#i write little letters/notes to friends as a sign of appreciation!!

[athenagc94]

Dear Daddy Long Legs - Chapter 13

Jason Todd x Fem!Reader

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Chapter 13

You hurried up the stairs of your complex, a dark cloud swirling overhead. The elevator stopped working that morning, meaning you had to scale seven flights to get to your apartment. Class wrapped for the day, but your philosophy professor wanted to be a bigger ass than usual and threw a pop quiz in your face. You were sure you failed, which was the last thing you needed this close to the end of the semester. You couldn’t even share a harried look with Steph because you stopped talking to her to focus on your studies. A decision you were now beginning to regret, but you tried to hold firm.

In conclusion, you were going through it, and you wanted nothing more than to sink into your couch and binge-watch Bridgerton for the umpteenth time.

As you reached the landing on your floor, you paused, noting the package that awaited you outside your door—a small, unassuming brown box.

Huh.

You didn’t order anything.

Upon closer inspection, it seemed legitimate with the appropriate shipping labels and all that jazz, but you didn’t survive this city without being at least a little wary of pleasant surprises.

It was heavier than you expected. Something you took mental note of as you tucked it under your arm and headed inside. While it could be an explosive or trap sent by a gang or super villain, you hoped they had bigger fish to fry than a college student on the cusp of a mental breakdown.

And at this point, a small part of you welcomed the sweet release of death if it meant you didn’t have to take your finals next week.

You settled cross-legged on your couch, turning the package over in your hands as you tried to guess what it contained. Its contents shifted slightly, and you still had all your limbs intact, so you took that as a good sign.

Sparing yourself the suspense, you ripped it open. A leather book tied with a cord sat on top, unmarked saved for the braided border etched on its cover. Next to it sat an ebony fountain pen with vials of ink. A small smile flitted across your face as you removed the journal, flipping through its pages to appreciate the rough texture of the pages. It was almost too nice to write in.

Beneath it, sat two more books. On Writing by Stephen King, and a collector’s edition of Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. You appreciated the first as a good resource for your upcoming submission, but your attention snagged on the latter. Its deep blue cover looked expensive with gold-pressed fleurs dis lis along its border. You flipped it open to the first page, noting that it was written in French. Somehow, you knew it would be.

A handwritten note sat at the bottom of the empty box.

You’re doing well. I chose you for a reason. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not for my sake. Take a break from the letters and enjoy the holidays. You’ve earned it.

—Your Dear Daddy Long Legs

Your skin pebbled with the twist in your gut, simultaneously too cold and too hot. You laughed, because you couldn't decide what else to do in that moment. Gifts were one thing, expected even from a man who had plenty of money to spare, but a few words of encouragement and the joining of an inside joke... that was priceless and exactly what you needed right now.

Writing letters had quickly lost its appeal once you started double and triple guessing every word that went onto the page. Life had gotten in the way, so you distanced yourself from your new friends to focus on your studies. You assumed you made the right choice, but it only succeeded in making you feel more isolated. With the end of your first semester looming, you wondered if you’d made a terrible mistake by taking his money.

Bruce Wayne clearly didn’t care about you or your struggles, especially after never receiving a response to your frantic letter apologizing for your misstep.

But maybe you’d been a little too quick to judge.

Your laughter died on a wheeze as tears gathered in your eyes, hot and searing, relieved you hadn’t fucked this up. It wasn’t often the actions of billionaires brought you to tears, and happy tears at that. Hah. You wanted to laugh and sob and scream. Perhaps, an ugly combination of all three. A weight you’d carried over the last few weeks lifted, and you could finally breathe a little easier.

He wanted you to be yourself.

Your paranoia could settle, and you could finally enjoy life instead of sitting around and waiting for him to pull the plug on your academic pursuits.

Grabbing your new journal, you headed for the window. Ice and gray-flecked snow gathered on the grate outside. You sat on the small bench inside your apartment and cracked the window, relishing the chilly Gotham night. As you considered how best to christen your new journal, you heard the pop and drag of a grappling gun. Everyone from Gotham had come to recognize the call of an incoming vigilante.

Your gaze snapped toward the sky, searching the rooftops for the telltale smear of red on the black canvas of night.

Several seconds passed, the air thick with tension before you saw him. A speck of red landed on a roof two blocks down. Red Hood bolted, swallowed by the shadows before you fully realized you’d spotted him. You squashed the urge to call out to him.

Catching a glimpse of him every now and again was enough, you tried to reason with yourself. Knowing that if you ever ran into trouble again, Hood might be the one to save you was enough.

You almost believed yourself this time too.

To avoid the temptation of watching the sky, you retreated further inside with your journal. You sat cross-legged on your couch, anticipation buzzing through your veins as you tried to focus on the blank page. Much to your chagrin, words were harder to come by with your attention drifting back to the window every few seconds.

A distraction—that’s what you needed.

You turned on the TV, resuming where you left off in your rewatch of Bridgerton. It wasn’t long before you caught your attention straying toward the window once more. You groaned and laid out flat on the couch so you couldn’t see the window at all.

When he decided to grace you with his presence was outside your control. You knew that. The only logical step was to focus on something you could control. Pulling out your phone, you scrolled through a slew of unread texts. Your thumb hovered over the picture Steph had uploaded. One of her posing with Cass after one of their self-defense classes.

She tried texting.

She tried calling.

You never answered.

She had every right to ignore you now if she wanted to, but it was worth a shot. You clicked the ‘call’ button and raised the phone to your ear. At the very least, you could leave a voicemail. Steph deserved an apology, even if she never wanted to speak to you again.

The call connected after two rings. “My horoscope has never led me wrong. It told me to expect an unexpected call today.”

You struggled to contain your smile. At least you could count on Steph to remain consistent in these trying times. “If you expected it, can it be unexpected?”

“Psh. Begone with your logic. So, does this call mean you want to be my friend again?”

You had the decency to act sheepish. “I know it was shitty of me, to disappear. I just...” There was no real justification for your actions, and you didn’t try to explain yourself. ���I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have cut you out like that. I was in my head, and if you want to tell me to pound sand, be my guest. But, if you’re amendable to an alternative, I would like to grab lunch tomorrow and catch up.”

Her phone crackled as she readjusted her phone, quiet save for a small hum of contemplation. You held your breath as you waited.

“Are you feeling better?”

“I am,” you answered honestly, “I got the pep talk I needed.”

You could hear the smile in her voice as she said, “Good. Though, for the record, I’ve been known to give a pretty stellar pep talk myself. You could have come to me. I love telling people how great they are.”

She also loved devastating people with a single, well-aimed slight. You’d seen it for yourself on several occasion but thankfully had never been on the receiving end. Steph truly was a woman of multitudes.

You laughed despite yourself. “I’m getting used to friends. Sad, I know, but I panicked and this was the result. I am sorry. I’d like to make it up to you. Lunch is on me.”

“Ew, keep your money. I just want to hang out and talk shit about Dr. Edwin. I mean, can you believe he had the gall to throw a pop quiz at us? It's a philosophy class for fuck's sake? I wasn't even aware there were tests," she groaned before quickly adding, "You can also tell me about this life-changing pep talk while we’re at it.”

Your tongue darted out to wet your lips. If she knew it came from Bruce Wayne, you’d never live it down. “Just a friend.”

“I thought you didn’t have friends?”

“Do you want to hang out or not?”

“Hm, suspicious,” she said with a sniff, “I’ll drop it for now, but we will talk about this tomorrow. Can I invite Cass? She missed you too.”

“Yeah, that sounds gr—”

Several things happened in that moment.

You heard the pop of a grappling gun.

Something large hit your fire escape.

A voice, warped by modulation, groaned.

Your heart lurched.

It couldn’t be...

“Hey? You still there?” Steph’s voice dragged you back.

“I—yeah, I’m here. Someone—I gotta go. I’ll text your tomorrow.” You hung up before Steph could respond and sat up.

Red Hood ambled to his feet, outlined by the flickering streetlamp outside. He rolled his shoulder experimentally, another round of colorful curses crackling from his mask.

“Hood?”

He froze.

Slowly, his attention shifted to where you perched on the couch, then toward the TV. You followed his gaze. Daphne Bridgerton hung off a ladder as Simon's hands disappeared beneath her dress. He pressed searing, open-mouthed kisses to her exposed throat, their moans heavy and loud in the silence that stretched on.

Your eyes widened as you hurried to turn down the volume, to turn it off, anything to spare you from the mortification of explaining the plot of Bridgerton to him.

The screen went black, and you whipped around to face him. “I—”

“I preferred Anthony’s season.”

Your brain turned a little fuzzy. “You’ve... you’ve seen it?”

“Out of morbid curiosity. Nothing more.”

The lie was far from convincing, but he stared back, daring you to call him on his bluff. You let it go because you had yet to fully accept that he was here, talking to you. He crouched to speak with you through your window. It was a sight to behold, his shoulders comically wide for the frame.

You stepped toward him, fearing moving too quickly might scare him off. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s been a while.”

That much was obvious. “It has.”

His fingers flexed around your windowsill, his leather gloves squeaking softly. Neither spoke. You waited, but he seemed reluctant to say anything more. That meant it fell to you to fill the empty air.

“Did you want to come in?”

It was smarter not to let him in. This was more than enough. No need to be selfish. And yet, you offered anyway.

He nodded and said, “Sure.”

Shoving the window up, he managed to squeeze inside, grunting softly as he rolled his shoulder again. You stepped forward to meet him halfway, nearly touching him now, but not quite closing the distance.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, I, uh...” He stood a little straighter. “I fell just now.”

Another silence wrought with tension settled. You glanced around your apartment, wishing you’d known he would appear so you could have tidied up a bit. His attention, however, didn’t stray from you. It sat like a weight on your chest, pressing the air from your lungs.

After months of nothing, his presence shouldn’t have affected you the way it did, but your body fizzled with anticipation. Your hand fell back to your side. “You still haven’t told me why you’re here.”

“I wanted to see you.”

He recoiled, and you imagined that was something he meant to keep to himself. Still, his confession hung in the air between you, waiting for you to do something with it. He stayed rooted to the floor, not even the crackle of his breaths passing through his modulator.

You broke away from him as you considered your next move. You imagined what this meeting would be like. What you would say? How he would respond? Reality was far more daunting. Hesitantly, you turned to the small collection of books organized at the foot of your bed.

One chance.

You had to make this count.

Pulling three from the lowest shelf, you turned to face him once more. “I realize I don’t know anything about you.”

He didn’t correct you.

You pressed on, “I also realize that it’s probably safer that way considering who you are and the life you lead.”

Again, nothing.

Closing the distance once more, you offered him the stack. He reached for them, though you couldn’t tell if it was a deliberate choice or simply reactional. He released a shuddering breath that rippled through his modulator—the only indication that his brain hadn’t completely shut off.

Before you lost the nerve, you continued, “I read the Emily Wilson translation of The Odyssey. I know that feels like a lifetime ago, but I think it helped me understand the man who hides behind the mask a little better.” You looked at him in earnest as you fiddled with the strings on your yellow hoodie. “Our favorite books can say a lot about a person’s character. I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you too. Maybe this is how we can get to know each other without sharing too much.”

You waited for him to say something.

Anything.

Seconds passed, each more constricting than the last. This was the most vulnerable you’d been in a while. You’d hoped for a little more of a reaction, though it was difficult to know what was happening under that damn helmet. Your fingers twitched at your side as the silence stretch on between you.

You cracked first. “I’m sorry if this is weird, I just thought—”

He handed the books back to you, effectively shutting you up. You knew outright rejection was a possibility but experiencing said rejection was much worse. Your throat tightened as you fought back whatever knee jerk reaction clawed at your chest.

Once more, you were caught staring at each other, the space between you cavernous and achingly cold. Your grip tightened around the books, half-tempted to chuck them at his head.

How dare he come here.

How dare he toy with your emotions.

He could have stayed away.

He stepped toward the window. “I need to go.”

You didn’t stop him when he ducked through the window and shot into the night. Numbness quickly settled in his wake, soothing the sting of rejection as you set the books on your table and drifted listlessly back to your couch.

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A/N: Let me take a second to thank those of you who have taken the time to read and comment. It means a lot, and brightens my day whenever I get a notification! I hope you enjoy the ride.

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@bungunz @emu-lumberjack @goldendistrict

[elegyofthemoon]

hiiii i want to do some letters/little notes for people again for the holidays do any mutuals want them ? :>

[unknownmads]

CANT STOP THINKING ABOUT INMATE TOJI AND CUTE LITTLE Y/N WHOS SO NAIVE TO BIG BAD TOJI

CW: Slight smut (mentions of his pp🤭)

☆☆☆

thinking about Prison toji who you met when your college has you do a little project in your criminal psychology class. The project was make a penpal get to know them ask why they are in prision, what their lives before was like, do they regret what they did etc. basic questions of course all you had to do was get the most information out of the penpal about their personal lives as you could.

Prison Toji who only signed up for the program because it was part of his latest court order saying he ‘needed more understanding’ so a penpal would give him a friend while they stay safe😭 he ofc hated the idea and thought it was the dumbest shit ever. until he got his first letter, from you (duh).

Prison toji who got mail for the first time and it was a little white envelope with a cute little sticker sealing it. He deadpanned *is my penpal an idiot these letters are for a prison not a daycare* he silently judges examining every detail as he opened the letter. i read the letter taking in every little personal detail you shared with him, your cute little name, how you loved your cat, how you’re new to the city only just moving for school, of course the boring questions for him as well. But at the very end of the letter he noticed an extra little note.

