Heartbreaker โญห๐โญ
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐
bnha x f!reader
reverse harem, isekai, my hero academia x fem!reader, slowburn
You awaken one day with virtually no memories. The only thing guiding you is some strange system that likes to dictate your every move, and for some reason, it insists that you make certain people fall in love with you. Desperate for answers, you decide to go along with its demands. After all, how hard can it be?
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When you opened your eyes, everything was dark.ย ย
There was very little that you could feel, apart from your rhythmic breathing, faint as it was. It was eerily quiet too. You werenโt sure why exactly, but you got the sense that thisย wasnโtย how things should be. It didnโt feel natural to be all alone, no sign of life as far as your eyes could see. You couldnโt move your body even after trying for a good while, so you eventually gave up and allowed yourself to settle into the silence.
As it turned out, total silence was loud in its own way. It made your ears buzz from the ever-present nothingness; made your brain feel like it might split in half.ย
You didnโt know what in the hell was going on, but the longer this continued, the more likely it was that you would go insane. ย
Then, as if by a miracle, the silence broke.ย ย
["๐๐จ๐ฎโ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ค๐."]
Someone was talking to you. Well, notย reallyย talking to you. It was strange. You couldn't hear a voice or anything like that. Instead, you could see the words pop up in front of your eyes, like some sort of weird projection. The projection made a slightย pingย as it popped up, but otherwise, no words were exchanged aloud.ย ย
โHello?โ you called out fearfully. Ah. So, youย couldย talk. Your voice wasnโt lost, thankfully. It was just that you couldnโt move your body forward. Not that youโd even know where to go. Everything was pitch-black. ย
["๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ. ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ?โ]
โScared,โ you admitted, swallowing hard. โI donโt know whatโs going on. And I donโt... I donโtย remember. Anything. I donโt remember a single thing.โ
[โ๐๐ก๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ค๐๐ฒ. ๐๐จ๐ฎโ๐ซ๐ [๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฆ๐] [๐๐๐ฆ๐]. ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ซ๐๐. ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ง๐.โ]
[Name]. Alright. You had a name too, and when you mumbled aloud just to familiarize yourself with the sound of it, you were relieved that it sounded familiar. You were a real person with a name. You had that much, at the very least. ย
It was too bad that everything else was a total mystery to you. ย
โWhy am I here?โ you managed to ask. โActually... whereย isย here?โย ย
[โ๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง. ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ.โ]
โWho are you, then?โย ย
[โ๐โ๐ฆ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง. ๐โ๐ฆ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ. ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง, ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ. ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฆ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ. ๐โ๐ฆ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ค๐ฌ.โ]
You felt yourself frown. โTasks? What sort of tasks? I still donโt understand. And my head... itโs starting to hurt a lot. Iโm really scared. Why donโt I remember anything?โ
[โ๐๐ข๐ค๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ข๐, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐โ๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ซ๐๐. ๐โ๐ฆ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ. ๐โ๐ฆ ๐จ๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐. ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค, ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎโ๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฆ๐. ๐๐ฅ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ?โ]
Your head was now throbbing without abandon, but you couldnโt so much as move a hand to even press down on the points that hurt and try to ease the pain. None of this was making any sense. You hated that you didnโt remember anything, and even though this system was trying to claim that it harbored no ill-intent, it wasnโt exactly answering your questions either. ย
โI want to leave,โ you breathed out. โPlease. Let me leave. Are you the one who took my memories? If you did, Iโm begging you to give them back. Iโm terrified not knowing whatโs going on. I donโt know how to explain this, but... it feels like a piece of me has been ripped away. I donโt even knowย whoย I am.โย ย
The system didn't respond for a long time, and you felt as though you might drown in this sea of emptiness.
Eventually, you heard anotherย ping.ย ย ย
[โ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐งโ๐ญ ๐ญ๐๐ค๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฌ. ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ง ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ค. ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐. ๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ.โ]
The more of its messages you read, the more you doubted whether this system was truly an ally. ย
But what else could you do? You couldnโt even move a muscle. You were absolutely helpless, so you could only bite back your tears and try to stay strong.
โOkay,โ you agreed. โI just want my memories back. As long as youโre not going to make me do anything crazy... then Iโm in.โย
The nextย pingย sounded more chipper, somehow. As if the system was pleased with your response. ย
[โ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ. ๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฌ๐, ๐ฅ๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐.โ]
You didn't even manage to protest before the scene changed. ย
Suddenly, you could move again. It wasnโt dark or quiet anymore either. There were crowds of people all over the place. Most of them seemed to be in a hurry to get someplace; some even accidentally bumped into you as they scurried about. ย
Unsurprisingly, you didnโt recognize where you were, but for now, it was better than being trapped in darkness. ย
โWhere is this?โ you asked. You mustโve looked rather silly to all the bystanders, since you were talking to thin air, as far as they were concerned. But you could care less about maintaining appearances right now. What mattered was getting some goddamn answers.
[โ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐๐ฎ, ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง. ๐๐จ๐ฎโ๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐.โ]
โAlright...โย
It was strange how they said you wouldย beย living here, not that you hadย beenย living here. Yet another cryptic answer, although you shouldnโt have even been surprised at this point. ย
[โ๐๐๐ฌ. ๐๐จ๐ฎโ๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐๐ง.โ]
โOkay. And... do I have a family?โ you couldnโt help but ask. ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝIs there anyone who can help tell me what Iโve forgotten?โ ย
The systemโs next response made your heart sink. ย
[โ๐๐จ. ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒ. ๐๐จ๐๐จ๐๐ฒ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ. ๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐๐๐ง ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฉ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ.โ]
You briefly wondered if they were lying to you, but you supposed you had no real way of confirming the truth right now. This was all so frightening. You desperately wished you could remember somethingโanythingโso that it would ease your nerves even just a little.ย
[โ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ซ๐ฒ. ๐โ๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐๐ค๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ข๐ง. ๐๐จ๐ฎโ๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ง๐. ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ง๐จ๐ฐ, ๐ข๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ค. ๐๐ญ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐โ๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ญ ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฒ.โ]
Thatย sure made you perk up. Aย person, theyโd said. Whoever that person was, maybe they could help you once you told them you were struggling with a severe case of amnesia. Maybe they would know what to do, and you wouldnโt have to rely on this stupid system who just kept stringing you along without even giving you a chance to breathe.ย ย
So, you nodded.
โAlright. Tell me where I need to go.โ ย
[โ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ฑ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง ๐โ๐ฆ ๐ ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฎ๐ฉ. ๐
๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ญโ๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ข๐๐ก ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐๐ค๐. ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ฒ, ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎโ๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ.โ]
Just as theyโd said, the next screen that popped up provided you with a clear visual as to which way you needed to go. You followed it dutifully, somewhat nervous that you were being led into a trap. After all, maybe this system was leading you straight towards a serial killer or something. Maybe itโs true purpose was to get you murdered.ย ย
Fuck. Maybe I should reconsider. Maybe I need to go to the police first.ย ย
Except it was too late for that. ย
[โ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐. ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฒ? ๐๐โ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎโ๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง. ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ก ๐ก๐ข๐ฆ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง.โ]
The guy in question was a teenager, presumably around your age, with spiky ash blonde hair, crimson eyes, and a rather nasty expression. He was angrily chugging a can of pop, and once he was finished, made the can explode in his hands before tossing the smoking remains to the ground. ย
You gaped. โHe just littered, but also... how did he do that? I swear I just watched him create an explosion with his bare hands.โ
[โ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ง ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ฌ, ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ซ๐ค๐ฌ. ๐๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ซ๐ค ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ.โ]
โWow,โ you mumbled breathlessly. โDo I have a Quirk too?โ
[โ๐โ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐จ๐ง๐. ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ช๐ฎ๐. ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ซ ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ซ๐ค, ๐ข๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎโ๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐. ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ. ๐
๐จ๐ซ ๐ง๐จ๐ฐ, ๐ ๐จ ๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐ข๐ฆ.โ]
โWhat do I say?โ
[โ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ซ, ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ ๐จ๐๐ฅ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐ข๐ฆ. ๐
๐จ๐ซ ๐ง๐จ๐ฐ, ๐๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐, ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ, ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ก๐ข๐ฆ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ.โ]
Huh?
You couldโve sworn you misread the message. What the hell were they talking about? Why did they want you to put the moves on some person youโd only just seen for the first time in your life?
Or...ย wasย it the first time, actually? The longer you stared at this guy, the more you were starting to feel like he looked familiar somehow. But maybe that was good. Maybe that meant he could help trigger some of your memories.ย ย
The system continued to coax you.ย
[โ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ. ๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฅ๐ฒ, ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ, ๐ฌ๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ. ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐ค๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ๐ง. ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐ ๐ ๐จ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฌ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ก๐โ๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ.โ]
You figured that would be easier said than done, but... okay. All you had to do was be friendly, you supposed. Just walk up to him and make polite conversation. Yeah. You could do this. It was going to be just fine.ย ย
Taking a deep breath, you picked up the pace and walked fast enough to match his stride. Thankfully, he was alone, which would hopefully make this whole thing a lot less awkward.ย
Key word beingย hopefully.
โHello!โย
It was the only thing you could think to say. How else were you supposed to greet a total stranger, after all?ย ย
At the sound of your voice, he turned towards you, and his brows furrowed so tight that it looked like he was about to pop a blood vessel.ย
โThe fuck do you want?โ he spat.ย ย
Oh no.ย
You hadnโt expected him to be so confrontational. Granted, most people would probably think it was a bit weird to be called out by a stranger, but the normal response was, โYes?โ or, โHow can I help you?โ
Yet this guy was glaring at you like he wanted to bash your face in, and all youโd said was one freaking word.ย ย
โH-Hello,โ you said again, stuttering this time because you were nervous. โUm, I... I saw you walking by and thought you looked really cool. Iโm [Name]. Would you mind giving me your number?โย
Internally, you were face-palming. God, you didnโt know what the hell toย say,ย and the fact that the system said they wanted you to make him fall for you was sending your brain for a loop. You didnโt have any memories about the person you were. Was this something you would normally say? Were you actually good at flirting, but your charisma had disappeared along with your memories?ย ย
The system seemed mildly frustrated as well.
[โ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐. ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ, ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ. ๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐โ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฒ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐. ๐๐ก, ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ. ๐๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฌ.โ]ย
What happened was that the guyโs scowl deepened tenfold, and on top of already being angry, he now looked considerably disgusted as well.ย ย
โPiss off, dipshit,โ he snapped. โIโm not in the mood. You think Iโd just give out my number to some random creep? Get lost.โย
He then shoved his hands deep into his pockets and stormed off, muttering curses under his breath the whole while.ย ย
You didnโt need your memories to know that had just gone poorly.ย
A new message popped up, but it looked slightly different than the ones youโd been receiving thus far.
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐:
[๐๐๐ค๐ฎ๐ ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ค๐ข ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎโ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐.]
[-๐๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ.]
๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ: -๐๐/๐๐๐]
โBakugou Katsuki,โ you mumbled. Huh. Even hisย nameย sounded familiar, but you just couldnโt place it. You winced and clutched at your head. It had begun to throb again. You felt like you were on the cusp of remembering something, but there was some sort of wall blocking your memories and keeping them from you.
While you were busy fending off the pain, the system chimed in again.
[โ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ซ๐, ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ, ๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ. ๐๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง. ๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ. ๐๐ก๐๐ฒย ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ย ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ. ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐?โ]
The system didnโt have a voice, which meant that you couldnโt hear them speak, but there was something mildly threatening about the way the message was phrased.
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Best Interest
Pairing: Tyler Owens x f!reader
Warnings: 18 plus only! Minors DNI! DO NOT COPY! Fighting. Blood. Small injuries. Swearing. Smut. Unprotected sex. Oral (f receiving). Praise kink. Creampie. Overestimation.
AN: May be my best smut story yet.
Word count: 2.5k
Summary: After getting into a fight, Tyler takes care of you in more than one way.
~
The hotel parking lot was full of Storm Chasers. His team, yours, and another group of Chasers he didn't know. Tyler's eyes followed your march. A line growing between his eyebrows. What were you doing? Before he had time to wonder, you hurled a book at a guy's head. "You fucking asshole!" Tyler was frozen in place. In complete shock as he watched you lunge yourself at the man.
"Did you really think I wouldn't find out?!" You shouted in a fit of rage as you shoved him against a truck with all your strength. "Would someone get this loser off of me?" His team started pulling you off of him.
"You stole my story! You took it as your own and published it you son of bitch!"
"What are you talking about?"
"The book! The goddamn book that I wrote! You stole it, Ray!"
"Oh! That." He chuckled and your blood went cold. Your knuckles turning to a ghost shade of white, you had your fist clenched so tightly.
"I didn't steal it. You threw it away. I just published." He spoke in arrogance and with a shrug.
"That's not the point, the point is that you published it, with your name and absolutely no credit to me or permission! You're taking all the points when you know damn well you didn't write one word!"
"If I didn't dig the story up, then it wouldn't be a #1 best seller."
"You bastard. You betrayed me!" Your voice cracked and you lunged yourself at him again. Your friend quickly rushing over. Wrapping his arms around you and pulling you away. "Enough! Enough! Stop! It's not worth it!" Your friend tried to get through to you. Taking a few steps away from him. Your fist clenched by your sides. As Tyler watched the chaos, he started piecing everything together. His eyes on you as you started to walk away.
"That's right. Walk away, just like you always do. You gave up on it just like you've given up on everything else."
Your body reacted before you mind did. Before you even realized it, you were shoving your knee between his legs, falling to the ground with him, straddling his lap as your fist met his jaw. Then again. And again. Over and over until your hand ached and he spit up blood. The sound of his pain and the sight of his blood giving a sense of satisfaction. You hated how your rage took over you in this moment, but you couldn't stop it. All you saw was red. Your adrenaline high. Your mind so full of wrath that as your group of friends started pulling you off of him, you were still trying to punch him.
It wasn't until Ray stood on wobbly legs that you finally took a deep breath. Taking a moment to watch the blood pour from his nose and mouth. You took a few steps back, but still with a small amount of fury in you... you gave him your best right hook. Falling to the ground and blinking his eyes, trying to not pass out. Now that you finally felt satisfied, you sighed and walked away. Going up to your hotel room.
His team all standing around him. Trying to make sure he was okay. Your friends all frustrated at the hell that just broke loss. But they deiced to leave it alone for tonight. They knew that would be best, but Tyler thought differently. He was feeling a swarm of emotions, he felt your rage, he felt impressed and shocked by your actions. But he was mostly feeling concern because when you walked to your room, walking by him, he noticed your bloody knuckles. He knew some of the blood wasn't yours, but he noticed that your knuckles were cut up and your hands were severely shaking. It was none of his business. He knew that. He knows that the two aren't always on good terms. Always in a competition of who is the better chaser.
But he forgot about all of that right now. All those problems between the two of you, he shoved to the back of his mind, and he walked to your hotel room. Knocking on your door before he allowed his mind to think about it too much. His eyes immediately going to your hands when you opened the door.
"Hey there Rocky." You rolled your eyes at his cocky smirk, and you went to close the door, but he put his hand up and stopped you from closing it.
"Let me see your hand."
"Are you always this forward?"
"Only when something has my interest."
"I'm interesting?"
"Interesting is an understatement." He chuckled. A small smile growing on your lips. "Now that's a sight." Tyler's eyes fell down to your lips. The air between the two of you suddenly growing thicker.
He cleared his throat. "Let me take a look at it." Before you could give him an answer, he was grabbing your wrist, closing the door and sitting you down on the bed.
"Hey!" He simply chuckled and smiled at your complaining. He got down on one knee in front of you. Taking your hands in his and you tried to ignore the heat growing in your cheeks.
"It's fine. I was just cleaning them up."
"Hmm. Sure sweetheart." He started to closely check your knuckles. Gently rubbing his thumb over them. Your hand twitching and your body tensing. He quickly moved his thumb away and looked up at you to make sure you were okay.
"Since when does the tornado wrangler worry about anything else other than tornados?"
"Since there's blood involved." He had a teasing smile, but it faded when he noticed your embarrassment.
"You really did a number on the guy." He said after a long moment of tense silence.
"So... you saw all that?"
"Oh yeah."
"Well, that's not embarrassing at all." Your cheeks burned a brighter red and you wanted to hide.
"Nah. Impressive actually. Remind me to not piss you off." He tried to reassure you and put you at ease with jokes.
You didn't say anything to his joke and instead looked into his eyes. The realization started to settle in. He was checking on. He was being unbelievably gentle with you. Why was he doing this? Your mind spiraled and Tyler noticed.
His gentle hold on your hands tightening just a little. "Other than being sore for the next few days, you're okay." He let go of you and he rose to his feet. Returning in front of you with gauze. He knelt down. Taking your hands and starting to gently wrap them.
As he did, the realization started to hit him. He realized the position he was in. That he was down on his knees in front of you. The smell of your sweet perfume suddenly overwhelming him. He would be lying if he said he hasn't thought about this before. On his knees for you. That was when a mischievous smile crept to his lips. What if I just... "All set." A crease settled between your eyebrows when you saw the look he was giving you. "What is it?"
"Nothing..." He said with a shrug and his voice suddenly got lower. Your breath catching in your throat when you felt his hand start to gently move up your leg. The motions of his hand slowing when he got to your thigh. Taking his time to feel you as he slowly brought his hand back down. Stopping at your knee. He gently pushed your leg. Spreading your legs wider. You couldn't stop the gasp of surprise that left your lips.
"So gorgeous..." He mumbled. His hands running along your thighs. Your cheeks burning so hot you feel like you could start sweating. "Do you know that? How gorgeous you are?" You weren't able to get the words he wanted to hear out. So, you just shook your head. His crooked grin growing wider. He moved his hands away, slowly taking off his coat. His eyes never leaving yours.
"Guess I'll just have to show you." His hands went to the button of your jeans. "Lay back and lift your hips sweetheart." His voice was a low growl of lust in your ear. Sending shivers down your spine. You slowly leaned back and lifted your hips. "Good girl." He pulled down your jeans alongside with your underwear. He moved your legs over his arms and pushed them up until your legs were draped over his shoulders and his hands were gripping your hips. He gently kissed your thighs. Making your body shudder. His lips moving over your other thigh. A smirk on his lips when you a moan escaped you when he licked a line up your folds.
His lips gently wrapping around your clit. Kissing it before he lightly sucked it. Causing your eyes to be sent to the back of your head and your hands gripping into the sheets. Your knuckles aching in pain but the pleasure between your legs overpowered the pain you had because of your grip on the bed. Your hands were the last thing on your mind. Slowly forgetting about what all has happened. Forgetting about the whole reason he ended up on his knees for you. All you could think about was why he was on his knees now and how his tongue rolled on your clit.
Your breath got heavier, and your moans started to get louder. Your legs trying to close around him. But his grip on you kept you in place. Your body still but your head spinning as his tongue started to move faster. One of his hands leaving your hip and circling your entrance. Slowly pushing his long finger into you. Curling his finger up and reaching places that you could never reach on your own. Your body shaking, you moaned out his name.
"I'm... I'm close-" You spoke weakly through moans, and he continued exactly what he was doing. Matching the speed of his finger with the speed of tongue. His finger deep in you and his mouth sucking your clit, you gripped his hair. Keeping his head in place as your climax hit you. Your moans stopping and your breathing slowing. Your hands slumping at your sides. He sucked his fingers clean, and he looked at you with a cocky smile. Feeling his eyes on you, you opened your eyes and looked at him. Raising up, you looked down into his eyes. His hands rest on the sides of your thighs, and you got closer. Your face mere inches away from his. You laced your fingers through his hair, then suddenly leaned down and kissed him. He moaned into your mouth. His cock straining in his jeans. His hand creeping up your body until he gripped your hair. Deepening the kiss. A sweet gentle kiss quickly turned into desperation.
The more the need grew the more heated the kiss got. The tighter the two of you gripped at each other's hair. Your hands moving down and pulling away from the kiss. Grabbing his shirt with a quickness you didn't even know you had. Pulling his white t-shirt over his head as fast as you could. His lips clashing with yours once more. A heat of desperate want and need. He rose to his feet, pulling you up with him. Never once breaking the kiss. Even when you started to unbutton his jeans and pull them down. His cock springing free. The two of you were like animals. Crawling at each other. Ripping each other's clothes off. His pants. Your shirt and bra. Being torn off of each other in a matter of seconds and being discarded to the floor.
The two of you spun and Tyler sat down at the edge of the bed. Pulling you down on top of him. Straddling his lap, you wrapped your arms around his broad shoulders. His hand moving down between the two of your bodies and guiding his cock into your entrance. Gently pushing it in. His fingers gently digging into your hip. Biting his lips to mask his groan as best as he could. A soft gasp leaving your lips as you started to slowly move yourself down. Starting to take all of his long, thick cock. Stretching your pussy so perfectly. You kissed him as you started to roll your hips up and down.
The kiss quickly turning into all tongue and teeth. Kissing with the same desire that has been burning through the both of you. Wild animals set free. Animals that have been held back and hidden away from their needs. Unleashed to hunt. To hunt for that fire that they need in this cold world. Finding the heat that they need. Finding the heat in each other. In the kiss. In your bodies pressed together. The pleasure growing heavier as you broke the kiss. Throwing your head back with your eyes clenched shut as you were overwhelmed with the best pleasure you've ever felt. Tyler's hands digging into your hips as groans escaped his gritted teeth. Gasping, his eyes rolling to the back of his head as he felt the best pleasure he's ever felt.
Your heart rates spiking and your breathing getting harder to control. The adrenaline of this better than any adrenaline you two have felt chasing a storm. No. This, this was the greatest thing he could ever chase. You. He held onto your waist, and he kissed you as deeply as he could as he felt his climax start to get closer and closer to him. His cock twitching and throbbing. Your walls clenching around him. It was too much for the both of you. He groaned loudly as he came. Your moans as loud as his as you came with him. Your knees weak and your hips slowing to a stop.
You both took a moment to try and control your breathing. Coming down from the high. Tyler left a soft kiss on your forehead, your nose, your cheek, then on your lips. He took a moment to soak in your beauty. Your naked body on top of him. Your forehead glistening with sweat. Your soft gaze. He knew in this moment that you were more beautiful than any tornado and definitely worth chasing than any tornado.
"What are you thinking?" Your gentle voice pulled him out of his thoughts. He cleared his throat. "Nothing." He said with a shrug and a big smile. Gently lifting you off of him. Cum dripping out of you. He laid you down on the bed. Leaning over to give you a kiss. Then he entered the bathroom. Returning with a warm bath cloth. He carefully cleaned you up. Then himself. Changing the sheets. He crawled into bed. Your head laid on his chest and his strong arms wrapped around you.
"I'll see 'ya in the eye of the storm sweetheart."
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off the beaten path
pairing: patrick zweig x reader
summary: what could go wrong with a non-refundable honeymoon and a broken engagement?
warnings: MATURE (mentions of sex but no sex scenes), exes to lovers, idiots to lovers angst, fluff, there was only one bed MULTIPLE times, jealousy!! (like a lot), slow burn, no use of y/n, so much use of the word fuck, a little toxicity, some facts about landmarks are inaccurate for the plot, lots of arguing and making up, miscommunication, seasickness, patrick & reader kinda have no social awareness, a lot of hotels and buses,ย alcohol, hurt/comfort, happy ending.
word count: 18.4k
authorโs note: this was so much longer than i expected it to be, but i loved writing it so so much and i'm gonna be sad to see this pairing go! also, a special thank you to the tour website whose itinerary i used for their trip. i hope you enjoy!
JFK AIRPORT
You scrolled endlessly on your phone as you sat at your gate, trying your hardest to fight off the combination of sleepiness and anxiety that had been slowly creeping up on you for the past hour.ย ย
You should be happyโexcited to spend the next month of your life traveling throughout Europe on the trip that you had dreamt about since you were a child. Instead, you were filled with dread at the prospect of your quickly approaching trip, leaving your leg bouncing and your eyes flitting between the device in your hands and the entrance of the gate, anxiously anticipating the arrival of a man that you really really did not want to see.ย
Once it was announced that first class was boarding, you quickly hopped out of your uncomfortable seat, hoping that if you boarded quick enough, you might be able to miss your unwanted companion. As you stood in line, you tried your best to be casual about your endlessly swiveling head and wondered if it was too late to simply call the whole thing off.ย
Boarding had gone smoothly enough, and as you settled into your seat, you still hadnโt seen any sign of your former fiancรฉ. For a second, a spark of hope lit up in you. Maybe youโd get to experience Europe without that pest in your ear after all. Maybe you could even arrange a friend to come fly out and be with you for a few days, or find someone to have a romantic summer fling with.ย
But just as soon as your hope arrived, it departed with the sound of a familiar voice walking down the aisle and directly towards you.
โThey wouldnโt let me switch my seat.โ
You couldnโt believe that those were the choice of words the man youโd intended to spend the rest of your life with had decided to start with. After months of radio silence. No apologies, no awkward small talk, no sugar-coated words about your situation, just a complaint about the conditions the two of you would be in for the next eight hours. Classic Patrick.ย
โThatโs too bad,โ you replied, already annoyed by his presence. You had underestimated how much of a challenge this trip was going to be, solely based on the speed at which your negative feelings had come to the surface.ย
โYeah, no shit,โ he muttered under his own breath, putting some luggage into the overhead bin above your seats.ย
โYouโre the one who insisted we still go,โ you argued, not wanting him to get the last wordโeven if his last words were meant to be a snarky comment to himself more than anything else.ย
โThe hotels, tours, and all the other tickets were non-refundable!โ he argued right back to you.ย
โSo?โ you shot back like a petulant child.ย
โSo I didnโt want to waste your money.โ
โOh, how considerate,โ you scoffed sarcastically before beginning once more. โYouโre rich! You donโt even have to be here!โย
โJust because my family is comfortable doesnโt mean I want to waste my money.โ
You openly rolled your eyes at his words. Comfortable was the understatement of the century. โSo you didnโt actually want to waste my money. You didnโt want to waste your own.โ
โWhy canโt it be both?โ he asked, sounding exasperated by your line of thinking. You hated when he did that. You kind of hated most things he did now. Maybe you just hated him.ย
โI never said it canโt be both, I just think you should stop trying to act like youโre so charitable for doing me a favor. As if our relationship wasnโt filled with me doing you favors.โ
โDo you really want to be having this conversation right now?โ he asked.ย
โSorry, youโre right. We have the next thirty-five days to talk about it.โ
The two of you sighed in a synchronized breath at the mention of the amount of time you had to spend together. You hated that the two of you were still in rhythm after everything youโd been through. Or maybe you just hated Patrick.ย
โWho plans a thirty-five day honeymoon anyway?โ he huffed.ย
โUs, apparently. I mean, you were all for it, what? A few months ago?โ
โOnly because you wanted it.
โOh, how could I forget. The ever-charitable Patrick Zweig. Taking a month-long break from hitting balls to be with me. Iโm forever in your debt,โ you mocked with a dramatic hand to your forehead. โAt this rate, youโre gonna send me a list of all of the nice things youโve ever done for me. What do you want me to say? Thank you for doing the bare minimum as a boyfriend?โ
โFiancรฉ,โ he corrected you, earning a very nasty side eye from you in the process of doing so.ย
You were beginning to get dirty looks from your fellow first class passengers, which temporarily shut the both of you up. It was never a good idea to piss off people on a plane. You didnโt want to end up on the no-fly list just because you couldnโt bite your tongue around your ex.ย
โRemember when you said we could still be friends after this?โ Patrick spoke once more after your moment of silence.ย
โOf course I remember, but you stopped that from happening when youโฆโ your voice trailed off as you made eye contact with a very displeased looking middle aged woman โWhatever. Letโs justโฆ try to get through this flight. And try not to make any more of a scene.โ
โFine,โ he replied, shrugging in your peripheral vision.ย
โFine,โ you said back, not wanting him to have the last word.
โDonโt do that.โ
โDo what?โ
โThat thing where you think you win every argument just because you said the last thing.โ
โIโm not doing that,โ you lied. โYou think you know me so well.โ
A familiar agitated smile broke out on his face, something that you unfortunately missed seeing. โI do know you well, though. I see right through you.โ
โYou actually donโt, though.โ
โI do,โ he insisted, the smirk creeping onto his face telling you that he knew you were actively proving his point.ย
โNot really,โ you dismissed and attempted to casually pull the headphones that were currently sitting on your neck up to cover your ears. You were always grateful to have noise-canceling headphones when you were traveling, but they were coming particularly in handy for you to win this argument. You tried to hide your self-satisfied smirk as you pressed play on your phone, but you could instantly tell that you were failing.ย
When you looked back up, Patrick was clearly saying words to you that you werenโt able to hear. Knowing him, he was probably saying something along the lines of, โReal mature.โย
The truth was that he wanted the last word more than you didโwhich made it particularly rewarding when you gestured to your headphones before throwing your hands out in a shrug to indicate to him that you couldnโt hear him.
Your vacation was already off to a chaotic start. You couldnโt help but fear what the next thirty-five days would be like.ย
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Despite the flight only being eight hours long, you were absolutely exhausted by the time that you checked into your hotel room. So exhausted that you failed to remember to request to switch rooms to one with two beds rather than one.
This predicament only came to the forefront of your mind once you and Patrick had already swiped into the room, suitcases lying on the floor and one king-sized mattress presented in front of you.ย
โShould I go back down to the front desk?โ he asked as he looked from you to the bed.ย
โIโm too tired to get a new room,โ you replied. You could handle one night next to your ex. Youโd slept in a bed together for years. Granted, during those years you were also sleeping together, but this wasnโt all that different.ย
โFine. Donโt complain if I hog blankets, then.โ
โFine,โ you replied. โJust stay on your side of the bed.โ
You shucked your backpack from your shoulders and walked over to what was typically the side of the bed where you slept when the two of you had been a couple. Not wasting any time to get ready for bed, you began to take off your clothes and search for your pajamas. Once you glanced over your shoulder, you were quite displeased to find Patrick rather openly ogling at you.ย
โStop looking at me,โ you demanded.
โWhat? Itโs nothing I havenโt seen before.โ He said with a smirk.ย
โYouโre such a creep,โ you muttered, throwing on an old shirt and crawling into bed.ย
As you laid in bed and texted your friends and family that youโd arrived at your hotel safely, you took a peek of your own at your former partner as he got ready for bed. He seemed to be going with his classic bedtime attire of just boxers. Bold move.ย
Your eyes were momentarily stuck on his abs and enticing happy trail. Youโd planned your trip during Patrickโs off season while he was training for his upcoming season, so you were pleasantly unsurprised that he was in such good shape. Your breath caught for a second as you thought about the rest of him, and you desperately tried to repress the low, fiery feeling rising in your stomach.ย
โAnd Iโm the creep?โ he asked with a laugh, pulling you away from your objectification as he got into bed next to you.ย
โYeah,โ you replied, as if you hadnโt just given him the same treatment heโd given you.ย
โWellโฆ like what you see?โ
You scoffed at his audacity, though you did like what you saw. โIโm not fucking you. Goodnight.โ
You hit the light on your nightstand and you swore you heard a quiet sound of disappointment come from Patrick. Bastard.
You turned your back to him and closed your eyes, finding that sleep took you under surprisingly easily.
When you woke up in the morning, you were greeted by a far too familiar feeling. Despite your request for Patrick to stay on his side of the bed, the slow, steady breaths being breathed into your ear and the solid wall of body behind you indicated that he had not only traveled into your space over the course of the night, but was actively spooning you.ย
You were shocked to find that you didnโt necessarily mind it. Yes, you were mad at Patrick for everything that had gone down between you, and because he was such a pain in the ass, but you also hadnโt realized just how much you missed being held. Particularly, how much you missed being held by him.ย
The more alert you became, the more you realized that you couldnโt really move. Despite that, you found that you didnโt really want to move. Sure, you were beginning to get uncomfortably hot, and yes, you could feel Patrickโs morning wood pressing against your ass, but none of it was particularly unpleasant.ย
Part of you wondered if your trip would go differently than you expected. Regardless of how you acted towards one another, you clearly both missed each other.ย
Your shrill phone alarm suddenly went off, startling Patrick awake behind you.ย
โMmm, fuck, sorry,โ he sleepily slurred as he rolled away from you. You turned over to look at his tired face, eyes still lidded and speckled face looking far softer than you remembered.ย
Out of the blue, he opened his eyes, catching you in the act of looking at him with barely-concealed affection. Before he could make some sort of snarky comment, he shot out of bed, adjusted his boxers, and made an urgent beeline towards the bathroom. All of which wouldโve been far funnier if his actions hadnโt been disrupted by the loud message ping of his cellphone.ย
You weighed out your options. You were curious about what was waiting for him on his phone, but you werenโt sure that youโd have time to properly snoop. As if the universe was listening to your thoughts, the sound of the shower began, telling you that you had all the time that you needed to do some adequate investigation.ย
You wondered who was texting Patrick so early in the morning. Knowing him, it was probably his mother, checking in to make sure he made it to his destination safely. You were sure that whatever message she left would also be inquiring about you. Sheโd always had a bit of a soft spot for you, especially compared to some of the other people that Patrick had brought home. That, of course, was an observation shared to you from Patrick, so you couldnโt be sure how much of it was flattery compared to truth.ย
Regardless, her fondness for you had carried into the end of your relationship, with her occasionally messaging or calling you to make sure that you were still doing well, and more importantly, to check in on the status of your relationship.ย
Much like you and your friends, sheโd been holding out hope that your relationship may repair itself. With you and Patrick being as passionate as the two of you were, you were no strangers to seemingly serious arguments that resolved themselves in a matter of days. While calling off a wedding was far more drastic than any of your other disputes had been, after being together for years, it was hard to imagine a world where the two of you werenโt a couple.ย
But his call never came. You didnโt hear an apology or explanation or even an excuse from Patrickโjust a suggestion of when you should pick up the items youโd left at his place.
You hated to admit it, but there was a naรฏve part of you that was still holding out hope that this trip would be exactly what you needed to reconcile. And maybe that naรฏeve part of you was less delusional than you mightโve originally thought. Surely cuddling into the morning and Patrickโs poorly hidden morning wood were signs that this vacation was already going in the right direction. Maybe being in such close proximity was exactly the push you needed to get your relationship back on track.ย
After a halfhearted internal debate, you grabbed his phone from the night stand on his side of the bed. Attempting the passcode heโd been using while you were togetherโthe digits of your birthdayโyou were pleased to find that the password hadnโt changed and that you were granted access into his phone. What you werenโt expecting to see was Tinder on the homepage of his cracked device.ย
You paused for a moment and attempted to reason with yourself. Your former fiancรฉ probably didnโt even use the app. Heโd likely been pressured by his rebound-obsessed friends to download it, and hadnโt even opened the app since setting up his profile. Besides, you didnโt get on his phone to see what new apps heโd downloaded, you were snooping to see what his mom had to say about you.ย
When you opened his messages app, your mouth promptly fell open in shock. Patrick had always been loyal to youโat least to your knowledgeโwhile the two of you were together. Seeing him be so openly flirtatious and suggestive with an attractive woman that you hadnโt ever heard of was more than jarring.ย
Your stomach churned as you scrolled through the conversation, flirty messages and images from both sides that left little to the imagination disturbing you in a way that you hadnโt ever realized was possible.ย
In the midst of your distraught state, you nearly missed the background noise of the shower coming to a halt, informing you that your time snooping had come to an end.ย
You set his phone back down where youโd found it and desperately tried to push down the bile in your throat that was tasting more and more like jealousy and anger by the second.ย
You knew it was irrational for you to be feeling this way, considering that the two of you had been broken up for a few months. Nothing legally or morally tied the two of you together anymore, but that didnโt make you feel any less unsettled by what youโd just seen.ย
It was just thatโฆ you werenโt sure youโd ever be able to fully move on from Patrick. Heโd been part of your life for so long, and the way things ended had been so abrupt that it almost didnโt feel real. Even if you did move on, it was going to take you more than three months to do so. It wasnโt fair that Patrickโs name seemed to pop up every week in your therapy sessions, while he was sending pictures of himself in gray sweatpants to random hot women.ย
You wanted to shrink into the mattress and never come back up. You wanted to yell at Patrick the moment he stepped out of the bathroom. You wanted to turn on your side and wail dramatically, at least until all of your big feelings felt a little smaller.ย
But you were in Europe on vacation. You were on vacation, damnit, and you werenโt going to let one mildly disturbing text thread ruin your entire experience. Better yet, if Patrick was already moving on, there was no reason that you shouldnโt do the same.
You told yourself this as you rolled out of bed and dug in your suitcase, pulling out a sundress that had driven Patrick wild in the past. While you may have packed it with less than realistic expectations, your goal was far more grounded now.ย
Both of you could play this game.ย
You stepped out of the bathroom fully dressed after a shower of your own and instantly registered the almost cartoonish look he was giving you. You guessed that some things never changed, even when the two of you had decided to actively pursue other people.ย
โThe tour guide said to meet in the lobby soon, so Iโm gonna head down,โ you explained, not giving him a second look as you began to search for your purse.ย
โThe tour doesnโt start for another half hour?โ he replied, sitting up from where he was laying on the bed.ย
โWell I wanna socialize with the people weโre gonna be traveling through Europe with,โ you said a little snappily, still a little perturbed about what youโd found on his phone earlier. You conveniently left out the fact that you wanted to scope out any potential summer flings.ย
โIโll come with you,โ he insisted.
โYou really donโt have to. Remember, this isnโt actually a honeymoon,โ you slipped on some comfortable shoes and headed to the door. โIโll see you around.โ
You were probably being far more rude than you really needed to be, but your anger had only intensified as you showered and put on makeup. At this point, you were fully pissedโeven if you didnโt have the right to be.ย
You made small talk with the people you met in the lobby as they began to filter into the room, and tried your absolute best to dispel the anger that was flowing through your veins. That proved harder than you anticipated, as Patrick was one of the last people to join you all in the lobby, and for the life of you, you couldnโt stop imagining him sitting in your shared hotel room and sexting his mystery girl.ย
Luckily, you couldnโt dwell on that ugly thought for too long, as your tour began soon after. Your friendly guide took your group around the city, explaining rather riveting information about the landmarks you visited and the city itself.
After being dismissed for a quick break, you found yourself sitting on a bench and chatting with a man in your group. He wasnโt really your type, but he was extremely conventionally attractive, and from the peripheral glances you caught of Patrick, you could tell that he wasnโt exactly pleased with what was going on.
While making him jealous, or annoyed, or whatever it was that he was feeling, wasnโt your expressed goal, it did feel nice to give him a taste of his own medicine. What felt less nice was glancing over and catching him typing on his phone furiously. You could only imagine whose boobs were on the other end of the line.ย
Reacting out of a bit of desperation and frustration, you began to play things up. You leaned over more to show off more cleavage, laughed a little harder at jokes that werenโt all that funny, and set a scandalous hand on his arm. You were determined to have that vacation fling now, and you were going to get it by any means necessary.ย
You laid it on thick for the rest of the afternoon, sitting next to him during lunch and flirting casually with him as your group walked through Park Gรผell.ย
You wondered if he noticed you throwing glances in Patrickโs direction after every interaction. You hoped that he didnโt.ย
It felt good to be getting even with Patrickโbut not as good as you expected it to feel. The realization sunk in as a portion of your group visited a bar that was apparently very popular with the locals. Or at least, thatโs what a very handsome man purred into your ear after sitting down next to you at the bar.
Youโd been keeping an eye on Patrick as he socialized with a couple that heโd been talking to for the majority of your day, but you almost instantly lost track of him as you became consumed with this handsome stranger.ย
Everything happened in a bit of a blurโone moment youโd been nursing a Marianito, and the next you were holding the hand of a man whose name you couldnโt remember as he led you to his apartment.ย
By the time youโd left his apartment, you were nothing short of a mess. You were pretty sure that the only way you couldโve been more obvious about what had just happened to you was if you had the words โJUST HAD SEXโ written across your foreheadโand with the way the people in your hotel elevator were looking at you, you couldnโt be completely sure that those words werenโt on your face.ย
You made it back to your room safely, quietly opening the door and doing your best not to make too much noise, since at this hour, Patrick was surely asleep.ย
It did feel weird to be going back to his bed less than an hour after youโd been with another man, but you couldnโt necessarily say you felt bad. Patrick had started it, and you simply finished it off. If he didnโt have any issues with seeing other people, there was no reason for you to have an issue with it either.ย
Your efforts to be quiet had proved themselves to be for naught, as Patrick was very clearly wide awake, sitting up in bed and already looking at you disapprovingly.ย
You werenโt sure what possessed you to speak, rather than ignoring his presence and heading straight to the shower, but your mouth was open before you could stop yourself.ย
โWere you just gonna wait here until I got back, like Iโm a kid who just snuck out or something?โ you asked in disbelief, partially annoyed because of his action, but more ashamed to have been caught in such a state. It couldnโt have been more obvious to Patrick what youโd just done, considering that heโd seen you in a similar state hundreds of times.ย
โBaby, we are on a whole different, unfamiliar continent,โ his tone was condescending and cold and it made you want to crawl out of your skin. โWhy wouldnโt I wait to make sure you got back safely?โ
โDonโt call me pet names. And I wouldโve been fine. We were just at the bar,โ you lied. Going to the apartment of a random man you just met probably wasnโt your brightest idea, but you made it out alive, and that was what mattered.ย
โHuh. The bar?โ he smirked at you in a way that screamed that he was pissed, without really having to say a word.ย
โYes, I- what does it matter to you anyway?โ you hoped that the question would be enough to get you out of the situation. If you were going to argue, you at least wanted to argue after you were showered and in pajamas.
โWhat does it matter to me if you fucked someone else?โ he asked, sounding like he was in complete disbelief.ย
โYeah, Patrick. Why does it matter if I fucked someone else? Weโre not together anymore. Did you forget? I mean, it seemed pretty obvious to you when you stopped speaking to me completely a few months ago.โ
โPlease, enlighten me. What did I have to speak to you about?โย
โI donโt know! Maybe an โare you okay?โ wouldโve been nice. Or something. Anything, really. We were together for six fucking years and you just dropped me like I was dirt!โ
โIโฆโ he trailed off, catching you by surprise. He almost always had a quick clever response that managed to piss you off in a way no one else ever could, so seeing him not knowing what to say next caught you off guard. โIf our relationship meant that much to you, why were you all over that guy? I mean, seriously. Iโve never seen anything so desperate. You were practically rubbing yourself on him in the park like a bitch in heat.โ
Contempt dripped from his words. You had never been so enraged.
โAre you joking?โ you laughed out of sheer anger. โPatrick, you started it! How many Tinder girls have you seen since we broke up? And donโt you dare fucking lie to me. I saw everything youโve been sending to Amelia. Amelia, Iโm so lonely. Amelia, Iโm so horny. Amelia, I love you so much,โ you mocked.
โYou went through my phone?โ he asked in disbelief, not even bothering to address the rest of your statement. โFuck. Youโre unbelievable.โ
โIโm unbelievable? How long did it even take you before we split for you to start seeing other people? I mean, knowing you, you were probably just waiting for the day we broke up to go get your dick wet.โ
โThatโs not true, and you know it,โ for a second, he looked genuinely woundedโsomething you were only able to recognize after years of being in a relationship with the man. You didnโt like that you were actively hurting him, but heโd been inflicting pain on you from the moment you broke up.
โFine,โ you conceded on that front, knowing that he was right. It wasnโt completely true. If you hadnโt gone through his phone, you never wouldโve guessed that he had already moved on. โBut youโve still been seeing other people.โ
โWeโve been broken up for months now,โ he replied, as if that was supposed to make things any better or more reasonable.ย
โThen why do you care so much about me having sex with someone else? Itโs fine when you do it, but suddenly itโs an issue for me?โย
Patrickโs face immediately paled. โYou really fucked him?โ
โWell, yeah,โ you paused. โWell, not who youโre thinking of.โ
โYou fucked someone else?!โ The hurt and disbelief buried under his words made your stomach churn. โYou were flirting with that other douchebag all day, I donโt-โ
โYouโre acting like Iโm some whore for reacting to something that you did first!โ you cut him off.ย
โAnd youโre acting like I wanted to get rid of you this whole time!โ he shot back out at you.ย
โClearly you fucking did,โ you hissed.ย
โFuck you,โ he huffed.ย
โFuck you,โ you shot right back. โIโm leaving.โ
โGood,โ Patrick replied with a shrug as if he didnโt care, although you were very sure that he cared. โGo run back to your little fuck buddy.โ
โYeah, maybe I will,โ you replied as you gathered your items back into your suitcase. โHe was better than you, by the way.โ
โYeah, I bet,โ he said snarkily as he watched you pack up your items. Luckily, you didnโt have much to pack up and were already heading towards the door.ย
โHe had a bigger dick, too,โ you said as you swung open the hotel room door, fully satisfied with a lie that you knew would bother Patrick.ย
While leaving your hotel room seemed like a wonderful idea in the moment, as you went down the elevator, you started to realize that you really did not have many options for where youโd sleep that night.ย
You figured your best bet was the hotel lobby. Maybe you could pretend to be someone whoโd drank too much and passed out on the first floor before you made it up to your room. You sat down in a comfortable looking chair and grabbed your keycardโin case anyone asked you to verify who you wereโthen set a floppy hat on your head to cover your face from the bright hotel lobby lights while you attempted to sleep.ย
Sleep was already going to be difficult to accomplish, thanks to the argument that you were certainly going to be ruminating on for days to come. That was only made more difficult by the uncomfortable seating and position youโd found yourself in. Somehow, you managed to fall asleep, being woken up by a hotel employee and a friend youโd made from your tour group.
