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fortisfilia · 8 months ago

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Promised Part 9 - Tom Riddle x reader

Info: This is a rewrite of a story I've posted on my old account years ago. If it sounds familiar, that might be why :)

Summary: In this story, Tom didn't grow up as an orphan, but with his grandfather and uncle. Reader's sister got very sick and the Gaunts offer their help. But not without asking for something in return.

Warnings: Arranged marriage

Word count: 3.4k

Masterpost | Masterlist | Part 8 | Part 10

Part 9 - Never trust a Snake

Tom’s dorm was the nicest one you had ever seen in Hogwarts. Single bedrooms were offered to head boys and girls only, as a further reward for their title. His room was the size of a normal five-bedroom, but instead of additional beds, it was furnished with a welcoming couch, a nice wooden desk and chair, a fireplace and overall much more space. It wasn’t located next to the other dorms either, which had its virtues and disadvantages. The good thing was that you didn’t have to walk through the hallway of all the Slytherin boys’ dorms to get there. The bad thing was that Tom’s room was right next to Freda’s, so you had seen her a couple more times than you had wanted to. She had never said anything though and usually stomped off right away, brows knitted and red in the face.

Tom had ordered you to his room the day after Slughorn’s party, which was a privilege not many students were granted. Maybe not that much of a privilege if one was engaged to him. But it certainly felt special when you thought of it from where you had started, as a fiancée that he hadn’t even proposed to, who he wasn’t even in love with when the engagement took place. It also felt like he wanted you to be there. He let you study there even when he had to attend to his duties as head boy, which took up quite a bit of his time.

And then there was the Moly. A magical flower, used to counteract enchantments, that Professor Beery, the Herbology teacher, had given to pairs of students to take care of. They were weakest the last days before blooming and needed tending multiple times a day. It was a tricky task to keep them alive, so Beery had promised to give everyone who could manage it extra points for the Herbology N.E.W.T.s in advance.

Tom had suggested keeping the Moly that had been given to the two of you in his room, as it would increase the chances of keeping it in good condition, seeing that no one else could get their fingers on it. Even though the plant looked quite healthy, he insisted on your help to look after it, as he was not willing to share points if you wouldn’t. So you had come to his room every day, only for the Moly of course.

Other times, when you were just reading or writing another Charm’s essay there, Tom used to stay nearby. He didn’t talk much, as per usual, and rather stared at you from across the room, but the fact that he never told you to leave and always asked when you would come back, for the Moly obviously, made it quite clear that he enjoyed your presence.

And you did too. So much that you had even spent the night accidentally. Accidentally, as in, you had stayed up way too long reading and making notes in your Guide To Advanced Transfiguration textbook, had really, absolutely, doubtlessly planned to go back to your own dorm, but couldn’t be bothered to get up from the sofa until you had finally fallen asleep.

You woke up in Tom’s bed, not remembering how you had ended up there and sat up slowly, looking around, until you noticed him sitting on the edge of the mattress.

“Have I overslept?” you asked, hastily fixing your hair and rubbing the sleep out of your eyes.

“It’s Saturday,” Tom answered, grinning at your attempts to get up. “8 a.m. You can sleep a bit longer if you want.”

“Oh, Saturday, yes. How did I… What happened last night?”

“You fell asleep on the couch. It didn’t look comfortable, you were all sprawled out and twisted. So I put you into bed.”

You swallowed thickly. He had put you into his bed?

“Did you-”

“No,” Tom shook his head. “I took the couch.”

“Noble,” you quipped, causing him to roll his eyes at you. “Why can’t I remember how I got into bed?”

He shrugged as he turned to face you. “You slept through it. I wasn’t aware that was possible either.”

Oh. An image of Tom picking you up from the couch and carrying you across the room flashed through your mind. He must have tucked you in too; the heavy duvet was still wrapped around you. “Come here then?”

Tom looked at you, scepticism thick on his features, before you reached out for him, holding a hand in the air and waiting for him to take it. He did and you slowly pulled him closer, lifting the duvet, until he lay down next to you. Cautious fingers went up to his face and ran through his hair, to which he closed his eyes, letting you play with his locks for a while.

Now that you were fully aware of where you were, you noticed how different Tom’s linen smelled compared to your own. They had his clean, warm scent, of tangy embers dying in the fireplace, mixed with leather and something fresh like dewy iron. The scent had rubbed off on you while you had slept there and it felt like he had marked you, without even coming close.

“You didn’t have to sleep on the couch,” you whispered.

His eyes opened again. “You were completely knocked out. That would have felt off.”

“Well, for next time then,” you smiled, took his chin between your fingers and pressed a kiss to his mouth. The touch was still unfamiliar, a great deal of uncertainty as to whether he would reciprocate spreading in your veins. But he did, soft lips meeting yours, lingering as he exhaled and parting only in reluctance. “We’re engaged after all. Have you forgotten?”

“Oh piss off,” he scoffed and pulled you in for another kiss.

Some hours later, when you were tending to the Moly, you looked over towards the fireplace, where Nagini was sleeping in front of. At least you assumed she was sleeping. Her eyes were open and her tongue flicked out of her mouth now and again, but she seemed calm. She had curled up like a cat seeking warmth. The only thing missing was for her to start purring. Well, a pet was a pet, you figured.

“How’s the Moly doing?” Tom asked and went up to inspect it.

“Good. Great actually,” you said. “I think we’ll earn those extra points from Beery.”

“Don’t you think it looks a bit sickly?” he asked, holding the thin black stem between his fingers.

“No, it’s alright.”

He uttered a humph. “You don’t have the book on you, the one I gave you for Christmas, do you?”

“No, it’s in my dorm. Why would you need that now?”

“Have you read through it? All the way?”

“No, I haven’t yet. I just flicked through it and read some recipes that sounded interesting,” you answered, not knowing what he had in mind. “I wanted to try one of the Potions after we’re done with school. They all seem to take a while.”

“Which one?”

“The Vial of Auras for starters. Why?”

He nodded, still looking at the Moly. “I think there’s a recipe for plant cultivation in there. Could be of use.”

“But it looks fine, why-”

He turned his face toward you, looking into your eyes. “Just bring the book next time.”

“Okay,” you muttered. “I can bring it tonight. I’m going out to Hogsmeade with Camille in the afternoon. I’ll be back around 7 I guess.”

“That’ll do,” he said, finally sounding satisfied.

It was five minutes past seven when you returned to Tom’s room. The date with Camille had been lovely, despite you having had one too many toffees at the sweet shop. You had also gotten the Potions book from your dorm, still wondering why the Moly would need extra support. It looked completely fine.

Tom’s room was empty, aside from Nagini, who had curled herself around one of the bedposts. You walked over to the desk where the Moly was standing and put the book down. Next to the plant lay a handwritten note:

“Coming back soon - Dippet needs me for head boy duties”

Killing time it was, then. You took Tom’s Charms book from the stack and practised a few spells for a while, trying to revise those that would most likely be tested in the N.E.W.T.s. About ten minutes later, the door opened and Tom entered the room. He dragged his feet as he shuffled in and was slightly out of breath.

“Are you alright?” you asked while putting the Charms book away.

He nodded. You walked over and took a seat on the couch, patting the space next to you for Tom to join you.

“I brought the book,” you said and pointed towards the desk.

Tom sat down, looked at it from afar and squinted. “Thanks.”

Slightly concerned, you frowned, “Are you sure you’re alright?”

Tom nodded and scratched the side of his face. “Yes, yes. I’m just a bit tired.”

Tired wasn’t exactly what you would have described the state of him. He seemed nervous and completely out of it, his shoulders hanging down limply.

“Did something happen? What did you have to do for Dippet?”

His eyes roamed the floor while he pondered. “Nothing important. Just some scheduling for the prefects.”

Something cold rubbed against your foot and when you looked down you saw Nagini, who had slid over. She was on the floor between you and Tom, hissing quietly.

“What does she want?” you asked.

Tom stared at Nagini vacantly and didn’t answer.

“Tom?”

“Hm?”

“What is she saying?”

“She’s hungry.”

“Hungry? We’ve just fed her recently. Strange,” you said and bent down to pat her head. “I’m going to get you some more mice soon, don’t worry.”

Tom’s gaze roamed the room as if he was looking for something.

“Do you want to take a look at the book now? For the Moly?” you asked.

“No,” he answered. “Actually, I wanted to ask you something.”

“Go ahead then.”

“You remember the day we got engaged, right?”

“Of course. Why?”

“Well, it was an arrangement between our families,” he stated.

“Yes?”

“So I was wondering… What’s in it for you?”

Your stomach dropped. What did he mean ‘what’s in it for you’? Your sister’s curse was the most evident thing in this whole situation.

“You know exactly what’s in it for me,” you said while folding your arms. “Actually, I could ask you the same thing. Don’t tell me you forgot why we’re doing this.”

He took a moment to think before answering. “Of course I haven’t. I just thought there could be something else. Like, perhaps your parents bribed my family.”

You blinked, irritated. He had not just said that.“Are you serious right now? You’re suggesting my parents took advantage of the situation, went and killed two birds with one stone? So that they could marry me off and make me your problem?”

He stared into your eyes for a moment, then retracted. “No, I didn’t mean-”

“Because I’ll have you know, my family would never do such a thing,” you interrupted him. “I know yours probably would, but my parents are not like that, believe it or not. I thought you knew that by now.”

“I was just wondering. No need to make a fuss about it.”

“A fuss! You know what?” you said and got up from the couch, making sure not to step on Nagini. “You sound exactly like Ben. Only more rude. And I thought you didn’t trust him. But it seems that you don’t trust me either all of a sudden.”

“Wait, I’m sorry,” Tom said and followed you. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“We’re done here,” you snapped, making your way to the door, followed closely by Nagini, until Tom grabbed your hand.

“Don’t leave now,” he said, pulled you in a bit closer and a whiff of cologne wafted your way. He reeked of sweat and coughed so loudly you thought he might throw up any moment.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into you, Tom,” you answered, your hand still in his. “Maybe you have a cold coming on or something because you don’t seem like you’re in your right mind. Now let me go.”

“No,” he said but turned his face away from you.

Suddenly the door flew open and you sucked in a sharp breath when you saw who it was. Tiernan Lestrange. And next to him was... Tom? Standing in the door frame, his eyes darting back and forth between you and… You looked to your left, to the person next to you and saw that Emlyn Avery was standing in Tom’s place, still holding your hand.

You wrenched your hand out of his grip and took several steps backwards.

“Avery?” you asked. “What is going on?”

Tom, the real Tom, still stared at you, a fire burning behind his eyes as he pulled out his wand and dashed into the room. Lestrange followed and closed the door behind himself.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Tom demanded, glaring at both Avery and you.

Avery kept silent, a nasty grin forming on his face.

“He… You,” you stammered.

“You two? In my room?” Tom yelled, his chest heaving. “You must have lost your damn minds.”

“I can explain.” Could you, really?

“Well, I hope you can. Taking Avery into my room to do who knows what? Care to explain that?”

“He was you!” you said, only then noticing how crazy you must have sounded.

Tom shot you a look that told you better not to take him for a fool. His thoughts must have raced at top speed inside his head, you could practically see him thinking. His eyes scurried from your hand to Avery’s, then up to his face. His knuckles had turned white from how hard he clenched his fists and he couldn’t seem to stand still. What would his next move be? Beat Avery to a pulp, curse the two of you, or rush out of the room?

“Please,” you whispered. “Let me explain.”

Tom sighed and avoided looking at you. He shook his head as if he was fighting an internal battle against himself. It almost looked painful. Finally, he went up to Avery, pointing his wand right below the boy’s chin.

“Sit down,” Tom spat. “You too Lestrange! And I don’t want to hear a single word from either of you.”

They did as he said and Tom led you to the other side of the room, followed by Nagini. He cast a Muffliato Charm on the two boys so that they wouldn’t be able to hear what you had to say.

“Go on,” Tom then said, still avoiding eye contact.

“I came here around seven, as we agreed. I brought the book but you weren’t here. Then I saw your note on the table and waited for you. You, I mean Avery, came in shortly after. But he looked exactly like you. Just until you showed up right now. I swear to Merlin.”

“What do you mean he looked like me?” Tom asked, an annoyed frown on his face.

“He looked and sounded just like you. I thought he was you. He acted weird and I didn’t trust him, but I thought you were just stressed out. The only way I could possibly explain this would be Polyjuice Potion.”

“You don’t really think one of them would be able to brew that correctly, do you?”

“I don’t… But how else would it be possible? You have to believe me. I would have never brought him here. Or anyone.”

He looked at you now, so intensely, it felt like he was reading your thoughts, trying to see if you were lying to him. “Why would he do that?”

“I don’t know,” you answered and gave it a good thought. “He asked me about some things. About the engagement. Maybe he was trying to convict me. They haven’t trusted me ever since the school year began, remember?”

Tom nodded and exhaled strongly, walking in circles around you.

“Did he touch you?” he asked.

“No. He just held me back when I wanted to leave. Just my hand, nothing else.”

“Are you sure? Don’t lie to me. If he touched you, I swear I’m going to-”

“No. He didn’t.”

Silence. Nagini's quiet hisses interrupted your thoughts while Tom watched her.

“Why was Lestrange with you?” you asked.

“He came up to me when I was done at Dippet’s. Tried to babble on for ages about assignments.”

“That makes sense. So you wouldn’t disrupt their plan.”

“What did Avery ask you exactly?”

“If my parents had bribed your family. So we would get married.”

“Idiot.”

“That’s what I thought too.”

Tom eventually stopped circling you, placed himself beside you and you both watched Lestrange and Avery sitting next to each other on the sofa. They didn’t dare look back at you and simply stared down at the floor like two ten-year-olds waiting for their parents to punish them.

“Oh, and another thing,” you said. “Avery stinks.”

Tom, to your surprise, stifled a laugh. That was unexpected, so you turned to him and asked, “Do you believe me?”

“Yes,” he said. “I do.”

He did? You looked at him, taken aback.

“Nagini,” Tom said to you, taking both your hands in hiss. “She’s your witness. She confirmed you’re telling the truth.”

“Good girl,” you said, to which she offered a small his. You really had to get her some more mice.

Closing the gap between you, your arms wrapped around Tom’s neck and pulled him close. With his hands firmly on your waist, he rested his head in the crook of your neck for the duration of the embrace, breathing you in.

“Thank you for letting me explain,” you said, your voice muffled against the fabric of his jumper.

Tom nodded, pulling back to look at you. He brought his hand to your cheek, his eyes still alight from the argument. “When Avery held your hand I nearly killed him.”

“I know,” you whispered as you laid your hand upon his. “I saw it in your eyes.”

He pulled you back into his arms and sighed deeply. The hug lasted for a long moment before you separated, almost having forgotten that the two Slytherin boys were still there.

“Now, what were they thinking?” you asked. “What point were they trying to prove?”

“Let’s ask them,” he said, broke the Muffliato Charm with a swift motion of his wand and walked over towards the couch.

“I’m going to ask you some things,” he said to them. “And don’t you dare lie to me. You know I can tell. You’re lucky you caught me on a good day, actually.”

They both nodded.

“Polyjuice Potion?” Tom asked.

Avery looked over to Lestrange. They both nodded again.

“Where did you get that from?”

“Stole it from Slughorn,” Avery mumbled so lowly, you could hardly understand.

“Speak up!” Tom ordered.

“We stole it from Slughorn’s stock,” Avery repeated. “At the party, when everyone was dancing.”

Tom sighed and pinched the skin on the bridge of his nose. Of course they hadn’t brewed it themselves. They were far too daft.

“Why?” Tom went on. “What’s the reason for all that?”

“Well,” Lestrange cleared his throat. “We were only doing it for you, Tom. To make sure she’s not betraying you. To find out if she and her family were using you, you know.”

“So we could help you,” Avery added and nodded vehemently.

Tom grinned coldly. “And you thought I wouldn’t have found this out myself by now? That I would need your help? Seriously?”

“We thought-”

“No! You didn’t think at all,” Tom interrupted. “You went behind my back, stole from a teacher and disrespected my fiancée. You’re both an embarrassment for Slytherin and I swear, if I ever see one of you just looking her way, it’s not going to end this lightly.”

Both of them nodded again and looked down onto the floor, not saying anything.

“Now follow me,” Tom said, still angry with them.

“Where are we going?” Avery asked as he got up.

“I’m going to report you to the headmaster of course. And trust me, you’ll be glad Dippet is going to choose your punishment and not me.”

Masterpost | Masterlist | Part 10

Tags: @ariachaos

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veronicaphoenix · 6 months ago

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Chapter summary: It's been fourteen years since Lia and Noah kissed for the first time. Maybe it's time to revive the scene.

Chapter tags & trigger warnings: best friends to lovers, implied ptsd, mentions of nightmares, therapy, Lia is on medication, some angst, alcohol consumption, but mostly fluff and comfort. There are also sexual innuendos and mentions of spankings. | Word count: 6.1k | Cross posted on AO3 | Series masterpost. ✧.*

General trigger warnings: This work addresses and depicts issues related to addiction and violence, contains explicit sexual content, and explores themes of childhood trauma. Reader discretion is advised.

“I’m asking you again, want to find out if we’re still sloppy kissers?”

A few days slipped by in a blur of quiet mornings and bustling afternoons, each one blending seamlessly into the next. Lia and I seemed to settle into a comfortable rhythm, our daily lives intertwining effortlessly within the walls of my house.

Lia had made a few trips to her apartment, mostly to check on it, get some clothes, and make sure her plants were still alive after weeks of negligence from her part. She didn’t even mention once going back to her house, and I didn’t press on the subject. I was happy to have her back under the same roof, even if I had been delegated to the pull-out sofa on the studio.

She had also started to take medication after her third therapy appointment.

She still could not sleep well at night. She would fall asleep for a couple of hours and wake up covered in sweat because of a nightmare. Sometimes they didn’t even have to do with Mitch. It was her mother who would appear and remind her that what had happened to her was well deserved. Lia, for her part, was going through some very angry days. She didn’t like her therapist because she provoked her to talk about the issues that had hurt her the most during her life, and although when she came back from the session she would rant against her, I could tell that even if it wasn’t much, the sessions were helping her. I didn’t like that she had to medicate, but for my part I didn’t know what else to do.

Saturday morning, Lia woke up alone in bed.

The night before, she had asked me to sleep with her again. Apparently, she had mentioned to her therapist that having me in bed soothed her and kept her from having nightmares, but her therapist had told her that wasn’t a good idea. Lia didn’t give a crap, and I didn’t like that advice either, but I did understand why the therapist had mentioned it.

Lia didn’t appear in the kitchen until ten in the morning, with her hair tied up in a bun and the shirt I had left her days ago, which she had already gotten used to wearing. My heart warmed as I watched her approach me with a sweet smile and still sleepy eyes. She stood by my side, glanced at what I was preparing, and even though she knew, she asked me what I was cooking. That seemed to have become our routine in recent days, with the ticking of the clock on the wall in the background and the intermittent sound of a car passing by outside.

I replied that I was making oatmeal with banana and blueberries, to which she responded with a murmur of satisfaction. I asked her if she had slept well, to which she nodded, raising her gaze to assure me she wasn’t lying. I nodded back, and my lips brushed against her hair. I gave her a kiss on the head and focused again on the two bowls of oatmeal in front of me while she went to the coffee machine and glanced to see if I had already had a cup.

After breakfast, we washed and dried the dishes together, and while I returned to the studio to work on the song I had left unfinished the night before, Lia locked herself in my room again and went into the ensuite bathroom to take a shower, change her clothes, and then organize the room, which was in a disarray with some of her clothes and my clothes laying everywhere.

Although she had spent part of the night with her back to me, my presence on the other side of the bed had comforted her, and although it was hard for me to admit it, it had made me feel better to spend the night sharing the same warmth, even though we didn’t touch.

Mid-morning, she was quietly scribbling song lyrics in her notebooks, seated comfortably in the furthest corner of the living room sofa.

Jesse and Jolly were back at home, and she loved having them around, spoiling her too because who wouldn’t want to. We all adored Lia; she had always been like the baby in the family. And after what happened, everyone seemed to be concerned about her, something that, even though she appreciated, sometimes it bothered her. Last night, in the dark of my room, while we lay facing each other, she had confessed that she preferred the house as it was when it was just me and her. She admitted that it was selfish of her to say that —considering this wasn’t her house and that all Jesse and Jolly had done was take care of her—, but she knew she could be honest with me, for the good and for the bad, and I told her that I totally understood. I kept to myself the truth; that I agreed with her preferences, and that as soon as Jolly and Jesse were back, I did miss the quietness and the routine that she and I had.

After she fell asleep, I thought about that a lot, about wanting to be with her alone. Not just one day, but a week, a month perhaps. Or even get her to move back in with me. Was it normal for me to think that? We were not teenagers anymore. We were adults. This desire to share the personal and intimacy of a house just with her triggered some scenarios in my head that I had to force myself to remove. They weren’t right.

I stared at her profile for a while, the only light in the bedroom coming from the string of warm led light in the wall. She was nearly totally cocooned under the covers, but I could see half her face, a single strand falling over her eyes. I was tempted to extend my arm and brush the hair away, but I stopped myself.