Ps. i left a few photos of myself along with some of my cat! i think it’s only fair since i got to see your photo on the website

Prison toji who grabs the envelope he previously had thrown to the side and pulls out 3 polaroids. One of you and probably your cat you’re dragging it into the photo with a big grin on your face. the second is a photo of your face a soft smile on your lips meant for whoever took the photo but Toji couldn’t help but wonder if that little smile was for him. Until he pulls out the third photo it’s a full view of you, you’re out in the city dressed all out, and Toji couldn’t help but know you chose that photo just for him.

Prison Toji who can’t wait to finally get some alone time so he can truly appreciate your pretty photos. And immediately goes to write you back answering all your cute little questions. Telling you where he lived before, how he ended up there, telling you what he did for work before (Surprise he sold drugs😍), telling you what he does to occupy his time here (he works out he just wanted an excuse to tell you how strong he is), and he asks you some questions.

Prison Toji who has been relentlessly flirting with since you started writing to him, asking if you had a boyfriend, how your school was going, why you moved to the city, how a cute lil thing like you is still single. You had been writing each other for a few weeks now which is a lot less than you think when you know how long mail takes. But your letters to each other are long. answering every little thing each other asks, learning about one another more and more. You had really connected so you finally ask him the big question he read the words as clear as day.

~Do you think i could come pay you a visit? ~

Prison Toji who had to immediately write back answering the most important question first.

~ And doll, you can come visit me anytime id love to finally meet you and see your pretty face in person~

he wanted to be nonchalant.

Prison Toji who was sitting in bed looking at your photos when he was called

“Zenin, you’ve got a visitor. away from the door.”

Prison Toji silently followed standing on the other side of the cell while the guard came in to handcuff him and bring him to the visiting area. Once he was in the room his cuffs connecting him to the table he waited. until he heard the door open again. He felt his cock twitch in his pants as he saw the guard guide you in. You were wide eyed taking in the new environment until they landed on him.

Prison Toji was large, you knew he was tall and muscular thanks to his letters and photo but nothing could have prepared you for the real deal. Eyes widening even more when you fully take him in. seated At the grey metal table his hands on the table as the guard had told him to. his hair poking at his eyes which were staring drinking you in. his lip in a smirk helping you notice the scar on it which you couldn’t really see from the grainy prison photos. His shirt stretched against his muscles showing off a few tattoos hidden along his skin. the view making you squeeze your thighs together to release some of the pressure building.

Prison Toji who took in as much of you as he could as he watched you shuffle into your seat across from him, enjoying how you squirmed slightly within his gaze, his smirk growing into an almost full smile.

“hey doll it’s good to finally meet you.”

[cutehoons02]

Snow angel

*pairing: popular frat?boy Jake x good girl

*trope: fake dating/Christmas vacation

*tags: Jake has a little crush on the protagonist, touching, shy girl with people but not with Jake, christmas trope,kiss, fluffy, green flag

*synopsis: Jake had a little crush on you but in those few times he saw you, he never had the courage to approach you but thanks to a project organized by the university he would have the way of talking and maybe ask you to be his fake girlfriend for a certain time of the year

comments are appreciated

*word count: 5.8k (Tell me if you like this kind of stories:) my masterlist

REBLOG IF YOU ENJOYED

It had been snowing in Seoul for almost a week and a thick layer of snow was washing the entire university football field, there were lots of snowmen and some snow angels formed by the shapes of the boys who had jumped to the ground and moving they had formed forms that looked like little angels, Y/n loved everything that represented winter and would dream of spending time as did all the boys of his age going shopping for Christmas markets, playing under the snow, make snow angels and who can also give his first kiss under a romantic snowstorm but being conspicuously shy and always full of the study had never experienced these things but maybe an angel human to how popular with the obsession for lego, music, and physics would have expressed some of his desires...

Seoul University had decorated the entire inner hall leading to the various classrooms with countless Christmas decorations. Still, one thing that made students smile and excited was a small Christmas house in the middle of the large entrance with a small chair inside, a table, and a stack of sheets with all the names of the students in that department and a couple of young adults dressed as elves who had to mate at their leisure couples who according to them should know each other and make each other wish person had written in that little sheet of Christmas requests.

"Y/n stop getting paranoid for nothing, you just have to write in the note 4 wishes or things that you would like to do with this hypothetical person during December, i recommend you also add your ig ame or your number, but maybe it’s better your name ig and in a week we will find out if this person will write to you because meanwhile i already know that even if they sent the letter of the other guy you would never write"

"Why should i ever choose the male option, you know that i'm shy, especially with males i would like to make friends first, of course, i have you and Sunaa but i would love" Do not stop talking that a boy dressed as elf called you to enter the house.

"Y/n in the option you choose that the letter receives a guy, you can start making friends even of the opposite sex" your best screamed and made the sign of two thumbs up and started waiting for you outside the long line.

The house was decorated with Christmas stuff and light music coming from the speakers with a shy smile you greeted the two boys and the girl put the sheet, of Christmas paper covered with little snowflakes, and at the top, you could circle 2 options send this sheet to a boy or a girl and felt your heart beat too fast for your taste but maybe your best friend was right and you had to leave a little bit from your comfort zone and start doing "friendship" with some guy so you chose the option that the letter could receive only one guy. In the center you had to write 4 things that you wanted to do at that time with that person and then write because you chose to participate, you wrote all your requests and finally, you wrote your full name, your email, and in the contact section your instagram name and if you were part of some club so the person receiving the letter had some options on how they could look for you, and you wrote that you were in the radio club of the economics and mathematics department.

Inside the radio booth, you looked at the big windows that looked out on the big football field, there were a lot of people taking pictures or running and throwing snowballs, you would have wanted to be out there too but you had to spend another half hour in the heat and look at the schedule but when you saw that you had to announce that within a few minutes, everyone would be acquainted with who would make a couple slight anxiety your body.

You didn’t talk a lot on the radio because you hated how your voice sounded but at that hour you were alone because almost all the other students who were part of the club had class so you pressed the green button and when the song ended you took the long microphone and spoke to all students.

"Good morning to all the students of the Department of Economics and Mathematics, how are you? Don’t tell me you forgot what day it is because in exactly 55 seconds you will find out who you were paired with for the project put into place "Spend your Christmas holidays with a new friend", now to break the ice a little and not to make you feel how anxious or shy to write to your future partner i play one of the most beautiful Christmas songs as well as Last Christmas by George Michael."

You pressed the red button and leaned on the swivel chair and a long breath came out of your lips but your anxiety became even greater when you saw in the WhatsApp group that everyone had received the email, you didn’t dare to open it but you were too curious to know that you wanted the guy you had been "paired" with so when you read the first point you looked at your phone with an interrogative look, what it meant that the boy who had written the requests wanted to have for his Christmas holidays a fake girlfriend because he was tired of hearing his family say that he was a fratboy and that in 22 years he had never brought with him a girl only because they did they think he was not capable of a serious relationship?

You slammed the boy’s profile and your mouth opened slightly in astonishment when you saw to whom that profile belonged, it was simply a bad joke of fate, it couldn’t be true that you were acclimated to Jake Sim and one of the most popular guys on campus and in your department. With what sense they thought to pair you with one of the most shy, sweet girls, with all the votes awarded to a frat boy who had taken the scholarship only for his football skills, every time you saw him with his group of friends he always had some different girl. To your bad luck, he read your wish request and you did not know if it was him that loser to ask people disguised as an elf to find them a fake girl with whom to spend the Christmas holidays or if you were the loser who attended and wrote that you wanted to give your first kiss under the snow or walk with a stranger in the Christmas markets.

You, your best friend and Sunaa were going out in front of the sports field to see live the multiple snowmen and some had strange shapes of animals instead of others had even jerseys of the football team of the university, you loved to see how all the people thanks to little ice flakes all became slightly more good and romantic with everyone, you leaned down for a moment to take pictures so that you could post them on the radio profile but after a few seconds, you heard a snowball hit your head and slightly annoyed and surprised you saw that it had been thrown by one of the two guys who were just steps away from you.

One of the two was slightly taller than the other guy and besides being dressed as a Michelin man for the too-cold he also had a black balaclava that covered almost all his face apart from some dark hair tufts that came out you could not understand who was but instead the boy with white jacket slightly untied on the neck, with the softest hair you ever saw and that little smile he had thanks to his lips slightly fat but cracked from the cold you knew who they belonged to, Jake Sim as well as the guy who received your letter and you his written in 4 points that he was looking for a fake girlfriend and that would make it possible any wish had expressed his "companion" if she had spent the holidays with him in the mountains and his family. You looked where your friends had gone and were slightly away from you but you tried in every way to reach them accelerating the pace but with the white icy cover you had to be careful not to fall. You felt your name shouting slightly and you knew who belonged to that voice even though you had hardly ever spoken to him in person, You wanted to be teleported across the city or invisible to his eyes but when you saw him in front of you you understood why most of the girls they had a crush on him and why they would all want to go out with him.

"Hey, you’re Y/n, right? The girl who works at the university radio station and publishes every week in the blog and profile of the university the ranking with the most beautiful songs of the week, every week i can’t wait to read the chart and i can say that you have great taste in music because we have a lot of songs in the playlist in common" Did you look slightly surprised Jake, how he could be so expansive and not embarrassed to have to talk to a stranger?

"Um, yes i'm Y/n, i’m glad you like the songs that i suggest to make people listen to" You bowed slightly and tried to leave but he was faster than you and put himself in front of your body not to let him escape from it but also the wind blew a little too much and wanted not to see you with all the snow in your face.

"Sorry i threw that ball at you, i didn’t know you were the girl they’d put me in a relationship with or i would have looked for you on the radio" was the dumbest lie he’d come up with in months, Knew who you were too well but didn’t know how to come and talk to you without looking like a loser.

"Anyway in your Christmas wishlist it was written that you wanted to be kissed under the snow, can i kiss you y/n? So we can already tick off your list!"

You looked at yourself with a slightly surprised look Jake, how you should have kissed a stranger, and with what bluntness asked you, you knew that Jake was very famous with the girls but you did not think he had a big ego.

"Thank you for the offer Jake but i don’t kiss a stranger without even knowing him and if i have to be honest i would like to kiss a guy that i like both characteristics and not only physically"

"So you’re telling me that you find me attractive? I would do anything to have you in front of my family during the Christmas holidays."

You immediately raised your eyes when you felt that pet name, god was the essence of the classic alpha sports boy with 0 interests apart from football and himself.

"Jake? That’s your name, right? Maybe those disguised elves have made a mistake to match us, you and I have nothing in common and perhaps it is better to change the request and ask if we give 2 different partners to do this "project". You and me are part of two different worlds and honestly, i would not even trust to spend the Christmas holidays with a stranger, i would come in person to tell you at the training that you have in a few" Jake felt slightly sick at Y/n’s words, he knew it was a strange request but 99% of the girls would say yes to spending 5 days in a luxury hotel in the middle of the mountains with him and his family but not the girl in front of him.

"We can start again if i made a bad impression with my "clown" ways but i try in every way to make people feel comfortable with my jokes or with my slightly playful character, i’m Jake and i know you might have preferred to be in a couple i don’t know with Sunghoon who is much more shy and confident than if but if those two elves put "couple" they will think that maybe we are perfect for this mission"

Or maybe you had paid that evil elf Niki to put you in a pair with the girl with wavy hair covered with light snowflakes, but no one would have found out, right?

You saw Jake bend over the snow and a puppy look looked at you for endless seconds until i took his hands with yours and made him stand from that surreal moment, god you just wanted to know someone to be more sociable and less shy but you would never have expected to make "couple" with Jake.

"I’m not sure, you and i don't know each other at all, and, repeat i do not trust so much even myself so think if i could come on holiday with you and pretend to be together, it would be impossible they would discover Jake immediately."

"Exactly five days to 24 December the day of departure, on your list it says you’d like to make cookies with the elven boy so i could come to your house tomorrow after practice and try to make those sugar loaf cookies and we could get to know each other better,i read that you are shy with guys so with me you may have already checked something off your list, i could make you less tense and shy with guys while we’re almost all the same. What do you say?"

The wheels in your brain were processing all the proposals that Jake was telling you, what could be wrong? You just have to make some cookies together and spend an hour together in your shared apartment with your friends, you certainly wouldn’t be all alone and maybe Jake was right being with him you would defeat your social anxiety by being in contact with a guy.

"Okay, it might not be a bad idea to make cookies with you, and at the same time we could get to know each other, but if i don’t feel comfortable you’ll have to find someone else to spend your holidays with on the mountains."

You felt Jake’s strong arms hold you for a few seconds around his body and a slight hint of vanilla and honey invaded you, you were petrified because you did not love physical contact with people so you gave two small blows on the back of the Australian boy and when he detached from you the smiles.

"Send me the address of your apartment, i’ll leave training for 17 so by that time i should be able to come to you"

Anuists and you saw him running inside the gym, in what trouble had you got?

The whole apartment was lit by a flared light coming from the kitchen and in the background you had put a Christmas playlist, when your friends had discovered that the guy with whom you were paired was Jake had flipped out like fans at a concert. They had also thought about how many days you would kiss and how long you would fall in love with him, but this was not at all on your list of goals and to your bad luck they left you alone because you had to deal with your "anxiety" To be in contact with a boy of the opposite sex. You were encouraged to accept Jake’s offer to spend five days in a luxury hotel with him but before you accepted you had to be sure that he didn’t have any weird feelings, that he wasn’t a serial killer, and that you felt comfortable with him, You had definitely stalked him on social media and asked around about him and everyone gave the same answer.