โLong night, huh?โ she asked you with a playful smirk.ย
โMm, something like that,โ you mumbled sleepily.ย
โWell, you can sleep on the coach. It just got here, so weโll have the best pick of seats. Cโmon,โ she extended her hand out to you and you gladly took it, in desperate need of something grounding.ย
You dozed off on the coach once youโd gotten settled, headphones securely on your ears and sunglasses covering your closed eyes. You were vaguely aware of people boarding the vehicle around you, but didnโt pay much mind to anything. Eventually, you heard the faint sound of someone taking attendance of the people on the bus, followed by the commotion of someone getting on the bus late.ย
Something compelled you to open up your eyes, and when you did, you were displeased to find that Patrick was the source of all of the drama. Likely thing for him to be. He scrambled down the aisle, looking desperately for empty seats. To your own horror, you realized that the seat next to you was vacant, and perhaps the only vacant seat on the entire coach.ย
As if your minds were connected, you watched Patrick face that very same dilemma as he eventually decided to sit down in the only empty seat, right next to you.ย
Neither of you said anything at first, not addressing your blowout argument the previous night, or your awkward current situation.ย
โYou look like shit,โ Patrick finally said as the bus took off.ย
โThanks,โ you replied, mentally preparing yourself for a continuation of the argument youโd had just a few hours ago. It was only a matter of time before he brought up your promiscuity or started blatantly texting his Tinderella.ย
But none of that ever came. In fact, he just looked a little sad. It was weird to see Patrick so openly defeated. He was always one to put on a smirk or a challenging smile when you argued, letting the faรงade fall once he was alone, or once the two of you finally discussed what the issue was like adults.
You werenโt sure that you liked it. You preferred annoying asshole Patrick to sad, moping Patrick.ย
โYou look like shit, too,โ you added. โWhich is crazy, since you had access to a shower and I didnโt.โ
โAnd whose fault is that?โ he asked, looking at you with the slightest hint of that devious smile. You had to fight the slightest inkling of a smile on your own face.ย
You felt ridiculous knowing that your mood was still being influenced by your former partner. Even when he was insulting you. Even after heโd spent the night arguing with you. Even after youโd slept with someone else. Even after the two of you had a messy split.ย
You still loved him.ย
โYours, mostly,โ you shrugged and put your headphones back on.ย
PARIS, FRANCE
Despite your brief conversation on the bus, you and Patrick didnโt speak to each other for the entirety of your commute. Although you clearly cared about him, it didnโt change the fact that he had upset and hurt you deeply. And even as upset as you were, you knew that youโd hurt him just as badly.ย
You had a particular dread for what awaited you in France, knowing that this part of the tour was very couples-activity heavy. When youโd scheduled your trip, this aspect of the tour felt like a major selling point. The two of you always seemed to be falling more in love with each other, and having a candlelit dinner by the Eiffel Tower felt like an exciting way to kick off your marriage.ย
Now, you just felt like an idiot.
The two of you did your absolute best to avoid getting paired up with each other for all of the activities that you could. You found yourself spending most of your time with a solo traveler who was close in age to you. She made a surprisingly fun companion to your cheese and wine taste test, popping cubes of fragrant cheese into your mouth and making a competition out of who could detect the most accurate notes in your wine.ย
While you found luck in your first few activities, you werenโt so lucky when it came to an evening ride of the Roue de Paris. Whether it was fate or just bad luck, after the pair in front of you had dipped out of line for reasons unknown to you, you had the shocking realization that Patrick had been in between them the whole time. So much for meeting new people on the massive ferris wheel.ย
You tried to look busy so he wouldnโt notice that you noticed, and did your best to think of some sort of game plan. Although youโd essentially been giving each other the silent treatment in the hours leading up to this moment, youโd caught Patrick looking at you multiple times throughout the dayโsomething you only noticed because youโd been looking at him as well.ย
After a moment, the two of you were let into an empty passenger car. Sitting across from one another, it was hard to ignore the very obvious elephants in the room, but that didnโt mean you wouldnโt try.ย
At first, you simply looked out the window, not saying a single word as the ferris wheel began to move.ย
โYou should put that safety belt on, just in case,โ Patrick commented from his side of the car, pulling his eyes away from the window to look at you.ย
โI doubt anything will happen,โ you shrugged. โItโs fine.โ
He eyed you suspiciously for a moment, before leaning over and strapping you in anyway. Your breath caught in your throat, his simple action putting you into serious psychological pain. It wasnโt lost on you how much Patrick liked to take care of you. It was far more obvious when the two of you were dating, with him covering the bills for dates and doing your laundry for you. It had been so ironic to you at the time, how a man who could barely take care of himself always went out of his way to make sure that you were going to be okay.ย
Now, his small act of kindness just made your stomach turn. But it wasnโt like you could express any of those feelings.ย
โThanks,โ was all that you managed before looking out of the window once more.ย
An awkward, heavy silence filled the passenger car once more as the ride began to take the two of you higher.ย
โThe view is so beautiful,โ you commented, unable to remain silent anymore and hoping that your words were neutral enough not to stir any pots.ย
โYeah, itโs really nice,โ his gaze remained fixed out the window, before he looked at you once more as if there were words on the tip of his tongue.ย
โI honestly donโt know how we managed to get in line in time to see the sunset,โ you continued with your boring, neutral small talk.ย
โIโm glad we did. This is the perfect spot to watch it.โ
โYeah,โ you agreed, continuing to look out the window instead of at the man across from you. โItโs so pretty tonight, too.โ
โIt is,โ he agreed.ย
The two of you sat in silence again, only the sound of a soft whirring filling your ears. Then suddenly, all at once, the whirring stoppedโand so did your passenger car.ย
โAre we stuck?โ you asked, looking out nervously at the very tall height that the two of you were currently definitely stuck at.ย
โWe canโt be. Itโll probably start back up in a second.โ
It didnโt start back up in a second. In fact, after a series of announcements in French, an announcement in English suddenly declared that it would be at least an hour before the ride could be fixed.ย
At the sound of the announcement, both you and Patrick sighed aloud, still synchronized even after everything youโd been through.ย
โMaybe this is a sign,โ Patrick piped up.ย
โWhat are you talking about?โ you laughed at him, hoping desperately that this didnโt mean that he wanted to continue arguing with you. You genuinely did not have it in you to do so again. You also didnโt have it in you to sleep in another hotel lobby.ย
โWell, Iโve been wanting to talk to you all day,โ he confessed.ย
โIs that why you were staring at me all day?โ you teased, a weak, slightly hopeful smile creeping onto your face.ย
โI was looking at you because I could feel you staring at me,โ he clarified, as if he was setting the record straight. โI donโt want things to be like this between us anymore.โ
โYeah?โ you asked, the pit of nerves in your stomach tightening at wherever he was going with his spiel. The anticipation of his words alone made you nauseous.ย
โSo I think that we should talk about last night,โ he suggested.ย
That was exactly what you didnโt want to hear him say. You had barely processed the argument yourself, let alone think about anything else that you had to say to Patrick that didnโt involve trying to hurt him as much as he hurt you.ย
โWe donโt have to. Itโs fine. The past is in the past,โ you dismissed.ย
โItโs not fine, though. Not really,โ he countered, all earnestness. You didnโt detect any harshness to his words or any blood in the water that indicated to you that he wanted to do anything more than have an honest conversation with you. โI was so out of line. I canโt- I donโt want you to think that I really believe the things I said about you.โ
โPatrick, pleaseโฆโ you trailed off, hoping that he would understand that you didnโt really want to talk about this. Though, you were relieved to learn that heโd only said those things out of the heat of the moment.ย
โNo,โ he stood his ground. โWe need to talk about this if we ever want our relationship to improve.โ
โFine,โ you gave in. โBut you start, so I can collect my thoughts.โ
โOf course,โ he leaned forward so he could get a better look at you, and you were immediately drawn into some intense eye contact with him. โIโm sorry for acting like a dick yesterday. I shouldnโt have treated you the way I did, and I really shouldnโt have let you leave our hotel room. That was really stupid of me. I worried about you for the rest of the night and spent the morning looking for you.โ
This was surprising information to you. While you did find it to be a bit of a dick move that Patrick would just let you leave like that after lecturing you about being unsafe in a new country, you hadnโt realized that heโd been late to boarding the coach because heโd been searching for you. You could only imagine the sick feeling he had as he realized he couldnโt find you anywhere.ย
โIโm sorry for what I said, too. Insulting you for trying to move on was really unfair of me. I was justโฆ hurt, I guess. When I donโt even have the right to be.โ
โYou do, a little. We were together for a really long time, so itโs gonna feel weird that weโre starting to see other people,โ you shrugged. โThat was an excellent apology, that I accept, by the way.โ
โThank you. I really got a chance to practice my apology skills with the last woman I was with,โ he explained. You tried to repress the feeling of jealousy that was already bubbling up in your stomach at the mention of another woman.ย
โYeah?โ you asked, hoping that he didnโt notice the brief twitch of your eye.
โYeah. Sheโs super opinionated and outspoken, so we would butt heads a lot. But that was always something I really liked about her. That, and her magnificent ass.โ
Finally, it occurred to you that he was talking about you. You rolled your eyes and shook your head, despite the fact that you were secretly very flattered by the way he was speaking about you. โEw. Shut up,โ you laughed.ย
โWell, if youโre done objectifying me, I would love to apologize to you too.โ
โAll done objectifying you. For now, at least. Go ahead.โ
You were a little nervous about the words that were about to come out of your mouth. You just had so much to say, and you werenโt sure that it was all going to come out correctly.ย
โIโm sorry for the things I said last night. I genuinely did not mean what I said, I just got caught up in the moment. And Iโm really sorry for going through your phone, because thatโs seriously none of my business. It was such an unnecessary violation of trust, and I understand if youโre still pissed at me for that. And it was really ridiculous for me to overreact the way that I did over you seeing someone else, because again, itโs really not my business. I feel like Iโm kinda the worst,โ you confessed.ย
โYouโre not the worst,โ he countered.ย
โFine, I guess. Maybe you just bring the worst out in me,โ you joked, trying to lighten the mood slightly.ย
โThat sounds more accurate. We bring out the worst in each other.โ
โRight. Thatโs why weโre such a good pair,โ you paused, then corrected yourself. โOf friends.โ
โIs that what we are now?โ
โI never said we were good friends.โ
โFrenemies?โ
โSomething like that,โ you said, before the familiar whirring sound of the ferris wheel began once more.ย
โHuh. Who wouldโve thought that the only thing the wheel needed to function was an apology to each other?โ
โYouโre so annoying,โ you laughed and shook your head. โHow are we gonna make it through the rest of this trip?โ
LONDON, ENGLAND
Your final few days in France had been made far less awkward by your conversation on the ferris wheel. Deciding to fully embrace the couples activities the tour had reserved for you, the two of you were having a good time re-establishing your friendship.ย
Your trip to London had gone mostly without a hitch, with your group arriving in the city in the evening and immediately checking in to your hotel. At this point, you had given up on even attempting to get separate beds. It seemed like every morning now you woke up cuddling with Patrick, but you werenโt necessarily mad at the unintentional intimacy.ย
In some ways, your relationship was beginning to feel similar to how it felt before the two of you broke up. While you were sure that things wouldnโt be exactly the sameโespecially since you still hadnโt addressed the elephant in the room that was your breakupโit was nice to return to the comfort youโd found in your relationship with Patrick.ย
Like clockwork, the morning after your arrival in London, you woke up with Patrick pressed up against your back, nose buried in your hair. As he woke up, he pressed a gentle kiss to your hairline out of what you were sure was just habit rather than genuine affection.ย
โMorning,โ he greeted you groggily, rolling away from your side.ย
โMorning,โ you replied, turning to face him. You ran a hand through his messy morning hair and looked at him fondly. It was taking far more self control than you had to not lean over and kiss him. โWhat time is it?โ you asked, in part to distract yourself, but also because the digital clock was on his side of the bed.ย
โItโsโฆโ he trailed off as he went to read the time. โOh shit, weโre gonna be late.โ
โWhat?โ you asked, shooting up from your relaxed position.ย
โItโs 8:25,โ he explained, already rolling out of bed.ย
In a rush, the two of you got dressed in record time, making it down to the lobby in the five minutes that you had to make it on time. You shared a high-five in the lobby, and tried your best not to dwell on how the simple action felt far more domestic than it needed to.ย
Your tour began not too long after that, getting your day off to a strong start. Your day of exploring London was by far your busiest. You were sure that youโd accumulated thousands of steps as you went between large museums, beautiful parks, and massive landmarks. By the time that you returned to your hotel room, you were pretty sure that your legs were mush.ย
You returned earlier than Patrick, who had gone out to a gastropub with a group of tourists in your group that he got along well with. You took this as an opportunity to have some alone time, taking a long and steaming hot shower, frolicking around the room in a soft hotel robe, and watching a movie while you waited for your room service to arrive.ย
After youโd thoroughly enjoyed your alone time, finishing off your room service and opting to scroll on your phone, the door cracked open and Patrick strolled in.ย
โLooks like you made yourself right at home,โ he observed.ย
โI had to after todayโs tour. So much walking,โ you groaned.ย
โIt wasnโt all that bad,โ he shrugged, sitting down next to you in bed.ย
โWell, not all of us are professional athletes,โ you laughed. โHow was the pub?โ
โFun. Itโd be better if you came.โ
โIโm sorry, I was exhausted,โ you sighed. โYou couldโve stayed in with me and had a spa day.โ
โWe can have a spa day anywhere. We can have a spa day right now.โ
โMm, Iโm all spaโd out. But the water pressure in the shower is excellent, so you should definitely check that out.โ
โI will in a little bit,โ he said. โDid you try out the actual spa here?โ
โThey were closed when I checked, which really sucks, since I was in desperate need of a massage.โ
โDo you still want one?โ Patrick asked.ย
โYeah. Iโll probably try to stop by when theyโre open tomorrow and get one.โ
โNo, I mean, do you want a massage now?โ he added.ย
It had been a long time since Patrick had offered you a massageโor to put his hands on you in any capacityโbut you remembered him being criminally talented at giving them. You also remembered his massages usually making for great foreplay that left your knees weak and your brain a pile of jelly, but that clearly wouldnโt be the case now, and you needed to get your head out of the gutter.ย
โI mean, sure. That would be nice,โ you tried not to sound too excited, though the prospect of a massage from him sounded very, very nice.ย
While the prospect of a massage sounded nice, the actual massage was heavenly. You were sure that years of having personal trainers and physical therapists work knots out of his body had made him an expert at finding knots and kinks in your own, which was now leaving you sighing happily as he ran his hands over your back.ย
You tried your best to ignore the dull, fiery feeling growing in your lower stomach that was surely a result of experiencing a type of intimacy that you hadnโt in quite some time. As you let out an involuntary soft sound at a particular knot being rubbed out of your shoulder, you wondered if this massage was affecting him nearly as much as it was affecting you.
You promptly received an answer to this question when something hard and phallic brushed up against your leg. You turned your head to glance back at Patrick, and his face immediately grew red.ย
โSorry. I can stop, if you want. It just happened because of the noises youโre making and- whatever. I donโt want to make you uncomfortable.โ
Part of you felt a little satisfied knowing that you still had that type of impact on him. It gave you a tiny glimmer of hope to know that you were still, at the least, physically attracted to one another.ย
โItโs fine. Iโll shut up.โ
โYou donโt have to. I want this to be as relaxing as possible for you.โ
โWell youโre doing a great job, if you couldnโt tell from all of the moaning and groaning on my end.โ
You both somehow made it through the rest of the massage without spilling all over the bed, but as you melted into the bed, feeling every muscle in your body relaxed from your excellent massage, you couldnโt help but note the suspiciously long time Patrick was spending in the shower. And maybe it was just your imagination, but if you listened hard enough, you swore you could hear the sound of a soft chanting of your name coming from the other side of the bathroom door.ย
While part of you regretted not suggesting that the two of you help each other out with your mutual problems, you were pretty sure that it was for the best. You genuinely didnโt know where the two of you stood, as far as your relationship went. Hooking up would surely further complicate an already complicated situation, since you were pretty sure that ex-fiancรฉs didnโt typically sleep together. But then again, ex-fiancรฉs also didnโt usually go on a honeymoon despite not being together. Your complicated feelings on the matter only further proved to you that you made the right choice by not giving in to your baser desires.ย
By the time Patrick joined you in bed, you were already half asleep. Yet, even in your delirious state, you didnโt miss the way he came up behind you, pulling you into a loving embrace. It brought warmth to your chest to know that he couldnโt even wait for your automatic sleep routine to hold you, and that he felt the need to take matters into his own hands.ย
You were pretty sure that exes didnโt do that either.ย
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDSย
You didnโt know what you expected from your first ferry ride, but being face deep in a barf bag while soothing circles were rubbed into your back was certainly not it.ย
Given that you werenโt a frequent rider of large vessels on bodies of water, you had no clue going into the ride that things would go so sideways so quickly for you. If anything, you thought you might have the opportunity to stare peacefully out into the water, or to force Patrick to take a few cute pictures of you. Unfortunately, you were currently doing neither of those thingsโand it didnโt seem like youโd be doing them any time soon.ย
You heaved once more, now almost totally sure that you had nothing left to give. Patrick continued to hold your hair out of your face with one hand and use his other to comfortingly rub your back, not at all fazed by your sickness. If you werenโt currently fighting off another wave of nausea and didnโt have the taste of bile lingering in your mouth, you probably couldโve kissed the man.ย
Once your brain finally told you the coast was clear, you leaned your head back and took several deep, gasping breaths of air.ย
โYou alright, honey?โ he asked you, and you didnโt even have the strengthโphysical or mentalโto correct his use of a pet name.ย
โI could be better,โ you replied, pinching the bridge of your nose as you tilted your head back. โThereโs medicine for this, right?โ
โYeah. Let me go see if I can find some.โ
As you fought off a war of nausea and headache that was currently beating you on all fronts, you could faintly hear the sound of Patrick asking the people around you if they had any medicine for motion sickness. He eventually returned after what felt like a lifetime, but was probably more like a few minutes, carrying a bottle of Dramamine.ย
He helped you take the pill, putting it in your mouth then holding a bottle of water up to your lips to help you swallow it. The action felt oddly romantic, though it was more of a matter of practicality compared to anything else. You were clearly not in a stable enough space to get the pill down on your own, so his assistance wasnโt really anything for you to be over analyzing.ย
โLook at you, keeping that down,โ he teased, running his hand up and down your arm. The motion was soothing, a bit of bodily comfort amongst a plethora of other awful physical pains you were experiencing. โYouโre doing great.โ
His soft caresses turned into a full-blown hug, with Patrick pulling you into a tight embrace. While the action itself was rather cuteโespecially since it seemed to be completely impulsive on his partโit instantly brought on a new wave of nausea.ย
โPat?โ you squeaked.ย
โYeah?โ he asked.ย
โYouโre sweet. But if we stay like this, I am going to be sick all over you.โ
He pulled away from you with concern, careful not to move too quickly to set off another bout of sickness. While he let go of your body, he continued to hold your hand, as if he were attempting to ground you. With how anxious he was looking, he mightโve been trying to ground himself as well.ย
It was cute seeing him so worried about you. You tried your best not to read too much into it, and luckily, your slowly fading nausea was the perfect distraction from doing so.ย
โThank you for the drugs. It was fun watching you scramble all around asking people for help. Youโre such a goodโฆโ you paused, not really knowing what you were or what to say. โEx.โ
Now wasnโt exactly the ideal time to have the, โwhat are we?โ conversation, but Patrick didnโt seem to mind. And if he did mind, he was doing a damn good job at hiding it.ย
โOnly the best for my ex.โ Maybe youโd just been imaging it, but you swore you sensed a bit of hesitation on his end as he called you his ex. Admittedly, it would be significantly easier for both of you to be calling each other spouses, or even partners. But alas, you werenโt either of those things to each other anymore.ย
As if youโd read each other's minds, the two of you quickly moved on from that conversation.ย
After youโd arrived and gotten settled into Amsterdam, you set off to explore the city. When presented with a few options of things to do, Patrick insisted that the two of you go on a bike tour, much to your own chagrin. As much as you werenโt sure your legs could handle any more strenuous physical activity, youโd known that Patrick had wanted to take this bike tour since your trip was an actual honeymoon. Who were you to deny him of that?
As the two of you toured the very beautiful city, Patrick made sure to make a show out of his biking skills. While he was no professional cyclist, he certainly had the ego of oneโwhich translated to him going a little too hard at times and nearly falling off of his bike more than once.ย
Each time he almost fell, you found yourself also almost falling, the onset of laughter at the ridiculous man riding next to you nearly being too much to handle. Without fail, every time the two of you did your almost falling, then break into a howling laughter routine, you were given dirty looks by your fellow tour mates. Unfortunately, that only made the situation funnier to you and Patrick.ย
By the time the tour had wrapped, it was clear that everyone was sick and tired of you. But at least this time, the people around you were sick of the girlish giggles Patrick pulled from you, rather than the rude words he provoked you into saying, like heโd done on the plane.ย
It was refreshing to be spending time with him like this. In the time that youโd been so upset about your break up, you forgot about just how good it felt to be around Patrick when your relationship was going well.ย
It was also nice to be spending some alone time with him, away from the rest of your tour group. As the two of you looked at strange knick-knacks in an antique store, you realized just how much you missed being alone with him. While it was nice that the two of you had made friends within your group, your dynamic as a duo was obviously something really special. Maybe thatโs why the two of you had been together for so long.ย
You spent the majority of the afternoon doubled over in laughter, playfully teasing Patrick, or being on the receiving end of subtle, gentle touches. As you really began to think about it, this day of travel had been your favoriteโby a long shot. It also happened to be the day that felt most like one from a honeymoon.
Although it had already been clear to you for some time that you still had feelings for Patrick, the day you had spent together had completely sealed the deal. Once Patrick had surprised you with a beautiful bouquet of flowers over dinner, youโd only been more sure that you were sick with love for your ex.
It was a small miracle that youโd rounded out the day without confessing your feelings, particularly since you ended the evening with a movie playing on the television of your hotel room that the two of you barely paid attention to, as Patrick held you and talked about some of the things youโd missed while the two of you were separated.ย
In the morning, you woke up to the soft sound of chatter, rather than your loud alarm clock or the sound of deep breaths in the shell of your ear.ย
From what you could faintly make out from the words and the lack of a warm body beside you, Patrick was on the phone with his mother. You wanted to feel bad for eavesdropping, especially since youโd just had an argument with Patrick over your snooping habit just over a week ago, but it was far too difficult not to listen in.ย
โIโm glad you liked the picture,โ you made out from the muffled words behind the doorway. You were sure he was referencing the selfie the two of you took in front of Big Ben a few days ago. You also liked the photo a lot, with the two of you looking particularly good and particularly happy. Youโd also taken a more baity photo of him kissing your cheek, specifically to send to his mother who he knew would be overjoyed to see you. While Patrick had explained the idea behind the picture as his mom simply wanting to see you, you knew the more accurate statement is that his mom wanted to see the two of you together.ย
After a beat, there was a soft chuckle. โNo, weโre not back together. No mom, thereโs no โyet.โ I know. Iโm an idiot, I know- arenโt you supposed to take your childโs side? Well, I donโt know if you know this, but we never ended up getting married, so no, sheโs not your daughter. How could she possibly be your favorite child! We just talked about this. Iโm gonna hang up. Iโm serious. Alright. Love you, bye.โ
When Patrick returned, you were already sitting up in bed.ย
โCan you tell your mom I say hi next time?โ you asked with a cheeky grin on your face, still coming off of the high that was the romantic outing youโd had the day prior.ย
โIโm sure sheโd love to hear that,โ he replied, getting back into bed beside you. โShe probably wants to hear from you more than she wants to hear from me.โ
You laughed and shook your head, not bothering to argue with his words since you both knew they were pretty accurate.ย
โI mean, Iโm sure sheโll be inviting you to Thanksgiving and Christmas long after weโve moved on with other people and have our own families.โ
Your heart dropped to your stomach. You were sure of it. You thought you could genuinely feel the movement of your most vital organ slowly sinking into a pit of stomach acid.ย
You tried not to let your smile falter, considering that Patrick was looking right at you with a sweet look of his own plastered on his face. You wondered if this was some sort of test, to gauge how you felt after a day of rekindling the love the two of you thought had burnt out.ย
Or maybe, more realistically, heโd already come to accept the reality that youโd been stalling on accepting: your relationship was truly over. One fun day wouldnโt change the fact that your wedding had been called off, and that the two of you said things to each other that would alter the foundations of any solid relationship for years to come.ย
Your heart was such a traitor. She refused to accept the simple fact that Patrick wanted to move on, and that your relationship was a thing of the past. Maybe, if you couldnโt convince your heart to accept that truth, you might be able to force your brain to.ย
โAnd Iโll still be accepting that invitation, thank you very much,โ you stated, trying to sound confident in your words. โIn the meantime, letโs get ready before we miss this bus. You can tell me what your momโs menu is gonna look like this year on our ride over.โ
SOMEWHERE IN CENTRAL GERMANY
It was stupid for you to be torn up the way that you were over just a few simple words, but the more you thought about it, the worse you felt.ย
In reality, it wasnโt just what Patrick had said to you in the hotel room. It was the fact that heโd been actively trying to move on with other people since who knew when, and the way he seemed to frequently verbally reiterate the fact that your relationship was over. By holding out hope that you might somehow be able to repair your relationship, you were being much more naรฏve than you even realized.ย
You felt stupid. But you also felt confused, because as much as Patrick swore he was over you, and pursued other people, he was also far too comfortable acting like nothing had changed between you two. After all, he was the one flirting with you, and trying to attach himself at the hip to you as you traveled. He was the one who always managed to end up spooning you over the course of the night and woke up kissing whatever part of your body he was closest to. For god's sake, heโd just told you yesterday about how heโd searched high and low to find a bouquet of flowers that he thought you would genuinely like. And most damningly, you hadnโt forgotten the look of hurt on his face when he found out that you had slept with someone else. That wasnโt the behavior of someone who was over their partner.
To say you were receiving mixed messages was a complete understatement. You couldnโt understand how it was possible that the man who was currently leaning against you very affectionately, despite being on a cramped bus, was also totally over you and wanted to move on.
You didnโt know what you wanted to do about the situation, but you were sure that you couldnโt keep going like this.ย
Your bus stopped somewhere in Germany for the evening, letting you all out to have dinner and do some light sightseeing before regrouping in the morning and heading to Prague. Somehow, that translated to going to a bar to try out German beer for you, Patrick, and a few of the friends youโd made while traveling.ย
After a brief intermission of checking into your hotel room, your small group met up in the lobby, then set off to find a bar.ย
Drinking while you were feeling a little upset probably wasnโt your brightest idea. The speed and volume at which you were consuming alcohol was a little concerning, but not nearly as concerning as how much Patrick was drinking. Eventually, even in your drunken state, you realized that you should probably slow downโif nothing else, to take care of him.ย
But the two of you continued on, going from bar to bar, getting drunk at a level that probably wouldโve been acceptable when you were younger, but was certainly going to take a major toll on you now.ย
Forgetting about the repercussions of the future, you two were having a great time. Despite you being out with a group, it felt a little bit like the two of you were in your own little bubble. Nothing else in the world seemed to matter as the two of you took shots and danced together. Not the people around you, not the fact that you had to be up early the next morning to make it onto your coach, not even the fact that Patrick had implied that the two of you would move on and have families with other people only a few days ago.ย
By the time that the rest of your group had called it quits, explaining that they wanted to be up and functional in time for your ride the next morning, you and Patrick were still in your own little world. It was only after youโd shared a few drunk cigarettes that the two of you decided that the fun should end, and that it was time to head back to your hotel.ย
Unfortunately for you, midway through your trek back home, your drinking buddy had given up on walking, leaving you tasked with literally dragging him all the way back to your hotel. While a sober version of yourself wouldโve been annoyed by the inconvenience, all you could really think about was how nice it was to have his body so close to yours.
After a tumultuous journey back, the two of you finally made it back to your hotel room. You had only been in the room for a matter of seconds before Patrick collapsed onto the bed and let out a loud sigh of relief, followed by an even louder yawn, as if he was the one who had just carried you down the road.
It was annoyingly endearing.ย
You had half the mind to at least get somewhat ready before getting into bed, shedding your outermost layer of clothing before joining Patrick in bed.ย
โThank you,โ he said to you once you laid down next to him.ย
โMhm,โ you hummed, your head still pleasantly buzzing from the alcohol. โBut Iโm never doing that again.โ
โAww, why? We had so much fun,โ he practically whined. โI always have so much fun when weโre together.โ
โI had fun, but youโre so heavy. Youโd never guess it. All those muscles,โ in the midst of your complaining, you reached over to grab his bicep to demonstrate his point.ย
He laughed, which made you laugh, though you didnโt exactly know what you were laughing at. Then, out of the blue, he randomly said your name in a very serious tone.ย
โCan you help me with something?โ he asked, sounding very genuine and giving you a look that you couldnโt quite place in your drunken state.ย
โAnything,โ you replied earnestly and meant it. You would probably do literally anything that he asked you to do at that moment. Move a mountain? Youโd start pushing. Marry him? Youโd wake up an officiant and come up with vows on the spot. Help him hide a body? You were sure you could find a shovel somewhere.
โCan you help me get my shoes off?โ he lifted a foot as he spoke to demonstrate his point, a little pout on his lips. You were a little disappointed that he hadnโt asked you for anything else, but you also werenโt quite sure what it was that you wanted him to ask you for.ย
You groaned playfully, a long and drawn out sound that you hoped would communicate that you were exhausted after dragging him through the city and comfortable where you were laying. Still, you leaned over and untied his shoes before gently slipping them off. When you looked back up at Patrick, his pants were newly half undone and halfway off, but it looked as if he had given up fully taking his pants off.ย
โNeed help with that too?โ you asked, though you were already working on slipping the article of clothing off of his legs.
Though you tried to push the thought out of your mind, you couldnโt help but recall a similar night the two of you shared several years ago. Your relationship was still relatively new, but you were already very obviously in love. So in love that youโd gone out of your way to set up a surprise party to celebrate a particularly successful tennis match, decorating your apartment with photos of him with trophies and other tennis paraphernalia and inviting as many of his close friends that you could track down. Still riding the high of winning and his all-consuming adoration of you, Patrick had partied a little too hard, leaving you in charge of tucking him in at the end of the night.ย
After bringing him a glass of water, the man snuggled into your sheets and slurred out a comment about how they smelled like you. You felt your cheeks warm as he continued on in a disjointed ramble, talking about how much he appreciated you and how no one had ever gone out of their way to make him feel like that before. He ended his monologue with a request for you to help him take his clothes off, and you happily obliged. It was tender and far more intimate than youโd expected, and ended in a drawn out kiss that left you giggling as you told Patrick that he tasted like Smirnoff Ice.ย
Even as inebriated as you currently were, the nostalgia made you feel a little dizzy.ย
By the time youโd finished helping him get his pants off, Patrick had clearly given up on getting his shirt off, too. Once again, you moved your hands up his body and helped him out with the piece of fabric.ย
โLook at that. All ready for bed,โ you commented, setting a hand on his bare chest. The small action made your heart soar, and you promptly decided that it was probably better for you to avoid touching him altogether.ย
โMy watch?โ Patrick asked, lifting his wrist up to show you the accessory.ย
โYou can take your watch off yourself,โ you replied, leaning back into bed and finally laying down.ย
โFine.โ
โNight, Patty,โ you said, reaching over to turn out the bedside lamp.ย
โWait,โ he paused pensively, as if he was digging deep in the recesses of his mind to conjure up what he was about to say. โA kiss?โ
โPatrick!โ you gasped, sounding far more scandalized by the proposition than you actually were. Of course you would give him a kiss, you just werenโt sure you were ready to open up that can of worms, especially after youโd had a minor crisis at the realization that he genuinely wanted to move on.
โNo goodnight kiss? Cโmon. Fully commit to tucking me in,โ Patrick insisted, as if it was the most logical thing ever. As if either of you had the self control to not let something as simple as a kiss spiral out of control.ย
โFine,โ you sighed before pressing a gentle peck to his forehead, figuring that was the safest place to do so. A forehead kiss was about as platonic as it got with you.ย โSweet dreams.โ
โThank you,โ he said, rather sweetly as his eyes shut. โLove you.โ
Those words instantly gave you pause, causing you to suddenly feel very alert and very sober.
โSorry, what did you just say?โ
โI said I love you?โ Patrick repeated, looking at you with confusion. โWhat?โ
โNothing,โ though it was very much not nothing. In fact, if his confession was true, it would change everything. โGo to bed.โ
โWait, what?โ Patrick grabbed your arm, looking very worried in the low light of the room. โYouโre mad. Youโre mad that I love you?โ
You didnโt even know how you were supposed to react to that admission. While it had been exactly what youโd been dying to hear from him for months, it only further complicated your already very complicated situation.
โIโm not mad, Iโmโฆ Iโm just tired. Letโs go to sleep, okay?โ
Your explanation seemed to placate Patrick enough to let it go and go to sleep. He shuffled around to get comfortable behind you, before pulling you in to hold you as heโd done for the entirety of the trip. Except, tonight, it didnโt feel quite right. The mixture of his frequent rejections of you, paired with his casual confession that he still loved you made your head spin.ย
The following morning, you woke up with a pounding in your head and a gross taste in your mouthโonly one of which, you could fully attribute to the drinking youโd done last night. You clumsily reached for your phone, and found yourself pleasantly surprised to find an announcement about the delay of the next bus you would be getting on.ย
You got out of bed with a grunt, your entire body aching with the reminder of having to drag Patrick through the city last night. Somehow, the sore muscles didnโt hurt nearly as much compared to the memory of being told that Patrick still loved you.ย
You slowly paced back and forth around your hotel room, desperately trying to organize your racing thoughts. Did Patrick actually mean what he said last night? Or had been caught up in the heat of the moment? If anything, the latter seemed more likely, since heโd been very obviously trying to distance himself from you. But had he really been distancing himself from you, or just talking about distancing himself from you? If his care for you on the ferry had been any indication of how he really felt about you, it was possible that his drunken words were more honest than you were trying to convince yourself that they were.ย
Finally, you decided to stop annoying the person staying in the room under you with your increasingly frantic pacing, and to go outside to walk. Some fresh air would be good for you anyway.ย
โWhereโre you going?โ a muffled voice, heavy with sleep asked. You paused the tying of your shoes to look over at the bed, where Patrick was currently squinting at you.ย ย
โIโm just going for a walk,โ you told him. โGo back to sleep. The coach is coming late.โ
โWait for me. Iโll come with you.โ
That was probably the last thing you needed or wanted. After all, the whole purpose of your walk was to help you sort out your thoughts about Patrick. To say he wasnโt a welcome addition to your trip was an understatement.
โOkay,โ you said anyway, against your better judgment. It seemed like you hadnโt been using much of your judgment at all on this trip. What was one more poor decision on top of a series of poor decisions?
You watched him get ready from where you were sitting, quietly impressed with his ability to get up and be functional despite surely being just as hungoverโif not moreโthan you. He also seemed wholly unaffected by the conversation youโd had last night, which was something that you certainly couldnโt say for yourself.ย
With sunglasses perched on your nose and the weight of your entire relationship placed on your shoulders, the two of you headed out into the city, walking on the same sidewalks that youโd practically carried Patrick down the previous night.ย
โLast night was fun,โ Patrick commented, making small talk with you as you began to head down the street.ย
โSome parts,โ you agreed, hoping that heโd recall you grunting as you lugged him down the street, rather than your shock when he told you that he still loved you.ย
โI honestly donโt remember most of the night,โ Patrick said with a chuckle that almost sounded a little forced. You couldnโt be sure if he was being honest or searching for a cop out for the things heโd told you before you went to sleep, but you werenโt sure that it really mattered.
โUnfortunately, I do,โ you replied.ย
โOh no. I hope I wasnโt too much of a pain.โ
โYou were like, slightly above average in terms of being a pain. Nothing Iโm not used to.โ You figured that maybe you could banter your way out of this situation. Perhaps if you just pretended that everything was okay, things would magically become okay.
But that didnโt feel alright. In fact, it wasnโt alright. If you ever wanted to improve your relationship with Patrick, you had to stop beating around the bush with him. You were both adults. Youโd been together for years, yet you felt like you wasted far too much time not being straightforward with your thoughts and feelings. If there was going to be a next time for the two of you, you wanted things to be different.ย
โYou did say something kinda interesting last night, though.โ While it had been easy to talk up a big game in your head, you immediately regretted the words that came out of your mouth. Regardless, it was too late for you to back out.ย
Patrick laughed nervously before asking, โwhat?โ
โYou justโฆ you kinda told me you still have feelings for me, or whatever. I just think, maybe we should talk about it. Or at least talk about us.โ
The man next to you paled at your words. Your regret for bringing the topic up immediately grew exponentially.ย
โI donโt think thereโs anything to talk about,โ Patrick said, though he was lying through his teeth and both of you knew it. You wanted to approach this topic with civility and an open mind, but his blatant lie was making that a rather difficult task.
โAre you kidding? Weโve been tip-toeing around it this entire trip.โ
โWeโre broken up. You called off our wedding. I donโt think it gets any more straightforward than that,โ he dismissed with a gross simplification of the state of your relationship.
โThatโs not what Iโm talking about, and you know it. And even if it was, all I said was that I didn't think I was ready to get married. You put the final nail in the coffin when you told me you fell out of love with me. But I donโt know how Iโm supposed to interpret you not being in love with me anymore when you still act the way that you act with me.โ
You could tell the direction this conversation was going, your discussion quickly veering into argument territory as Patrick began to invade your space as he always did when you argued.ย
โAnd how exactly do I act with you?โ he challenged, though you were sure he knew exactly what you were talking about.ย ย
โDo you want me to give you a list or something?โ you asked, his anger becoming contagious.
โSure, why not,โ he said drily.ย
โFine. Letโs start with the cuddling, then. Please enlighten me, do you know any exes who spoon regularly? I mean, I certainly donโt. I donโt even touch my friends like that. So I donโt know what that really makes us. Or maybe how jealous you got when you saw me with someone else. I really canโt think of any sort of platonic explanation for that, and trust me, Iโve tried. And while weโre at it, I guess I should mention those showers. I respect the hell out of your faith in the thickness of these hotel walls, but I actually can hear you moaning my name while youโre in there. Iโm honestly a little flattered, but Iโm mostly confused.โ
โLike youโre not doing the same,โ Patrick scoffed. You knew him well enough to recognize that he was masking his true feelings with hostility, and though you wanted to engage in an actual conversation with him, you werenโt sure you would be able to take the high road in this conversation.
โSure, but Iโm not the one in denial of whatโs going on here!โ
โIโm not in denial. Have you ever considered that maybe I want to move on?โ
โDo you, though?โ you asked, pausing on the sidewalk.
โClearly, I do,โ he stopped right along with you, now really getting in your face.
โClearly,โ you repeated with a laugh. โMaybe you should start acting like it.โ
โMaybe you should stop clinging to the past.โ
His piercing gaze was unwavering as he waited to read your reaction. You knew how he liked to play this game, looking for an indication of any sort of weakness from you. You refused to give him that, though his words cut deep.ย
โOkay,โ you said calmly, though you were very much not feeling calm on the inside. โWell, thanks for letting me know how you really feel. Or how you think you feel. I donโt really know anymore. And I donโt think you know either.โ
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
If you had known that telling Patrick that he drunkenly confessed to loving you wouldโve broken the already very delicate relationship the two of you had built back up, you never wouldโve said anything at all. As it turned out, having some of Patrick was better than not having him at all.
The contempt he now felt for you had become so strong that he didnโt even seem to be able to look at you. He sat next to a different person on the bus to Prague, not even sparing you a glance. When you arrived at the hotel, he made it a point to ask for separate roomsโsomething the two of you hadnโt done the entirety of your trip. As your tour began, he seemed to make a strong effort to separate himself from you, standing in the back of your group when you were in the front and vice versa.ย
Usually, even after your worst arguments, youโd been able to find the time to talk out your feelings, but now it seemed like Patrick couldnโt even find it in himself to give you that.
You wanted to be mad at Patrick too. You were mad at him. But you missed him more than you were angry with him, and you yearned to be with him, no matter how crazy his constant antics drove you.ย
Part of you felt frustrated that your relationship had become so cyclical since your breakup. You werenโt sure you could handle another cycle of fighting to the point of real anger, then making up with your relationship still a little more strained than it was in the past. You just wanted Patrick. Why did things have to be any more complicated than that?ย
You desperately clung on to any bits of hope that your relationship might persist, coming out of this argument altered, but still existing. You snuck peeks at Patrick while you toured a beautiful castle and tried to bite your tongue until you stopped thinking of how badly you wanted to grab him and joke about his home looking like that castle. You wondered if he wanted to put your initials on a lock and put it on a bridge as much as you did. You wished you could ask him if he missed the warm body in bed beside him the way you did.ย
But every time you looked at him, he was pointedly not looking at you. As your group paused on the bridge to allow couples the time to make their own locks, Patrick didnโt even spare a glance in your direction. You were sure that even if he did miss you in bed, or wherever else, he would never tell you about it.ย
You didnโt want it to be overโbut you couldnโt keep clinging to hope that it wasnโt.ย
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
Getting to view the breathtaking scenery of the Swiss Alps as you sat on a cable car had been a dream of yours for years. What wasnโt included in that dream was dodging the glare of your ex-fiancรฉ as the two of you sat in silence on that very gondola.ย
Unluckily for the two of you, you were stuck together for the afternoon. Private skiing lessons in the Swiss Alps sounded like a great, even romantic, idea while you were planning the trip, but it was far from romantic now.ย
The two of you stood on opposite sides of your instructor, the tension between you so thick that in the midst of his safety spiel, he paused to ask if everything was okay between you. After a stilted reply of yes, your instructor looked at you both skeptically before carrying on.ย
Seeing as Patrick was an athlete who spent his childhood school breaks in Aspen, he was pretty decent at skiing already. Far better than you, a novice who was moving a little bit like a giraffe standing on its feet for the first time.ย
While it wasnโt your first time skiingโthat had been on a family vacation youโd tagged along on with the Zweigsโyou certainly were not experienced enough to be keeping up with Patrick, who had the experience and the ego to give even your instructor a run for his money.ย
It was entertaining to watch him in his element, his competitive side coming out despite the fact there was no competition anywhere to be found. He was significantly faster than you wherever you went, and skied with a confidence that you doubted you would ever be able to exhibit. In the past, this behavior may have been slightly endearing to you, but right now, it was mostly a little annoying.ย
You and your instructor stood above Patrick, watching him effortlessly glide down the mountain in front of you. If you werenโt so agitated, you might actually have been impressed. As if your instructor was actively reading your mind, he leaned over to say something to you.ย
โI think heโs trying to impress you,โ he said quietly, though the subject of your conversation was an entire slope away.ย
You nearly choked on your own saliva at the observation. โNo way.โ
โWhat do you mean no way?โ he laughed. โTrust me, Iโve been doing this for years, and Iโve seen it all. Couples, crushes, friends, coworkers. I know posturing when I see it.โ
โTrust me, he could care less.โ
He looked at you with a doubting squint.ย โWhy donโt we go down there and ask him?โ
โAbsolutely not,โ you laughed. The thought of asking Patrick anything after the interactions youโd had seemed absolutely ridiculous. At this point, you wouldnโt even ask him what time it was.ย
โSorry. Let me rephrase that. That was me telling you that itโs time for you to go down the slope.โ
You looked downhill at where you needed to go, noting that it was far steeper than what youโd been practicing on leading up to this point. You had been looking for an excuse to stall going down it, but now that your instructor had said something about that, you couldnโt not go.
After taking a deep breath, you began to go down. Gaining a bit of speed, you also found yourself growing slightly more confident, closing your eyes and feeling the cold air press against your body. While you were enjoying your speed at first, it was quickly growing out of hand, and you began to panic as you realized just how fast you were going. Desperately trying to pull your skis into a V shape to slow down, you were horrified at the realization that you were far too late, and actively heading towards a cluster of trees. You didnโt know what to do other than to accept your fate, and everything had happened so fast anyway that you found yourself tumbling into a tree, a searing pain on your ankle and tailbone as you laid out on the rocky ground.
