had originally assumed...

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed you watching me in class the past few weeks. Months. Years.”

He was close enough now that she swatted his arm. “Stop making stuff up.” But he was right. She had always admired him from afar--not in a creepy way.

“You know it’s true.”

Aelin blushed again. This alcohol was destroying her usual confident demeanor! And Rowan Whitethorn’s presence didn’t help that, either. “Well if you’ve noticed me watching you, that means YOU have also been watching ME.”

He stopped in his tracks, now only a hands breadth between them. “Fair enough,” he said simple, and kissed her.

Aelin didn’t question it, only pulled him closer, winding her arms around his neck. His arms wrapped around her waist as their lips met, softly at first and then quickly developing into needy and intense kisses.

After a few moments, they broke apart. “We are too drunk to be doing this now.”

“Who cares?” Aelin said, although she knew he was right.

“I do. I wish our first kiss hadn’t been while we were intoxicated.”

Aelin grinned smugly and placed her hands on her hips. “Oh, so does that mean there will be a second kiss?”

He chuckled. “Maybe so. But not tonight.”

Aelin rolled her eyes. “Chivalry. And here I was thinking it was dead.”

Rowan slid his hand into her back pocket and pulled out her phone. Aelin just stood there, watching him as he typed his number and texted himself.

“I’ll text you tomorrow,” he said, and turned to go.

“Whitethorn.”

He turned, and Aelin crashed into him, her lips finding his. When they separated, Aelin said, “Guess that third kiss will have to be the sober one.”

-----------------------------

The next morning, Rowan woke up with a massive headache and happiness flowing through his veins. Last night, he had finally kissed Aelin Galathynius. Aelin had seemed to always have a boyfriend all throughout their high school career. First Sam, a less-popular guy for their class but one who was well known for his success on the swim team. Then Dorian, the President of Student Council, when they were sophomores. Then Chaol for a couple of years. Rowan had loved her since sophomore year, after he’d seen her stand up for Nehemia, her old best friend, in the middle of the cafeteria, in front of the whole school. Some of their classmates had been making fun of Nehemia’s fashion choices and Aelin had told them all to go to hell, earning a week of detention for shouting that phrase--and several other, dirtier curses--all over the lunchroom. But she had done it for her friend.

Rowan had been gone for her ever since.

He checked his phone. It was 10 am. Surely not too early to text her. Right?

He settled with an ambiguous “Hey.” Then he stumbled downstairs to eat breakfast.

When he checked his phone an hour later, there was no response. No need to panic, right? Perhaps she was still asleep. The party had gone rather late, after all.

But by noon, Aelin still hadn’t said anything. Rowan started getting anxious. Had she been drunker than he’d thought last night? Too drunk to remember the kiss? She had seemed fairly coherent, aware. Certainly sober enough to tease him, for gods’ sake. Rowan went for a run, then did some homework, ate lunch, called Gavriel to confess his anxiety about Aelin, and by 3 pm he had reached nearly catastrophic levels of nerves.

So he did exactly what Gavriel had advised him against. He called her.

After several rings, just when he was about to give up and end the call, she picked up.

“Hello?” Her voice sounded through the phone, harsh with disuse.

“Uh... Aelin?”

“Oh my gods, Whitethorn. Why are you calling me at this ungodly hour?”

Rowan checked his watch. “It’s 3:07, Aelin.”

“Shit! I’d meant to wake up at 2:30!”

“That’s still incredibly late, Galathynius. I didn’t realize you were such a late sleeper.” Rowan felt a little stupid. He’d freaked out for nothing.

“How else do you think I got to look this beautiful, Whitethorn? I need my beauty rest.”

Rowan laughed softly. “I’m sorry... I’ll let you go.”

“No, no, I’m up now. Now it’s your job to talk to me.”

Rowan smiled. “I’d be much obliged.”

They talked for the next two hours.

[purplesurveys]

1044

survey by a7xbabii 

Do you use e-mail often? I use it for eight hours, five days a week for work, so yes.

Do you hear any animals right now? I’m in a Starbucks inside a mall situated in the middle of a busy highway. It would be very unlikely to hear any animals right now.

Are you in a well-lit room? Sure, I’d say this establishment has good lighting. There’s no light directly above me unlike the other seats, but it’s okay in this case as I don’t want other people seeing me take surveys.

Is your trashcan full? The main one we use at home just got full, so the last time I checked this morning my mom was airing it out.

What was the last crunchy thing you consumed? My chicken barbecue sandwich from last night.

Did you view anything disturbing today? Hmm, I guess so? I wanted to entirely redo one part of my embroidery piece since I wasn’t happy with how I did it, so I had to remove the threads and stuff. When they were all gone the template was filled with holes and it looked like one of those trypophobia photos. I’m not personally disturbed by that phenomenon, but I know a lot of people are.

Are there any holiday decorations in your house? Yeah, we’ve had our Christmas tree up since the beginning of November. We also usually put a wreath up our door but idk why my mom didn’t this year.

When was the last time you had a terrible headache? Last night, because I had not eaten all day. 

Have you recently put lotion on your hands? No. I don’t like the feeling of lotion, so I don’t apply it on me a lot, if at all.

Are you hungry? Not so much, actually. I don’t feel too hungry today; I didn’t even finish my breakfast and that’s the only meal I’ve had so far today, and it’s already 4 PM.

Is it rainy where you're at right now? No, it’s quite fair. The sun’s not too strong anymore because of the time, but it’s still very much bright out.

Do you carry a purse? If so, describe what it looks like. I take a wallet with me. It’s pink, made of fake leather, has three main slots inside, and it also has some tiny bite marks on the outer edges from when Cooper was a lot younger.

Is your cell phone on vibrate? For certain notifications only, like texts and Viber.

Is your dishwasher full? We don’t use a dishwasher.

When is the last time you saw someone you like/love. Around a week and a half ago.

Do you like to wear gloves? No, I find them too itchy and I don’t need to wear them anyway.

Is there a body of water near where you live? There’s a creek that passes through my village near the clubhouse area, if that counts.

What are your thoughts on Avenged Sevenfold? No opinion. I never listened to them; though I am reminded of this one mutual I used to have on Tumblr/Twitter. She used to be a wrestling fan and was a part of our main circle, but she gradually shifted her main fandom to Avenged Sevenfold. By the time she cemented her new interest she then went on a huge unfollowing spree of wrestling fans on her feed and she apparently PM’d each person she intended to unfollow, including me. I remember her explaining that she was now in a different fandom and was gonna have to stop following me which I found...kinda extra to be honest lmao because nobody does that, but I appreciate the effort to approach each one of us, I guess.

Are you wearing anything pink right now? Nope, but my wallet is pink and so is my keyboard cover.

Do you like to swim in the ocean? I prefer beaches, but sure.

What is the creepiest bug you've ever saw? Cockroaches.

Do you currently have split ends? I don’t think so.

When is the last time you used the bathroom? Around five hours ago when I took a shower before heading out.

Do you chew on your lip? Almost never.

Are you afraid of needles? For the most part yeah, especially syringes. I’m not afraid of them when I do my embroidery, but that’s the only time I feel comfortable with a needle.

What is the last thing you lost? A pen, I think.

When is the last time you saw a bald person? Five hours ago, when I said bye to my dad.

What car were you last in? [continued from two days ago] My own. I was driving home from the mall.

Do you like Batman? I tried to get into Batman and the whole shebang of comic books when I was a teenager, but I just couldn’t.

Have you ever played tennis? Never have, actually. I’ve always wanted to try.

Can you see a star shape in the room you are in? Probably not in my bedroom.

What are you sitting on? A pillow I’ve placed on my work chair so that it’s more comfortable. My parents got me a basic chair initially meant just for my internship, so it’s not the comfiest of chairs haha. But now that I have a job, a more suitable work chair is probably one of things I’ll have to invest on.

What is the last warm thing you touched? My chest felt itchy just a few seconds ago, so I was able to feel my skin scratching it.

Do you use hand sanitizer? That’s kind of a necessity now, so...

Where do you want to go in life? [continued from...I don’t even remember anymore] I don’t know if I even plan to make it past 30 at this point. I can’t answer this right now.

Are you sweating? No, I’ve been in air-conditioned rooms all day and it feels so damn good.

When is the last time you had to scratch an itch? A few minutes ago when my neck itched.

Are you in any kind of club or group that is trying to save animals? No, but I very much support the cause.

Who is the last blonde you saw? At work today I saw someone who had her hair dyed blonde.

Where were you two hours after you got up, and what were you doing there? I needed to go to the office today because my team and I needed to pack some stuff to seed to certain media. It was the first time I got to visit the place and it was sooooooo homey and pretty :) I wish we can be allowed to work in the office soon; it would be best for my mental health at this point.

Do you wish for world peace? Um, of course.

Have you ever played fetch with a dog? We were able to teach Cooper how to pick up items that we throw but he’s still slowly learning that he actually has to give it back to us, haha.

What is the nearest object that is wood? The table I am typing on is made of wood.

Do you use Netflix? Yes, we have a family subscription.

Does your house have a fireplace? No, we don’t. And I can confidently tell you all other houses in this entire country, and probably the whole of Southeast Asia, don’t.

Do you wake yourself up in the morning, or does someone else? I wake myself up. On important days, I’ll put an alarm on.

What kind of hoodie did you last wear? It was a white hoodie with a UP seal on the left side.

Do you play games on your computer? No, my laptop isn’t equipped for games. I tried downloading Sims 4 when they made it free for a few weeks back in 2018, but my laptop’s fan started whirring like crazy and the battery got drained super fast. The entire period of me booting it up and then deleting it took like, a literal 15 minutes.

What is the last video game that you played? Mario Kart 8 on the Switch. I want to get myself Switch games as gifts, but I’m just so stingy towards myself hahaha.

Have you ever pet a stingray? I’m 50% would like to at least once and 50% I know of what it did to Steve Irwin, and I’m not messing with them.

If you were on vacation, would you ever go to Ireland? It’s not a big item on my bucket list, honestly. I’d love to go to Ireland, but it would probably be a part of a bigger itinerary, like if I decided to take a trip to that part of Europe.

Are you logged into Myspace right now? I haven’t been on there for more than a decade.

Did you have anything bad happen to you today? Yeah, but they’re stuff that happened at work that are a little hard to explain. 

Have you ever been to New York? Nope. I’d love to take a trip there.

Do you use the term "lol" if you don't have anything to say? Not really. I use it in the end of my messages more so that I don’t sound mean.

Should you be sleeping right now instead of taking this survey? Hell no. It’s a Friday night so the last thing I want to be doing is sleeping.

Can you truly say you hate anyone? I don’t think so. I greatly dislike my brother, but I guess I don’t hate him. I find it too strong a word.

Have you ever disected a baby pig in a class at school? Not a piglet, no. We dissected an earthworm, a fish, and eventually a frog.

What brand of dish liquid do you use? A local brand you wouldn’t recognize.

When is the last time you ate a Hershey Kiss? It’s probably been more than a year. It’s not my favorite candy.

Do you ever feel unappreciated? Yes.

Do you currently have any blemishes on your face? No. My pimple finally went away, hallelujah.

Who is the last baby you held? My cousin who is now 13 years old. I’m too anxious to hold babies; I always feel like I’d drop them so I find myself declining even when I have the chance to hold one.

Are you a lover? I guess.

Do you use smileys often in text convos? Yes. Not a lot of people like them but it’s better to sound friendly and approachable than stoic.

Do you have the Google toolbar on your computer? Like...Chrome? I have the program, yeah. It’s my default browser as well.

Do you like Sunkist? I’ve never had it.

Would you ever consider being a cannibal? I mean...I guess only if I was in a life-and-death situation, like if a plane I was in crashed on an island and I was starting to get hungry. I certainly don’t fantasize about cannibalism on any regular day.

Did you forget something important in the past week? I made a few mistakes at work due to me forgetting things, yeah.

Do you like learning new things? Sure.

What color is your toothpaste? White.

Are the floors in your house creaky? Nopes. I don’t think our doors are creaky-level just yet as well.

Do you fear death? I hate the uncertainty of what happens while it’s taking place, and what happens after. But I’ve been wishing for it for a while as well. There’s a difference.

Is your mouth dry? Not right now, no.

Do yoou have any scars from an animal? Yeah I’ve got a few marks and scratches from Cooper. I never run out of them, really.

Did you have fun with this survey? It was okay.

Was it random enough? Sure.

[daemour]

Boy With Luv

Title: Boy With Luv

Pairing: Seokjin x Reader

Summary: After you graduated from college, you forgot all about Seokjin. That is, until he shows up at your high-school reunion. Will you two mend past conflicts or will you stay enemies?