Jake emanated 100% the vibes of golden retriever boy and by the way he also has one and is a female named Layla, loves football and to your great surprise he had not won any sports scholarship but managed to get into university and the football team thanks to his good grades and brilliant football talent, You thought he didn’t care about studying but never judge a book by the cover because he was seriously a nerd if you talked about math but especially physics, he could speak two languages perfectly and had a lot of friends.

It all seemed too perfect, how did he not have any reservations to the eyes of other people? or maybe you had to know what secrets were hidden under that facade of good boy and if maybe it was seriously all true what people said about him?

You heard the bell ring and when you opened the door a Jake with slightly damp hair and scrunched smiled at you from the door, he was wearing glasses that made him too attractive for your taste and when he took off his jacket he had a sweatshirt that perfectly wrapped his body and a gray pants suit slightly over.

"Hey, i got you some Christmas Edition sugar decorations to put on top of your freshly baked cookies. Cabbage has been snowing for 10 days that keeps snowing i seriously need to go back to Australia in the heat if it still snows and tumi in the pool or at the beach" he winked at you and came into your house as if he had already come a million times.

"Where in Australia are you from? My roommate comes from the Golden Coast and every time she shows us the pictures we fantasize about going there one day".

"I was born in Korea but i lived a lot of years in Brisbane and it’s like my second home, one day i’ll take you there if you want it"

In what way did he want to bring it to Australia? But what problems did this boy have, first he asked you to go to the mountains with him and be his fake girlfriend and then he pretended to go with him to Australia.

"I understand why you’re a heart-stealer Jake, you fool i don’t know how many girls with your impossible promises, maybe this is one of your red flags. You know i asked around about you and everyone told me that you are a golden boy, full of friends, a scholar and who loves sports, nobody has ever spoken badly to me about you, how is this possible?

You saw Jake getting too close for your taste and he trapped you without realizing it in the space near the sink, his dark eyes were studying you and a grin formed on his lips.

"Don’t tell me that the sweet and shy Y/n tried to find out something shady about me only because you can not admit that in this world there may still exist "normal" guys with passions, scholars, full of friends. As long as you try to find out something about me by asking others you will only waste time because i have nothing to hide, i thought you were smarter, if you want to find out something about me the only way is to spend time together!" He winked at you again and started pouring all the ingredients for the cookies into the big bowl, you were slightly irritated by his presence and didn’t understand how they had chosen to pair you with such a guy.

When you put the cookies in the oven a slight sense of embarrassment crept into the room, you leaned on the couch that you had in common and Jake finally put himself at a suitable distance where you could not always feel your heart go fast.

"Excuse me for earlier perhaps i was slightly mean to you and did not want to be at all, In fact, i never behaved like this with anyone just literally took me to the waster with this request to be your fake girlfriend during the Christmas holidays with your family. I would like to be the most honest with you, maybe this is too much for me also because i have 0 experience with guys and see how i behaved with you so think if I ever find myself alone with you and your family pretending to be something."

Jake was surprised by how much you had talked in those 2 minutes of pure embarrassment between you and him, He didn’t think at all that you had ever done anything with any guy because you were really beautiful and he couldn’t do it but these thoughts could make them in another moment now he had to make you understand that you were perfect to be his "fake girl" for those few days and then who knows maybe to be his girlfriend?

Jake approached slightly to Y/n and watched her get farther away from him but the couch was not so long so she stopped and Jake was a few inches away.

"You don’t have to be ashamed of not having any experience with someone, maybe you should just be more yourself with people and let them know what you like or don’t like and I would like to have this chance Y/n"

Jake was the exact opposite of you and you knew that this for him was only "fiction" and he did so only because he wanted at all costs to have someone to take on vacation with him but maybe thanks to him you could defeat that shy part of yourself?

"I don’t know how to explain it but with you, I feel slightly at ease. Maybe it’s because everyone talks about you and you are very talkative with everyone and you try in all ways to make people feel good..." you did not dare to look him in the face because he already had a big ego and with these statements of yours would be even smugger, a small smile made its way through Jake’s lips and he put more comfortable on the sofa.

"Uh, the shy girl who’s afraid to date a guy is seriously telling me that maybe the only one not making her feel uncomfortable?"

gave you a little push on your shoulder and gave you a slight

"Oh my God, i can’t believe you smiled at me, today i have to write in the calendar that Y/n made me a real smile and you laughed at one of my bad jokes."

"Jake seriously stop i gave you a compliment not to expect more this evening and not in the next days"

"In what sense in the next days Y/n? Don’t tell me that my charm has already enchanted you and that you can’t wait to spend time with me in the mountains together like two lovebirds?"

"I haven’t decided yet if i should go with you or not, but i repeat i don’t feel so uncomfortable being with you but being your fake girlfriend. If i should come i should always be next to you and of course, we should kiss, embrace, share the bed, touch each other in front of your family, shake hands when we are together and

Jake had not seriously thought about this point when he wrote that strange request to have a fake girlfriend for his Christmas days in the mountains, but today’s relationships were how physical and he had a serious problem and loved to hug everyone and if he was engaged would not leave even a second his girlfriend alone without putting his hand somewhere and to make everyone understand that it was his and of no other.

Jake took your hands and looked at you smiling "Calm down y/n, all these things you would have done at least once in your life except kiss someone but that won’t be a problem. On your list it says you’d like to be kissed under the snow, right? If you come i’ll kiss you under the snow but first we have to figure out if you’d touch it you wouldn’t mind, i love hugging people and being pampered so now we could do some kind of test, what do you say?"

Why did Jake behave like this? You couldn’t stand it because he looked like the perfect guy that everyone knew, i nodded my head but Jake looked at you asking

"Sweetheart you don’t have to be shy with me, use words and tell me if i can hug you?" When you heard that nickname you looked up and said yes And how yesterday a hint of vanilla and laundry invaded all and felt the big hands of Jake in your hips and some locks did you a light sunny when you felt the head of Jake leaning on your neck "You smell good, Sweetheart" little chills creep in and you clench your arms around her back a bit more "you also know how good Jake but stop calling me Sweetheart is embarrassing!" , after a while Jake broke away from you and to your great surprise you felt that you already missed his weak touch in your body but this feeling lasted little when he made you lie down and lean on a big cushion in the sofa and he put himself next to you, but for your bad luck or luck the sofa was not very big so it was attached to you and you looked at him slightly embarrassed but you trusted him even if you did not know him so much.

"If you come to the mountains with me i should call you by a nickname or my relatives would get suspicious and then know that i love to hug everyone so Sweetheart suits you, Y/n"

Jake looked at you with his face tilted and wanted to tell you the truth but no one would know that he had wanted you as "companion" of this project and it was not those elves or fate to put you with him

"Surely i would have read some romance books and there is the trope Grumpy x Sunshine and we represent it but i know that under that shyness there is a girl who knows how to have fun, full of hobbies and who loves her friends so do not make any problems with me"

Jake came even closer to your face and you looked at his lips but you knew he would not kiss you because if you wanted to have his kiss you had to go to the mountains with him but felt his fleshy lips give you a light kiss in the forehead and like an oven screamed and Jake got up from the couch and signaled you to follow him into the kitchen.

Christmas vacation

December 24th had arrived too early and you were not at all ready to spend almost 5 days with Jake, you had texted him every day and he even accompanied you to buy a ski suit, you found out he could ski and snowboard but you preferred skating but to make him happy you promised that you would go skiing with him. You even bought him a present, In his list it was written that he would love to spend hours building lego and he loved to collect soccer jerseys especially if they were vintage so you gave him a set of legos and a football jersey from Manchester United vintage.

He wrote you that he would pick you up and that it was close to your apartment so you went out and your roommates gave you their blessings and were super happy to see you less shy especially if that guy you were going with on vacation was Jake Sim, a modern SUV stopped in front of you and Jak when he got out of the car always had those glasses that gave him an air of fake nerd, the classic jacket Prada but in the black version and jeans washed that tied his legs.

She bowed to your roommates and when she saw you smiled at you gave you a light kiss on the cheek and signaled you to get in the car.

What have you gotten yourself into? Until 10 days ago you had hardly ever talked to him except for the times he came on the radio to talk about the games and now you found yourself in the car with him going to spend your holidays in a luxury hotel like his supposed girlfriend, But the problem was that you were his fake girlfriend, not his real girlfriend and a little sense of jealousy and anxiety got in your thoughts.

You watched Jake drive carefully, and he was really attractive. With his big venous hands, he turned the car’s baluster very easily, and you could always hear him singing any song you put on the radio. A slight smile crept into your lips, and Jake looked at you curious. "Why are you smiling? Don't tell me that my presence makes you happy because you will have to bear with me for almost five days."

"I laugh because any song i put you are a piece or whistle it as if i knew by heart is not that you stalked me the Spotify account? how does a guy like all a little frat boy of the university know Smooth Operator and the discography of Sade or know some songs of Frank Ocean"

"Sweetheart what i told you when we first met at the football field that i wait every week for your music chart and every time thanks to you, i download new songs, i like the songs that you listen to and suggest because they are all of the different genres" smiles and Jake continued to focus on the snowy road, had passed almost two hours and the destination was getting closer and closer, You pulled your hands into the sleeves of your sweater so that Jake wouldn’t see that you were agitated and wanted to bite your nails but like a hawk, Jake watched every move you made and knew you were slightly agitating when you no longer sang with him.

"Hey everything will be fine, you just be yourself as you were for these days when we went out, for it will already be a shock to see me with a girl that will leave us a lot of time together and i promise you that i will never leave you alone with my aunt chatterbox" When you got out of the car in front of you there was a huge hotel in wooden style decorated with lots of lights and the air of the mountain and the fireplaces made you forget what situation you had gotten into, you heard a dog bark and Jake ran immediately to hug his little dog, Layla.

You watched his family come against Jake and when their eyes moved from the tender scene of Jake with his dog to you, a redheaded girl gave out a slight cry and Jake’s mom gave you a big smile

"Oh my god after 22 years maybe our Jackie has put his head on and brought us his girlfriend" the girl with red hair who was her cousin approached you and embraced you warmly.

Why did everyone in this family love hugs so much?

<<Why didn’t you tell us that you were bringing your girlfriend? we would have arranged differently and proposed to do things of girls like going to the Spa or relax in the pool>> Jake’s mother looked at you attentively and Jake put an arm around your side and carried you warmly near itself.

"I didn’t tell you because i wanted to surprise you and then these things i would do with Y/n, in Seoul we haven’t yet had the chance to spend a lot of time together with lessons, radio club and my football training"

the two women embraced you and let you into the hotel to meet the whole family were all nice, cute, warm and funny with you and you absolutely wanted to pretend and tell lies all the time but was this the purpose of this trip right? Show the loving side of Jake with a girl and pretend he was not a womanizer in the eyes of his family and then back to Seoul you would come back as strangers like before...

When you entered the room with Jake a slight whistle came out of your lips when you saw the landscape of the snowy mountains in front of you and in the ridges there was a light pink sky, you felt your heart beat madly from how beautiful that moment was. Before i went in i didn’t really notice the room to see the scenery but you and Jake were both looking at each other when you saw that there was only a double bed and an exposed bathroom, but Jake showed you that the glass would go dark so you could have your privacy. The dinner with his relatives passed quickly and went all smooth, at 23:55 you were all outside the hotel with candles in hand to wait for the crack of midnight and to wish you all together, Your family was on the other side of the world so you could wish them well after 8 hours because of jet-lag, Jake’s warm hands were making little circles inside his pocket and smiled when he saw you laughing with his cousin, would not have asked for better in that letter for the university’s Christmas project.

At midnight everyone started singing Christmas carols and wishing each other a happy birthday under the snow and gave that even more romantic touch to the sound of the bells coming from the church on top of the mountain.

"Come I’ll show you a thing y/n" You followed Jake and in front of you there was a tree drawn on the snow made of wood and full of Christmas lights, you watched Jake smile at you and pulled out his tongue to eat some snowflakes, He nodded and laughed at how icy the snow was in the palate of his tongue. You tried it and laughed because of the funny face you made for the cold contact "I never thought to celebrate a Christmas in the mountains in Korea especially with you Jake" saw that he approached you and felt the hand slightly warm in contact with your face and little brvidi invades you, your mind thought they were perceived by the cold but your heart knew that those chills had been perceived by the touch of Jake, you looked at your lips a few centimerti from your mouth and thought that finally he would kiss you but he pushed you slightly and you fell embraced over the snow cover and Jake started to laugh because it was above you and if someone saw you so he would immediately Thought wrong but also because you had a questioning and red look from embarrassment, At this point Jake knew you wanted his lips in contact with hers so he smashed his slightly cracked lips into yours and started a slow kiss dance,he caressed your cheek and you without thinking took the hood from its thick hair and pulled him close to you and when you opened her lips let in his tongue and a light moan came out of your lips, had seriously fulfilled your desire number 1 in the list but you did not know that that kiss had triggered in you numerous butterflies in the stomach and your heart beat very strong when finished the kiss gave you a light kiss in the forehead and lay down near you and began Laughing like children when you saw your snow angels of your shapes to how strange but both you and Jake photographed those angels. Who knows maybe thanks to a letter written with a thousand anxiety two people so different but so close in time would fall in love

❄️ I hope you like it❄️

[grlsbstshot]

NEON LIGHTS

Pairing (Original Characters):

Jameson Lucas (Aaron Pierre) x Imani St. Cirie (Megan thee Stallion) Genie Adesanya (Jayme Lawson) x Ellington “EJ” Dupree (Kelvin Harrison Jr.)