Everything felt like it was moving slowly and quickly at the same time. One second, you were alone in the snow, and the next, Patrick and your ski instructor were hovering over you, goggles on their foreheads as they looked at you with concern.
โAre you okay?โ you were finally able to make out once the slight ringing in your ears had ceased.ย
โDid you see how hard she crashed? Of course she isnโt fucking okay,โ Patrickโs voice huffed, though slightly muffled from your helmet covering your ears.
โMy ankle,โ you said, as if that gave them enough context. You wondered if they could see the tears beginning to pool under your goggles. The pair looked at your limb, though with your snowsuit covering it, they really couldnโt see much.ย
โCan you walk?โ your instructor asked you.ย
โI havenโt tried, but Iโm gonna go with no.โ
โWeโre gonna have someone check you out. Donโt worry, theyโll be here soon,โ your ski instructor told you. You blinked a few times and mustered all the strength you could to nod.ย
The longer you sat, the more you began to realize how badly everything hurt. From your head down to your surely swollen ankle, you werenโt feeling too hot. You closed your eyes, suddenly feeling very exhausted. Maybe a quick little nap was exactly what you needed to feel a little better.
โHey, donโt do that. You hit your head pretty hard when you fell, so you might have a concussion.โ
โI donโt, Iโm just tired,โ you explained, though you didnโt know for a fact that it was true. In fact, with the pounding in your head, you more likely than not had a mild concussion.ย
โWell, you kinda have to stay awake,โ Patrick told you, though he surely knew it was easier said than done. You were surprised when you felt his gloved hand take yours and squeezed your hand softly. โHey, why donโt you tell us a story?โ he suggested, clearly just trying to keep you awake.
โDo you wanna hear the story about how he proposed to me?โ you asked the instructor. You werenโt sure why that was the first thing to pop into your head, but it was a long enough story to keep you awake until help arrived. You wished your goggles were slightly less tinted, so you could at least see the scandalized expression Patrick was probably making. You loved when you made him react like that, since the roles were usually reversed.ย
โWell, yeah. Of course,โ your instructor responded with a hint of a laugh. โYou guys are engaged?โ he directed towards Patrick.
โThis is our honeymoon,โ you replied before Patrick had an opportunity to respond. You wished you could see the confused look that your instructor was surely making.
โSo what happened?โ
โWhen he proposed?โ you asked to clarify.ย
โ...Sure.โ
โWell, for a little context, Patrick here is a professional tennis player. Heโs really good too. So given my athletic ability, as you got to see today, I never really played with him. Like, he would always ask me to just play a fun, quick little round and I would always tell him no. Mostly because I knew he would crush me. I did play a little bit back in the day, but I was nowhere near his level. I mostly preferred to be on the sideline while we dated. I mean, I came to every single one of his games. Iโm pretty sure my office introduced remote work to us because of me, since I was traveling all the time to see him.
โAnyway, one day, after a day of buttering me up, and I mean, he was really laying it on thick. I donโt know how I didnโt think something was up,โ you laughed as you recalled the day, how Patrick had scheduled a nail appointment for you, then wined and dined you during a very romantic midday picnic. โBut he asked me to play a little bit of tennis with him. I think I just thought he spent the day buttering me up so that I would play tennis with him, not that I would agree to marry him, but I digress.ย
โWe get to the tennis court and Patrickโs nervous like Iโve never seen him. He was a little jittery all day, but this was a different beast. Looking back, I really donโt understand why. He shouldโve known I was going to say yes. Anyway, weโre playing, and somehow I win, even though Iโm extremely rusty and have absolutely awful form. Obviously I knew Patrick threw the match for me, but that didnโt mean I wasnโt gonna gloat at him.ย
โSo Iโm doing my victory spiel and I walk over to his side of the court, where heโs digging in his bag. Heโs so quiet, which shouldโve been a sign that something was up, and Iโm thinking heโs about to pull out more tennis balls and tell me weโre doing a rematch, so he can really crush me. Instead, he pulls out a box and gets down on one knee. He gives me a speech about how he didnโt care if he never won another game of tennis in his life, because as long as we were together, he was a winner. It was really sweet. Obviously I said yes.โ
You finally looked over at Patrick, though you couldnโt perfectly read his expression through the darkened lens of your goggles. You wondered if he felt any of the same feelings that were currently simmering in your own chest. Though, you didnโt get to stew too long, as help arrived just as your story came to a close.ย
You were taken to an infirmary and given a series of tests, some to see the state of your head and other to see how the rest of your body was doing. Surprisingly, you made it out without too much serious damage. Your ankle was sprained, but nothing that would make it take too long to heal. You had a concussion, which surprised you, given your ability to recall so many details earlier in the day, but it was a very mild one. At least youโd made it back into your hotel in one piece.ย
You really just wanted to relax for the rest of the evening, and you had plans to do exactly that, when there was suddenly a soft rapping at your door.ย
You got up, and with help from the crutches you were provided, you hobbled to the door and opened it. On the other side was Patrick, who you were both surprised and unsurprised to see.ย
โHey. I got your room number from the front desk,โ Patrick told you. โDo you mind if I come in?โ
โSure, but Iโm probably going to sleep soon,โ with some effort, you sidestepped the doorway to let him in.
โDo you need anything? Want anything?โ he asked as he made himself at home in your room, evaluating what you already had.ย
โIโm good, I think.โ
โHowโre you feeling? They wouldnโt let me see you at the infirmary.โ
โIโve been better,โ you shrugged, sitting down on the foot of your bed to take some pressure off of your aching ankle.ย
โI bet. Are you icing that?โ he asked, gesturing to your most obvious injury.ย
โI havenโt been able to make it out to the ice machine,โ you confessed, though the doctor had suggested ice for the inflammation.ย
โLet me go grab some for you,โ he said before disappearing out into the hallway. Once he left, you laid back in bed, letting out a sigh of relief at how much better being flat felt.ย
Youโd be lying if you said you didnโt like being taken care of this way. It seemed like no matter how bad things got between the two of you, you would always care for one another in some capacity. You wondered what had gone through Patrickโs mind when he saw you hurt yourself. You wondered if that changed anything in the way he felt about you.ย
He knocked on the door once more to tell you he was back, though the door was already unlocked.ย
โIf thereโs anything else you need, I mean anything at all, just call me. Iโm just down the hall from you,โ he told you as he bagged up the ice he retrieved.ย
He sat down on the foot of the bed, where youโd previously been sitting, and tenderly set the bag of ice on your ankle, clearly not wanting to hurt you any more than you were already hurt. He looked at you a little sadly before standing back up, not wanting to linger in your presence too long.ย
โIโll let you get some sleep,โ he explained, already turning to head towards the door.ย
โThanks, Patrick,โ you paused, looking for any other words you had for him. โGood night.โ
โNight.โ
SOMEWHERE IN ITALY
The next few days in Switzerland had been extremely boring. Due to doctorโs orders, you mainly stayed in bed, avoiding screens by reading books, and looking out the window to view the mountains that you were currently missing.ย
Although you had to miss a lot of the fun your tour was going on, like a cheese and chocolate tour, you somehow still received an anonymous delivery of cheeses and chocolatesโthough, you were pretty sure you knew who was responsible for that.ย
Patrick didnโt seem like he wanted to overstep any boundaries, which you respected, though you really couldโve used some company whose ear you could talk off. Hell, youโd even take another nasty argument over the resounding silence of your room.ย
Luckily for you, by the time your group was traveling once again, you were starting to feel slightly better, concussion and ankle-wise. Though, your head was starting to hurt from listening to a person at the front of the bus go on about how much they needed the bus to pull over somewhere.ย
After a period of incessant complaining from someone on your bus, the vehicle finally came to a stop at a small rest stop in the middle of the Italian countryside.ย
Not willing to pass up an opportunity to stretch your legs, you got off at the stop, briefly stopping inside the building to look at what they had to offer before stepping behind the building, watching the wind blow through the overgrown weeds.ย
Your attempt at enjoying the quiet, idyllic countryside was disturbed when you were joined by a smoking companion.ย
โIโve been meaning to talk to you,โ he said.ย
Before you could stop it, a sad smile appeared on your face. The two of you hadnโt spoken since your brief conversation in your hotel room, despite the mystery snack deliveries and the promise of coming if you called.
โIโve been worried about you,โ he said plainly.
โThereโs nothing to worry about,โ you dismissed.ย
โYouโve spent the last few days all alone in a room with a concussion.โ
โItโs mild.โ
โYou fucked up your ankle.โ
โItโs healing. Itโs not all that bad.โ
โWell, Iโve been worried anyway,โ he passed you his partially smoked cigarette and you took a drag from it, though you were sure that was one of the things you shouldnโt be doing with a concussion.ย
โThanks, I guess.โ you said. โSo is this just a wellness check, orโฆ?โ
โNo, well, yes. Obviously I was worried about you physically, but I also was wondering about how you were in general.โ
It was strange to see him clumsily mince his words, given how bold he usually was.
โOh? What changed between here and Germany?โ
โWhat changed? What changed was that I watched you almost die.โ
You laughed aloud at his over dramatization of the event. โPatrick, I did not almost die.โ
โHow would I have known that? I just saw you flying downhill out of control and crashing and it terrified me. I couldnโt imagine a world without you in it.โ
You werenโt sure how you were supposed to interpret his words, especially after the wild ride youโd been on throughout the trip. You werenโt sure you could handle another emotional bait and switch.ย
โPat, maybe we should talk about this later. The bus is probably taking off soon.โ
โNo,โ he stopped you with a hand on your arm, calling you back with a desperation you hadnโt seen in him in a long time. โI donโt want to waste another second without you.โ
โOkay,โ you said, though you werenโt sure that you should buy into it yet. โGo ahead, then.โ
โI canโt keep pretending that I donโt want you or donโt want to be with you,โ he confessed, which genuinely took you by surprise. With the way heโd been dodging your attempts at building a connection, you certainly didnโt think heโd tell you something like that.ย
โThen why have you been pretending?โ you asked, hoping that your somewhat harsh words didnโt betray your genuine curiosity behind his behavior.ย
โI donโt know,โ he said. It was a terrible, unsatisfying answer. One that didnโt explain a single reason behind his behavior. โI guess I just canโt wrap my head around the idea that anyone would want to keep me around long-term.โ
You looked at him with shock in your eyes, your mouth slightly agape at the confession. You couldnโt imagine Patrick, overconfident, bold, and self-assured, who youโd been dating for years, not feeling secure in your relationshipโto the point where heโd been actively trying to push you away out of anticipating how youโd feel about him.
โWhen you told me you werenโt ready to be with me, it just confirmed everything Iโd been worried aboutโthat one day you would wake up next to me and realize that I wasnโt the guy you wanted. I guess it just happened sooner than I anticipated.โ
You almost couldnโt believe what you were hearing. โIf you felt like that, then whyโd you tell me you werenโt in love with me anymore?โ
โI thought if you were gonna leave me anyway, I might as well beat you to the punch.โ
You were giving it your all to keep it together at this point, feeling slightly vindicated to know that Patrick was lying about no longer loving you, but mostly devastated that your whole relationship had been uprooted over an assumption that Patrick had made about you.ย
โIโฆ I donโt even know what to say,โ you looked out into the grass, then back at Patrick. โI wish youโd stop assuming that you know what I want all the time.โ
โHey you two, last call for the coach,โ your tour guide suddenly interrupted, looking very obviously annoyed that the two of you were holding the bus up.ย
โSorry. Weโll head back now,โ you apologized to the guide. โWeโll continue this conversation later?โ you directed towards Patrick.ย
โYeah,โ he agreed.ย
VENICE, ITALY
Putting a hold on your conversation probably wasnโt the wisest idea youโd ever had, considering that your next few days in Italy were set to be your busiest this far.ย
Between gondola rides on different boats and exploring historic palaces, the two of you didnโt have much time to stop and have as serious of a talk as you wanted to have. Even if you did somehow manage to pick up where youโd left off, there were so many people around you that it didnโt even feel worth it.ย
Luckily for you, your hotel had a private beach attached to it, and as you spent your evening by the beach, watching the sun go down, you were pleased to find that you were joined by familiar company.ย
At first, Patrick didnโt say anything as he sat down on the same chair next to you. The two of you enjoyed the serene sunset and privacy that the beach afforded you in silence, though you were sure that things wouldnโt stay that way for long.ย
โI love you, you know?โ he finally piped up, breaking the silence with a very bold declaration.ย
You looked at him calmly, though you werenโt feeling very calm on the inside. Youโd been waiting to hear those words from him from the moment that the two of you broke up. You werenโt sure how you were supposed to react to it now, though the confession was better late than never.ย
โI love you too. I never stopped,โ you told him simply, as if the realization that you were stuck on him hadnโt been haunting you for months now.
โI never did, either. It was cruel of me to ever tell you that I did.โ
You nodded in agreement, wondering if Patrick would ever understand the full extent of the damage his words had done to you. โIt was, but I understand where you were coming from. If I had known that you didnโt think I was going to stick around, I wouldโve gone about what I did differently,โ you began to explain. โI think it came across as me not wanting to marry you at all. Of course I wanted to marry you. There was just so much else going on in my life then that the timing didnโt feel right.โ
โBut the timing might be right someday?โ Patrick asked, a hopeful lilt in his voice.ย
โThe timing will be right someday. Maybe sooner than either of us know,โ you shot him a wink, then broke into a grin as he pulled you into a firm, loving embrace.ย
ATHENS, GREECEย
The rest of your time in Italy mainly consisted of making up for lost time, with the two of you partaking in far more PDA than what was ever necessary and thoroughly documenting your time abroad together as a couple.ย
Thanks to your injury, you were slightly slower than the rest of your group. But that certainly didnโt stop Patrick from lagging along with you, letting you lean on him for support when you needed it and pausing to sit and take breaks with you whenever you noticed that walking was taking too much of a toll on you.
It was nice to be back with him, to not have to feel stupid for feeling what you felt or feel the pressure of knowing that you should probably be trying to move on. The only unfortunate part was how little time the two of you had left on vacation, with you heading home after spending a few days in Athens. If only the two of you had been upfront about your feelings earlier, then you couldโve been having as great of a time as you were having now during your entire trip.ย
The two of you briefly floated the idea of having somewhat of a shotgun wedding, but scrapped it after realizing that you would prefer to have your family and friends there to celebrate with you. After all, many of them had been on the emotional rollercoaster that was your relationship right along with you.ย
For the time being, the two of you were perfectly content with being together, and knowing that neither of you had any intentions of leaving.ย
Somehow, that made your last few days of vacation feel infinitely better.ย
ATHENS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
You scrolled endlessly on your phone, sending out a few messages to friends and family to let them know that you were heading back home. While you typically felt a few nerves before boarding a plane anywhere, you couldnโt help but feel a renewed sense of excitement, both at the thought of being able to go back home and sleep in your own bed, and at the potential your newly reformed relationship had.ย
Your scrolling was interrupted by Patrickโs presence, carrying a coffee and a breakfast sandwich in his hands with a slightly goofy look on his face.ย
โSorry for taking so long. I think everyone and their mother wanted coffee today,โ he explained as he sat down, passing you your items as he got comfortable next to you.ย
โNo worries. Iโm just glad you were running late to grab us breakfast, instead of trying to switch our seats like last time.โ
The two of you shared a laugh before Patrick said, โThat feels like a lifetime ago.โ
โIt basically was,โ you dismissed.ย
Once it was announced that your group was boarding, the two of you stood up quickly, attempting to gather your bearings before getting on the plane.ย
โโTill next time, Europe,โ you bid the country goodbye as the two of you made your way to the line.ย
โShould we come back to Europe? I was thinking our next honeymoon should be somewhere else. Maybe Bali.โ
โOooh, Bali sounds nice. I think anywhere warm and with a beach is good,โ you explained, though you really didnโt care where you went, as long as Patrick was there by your side.
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--> ||โ The Creator has a.. LOVER?! โ
SAGAU || Warnings: fluff, gender neutral reader, slight crack, reader gets called a test subject and is implied to be used as one [Dottoreโs part] OOC w/ Dottore..? Idk I havenโt finished sumeru yet </3
[ The people of Teyvat find out their grace has been romantically involved with someone for a while now.. what do they think about it? ]
Character(s): DOTTORE, XIAO
-> [ DOTTORE ]
โThe Doctor is the Creatorโs suitor? As inโฆ the Second of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers? Are you sure thatโs him? You are? Oh.. isโ Is Your Grace feeling okay? I donโt see why anyone would be willingly involved with the Fatui Harbingers. What?! No! Iโm not saying thatโs not okay. Your Grace can do whatever they want! Hmph..โ
The people of Teyvat felt conflicted to say the least. They werenโt judging your ability to make choices! They really werenโtโฆ they just thought that there were better choices out there for Their Grace!! Yeah, everyone knew you liked the harbingers even before you descended, but couldnโt you have chosen a less deranged harbinger? For exampleโฆ uhm... none of them.
Dottore could really care less what everyone else thought of his relationship with you though. He got the full package! His lover was the All Mighty Creator, and now he has a new โtest subjectโ! (he says it affectionately.) Dottore knows people hate him even more than before, but whoโs the one with the Creatorโs arms wrapped around them, head over heels? This benefits him in so many ways. Wether it be research, obtaining materials, or just being able to have something more to use against the rest of the harbingers.
No one would ever dare voice the opinions they have of him while youโre in the vicinity. Theyโll listen to you talk about a โdateโ you had with Dottore, which was really just you and him in his labโฆ. and heโs using you to help with his research. Hearing this, the rest of the allogeneโs eyes are twitching, their fists are clenched, theyโre FURIOUS. Not at you! Never. Theyโre mad at Dottore. How dare he use you as a test subject?! (you volunteered) How dare he use you to try to make another god?! (you thought that sounded fun) How dare he be IN LOVE with the All Mighty Creator?! (you fell first.)
When the two of you are seen in public, the streets go QUIET. Dottore carries this eerie aura with him, everyone knows who he is. And adding to the fact heโs a harbinger, he is also now recognized as the Creatorโs suitor. Everyone besides you feels the silence and the stares, including Dottore, but if his lover is happy does it really matter? <3
In conclusion, everyone hopes Dottore dies. Itโs not that they donโt want to see you happy. In fact, the entirety of Teyvat is glad youโre experiencing love and joy, just not with HIM.
โึดโโ ๊ฏญ ย โโโืโึดโ ย ออกโฟออก ย โึดโโืโโ ย ๊ฏญ ย โโึดโ
You spend a lot of days in Dottoreโs lab. Today was one of those days.
You were conversing with one of Dottoreโs younger clones. The clones, while being segments of Dottore, have their own distinct personalities. The one thing they hold in common is the love they have for you.
You love talking to the clones and giving them breaks from whatever days-long tasks Dottore gives them, but you miss the Dottore whoโs the last thing you see before you fall asleep and after you wake up. You havenโt seen him since yesterday! Is this really how your boyfriend treats his loverโฆ. who also happens to be the Creator???
And so you decide to go look for him. Who wouldโve guessed he was sitting where he always was; his desk. Once youโve spotted him, as payback for leaving you alone, you decide to sneak up on him. You try your hardest to silence your steps as much as possible in this hollow and echoey office of his.
โI can hear you, Y/N.โ
โNo you canโt... Cโmon Dottore! Cut me some slack. I havenโt seen you since yesterdayโฆ and you didnโt even come to say good morning to me today!โ
โGood morning.โ
โItโs 4:00 PM, love. Take a break. Itโs not like Iโll die anytime soonโฆ can I even die..? Uhm.. thatโs besides the point. You can conduct your experiments on me and do you research later. Come entertain me, please?โ
โAre you asking because I have a choice?โ
Your silence gives him an answer. You pull him up from his chair by grabbing his hands and pull him into a hug. You lean in closer to peck his cheek. He leans into you and grabs you by the waist to pull you closerโ
โDoctor, the segments have finishedโโ
โOh.โ
-> [ XIAO ]
โOh! One of the adepti? THE VIGILANT YAKSHA?! S-sorry that caught me by surpriseโฆ So the Yaksha is dating the Creator, huh. His tales have been documented for millenniaโs, yet heโs rarely seen in publicโฆ I guess even someone like that canโt help but fall for Our Grace.โ
So that must be why you always cooked Almond Tofuโฆ Well, since Xiao IS the Conqueror of Demons, I can see the people of Liyue being quite happy. Jealous? Yes. But whoโs even more jealous? Mondstadt. Why couldnโt it be one of the Knights of Favonious or something? But they guess youโre happy and thatโs enoughโฆ (Though it couldโve been with them.)
Xiao is seen a little more often with you now that itโs confirmed you two are dating. Not too often, but if you want to go try out a restaurant in the city of Liyue, heโll never say no. He may not speak much, but according to rumors is Liyueโฆ โhis eyes are always on you, listening to anything and everything the Creator has to say. Itโs clear heโs fallen completely in love!โ (Said by Chef Mao, probably.)
Being Xiaoโs partner may seem awkward from an outsiders perspective, but heโs surprisingly sweet! He still wonโt talk much, but heโll reply to any questions you have, no matter how stupid or obvious they are with full genuity. Him being the Conqueror of Demons and you being the Creator, you both live busy livesโฆ. so his eyes literally light up when you two are both able to finally see each other after a long time. <3 (heโs head over heels guys help.)
The adepti would be so PROUD. They probably already knew you and Xiao had a little something going on even before it was announced because of the way Xiao seemed slightly more happy. This lead to then being suspicious and eventually seeing him and you togetherโฆ doing the most intimate thing everโฆ..
โฆ. HOLDING HANDS. UNDER THE MOONLIGHT. But they kept quiet so donโt worry!
โึดโโ ๊ฏญ ย โโโืโึดโ ย ออกโฟออก ย โึดโโืโโ ย ๊ฏญ ย โโึดโ
โXiao! I found you.โ
As per usual, Xiao was sitting on the roof of Wangshu Inn. Today was one of the days where both of you were busy. You had a meeting to attend, and he was doing his job as The Conqueror of Demons. It was night by the time you were able to see each other.
โYou shouldโve called my name, Your Grace. It wouldโve been easier for me to find you.โ
โYeah but I like looking for you. I always know where you are since youโre in the same spots anyway. And besides, I like how Wangshu Inn looks at night!โ
You always thought Xiao looked pretty, but he looked especially pretty under the moonlight. His face seemed to glow more than usual today. Maybe it was the warm colored light radiating from inside of Wangshu Inn, or the light reflected by the moon shining down on him. Maybe it was the fact he had missed you so much that seeing your face again brought him a feeling he hadnโt felt in a long time.
โYour Grace?โ
โOh, sorry Xiao, I lost my train of thought. Letโs go eat! Iโm feeling hungryโฆ todayโs meeting was waaayy too longโฆ Cโmon, Iโll buy you something!โ
โNo need. Iโll be okay with just accompanying Your Grace.โ
โAgh, stop calling me that. Y/N? Can you say Y/N? Please Xiao?โ
โโฆ Y-Y/N..โ
โSee? Not too hard right? Ok letโs go eat! Iโll make you Almond Tofu how you like it.โ
FINALLY DONE OOHMYGODDD sorry this took so long. Idk what I should do next so feel free to request anythingโฆ ANYWAYS THE FIRST PART OF THIS GOT ALMOST 700 NOTES??? omg stop guys Iโm giggling and blushing aughshsgghh. But seriously thank you so much Iโm bawling
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hellooow i love your writing and characterization is so good ๐ค๐ค๐ค could you write something about james and r talking about their future together and james is like "yess and we'll live in a nice house with two or three little us running around!!" and reader is like "haha thats so cute love but i don't want kids... ._."
Thanks for requesting!
modern au
James Potter x fem!reader โก 1k words
You tsk, adding a picture to your pinterest board. โItโs decided. Someday, when we move out of this apartment, I simply canโt live without a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf.โย
โMm.โ Jamesโ hum vibrates on your chest. Heโs been lying there for some time, in and out of dozing while youโre on your phone. โI think that can be arranged. I want a fireplace.โย
โYou just want to chop up wood.โย
You feel his smile spread against your skin. โAnd so what if I do?โย
โIt wasnโt a criticism. So long as I can come watch.โย
His laugh is a warm puff of air, followed by a soft kiss just below your collarbone. This commences a fascination that involves his lips making a slow, idle perusal of your skin. โDo you think you want a big house?โย
โNot really.โ Your attention has been pulled from your screen, the sight below you too adorable to ignore. You thread your fingers into Jamesโ hair. โToo much cleaning. Honestly, if you have any questions you should just look at my pinterest. Iโve got it all laid out. We can make room for whatever TV you want, though, I suppose. Plus a secret tunnel to Siriusโ and Remusโ.โย
โObviously,โ he agrees. โYeah, Iโm the same. All I need is my fireplace, you, and maybe a nice backyard for the kids.โย
Your hand stills on Jamesโ head as a heavy weight drops into your chest.ย
Youโve managed to evade this conversation, youโre not sure how. Youโre not sure why either. Maybe just to make a good thing last, for as long as you could. But you know how much James loves kids. And if youโre honest with yourself, this, the proof that he does expect them one day, has always felt inevitable. You feel like a liar for not bringing it up with him sooner.ย
Maybe it worsens your deception, but you keep your tone light as you ask, โWould you settle for a backyard for a couple of dogs instead?โ
James gives a little laugh, tinged with bemusement. It makes you feel worse.ย
โOr cats,โ you say, voice growing smaller. โOr no pets, up to you.โย
Itโs probably your obvious unease that tips him off. James looks up at you. You straighten his glasses for him automatically.ย
โWhat do you mean?โ he asks, and thereโs no accusation in his tone, only curiosity.ย
A low buzzing burrows into your ears, not unlike how you imagine itโd sound if you were drowning.ย
โI donโt really want kids.โย
Jamesโ face falls, and your heart splinters.ย
โYou donโt?โ Itโs like he thinks he mightโve misheard you.ย
You shake your head. โIโm sorry,โ you say, immediately angry with yourself for apologizing but not angry enough to overshadow your guilt. โIโve thought about it a lot, and I just donโt. Itโs not that I hate kids or anything, I just, I donโt want to have any of my own.โย
โOh.โ The word seems to leave James on a breath, faint and hollow. โOkay.โย
Your eyes burn, and you cannot cry right now but you canโt seem to shut up either. โIf I ever did want to, it would be with you. But I justโโ your voice fractures โโI donโt want to bring kids into a home that doesnโt want them, even ifโif itโs only me that doesnโt. Itโs not fair.โย
โNo, youโre right.โ Jamesโ voice sounds a bit more like him now. Heโs nodding, slowly, like heโs still wrapping his head around things. โYou shouldnโt have kids if you donโt want them. For you and for them.โย
You nod. Hot tears trudge down your cheeks.ย
Wordlessly, he sits up and wraps his arms around your shoulders. James is a really good hugger. Tight and warm, like heโs given and received plenty in his life. You know heโd be a great dad. Any kid would be lucky to have him, someone who comes from a love passed down and strengthened through generations. Youโre just not meant to be a mom.ย
You hold onto each other tightly, and you wonder if itโs the last time you will. You know in your heart that youโre doing the right thing for yourself, that you should never make such a life-altering choice based on someone else, but right now youโre desperate enough to consider it. You think you might do anything to keep him.ย
โIโm sorry,โ you whisper.ย
James pushes his face into your neck. You think, to your horror, that he might be crying too.ย
โItโs okay,โ he says. โI donโt want you to be sorry, sweetheart. Itโs not your fault.โย
โI wish that I wanted to.โย
โYou donโt. Itโs okay.โย
You sit there like that for long minutes. When James pulls back, he sets his hands to your face, smiling ruefully as he thumbs away your tears. You choke out a little laugh and do the same for him. You have the urge to kiss his cheek, warm and beloved, but you donโt know if you should.ย
โWe can have pets,โ he says in a quiet, rough voice. โAnd if Sirius and Rem or Lily or anyone has kids, I can just be their favorite uncle.โย
โYou would be,โ you say. โBeing their aunt would be fun, too.โ You study him anxiously. โAre you sure?โย
Jamesโ lies down beside you, seemingly exhausted. โSure about what?โย
You chew the inside of your cheek. โI donโt know, I guess that youโre okay with this.โย
He doesnโt answer right away, which you appreciate. You want him to think about it. A sigh leaves him, long and heavy. โItโs going to take me a while to get used to the idea,โ he says finally.ย
โButโฆfor right now, you donโt want to break up?โย
โWhat?โ James turns to look at you. Whatever he sees makes his face soften. โOhโno, honey, I donโt want that. That wasnโt evenโฆI wasnโt thinking like that.โ
โAre you sure?โ you ask again, though it threatens to bring another wave of tears. โI know you pictured things differently. Iโd get it.โย
โI always wanted all of that with you,โ he says, soft and yet somehow firm. โItโs going to take me some time to change how I picture the rest, but youโre not going anywhere. Not if I can help it.โ His mouth curves slightly as he holds out his hand in invitation. You place yours in it. He brings your palm to his lips, kissing your heart line. โItโs you and me, yeah?โย
A pleasant feeling skitters up your arm to sit in your chest. โYeah.โ
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Love Beyond Labels
synopsis: the misunderstood "rich girl," reveals her academic struggles to a loner with his own challenges. In an unexpected twist, they form a unique friendshipโshe gets study help, and he gains a true companion.
genre: slice of life, humor, fluff, angst, smut, freaky nerd
warnings**: bullying, swearing, self-hate, mentions of anxiety, jokes of social "suicide", dreamies are kinda mean in this..., no condom mentioned, praising, fingering, marking, lots of boobie touching cause haechan loves them okay, make-up sex, idk probably more lol
word count: 8.9k
a/n: first ever written fanfic....kinda nervous haha
School is easy, all you have to do is sit there and look pretty. Well, that's what all your classmates thought. They didn't know how difficult school was for you. You never got what was happening in class. Anytime you got an answer wrong, no one batted an eye because who expects the rich pretty girl to get an answer right? But little did they know you would cry in the janitor's room after each time. You just hated feeling so dumb.
"Ugh, I'm not ready for today's test," Jaemin huffed, plopping down beside you.
"Wait, there's a test?" you sighed, already predicting the outcome.
Mr. Moon whispered a half-hearted "good luck" as he handed you the test, before moving on and finishing handing out everyone elseโs tests. He already knew how it was going to go.
You hated how even the teachers knew you were stupid.
After the test, you already knew you failed it. You were the last one to turn your test in, when Jaemin asked if you wanted to meet up with him, Jeno, Mark, and Chenle for lunch. You nodded telling him you had to stop at the office real quick.
Instead of walking towards the office, you sped walked to the janitor's closet, already feeling the tears threaten to escape. You knew you failed that test. Even though you acted like you didnโt know you had a test, you lied. Youโve been studying for it for a long time. Even canceling plans. But you would never admit it to anyone. You studied your ass off but still failed, thatโs even more pathetic than forgetting about it.
You quickly took out the keys and opened the door quickly so no other student would see it. You thank the janitor for being so forgetful that you could easily steal one of his keys. He has a bunch of copies, one missing wouldnโt hurt. Right as you locked the door you sat in the corner, not even bothering to turn the lights on.
you were always an ugly crier, but it was okay cause you bought the most expensive waterproof makeup for these occasions. Only a quick bathroom stop is needed before meeting your friends for lunch.
As you were drying your tears you heard the door jiggle and then open. you quickly hid your face just in case it was someone you knew.
"Y/N?" a voice you didn't recognize spoke, interrupting your quiet moment in the janitor's closet.
Confused, you wiped your face and looked up at the mystery voice. You kind of recognized the thick black glasses boy in front of you. You knew he was in some of your classes but you couldnโt think of his name.
Fearing the worst you cleared your throat before asking โWhat do you want?โ
โUh, I don't want anything!" the boy replied, swiftly stepping into the room and closing the door. You noticed he had his lunch tray with him. "This might sound pathetic, but I like to eat my lunch here."
confused, you asked him โWhy would you do that?โ
โWell I donโt really have friends and I donโt want to get picked onโ he explained sitting down next to you, not having much of a choice because there wasnโt that much room.
"Oh, I'm sorry for bothering you. I'll just go," you said, preparing to stand up. But before you could, he quickly called out your name, making you look down at him.
"You're not bothering me! You can stay and talk about what's going on. I know we don't talk, but I can listen to you." His hopeful eyes convinced you to sit back down. You quickly wiped away your tears before confiding in him.
โYou canโt tell anyone this!โ You put your pinky finger up and put it near him. โpromise?โ
โI donโt have many people to tellโ he let out a small laugh while putting his hands up defensively. โpromise!โ he took your pinky finger in his
โokayโ you nodded โI failed my psychology test todayโ
you looked at his face and he looked confused โWhat?โ you questioned
โOh it's just, you always fail your tests. Everyone knows thatโ
As he said that you felt the tears start to come back. Of course, he wouldnโt get it. Why did you ever think he would get it?
โI didnโt mean it like that, Iโm so sorryโ he panicked โI shouldnโt have said that!โ
you turn away, quickly wiping away your tears again. โno I get it, Iโm the dumb girlโ
"No, no, no, that's not what I meant. Hey, want to hear something embarrassing about me? I'm only here because of a scholarship. That's why no one wants to be friends with me!" he confessed.
you start to giggle โThatโs not embarrassing!โ
โIt made you laugh! But here is something actually embarrassing, my teacher forgot my name today. Even though I've had her for the whole year.โ
Your eyes widen, feeling bad that you forgot his name.
โahh you donโt know my name eitherโ
you smile โIf you tell me your name, Iโll forgive youโ
โhaechanโ
โThat's a nice name, haechanโ You smiled at the way it rolled off your tongue.ย
โthank you, I have a proposition or a proposalโ
โI know what proposition meansโ you teased
he giggled, โIโll help you studyโ
your eyes lit up, โreally? What can I do for you?โ
he avoided your eyes and cleared his throat โBe my friendโ
your eyes softened โThatโs not hard, I was going to be your friend after this conversation anywaysโ You pushed his shoulder.
He finally met your eyes and smiled at you. โthen you donโt have to do anything, friends help friendsโ
As the bell faintly rang, you pulled out your phone. "Here, give me your number so we can talk."
he paused for a second before taking your phone
standing up and thanking him before you quickly left to go touch up your makeup in the bathroom. Reminding yourself you would have to tell Jaemin you were sorry for ditching him and the guys.
You walked into your next class as the late bell rang.ย
โthere you are! Jaemin told me you ditched usโ Mark laughed.ย
โI didn't mean to ditch you guys, just got carried away.โย
โcarried away, with what?โย
โI was working on my psychology essay, and I can't believe she makes us write one every week!โ you huffed out, setting your bag down before sitting down.ย
โCould have just said you were talking to guys instead of lying.โ Mark laughed, too interested in whatever was on his phone to notice your face drop. What did your friends think of you?ย
โWhat do you mean?โย
Mark glanced at you before laughing, โYou always procrastinate, there is no way you even started it!โย
Instead of arguing you turned to face the front, pulling out your notebook. The essay is due in two days, of course, you started it. There would be no way for you to finish the four pages if you didn't. Turning towards Mark again you huffed out, โWell someone is helping me study.โ
Shocked, Mark quickly faced towards you โWhat? What happened to y/n?โย
You scoffed, โReally? That surprisingโ
โI am, you never really cared for gradesโ
โWell I'm sick of failing every testโย
โSo who's helping you out?โ Mark leaned towards you โCould have just asked meโ
โHis name is Haechanโ
Markโs eyebrows furrowed โThat one kid that eats in the bathroom?โ
โHe doesn't eat in the bathroom!โ You defendedย
โJust be careful, heโs a little weirdโย
โWhat do you mean, you donโt even know himโ You started to get upset.
โHe doesn't really talk to anyoneโย He could see how your face scrunched up and you were about to start an argument with him so he shrugged, not really caring โWhy didn't you ask me, I'm one of the top studentsโ
You didn't really want to explain what happened so you just blew his question off. Before he could press you for an answer, the teacher walked in.ย
Haechannie๐ค๐ป: When do you want to start?
Y/Nโบ๏ธ: I have my psychology paper due soon. Could you read it over before I turn it in?
Haechannie๐ค๐ป: Yeah meet me at the public library after schoolย
Y/Nโบ๏ธ: Thanks!
Haechannie๐ค๐ป: No problem :)
Jaemin and Jeno are probably thinking you're going crazy when you tell them you didn't need a ride after school. But you didn't want them to drop you off at the library and question you the same way Mark did in class. So you just said you were meeting up with a girlfriend of yours who wanted to walk to the park. At the mention of a girl, they didnโt question anything.ย
Now that's how you ended up looking around the library for Haechan. He wasn't on the first or second floor, so you started making your way up to the third floor. Questioning why he even would go all the way up there, no one liked the third floor. As you looked around you spotted Haechan sitting at a table in the corner.ย
As he heard you coming, he looked up and smiled. โTook you long enough!โ
โWho even uses the third floor of the library, all the books up here are just textbooks.โ You huffed out, setting your bag down and taking out everything you needed.ย
โThatโs the whole point! Itโs quiet up hereโย
You can admit, that he has a point! Maybe you will actually start using the third floor more. As if you ever go to the public library without your friends dragging you there. Liking your room for studying a lot more because there are no judging eyes.ย
โOkay, letโs get started! Let me see what you have alreadyโ Haechan smiled at you.ย
You pulled out your notebook and quickly found the page you started to write on before handing it to Haechan. As you handed it to him, your fingers brushed, which made Haechan pull away quickly.ย
You watched as his eyes read through everything you wrote. Anxiety started to fill you up. What if it was really bad and he thinks you're even more of an idiot than before? Ugh, heโs a nice guy, he wouldn't think like that. But you donโt really know himโ Before your inner monologue continues Haechan put down your notebook. Shock showed in his eyes.ย
โWow, that was really good! The way you described Sensation and Perception was easy to understand. How do you usually fail with papers like this?โ
Shocked that he actually liked your paper it took you a couple of seconds to register his question. โI usually get good grades on my papers and in-class work, but tests always seem to get to me.โย
โmmm, I understand,โ Haechan hummed. โA lot of people have test anxiety, I have some tips I can give you if you wantโย
Your eyes lit up as you nodded, eager to hear what he had to say.ย
โItโs getting quite late, maybe we should start wrapping this up?โ Haechan yawned.ย
You quickly looked at the time, not believing him that it was so late. You gasped, shocked at how quickly time passed with Haechan. โOh, I better get going, before my mom starts to ask questions.โย
โYeah, I have to get going too. It was nice hanging out with you.โ Haechan quickly gathered up all his things before moving to leave.ย
โWait!โย
Haechan paused looking at you confused.ย
โWhat are you doing tomorrow after class?โย
โNothing, until I have to go in for workโ Haechan sighed โI donโt want to study again tomorrowโ
A little taken aback by the change in his tone, you quickly cleared things up โThatโs not what I was going to ask you! I wanted to know if you wanted to hang out, like at the mall or somethingโ
you couldn't quite read the emotion on Haechanโs face. Was he shocked? Happy? Confused? Maybe a little bit of each.ย
โOh um yeah, we can hang out.โย
โGood, Iโll text you the detailsโ You smiled before turning away and leaving him to stand there not knowing what was going on in his head.ย
The final bell rang as you rushed out to find Haechan. Earlier promising that you both would take the bus to the mall together.ย
Your eyes lit up seeing him standing at the bus stop, calling out a quick โHaechanโ to get his attention. Which seemed to work as he found you in the crowd of other students.ย
As you finally pushed through all the people to get to Haechan, your face dropped. He wasn't looking at you anymore. โWhatโs wrong?โย
โYou donโt want to be caught hanging out with me, it will ruin your reputation.โ He whisperedย
Taken aback you laughed, which turned into a heavier laugher. Shocked and confused by your reaction, Haechan turned towards you, watching you laugh like you were crazy. โIโm not joking! Hanging out with me in public is literally social suicideโ
You took a couple of deep breaths before answering him โHaechan, this isn't some teen drama! Who even cares about thatโย
Haechan looked embarrassed by this and started to fiddle with his fingers. You saw the bus starting to pull up so you took hold of his hand. Stopping him from fiddling with them and making sure you didn't lose him to the crowd of people waiting for the bus.ย
If you were paying more attention, you would have seen how bright his cheeks turned. Before quickly snapping out of it.ย
As you got onto the bus, you noticed how full it was. Only noticed one seat in the back. quickly you pulled him towards the back and offered him the seat.ย
Shaking his head, he told you to sit down. But you insisted that you were okay with standing. Looking around you noticed the other people starting to get annoyed, even hearing an older lady saying she hates teenage couples.ย
Before he could protest, you pushed him down onto the seat and sat on his knee. โAre you happy now? Itโs a win-win situation, we both get to sit nowโ You smiled.ย
The whole ride there was silent. Maybe the stunt you pulled on the bus was a little too much for him to handle.ย
But you didn't let that stop you from grabbing his hand when the bus finally arrived at the mall. Excitedly telling Haechan about all your favorite stores and sales that are going on right now.ย
He didn't seem to care when you kept dragging him to different clothing and makeup stores. It wasn't until you noticed how uncomfortable he was did you realized how rude you were being.ย
โOh shit sorry, where do you want to go next?โ
ย Taken back by this Haechan quickly tried to brush it off โNo itโs okay, where do you want to go next?โ Not letting him dodge the question you push him for an answer. โNo, come on, let's go somewhere you like next!โ
โUh I like Gamestopโย
โThen we are off to Gamestop, I know where it is because itโs next to my favorite shoe store!โย
Haechanโs eyes lit up when he saw the new Lord of the Fallen had been released. โCool! Iโve been waiting for this to come outโ But as quickly as he picked it up he put it down.ย
โYou're not going to get it?โ You questioned
โOh no, itโs too much moneyโ He turned to look at other things, leaving you the opportunity to grab and pay for the game without him knowing.ย
Finding him in the back, you asked if he was finished looking around. Which earned you a nod. As you stepped out of the store, you held up the bag. โWhat did you get?โ Haechan asked, confused.ย
โItโs for youโ You giggled handing him the bag.ย
He hesitated before looking in the bag and gasping โY/n, this is $80!โย
โThatโs nothing! I love buying my friends things that I know they will likeโ You smiled, hooking your arm with his. โNow I'm hungry, let's go eat.โย
The food court wasn't your first choice, but haechan insisted. Arguing that he knew you were going to try to pay for his food if you went to some fancy restaurant. Which he is right, you would have. But you settled for paying for his Taco Bell instead.ย
โLet's go near the carousel I love the view and plus not a lot of people sit over thereโ
Haechan nodded, letting you show the way.ย
Everything was going very smooth. You wanted to do this again and again. But as you were in your own world you heard voices call out โHyuckโ. Haechan's eyes widened and looked around.ย
Two boys, one tall and one short, sat down near you guys.ย
โLong time no see, we missed you!โ The taller one said either not knowing or not caring about your presence.ย
The shorter one cleared his throat before asking Haechan โSo are you going to introduce usโย
Haechan laughed nervously before looking at you, pointing to the shorter one โThis is Huang Renjunโ and then pointing to the taller one who seem to now noticed you were there โAnd this is Park Jisungโย
Before Haechan could speak you smiled โI'm F/N L/N!โย
Haechan winced at your mentioning your last name. You looked at the other guys and their faces dropped. Confused, you asked โwhat's wrong?โย
Haechan quickly cleared his throat and explained โItโs nothing! We used to know someone with that last name and so they're just surprised.โย
The two boys looked confused before nodding โSorry, just bad memoriesโ Renjun forced a smile before getting up and announcing โOh weโre gonna be late for our movie, letโs go Jisungโย
They left before you could even get in another word. Noticing your shock, Haechan shakes his head โThose are my friends from my childhood, we haven't talked in a while because we go to different schools now.โย
Not wanting to push you just hummed.
Something felt weird but you didn't want to bring it up. Today has been one of your favorites and you didn't want to sour the mood by letting Haechan know his friends acted a bit rude.ย
So the whole time you didn't bring it up, instead going back to your cheery self. After a few more stores, you both decided that was enough for today and Haechan really needed to get home so he could get enough sleep before having to go to his part-time job.ย
Soon days, weeks, and months flew by. Hanging out with Haechan really made things go by so quickly. You liked his company. So did your teachers, complimenting you on passing all your tests. One even accused you of cheating, but Haechan stepped in and confessed he had been helping you study.
Even your parents seemed to notice the change in your mood. Your mother loves getting her cheerful daughter back. The only people who seemed to hate the โnew and improved y/nโ were your best friends. It started with Jaemin accusing you of sleeping with Mr. Moon because he swore thereโs no way you could have gotten scored higher on your test then him. Obviously, you were pissed that he could even suggest something like that.
So you ended up admitting to your not-so-secret tutoring sessions to your friends one day at lunch.