I had to stop myself before this got out of hand.

When I stepped into the living room that day, right before the four of us in the house immersed ourselves in the kitchen to prepare lunch, I found Lia and Jolly engaged in a quiet topic on the sofa. Jolly had his phone out, sharing something with her, and she was laughing.

“The guys will be over after five,” I told them. “Bryan mentioned he’s taking charge of the pizzas.”

“He’s always taking charge of the pizzas,” Jolly said, recalling how every time he offered to get pizza, he got in a frenzy and ordered ten of them, at least, and not even Steven’s voracious appetite could manage with so much food.

“I texted Emery,” Lia added, “invited her to join us if she’s free this afternoon.”

I noticed Jolly lowering his head, a subtle flush creeping onto his cheeks as he attempted to conceal his smile behind his phone.

I frowned. Lia discretely gestured toward Jolly, forming a heart with her fingers and silently mouthing Emery’s name my way. I grinned, and understanding, I said, “Sure. She can stay the night if she wants to, too.”

My words prompted Jolly to glance up.

“And where do you plan on making her sleep?”

I shrugged nonchalantly, busying myself retrieving items from the fridge.

“With you. Any objections?”

My teasing wasn’t only aimed at embarrassing Jolly or coaxing out his recent feelings for Lia’s friend; it was also about the giggles I was eliciting from Lia.

“Of course!” He retorted, pretending to be greatly offended. “What about the pull-out sofa in the studio? You and Lia are practically roomies, anyway.”

Ignoring his quip about Lia and me, I countered, “Oh, so you’re okay with her staying the night, then?”

“Yeah!” he admitted with a casual shrug, “no biggie. Why would I mind? But she can sleep on the studio sofa just fine. You two keep sharing the bed, seems like you’re quite cozy,” he remarke, making Lia raise her eyebrows. “He hasn’t been as fussy as he usually is since he started sleeping on his bed again,” Jolly told her.

“The pull-out sofa must’ve been uncomfortable,” Lia replied, dismissing the topic.

The truth was that it had been years since Lia and I had shared a bed. I couldn’t even remember when the last time had been. Maybe on one of the first tours, when we didn’t have enough money to afford rooms for all of us, or maybe at someone’s house during a party where we started to get really tired and ended up lying in someone’s parents’ bed with Nick in one corner and someone else prostrate in an uncomfortable way with half a body off the mattress.

So, sleeping together again felt really nice. And yeah, my bed was definitely way more comfortable than the thin mattress on the pull-out sofa.

Something crossed Lia’s eyes when we looked at each other, but it faded right away when I put on my best expression and diverted the topic to ask her if she would like a beer before lunch, to which she nodded, Jolly asking for one for himself, too.

By six o’clock, the house was buzzing with energy, voices, music. It was no surprise that something that started as a casual plan of inviting a couple of friends overturned into some kind of last-minute unorganized party.

We were about ten people by the time Bryan arrived, carrying a mountain of pizza boxes. Nicholas and Lia helped him taking a few boxes each and placed them in the kitchen isle before Jesse and I made some space in the coffee table in front of the TV to set down the food and drinks. Eventually, we had to bring another small table from the studio because there wasn’t space enough.

By ten p.m., the bin overflowed with empty Coke and beer cans, while discarded pizza boxes formed a haphazard stack near the entrance.

A movie played on the TV, its sound merely background noise as nobody paid it any mind. I found myself constantly checking in on Lia, observing her apparent absorption in the chatter with the girls. Initially, her demeanor remained neutral, joyful even, but gradually, a shadow of melancholy crept over her features. Abruptly, she blinked, hastily brushing away a tear, and summoned a forced smile before taking a sip of her beer.

As inevitable as it was Matt and I locked ourselves in the studio for a while later on, after eating a few slices of pizza. While I was showing him the progress on a new song, he spotted the open notebook where Lia had been scrabbling lyrics and read them consciously.

“It’s fucking incredible.”

“What?” I asked, turning in the chair to see him still reading through.

“The fact that she’s able to come up with these lyrics while dealing with so much bullshit. They’re actually pretty optimistic,” he shook the notebook in the air for emphasis.

“Yeah, it’s her way of coping, I guess,” I mentioned, not really wanting to delve too much into it. “She’s pretty focused on the task when she’s writing, but she’ll break down in the afternoon and spend an hour crying.”

Matt seemed deeply concerned. We remained in silence for a while, until he slapped the notebook in his palm and decided he had to let Lia know how good her lyrics were. I followed him out after a couple of minutes more spent on the computer.

Laughter and lively conversation filled the living room, with everyone nestled on the couch, sprawled on the soft carpet, or perched on available spots. Amidst the sea of soda cans and scattered alcohol bottles on the table, an empty glass bottle lay askew.

“Sit your ass down, Noah. We’re playing truth or dare,” Bryan announced, slapping the sofa cushion next to him. Steven, already in fits of laughter over a shared joke with Folio, occupied the spot on his other side.

Alana sat on the carpet, Josh by her side, clutching a deck of cards in her hands.

With so many bodies crammed into the room, it suddenly felt snug. Jolly was seated on the floor alongside Lia and Nicholas, engaged in conversation, though his attention seemed more inclined toward Emery, whom he couldn’t resist stealing glances at, reciprocated or not.

I noticed the assortment of cups, bottles, and cans scattered about, realizing that my beer had vanished, either drank by someone by mistake or perhaps intentionally. I was contemplating retrieving another from the kitchen when Steven sent the empty bottle on the table spinning, and Bryan’s command to sit the fuck down halted my intentions.

The bottle’s neck came to a stop pointing at Nicholas, eliciting giggles and anticipatory squeals from the group. Jolly, seated beside him, grabbed a card from the deck Alana had left on the table.

“Alright, Nicky, spill. What was your last dream about?” Jolly prodded.

“Oh, damn it. I don’t remember,” Nicholas admitted with genuine frustration.

“Dude, if you don’t remember it’s automatically a dare.”

“Let me think,” he insisted to Folio, lifting his eyes to the ceiling and rubbing his chin with two fingers.

It happened to be some boring story about his sister and grandmother in a store.

The next question was directed to Steven, who never had a problem sharing whatever truth was asked from him and always ended up making fun of everybody else when they had to do a dare. However, when the bottle pointed to Lia, Matt, after picking up a card from the deck and reading it to himself, opted for withdrawing another. Whatever the question was, he considered it wasn’t appropriate to ask her.

“This is a good one,” he muttered then. “Gremlin, who do you personally think is the Beyoncé of the group?”

“That’s an obvious one,” she said, and wasted no time in pointing her finger directly at me.

“What? No way!” I protested, feigning offence.

“Oh, don’t be so melodramatic,” Jolly said, tossing a popcorn my way. “Of course you are.”

“We all know you have some recording on the computer of you singing Single Ladies. When are you going to play it for us?” Steven added, eliciting groans and laughter from the group.

Rolling my eyes, I nudged the bottle along, guiding it to land on Alana. Thankfully, Steven became engrossed in picking a card and posing a question to her, quitting his ramblings about me having that file stored in my computer.

“Guys, brace yourselves. This question is so appropriate for you,” he announced to Alana and Josh with a mischievous grin. “What are you most looking forward to about married life?”

“Whoa,” the question caught Alana and Josh off guard. They didn’t have any plans of getting married —that we knew of—, but they had been the most solid couple in our circle since they started dating. “Uh, I don’t know,” she stammered, flushing a little and looking indecisively at Josh for assistance. “Umm, maybe waking up together?”

My eyes fell on Lia. She was sipping on the bottle of beer, her chin raised. She noticed I was looking at her and smiled at me with her lips still pressed to the bottle. I couldn’t tell if she was thinking the same as me, but I couldn’t wait for the night to be over so that I could wake up next to her again as soon as the sun rose the next morning.

I must have lost track of time while in my own thoughts. The next questions that filtered through my ears was, “what’s your weirdest kink?” and suddenly, Jolly was all flushed, denying he had any kinks, probably because he thought that Emery would feel put off by his likings or something. I was taken aback then when Lia was the one to encourage him to speak, lively saying, “Spill the beans, come on! Girls love it when guys have kinks. What is it? We’re all curious!”

“Lia, please,” he hissed, but he was actually amused at her insistence, knowing that if he was being so overly optimistic about it, it was because she knew Emery would want to know about him and his… kinks.

“Well, all right… Um, nothing too crazy, just… I might have a mild fascination with high heels.”

When everybody started making a fuss about it, laughing and making fun of him, he defended himself, making sure to say out loud that a kink as such was nothing compared to mine. He immediately went to retrieve the book I’d been reading to Lia, The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage, from under the coffee table, but unfortunately for him, I had moved it to my bedroom, so he had nothing to incriminate me with, and when I crossed looks with Lia again, she just gave me a complicit smile that made my skin prickle.

Trying to stop the thoughts racing in my mind, I reclined on the couch, stretching my arms above my head, oblivious to the impending question directed my way. Before I could collect myself, Bryan read the card.

“The name of the person who gave you your first kiss.”

As he uttered the question, it felt as if the world had hushed around me, though in reality, the chatter continued. My focus shifted to Lia again. Her expression had softened, as if she had also been transported back to that summer on the lake deck, where our lips had first met and we experienced our first kiss, as we taught each other the delicacies of sweet pecks and wet touches.

“Dude, you gonna answer or what?” Bryan prompted, patting my arm.

I didn’t know for how long I had been staring at Lia.

“Hold on a sec,” Jolly interjected, his gaze darting between Lia and me, piecing together the puzzle. “No way. Seriously?! I knew it!”

“What did you know?” Nicholas asked, confused.

Lia had lowered her head, back to reality, cheeks flushed but memories vivid.

“Lia was your first kiss,” Jolly declared, as if he had just cracked open a mystery that’d been hiding in plain sight for ages.

“Oh,” Nicholas murmured, looking between us. “Can’t say I’m surprised.”

“Me neither,” Jolly agreed, sparking a discussion among the others, while Lia and I sat in silence. “But I should’ve known. I mean, was that a secret of yours? You’ve never mentioned it!”

“It wasn’t a secret,” Lia replied softly.

“How old were you guys?” Josh interjected, adding to the chaos with seemingly genuine curiosity.

“What does it matter?” I deflected, uninterested. I didn’t want them to turn the news into a joke.

“Was he your first kiss, too?” Matt asked Lia.

She nodded in affirmation.

“Ah! So, was he also your first…? You know…” His inquiry trailed off, and Lia’s discomfort was palpable.

I wanted to take her out of the uncomfortable situation, but I didn’t know how. I didn’t know what to say; my words failed me, and so we were both left to endure the intrusive questions for a few more moments until the bottle spun again, mercifully shifting the focus elsewhere.

As the night wore on and the intensity of the game began to wane, Bryan got up to grab more beer from the kitchen and get some junk food. Lia seized the chance to slip away into the garden, counting on the distraction of the others’ chatter and laughter to cover her escape.

But I noticed.

Giving her a few minutes of solitude under the moonlit sky, I eventually followed her outside, closing the doors behind me with a soft click. My footsteps made little sound against the damp grass as I approached her.

“Mind if I join you?” I asked when I found her crouched beside a cluster of flowers she had planted days earlier.

Lia glanced up, her features lighting up at the sight of me.

“Of course not,” she replied, standing up, “I was just checking on them.”

And I’m checking on you.

“Can you even see in this darkness?” I questioned, squinting my eyes at the black landscape in front of me.

“Not really,” she admitted with a giggle.

“Don’t you want to head back inside? It’s chilly out here.”

“I needed some fresh air,” she admitted, her gaze getting lost somewhere. “Was feeling a bit dizzy and slightly drunk.” She attempted a smile, but it fell flat, and I struggled to muster a response.

The memory of our kiss had not only brought back echoes of our days alone at the lake. They had also dredged up memories of Lia’s troubled childhood, her struggles at school, and her mother’s harsh treatment. It had been these moments that had often driven Lia to seek some peace by the lake, where she would lose herself in the water or wander the surrounding paths, studying the plants and flowers growing in the periphery. The lake had been the place where I had seen her turn from a girl into a woman, where I had told her she was beautiful, where we had kissed for the first.

And last time.

“I understand,” I said.

Silence stretched between us before I sighed, lowering my head slightly. “I’ll head back inside,” I decided, giving her the space she seemed to need. “Just call me if you need anything, okay?”

Lia nodded, a tiny smile on her lips.

I was just two steps away from the door when Lia called my name again, as if she had forgotten to say something.

I turned my head with a flicker of hope in my eyes and a strange flutter in my stomach, but after holding her gaze for a moment, she shook her head and turned her back to me.

By past eleven, most of our friends had left, living behind a cluttered living room and kitchen. Empty cans, bottles, and pizza boxes littered the space, while cushions blankets and forgotten hoodies lay strewn about.

I noticed Lia assisting Jesse when she nearly lost her balance.

Acting quickly, I reached out and steadied her by grabbing her arm.

“Slightly drunk, aren’t we?”

“I’m not that drunk, I promise. My head is just spinning,” she explained with a hint of tiredness in her voice.

“Why don’t you call it a night? Go get some rest. I’ll finish here,” I suggested.

Jesse agreed with me, and eventually, Lia did, too. With a nod and a sweep of her hair from her face, she left me and Jesse to tackle the aftermath of the night. I spotted Jolly in the garden, leaning on the railing with Emery very close to him. I chuckled as I bent down to pick up someone’s sweater and send it to the pile of forgotten clothes, which seemed to be a usual occurrence whenever so many friends came over.

Fifteen minutes later, when I checked my room expecting to find Lia nestled under the covers, I didn’t find her there.

Instead, I discovered her in the studio, seated cross-legged on the sofa with headphones on, wide awake despite the weariness in her eyes.

“I thought you went to bed.”

“I tried for a few minutes, but I couldn’t sleep”, she explained, removing the headphones and placing them on a nearby table as I joined her on the sofa. “And it was cold in your room, so I decided to come here and listen to some music, instead.”

“Hm. What were you listening to?” I inquired, peering at her phone screen.

She turned her iPhone to me. Hysteria, Def Leppard.

“That’s a fucking good song.”

“Yeah,” She replied, but I noticed her interest fading as if my presence had triggered memories.

“Hey,” I said gently, reaching out to touch her head, “still thinking about that?” I didn’t need to specify what it was. She knew what I was referring to.

“Yeah, it’s just… I hadn’t thought about those days in a while, and it all just came rushing back.”

“In a good way or bad way?”

“Mostly bad,” she confessed.

My heart clenched at the notion of her associating our kiss with negativity.

“Not the kiss, though,” she was quick to reply, nudging my arm with her shoulder, as if she could sense my distress. “That was nice. It was a good day.”

I still remembered how she looked after I pulled away from here, her lips wet from my saliva.

“You never got to kiss Adrienne, did you?” she asked.

“No. No, I didn’t. Ended up catching a cold from staying in the lake too long and missed out on that ball thing,” I recounted.

“I’m sorry,” Lia murmured.

“For what?” I questioned.

“For, you know, keeping you out in the lake for hours after we kissed. I should have been more concerned. The reason we did it was so that you could practice for the ball, and then, you fell sick…” she trailed off, guilt evident in her voice.

“You don’t need to apologize for that. I would have stayed with you in the lake no matter what. Besides, that was a pretty good first experience. We weren’t too bad, were we?” I teased.

Lia seemed to drift back to the moment our lips had met.

“No, we weren’t” she agreed, her cheeks flushed with a light color. She looked adorable, all shy and sleepy, and slightly drunk.

“Want to try again? See if we’ve still got it?”

“What?” She snorted incredulously. “Still got what?! I was thirteen. You were fourteen. We had no clue what we were doing.”

“And yet, it was amazing.”

“I wouldn’t call it amazing,” she demurred.

“Oh? You’re saying I’m a bad kisser?”

“No, I mean… It was kinda sloppy, wasn’t it?” she said with a little laugh and a furrowed brow. She was fidgeting with her hands in her lap.

“I’m asking you again, want to find out if we’re still sloppy kissers?” I persisted, sensing a flicker of interest in her eyes.

“I’m not a sloppy kisser,” she said in her defense. The fact that she didn’t refuse the proposal I just threw out there for a second time gave me certain hope.

“Show me,” I said, my voice coming out more demanding than I intended to.

When she noticed my eyes had darkened, she hesitated. It was at that moment that she realized I was being serious.

I wanted to kiss her.

“Why do you want to kiss me?” She asked, cautiously studying me, her frow more pronounced.

I shrugged.

“It’s been fourteen years. I’m just curious to see how we’ve changed in all these years. Aren’t you curious about me?” I was pressing her, but I didn’t care.

“Yes,” she confessed, a heat rising to her cheeks.

“It’ll just be a kiss” I assured her. “Nothing more, nothing less.”

“Nothing more?”

“Nothing more. We made a promise, and we’ve done pretty damn well for fourteen years. We’re not going to break it now,” I affirmed. Was I sure about that? No, but when I looked at her lips, they looked too tempting for me to think about a promise we made more than a decade ago. I was an adult, nevertheless, and it was going to be just a kiss. I could keep it on that.

“Okay,” she agreed, her resolve firming as she shifted to face me on the sofa. She sat back on her heels, her hands resting on her knees, her big eyes gazing up at me, sweet and ready. Her posture and demeanor was almost too submissive, and I had to fight the urge to flee the room when I felt my cock twitch involuntarily. “How should we do it?”

I focused on her voice, on the voice of my best friend.

I straightened up and cleared my throat. Then, I raised an eyebrow at her.

“Do I have to teach you, Lia?”

“No,” she replied, a hint of uncertainty creeping into her voice as she squirmed in her spot. “It’s just…”

She wore the same expression she had that afternoon by the lake.

“I have a pretty clear idea how to do it now,” I asserted.

My hand found her cheek, and I made sure to caress her cheekbone with my thumb as I leaned in closer. I noticed her breath catch as I drew near, and I may have lingered with my breath against her lips for a fraction of a second longer, just to make her aware of the fact that I was about to kiss her, that I was going to inhale her scent, succumb to the warmth of her mouth, and adore her with my touch.

Then, I pressed my lips to hers.

It was meant to be just a kiss. Nothing more. A simple gesture to remember… and to satisfy that unfamiliar and dangerous longing that had been stirring within me in recent days.

A kiss; a small pressure against her lips.

But a kiss is never just a kiss, because it demands the closeness of two bodies, the touch, the warmth, the intertwining of breaths.

I pulled away a little, parting my lips slowly to savor every moment of contact, to ingrain freshly in my memory how well my lips molded to hers.

It was almost sinful, how daring I was, how selfish to want that from her. But surprise was mine when, before I opened my eyes, Lia rushed forward and captured my lips in another kiss. She forced my lips apart, urging me to remember every second of our first kiss on the deck.

This time, it was Lia taking the lead. The first kiss had awakened something that I didn’t even know had been slumbering inside me. Something in my stomach stirred. My hand, that initially had cradled her cheek, slid to the back of her head, and my fingers tangled in her hair. Almost instinctively, I stroked her scalp as she tilted her head, urging the kiss to deepen.

Her lips moved against mine with such fervor that for a moment, I questioned whether she was just slightly drunk and not just totally drunk. As our mouths melded together, I could taste the faint tang of alcohol on her lips, mingling with my own.

Despite the hint of beer, Lia’s taste was intoxicatingly sweet, a comforting warmth that enveloped me whole. Temptation urged me to explore further, to let my tongue sail into her mouth, crossing the tenderness of her lips, but I hesitated, aware that each gesture brough us closer to crossing a line neither of us wished to breach…

But we were kissing.

Lia’s hand found its way to my chest, and I could sense how her fingers fought against her mind, against a voice telling her to clutch the fabric. The intensity of our embrace seemed to be consuming her, and I could almost swallow the near inaudible sounds that were also trying to escape from her mouth as her breathing became ragged.

The innocence of our first kiss wasn’t there that night. We were no longer two inexperienced children curious to know what it felt like.

We already knew what it felt like. The curiosity we felt now was different. It was curiosity to know where this kiss would take us, to know how things would change, curiosity to find out if there was something buried inside us that we didn’t know was there or that we had ignored for years.

However, when we finally broke the kiss and Lia’s hands fell from my body and my hand released her hair, whatever revelation had come from that moment dissipated.

There was a moment of... hope that flickered in our eyes as we looked at each other, our bodies still close. A moment of recognition, of truth.... But we said nothing. None of what we felt.

“Better than the first time, huh?” I conceived after licking my lips, a gesture Lia observed with careful attention before blinking and pulling away, tucking some hair behind her pierced ear.

“Yes, sure,” she corroborated. “That was… nice.”

I dismissed the commotion growing inside of me with a chuckle. I rose from the sofa, thinking that if I stayed there I would pull her back into my arms. But before I did, I said, “You’re not a sloppy kisser,” and I touched her cheek affectionately with a finger. “Far from that.”

At that, she smiled up at me with her lips pressed together and her eyes sparkling with a hint of magic. She looked adorable, all flushed, feeling warm and intoxicated from the kiss.