Warnings: Cursing

Word Count: 2368

Part of the @bangtanscenery​ collab, May Flowers

This is a sequel to Boy In Luv, but can be read as a standalone.

Also um i kinda messed up the “he shows up at your high-school reunion, sorry.

"So, how are you doing? I haven't seen you in so long," Jeonghan hums as he sips his beer.

"Who's fault was it for going off to Paris without me?" you tease Jeonghan with a big smile on your face. "But really, I'm doing better than ever! College had its ups and downs, but no one was a dick like a certain Kim in high school."

"He really must have been a dick to you, huh," Jeonghan pauses, setting his bottle down. He looks at you for a long while, and you fidget.

"Yeah. You can stop giving me the once-over, Jeonghan. I'm not beat up about it. He was in high school. High schoolers do stupid things." You sip your beer to hide your frustration. Honestly, you are still beat up about it. You don't think you've fully forgiven Seokjin. Your phone buzzing gives you a distraction. "Sehun just texted. He's on his way and should be here in about two minutes."

Sehun, a friend you met in college with the subtle help of Jae, was soon one of your best friends. (Sorry, Jeonghan.) He was coming up to see you during his summer vacation. He met Yugyeom and Jennie before, as the four of you went to the same college, but he hs never met the rest of your high school friend group. This summer, however, was going to change.

He promised to stick around for most of his summer vacation, only heading down the last week to see his other friends and family. When, every summer, your high school group of friends has their get-together, he would meet them as well. You think he'll get along with Younghyun, but you're unsure about Jae. Jae had told you to find Sehun before you left for college, but he did hint that Sehun wasn't to know that.

Oh well. You'll cross that bridge when you get to it. For now, you're going to focus on Jeonghan and Sehun. When a knock sounds on the door, you open it to reveal both Sehun and the pizza boy. From the looks of it, Sehun was being scary and frightened the kid. "Hey, Sehun, come on in," you say, waving him in. "Let me just pay the pizza kid."

The said boy turns to you, handing you a large box of pizza with a smaller box containing cheese sticks. "One large pepperoni pizza with a box of parmesan bread bites. That will be twenty dollars, miss."

You take it from him graciously and hand the boxes to Sehun. Fishing the money out of your pocket, you add in a fairly generous tip. "Here you go," you take a glance at his name tag, "Minho."

The kid smiles and returns to his dinky looking delivery car to leave. You go back inside, shutting the door with your foot, and plop onto the couch in between Sehun and Jeonghan. "Nice to have you finally join us again," Jeonghan teases.

"Shut up, Jeonghan. I was away for, like, not even a minute," you groan, punching him in the arm. "Now, Jeonghan, this is Sehun. Sehun, this is Jeonghan. He's a pain in the ass, but you get used to him."

The two give each other a staredown. You fidget, slightly nervous until Sehun finally gives the smallest of smiles. Jeonghan does the same, but his smile is a little bigger. "Nice to meet you, Sehun," Jeonghan says warmly, shaking Sehun's hand.

"Nice to meet you too, Jeonghan. If you ever need some blackmail for (Y/N), hit me up. I have receipts from her antics in college." You scoff at Sehun, and Jeonghan laughs.

"I may just have to hit you up on that offer." You smack Jeonghan on the shoulder.

"Hey, you're supposed to be on my side!" Jeonghan laughs again, most likely at your misery, and you pout. "Whatever. I guess I'm just going to have to put up with this abuse committed by my best friends."

Sehun chuckles and wraps an arm around your waist. "'M not abusing you, baby, just...um...bonding with your best friend."

You narrow your eyes at him. "Hm. I'm sure you are," you snicker. "So, Jeonghan, do you know if the others will manage to come?"

Jeonghan hums, thinking for a bit. "I know Jennie and Younghyun can make it. Yugyeom you know is coming, since he's driving up tomorrow. I believe Jungkook is coming, as he rooms with Yugyeom. Seokjin was unable to take Jungkook on a trip." You wince at the name, and Jeonghan notices but lets it pass. "Jae should be coming."

"Sorry, who?" Sehun interrupts.

"Jaehyung Park. Do you know him? Tall, lanky, a brat?"

"Jeonghan, he's older than you," you remind him jokingly.

"Yeah, I know him," Sehun snorts. "He somehow keeps popping up in my friend groups. I didn't know you guys knew him."

You nod slowly. Sehun doesn't seem to be freaking out, so that's good. "Yeah, we went to the same high school together. He's about twenty-seven now, right?"

Sehun nods, grabbing an unopened beer and sipping it. "We're cousins." You choke on your bread bite, and Sehun sighs before patting you on the back.

"He knows I have trouble making friends, and he also knows that I don't like to accept help." Sehun narrows his eyes at you. "Did he happen to tell you to find me before you went to college."

You fidget. "Maybe."

"He always does that," Sehun muses, and both you and Jeonghan look at him in surprise. "Every time I go off somewhere, Jae worries endlessly. He always finds someone to go be my friend."

"Then why'd he tell us not to tell you? He made it seem like it was some huge deal?" You ask, and Sehun laughs.

"He's always so scared I'll hate him. Sure, it's annoying, but it's not something that warrants hate," Sehun explains. You hum in acknowledgment.

"Well, you'll get a chance to tell him tomorrow," Jeonghan says, grabbing his phone. "He just texted me, and it looks like he's riding up with Yugyeom and Jungkook."

Tomorrow could come a little faster, you think, as you take yet another sip of your beer.

Tomorrow came too soon.

You wake up with a splitting headache, and you vaguely remember Jeonghan tsking at you. You must have drunk too much again. Unfortunately, the world does not revolve around you, and all you can do is pop some aspirin and get ready to see Yugyeom, Jungkook, and Jae again after two years of being apart. You decide to stay in your sweatshirt, but you put on some pants because you're not THAT close with them.

When you head out of your room, you don't see Jeonghan anywhere, but Sehun is in the kitchen eating a bagel. "Where's Jeonghan?"

Sehun shrugs. Not a surprise; he's is a late riser, and would not have seen Jeonghan leave. You sigh and grab your phone to text him when you see Jeonghan had already left you a text. "Okay, so he went to get food because I have none here." You frown. "I have food, what is he talking about?"

"Leftover pizza and an insane amount of ramen cups do not count as food, (Y/N)," Sehun butts in, and you turn your head so fast to stare down the perpetrator. "Don't give me that look."

There's a knock at the door, and Sehun goes to get it, saving himself from your (admittedly not that scary) wrath. You just busy yourself with heating a slice of leftover pizza for breakfast. Yells fill the hallway, and you know Yugyeom and Jungkook have arrived. You know, because Yugyeom's screaming in Sehun's face about him kidnapping you. "Oh, my god!" You scowl from around the corner. "He didn't kidnap me, you dumbass."

"(Y/N)!" Yugyeom grins when he sees you, practically galloping over to envelop you in a hug. "It's been so long!"

You choke in his hold but pat his back. "It's been about two weeks, Gyeomie, but hi to you too." You give a quick wave to who you presume to be Jungkook, since Yugyeom's tall and wide enough to block your sight. "Hello, Jungkook."

"Hi." Yugyeom releases you, and you give Jungkook a long once over. He's changed. Instead of the lanky boy from high school, he's filled out with muscle. Lots of muscle, apparently. He still retained his looks, though.

Speaking of looks, Jeonghan stumbles back indoors with a paper bag full of groceries and a green hat on his head. "I'm back, and just in time, it seems."

"I'm sorry, but what the fuck do you have on your head?" You question him, and Jeonghan smiles.

"It was on sale for three dollars! There was a pink one, but I think the green one suited me better." You don't know how to respond to that, so you just return to your pizza slice.

Jeonghan laughs at your immediate dismissal. "Come on (Y/N)! It's the height of fashion!" He pulls another one out of his back pocket. "I even got you a matching one!"

Before you can react, Jeonghan runs over and shoves the hat onto your heat. You know he's going to pout if you take it off, so you leave it on. Jeonghan starts putting the groceries away with the help of Yugyeom, and Sehun talks to Jungkook. You are left to eat your pizza.

Your phone binging alerts you to new texts from Younghyun and Jennie in your high school group chat. Younghyun and Jae will be riding up this afternoon. Jennie had said there's an emergency, and won't be able to make it until tomorrow. That's fine. You just want to focus on your breakfast.

However, Jungkook's phone ringing distracts you. He excuses himself from Sehun and goes out to the porch to answer it. Sehun makes his way over to you. "Who else is coming again?" You hum.

"Younghyun and Jae will be coming up this afternoon, around four. Jennie will be arriving tomorrow. Everyone else is already here."

"Who's Seokjin? Jeonghan mentioned him last night, and when you were drunk the other day, you kept crying about him." You stare at Sehun for a second.

"I did what?" Oh god. What did you say about Seokjin?

"You were complaining about how he hated you, and you both were super mean to each other. You also were moaning about how you would've dated him if you two liked each other or something." Sehun shrugs. "So, who is that guy?"

"He's Jungkook's cousin. Kim Seokjin." You sigh and press your fingers against your forehead. "I knew him in high school, and we didn't get along that well. During our last year, we got into a huge argument and said some choice things to each other. He tried to apologize to me before I left for college, but the rift is still there."

Sehun hums. "Do you want to make up with him?"

You raise an eyebrow at him. "Did my drunk rant tell you nothing?"

"Who knows if drunk people mean what they say, (Y/N)?"

"Well, I do regret not clearing the air. We were young." You pause, thinking. Sehun waits. "It'd be weird, though, talking to him now, after all these years. Wouldn't it?"

Sehun shrugs. "I don't know (Y/N). It depends on how you guys feel about each other."

You hum. "Maybe I should try to mend things." Just then, Jungkook comes back in. He doesn't look happy, and Yugyeom notices immediately.

"Jungkook? What's up?" Jungkook sighs.

"Seokjin is in the hospital. I have to go pick him up."

"I can drive you back, then," Yugyeom offers, but you see him deflate a little bit. Yugyeom has missed you all, as he was abroad for work. You sigh and stand.

"Don't worry, Yugyeom. I can take Jungkook. You stay and get caught up. I've seen everyone a lot this year." Yugyeom beams at you.

"Wait, really? Jungkook, is that fine with you?" Yugyeom remembers to ask his friend, who nods.

"That's fine." You go to grab your car keys and follow Jungkook out the door. "Seokjin's at the Los Angeles Community Hospital." You nod, plugging the address in your GPS.

For the first twenty minutes, no one speaks. You don't mind the silence. But then, Jungkook speaks. "You know, Seokjin wants to see you again. He'll be glad you came with me." You laugh sharply.

"Really?"

"Really. He wants to apologize again for whatever happened during high school. I don't know the details, but I know he was sorry and beat himself up about it a lot."

You sigh, drumming your fingers against the steering wheel. "He doesn't need to apologize again."

Jungkook shrugs. "He wants to. He doesn't want you to hate him."

"I don't hate him."

"Not what he thinks, though." Jungkook is silent after this, and you think about his words as you pull up to the hospital.

"I'll drop you off and then go find a parking spot. Sound good?" Jungkook shakes his head.

"No, I want you to come in with me. I hate hospitals, and I always get lost." You sigh but comply. Jungkook's too stubborn for you to refuse. When you pull into a parking spot, Jungkook already unbuckled his seatbelt and has his hand on the handle.

When you head into the hospital, Jungkook marches up to the nurse. "Hi. What room is Kim Seokjin in? He's about twenty-seven?"

The nurse hums. "You're family, right?" Jungkook nods, and the nurse answers with a "Room 403."

Jungkook rushes, and you grab his arm to slow down. It only does a little bit, and Jungkook pretty much barges into the room. Seokjin is sitting on the bed with a book. "You're finally here, Jungkook." He notices you. "Who's this, your girlfriend?"

Seokjin doesn't recognize you. You could either say who you are, or you could hide again. You are about to take the second option, but Jungkook answers. "No, it's (Y/N)! You remember her, right?"

Seokjin takes a second look at you, and you fidget under his gaze. "Yeah, I do." He's much quieter now, and you offer him a tentative smile.  He smiles back. "Hi."

"How are you doing?" You realize how strange that question is. "Other than all the...hospital-ly stuff."

Seokjin finally breaks into a wider smile. "Pretty good. My sister got me a pet." You coo.

"Oh, how sweet! What kind is it?" Jungkook eases himself out of the hospital room without you or Seokjin noticing.

"Sugar glider. His name is Gukmul. Would you like to see a picture?" You nod eagerly, walking towards his bed. Seokjin leans over with his phone and shows you a picture.

"Very cute," you say with admiration. When you glance at Seokjin, you see him smiling at you.