โSo that's where you've been during lunch?โ Chenle questioned.ย
โYes, weโve been eating in the library togetherโย
โSo youโve been ditching us for that nerd this whole time!โ Jenoโs voice raised, causing some of the other students in the cafeteria to look at your table.ย
โDonโt call him a nerd!โย
โBut he is one!โ Jeno threw his hands up in the air.ย
โJust because he gets good grades? Then why donโt you call Mark or Jaemin a nerd?โ
โY/N Come on, why are you defending him? Heโs just some loser who eats in the bathroom when you're not at schoolโ Chenle laughed, trying to get everyone to calm down.ย
Taken back by how rude your best friends were, you looked around and made eye contact with Haechan.ย
He was supposed to meet your friends today. He was really excited after you hyped all of them up. But as he was walking to your table, you could tell that he heard everything.ย
You saw how his eyes were starting to water.ย
โMaybe he is a nerd but he is way hotter than all of you! Bet he can actually get me to cum unlike any of youโ You smirked knowing this would get on their nerves. Hitting it where it hurt, their egos.ย
You heard Jaemin scuff, โYeah right, we all know your type! You wouldn't even kiss himโย
Taking the challenge, you looked around and spotted Haechan again. But this time his face was red and his eyes were wide. You smirked, โwanna bet?โย
The tension in the cafeteria was thick after your bold statement, and all eyes seemed to be on the unfolding drama. Your best friends wore expressions of disbelief mixed with irritation. You made your way over to Haechan.
Haechan's eyes showed surprise, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. You could feel the weight of the challenge in the air as you took a hold of his sweater collar, the fabric warm beneath your fingers. The cafeteria buzzed with hushed whispers and curious glances, but your focus was solely on him.
Pulling him down gently, your lips hovered near Haechan's ear, and you breathed out a teasing question. "Can I?" The words were soft, carrying a hint of playfulness.
In response, Haechan nodded fervently, his eyes wide with anticipation. "Please," he whispered back, his voice barely audible.
With a mischievous smirk, you seized the moment, closing the distance between your lips and Haechan lips. Time seemed to slow as the cafeteria fell into a stunned silence, and then erupted into a mix of gasps, whispers, and scattered applause. The unexpected turn of events had caught everyone off guard, including your best friends, who now wore expressions ranging from shock to disbelief.
Breaking the kiss, you stepped back. You saw how Haechan went to lean back in again. Quickly placing a short kiss to his lips you whispered โeveryone watching usโ His eyes widened and looked around the cafeteria. Making you giggle and whisper a hushed โCuteโ
After your little stunt in the cafeteria, everyoneโs been asking you who that guy was and if you two are dating. You already knew poor Haechan was getting the same questions.ย
Y/N๐โค๏ธ: People keep asking me if youโre a good kisser
Haechannie๐ค๐ป: Well am I?
Y/N๐โค๏ธ: Absolutely
Y/N๐โค๏ธ: What are you doing after school?
Haechannie๐ค๐ป: Working and then going home
Y/N๐โค๏ธ: When do you get off? Want to hang out with you
Haechannie๐ค๐ป: 9 pm, at the convenience store on the other side of town
Haechannie๐ค๐ป: we can hang out only if you promise to kiss me again
Y/N๐โค๏ธ: weโll see ;)
The convenience store was a far walk from your house so you asked your friend Yuna to drive you. But that didnโt stop your parents from scolding you for going out so late. All you had to say was that you were staying over at Yunaโs house. Yuna is your mom's best friend's daughter. She had no problem with this because last summer you had to do the same thing for her.ย
There was only a few people at the convenience store. You saw Haechan slumped over at the counter scrolling through his phone. โArenโt you supposed to be workingโ
Haechan jumped up from his sitting position, ready to be scolded by his manager. But when his eyes landed on you he shook his head โAh you scared me! I still have 10 minutes until closingโย
โI wanted to get here early, I heard there is a cute cashier boy hereโ you smirked
You can already see Haechanโs face start to become a light shade of red.ย
โStop flirting with me, I'm working!โย
Before you could say a comeback, an older guy put down his stuff on the register.ย
โSheโs just trying to get free stuffโ The random guy scoffed
Taken aback you scoff, tilting your head โWhat do you mean by that?โ
โYouโre too pretty for himโ
You looked at Haechan and saw his head lower.ย
Looking back at the guy you laugh โNerdy guys are the freakiestโ you winked
Haechanโs eyes widened, not being able to make eye contact with anyone.ย
โAll girls are the sameโ The guy harshly stated before throwing ten dollars on the counter and leaving.ย
โHow do you know Iโm freaky?โ Haechan busted out laughing.ย
โI donโt but guys hate when their masculinity is threatenedโ You shrug.
โSo what do you want to do after I closeโย
โI donโt know, I told my parents I was staying over with a friend tonight. So Iโm all yoursโ
โAll mine? I like the sound of thatโ Haechan smirked leaning in โI live aloneโ
You gasp โHow do you live alone?โย
โItโs a small place, I donโt have a relationship with my parents anymoreโ Haechan grabbed the keys to close the shop. โItโs not too far from here, only a five-minute walkโย
Entering Haechan's apartment, the reality of his living space matched his earlier description. It kind of reminded you of a college dorm. Only a small living area with his bed and a tiny hallway that leads to his bathroom.ย
As you took in the surroundings, Haechan couldn't help but laugh at your reaction. "I told you it was small," he remarked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "It's not the fanciest part of town, but it's affordable."
"It's nice!" you assured him, a genuine smile gracing your face.
Haechan, skeptical, teased, "You don't have to lie to me."
Your laughter filled the room. "I'm not lying! I was expecting much worse for a guy living alone." Your lighthearted comment elicited a chuckle from Haechan, getting rid of any lingering tension.
Looking around the compact space, you ask, "So, what do you want to do?"
"I was promised a kiss," Haechan said with a mischievous smirk.
Your laughter continued, but before you could respond, you felt his hand gently cup your face, pulling you into a kiss. This wasn't like the previous one in the cafeteria; it was more intense, and filled with passion.
As the kiss deepened, Haechan guided you backward until the back of your knees met his bed, causing you to gently fall onto it. Yet, he didn't break the kiss, instead, he adjusted his position to hover over you. Placing his knee between your legs, he elicited a soft moan from you. The sound only fueled Haechan's desire, and he broke the kiss momentarily, his gaze locking onto yours.
"You sound so beautiful," he murmured, his eyes fulled with desire. His fingers delicately traced the curve of your jawline, leaving a trail of electrifying sensations.
The air was charged with a blend of desire and anticipation as Haechan, deepening the kiss and found a comfortable position on top of you.
His hands, warm and assertive, traced subtle patterns along your sides, sending shivers down your spine. The small apartment seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of you entangled in the intoxicating rhythm of the kiss.
As the kiss continued to deepen, Haechan's movements became more deliberate. He pressed himself against you, and the warmth of his body radiated through the layers of clothing, intensifying the sensations.
The noisy world outside seemed to disappear, leaving only the echo of shared breaths and the subtle noise of hearts beating together.
Breaking away from the kiss, Haechan's eyes held an unspoken question, seeking affirmation in the depths of your gaze. Without uttering a word, you nodded, granting permission.
Haechan's lips traced a path from your mouth, leaving a trail of lingering kisses along your jawline and down your neck. Each touch sent shivers through your body, awakening a heightened awareness of the closeness between you.
As Haechan's fingers delicately traced patterns on your skin, he whispered โGod I canโt get enough of youโ.ย
โI need you inside of me right nowโ You moaned as he started to take your shirt off.
Your words seemed to ignite something in Haechan, his eyes darkening with desire. He gently removed your shirt, his touch making your skin tingle.
You felt Haechanโs warm breath against your skin as he buried his face in your breasts. The sensation of his lips approaching your skin caused you to gasp, and the sound fueled his desire. As his lips made contact with your nipple, you felt a wave of pleasure run through you.
โGod, Haechanโ
His lips found yours once again. The pleasure of his lips on yours left you intoxicated.The feeling of the soft sheets against your bare skin and the warmth of Haechanโs body made you feel safe, yet vulnerable. Your heart skipped a beat as you felt his lips take your nipple in his mouth yet again, and the pleasure and excitement was overwhelming. The intensity of the sensations had left you without words, and you felt yourself wanting to scream with pleasure.
โG-Godโ
The moan that escaped from your lips seemed to ignite something in Haechan, and he moved his mouth to your other breast, leaving a trail of hot kisses. Each one caused you to gasp with pleasure and your hands explored the his back from under his shirt. The pleasure and excitement was too much, and you needed him inside you, but he kept teasing you in different ways.
When he finally moved to kiss you again, his hands gently moved down your body to rest on your waist. He seemed to be asking if it was okay to continue, and you nodded, silent. His hands moved to take off your pants, and you felt your heart start to race.ย
His touch was gentle and soft, and his lips were warm against your skin, leaving behind a trail of goosebumps. You could feel the bulge in his pants pressing against you. The feeling of his skin against yours was intoxicating. As his hands kept tracing patterns across your skin. As his lips reached your thighs, you moaned with pleasure, begging for more
"Please..." you moaned, "I need you inside me."
Haechan looked up and gave you a mischievous grin, and his body tensed for a moment before he moved to undress himself. His movements left you breathless, and you stared at him as he removed his pants. The light of the room glinted off of his skin, and you felt your body start to quiver with anticipation.
His eyes seemed to penetrate you as he looked at you, as if he could see things you didn't want anyone to know about. There was a moment of silence as the two of you stared at each other, before he moved over you and hovered on top of you. The moment was perfect, the way his body molded to yours.
His lips found yours once again, and the kiss started off soft but eventually deepened. The intensity of the moment was something you had never experienced before, and your body felt on fire as his hands explored your skin. As his fingers traced patterns on your skin, you felt more and more aroused, and you moaned with pleasure as his fingers moved down across your sensitive skin to your underwear.
As you felt his fingers graze across your most sensitive parts, you gasped with pleasure, and Haechan smiled
โyouโre hands please, i just need something inside of meโ you begged.
Haechan smirked as he continued to tease you over your underwear. โthen we have to get rid of theseโ
He slowly removed them before stuffing them into his nightstand.
You could feel your heart pounding in your chest as Haechan's fingers continued to tease you over your underwear. Your body throbbed with need, and you couldn't help but beg for more. The anticipation was driving you wild, and you craved the touch of his hands inside of you.
"Please, Haechan," you whimpered, your voice laced with desperation. "I need you inside me."
Haechan's smirk widened, his eyes darkening with desire. He knew exactly what he was doing to you, reveling in every moment of your vulnerability. Without a word, he slowly removed your underwear and discarded it into the nightstand.
The cool air caressed your exposed flesh, making you shudder in anticipation. Haechan positioned himself between your thighs, his gaze intense and hungry. You could feel the heat radiating off his body as he hovered over you, his breath mingling with yours.
His lips crashed onto yours once again, this time with an even fiercer hunger. The kiss was bruising, and passionate, as if he wanted to consume every ounce of your being. His hands roamed your body, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Every touch sent electric shocks through you, heightening your desire.
But Haechan was not one to rush. He knew the power of anticipation. His fingers danced along the curves of your thighs. You squirmed beneath his touch, unable to suppress the moans that escaped your lips.
"Patience," he murmured against your skin, his voice laced with a raw sensuality that made your heart race. "I want to savor every moment."
His words only fueled the fire within you, igniting a primal need that consumed your thoughts. You could no longer wait, your body aching and yearning for release. With desperate boldness, you reached for him and pulled him closer. Haechan's eyes gleamed with a mixture of surprise and desire as you guided his hand to where you needed him most.
Without hesitation, his fingers slipped between your slick folds, finding your throbbing core. His touch was electrifying, sending waves of ecstasy through your body. You arched your back, giving him better access as he explored every inch of you, driving you to the edge.
As his fingers moved in delicious circles, your moans filled the room, mingling with the sound of his breathless whispers in your ear. It was as if time had stopped, leaving only the two of you.
Haechan's lips found yours once again, muffling the cry that escaped from deep within you as he brushed against your most sensitive spot. Your body shook with pleasure.
Every stroke sent shockwaves coursing through your body, building the pleasure to an unbearable peak. Your hips instinctively rose to meet his ministrations, wanting to feel even closer to him. The room seemed to spin as you felt your orgasm startย to wash over you.
Haechan's fingers quickened their pace, pushing you further. With a sudden burst of overwhelming pleasure, your climax finally crashed over you. Your body shuddered beneath Haechan's touch as waves of intense bliss radiated from your core. It was an explosion of ecstasy that left.
As you finally started to get all your senses back you quickly reached out to Haechan. "Let me make you feel good too"
Haechan's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he chuckled nervously, avoiding your gaze. "I-I get pleasure just from giving you pleasure," he stuttered.
The corners of your lips turned up in a sly smile as you teasingly asked, "Did you cum in your pants?"
In response, Haechan groaned and buried his face on your neck. "You just sounded so beautiful, I couldn't resist," he admitted shamefully.
You couldn't help but feel a mix of desire and amusement at his confession. Pulling away from him, you leaned into captured his lips with yours. "That's incredibly hot," you muttered against his mouth before breaking into a giggle.
"Alright," you said with a mischievous glint in your eye, "let's get cleaned up...and maybe we can find a way to get out of those pants too."
In the morning, you felt the warmth of hands around your body. With a content smile, you turned around to find Haechan already awake, looking at you. "Good morning, beautiful."
"How long have you been awake?" you inquired.
"Not too long, I didn't want to wake you up" he replied.
Leaning in to plant a morning kiss on Haechan's lips, you were halted midway. "I messed up," he confessed.
Shocked, you asked, "What do you mean?"
"I slept with my only friend," he admitted.
A chuckle escaped you. "Well, if you play your cards right, you might end up with a girlfriend instead."
He chuckled at your response, pulling you in for another kiss
As the soft morning light streamed through the curtains, the intimacy between you and Haechan deepened. The laughter from the lighthearted exchange lingered as he pressed his lips against yours.
Breaking the kiss, Haechan looked into your eyes with a mix of affection and sincerity. "I'm serious, though. I don't want this to change things between us."
You traced your fingers gently along his cheek, reassuringly. "Haechan, it doesn't change anything. We both have our pasts, and what matters is what we have now."
A grateful smile played on his lips as he held you close, appreciating the comfort of the moment. "You're amazing, you know that?"
The tenderness in his words made your heart flutter. "You're not too bad yourself," you teased, your fingers intertwining with his.
Your mother has noticed a change in your demeanor, catching glimpses of smiles and laughter while you were on your phone. Initially, you tried to dismiss it, claiming it was just conversations with friends, but the faรงade crumbled when your mother overheard you on a Facetime call, and she didn't recognize the voice. Peeking into your room she also didnโt notice the face on the screen.
Now, you found yourself anxiously anticipating how your parents would react to meeting Haechan for the first time. Your mother insisted on the introduction, pointing out that you had never appeared as happy with your previous partners. Which you had to give it to her, it was true.ย
While you were confident your mother would adore Haechan, your concern was with your father. He was often distant, engrossed in his role as the owner of a major technology company. His strict views on your relationships were rooted in a desire to maintain a family business, yet he doubted your ability to contribute to it.
Hoping your father would be too occupied to attend dinner wasn't far-fetched, he frequently skipped family gatherings. However, your mother's pleas for him to take a rare evening off for his "precious" daughter won him over.
When you first brought it up with Haechan he was terrified. Always saying he was too busy to meet them.
But you finally caught him. He was complaining that he hasn't seen you in some time and that he misses you. So you asked if he was free later. Implying something sexual so he would change his plans if he needed to. When he took the bait and said he would be free all weekend, you told him to get ready to meet your parents.ย
As the doorbell rang, you rushed to answer it before anyone else could. "You look so handsome," you cooed, admiring Haechan in a suit that, while not perfectly fitted, he still made it look good.
Haechan, in turn, was taken aback by your appearance. Clad in a baby pink puffy spring dress with pearl accessories, you radiated elegance. The elaborate outfit was your response to your father's decision to turn a family dinner into a business-oriented event.
Warned in advance, Haechan contemplated rescheduling, but your disappointment look and tears swayed him.ย
"I can't do this," he admitted.
"Yes, you can. It's okay," you reassured him, leading him toward the dining room.
As the evening unfolded, Haechan appeared more nervous than usual. Sensing his discomfort, you offered solace by whispering in his ear, "We can go to my room after we finish dinner." This seemed to ease his tension, evident in the subtle relaxation of his shoulders.
Upon entering the dining room, you wore a big smile, catching your mother's approving gaze. "Ah, this must be Haechan! I've heard great things about you," she greeted warmly.
"I've heard a lot about you too, Ms. [Last Name]," Haechan replied.
The initial interactions went smoothly. Haechan answered a few questions from your mother, and the room dissolved into various conversations. However, your father remained engrossed in discussions with his employees, seemingly oblivious to Haechan's presence.
Sensing Haechan's ongoing nervousness, you discreetly held his hand under the table. "You're doing amazing, we can sneak out soon."
As if on cue, your father redirected his attention to Haechan, acknowledging his presence. "How rude of me! I haven't even spoken to my daughter's new boyfriend," he announced. "So, what is it your parents do for a living?"
Haechan hesitated before revealing, "Well, they don't do much anymore. I work at a convenience store to pay for my apartment."
Your father raised an eyebrow. "Already working for yourself, impressive. Do you do anything else in your free time?"
Releasing the breath of air you were holding in, you smile. This was a small victory, your father rarely asked the guys you brought over questions. Not even caring for your friends. Remembering the time Jeno once threw up in your bathroom from how your father kept ignoring him.ย
"My father taught me how to code when I was younger," Haechan disclosed.
"That's impressive," your father acknowledged, swirling his wine before taking a sip. "What's your surname? You look familiar."
Haechan gulped before confessing, "Lee."
A collective widening of eyes among your father's employees followed, and your father smirked. "I knew you looked familiar, Lee Donghyuck."
Confusion furrowed your eyebrows. You expected Haechan to correct your father, but instead, he flinched and looked at you.
"I'm guessing you lied to my daughter?" your father quipped. "What was the name you came up with again? Haechan."
Tears welled up in your eyes, and to salvage any remaining dignity, you stood up and hurriedly left the room.
Your mother exchanged a glance with Haechan before whispering something to him. He excused himself from the table and followed you.
You slammed the door shut, intending to cry alone. However, Haechan entered the room moments later.
"Please let me explain first," Haechan begged, attempting to pull you in an embrace, but you resisted.
"What is there to explain? Have you been lying to me this whole time?"
"No, God, no! Yes, my name is Donghyuck.. Haechan is just a nickname," he clarified. "My dad worked at your father's company, coding for years until he was fired. They wanted someone younger."
He gently held your face in his hands, "At first, I hated you. But when I saw you tearing up and running to theย janitor's closet, it made my heart hurt, so I had to follow you."
"I told you my name was Haechan because that's what I go by in school. I wouldn't have gotten the scholarship if they knew who I was related to. Your father basically runs this town! I had to!"
"I swear I was going to tell you, but then I started developing feelings for you. I couldn't risk it! This is the best thing to ever happen to me, you're the best thing to ever happen to me!"
As you stood there, emotions swirling within you, you listened to Haechan's explanation. His vulnerability and genuine regret were evident in every word.
A mixture of anger, confusion, and empathy danced on the surface of your emotions. "Haechan, why didn't you trust me enough to tell me the truth?" you asked, your voice a blend of hurt and frustration.
his eyes pleading for understanding. "I wanted to, but the fear of losing you, or jeopardizing everything we had, it paralyzed me. I never meant to lie to you. I just didn't know how to tell you."
You took a deep breath, attempting to collect your thoughts. The truth was a bitter pill to swallow, but his honesty and the vulnerability in his eyes struck a chord. "You should have trusted me, Haechan. Relationships are built on trust, not on secrets and lies."
He nodded, remorse written across his features. "I know, and I'm so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you, and I understand if you can't forgive me."
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of everything hanging in the air. You finally spoke, "I need time to process this. It's not just about the lie but the fact that you felt you had to hide something from me. Trust is something we'll need to work on."
Haechan nodded, his eyes reflecting a mix of regret and determination. "I'll do whatever it takes to make things right, even if it takes time.โ
โI love you, and I'll always be honest with you from now on," he promised, enfolding you in a tight embrace.
Your body resisted at first, still in shock of everything that just happened, but you eventually gave in, wrapping your arms around him. The familiar scent of his cologne and the warmth of his embrace made you realize how much you loved him despite the lies.ย
You looked him in his eyes, studying his face before slowly letting your body finally connect your lips to his.ย
Haechanโs kiss was soft and gentle at first, but it quickly grew in intensity as the passion between the two of you grew. You felt his hands on your waist as he pulled you closer, deepening the kiss.
Despite the initial shock and hurt, you found yourself unable to resist Haechanโs touch, his lips, the way he made you feel. You knew trust would take time to build, but right now, you couldn't resist the heat between the two of you.
Haechanโs hands moved up to your hair, tangling in the strands as he deepened the kiss even further. โDonghyuckโ You moaned softly, unable to control the pleasure that coursed through you.
โI love the way you moan my nameโ he growled
As the kiss came to an end, you were both left breathless, panting from the intensity of the moment. You looked up into Donghyuckโs eyes, seeing the love and desire there, and you couldn't help but smile. โI love you so muchโ he whispered
"I love you too,"
Your eyes met his and your lips curved into a smile. "Thank you."
"For what?" he asked
"For loving me enough to tell me the truth," you responded.
โI will never hurt you againโ
You stared silently, soaking in his presence, and a moment later, a small smile stretched across your lips. Donghyuck pulled you in for another heated kiss causing you to let out a small moan before pulling away slightly.ย
โYou promise?โ voice still shaky from the kiss.
Donghyuck grinned, his hands moved to your waist. There was a brief moment of discomfort as he lifted you onto your bed, but your objection was quickly silenced once you regained your balance.
You couldn't help but giggle at the boyish grin on Donghyckโs face as he looked at you from between your legs.
โI promiseโ he spoke as his hands traced the edges of your panties underneath your dress, teasing you and leaving you desperate for more.
A mischievous grin spread across Donghyuckโs face as he slowly began to slide your panties down, revealing more and more of your skin. You bit your lip, enjoying the sensation as he removed the final bit of fabric.
Donghyuckโs hands quickly moved to hook your legs around his waist, and you felt his fingers move towards your wet core. He teased you for a few minutes before moving his fingers up your slit, one finger brushing against your clit.
You moaned softly, biting your lip as you tried to keep yourself from making too much noise. You couldnโt help yourself though, the sensation overwhelming you as he began to circle your clit.
The sensation was so intense you couldnโt help but squirm beneath Donghyuck, his lips leaving a trail of kisses up your clothed stomach. His fingers slowed and he looked up at you. โShhโฆโ he whispered, lowering his head to your chest, kissing your exposed skin as you tried to regain control of yourself.
For a few moments you could barely breathe, light kisses upon your skin driving you wild. You could feel his cock pressed against your leg, and could tell it was straining against his pants.ย
โYou are so gorgeous,โ Donghyuck spoke softly as he moved up your body. His lips pressed against yours, his fingers teasing your clit as he moved his hand away.
Your lips were breathing heavily against his, your hips bucked as you felt him tease your clit again. You began to breathe hard, hot breaths gusting between your lips and his. "I love youโ he repeated as his lips moved to your neck. He bit your neck, his lips sucking just hard enough to leave a mark.
You moaned softly as you moved your hands to his pants, fumbling with the button before pulling them and his underwear down so he could step out of them.
You felt his cock pressed against your skin, and you couldnโt help but reach out for it. You could feel his shaft pulsating against your hand as you stroked it.
Donghyuck let out a small grunt, his hips bucking into your hand as you teased the head of his cock. โgoddamnโ he moaned as you pulled him closer.
โI want you inside me. You could feel his shaft twitch in your hand as you said the words, your fingers tightening around the shaft as you moved to stand in front of him.
You pulled your dress over your head, tossing it to the floor as you reached behind your back to unclasp your bra. The garment fell to the ground, your breasts exposed to Donghyuckโs hungry gaze.
Donghyuck reached up, taking your breasts in his hands. He gently laid you back on the bed, his hands moving from your breasts to your hips.ย
You waited with heavy breaths as he finished stripping down, your eyes eagerly scanning his chest and abdomen. Reaching for his cock again eager for him to be inside you.ย
Donghyuck quickly shifted his hips, slowly sliding his cock inside you. You let out a soft moan as he slowly filled you up. He began thrusting slowly, his thrusts growing stronger and deeper.
He moaned loudly as he thrusts inside you, letting you slowly push against him. His thrusts were desperate.
As he felt his climax coming he reached down to grab your hand, intertwining his fingers with yours. The connection between you intensified, your bodies moving in perfect sync. It was a dance of pleasure and desire, each movement bringing you closer to that sweet release.
As his thrusts became more urgent, his hips snapped against yours with a hunger that matched your own. The room filled with your moans and the rhythmic sound of skin slapping together. Time seemed to blur as the world around you vanished.
Your nails dug into his back, leaving red trails as he drove deeper into you. Waves of pleasure crashed over you, dragging you deeper into the abyss of ecstasy.
Donghyuck's breath grew ragged against your ear as he moved faster, chasing his climax with fervor. His grip on your hand tightened, his body trembling with anticipation.
You arched your back as you felt yourself approach climax, your hands gripping the sheets as you sought more friction. Donghyuckโs pace quickened, his cock sliding in and out of you as you felt your orgasm approach.
Your body tensed as you came closer and closer. You cried out, moaning his name as he kissed you. โDonghyuck!โ
Donghyuckโs thrusts grew more and more erratic. He began to let out a series of moans as he continued to thrust. He groaned loudly, your walls tightening around his cock as he continued to thrust. You could feel his cock twitch as he came, his cum filling you up.
Donghyuckโs cock slid out of you as the two of you came down from your orgasm. You curled up against him, his arms wrapping around you as you kissed him.ย
โI love you too.โ you whispered, kissing his lips softly. You rested your head against his chest, and for the first time in a long time, you fell asleep without any worries.
The morning sun peeked through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. Donghyuck stirred, his eyes slowly fluttering open. He blinked sleepily and focused on the beautiful sight in front of him--your peaceful face, bathed in gentle morning light.
As he realized your arm was still snugly wrapped around him, a soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips. The night before had been filled with whispers, laughter, and tender kisses shared between you both. And in this quiet moment, as the world outside continued to awaken, Donghyuck felt an overwhelming sense of contentment.
Leaning in closer, he pressed a lingering kiss to your forehead. His touch was feather-light, melting away any lingering traces of sleep from your mind. You stirred slightly, a drowsy smile playing on your lips as you looked up at him.
"Mmm, good morning," you murmured, your voice filled with warmth and affection.
"Good morning," Donghyuck replied, his voice low and husky.
His fingers gently traced the contours of your face, his touch so tender it sent shivers down your spine. As you peered into his eyes, you could see the love that radiated from within him. It was in those moments when the world was still and quiet, that you truly understood the depth of his affections. Donghyuck was not one to wear his heart on his sleeve, but in these stolen moments, he bared his soul to you.
taglist: @yesohhsehun @numberonekeehostan @rjreins @yutaswh0re @haechansbbg @fullsunahceah @sundamariis @sinsgaybutthatsokay @nae-vm @hcheach @snflwrhaerecs4u @jenodreamer @mystverse @lhcread @onlyoursol-ace @enchantingtreedreaย @jaeimjaemin @justforme211 @jakejaehyun @nk-3554 @hyunniesvlog @bbyjayb @nodisdino @qwonii-111 @pwarkkjisung @wettestpoussy @bomi-ja
(srry if i forgot you or if it didnt tag you)
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Can I request Hotch finding gender neutral reader asleep but they legit fell asleep to a true crime serial killer podcast- or theyโre like obsessed with a new serial killer show (me with Hannibal rn ๐ฎโ๐จ) thanks!!! Have a good day!!! <3
Late Night Podcast - A.H
a/n: omg i love love love this idea <3 thank you for sharing your idea with me i hope i did it justice! and i hope YOU have the best day ๐๏ธโจ
masterlist
pairings: aaron hotchner x gn!reader
warnings: established relationship, hotch and reader being just so cute, bau!reader, reader and hotch are both simps
wc: 0.7k
Hotch's meeting dragged on, each minute stretched longer than the last tangled in bureaucratic red tape, and suits who really couldn't give a damn whether the BAU lived or died. It was all incredibly migraine-inducing, and he couldn't wait to go home and take you to bed.
He knew all too well that you'd be in his office, a realization that came with a twinge of regret. Not because your presence was unwelcome, but because your selfless nature meant you tended to put his needs before your own. You'd insist the after hours peace and quiet was perfect for catching up on paperwork.
He was very aware that was all a lie, you never needed to catch up on paperwork; he knew your work was always meticulously complete. He recognized your true motive; ensuring he got home at a decent time. And it usually worked everytime. The sight of you, patiently waiting, was the sweetest incentive to end his day.
"In this episode, we recount the tragic and violent story of Aileen Wuornos, a woman who turned from victim to perpetrator, ultimately becoming America's most infamous serial killer with seven murders to her name."
He stopped short in the doorframe, his eyes sweeping over the unexpected stillness of his office. There you were, draped across the couch in a tangle of limbs, one arm flung above your head while the other wrapped around your torso. The hem of your shirt had lifted just enough to reveal the softness of your belly. The rest and fall of your chest was the only movement, fast sleep.
You fell asleep to a seriel killer podcast.
He fought back a laugh, the sound caught in his throat as he laid the remainder of his work aside. You looked so peaceful, despite the macabre background that seemed to bounce off the walls. He paused your phone, knowing you'd hate to wake up and lose your place.
He smoothed your hair back, his rough hand lingering in the softness. The battle against his smile was lost; it warmed his entire face. He didn't want to wake you.
"Aaron?" Your voice was so sleepy, rough and cracked, but perfect all the same.
He wondered how long you had been asleep for.
"Hi, sleepy head."
Your eyes opened briefly, a couple of deliberate blinks as you nestled into a new position, curled on your side with hands tucked under your face. A smile, that you tried to hide, melted across your face as you quickly snapped those beautiful eyes of yours shut.
"Shh, can't hear you, sleeping," you mumbled under your breath, your nose wrinkling slightly as your struggled to keep a straight face.
A soft laugh broke through as he rubbed his face. "Well, this is the first time I've heard someone sleep-talk so clearly."
You said nothing, just the slight twitch in your lips as you pressed deeper into the couch.
"I'll take that as a yes to my carrying you out to the car then."
Before you could even muster a reaction, he scooped you up, your legs swept up in a fluid motion as you found yourself hoisted over his shoulder. Your breath hitched into a gasp, quickly transforming into laughter as you slapped your hands to his back.
"Aaron!" The word was muffled by the sound of his shirt as he started to march towards the door. "Put me down!"
"A lot of talk coming from someone who is supposedly sleeping."
His hand ground your ass, eliciting a burst of giggles from you as your hands roamed the expanse of his shoulders, legs dangling in front of him.
"Will you at least grab my phone? I need to finish that podcast on the way home."
A quick spin set your hair a flutter as he leaned down to grab your device from the table.
As he moved for the door, your hand found its way to his hair, mussing it fondly. "Thanks, handsome."
He finally let you down, hand entwining with yours. "Well finish the podcast together, but no more serial killer stories before bed."
regular taglist: @hotchhner @khxna @readergf @sarcasm-and-stiles @edencherries @aurorsworld @princess76179 @malindacath @freyy253 @broadwaytraaaaash
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is it casual now?, pt. two
pt. one
my friends call me a loser โcause iโm still hanging around. iโve heard so many rumors that iโm just a girl that you bang on your couch. i thought you thought of me better, someone you couldnโt lose. you said, โweโre not together,โ so now when we kiss i have anger issues. you said, โbaby, no attachments,โ but weโre knee deep in the passengers seat and youโre eating me out, is it casual now?
around one in the morning, steve canโt take the tossing and turning anymore. he calls robin and she just says sheโs coming over. she rides her bike all the way to steveโs house in the dark even though he tells her over and over not to do that. she just does.
he both loves and hates that she does.
steveโs on the couch in the living room again, moved back downstairs when he realized sleep wasnโt coming tonight. heโs sitting right where eddie had looked at him and rejected him. right where eddie had decided steve wasnโt worth the trouble. even in the privacy of his own mind, steve knows heโs not being exactly fair, but he canโt stop his thoughts from circling over what happened, over and over and over again, until the night is all smooth around the edges, all the good stuff rubbed away.
so thatโs where robin finds him, wrapped in the navy comforter heโd dragged from his bed with the television glowing on mute. the house is dark and she just lets herself in like she always does.
โi take it the talk didnโt go so well,โ her voice is light and steve can tell sheโs trying not to add any inflection to the statement, trying hard so it doesnโt sound like a question.
โi donโt know, doesnโt every great love story start with someone storming out after the confession?โ steve tries to make it a joke, to make it sound flippant, but his voice comes out flat. robinโs mouth quirks up a little any way and he knows itโs something like a pity laugh, but it does soothe the stabbing pain in his chest just a little.
โyou wanna talk about it or you wanna let me take you to bed and big spoon the shit out of you?โ robin reaches out to run her hand lightly through his hair, just once, before she lets it fall back into her lap. sheโs wearing her pajamas, the wide leg of her flannel pants stuffed into her bright yellow rainboots, like sheโd left the house in a hurry, couldnโt bother to change or find proper footwear.
steve sighs. โnot a whole lot to talk about. i told him it would be kinda cool to maybeโฆ date but he said he already told me he doesnโt really do that. and heโs right. i was just being dumb, i guess.โ
โis that how you said it?โ thereโs a crease between her eyebrows now and sheโs got that expression on her face that she always gets when sheโs trying to solve a puzzle.
โi mean, not, like, word for word or whatever, but yeah, thatโs the general gist of how it went.โ
her expression shutters and her jaw sets. โright, well. he doesnโt have to be a super mega asshole about it.โ
โhe wasnโt,โ steve tells her, earnestly. robin is eddieโs friend too and he doesnโt want this whole dumb thing ruining that too. they could all use all the friends they could get at this point, especially ones who get it, whatever it happens to be. โi promise. it was justโฆ my mistake. he did tell me, from the beginning. i just misunderstood.โ
robinโs face softens slightly. she reaches her hand out to lock her fingers with his and they sit there in the glow from the tv for a long moment, silent. โletโs go to sleep,โ she yawns finally, standing from the couch. โeverything will be better in the morning.โ
~*~
robin is half wrong, but sheโs also half right. things are better in the morning. steve doesnโt feel like his chest is going to cave in at every small wrong move and he doesnโt feel like crying every five seconds after his extensive cry sesh in the shower.
but eddie still isnโt there.
~*~
itโs been weeks since steve has seen eddie. steveโs not stupid. heโs aware that eddieโs actively avoiding him, despite the fact that steve has called the trailer multiple times trying to apologize. heโd left a confusingly vague message with wayne, one heโs sure had made no sense if it was even relayed to eddie at all. picking the kids up from hellfire at the wheelers is a newly torturous experience with the kids now waiting for him on the curb awkwardly instead of making steve wait an extra fifteen to twenty minutes on the wheelerโs gross plaid couch in their basement that perpetually smells like corn chips. everyone seems to be clearly aware that something is up. heโs sure he sees sympathy in mrs. wheelerโs eyes when she waves to him from their front door, thanking him for driving the kids home.
steveโs not exactly sure where it all went wrong. he knows now that heโd blindsided eddie; it was more than apparent now that eddie hadnโt even thought about what he was doing or how steve was feeling. steve spent hours thinking about eddie every day and it was clear now that that was not reciprocated. which is fine, he guesses, but he had thought he and eddie were friends first. theyโd saved the world together after all. that tended to bond people forever, heโd assumed, just simply based on his relationships with robin and dustin and even nancy. he hadnโt really accounted for losing eddie completely. but steve was clearly fucking clueless when it came to eddie munson, so maybe heโd actually been wrong about everything all along.
he ping pongs back and forth between feelings of self-pity mixed with self flagellation and feelings of intense, white-hot anger at eddie. one minute, heโs sure this is all his fault, that he really is the dumbest person on planet earth and he definitely deserves to have people leave him constantly when heโs so fucking stupid all the time, canโt even keep his stupid fucking mouth shut and his stupid ugly feelings to himself for one time in his stupid fucking life. the next, he starts to blame eddie for what happened instead, blames him for not understanding steve at all. itโs eddieโs fault for not seeing what was right in front of his stupid fucking face. but after a couple of minutes of that, heโs back to being certain it really was his fault after all.
so after almost a month of no returned phone calls, no surprise visits at work just to say โheyโ because eddie couldnโt sit around all day waiting for steve to get off his shift, no casual touches as they chat while eddie packs up his dnd gear, steve finally takes the massive fucking hint for what it is and stops calling. he begs jonathan to pick the kids up from hellfire, lying about a new shift schedule at work. he refuses to drive the kids anywhere that eddie might potentially be, even when the kids insist eddie really wonโt be there. heโs trying so hard to convince himself that actually heโs the one avoiding eddie and not the other way around. heโs barely even hanging out with robin anymore, besides work. she seems to get that he needs time alone right now though. steveโs never been more grateful for a platonic soul mate.
but after this long, agonizing month of constantly rearranging his own life to help someone else avoid him, steveโs exhausted. heโs been having more nightmares than usual, ones where the people he loves all take turns dying in his arms. itโs a wednesday when he finally has the night off and he decides to treat himself with sixteen candles and a pizza. he orders his pie and fifteen minutes later heโs pulling his wallet from his pocket before answering the knock on the door.
โwhat do i owe you?โ he asks after the door swings open. heโs got his eyes on his wallet in his hands, fingers moving over the bills folded together.
โoh, um,โ a familiar voice stutters. steveโs eyes snap up. โiโโ
steve feels like he canโt get any air for a minute. eddieโs just standing on his front step, staring.
steveโs throat feels dry. he has to swallow a few times before he can get any words out, but eddie beats him to it anyway.
โcan we, uh. talk?โ eddie looks nervous, fiddling with the rings on his fingers. steve steps out of the way, silently letting eddie pass him on his way into the house. the door swings shut and itโs the loudest sound steveโs ever heard in his life.
they stand in the small foyer with its huge ceilings and steve can feel the cold of the tiles through his thin socks. eddie makes no move to enter further into the house, so neither does he. steve shifts on his feet, crossing his arms over his chest, suddenly uncomfortable in the silence of his own home.
โiโm sorry,โ steve says quietly, after a long stretch of silence that makes it clear eddieโs not actually about to speak. eddieโs eyes keep flitting around the small space, landing everywhere but steveโs face. eddie shrugs, looking over steveโs shoulder into the kitchen behind him.
โitโs notโโ eddie shakes his head, cutting himself off. steve wants desperately to hear how heโd finish that sentence. almost as desperately as he doesnโt.
โi ruined it.โ steve runs his hand through his hair. โi tried calling the trailerโฆ to apologize. left a couple messages with wayne but.โ he shrugs.
eddie grunts. steve wishes he knew how to make this better. he canโt tell if the grunt means eddie got his messages or not. heโd thought he was good at deciphering eddieโs noises by now.
โlook,โ steve says, finally frustrated with the whole thing. โwe were kind of friends before we startedโฆ hooking up or whatever. i get that you wanted something casual and that i ruined it. i get that i fucked it up and i made you uncomfortable andโi just get it, okay? you didnโt do anything wrong. you were always honest. i was just seeing what i wanted to see and i let myself believe something that wasnโt real. so. i would really like for us to be friends again. i hate this, eddie. it really sucks. i donโt like not seeing you around. i justโthis sucks.โ
eddie nods, swallowing thickly, but he doesnโt really seem like heโs hearing steve.
โyeah,โ eddie finally agrees. โthis sucks.โ
steve gets the sense that eddie means more than just this whole dumb thing between them, but heโs trying not to be in the business of making assumptions about what eddie means anymore.
โi have a pizza coming,โ steve sighs. โif you want to stay?โ he canโt help but feel hopeful and he knows this is too much, to invite eddie to stay when they havenโt even really made up yet, but he doesnโt know how to fix this. heโs never been good at this.
eddie glances into the living room and steveโs not entirely sure what he sees or what he imagines, but he watches as eddie swallows again, eyes darting quickly to steveโs face, just once, before he gives his head a small shake. โno, i donโtโi should go. but weโll see each other, okay, harrington?โ and he says it like a question but steve thinks he knows itโs not really a question at all. steve will see eddie any time, anywhere, whenever eddie asks.
steve tries to smile before shuffling toward the door and watching eddie go.
~*~
itโs another ten minutes before his pizza even gets there and when it does, steveโs feeling even more sorry for himself than he has in the last month since heโd asked eddie out. he makes it halfway through the movie and the pizza before he starts to consider calling robin. itโs been a while since theyโve just hung out and thatโs been entirely steveโs fault. she hasnโt said anything because she knows steve inside and out, but steve is really missing her right now.
heโs just about ready to pull on his shoes and pick up the phone to tell robin heโs on his way to get her when thereโs a knock at the door. half of him is confused, the other half is convinced it must be robin, having sensed his desire for her company. he stands and makes his way to the door, a half smile on his face as he swings it open for the third time tonight.
โlook, what happened before is not why i came here, so wait and just let me talk and then you can say whatever you want but if you donโt let me just get this out, iโm never going to say it and iโฆ you deserve to hear it so i need to say it, for real, right now,โ eddieโs practically panting as he pushes past steve.
โum okay,โ steve tries to get out but eddie glares at him.
โshut up, shut up for real, okay.โ eddie crouches down in the foyer of steveโs house, his head in his hands between his knees. his voice comes out a little muffled, but steve can still hear him pretty clearly. โyou didnโt ruin anything. you didnโt. really. i ruined it. i ruined a really good thing.โ
steve feels like his chest is being hollowed out but he bites his lip, desperate not to interrupt.
eddie groans and steve can see his fingers tense and release in his own hair. โyou were so sweet, on the couch. the last time.โ he says it like steve couldโve forgotten and steve feels a blush rise on his cheeks. โyouโฆ you looked so soft and gooey and hopeful and iโi fucked it up. because back when this whole thing started, it seemed like a miracle that youโd even look at me. like. youโreโฆ you and iโm just me. what the fuck.โ eddie laughs almost hysterically. steve feels his fingernails cutting into his own palms with how hard heโs trying to stay still and silent. eddie still hasnโt looked up from where heโs holding himself tight. โand it kept happening and happening and happening and iโiโve neverโฆ iโve never.โ
โoh,โ steve canโt help but breathe out in surprise.
eddie shakes his head a little, seems to forget himself and look up and then heโs just staring at steveโs face. he swallows again and steve can see his hands shake. โno, i mean, iโveโฆ but neverโฆ more than once. never all the time.โ now that eddieโs looked steve in the eyes, he canโt seem to look away. his eyes look so huge and glassy from where he looks up at steve from his place on the floor. steve feels his heart clench. his fingertips ache. โnever like that.โ steve nods. โand then you didnโt leave. you didnโt run or pretend it didnโt happen. and you let me pretend it was something it wasnโt, like we werenโtโฆ like it wasnโtโฆ important.โ steveโs brows furrow in confusion. โbecause i was lying. obviously. of course i was. it wasnโt casual. youโd never be casual. not for me.โ
โi donโtโโ steve suddenly canโt breathe.
โwait. please.โ eddieโs eyes go soft around the edges. โi fucked it up, stevie, because i was lying the whole time. and i thought you were just letting me lie becauseโฆ i donโt know. i donโt know why, because i know it wasnโt casual for you either. it was all over you. and that was really, really scary.โ steve falls to his knees on the foyer tiles, vaguely aware of the dull ache, before sliding closer to where eddie is crouched. he whimpers, just a little, when eddie holds out his palm, presses it to the center of steveโs chest to keep him from getting too close. โhold on, baby, i just. i have to say it, please. gimme a second, iโm justโฆโ eddie gives his head another small shake, as if heโs trying to clear it. โiโm sorry, i guess, is what it really all comes down to. iโm sorry i let you think you werenโt important. i only realized you didnโt know that night on the couch and iโฆ i guess i saw some plausible deniability. a way to walk away without getting, like, totally annihilated. and thatโs, you know. my whole issue.โ eddie swallows again, hand fisting into the fabric of steveโs shirt. โi was scared. i ran. becauseโฆ because i love you, stevie. i was falling in love with you this whole time and trying to act like i wasnโt. because i was an idiot. and i couldnโt be the one to break first. but what a stupid, fucked up way to think about it, huh? i love you, man, and you deserve to hear it and feel it and have it, is really what iโm trying to say. i just love you.โ
somewhere in all of that, eddie had used his grip on steveโs shirt to pull him in closer so their noses are practically touching. steve can feel the prickle of tears in his own eyes, can feel eddieโs breath on his lips.
โyou love me?โ even steve can hear how incredulous his own voice sounds.
eddie huffs out a laugh and steve can feel it on his skin. โyeah, dude. of course i do. how could i not?โ
โdude,โ steve repeats, cause likeโฆ really?
โis that all you have to say?โ eddie slides his nose along steveโs, nuzzling, skin warm. steveโs eyelids go heavy.
โyou left me hanging for, like, a month, bro,โ steve tries to joke, but his voice sounds too breathless.
โyeah,โ eddie murmurs. โiโm so sorry, baby. can i kiss you?โ
and all steve can do is nod.