If I could only know if she would look the same under me…

“Come on,” I suggested, ignoring the voice in my head. “Why don’t you help me set up the bed?”

“Of course,” she agreed, probably thankful for the distraction. And in the blink of an eye, everything felt normal again. “All those hours working out in the gym and lifting weights and still needs help to set up the bed,” she muttered under her breath, her tone colored by that hint of playful sass.

I paused, raising an eyebrow at her.

“What did you just say?”

“Nothing,” she replied innocently, raising her hands before setting about removing the cushions from the couch.

“Are you being sassy with me?”

“Nope,” she denied.

But she was, her mischievous grin betraying her words.

“Lia Parker,” I warned, moving to intercept her as she attempted to evade me.

She let out a laugh and tried to move further away from me, seeing how I reached out for her. But I was taller and faster. She squirmed a bit, but I managed to get ahold of her. Our feet ended up tangling up, and we stumbled back onto the sofa, my body falling on top of hers.

“Don’t be sassy with me or you’ll earn yourself a good spanking.”

Her eyes widened, but she couldn’t hide her smile.

“Really?”

“Want to test me?” I joked, though the proximity between us sent a jolt of awareness through me.

It wasn’t my intention, either, but my crotch pressed against her thigh.

Neither of us moved, lost in the electric tension. We made no gesture that implied that we were very aware of our bodies being pressed that way together, her chest against mine, my legs pressing her hips down, her entire body being caged under mine.

“Nope,” she said, shaking her head. “No, thanks.”

Her amusement was infectious, and I found myself laughing along with her. I would have stayed there like that with her for another ten minutes, but it was just a matter of time that it would become uncomfortable. Besides, her face was really close to mine again, and I didn’t think I could’ve stopped myself from kissing her once more if she kept looking at me with those big brown eyes and such adoration for me.

Reluctantly, I planted a loud kiss to her hair and pushed myself up onto my forearms to stand.

“Are you sure you want to sleep here?” She asked, struggling a bit to sit up, her breath hitched. Oh, how I relished in the state I put her in.

It took me a moment to reply, hoping that she would ask me to sleep with her one more night.

“Or are we forcing Jolly to offer Emery his room?” she continued.

Together, we set up the bed, our movement synchronized.

“Is she staying?” I asked.

“She really wants to,” Lia whispered, confiding in me Emery’s desires.

“Then Jolly’s going to have to make some room in his bed,” I concluded, making Lia grin. “Unless he mans-up and decides to take things further.”

“If he doesn’t, Emery might,” Lia said. She scratched her head as she looked around for the bedsheets. I pointed towards an Ikea cabined situated behind the door.

“Think we’ll have trouble sleeping?” I inquired, catching Lia’s eye as she tossed me one end of the fitted sheet.

Lia frowned, then shook her head, getting what I meant. “No, I don’t think so. Emery’s not like that,” she explained. “I mean, she does find Jolly pretty hot, but she’s not in a rush.”

“If ‘not in a rush’ turns into a midnight moaning party, I’m driving us to KFC,” I stated.

“You’re the one who suggested they share the room,” Lia reminded me with a laugh.

“Yeah, sleep, not fuck,” I replied, earning a chuckle from her. “But seriously, if I hear anything suspicious, I’d rather be eating chicken wings at 3am than being forced to listen to that. So, what do you say? 3 am chicken wings?”

“Oh, God,” she shook her head, finishing up the task of setting up the bed as she tossed some pillows back on top of the mattress. “Yes, sure. Wake me up if you hear anything suspicious. Take me with you to eat chicken wings at 3 a.m.”

“It’s a date, then,” I concluded, slinging an arm around her waist and planting a kiss on her hair before disappearing down the corridor.

#noah sebastian #bad omens #noah sebastian fanfic #noah sebastian fanfiction #noah sebastian x ofc #bad omens fic #bad omens fanfic

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oddinary4bts · 2 years ago

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The Forgotten Spaces | ch 4 (jjk)

☆summary: you've been dancing on the same dance crew since your teenage years, and you finally have an important role in it. It feels like life is taunting you when your rival comes back after disappearing for a year, ready to tease you every chance he gets. Will the teasing turn into more, or are you going to take him down with you?

☆pairing: photographer and dancer!Jungkook x dancer!female reader

☆rating: 18+ (minors DNI, there will be mature content in later chapters)

☆genre: slow (SLOW) burn enemies to lovers, college!au, slice of life!au, angst (oop), smut and fluff

☆warnings: nausea, hangover, the park jimin effect, drinking, cursing? a time skip of a month

☆word count: 9.6k

☆a/n: why is posting making me anxious? fun fact, I'm posting from New York City this week! Went to the two first Agust D concerts ayyy

☆a/n pt2: always and forever thankful for @moonleeai and her dedicated work as my beta reader <3

☆series masterpost here

☆Read What Was Hidden here, the fic that inspired this whole story, written by @daechwitatamic, one of my fav human beings on this app <3 It follows the story of Jo and Taehyung before The Forgotten Spaces

☆☆☆☆☆

For this meeting of our end of the world

It's with you that I want to sing

On the threshold of the memories the dead of today

Them that breathe for us

The forgotten spaces

Je t'écris - Gaston Miron (rough translation by me)

☆☆☆☆☆

Saturday, May 19th

Jungkook feels sick. Sick of everything, but mostly sick because his hungover has kept him in bed all day. He doesn’t even know if he’ll be able to pull up for dance practice later. All he knows is that his room has been spinning whenever he wakes up from naps, and that he fucked up majestically last night.

He doesn’t quite remember everything he said. He just remembers you, in his room, and then you being gone, replaced by Jimin and Taehyung.

The only thing he knows is that you know. The text that’s been sitting on his phone all day is reminder enough.

[11:12 am] You: hey, i hope ur okay this morning.. if u ever wanna talk about last night, we can grab a coffee or smth😌

He doesn’t know what to say, so he hasn’t replied. Because he’s not okay at all, and he doesn’t want to talk about it. Especially not with you.

Especially not when he hasn’t been able to eat anything since the first time he woke up today. It’s nearing 4 pm now, and he technically needs to be at the studio in two hours. Hobi already said he’d pick him up, but he’s still far from being presentable right now.

Jungkook groans, hiding his face in his pillow. You come up in his mind, the look of horror on your face last night making everything spin around him twice as much as before. Whenever he closes his eyes, you’re there, and he almost hopes to go blind.

Though he’s pretty sure you’d find a way to haunt him even if he was blind.

Another groan escapes him, and he turns his head to the side as someone knocks on his door. “Uh?” he lets out, loud enough for whoever it is to hear.

He’s surprised to see it’s Yoongi as the man opens the door. “I made you soup,” Yoongi says, and sure enough he is carrying a tray with a steaming bowl of soup on top of it.

Jungkook expects the thought of eating to make him feel worse, but surprisingly enough, no nausea rises inside of him. Instead, he realizes his stomach feels dreadfully empty, so he forces himself to sit, wincing at the throbbing pain at his temples.

It’s almost enough to make him forget the pain in his leg.

“Did you take any painkillers?” Yoongi asks as he puts down the tray at the foot of the bed. “And have you drank any water?”

“Yes and yes,” Jungkook replies, voice raucous from disuse. “Pretty sure I could use some more painkillers though.”

Yoongi nods, watching his younger friend carefully. “Do you need me to go get you some?”

Jungkook slowly shakes his head no. “I need to get out of bed if I want to make it to dance practice.”

At that Yoongi laughs. “Good luck with that.”

Jungkook frowns, glaring at Yoongi. “I’m very capable, I’ll have you know.”

“Your room smells like someone died in here.”

Though he’s usually sensitive to smell, Jungkook’s hungover state keeps him from being able to tell if the room really does stink. “Tae and Jimin cleaned up.”

“Then you must be the dead body,” Yoongi says, in that deadpan kind of way of his. He shrugs his shoulders, before adding, “Anyway, just eat and then take a shower. I’m sure you’ll feel better.”

Jungkook nods and watches as Yoongi makes to move out of his room. Yoongi’s at the door when Jungkook says, “Hyung?” Yoongi turns around, a quizzical look on his features. “Thank you for the soup.”

A smile breaks out across Yoongi’s face. “Anytime.”

And then Yoongi leaves, shutting the door softly behind him, and Jungkook is left alone once again. He looks down at the soup, and he realizes he really is hungry. He pulls the tray closer to him, making sure the soup doesn’t spill over the rim of the bowl, before grabbing the spoon.

The first spoonful of soup has his eyes fluttering shut with delight. Yoongi’s always been an amazing cook, and he hasn’t disappointed today. It awakens Jungkook more than anything else could have, and he’s finished the bowl of soup so quickly he almost considers eating the tray.

He’s still famished, but at least he’s got something in his stomach now. It’s enough to get him to stand from his bed, and though everything wobbles for a few seconds, he’s able to start gathering what he’ll need for his trip to the shower.

The shower really helps make him feel human again, and he’s relieved. As he steps out and looks at himself in the mirror, eyes dipping to his scars, he feels ready to confront the whole world if need be. He won’t have to bail on dance practice after all.

He’s down in the kitchen, eating some reheated pizza from last night, when Hobi arrives. His older friend pats him on the back, before putting down a Gatorade in front of him.

“Thought you’d need this,” he says, before climbing on the stool next to Jungkook.

Jungkook chuckles, immediately uncapping the Gatorade to take a long swig. It’s the last thing he needed to feel as good as new, and he offers Hobi a wide grin as soon as he puts the bottle down.

“I sure did,” he says, and the two friends laugh.

One thing that doesn’t change though, is the heaviness in Jungkook’s heart. Because if you know, then it’s just a matter of time before the rest of the crew knows. He doesn’t think he’ll be able to deal with everyone pitying him at the same time.

Maybe then he’ll just have to dip again.

Jin comes into the kitchen, and he stops as he sees Jungkook and Hobi at the counter. Valeria trails behind him, and Jungkook is struck dumb once more.

He never thought Jin would be able to pull the girl. He’s still surprised that she does exist, and whenever he’s alone with Jin he makes it a priority to remind his older friend.

“Sup’ losers,” Jin says as he starts moving again, heading towards the fridge to store the bottle of rosé wine he’s holding. “Surprised you were able to get out of bed.”

He says that over his shoulder looking right at Jungkook, who rolls his eyes. “I’m not a senior citizen like you, I’ve still got youth on my side.”

“Listen you little shit,” Jin bursts out, and Valeria starts laughing. It has the effect of a calming shower on Jin, who only glares at Jungkook. “You’re lucky the lady is here. Otherwise you’d be dead.”

“If you’d be able to catch me, that is.”

Jin looks towards Hobi.

“Don’t ask me for help,” Hobi says, raising his hands in defense. “You’re all alone on this.”

Jin’s head turns towards his girlfriend next. She’s shy, and Jungkook has never really talked to her before. So when he and Hobi look at her too, she blushes, before shrugging.

Jin lets out a childish whine, before saying, “Alright then, I’m old.”

“We like you like that.” Valeria is the one that speaks, and Jungkook chokes on a laugh as he turns back towards Jin.

“You heard her.”

Jin is fake-glaring at his girlfriend, but then his features soften. “Yeah, but at least she’s pretty.” And just like that he moves out of the kitchen, pulling Valeria behind him.

“I’ve been told I’m pretty too,” Jungkook yells behind Jin, and Hobi laughs next to him. “He’s so whipped,” Jungkook says after a few seconds, just to make sure Jin is out of earshot. His comment makes him think about another couple that’s starting to form, and he turns to look at Hobi. “And you? What’s up with Jiho?”

Hobi chokes, flushing fully red, up to the top of his ears. “What do you mean?”

Jungkook raises his eyebrows as he tries to hold in the shit-eating smirk that wants to form on his lips. “What do I mean? Why did you invite her yesterday?”

“I –” Hobi says. “I just thought it’d be fun to hang with the crew…”

“The crew?” The smirk has won now, and it breaks across Jungkook’s lips.

“Well, you know, just like…” Hobi falls silent, before letting out a strangled laugh. “I honestly didn’t see it coming.”

It’s cute, and Jungkook’s smirk turns into a softer smile. “To be honest, me neither.”

“She’s got balls though,” Hobi says, laughing lightly this time. “She’s the one who suggested we should go on a date, after dance practice last week.”

All that Jungkook remembers of that night is that he walked with you after. The rest is a blur of anxiety and his leg hurting. But he’s not surprised that Jiho’s got balls: she has to be your closest friend for a reason.

“You said yes, I hope,” Jungkook says.

Hobi slowly nods. “Yeah. But I invited her yesterday because of that too. And we’re going to a restaurant she suggested tomorrow.”

Jungkook doesn’t have to fake the happiness that takes over him right now. He’s happy for his friend, he really is. For his friends, plural. Because Taehyung, Jin, Yoongi and now Hobi… They’re all happy. They all have met someone, someone to care for them where no one else can. Strangely, it’s something Jungkook doesn’t really want for himself right now, maybe because he’s too stuck in the past.

Too stuck trying to heal from the crash, knowing some parts won’t ever heal and refusing to give up the fight for now.

It brings him back to you. To last night, and to whatever he said. He wishes he could remember the words, just to know how bad he fucked up, but he doesn’t. He won’t remember, and he won’t ask you.

He won’t take you up on your offer for coffee. He knows pity when he sees it, and he abhors it. Especially when it comes from you.

Instead, he focuses on Hobi, on the smile that lights up his friend’s face as he tells him about Jiho, about how they’ve been texting almost constantly. It’s all Hobi talks about on the ride to the studio, as he mentions stuff Jiho told him.

Stuff she told him about her when she was younger, but also about you. About how you’ve been friends since the first day of kindergarten, when someone pulled her braids and laughed at her and you punched them in the face.

He’s not surprised child you would punch someone that deserved it in the face. He’s pretty sure adult you would do it too.

Hobi parks his car next to the studio, and they are getting out of the vehicle when Jungkook notices you walking, hands buried in yet another oversized sweater. You’re wearing yoga pants underneath, and your hair is pulled up in a high ponytail. You catch his gaze a few seconds after he notices you, and he’s about to smile at you when you just look away, walking in the building without once glancing back.

What the fuck?

Jungkook frowns, especially as Hobi says, “What happened with Y/n last night?”

For some reason, Jungkook immediately grows defensive. He shrugs, a little vehemently before starting to walk towards the door. “Nothing happened. Just let it slip that I got into a car crash.”

“So she knows?” Hobi asks.

Another shrug of Jungkook’s shoulders. He buries his hands in the pockets of his black sweatpants, just to hide the way he’s clenching his fists even though he’s trying to stay calm. “Yeah. So everyone will know.”

“I don’t think so,” Hobi says, and Jungkook glances at him, brows knit together. “I mean, she’s good at keeping secrets.”

“She’s probably already told Jiho,” Jungkook points out as they reach the door. He doesn’t see you on the other side, and that’s the only reason why he opens it.

“Well, Jiho didn’t say anything about you, if that can reassure you.”

Hobi has felt the switch in his mood, hasn’t he? Because his voice is careful, as if he’s afraid to spook him.

“I don’t care,” Jungkook lies. Because he really does care. He doesn’t want everyone to know. Because it makes it too real, and for now he still can pretend it hasn’t happened.

He wishes for it to stay that way.

Hobi doesn’t push him more, and a tense silence moves between them. Jungkook wishes he could go back to his previous good mood about his friends’ happiness, but he’s back where he was last night. Somewhere in the dark of his own mind.

Not a good place to hang, if he’s honest.

He already knows he’s going to see you when he reaches the studio. Somehow, it still makes his heart constrict in his chest, that same way it did last night. As if someone is clenching their fist around it, and it makes it harder to breathe. He shrugs it off, taking a deep breath to calm down, before looking around.

Everyone but Heather is already here. And no one is looking at him, no one seems surprised or seems to be pitying him. You don’t even act like you noticed him entering – you take off your sweater, dropping it in a corner of the room with your phone and your keys. He hates it, but his eyes follow the curves of your body, and he wants to curse you for only wearing a sports bra.

Your body is lean, the results of dancing for most of your life with a mother that used to be a ballerina. Jungkook is pretty sure she’s controlled everything you ate growing up, and drilled it so hard into your head that you can’t stand bad food now. He remembers, when you were younger and someone brought cake to practice to celebrate a birthday, you always barely took a bite before saying you were full. You claimed you didn’t like cake, but he always noticed the way you eyed it while everyone else ate.

He used to make fun of you for it, and today he knows he was an asshole. All he can hope is that your relationship with food is better now. And it looks like it is – you’re not as thin as you were before. You look healthy, and your skin and hair are glowing.

It takes him a few good seconds to realize he’s staring, as if something about you has changed. And he doesn’t know what changed, just knows that he feels struck.

You notice him staring, and you furrow your brows. “What are you looking at?”

It’s said aggressively. As if you’re angry. He only then realizes that you might be, and maybe that’s why you ignored him outside. He can’t for the life of himself figure out why you’d be angry – did he say something yesterday?

“Nothing,” he replies, and he looks away as his heart beats out of his chest.

You act like that for the whole of practice. For all the pity looks Heather throws his way, you send twice as many glares. It feels like last night never happened, and maybe it didn’t. Maybe it was just a nightmare, and he never told you everything.

He knows you know though, because whenever he puts too much weight on his leg as he demonstrates the movements he has in mind, you clench your jaw. A muscle feathers under your skin, and then you look away. Shame passes on your features, and then it’s gone to be replaced with a scowl.

He’s getting tired of it by the end of practice, so he pulls you aside to talk. Jiho stubbornly stays next to you, until Hobi walks up to her and asks if he can talk to her, probably sensing that Jungkook needs some time alone with you.

You both glare at each other while the others filter out, wishing you good night. Jungkook hears Scottie teasing Lance about meeting up with a girl, and the last thing he hears is Lance telling him to fuck off before everyone is finally out.

It takes almost twenty seconds before you blink and say, “What do you want?”

“What’s wrong with you?” he asks, folding his arms on his chest as he cocks an eyebrow.

You scoff. “With me? Nothing. What’s wrong with you?”

Do you know or do you not? He’s a little confused as you just look at him, clearly expecting an answer. He’s dumbfounded – the last thing he expected from telling you everything was you being furious at him.

“Did I do something wrong?” he asks.

It’s just a back and forth of questions at this point, with no visible answers in the distance. Indeed, you just say, “Do you think you did something wrong?”

It’s absurd, and it makes him laugh. Which, he reckons, might be taken as insulting. And of course you take it the bad way, because how else would you take it?

“You’re so fucking oblivious,” you grumble.

He’s still laughing. He wants to stop, but for some reason he cannot.

“What’s so funny?” you enquire, and your cheeks are turning red.

“Just,” he starts, “I don’t know. The last thing I expected from last night was you getting angry at me.”

You roll your eyes. “If you were looking for pity you won’t get any from me.”

That’s the thing. He doesn’t want any pity from you. And you saying so makes something warm blossom in his chest, and it sobers him up. His face falls serious, and he holds your gaze long enough that you raise your eyebrows in question.

“Thank you,” he says.

You scoff. “You’re fucking weird, Jeon.”

He shrugs. “That’s why you like me, uh?”

Your eyes widen, and you look so appalled he just starts laughing again. “Quite the opposite actually,” you say even though he’s laughing. “What’s wrong with you?”

“I don’t know,” he repeats. “I’m just relieved you haven’t changed.”

He really is. You have no idea how much.

“Okay?” you let out, and it sounds like a question. You scoff again, before adding, “Why didn’t you reply to my text?”

Oh, so this is what it’s about. You’re upset because he ignored your text. It feels absurd and stupid and inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, so Jungkook just smiles and shrugs. “I genuinely don’t really want to talk about last night. I’m all okay today.”

And he does think he is, now that he’s talking to you.

You remain silent for a while, pulling at some dry skin on your bottom lip. You then brush a strand of hair that’s fallen from your ponytail behind your ear, nodding your head. “Understood. Won’t be nice to you again.”

“Oh please,” Jungkook teases. “You can’t resist it.”

He’s happy. The more he talks to you, the happier he is. He feels like he’s floating, and he wishes you’d both stay right then and there, in the studio, until the end of time.

He hasn’t felt so light in forever.

“Oh, I can, Jeon.” You fold your arms on your chest, imitating his posture. “Watch me.”

But there’s a teasing glint in your eyes, probably awakened by his own teasing demeanour.

“I’m sorry I didn’t reply to your text,” he apologizes, because he feels like he needs to clear the air with you. He doesn’t want you to be upset with him anymore. “I genuinely didn’t know what to say, and I figured I was going to see you tonight anyway.”

You look away for the first time in the conversation. Your eyes move down, and he’s pretty sure you’re looking at the scar on his stomach. It makes it itch, and if he weren’t with you, he’d scratch it. But he resists, offering you a tight-lipped smile as you look up at his eyes again.

“Well, forget I suggested coffee then,” you say. You wink at him. “I’ll start being a bitch again now.”

“Please do.”

You look startled. “You want me to be a bitch?”

He laughs, scratching the nape of his neck. “No.” He scrunches up his nose, thinking really hard about what he wants to say. Only he doesn’t know what to say. He feels like he’s never talked to you before in his whole life. He can barely remember breaking down in front of you not even twenty-four hours ago. “Yes? Just be your same usual self.”