You stare at each other for a little bit, awkwardness levels rising. You don't know what to say, but words start spilling out of your mouth. "I'm sorry for being so rude during our school years together. It was so rude of me. I don't know what I was thinking; you were just defending yourself."

A hand on your mouth silences you. "It's okay, (Y/N). We were both mean and rude." Seokjin smiles again, and you take note of how his eyes crinkle. "Shall we start again?"

You laugh and hold out your hand for him to shake. "Sorry, I don't think I know you. Start what again? I'm (Y/N)."

Seokjin takes your hand, and instead of shaking it, kisses the palm. Your ears turn red as he says, "I'm Seokjin."

——————

This is def. supposed to be longer, but I really am going through a hugggge mind block. An epilogue will probably be coming soon.

[lovemesomesurveys]

Don’t you just love the smell of Hollister and Abercrombie and Fitch? I actually did used to like it. 

When a bee is coming close to you, do you stand still or run away? I back away somewhat quickly, but try not to make a big show of it because I know it’s advised to be calm, but I see a bee and I freak. 

Are you self conscious about wearing a bathing suit? Absolutely, so I don’t wear one. 

Do you make reminders for important things you need to remember? Yeah, I make great use of the calendar, notes, and reminder apps on my phone.

If you had to play one sport for a living, what would it be? Gah, that would not work for me. I’m not athletic at all and I have zero interest in sports.

Was the last person you texted single? No, he’s with my mom.

Do you get jealous easily? No. I haven’t felt jealous in a long time.  What are you currently waiting for? Nothing at the moment.

Do you think more about the past, present, or future? I dwell in the past too much and I’m always stressing and worrying about present stuff. 

Is there anybody you wish you could be spending time with right now? No.

Who were the last people you saw besides family? Other patients at my doctor’s office, the receptionist, the nurses, and my doctor.

Which of your friends lives closest to you? No friends.

How do you feel about Diet Dr Pepper? I like it.

Do you ever work out? No. I should be lifting a light weight at least everyday. My upper body strength is so bad now.

Do you go to the tanning bed on a regular basis? I’ve never been to a tanning salon and have no interest in doing so.

Does your bedroom need cleaning? I need to organize some stuff and put some things away.

Vanilla or chocolate? Vanilla.

Pretty Woman or Sixteen Candles? Sixteen Candles.

Do you ever hang out with someone of the opposite sex? My dad and brother.

Are you comfortable with your height? I wish I was a little taller. 

Anything on your walls? Yeah, a few giraffe paintings, a a couple beach ones, a couple calendars, a bulletin board, a marker board, and a huge Swedish flag.

What do you bite more, your tongue, lip, or cheek? I’m constantly biting and picking at my lips. :/

What was the last non-alcoholic beverage you had? Starbucks Doubleshot energy drink.

Do you have a box where you keep all your important things? I have boxes and drawers with stuff like that. 

How many times have you dyed your hair? Numerous times since I was 13.

Are any of your friends taller than you? Everyone is taller than me except for small children. 

Ever liked someone whose name started with a B? I don’t think so.

Have you ever been on a motorcycle? I’ve ridden on the back of one with my dad when I was a kid.

Do you have feelings for anyone? Not the romantic kind.

Name something great that happened today: It’s only 530AM, nothing much has happened. 

How did you feel when you woke up today? I haven’t gone to bed yet, but I’m willing to bet I’ll wake up feeling like a zombie like I always do.

Do you use Twitter? I do.

What did you have for dinner yesterday? Wingstop.

What kind of position are you in at the moment? I’m sitting on my bed.

Furthest away from home you have ever been? When I went to Atlanta, Georgia.

What colour pants/skirt/etc are you currently wearing? I’m wearing blue Adidas leggings. 

When was the last time you drank water? Like an hour ago.

Have you ever fallen asleep with the last person you kissed? No.

Do you answer the phones at your job? I don’t have a job.

What’s your ring tone? One of the ones that come with the phone.

What were you doing at 12 AM last night? I was doing surveys.

Do you want to fix anything with anyone? Not at this time.

Do you have trust issues? No really. I have a hard time with expressing myself and opening up to others, but it’s not so much a matter of trust.

Do you believe everything happens for a reason? Yes.

Are you going to have a good night? My night has been okay.

Have you ever given up on someone and then went back to them? Yes.

Did you wake up in the middle of the night last night? Well no, cause I don’t even go to bed until like 7 or 8AM.

What shows do you watch? I watch a lot of different shows.

What’s wrong with you right now? Just blah as usual.

Would you go back in time if you were given the chance? Absolutely. 

What’s your relationship with the person you last texted? He’s my dad.

Are you looking forward to anything? No.

Have you ever broken someone’s heart? My first ex told me I did.

Has anyone ever told you that you have pretty eyes? Yes.

Does anyone disgust you? Myself.

Did you enjoy your weekend? It’s just starting.

Have you argued with anyone today? No.

Your enemy is at your doorstep begging for forgiveness, what would you do? I don’t have any enemies, thankfully.

Has someone had their arms around you in the past 7 days? To give me a hug, yeah.

Dare you to detail why you kissed the last person you kissed? We just wanted to? I never understand this question.

Are you afraid of losing the last person you talked to? One of my biggest fears is my loved ones passing away. Which is obviously inevitable, but still. 

What was your last thought before you went to bed last night? I don’t remember. My mind wanders off and thinks about random things.

When’s the last time you had a headache? A few days ago.

Is anyone else in the room with you? Nope.

Who was the last person you had a conversation with on the phone? My mom.

Does anyone call you babe? No.

Is there anything you are craving right now? Not at this moment.

What was the first thing you thought of this morning? I haven’t gone to bed yet, but I always check the time when I first get up.

Are you satisfied with what you currently have in life? I am appreciative of the good things, but there’s so much I’d like to change and I’m unhappy with. 

What were you doing at 7:00 AM? It’s 5:56AM, so I’m sure I’ll still be awake in like an hour. Sigh.

How many hours of sleep did you get last night? Like 4ish. 

Do you know anyone who has been arrested? Yes.

Think back to the last person you kissed, how many times have you laughed with them? Uhh, countless times. How do you even count that? Not to mention, he was always making me laugh.

How do you feel about your hair right now? I hate it. It needs to be dyed so bad, it could use a trim, and a style would be nice. I don’t do anything with it besides throw it up in a messy bun. 

When you were in elementary school, did you change best friends a lot? Yeah. When I was a kid “best friend” was a term thrown around quite loosely.  

Last thing you touched not computer-related? My phone.

Have you ever suspected anyone of cheating on you? No.

Does the song you’re currently listening to remind you of anyone specific? I’m not listening to music.

Who was the last person to give you a ride somewhere? My mom.

When and where was the last time you took a picture of yourself? A few weeks ago in the car.

Have you ever been scolded by a mall cop? No.

How often do you catch yourself daydreaming? A lot.

What’s your favorite thing to think about as you’re falling asleep? I don’t get much say in that.

Is there anything that you want to do, but won’t because you’re too afraid? There’s a lot of things.

Who gets up the earliest in your household? The latest? My dad gets up the earliest. He’s off on the weekends and he still gets up at like 5AM for some reason. The latest is definitely me. 

Have you ever had a pet walk across your keyboard while you were typing? No, my doggos have always been too big to do that.

You’re going to your favorite foreign country; what landmarks do you go see? I just want to see everything and really experience Sweden.

What is the longest amount of time that you have spent away from your home? A few months during hospital stays.

Did the last movie you watched have any emotional effect on you? No.

What motivates you to go to school? I’m done with school, thankfully. I’ve been so unmotivated and without energy the past few years and I’m glad I finished school before that happened and I sunk into the hole I’ve been stuck in.

Are you more hyper and uptight, or laid back and relaxed? I’m never hyper and I definitely haven’t felt relaxed in a long time. I think to some people I’d appear laid back, but oh boy if they only knew. And honestly what appears be laid is me just feeling... flat. 

When was the last time you heard someone talking about you? I don’t know.

How did you pick out your last outfit? I just grabbed whatever.

When buying shoes, what do you look for in the product? For me it’s just about how they look. Comfort isn’t a factor for me as someone who has no feeling in their legs and feet. 

What happened to cause the last mess you made? I let some stuff build up. 

Are you embarrassed to bring people into your bedroom? I would be right now.

When was the last children’s birthday party you attended? A few years ago for one of my cousins. 

Are you good at reading other people’s body language? I think I am.

If you’re sick, do you go to school or do you stay home (usually)? I’m not in school anymore, but I mean for me it depended on how sick I felt. Of course now in the days of COVID you’re advised to stay home if you feel sick at all. Most schools, at least where I am, are all on Zoom now anyway, though.

Does chicken noodle soup really make you feel any better? I don’t feel it ever did anything for me.

What is one meal that you like to eat whilst sick? If I’m sick I usually don’t have much of an appetite, if one at all depending on how sick I am. I don’t eat much, but I’ll try to eat a little at least of something.

Think of the last survey you filled out; did you enjoy it? Sure.

Have you ever fed bread to ducks or geese? I did when I was a kid. I didn’t know you shouldn’t do that at the time.

Is it hard to imagine you were ever as small as a 1-2 year old? Yeah, that is weird to think about.

What set the tone for your mood today? It’s 6:22AM and right now I just feel tired.

Have you ever set out to ruin someone else’s day? No, that’s definitely not something I’d want to do.

The name of the last board game that you played? I don’t remember.

What was the last thing that you told yourself? That I would try to go to sleep a little earlier. ha.

Do you remember your D.A.R.E. officer’s name? I actually do.

Someone throws hot coffee on you; how do you react? Uh, wtf? Firstly, I’d react to the HOT coffee that I had thrown at me. That would be excruciatingly painful. I’ve accidentally spilled really hot coffee on myself before so I would know. So yeah, I’d feel the pain and shock from that and then I’d just be like wtf??? I’d be so confused and upset and most of all, furious. 

Is there a high school or college that you would rather be attending? I graduated college, I’m doneee.

Have you ever lived in an apartment or duplex home? A duplex.

Has anyone ever commented on your weight? Yes, I get comments a lot about how I’m too thin.

Where do you stand when it comes to sexual intercourse? Well, I’m a virgin, so.

Name a show from the 90’s that you miss? I still watch a lot of them to be honest.

Have you ever thought about joining the military? No. I couldn’t anyway even if I wanted to because of my physical disability.

When you were little, did you ever stare at disabled or “different” people? I was and am a disabled person and I’ve had to deal with people staring all my life because I’m in a wheelchair and hear kids ask their parents, “what’s wrong with her?”

Could the contents of your bedroom get you in any trouble? No.

Do weather patterns sometimes have an effect on your health? The heat definitely does. Ugh, I hate the summer. I do not do well with the heat.

If it snows a lot where you live, do you experience cabin fever? It doesn’t snow here. :(

How good are you at getting along with other people? I don’t have a problem with getting along with others.

Have you ever felt like you were going out of your mind? Oh yes.

Has anyone ever suggested that you might need “help”? Yes. And I agree. 

How do you respond to cheesy pick-up lines? No one has used a cheesy pickup line on me.

How was the service at the last restaurant you visited? I’m gonna answer this with takeout because ever since the pandemic hit last year I haven’t gone out to eat anywhere, but I get takeout all the time. Anyway, last night I got Wingstop and my brother realized when he got home they gave him the wrong order, so he had to drive back and it’s like a 15 minute drive there and back on the highway, so it’s not a quick, easy trip. He gets back and I realize they forgot my extra side of the lemon pepper sauce that I like to get, which wasn’t as big of a deal of course, but still annoying. I didn’t say anything about a small thing like that, but I was just annoyed with the whole situation and that I didn’t have that extra side of sauce to dip my wings in. It adds to what makes it good, ya know? I like my ranch and my extra sauce. I would have been even more upset if they forgot the ranch because their ranch is the best.

Are you ever jealous of happy couples? I feel a little envious sometimes cause I’d like to experience that. 

Describe a thought that is sticking with you today? My mind is a jumbled mess.

Lately, who has spent the most time on your mind? No one in particular. I’m more occupied with thoughts of things I’m dealing with, things I’m feeling, and things that are going on.

In a car: air conditioning, or roll the windows down? AC, for sure. Especially during the summer when it’s hot and miserable because rolling the windows down doesn’t do shit.

When was the last time you did anything to your playlist? I added songs to it like a month ago.

Is there a new song or band you’ve discovered? Not recently. I haven’t been listening to music recently.

What teacher gives you the most homework? --

Are you punctual? Yes. I hate being late.

Have you ever howled at the full moon? Uh, no.