Chapters:

Neon Lights Masterlist

Chapter Synopsis: A year has passed since Imani and Jameson's painful breakup. Once again, fate draws the two together again...but it's not as joyful reunion as either thought they'd have.

Warnings: smut (18+), toxic relationship, mentions of therapy, out of control drinking, and emotional breakdowns, sex (p in v, creampie, dirty talk) -- if we missed anything, let us know!

Word Count: 8k

Divider Template: @cafekitsune

Notes: 

The following characters are original creations. Their voice claims are Usher / Lucky Daye (Jameson) & Summer Walker / SZA (Imani). We have no affiliation to any of those artists.

Anaïs Lucas sat at her writing desk, the faint scent of her signature jasmine lingering in the air. The room was quiet, save for the rhythmic ticking of the antique clock on the wall. She flipped through the pile of papers in front of her, gaze landing on the embossed invitations for Jameson’s album release party.

Pride made her smile. Her son had an advantage when he got into the industry, yes. He had her name and his good looks but nobody could ever pretend her baby couldn’t sing or that he didn’t work his ass to keep what he got. After he announced he was pushing back his album last winter, Anaïs watched people doubt him. Come January 2026 – a few short weeks from then – they would know that he was worth the wait.

She picked one up, running her fingers over the gold lettering.

You are cordially invited to the premiere of Midnight & Dawn A celebration of James Lucas’ third album

It was elegant, timeless—everything she’d expect from her son’s team. Yet, as perfect as it seemed, something was missing.

Or rather, someone.

The party was in a matter of days and she knew for a fact that Imani wasn’t on the guest list. It made sense. The two had broken up and hadn’t so much as whispered each other’s name in public. Imani had moved on. Jameson had moved on. The cute little girl she’d seen him out with – but had yet to meet – seemed to be distracting him just enough.

But she knew her son. She knew what he wanted. She tried not to be that kind of mother but she couldn't help herself. He was her only child and she wanted him to be happy. She just wouldn't be mentioning any of this to Toni, Imani's aunt and her closest friend.

Anaïs reached for her phone, dialing a number she knew by heart. “Anderson? It’s Anaïs.” Her voice was warm but commanding, the kind that left little room for argument.

Anderson Allen was the head of public relations at Jameson’s label. He had insisted on signing a deal with a label that didn’t feature his mother but it didn’t mean that she didn’t have connections. “Ms. Lucas! What a surprise. How can I help you?”

“I was getting ready for Jamie’s party,” she began, her tone casual but deliberate. "But I heard that the guest list wasn’t complete. You all work so hard over there. I would hate for an omission to ruin the party."

Anderson hesitated. “Omission?”

“Yes. Imani St. Cirie,” Anaïs said smoothly.

The pause on the other end of the line was longer this time. “I—I wasn’t sure if that would be appropriate, given their history. Jameson hasn’t mentioned—”

Anaïs cut him off with a light laugh. “Oh, Andy, let’s not overthink this. Imani is an important part of Jameson’s life, personally and professionally. Inviting her would be…a gesture of goodwill. Besides, I’m sure she’d appreciate the opportunity to celebrate his success.”

Anderson’s voice was cautious. “I suppose we could add her to the list…”

“Wonderful,” Anaïs said, her smile bright. “I’d like to personally handle delivering her invitation. Consider it my little project.”

“Of course, Ms. Lucas. I’ll have one prepared and sent to your house immediately.”

“You’re a gem, Anderson. Thank you.”

Anaïs ended the call and leaned back in her chair, a satisfied expression on her face. She didn’t need anyone’s permission to do what she believed was right for her baby.

When the invitation arrived later that afternoon, Anaïs carefully wrote Imani’s name on the envelope in her graceful script. She slipped it into a sleek courier envelope and sealed it with a flourish.

“Deliver this directly to Ms. St. Cirie,” she instructed the courier who arrived at her door less than an hour later. “Make sure it’s in her hands before the day is over.”

As the courier left, Anaïs poured herself a celebratory glass of champagne. She wasn’t blind to the complications of Jameson and Imani’s past, but sometimes, fate needed a little help—and Anaïs Lucas was more than happy to provide it. 

The studio was alive with energy, even though it was just the two of them. EJ asked for them to run through the albums again. They'd been previewed for the label, accepted, turned in, and there was release party planned for the next night...but still. He wanted to hear the album one more time. Jameson didn't hesitate to go. As the final song climaxed, EJ poured whiskey into two glasses. He slid one across the console to Jameson, who sat slouched in his chair.

“To the masterpiece,” EJ said, raising his glass. “A double-disk album. That’s some legendary-level ambition from my boy.”

Jameson laughed, shaking his head as he reached for the glass. "Very glad I could surprise you all."

EJ snorted. "Hey! I believed in you always. It was touch and go there for a while for everybody else. When you pushed the album back, them niggas started getting nervous. But I knew...my boy was gone get into his bag. I just ain't expect two damn albums at once."

Jameson smirked, tapping his glass against EJ’s before taking a sip. “Here’s hoping they don't flop.”

“Flop?” EJ scoffed, leaning back in his chair. “You’re about to shut the whole industry down. Tomorrow night’s party is gonna be the start of something huge. We need to celebrate. Let’s go grab a drink. Celebrate properly.”

Jameson shook his head, setting the glass down as he finished off the amber liquid. “Un-uh. I’m good, man. I’m tired as fuck. You kept me chained to the recording booth most of the year. I'm going home. Getting in the bed.”

EJ smiled at his friend. “You sure? A little fun won’t kill you.” “Yeah, I’m sure,” Jameson said.

With nothing left to do, EJ finished his drink and threw his hands up. "Alright. I did my best. Aye...I'm proud of you."

Jameson wrinkled his nose, standing from his seat and grabbing his jacket. "Don't get soft on me and shit."

EJ followed his movements, a serious expression on his face. "I'm for real. I was worried about you. Not because of the album. Just because you're my friend. You came out the other side of that shit and I'm proud. I was glad when you stopped drinking every day and started getting fresh air but...therapy? Channeling your shit into music? Camille? You’re looking ahead. I'm happy for you, man." 

Even without him saying her name, she lingered between them. Imani was the unspoken, untouched aspect of his life that he still couldn't face. Still, he knew EJ meant well so Jameson smiled. “Thank you. For everything. You been solid while I got myself together. I owe you, E.”

It was a rare moment when the two stopped teasing each other enough to express what they felt. If Genie was his sister, EJ was his brother. He didn’t know who he’d be without either of them. Before he could change his mind, Jameson leaned in and gave EJ a tight hug. It only lasted a second but he could feel the other man hug him back.

“Alright. Enough of that.” EJ muttered, breaking away and shoving Jameson’s shoulder playfully. “Go home. Go be boring. I’m going to kiss my girlfriend until she blushes.”

He still couldn't wrap his head around EJ and Genie. When Genie had shyly told him she was dating EJ, his first reaction had been disbelief. He never felt a vibe between them but over the next few months, EJ had proved he was crazy about Genie. So Jameson stepped back. He didn't kick up a fuss or cause a problem. When he found time to get out of his own head, he was happy for them.

It was an innocent statement but Jameson recoiled, holding his hand over his ears. “Ew. Don’t tell me nothing you and Genie got going on.” He quickly picked up his jacket, shrugging it on while EJ laughed, calling out to him.

“You better lock Camille down so you can learn from us!”

Jameson walked through his front door and immediately noticed something was off. The lights in the dining room were dimmed, candles flickering on the table, and soft jazz played from the speakers. He’d left the house silent and dark before going to meet EJ. Only three people had a key beside him. His mother, who was not going to set a scene. Genie, who never used it. And EJ, who he just left. Jameson rounded the corner of his living room, entering the kitchen. There stood a woman, at his sink, with her back to him. He recognized her immediately. The messy way she piled her dark brown hair on the top of her head gave it away. 

Camille.

There was something about the way she carried herself—an effortless elegance like she owned the space around her. As one of the most famous young models in the industry, Camille was a striking woman. She held her head high no matter what, her posture perfect. She moved around his kitchen as if this was her home. It was the same way she had approached him – like he was already hers. He admired it, even if it reminded him of someone else, someone he couldn’t quite shake.

“Camille?” he called, dropping his keys on the counter.

She jumped, whirling around with wide eyes. She was wearing an apron with splashes of water on it over her sleek black dress. “You’re…You’re home early.” There were plates on his table, a romantic dinner for two was the obvious aim and he softened. They were casual. Beyond casual but she always took care of him.

Jameson raised an eyebrow, slipping back into the moment. “Am I not supposed to be here?” He asked her, shrugging out of his jacket as he moved further into the kitchen. “How’d you get in?”

“EJ came to let me in before he met you.” She said softly, her gaze following his movements – lingering on his forearms before she turned back to turn the running water off. “H-He was supposed to keep you out for another hour.”

And then it all made sense. The fact that he’d called him out at all to ‘listen’ to an album they’d been listening to for almost a year. Then to want to go out for drinks afterward? His best friend was trying his hand at matchmaking and Jameson couldn’t blame him. Camille was good to him. He’d be a liar to say she wasn’t.

“Ah,” Jameson said, nodding his head. “So, that’s why he was so insistent on hanging out tonight.” He stepped closer, tossing his jacket onto the counter before leaning against it, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. “Sorry I ruined the surprise.”

Camille pouted but the second she got a good look at him, she brightened and the annoyance melted away. “I thought we could celebrate your album being finished. Just the two of us. I’m happy for you.”

Jameson smiled, feeling a flicker of warmth in his chest. “Thank you. Thank you for coming. Thank you for caring.” He reached out, tugging her closer using the apron. “What’s for dinner?”

“Caprese salad, seared scallops with risotto, and white chocolate raspberry cheesecake.” “Sounds very impressive.” “It is. I slaved over a stove for you.” “I’m flattered.” “You should be. Not all of my friends get this kind of treatment.” “No?” “Un-uh.” “Damn. I must be really good in bed.”

Camille burst out laughing, slapping her hand against his chest. “You’re aight.”

“That wasn’t a no so I don’t think I was wrong.” Jameson teased her, leaning in to kiss her cheek softly. He released the apron before wrapping his arm around her to untie it. When he brought the strap over her head, he tossed it onto the kitchen island 

“Jameson! We have dinner. I already prepared the–” “Put it in the oven. We’ll eat it later.”

He didn’t have to explain any further. She watched him pluck a fork from his kitchen drawer and then she went to do exactly as he told her to do. Jameson waited patiently, taking a seat on a bar stool and pulling the cheesecake toward him. Once she was done and the food was set aside, he patted the stool next to him. “C’mon. Get off your feet.”

In her Chanel dress and high heels, Camille made herself comfortable. 

They settled at the kitchen counter, side by side on barstools, sharing bites of the rich dessert. Jameson fed her from his fork, kissed her, and put aside the fact that he felt a twinge of guilt for bringing her into his house. This was good. He was moving forward as EJ said. There was nothing wrong with that.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Jameson told her softly, offering her another bite of cheesecake. When she took it, he followed it with a kiss. Light and sweet. She leaned into him, silently asking for more. Instead, Jameson offered her more cheesecake. “I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately.”

She glared at him before his confession became clear. Cami gave him a bright smile, her tongue cleaning the whipped cream her mouth left behind on the fork before she spoke. “There is really nowhere else I’d rather be.”

Imani ran her hands over her dress as she looked over her appearance in the mirror. She did a small turn to the left and then the right to see. No flaws. She looked damn good as usual. She sported a new blonde hair color with hints of pink, a brown sheer dress that accented her curves and left little to the imagination, and her wrist and neck were dazzled in diamonds. It was perfect. Undoubtedly, a ten out of ten. Yet, she sighed and turned her body once more like something would change to make it even better. 

“Girl, if you don’t get out that mirror and go to that party, I’m a drag you there myself.” Her hairstylist said. Imani chuckled. “You look good. Now go get your man.”

She waved the woman off. “It ain’t even like that!” She hadn’t seen Jameson since their break-up last year. She only knew him through TV screens, magazines, and as a voice blaring through the club speakers. He was no longer the man that held her at night, told her she was beautiful or showered her with kisses. For the first time since they met, he was James Lucas. And she hated it. 

Imani said her goodbyes to her glam team as she sauntered to her door and then to the SUV. She slipped inside then the driver shut the door behind her. She pulled the ring on her ring finger on and off then on and off all over again.

It was the ring that Jameson gifted to her for Christmas last year. She pulled it out of her jewelry box when she was anxious, only wearing it at home to avoid speculation from the media and her fans. It was her stress reliever that no one knew about. But tonight, it served a different purpose. 

She wanted Jameson back. Bad. And Imani believed wearing his ring to his album release party would show him that she hadn’t forgotten about him. How could she? He was all she ever thought about. She thought she did the right thing when she ended things with him. They were just going to end in heartbreak like they always did. Imani thought breaking the cycle would solve everything. Yes, she was heartbroken when it happened but she always believed she would get over it and feel better. But she didn’t. She never felt more alone. 

For the first three months after their breakup, she distracted herself with work. She dove head first into Diary’s promotional rollout. Anything her label or management wanted her to do, she did it to avoid being with her deafening thoughts of regret and being alone. But her promo tour only lasted for so long. Then she tried partying. She tried drinking. She tried being with other people, but they never lasted long. All she did was compare them to Jameson. 