“Noted,” you say, nodding your head forcefully.

It’s cute, and it makes your ponytail swing behind you. He has half a thought to reach and pull on it, just to annoy you, but he resists.

Instead, he looks around, before resuming his attention on you. “Just, one thing.”

You hold his gaze, cocking an eyebrow in question as you purse your lips. “Mmh?”

“Please don’t tell the others,” he says. It’s a little more serious than he was just a second ago, but he feels like it’s needed to get the point across. “I’d prefer if they didn’t know.”

The corners of your lips stretch into a small, soft smile. “I didn’t plan on telling anyone. I figured you’re the one that should tell them if you want to.” You glance towards the door, and you’re not watching him when you add, “I think Bridget told Heather though. And I don’t know if Heather will remain silent”.

He doesn’t care if Heather tells the others. He just doesn’t want you to do it. It makes no sense, but at the same time it makes all the sense in the world to him.

“Yeah, I think she knows too.” He pulls at his piercing, letting out a small sigh. “I’ll talk to her.”

You nod, and the room falls silent. He wishes he had more to tell you, but it seems you’ve run out of conversation topics, because you eventually wet your lips and say, “Well, I guess I’ll be going home now”. And then you laugh, shaking your head. “I was supposed to leave with Jiho, but I’m pretty sure she’s gone with Hobi.”

“Hobi talked about her for like an hour before we got here,” Jungkook admits, relieved that you provided a topic. “They’re going on a date tomorrow.”

You smile, widely, and he reckons you’re like him. Your friends’ happiness makes you happy, and happiness truly looks good on you. It makes your eyes sparkle, and you look like a kid who’s just received the perfect gift on Christmas morning.

“I know!” you yelp, taking him by surprise when you even clap your hands. “They’re going to the restaurant I suggested.”

There’s something warm in Jungkook’s chest. It just becomes stronger and stronger the more he looks at you, and it makes him feel wary. Enough so that he looks away and tries to tame it down.

“I hope everything will work out for them,” he says, and he scrapes his throat because the warmth is choking him up now.

“I’m sure it will”, you reply, confidently. “Jiho has been into him for like three years now.”

Jungkook feels bad for her, because three years ago Hobi was still with his ex. But it seems patience makes miracles, because she’s getting a date with Hobi now, isn’t she?

It makes Jungkook realize that sometimes, the right person for someone might have been around all along. They’ve just been blind to it. Now, that’s a thought that makes him want to get out of this room. To flee this cloud before it breaks, and he meets your gaze.

You’re watching him already, with a wistful look on your features. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

He hates it. Hates everything that your little sentence makes him feel, so he just nods his head, before saying, “It’s getting late, I should hurry if I want to catch the bus”.

Your eyes widen. “I’ll order you a Lyft, come on.”

“No!” he refuses. “It’s all good.”

“But it’s late,” you insist, and you bend down to grab your phone on your sweater.

It offers Jungkook a straight view to your cleavage, and he freezes, right as pink dusts his cheeks. “I swear,” he reassures you, adding your name before continuing, “I’d rather take the bus. But thank you for the offer.”

You fake-glare at him. “Right, I’m supposed to be a bitch anyway.” You fold your arms on your chest, cocking an eyebrow arrogantly, and you look just like you’ve always looked when you say, “What the fuck are you still doing here? You’re wasting my oxygen.”

It makes the both of you laugh, and Jungkook just shakes his head. “Please, I know you love looking at me.”

You look offended, somehow, and you scoff. “I’d rather gouge my eyeballs out of my head instead of having to look at you for a second longer.”

“Ouch, that was rough.”

“You deserved it.” You shrug your shoulders, before motioning at the door in a swooshing motion. “Now, go lick your wounds somewhere else.”

“Aren’t you leaving too?”

You glare at him now, and you’re so good at it he almost thinks you’re angry. “Why, do you want to walk me home?”

His mouth falls open. Would you let him walk you home? For some reason, he’s pretty sure you’ll punch him if he even suggests it. So instead, he chooses to say, “And suffer the whole way? Nah, I’m good.”

It’s a low-key mention of his injury. You immediately catch on to it, and Jungkook hates the look that takes over your features. He thought that you didn’t have pity for him in you, but it seems you do. You do and it feels like the fist around his heart is back, and the air burns a little.

You seem like you want to say something, but he’s quicker than you.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“Jungkook.”

“No, I’m serious, don’t you fucking look at me like that.”

And just like that the light atmosphere shifted back into darkness.

You scoff, shaking your head. “And here I was starting to think that you’re a decent guy. Never mind, Jeon.” You scoff once more, and the corners of your mouth are pulled down in a look of pure disgust. “I’m going home.”

He lets you go. He doesn’t even look at you as you pick up your stuff and leave, not once glancing back.

No matter how enjoyable this interlude in your usual relationship was, Jungkook prefers the usual hate. It’s safer, more comfortable, and a habit that protects him from the vulnerability.

Why then is he staring at your text two hours later in his bed at home, unable to fall asleep, wishing he didn’t say what he did?

In all truth, he knows why, he just doesn’t want to formulate the thought. Doesn’t want to give it the power to exist in the confines of his brain. So he ignores it, shoves the warmth in his chest so far down in the hole occupied by his lost dream that he can’t really feel it anymore.

Only then does he feel safe again, but he still can’t fall asleep.

He hopes you’re not struggling with insomnia as much as he is.

Thursday, June 28th

The auditions for nationals are in a week. Seven days, and you’re still not sure you’ve mastered the choreography well. You’re anxious – have been for weeks now – and all you want is to lie down on the floor until everything is over.

Which, coincidentally, is what Lance has been doing for the last fifteen minutes, claiming he needed a break from Jungkook. Because Jungkook is worse than Hobi, making you repeat the choreography for stupid unnecessary things like Jiho’s hair was in her face or Scottie’s shirt rode too high while he was doing a certain move.

In May, when you learned about what happened to Jungkook, you had a few days of feeling bad for him. Wishing you didn’t get in a fight with him during that dance practice, wishing your relationship with him wasn’t just hateful.

It feels like there’s been too much history between you for it to ever change. Because you saw a glimpse of something else, for a few minutes that night. Jungkook was more open, calmer, and his expressions were set in a softer look. It was easier to be around him, more enjoyable, and you wished for a fleeting moment that it could last.

Alas, it only lasted a few minutes before he moved back to the harsh look he reserved for you, only because he assumed you were pitying him. Which, maybe you were. You don’t know. It’s hard to tell when you haven’t been through what he has, and when you can tell he suffers.

But you’re not sure if it’s pity or concern. You don’t think he can tell the difference either.

“Lance,” you grumble as you finish the choreography, heart beating out of your chest. “Get the fuck up we need you.”

Lance mumbles something incoherent, before turning his head away from where you’re glaring at him. It makes you look up to catch Jungkook’s gaze, and he immediately looks away the moment your eyes meet. He’s been doing that a lot now too. Where he used to glare at you or smirk insufferably, Jungkook just ignores you.

You don’t think you like it. But you’ve gotten used to it over the course of the last few weeks, so you just roll along with it now.

You’ve kept his secret safe. You thought it would be hard, especially to hide it from Jiho, but after a few days it just became normal. Jiho has more to tell you about Hobi anyway.

Because they’ve found time to go on dates every week since then. Sweet dates, with him picking her up and bringing her flowers and doing things that he knows make her happy. Even at dance practice, everyone can see how they are sickly into each other. You’re happy for Jiho, you really are, but it’s starting to feel a little lonely.

At least you’ve got Jo and the other girls now too. You’ve met the mysterious Kiko now – a sweet girl with the voice of an angel – and your girl’s nights with Jiho have turned into Thirsty Thursdays. You haven’t understood the meaning of the Thirsty yet, considering all of them are dating now, but you just roll along with it.

It’s led to fun nights, and that really is the only thing that matters, right?

Tonight makes no exception. Jiho, Heather and you have dance practice until 10 pm, and then you’re supposed to meet with the girls at a bar on their side of town. Which means you’re already dressed up, though you put on a sports skirt to avoid showing off your ass to the rest of the boys. Not that it would matter – Scottie is not interested in women at all, Lance only has eyes for Chaeyeon now, Hobi is way too respectful for that and Jungkook doesn’t even look at you anymore.

You scoff, glancing away from Jungkook to settle your gaze back on Lance. “Get up,” you repeat, before walking over to him to kick him in the ribs. “Or I’ll tell Chaeyeon how much of a loser you are.”

He fakes offence. “Me, a loser? Nah, we’re going to win this shit.”

The sudden confidence is a boost to everyone’s mood, and soon enough you’re back to dancing, with a much-needed vigor. It’s enough that Jungkook lets you go after you’ve done the choreographies two times more, telling everyone they did a good job.

“Same time Saturday,” he says.

You think you notice him looking at you in the mirror, but as soon as you turn your head in that direction he’s already glanced away, focusing himself on typing something on his phone.

“We know,” Lance says jokingly, before punching Jungkook in the shoulder.

Jungkook snickers, and he deadpans, “You were two hours late last week because you were too busy with your girlfriend”.

“Can’t blame me,” Lance says, shrugging his shoulders. “Chae comes first, the rest of you can suck it up.” It’s cute and endearing, and your heart feels warm as Lance glances your way. You have no idea what brings him to think of that, but he scans the whole room before suggesting, “We should rent a cottage. After the auditions. We should all get shitfaced for three days straight.”

Hobi laughs from where he’s standing next to Jiho. “Scottie is too young for that.”

“Hey, I’m twenty-two!” Scottie exclaims. “I can get shitfaced.”

“You’re a baby,” Heather puts in. “Just accept it. I refuse to acknowledge the fact you are major now.”

Scottie rolls his eyes, placing a sassy fist on his hip. “Then sucks to be you because I am, and I’m going to get shitfaced with Lance. Right?”

Lance has a large grin on his lips. “Damn fucking right.”

“As long as we get a cottage with a hot tub I’m in,” Jiho says innocently. Hobi cocks an eyebrow as he looks at her, as if he didn’t just say Scottie can’t go. “What?” Jiho adds, shrugging her shoulders. “A cottage weekend does sound like fun.”

It does. It really does. You haven’t gone to the countryside in years now, and you can already picture a cute, picturesque cottage on the side of a lake, with a long quay you can lie on and stargaze. The cottage has a fireplace, a circle of rock in the middle of which flames burn at night until they turn to embers and you roast marshmallows on it. You can almost feel the warmth of the hot tub, and the laughter of friends seems to almost overtake your ears…

Yeah, you’re due for a trip out of the city.

“I want marshmallows,” you say, sighing dreamily. “I haven’t had marshmallows since like…”

“Since the camping trip when we were thirteen? When Jisung got shit on by that seagull?”

You burst out laughing at the same time as Jiho does, right as the memory comes back to you. It had been a fun camping trip, with Jiho’s parents renting a camper. They had invited you along on their trip, and you had gone to the beach with them.

Good memories indeed.

Your laughter recedes, and you notice everyone is looking at you. Even Jungkook. His eyes are a little widened, as if he’s surprised, and there’s a light flush on his cheeks when he looks away.

It’s the strangest sight to see, and you’re unable to shake the feeling away while you get ready with Jiho later to rush to the bar where Jo and the others are already waiting for you. Jiho notices your unease as she applies your eyeliner.

“What’s up with you?”

“Nothing,” you immediately say, way too fast for it to sound casual.

She just cocks an eyebrow and keeps applying the makeup. At least she has the decency to ignore the blush that creeps on your cheeks.

“It’s just…” you sigh, and turn your head when she starts to work on your second eye. “I don’t know.”

“Jungkook?”

You want to kill her for knowing you so well, so you remain silent, choosing peace over violence.

“I’m going to say something right now that might make you want to kill me,” Jiho says, lips pursed.

“I would advise not saying it,” you mumble and she playfully pats your cheek.

“Don’t move.” You pout, but obey nonetheless. She continues working in silence for a time, before saying, “I know about the accident”.

Your heart stops in your chest, and you’re pretty sure all colours have drained out of your features. You still try to play it cool, saying, “What accident?”

“February last year? Jungkook got injured, then ghosted us. Ring a bell?”

You can’t really pretend you don’t know what she’s talking about, can you? “How do you know?”

“Hobi told me,” she admits. “He made me promise to never talk about it, but he mentioned you knew already.”

“Oh.”

“I don’t blame you for not telling me,” she reassures you, having sensed your discomfort. “Actually, it tells a lot about your relationship with JK that you respected his decision.”

You scoff as she pulls the eyeliner away from your face, putting it down on her vanity to grab her La Neige lip tint. “My relationship with Jungkook? We’re not even friends.”

“Why though?”

It’s a good question that just pisses you off further. “Because he’s a dick. He told me about the accident and got angry at me for looking concerned and then he started ignoring me.” You chuckle bitterly. “It’s not like I’m going to try and make him talk to me. I don’t give a shit about him.”

Jiho is silent for a long time. Far too long for it to be normal. Like she doesn’t believe you at all and is waiting for you to realize. You’re just as stubborn, so you don’t say anything as she puts the lip tint on her pretty lips.

It makes for an awkward two minutes, but she’s the one that breaks first. “You don’t believe that.”

You furrow your brows. “Why the fuck would you say that?”

She laughs. Not in a mean way, probably just because your cheeks are burning and she believes she can read you like the back of her hand. “Because you don’t believe that.”

You fold your arms on your chest, sitting back in the chair she’s forced you to sit in while she did your eyeliner. You remain silent once again, clenching your jaw as you choose not to get upset. You’re not sure it works, and Jiho just playfully punches you on the shoulder.

“Calm down, babe,” she says. “He’s changed.”

“He’s still an ass with me,” you point out. “He’s changed with the rest of you guys, but he’s even worse with me. He’s been completely ignoring me for weeks.”

“Because he’s scared of what you think about him.”

“He doesn’t give a shit about what I think of him? He’s made that clear enough.” Jiho goes back to her infuriating silence. And you don’t want the conversation to keep going in that direction, so you ask, “How has it been going with Hobi anyway?”

She flushes red as she always does whenever Hobi is mentioned. “Do not think this conversation is over,” she says, threatening you with the lip tint bottle. “But it’s been…” She chuckles. “It’s been great. I think we’re pretty much official now.”

It’s disgustingly cute. It makes you think of Lance and Chaeyeon, of Heather and Bridget, Jo and Taehyung and Kiko and Yoongi…

It makes you feel lonely, like Lance did earlier. It’s a feeling you’ve grown accustomed to growing up, so it’s easy to let it slide over you instead of letting it fester inside.

“Look at you,” you say teasingly. “Who knew you’d pull your lifelong crush?”

“Lifelong?” she snickers. “I’ve had a crush on him for like two years.”

You throw a no-bullshit look her way.

“Okay maybe three…”

It makes you both laugh, and it diffuses the situation that was escalating just a moment ago. You’re relieved, because you’re pretty sure if she mentioned Jungkook just once more you would have blown up in her face.

You take shots downstairs with Jisung and Felix before going, and you giggle in the Lyft on the way to the bar the other girls chose. As per usual, you’re the two last to get there – fashionably late is the way to go, right?

It takes you way too long to realize girl’s night will in fact not be girl’s night. Yoongi is the first you notice, maybe because he’s looking at the exit when you walk in, as if he’s just waiting for the right time to bail. He nods as he sees you, and Kiko turns. She smiles her shy smile, the one that doesn’t show her teeth, and she nods as well, almost a copycat of her boyfriend.

Then it’s like a domino effect, and everyone turns to look at you. Nine pairs of eyes, all on you: Jin, Valeria, Taehyung, Jo, Bridget, Heather, Kiko, Yoongi and Jimin. The latter offers you a secretive smile.

You might have been texting him a little. Nothing serious, but he does appear in your dms once in a while, replying to a story you posted. You always decided to ignore him, only liking his replies, but tonight there’s something in the way Park Jimin is looking at you, sitting there, that makes something warm trickle down your spine.

Maybe because of your conversation with Jiho. It’s hard to tell, and your best friend pulls you towards the rest of the group before you can figure it out. The feeling only increases tenfold when you stop next to the table, and Jimin gets up to greet you, quickly followed by the others.

You hug everyone, and Jo holds you a second longer. “Sorry for inviting the rest, Tae begged and I figured…” You pull away from the hug, and she does have a sheepish look on her features. “Thirsty Thursday doesn’t mean no men?”

You laugh at that comment, shrugging your shoulders. “It’s fine, don’t worry.”

And really, you don’t mind. You like hanging out with them all. You’re relieved they didn’t think to invite Jungkook though, because one thing you’ve figured is that, where Jimin goes Jungkook usually follows.

The night starts off with talking and a few drinks with the group, until you find yourself intoxicated more than you have initially planned to. It doesn’t really matter – you have a day off tomorrow at the internship. Indeed, it only goes from Monday to Thursday, since the lawyer you follow takes the day off on Fridays for the whole of summer.

So you drink, and when they clear a spot for the dancefloor, you let Jiho pull you to it. Let her dance with you, like you usually do when you’re trying to get a guy’s attention. You reckon she’s drunker than you – she’s a giggly mess and she keeps stepping on your feet, which she never usually does. It’s fun, and you feel some anxiety peel away from your skin as if you’re an onion and someone’s about to cut you up to pieces.

You do feel like somebody is about to cut you up to pieces when Jimin moves closer to you, and the smirk on his lips sets something on fire inside of you. Or maybe it’s the alcohol. It doesn’t matter because you pull away from Jiho to move closer to him, almost instinctively.

It’s like he fits like a glove. You face him, throwing your arms around his neck to pull him into the dance as his hands find your waist. One of them slips to your back, and he presses you against him as you move to the music, the rhythm a sensual dance between the two of you.

“Hello, you,” he purrs, and you look up at him.

“Hello,” you reply in the same tone, and he makes you spin until your back is facing him. He’s impossibly close and as his hands guide your hips, your eyes trail up.

You entirely stop moving when your gaze meets Jungkook. He’s standing near the door, clad in different clothes than earlier today, but in that same black shade he seems to adore. He also has a chain, with large links that give a rougher vibe to him.

The look on his features is rough too, especially as Jimin leans to speak into your ear. “I thought you might want to piss him off.”

You chuckle, turning your head to gaze at the man behind you over your shoulder. It brings your face way too close to his, and you have to resist the lava in your blood that makes you want to close the gap.

It’s the self-destructive kind of magma, and you don’t feel like indulging in it. Instead, you purr, “Why do you think I’d want to piss him off?”

Jimin chuckles, and you turn your head away from him because damn him, his lips really are inviting. “He’s been a little shit at home. I assume he’s been that way with you too.”

You laugh, and it’s bitter, angry. It surprises even you. “He’s been ignoring me.” You turn in Jimin’s arms, until you’re facing him. You keep your head hung low, enough so that he can’t lean down and press his lips against yours. Jimin is a gentleman though, you know he’d never kiss you without asking for consent first.

“Explains why he’s been a little shit then,” he says matter-of-factly. He straightens a little, putting a comfortable distance between your faces.

“And you think this little show is going to piss him off?”

He smirks, tilting his head to the side. All the while he’s been making you move to the music, and you know to outside gazes you look like you’re flirting. Can planning to piss Jeon Jungkook off count as flirting?

“Oh, I know it will,” Jimin says, shrugging his shoulders. “Jungkook wears his emotions on his face.”

Maybe he does. Around you, his emotion is usually mostly contempt, so you don’t really know.

“What do you gain from pissing him off?” you ask, and you genuinely wonder. What is Jimin trying to do?

“Nothing,” he admits. He purses his lips, before offering you yet another dashing smile. “Mostly I just want to see what he’ll do.”

Jimin pulls you a little closer, and his forehead presses against yours.

“What are you doing?” you murmur, as your heart beats like a hammer against your ribcage. Hell, even if you’re not really into Jimin like that, he’s Park Jimin. You don’t think anyone in their right mind could stay indifferent to him.

“He’s looking right now,” he replies. He chuckles, before saying, “Now, let me tell you what you’re going to do”. His lips move so close to you it feels as if your brain is short-circuiting in your head. “You’re going to act as if I’ve just offended you, and you go to the bathroom.”

“Why?”

“He’ll follow, and maybe he’ll finally…”

Jimin never finishes his sentence. Someone bumps into you, and it breaks the contact between you and him. Instead of pulling you back in, Jimin motions towards the bathroom, offering you an encouraging smile. You’re stunned for a moment, and you hope it does the trick. You hope you really do look offended, because in truth, you were enjoying Jimin’s proximity.

You don’t like that you were. It feels like you shouldn’t be enjoying his proximity at all. He’s not even really your friend anyway.

You don’t have a choice but to follow his advice though, and you turn around, beelining straight to the bathroom. You make your way through the crowd, scrunching up your nose in disgust at the sweaty guy your hand accidentally touched, and a few seconds later you finally find the line to the bathroom.

It’s a unisex bathroom, with three stalls that are currently all occupied. There’s a guy in front of you, and you glare at him as he smiles at you. He frowns, but it works and he turns back around. A stall frees up a little under a minute later, and you’re mindlessly watching a girl washing her hands when a large hand finds the small of your back.