Do you give any consideration to what’s said in your horoscope? I don’t even read it. I don’t believe in astrology.

[maidenof-thesea]

Snakes & Butterflies | Part III

Pairing: Jimin x Reader

Genre: Soulmate Au!, Fluff, Angst, Smut (Maybe, still debating)

Words: 3.1k

Warnings: Jimin is sort of mean but that’s just for now! :)

Note: Hi guys! Here’s part 3 of my story and I just wanted to let you know that in this story, all of the boys will be semi-fluent in English, just so that it’s easy for mc to have conversations with them, but I will still keep the language barrier so as to not take away a main aspect of their personalities. Whenever conversations are happening in Korean, this symbol * will be displayed before and after the conversation. Plus the point of view switches from the readers point of view to Jungkook’s. 

“Yah Jeon Jungkook!” a deep voice boomed from Jungkook’s phone. The rest of the dialogue was in Korean that I was unable to understand but the voice sounded upset. 

“Taetae?” Jungkook questioned in confusion. And once again I was unable to follow along with the conversation. It was evident that this ‘Taetae’ was not Jimin, based on Jungkook’s confusion. I began to pet Yuki absentmindedly as Jungkook continued on with his conversation. Although the conversation from earlier was still running in my mind, and Minho was also still in my mind. Jungkook’s attitude about my lack of a Mark was still quite confusing and so was his anger with Jimin. But Jungkook had a point. I looked at him and he was smiling at whomever he was on the phone with, his dimples on display. His eyes were twinkling. I wonder if Jimin’s smile was still the same, just like Jungkook’s was. At the thought of Jimin, I was reminded of my dream and Miss Cassandra’s knowledge of it.

I felt a slight headache emerging, granted I did have an anxiety attack earlier and my father dropped a bombshell on me today. Yuki was starting to stutter in her constant purring, she must have sensed my fatigue before I did. I went to the kitchen to put my bowl of pasta in the fridge after wrapping it with saran wrap. Jungkook was still immersed in the conversation by the time I made it back to the living room. 

“Hello!” the deep voice said with a slight accent, which made me skip a step. It was directed towards me. Jungkook turned around with his eyes wide, almost as if he had forgotten my presence all together. The voice belonged to the most beautiful boy I had ever seen. He had a box smile that adorned his heart shaped face, along with big eyes that were filled with curiosity but had a hint of mischief. 

“Noona,” Jungkook said, turning to face me, missing how Taehyung glanced at him in surprise.. “This is Taehyung, one of my hyungs that will be coming next week. Hyung, this is Y/N.” 

“Hello,” I said with a slight wave and a smile. 

“She cute,” Taehyung said with a wink, causing me to blush for the umpteenth time today. 

“Hyung!” Jungkook scolded. “Y/N-”

“It’s okay, Jungkook,” I said, gathering Yuki in my arms to stop the dwindling of my thumbs. “I’m actually gonna head to bed early, I have an early shift tomorrow. Goodnight Taehyung, Jungkook.”

“Goodnight Noona,” Jungkook said with a warm smile. Yuki meows as I start to walk to my room. “Goodnight to you too Yuki!”

                                      Jungkook

*

The moment Y/N shut the door to her room, Taehyung just about exploded.

“Yah!” Taehyung yelled. “Who was that? She’s super cute! I’m gonna love America! You never said the girls there were that pretty!”

“I just told you her name hyung,” I said with a hint of annoyance. However I could never stay mad at him, I found him too endearing to be annoyed with him for too long. “It’s Y/N.”

“So that’s why you’ve been ignoring my phone calls!” Taehyung ignored what I just said. “Keeping her all to yourself huh? I don’t blame you!”

“I told you I had two finals in the morning,” I said, feeling myself getting a bit hot. “Then I had to go get the list of things Seokjin hyung asked me to get.”

“But you have time to answer Jiminie’s phone call and not mine?” Taehyung all but pouted. “Plus why do you call her ‘Noona’? You just met her today!”

“We are childhood friends,” I said, averting my eyes from the screen.

“WAIT!” Taehyung yelled, causing me to flinch and shush him. “The girl that you and Jimin grew up with?!”

“Yes,” I said, picking up the phone to take outside to the porch before Taehyung woke her up. “The one and only.”

“Jungkook,” Taehyung said, his eyes widening in understanding. “I only heard rumors but is it true that she is Jimin’s-”

“No, those are just rumors” I said, clenching my fists. As much as I hate lying to Taehyung, it wasn’t my story to tell. “I mean she was--is really special to us just promise me you won’t tell Jimin about Y/N.”

“Why?” Taehyung said, confused. “If the rumors aren’t true then it shouldn’t be a big deal.”

“I want to surprise him,” I lied once more. There was no way Jimin would come if it meant reuniting with Y/N. I admit that I hadn’t really thought about it before, but Jimin was the last to agree to the vacation. I have a feeling he only agreed to come after hearing that the beach house was nowhere near the old town we were raised. “Where is hyung?”

“Working out,” He said, stretching, making the phone drop, no longer making him visible to the camera. “He let me use his phone because you were ignoring me.”

“Taetae,” a voice said offscreen. “Were you able to get a hold of Jungkookie?”

“Yea!” Taehyung replied with a hint of mischief that made me nervous. “He was busy all day apparently.”

“Being an international playboy?” Jimin said smiling, picking up the phone. He was freshly showered, with his cheeks red and his skin glowing. “Lots of pretty girls in America right?”

“I wouldn’t know,” I said smiling back. Even though I was upset with him, I couldn’t help but miss him. It had been a while since I last saw him. “I’m here getting an education not dating, besides-”

“Yea, yea” Taehyung laughed, coming back into the screen. “You’re waiting for ‘the one’, the one that rings the bell or whatever. But you really just can’t talk to girls can you?” 

“Enough,” I said, yawning. It was only ten o’clock at night but I was also getting tired myself. “I’m gonna sleep now, bye hyungs!”

“Wait!” Jimin said seriously, making me pause. “This is important.”

“What?”

“So..are there pretty girls?” He said seriously but cracked a smile once Taehyung started laughing.

“Ugh,” I said rolling my eyes. “See you guys next week.”

****

I hung up the phone on their laughing faces and almost immediately I got scolding text messages about me hanging up on them first. And I walk back inside the house to see Y/N’s door closed and the light off. After today, I realized that Jimin never fully explained what happened when it came to Y/N. And I have a feeling Jimin has been hiding something from me. I mean I knew the gist of what happened basically through my parents discussing it but growing up, I never questioned the bond between Jimin and Y/N, I mean we were just kids! Then our Grandpa came to visit, and from what I remember that was when everything changed. That was when Jimin changed. His Soulmate mark-

“Jungkook?” Y/N said coming out of her bed, rubbing her eyes. “Why are you just standing there? You should be in bed.”

“Sorry Noona,” I said following her into the kitchen. “Are you thirsty?”

“Yea,” she said as she pulled out a water bottle from the pantry. And she unscrewed the cap and finished the entire bottle, almost choking. I took a step forward to rub her back but she placed her hand up to stop me. “Sorry, I was just so thirsty.”

“Bad dream?” 

“Sort of,” She winced as she scratched at her arm. “The henna tattoo is just getting itchy, so I’m gonna put some ointment on and go to sleep. Goodnight Kookie.”

“Goodnight.” I say and I head off to bed. But sleep was almost impossible to achieve whenever I thought about what may happen next week. “I just want you both happy.”

“Hey!” my boss Patricia said as she entered the lobby. “I need you to start at three tomorrow afternoon, Melissa called out again.”

“I’m starting my vacation tomorrow,” I said, as I wiped the counter. “So I can no longer cover for call outs.”

“Crap!” she exclaimed. “I’ll pay you overtime please?”

“No, sorry” I said, no matter how obligated one feels toward their job, one has to remember other responsibilities, plus they just view you as a number, easily replaced by the next number. “You know I need to do this so I could live there for cheap right?”

“I know,” she moans. “You’re just the only reliable employee I have.”

“I know.” I said rubbing her back. “Besides why don’t you just fire Melissa? She only works eight hours a week and yet she still can’t be bothered to come in.”

“Trust me, I’ve been wanting to,” She says leaning on me, like I’m not trying to clean. “But she’s my boyfriend’s cousin and she sort of found out about us so she’s blackmailing us.”

“She found out that you aren’t Soulmates?”

“Yea,” she sighs. “I mean come on, it’s not my fault I haven’t met them yet you know? I love him and I’m not getting any younger, I want kids now, not later.”

“No I get it.” I say. “I’m sorry I can’t help.”

“It’s okay,” she says shrugging. “I’ll probably just get him to do it, to punish him.”

My boss was living proof that love can happen outside of Soulmates. She’s been with her boyfriend for years now, and they want to get married and start a family but the law won’t let them without permission from their actual Soulmates, that is if they are still alive. Which is barbaric and countless people have been boycotting certain laws pertaining to the ideology of Soulmates. Although the whole purpose of the Soulmate principle is pretty much obvious but that is not always the case for certain couples. Take my parents for example, I know my mom wholeheartedly loves my father, and my father loves her as well but it is evident that she loves him a lot more. Which is normal in relationships, not ideal but normal. Relationships fall apart, which is also normal, what’s not normal to a sense is that your freedom to move on from the relationship is determined by your Soulmate. 

“Should we just change our names and move to Mexico?” Patricia sighed once more. 

“Only the rich can do that.”

“True,” she laughed. “You can go home now, don’t your visitors arrive today?”

“Yea they do,” I said. “Rosa spent the whole day cleaning the house yesterday, even though I told her it wasn’t necessary.”

“Can I hire her to clean my apartment?”

“She’s expensive but I’ll let her know.”

“Ughh.” She moans once more.

“Alright bye! See you in two months!”

“WHY?!”

I was walking home today since I let Jungkook borrow my car to pick up the other guys, although I doubt they will all fit into my jeep, but he said something about them killing him if he didn’t at least greet them at the airport. He initially refused since he didn’t want me walking at night, but I reassured him that it was fairly safe since it was a short fifteen minute walk. The sun was starting to set and I put one headphone in to listen to some music. I was about to exit the property of the hotel, when a tall figure collided with me, knocking me flat on my but. 

“Oh! I’m so sorry!” a familiar voice said, reaching down to take my hand. I squinted to see through the sunlight, and Minho’s face was staring back at me in concern. “Y/N?”

“Minho?” I said standing up by myself without accepting his help. “Do you have a tendency to pop up out of nowhere when it’s inconvenient?”

“I deserve that.” he said with an awkward chuckle. “But do you have a tendency to insult people?”

“Only when they wait by my car at night after fraternizing with my father.”

“I deserve that too.” He says not denying the accusation. He takes another look at me and regards my outfit. He points to the hotel and then me. “Do you work here?”

“Why?” I say, feeling my gut clench. My instincts were telling me to lie, but I couldn’t really, my uniform already gave that away.

“I’m staying here!” He said with a wide smile. “Wow what a small world.”

“Huh,” I said nervously, good thing I was now on vacation. “I have to go now, have a nice stay.”

“Wait!” He says trailing after me. “Can we start all over? Will you let me take you to dinner? Or if you aren’t comfortable with that, we can go to the university. There’s summer classes in session and I’m teaching a class.”

“I’m gonna be pretty busy during the summer. So-”

“Please, Y/N.” he says, his eyes wide and his lips were formed into a pout. I never really thought about it, but he was quite handsome, he could be an actor or even a model for that matter. I felt my resolve wavering but my palms were becoming sweaty which has a tendency to happen when I’m nervous. “I really want to show you my work, I know I shouldn’t mention your father, but he did mention that you have a love for history and I believe the past may hold the answers to our mutual dilemma.”

I felt my eyebrows raise at that, my father hated that I chose a major in anthropology. Once I graduated, I was supposed to go study abroad in Mexico in the Maya Temples with a professor but certain complications happened since my father didn’t approve. But does that mean-

“You don’t think we’re Soulmates?” I said before I could stop myself. I felt my face flush with embarrassment. “Cheese and rice, please forget I ever said anything!”

He stammers for a second and starts to laugh which made me blush even more. 

“I’m not gonna lie,” He says once he stopped laughing. “When your father told me about you, I initially thought so. But after seeing you and realizing that you are younger than me, it’s sort of impossible for us to be Soulmates. Most Soulmates are born in the same year. It’s very rare for them not to be the same age.”

If it was even possible, I felt my face flush even more.

“Don’t take it the wrong way!” Minho says after realizing I wasn’t responding. “I wouldn’t object to dating an attractive girl like yourself. You are ve-”

“I’m sorry,” I interrupted him. “I feel stupid. Please forget I ever said that.”