Despite all her efforts, nothing and no one could fill the void in her heart left by Jameson. His memory lingered in every corner of her mind. She wrestled with herself over the thought of reaching out to him, hesitant and afraid of what she might find. What if he had moved on? What if he wanted nothing to do with her anymore? She knew little about his current life, only catching glimpses through a few tabloids. According to them, he now resided in the bustling city of New York and was dating a woman named Camille, but they didn’t seem serious at all. Maybe she still had a chance. 

When she received a mysterious invite to his album release party, it felt like fate. A sign that she needed to make a move and get him back. She couldn’t let fear hold her back this time. So she booked a flight to New York with her trusted glam squad to help her and now her plan was underway. 

She was still fidgeting with her ring once they reached the club. The blinding lights of the paparazzi never phased her. She didn’t mind the attention. But tonight, their presence only added to the growing uneasiness and heat rising in her skin. Taking a deep breath, she reminded herself not to let them distract her from her goal — winning Jameson back. 

With a sigh, she stepped out of the SUV and was immediately swarmed by a frenzy of flashing cameras and shouting reporters. The familiar chaos only felt like an obstacle in her path. 

“Imani, you look stunning! Love the new hair.” “Are you here to see James?” “How do you feel about him and Camille? Do you know that they showed up here together?”

The last question nearly stopped her in her tracks. Her heart fell back into the abyss of despair that hope once saved it from. Jameson and Camille? She thought they weren’t serious, so why the fuck was she at the party with him? Fuck! Imani should have stayed home. Too many eyes were on her to turn back now. Instead, she simply smiled at the question and entered the club.

After she was inside, she made a beeline for the bathroom, ignoring all of the eyes and whispers. Imani needed to take his ring off before anyone noticed. She walked inside, thankful that no one was in there. Then she closed and locked the door so no one could see her lose it.

She felt like such a fool. There was a war raging inside of her. Of course, he moved on. It had been a year. Did she expect him to wait forever? But the other side screamed, how dare he move on? He told her they were soulmates. He said he would never give up on them. Was it all a lie? “Just twenty minutes.” She mumbled to herself. “I can do twenty then I’ll leave and go home.”

Imani exhaled deeply. She pulled the ring off of her finger and shoved it into her clutch. She unlocked the bathroom door, opening it, only to be met with Genie.

She stared at her like a prey making eye contact with its predator.  Her mind had been so clouded with thoughts of Jameson that she didn’t even think about their storm of friendship. She hadn’t seen Genie since last year. She ignored her texts and phone calls like her best friend was a scorned lover. One day, Imani was going to explain, she just didn’t imagine that day to be today. 

The two stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. Imani finally parted her lips to speak. “Genie, I-” She couldn’t even get her sentence out before the woman moved past her and into the bathroom. Imani sighed, deciding that tonight wasn’t the best time to discuss their broken friendship. She walked back into the club and looked for Toni, the only one she talked to during the whole year. Her energy turned into a dark cloud and she needed someone to brighten it if she was going to make it to twenty minutes.

He heard the whispers before he saw her. Imani had shown up. 

And finally, he saw her.

For the first time in a fucking year, he laid eyes on her. Not a picture. Not an interview or a photoshoot. He saw her.

Relief hit him so hard that he exhaled sharply. She was okay. After Christmas last year, she had essentially disappeared from his life. He didn’t call, he didn’t text, he had even chosen to unfollow her on Instagram but Jameson quickly found out that he wasn’t the only one left behind. Genie had lost Imani as well. 

The two didn’t talk anymore. He had nothing to go by that she was okay. The blogs reported every lover and every move she made…but none had been able to tell him if she was genuinely doing okay. He could see for himself – in the flesh – that she was doing damn good.

She was standing alone in the quickly filling club, framed by the soft glow of lights. He could see her observing the crowd, looking for someone. Was it him? When their eyes met, she seemed frozen. Her eyes went wide and he knew immediately she wasn’t looking for him. 

He felt a hand against his stomach and immediately broke eye contact with her. Camille was gazing up at him, a question in her eyes. Jameson had to steady himself before he smiled at her. “I’ll be back.” He heard himself tell her but knew that he shouldn’t leave. He did it anyway, walking across the room as every thought in the world passed through his mind.

The relief that he felt ended, replaced by anxiety. Why did she come? Was she trying to support him? Was she curious about the music? Did she want to rub it in his face that he had lost her? Did she want him to see how fucking good she looked? All of the questions he asked himself set him on edge but he didn’t stop moving in her direction.

His eyes ran from her blonde hair down to her tan dress. And a wave of lust hit him. 

The fabric clung to her body. It was barely there. He could see her body, sculpted abs and thick thighs. Perfectly measured underwear that hid…Well, he knew what it hid. He was so intimately acquainted with her body that he could find her in the damn dark. He couldn’t think like this. Jameson shook his head to clear the thoughts but flashes of memories raced through his mind. Late nights with him sinking his teeth into her thighs as they trembled, the way her abdomen contracted when she was coming around his fingers. The way she called out for him, the word ‘Daddy’ fell from her lips. All of it came rushing back to him with stunning clarity. Shit! No. No!

He wasn’t doing this. Camille was watching him. He had to get right. So many fucking therapy sessions and he was backsliding into chaos already.

By the time he got to her, he had control of himself again. “Hi.” He said softly.

He watched as she slowly turned to look at him. There was no ignoring one another. Not right then. Her lips curved into a smile but he knew right then that something was wrong. It didn’t meet her eyes. She didn’t light up the way she usually did when she was happy.

“Hi, Jameson.” “Thank you for coming. It’s nice to see you.” “I…It’s nice to see you too.”

A lull of silence hit them and awkwardness set in. Before, they could talk about anything and everything but now? He didn’t know what to say.

EJ found Camille standing near the edge of the room, sipping a glass of champagne with practiced ease. She looked every bit the supermodel she was, tall and poised, her sleek black gown clinging to her statuesque frame. But her eyes—dark, searching—betrayed her. She was watching Jameson, observing the way his gaze seemed to drift toward Imani no matter where she stood. Even when he excused himself from her side and greeted other partygoers, everybody in the room knew where he was going.

EJ stepped up beside her, his presence casual but deliberate. “You’re handling this well,” he said, his tone low enough to keep their conversation private from prying ears.

Camille turned her head slightly, offering him a polite smile. “Handling what?”

He gave her a knowing look, one that made her sigh and take another sip of her drink. She broke the pretense that nothing was happening. “You’re not blind, Camille. You see the way he looks at her. And the way she avoids looking at him. There’s history there—deep, messy history. You’ve got to know that.”

Camille’s expression didn’t waver, but she set her glass down on the nearby table, folding her hands neatly in front of her. “I know,” she said simply.

EJ raised an eyebrow. “And you good with that?”

She shrugged, the movement graceful but dismissive. “What am I supposed to do? Pretend it doesn’t exist? Jameson’s been honest with me about Imani. I know what she means to him.”

EJ leaned in slightly, his voice dropping. “What she means to him and what she still means to him might not be the same thing. I’m not saying this to scare you off, but if you’re serious about Jameson, you need to be ready to fight for him. Because that connection they have? It’s not something that just disappears.”

Camille tilted her head, studying him for a moment. “Do you think I’m not serious about him?”

EJ hesitated, then shook his head. “I think you care about him. I think you’re good for him, too. But I also think Jameson’s still figuring out what he wants. And if you’re not careful, you might end up hurt. She’s got this... gravitational pull on him, sure. But it’s not healthy. You’ve seen how far he’s come this past year. That’s because of you, Camille. Not her.”

Camille’s lips curved into a small, wry smile. “I appreciate the concern, EJ. Really, I do. But I’m not here to fight anyone for Jameson. If he wants to be with me, he knows where I am. And if he doesn’t?” She spread her hands, her tone light but firm. “Then I’ll let him go. I’m not the kind of woman who clings to someone who doesn’t want to stay.”

EJ studied her, a flicker of respect crossing his face. “You’re a lot calmer about this than I expected.”

Camille chuckled softly, her gaze drifting back toward Jameson, who had finally approached Imani. “I’ve spent my entire career competing—for jobs, for recognition, for respect. But love? That’s not something you should have to fight for. Either it’s there, or it’s not. And if Jameson’s heart is still with Imani, then there’s no point in pretending otherwise.”

EJ nodded slowly, impressed by her composure. “Fair enough. Just... be careful. He’s a good guy, but if things get messy—”

“They won’t,” Camille interrupted gently. “Because I won’t let them. I care about Jameson, but I care about myself too. If he can’t give me what I deserve, I’ll walk away. Simple as that.”

EJ exhaled, his shoulders relaxing slightly. Camille smiled again, this time with a touch of warmth. “Thanks, EJ. But don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine, no matter what happens.”

EJ glanced back toward Jameson, then back at Camille. He nodded, a silent acknowledgment of their conversation, and stepped away, leaving her to watch Jameson from afar, her expression unreadable.

“You look good.” He said softly, immediately regretting the words. “I mean, I like your dress.” Nope, that was fucked up too. 

��Thanks,” Imani looked at his outfit. It was already difficult for her to face him, but did he have to look handsome too? This may have been the second hardest thing she’s ever done. “You look uh—you look nice too.”

He peered down at his fit. All black, Gucci. Jameson lifted his hand, pressing it to his sleeve as if he just realized he was wearing clothes worth five grand. “Thank you. It’s just…something thrown together. I’m glad you came. Really.”

“Yeah, I’m glad I did too. Congrats on the album, Jameson. I’m—“ she paused, searching for the right words to say. “really happy for you.”

“Really?” He tilted his head, peering down at her. “Then why do you look upset?”

“I’m fine. It’s nothing.” Imani answered quickly. She wasn’t fine at all. She made the wrong decision to come to this party and now, she had to face a best friend who probably hated her and an ex she was still in love with. She was mentally kicking herself. But he didn’t need to know that.

He knew it wasn’t true but he couldn’t exactly call her on it. That wasn’t his place anymore. “Mhm.” He said softly, giving a nod. “I…I really do hope you’re okay, Imani. Things ended between us but I want you to be happy. Always.”

“I..I want you to be happy too,” she said, folding her arms over her chest. “I’m glad to see that you are. I really am.”

“Thank you. It…it took a while to get back to being happy.” The conversation between them was so fucking stiff and he hated it. He watched her fold her arms against her chest, knowing there was a wall between them. They talked to each other like strangers. Once upon a time, he could tell her anything. They could say everything to one another – except the shit that really mattered. And now they couldn’t say anything at all. “Finishing the album helped. Wouldn’t have been able to do that without a lot of people. You included.”

She nodded. “Well, I’m glad I could help. I can’t wait to hear it.” Imani smiled. “Uh, I’m going to go look for Toni now. I’ll see you around?”

He opened his mouth to say something – anything – but instead, he felt a hand against his arm. Jameson turned to look down at her, surprised by her presence. “There you are.” She said softly.

Imani looked between the couple, still with a smile that he couldn’t tell if it was fake or not. “Hi, I’m Imani.” She reached her hand out. Her eyes glanced down at his wrist. She looked back at Jameson with narrowed eyes. The watch on his wrist looked like the one she had sent him a year. Why the fuck was he wearing that? While he was with another woman? 

His head turned so quickly that he almost sprained his damn neck. He watched as Imani introduced herself to Camille, in such a friendly way that he was almost offended. Damn. She could at least pretend to be jealous. Camille gave her a smile in return and reached out to grasp Imani’s hand and Jameson inhaled sharply. He did not see this coming and he wasn't sure if he liked it.

“Nice to meet you.” She said. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Imani let go of Camille’s hand. “Nice to meet you as well. You’re very pretty.” She looked back at Jameson. Then at Camille. “Well, I’m going to leave you guys to it. Have a good night.” She said, turning around and walking away quickly before she could hear another word from either of them. 

It took a minute for Genie to pull herself together. When she passed Imani, it had broken her heart not to say anything but she couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t believe any of this shit. When Jameson and Imani broke up, her heart broke for them both. She didn’t know the details but knew it was bad. Jamie was drinking heavily and Imani was out of contact. But she kept trying. She would start by sending a message every week. Then it became every single day. She wanted to be there for Imani. She begged her to reach out if she needed anything…and she never did. 

It was like she lost her best friend. At first, Genie grieved. Every time something wonderful happened with EJ, she wanted to pick up the phone and call Imani…but she knew she wouldn’t answer. Then the grief turned into anger. She resented being so easy to forget.

“I shouldn’t have come,” she finally said, her voice shaky as she approached EJ. She could see his jovial attitude shift when he saw the look on her face. “I don’t know what I thought I’d feel seeing her again, but this wasn’t it.” She hadn’t even known Imani would be there but she knew that maybe there would be a good chance. Still, seeing her again had been a shock to the system.

EJ ushered her from the main floor, getting her comfortable in an isolated corner as he watched her with a steady, concerned gaze. “You wanted to see your best friend. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“She’s not my best friend anymore,” Genie snapped, then immediately winced at her attitude. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to snap at you. I just…” She blinked back tears, pressed her hands against her temples. “I mean... she was. For so long. But now? I can barely look at her. She completely shut me out.”

EJ leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her temple. “It’s probably not anything you did, baby. Maybe Imani needed space. It had to hurt ending things with Jay.”

Genie looked up at him, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears. “Of course she’s hurting. I know that. I just... I’ve tried, EJ. I’ve called, texted, even sent emails. Nothing. And now, after all this time, she shows up here, at Jameson’s party of all places, looking like she’s completely fine. Like she doesn’t even care that I miss her.”

Her voice broke on the last word, and she quickly turned away, pretending to adjust the strap of her dress. EJ sighed and crossed the room to her, his movements slow and deliberate, giving her space but offering his presence.