You startle, and you turn around fully ready to knock some sense into whoever it is, until you see it’s Jungkook.

You freeze for a few seconds, and then let out a laugh as you realize whatever Jimin was doing worked.

“You and Jimin, uh,” Jungkook says bitterly, and his hand clenches into a fist where it falls at his side.

You cock your head to the side. “So you’re talking to me now?”

He plays with his piercing in silence, before scoffing. “I was never not talking to you.” You widen your eyes and let out a disbelieved laugh as you fold your arms on your chest. “I’m serious,” he adds. “I just…”

“Don’t even try to explain, Jeon, save your oxygen.”

He’s frowning now, and you reckon he probably has the same expression on his features that you have on yours. “I thought you said you weren’t going to flirt with Jimin.”

“That was over a month ago,” you point out. “People change, unless you haven’t noticed.”

“Oh, I know,” he says, chuckling bitterly. “But Jimin? There are dozens of guys in this bar, can’t you just choose someone else to fuck?”

You’re starting to see red. You feel it in the tremble that starts deep down in your core, before taking over the whole of your body. “I’m not going to fuck Jimin. He’s just a friend.”

“You dance with all of your friends like that?”

You turn away from him, hoping one of the stalls will be free now, but you’re in no luck. He grabs your arm, forcing you to turn back around. Your eyes drop to his hand on your arm. His fingers are gentle, way gentler than his features. “Fucking let go of me,” you snap. “I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t know what part of getting into an accident made you want to act like you’re just a fucking victim of everything around you but my life has nothing to do with yours. Why do you fucking care?”

He looks stunned. “I… What?”

His confusion douses your fury, and you furrow your brows. “What do you mean, what?”

“I don’t care.”

You don’t know who he is trying to convince right now. And you don’t feel like getting to the bottom of it with him. In fact, you really don’t like the look on his face, and you just want to put distance between you and him. So you roll your eyes, before saying, “Alright then, leave me alone, Jeon. I won’t dance with Jimin again.”

He doesn’t even look happy or relieved that you’re saying that. Instead, his features fall a little, moving from a frown to a sad expression that makes something stir in your chest. “I… If you want to get with Jimin, you can.”

Now, you really are confused. “You come here to be a little bitch about this all and now you’re saying it’s fine?”

He pulls at his piercing, and his eyes flicker to the man that walks past you, indicating that a stall must be free now. “Yeah. If that’s what you want, who am I to tell you not to do it?”

You don’t know. You have no idea how the conversation managed to take this turn, so you wet your lips, cocking an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with you?”

“I…” he trails off, shrugging his shoulders. “I was being a dick. You’re right, I should stop acting like I’m a fucking victim.”

Now, your heart really does ache in your chest. Because what you said was inconsiderate, and you don’t even really mean it. Not the way that he interpreted it though, that’s for sure.

“Jungkook…”

“No, it’s really okay,” he says. He still looks sad, but he offers you a tight-lipped smile. “I’m sorry.”

Just like that he’s walking away, and why are you following him? You stop him by grabbing his arm, just like he did to you a moment ago. You hold on to him longer than he did to you, because his skin is warm under your fingers. His tattoos didn’t take away the softness of his skin, and you don’t really want to let him go. Not just yet.

“I didn’t mean it.” You look him in the eyes as he turns just enough so that his gaze can meet yours. “I got angry.”

“No but you’re right,” he insists. “I don’t know what I’m doing, I don’t know why I don’t like you talking to Jimin. You can do whatever you want.”

You let his arm go, albeit reluctantly. “If it can reassure you, I am not interested in Jimin like that. Like yes, he’s attractive, but I’m not really looking for a relationship right now.”

At that Jungkook laughs. It’s somehow melancholic, and you reckon you’ve brought his demons to the forefront of his mind tonight. “Jimin-hyung doesn’t do relationships, you’re in luck.”

“No,” you grumble, and you shut your eyes, as if you have to explain something to a thick-headed five years old. “I’m really not interested in Jimin. Like at all.” Your eyelids flutter open, and you catch the movement of Jungkook’s eyes as they snap away from you.

“Okay,” he lets out flatly. “I’m sorry I ruined it.”

He looks genuine. You’d be angry at him if he didn’t really look as genuine as he does right now.

“Nothing’s ruined, I promise,” you reassure him and you offer him a small smile. “I was tired of dancing anyway.”

The word ‘dancing’ has his gaze trail to the dancefloor, and he bites at his piercing before glancing back at you. “Oh.”

You realize this is awkward. Because what you said really seems to have upset Jungkook. And you can’t really blame him, it was low. The only thing is, you’re not close enough to him to make him understand. So all you can do when he says he’s going to head home is wish him goodnight.

You feel horrible as you watch him leave, and he’s only just crossed the doors leading to the world outside when you break into a small jog. You make it outside in a hurry, just to see he’s leaning against the wall next to the door.

He seems startled to see you, and you feel just as startled to see he hasn’t really left yet.

“I was wondering,” you let out, and you take a deep breath to steady yourself. “Are you going to come to the cottage? You didn’t say you would earlier.”

You have no idea why that’s come to your mind, but you’re just going to roll with it.

“Uh.” He glances down at his phone in his hand. “Am I even invited?”

You wet your lips, shrugging. “I mean, you’re part of the crew, of course you are.”

He holds your gaze for so long you think the Earth has time to revolve around the sun once before he speaks again. “Am I really part of the crew?”

You reckon he might need to hear it, so you don’t hesitate when you say, “Of course. We’d be nothing without you.”

At that the sad expression on his features melts away. It does so slowly, starting with his eyes. They crinkle at the corners, sparkling a little, and then it trickles down his face, until the corners of his lips tug upwards. It makes you smile too, and you just gaze at each other like that for a few heartbeats. It feels intimate, miles away from the usual bickering and hatred that you share.

It’s new, but it doesn’t feel scary. Jungkook doesn’t feel scary when he’s smiling softly.

“Yes, I’ll come,” he finally says.

It makes you blink, and it’s like the scene is coming back into focus. You realize there are a couple of people smoking a few meters away, and a soft breeze pushes the smoke towards you. You hate the smell, but somehow you can’t shake the smile from your lips.

“Good.” You nod once, and you glance towards the door. “I guess… I guess I’ll let you go home then.”

He nods too, and he tilts his head to the side. He’s surveying you with those big eyes of his. They shine with stars right now, as if his happiness brings the constellations to his gaze. Or maybe it’s just the reflection from the streetlights and car headlights, but it’s beautiful.

Jungkook has beautiful eyes.

“Just waiting for a Lyft,” he says, motioning up with his phone.

You worry at your lips, before flattening your skirt mindlessly. “Is it going to be here anytime soon?”

He looks at the rectangle of light, face falling serious. It takes him a few seconds, but then he nods. “Yep. Should pull up pretty much now.”

You glance at the two sides of the street, and sure enough a car slows down until it stops in front of you. “Alright then,” you say. “Good night, Jeon.”

You don’t usually say his last name like you said it just now. It feels different, in all the right ways that it can.

“Good night,” he echoes, tentatively adding your name at the end. “I’ll see you at practice Saturday?”

“Yes. See you then.”

You’re grinning like an idiot when you’re home later, thinking of the interaction. It felt refreshing to be with Jungkook like that. As if you can be friends.

You never imagined you would want to be friends with him, but somehow tonight you want it. It only doubles up when a series of texts appears on your screen, hiding the top part of the anime you’re watching in bed before going to sleep.

[3:02 am] unsaved number: lmaooi jmin saud i cockblocled him😂 [3:02 am] unsaved number: cockblocked* [3:02 am] unsaved number: sry im drunk

You laugh softly, turning on your back as you pause the anime. You go to the conversation, and you’re about to reply when he adds,

[3:03 am] unsaved number: plz ignorr this

You don’t hesitate when you save his number under his name.

Prev | Next

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What do we think of this chapter?? Enemies to lovers not too enemies anymore uh? Hope you liked it! Let me know what you thought!

Taglist: (strike-through means dumblr is not letting me tag you my bad)

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faithinthefutureficfest · 1 year ago

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Faith In The Future Fic Fest Masterpost

A big thank you to all authors who signed up for the fest, and anyone who ever participated in any way either by reblogging, leaving kudos or comments, or encouraging your fav authors to join - you are the reason why this fest is made possible!

Below, you will find all fics written for the fest along with their prompts:

The Greatest

✨ Together We're the Greatest by @hellolovers13 / fic post

Written All Over Your Face

✨ You're Bleeding Syrup Amour (Bleeding to Death) by @suesheroll / fic post

✨ It's Written All Over Your Face - Say It by @larry-hiatus / fic post

Bigger Than Me ✨ (now I realize that the world outside) it's bigger than me by @so-why-let-your-voice-be-tamed / fic post

Lucky Again ✨ Sweetest Devotion by @brightgolden / fic post

Face the Music ✨ i still wanna dance with you by @justanothershadeofblue / fic post

Chicago ✨ Bitter Ends Turn Sweet by @allwaswell16 / fic post

All This Time ✨ Trying to Find the Words (To Say For Ages) by @insightfulinsomniac / fic post

Out of My System ✨ High-End Fancy @thinlinez / fic post

Headline ✨ READ LIKE A HEADLINE by @chai-hat-tea / fic post

Saturdays ✨ Somebody's Got Your Trainers On (It's You) by @greenblueish / fic post ✨ Just Take The Pain Away by @yoursolosong / fic post

Silver Tongues ✨ love was a pretty lie by @itsnothesameasitwas ✨ nights like these by @waterloux / fic post ✨ Nights Like These, We'll Remember by @fallingdefenceless / fic post

She Is Beauty We Are World Class ✨ Do You See What I See by @allwaswell16 / fic post ✨ surrounded by lights by @justanothershadeofblue / fic post

Common People ✨ Fated Mates by anonymous / fic post

Angels Fly ✨ fuck around, find out by @nouies / fic post

Holding on to Heartache ✨ what's left of my halo's black by @loveislarryislove / fic post

That's The Way Love Goes ✨ That's The Way Love Goes by @red-pandaaa / fic post

#masterpost #authors if you find any discrepancies pls let me know and I will edit it asap!#thank you so much for everyone who involved in this fic fest!#authors and readers alike

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ageofbajabule · 1 year ago

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Dawn of Love | Chapter 2

Josh Kiszka x F! Reader

Word Count: 7k

Warnings: Arguing, Fluff, Anxiety, Self doubt, Making out, Alcohol consumption, Partying, Talk of Virginity,(no 18+ in this chapter. be on the lookout for the next one), (also please let me aware if I miss any, I always try and double check as I do my final edits)

Series Masterpost

Read Chapter 1 if you haven’t!

Want to join my Taglist? Fill out this form or send an ask!🤍

AN: I just want to make a quick note! I would like to try and have a new part posted on Saturday’s. I can’t promise that it will be updated every Saturday, but just know that I put a lot of thought and work into this. Hence why it may take a little longer than normal. I also work 3rd shift so I try and write in my free time as much as I can. Thank you all for being so patient and understanding❤️

March 2014

It had been a month since the dance, and since Josh and you had officially become a couple. Throughout the month, Josh has been nothing but sweet. Leaving you little notes in your locker, doing the same in return. It was hard only having one class together, so you were only able to see each other during lunch and poetry.

You spent most weeknights together and spent every weekend together - whether you were at his place, or he came over to your house. You had been helping him more on his film as it finally completed and you both were getting ready to present it to everyone you cared deeply about.

“Sunshine! Can you hand me the hard drive please?” He turned towards you, as you grabbed the hard drive, placing it in his hand.

“This film came out really well Josh.” You smiled softly, kissing his cheek.

“Couldn’t have done it without your help mama.”A blush crept on his face as he chuckled softly.

“So my family is going to come over Friday night to watch the film with all of us.” You smiled nervously.

Your dad always thought the film dream you had was silly, but you truly had a passion for it like Josh had. And it often resulted in arguments with your father. You had applied to different colleges for a filming and photography degree. With Josh’s help of course, he had applied to most of the colleges you did too.

“Has your dad said anything…” He trailed off, unsure about how to go with the conversation.

“Well we didn’t argue if that’s what you’re trying to ask.”

He stood up wrapping his arms around you in a hug. “He’ll eventually see how important film is to you. You’re going to be amazing.” He smiled, kissing your lips softly.

You kissed him back, then pulled away slowly hugging him tightly before parting away.

“Come on, we should probably head out to the garage. Jake wants to get another practice in order to be ready for Saturday’s gig.” He rubbed your arm.

You nodded, following behind him out to the garage. You opted on sitting on the couch, sitting next to Valerie - the girl Jake had recently started going steady with.

“Hey!” You smiled softly at her,

“Hey Y/N! Are you excited for Saturday?” She shifted her attention towards you.

“Yeah, this will be the first gig I see them perform. It’ll be a very different atmosphere.” You rubbed your hands together.

You and Val had sat there watching the guys play a couple songs from their setlist they had made up. Josh always made you proud no matter what he did, but seeing him perform with his brothers was something else.

The week had gone by, and Friday was here already. Your poetry class felt longer than usual today, Josh and yourself sat in the back of the classroom. Mr.Zawalski had wanted to finish the film Beowulf, so you and Josh decided to just watch the film as you wrote notes back and forth to each other.

Is your family still planning on joining us tonight?

Yeah, but my dad has been in a mood the past few days. :(

It’s okay, he’ll open up eventually. I think this film will show him. :)

I’m just glad I have your support <3

Of course Sunny, always <3

Then Mr.Zawalski turned the lights on in the classroom, causing everyone to groan from the harsh lighting adjustment. You folded your note between you and Josh stashing it into your folder.

“Do you want a ride home?” He smiled at you,

“If it’s not an issue, I don’t want Jake getting his panties in a bunch like the other week.” You giggled remembering them bickering about practice.

“He can suck it. I just don’t want my baby to ride the bus.” He smiled, wrapping an arm around your shoulder, walking over to your locker to gather your things to head home.

“Josh…”

“What’s the matter Sunny?”

You melted at his nickname for you. It always drove you crazy, no matter what.

“I just. I’m really worried about my dad’s reaction. Especially because I think I’ve decided on where to go for college…” You walked out to his car with him, Jake hadn’t gotten to the car yet.

“I know how much his support means to you Y/N… And I want you to know that you will not disappoint him. Just show him how much this means to you.” He rubbed your shoulders.

“And you not only have your mom and sister’s support, but you have mine, the guys, my sister and even my parents.” He chuckled softly, caressing your cheek.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m making the wrong choices…” You put your head down in his hand.

He lifts your face up to meet his gaze. He pushes a piece of your hair behind your ear.

“Sunshine, you’re not making the wrong choices. You’re following your heart. And that is most important.”

He smiled, leaning forward and placing his lips against yours softly.

“Can we go?”

You two pulled away to see the voice coming from Jake, leaned up against the car chuckling softly as he watched the scene in front of him.

You blushed and nodded, getting into the passenger seat. While Jake sat in the back and Josh got in the driver's side.

Josh then dropped you off at home, after reassuring him you would be at his house later to watch the film you both worked on. Walking into the house, you could hear the television playing the news as your father sits in his normal spot on the couch, staring at the tv intently. Your mother on the other hand was finishing up the days work of cleaning the house, while your sister sat in the living room doing her homework while trying to ignore the sounds of the tv.

Walking into the mud room you set your things down, taking your shoes off and walking into the living room sitting down.

“Hi pumpkin.” Your dad smiled at you softly.

“Hi dad, how was your day?” You smiled bringing your knees up to your chest wrapping your arms around them.

“Oh it was good, how was your day?” He turned the volume of the TV down.

“It was good…” You smiled softly,

“What time must we be at the Kiszka’s tonight?”

“Josh wants to start the film at 7. It’s about an hour long…” You chewed the inside of your cheek nervously.

“An hour? Wow… I’m impressed.” Your father replied in a sarcastic tone.

“Yeah. It was going to only be a 30 minute film. But Josh had insisted on using an idea of mine to the film and extend it.” You placed your feet, getting ready to stand.

“Pumpkin… I just. I don’t know-“

“Honey! Someone is on the phone for you.” Your mom yelled for your dad, giving you the chance to leave the room.

You felt tears at the brim of your eyes. You had decided to take a shower, to make yourself feel somewhat better and get ready for tonight.

It was around quarter to 7 and your family was ready to head over to Josh’s. You had packed a small bag, considering you would be staying the night to help the guys tomorrow for their gig.

Your sister and yourself got in the back of you dad’s pick up, as your mom got into the passenger side. Your dad drove off to make the way to the Kiszka’s.

Upon arriving your dad had gotten out, helping your mom out of the truck while you and your sister followed behind them. Your father knocked on the door, and Kelly had answered it. “Hey! Welcome, come on in. Karen is finishing up making drinks and getting popcorn ready.” He motioned for everyone to file in.

You had immediately made way to Ronnie’s room setting your bag in there to make your parents aware you would in fact not be staying in Josh’s room tonight. Not that it would matter, since you would be sleeping in the basement anyways.

Walking out of Ronnie’s room you ran into Josh - making him fall back a couple of inches from the sudden impact.

“Oh, sunny. You scared me.” He chuckled, clenching his chest.

“I’m sorry Joshy…” You giggled, grabbing his hand rubbing circles.

“It’s okay mama.” He smiled, kissing your cheek.

“Josh… I don’t think he’s going to like it. He was ready to go on about how film isn’t a good career choice…” You sighed.

“Y/N. You are going to be amazing. Don’t let one person’s judgment dictate your dream.”

He caressed your cheek looking into your eyes - giving you one of his most reassuring smiles he could muster.

“If anything, only you can judge your choices. No one else.”

“Thank you… Thank you for being so understanding about everything.” You sighed feeling a little bit of relief, grabbing the hand that rested on your cheek, squeezing it gently.

“Now come on, we have a film to show.” He giggled dragging you downstairs to the living room with him.

You opted to sit on the loveseat with Josh, while your parents sat on the big couch with Karen and Kelly. Everyone else made themselves comfy on the floor or pulled a folding chair from the closet.

Josh had held your hand the entire time while the film played. Rubbing circles into your hand to keep you calm as he could tell you were tense from what your father would think of your work.

Once the film had finished everyone in the room was cheering and clapping on the film. You smiled, hugging Josh tightly.

“My god, you kids are going places!” Karen shot up from the couch hugging both you and Josh.

“Thank you mom.” Josh smiled at her,

“Thank you Mrs. Kiszka. It means a lot.” You smiled softly, looking over her shoulder to see your parents making their way.

“Sweetie, you are absolutely brilliant. Amazing work to both of you.” Your mom smiled, pulling you and Josh in for a hug.

“I’m proud of you pumpkin. You as well Josh.” He smiled, sticking his hand out to shake Josh’s hand.

The two of them shake each other’s hands smiling back at one another. Kelly had chimed in congratulating the two of you on your work. Then you had walked your family out to the truck to say goodnight before heading back into Josh’s.

“Thank you guys for coming and watching it. It really means a lot to me.” You smiled softly.

“Sweetie, you will always have our support. No matter what!” Your mom kissed your cheek, hugging you tightly.

“I still think you should reconsider your major…” You dad put out flatly, giving you a deadpan look to show that he wasn’t budging about this matter.

“Dad…” You groan,

“Y/N… I just. I want you to be realistic here. How many directors or filmmakers are successful right away?”

“Just say you don’t believe in me dad. It would hurt a lot less…” You felt the tears forming in your eyes.

“It’s not that I don’t be-“

“Really! Cause it sure seems like it… All my life I was trying to figure out who I truly am and what I want to do with my life. And the moment I do, it's not good enough for you! I’ve always done everything to make you happy dad, it’s my time to do what makes me happy…” You spit out at your father as you wiped the tears away that spilled out of your eyes.

“Y/N, we will continue this discussion at another time.” He said sternly.

“No, I’m tired of discussing this. I’ve made up my mind of what I’m doing with my life. Whether I have your support or not…” You turned on your heels,

“I’ll be home Sunday afternoon…” You then walked into Josh’s house shutting the door behind you.

Running to the guest bathroom, locking yourself in there quietly crying to yourself - until you heard a soft knock.

“Sunshine…”

“I’ll be out in a minute…” You sighed softly.

“I’ll get us some hot chocolate, okay?” He said through the door.

“Okay…”

You heard him shuffle away, as you turned to look at yourself in the mirror - wiping away the tears that were there. You resituated yourself making your way to the kitchen.

“You okay mama?” Josh was finishing up making the two of you hot chocolate.

You nodded, “I’ll be okay.” You smiled at him as he handed you a mug.

“You can talk about it whenever you want. Not now, but whenever you’re ready.” He smiled and kissed your forehead softly.

Morning came pretty quickly, and was filled with absolute chaos. The guys ran around making sure they had everything they needed for tonight's gig. Going over setlists, and making sure everyone’s gear was in tip top shape.

“Jake everything is loaded up. It’s going to be fine!” Josh pinched the bridge of his nose.

“You don’t tell me that everything is going to be fine. This is the first real gig we have! This is the start. This is my dream!” He yelled at him.