“Only if you agree to see my research.”

“Fine!” I said walking away. “But I decide when!”

“Fine!” He replied also with a laugh.

After that, I decided to jog my way home, since it was getting dark fairly quicker than I had anticipated. So focused on getting home on time, I failed to realize that the guests may already be there. By the time I reached the doorstep, the door was already being opened and a very startled familiar figure once again collided with me. However this time instead of falling flat on my butt, strong arms caught me, a shiver erupted in my body as soon as hands made contact with the exposed skin of my waist. I look up to see a very startled Jimin, who looked like he had seen a ghost.

“Jimin?” I whispered and a shiver went through his whole body and all of sudden I’m on the floor and Jimin took a step back, almost as if he recoiled from me. And for some reason that I can’t explain, that hurt more than the bruise forming on my bottom. 

“Noona!” Jungkook yelled from the pathway that led to the private beach. He was running towards me followed along by another man. He helped me stand up and the other man picked up my satchel. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” I said breaking eye contact with Jimin. “I just slipped. Thank you.”

“Hello, Y/N.” The man who picked up my satchel said as he handed it to me. “Nice to meet you, I’m Namjoon. Kim Namjoon.”

“Nice to meet you,” I replied tucking my hair into my ear. 

“The others are still at the beach,” He continued with a dimple smile. “Do you want to join us?”

“I would love to, but I think I need to shower and I need to feed my cat.”

“I already took care of that,” a familiar deep voice said. Taehyung appeared behind Jimin, whose expression was emotionless. “She’s a very pretty cat. So you can come swimming with us if you want.”

“Thank you but I really have to shower,” I said with a small smile.

“She doesn’t want to,” Jimin said with a cold tone, and he walked briskly past us, causing me to flinch out of his way. “Let’s go Tae!”

Not only me, but also Taehyung and Namjoon were in shock. Why was he so angry?

*

“I thought you said he would be happy to see her!” Taehyung said to Jungkook. “It was supposed to be a surprise!”

*

I walked quickly inside, letting them continue their conversation, but mostly because I felt tears pooling at my eyes. I must be starting my cycle. It has to be that, otherwise why would I be so sensitive?

                                       Jungkook

*

I wanted to follow Y/N inside, to see if she was alright but from the trembling in her shoulders, I felt like she needed space, especially after Jimin dropping her and being cold to her. This was not how I expected this to go.

“What was that about?” Namjoon asked me. “Taehyung said you guys were childhood friends, or at least that’s what you told him.”

Taehyung had already trailed after Jimin, who was already deep in the trail. Their voices morphing with the waves. I shrugged and started on the trail, I had to come up with a plan or else things would just get worse from now on. 

“Hyung,” I said stopping in my tracks and Namjoon faced me. “I think Jimin is hiding something from us, I think he’s been lying to me this whole time.”

“About what?” Namjoon asked. 

“About his Soulmate.” 

“His mark is jagged which indicates that he was rejected. According to our history, we Neanderthals-”

“I know, we can choose to reject and accept it,” I said with my fists clenched. “But I don’t think that’s what happened here.”

“What do you mean here?” Namjoon said, confused. “Are you saying there is a connection between Jimin and that human?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying”

*

Prev / Next 

Masterlist  

[breanime]

The Curse

Requested by yesixoxo :  Hi, can I request a Billy x Reader fix where it’s almost the readers birthday but she’s always had a bad time and he wants to surprise her in a big way and make her happy? Thank you

Warning: mentions of steam, hella fluffy

*gif not mine*

You were standing in the lobby at Anvil, hand clutching the strap of your purse, trying to figure out a way to bring up your birthday with Billy. You’d been dating for 6 months now, and things were definitely serious, but he didn’t really know that you hated your birthday, so, seeing that your birthday was next week… you figured it was time to tell him.

Except you knew he was busy, and he had a lot on his plate, so—this probably wasn’t the best time. You turned on your heels, deciding to talk to him about it tonight, after sex, when you were both more relaxed. Or maybe in the morning, or tomorrow night—or maybe you’d just go to Canada all next week and avoid it all. Or you could—

“Y/N?” Billy’s voice cut off your internal rambling. You turned to see him coming down the stairs, dressed to kill (in more ways than one), and raising an eyebrow at the sight of you. “What’re you doing here?”

“Oh,” you spun around, smiling nervously, “Me? Nothin’. I was just in this part of town, so I figured I’d…”

Laughing, Billy wrapped an arm around your waist and pulled you to him. You felt your face grow warm at the public display of affection, but Billy didn’t so much as glance around him. “I don’t say this a lot, but you’re cute when you lie.”

“Ugh, okay, I came here to talk to you,” you sighed.

He cocked his head to the side. “Am I in trouble?” Asked the CEO of New York’s most lucrative and well-respected security firm who had over 100 confirmed kills under his belt and usually had at least three weapons on his person at any given time.

“No,” you laughed, “I was just… Can we go to your office?”

“That depends,” he said, taking your hand and leading you back up the stairs, “Is this conversation going to end with you bent over my desk, or me with a headache?”

You sighed, rolling your eyes as he let you into his office. He locked the door behind you, and you tuned to him. Best to get it all out now. “I hate my birthday, every year something bad happens, and it’s super disappointing, and I’m used to it—I’m totally cool with the fact that it’s a huge disaster, but it always sucks for my friends and family, and it’ll suck for you, so I just want to tell you now that I’m just gonna fall off the face of the earth on my birthday to spare you the suckiness of it all—”

“Whoa, whoa, wait,” Billy stepped up, putting his hands on your shoulders, “Slow down. Why do you hate your birthday?”

“Shall I count the ways?” You walked past him and leaned back on his desk. “My very first birthday, my Dad left,” you started, “That was my one-year birthday, by the way, not the day of my actual birth. The day of my birth, I had to be resuscitated because I got the umbilical cord stuck around my throat.”

“Yikes.”

“Yeah,” you went on, “My 5th birthday I got chicken pox, when I turned 11 I ran into a tree and broke my jaw, when I was 16 I caught my first love cheating on me with my cousin, and I got into a terrible car accident when I turned 19,” you waved your hand in the air, “I got fired in front of the whole office on my 20th birthday, then I got evicted from my first apartment the year after,” you sighed, “I could go on and on, Billy, but my birthday is just terrible. It is every year, and I just wanted to let you know.” You shrugged. “So don’t have expectations for it, okay?”

Billy surveyed you for a second, and you couldn’t read what was going on behind those deep, dark eyes. “May I approach?” He asked, a slight smile on his face.

You chuckled under your breath, opening your arms. “Approach.”

He stepped into your arms, wrapping his around you and pulling you close. “I’m sorry all your birthdays have sucked, baby,” he said into your hair, “I get it, believe me, I do, but… I want to make this one good.” You pulled back at his words, but he put his hands on your hips and kept you close. “In fact, I kind of already had something planned…”

“What?” You pulled away from him. “Billy, no, that day is cursed! Haven’t you been listening?”

“Just,” Billy reached out for you, and pulled you to him again, “Just give me a chance to make it nice, and if it ends up sucking, next year, we’ll ignore your birthday together.” He gave you his version of a pout, making you laugh. “Please?”

“Fine,” you shook your head, still laughing under your breath, “But don’t feel bad when it blows up in your face, it’s the curse of the birthday, not you.”

“Noted,” he leaned down and brushed his lips against yours, making you relax immediately, “Now, I believe there was mention of bending you over my desk?”

A week later, you woke up on the morning of your birthday in Billy’s bed…alone. He’d made a big deal of you spending the night last night, and he’d been extra committed to making sure you were too worn out to leave (wink wink), and then…nothing?

So it was a typical birthday after all.

You got dressed and headed downstairs, and a part of you was still hoping you’d see Billy in the kitchen, making you a special breakfast…but he wasn’t there. You let out another sigh. The one thing you wanted for your birthday was to be with Billy, but he was nowhere to be found. You unlocked your phone, about to call him, and noticed a text from none other than Billy Russo.

Happy birthday, sweetheart. I have a full day planned for us, so I had to run out and get a few things ready. I’ll be home before you know it. I want to let you know that this day is the best day in the year, because it’s the day you were born (and almost choked to death). I know we’ve only been together for six months, but I think you should know that you mean a lot to me. I’m happy to have you in my life, and when you told me you hated your birthday, I took it as a personal challenge. See you soon, baby. Happy birthday.

Great. Now you were standing in the kitchen, barefoot, smiling on your birthday! You weren’t meant to smile on your birthday, damn him! And his text said he had a whole day planned for you… What could that mean? You looked down at your outfit and wondered if it was appropriate for whatever it was he had planned. You were still contemplating changing your outfit when you heard a door close and the distinct sound of Billy’s footsteps.

“Hmmm,” he said, a smile clear in his voice, “I could have sworn there was a beautiful birthday girl in here somewhere.”

“It’s me!” You popped out from around the corner, feeling giddy for some reason.

“Hey!” He greeted you with a smile that put the sun to shame. “Happy birthday, baby!” You both laughed as you ran into his arms, letting him engulf you in a hug that somehow felt like a promise.

“Thanks,” you had your arms around his waist, and you looked up at him with a huge grin on your face. “What’s the plan for today?” You asked, a bit nervous.

Smiling, he leaned over and kissed you on the nose. “We’re gonna take a ride,” was all he said. He took your hand and led you to the door.

“A ride? Where? Should I change? How long will we be gone?”

Billy chuckled, shaking his head a little. “You’re perfect, babe, you look great.” He took you down to the parking garage and opened the car door for you, kissing you as you slid into the passenger seat. He held your hand all the way to where he was taking you, giving you quick kisses whenever he hit a red light—which he seemed to purposefully be running into—and you had to admit… It was a good way to spend your birthday so far. But you knew the curse of your birthday better than anyone, and you were enjoying your time with Billy, but you knew the other shoe was going to be dropping any second now…

“Holy shit,” you sat up, eyes wide, and stared at the restaurant Billy had just pulled up at. It was that brand new, five-star restaurant that you had been gushing about since you’d seen it being built a few months ago. “Billy,” you gasped out, “What are we doing here? It doesn’t open for another three weeks.”

He squeezed your hand in his. “I know,” he said back, “But I had the pleasure of keeping a few ex-cons off the head chef’s ass, so he pulled a few strings and got us a private reservation.”

Your mouth fell open. “A—a private reservation?” You repeated.

Billy kissed you, grinning as he got out. He was still smiling when he opened your door for you, holding your hand as you stepped out. “How do you feel about a private brunch personally catered by the head chef, the owner, and their top staff?” He asked.

You felt tears prick in the corners of your eyes, and you blinked them back, smiling through them. “I… I feel very positively towards that.”

Billy grinned.

The brunch was amazing; the head chef came out and personally welcomed you, and the food was incredible. Billy watched you happily, and you could practically feel the joy coming off of him, which only served to make you happier as well. Once you were finished with your food, the staff brought out an impossibly delicious, gorgeous birthday cake made from the finest ingredients. It practically melted in your mouth. They packed the rest up for you and sent you on your way with kind words and eager birthday wishes. Your face almost hurt with how wide you were smiling, but you couldn’t stop.

“Ready for the next stop?” Billy asked, wearing a smile that matched your own.

“There’s more?” You asked, eyes widening once again.

“Absolutely there’s more,” he answered, “It’s my baby’s birthday!”

The next stop ended up being your favorite boutique. It was high end, high quality stuff, and you usually had to take an entire day off just to be able to window shop there, but today, it was empty.

“Don’t tell me,” you whispered to Billy after being greeted by the owner, “You served with her in Afghanistan? She hired Anvil to deal with the gangsters from Nordstrom?”

Billy chuckled. “I paid her.”

“Ah,” you nodded, “That works, too.”

The owner gave you a tour of the entire boutique, showing you rooms and nooks you’d never even knew about, before handing you and Billy a glass of champagne and bringing you to her workspace, where she showed you her never before seen, brand new designs and GAVE you three bags, a dress with matching pumps, and an armful of coats, blouses, and pants for free.

“You’ll be the first person to showcase these designs,” she said, French accent thick, “Though I’m sure, after today, Mr. Russo will be keeping you…occupied…in doors for a few days.” She winked, turning and leading you back to the main sitting room of the store. “Oh—please feel free to try on any of the lingerie,” she flashed you a wicked smirk, “The fitting rooms are big enough for two, and… Soundproof.”

Well, obviously, you and Billy had to take her up on that—and test the soundproof quality, as well.

By the time you were done…shopping… You were pretty worn out, so Billy—after tipping the store owner generously—took you to your favorite restaurant for dinner. And after that, he said it was time to go home. Tired in the best way, well-fed and happy, you could almost forget about all of the terrible birthdays you’d had until now. Billy was truly making this day magical for you, and you (almost) never wanted it to end.