“She does care,” he said softly, though there was a flicker of something sharper in his tone. “You don’t just forget someone like you, Genie. Maybe she’s just... not ready to face everything yet.”

Genie let out a bitter laugh, swiping at her cheek. “It’s been a year. How much longer do I have to wait? How much longer do I have to pretend it doesn’t hurt that she’s just... gone?”

EJ placed a hand on her shoulder, grounding her. “You don’t have to pretend with me. You’re allowed to feel this. It’s okay to be angry, to be sad, to miss her. Just don’t let it eat you up inside.”

Genie turned to him, the tears finally spilling over. “I don’t know how to let it go. She was my person, EJ. And now, it’s like I don’t even exist to her.”

EJ’s jaw tightened as he pulled her into a hug, his arms wrapping around her tightly. He couldn’t help the frustration bubbling in his chest—not just for what Imani’s absence had done to Genie but for the pain she had caused Jameson too. He didn’t say it aloud, but part of him felt like Imani had been selfish, leaving behind the people who had loved her most.

“You exist,” he murmured against her hair, pushing aside his bitterness for Genie’s sake. “And you’re not alone. I’ve got you.”

For a moment, Genie let herself believe him. In the quiet of EJ’s arms, she let herself grieve, not just for the friendship she had lost but for the part of herself that felt like it had been left behind with Imani.

EJ held her tighter, his mind drifting back to Imani’s face at the party. He’d keep his thoughts to himself, but if she ever wanted back into their lives, she’d have to prove she deserved it.

Imani’s patience was wearing thin, and she couldn’t last another minute in this crowded club. What the hell was she thinking, flying thousands of miles to see a man she hadn’t spoken to in a year? She shoved her way through the throngs of people, not bothering to find her aunt in the chaos. All she wanted was to escape, to retreat to her hotel room and try to make sense of everything. 

As she burst through the club doors and into the cool night air, Imani finally exhaled the breath she had been holding since running into Genie. But it didn’t bring any relief. Everything felt like shit and it was all her fault. The weight of loneliness settled on her shoulders like a familiar burden, one that always found its way back to her despite her best efforts to keep it at bay. But this time it hit harder than ever before and threatened to swallow her whole.

Before she could fully immerse herself in the depths of her sadness, a familiar voice jolted Imani out of her thoughts. “Mani? Leaving so soon?” It was Jameson, accompanied by Camille, their arms entwined as they walked towards her. Imani’s heart dropped at the sight, knowing that she was once in Camille’s place. A pang of envy and longing washed over her, but she quickly masked it with a forced smile. “Oh, I’m not feeling well, so I’m a head out,” she lied, trying to sound nonchalant. Jameson’s eyes narrowed slightly as if he could sense something was off. But then Camille leaned in closer and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek, distracting him. “I know y’all ain’t out here to bring me back.”

Camille’s laughter tinkled through the air, her eyes sparkled as she glanced at Jameson. “No, we decided to leave early.” she said with a grin playing on her lips. Imani squinted at Jameson, studying his facial features intently. There was something off about him. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

“Why are you leaving your album release party so soon? Is everything alright?” Imani’s voice was gentle but curious, her gaze searching Jameson’s face for any clues. “I’m just tired,” he answered, but there was a slight quiver in his voice that betrayed his words. Imani could see the lie in his eyes, but she knew better than to press the issue. That was Camille’s job now.

“Jameson and I are going to go get some rest,” Camille said softly, doting on a 6’3 grown ass man like he was a baby. She wanted to hate it...but she knew she'd done the same when they were together. Imani’s eyes flicked back to Camille as she pat his chest and gazed at him. She tried to think of something to say next to the couple, but she was too focused on the way she said his name. It replayed over and over again in her mind. Her stomach was in knots at the sound of it. 

She was reminded of all of the times she used to call him that. Then she looked back at Camille. She was still looking at Jameson with the same look Imani used to have. Imani hated how he could invoke that look in another woman. She was the only one who should get to experience the look of love, lust, and admiration. She hated him for it. 

Where the fuck was her driver? She pulled her phone out of her clutch, opening it with her Face ID. She tapped over onto her call log, realizing that she never fucking called him. Imani was in such a rush to get away from the couple in the club that she forgot to do it. And yet, she still ended up face-to-face with them again. Fate wanted to torture her tonight. 

Imani quickly tapped the contact name and asked the driver to come get her. Luckily, he was just around the corner. There was silence between the three of them. Everything she planned on saying to him before her arrival was thrown out of the window when she first arrived. It all had fallen to shit. Now, her imagination filled those spaces of broken words. All she could see was Camille and Jameson, full of lust, in his house together doing what she would have done to him after his album release party.

Thankfully for her, Imani’s driver finally pulled up and disrupted her thoughts. He got out and opened the door for her. She walked over to the SUV, stepping inside of the car. “I’ll see you guys later…” She said, looking over her shoulder. She hoped her words never came to fruition. 

“Be safe and have a good night,” Jameson said lowly, watching her leave. She nodded, sitting down in the passenger seat of the vehicle. The driver closed the door. Once he pulled away from the curve, she pulled out the ring again. She toyed with it in her hands. Imani went into this party, hoping that the ring would spark a new meaning. She had no idea that meaning would be that it was her only connection to Jameson.

"You too quiet." Jameson muttered, pulling his hand from Camille's mouth. She gasped for breath when he did, immediately moaning out his name. "That's much better."

"Yes, baby. Right there. So good."

She was breathless as she clung to him. They were in the middle of his bed, she was on his lap -- long limbs wrapped around his neck and hips as she ground her hips against his.

Jameson groaned, feeling Camille's tightness stretch around him. Her enthusiasm was always a turn on and he let out a long, slow moan as he thrust deeper. Each powerful stroke, sending vibrations through her body that made her whimper in delight. Every time she moved on top of him, her breasts bounced enticingly against his chest, sending shivers down his spine.

"Ooh! D-Don't stop. Jamie! Just like that..."

The scent of sweat and sex filled the air as they moved together in perfect harmony. The sound of skin slapping against skin echoed through the room, mingling with their heavy breathing and tender moans. Camille's nails raked down his neck and back, leaving small trails of pleasure and pain that only fueled his desire further. He gripped her hips tightly, holding her close as they lost themselves in each other's touches.

He lifted his head to capture her mouth, tongue brushing against her own as he plunged deeper into her mouth -- imitating their movements. Their tongues danced together sensually while their bodies moved in rhythm on the bed beneath them. As he felt himself nearing climax, Jameson pulled back from the kiss to look into Camille's eyes - filled with lust and desire - before letting out a long growl.

"You like that, baby?" She asked him softly and Jameson nodded, words escaping him as his grip tightened on her hips. They'd been sleeping together long enough that she knew what it meant. She pushed her hands against his shoulders, legs unwinding from around him as he went crash back onto the bed. "Go ahead. Give it to me, Jamie." she whimpered.

Camille's nails dug into Jameson's skin as she rode him, leaving small crescents that stung but only made him harder. He groaned deeply, his hands finding purchase in the sheets as he arched his hips and thrust into her. He felt every curve of her body against him, every undulation sending shockwaves through his dick.

"That's what you want?" He asked her through gritted teeth. "Yes!" She responded, nodding her head. "I deserve it. I'm your good girl."

He couldn't take it much more. His head fell back onto the bed, eyes closed, but his hands knew where to go. He lifted them from the sheets, grasping her hip with the left and relentlessly rubbing at her clit with his right thumb. Camille's legs tightened against his outer thighs as she crumbled forward and came on top of him with a shout.

With a final thrust, Jameson cried out as he came inside her, their bodies trembling together in unison. As they came down from their high, Camille cuddled against Jameson's chest, their hearts beating in sync. She nibbled on his earlobe softly before pulling away slowly with a satisfied smile on her lips.

He sat in the dark in his living room, the only light coming from the faint glow of the city through the curtains. The house was silent, save for the occasional creak of the old floorboards settling. Jameson fiddled with the watch on his wrist, loosening the band and twisting it around, but he couldn’t bring himself to take it off.

Camille had gone to sleep hours ago, slipping into sleep with the ease of someone unburdened. For a couple of hours, he managed to forget…everything.

But when it was over, and Camille’s breathing had evened out beside him, he lay awake, staring at the ceiling. The weight of his thoughts returned with a vengeance, and they all centered on one person.

Imani.

The way she had looked at the party—poised but distant, like she was shielding herself from the room, from him—was burned into his memory. He couldn’t stop replaying the moment she left, her face unreadable as she slipped into the car. He had been overwhelmed by her presence, thrown off balance by the sight of her after so long.

When she had walked away, leaving him and Camille standing there, all he could do was grab a passing glass of champagne. Then another. He had swallowed down two before he realized what he was doing—regressing, using alcohol to dull the sharp edge of his emotions.

He had told Camille he wanted to leave. She didn’t hesitate, her concern for him evident as she agreed. But as they made their way out, they ran into Imani on the street.

The moment replayed in his mind like a loop he couldn’t escape. The brief, stilted conversation. The way she looked at him like she was holding back a storm of emotions. And then she was gone, slipping away into the night.

Her face was trapped in his mind now, every detail vivid and unrelenting. The way her lips pressed together as if holding back words. The flicker of something—pain? anger?—in her eyes. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

All he wanted to do was fix it.

But that wasn’t his job anymore.

He brushed a hand over his head, exhaling sharply as he tried to shake off the thoughts. The urge to call her was overwhelming, a near-physical pull, but he knew it would be a mistake. One glimpse, one rushed conversation, and he was right back where he’d been months ago—thinking of her, wanting her, needing to know if she was okay.

He needed to get a damn grip.

Jameson sat up, running his hands over his face. The watch shifted on his wrist, its weight a constant reminder of the past he couldn’t quite let go of. The room felt too quiet, too still, and his thoughts too loud.

He stood, padding softly out of the living room and into the kitchen, boxers slung low on his hips. He poured himself a glass of water and leaned against the counter, staring out at the city lights.

He had made progress this year, clawing his way out of the darkness that had consumed him after their breakup. He had rebuilt his life piece by piece, and Camille had been a steady presence through it all. But tonight had unraveled something in him, and he hated that it was Imani who had the power to do that.

He sighed, setting the glass down. He couldn’t keep letting her haunt him like this. He wouldn’t.

[suskz]

Hi there! Could write a Chan x reader. Reader went to a skz fansigning & got dared to give Chan a note and along with the note there was an attached hotel key card, asking him to meet her at a certain time and at first he was so hesitant about it but then when the reader waits for over an hour after the time stated on the note, she opens the hotel door ready to leave and there is chan 👀

pairing: Idol!Chan x Fan!Fem!Reader

t/w: fluff ; Chan is a tease and a flirt ; reader is delulu (even tho she says she isn’t).

w/c: around 1.3k

a/n: I’m not really sure about this. I practically wrote what you had already written. I wanted to extend the final part but it just didn’t come out right. Anyway, yours is a really great idea, I love it! I hope you still like this!

It's a stupid idea. It's ridiculous. And yet you're doing it anyway.

You know it's impossible for it to actually happen, but if you're doing it, it's because deep down —very deep down— inside you, there's a little hope.

“You got this, girl!” you hear from the other end of the phone. This only makes you more nervous and embarrassed about what you're doing. You're so damn delusional.

Your hand moves the pen faster across the paper as you mutter a 'shut up' to your friend, who sighs yet again at your harsh choice of words.

The click of the pen marks the end of your note.

You end the call, get up from the toilet, and leave the bathroom as if nothing happened —or will happen. You get back in line behind other people waiting to see their idols, preparing yourself for the humiliation.

But when you find yourself in front of him, you realise there's no way to prepare for the humiliation from something like this.

“Hello!” he greets you with a smile, wearing the wolf ear headband that one of the fans before you gave him.

“Hi.” Your voice is anxious, and he can tell.

You hand him the album you have in your hands, and he immediately opens it and starts signing it.

Your heart beats fast because you are in front of him, Bang Chan. Your idol, the man who has captured your heart more than anyone else. And the man who will soon want to run as far away from you as possible after opening your letter.

A card, a place, and a street. 'Let’s meet at 5pm tomorrow?' written with an uncertainty you never imagined you could experience.

You already prepare to laugh to brush away the embarrassment when he opens the letter. You start to consider whether to give it to him or not. You could spare yourself an embarrassing moment and continue living your life normally. Maybe that's better; fuck the dare, it's just a silly game.

“What’s your name?” Your thoughts are interrupted by his sweet voice as he looks up from the album, perhaps a little amused.

You feel your cheeks heat up as you realise you've been silently staring at him for too long. A few seconds, but it's already too much.

“Uh, Y/n.” You try to say with as much confidence as possible, but it doesn’t come out as you would have liked.

“How are you, Y/n?” He asks kindly.

“I’m good, thanks. A bit nervous, actually.” You admit, and he looks at you still smiling.

“Oh, you don’t need to be.” He reassures you.

"It’s just, I’m sitting in front of a God, you left me speechless." You try to sound as normal as possible. You've rehearsed what to say to him in advance, and you don't want your anxiety to prevent you from talking to him.

He opens his mouth to speak but immediately shuts it, taken by surprise. Now it’s him who’s speechless.

“That’s too sweet, thank you.” His smile widens, his eyes forming crescents and his dimples more visible than before, if possible.

"That's the truth though, you're much more handsome in person than I thought." you compliment him again.

You feel more relaxed now and manage to speak with him normally for the rest of the time.

It's when you have to move on to the next member and he greets you that you give him the letter.

"This is for you, I would appreciate it if you read it later."

And indeed, he remembers to read it at the end of the fan sign.