~*~
the next morning, steve wakes up to soft sunlight filtering in through the blinds he forgot to close last night. he feels hazy, all syrupy and warm, before he bolts upright in his bed. or tries to. because just as heโs moving, he notices the heavy presence on his right arm.
โtoo early,โ eddie groans, shuffling naked under the covers. โturn it off.โ
โturn what off? the sun?โ steve smiles as he turns to spoon his equally naked body behind eddie. he drops a kiss to eddieโs bare shoulder.
โmmhmm,โ eddie hums, and steve can hear the smile in it.
โhey,โ steve says, before they both fall back into sleep for a few more minutes. โi love you, too, by the way.โ
โoh yeah, by the way?โ eddie snorts.
โbetter than โi love you, dude.โโ
โoh, you think so?โ eddie shifts in steveโs arms until heโs somehow gotten on top of steve, holding steveโs wrists above his head. steve canโt help but thrust his hips upwards in eddieโs direction. โyeah, okay,โ eddie concedes, breathless, grinding his own hips downward. โyouโre right. whatever you say, beautiful. canโt argue with that. super compelling argument.โ
steve has to kiss him just to shut him up.
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Hey there,would you mind writing some nsfw and sfw alphabet for Wolverine?
starting off with nsfw alphabet. if i get enough requests, iโll do the sfw too. send an ask if you want me to expand on any of the headcanons! // divider from @strangergraphics
A = Aftercare- logan is a pretty rough lover, so he makes sure to take good care of you when youโre finished. he looks over you to make sure he didnโt hurt you and gives you lots of praise. heโs a cuddler, so once youโre all settled, heโll wrap you in his arms and hold you as close to him as possible
B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partnerโs)- logan has a love-hate relationship with his hands. theyโre his most powerful weapon, but they also are able to touch your soft skin, hold onto your hair, and brush against your lips. he likes how big they look on your body and he likes the sounds he can elicit from you with them. on his partnerโs body, he likes their chest. whether itโs pecs or tits, he likes to admire them. a low cut top, bralette, or thin t-shirt with nothing underneath is an easy way to draw his eyes
C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)- this man has the biggest fucking breeding kink. whether he can actually get you pregnant or not, heโs going to cum inside of you and make sure it doesnโt leak out. itโs his way of claiming you, of making sure you carry him with you wherever you go. itโs your reminder of who you belong to when his cum leaks into your underwear long after you two have finished
D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)- logan isnโt actually as much of a control freak as he may seem. he prefers to be dominant, but if his partner wants to take control once in a while, heโll let them. having enhanced healing and stamina, he can take pretty much anything you throw at him
E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what theyโre doing?)- logan has lots of experience. itโs not that heโs a whore necessarily, but heโs been around for a long time and a guy with his looks certainly gets a lot of offers. heโs had a lot of partners with a lot of different preferences, so itโs safe to say not much would surprise him anymore
F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)- doggy style all the way. he loves mounting you and gripping your hips while he fucks into you. if your hair is long enough, heโll grab ahold of it and sometimes heโll pull his fingers in your mouth. he loves leaning over your back and talking shit in your ear because he knows his voice makes you dizzy
G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)- logan isnโt really a goofy person in general. he tends to be more serious but heโll laugh a little if something funny happens
H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)- logan is hairy. he has thick hair covering his body and he tries to keep it trimmed in the important places, but itโs a lot to manage. he has some grey hairs mixed in with the dark ones on his chest, giving him a sexy salt and pepper look
I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)- logan isnโt great with emotions. love and all that mushy stuff is hard for him to talk about, so he uses his body to show those things instead. sex with logan is passionate and no matter how dirty the sex may be, itโs his way of showing his devotion to you
J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)- logan doesnโt jerk off too much. he prefers to spend his energy fucking someone rather than taking things into his own hands. he finds it way more satisfying that way
K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)- logan is really into the idea of ownership and all of his kinks fall along those lines. he likes to be dominant and he wants his partners to address him with respect during play. sir works, but he is partial to daddy, especially when playing into the age gap between you two. logan never shies away from brat taming and will give a good, solid punishment when needed, but sometimes heโs lazy and just wants a good little sub to do with as he pleases.
L = Location (favorite places to do the do)- anywhere private. he isnโt too picky about where, as long as you two have enough time to do want you want without being interrupted. there isnโt much privacy at the mansion, so he seeks out moments to get you alone. then he can be as filthy as he wants and no one is at risk of walking in on you
M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)- bratting is the easiest way to turn him on. he canโt resist the urge to shut up a mouthy little brat. teasing him, playfully insulting him, pushing all of his buttons and daring him to do something about it is a sure fire way to get some kind of reaction out of him. it may leave your ass stinging, but it works nonetheless
N = No (something they wouldnโt do, turn offs)- maybe this is controversial, but i donโt think thereโs much he wouldnโt do. heโs open to new things and no physical harm can be done to him, so he would only draw the line at doing things that can do serious harm to his partner
O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)- logan likes receiving oral, but he uses it mostly as a punishment for you. if youโre talking back, getting a bit too mouthy for his taste, heโll stick his dick in your mouth to shut you up. when it comes to giving, he prefers to eat it from the back. he likes the feeling of his partners pressing up against his face as he explores them with his tongue
P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)- like everything with logan, sex with him is rough. bruising fingers, fast paced, teeth sinking into skin, pulling hair. heโll slow down to tease you, keep you on edge as a punishment, but he prefers to pin you down and fuck you stupid
Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)- logan doesnโt really do quickies. heโs never that desperate for sex to rush it, and he would much rather take his time to throughly wreck you. if youโre the desperate one, he may ablidge and give you a quick fuck to calm you down, but thatโs not his preferred kind of sex
R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)- as iโve said, logan is pretty experienced. there isnโt much he hasnโt tried at least once, but heโs open to anything new
S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)- he can go all night and into the next morning. logan can fuck as long as youโre able to keep going, so him running out of steam is never something youโll have to worry about
T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)- logan is old fashioned when it comes to toys. heโs not really into them. if he wants to hold you down, he can do it with his own hands. if he wants to make you cum, itโll be on his own dick. he doesnโt really care if you use them on yourself, but he prefers to do all the hard work himself.
U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)- logan is a huge fucking tease. he enjoys having control over your pleasure and will often edge you, sometimes as punishment and sometimes just because he feels like being a dick. heโll also verbally tease you by calling you names and babying you, all in good fun, of course
V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)- logan isnโt too loud during sex. heโll grunt and growl, but they will mostly be quiet and in your ear. he doesnโt shy away from dirty talk, however. he may not say much in daily life, but thatโs what makes the filthy words he says to you so much more impactful
W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)- when it comes to letting his partners take control, logan is a bit of a masochist. no real harm can come to him, and after decades of fighting and sustaining injuries, the pain doesnโt bother him. in fact, the right kind of pain can be pleasurable for him
X = X-ray (letโs see whatโs going on under those clothes)- i think you have a pretty good idea of whatโs going on under his clothes. heโs so muscular, all hard planes and thick limbs. his dick certainly matches the rest of his body; the thick length and vein leaving nothing to be desired
Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)- logan can go a while without sex. he may be physically in peak condition, but mentally heโs ancient. if heโs worked up, heโll seek out sex, but sometimes heโd rather just relax with a newspaper and his cigar
Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)- logan is a tired old man. once all the aftercare is done, heโs going to fall asleep with you in his arms. good luck getting his dead weight off you; youโll be stuck like that until he wakes up.
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don't wanna scrape you off the pavement (i can't be your savior) - jack hughes
pairing: jack hughes x original female character (reckless driving au)
warnings: swearing, angst, fluff, hopeful ending (bc its me), possibly inaccurate dynamics of the 2020 - 2024 umich hockey squads but i tried, some biphobia (not from any main characters), an awful lot of talking about michigan for someone whoโs never been there (the college or the state)
inspired by + title: "reckless driving" by lizzy mcalpine and ben kessler
word count: 23.7k
author's note: after about 7 months in the making, itโs Finally here lol. this piece means a lot to me, and not only because it took so long. a labor of love, if you will. i'm very proud of it, so i sincerely hope you all enjoy it as much as i loved writing it! please do let me know your thoughts <3 takes place the summer of 2024
~*~*~
day one - amelie
Amelie Fishel has a love-hate relationship with the state of Michigan.ย
She loves it enough that she stayed in the state she was born and raised in for college. But even she knew she wouldโve been an idiot if she denied the offer four years ago when University of Michigan offered her an academic scholarship that ended up covering her full tuition. She enjoyed her time at college enough, making a smattering of friends that she really does want to keep in contact with for the rest of her life and developing a solid foundation academically with various experiences that will hopefully help her out to get her dream job, which is on the horizon.
Itโs a dream job because it falls in line with what she enjoys doing. But itโs also a dream job because itโs taking her the fuck out of this state. Thatโs the only request sheโs had when trying to close in on an NHL photographer offer ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ it can be in any state except for Michigan.ย
But despite her feeling that sheโs outgrown this state, sheโs sticking around for one more summer. One more summer of no internships or responsibilities before she has to be a working adult for the rest of her life. A few more months to enjoy the few perks this state does have before getting to leave.
Currently, sheโs sitting in the backyard of her grandparentsโ new lakehouse. Itโs admittedly beautiful and in a wonderful location that offers the tranquility that theyโve been searching for. The lake in their backyard glistens under the sun and the sunsets are stunning.ย
Itโs a hot day in mid-July and she spent her first full day catching up with her grandparents in the backyard. After she had graduated, she splurged on a trip to Europe with some friends that definitely made a dent in her bank account. When she voiced getting a job for the summer, her parents and grandparents immediately said no. Enjoy the summer, they said.ย
After dinner, when the sunโs rays are barely peeking out, she volunteers to walk Susie, her grandparentsโ golden retriever that is far too energetic for Amelieโs liking. Amelie grabs the leash, beckons Susie over, and theyโre on their way to a walk around the neighborhood.ย
She forgoes her Airpods for whatever reason and shoves both her hands in her sweatshirt, walking leisurely behind Susie. Sheโs so lost in her own head that she almost misses the sound of her own name.ย
โAmelie?โ
She blinks, stopping at the end of someoneโs driveway. Susie trots happily to the guy whoโs holding his hand out to pet her. โLuke?โ
โYeah,โ Luke clears his throat and bends down slightly to pet Susie, who is loving the attention. โHey buddy. Whatโs your name?โ
โThis is Susie.โ
Luke chuckles as Susieโs tail wags crazily. โHey girly. What a cutie.โ
Amelie gently tugs the leash. โEasy, Suz. We donโt wanna kill him.โ
She watches for a few seconds as Luke keeps petting her. Yankees hat atop his head and wearing a white t-shirt and swim trunks, itโs been over a year since Amelieโs seen Luke Hughes. The last time she saw him was after the devastating loss against Quinnipiac at the Frozen Four. He had jetted out to Boston that night, but not without giving Amelie an unexpected but genuine hug goodbye.ย
As a photographer for the Michigan Athletic Department during her entire college career, she became at friendly with many athletes, especially the guys on the menโs hockey team, since her boss put her on assignment with them a good amount. But she hadnโt expected Luke to remember her or recognize her.
โYou live around here?โ Luke asks, standing back up as Susie calms down.
โMy grandparents just bought a place a few houses down and I just got here. You live here?โ
โKinda,โ he gestures to the house behind him. โMy brothers bought this place a few years back.โ
โSmall world,โ she remarks.ย
He nods with a small smile. โIt sure is.โย
โWhoโs your friend, Moose?โ
She turns her head to the open garage to see a shorter, tanner version of Luke. This guy is wearing a black t-shirt with sweatpants, his hair less curlier than Lukeโs. He must be one of his brothers, and even if Luke didnโt just tell her it was his brothersโ place, she wouldโve put it together. They both have the same half-smile.ย
Heโs also beautiful. Almost annoyingly so.
(If her sisters were here, theyโd immediately point out that Jack is exactly her type. Well, Charlotte would point out that he smiles similarly to Cooper and Colette would immediately scold Charlotte.)
The guy walks over and Susie gets excited at a new presence. He also bends down to pet her. โThis is Amelie,โ Luke says. โShe photographed a lot of the games back at Michigan.โ He turns back to Amelie. โDid you just graduate? Or do you have one year left?โ
โI just graduated.โ
โCongratulations,โ the guy stands up and sticks out his hand. โIโm Jack. Lukeโs brother. Well, one of them.โ
She shakes his hand with a polite smile. โItโs nice to meet you, Jack. And thank you.โ
โYou said youโre gonna be here for the summer?โ Luke asks.ย
โMost of it, yeah.โ
โWhere do you live?โ Jack asks.
โMy grandparents are a few houses down. 118.โ
Jack perks up. โStanley and Ruth are your grandparents?โ
โYeah,โ she narrows her eyes. โHow do you know them?โ
โThey ran into our parents golfing last week. And Iโve waved at them a few times driving down the street.โ
โThat sounds about right,โ she chuckles. โThey love their golf and they love sitting on the front porch.โ
Luke straightens up, and with Amelieโs previous interactions with him, that means that heโs about to suggest either a great or horrendous idea. โYou should come over for dinner this week. You and your grandparents. Our parents are still here for a few days and weโre going a bit stir-crazy with each other, I think.โ
So itโs a horrendous idea this time. She immediately tries to deny the offer politely. โOh no, thatโs okay. I wouldnโt wanna intrude your-โ
โWeโd love to have you. And your grandparents,โ Jack says with an air of finality. โAnd I know our parents would say the same. Theyโre sick of also just having us around.โ
โI still have your number from when you used to send me pictures after games,โ Luke says. โIโll text you details and weโll find a time that works?โ
โOkay,โ she says after a few seconds. As if Susie understands, she barks.ย
Jack gives her one last pet with a grin. โThis flooferโs welcome as well.โ
After one last smile, she and Susie are on their way as the brothers head back into the house. Once theyโre out of earshot, she sighs.ย
She has no idea how she feels about this.ย
day three - jackย
Jack Hughes is convinced heโs going insane.
Well, thatโs not exactly true. Heโs perfectly fine, great, even. Recovery is going well. Heโs back with his family in one of his favorite places in the world. Even in July, the season still seems so far away. Some days he itches to get back to The Rock in front of the fans. But most of the time, heโs enjoying his off-season rehab and training, being on the water and being on the golf course.ย
But Amelie โ which first of all, an incredibly beautiful name โ and her just as beautiful dog Susie have been at the back of his mind for two days straight now. Thatโs weird. Jack doesnโt usually think about girls like this, especially girls heโs barely met.
All heโs gotten from Luke so far is that sheโs a year older than him, which makes her a year younger than Jack, she photographed a bunch of the Michigan games during Lukeโs two years there and sheโs a bit quieter than some of the social media teamโs counterparts Luke knows she worked with.ย
And sheโs so, so cute. But Luke didnโt tell him that one.ย
A few hours before sheโs supposed to come over with her grandparents, Jackโs lounging on the boat, as Quinn, whoโs in the driver's seat, and Luke are talking aboutโฆsomething. But heโs deeply focused on his phone, trying to do what every Gen Z person does when they see someone cute. Find their Instagram. The fact that heโs held off for over 48 hours is already impressive.ย
He finds it relatively easily, as some of Lukeโs former teammates who Jack follows follow her, and Amelie isnโt a common name. Sheโs private, but linked in her bio is her photography account, which is public. While thereโs no pictures of her on there, it proves to him that sheโs an insanely good photographer. Not just hockey, either. There are some beautiful shots of divers, gymnasts, soccer players, etc. You name the sport, it seems like Amelieโs photographed it.ย
โWhatcha lookinโ at?โ Quinn asks.ย
Jack quickly locks his phone. โNothing.โ
Luke, like the pest he is, narrows his eyes. โSure.โ
โDonโt make me push you into the water, Moose.โ
An empty threat, Jack knows, but he starts leaning forward and Luke yelps. โQuinn!โ
Quinn rolls his eyes, โYouโre both annoying. We gotta head back though. I wanna shower before dinner.โ
Dinner. Right. Amelie. Coming into him and Quinnโs home. Great.ย
Something must change on his face, because a shit-eating grin grows on Lukeโs face. โOh. Thatโs what this is about.โ
โWhat?โ Jack feigns cluelessness.ย
โAmelieโs pretty, isnโt she?โ Luke says. Jack just shoves him and Quinn chuckles, catching up.ย
โIf you think sheโs pretty, why didnโt you make your move first?โ Jack retorts back. โYou had two years.โ
Luke shrugs. โJust because sheโs pretty doesnโt mean Iโm interested. Sheโs cool though. Way too cool for you.โ
โIs that a challenge?โ
Luke rolls his eyes, โFor once, no.โ
โWas she friends with the guys?โ Quinn asks. And Jackโs silently grateful that he doesnโt have to be the one to dig for more information.
โI donโt know if I would say friends, but definitely very friendly with everyone,โ Luke says. โI think she was a TA in one of Rut and Adamโs classes or something. She seemed to get along with them the best. And I feel like she had a soft spot for Eddy, for some reason. I think itโs that thing where we just all are around each other all the time and the more we saw of her at the rink, the more we got to know her.โ
Huh. Interesting. He doesnโt know anything about Rutger McGroarty except that he went to the program a few years after Jack did and was drafted to the Jets. Ethan Edwards is one of Lukeโs closest friends from Michigan and could be signing with the Devils organization this upcoming season, and Jack likes him. Adam Fantilli trains with the guys in the summer so Jackโs gotten to know him decently well. That one might say the most.ย
Luke gives him a pointed look. โIโm serious. Donโt mess with her. Sheโs too nice for that. And she can put you in your place.โ
And Jackโs downright offended that Luke would even insinuate something like that. But as Quinn guides them home, he thinks. Lukeโs never given an opinion on any girl Jackโs dated or had a thing with. Heโs spoken maybe three sentences to Amelie, didnโt even directly express his interest and Luke is already all up in his ass.ย
He hears when Amelie arrives hours later, Susie barking and the sounds of Stanley and Ruth talking with his parents. He tries to be nonchalant as they all come out into the backyard, when he sees her conversing with Luke, instead making himself busy by introducing himself to Stanley and Ruth.ย
But her pink linen pants match her headband and her smile is dripping with gold and Jack is going insane.ย
They have dinner outside surrounded by the sound of the rippling lake, the view of a cotton-candy sunset, the feel of light breeze and the warmth of easy laughter. Jack sneaks a few small pieces of chicken to Susie and Amelie catches him, glaring at him from across the table. Jack just smirks as she rolls her eyes, chomping away at her corn and tuning into whatever conversation is going on.ย
His parents ask about her background and her time at Michigan and he canโt help but smile when she talks about her double degree โ communications and design โ and how going to an activities fair turned into working as a photographer for the athletics department. She talks about her first time photographing a hockey game and how hockey is the fastest and in a way, hardest sport sheโs ever photographed. But itโs become her favorite. That puts a smile on the faces of the entire Hughes family.ย
She gets asked what her plans are post-grad, and she just breezes through it casually, saying that sheโs been talking to US Soccer and the NHL but nothing finalized yet. She says it so casually that Jackโs almost in awe.ย
Jack never believed in love at first sight, and still doesnโt, thank you very much, but the sound of Amelieโs laughter has him feeling so nervous and stupid and ridiculous.ย
Whatever. Heโll unpack this later.
day six - amelie
Amelieโs cameras and her camera equipment are her babies, which, duh, considering her passion and career. Which means sheโs very excited to take out the vintage 35 MM film camera she got for a graduation gift from her parents.ย
After lunch, she takes one of the many outdoor chairs her grandparents have, plopping herself decently close to the lake to fiddle with some of the settings. She has her trusted DSLR camera next to her as well, the sounds of the birds and a Michigan summer her soundtrack. One of her neighbors must be playing the guitar outside and Amelie finds herself at peace.ย
The peace is slowly shattered as she hears a motor coming from the lake. She rolls her eyes to herself. Fucking boats and boatowners who think theyโre the shit.ย
She does point her camera towards the boat though. Itโs a cool shot.ย
She doesnโt realize itโs slowing down until it practically stops. She squints and sees someone waving their hand maniacally. She tentatively walks a bit towards the lake.ย
โLuke?โย
He nods enthusiastically and Amelie kinda finds it endearing. She quickly takes note of Quinn at the helm and sees Jackโs head popping up from behind Quinn. The boat slows to a stop and she comes to the edge of the lake.ย
โMorning. Or afternoon, I guess.โ
โHey,โ Jack says with a friendly smile. โWhat are you up to?โ
She holds her camera. โTesting this out. I actually just got a pretty cool shot of the boat.โ
โIs that a special kind of camera?โ Quinn asks.ย
She nods. โMmhmm. Itโs a vintage 35 millimeter film camera, which is the exact opposite of what you want when photographing any sport. What are you guys up to today?โ
Luke shrugs. โThe usual. Probably gonna be on the boat for a few hours.โ He lights up. โDo you wanna come on?โ
She opens her mouth to say something but Jack pushes on before she can get a word out. โYeah, come on!โ
โIf you donโt already have plans, that is,โ Quinn adds.ย
She closes her mouth and thinks. She doesnโt have plans today and hasnโt ever been on a boat. Plus, even though she partially chose to spend time out here to reflect on herself and be by herself, she knows itโs good for her to be talking with people that arenโt her grandparents. And, theyโve been nothing but nice to her so far.ย
โOn a few conditions.โ
Jack tilts his head. โWhich are?โ
โI donโt have to get in the water and I get to bring my cameras.โ
โDeal,โ Jack says quickly.ย
Amelie gives a close-lipped smile. โGive me two minutes.โ She sets her cameras down carefully by the chair side and jogs back into the house. She grabs her favorite Michigan crewneck in case it gets cold and grabs her tote bag which has sunscreen, sunglasses, her keys and wallet. When she comes back out, the boat is docked as close to the edge as possible. Without hesitation, Amelie takes off her flip-flops, wades into the water and hands Luke her bag and cameras carefully before Jack pulls her up into the boat.ย
She wobbles a bit and Jackโs hands hover behind her back in case she falls. โYou ever been on a boat?โ
โNot in awhile,โ she says, settling down in a seat next to Luke. โI prefer having my feet on the ground.โ
Lukeโs eyebrows furrow. โYou can swim, right?โ
โWhat?โ Amelie jokes quietly. โAre you planning on pushing me in?โ
โNo one is getting pushed in,โ Quinn assures, sending a light glare at his two brothers as he starts steering them deeper into the lake. โEspecially with those expensive cameras on board.โ
โAre you really the one responsible for every photo of Luke playing hockey taken at Michigan?โ Jack asks.ย
She blinks, absolutely taken aback. โNot every photo, Iโd say.โ
โDefinitely a good amount though,โ Luke says. โI feel like you were always at every game.โ
She shrugs, โWell, my boss started putting me on hockey more because Iโm pretty sure I was the only one who could do it well.โ
โOh yeah?โ
โHey, itโs a tough sport to photograph. Itโs fast and unpredictable and you have to have a sense of where the puck is going before it gets there.โ
Amelie internally cringes at that last part. She sounds like a coach.ย
โDid you like hockey before?โ Quinn asks.
โNot really, to be honest. The first game I ever watched was at Michigan when I was shadowing.โ
โYou mustโve figured out pretty quickly where the puck will go, then, if you didnโt know much about hockey before,โ Jack says with something like respect in his eyes.
Amelie smiles. โI guess.โ
Quinn nods to the film camera that Amelie had picked up the second she got on the boat. โCan we see the picture you took of the boat?โ
โI wish. Iโm gonna get the film developed at the end of the summer and thatโll take a few weeks.โ Quinn hums in understanding. She takes out her regular camera and pops off the lens cap, shoving it in her back. Lukeโs eyes light up in recognition and she canโt help but chuckle. โYou recognize this one?โ
โHow could I not?โ
She points it at three of them. โSmile. All of you.โ She snaps a couple before putting down her camera and playfully glaring at them. โGeez. At least act like you guys like each other.โ She looks quickly at the photo with a satisfied nod, before turning her camera towards the brothers so they can see.ย
They continue chatting, talking about various things from Michigan (the state and the school) to one of their cousins who just got engaged to where Amelieโs parents are (they also live in Michigan, though further south, but are currently visiting family in France that Amelie had seen last year when she studied abroad in France) to the upcoming season. Amelie mostly keeps quiet on that front, because she doesnโt need to let them know that she got a call yesterday with news that the NHL is closing in on a job offer that will determine where she spends the next few years.
The thought that she could be seeing these three multiple times throughout the season when sheโs currently on their boat right now is just downright weird. She just met Quinn and Jack six days ago. She hasnโt seen Luke in two years.ย
This whole thing is just weird.ย
But whenever she feels too much in her own head, she just picks up her camera and points it at one of them or out at the lake, fiddling with lighting and focus settings. Sometimes she forgets that photography isnโt just going to be her career and that she can love it differently with no pressure and in a different light, no pun intended.ย
With time, she gets more comfortable, sunglasses perched on her nose, chin tucked on her knees and laughter flowing out lighter and easier. Itโs easier to pick up her camera when they start taking turns wakesurfing, her eyes widening when Jack jokingly tries to drag her out, and sheโs either semi-impressed at their ability to make it look easy or laughing her ass off when they flail and fall.ย
As sheโs shutting off her camera โ contrary to popular belief, she does need to put it away after a certain amount of time โ Jack plops down next to her. Quinn and Luke are entranced in their own conversation towards the front.ย
Jack runs a hand through his damp hair, โDo you mind handing me my shirt next to you?โ
She hands it over with a weary look. โItโs boiling out.โ
โOh, so you want me to keep my shirt off.โ
The smirk on his face has Amelie rolling her eyes. Boys. โYouโre gonna wanna take it off again in like, 5 minutes. I just think youโre being dumb.โ
Jack puts a hand over his heart in mock offense. โOuch. That might be the harshest thing youโve ever said to me.โ
โI met you six days ago.โ
โAnd my point still stands.โ She scrunches her nose a bit when Jack shakes out his hair and some water droplets land on her. He just smiles that half-smile that sheโs not sure if she likes or hates. โAre you sure you donโt wanna get in the water?โ
โIโm not wearing a bathing suit. And even then, Iโm not a huge fan of being in the water.โ
โWell, then, what are you a huge fan of? Besides being behind the camera.โ
She tilts her head so that itโs leaning against her seat, turning to face him completely. โI used to dance competitively and continued dancing a bit in college. I read a lot. At school, I used to love just camping out at a cafe for hours for the vibes.โ She shrugs. โNothing much else though.โ
He nods, before looking at the cameras in her bag. โWhy photography?โ
She smiles, like she always does when talking about photography. โTaking photos is really cool, I think, because youโre the middle man. You frame the story. And if you frame it well, people will look at the photo and know exactly whatโs going on. With sports, itโs all about the timing and the moment. You can write an article describing a game with quotes from the players or whatever, and no disrespect to that. I have a good amount of friends who are journalists. But photo is different, because you can see it, you know?โ
Jack nods. โI think I get what you mean. You got a boyfriend waiting for you somewhere? Or a significant other?โ
Her eyes widen and a sharp laugh erupts out of her. Thatโs random. โWhat?โ
Jack just shrugs like he didnโt just completely throw her off. โItโs a valid question, no? Donโt wanna assume or give off an unwanted vibe if weโre gonna be hanging out all summer.โ
โWell, uh, no. No boyfriend or partner of any sort like that.โ
โReally?โ
โI donโt know why that surprises you.โ
โBecause youโre pretty. Nice. Talented, clearly. Surely the guys and gals and pals at Michigan arenโt stupid enough to turn you down.โ
She bypasses all the compliments because thatโs too much to think about right now, instead focusing on the latter half of his sentence. She wraps her arms around her legs to clasp her fingers together. โI dated a girl for a bit freshman year. Nothing happened. It just fizzled out. Weโre still decent friends. And then I dated this guy for about a year. But that fell to shit pretty extraordinarily.โ
โMost of them do, donโt they?โ
Amelie unintentionally chuckles. โOh yeah? And what about you? Howโs your love life looking?โ
Jack looks out into the distance, breaking eye contact for the first time this whole conversation. โWas in a relationship around two years ago. It didnโt work out because of distance. Nothing much since then.โ
Amelie highly doubts that, but she keeps her mouth shut, leaving it alone. โFair enough.
โSo why Michigan? Anything in particular draw you in?โ
โWell, I think Michigan is on anyoneโs radar who grew up in this state,โ she twists her ring around. โAnd then, uh, when I got offered a full ride, I knew I wouldโve been an idiot to turn that down.โ
His eyebrows shoot up his forehead. โA full ride? You serious?โ
โYeah. Academic scholarship.โ
He lets out a low whistle. โJesus. Youโre smart smart. Even I know full academic scholarships arenโt given out easily.โ Amelie ducks her chin down. She can feel herself blushing and she hates it. โWas it your first choice? Going to Michigan?โ
โNo,โ she admits softly. And she knows sheโs talking to someone who may not have gone there, but who might as well have. He might love the college more than she does and sheโs the one who actually is an alum. โNYU was my top choice. And I got accepted, but I couldnโt afford it.โ
He nods, and then Quinn asks Jack to take over so he can go on the water and the moment passes. She does move closer to the front partially so sheโs under the sun again, mostly so she can be closer to everyone. Luke tosses her a bottle of water and she chugs a good half of it, shooting him a thankful smile.
Amelieโs missed this, to be honest. Despite deeply cherishing her alone time, sheโs always enjoyed being around a small group of people, observing them and their dynamics to evaluate what kind of people they are. It reminds her of when she used to tag along with her two older sisters and their friends.ย
And these three are easy-going. They donโt allow Amelie to get in her head because theyโre always talking about something and asking for her two cents. In Amelieโs 22 years of life, sheโs become quick to notice if people are being nice to be nice or being nice to be kind.ย
The Hughes brothers are being nice to be kind. And Amelie hates herself a bit for thinking it would be the other.ย
She sits back and relishes in their company.
day seven - jack
Jackโs had a great day.ย
Practice this morning went well, he beat Quinn at ping pong (though thatโs not hard to do) and the three brothers have confirmed whoโs coming to the lakehouse in a few days after theyโre back from their mini trip to visit their grandma for her 90th. Thereโs gonna be quite a few of the guys and Jackโs pumped. He always likes combining different groups of friends.ย
After dinner, heโs feeling a bit restless, so he decides to go out on a drive. Maybe heโll grab some ice cream, though if he comes back with ice cream and none for Luke or Quinn, theyโre gonna bitch about it. He puts on his summer playlist, which is filled with country, and rolls down the windows before backing out.ย
Heโs probably driving too fast for whatโs acceptable in a residential neighborhood, so itโs at the last moment does he stop when he recognizes Amelie in front of her grandparentsโ place walking Susie. He slows down, and she looks behind her as he rolls up.ย
He leans his head out of his window just as he hears her say, โHey Char, Iโll call you tomorrow, okay? Yeah. Bye. Love you.โ She takes her phone away from her ear and shoots him a small smile. โHey Jack.โ
โHi. Was that one of your sisters?โ
โYeah, that was Char. Or Charlotte I guess. The middle one.โ
Susie paws up to the window and he scratches her head. โHey cutie. Youโre such a good girl, arenโt you?โ
โSheโs been off the rails the whole day, so she actually hasnโt been.โ Amelie says dryly, making him snort.ย
โYou up to anything right now?โ
She narrows her eyes. โWhy?โ
He nods to his car, โGet in.โ
โYou sure?โ
โOf course.โ
โGimme a second to let Susie back in. Pull into the driveway.โ Jack obeys, idling the engine and unlocking the doors as he waits for Amelie to come back.ย
While heโs waiting, he thinks back to yesterday, being on the boat for hours with Amelie, learning more about her. Jackโs been told that he can be pretty excitable and eager, which is probably how he has acquired so many friends throughout his life. But, despite what a lot of people may think, he isnโt that stupid. Heโs been around Amelie the last week enough to know that sheโs a tougher nut to crack. And he knows thereโs more to her than what sheโs shown so far.ย
So heโll take every chance, every moment, to get to know her better. Because September will come around sooner than he thinks. It always does.
She comes back out and climbs into the passenger seat, buckling her seatbelt as he backs out of the driveway. Sheโs thrown on a Michigan Hockey sweatshirt over herself, settling her small bag on her lap. โYouโre not gonna kidnap me and bury me in the woods, are you?โ She asks.ย
Jack turns down his music with a chuckle. โNo. I donโt have the brainpower for that. Have you eaten?โ
โYeah.โย
He nods, starting to navigate them towards his favorite ice cream place around here. โWhereโd you get the sweatshirt?โ
She looks down at herself, as if she didnโt realize what she threw on. โOh. I donโt remember, to be honest. Either it was given to me or one of the guys let me borrow it and I never gave it back.โ
โLuke mentioned you were a TA in some of the guysโ classes?โ
She leans back in the seat, leaning her head on the seatbelt so that sheโs facing him. โYeah. I was a TA my junior year for one of Adam, Rutger and Gavinโs classes. Senior year Luca and Nick, who I think came in after Luke left so you might not know him, took the class.โ
โWere they good students?โ
Amelie snorts. โGood enough. Though one time Rut tried to bribe me into extending an assignment since they had a big game away that weekend โ I think it was Ohio State. I also had to go on that trip and I had to grade all of their stuff plus deal with my own classes, so I told him, in polite words, to fuck off and submit his fucking paper on time.โ
Jack laughs. He can picture it in his head, Rutger with his good looks and childish smile turning on the charm to 100 to a skeptical Amelie, bored but amused eyes as she watches him plead his side. Maybe sheโs wearing a headband. Maybe sheโs not.ย
(Sheโs wearing one right now. A tiny white one that youโd miss if you werenโt looking)ย
โThose boysโฆwere they good?โ
โYouโre the hockey player. Shouldnโt you know?โ
โNo. I mean, like, were they good to you? Nice to you? Because if they were dickheadsโฆโ
โNo!โ Amelie is quick to assure him. โThey were great. Honestly. During my entire four years working with the team, I never really had a problem with any of the guys. And I canโt say that about every team I had to photograph.โ
โOh?โ Jack sneaks a look over to her as sheโs looking at her hands.ย
โYeah.โ
Jack wants to dig, but he doesnโt. He just doesnโt like the idea that people could be outwardly rude to Amelie when sheโs just doing her job. He doesnโt like the idea that people could be outwardly rude to Amelie at all.ย
They climb out of the car and he locks it with a click as they walk side by side to the counter to order. He smiles to himself as he lags behind a few steps, watching her bounce on her toes to try and see the flavor options.ย
His attention is brought back into the moment as he feels Amelie tug the sleeve of his sweatshirt. โIs the Chocolate Delight good?โ
โThatโs Quinnโs favorite. Itโs super chocolatey.โ
โPerfect.โ They both step up to the window. Jack orders himself a small Strawberry Cheesecake in a cup. Amelie orders a small Chocolate Delight in a cup and before the girl at the window can even finish listing out the total price, Jack practically shoves his credit card into her hand.ย
Amelie gives him a scathing look. โJack. Come on. You didnโt even give me a chance.โ
โPrecisely.โ Her glare stays on her face. โItโs not a big deal. My treat for kidnapping you on our boat yesterday and kidnapping you tonight.โ
โSo you are kidnapping me,โ she says, referring to her earlier comment. She relaxes and Jack calls it a win as theyโre given their ice creams. They snag a high-top table thatโs a bit away from the other crowded tables. He watches as she digs in, a small satisfied smile on her face, turning sideways to look at the sunset.
Heโs not the photographer, but he wishes he could take a picture of her right now.ย
They eat their ice cream in relatively comfortable silence, and he feels satisfied when he plays with her foot under the table and it causes her to chuckle. She does kick him back hard enough to make him flinch though.
20 minutes later, theyโre sitting in the back of Jackโs car at a lake lookout catching the last streaks of the sunset when he pipes up. โColette. Charlotte. Amelie. Very French.โ
โWell, thatโs what happens when your mother is French.โ
โWhat do they do?โ
โColโs doing some cool stuff with fashion merchandising in New York. Just got engaged and getting married sometime next year. Charโs at Stanford getting her PhD inโฆsomething that involves physics and is over my head.โย
Jack chuckles. โI feel that. My sisterโs doing her residency at NYU and no matter how hard I want to understand, when she gets on her tangents, I can never follow.โ
Amelieโs eyebrows furrow. โSister?โ
โOh, well, not actually. Itโs Clementine. One of us mustโve mentioned her yesterday,โ Jack says. โSheโs not my sister by blood, but our parents have been best friends since forever and we all grew up together, so she might as well be. Went to UCLA and then, also Stanford, actually. So for eight years, I didnโt really get to see her that often.โ Jack digs out his phone and flickers through his photos before clicking on the one his mom took of him, Quinn, Luke and Clementine in New Hampshire earlier in the summer.
โSheโs pretty,โ Amelie remarks softly.ย
Jack smiles. โI donโt think Iโd be the same if I didnโt have her growing up. We actually live together in Jersey now. Me, her and Luke. Itโs a fun time, even if she pretends itโs not.โ
โSheโs doing her residency, you said?โ
โYeah,โ he takes his phone back. โThis I do know. Combined residency with pediatrics and the ER. Just finished her first year out of five.โ
Amelie whistles. โGood for her. So sheโll be in New York and Jersey for the near future?โ
โYup,โ Jackโs smile seems to always be permanent on his face when talking about Clementine. โThough now sheโs dating Hisch so thatโs a whole thing.โ
โSheโs dating your captain?โ Amelie chuckles, eyebrows raised in amusement. โI sure hope you like him.โ
โI love Nico,โ he defends himself. โI was rooting for them to get together. They were tiptoeing around each other all of last season. But now that theyโre actually dating I just like being a bitch about it to give them a hard time.โ
Amelie shoves her hands in her sweatshirt. โThatโs what siblings do.โ
โI canโt imagine you being a bitch to your sistersโ significant others theyโve brought home.โ
She shrugs, โI donโt think I am. Iโve been told I can be a bit closed-off when you first meet me though.โ
โHey. Nothing wrong with taking time to feel people out.โย
โSome people donโt have the patience for that, though.โ
โFor what?โ
โI donโt know. A lot of people just assume people who arenโt outwardly charismatic arenโt worth their time.โ
Jack blinks, thinking about her words over and over again like a broken record. โWell, then theyโre missing out.โ
She looks at him and heโs momentarily distracted by the way her white headband creates a sort of halo around her. She lets out a small smile. Jack wants to frame it and put it on the wall of his room back in Jersey. She chuckles, and Jack feels defensive all of a sudden.
โWhat?โ He asks, trying not to sound indignant.ย
โNothing, itโs justโฆI donโt know. Thatโs such an interesting thing coming from someone who I imagine is exactly just that.โ
โJust what?โ Heโs not doing a great job today at keeping track of where a conversation goes.ย
She huffs. โOutwardly charismatic. Youโre telling me youโre not?โ
Jackโs hands suddenly start to sweat. โI mean, I guess. But that doesnโt come easy to everyone. I still donโt think it comes easy to me. Iโve just been forced to be okay at it because of what I do.โ
She starts swatting at bugs so they hop out of the trunk and start driving back. She doesnโt miss a beat in their conversation. โThatโs another reason why I love photography. No one expects anything out of me or pays attention to me.โ
Jack canโt help but laugh, thinking back to his rookie year and all the damn expectations that were placed on him that he didnโt surpass. Itโs water under the bridge now, but he would be lying if he said that he doesnโt think about it once in awhile, especially when the draft bust comments come back after a stretch of bad games.ย
โI donโt know what thatโs like, having no one expect anything out of me,โ he admits, carefully pulling out on the main road.ย
โDo you like that? Having a chip on your shoulder?โ
โYeah, in a way. Definitely lights a fire under your ass and motivates you. But, I donโt know, it can get to be a lot, I guess. But Iโm used to it. People have been expecting things out of me since I was 16. Younger, even.โ
Amelie hums, adjusting her headband. โMust be a lonely place to be at times.โ
โWhere?โ
โThe top.โย
Jack mulls over her words in his brain. Once. Twice. A third time. He clears his throat. โIโve never thought about it like that.โย
When heโs about to sleep that night, he replays their conversations in his head until he finally drifts off.ย
day twelve - amelie
Amelieโs a bit glad to have had a few days away from Jack โ from any of the Hughes brothers โ as they went on a mini trip to Canton to celebrate their grandmotherโs birthday. Sheโs been filling her time by taking walks with Susie, tagging along to help Ruth with groceries and humoring Stanley when he wants to go sit at his favorite diner for hours to talk. Retirementโs pretty nice, Amelie thinks, but even sheโs starting to get a bit restless.ย
So when she gets a text from Jack after finishing her morning coffee โ she forgets when they exchanged numbers or if they ever even did. Luke couldโve given it to him โ sheโs actually excited.
Weird. Whenโs the last time Amelie has felt excited to get a text?
Jack Hughes
amelie my amelieย
we just got back last night
and a bunch of your boys are here for a few daysย
you should come by and say hi
Amelie furrows her eyebrows as she responds.ย
Amelie Fishelย
my boys?
Jack Hughes
beniers, briss, blankenburg, fants, brindley and eddyย
i might be leaving someone out but you get itย
Amelie blinks. She hasnโt heard some of those names in years. And theyโre just all over the house right now?ย
Hockey players are weird. Their friendships and circles and how they overlap are even weirder.ย
Amelie Fishelย
thatโs a lotta boysย
Jack Hughesย
yeah and thatโs not even all of themย
luke mentioned that youโre nearby and theyโre kinda harping on me to get you to come overย
i also just wanna see youย
โYou should go,โ Amelie jumps out of her seat. Luckily, Ruth isnโt directly behind her. She doesnโt particularly want to be nursing her grandmaโs injuries.ย
โDonโt eavesdrop on my conversations, Grandma.โ
โYou should go,โ Ruth repeats. โThose boys were sweet and polite over dinner. And you know their friends?โ
โYeah. Photographed quite a few of them at college throughout the years.โ
โThen you should go.โ
โArenโt we about to go to lunch with some of your friends?โ
Ruth tuts. โTheyโd perfectly understand you ditching us old gossips to hang out with your friends.โ
โIโm going to lunch with you. I havenโt seen them in awhile either and I like your friends,โ Amelie says firmly. One look from Ruth and Amelie relents. โIโll go see the guys after dinner. If they even want me.โ
Amelie Fishelย
wonโt be around until after dinner
dunno if that changes your invite
Jack Hughesย
see you after dinner ๐ซก
iโll try to hold off your fan club in the meantimeย
(As Amelie goes upstairs to change, Ruth chuckles to herself. She remembers the middle Hughes brother unable to keep his eyes off Amelie at dinner that night.)
After dinner comes, and she shuffles through her dressers before reminding herself that it doesnโt matter what she wears. She throws on her favorite pair of jean shorts and tosses on a Stanford sweatshirt she stole from Charlotte ages ago. She grabs her tote bag, kisses her grandparents goodbye and pats Susie on the head before walking out the door.ย
As she approaches the Hughes home, she rolls her eyes at all the cars parked in their driveway and lining down the street. Exactly how many people are here?ย
She hears voices coming from the back and decides to forgo the front door and paddles over through their side yard into the back. Amelie pauses at the sight, taking in what must be at least ten people by the firepit. She tries to be discreet, figuring out where or who she should head to first. But a voice calling out loudly stops her.ย
โMimi!โ Before she knows it, Adam Fantilli crashes into her body. She grunts into his chest as he lifts her up.ย
โCall me that one more time and you wonโt have a season to get back to in Columbus.โ
Gavin chuckles from behind Adam, before reaching out for his much tamer hug. Good. โNice to know some things donโt change.โ
She huffs, but her heart does feel lighter. โI saw you, like, three months ago, Brinds. No one changes that much in three months.โ She lets the two boys each swing an arm around her shoulders and gets smushed in the middle, both simultaneously talking her ear off. Sheโs not really catching what they say, and she thinks they donโt actually care, but itโs nice to be around them again. Really nice. Familiar.ย
Sheโs led to the fire, and feels her smile grow as Nick Blankenburg, Brendan Brisson and Matty Beniers all bounce over and give her enthusiastic hugs and greetings. God, itโs been so long since sheโs seen them. Even though she was younger and more naive when photographing them her freshman year, they were on her first roster. And thereโs always something special about the first one.