He held your hand for most of the ride home, only releasing it to check his phone, which he did several times.

You frowned over at him as he pocketed his phone again. The curse of the birthday. “Is everything alright?”

Billy shot you another knee-weakening smile. “Yeah. Did you enjoy your morning?”

“Yes,” you gushed, “Thank you so much, Billy, I never… I can’t believe you did all of this for me.”

“Of course,” he squeezed your hand in his before dropping it to your thigh affectionately, “It’s my girl’s birthday.” He grinned over at you. “So how am I doing so far? Taking the challenge head on?”

“You’re doing amazing, Billy,” you answered, “I can’t thank you enough. This has been the best birthday I’ve ever had,” you put a finger under your chin, “Maybe even the best day I’ve ever had.”

“Well, it’s not over yet,” he promised.

Billy parked the car, opened your door for you, and held your hand as you went back inside. He stopped once you got to the elevator, a small frown on his handsome face. “I gotta make a call,” he said, turning and disappearing around the corner.

You wrung your hands. Was it work? Of course it was. Billy was a busy man, and he’d already wasted half of his day with you. Of course it couldn’t last. You bit your lip, stopping yourself from pouting. You should be grateful—he’d done so, so much for you already, taken so much time out of his schedule… This was already the best birthday you’d had—ever. You needed to stop being greedy.

Billy practically skipped back over to you, a wide smile on his face. “Okay,” he said, sounding a tad bit out of breath, “let’s go up!”

He seemed to be bouncing on the ride up, and once the elevator doors opened, he nearly ripped your arm out with how vigorously he pulled you towards his door. Unlocking it, he held it open and beckoned you inside with a wave of his hand. You stepped in, giving him a curious look…

…and your jaw dropped.

The whole penthouse was covered in rose petals, on the floor, on the table, on the couch, and all of the lights were off. There were candles all over the place, smelling of your favorite scent, and bathing the entire penthouse in a sweet, warm light. On the kitchen table, on top of the petals, was a pile of presents.

You covered your mouth, too shocked and touched to speak, and walked towards them. There were gifts left by your family—probably sent days in advance, which you knew wasn’t their style. That was all Billy. You had envelopes and presents signed by your coworkers—another first—and presents left by Karen, Frank, and Curtis. There were also a few boxes on the table signed by Billy.

He was grinning from ear to ear when you turned to him, taking in your silent shock happily. He opened his arms, and you ran into them, nearly knocking him over.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” you whispered into his shirt, “Thank you so much, Billy.”

“Anytime, sweetheart.” He kissed the top of your head. “Happy birthday.”

“How,” you pulled back a little, staring up at your perfect man, “How did you do this? How did you get all this set up, you were with me all day?”

“I called in the glam squad,” Billy answered, “After we left the boutique, Frankie and Karen came and set all this up for me. I called your family—which was a pain in the ass, if I’m honest—and made sure they got you actual gifts that you’d like and had them shipped a week ago,” he explained. “Do… Do you like it?”

“I love it,” you answered back quickly, “I love it so much, and I loved today, and I love you—” You stopped yourself then, eyes wide. Billy’s eyes matched yours in size, and you closed your eyes, trying to suck the words back into your stupid mouth. The fucking birthday curse strikes again.

You felt Billy’s hard, warm body closer to you, and when you opened your eyes, he was standing over you, staring down at you softly. “I love you, too,” he said, voice barely a whisper, “Damn… It’s your birthday, but you just gave me the best damn gift I could ever ask for.”

You giggled, feeling a lightness take over you that you’d never felt in your life—birthday or otherwise. “I don’t deserve you.”

“Yes, you do,” he said, leaning down and capturing your lips in a soft, slow, passionate kiss that had your toes curling. When he spoke next, his lips were still on yours, and you opened your mouth just a little to try to swallow down his sweet words. “Let me run you a bath, sweetheart,” he said, “and then you can open your last present.”

As much as you wanted to take a bath with Billy, he had set up the perfect mini-spa for you that you enjoyed to the fullest. After your bath, you felt light and airy and soft, and you wandered into the bedroom, smiling once more at the sight of all the rose petals on the bed. “Billy,” you sang, strutting towards the bed in one of the new lingerie sets you’d gotten, “baby, I’m ready for my last present.”

You weren’t sure what else he could have planned for you, how else he could make this day amazing, but you were sure of one thing… Maybe your birthday didn’t have to be so horrible after all. Maybe it could be nice—and you knew, underneath all of the lingering doubt, that Billy would always do whatever it took to make it nice for you…because he loved you. And you loved him. You were taken out of your thoughts when you heard Billy behind you, and—not for the first time that day—your mouth fell open.

Billy, grinning widely, was wearing nothing but a big red bow over his person. He held his arms out, and you moved towards him, circling him like an animal. Your mouth watered as you checked him out. He really was perfect.

“You gotta unwrap your gift, baby,” he grinned, all teeth.

“This,” you sighed out, stepping closer to him and running your hands over the ribbon-covered bulge between his legs, “is the best birthday ever.”

Billy kissed you, and you wrapped your arms around him, wanting—needing—him closer.

“Here’s to many more.”

*******************************************************************************************

I had fun writing this! I wasn’t too sure about it at first, but I got into the little surprises he set up for her. Please let me know what you thought! Thank you! 

(Also, the tags haven’t been working for everyone, so every reblog is really appreciated. I’d like as many people as possible to see my work. Thanks, guys!)

TAGLIST: @floralpeaceofmind​ @delicatelilyflower​ @dylanobrusso​ @ladyblablabla​ @banditthewriter​ @something-tofightfor​  @starsfragments​ @blackcoffeeandgreenteaforme​ @hisgirlwednesdayaddams​@fictionwillneverdie @maria-beretta​ @sadnessxvodka​ @ymariejp​ @sunnycolors​ @moonlightsay​ @its-all-o-kay @damagelove​ @keyeluh @itsmylife98​ @funerals-with-cake​ @littlemermaidprobz​ @teacuplotus​ @king4thesirens​ @mrsjaxtellerfan​ @thebabblingbook​ @tartelette-aux-fraises​ @madamrogers​  @charlylama​ @iaintnofurry​​ @k-buggz2001​​ @whitewolfslittlesilverfox @drinix​ @elanor-of-imladris​ @blah-blah-fuckit-shit @julliiaaq​ @holamor​ @ymariejp@shadowhunterscloset @songtoyou�� @anabella-baby @heyitslexy @luminex3 @sithskywalkers @carlaangel86@sssilverssserpent @jupiter-blake @binbons-is-theloml @captainblackeyes @importantkidmakerfire @luminex3 @the-blind-assassin-12 @editboutique @suchatinyinfinity @lexxierave @whovianayesha  @my-little-dumpster-fire @rhabakoli  @thesumofmychoices​ @saltyshaggymeme

[xoxowrestlinggyrl]

Exchange

Requested: No

Pairing: Finn Bàlor x Reader

Word Count: 2412

Warning[s]: Alcohol, Angst, Cursing & Fluff

Summary: A few years after breaking up with Finn, he is still in love with Y/N. Y/N has evolved from the person he once knew. He believes that she doing so much better without him, and he will drag her down. In reality, Y/N keeps this facade to hide her true feelings. After a night of drinking, Finn comes to Y/N‘s hotel room unannounced. Y/N let him in and take care of him for the night. Before falling asleep, he reveals his true feelings for her. In the morning, she confront him.

Tag[s]: @wweobsession1029

A/N: This is my very first one shot on here. Please don’t give me too much scrutiny if it’s terrible. Based on the song Exchange by Bryson Tiller. Requests are open!!

This what happens when I think about you. I get in my feelings, I start reminiscing. Next time around, fuck, I want it to be different. Waiting on a sign, I guess it’s time for a different prayer. Lord, please save her for me. Do this one favor for me. I changed my player ways, got way too complicated for me. I hope she is waiting for me.

Tears welled in my eyes as I read over the text messages on Finn’s phone.

Emmy: Finn, are you going to come over tonight?

Finn: Of course, I will. It may be a little while though.

Emmy: Why Finny? It’s been a good week since I saw you!

Finn: I know baby, but I have other things to do tonight before I see you.

Emmy: Is it revolving around that bitch, Y/N?

Finn: Stop referring to Y/N as a bitch.She is one of your best friends, but you still choose to call her that? You know how much it irks me when you call her that.

Emmy: Why don’t you leave her already? You’ve been cheating on her for months. I’m the real woman since I fulfill your needs unlike her. Y/N is nothing more than a boring, naive, little bitch. She gets whatever she wants… However, she is not getting you too! She doesn’t deserve you, Finn, I do.

Finn: You’re out of line Emmy. You know I would never do that to Y/N. I’ll not come over if you keep talking to me like that.

Emmy: Okay… Fine.

Finn has been cheating on me for months… How could I have been so damn oblivious? Emmy is was one of my best friends. I should have known this would happen. Emmy told me I would lose Finn if I continued being “my plain Jane self”. She said someone would swoop in and snatch him up for themselves. Little did I know, Emmy was the very person.

I introduced Finn to Emmy. The worst mistake I ever made… Emmy is right, I a naive as hell.

The sound of footsteps interrupted my thoughts. “Babe, I made ‘he popcorn.” Finn’s accent filled my ears as he walked into the living room.

I got up from the couch, and I made eye contact with him. We planned on watching Lego Movies for the night. No way that was happening.

“Is ‘here anything wrong babe? ‘hy do you have my phone?” Finn asked. His facial expression showed confusion, but I looked into his blue orbs. Finn’s eyes read a man, who was caught red-handed.

“Why do I have your phone?!” I rhetorically asked, throwing my head back. I tried holding my tears back to no avail. Then, I looked at him, head-on. “Your phone went off. I went to reply, but I saw the message from Emmy. I didn’t think that you would be friends with Emmy, let alone, text her. I looked through the messages, and I was “amazed” by what I saw. You’ve been cheating on me with one of my best friends. And you thought I would never find out?! Do you think that I am really that stupid?! You never meant it when you told me you loved me… Didn’t you? Actually, I don’t need you to answer that since it’s crystal clear.” I grabbed my keys off of the coffee table, and I slipped on my shoes.

“Y/N, I love yer. You know that without a doubt. Emmy means nothin’ to me, I promise yer that. Trust me, babe.” Finn said. It sounded like he meant it, but I am not falling for that crap.

I ignored Finn, and I walked to the door. He grabbed my arm, gently as I opened the door.

“Let me go, Finn!!!” I yelled, looking into his eyes with my tear-stained ones.

“No, Y/N, I can’t let yer go. E’ery time I told yer, I loved yer, I meant it. I will ‘lways be in love with yer. Don’t let my mistake changed e’erythin’ between us. Please, don’t ‘eave me Y/N. I’m pleadin’ wit yer.” He pleaded. Finn looked remorseful and apologetic, but I won’t budge. There is no way in hell I will fall for his tricks. This has to be one of those tricks.

“I don’t believe you, Finn. You’re nothing more than a lying, dirty, cheater. I’m not falling for your silly games. Go be with Emmy because I am breaking up with you. I hope you have a nice life with Emmy.” I told him, and I pulled my arm back. I was able to get out of his grip since his grip on my arm softened. Then, I pulled the bracelet he gave me off of my wrist, and I threw it on the ground.

Finn had a blank expression on his face. It was as if he was in a trance-like state. This is a side I never saw from him before. I took this moment to leave. Once I ran out of Finn’s apartment, I ran to my car. When I was in my car, tears flowed out of my eyes like a waterfall. After a few minutes of crying, I started up my car. I drove out of the parking lot…

“Who in their right mind hates pizza? Everyone loves pizza.” Sasha exclaimed.

“Believe me, my cousin hates pizza. She threw up the very first time she ate it.” Bayley said.

“I don’t think I can believe you. There is a kind of pizza for everybody. I don’t think she has found the right pizza for her.” A giggle fell from my lips. Sasha equated finding the right kind of pizza to finding the right person.

“I think pizza is not for her.” Bayley shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve accepted it, and I thnk you should too Sasha.”

“No way.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Y-” I had to interject before they got into a full-blown debate about pizza.

“Stop, Bayley, Sasha, we aren’t arguing about pizza.” I interrupted them. Almost in unison, they pouted. I couldn’t help but laugh at the women.

“Alright Y/N, Sasha and I are planning to go out on the town after Raw. Do you want to come with us?” Bayley asked. Before I could give my answer, I saw Finn in the distance. He was walking down the hall. The moment we made eye contact changed my mind.