‘From Y/n’ he reads in his mind, opening it.

And he thinks you're crazy. Maybe a maniac. Delusional enough to do something like this thinking he would show up.

And he's ready to give it to the staff to throw it in the trash, but when someone behind him calls him, he's too taken aback to think properly and puts your letter in his pocket.

It's a stupid move, but he promises himself to throw it away later, in the dressing room.

Or a few hours later, at home. Or in his room, after reading it one last time. Or after reading it twice. Or three times.

For the first time, he takes out the key card and examines it in his hands. It's real, it's not a joke.

‘That’s crazy’, he realises. He can't show up, it would be stupid, it would be dangerous. It's the best thing to do, ignore it all.

And yet you are still waiting for him, dressed in the black leather skirt your friends chose for you. You glance at the clock and realise you've been sitting on the hotel room sofa for almost an hour.

You knew it was a stupid idea and that he would never show up. Actually, it would have been insane of Chan to do so. He probably thought you were a serial killer or something, or that you wanted to kidnap him.

You sigh. You get up from the sofa, grab your bag from where it’s placed on a chair, and head to the door.

When you open it, though, you quickly step back and almost throw your bag at the person standing in front of you. 

Your eyes widen when you realise who it is. 

"Uh… hello." He smiles awkwardly, scratching the nape of his neck.

He came.

A thought immediately flashes through your mind.

Now what?

When you sit on the sofa, after him, you are the first to speak, “I didn’t… think you would actually come.” You find the courage to look him in the eyes.

“I didn’t think I would come either, it was a last-minute decision,” he admits. “I don’t know what was going through my mind when I decided to come.” He chuckles slightly, and you smile.

“Is it because I seemed cute to you at the fan sign?” You tease him. Embarrassing. You realize too late that you shouldn’t have said it.

You’re lucky, though, because he plays along, “I couldn’t find the words to tell you after being called a God.” He teases back, a smirk forming on his lips.

You stay silent for a while, embarrassment spreading across your cheeks and making him chuckle.

“Can you blame me? You have me obsessed over your fancams, the way you move is amazing.”

“Oh, yeah?” He grins, “I’m honored to know that a pretty girl like you watches my fancams.” He says playfully.

Pretty?

“Oh shut up.” You say jokingly, rolling your eyes to hide the blush coloring your cheeks.

“I will, if it’s you who says so.” He says, looking into your eyes in a way that now seems more intense.

You swallow hard, not expecting such a response, trying to hold his gaze.

“If you don’t stop talking like that, I’ll be completely yours, Mr. Bang.” You find the confidence in his eyes to say these words.

He chuckles, “I’d like to see that.”

“You’re being too much of a tease.” You say in a pouty tone, looking away like a child who didn’t get their candy.

“Don’t you like me for that very reason?” He asks rhetorically, raising an eyebrow.

You turn your head back toward him and smile, “Yes, I like you for that too.”

And he knew that at the end of this evening, he would have to leave and pretend nothing happened.

And he knew it was wrong and he would regret it when he had to face the consequences, but he did it anyway.

“Should we exchange numbers?”

[scarletttries]

Nightcrawler x Selective-Mute Reader Headcanons (X-Men Request)

Pairing: Nightcrawler/Kurt Wagner x Reader

Rating: Pure Fluff

Word Count: 1k

Request: "Could I possibly ask for relationship headcannons about Kurt/Nightcrawler with a selective mute human reader please?? Like the reader can communicate only through sign language and also by her very special talent...singing when she feels strong emotions!"

- There's been an endless monologue going on inside Kurt's head for as long as he can remember - echoing prayers and guilt, joy and sorrow, mixing languages that churn in his mind and ensure he never knows peace. He can't imagine any other way to live, the constant thrum of internal noise seeming inevitable, until one day he's been shown around Xavier's mansion and he locks eyes with you.

- He's never felt a calm quiet like it. His soul seems to still for a moment as you offer him a welcoming smile from across the hall, taking a second to offer him the warmest reassurance your expression can manage before seeking refuge in your bedroom before the blush can reach your cheeks.

- From the first interaction the two of you felt drawn to each other, often finding yourself up late at night at the same time and sitting quietly together in an easy silence. Kurt would tell you little snippets of his life before the mansion, and you would teach him a few signs for what he was saying so he could learn about you too. Where others felt fear in Kurt's obvious mutant appearance, you found it only natural to appreciate the undeniable beauty of the blue hue of his skin and the markings carved across it.

- Kurt's heart already belonged to you before he ever heard you make a sound, but that doesn't mean he doesn't adore hearing you express yourself. The first time he heard you he could hardly believe the aching affection in his chest. He was trailing through mansion corridor's late at night as he often found himself doing now that he knew that he was seeking out you, and heard the softest melody settle over him. He knew it could only be you making that noise, the way it lifted his heart from the moment he heard it just the same as your smile always could. He followed each sweet note until he found you alone in the dining room, humming absentmindedly to yourself as you tried to write a letter to the blue mutant you didn't realise was just a few feet behind you. You were lost in thoughts of how safe and comforted Kurt had made you feel, how you wanted him to know how much you valued him, but as your heart sang and a sweet tune filled the air, you hadn't quite been able to put the words down on paper yet.

"Mein Leibe, I knew that sound must be you." He spoke softly so as not to startle you, the joy radiating from both of you as he walked to your side and looked at your notepad full of half-sentences all scratched out and written over each other. "I know how it feels to be at a loss for words."

Kurt said the thought aloud more to himself than you, picturing all the times he had tried to tell you just how he felt, but never having the words to sum up the enormity of his longing for you. He let his eyes drop to the table in a moment of fear. What if he could never tell you what he needed to? What if someone found the words for how special you are before he could manage it? Suddenly the featherlight weight of your hand on his drew him back to reality, and gave him the courage he so desperately needed. "You have been the kindest of friends to me since I arrived here, mein schatz, and I will never be able to thank you enough for that. But I am afraid I must ask even more of you." He watched as your forehead creased and your humming stopped, entirely focused on what Kurt was going to ask of you.

"Do you think you could ever love me? I don't know if that's fair to ask of you, but I also cannot live without finding out if you could ever feel the same way I do right now." Reading the slight disbelief in your eyes he confirmed the heavy truth that hung unspoken in the air. "(y/n) I love you."

- If most of the mansion wasn't asleep you could have sung louder than any choir at his confession, having to settle instead for clasping his hand in yours and singing a sweet repreve that would let him know you shared his feelings in every way.

- From that night you and Kurt would be inseparable, the blue mutant finding any reason to cling by your side. He's such a gentleman he'll constantly be looking for ways to help you out day to day; opening doors, carrying books, and picking you up little gifts like flowers from a few meadows over just to make you smile and sing.

- No matter how many times you tell him he can just appear in your room, he'll still always knock on your door, waiting for you to invite him in, so worried that one day he's going to overstep and this perfect new life will be taken away from him.

- He finds it so special when the two of you steal away for a private moment together and you'll sing to him about how you're feeling. For the times he has to share you with others, he'll learn all the subtle signs to remind you he's thinking of you even when you can't talk together.

- After a difficult and sometimes scary start to his life, Kurt finds endless comfort with you and sees himself spending the rest of his unusual life at your side, confident he can take on the world as long as you can do it together. You truly are the song in his heart.

[uwupaige]

the nanny [paige bueckers] part six

[chapters 9 & 10]

‘the nanny’ master list!

chapter nine: thanks china man!

warnings: dialogue heavy, straight men.

walking into the large children's gym for the third time this week, catherine appreciated the slight change in temperature, the november storrs breeze bothering her more than when she assumed this morning, the thin black zip up she sported doing almost nothing. she was just glad she bundled up the little girl currently holding her hand in a long sleeve and a jacket before they left the house.

madison was attending her third 'practice' for the sports program paige had signed her up for the week prior at catherine's request. catherine wondered what sport she wanted to play today. on monday, she opted for soccer, still not over the ball game her nanny showed her. however, that wednesday, paige convinced her to try out basketball. and she liked it way too much, relishing how she could be just like her mom.

the pair wandered about the building, looking for the sign in sheet, discussing which sport she decided on today. to no one's surprise, she wanted to play basketball again.

after signing both of their names on the near full stack of papers, catherine let go of madison's hand momentarily.

"can i write my name?" the small girl asks, hands coming to rest on the white folding table that was chest level with her.

catherine chuckled at the curly headed girl, handing her the black ball point pen. "have at it."

madison excitedly stole the pen from catherine's grasp, peering over the sheet on her tip toes as she wrote her name, having practiced it for nearly two months at school. "m.. a.. d.. d.. i.. e.." she sounded out the letters of her name, taking her time. catherine appreciated how spread out each letter was, taking up way too much space on the provided line.

laughing lightly at the girl, she took hold of her hand once more, leading her down the long hallway of small gyms, each full of sounds of sneakers squeaking, children laughing, and parents making small talk.

finding the basketball gym they had been in just a couple of days prior, madison excitedly tried to free her hand of catherine's stronger grip. the woman just held onto her small hand until she stopped trying to run away. "hey, wait up, mama."

huffing, madison found herself at eye level with a crouched catherine. the woman eyed the girl, madison already knowing what the look was for. "sorry for huffing." she muttered.

"that's okay." the brunette assures, "i just wanted to tell you that i'm gonna go sit on the bleachers and watch you until your mom gets here. she's picking you up, so don't go looking for me. okay?" she explained to the small girl as easily as she could.

madison nodded, excited to finally go play her sport. catherine stood up, releasing the girls hand, madison taking that as her sign to go.

the woman watched the excited girl run up to some friends she made on monday, saying hi to the older woman as she coached the group of children.

catherine made her way up the creaky bleachers of the small and simple basketball court, finding a seat off to the side from majority of the other parents and gaurdians there.

plopping down onto the uncomfortable metal seats, she reached into her purse, hand searching around for both her phone and earbuds. snapping the earbuds into her cellphone, the girl scrolled through it momentarily before she found her lesson notes for that week. placing the earbuds comfortably in her ears, catherine clicked the first part of the lesson, getting ready for a boring hour until paige arrived to relieve her.

a mere twenty minutes went by before catherine felt someone plop down on to the empty space beside her. looking up, she caught the side profile of the blonde she grew so comfortable with. she noticed she was trying to make conversation with her, maybe not realizing the earbuds blocking her words out. the pair barely had time to talk this past week, their last real conversation being that fateful halloween night.

paige began to worry that her slight forwardness that night had began to push catherine away. and she wanted to do all but that.

the pair fell asleep exactly how they initially wound up together: heads resting on shoulders and hands on exposed thighs, paige subconsciously drawing soft scratches to the tan skin, lulling catherine to sleep in her half drunken state. the blonde was soon aware of her friend sleepiness, unable to see her face, but not wanting to move and possibly wake her up. little did she realize, the sounds of catherine's gentle breathing were soon putting her to sleep, her eyes heavy until they were outweighed, falling asleep. somehow the most comfortable in an uncomfortable position.

she tried desperately not to overthink catherine's missing person next to her the morning after, having been woken up by a very hungry madison.

"whatchu listenin' to?" paige asked the brunette to the right of her, feet resting on the bleachers in front of her. catherine definitely didn't miss her appearance, her practice shirt with the letters 'uconn' written straight across wrinkled in various places. she had just gotten back from practice.

"the harmonic melodies of.. chapter eleven: the red badge." the woman joked in reference to her homework, paige giving her a polite chuckle at that.

"she's doing really well," the blonde commented out of nowhere, the first to break the short silence.

catherine yanked for her earbuds, the headphones falling swiftly from her ears as she paused the ongoing lecture on her phone. looking back up to catch paige watching intently at a small children running around, catherine let out a small laugh. "how can you tell?"

"she's really focused." paige explained, the brunette to the side of her just nodding. "wish i knew she was into basketball like that."

"to be fair, i'm sure she didn't know she was into it either." catherine spoke matter of factly, not immediately recognizing the sort of sad tone to paige's words.

"true.. i mean, she's never even been to one of my games."

the brunette just shrugged, unsure of why paige was acting the way she was. "then take her to one."

paige shakes her head slightly and catherine's brows furrowed. this was not how paige normally was. typically more confident in her words and how she felt about things. "i don't know, she's never asked."

"oh, my god." catherine rolled her eyes affectionately to the woman beside her, "wake up, paige. she's five. stop beating yourself up thinking she hates you or something."

paige appreciated her tough forwardness, knowing it was coming from a place of care. however, nothing would make her feel okay about the immense guilt that would overtake her sometimes. "i've just missed so much of her life, it's hard not to think like that."

catherine sighs, "do you know how much she talks about you?" she asks, her question rhetorical but her voice soft. before paige could answer, the woman continued. "she loves you, a lot. you're her mom."

paige lets her words hang, lingering in the air that's somehow become stuffy in a matter of seconds. after a few moments of silence, she speaks. "how'd you get her to call me mom?.. i mean, like, how did you get her to talk about it?"

catherine was stumped. she didn't know how to answer the question when it happened, and still didn't know now. "i-i don't know.. i just asked?" she shrugged, hoping it didn't come off as her not caring. she just truly didn't know. it all just happened. "well, she asked me why i called you her mom, and then she told me 'grandma' would tell her that she shouldn't call you mom 'because you didn't act like one.'"

paige scoffed, almost knowing that's what was going to leave the brunettes mouth. "course she did."

catherine cocked an eyebrow, "yeah? what's going on with that?"

paige just tilted her head like she was looking for the right words. "my mom, uh, was mad that my dad and stepmom took in maddie and let me go away to college.. she thinks i should've stayed."