โThe fact that you decided to stick around the boys for four years says a lot,โ Nick says with a smile. โDid you like them as much as the guys during your first year though?โ
โYou never forget your first!โ Matty chimes in and Brendan throws his head back in laughter. Amelieโs sick of them already, rolling her eyes as she greets Luke with a tight side hug.ย
She beams at Ethan, whose smile is just as big. โHi Eddy.โ
โHey Ami,โ She lets out a laugh as the smiley Canadian smothers her in a hug. โI didnโt think Iโd be seeing you so soon. Iโve missed you.โ
โMe neither,โ she mumbles into his chest before pulling away. โMissed you too.โ
โWell, we obviously know who the favorite is.โ Someone pipes in and her eyes track toward the voice. This guy definitely didnโt go to Michigan, but has one of the most contagious smiles sheโs ever seen. โIโm Trevor. Friend of Jackโs. Iโve heard a lot about you.โ
Ah, yes. She remembers Jack mentioning him a few times. โNice to meet you, Trevor.โ She turns to the last person she doesnโt know. Dark brown, curly hair and pouty lips. โYou must be Alex.โ
Alexโs eyebrows shoot up and Amelie kinda likes that he doesnโt hide his surprise. โYeah. Jack talk about me too?โ
โYeah. Mostly Ellen though. Said that youโre the favorite.โ Alex grins as Trevor howls in laughter.ย
โHe is,โ Jack grumbles from behind her. โEven to this day, Itโs quite annoying.โ Jack shoots her a quick smile and Amelie smiles back before thanking Quinn quietly as he passes her a cider.ย
She looks around to see that all of the guys have beer in their hands. She had mentioned off the cuff on the boat that she hates beer. Sheโs touched that they remembered. She takes a seat in one of the adirondack chairs, Jack on one side and Adam on her other.ย
โI saw Lukeโs story. How was golfing?โ
โGood,โ Quinn says.ย
โYou a golfer, Mimi?โ
Again, Amelie glares at the young Blue Jacket. โI think Iโd rather do anything else.โ
Brendan chuckles. โI recognize that glare. Iโve almost missed it.โ
โI have no idea what youโre talking about,โ Amelie says, sipping her drink and wrapping her arms around herself. Jack tosses the large blanket over both their legs and she nudges his foot with hers as a thank you.ย
The boys are loud and talk over each other and Amelie canโt remember the last time sheโs rolled her eyes this much. She takes the bag of chips that Ethan passes her and finishes it off, much to Lukeโs dismay. And of course, true to herself, she takes out her camera to snap a few photos. As the sky darkens and fire blazes, Amelie feels warm, chiming in occasionally when she sees fit but mostly listening.ย
Amelieโs attention is pulled back to the present with Ethan asking her a question. โYou mentioned at the end of the season that you were looking at jobs with some different sports leagues.โ She doesnโt remember telling him that, but if thereโs anyone she would tell, it would be him. โDid any of that, you know, go anywhere?โ
Amelie smiles. โIโm in the final stages of, uh, figuring out something with the NHL.โ
Jackโs eyes widen. โNo US Soccer anymore?โ
Amelie shrugs. โMaybe in the future. But no, not right now. Least not full-time.โ
โWait,โ Ethan pushes with wide, excited eyes. โAmi. Are you gonna be-โ
โI donโt wanna jinx it,โ Amelie says with her hand up, but a smile peeks through. โItโs not a sure thing yet. Theyโre trying to figure out with what team or area of the country. Or thatโs what they told me.โ
Cheers erupt and she kinda wants to hide her face behind her hands. Popcorn is thrown at her and she swats it away. She turns to look at Jack, who smiles and picks a kernel out of her hair.ย
Itโs a beautiful smile. She wishes she saw it more often, instead of the half smirk half smile he always does.ย
โAny chance youโd be in Jersey?โ Luke asks as Ethan grins and Jack nudges her elbow.
โColumbus also works!โ Adam calls out, high-fiving Nick and Gavin.
โCalifornia sunshine is nice,โ Trevor sings out.ย
โJust the west coast in general,โ Quinn adds as Brendan, Alex and Matty all nod emphatically.ย
โYour pitches all need some work,โ Amelie snorts, before shrugging. โHonestly, Iโll be fine anywhere. Just not Michigan. I need to get out of here.โ Everyone laughs, but she catches Jackโs inquisitive look. She quickly lets herself get dragged into a conversation with Quinn, Nick and Adam instead.ย
She eyes the pool table through the window of the sunroom and Jack catches her, challenging her to a game. She, along with Jack, Adam and Ethan decide to go in for a quick game. They split up into teams, her and Jack on one, Adam and Ethan on the other.
She eyes the chalkboard and grimaces at Jackโs less-than-desirable record. โDo I really want you on my team?โ
Jack follows her eyeline and rolls his eyes. โIgnore that.โ
โKinda hard to,โ she squints. โDamn, I shouldโve dragged Quinn in here.โ Jack pouts as Ethan snickers, her waving at Adam to break.ย
What Amelie failed to voice when she saw the pool table is that she is pretty damn good at pool. During the few times she went out in college, itโs how she and her friends liked to get free drinks. She would challenge a few of her overconfident guy friends or acquaintances and bet a free drink or two. Though actually, she remembers she played against Adam at least once and absolutely destroyed him. Sheโs surprised and amused that he doesnโt remember, if his wide eyed indignation at her sinking a seemingly-impossible shot says anything, much to Jackโs amusement.ย
โHoly shit,โ Jack says, impressed. โWho taught you to play? Can you give me their number?โ
Amelie shrugs with a small smirk, watching Adam take his turn. โThere was a diner I grew up nearby that had a table. I honestly canโt remember who taught me. I just played against my sisters a lot.โ
โWe shouldโve placed a bet on this. You two didnโt know about this secret talent?โ Jack says, directing the question to the former Wolverines.ย
โYeah, Adam,โ she eggs on, laughing as his shot misses. โYou should remember. I got you and Truscott to buy me a drink out of it once.โ Adam curses in realization as Ethan cackles.ย
โWait, I remember that,โ Ethan says. โI was even shocked that you were out and about, considering all the times you turned our invites down. Imagine me hearing that not only are you out, you also just single handedly took down the two best pool players on the team.โย
โTurning down invites to parties, huh?โ Jack chuckles.ย ย
Amelie rolls her eyes, watching Jack take his shot. โNo. They were all just up in my business when I was trying to be professional.โ
Ethan scoffs. โProfessional? Yeah, okay.โ
โProfessional,โ Amelie repeats. โI was working for you guys, technically.โ
โEw, no you werenโt,โ Adam says, crinkling his nose. โDonโt say that. God. You were just as much part of the team as we were.โ
โI donโt know about that,โ she watches Jack mess up his shot and just rolls her eyes. โAll I did was take pictures of you all.โ
โPart of the team,โ Ethan emphasizes, also messing up his shot. God, Amelie thinks. These boys are bad at pool. โStop pretending we werenโt your favorites to photograph.โ
โYeah, admit it!โ Adam chimes in. โYou were easier on me when grading papers too.โ
โI was absolutely not,โ she says. โThe fact that you treated pre-game as office hours made me grade you harder.โ They just wave her off and Amelie huffs.ย
โLook where being professional got you,โ Ethan smirks. โSome fun friendships, eh?โ She smacks his shoulder.ย
โYouโre lucky I like you,โ Amelie warns, before sinking in the 8-ball with a smirk. Adam and Ethan groan as Jack cheers, placing an overzealous kiss on her cheek before going to the chalkboard. โYouโre welcome for the win.โ
When the fire starts to die out and more people start yawning an hour later, Amelie decides to call it a night. She gives everybody a hug, promising more than once that sheโll see everyone at least one more time before they leave in five days. Jack offers to walk her home and she doesnโt even bother fighting.ย
They start walking. Amelie flips her hood up and Jack shoves his hands in the pockets of his shorts. โYou lied to me.โ
She furrows her eyebrows. โHuh?โ
โSaid the guys were just nice to you. They love you.โ
โI donโt know about that.โ
โAnd you love them.โ
Amelie stares down at her shoes with a shrug. โLike I said, theyโre good guys.โ She looks back up and tugs at his sweatshirt sleeve. โThanks for the invite.โ
โOf course.โ Jack says. โYouโre always welcome.โ
โI donโt think you mean that.โ
โI never say things I donโt mean,โ he says lightly. โWaste of time and energy.โ
Amelie swallows, Jackโs woody cologne filtering through her nose and all of a sudden, it feels like heโs too close, but she canโt pull herself away. โThank you though. Seriously. Youโre right. I-Iโve missed them.โย
She lets him pull her into a side hug and doesnโt say anything when he keeps his arm swung around her shoulder. โDo you have any plans tomorrow?โ
Amelie chuckles. โWhat are you thinking?โ
โWell, turns out some of the guys want a rematch because theyโre mad I beat their asses so weโre golfing again tomorrow, but weโre starting early.โ
โIโm not going golfing. Even the best bribe couldnโt bring me out there.โ
โIโm not asking you to come golfing,โ Jack laughs. โItโs just, contrary to what you may believe, Iโm kinda annoying in the morning and need caffeine and fuel to deal with that many people, especially before going on the course.โ
โJack, what are you-โ
โDo you wanna grab breakfast tomorrow? Just the two of us? Those fuckers never get up in time.โ
โSo youโre gonna let them starve?โ
โThey can figure themselves out.โ
They stop at her front door and she turns around. Him being on the step below causes them to be at the same height. โSure.โ
The left side of his lips quirk up. โYeah?โย
โYeah. Though subjecting me to your pre-caffeine self seems like youโre trying to sabotage me.โ
He rolls his eyes. โDoes 9 work?โ
Despite herself, Amelie grins. โSee you then.โ She reaches behind her to twist the doorknob. โThanks for walking me home. Goodnight Jack.โ
โGoodnight.โย
She watches through the window until he walks out of sight. She then looks at the lone light still on in the kitchen and has an idea.ย
day thirteen - jack
Jackโs not an idiot, despite what his brothers and teammates may tell you. He knows this isnโt a date.ย
But it sure feels like one.ย
Jackโs looking at the suitcase he probably shouldโve fully unpacked by now, figuring out what to wear. Itโs literally just breakfast with a girl he met not even two weeks ago, so he shouldnโt really care what heโs wearing.ย
Breakfast. With a girl he met less than two weeks ago. A girl whose company he really, really enjoys.ย
He shakes his head at himself, pulling out a black t-shirt and khaki shorts. He decides to clasp on a watch before he can overthink himself out of it.ย
At 8:57, he quietly paddles downstairs and grabs the keys off the hook before jumping into his car. He barely pulls into her driveway before her front door opens. A smile spreads across his face at Amelie, her floral pink dress flying behind her as she rushes out, quickly checking she has what she needs in her tote bag before opening the car door.ย
โGood morning,โ he says.ย
โHey,โ she breathes out. She scans him up and down really quickly. It makes him swallow. โYou look nice.โ
He backs out of the driveway. โYou do too.โ When he gets to look at her again, he notices the matching hair scarf hanging from her ponytail. โI like the thing in your hair. You look like a fairy.โ
โA fairy?โ
โYeah.โ
She blinks. โOh. Thatโsโฆreally nice, I think? Thank you.โ
โDefinitely a compliment.โ He bites his lip to stop his smile from growing too wide. She hums along to the song on the radio and looks out the window. He rolls it down for her and watches her lean her elbows at the edge, her head peeking out.ย
Jack has to drag his eyes back to focus on the road. The sight of Amelie sitting shotgun while heโs driving brings a feeling in his stomach heโs never felt before. At least not to this depth.ย
She turns to him. โWhere are we going?โ
โSunny Side Up right off Beecher Ave.โ
She chuckles. โThatโs Grandpaโs favorite place. We might catch him come in as we leave.โ
He freezes a bit as he slows the car down with a stop at the light, at the thought of Stanley coming in to see him with his beloved granddaughter, both semi-dressed up on a Wednesday morning, just the two of them.ย
When they arrive, he holds open the door for her, and breathes in the smells of coffee and eggs and everything good coming out of the kitchen of Sunny Side Up. The place is emptier than he expected, but he also knows the typical brunch crowd rolls in a bit later. The hostess tells them to sit wherever they like and he follows Amelie to a spot by the window. They barely slip into their seats before he hears a familiar scratchy yet comforting voice.ย
โAmelie!โ The woman then turns her head and doesnโt even hide her surprise as her grin grows. โAnd Jack Hughes. What a nice surprise.โ
โHey Sherry,โ Jack nods with a grin.
He sees Amelieโs eyes light up, even if itโs subdued. โHi Sherry.โ
The older woman that Jack has seen here every summer since he moved here sets two menus down. She offers Jack a pointed look that looks awfully like his motherโs. โI havenโt seen you here this summer as often as past summers. You cheating on us with some other cafe?โ
โIโm a loyal guy, Sherry,โ he charms. โI would never.โ
Sherry narrows her eyes, โMmhmm. Iโll get you two some coffee while you decide what you want.โ
Amelie nods and flashes a warm smile. โThank you.โ They watch Sherry scurry away. The sound of Amelieโs gentle laugh pulls his attention back to her. โYou come here often, huh? Well, clearly not often enough this summer.โ
โHey, you canโt even say that,โ Jack whines. โClearly you come here often too.โ
She shrugs, โLike I said, itโs Grandpaโs favorite place. I come here with him at least once a week.โ
โDo you have any friends around the area?โ Amelieโs eyebrows shoot up and Jack immediately backtracks. โNot that-I didnโt mean it like that. I just-โ
Amelie snorts, leaning back in her seat. โChill Jack. I know what you meant. The ones who are in Michigan arenโt close by and the rest are spread out across the country. I came to my grandparentsโ knowing that I wouldnโt see a lot of my friends. Kinda purposeful on my end, in a way. But then Luke saw me walk Susie and now here we are.โ
โDonโt pretend like you havenโt enjoyed our company.โ
โItโs definitely made my summer more eventful.โ Their coffees come and neither of them look at the menu before ordering. Jack orders the french toast with strawberries and blueberries and she gets the house omelet. Jack ignores the pointed look that Sherry gives both of them, because heโs right with her and kinda has no idea what to make of this but is trying to enjoy it while he can.ย
He feels her nudge his feet under the table. He snaps his focus back to her as she nods to the cup of creamers next to him. โPass me two?โ
He nods, obliging. โSugar?โ
She shakes her head. โIโm good. Thanks.โ
Jack watches her stir the creamer in before a sudden thought pops up. โYesterday, when you said that you donโt care where you went as long as it wasnโt Michigan, what did you mean by that?โ
Amelie, to her credit, doesnโt seem surprised by the sudden question. โExactly what I said. Itโs nothing against the Red Wings. I just need to get out of here.โ
โWhy?โย
She stares at him for a few seconds, and Jack gets nervous. Before he can take back the question, she answers. โWhen you havenโt really gotten the chance to travel or live anywhere your whole life and a job offers you to go anywhere, you take the chance.โ
Jack nods slowly. Heโs gotten to travel to a lot of places through hockey, but he still considers Michigan his home and often feels an urge to come back during the season โ as much as he thoroughly enjoys living and playing in New Jersey. Itโs hard for him to wrap his head around the fact that someone could want out of Michigan.ย
She smiles and chuckles a bit suddenly. Jack raises an eyebrow in question. She just shakes her head. He thinks sheโs adorable. โSorry, Iโm not laughing at you. I just thought of something.โ
โDo share with the class.โ
โIโve been so excited at the prospect of leaving Michigan, but itโs so clear you and your brothers love it and I donโt know. Itโs nice to be reminded of the good parts of this state.โ
He shrugs, โI donโt know. I guess throughout the season I donโt really get to be around Quinn or my friends and family that often, so when all of us have the off-season, we all naturally gravitate towards home, which nowadays, is here.โ
โYou donโt have to defend yourself about why you like this state, Jack,โ she says with a small chuckle. โI get it. My familyโs technically all here too, so I canโt escape it completely.โ
Their food arrives soon after and they spend a few silent minutes just digging in. He cuts a piece of his french toast for her and she in turn cuts him a portion of her omelet. Heโs hoping that sheโs not catching the fact that he canโt keep his eyes off of her.ย
When they finish, Jack shoves his card into Sherryโs hand when she grabs the check, theyโre walking out of the diner, full and content. The sun is beating down but not too hard that Jack feels gross. Hopefully it stays that way when he and the boys go out golfing in an hour.ย
โDo you have a second to come inside?โ
Jackโs eyebrows immediately shoot up his forehead, killing the engine. โYeah. Why?โ
โJust come inside,โ Amelie rolls her eyes. โIโm not gonna kill you.โ
โReassuring,โ he deadpans, following her through the front door and immediately bending down to pet Susie and prevent her from running out. He watches Amelie disappear into the kitchen for a moment before she comes back out with a tupperware container filled withโฆcookies?
โFor you,โ Amelie hands him the tupperware. โAnd the other guys.โ
โWhat are these?โ
โI kinda got a burst of energy after I came home last night and wanted to do something with my hands. Youโre gonna tell me you guys are gonna turn down fresh cookies?โ
โNo,โ he says, looking back at her. โThank you.โย
She smiles. โYouโre welcome.โ
Jack opens his mouth and then closes it. He wants to ask why she made the cookies. Why sheโs giving a large container of them to him and their friends. If it means anything.
Instead, he backs towards the door. โSee you around?โ
โYeah,โ she says. โHave fun golfing with the boys. I donโt want to hear a single thing about it.โ
He laughs. โI wonโt subject you to that. Promise.โ
โIโll hold you to it. And thanks for breakfast.โ
โOf course.โ
โStop paying for me though.โ
โNever.โ
She playfully shoves him out the door with an eye roll. He thinks he could see that eye roll for the rest of his life and feel content.
day fifteen - amelie
As sheโs pouring herself a second cup of coffee, she hears someone knocking on the front door. Ruthโs out walking Susie and Stanleyโs out golfing with friends the day, so Amelie trudges over to the front door.ย
Itโs Quinn, in a Canucks sweatshirt and basketball shorts, his hands shoved into his pockets.
Amelie smiles easily, albeit confused. โHey Quinn.โ
โMorning.โ
โWhatโs up?โ
He shifts on his feet. โAre you busy?โ
โNot really,โ she opens the door wider for him to come in. โI was just editing some photos. Coffee?โ
โPlease.โ
โAnything in it?
โA bit of milk if you have some.โ
She hums, preparing his coffee and carefully sliding it over to him as he rests his forearms on the island. โWhere are the rest of the guys?โ
He shrugs. โEither asleep or just hanging out. We had a tough practice this morning.โ
โAnd you decided to come here?โ She teases. She doesnโt want him to think heโs not welcome, because she actually really likes Quinn, despite spending the least amount of time with him compared to his brothers.ย
โKinda wanted some peace and quiet, to be honest, which is hard to find in the house when thereโs so many people,โ he admits, before nodding to her open laptop. โYou said you were editing photos? What for?โ
โPartially to update my portfolio. Partially to brush up on my skills.โ She moves the laptop so he can see it. Pulled up is a picture she took last year at a Michigan swim meet. โSee how itโs a little too bright here?โ She clicks on the dodge tool in the open Photoshop tab and quickly edits. โThere.โ
โDo you do this with every photo?โ
โSometimes I switch between different softwares, but itโs generally the same process. The big differences that I have to be aware of are lighting and composition when editing.โ
Quinn nods. โThis is sick. Like, super cool.โ
She quickly saves her work before turning her full attention back to Quinn, smiling. โThank you.โ
โDo you have any photos youโve taken of us the last few weeks?โ
With that, Amelie scoots herself closer to him and slowly scrolls through a bunch of photos, starting from that day onto the boat and then to the fire the other night and other miscellaneous ones inbetween. Quinn lingers on a picture thatโs one of her favorites, one that makes her smile everytime she sees it. Itโs of Jack the night of the fire. The light from the fire is illuminating the front of his face while the dawn of the Michigan sky behind him casts him in a subtle light.ย
Heโs looking away from the camera โ at Gavin, if she remembers correctly โ in the middle of laughing. His hair is all tousled over his forehead, some loose strands going over his eyes. His blue eyes are bright and if she showed this photo to anyone who didnโt know Jack Hughes, sheโs sure they would be able to hear his laughter anyways.
He looks radiant. Everything like the bright and intense first-overall draft pick he was projected to be. As she watches Quinnโs eyes flicker over the photo, she thinks thereโs something incredibly intimate about the way the camera captures the middle Hughes brother.ย
(โThe subject of the camera makes up less than one percent of the photograph,โ Professor Yang, one of her most trusted mentors said to her once. โThe majority of the beauty of a photograph comes from the photographer themself and how they see the subject.โ
Itโs always at the most inconvenient times does Professor Yangโs voice ping through her head.)
She watches Quinn click through other photos, some edited, most of them raw. He makes small comments here and there asking about the mechanics of photography and how she knows when and what to shoot her lens at. She tries to explain in a way that would make sense to someone who knows little to nothing about photography and Quinn, to his credit, is keeping up the best he can. She goes to pour Quinn another round of coffee as Ruth comes back in through the side door, Susie trotting over to Quinn happily, who pets her. Ruth merely smiles as sheโs sliding off her shoes at the sight of the eldest Hughes brother.ย
โGood morning, Quinn.โ
Quinn grins. โGood morning. Sorry for interrupting.โ
Ruth waves him off, coming to kiss the top of Amelieโs head. โNot at all. I see Amelie here has offered you some coffee. Would you like some chocolate chip cookies? Also courtesy of Amelie.โ
โNot on the meal plan, Iโm sure,โ Amelie comments dryly.ย
Quinn laughs loudly. โNo, but it is the summer.โ He reaches into the container in Ruthโs hands. โThank you. I actually had some of the ones you gave Jack last night. Theyโre really good.โ
Amelie ignores the look she knows her grandmother is giving her. โThanks. I could teach you how to make them, if youโd like. My, uh, an old friend of mine taught me a trick his mom taught him that make it extra gooey.โ
She, again, ignores the look her grandmother is giving her. Quinn doesnโt need to know that old friend is her ex-boyfriend.ย
(Humans are interesting in the way that theyโre mosaics, made up of the pieces โ people, in this case โ theyโve encountered in their lives. Amelie hates what Cooper did to her, but she will never forget the methods he taught her about making the perfect chocolate chip cookie)
Quinn grins. โIโd love to know, actually. Iโve been wanting to figure out how to bake simple things to, like, bring to events and stuff. I should, right? Being captain and all.โ
Amelie snorts as she starts getting ingredients. โIf you say so.โ
Quinn and Ruth start chatting inbetween Amelie telling Quinn what to do. She can tell her grandmother is absolutely charmed by Quinnโs politeness and overall presence. And to be honest, she is as well.ย ย
It makes sense that heโs captain, in the way he speaks, listens and guides. Amelie thinks if she were on a sports team, sheโd ride into battle with, for and alongside him.ย
Quinn spills a bit of flour on the counter and Amelie just snorts, waving away his apologies and telling him to crack the eggs. She just eyes him to make sure he isnโt fucking that up while listening to Ruth talk about something Charlotte told her on a call the other day.ย
โYou know,โ Ruth starts and Amelie immediately doesnโt like where her tone is going. โMy granddaughters are pretty great people, present company included. Coletteโs engaged, but Charlotteโs single.โ
Amelie bursts out in laughter as Quinn starts blinking, no doubt trying to think quickly about how to respond to that. โGrandma, at least try to be subtle about it.โ
โWhy? Iโm too old for that.โ
โWith all love, I donโt think Quinn is Charโs type. Char only dates assholes, remember?โ
Quinn laughs in surprise as Ruth taps her chin with a small smile. โI suppose thatโs true. The boy she brought back last summer wasnโt too bad.โ
โHe told me photography wasnโt a real career and that I was wasting my time,โ Amelie deadpans as the oven beeps. She nods at Quinn to put in the trays. โI get that heโs in academia like Char, but what a shitty take.โ
โMaybe introducing Quinn to her will break her streak,โ Ruth suggests.ย
Amelie rolls her eyes to humor her. โHow do you even know if Quinn is single?โ
Ruth eyes him. โAre you?โ
Quinn clears his throat, โI am. Newly single though.โย
Amelie didnโt know that, and itโs not her place to pry. She grimaces as she pulls him into a side hug. โThat settles it, then. Iโm keeping Quinn to myself.โ Luckily, that gets him to smile.ย ย
Just as the oven beeps and Ruth moves to start preparing lasagna, (โSit down, Quinn. Youโre not going anywhere.โ Ruth had said with a firm voice as Quinn was trying to leave, not wanting to intrude for lunch), the doorbell rings. Amelie blinks. She has a feeling she knows whoโs on the other side of the door.ย
Itโs a slightly smaller group than the night by the fire. Jack, Luke, Adam, Ethan, Alex and the sweet smile of a guy who wasnโt here last time. But Jack has shown her enough pictures and heโs talked about Cole Caufield enough that Amelie is 99% sure itโs him.ย
โHey Mimi!โย
โDonโt call me that,โ she automatically responds to Adam. โYou all here for lunch?โ
โRuth invited us,โ Luke pipes up. Well, that explains why she was taking out such a large portion of lasagna sheets. โSusie saw Jack getting the mail and kinda mauled him.ย
โOf course she did,โ Amelie steps aside as one by one, they greet her with a quick hug. She hugs Cole for a bit longer. โCole, right? Itโs nice to meet you.โ
โNice to meet you too,โ Cole beams. โIโve heard a lot about you.โ
She chuckles softly as they follow everyone else. She tries to ignore Jack behind them, knowing heโs listening in. โAnything Eddy says about me is 100% true. The others you can take with a grain of salt.โ
โEven when Jack tells me he thinks youโre one of the prettiest and talented people heโs ever met?โย
Amelieโs eyebrows jump up as she looks at Jack, who doesnโt even look ashamed. He even shoots her a quick wink and sheโs for sure blushing. She turns back to Cole with a shy grin. โI donโt know about that.โ
They walk towards the kitchen, where Ruth is shooing everyone out with the plate of cookies Amelie and Quinn just made. Amelie leads them all outside, squinting against the sun as she quickly grabs a few chairs so everyone has a place to sit. She leans her head on her chin as she focuses on what seems a continuation of a previous conversation about relationships, or lack thereof. She rolls her eyes. Typical. Sheโs honestly surprised this didnโt come up at the fire the other night in the Hughes backyard.ย
She munches on a cookie and merely smiles as Jack finds his way to the seat next to hers. He nudges her knee with hers and she bumps him back.
โHey,โ he says softly so that only she can hear him.ย
โHi.โ
โI like your bow. You look pretty.โ
Amelie reaches up to touch the black sheer bow clipped atop her ponytail. โThank you. Sorry Suz attacked you earlier.โ
Jack shrugs, the sunshine painting his cheeks an endearing rosy pink. โGonna get lunch out of it, arenโt I?โ
โYou flash your smile at Grandma and Iโm pretty sure sheโd bake you a cake everyday.โ
He only smirks before they both tune back into the conversation. Though from where Jack is sitting, Amelie has a perfect peripheral view of him. He has a Yankees cap on backwards, his curls peeking out at the ends. His summer tan is obvious against the white t-shirt heโs wearing with light-washed jeans.ย
Itโs not the first time that Amelie has noticed how attractive he is. Itโs the first time that she has to swallow and force herself to focus on Adamโs voice because she wants toโฆkiss him. Shit, she really wants to kiss Jack Hughes.ย
Horrible.
โWhat do you think, Amelie?โ Her head whips at the sound of Lukeโs voice.ย
โWhat are we talking about?โ
Luke smirks and Amelie wants to slap him. โPast relationships, to sum it up. Mostly Adamโs.โ And Quinnโs, Amelie fills in in her head, because itโs true, even if itโs unspoken.ย
โWhat about them?โย
The air suddenly feels a bit heavy, the most solemn itโs been since Luke saw her at the end of his driveway two weeks ago.ย
โDo you think itโs a thing to lose feelings for someone? Like is it real?โ
Some sort of noise erupts out of her mouth before she can stop it. If the guys werenโt intrigued before, they are now, as they fall silent, waiting for her next words. She chooses her next words carefully.ย
โI think itโs more of an excuse that people use when they donโt want to justify or dig into the real reason why theyโre feeling the way they are.โ Someone whistles. She thinks itโs Alex, but sheโs not 100% sure. Amelie winces. โSorry, did I just attack someone?โ
โJust my ex,โ Adam says.ย
โOh good. No one here then.โ Amelie offers him a sympathetic look. โIโm sorry though. I know how much that sucks to hear.โ
โIt does.โ
โI had to learn that itโs rarely your fault that they supposedly lost feelings. It took me awhile to figure that out, but I did.โ She turns to Adam and tries to give him a reassuring smile. โIt sucks. Agonizing over everything you couldโve done better and asking yourself why you werenโt enough for them to stick around. At least thatโs how it was for me.โ
โThatโsโฆkinda exactly how it felt,โ Adam admits. โFeels, even now, sometimes.โ
Amelie shrugs. โThereโs no set timeline for the process of moving on. And it ebbs and flows too. Also no fault in that.โ
โYou seem awfully knowledgeable about breakups,โ Luke states. Amelie catches Ethanโs subtle but pointed glance. How much does she want to tell them about that part of her life?ย
โA story for another time,โ she says with a dry smile. Cooper Volt and his douchebag ways are not a conversation she wants to have before noon. Or really ever. โBut Iโm serious, Adam. And whoever else needs to hear it. Feelings can shift and feel and look different overtime, but losing them completely? I donโt know. Itโs heartbreaking to hear from someone who used to be such a big part of your life.โ
โCommitment is scary,โ Cole pipes up. โAnd itโs hard. Especially, I feel like, with what we do.โ
Itโs like getting a bucket of ice cold water dumped on her when she suddenly remembers who exactly sheโs surrounded by.ย
โDo you even want commitment?โ Amelie blinks. โSorry, thatโs harsh. Thatโs not fair of me to ask.โ
โItโs a fair question though, I think.โ Jack says. Amelie suddenly feels her hands clam up. โI mean, for me at least, I think itโs changed throughout the years. You know, at the start, like five years ago, when it was still chaotic and still an adjustment period, a relationship probably wasnโt on my mind.โ
โBut now?โ Cole presses.ย
Jack shrugs. โI think so. But you canโt force it, you know?โ
โA relationship would do you well, Jacky.โ Luke says, taking a sip of his water. โDonโt know whoโd want to deal with you though.โ Jack throws his half-filled water bottle at him and Luke squeaks as everyone laughs. Jack nudges Amelieโs knee with a light smile and she has absolutely no idea what to make of that.ย
โI didnโt know you were dating someone, Adam,โ Amelie comments.
Adam shrugs. โIt was for most of last season. Met her through a mutual friend of a mutual friend. I thought it was going well. Clearly it didnโt work out.โย
โBut you tried your best?โ
โOf course I did. Well, what I thought was best at the time.โ
โThen thatโs all you can do,โ Amelie curls up in her chair. โSometimes our best isnโt enough. It sucks to hear, but itโs true. And thatโs not on you.โ She avidly avoids Jackโs eyes that she can feel boring into the side of her head. She should probably stop talking before she reveals more than she wants to.ย
Luckily, the conversation steers elsewhere with courtesy to Jack. โWell, what do you look for in someone, Amelie?โ
Amelie snorts. โYou trying to matchmake for me, Hughes?โ
โMaybe.โ
Everyone laughs and she puts her chin on her hands in thought. โI mean, tough question.โ
โOne thing. That shouldnโt be hard.โ
โItโs not. Just give me a minute to think. I wasnโt prepared to be talking about our love lives today.โ Amelie bites her lip, staring out at the lake in thought. But in reality, itโs an easy answer. โI think, honestly, the biggest thing for me is someone whoโs just, kind. Kind to the point where they care about the people around them and how they treat others and the world andโฆ.I donโt know. It sounds dumb.โ
โItโs not,โ Jack says. โBeing kind and considerate is underrated, I think. Itโs hard to find people like that.โ
โOr maybe youโre not looking in the right place,โ Alex adds.
โThat too.โ
Amelie summons some courage. โWell, Iโll flip the question back to you then. And anyone else who wants to answer. Whatโs one thing you look for in a partner?โ
Itโs like Jack makes sure she doesnโt break eye contact before answering. โHonestly? Someone I can have fun with and feel completely comfortable around. Which I know isnโt a real trait, but I think if I feel like I donโt have to pretend at all with somebody then theyโre worth keeping in my life.โ
โThatโs quite sweet, Rowdy,โ Quinn comments, Jack just shrugs, her eyes still on hers.ย
Okay, yeah. Amelie needs space. Or water. Or three shots of vodka.ย
The universe listens to her, because Ruth is suddenly calling them all in. Amelie bolts out of her seat and rushes in to help set up utensils. Thankfully, no one outwardly calls her out on it as they all trickle in after her. The conversation shifts to easier topics, and she relishes in being more of an observer than a contributor.ย
Along with the delicious lasagna, Ruth somehow found time to make some brownies which Amelie is almost sure is not allowed in any of their diet plans. Nonetheless, she watches them devour the gooey treats and shower Ruth in praise. She herself has one before standing up to put dishes away. She and her grandmother stop any of them, either with their eyes or words, from getting up and they all reluctantly sink in their seats and continue their conversations. Ruth asked them about going to Michigan a few minutes ago and theyโre still on that, with Cole and Alex talking up Wisconsin even though no one asked.ย
Amelieโs putting the last dish in the dishwasher when someoneโs voice in the kitchen causes her to yelp in surprise. She whips around to see Jackโs wince. โJesus, Jack. Warn a girl next time.โ
โSorry,โ he comes around the counter. โI just wanted to see if you needed any help, but it seems like you got it covered.โ
โGrandma let you get away?โ
โI might have told her I was gonna use the bathroom,โ he admits.ย
Amelie snorts, shutting the dishwasher. โWhy lie?โ
โI wanted to see you without everyoneโs eyes on us.โ
When someone just says that, so honestly, almost rushed out as if he wasnโt thinking of saying it in the first place but it just slipped out, how is she supposed to react, really?
She resorts to what she knows best. Apathy. โWell, here I am.โ
โHere you are. Quinn told me you taught him how to make those cookies.โ
โI did,โ a smile peeks out at that. โHe did pretty well. And we made a lot, so please take them with you when you guys leave.โ
โKicking us out so soon?โ
โNo,โ she sighs. โBut as much as sheโs gonna pretend not to, Grandma doesnโt have as much energy anymore, so I will at some point in the near future gently kick all of you out so she can rest.โ
โNo worries,โ Jack says. โWe have plans to head out on the boat anyways. You wanna join?โ
She actually does want to, but she already had her own plans to have a day for herself, and those days are important. โI think Iโm good. Iโll leave you boys to it. But thank you for the offer.โ
โAnytime.โ Theyโre practically touching now, but Amelie doesnโt mind. She doesnโt ever feel like Jack is encroaching on her space. โEarlier, outside, when we were talking about relationshipsโฆโ
โWhat about them?โ
If he catches her clipped tone, he doesnโt take note. Instead, he tilts his head to the side in curiosity. โYou mentioned wanting someone thatโs kind.โ
โI did.โ
โA bit of a low bar, no?โ
She scoffs, leaning her back against the kitchen counter. She crosses her arms and looks him straight in the eye. โWell, maybe Iโve just dated some shitty people.โ
He holds the eye contact steady. Sheโs not sure why it surprises her. โMaybe you have.โ
Despite herself, sheโs amused. โYouโre awfully nosy sometimes, you know that?โ
โNot the first time Iโve heard it.โ
โDoes it usually work for you? Being nosy?โ
โI call it just being interested.โ
She swallows, deciding if she wants to push. She takes note of the voices in the other room. If she wants to push, she needs to do it fast.ย
Amelieโs 99% sure this is where her and Jack are the most alike. Theyโre stubborn and can never back down from a challenge.ย
She steps even closer to him where she thinks she catches a whiff of his deodorant. Jackโs eyes are still trained on her, passive, but with something in them that she canโt quite read. โI did, by the way.โ
โHm?โ
โDate someone shitty.โ
โIโm sorry about that.โ He sounds sincere about it.ย
โNot your fault.โ
โNot yours either.โ
She chuckles, โDebatable.โ
โNah,โ a smile curls at his lips and she thinks itโs beautiful. โDonโt think youโve done anything wrong in your life.โ
โDoes the charm usually work for you?โ
He lets out a loud laugh. The sound of it spreads warmth on her skin. โYou tell me.โ
Oh. Thatโs a challenge if Amelieโs ever heard one. But even with his close proximity, this building tension of sorts thatโs been present ever since theyโve met and his watchful but kind eyes, waiting for the next move, sheโs still not sure.ย
Fuck it.ย
She kisses him anyway.ย
Jack responds immediately, his hands finding a home on her hips in a way that has her smiling into his lips. She thinks heโs smiling too, but she pulls away too quickly to really know. He is grinning when she pulls away though, a sparkle in his eye she hasnโt seen quite yet.
He pouts playfully and she wants to kiss him again. But she restrains herself and glares at him instead. โWhatโs the pout for?โ
โWhatโs the glare for?โ He shoots back, squeezing her hips lightly. โYou kissed me yet I feel like youโre about to accuse me of killing Suzie.โ
โSuzie would probably kill you first,โ she replies absentmindedly, before stepping away. Mostly so she doesnโt lose control again and kiss him.ย
Amelie might be starting to question her decision, but Jackโs smile is easy. Light. โYou gonna let me kiss you again?โ
She snorts, but itโs more fond than anything. โNext time.โ
He sticks his bottom lip out in displeasure, but he backs away. โIโm holding you to that.โย
She follows him back to the kitchen with a light pep in her step paired with an alarm bell in her mind.
day twenty - jack
Jack automatically smiles when Clementine Sandovalโs face appears on his phone screen. โHey Clee.โ
โJacky!โ She exclaims. โYou look tan.โ
He gasps in delight. โReally? Thank you.โ
His pseudo-older sister rolls her eyes, โNevermind. I take it back. How are you? Whatโs up? Howโs Michigan? Where are Q and Lukey?โ
He chuckles at her onslaught of questions, a pang of guilt in his heart because he hasnโt called her that much since he left New Jersey mid-June. To be fair, he didnโt want to interrupt her trip to visit her new boyfriend in Switzerland โ Jack still has to remind himself sometimes that his captain is dating someone who heโs considered a sister ever since he can remember. He loves it, but the fact that Nico could basically become his brother-in-law is a fact he still hasnโt wrapped his head around.
But that pang of guilt washes away quickly, like it always does, as he looks at her warm smile. โIโm good. Michiganโs great. Quinnโs out getting groceries and Lukeโs probably still napping. Are you busy?โ
โNot at all. Iโm just making dinner. I actually do miss you guys at the apartment a lot.โ
Jack grins. โWe miss you a lot too, Clee. Wish you were here.โ
โSo whatโs up?โ
โHm?โ
โYouโre chewing on your drawstrings. You only do that when somethingโs on your mind.โ
He lets the drawstrings fall from his mouth as he narrows his eyes. โHow do you know that?โ
She snorts, โBecause I know you, Jack. Whatโs going on?โ
The sound of her sink water running fills the air as Jack takes a deep breath. โI met a girl.โ
He snickers as Clementine, with her back towards the camera, freezes. Slowly, she turns back around. โYou met a girl?โ
โYeah.โ
โOkay,โ she starts chopping some garlic. โTell me about her.โ
โHer nameโs Amelie. Sheโs a year younger than me. Just graduated from Michigan. She knows Luke, actually, used to photograph the hockey games.โ
โShe knows Luke?โ
โYeah. Her grandparents just bought a place two houses down from us and she was walking the dog one day andโฆyeah.โ
Clementine hums, clearing the chopped garlic off her knife and into a small bowl. โWhatโs she like?โ
โSheโs a bit quieter, but quick and sarcastic as hell when you get to know her. Sheโs creative, because, you know, photographer. Sheโs really pretty. Hang on, Iโll send you a picture,โ Jack does just that, sending one he took of her and Adam the other night, waiting for Clementine to look at it before he continues. โSheโs always saying something really interesting and cool. I donโt know. Weโve been hanging out a lot the last two weeks and sheโs just, really great.โ
โYou met two weeks ago?โ
โMore or less.โ Jack bites his lip, trying to read the abnormally-unreadable look on her face. โWhat?โ
โNothing. She just graduated? Any plans after post-grad?โ
โSaid sheโs talking to a few NHL teams for a photographer gig.โ
Her eyebrows shoot up. โFor real?โ
โYup.โ
โDamn,โ Clementine says. โThatโs awesome. So what? You like her?โ
โI think so?โ
โItโs a yes or no question.โ
โFine. Yes. I do.โ
She smirks. โThat wasnโt so hard, was it now?โ Jack glares at his phone as she giggles. โOkay. Does she like you back?โ
โShe kissed me the other day.โ
โOh,โ Clementineโs eyes sparkle and Jack feels bashful for some reason. โDid she now? So she must.โ
โHopefully.โ
She gives him a look. โJack.โ
โWhat?โ
โYouโre being annoying on purpose.โ
โIโm not being annoying,โ Jack responds instinctively. Okay, maybe he is. โI just, I donโt know. I havenโt felt like this in awhile. Maybe ever.โ
โFelt like what, exactly?โ
And this is why Jack called the older brunette. She pushes him in a way that isnโt overbearing, but just the right amount where sheโs not gonna take getting brushed off. Sometimes, Jack thinks he gets away with brushing things off too easily. Blame it on growing up with two brothers. Luckily, Clementine doesnโt let that happen.ย
โFelt this excited about someone.โ
โThatโs a good thing, Jack.โ She says.ย
โYeah.โ Suddenly, itโs like a dam breaks. He hasnโt really talked to anyone about how exactly he feels about Amelie yet. โSheโsโฆ..I think I really like her, Clee. Like, I just want to be around her all the time. When Iโm around her, I just, I donโt know. I canโt stop smiling.ย
โShe must be some girl.โ
โShe is,โ he responds confidently.ย
โSo now what? You two have kissed. Whatโs next? Labels or no?โ
โI donโt know.โ
โYou donโt know.โ
โNo. I donโt.โ Silence. Clementine stops the movement on her end and looks at Jack. He swallows. Itโs the kind of look that she only pulls out when sheโs about to say something he might not want to hear. โWhat?โ He says defensively.ย
โNothing. Well, thatโs not true. Itโs okay to not know. You guys literally just met. Really. Justโฆbe careful. Iโm sure sheโs lovely, but I donโt..you seem to really like her. Iโd hate to see you get hurt over this.โ
โI wonโt,โ Jack says confidently. โClee, you know me. I donโt get my heart broken.โ
โYou also donโt get like this about girls,โ Clementine points out. โAnd you know how I know that? Youโve known Amelie for two weeks and youโre already telling me about her. It took you three months for you to even mention to me that you had a girlfriend last time. Justโฆbe careful, okay? Youโre only in Michigan for so much longer.โ
โI will,โ Jack says.ย
Clementine only nods, before they switch the conversation back to her trip to Switzerland. But the rest of the conversation, Jack canโt help but keep seeing Clementineโs worried look in her mind.ย
Clementineโs usually right. He hopes sheโs wrong this time.ย
day twenty three - amelie
Amelie takes a deep breath before accepting a good luck hug from her grandparents and shutting the front door. She smiles at the sight of Jackโs car and slides over into his passenger seat with practiced ease.ย
โYou really didnโt have to do this.โ
โWeโre literally going to the same place.โ
โStill.โ
Jack backs out of her driveway with an easy smile. โYou nervous?โ
Like, yeah. But she shrugs. โEven if I am, nothing I can do about it now.โ
โYouโll get the job,โ he says confidently. โI know it.โ
โThanks for the vote of confidence,โ she chuckles. โWhere are Quinn and Luke? Donโt you all practice together?โ
โYeah. I forced them to take another car.โ
โYou didnโt have to kick them out.โ
โI think I did.โ She just gives him a look. Jack smiles easily. โDonโt worry about it. Remind me of the address again?โ
She wordlessly connects her phone to his car and puts in the address of the cafe sheโs meeting Heather at. 47 minute drive and she has to be there at 10 a.m. sharp. Sheโll have around ten minutes to spare.ย
Itโs clear they both woke up not long ago, content to spend most of the drive in comfortable silence with her occasional humming to whatever song she has playing from her phone. Itโs mostly softer tunes to accompany the earlier hour, Maggie Rogers, Lizzy McAlpine and Noah Kahan appearing the most frequently. Sheโs 99% sure this isnโt close to Jackโs style of music at all, but he doesnโt seem to mind.ย
As he turns off the highway, she takes a deep breath, smoothing down her silk navy short-sleeved blouse sheโs deemed her good-luck shirt โ she wore it during her first interview with the NHL months ago. Luckily, itโs different people this time.ย
โIโm serious,โ Jack says. โYouโre gonna be great and youโre gonna get that job and get the fuck out of Michigan.โ
โYeah. Yeah, I am.โ They pull up to the cafe and she turns to face him with a grateful smile. โThank you for driving me.โ
โIโll come by as soon as practice is done.โ
She waves him off. โTake your time.โ
He leans in to kiss her cheek sweetly. โGood luck. Youโre gonna kill it.โ
Her stomach is flipping now for a whole different reason. She quickly opens the passenger door and looks at Jackโs sweet smile one more time before shutting it.ย
The interview goesโฆso well. So well that she has a job by the end of it, with a promised contract being sent to her email within the next hour. But she barely has to answer any questions before theyโre asking her if sheโll take it. It catches Amelie by complete shock and happiness that it takes so much for her to keep her cool in front of Josh, her possible future manager, and Sasha, the recruiter sheโs been in touch with this whole time.ย
All of her hard work has accounted for something? She wants to pinch herself as she shakes both of their hands and watches them walk out.ย
But something settles in her stomach when she looks down at the notes she took. In her cursive-like handwriting.ย
Main coverage teams: Rangers, Islanders, Flyers, Devilsย
Staring at the last word on the page, she swallows. The Devils. Sheโs gonna be photographing Jack.ย
Realistically, she knew that this always wouldโve been a possibility. But she never let herself entertain the idea.ย
But now itโs real. And itโs terrifying. And she kissed Jack eight days ago. She wants to throw up.