“Really Jacob? It’s not just your dream.” He threw his hands up,

“I didn’t mean it like that…” He sighed,

“I understand how important this is to you Jake. I really do. But you need to loosen up, being all tense and worried doesn’t make things better for yourself.” He patted his shoulder.

“You’re right, I’m sorry… It’s just. I don’t want this to affect how we go about this road…” He rubbed his face.

“If it makes you feel any better, Val will be there!” You chimed in, smiling softly.

Jake chuckled, nodding his head. “Yeah, that does…”

You smiled softly, dragging Josh with you. “Listen, I know you guys are going to be amazing tonight. And you’re going to kill it!”

Josh smiled as a blush crept up on his face. “Thank you, sunny…”

“Anytime Joshy…” You giggled, kissing his lips softly.

Jake suggested he drive over to Fischer Hall, while Val sat in the front and you and Josh sat in the back. Sam and Danny had rode over with Kelly and Karen, with Danny’s parents to follow them.

You all arrived about an hour before they would start so they had time to set up, and get everything in tune before the show started for them.

After everyone was settled, people had started to come into the small venue. You offered smiles to the guys.

“You guys are going to be great.” You hugged them all, then once you made it to Josh a blush crept onto your cheeks.

“You guys act like you never kiss in front of us…” Sam started laughing with Danny.

“Shut it Sammy.” Josh snipped at him, then turned towards you smiling, kissing your lips softly. You kissed him back then pulled away.

“Break a leg handsome.” You giggled softly.

Josh chuckled and went with the guys onto the stage. They lit the room up with their presence making everyone cheer them on.

You sat by the parents with Val - cheering the guys on with them.

After they performed a couple songs they finished their small set. Getting a great response afterwards makes your smile widen. You saw Josh coming over to you all flustered.

“That was amazing!” You giggled.

“It was exhilarating.” He chuckled, “Let me help the guys clean up and we can get out of here.” He smiled and ran off to help the guys.

April 2014

The twins' birthday was coming up on Wednesday. But Karen wanted to throw them a party this weekend, since they were turning 18. She had stressed how important it was that her babies have a great party, and one to remember. You have been helping out in any way.

It was hard to keep it a secret from Josh, you hated to keep secrets. But this one was just for a surprise party - so one secret wouldn’t hurt.

It was Tuesday the day before the twins' 18th birthday. Josh has been completely asking you all the questions about what you had planned. And of course you had to tell him he would have to wait and see.

“But sunny…” He groaned, walking to your locker with you.

“No ‘buts’ Josh. I’m not saying another word about your birthday.”

You opened your locker, seeing a bouquet of flowers and a note - blushing, you picked up the note reading….

To my sunshine, will you go to prom with me?

You turned to Josh, “Yes.”

He smiled, pulling you in for a hug kissing your lips.

“I know it's a month away… And I should’ve asked sooner.”

You stopped him, “Josh, it’s okay. I’ve had my dress since the beginning of the month.” You giggled softly.

“Oh, okay… I guess that's some relief.” He laughed nervously.

“And I think my mom may have already sent your mom what I was wearing. So I think they already had an idea that we would be going together.” You shook your head at their antics.

“I’m glad they’re ahead of it.” He kissed your cheek.

“I’ll see you later mama.” He winked and made his way to his morning class.

It was finally Josh and Jake’s birthday, you all decided on skipping school and going on a hike. Classes lately haven't been filled with many lessons considering you graduate in the beginning of June. And missing a day wouldn’t hurt, you just wouldn’t let your parents find out.

You all made it look like you were heading to school, but changed route and went towards where the boys family lake house was. Once arriving you had gotten out of the car, looking at the house.

“She is something…” Josh came up beside you chuckling.

“I’ve never seen anything like it.”.

“We like to come up and get away… Helps us get creative, or just to clear our minds. But we spend most of our summer days here.” He rubbed your arm.

“Well, I’m sure it’s lovely. But I’d really like to get on this trail that Jake and you were talking about.” You kissed his cheek softly.

He shook his head and walked over to Jake grabbing his gear. You did the same, tightening your laces to your shoes, and putting your bag on your back.

“So how long is this trail exactly Jake?” You stood up, soaking in the fresh air.

“About 2 miles, so a 4 mile hike today.” He smirked at you.

“But the view is nice when we get to the end of the trail. See’s over the lake and everything.” Josh chimed in.

“You might just have to carry me on the way back down.” You giggled grabbing the small lunch bag.

They both started walking on the trail, following in between them. Jake played music from his bluetooth speaker. The trail was pretty flat for most of the first half, then the other half the trail got a bit uneven and mainly stones created a path.

You felt absolutely winded, it wasn’t exactly hot out. But the temperature today was enough to make you sweat from the hike. You were a little behind Jake and Josh, it's not like you grew up in an environment to partake in hiking trips. But you wanted to spend time with both of them.

“Y/N, you alright back there?” Jake turned around, smiling softly.

“I’m okay, this is just new for me. I’m not like you monkeys…” You giggled softly.

“We’re almost there, sunny.” Josh came down beside you, rubbing your back.

“Just drink some water.” He pulled out a water bottle and opened it for you.

“Thank you…” You smiled softly, taking a couple sips from the bottle, closing it up and following them the rest of the way.

Once you made it to the end of the trail, there was an overpass that looked over the lake. It was beautiful, Josh wasn’t lying.

You set your bag down pulling out the big blanket to set on the ground, and pulled out the sandwiches you made for them. Handing them out, they smiled and said their thanks munching away. You sat down eating away at yours.

After finishing your sandwiches you had pulled out a small cake that you somehow managed to fit in the cooler. You pulled it out putting some candles lighting them, walking over to the twins.

“Happy Birthday to you!” You giggled softly.

They both sat up smiling, then blew the candles out.

“Thank you, Y/N!” Jake smiled,

“Thank you, sunny.” Josh blushed smiling softly, he kissed your cheek.

“Of course! I don’t know what I’d do without you guys.” You sighed softly, setting the cake on top of the cooler, cutting slices up for them.

Jake then pulled out a joint that was pre-rolled. “Shall we?”

Josh nodded timidly, “That depends….did you actually get some good shit for once?”

“The shit that knocks you on your ass? Yes, yes I did.” Jake chuckled, lighting it up. He took a couple puffs before passing it along to Josh.

Josh took a couple hits, then passed it to you. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to.” He smiled softly.

“I do, I just… Never have…” You looked down ashamed of yourself.

“Hey, it’s alright. All you do is place it between your lips, inhale a little then exhale.” He handed you the joint.

You nodded your head, doing as he said. You exhaled, and coughed a good bit as Jake grabbed the joint from you.

“She’s a champ!” He chuckled softly, patting your shoulder.

“Woohoo sunny!” Josh smiled, kissing your cheek.

Saturday came, and you had opted to take Josh out for brunch to get him out of the house for his mom to set up for the party. Jake was already out with Val for the morning and early afternoon, making it easier for her to decorate the house.

“So what does Sunshine have planned for me today?” Josh chuckled as he buckled himself in the car.

“Brunch, maybe a little walk around downtown? And then cake at your place.” You smiled at him as you buckled yourself, putting the car in gear to drive.

Josh took over the aux in the car, immediately playing his playlist. He started off by playing John Denver’s Sunshine On My Shoulder. You gave him a look, shaking your head slowly.

“Oh come on sunny!” He grabbed your hand and kissed it softly.

“It’s a song I can dedicate to you now, until I write a good one about you…”

“You’ll write me a song…” You blushed,

“I’d write you a million…” He smiled softly, then began belting out to the song.

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy

Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry

Sunshine on the water looks so lovely

Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a day that I could give you

I’d give you a day just like today

If I had a song that I could sing for you

I’d sing a song to make you feel this way

The drive to downtown was nice and filled with laughter and singing. Josh’s voice always blew you away, he was just a beautiful person to be with.

You stopped by a local diner, heading in to sit at a booth. The two of you had ordered your favorites, and ate in bliss. Enjoying each other’s time with one another, after brunch. You two decided to walk around downtown. It was only 2pm and you have another hour and a half to kill before making your way back to the Kiszka’s.

While walking downtown Josh pointed out a record shop, pleading you to go in with him.

“Okay! But we can’t spend the whole day here.” You giggled as he was practically dragging you in.

He chuckled, walking into the store with you. It was a pretty big store with a wide collection to choose from.

You went to the disco section, immediately searching for a copy of ABBA’s self title. It was the only edition you needed to complete your collection. You had all their other pressings available, but every time you went searching you had no luck finding it.

And to your avail, there is no self title available. You sighed, looking over the rest of the selection of great disco vinyls.

“What’s wrong, sunny?” Josh came up behind you rubbing your arm.

“Still no luck in finding the self title of ABBA…” You groaned looking up at him.

“We’ll find it one day.” He chuckled softly, kissing the top of your head.

You nodded and made way to find a couple records for him, you had already had his gift wrapped up and in your car. But another gift of two wouldn’t be an issue, you thought to yourself as you grabbed two of what would definitely be Josh’s favorites.

You had checked out with a pressing of An Evening with John Denver and a pressing of Port of Morrow by The Shins. Josh had a very interesting music taste, and you loved that about him. He was always showing you different indie artists, as you showed him your favorite rock artists.

After having a successful shopping spree in the record shop, it was finally time to head back to the Kiszka’s.

“Come on Josh!” You smiled, watching him check out.

“So what did ya get?” Josh whispered in your ear, coming up behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist. Holding you flush against his chest.

“You’ll see later.” You smiled softly, getting into the car and heading back to his place.

When the two of you had arrived, Jake and Val had pulled up too. Perfect timing you thought to yourself. You gathered the small gifts you had for both Josh and Jake. Heading to the door with them.

You let the twins enter the house first, hearing everyone yell ‘Surprise!’ and ‘Happy Birthday!’ The twins chuckled, smiling softly at everyone present.

“Thank you everyone!” They said in unison.

You came in behind them with Val. “Did you know about this?” Josh asked you, smirking.

“I may have helped your mom…” You giggled softly.

For the next hour or two, everyone was socializing and eating. Karen knew how to make a feast for any special occasions. You truly enjoyed her cooking, in fact you found it better than your mothers.

You handed Jake his gift, allowing him to open it. He unwrapped it, revealing a Jimi Hendrix ‘Are You Experienced’ vinyl.

“Holy shit! Are you serious Y/N! Thank you!” He smiled and gave you a hug.

“It’s nothing, really.” You smiled softly, hugging him back.

“It’s not nothing! This is very thoughtful, thank you.” He then went back to sit next to Val opening her gift.

Josh then pulled you into the basement, away from everyone. You smiled, handing him his gifts sitting on the couch next to him.

“Happy Birthday, Joshy…” You blushed watching him go through the shopping bag from today’s finds.

“Sunshine! These are great!” He smiled, then went to grab the one that was wrapped.

“This one was a little bit harder to find… I’m not going to lie, but you kept talking about it. And I just had to deep dive…” You chewed your lip nervously.

His eyes lit up, as he tore the wrapping paper off. Revealing an original pressing of John Denver’s self title. Josh hadn’t been able to find a copy at all, and it was driving him nearly insane.

“Y/N… This…” He smiled looking at you, placing it on the table in front of the two of you.

He cupped your face in his hands kissing your lips softly.

“I love you…”

He said it. He said it first… You had been worried to have said it too soon, or too late. But, right now was the perfect time for it to have happened. You felt your stomach flutter from his words.

“I love you too…” You giggled, kissing his lips softly again.

May 2014

Prom was here. And to say you were stressed, was an understatement. You had recently completed your admission to Michigan State University after discussing with Josh your plans for the future. He was beyond excited for you and had also enrolled into Michigan State.

The two of you would be pursuing the same degree, therefore you would have pretty much the same courses. You were happy that you wouldn’t be completely alone at college, and that you would have someone you know there.

All morning you had been waiting to get your hair done, then your makeup to follow suit after your hair was done. Your mother was making sure everything for your senior prom was going smoothly. Even though you had reassured her multiple times that you were okay and everything was fine.

Hoping she isn’t like this for your wedding one day…

After leaving the salon, you headed back home to finish getting ready. All that was left was the dress. It was absolutely stunning - opting for a print color, you had decided on a sky blue gown.

It was strapless and flowed beautifully, though it wasn’t a ball gown, but it stood out from most dresses that were available for this prom season.

You slipped it on, then put your heels on. Looking at yourself in the mirror, putting on your necklace and earrings. Giving yourself a final touch up on your lipstick, then making your way down stairs.

Your mother was at the bottom of the steps, waiting for you to take you to the golf course where Josh and his family would meet you to take pictures together. You had wished Josh could’ve picked you up beforehand, but didn’t want to cause an argument.

As you were heading out the door, your father followed behind helping you into the car making sure your dress didn’t get caught in the door. You smiled buckling yourself, as your parents drove to the course.

Once you had arrived, you got out meeting Josh and his family. Along with Jake and Val’s family, it was a beautiful sunny day for prom. Most cases it had rained on prom for others in the past, but today it didn’t.

“You look extravagant sunshine!” Josh smiled, holding your hands in his kissing your cheek softly.

“You don’t look too bad yourself.” You giggled softly, then Karen came over handing Josh and you, the corsage and boutonniere set. It was white rose assortment again, like it was for the Valentine’s dance. You giggled softly remembering that night.

“What is it, sunny?” Josh smiled as he slipped the corsage on your wrist.

“Just remembering our first dance together…” You blushed, as you helped pin his boutonniere to his tux. He smiled, and kissed your cheek softly.

“Alright kiddos! Come on, time to get some pictures of you all.” Karen smiled, getting her digital camera out, your mother did the same.

The two of them kept taking pictures, in front of the ponds, the trees, the garden. You name it. You were already exhausted and the fun of the evening hadn’t even started.

“Mom, I think that's enough pictures…” Jake groaned, fidgeting with his tie.

“Oh alright! I just can’t believe my babies will be graduating in two weeks!” Karen cried out teary eyed, as the twins pulled her into a hug.

Prom was what you expected it to be. Another dance in which everyone dressed to impress. The only thing that made it sentimental was that it was the last dance for your class. Sure you only had a handful of friends, but you were all going to different schools and some were even moving out of state to pursue their dreams.

Jake had gotten invited to an after party, inviting you and Josh to join him. In which the two of you couldn’t turn down. But before heading over to the after party you had stopped home to change into a more party-like fit, and an overnight bag to stay the night at Josh’s.

Your parents had been more lenient about you staying over at Josh’s considering they trusted him and yourself. But they also knew that they couldn't necessarily control your life as much, as you were turning 18 right after graduation.

Pulling up to the party, Josh and you had driven over with Jake. Val couldn’t join as she had cheer practice in the morning for her upcoming competition. The house was a lakehouse that wasn’t too far from the Kiszka's lakehouse. It was about the same size, maybe a tad bit bigger.

But after all it was Gabe Sanders throwing the party - his parents were loaded with money. The house was filled with probably the entire senior class, and anyone who attended the prom. The music was loud, there was alcohol everywhere. Definitely a different vibe then what you were used to.

“It’s gonna be alright Y/N, it's our senior year after all! And besides I’m sure we’ll go to some college parties.” Josh chuckled softly, rubbing your waist to comfort you.

“I don’t know, I guess it’s just because I’ve never really attended parties like this before.” You quipped walking into the house.

The scene in front of your eyes was like straight out of a movie. People were crowded everywhere, red solo cups in everyone’s hands. Couples lounged together not caring that people saw them hooking up. You made your way to the kitchen with Josh, as he got you a cup of Tequila Soda.

Josh had been around alcohol more frequently than you, so he already had an easy drink to go for. You smiled softly as he handed you a cup, taking a sip you felt the alcohol run down your throat feeling the burning sensation.

“It’s good isn’t it!” Josh smiled softly,

“I’ll manage.” You giggled softly, as he threw his arm around your shoulder.

The rest of the night Josh and you had a couple drinks, definitely now under the influence. He decided to take you to a bedroom upstairs.

Josh and you hadn’t even gotten past 2nd base yet - it’s not that you weren’t ready to take the next step, you just were scared of what he wanted as well. It’s a topic the two of you haven’t generally come across yet. But in the end you knew that when the time was right, it would happen.

The two of you giggled as you made way to the bedroom, kissing and whispering sweet nothings to each other. The two of you sat on the edge of the bed unsure of what to do next. Nervous as all ever, Josh rubbed your shoulder reassuringly.

You smiled and pressed your lips against his, deepening the kiss with him. His hands rubbed your waist, while your hands were tangled in his hair.

Then you heard a floorboard creek,

“Oh my god!” You knew that cracky voice from anywhere.

“What the hell Sam! How did you even get into this party?!” Josh turned away from you, shifting his attention towards his little brother.

“Because the older ladies love me Joshua…” He wiggled his eyebrows.

Josh then picked up a pillow chucking it at Sam.

“Get out Samuel!” His face was beet red.

Sam zipped out of the bedroom, shutting the door on his way out. Josh sighed softly, turning back towards you.

“I’m sorry about that, I should’ve locked the door.” He chuckled nervously.

“It’s okay Josh, really… Besides, I think it's best that our first time isn’t under the influence…” You trailed off, caressing his cheek with your thumb.

He nodded, “You’re absolutely right, sunny… I want our first time to be more meaningful and at a proper setting.” He kissed your cheek softly.

“Come on, we should probably leave soon. Especially before Sam gets into any trouble…”

Josh stood up, putting his hand out for yours. Taking his you intertwine your hands walking downstairs to regroup with Jake and Sam heading back to their place.

June 2014

The last two weeks of school had dragged, it felt longer than usual. But alas, graduation was here. The morning felt absolutely hectic and long, as your mother was frantic on planning your graduation party. Why did she have to have it the same night as graduation, beat you. But you didn’t want to upset her and not have a graduation party.

The assigned seating was based on height, those graduating that were in choir were separate from the rest of the graduating class. Therefore Josh was in the choir section, leaving you and Jake to sit by yourselves. You and Jake were a couple rows away from one another. Then you were next to your good friend Mallory.

The ceremony was a complete bore, talking about how to make sure all the choices you make in life are never taken for granted. And to always remember where you’re from…

Before you knew it, everyone was placing their tassels onto the other side of their caps.

“Congratulations to the 2014 Class of Frankenmuth High!”

The principal smiled, clapping his hands. All of the students threw their caps in the air, catching them afterwards. You found Jake and Josh immediately after the ceremony hugging them tightly.

“Oh sweetie!” Your mom was in tears, flailing her arms to wrap you into a hug. You smiled softly at her, hugging her tightly. Soon after your father engulfed you into a hug.

“Congratulations pumpkin! You’re a high school grad!” He kissed the top of your head.

“Thank you guys…” You smiled softly, going to hug your sister Olivia.

“Congrats sis.” She smiled softly,

“You’re up next…” You giggled, squeezing her more into the hug.

Josh made way back to you after finding his family, he pulled you into a tight hug, kissing your lips softly. You blushed, kissing him back softly in front of everyone, pulling away.

“My mom wanted to get some pictures of all of us.” He chuckled softly.

“What a great idea!” You mother chimed in, standing next to Karen to get pictures of you two and then Jake to join as well.

“Come on now! Smile!” Karen had motioned for you and Josh to pose.

He pulled you by the waist, keeping his hand rested on your hip drawing circles with his thumb. You smiled, placing a hand on his chest taking what seemed like a hundred pictures.

“Alright, one more couple picture then a group picture! Don’t be shy now.” You mother giggled, then Josh and you giggled kissing each other softly for one last photo.

Jake had then joined in, making you stand in the middle like a twin sandwich. You ruffled his hair a bit, fixing his cap and then posed for a couple more pictures that suited both the parents' liking.

“Okay! Can we please go, don’t want to be late to my own graduation party….” You giggled softly.

Your mother gasped, “Oh my god! I almost forgot... Let’s hurry home and get you ready!”

The graduation party your mother had planned for you went well. Part of your graduating class showed up to join the fun, which included games of cornhole, horseshoe, and some good ole campfire songs.

As the night drew nearer, everyone had left the party leaving you to help clean up with your mother. Josh had also stayed behind to help clean up, where Jake had gone to take Valerie home.

“Thanks for helping…” You smiled, tying up the trash bags.

“Of course sunshine, I’d help anytime.” He flashed a smile at you.

The smile you loved most, when his eyes crinkled and his dimple was visible. You’ve started to notice more little things about him, the things you had grown to love even more about him.

The way he laughed, the way he talked, the way he looked while peacefully sleeping after a long night of band practice. The way his hair rested, just above his shoulders… The way his honey golden brown eyes stole your breath away. He always knew how to make you smile, and how to make you laugh. He wasn’t just any ordinary guy. He was Josh. Josh had become a safe space for you…

And he had no clue how much you loved him… How much you care for him, and how much he meant to you. Josh was like a missing puzzle piece that fit your puzzle to life that you were trying to figure out. And there he was all along.

After taking the trash out to the trash cans, Josh had asked you to go on a drive with him. And which of course you agreed to go.

“Where exactly are we going?” You giggled softly, as he sped off to wherever he had planned.