“No- I am going to just stay in my hotel for the night.” I stated, turning on my heels and walking away from the women. Three years later… and I still can’t handle being around him. One reason is because I am still in love with him. Why?! He cheated on me. I should have moved on by now. He’s moved on too… Finn’s moved on by now…

I felt someone’s hand on my shoulder, "Finn-” I began, but I turned around to see Sasha.

“Y/N, Y/N, it’s been three years. You will have to make peace with everything that happened sooner or later.” Sasha told me.

“I know, I know…” I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m going to head out since I have no other commitments tonight.” I said, hugging Sasha.

“Okay, but text me when you get to the hotel.”Sasha stated, as I pulled away from the hug.

“You know it.” I said, “See you later.”

“Bye!” I began walking away. Once again, I saw Finn. He stared at me in awe. It was like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t know what to say. I looked away from him. Whenever he is around, I try saving face. However, I know I am failing at it.

Hours Later

The nightly marathon of Forensic Files was on, which I tune into every night. I sent Sasha a text message once I made it to my room. That was a few hours ago, now it’s nearing two in the morning. I have to go to bed or I will risk being  crabby when I have to get up. Just as I leaned over to turn out the lights, I heard a knock on my door. Who could it be at this time of night? A huff fell from lips as I got out of bed. Then, I opened the door, and my eyes widen at the site of the very person behind my door. It was Finn…

“Y/N… ‘ts been sooooo long. We need to talk.” Finn slurred. He was intoxicated, and I couldn’t leave him out in the hall. Who knows what could happen to him. If anything bad were to happen to him, you wouldn’t forgive yourself.

“Finn, come on in.” I said, taking his hand, guiding him into my room. He was stumbling slightly. A chuckle fell from his lips.

“Yer hand is very soft.” He chuckled again, and I shook my head. Then, kicked the door closed with my foot.

“It’s time to lay down Finn. You’re drunk right now, and you need to sleep it off.” I told him, as I sat him onto one of the beds in the room.

“I’m not drunk Y/N. I’m just feelin’ good.” Finn insisted, still slurring his speech.

“We’re not debating this.” I said, guiding him to lay in bed. Then, I put then I put the cover over his body.

Finn pouted, “Yer light ‘ts on. Yer must be stayin’ up. Why can’t I stay up wit yer?” He asked, still pouting. I sighed, and I turned my light out.

“The light is out now Finn. I am going to bed as well.” I insisted, hoping he would believe me.

“Fine Y/N.” He huffed, before rolling to the left side,his back facing me. Hopefully, I will get some sleep. Then, I walked up to my bed, climbing into bed.

After twenty, I believed Finn was asleep at this point. I haven’t heard his voice in a good ten minutes. My eyes began closing, and I felt myself doze off when I heard Finn’s voice.

“Y/N” I heard the man say.

“What is it Finn?”

“I love yer, so much. After all ‘his time, I still am in love with yer. I wish yer could know ’hat. I regret ‘hat I did e’ery day.” My mouth widen in shock. He still loves me? I can’t believe this. Drunken tangents does mean sober thoughts… Right?

“F-” Before I could say anything, I heard snoring. Shit. The alarm had 2:45 in red, so I should go to sleep anyway. I closed my eyes once again before dosing off.

When I woke up in the morning, I heard a groan. I opened my eyes, seeing Finn with his hand on his head.

“Fuck…”  Finn groan. He didn’t realize I was up.

“Morning…” I began, and he turned his attention to me, “ You need some aspirin for that headache of yours?” I asked while grabbing the bottle off of the nightstand.

“Yes, please, Y/N.” Finn stated. I got out of bed, untwisted the cap and poured two pills into my hand. Then, I grabbed a water bottle from the mini fridge. I walked over to him, handing the pills and bottle to him, “Here you go.” I said.

Finn smiled, “T’ank yer Y/N.” He said, patting a spot next to him. My eyebrows raised, and I sat next to him. He took the aspirin while drinking his water. There was an awkward silence for a while. “I don’t remember a thing… I was so shitfaced. How did I e’en get ‘ere?”

I looked over at him, “You knew must have my room number since you showed up here last night.” I told him. His eyes widen, as if he knew he fucked up.

“Well, I guess it was just a coincidence.” Finn lied.

“Finn… I don’t think it was. Last night, you told me that you are still in love with me. Also, you regret what happened to us.” I looked him in his eyes. A hint of fear showed in them.

“Damn. I fucked up once ‘gain.” He said, “I know yer hate me. I ruined your friendship with Emmy, I cheated on yer, and I kept yet up wit my bullshit. Hell, I ‘ever deserved yer in the first place. I know damn well you don’t want me back. I ruin e’erything for yer.” Finn got up, “I better go. I placed my hand on his arm, and he looked down at me, confused.

“Sit back down Finn.” He sat back down, next to me. Finn was still confused about what was going on.

“Y/N… What-” He began, but I interrupted him.

“You had your time to speak, now it is my turn.” I said. Then, I took a deep breath. A million things ran through my mind. “Finn, I will tell you, you did hurt me when you cheated on me. Especially since you cheated on me with Emmy. I’m a good actress… I never moved on. I invested more time into wrestling to fill that void. I love you too Finn, I am just not sure if I can-” I started, but he interrupted me.

“I know what you’re going to say. You’re not sure that you can trust me again. I can understand that. I did yer wrong. I’m willing’ to prove to yer that I mean it when I say I love yer. ‘ven if it will take me a thousands years to do so.” Finn said, looking me in my eyes. A smile crept on my lips. It was the affirmation I needed.

“You know what Finn? I am willing to give you another change.” I smiled.

“Really? Yer giving me another chance? I won’t make yer regret it.” He said looking into my eyes. His eyes are still mesmerizing to me after all this time. I tried holding back the urge to kiss him, but he is like a magnetic… The more I tried getting away, the more I get sucked in. He leaned down, slowly, kissing my lips. I kissed him back, almost immediately. Sparks coarse through me like the first time we kissed. I missed lips. After what seemed like eternity, he pulled away from the kiss. His lips were still on mine.

“I love yer Y/N.” He said, smiling

“I love yer too.” I said back to him, a smile on my own lips.

[cathforshort1]

Went to see an apartment today. The landlord was an older gentleman. No application fees. No “hidden bull-shit” he said. I don’t even have to tell him if I have a cat. The apartment isn’t great, but it would be a space that I could call my own. How greedy do I need to be? I think the main reason that I want a nice apartment is to impress my friends. My friends don’t care - why would they? They know I’m a youth minister. We don’t make a lot lol. In fact, i think all of my friends make more than me at this point. High school reunions are going to be great. I decided I need a doctor to prescribe me something again. My headaches are off the charts. My sleep schedule is not a thing. My stomach is tight for 99% of the day. Fuck. My older locker mate reached out to me to ask if I wanted to hangout. She just graduated and is a pharmacist. Honestly, knowing that she reached out to me and asked if I wanted to hangout means the world to me. I would have never reached out to her...i wouldn’t want to seem weird. Like, we haven’t spoken since 2014. 6 years later, she saw I’m back in DSM and wants to chill. I love that. I really do. That was the highlight of my week. I got a bunch of free shit from my mom’s coworker. THey’re rich people. The coffee table alone was $1700. Guess how much he asked for? $0. I walked away with 4 bar stools, a bed frame, two big comfy chairs, a tv, a huge clock, an office chair, a beautiful TV stand, two side tables, lamps, random box to put shit in, 3 trunks that could be for decoration or purposeful, wall decor, and a mirror. Like...I’m amazed. I’ll never take this for granted. I know that furnishing a home is incredibly expensive. People sometimes have one chair and a small table. I’m blessed. I won’t forget that. My older cousin Larissa is being......weird AF. She hasn’t responded to my text and she sounded shocked when i called to tell my godson happy birthday. I fucked up with them. I feel bad. But the only way to go is....forward i guess. Wish i would have tried harder in school...have a better paying job. Have a more “established” job. Idk. I do listen to that playlist. All of them, actually.

How are you? How is the job hunt? I saw you are playing with makeup. Not playing like a child, just using that word as a describer. Idk. I hope you’re ok. I miss the fuck out of you. Sorry is this is too much.

[sapphires-and-gold-fics]

Fictober Day 26: “You keep me warm.”

Fandom: Game of Thrones / ASOIAF

Characters: Jaime Lannister / Brienne of Tarth

Notes: This is an unexpected continuation of this story, and takes place about 6 months later, and it’s based on Slow Club’s “Christmas TV”

Read on AO3

xxxxxxxxxxx

Jaime looked at the clock - two minutes past midnight. He yawned.

Brienne yawned in response. “What time does your flight get in?”

“Uh, 6:15.”

“Okay - any special requests for dinner?”

“No, whatever’s fine.”

“Can I pick you up anything? You have your meds, lotions, whatever? I can get some of that--”

“--I should be okay. You don’t need to worry about me. I’m already packed.” In truth his bag sitting open on the bed with nothing in it yet except socks (for the cold) and condoms (just in case).

“I don’t worry, not really - not anymore, I just meant sometimes you can’t take the whole tube on the plane.”

“Right. Well if they try to stop me I’ll just chase them away with my monstrous arm.”

“It’s just scars, Jaime. Everyone has scars.”

“Mine are worse.”

“They give you character.”

“No, yours give you character. They make you look cool. Mine give me a complex.”

“Were you able to get a window seat?”

“Did you really just segue from one of my complexes to another?”

Brienne snorted. “Not all fears are complexes, Jaime. I know you prefer to see the wing when you fly, that’s all.”

“I’m really shaping up to be quite the basket case, aren’t I? Like my sister.”

“Jaime, that’s not--”

“I know, I know.”

“I have flying preferences, too, you know.”

“Needing an aisle seat because your legs are fucking gifts from the gods is not the same.”

“I'm sorry, what?”

Jaime suddenly realized what he said. He felt himself start to sweat. “I should go.”

“Oh. I’m--”

“--I’ll let you get some sleep.”

“--gonna be up a while longer if you still wanna talk. You know you can call me any time.”

Jaime silently settled deeper into his mattress, warding off the nervous headache at his temples with his free hand.

“Jaime?”

“Quite the change. Before I wasn’t allowed to call you at all.”

“Well things are different now that the girls are safe.”

“Remind me why you haven’t come home yet?”

“I’m helping their cousin with them until a judge grants him access to their parents’ accounts. Their uncle is coming up next week and that should help move things along.”

“And they won’t mind me being around for a couple of days? Will they make me sit through a screening of The Long Night or is this generation of Starks more averse to torture?”

“You’re not here long, and you’re not going to see them much so don’t worry about it. It’s just Sevenmas Eve dinner. And they all know that you had nothing to do with what happened. You’re not there to harass them, you’re coming as my guest.”

“Right… Still, she’s my sister.”

“You’re not responsible for her, Jaime. She made the choices she made.”

The headache was getting worse. “I saw there’s supposed to be a storm in a couple of days.”

“Oh, yeah, you should get here okay but I’m not sure about that return flight. We’ll have to play it by ear.”

“I told Myrcella and Tommen I would try to see them on Sevenmas--”

“Oh.”

“--but Tyrion’s got them covered - he’s got my gifts - he can take them over to Stan’s if I have to stay over with you longer.”

“Oh. That’s… well as long as that’s okay. It’s their first Sevenmas without their mom around… I would understand if you needed to change your plans.”

“And miss my chance to see you for the first time in six months? Are you kidding? Besides the kids are doing great. They want for nothing - dad’s making sure of that. And Stan and Dav are incredible parents. They can do without uncle Jaime for one holiday. Anyway I promised Myrcella that her aunt Brienne would be back in time for her name day - I didn’t lie about that, right? You’re still planning to come home before the spring?”

“I’m not her aunt, Jaime.”

“Well maybe not really, but it’s easier than telling her that her idol, my best friend Brienne, will be there for her name day.”

“Idol? Jaime.”

“What, she looks up to you!”

“You look up to me - I’m very tall.”

“You know that’s not what I mean.”

Brienne sounded exasperated, and Jaime couldn’t help but chuckle.

“You sure you won’t mind having me there a little longer if it comes to it?”

“Well now I don’t know. You’re incredibly annoying and I don’t exactly have a sofa to send you to if you piss me off too much.”

“Oh good, we’re sharing.”

“Unless you piss me off or steal the covers. Then you can sleep on the floor.”

“You love me.”

“Whatever.”

“Who needs blankets, anyway? You keep me warm. It’s much more likely that I’d have to kick you out of the bed for cuddling too hard.”

“I do not cuddle.”

“Whatever you say.”

He could hear her smile, “The Snark is on tomorrow night.”