With shaky hands, she texts Jack that sheโs done. He doesnโt respond right away so she takes a deep breath, tapping her fingers against her coffee cup, her brain going a million miles an hour.ย
Sheโs responding to her familyโs texts before Jackโs name flashes through with the alert of a call. โHello?โ
โWell?โ Jackโs voice echoes through her ears. โDid you get it?โ
โCome pick me up and find out,โ she tries to tease. She hopes he canโt detect her shaky voice over the phone.
โAmelie,โ he whines. โCome on. You canโt leave me hanging like that.โ
She lets out a quiet chuckle. โDo you think Iโd be this happy if I didnโt get it?โ
A pause. And then, โLetโs fucking go, baby! I knew you had it in the bag.โ
โCome pick me up so I can tell you more about it,โ she muttersย
โYou got it.โย
11 minutes later, she sees Jack park by the curb and she walks out of the cafe, willing her hands to stop sweating. He quickly comes around the car and gives her a giant hug. She laughs as he lifts her up.ย
โSo,โ he sings as he starts the engine. โDo you know with what team? Or teams?โ
Amelie hopes her poker face is intact. โActually, not yet. Thatโs the only thing they havenโt fully settled on yet. And I might not know until, like, a month before I start.โ
He tuts. โThatโs a bit annoying. They just expect you to move to wherever on such short notice?โ
She swallows roughly, hoping he doesnโt notice. โI guess. They said they can help me find housing though, which is helpful.โ
He hums, before shaking her thigh with a laugh. โAmelie. This is amazing. You should be so proud of yourself.โ
โThanks, Jack.โ Instead of turning onto the highway, Jack takes a right. โWhere are we going?โ
โDo you have anywhere else to be today?โ
โNot until like, 4.โ
โPerfect.โ
She has to laugh out loud when the USA Hockey arena comes into view. โYou forget something?โ
โNo,โ he says simply. โHave you ever skated before?โ
โI photographed your younger brother at Michigan.โ
โBut that doesnโt mean youโve skated.โย
Fair. โI have. Iโm not very good though.โ
He kills the engine and flashes her a charming smile. โCome on. To celebrate.โ
Amelie lets Jack charm the person working the rentals and watches him tie the skates on her feet, smiling softly as he does it carefully, making sure theyโre tight enough. She takes his hand as she steps onto the ice, wobbling a bit but quickly gaining her balance. Thereโs no one else at this particular rink, which sheโs thankful for. People would have questions, and she doesnโt have any of the answers.ย
She lets herself laugh and have fun as Jack spins them around. She takes a deep breath, letting the smells and sounds of an empty hockey arena fill her senses again.ย
This is gonna be her future for the next while. If she thinks too hard, she can picture herself in Newark, in the Prudential Center, with Jack across from her, just like this. She swallows at the sight of Jackโs bright eyes.ย
Main coverage teams: Rangers, Islanders, Flyers, Devilsย
โYouโre amazing,โ Jack says a bit later, as theyโre gliding in the middle of the ice, her hands in his, facing each other. โIโm serious. Youโre going to crush it.โ
She tries not to tear up, looking down at their skates. โIโm really excited,โ she says. โThis is, kind of, everything Iโve been working towards.โ
โI know,โ Jack smiles, tugging at her hands lightly. โYou nervous at all?โ
โA bit. Is that weird?โ
He snorts. โNo. I was scared shitless my rookie year, despite trying to act like hot shit.โ
โI donโt doubt that.โ
โBut youโre not me, because youโre healthily humble and you have the talent to back up your skill. Itโs okay to be nervous, but itโs all gonna work out just fine.โ
She hums, hands boldly reaching out to cup his face. She only has so much time left. She swears he softens into her touch. โQuite good at the pep talks, huh?โ
โNot usually,โ he murmurs, leaning closer as his lips ghost hers. โBut, I donโt know. You seem to bring out a different side of me.โ
โThatโs sappy as shit.โ
โI can be sappy.โ
โSure you can.โ She hums as he presses a delicate kiss on her lips. She chuckles airily as he pulls away only to start peppering kisses on her cheeks.ย
For a bit, Amelie squashes her overthinking and just breathes in everything Jack Hughes.ย
(Unbeknownst to both Amelie and Jack, Jim sees them from the offices upstairs. He smiles to himself, as he watches his son spin the brunette girl around the ice, the joy palpable on both their faces)
day twenty five - jack
He doesnโt even bother to come up with an excuse anymore when he shows up on Stanley and Ruthโs front door the next morning. He accepts a cup of coffee when Ruth tells him Amelieโs in the shower, chatting casually with them both about the weather, golf, his family and the upcoming season.ย
When Amelie comes down the stairs, she doesnโt even look surprised, simply waving before tossing her hair up and grabbing her bag. She mentioned over text that she just had to run some โboringโ errands today. He jumped at the chance to join her.ย
With some argument, she relents and lets him drive. He has to stop himself from looking over at her, overwhelmed atโฆher. Just her.ย
The grocery store first to get groceries for Stanley and Ruth, which causes Jack to swallow because God, the way Amelie takes care of the people in her life reminds him of Clementine, who always saw the best in Jack before he was anything.ย
Then a stop by at a farm to table place for lunch where Amelie says sheโs been dying to try. Then Target, then CVS, then the bank. They never really hold hands, but theyโre always in each otherโs orbit comfortably. Thatโs enough for him.
Before being done for the day, a quick detour to a small beach that Amelie claims has โincredible sunsets.โ He follows her obediently as she jumps out of the car with her film camera. The sunset is beautiful, but, and itโs so cliche and gross and he would get chirped to hell if his friends could read his mind, Amelieโs prettier.ย
He canโt help but take out his phone to take a picture of her back against the cotton candy sky. He always posts some sort of a summer dump on his Instagram. Maybe this picture will go in there.ย
day thirty two - amelie
โWhoโs gonna be there again?โย
โHonestly, who knows at this point?โ Jackโs voice floods her ears through her airpods as she takes Susie on a walk and Jackโs driving back from who knows where.ย
โAnd this is tonight?โ
โYup. Because itโs someoneโs birthday? Ethanโs, maybe?โ
โNot Eddy,โ she responds automatically. โHis birthdayโs in June.โ
โI forget how close you two are.โ
โTo be fair, the only reason I remember is because heโs like, five days older than I am,โ Amelie shushes Susie, whoโs barking at a squirrel. โAnd youโre all gathering at some sort of sports bar at fucking Ann Arbor of all places toโฆ celebrate? Reminisce?โ
She can practically hear Jackโs pout. โYou donโt have to come if you donโt want to.โ
โThatโs not what Iโm saying,โ she chides gently. โI, just, Iโm just confused about-โ
โConfused about what?โ
โAbout why youโd want me there.โ
โWhy wouldnโt I want you there?โ Jack says softly.ย
She swallows, playing with Susieโs leash. โOkay.โ
โOkay?โ
โYeah.โ
โAwesome,โ she knows Jackโs smiling through the phone and she canโt help but smile as well, even though she feels a pit forming in her stomach. โIโm DDing because I lost a bet against Luke on the course yesterday, so you can go as hard as youโd like.โ A rustle on his end of the phone. โI gotta go, but Iโll see you later?โ
โWhat time are you coming?โ
โAround 7:30?โ
โPerfect.โ
โSee you soon.โ
Amelie hears him pull up at 7:23 as sheโs scrolling on her phone. A deep breath before opening the door and she doesnโt expect Jack to be walking up her steps.ย
โOh,โ she blinks. โHi.โ
Jack smiles up at her. โHey.โ
She looks beyond his shoulder and sees some movement in the backseat of the running car. โYou didnโt have to step out.โ
โFeels impolite just honking.โ She lets him wrap her in a quick hug before she slips into the passenger seat. She turns around immediately to smile at Ethan, Luke and Dylan. โHi boys. You sure none of you wanna take the front seat?โ
โWe are under strict orders from Jack that as long as youโre in the car, we will be banished to the back,โ Luke snickers.ย
Jack blindly reaches back to smack his brotherโs leg. โIโm already driving you losers. Donโt make me regret it.โ
Luke gasps. โIโm not the one who lost the bet.โ Another slap to the leg from Jack and another yelp from Luke.ย
Once they reach the bar and Jack somehow finds street parking, the boys pile out quickly and head to the bar. Her and Jack stray behind, and he locks the car before swinging an arm around her shoulder, sneaking a kiss to her temple.ย
She shouldnโt, but she leans into it. Leans into him. The bustling bar is coming into view and sheโs getting nervous.ย
He pokes at her side. โWhatโs wrong?โ
โNothing.โ
He offers her a skeptical look but lets it go. โYouโll know most of the people there. No need to be nervous.โ
โIโm not nervous,โ she lies.ย
He snorts, but doesnโt respond. He does pull her closer to his side though.ย
Immediately when they walk in and Amelie realizes she has been here before. Not many times, maybe only three or four, but enough for the environment itself to not be unfamiliar. She surveys the scene while letting Jack steer them both towards a corner where both people she knows and doesnโt know are gathering. The first person she makes eye contact with happens to be Carina Scholl, a girl she went to high school with. Because of course. This state is so damn small. Before she can spiral over it, Amelieโs quickly distracted by the sound of Mark Estapaโs voice.
And then itโs like a floodgate opens. Members of the Michigan Menโs hockey team, present and past, greet her, standing in a sort of messy line, almost like theyโre queuing to hug her. It starts with Mark, then Rutger and Kienan and Luca. Then Mackie and Nolan, who she hasnโt seen in far too long and didnโt realize she missed until now.ย
She feels quite touched that they all seem so excited to see her, wrinkling her nose when Rutger pulls her ponytail lightly.ย When everyone calms down, Jack slides her favorite cider towards her. She smiles at him in thanks and he just winks before being pulled into a conversation about hockey that honestly has Amelie immediately tuning them out.ย
She ventures to familiar territory โ a booth housing Ethan and Luke โ and they happily let her slide between them, introducing her to the faces she doesnโt recognize as she politely nods. She does brighten up when one of the girls, Sarah, she notes, says she recognizes her from her photography. (โI was on the gymnastics team. My family might have one of your photos framed in the house.โ).ย
Photography and Michigan. Those are topics Amelie can talk about.ย
After a bit, the boys slide out and she finds herself gravitating towards Sarah and two of her friends Amelie doesnโt know, content with sitting back and listening into their conversation, with some comments here and there. She spots two more girls she went to high school with โ Shannon and Abby โ and swallows roughly. Sheโs pulled back in the conversation with a call of her name from Madison.ย
โI saw that you came in with Jack Hughes,โ Madison says. Immediately, Amelie wants this conversation to end. But Madisonโs smile is curious, not malicious. โAre you twoโฆyou know?โ
Amelie blinks, stomach suddenly dropping. โAre weโฆโ
โTogether,โ Sarah finishes with a teasing eye roll. โI donโt know why you didnโt just say it, Maddy.โ
โI didnโt want to be impolite!โ Madison exclaims as Ellie, the third girl, laughs. โI mean, we just met. Itโs none of my business, really.โ
โWeโre not,โ Amelie says, softly but firmly, even though she wants to crawl under the table right now. โFriends through Luke, I guess. Found out my grandparents live by him and Quinnโs place just a few weeks ago.โ
โYou hadnโt met beforehand?โ
โNope.โ
โHuh,โ Ellie says. Amelie follows Ellieโs eyeline to where Jack is talking to Adam. With a High Noon in one hand, the other shoved into the pocket of his jeans and that stupid backwards cap on his head, Amelie canโt look away. โI wouldnโt have predicted that. It seems like youโve known each other forever.โ
Amelie laughs shakily. โHeโs like that with everyone.โ
The girls let it go, but Amelie canโt. Is it that obvious to people? Should it be? Is he like this with everyone? It wouldnโt surprise her if he was. Just because theyโve kissed, doesnโt mean sheโs anything special.ย
After a bit, she excuses herself to go grab another drink. If Jack is also at the bar as she approaches, thatโs just a coincidence.ย
Itโs interesting. She simultaneously wants to be away from him, especially because it seems like โMain coverage teams: Rangers, Islanders, Flyers, Devilsโ is flashing through her mind at all times. But she also wants to be around him because he makes her feel at ease
She nods at Luca, who Jack was talking to, with a wry smile. โLuca.โ
โAmelie,โ he sings in the same tone. Amelie considers herself closer to the younger Fantilli, but Lucaโs constant positive energy was always a welcome sight when she entered Yost. โYou look beautiful.โ
โThatโs kind of you to say.โ
โI feel like youโre about to yell at me for not answering the question again.โ
โThat was one time,โ she says dryly. โLet it go.โ
Jack looks between the two of them with interest. โAmelie being a strict TA? That doesnโt surprise me.โ
โShe wasnโt strict, perse,โ Luca teases. โJust didnโt want to deal with our shit.โ
โBecause I dealt with it enough at the rink,โ Amelie says. She brightens up momentarily when Jack shoves another cider in her hand. Without thinking, she presses a quick kiss on his cheek as a thank you. Luca, to his credit, just raises his eyebrows before Gavin beckons him elsewhere.ย
She pokes at Jackโs chest. โYou trying to loosen me up? You didnโt have to buy me another.โ
โI told you to go crazy, didnโt I?โ
โI think Iโve spotted three people here who went to my high school.โ
Jack just raises an eyebrow casually. โNo shit. Did you say hi?โ
Amelie snorts. โNo.โ
โWhy not?โ
She gives him a look and realizes he doesnโt understand. She doesnโt want to get into it. โI just donโt feel like it.โ
โYou sure?โ He nods at something behind her and she turns around, making eye contact with Carina.ย
She turns back around to face Jack again. โIโm sure.โ
(Sheโs not. Sheโs not sure about anything all of a sudden. Itโs starting to feel like too much for her. But thatโs not Jackโs problem to deal with)
โOkay,โ he stops pushing. โWho should we tackle talking to next?โ
โDidnโt know this was a team effort,โ she teases lightly, the weight on her shoulders deflating by the second.ย
He readjusts his hair under his hat with a roguish grin. โHey. I dragged you here. And these are mostly Lukeโs friends. Of course weโre in this together.โ
She rolls her eyes. Because heโs a liar. But she humors him, nodding over to a group consisting of Rutger, his girlfriend Kayleigh, Nolan, Mackie and Mark. โThey seem safe.โ Jack snorts, but obliges, letting her lead the way.ย
More time passes, and Amelieโs buzzed. Jack mutters in her ear that theyโre probably gonna head out within the next 20 minutes or so, which she couldโve predicted, as their crowd is getting smaller and smaller. Adam already smacked a kiss on her cheek as a farewell. She figures she should probably go pee before the drive back.ย
After a quick trip to the bathroom, she walks out and pauses suddenly in her tracks. She watches a girl blatantly flirt with Jack, which is fine, it is. The frog she has in her throat isnโt anything. The prickling she feels in her spine is because of the heat, not because of the girlโs hand placed on his bicep. She canโt even let herself feel any sort of satisfaction when Jack casually shifts himself a bit away from her politely.ย
It suddenly all hits her in the face. Itโs like the bubble sheโs been living in for the last however many days has immediately popped.ย
Of course heโs being flirted with. This probably happens everytime he goes out. How could she be so stupid?
Jackโs never going to be anything more than a friend. Heโs based out of New Jersey for most of the year โ which, to be fair, Amelie might also be in a few months, which he still doesnโt know โ and Amelieโs 99% sure it just wouldnโt work. Theyโre tooโฆheโs him and sheโs who she is and this isnโt how it all works.ย
Sure, she kissed him first. But she didnโt mean for it to go this far. And sure, he kissed her back. But heโs one of the biggest up and coming superstars in the league that sheโs about to work for. To some degree, she knows how this is gonna end. Sheโs lived through it.ย
(Sometimes, sheโs relieved that MLB never got back to her. The idea of having to photograph Cooper almost makes bile creep up her throat._
She has to stop this before it crashes at their feet.
Amelie takes a deep breath and straightens her shoulders, before making her way back to Jack. He looks towards her and brightens up, excusing himself from the girl before jumping off his stool with her jacket she asked him to hold while she went to the bathroom.ย
โReady to go?โ He mutters.ย
Amelie nods stiffly. โWhere are the others?โ
โI told them to wait by the car. Do you need to say goodbye to anybody else?โย
She looks around. โNo. I did my rounds before I went to the bathroom.โ He hums and she follows him out of the bar. ignoring his outstretched hand.ย
(She misses the flash of hurt that passes by Jackโs eyes. But itโs gone as quickly as it came)ย
โThanks again for coming with me,โ Jack says, his voice suddenly sounding so loud contrasting with the quiet Ann Arbor air. โReally. I know itโs not your scene but I appreciate it anyways.โ
โYouโre welcome,โ she says, hoping he doesnโt pick up on her sudden change of mood.ย
He does, furrowing his eyebrows. โIs everything alright?โ
โFine. Everything is fine.โ
โYouโre lying to me.โ
She doesnโt quite snap back, but itโs close enough to it. โHow would you know that?โย
He blanches slightly, but theyโre at the car. So he just wordlessly opens the door for her. She smiles softly at Ethan, who ruffles her hair from the back and snorts at Dylan and Luke, who are sleeping with their mouths wide open.ย
The drive goes by extremely quickly yet painfully slow at the same time. Amelie actively avoids eye contact with Jack, busying staring out her window and making mindless conversation with Ethan. If he feels the tension. he ignores it.ย
Jack pulls up to his place first, rolling his eyes as Luke, Dylan and Ethan clamber into the house. As soon as the door shuts, Jack turns to her. She reluctantly turns to him.
โAre you okay?โ His eyes hold so much concern. It makes Amelie bite her lip. โAnd please be honest with me.โ
โIโm fine, Jack,โ she croaks out. Sheโs a bit tipsy. Sheโs very tired. Her resolve is crumbling fast. She feels like sheโs running out of time. โI think Iโm just overstimulated.โ
โIโll drive you home,โ he says softly. He places a gentle kiss on her forehead and it takes everything in Amelie not to let her eyes tear up.ย
Heโs barely backed out of his driveway when she canโt take it anymore. โRangers, Islanders, Flyers, Devils.โ
Silence. โWhat?โ He says.
โRangers, Islanders, Flyers, Devils,โ she repeats, trying to keep her voice steady. โThose are the teams Iโm covering.โ
He parks in her grandparentsโ driveway, killing the engine. โDid you just find this out today?โ
She squeezes her eyes shut. โNo. Iโve known since I got the official offer.โ
The silence washes over her like the most destructive tidal wave. โYou lied to me?โ He whispers.ย
โIโm so-โ
โWhy did you lie to me?โ He asks in a hurt voice.ย
โJack-โ
โWere you ever gonna tell me?โ She snaps her mouth shut. That gives him his answer. He swallows roughly, running a hand through his hair. โSo what? You were gonna just walk in during media day and pretend we havenโt met before?โ
โThatโs not fair,โ she manages to get out.ย
โPretend we havenโt kissed before?โ Jack presses on.
That makes the fire in Amelieโs stomach flame. โWeโve known each other for like, a month, Jack. I donโt owe you anything.โ
He scoffs. โYou donโt think so?โ She flinches at his harsh tone and he softens a bit with a sigh. โI just donโt understand why you didnโt tell me.โ
Thereโs plenty of reasons why. Many of which Amelie doesnโt want to say out loud. She settles for: โI mean, would it have mattered?โ Her voice cracks. โYou were always going to go back to Jersey and I was always gonna leave Michigan and whatever this was wouldโve only lasted for so long.โ
โWhatever this is?โ Jack repeats, tilting his head back against the headrest in frustration. โSo what? You thought that weโd go back to our regular lives and all of this would justโฆbe forgotten?โ
โI donโt know,โ she says, frustrated.ย
โBut you clearly thought about it.โ
โOf course I did,โ she squeezes her eyes shut. โJack, youโreโฆyouโre Jack Hughes. I donโt necessarily care about it like that but I know you have a franchise on your shoulders and youโre the best of the best and we met under weird coincidences and Iโm glad we have, believe me, but this always had a timer on it.โ
โWhat exactly is โthis?โโ The roughness in his voice has Amelie simultaneously feeling like she wants to cry and scream. Jack laughs humorlessly. โAnd itโs funny you bring up all that shit now, considering you never for once cared about who I was and all of that since the day we met.โ
โI donโt care,โ Amelie insists. โIn fact, itโs probably the thing about you I care the least about, in the nicest way possible. But whether we both like it or not, itโs a huge part of who you are. And I donโt know if Iโฆโ
โIf you?โ
โIf I have a place in your life when it comes to that.โ
โBecause of what I do? Because of my job?โ
Amelie scoffs. โStop trying to underplay what you do and the impact you have on the league, Jack. I may have just met you a month ago but I, in some way, work in the same fucking industry you do. Iโm not stupid.โ
โI know youโre not stupid,โ he rolls his eyes. โYouโre probably one of the smartest people Iโve met in my life. Iโm not trying to underplay anything. At the end of the day, hockey is just my job. LIke photography is yours. I donโt see how that has anything to do with us.โ
โWell, maybe thatโs exactly the problem.โ
Jack huffs. โItโs my life. Shouldnโt I have a say in if I want you in it or not?โ
And sure, Amelie thinks, Jack has a point, but so does she, even if sheโs not explaining it well. She turns in her seat to fully face him and tries a different angle. Tries to get him to understand. โHave you thought about this at all? Like, sat down and really thought about whatโs gonna happen when we both leave Michigan? Jack, you know I donโt want to come back unless I have to.โ
โWhat does that have to do with us at all?โ
โJack,โ she deadpans. โYou love this place. You feel the most comfortable here, you told me that yourself. All I want to do is get out here and all you want to do is stay.โ She deflates. โYou really didnโt think about the future of any of this?โ
โYes! No. Maybe?โ Jack raises his voice in frustration. โI just-I enjoyed, enjoy, spending time together. You kind of make me forget how to think when Iโm around you in the best way possible. And I want to be around you all the time. Isnโt that enough?โ
โI still donโt even know what we are! Friends? Friends who kiss sometimes? Dating? Hooking up because itโs convenient?โ
He blanches. Itโs the most hurt heโs looked this whole conversation. โAmelie-โ he whispers.
โI know Iโm being unfair, but please try to understand my reasoning,โ she wipes her tears with the sleeve of her top. โI was already up for this job before I met you. And then I met you. And then I thought, oh, maybe I do care about where I end up. Wouldnโt that be nice and convenient? But weโve known each other for a month. And Iโm not gonna let someone Iโve only known for so long dictate the start of this really important moment for me.โ
โI wouldnโt have ever asked you to do that,โ Jack says meekly. โI know how important your career is to you.โ
โAnd I believe that,โ Amelie softens with a swallow. Theyโre not getting anywhere productive. โI-Iโm sorry, Jack. I shouldnโt have lied to you.โ
โBut you did,โ he says. He runs his hand roughly through his hair again. The curls are beginning to become very unruly.ย โWas this whole month just, I donโt know, were we not on the same page?โ
โMaybe we werenโt,โ she bites her quivering lip. โI like you, Jack. I do. But I canโtโฆI canโt do this. Us. Whatever this is.โ
Silence, before his voice cracks. โNow or ever?โย
โI donโt know,โ she sniffles. โIโm sorry.โ She cries, rubbing her eyes roughly with the palms of her hand. She knows this is all her fault. She knows this isnโt the only thing he kept from him. She knows that sheโs been cautious telling him important things about herself this whole time, where heโs been nothing but fearless and honest. She knows she fucked up.ย
But she canโt say any of that out loud. He wouldnโt get it. And maybe she doesnโt really want him to. Isnโt ready for him to
She feels his hand on her cheek, which causes her to cry harder, her tears falling cascading onto his fingers. Through blurry vision, she can see him swallowing roughly. โCan I say one last thing?โ
She canโt help but let out a weak laugh. โSure.โ
โA few weeks ago, you asked me if the top was a lonely place to be. And you know, it can be a lot,โ he admits. Her heart aches at how vulnerable heโs being. โMy brothers and teammates and friends understand mostly, but itโs not the same. Y-youโre the first person in a long time who's made me feel like it doesnโt have to be lonely.โ
That causes Amelie to cry even harder. Every part of her is fighting her to fight for him. To keep groveling, even though it doesnโt even seem like he wants that, which is somehow even more heartbreaking. To fill in the gaps for him about why she canโt fully let go and let him in. But she canโt. โI-Iโm sorry I lied to you. And Iโm sorry it had to be this way,โ she croaks out.
โMe too,โ he says, backing away slightly. She misses his touch instantly. โI-Iโll give you some space and n-not contact you for awhile. Um, you have my number. Whenโฆif you ever wanna reach me, you know how to.โ
Her heart splices in half completely. Sheโs the one who lied to him and heโs the one offering space. Amelie knows sheโs selfish for asking her final question, but she does it anyways. โAnd youโd pick up?โ
Jack laughs with a watery smile, โEvery time.โ
It takes all her willpower to not kiss him one last time. She unbuckles her seatbelt and rushes into her grandparents house. She closes the front door and leans her back on it, sliding down and muffles her cries into her hand.ย
day thirty three - jackย
Everything hurts.ย
Thatโs the first thing Jack thinks when his eyes blearily open with the sun. His eyes hurt from crying too many freaking times the last few days. His ribs hurt from where Luke checked him into the boards yesterday. It wasnโt even a particularly hard hit, but Jackโs head was anywhere but the ice and he didnโt see it coming until it was too late.ย
And his heart justโฆhurts.ย
Luckily, they have the day off today so he can sulk without feeling too guilty. Maybe heโll take the boat out into the water by himself and just lay there. He hears some voices downstairs and squeezes his eyes shut to try and decipher them. Quinn, Luke, Dylan and Ethan. The latter two obviously donโt know him as well, but Jack knows them well enough that theyโd probably actually be really nice about Jackโs situation. Especially because Ethanโs close toโฆyeah.
Jack launches himself out of bed, quickly brushes his teeth and splashes some water in his face before stumbling downstairs, his pace faster once he smells a fresh pot of coffee.ย
โMorninโโ Jack croaks out, nodding at Dylan and Ethan who are sitting around the island with Quinn, who just slaps his shoulder in greeting. Luke wordlessly pours out a mug for him and Jack smiles at him gratefully.ย
โYou look like shit,โ Luke says bluntly. Jack would face wash him for that if he had the energy. And if he was wrong.ย
โLuke.โ Quinn chastises.ย
Jack waves his older brother off. โItโs fine. Heโs right.โ His eye catches the sight of an envelope at the end of the table. โWhatโs that?โ
Itโs silent for a few seconds too long until Ethan clears his throat. โUh, Amelie said she developed the shots for her film camera. Dropped some by that she said you guys might want.โย
Jack swallows with a curt nod, chugging the whole cup of coffee in one go. He nods at Luke to pour him more.ย
โDo you want to talk about it?โ Quinn asks tentatively.ย
Immediately, Jack wants to shoot that down. But then he looks up, and he sees all four of them looking at him with varying degrees of worry in their eyes. Jack shoves down the instinct to avoid โ like heโs been doing the last few days. โI donโt even know where to start.โ He whispers.
โAnywhere that makes sense to you.โ Quinn suggests, because Quinnโs always been the one who directs. Who guides.ย
So Jack lets it all out. He talks about how he purposefully didnโt want to cling to her all night because he didnโt want to come off that way but how he couldnโt take his eyes off her no matter where she was in the room. He talks about how beautiful she looked (โI mean, you guys arenโt stupid. That top with her eyes? Lethal combo.โ) and how he had a moment where he felt like all was right in the world. He talks about that subtle shift in her mood after he lost her for a bit and how quiet she was in the car ride home.ย
Thatโs the easy part.ย
Jack inhales a muffin from a box that someone mustโve gotten this morning from the local bakery before continuing to recall him and Amelieโs conversation in the car after he dropped off everyone. When he drops the revelation that Amelieโs actually going to be around the Tri-State area covering the Rangers, Islanders, Flyers and the fucking Devils, all four of them look shocked, but donโt say anything. He talks about how his initial reaction was that he was hurt that she hadnโt told him because he thought that they had something going on between them. He talks about how he felt like the conversation escalated so quickly but also calmly because Amelie doesnโt raise her voice and Jack is not a yeller and how it almost wouldโve been easier had they been screaming at each other. He talks about how he canโt really remember when Amelie started crying but how he can remember how he felt his stomach dropping to his feet when she did. He can barely remember how they fucking got there in the first place.ย
Jack sniffles, hastily wiping his tears away before they can fully fall. โAll I know is that I fucking made her cry and whatever we had is probably ruined, which is extremely fucking convenient considering Iโm gonna be seeing her around during the season.โ
โItโs not ruined,โ Ethan speaks up after a few seconds of silence.ย
Jack snorts. โNo offense, man, But how would you know that for sure?โ
โI know you two have gotten close in the last month or so, but besides that, I would argue that out of everyone here, Iโm the closest with her.โ And Jack swallows, because shit, Ethan has a point. Ethan continues. โDespite her lying to you and everything falling to pieces, itโs not ruined. Amelie isnโt like that. You have to really fuck up for her to cut you out.โ
And like, yeah, Jack knows that, to a degree. But, โI donโt think sheโs ever gonna wanna see me again.โ
โWell, did you say anything that was particularly horrible?โ Luke asks.ย
Jack swallows. โNo? Maybe I was snappy at some points, but I donโt think soโ
โI mean, itโs fair,โ Quinn says. โEven though itโs harsh, you were right to be mad about her lying to you.โ
โDid I give off that impression that she couldnโt talk to me? Like yeah, we practically just met, but I feel like, I donโt know. I just donโt really get why sheโd hide that from me.โ
โI might have an idea,โ the guys turn to Ethan as he swallows and debates something in his own head. โUh, this is random, but hear me out. Did she ever tell you about her ex?โ
โWhich one?โ Jack asks.
โCooper Volt. Baseball player at Michigan. Drafted to the Mets, I think.โ
โA bit but not much. Why?โ
โLook, Iโm not trying to, like, spill her secrets or anything. I think it just might put things in context.โ Jack nods and Ethan sighs. โSo basically, she was dating him, right? Pretty serious. Lasted for a little over a year. Anyways. I donโt know the details, but I know that the break-up wasnโt pretty. Or, I just assume it wasnโt, because I only found out they broke up after I saw Cooper with another girl on his arm and was confused and literally asked Amelie about it. Apparently, it had only been two weeks since they broke up and he had already gone out and found someone else?โ
โWhat an asshole,โ Dylan says, his first verbal participation in the conversation. Heโs been munching on cheerios, intensely listening. Quinnโs eyebrows are furrowed in a way that only appears when heโs concerned or really pissed off and Jackโs kinda fuming that someone put her through that.
โRight? Yeah, so thatโs that. And typical Amelie, you know, said she was fine and I knew that she had her own friends checking up on her.โ Jackโs nodding, following on to his every word, even if a bit confused on where Ethan is going with this. โOkay. So, this is, our sophomore year, so her junior year. The seniors are hosting a party and we convince her to come for once. You know how those parties go. They get big. People are filtering in and out. I just remember coming to the kitchen to refill my drink and seeing Amelie looking so fucking dejected as Cooper and his new girl are talking to her.โ
โDid you hear what they said?โ Luke asks.ย
โNo, but I didnโt need to, not with that look in her eye,โ Ethan scoffed. โI caught the tail-end of their conversation though, which, like, I donโt even wanna repeat, but it was basically Cooper just saying shit about how he never liked her anyways and he took a shot at her being bi? I donโt think I remember it quite accurately to be honest because the second I heard him say that shit I just saw red.โ
โHe threw the fact that sheโs bi to her face?โ Jack asks sharply. Heโs trying his best not to throw his cup at the wall.
โSomething like it,โ Ethan says. โYeah, I know. Absolute piece of shit. I kicked him and their friends out of the party, because, like, there was no fucking way they were staying.โ
โHow did I not know about this?โ Luke asks. โIโm pretty sure I was at that party.โ
โYou were. If they had refused to leave or whatever or put up more of a fight, I wouldโve gotten backup. But they didnโt. And you know Amelie. She begged me not to make a big deal out of it. So I just kept an eye on her for the rest of the night.โย
โThatโs so shitty,โ Quinn says softly. โPutting that against her. With his new girlfriend there too.โ
โYeah, butโฆanyways. The point is, a week or so after that I kinda caught her after a game or something and I drove her back to her place and she kinda exploded. Went on a whole rant about athletes and sports culture from what sheโs observed and all that, which Iโm not saying isnโt true, but basically, I think the situation with Cooper was kind of the nail on the coffin.โ
โThat what?โ Luke asks. โAll athletes suck?โ
Ethan clears his throat. โI think getting fucked over by Cooper, and then meeting Jack and realizing she has feelings for him then thinking back to the last time this happened and how it endedโฆcan you blame her for being a bit scared?โ
โShe shouldโve told me she was covering the Devils when she found out where she was gonna be placed.โ Jack says firmly, and he stands by it.ย
โProbably,โ Quinn agrees. โBut Jacky, think about it. Even just some of the guys weโve played with. Not saying theyโre all assholes like this guyโฆitโs just, even if itโs unfair she might place you in the same category, that might be how she feels.โย
โShe shouldโve told me,โ Jack repeats. He squeezes his eyes in frustration.ย
โBut did you tell her you were serious about her?โ Luke says. Immediately, Jack wants to snap back at his younger brother, because heโs a pest and who is he to doubt Jack about his own fucking relationship, or lack thereof. But then, Jack realizes and a whole new pit appears in his stomach.ย
โShe kept interrupting me,โ he whispers. As he puts his head in his hands, he misses the sympathetic looks the other guys exchange. โFuck. I never-I shouldโve been clearer.โ
โJack-โ
โI shouldโve made that clear from the start,,โ Jack says as Luke immediately shuts his mouth. โShe had to have known. She had to.โ Jack swallows roughly. Heโs not the smartest, but he knows now. She didnโt know. And he never clarified what she meant to him.ย
โIโm sorry, Jack,โ Ethan says softly. Jack just waves his apology away. This is all on him. He excuses himself, putting his dish and mug in the sink.ย
โWeโre heading out on the water later. You should come,โ Quinn gently urges. Jack just nods, before clamoring up the stairs to take a shower or do something, anything to get rid of the feeling in his stomach.ย
The feeling that heโs fucked it all up.ย
day fifty six - amelieย
Amelieโs at the Prudential Center by 6:30 a.m. The players start rolling in just after 8, while sheโs finishing up helping to set up equipment and lighting. She has two cameras on either shoulder and one hanging by her neck and she has a headband in her hair and she feels happy. She feels at home.ย
She gets introduced to the guys that sheโs been researching for a month now. All of them are pleasant and patient. She does let out a genuine smile when Luke reaches out for a hug in greeting. What happened between her and Jack has nothing to do with him, and she hopes he knows that as she gives him an extra squeeze before pulling away.
When she introduces herself to the captain, she swears thereโs a spark of recognition that flashes through Nicoโs eyes, but it leaves just as quick as it came. Within their first few minutes of conversation, she concludes that Nico is almost unfairly kind. No wonder Jack loves him.ย
Itโs 10:19 a.m., and she still hasnโt seen Jack yet. She knows heโs scheduled in for his on-ice media shots sometime in the late morning. She purposefully didnโt grab herself a second cup of coffee after finishing her first one. She canโt be shaking when sheโs trying to get pictures of him.ย
Jack comes in and shakes everyoneโs hand. He just waves at her with a polite smile and she waves back, her stomach dropping. They can play it off as Amelie being across the ice and too far, but in reality, sheโs not sure if she would try to fake a handshake and pretend theyโve never met, hug him and never let go, or do something incredibly fucking stupid like kiss him.ย
He looks so handsome. He mustโve cut his hair recently, in a shorter style that makes him so carefree and young.ย
His stuff takes around 20 minutes, and she doesnโt really have to talk to him, instead just taking direction from Mira, head photographer / videographer.
Heโs not directly interacting with her, but she feels her stomach swirling and her palms sweat, causing the camera to almost slip out of her grasp multiple times. She wants to smile at the comfort he brings her just from being near him and wants to cry at how they left things in her grandparentsโ driveway. At how bad she still feels for lying to him. At how much sheโs missed him, as pathetic as it sounds.
Itโs neither of their faults that things fell to pieces the way they did. But now, as she snaps a silhouette shot of Jack, sheโs deathly afraid that this is just what itโs gonna be.ย
Jackโs the last one before lunch, so while everyone is taking their lunch break, Amelie takes a few moments to head to an empty room. She braces her hands on a table and takes three deep breaths. Her heart is beating fast. Her mind is starting to get away from her. She needs to focus. She cannot fall apart at work.
โAmelie?โ She whips around to see Jack, dressed back in his Devils hoodie and shorts, looking at her in concern.ย
She wipes her sweaty hands on her jeans. โJack. Hey. Can I help you with something?โ
โNo,โ Jack shuffles into the room. โI just heard your sighs. I- I wanted to make sure you were okay.โ
It feels like she has molasses in her throat, but she manages to respond. โIโm okay. Thanks.โ
โOkay. Good.โย
Heโs about to walk out of the room but her brain thinks before her mouth. โJack!โ He turns back around and she takes a breath.
โYeah?โ His face is unreadable.ย
She forces herself to keep eye contact. โWould you wanna maybe grab dinner or something?โ
Jack blinks. Amelie wonders if heโs ever been rendered speechless. His voice doesnโt give anything away either. โLike, on a date?โ She nods. Her stomach is dropping and she feels shame cripple up her spine until-โ
โYes.โ
Her stomach drops, but for an entire different reason. โReally?โ She asks in a small voice
โOf course,โ His eyes glow and the light smirk on his face doesnโt feel arrogant. It feels light. Fond, even. โThat sounds..perfect.โ
โOh, okay.โ She whispers and her throat closes up as he steps closer.ย
โIโll text you?โ
โIโll text you.โ
He smiles brightly, and she canโt help but smile back. Sheโs missed that smile so much. โOkay,โ he whispers. โI canโt wait.โ
โThank you,โ she croaks out. โIโm sorry aboutโฆwell. Iโm sorry.โย
Jack chuckles, and it makes her heart feel a bit lighter. He gingerly grabs both her hands, looking right into her eyes as he brings them up to his lips and kisses them softly. She bites her lip, overwhelmed. โNothing to be sorry for,โ he says. โPromise.โย
โJack,โ she whispers.ย
He walks backwards shyly, but his eyes stay on hers stubbornly. โYou know, with you, itโs always gonna be a yes.โ
โJack.โ
He just winks. Amelieโs breath hitches. โIโll see you later, Amelie.โ
She smiles as he walks out of her sight.ย
~*~*~
tag list (lmk if you wanna be a part of it!): @ru-kru
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love you again โ sam winchester
cw : gn!reader, hurt/comfort, fluff, implied exes to lovers, canon typical injury and blood, hospitals, pet names (honey, sweetheart), 2K words. requested !
summary : you and sam have a past thatโs rekindled during the panicked moments where he finds you bleeding out on a hunt.
sam was thinking about you yesterday, again. heโs been wondering how you are, wondering if youโd hate a text from him, wondering if youโd pick up a call. heโs been wondering a whole lot, and itโs mostly about you. some about himself. he wonders how to apologize for growing distant, he wonders if heโd be better for you if you gave him the chance. he wonders if you blame him and hopes that you donโt because he doesnโt blame you. it was his fault for letting things start to fade out first, but for a while it stung that you never tried to bring him back to you.
back then, it was what he needed. someone that would hold his hand tighter were he to loosen his own grip. and he supposes you needed someone who was already sure of things, who wouldnโt pull away in the first place. so, he doesnโt blame you.
sam also wonders about silly little things. like how you mightโve reacted to your favorite west coast family diner shutting down. he was disappointed when he found out, but he was downright sad for you. he wonders about what kind of hunts you're going on and he wonders if you still carry that little old silver blade that desperately needs replacing.
and since he was thinking about you yesterday, that means he thought about you this morning, in the hazy moments between waking and getting up and going. since then itโs been all research and interviews and cracking the case the second day in town. before you cross his mind again, he and dean are in the impala on the way to take out a nest of vampires.
but of all the many times that sam has thought of you since you parted, not once did he envision finding you like this.
sprawled out on the dirty ground in a pool of blood.
certainly, heโs thought about you dying and how completely horrifying that would be. how sad and heartbreaking. all of the things heโd never get to say to you. but he always thought heโd hear through a mutual hunter friend, never that heโd be the one to find you bleeding out.
the moment he realizes the body on the floor is yours, all of the blood drains from his face. he gasps out your name and tuckes his machete away as he drops to your side. your eyes are still open, and your breath comes out with a horrid, shuddering sound.
โhey, hey, hey, itโs okay,โ he assures you, immediately locating the wound on your neck and pressing a steady hand against it to slow the blood. your eyes are already fluttering, and you look like youโll pass out any moment now. โstay with me, honey,โ he says, voice both stern and soft. the sweet pet name slips out on instinct. youโre his honey, even now. maybe especially now.
โsuh-sam?โ you rasp out, fighting for breath. you canโt even figure out if heโs real. maybe youโre delirious as you bleed out pathetically. you killed all the vamps except the one that got to you. that one fled when car headlights filtered through the drawn blinds of the room, before it could fully sink its fangs into your neck. if it had gotten to your artery, youโd probably be dead already, and thatโs the only thing that gives you hope. plus, you realize that the headlights of the car must have been sam, and most likely dean too. that means it must really be him, after all this time.
โitโs me,โ sam assures you. โi got you. just keep your eyes open, okay?โ
you let out a shuddering breath in response. โth-thereโs j-just one more,โ you grunt out, โh-he r-ran.โ
โshh, shh, itโs okay. deanโs got it,โ sam hushes you swiftly, confused for a moment before realizing that youโre talking about the vamps. โdonโt worry about talking, alright, honey?โ he wonโt be able to stop calling you that, not when he could lose you, in a far worse way this time. โjust keep those eyes open for me, and youโll be alright.โ
while you almost want to protest, to say something to him, anything, you stop trying to talk. itโs taking far too much effort. you really wish you could comfort him, tell him that youโll be alright. but in this state, you have to opt for bringing your shaking hand up and wrapping it loosely around his wrist. you give it a small squeeze to show him that youโre there, youโre trying so hard to stay awake just for him.
his heart aches as he feels your weak hold around his wrist and understands its meaning. sometimes he forgets how well he knows you, and right now, it sends a pang of desperation through him.
โi really need you to stay with me,โ he says, mantaining that soft and steady tone to keep you grounded. you want to stay with him too, you really do. you want to keep looking at his face, even though itโs blurry and frowning. though, while you do prefer his smile, youโve always thought that he looks beautiful no matter what. itโs probably cruel of you to find his distressed expression attractive right now, but itโs also true that youโre a little delirious and maybe bleeding out, so you donโt suppose you can be blamed.
it really bothers you that you canโt talk. more than anything, you want to reassure him. you also want to tell him that heโs been sorely missed, that his hair looks very nice like this, and that you really donโt want to die because that means you wonโt have the chance to kiss him ever again. maybe you should just say that youโd like the chance to kiss him again. or that you donโt want to die. youโre not really sure.
โdean!โ sam yells suddenly, voice gruff and loud and tinged with panic. if you werenโt slipping away, youโd have flinched. things begin to blur then; sam picks you up and practically cradles you in his arms. heโs so soft and heโd be shaky if he could afford to be. but he absolutely canโt, so heโs unwavering instead.
โjesus,โ mutters another worried voice, distant, but assumed to be deanโs. you try to focus on the feeling of your head on samโs shoulder. heโs so solid and broad and that might be the only thing keeping you from just floating away.
everything fades in and out. samโs big, encompassing hand pressed against your neck. so big that it overflows and his thumb pushes into the flesh of your cheek. your headโs still on his shoulder, but you're in the car now, slumped against familiar leather seats. the sound of the rumbling engine fills your ears and then youโre glad to hear sam again.
โweโre almost to the hospital, sweetheart,โ he tells you gently. you grunt out in acknowledgment, soft and quiet. you canโt remember ever hearing his voice like this before. all panicked and sweet and tender. when dean gets hurt, his voice gets all gruff. with you, itโs this never ending gentleness, edged with sharp fear.
in your position, sam or dean probably wouldโve made it to the hospital without passing out. but youโre not good with blood loss, even when it couldโve been far worse. youโre scared of dying, as always, but when your eyes flutter closed and your consciousness tilts into darkness, you feel so secure in samโs arms that you figure youโll be okay. itโs a strange feeling, and you likely wonโt recall it when you wake up.
sam himself is far less calm than you when your head lolls forward.