“Just trust me!” He smiled softly, rubbing your hand with his thumb reassuringly.

A 20 minute drive later, you had pulled up to what seemed to be an abandoned cabin. You got out of the car, waiting for him to join your side.

“You’re not planning on killing me, are you?” You looked at him.

“Now what kind of gentleman would I be to bring you all the way out here to do such a thing.” He chuckled softly, earning a giggle from you.

“So… What’s special about here?” You looked at him questioningly.

“This is where I come to get away and have time for myself… I’ve always been drawn to this location. Whether it's the energy that resides here or whatever higher being is calling to me… I don’t know…” He rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

“Josh…” You placed a hand on his cheek, rubbing it softly. “There is no need to get nervous or shy around me…” You kissed him softly.

He pulled you in closer, kissing your lips back softly.

“I just… I love you, and figured I’d show you a spot that could be ours… and perhaps, one day we can buy this land and make this a cute winter holiday home.” He chuckled nervously.

“Mr. Kiszka wants to get a holiday home with me?” You blushed, poking his chest softly.

“Perhaps one day… When the time is right of course.” He smiled, grasping your hands softly intertwining them. “One day, I’ll make you mine forever…”

“You’re sunshine forever…” You smiled softly, leaning in to kiss him once more.

The start of your summer break had just begun. And there was so much left to experience before starting college. You were nervous to say the least about starting this new chapter in your life. But having Josh by your side helped ease the anxiety. Or would it…

Taglist-

@lyndszee @laneygvf @sacredthefran @starcatcherry @fkfearandliveyourlegend @hi-hi-hello11 @gretnavannfleet @themoreyou-love @gvfmuse @meetingthestardust @myleftsock @jordie-gvf-admin @radmads-gvf @twistedmelodies @thunderstomp-and-tequila @sinsofstardust @jakesdogss12 @vanillabear27 @dharma-divine33 @holybananafuck @thecoldwind

#greta van fleet #gvf #greta van smut #gvf smut #greta van fleet fluff #greta van fluff #greta van fic #josh gvf #josh kiszka x y/n #josh kiszka fic #josh kiszka #josh kiszka fluff #josh greta van fleet #josh kiszka x reader #joshua kiszka #joshua michael kiszka #josh kiszka series #dawn of love #greta van fleet fic

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echo-goes-mmm · 9 months ago

Text

Moonflower #11

Masterpost

Warnings: torture

“This Saturday is the monthly dinner and social. You’ll be going with me.” said Mistress, as Kit cut into his steak. His portions had gotten subtly larger, and there was a basket of bread on the table.

He had a sneaking suspicion that Christine was to blame; either she had taken matters into her own hand after the note, or Maxus had encouraged her.

He appreciated their discretion, but still.

Kit took a roll anyway.

“It happens every month?” he asked.

“Mhm.” Iris swirled her wine. “Supposedly to encourage good relationships between the lords and the crown.”

The way she said it, and the set of her jaw told him that she thought it was nonsense. Yet another thing that Iris didn’t like about her job.

“I’d prepare yourself for some back-handed compliments,” she advised. “Try not to take it personally.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

Kit finished his plate and reached for another roll. Iris didn’t seem to notice anything amiss.

For the first time in over a year, he went to bed almost full and nearly satisfied.

___________________

The stone floor was cold; freezing against his skin. He was completely nude and kneeling, his legs apart, and his forehead pressed to the ground. His arms were stretched out in front of him, and his shoulders ached.

“C-can I pl- please move, sir?” he asked, teeth chattering. He wanted to curl up, to at least be able to lick at the clean water dripping off of his body. He was so thirsty, and he’d been forced to hold his position for hours.

“No,” said the mortal, standing over him. “And I didn’t say you could talk.”

Moonflower whimpered, his arms and legs shaking.

The mortal tossed more icy water on him, and he couldn’t help but shriek. His chest heaved trying to take in air, but the chill made it hard to do much of anything. His muscles screamed with exhaustion.

The mortal crouched next to him. “Are you cold?” he asked with a horrid grin.

Moonflower kept quiet out of trepidation, but the human gripped his hair and yanked his head back. Moonflower whined, his neck far too vulnerable for his liking.

“Answer me.”

“Y-yes, s-sir. I’m c-cold.”

The human tossed the bucket across the room, and it clattered loudly on the floor.

“I guess I should warm you up,” said the human. “I can’t let my prize flower freeze.”

Moonflower hated the nickname, but said nothing. He had already learned that lesson.

The mortal let go of his hair, and disappeared from his field of view, only to come back a minute later. He wore heavy gloves, and held glowing, red-hot-

No. no. nononono-

“Moonflower,” commanded the human, and even his blood seemed to freeze, “stay still.”

The hot iron cuffs wrapped around his wrists, searing into his flesh, and Moonflower wailed-

___________________

Kit woke up screaming, the dream disappearing as fast as it had overtaken him.

His door burst open, and a knight stormed in. Kit scrambled backwards on the bed, fear and confusion shooting through him.

What did he do wrong?

The knight grabbed his ankle and yanked. Kit yelped as he tumbled, his spine slamming into the floor.

“Wait- please-” he pleaded, rolling to crawl away, but the knight stomped his boot on his back, forcing him to the ground.

His breath was knocked out of his lungs, and he screwed his eyes shut. He was only wearing boxers; which were so easily torn off, and he could practically feel the fingers slipping under the waistband, roaming over his skin-

“What the hell is going on?” Sir Brennan’s voice filled the room.

There were no hands on him. It was only his fear playing tricks on him.

The knight standing on top of him shifted, and Kit choked back a sob at the pressure. If the night guards wore steel instead of leather, he’d have a boot-sized burn in the middle of his back.

“I heard screaming,” said the knight, defensive.

“So your immediate thought was to attack? Instead of, I don’t know, assessing the situation? Get back to your post.”

“You aren’t my commanding officer, Brennan,” argued the knight.

Kit opened his eyes and saw Brennan’s boots move closer. He glanced up at him, and his dark eyes were furious.

“You mean Captain Brennan. I outrank you, soldier. And you’re on guard rotation for tonight, so you report to me,” seethed Brennan. “Get back to your post, now.”

The pressure on Kit’s back vanished, and he darted under the bed, shaking as he pressed himself against the wall.

“Yes, sir,” muttered the soldier, and Kit watched his boots move out of sight.

“Jackass,” mumbled Brennan under his breath. “What happened?” he said aloud.

“Nightmare,” said Kit, curling into himself. It was so real, nearly exactly the way it had happened. He was still shaking, the mere memory of the pain making him tremble.

“I see.”

There was silence. “You can come out now. He’s gone.”

Kit hesitated. He wasn’t sure why Brennan wanted him to, and he didn’t want to find out.

“No, thank you,” he whispered.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” said Brennan.

Kit closed his eyes. “You- you said-” he cut himself off with a whimper.

He heard a sigh and the sound of a buckle. He opened his eyes, and Brennan’s sword fell to the floor with a clunk. Brennan’s boot kicked it away, across the room.

It was a nice gesture, but Kit wasn't moving.

“You had a bad dream, Kit. I’m not going to strike you down for that.”

“Okay,” he whispered. “Where- where’s Maxus?”

“Stomach flu. Half the guards are out with it. I borrowed a few soldiers from Captain Blake, but didn’t have time to really train them properly.”

“Oh.”

A pause.

“I’m sorry,” said Brennan. “This shouldn’t have happened. Did he hurt you?”

“I’ll be alright.” It wasn’t an answer, and he knew Brennan knew that. Kit just wasn’t sure how much of the pain was the soldier, and how much was the adrenaline leaving his body.

“Are you sure?”

“Mhm.”

Brennan hesitated, before crossing the room to pick up his sword. “Goodnight,” he said, still soft.

“ ‘Night.”

Kit didn’t fall back asleep.

taglist: @paintedpigeon1 @cupcakes-and-pain @loserwithsyle @cepheusgalaxy @thingsthatgo-whump-inthenight @virtualbreadtale

#kit has had a very long very tearful day #honestly brennan just wanted to check for injuries. he didn't trust kit to tell him if he was hurt or not.#which like. manipulative. but he was kinda right #brennan: dammit now i actually care. anyway are you okay???#i am resisting the urge to info dump about the soldier/guard hierarchy and the venn diagram and all that stuff #someday maybe. but not today #my writing #whump #moonflower series #fae whumpee #royal caretaker

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allmoshnobrain · 10 months ago

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𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

part 26 of ? | masterpost

word count: 2085 | ao3 link | fic's playlist

I let out a quiet, pained noise, frightened and hurt like some scared critter stumbling into the lion's lair. James's eyes flicked up, catching mine for the briefest fraction of a second, shock and regret dancing in his blue gaze before I pivoted and beelined it out through the kitchen door.

✦ summary: Despite choosing to remain by Dave's side, Nore finds that getting over her feelings for James is harder than she thought it would be.

✦ on this chapter: dave mustaine x female!oc, james hetfield x female! oc, oc is cliff's cousin, +18, language, slice of life, angst, love triangle, drinking, recreational drug use, jealousy

✧ you got me wrapped around your finger, do you have to let it linger? ✧

The guys' last weekend in Los Angeles rolled around real quick, kicking off on a slightly chilly Saturday that practically begged for an afternoon tucked under the covers. We cooked up our own version of coziness; Cliff threw an invite my way to chill at Mike's place, puffing on some smokes and sipping drinks while diving into a stack of horror movies Kirk had snagged.

Running into James again was just about as awkward as I'd braced myself for. He gave me a somewhat normal greeting, but the turmoil in his eyes had my heart doing an uncomfortable squeeze. To top it off, he had Pat in tow, showing up at Mike's with this big grin, hand-in-hand with James, their intertwined fingers betraying a closeness I'd rather not have known existed.

I tried to brush that off, though. After all, I had made my choice, hadn't I? Coming back home later that night, I knew I'd land in the comfort of Dave's arms, and whatever leftover turmoil would get washed out like rainwater. With time, the pain and sadness in James' eyes would likely fade. And perhaps, we could go back to being just good friends, sweeping those stolen moments from that autumn under the rug like they never happened.

We kicked back in Mike's basement, popping those tapes into his brand new VHS player. Kirk and Lars posted up on the carpet, Kirk sprawled out with his head in Lars's lap, dropping the occasional comment about film quality or some backstage scoop. Cliff, Mike, and I settled onto one of the couches, passing around a joint, while James and Pat claimed the other one. As the beer stash ran dry, a pizza got ordered, and I started to chill out as the mix of booze and weed took hold.

We all glanced up at the doorbell's ring — probably the pizza delivery. James hopped up to get it, trotting up the stairs with a beer in hand. Pat eyed him for a sec, then decided to trail along. Mike sparked up another joint, which I happily took a hit from before passing it over to Cliff.

"Hey, did you guys know this movie set caught fire during filming?" Kirk tossed out as scenes from The Exorcist flickered on the screen. "They even brought in a priest to bless the joint afterward."

"Wow, spooky," Lars chimed in, sarcastically. Kirk nudged him hard. "Hey!" Lars laughed.

"Hey, Lars, toss me another beer," I casually asked, absentmindedly eyeing the bottom of my empty bottle.

"Ah, I think we're tapped out. Time for a run upstairs."

"I got it," Cliff mumbled, his words a bit slurred as he attempted to stand.

"I'll roll with you then," I chimed in, getting up and stretching with a sigh. "Might as well grab a round for everyone."

The two of us hauled ourselves up the stairs, the steps feeling way trickier to navigate than they should in my slightly buzzed state. Once we hit the kitchen, Cliff cracked open the fridge, hunting down the beer bottles.

I shot my brows up with a grin when I spotted the two pizza boxes chilling on the table, my stomach churning with post-smoking and drinking hunger. I popped open the box, snagged a slice, and chomped down, letting out a satisfied sigh as the warm cheese exploded in my mouth, eyes shutting in a little moan of delight.

My tiny moment of food ecstasy got cut short by the distant hum of laughter. I blinked, curious, realizing I hadn't laid eyes on James and Pat since they jetted upstairs for the pizzas. But if the pizzas were in the kitchen, where the hell were they?

Looking back, maybe tracking down the muffled chuckles echoing down the hallway was a lousy move. But I was riding a bit higher on intoxication than I expected, and a self-destructive curiosity just started creeping into my chest. I crept up to the living room door, halting in silence when I caught sight of James and Pat holding court in the center of the room, huddled up and chatting in hushed tones.

I don't know what hit me first, tearing my heart into a million pieces; maybe it was the way Pat's eyes lit up, her hands resting on James' chest while he gripped her waist, the phantom memory of his fingers on my hips stirring uncomfortably in my chest. Or maybe it was the way they talked and chuckled, clearly lost in their own little world. Or, what the hell, it could even have been the gentle kiss he laid on her lips, sprinkled with sweet nothings meant just for her.

I gulped down the cool evening air and shut my eyes, tears hanging on and refusing to fall. My hands shook a bit as I slapped them on the porch frame, the wood cold against my skin. I jumped when the door creaked open again, but it wasn't James; Cliff's worried eyes locked onto mine, sadness creeping in at the sorry sight I must've been.

"Cliff..." I said, my voice shaky and tearful before he stepped up, wrapping me in a solid hug.

I buried my face in his chest, letting out heavy sobs as tears flowed down my face, like a dam that had held back way too much. Cliff just held on, running his fingers through my hair as he kept me close. As awful as it all was, I felt relieved as well — like those tears were letting go of some of the crap I'd been carrying around for weeks. When I finally eased up, I pulled back with a sigh, tears still rolling down as I sniffled, trying to wipe them away with my fingertips.

“Ah, shit. Sorry, I totally soaked you," I mumbled, my voice all choked up as I noticed the tear stains on Cliff's shirt. He snorted.

“Screw that, Nore. Want a beer?” He lifted one hand, and I spotted he was carrying a plastic bag with the beers he’d grabbed from the fridge. I nodded, thankful. He plunked the bag down, grabbed one for me and one for himself, and we leaned against the porch railing. “So, spill it. What the hell happened?"

"You know what happened," I mumbled, holding back a sob. I took a swig of the cold beer, the bitter kick helping me calm down a bit. Cliff sighed.

"It's James, huh?"

"What do you think?"

"I don't get it," he said, and I looked up, raising my eyebrows when our eyes connected. "If you're into him, why not figure things out? You know he likes you too."

"Apparently, not that much," I grumbled, and he snorted.

"Nore, no offense, but if the girl I liked kept turning me down, I'd probably try to move on too. Maybe not jump into something else... but I don't know if I'd keep pushing after getting rejected as much as he has with you."

“I... “ my voice broke, and I sighed. "Cliff, I'm with Dave. I made my choice. He needs me... I won't bail on him. Not for James, not for anyone. But that doesn't mean I don't feel..." I stopped, the lump in my throat preventing me from talking. Cliff sighed before pulling me into a tight hug.

"It'll pass." He kissed my hair, and I nodded.

"I know."

"If it helps, I find her damn annoying. And I doubt those two will last more than three months." He murmured, clearly trying to make me feel better. I chuckled softly.

"Think we can still be friends after this?"

“Totally, Nore. Just gotta figure out where you both stand. But if you've made your call... Well, he'll have to get that, babe. Just give him some space, and cut yourself some slack too."

"If you weren't Bay Area's best bass player, I'd swear you missed your calling as a shrink," I teased, and he burst into laughter. I shot him a look, a soft, affectionate grin playing on my lips. It was reassuring to know that even in the middle of this mess, Cliff would always be there for me. "Thanks, Cliff."

"No worries. We got each other's backs, right?" He grinned and messed up my hair. I let out a soft laugh. "Plus, no one messes with my fave cousin."

"I'm your only cousin." I quipped, echoing his usual comeback, and he grinned.

"Exactly. Hey, you're not bailing, right? Wanna head back inside? Kirk might think we hated the flicks."

"Well, he wouldn't be totally off the mark," I swiped away the last of my tears with the back of my hand but made my way to the kitchen door with a sigh. "But let's go back."

As we stepped in, I noticed that James and Pat had vanished from the living room. No clue where James had wandered off to, and honestly, I wasn't itching to find out for the first time in forever. I paused for a beat, my eyes lingering on Mike's phone before a sudden determination took over.

"Cliff," I called, and he shot me a questioning look. "You go ahead; I'll catch up, alright? Got a call to make."

"Sure thing. You sure you don't want me to stick around?"

"Nah, all good. Seriously," I reassured him. He gave my face a once-over before nodding, taking the beers back with him to the basement.

I grabbed the phone, pressing it against my ear, hesitating for just a moment before punching in the number I knew by heart, even though it had been ages since I dialed it.

"Hello?" My mom's voice came through, causing my heart to skip a beat.

I was aware that this number, her personal office line, was the only one she personally picked up. No assistants or housekeepers screening calls. But despite that, a weird tension crawled over me at the sound of her voice. I paused for a sec before diving in:

"Hey, Mom. It's me."

“Eleanore?” she inquired, surprise coming through her voice. “What's going on? Did something happen?"

"Nah, everything's okay," I murmured, my voice slightly shaky. "I just... I..."

“Are you okay, dear? Were you crying, by any chance?”

“No, I'm fine. I'm fine,” I sighed, closing my eyes. "Actually, I called about that school offer."

"Oh? Tell me what's on your mind," I could feel my mother's tone of voice instantly changing, shifting to the interested and sharp tone she used during her negotiations.

"I'm taking it. But I want to focus on art, Mom. Not law or business. Just art."

"Alright. I'll have Alice look into the best art schools in the state, maybe even the whole country. We can explore international options if you're interested. You'll get a top-notch art education. But you remember your end of the deal, right?"

"Getting involved in the family business, understanding the ropes, so I can handle things when you and Dad can't. Yeah, I remember," I confirmed in a low voice, aware that this was the most challenging part of the deal.

Business never floated my boat, especially the whole legal operations deal with my family's law firm. But the payoff was too sweet to pass up. And maybe a major life change was exactly what I needed.

"Good call," my mom chimed in, and I could practically picture her smiling. "I'll talk with your father. You'll come back for Christmas, right? We can discuss it in more detail then. Feel free to bring your... Boyfriend along if you want."

The rest of the conversation was a bit of a blur. I knew I'd just made a call that would steer my life for the next few years. No clue if I'd regret it or what kind of person it'd turn me into. But I would do anything to beat the heartache gnawing at my chest. Maybe I was running away. Maybe I just wanted to ditch the sadness.

Perhaps I just wanted to wipe clean the pained look James and I exchanged moments ago. Maybe I wanted to forget that he chose not to come after me, not to offer me any comfort.

But did any of it really matter?

✧ if you'd like to be tagged on the next parts, let me know and I'll add you to the tag list! ❤ ✧

tag list: @killazilla777

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lightscamerabitchsmileee · 11 months ago

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Vote for your fave, reblog & share your thoughts and your other faves even if it's not on this list in the tags I would love to hear it 😊😊

Check out my masterpost for the other open polls thank you and have fun 😊😊

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adventure-showdown · 1 year ago

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What is your favourite Doctor Who story?

ROUND 1 MASTERPOST

synopses and propaganda under the cut

Solitaire

Synopsis

What if there were a game you didn't know you were playing? Where you didn't know the aim and you hadn't seen the rules?"

Charlotte Pollard arrives in a toyshop, but she doesn't know where she is — or even who she is. The mysterious owner wants to play games. He's the Celestial Toymaker, and he has already defeated the Doctor, whose essence is hidden inside a ventriloquist's doll.

The Doctor is gone. The TARDIS is lost. But the game is only just beginning...

Propaganda no propaganda submitted

Peri and the Piscon Paradox

Synopsis

The Doctor and Peri journey to Los Angeles 2009 to do battle with a Piscon. His name is Zarl, and he's a fish of utmost evil.

Zarl is going to steal all the water of Earth and sell it to the highest bidder. Or blow up the San Andreas fault. Or the planet. Or something like that. He's a bit vague on that point.

Fortunately, to stop him there's help from an unexpected source: a future version of Peri. She knows Zarl's dark secret.

But should the future Peri be on Earth at all? Something smells fishy — and it's not just Zarl.

Propaganda no propaganda submitted

The Cold Equations

Synopsis

In the remnant of a shattered satellite, far above the ruined planet Earth, Steven Taylor and Oliver Harper are dying. As time runs out, they face their pasts... and a secret long kept is revealed.

The borrowed time is elapsing, and they realise they are facing an enemy that cannot be defeated. The cold, hard facts of science.

Propaganda

Brilliant story, the first (in universe chronology) gay companion gets his coming out. Hearing the Doctor and Steven accept him easily and wholeheartedly is so heart warming. Also brilliant exploration of Steven's skills as an astronaut that the writer studied professional courses to get right. Just captures the whole tea mperfectly.(@elden-12 /@hartnellwho )

The Last Post

Synopsis

People are dying. Just a few, over a period of months... but the strange thing is that each person received a letter predicting the date and time of their death.

Throughout her time as the Doctor's assistant, Liz Shaw has been documenting these passings.

Her investigation ultimately uncovers a threat that could lead to the end of the world, but this time Liz has someone to help her.

Her mother.