“Which one?”

“The...good one?”

“Oh. I was hoping it would be the live-action one.”

“Why?”

“Because it scares the crap outta me and I thought you could hold me and keep me safe but--”

“--oh, please, that movie is NOT scary, Jaime.”

“Okay, maybe not but I like when you protect me.”

“Well I’m sure Grumkins will be on at some point, is that scary enough?”

“That is not a Sevenmas movie.”

“Of course it is - it takes place at Sevenmas.”

“That’s like saying that Morghulis Hard is a Sevenmas movie.”

“It is.”

“Okay, wench.”

“Jaime,” she yawned.

“Go to sleep, Brienne.”

“I’m okay, I can talk longer.”

“No, no sleep. I’ll text you tomorrow and then I will actually see you in less than a day, and then we can talk or whatever until you fall asleep without the risk of you dropping your phone on your face.”

She snorted.

“Good night, wench.”

“Jaime?”

“Hmm?”

“When I do come home… I don’t have a proper place to--”

“--don’t be silly, you’ll stay with me until you figure out your next steps. But first let’s get you home.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Okay.”

“I can’t wait for you to come home, Brienne.”

“Me too, Jaime.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Mmmhmm g’night Jaime love you.”

"Love you too. 'Night, wench.” He set the phone down and stared at the all-but empty overnight bag. Then he went to the closet and pulled out a hard-sided suitcase and placed it on the bed next to the bag. He transferred the items from the bag to the suitcase and then went to the armoire and pulled out all of the heavy sweaters he could manage and layered them into the suitcase, on top of the box of just-in-case condoms.

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #247

“i tried to choke my mom with my umbilical cord, the doctor was too busy amputating my horns.”

Have you ever had confetti pancakes? I don't believe so. Do you obsess over your appearance? To a degree, ex. in regards to weight. Are you responsible for stuffing someone’s stocking? No. What’s your favorite romantic comedy? Ah man, idk. I like romcoms, just none are coming to mind right now. Do you stock up on make-up palettes during November? ????? no????? Have you ever taken a class online? Yes. Do you have a Neopets account? Omg I have so many piled up, I'm sure, lol. Loved that shit and kept going back. Do you make your own smoothies or juices? No. Do you think time really does heal all? No. Are you more sensitive to heat or the cold? HEAT, FUCKING CHRIST. Has anyone searched your room for anything recently? Mom helped me search for one of my mood stabilizers that the cat got out of my basket... We never found it. A new bottle. Thank god my psychiatrist just gave me a sample pack til my prescription can be refilled. Is anything in your room purposely hidden? Yes. Do you get a cold around the holidays? I rarely get sick, regardless of the season. Does it snow where you live? Rarely. Have you ever been pranked via hidden camera? No. Is hair gel a turn off on guys? "Not necessarily, but too much can be." <<<< This. Do you think cursing makes people sound unintelligent? Lol fuck off. What’s something you can cook extremely well? The only thing I CAN cook is cheesy scrambled eggs but I mean they're exceptionally good lol. Have you ever been bitten by a snake? Nope. How about a spider? Possibly at some point. If you don't want kids, was there ever a time you did, and vice-versa? The only time I ever wanted kids was deep into Jason's and my relationship. It's funny because I wanted three and now I'm just all NOPE. I stopped wanting kids after him. What is your favorite color for bridesmaid dresses? Idc. Do you ever count sheep to help you fall asleep? No. Do you have a youtube channel? If so, when did you start it? Yeah. I was on YouTube real early... don't remember the actual year, though. Do you have a secret crush right now? No. When was the last time you called customer service? I haven't. Do you take birth control pills? Not currently for mood reasons, but with my incredible fear of being raped, I kinda wanna go back. Do you like chocolate cake? Yeah man. Do you know anyone who doesn’t want to have kids? Plenty of people, myself included. Do you regret letting a certain guy or girl slip away? Ugh idk. There's no telling how awfully or well that path would've gone. Have you ever fainted? Yes. Do you consider yourself a good artist? Decent, anyway. Do you ever play board games anymore? Not really, I don't enjoy board games. The only time I ever really do is if Girt's over cuz that's like our "thing." Who was your first celebrity crush? Whew, Jesse McCartney. Who in your family did you get your height from? Mom. Who did you get your smile from? your hair color? your eye color? Smile, idk. Hair, also unsure. Dad was born dirty blond like me, but his hair turned black. Meanwhile I think Mom has always had brown hair, but hers is very dark/almost black. My maternal grandpa had blue eyes like me. Do you have big or small hands? Idk, normal. What was the name of your first imaginary friend you remember having? I never really had one. Do you pray to God regularly? Considering I don't believe in Him, no. What is your favorite version of the Bible to read? Even growing up religious, I sure never spent time reading various versions of the Bible. Have you been baptized? If so, how and where were you baptized? I was as a baby in a Roman Catholic church. You know, the traditional baptism with being dipped in water. Do you eat meat? Sadly. What college did you go to? and what was your major? I'm not sharing what college I go to, but my major is Art & Design. Do you miss living with a roommate? I look back on living with Jason, Jacob, and Amanda fondly most of the time, but idk if I can say I miss it. I at least don't miss my mental health. Have you ever been abused in any way? I feel incredibly thankful that I haven't... It seems like most people I know have been in some way or form. Do you like unicorns? Yeah man, they're dope. How old were you when you found out Santa wasn’t real? Idk, some year in elementary school. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal? Ha ha no, I've got a cat for that. He insists on being cuddled most of the time. Name 3 things you are allergic to. Just pollen and silver. Oh, I do get headaches from artificial sweeteners, but "allergic" seems like the wrong word. Is there one book you have read over and over again because it’s so good? if so, which is it? The only two books I know I've read more than once are Because of Winn-Dixie and the Meerkat Manor book. Who was your favorite Rugrats character? Uhhh I think it was just regular ole Tommy. Which fairytale resembles your life the most? Uh idk. Do you play games on your phone a lot? No. What’s your favorite thing to do on your phone? Text Sara. Where do you buy most of your clothes? Wal-Mart or Hot Topic. Who is your favorite cousin? I don't have a favorite. Do you have family that lives in another state? Oh yeah, we're all the hell over the place. What states have you lived in? Only NC. Do you watch birth vlogs on youtube? bitch what the fuck What is your favorite type of cake? Red velvet. Favorite arcade game? I neeeeeed to find an arcade one day that actually has the Silent Hill game. It's so rare. I'm sure I'd love it. Have you ever found a roller coaster relaxing? Uh no, but I've never been on one, nor can I even imagine one ever being relaxing. Have you ever seen a spirit? I believe I have. Have you ever been kidnapped? Yikes no. Is there a running trail near your house? Not that I'm aware of. A game you cheated on in elementary school? None that I remember? Do you wear a retainer at night? I'm SUPPOSED to, but I haven't in so long that it doesn't even fit anymore. Where is the last place you had a kiss? The airport. When was the last time you cried out of physical pain? I think it hasn't been since that infected cyst was drained in like late '16. FUCK that. Have you ever done anything to Support the Troops? No. Do you donate blood? I did once, but now I'm too nervous to because I know I don't drink enough water and don't wanna faint. Have you ever owned the socks with toes on them? Ha, yeah, my sisters and I did. They were just a silly gift sometimes. What were you the last time you went trick or treating? WOW I couldn't even try to tell you, that's reaching far back. What was your favorite part about studying ancient Greeks and Romans? The badass names lmao. Where did your mom go to high school? Somewhere in NY. What’s a subject you would never major in? Mathematics. Is there someone who you can turn to for money and not be ashamed? No. I'm only EVER capable of doing so with Mom, but even then I don't like it. Have you ever swam in a river? Yeah, as a kiddo. I don't think I would now. What food do you love the smell of while it’s cooking? Cinnamon rolls omfggggg. What food do you hate the smell of uncooked? Fish, I guess? Has a bee ever stung you? Yes, once. Where did you last go camping? Never been. In what month do you start Christmas shopping? I can't Christmas shop considering I don't have an income. Have you ever slept in a bed with someone with bad BO? Yes. Do you have a favorite flavor at Baskin Robbins? No. Have you ever had a crush on a celebrity of the same sex? HUNNY Hannah Hart is a GODDESS godDAMN What kind of flowers would you plant in your garden? I'm too lazy for a garden. Do you believe that kids should be taught abstinence? I would definitely inform them of it being a completely valid and safest form of STD prevention, but I don't believe it should be what is "right." What's important is educating them on safe sex and to choose whom they're intimate with very carefully. I absolutely encourage them being taught what being "too young" means, too. Now what "too young" is can be argued, but let's be a late teen at least. When’s the last time you went to Chuck E. Cheese? Boy, I don't have a clue. What’s your favorite cheese or cheese flavored food? American. Cheese-flavored food is absolutely impossible to pick. Do you like black licorice? I hate licorice. Do you watch anything on the E! network? No. Have you ever tried out or thought of trying out for American Idol? Nope. Did you keep any momentos of high school dances? I had my... what's it called? The flower band on your wrist? Whatever, I had that for a long time. Do you still have clothes from your high school dances? I have both prom dresses. I'm probably gonna try to sell them this prom season though because I have absolutely no reason to keep them, and I'm poor lmao. Can you touch your nose with your tongue? No. Ever been to the original 13 colonies? I live in NC so like,,, Have you ever been to a concert that got out of control? Nope. Can you jump rope double dutch? I used to be able to as a kid. I loved jump rope. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about anything, what would you want to know? Eek... idk. Actually, I might know. I want to know, but also don't, if whether or not how I treated Jason after the breakup was abusive or not. I've asked people in my life, old therapist included, if it was from what I told them (which was honest), and the unanimous answer has been no, that I was sick/actually insane and heartbroken beyond words, but yeah. I still wonder about it. Do you have a bucket list? If so, what are the top three things? Not really, but I mean of course there's things I wanna do, top two (idk about three) being to meet Mark and visit the KMP to photograph and pet the meerkats. Do you feel you had a happy childhood? For the most part, yeah. When did you last cry in front of another person? Last week when I was having a meltdown about school. How do you feel about tattoos and piercings? Explain. I LIVE!!!!!!!! FOR THEM!!!!!!!! As someone who never felt totally comfortable in her body, one thing that has always helped me has been new tats and piercings. It's like a more permanent form of make-up, you could say. All they've ever done is make me like a part of myself. Do you wear a lot of makeup? Why/why not? I almost never do unless I want to take a "pretty" picture. Talk about a song/band/lyric that has affected your life in some way. JINKIES!!!!!!! UHHHHHHH man that's hard 'cuz there's a whole whoppin' load. I guess I can talk about some lyrics from Ozzy's "Life Won't Wait" that used to make me really emotional back in the dark days: "Every day that you wait, you're falling faster / no sleight of hand, no twist of fate, no ever after / when it's gone - it's gone, a fight to the bitter end." Just that whole song used to sting so much when I felt like I really was just entirely wasting my life being sad every day. Just like... a lot of Ozzy's lyrics have really resonated and stuck with me. I still have the hardest time believing the Parkinson's news. God, life's cruel. Poison a legendary singer's voice. I hope, so long he feels truly capable, this concert still happens so I can actually hear and see him one time and literally sob and okay I'm getting emotional basically I Love Ozzy Osbourne. List the concerts you have been to and talk about how they make you feel. Ha, speaking of concerts. Only seen Alice Cooper, but it was aaaaaaamazing! Outside in a (mostly light) thunderstorm playing some classic good shit. It was a fun adventure, especially having my younger sis, a full-on redneck, come along just because she was bored and came for the ride. She was so, so, SO confused and creeped out and was NOT fucking happy when he brought his python on stage as he usually does. We were absolutely drenched when it was over; the ride home, we were freezing, and changing out of those soaked clothes was like a holy experience. Who in the world would you most like to receive a letter from and what would you want it to say? Jason telling me he forgives me and doesn't hate me. Do you have a desk/workspace and how is it organized/not organized? I don't, sadly. My bed is where I do like... everything, which I hate. I'd love to turn my sister's old room into like my "work" room, where I do homework, draw, etc., but I can't for a number of reasons. What is your night time routine? Go to the bathroom, take my meds, go to bed. Not very complicated. What’s one thing you don’t want your parents to know? Certain places I've "done things" oops. If you had to dye your hair how would you dye/style it and why? I wanna dye my hair lilac currently. I wouldn't change the style. What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done while drunk or high? N/A What’s one thing you would never do for one million dollars? Murder, to name just one. If you’re a boy, would you ever rock black nail polish? If you’re a girl, would you ever rock really really short hair? My hair is short now. What is the most important thing to you in your life right now? My mental health.