โhey, hey, hey. honey, please donโt,โ he urges, helpless at this point. his plea falls on deaf ears, of course. dean steps on the gas, driving far faster than is safe. itโs late though, and the roads are mostly clear.
sam keeps you close. sam has trouble parting from you at the hospital, but the doctor needs to treat you. everythingโs a bit better when heโs told that youโll be just fine after proper bandaging, rest, and a blood transfusion and iv. everythingโs a lot better when heโs back by your side and holding your hand in his.
looking at your face now, cleaned of blood splatter and relaxed in sleep, heโs able to really take in the ways youโve changed physically. you do look different, but not by too much. heโs mostly just enthralled with how beautiful you are.
thereโs also the feeling of the jacket you were wearing, folded nicely across his lap. heโs not really sure why he put it there, instead of leaving it on the bottom of the bed where it was first laid out. but he picked it up, for some reason or another, and felt a lump in the pocket. he knows he probably shouldnโt have looked at your things, but he felt like he had to. sliding his hand into the worn fabric sends a rush through him. once, you held hands in your pocket when it was cold outside. he always runs warm, so you had decided to tuck his hand into your pocket like your own personal hand warmer.
in the pocket, he finds that old silver blade that he thinks about sometimes. itโs even more worn now, and he shakes his head at you softly, affectionately. he bought a new silver knife recently, and if you let him, heโs going to give it to you. then he sits in the chair by your side, placing the jacket in his lap before he takes your hand in his.
the first thing that you feel is a big hand wrapped around yours. and as you draw in a long breath, you know that itโs samโs. that means that when you get your eyes to openโitโs a little hard right nowโyouโll get to see him. another deep breath, and your eyes flutter open.
samโs grip on your hand tightens a little.
โhey,โ he murmurs, eyes scanning your form, looking for discomfort or a way to give you his love. your own gaze settles on his face; his worried brows and small frown and pretty eyes.
โhi,โ you whisper, voice hoarse and tired. you squeeze his hand back lightly.
โhow you feeling?โ he asks softly.
โiโm okay,โ you offer, giving him a small smile. youโve been far worse in the past, youโre just groggy and a little sore. honestly, itโs rare to be this well cared for after getting injured on a hunt, and with sam by your side, itโs sort of nice, even.
sam, of course, considers asking how you really are. but with the way youโre looking at him, all soft andโฆ well, how you used to when things were uncomplicated, he accepts your answer.ย
โgood. you need anything? water?โ he still needs to take care of you somehow.
you canโt help but smile at him again. โwater would be nice,โ you admit, knowing that itโll make him feel better to be able to do something for you. that, and your throat really does burn with how dry it is. the gruffness of your voice reflects that. itโs oddly intimate when sam opens the water bottle at your bedside and brings it to your lips, ever careful when he tilts it and lets a bit of water flow into your softly opened lips. itโs intimate enough to make your face all warm with rushing blood.
you still love him. you really do. or maybe you love him again; you can feel that heโs different, and you know that you are, and somehow it feels like his hand fits in yours better tonightโฆ or maybe it just feels more right now.
the time apart was needed, the way it happened still stings a little, and the way that you found each other again was less than ideal. well, sam certainly hates how it happened much more than you do. he had to do all the worrying, all the saving. you got to feel him holding you and hear him calling you honey and see him caring about you so much. so now, youโre just glad for the chance to kiss him again, because itโs that easy to tell that you have it.
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Homelander being obsessed with his sister HC II
Warnings: heavy siblingxsibling implications, Homelander being such a narcissist that he falls in "love" with his own sibling, dubcon, noncon, manipulation, stalking, basically all the horrible parts of HL come out to play, MC has blonde hair and blue eyes like HL, different plot than 'All I Ever Wanted, All I Ever Needed', kidnapping
I III IV V
Mother fucker would definitely find a way to lock you up in his personal apartment. Itโs not easy to keep a supe that had the same powers as him as a captive. Through trial and error, Homelander would find a way to keep you hidden. His little secret
Has major mood change at work and a new skip in his step. All smiles and syrupy sweet voice.
Your parents and friends would go into immediate action to try and find you.
HL installs motion detector cameras throughout his apartment to keep an eye on you when heโs too far away. If anything happened, he knew he could be there in a flash
All day you were forced to wait for him until he got off of work (though does a hero ever really have time off?), like a pet. During that time all you could do was stare at the tv that HL had kindly turned on for you.
Of course you'd tried to escape in the beginning. But HL was faster than you.
Bored out of your mind from the constant stream of tv, you'd manage to wiggle over to the box that Homelander had shown you your first day there. You had time to really look at the contents though it was difficult without the free use of your hands. There were pictures of you as a little girl with your mom and dad. Lo and behold, you even found a picture of you on a young HL lap. Documents upon documents with Vought's stamp on them had you accepting the truth that HL was indeed your blood brother.
Homelander gives up trying to jog your memory once you inform him that you really don't remember much growing up. But you acknowledge him as being your sibling by blood.
"I believe you, but this doesn't condone kidnapping and keeping me here, Homelander." You countered, still not understanding why he went through all of this trouble. Just because you were his sister? That seemed too outrageous to you. Then again, you still didn't really know the real Homelander.
He corrects you. "John. You can call me John." He'd told you that several times but you just couldn't bring yourself to say such a simple name to this legend of a man.
Honestly, the whole abduction thing was a spur of the moment idea but once he found himself in the air with you in his arms, he made the decision that he was going to keep you to himself whether you liked it or not. That was the only way to make sure you wouldn't forget him again or leave him.
And some morbidly twisted feeling was growing inside of him every time he looked at you. You were perfect. Like he was. He talked himself into thinking that this was okay, that he was always meant for someone who was just as perfect as he was. And who better than you who has the same genetic mockup as he did.
He'd tell you all of this like it was the most simplest thing in the world. You gape at him in horror at his grotesque explanation.
Unnerve and discontent raised the hairs up on the back of your neck. What he'd said sounded a lot like him talking about incest. That roiled your stomach, making you feel sick.
He hated the fear he smelled on you in that moment, Homelander even pulls back from you and puts you at arm's length. You hate how he reduced you to someone so helpless. You also hate how much he really scares you.
Swallowing something thick in his throat, HL looks away from you with what you could only read as disgust. Maybe at you? Not for you though. For himself. He'd scared you and that was enough to shame him.
He'd mutter out an incredibly soft apology before leaving his apartment.
I'm thinking that as long as I have HC ideas of this, that I'll just be adding parts whenever the feeling strikes ๐
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Jealous Emilia after they get together plss I am beggingggg cook this for us plssssss ๐๐๐
Not me rewriting this no less than four times and still hating it ๐ but itโs not going to get any better haha. This was hard to write because I actually donโt see Emilia as the jealous type. I kind of drew off a lot of her known insecurities and alluded to her kind of struggling with the โwagโ role a bit so itโs not just her reacting poorly to Max being fawned over by a girl because I donโt think that would be true to her character. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it!
โจSet in Jeddah 2024โจ
And Iโm highly suspicious that everyone who sees you wants you
If thereโs one thing to be said for the Jeddah paddock, itโs pretty at sunset. You watch people moving through the paddock bathed in golden light. The ground looks like the yellow brick road. Even though itโs getting cooler now as it gets closer to qualifying, you still choose to sit inside Red Bull hospitality. Youโre also sitting inside because Max said he wanted to hang out before quail. Even though heโs spent the last forty-five minutes talking to one of the hospitality guests.
Amy, something or other. She races GT cars in some series youโve never heard of. Youโre not sure what connections got her the invite to the garage but Max had been herded away by one of the media reps to take pictures with her so she must be someoneโs daughter. They seem to have hit it off, you note. Heโs in full maxplaining mode, bending down to the line of his own hand as he illustrates what looks like an apex. Amy isnโt even watching his hands, sheโs watching Max. Hazel eyes just sparkling as she memorises every inch of him. Yeah, you know that look well enough.
And itโs not that you mind. He likes to talk racing, he likes racers. Itโs not like you know what it feels like to driver a car at top speed, and more importantly you donโt want to know. The hot laps with Max were more than enough. You canโt be everything to him and you donโt need to be. You tell yourself you donโt want to be. Itโs good he has other people to talk to, because itโs not like you can ever really understand his competitive streak. The man who knows nothing except how to win will not always be able to relate to the girl who has always been too afraid to lose.
No, itโs not bothering you that Max is talking to her. Itโs bothering you that she has the most obvious crush on him sinceโฆno, actually, this is the most obvious crush ever. Sheโs played with her hair so many times you just know karma is going to make her bald someday. You hope youโre there somehow.
โHey,โ
You jump at the sound of Checoโs voice. He sits down at the end of the table, brandishing Kitkat, which he slides over to you.
โMax has made a new friend,โ he says, nodding in Maxโs direction.
You tear open the wrapper with far too much aggression. โSo I see,โ you say, trying to sound nonchalant.
โShe races, right?โ
You nod, biting into the chocolate. โGT, apparently,โ
โLots in common,โ Checo says with a wiggle of his eyebrows. โYou have to watch your back,โ
You know heโs joking. You know that in no universe are you in competition with her. And yet, his words sink under your skin under your blood is curdling at the sight of Max laughing at something Amy says.
โI donโt have to watch anything,โ you say with shrug, turning towards Checo. โIf she can take him she can have him.โ You push your hair over one shoulder and run your tongue over your teeth.
โWhoa,โ Checo chuckles, throwing his hands up like heโs being faced with a hungry lion. You suppose since he has a wife, he knows the look well enough. โI was joking.โ When you donโt react, he shakes his head. โItโs Max,โ
You know what he means. Itโs Max, not Chuck Leclerc. Itโs Max, not Danny Ric. Itโs Max, not Checo. But itโs Max. You donโt have to worry heโs going to lose his mind over the actresses or supermodels, but he sure seems to be respectfully admiring his female alter ego.
Itโs like he can sense you thinking about him, itโs uncanny, really. Out of the corner of your eye you can see him walking towards your table with Amy in tow.
Fake smile, itโs fine, sheโs just a fan.
Max introduces you, and you smile and shake her hand and ask her if she having a nice day, because youโre Maxโs girlfriend, so you owe it to him to be polite. She has no such obligation, although you might be imagining her flinch when Max says the word girlfriend.
โI think itโs the best day of my life,โ she says in answer to your question. The telltale flicker of her eyes in Maxโs direction as they sit down almost making you roll yours.
Max doesnโt notice, heโs more interested in taking your Kitkat out of your hand and taking a bite. He bites it so that all four sticks have the end missing and you wear youโve never been so disgusted by this man. For a second, you think Amy can have him.
โAmy races GT cars, like the ones we tested in Portugal,โ he says to you now, his hand disappearing under the table to rest on your thigh and trace circles with his thumb like itโs a habit. โWe are just talking about setting up a test for her with Verstappen com,โ
Oh, great. So not only is she utterly bewitched by the ocean eyes, youโre making her dreams come true. Fan-fucking-tastic.
โAh,โ is all you say, sharing a look with a smirking Checo.
โThat would really be such a dream come true,โ Amy says, and you almost laugh. โIโm a big fan of yours, I think itโs so cool that youโre involved with things outside formula one. You should come to a race sometime. I owe you paddock passes,โ
You met him three hours ago, and he isnโt even the one who invited you. Do you owe him a blowjob as well, Amy?
โYeah. Our schedule is a bit hectic but yeah, it would be good to fit that in soon,โ Max says, turning to you. โRight?โ
What am I? The secretary? Because in case you didnโt notice, she didnโt fucking invite me.
You just shrug.
โGT racing doesnโt exactly draw the influencer crowd,โ you are definitely not imagining the way her eyes slide over to you before she looks back at Max to say, โitโs really good racing,โ
You zone out right then and there. Itโs like your brain short circuits from the energy itโs taking not to reach over, grab this girl by her stringy extensions, and rip. If she and Max keep talking, you donโt hear it. You donโt want to hear it. You notice Checo noticing your discomfort, even as he engages the other two in conversation. For all his quirks, Checo reads human behaviour much better than Max. Though you donโt need to be a body language expert to see how much this girl likes him.
She looking at him like she wants to eat him, hanging on unspoken words, fingers twitching on the table like sheโs desperate to touch him. And heโs nodding along, because theyโre so aligned that whatever she says he agrees with, and the maxplaining is one-handed now but no less enthusiastic, and youโre about to dig your nails into his skin because he is not going to have one hand almost up your skirt while another woman is flirting with him.
All these thoughts are interrupted by the appearance of one of the Red Bull media managers.
โAmy, we were hoping to get some pictures of you with the car, if youโre free?โ
โYeah, sure, one second,โ she says, turning to Max. โWhich way is the garage again?โ Like she doesnโt have someone who clearly just came from the garage standing right next to her.
โJust through there, keep going straight,โ Max says, pointing to the corridor with engineers walking in and out. You give the girl the benefit of the doubt that sheโs not that stupid, just desperate.
Reluctantly, she gets to her feet. โSo, Iโll give you a call to set up the test?โ
โYeah, sure,โ Max says. โOr you can call Raymond. Heโll put your team in touch with the right people,โ
โOkay, awesome,โ she says, leaning down enough that you can see right down her shirt. โIt was really great to meet you. And I meant it about the GT race,โ and then, as if remembering she canโt be rude, she glances at Checo. โYou guys, too,โ
You wave her off, and your smile doesnโt even fall. Because itโs funny. Itโs funny that a grown woman would behave like that in front of a manโs girlfriend. Itโs funny that a woman gunning for sponsorship would behave like you does regular shifts in something called the โChampagne Roomโ.
And itโs absolutely hilarious that Max turns to you, without a care in the world, and says, โIโve got such a headache. I stood up into the cupboard in the garage, it hurt so bad,โ
You give him tight smile and pull out your phone to text Lily to see if sheโs still with Alex or if sheโs free for a catch up.
โWhat?โ You hear Max say above you. You ignore him. โWhat? She the-โ You look up just in time to see that Checo is mouthing something to Max. โJealous?โ
โIโm not jealous,โ you snap, leaning back in the your chair to glare at both of them. They give each a mocking grin. โYeah, very funny,โ this sets them off snickering like school kids. โFuck both of you.โ
You get up and stalk through the room and back towards the garage. You donโt even know what youโll do when you get there since being Maxโs girlfriend had put an end to you just wandering down the pitlane and allowed in any garage. Maybe youโll just try and find GP. If Max doesnโt catch up to you first. You can hear him calling you.
โLeibling, wait,โ heโs right behind you now, and you hear him almost stumbling as he leans forward to catch you by the wrist.
You shrug him off, but stop at the door to his driver room and push it open, jerking your head to order him inside. He may be a dick, but he still deserve for the whole team to know his business. He steps into the room, reaching for your waist but you move out of his way and leave him to close the door while you lean against the physio table on the other side of the room.
He sighs when he sees how youโre looking at him. โIโm sorry. I didnโt mean to laugh. I mean, I did. Not at you. I didnโt think Checo was being serious,โ he defends, and by the end of his sentence heโs fighting an incredulous smile and you squeeze the edge of the physio bench to stop yourself pulling your hair. Or his.
How can this guy understand complex tyre strategy but not basic human interaction?
โYou didnโt think he was serious that I was annoyed by someone flirting with you in front of me?โ You ask him, raising an eyebrow. โAnd that I wouldnโt be annoyed at you making fun of me for it?โ
Max scoffs. โShe wasnโt flirting with me,โ
โOh, please.โ You let out a scoff of your own. โYou didnโt notice me flirting with you for three years, do not pretend youโre an expert,โ
โI noticed,โ Max argues, โI just didnโt take it seriously,โ
โWhich is why you have no leg to stand on,โ
โRight, because I was just supposed to believe that you suddenly-โ
โIt wasnโt exactly sudden-โ
โFor Godโs sake,โ Max groans, an expression of abject confusion twisting his face. โWhat are we even fighting about?โ
โYou enjoying Lella Lombardi over there slobber all over you, and enjoying it,โ the exasperation gets worse when Maxโs eyes widen like this is the first heโs hearing of this entire discussion.
โIโm- she- what?โ He splutters, his head shaking in disbelief. โIs this one of those Tiktok pranks?โ
โI get that sheโs a pilot and that makes her automatically interesting, but until I hear otherwise, youโre still in a relationship,โ
Max looks at you like youโve grown a second head; shock, concern, and a good amount of unadulterated disgust. โYou canโt think I was looking at herโฆlike that,โ
The way he says it, like heโs afraid to catch cooties, like itโs itโs inconceivable, like you didnโt still have bruises of your hips in the shape of his fingertips, takes all the fight out of you. Checo was right; itโs Max. Itโs feels like someoneโs let all the air out of a balloon. Your shoulders slump and you sigh.
โBecause that would be crazy?โ You lift yourself onto the physio bench as you speak. Youโre not even really sure what youโre asking. โMax Verstappen, who likes only one thing on earth, that one thing being racing, attracted to another driver rather than his influencer accessory girlfriend?โ
โActually, I like two things,โ he says with that boyish smirk that has been making your stomach do backflips for longer than you care to admit.
โStop laughing at me,โ you whine, fighting the urge to smile.
โIโm not. Iโm sorry. Iโm sorry that she upset you. Iโm sorry that I upset you,โ he says, taking a careful step closer to you, but he stops there. โEven if I donโt know what I did,โ
He really has no idea. He is painfully, adorably clueless.
โNothing,โ you say, because you donโt know either. Sometimes itโs just inexplicably overwhelming being Max Verstappenโs girlfriend. โJust you being you, I guess,โ
Max frowns at that. โI didnโt know being myself was so offensive,โ he mumbles, and you instantly feel guilty. You of all people shouldnโt make him feel bad for how much space he takes up. You of all people know how much that bothers him.
โNo, itโs not that. Itโs not-โ you struggle for a way to explain it. Max takes the opportunity to cross the rest of the room and stand in front of you, his expression telling you heโs waiting for you to finish. โItโs not about who you are, but sometimes the way people act around you is justโฆand youโre so used to it, you donโt evenโฆyou just forget who you are sometimes, Max,โ
He nods soberly. โYeah. I do, and Iโm sorry,โ he says. He hooks his hands under your knees and pulls your legs apart and slots between them as he drags you to the edge of the bench so that youโre pressed against him, leaning back to look up at him. โBut I never forget who you are, which is the most important bit,โ
You canโt help but smile at him. Heโs so simple. And not because heโs unintelligent, but because heโs guileless, because who he is has never scared him. He smiles back, and itโs unguarded and unbridled and you almost forgive that girl because youโll be damned if you donโt have a crush on him, too.
โWas she really flirting with me?โ He asks curiously, looking down as his hands find your and entwine your fingers.
โOh, yeah,โ you say, and he frowns, the wheels working in head as he tries to figure out how he didnโt notice. โLike me at your mumโs on Christmas Eve in 2020 level of obvious,โ
โWell,โ he says with a huff. โShe just blew her chance at a test,โ
โYou donโt have to-โ
โWait, you were flirting with me at Christmas at my mumโs?โ
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I'm just curious, how will Kรถnig treat a meek, and jumpy girlfriend?? (Girlfriend, or maybe like a friend or anything you would come to think of is a-ok)
Like she's really quiet, shies away from social interactions (by hiding behind a friend's back or something) when invited to parties, and would literally be surprised at any little thing. Someone accidentally honks at her in the parking lot? She jumps. Someone's walking behind her without her noticing until the person behind her makes their presence known? She jumps.
I'm just really curious if this personality would even catch Kรถnig's attention, or maybe at least I want to know how he'll treat her:) is all, thank youu. โ&as.
I feel that Konig is the type of guy to be kinda reserved and quiet whenever something is happening to him - if he is alone at the cafe and the waitress brings him the wrong order, he will just eat it because he doesn't want to cause a scene and look like a dangerous brute, considering his intimidating looks. But if you're at the cafe and you got the wrong order - maybe something you completely don't like, or, for example, if they forgot to remove something from the plate, Konig will be able to speak out for you. He wouldn't cause a scene for himself, he can survive almost anything, but shy, quiet, and sensitive lil' you...
He acts as your knight in shining cargo, bringing you coffee before you could even ask because you didn't want to trouble him( even before you started dating - when it was this awkward talking stage between two reserved dorks who don't know how to communicate their desire to have a relationship. You probably met accidentally - bumped into each other in a coffee shop, for example, or were introduced by one of his colleagues. A cutie pie, you're intimidated by him at first - he is big, snappy, prone to violent outbursts, and surprisingly loud for someone who is trying his best to be as quiet as possible.
Konig tries to make himself smaller for you, but it's hard - he hates himself every time his voice is snapping too loud, and you flinch from the sound. He is protecting you from any creep in your presence - not even caring that he is the most dangerous thing for you right now. He doesn't want to act too overprotective, he knows that you're fully capable of surviving on your own, but...why would you want to do things on your own when you have him? When he can play with you, protect you, do everything for you and you'd just need to sit tidy at his house and wait for him.
It's dangerous when you're so meek and shy around him - he immediately starts thinking of you as a pretty and cute pet, as something that needs his care and protection.
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December Winds
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Priest!Leon S. Kennedy x fem!reader (one shot)
dedicated to you ๐ anon! ๐ I hope you like it!
warnings: 18+ minors DNI, religious connotations, Leon POV, dirty talk, nipple teasing, oral (m & f receiving), rimming (m receiving ๐ซฃ), unprotected sex, creampie, kissing, biting, slight blood
kinda beta read by my friend Rex ๐ (only like 80% so any mistakes are my own ๐
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title from December Winds by Nox Arcana
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After Spain, Leon quits. As he tells the president, โIโve seen enough.โ And he meant it. He packs up everything, quietly bids goodbye to the few coworkers he respects and leaves out from Washington DC, praying heโll never see the place again.ย
He searches for a job thatโs a little less stressful and a lot more reclusive. He stumbles across an online ad looking for a live-in priest for a small rundown chapel buried in the middle of the Appalachian mountains. A quick search on google maps yields the exact results heโs hoping forโthereโs nothing around for miles and miles.ย
Itโs a cinch to get ordained online and even easier to order the cassock and Roman collar. He already has plenty of black shirts, pants, and even shoes, meaning itโs no sweat at all for him to look the part by the end of the week.ย
When he arrives at the small church, thereโs a handful of elderly people gathered to give him a short walk through the place. They leave him with plenty of homemade food as well as their phone numbers for the cracked rotary phone in the office in case he needs any help.
The months roll by and slowly bleeds into a couple of years. He always sees the same handful of people at service, sometimes joined by visiting family members, but always a small congregation which is what he prefers. This year hasnโt been any different, that is until a knock rings out in the empty vestibule drawing him up short as he lays out pamphlets for next week's Christmas service.ย
Pulling open the heavy oak doors, heโs surprised to see a new face. You stand there shivering in the cold, jacketed arms clutching your middle.ย
โH-hi,โ you give him a bright smile despite your chattering teeth, โm-my carโs s-s-stuck in the s-snow andโโ
Before you can finish, Leonโs opening the door wider, feeling chill bumps race across his arms as the cold winter air gusts past you and into the church.ย
โPlease, come in,โ he steps back so youโll follow.ย
Once inside, he shuts and bolts the door closed.ย
โIโm s-so glad someoneโs here,โ you laugh.
Leon watches you, expression stoic even though internally heโs cataloging every single thing about you with heavy interest.ย
He sees your smile tremble a little, your own gaze roving his face.ย
โIโm s-sorry to bother you,โ you rub your hands together for warmth, โif I c-could just make a call, Iโll b-be out of your hair in n-no time.โ
You pull your cellphone out with a frown, โI h-havenโt had service in miles.โ
Leon glances down at your hands before looking back up into your face, nervousness radiating from your body language.ย
He turns, talking loud enough for you to hear as you follow behind him, โPhoneโs in the office. If you canโt reach anyone, I have a number to a local mechanic who can help tow you out.โ
โThank you so much,โ your voice sounds relieved, โI hate bothering you, but I really appreciate the help.โ
โOf course, itโs what Iโm here for.โ
He glances back over his shoulder and sees your gaze wandering around the church, taking in the clean if rough hewn pews and stained glass windows. Your eyes cut to his quickly as if you sensed him watching, giving him a shy smile.ย
โYou have a beautiful church, Mister?โ
โFather Kennedy,โ he answers, voice a little rougher than intended as you bite your lip in embarrassment.
โSorry, not really up on my religion,โ you laugh a little bashfully, โitโs nice to meet you, Father Kennedy.โ
โLikewise,โ Leon turns his attention to opening the office door, gesturing for you to enter first.ย
His eyes slide down your body, taking in your curves, and shaking away the urge to sink his teeth into your soft neck. You walk over to the old rotary phone, something Leon never updated as it still works just fine.ย
โOh wow, my grandma had one of these!โ you grin at him, โitโs so cute that you kept it for your office.โ
That dark urge to bite you flares up in his chest again but he shoves it down. He nods at you instead of saying anything and you turn back to the phone.ย
Picking up the handset, you frown and click on the dial a few times before setting it back down on the cradle.ย
โSeems like your phoneโs out,โ you bite your lip again, looking agitated.ย
Leon shrugs, โTends to happen this time of year. No telling when itโll start working again.โ
You nod along and blow out a breath, โOkay, weโll Iโll head back to the car and see if I canโโ
โStay the night.โ
That pulls you up short and he wants to laugh at the wide eyed look you give him.ย
โStay here and we can try the phone again. If it doesnโt work, I can walk you to the nearest neighbor and try their phone.โ
A soft smile crosses your face and Leonโs hit with an avalanche of impure want purring in his chest.ย
โAre you sure itโs no trouble? I mean Iโd really appreciate it, but I donโt wanna put you out.โ
โNo trouble, besides Iโm here to help those in need,โ a crooked grin slips out, โand you seem to fit that description.โ
Another shy bite of your lip has him shifting his feet, willing himself not to do anything to you.ย
โOkay then,โ you give him the brightest smile yet, โthank you, Father Kennedy. I donโt know where Iโd be without you.โ
A sudden flash of you thanking him on your knees floods his thoughts and he turns away from you, adjusting his half hard cock through his slacks, never more grateful to wear all black than now.ย
โFollow me please,โ he calls out to you, listening as you quickly walk to catch up.ย
He also listens as you introduce yourself and explain as to why youโre out here in the first place, basically boiling it down to visiting some family for the holidays. Nodding along, he guides you into his living quarters which just happens to be a bedroom big enough to house a bed and a desk with a few bookshelves.ย
โItโs so cozy,โ you gush, running your hand along some of the handmade quilts and crocheted throws the church parishioners have given him over the years.ย
โItโs home,โ he states simply, moving to the fireplace and stoking the embers into a flame.ย
โIโm kinda impressed,โ you say as you hang up your jacket near the door, โitโs really rare to see someone so young as a priest in these kinds of communities.โ
When he only gives you a deadpan expression, you begin to flounder.ย
โOh I mean, I grew up near here and so Iโm just used to like olderโ you know what, I just feel like Iโm digging a hole for myself,โ you drag your palms across your eyes, โitโs just different is all. And either way I'm happy to have met you.โ
Leon finally lets his lips quirk up into a half smile, amused at your reactions.ย
โI understand, itโs just funny to see you try to explain it,โ he moves away from the fireplace and grabs a change of clothes, ignoring how your cute pout is making him feel.ย
โThereโs a bathroom just through that door,โ he points to his right, your left, โIโm sure you donโt want to sleep in jeans. Thereโs also some spare toothbrushes in the medicine cabinet.โ
He watches as you get flustered when taking the simple sweats and cotton t-shirt.ย
โOh yeah, thanks,โ you duck your head trying to hide your face and disappear behind the bathroom door to change.ย
Leon lets out a long breath, trying to ease the tension building up in his chest. The wanting seems to only be getting worse the more time heโs spending with you. Itโs like heโs a teenager seeing a skin magazine for the first time.ย
Has he really been out here that long without seeing a pretty little thing like you? Heโs in the midst of his thoughts while removing his collar and unbuttoning his cassock when he hears a soft squeak.ย
He turns to see your eyes shut tight, hands clenching your bundled up clothes to your chest.
โSorry I didnโt mean to!โ
Leon frowns before looking down to see his bare chest offset by his rosary. Heat washes through him to see you peek again and bite down on your lip hard as you turn away.ย
โI honestly was on autopilot,โ he murmurs, voice rough making him clear his throat, โapologies, Iโll go change in the bathroom while you get settled.โ
You gasp as he brushes past you to enter the bathroom. Grabbing onto the sink, Leon stares at his own blown pupils in the mirror.ย
Get it together. Itโs just a woman. A sweet woman. A pretty woman who probably has an equally pretty little cuntโ
Shaking his head to clear it, he finishes dressing for bed. As he brushes his teeth, his eyes wander and notice the toothbrush you used sitting off to the side. A sudden flash of possessiveness surprises him leading him to quickly finish up and make his way back into the bedroom.ย
You startle, standing up from sitting at the edge of the bed.ย
Hands wringing together, you smile nervously, โUh I-I wasnโt sure where to sleep? Like I can take the floorโโ
Heโs shaking his head already interrupting you, โWeโll share the bed. It gets extremely cold at night and it wouldnโt be safe to sleep on the floor.โ
You frown over at the bed and look back at him apprehensively, โI can just use the quilts to make a pallet in front of the fire.โ
โPlease,โ he gestures to the bed, โthereโs no central heating and it gets deathly cold some nights. Even with the fire, Iโd be afraid you would get frostbite.โ
โIโll sleep against the wall,โ he softens his voice, โweโll put pillows between us if youโd like and you can have the edge.โ
He watches you bite on that damn lower lip again, wanting it between his own teeth.ย
Nodding, your eyes seek out his again, โOkay. And weโll try again first thing in the morning?โ
โOf course,โ he agrees easily, โI tend to wake early so I can check and wake you if need be.โ
Your features melt from concern to thankful, โThatโs very sweet of you, Father.โ
A hot pulse of arousal makes his dick twitch but Leon ignores it in favor of offering you a slight smile.ย
โOf course. Shall we?โ he nods at the bed.ย
You climb in after him, settling down under the layers of blankets and quilts.ย
โI definitely never wouldโve guessed Iโd start my vacation by sharing a bed with a priest,โ you giggle to yourself.ย
โUnusual to say the least,โ he dryly replies, sea dark eyes watching as you turn on your side, back facing him.ย
You hum softly, shoulders twitching under the shirt and legs swishing under the covers.ย
โGood night, Father Kennedy,โ your soft voice has him gripping the blanket tightly.ย
โGoodnight.โ
Itโs driving Leon up the wall with how badly he wants to reach out and touch you. Settling a little more, he listens as your breathing evens out and finds his own eyes slipping shut.ย
Later in the night, he wakes up to your tossing and turning, feeling you press your ass back against him. He stifles a groan, eyes adjusting to the low light from the fireplace. You keep fidgeting, accidentally rubbing against his chubbed cock until heโs thickening in his sweats. His heavy hand reaches down and grabs you hip, stilling your movement.ย
โSorry,โ your sleepily mumble, โโm trying to get comfy.โ
He dips his head down to ghost his lips across the shell of your ear, feeling you shiver, โDoesnโt seem that way to me.โ
He rocks forward, letting his bulge rub against your ass; you whine and press back against him harder.ย
โIโm sorry,โ you whisper, โI promise I didnโt mean to.โ
โSorry, huh?โ he dips his tongue into your ear making you whimper, โare you asking for forgiveness?โ
His hand grasps your hip and pulls you into a slow rhythm of grinding back against his stiff cock.ย
โOh,โ you mewl as he kisses the shell of your ear, โIโm sorry.โ
โThatโs not how you ask,โ he chuckles, kissing down your neck, โyou know better than that.โ
You moan as he bites down on the soft skin thatโs been tempting him all this time.ย
โForgive me, Father Kennedy,โ you break the rhythm and grind back against him harder, โIโm so sorry Iโm being so bad. God, canโt believe Iโm dry humping a priest.โ
A smack lands on your ass making you jump.ย
โWe donโt take the Lord's name in vain either,โ his low voice slips into your ear, โfor that, you get those cute little nipples pinched.โ
As you moan, he rolls you over onto your back, slipping an arm around your shoulders so both of his hands can knead and grope at your breasts.ย
โPull your shirt up,โ he murmurs in your ear, โbe a good girl for me.โ
You shove the t-shirt up to pool around your neck, hands settling back down to twist in the sheets. His fingers quickly move to circle and pinch your hard nipples.ย
โOh, ohhh,โ your eyes squeeze shut as he teases and rubs your hard buds, โFather, please.โ
He bites your neck again making you writhe and press your breasts up into his hands.ย
โPlease,โ you whimper, eyes glimmering at him in the firelight, bottom lip swollen from your own teeth.ย
โWho knew such a tempting sinful girl would end up in my church much less my own bed,โ he rumbles in your ear, grinding against your hip as he teases your nipples.ย
โFather Kennedy,โ you swipe a soft, pink tongue against your lips, making his teeth ache, โshouldnโt we stop?โ
โDo you want to stop?โ he kisses your jaw, fingers tweaking your nipples sharply making you moan high in your throat.ย
โNo, no, please, itโs soโyouโre so hot,โ you whine, hips squirming for friction under the blankets, โplease, Father, want you so bad.โ
โItโs a sin to tempt a priest,โ he trails his lips across your neck to suck another mark into your skin, โyouโll have to repent.โ
โH-how?โ your eyes flutter, trying valiantly to stay open.ย
He pulls away with a smirk, โYouโll have to use your body in service to the Lord.โ
A keening whimper escapes your lips, hands shakily reaching up to run through his sandy blonde hair.ย
โI-Iโll do anything,โ you scratch your nails along his scalp making him groan, โjust show me how I need to repent, Father Kennedy.โ
He pulls his arm out from under you so he can climb on top of you, settling in between your thighs. Your hands pull his hair as he sucks a hard nipple into his hot mouth. He ruts against the mattress as he suckles each hard bud, nipping at the soft skin of your breasts and leaving marks everywhere.ย
โItโs been so long since Iโve had a pair of tits in my face,โ his voice is low, smoky, and he can feel your legs try to press together only stopped by his bulky body.
He takes his time, kissing the areola before running his tongue over your nipple, letting his teeth softly bite down before sucking it further into his mouth. Your hips buck up against his chest as he lays on top of you. He can feel how wet youโve gotten already, the soft press of your panties against his skin leaving behind a sticky mess.ย
He pulls back to look up into your dazed eyes, โLet me taste that wet pussy.โ
You moan, hands tensing in his hair, โY-you want to?โ
โI wouldnโt offer if I didnโt,โ he grins, โbesides I wanna clean up that messy cunt with my tongue before you get slick all over my sheets.โ
He scoots down, dragging his lips across your tummy and dropping kisses as he goes.ย
โWeโll keep the blankets pulled up so you donโt get cold,โ he murmurs as he bites your hip bone before soothing it with his tongue.ย
You give him a shaky nod, โOkay, Father.โ
He bucks his hips at that, feeling his cock leak in his sweats. He feels as you tug the blankets up and when he looks back up he can barely see your face making this seem so illicit and dirty itโs getting him even harder.ย
He quickly eases your panties down your legs and tosses them on the outside of the blankets before settling between your legs again. Leon lets his instructive thoughts win and bites bruise after bruise into the dough of your thighs, sucking and worrying the skin until you're squirming against his mouth.ย ย
He bites his way up to the crease of your thigh then lets his tongue trail across your skin until heโs lapping at your swollen clit. He hears as you moan loudly, thighs falling open wider as he hungrily licks into your cunt.ย
โYou taste like sin,โ he groans as he pulls back to spread your pussy open, โso fucking good.โ
Pressing his face tightly against your slick coated lips, he flutters his tongue into your soaked hole and grinds his nose against your bundle of nerves. He slips his tongue in and out of your hole before licking back up to your throbbing clit, softly kissing the sensitive bud again and again until sucking it gently into his mouth.ย
Sweat beads around his hairline as it grows warmer underneath the layers of covers. Leon mouths at your sloppy cunt until youโre moaning loudly as slick coats his chin and lower jaw. Once your thighs start to tremble, he pulls away and crawls back up your body. The cooler air of the room kissing his sweaty skin as your hands scrabble against his shoulders.ย
โโM so close,โ you whimper as you tug him into a messy kiss, โwanna cum, please Father.โย
He clicks his tongue, โYou have to work hard for forgiveness,โ he presses his thumb down against your chin making your lips part.ย
โMaybe we should try filling that mouth up first,โ he murmurs, watching as your eyes droop.ย
You nod, running your hands down his broad chest, โPlease, wanna see you, too.โ
Surprise crosses his features, but he schools it into a crooked smile, โArenโt you sweet? Take your shirt off for me while I get undressed.โ
In no time, heโs kneeling between your parted thighs, completely nude save for the rosary around his neck. When he goes to slip it off, your hand snaps around his wrist.
He watches as the embarrassment wars with arousal as you ask him to keep wearing it. His dick throbs and kicks against his thigh and your eyes go lidded as they take in his thick cock.
โAllow me to show you how sorry I am, Father,โ you scratch your nails across his chest all the way down his toned stomach to a happy trail that leads to the thatch of hair above his cock.ย
Goosebumps travel across his skin when you rub across his hips bones, breath ghosting across the drippy head of his dick.ย
Your tongue lathes over the slit, circling his tip and teasing under his foreskin before you pull back.ย
That shy look steals over your face, โCan you sit here?โ
You pat the gap in the pillows in front of the headboard. Leonโs lips quirk in amusement and shifts to sit with his back to the headboard and legs splayed out across the bed. You move to kneel in between his thighs, eyes greedily taking in his stiff cock.ย
He watches as you lean forward, one hand coming up to grip the base of his cock as the other rests on his thigh, and slowly sucks the head of his dick into your mouth. Your eyes shutter with a moan as you take more and more of his cock into your mouth until you choke.ย
Pulling off with a gasp, your watery eyes blink open staying on his as you sink back down on his cock. His abdomen tenses and he grabs the back of your neck with his broad palm to guide your head.ย
โNo need to rush,โ his eyes track your tongue as you lick and kiss all along his dripping slit.
โYou taste so good,โ you moan as you lick your way down to his balls.ย
Leon keeps his gaze on you as your wet mouth sucks his balls into your mouth, whining when you canโt fit both at the same time. You smear your face against the spit slick skin of his squishy sac as you nuzzle and suck his taint.ย ย
โOh, good girl,โ he parts his legs wider so your mouth can reach him easier.ย
Your glazed eyes slide shut when you slip your tongue down further to ghost across his asshole. Tongue drifting lazily against it, Leon grunts when you finally lick into him.ย
โSuch an eager girl,โ he rasps as you softly eat him out, tongue eagerly rimming his hole.ย
You sloppily makeout with his hole as his cock weeps precum everywhere; his own heavy hands keep your face buried between his cheeks.ย
When you finally pull back, your chinโs coated with spit.ย
โSuck my cock a little more and Iโll fill up that needy cunt,โ he pulls your swollen mouth to the weeping head.ย
Whining, you easily follow along and let his thick cock sink back into your mouth. He luxuriates in the feeling, the feeling of your hot hungry mouth slurping loudly around his dick. You moan and whine around him, rubbing your thighs together for friction. He smirks to see you acting so needy, so obedient in servicing him.ย
โUp,โ he murmurs, grabbing your neck and pulling you off of his cock.
Your hands reach out to dig into his pecs, framing the rosary between your hands as you straddle his lap, his cock snugly pressing against your pussy.ย
โOh, Father, please,โ you grind down on his wet cock, dragging slick along his throbbing length until your clitโs bumping his tip.ย
โPoor little lamb,โ his hands grab your hips, letting you rock against him.ย
With the grip he has on your hips, he easily manhandles you onto your back, kneeling between your spread legs, cock leaking all over your wet cunt.ย ย
โOh god,โ you mewl, scratching at his chest.ย
He spanks your clit with his fat cock.ย
โWhat did I say about taking the Lordโs name in vain?โ
Your pupils swallow any color left in your eyes, โโm sorry, daddy. I donโt mean to be bad.โ
โFuck,โ he growls, slapping your cunt with his cock over and over to make your hips jump, โare you misbehaving on purpose?โ
Head shaking no, you wrap your legs around his waist, โNo, I didnโt meanโ it just slipped out. Iโm sorry, Father Kennedy.โ
He nudges the tip of his cock into your hole, making you keen and rock down. The pressure around just the head makes him want to be rougher, meaner with you.
He grins smugly down at you, โYou just canโt help it, can you? The wetter this pussy gets the dumber you are, right? What a slut.โ
You whine, the heels of your bare feet digging into the back of his legs, goading him to slide deeper into your cunt.ย
โYes, Iโm your slut, Father,โ your hands tug on his rosary making him groan and fuck his dick into your spasming cunt.ย
His heavy weight drops over your body, earning another low whine followed by your nails scoring a hot trail across his shoulders. He shudders, enjoying that small bite of pain as your eyes roll back in your head, pussy sucking him in even deeper somehow.ย
โPretty cunt just needed me buried balls deep in her, huh?โ he groans as he pulls out just to sink back into your pussy, โso tight.โ
โW-wait,โ your voice goes high with sudden realization, โI thought p-priests were banned f-from having sex,โ you gasp out, stuttering through Leonโs thrusts.ย
โBaby,โ he coos condescendingly, โyou donโt think I was some silly little virgin, did you?โ
He boxes you in even more, dropping down on his forearms that rest on each side of your head.ย
โBut I gotta say, youโve got the best pussy Iโve ever fucked,โ he kisses your mouth, โso wet,โ he drops another kiss to your lips, โand tight,โ and another kiss ending with a rough bite of your bottom lip, โthis kittyโs been purring for my dick all night.โ
Your head thrashes against the pillow at his words, โYes, yes, fuck,โ tears drip from your lash line, โitโs so good, Father Kennedy.โ
Molten heat rushes through his veins at your wanton face paired with that sweet voice. His teeth sink into that plush bottom lip, suckling on it until you tug your head back with a soft cry. Itโs swollen and split from his teeth, a small bead of blood welling up only for him to lick it away with a groan.ย ย
He licks into your mouth, mixing spit and blood until heโs sucking your tongue past his own greedy lips. His cock slowly ruts in and out of your clenching hole as he kisses you breathless. Your fingers tangle in his rosary, tugging him back to your mouth every time he goes to pull away.ย
Leon lets himself go; stops trying to control himself and settles into fucking into your warm, wet cunt with harsh skin slapping thrusts. He bites anywhere his mouth can reach, leaving dark bruises or even outright bloody teeth marks behind. His dark eyes keep track of your pleasure as well; if you wince, he makes sure to lathe his tongue across a bite instead of sinking his teeth into you again or fucks his cock shallowly into your pussy instead of knocking against your cervix how he likes.ย
You reward him with pretty little cries and pleads against his lips; your doughy thighs clasped tightly around his waist as you beg for him to ruin your cunt. He wrings orgasm after orgasm until your bodyโs spent and you're babbling incoherently.ย
He keeps you underneath him all night, trading blood tinged kisses as his cock stuffs your squelching pussy. Sunlight begins to stream through the snow tinted windows when he finally manhandles your body to straddle over him once again.ย
Leon feels like this must truly be what heaven is like. You, seated in his lap as he buries his cock to the hilt in your hot little cunt watching as you grind down against him. Fat dimples between his fingers as he grips your ass tightly, helping you keep rhythm as he bounces you up and down his dick.ย
โOh Father Kennedy,โ you whimper, โI canโt, I canโtโโ
โYes, you can,โ he murmurs, easing your harsh grind into a slow back and forth, โyou can give me one more so I can feel that pussy squeeze me so I can put a nice thick load in her.โ
His fingers slowly circle and pinch your pudgy clit, letting you rock against him a little faster.ย
โOh, Iโm-Iโm gโnna,โ you hiccup a sob, tears dripping from your eyes as he works your exhausted body towards another orgasm.ย
โCall me, Leon,โ he smiles at you, the first genuine one heโs actually offered to anyone in quite a long time, โnow cum for me, squeeze me nice and tight.โ
โLeon, Leon, I-Iโm cumming,โ you gasp out, a mewling cry slipping past your swollen lips as your pussy milks Leonโs cock for the upteenth time since this all started.ย
โGood girl, so good for me,โ he groans, letting your climax coax his own from him, grabbing your hips to hold you snug to him.ย
He growls up at you, cock jumping inside your spasming pussy as rope after rope of sticky cum spurts inside your fluttering walls.ย
ย โLeon, oh, itโs so warm,โ you whimper, one hand settling on your belly and the other resting on Leonโs heaving chest.ย
โFuck,โ he yanks you down into a messy, spit filled kiss.
You whine and he softens it, titling his mouth up to press softer kisses to your lips until pulling away. Easing down next to him, you snuggle into his side, burying your face in his neck.ย
โSo am I forgiven now?โ you tease, fingers tracing over the beads of his rosary.ย
โMight need to spend some time with me in the confessional,โ he presses a kiss to your hair, โjust to make sure it takes.โย
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