Propaganda no propaganda submitted

The Scorchies

Synopsis

The Doctor, his companion Jo Grant and the Brigadier face their strangest case yet — a Saturday night TV show that has been invaded by aliens that look like puppets!

The Scorchies want to take over the world. They want to kill the Doctor. And they want to perform some outstanding showtunes. Though not necessarily in that order...

With Jo caught inside The Scorchies Show, can she save the day before the planet Earth falls victim to the dark side of light entertainment?

Propaganda

It's a very funny and dark take on evil Muppets. and the songs slap so hard. (6&7)

what the fuck happens in the scorchies. they killed the doctor dead (anonymous)

Nightshade

Synopsis

Professor Nightshade - tea time terror for all the family, and the most loved show in Britain. But Professor Nightshade's days are long over, and Edmund Trevithick is now just an unemployed actor in a retirement home, fondly remembering his past.

It's the same through the entire village of Crook Marsham - people are falling prey to their memories. At first harmlessly, and then, the bodies begin to turn up.

The Doctor and Ace arrive on the scene - but, with the Doctor planning his retirement, it may be time for Professor Nightshade to solve one last case.

Propaganda [note, both propaganda submissions mention this is a VNA, however the original nomination I got nominated it as the audio adaptation]

Moody horror that goes far beyond what you could get away with on TV. One of the best the VNAs have to offer. (anonymous)

A Dark, Moody, and down right Unsettling tale. One of the only VNAs to live up to it’s tag line of “Too broad and deep for the small screen.” (@finalpam8000 )

#round 1

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mystic-writings · 8 months ago

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@heliads @ghostofscarley @badbatch-simp24 @virginia-peters @third-broparcelicito (apologies for the tag)

hey y’all!! i know its been a while since this specific taglist has been used on a post, but it’s relevant, i promise.

i realized a while back that this year, march 6th in particular, is the second anniversary of my only finished project, and the one i’m the most proud of to date. seeing it still gaining attention from so many people even after so long is actually insane !!!

so, to celebrate remember the nights two year anniversary, i’ve decided to remaster it!

this past month or so i’ve been working almost entirely on rewriting, editing, and polishing the new version of the story, and i promise it’s going to be amazing. i’ve rewritten the whole series and added new scenes to better suit my current writing style and other things i likely forgot to add the first time around, as i felt quite rushed to get all the chapters written and posted originally. i’ve also decided to actually include the best possible renditions of the main houses within the fic via sims 4 and google drives, which will all be linked in the masterpost when it comes out.

i’ll be posting the first chapter on march 6th, which is the official fic anniversary, and updates will be released every wednesday and saturday at 11am EST after that!

i’m so excited for this, and if anyone wants to be added or removed to the taglist just send an ask or private message and i’ll take care of it!

#monty's writing rambles #remember the nights #remember the nights - remaster #newt x reader #newt tmr x reader #newt x you #newt x y/n #newt series #newt tmr series #the maze runner fanfiction #the maze runner x reader #au fic #high school au

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veronicaphoenix · 11 months ago

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IKIGAI (or A REASON FOR BEING) — CHAPTER FOURTEEN · LAST CHAPTER

“You two have a serious problem,” Jolly interjected, his irritation even more palpable than Lia and Noah’s, despite his calm demeanor. “I can’t decide if you’re acting like children or like a married couple. Either way, you’re fucking annoying. If you can’t stand the thought of the other fucking someone else, sort yourselves out, but leave me out of it next time. I’m not going out anywhere else with you two as long as this banter goes on. Grow the fuck up, please.”

Author's note: It's here! I can't believe I finished the first part of this series in about two months while also doing an MA and working.

Chapter tags: pure angst, most characters in this chapter are slightly drunk and it's not nice, best friends not acknowledging that they're in love with each other and being angry, pissed Jolly, swearing and mentions of sex. | Word count: 3.6k | Cross posted on AO3. | Series masterpost. ✧.*

CHAPTER 14

Lia is 22. Noah is 23.

“What’s the matter with him?”

Lia furrowed her brow and diverted her gaze over her shoulder toward the source of the persistent attention. The guy she’d been flirting with for the past ten minutes, Shaun, had been giving her his undivided attention, but in the last two minutes he seemed to be distracted by something in the far distance, behind her.

“Oh,” she replied, smiling again and playing it down. “It’s just Noah, my best friend.”

“Your best friend? Given the way he’s been looking at me since we started talking, anyone would think otherwise.”

“Not at all. I’m like his little sister. He can be a bit overprotective sometimes.”

Casting another glance over her shoulder, Lia muted a “stop it” without vocalizing a sound. Noah effortlessly understood the message, and let his shoulders drop as he turned away, directing his focus to the bar counter where his half-drank beer waited in a glass.

Jolly was sitting on his left, blissfully oblivious to Noah’s disquiet as he engrossed in a lively conversation with the girl who had served them their drinks. The ambience hum of various conversations, intertwined with the warm glow of the venue’s lights, set the stage for the casual Saturday night. The trio had decided to go out to break from the work-from-home routine. It had been a pretty busy week, the guys had had a lot of meetings, deadlines pressing on them, and now that their schedule seemed to give them a three-day break, Jolly, Noah, and Lia had decided to just go to a bar downtown, have a few drinks, and maybe grab dinner in a nearby restaurant.

Yet, the slight thrill they might have felt at the idea of a night out, particularly Noah, was swiftly overshadowed a mere half-hour into their escapade as Lia became the point of attention of a persistent guy sitting not far from them. His blue-eyed gaze had been fixed on her since their arrival. Lia hadn’t taken much time to notice the weight of his eyes on her, and she, with her spirits high, decided to give him a chance. She had grabbed her beer and walked up to him, introducing herself. The guy had two friends with him that greeted Lia as she exchanged words with the strangers, all the while Noah’s eyes observing the scene, analyzing the men’s behavior and their body language. Jolly had nudged him, urging him to chill and enjoy the night, but it wasn’t that simple. He hated himself for that, but he couldn’t stop himself, either.

So, when Lia noticed him staring with a nonsensical brewing fury in his eyes and told him to stop, he was overcome with the realization that maybe this was a fight he could never win, and all he could do was give up, but the thought only made something else surge inside of him. Rather than assuaging, his anger intensified, and suddenly he felt angry at Lia.

Downing his beer, he ordered another and sought distraction around him in a desperate attempt to avert his attention anywhere else, far from her.

His eyes chanced upon a young blonde woman a few feet away, sitting alone. She exuded an air of innocence and shyness, engrossed in her phone while patiently waiting for her friend to return from the restroom. She was wearing tight jeans and a black t-shirt with some design and letters on it. Noah recognized the lettering immediately. Sensing an opportunity he approached her.

"Hey, nice choice with the Linkin Park tee,” he started, giving her one of his most charming smiles. “Big fan?”

The girl, caught off guard by Noah's good looks and voice, blushed but managed to nod in agreement. Noah couldn't help but feel a pang of desperation. He might be doomed, he thought, given that Linkin Park was one of Lia's favorite bands. He was tempted to look back at where she was sitting, still engaged in that so cheerful conversation with that blue-eyed guy. She doesn’t even like guys with blue eyes, he thought. They’re not her type, so why is she with him?

Containing a sigh and putting on his most enamoring behavior, he ignored his thoughts.

"You know, I'm actually in a band myself,” he continued.

Noah adeptly wove a tale that made him sound like the most fascinating musician she had ever encountered. The girl, whose name was Kate, was mesmerized by his storytelling, and found herself drawn further into the allure of hispresence. A few minutes into the conversation, she complimented his tattoos, remarking how painful it must have been to endure so many hours of needles sinking into his skin. He shrugged it off and subtly showcased more of them, lifting the short sleeve of this t-shirt to reveal the intricate ink adorning the top of his arm and shoulder.

Reveling in her attention, he continued to engage her with facts and anecdotes about his life.

Meanwhile, Lia, engrossed in her conversation with Shaun and laughing at the jokes his two male friends were making, couldn't help but glance back to the men she’d come with. Her eyes widened as she witnessed Noah with that stranger, a blonde girl that was smiling up at him as he talked and looking at him as if she was about to melt. A sudden wave of displeasure washed over her.

The blonde girl was not the only one to catch Noah's attention. Another girl joined the group, and Noah politely extended his arm, shaking her hand. This new girl didn’t seem that much captivated by Noah’s charm, much to Lia’s relief. Nevertheless, the way the other female was giving attention to Noah was making her cringe.

Noah invited both girls for a drink and gestured towards Jolly, moving back to let them see him, but he was still immersed in conversation with the waitress. Lia found herself grappling with a bunch of thoughts that she couldn’t answer. Was this what they had come here for? To get a distraction from each other and end up by a stranger’s side? Was that what she had really wanted instead of being with Jolly and Noah? But I spend the days with them. I live with them, she thought. I’m just looking for a break…

But when Noah excused himself to use the restroom, Lia took it upon herself to change the way the night events were unfolding. She stood up, leaving the table and ignoring Shaun’s attempt at physical contact. He’d had an arm draped above her shoulders on the padded couch they were seated, and when she moved away, his fingers touched the skin of her bare shoulder.

Lia approached the blonde girl and her friend with a big smile. She bent over the counter to order another beer, the ends of her long brown hair touching the counter and falling on her face.

"I see you've met Noah," she casually began, turning to them and drawing their attention. She put a few strands of hair behind her pierced ear.

Lia could tell that the blonde one was visibly surprised by her presence, by the tattoos covering her arms and the sharp lines of her face, her black outfit and cargo boots.

"Um, yes,” she inquired with a hushed tone, flush creeping up to her cheeks. Oh, it was so obvious she was already rapt in Noah’s charm and his good looks, probably his voice, too. On top of that, she was wearing a t-shirt of one of her favorite bands. Ugh. “Do you know him?"

Lia handed the waiter a five-dollar bill and, smirking, leaned into the girl.

"Yeah, he's my friend. Listen,” she feigned a little preoccupation.” I know he's charming and all, but you shouldn't get too hung up on him. He's got a girlfriend."

It was a good lie, good enough to make a girl like her move out of the way.

Kate’s eyes widened, and she exchanged glances with her friend at her other side.

"He didn't say anything,” Kate replied, her voice lower than before, as if she already felt she had committed a crime of some sort.

"Of course he didn't,” Lia reassured her. “But I'm telling you for your own good. And for his. When Lisa finds out, she's gonna kill him."

The other girl swore under her breath, and Lia nodded, satisfied with her improvised stunt.

“I think we should go, Kate.”

Kate hesitated, looking into Lia’s eyes expecting to see anything that could make her stay. She had really liked that boy and she had hoped that she could get to know him better… But Lia’s eyes remained the same, telling her that she had no option.

Kate thanked Lia, she grabbed her purse, and followed her friend towards the exit.

Lia dropped her shoulders and let out a sigh. Before Jolly noticed her, she walked back to the table where Shaun had got distracted by some random chat with his colleagues. Lia missed the moment when Noah came out from the restroom and crossed Kate and her friend on their way out.

Returning to the table with a beer in hand, Shaun draped an arm over Lia's shoulder, this time making sure the physical contact was there and that he had her locked by his side. He asked her if everything was okay and she answered cheerfully, even though she felt a sting of guilt in her chest, in her heart. Shaun pulled Lia closer, his face getting closer to hers. She could smell the alcohol on his breath, and he probably smelt the same on hers.

Unaware of the tall figure approaching, Shaun’s other hand fell on Lia thigh and squeezed as his face leaned a little bit forward to hers.

Then, whatever spell must’ve been there —if there had been any— was broken by Noah’s rough voice.

“What the hell, Lia?” His voice cut through the air, through the music, drawing hers and the other three guys sat at the table attention.

Her heart raced as she realized that, by the look on his face, he had found out.

Shit. So much for a quick stunt, she thought.

"What?" Lia asked, blinking up at him. He was really imposing when he stood so close to her in his full height.

“’What?’” He repeated, incredulous. “Who the fuck is Lisa?”

Lia bit her lip. She was in trouble. Next to her, Shaun was also looking up at Noah, but he didn’t take in the anger that was emanating from Noah because he was totally oblivious to how bad he could react if someone pressed his buttons.

“Hey,” he interrupted, eyeing Noah up with his blue eyes and a slight frown. “What’s up, dude?” He asked the question to Noah as if he had just ruined a moment, which only helped to make Noah even more pissed.

Noah just shot him a glare, sharp and wordless, that said “shut up”.

"I don't know any Lisa," Lia responded, deliberately feigning ignorance. Why was she behaving like this? She had never been like this with Noah, her best friend. For a moment she felt disoriented and didn’t recognize herself. Confusion crept into her thoughts.

“Funny because apparently, I have a girlfriend with that name, and those girls just left thinking I’m a douchebag,” Noah retorted, his frustration evident in the furrow of his brow and the restrained intensity of his words.

“What is this all about?” Shaun interjected, sensing the tension between Lia and Noah.

Noah's anger intensified at her lie and even more as he noticed that moron’s hand on Lia’s thigh and his arm over her shoulders, keeping her in site. Shaun opened his mouth to say something else, but it only prompted Noah to raise his rough voice and deliver a stern warning.

"Get your hands off her," Noah commanded, the tension escalating. He locked eyes with Shaun, brown against blue, fire against ice.

"Noah," Lia sensed an impending storm in his tone and rose to her feet before Shaun could react, removing her body from his grasp. She placed a hand on Noah’s chest.

"Dude, are you her father?" Shaun retorted defiantly, rising to his feet, too. "She came to me, idiot." His attitude had changed, and Noah’s escalating anger was now mirrored in Shaun’s face.

Great, Lia thought. I have really messed it up.

"You were eye-fucking her the whole time since she arrived!" Noah grunted, pointing at him. Lia noticed the veins on his neck growing taut. "You should have shown some fucking respect."

"This is unnecessary," Lia interjected, feeling slightly off-kilter due to the influence of the alcohol. The effects of it were palpable on all of them. She could tell when Noah was also being controlled by the few drinks he’d had.

Behind them and not too far, the waitress pointed towards them, and Jolly noticed the rising tension and cursed upon realizing that it was his friends.

"Unnecessary is this guy putting his hands on you. Get lost and leave her alone," Noah declared, his voice echoing against the low murmur of other conversations around them and the melodies emanating from the corners where the venue’s speakers were located.

"I'll leave her alone when she asks me to," Shaun defiantly responded.

"Shaun, please. Just... don't say anything," Lia implored, her voice was quickly swallowed by the music.

"Oh, you're gonna let him tell you what to do?" Shaun scoffed.

"No, that's not what I'm doing,” she replied, exasperation growing on her veins.

"It definitely seems like it."

The way he was talking now was far different from the earlier charm he had used to entice her a while ago, to get her to join him and his friends at his table.

"What is wrong with you?" She asked him, her eyes piercing through the dimly lit haze of the bar, casting a judgmental look upon him.

"Are you two fucking each other? Is that where the problem is coming from?" Shaun insinuated, his words slicing through the charged atmosphere like a knife.

Noah’s eyes widened. He would let his friends make as many jokes as they wanted about Lia and him, but this dude? He had no fucking right.

Noah surged forward, his movements driven by an impulse, but before he could touch Shaun, Lia pressed both hands against Noah’s chest, acting as a human barricade. Jolly appeared from behind and grabbed Noah with a firm grip.

"Enough," Jolly interjected firmly, pulling Noah away.

"You go fuck yourself," Lia snapped at Shaun, her words laced with anger and disdain. What a disappointment.

"Screw you. You're nothing but a cocktease,” Shaun spat back, the words dripping with resentment.

"Shut your mouth before I do it for you!" Noah yelled as Jolly continued fighting to guide him towards the exitbefore any of the security guards took matter into their hands.

As the tempest of emotions raged on, Lia, not one to be outdone, knocked down Shaun’s drink, a cascade of liquid splattering across the table and his shirt. The alcohol journeyed down until it reached him, not only staining his shirt but also drenching his pants in the process.

"Enjoy your drink.”

"Bitch!"

Jolly retrieved Noah’s car keys from his back pocket and hoped that once in the confines of the car the chaos would subdue. But oh, was he wrong… As soon as they were all settled, Noah in the front and Lia in the back, they started throwing accusations and grievances at each other. Lia blamed Noah for spoiling the evening, while Noah, in return, retaliated reminding her of how immature her stunt had been. And for what? When Jolly intervened to tell them that they were both accountable for their own contributions to the discord, Noah and Lia told him to shut up at the same time, to which he replied telling both to fuck off.

The tension only escalated further when Noah unexpectedly opened Lia’s door when they reached the driveway of the house and grabbed her arm as she emerged, to keep her steady. She resisted his grasp, their eyes locked in a volatile exchange.

“Go take a shower. You’re drunk,” he ordered, his disappointment and irritation evident in his voice.

“So are you, and stop telling me what to do,” she replied making her way towards the house.

Jolly, overworked by their ongoing altercation, opened the door and, with deliberate indifference, proceeded inside, depositing the keys into a small decorative bowl near the entrance.

“Given your childish behavior someone has to!” Noah shouted walking behind her. “Don’t ever think about bringing home any more jerks like that one! You hear me?”

“I can hear you perfectly and I don’t care!” She replied, entering the house and removing her boots, steadying herself against the wall.

“You should! It’s not just you living in this house, princess!” He slammed the door shut with a resounding thud, adding to everyone’s frustration.

Lia growled at him. She didn’t understand why he felt the need to say that, especially considering her infrequent instances of brining boys home. The irony wasn’t lost on her, knowing full well that Noah was the one to bring girls every once in a while and letting them stay the night. On occasion, she could even her them from her own room, for God’s sake.

“Living with you is so annoying!” Lia’s shout reverberated through the hallway. She threw boots towards the shoe rack by the entrance.

“Oh, is it? Excuse me for looking after you!” He got back at her while he took off his jacket and flung it towards the couch without even bothering to look where it fell. His gaze was fixed on Lia’s, on her big brown eyes ablaze with fire and adrenaline. She was intoxicating, but he wouldn’t let her get away with this.

“You were going to hit him for flirting with me!” Lia punctuated her accusation, advancing towards him. “That’s not looking after me! It’s called ruining my night!”

“Okay, so you can get away with telling girls that I have a girlfriend to keep them away? What kind of stunt is that?” He opened in arms in a gesture of exasperation. “That’s so… childish!”

“Of course! And you’re such a big boy wanting to get into fights with whoever looks my way! Thank you for being my knight in shining armor even if I never asked for it!” Lia’s retort dripped with sarcasm and resentment.

“Say that to him!” Lia pointed at Noah and quickly walked up the stairs, retreating to her bedroom and locking herself in with a resounding thud of the door.

Now alone, Jolly and Noah found themselves enveloped in a tense silence. Noah’s eyes remained in the last spot where he had seen Lia until he decided he’d had enough, and he slumped onto the sofa.

“What the fuck, man?” Jolly broke the silence as he stood in front of him, hands at his hips.

“She just…” Noah ran his hands through his hair, emitting a low, contained growl. “She drives me crazy.”

“I can see that,” Jolly acknowledged, a knowing look in his eyes.

“I…”

“What are you going to say this time? The same old bullshit? That you’re just looking out for her and you knew that the guy wouldn’t be good enough for her?” Jolly cut in.

Sometimes Noah hated how much Jolly knew him.

“Noah, that excuse is not valid anymore. No one will ever be enough for Lia, according to you. Have you stopped for a second to consider that you keep saying that maybe because you think you are the one who will be? Have you thought that maybe… you’re in love with her?”

Noah’s eyes shot up at him.

Had Jolly lost his mind?

“I’m not fucking in love with her,” he replied immediately, but an uncomfortable silence followed. Jolly studied him as Noah visibly struggled to articulate his thoughts, his reasons. “She’s my best friend. Why is it so shocking that I feel a responsibility towards her?” He sought to justify himself, his gestures emphasizing the absurdity of Jolly’s proposition. “Her mother neglected her all her life, her father is God knows where. Her grandparents don’t give a fuck. I’m the only one she has. She’s my family,” he made a pause, and when he saw that Jolly remained just as skeptic as before, he stood up again and raised his voice. “And no, I’m not fucking in love with her!”

He went to bed that night clinging to that mantra, and Lia, in the room in front of his, grappled with her own tumultuous thoughts. She wondered why she told that girl that Noah had a girlfriend, why she had felt so betrayed, so… jealous? For a while, she wished she could go back in time to when she was just a teenager, when summers were spent either in Noah’s room making music or by the lake, with Noah’s growing body swimming around her, his wet hair stuck to his forehead, and his smile shining under the afternoon sun. She missed the smell of nature, of blooming flowers and the trees that kept them safe in that corner of the world that for years seemed to belong only to them. She missed sitting on the deck with Noah, shoulders touching, and chatting away as the sun set, throwing rocks in the water, competing to see whose would go further.

That was where they kissed for the first time, where they kissed each other.

The memory made her stomach sank.

She put the pillow over her head and screamed.

#noah sebastian fic #noah sebastian x ofc #bad omens fic #bad omens #bad omens fanfic #bad omens fanfiction #noah sebastian #ikigai #the inevitability of love at second sight #fanfiction #my writings #jolly karlsson

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