"do you think that?"

"at the time, i was thinking more for the future. y'know, i could have a very successful career after going to uconn.. i dunno, i guess i was just thinking that if i just spent a few years getting my shit together, i could give her a really good life—one i never had."

"and that's all that matters right now." catherine spoke, confidently and wisely. "your intentions are nothing but good. there is nothing to feel guilty about." catherine comforts the woman beside her.

she could see paige wasn't much for agreeing with her. she felt there was everything to feel guilty about. catherine sighs, taking her eyes off of the saddened blonde, looking straight ahead. "look," she starts. "maddie loves you. okay? she loves having you here. don't harp on the old stuff. you're just gonna end up projecting your feelings and guilt onto her." catherine explains. "and that's not fair to her.. she needs you as your best version of yourself.. and she'll understand when she's older. why you did what you did." catherine pauses.

paige swoops in, almost wanting to end the conversation where it was at to avoid her going down an even deeper rabbit hole of emotions. "thanks, cat." paige said, genuinely.

catherine shrugs, a humble face giving paige a small smile. "anytime.." she trails off, watching as paige's smile replicated hers, now turning to look out into the crowd. "so.. do i get a raise for being your part time therapist?"

paige lets out a laugh at that, "you wish."

walking down the stands, paige and catherine mindlessly conversed, throwing around a random topic that peaked their interest when they were on the bleachers.

soon, an excited madison was running up to the pair, throwing her arms around paige. pulling away momentarily, a smile plastered on both of their faces as they spoke their greetings, madison turns to see catherine, another wave of excitement taking over, soon throwing her arms around the brunette.

"i thought you were going home!" her small voice spoke loud over the noise of the other children reuniting with their families.

"your mom kept me talking." catherine says, nudging paige with a smile.

paige rolled her eyes playfully, looking down at the curly head before her. "whatever." she sasses, "what do you wanna get for diners?"

"hmm.." the small girl thought out loud, a finger coming to rest on her lips as she contemplated. "oo, chinese!"

"mm, i'm down." paige agrees, a hand coming up to her rumbling stomach. she then bends down to whispers something into her daughters ear, hand coming up to hide her words, eyeing catherine in the process. all the brunette could do was chuckle.

madison jumps when paige is finished relaying her secret, agreeing enthusiastically before she turns to her nanny. "cat, do you wanna have dinner with us?" her small and excited voice asked, trying to seem like she had came up with the idea all on her own.

catherine's heart warmed immediately at her invite, a pout wanting desperately to play on her lips. looking between the two, she felt a rush of peace course through her. however, she also felt a rush of anxiety. she wasn't sure why. it had been that way since halloween. something about being in a casual friend setting with paige started to make her nervous. "uh.." she sighed, "i'm sorry, mama. i have to go." she spoke, hesitation in her words.

paige spoke before she thought, "what? why?"

"gotta get to the laundromat before they close. i desperately need my everyday clothes back."

"wash it at my place." paige said simply, almost always confident in her words. more confident than she was just moments prior. paige watched the woman's hesitation, her mind too trailing to the night of halloween. though nothing happened, things took a change. and neither of them could quite place it.

luckily, paige had the charm of her five year old daughter.

"please, cat?" madison pleaded, dragging out her words and pulling out her very convincing doe eyes on the taller woman.

how could catherine say no?

˚✧.*

the sound of practiced knocking at the buecker's front door immediately had madison perching up in her spot on paige's lap.

the three of them had been hanging out on the couch, a kid's show madison liked to call 'ladybug' playing. paige had either been starring off into space or trying to chat with catherine. however, catherine was finding herself seriously invested in the super hero show.

"is that it?" the small girl asked, in reference to their dinner being delivered. looking back at paige, she watched as her mom simply nodded.

catherine sits up from her spot on the dark grey couch, seated directly next to paige, their positions mimicking how they once sat on this very couch only a week ago. "i'll go get it."

"wait, wait, can i come too?" an excited madison asked, hopping off of paige's lap before either of the women could grant her wish.

both chuckling at the girl as she ran past catherine, desperate to make it to the door first, paige just looks past her shoulder at the brunette. "my wallets on the counter."

catherine walked past, grabbing the lavender leather smoothly and holding it up to show paige she retrieved said wallet, going to meet madison as she fumbled with the lock.

with the assistance of her nanny, she swung the front door open, quick to greet the young man before her. "hello!"

the man smiled, a small chuckle leaving his lips. "hey," he greeted back just as enthusiastically. he then looked up to find catherine's eyes, "hi." he greeted politely at the woman in front of him.

"hi, how are you?" catherine spoke in casualties.

"not too bad." the man responded, looking down at madison once again. "this for you?" he asks, slightly nudging the brown paper bag full of food towards the small girl.

madison simply nodded. "yeah." she spoke, grabbing the bag from him confidently. "thanks, china man!" the girl spoke before walking back inside.

the young man couldn't help but laugh at that, catherine's jaw dropping momentarily before a small laugh left her lips as well. "oh, god. sorry about her."

"nah, nah." he deflected her words, assuring her it was okay. "she yours?"

catherine shook her head, her hands finding paige's wallet that she had stuffed into her pockets not too long ago. "not exactly." she answered, pulling out the wallet. "sorry, how much did you say it was?"

though he had never told her, he decided to be polite and not correct her. "uh, $39." the man watched as catherine dug through the small light purple wallet, pulling out a few bills. "but, honestly, don't worry about it."

catherine looked up, money prepared in hand, confusion playing on her face. "oh, no—you don't have to do that. it's a lot of food." she explained, declining his generous offer.

reluctantly, the man accepts her money, digging in his own work pouch for her change. "keep the change." catherine says before he could pull anything out, considering the extra cash to be his tip. he began to protest, catherine picking up on these as casualties. "seriously, i insist."

the man nodded, still searching for the woman's change. "honestly, a better tip would be your number." he spoke, his words smooth, catching catherine off gaurd.

"my number?" catherine asked. not even flattered, just straight up confused.

"mhm. i think you're gorgeous." the man spoke, his words as smooth as before. and now the small smile he was giving her allowed for hundreds of butterflies to infiltrate her stomach.

laughing nervously with an appreciative smile, the woman tries to respond. "oh, um, thank you—"

however, she wouldn't even be able to get all of her words out before she was interrupted by paige's overwhelming presence, feeling her friend behind her in a matter of seconds.

"sup," paige starts, looking like she's trying to shimmy her way in between the man and the woman. catherine wasn't one to stand down, never losing eye contact with the man as she stayed firm in her spot, paige having to opt to be next to her. "did we not give you enough?" the woman asks, in reference to how much they owed the man for their dinner.

it took the man a second to snap out of his flirting ways when he saw paige walking up, about to try and smooth talk her as well until he realized she probably wasn't the one to be doing all of that with. "uh, nah." he started, a nervous hand coming to rub and squeeze the back of his neck. "just tryna give her, her change back."

paige simply just shook her head, briefly stepping past catherine to grab the front door. "keep it. have a good night." the woman assured before closing the door on the man.

locking the door, she walks past catherine right back down the small hall she was once listening into their conversation in. "weirdo."

hearing those words leave paige's lips, catherine scoffed quietly, turning on her heel to follow the woman down the corridor. "i thought he was nice."

catherine watched the back of paige's shoulder go up and down, shrugging in disagreement, her blonde hair fanned across her back and shoulders. walking into the kitchen, they both continued their conversation.

"asking a girl for her number at her front door as a stranger is weird." paige said matter of factly, as she unloaded the large brown paper bag she just had to help madison bring in.

the brunette shrugs, walking up to the cabinet where paige kept all of her plates. grabbing three plastic ones, she walks them back to the island counter where paige began lining up each container of food. "to be fair, it's not my house."

paige barely had to think of her answer, a thumb coming up to her lips to wipe away whatever food she got on it. "might as well be the way you cook and clean."

"because no one else will," the woman spoke as confidently as paige did, a few head nods to follow. "plus, i get paid for it."

paige turns to face catherine completely, a hip leaning against the granite counter top, her arms crossing over her chest. she tried to read the woman, wondering what she had been trying to get at. was she seriously trying to get the man's number? "well, right now i'm paying you to eat dinner with us." paige spoke, dipping her head ever so slightly to the woman.

looking up from her not yet filled plate, catherine catches paige's eyes. "well, that sounds pathetic."

standing back up straight, paige shrugs, going back to filling her plate. "aight, go get his number. maybe he'll give you more free food since imma eat yours."

catherine laughs at that, a fake pout on her lip. "aww, scared i'll find a new best friend?"

it's paige's turn to laugh, watching as catherine fills the plastic plate with small portions of food. "oh, we're best friends now?"

placing the plate in front of madison, who was patiently waiting for her food since the women walked back into the kitchen moments prior, catherine shrugs. "might as well be, the way you be asking me to hang out all the time."

"ah, sorry. 'scuse me for saving your social life."

"fuck off." catherine joked back, madison looking up from her plate frantically at that.

"fuck is a bad word, cat."

it took everything for the two of them to not laugh at the girl.

"yes, you're right." catherine agreed, small laughs escaping through her words. "so, don't say it again."

catherine wanted to sit there and think about why paige was adamant enough to make sure she didn't talk to that guy. why she was so eager to have dinner together. why she kept having catherine around more than she needed her. was she just being a good friend? looking out for her?

"oh, i got you somethin'." paige spoke out of no where, finishing up a bite of her food.

catherine watched as she walked over to the high up cabinet that rested over her refrigerator, opening it. she heard the sounds of bottles clinking together, a curious smile on her face.

that was until paige pulled back—a tall, dark bottle in her hands. before the blonde could even speak, catherine was immediately laughing. "stop. you didn't."

the blonde smugly walked over to the woman, nodding and shrugging as nonchalant as possible. "i did."

rolling her eyes playfully at those words, catherine takes the bottle from paige's hands gently, turning it a few times in her hands to read the label. it was an aged wine, possibly one of catherine's favorites. one she normally only bought on special occasions. "why?"

paige shrugged again, not really knowing the answer to her question. she had just thought to do it. "dunno.. if you're staying here late, or overnight.. y'know."

once again that evening, the brunette's heart felt full, and she was warm throughout her body, a sense of comfort she only really felt when she was with paige and madison. "that's.. so sweet, thank you." catherine says, genuinely.

paige had already went back to eating her food, just giving catherine a simple nod. "for sure."

catherine too picked up her plate once again, though she wouldn't be able to focus on it. her eyes kept wandering over to the blonde, who had started to become more and more intriguing the more time she spent with her.

paige was unlike any friend she had ever had. and she loved everything about that.

"what is that?" a small voice interrupted catherine's thoughts, finding it to be madison's curious one.

"mom juice." paige answered quickly and casually, as to convince the girl as much as possible.

however, that's was nearly impossible now at the sounds of catherine laughing at that.

chapter ten: take my breath away.

catherine's feet ached as she quickly roamed the small but overwhelming florist section of the grocery store closest to vinyl. the woman picked up an early shift at the club, which was actually just a bar during the day, hoping to take home a few extra dollars in tips. what she didn't expect was a rush that kept her almost an hour past her scheduled time.

looking down at the time displayed on her phone screen, catherine's eyes bulged. the digital clock read 5:06, and she was definitely wasn't going to make it to paige's apartment by the time she had promised.

today was paige's first game of the season, and though she wouldn't admit it to many, catherine could tell she was extremely nervous. and, she wanted to get her flowers..

as a good luck charm! of course.

the woman's eyes wandered the selection of flowers, ranging from bright, red roses to soft, white lillie's. catherine wondered if she was overthinking the whole flower idea, but tried to silence her thoughts in the soft pink tulips she had been deciding on.

she loved the delicacy of them, feeling a sense of calm rush over her when she first laid eyes on them. she wanted paige to feel calm, she wanted something to ease her nerves. being friends and all, catherine and paige started to be able to read the other more than other people could.

looking down at the time on her phone once more, she made a rush decision and picked the tulips, her tired feet carrying her to the checkout stand as fast as they could.

˚✧.*

madison sat comfortably on the carpeted part of her living room floor, a toy truck in hand. the girl had spent the last few minutes ramming the truck relentlessly into the t.v. stand in front of her, which was also playing a show of her choice. the 'ladybug' superhero show, as she called it.

paige had been sat in her pregame outfit on the couch with her laptop seated comfortably with her as she clicked away at the homework on her screen. the woman spent the past twenty minutes telling her daughter to keep the noise down and to stop attacking her furniture, and though the girl would listen at first, she was right back at it only minutes later.

the blonde wondered how catherine did this everyday, already exhausted at the constant back and forth between her and the five year old. sometimes she wished she could just call her to come over. sometimes for madison, sometimes for herself. something about catherine's presence was, at times, eerily calming. how she could stay composed in a lot of situations paige would absolutely crumble under. how she somehow managed to hold the answer and solution to every worry or every problem the bueckers ever faced.

paige thought about her often, her mind wandering to the woman in any given situations. she'd wonder what catherine did with her spare time, normally assuming she was nose deep in an assignment or deep cleaning her apartment.

or maybe she was doing something new to her hair. the blonde could have sworn catherine wore a different hair style everyday. she thought it was cute, the styles always fitting her so well. the were simple, but cute and complimenting to her soft locks. oh, her hair looked so soft and so healthy. paige would imagine the day she could run her fingers through the chocolate brown strands, the feeling soothing her calloused finger tips.

or maybe she was doing her nails. paige always noticed the woman's seemingly fresh manicure, and how it would feel when catherine ran her hand down her arm whenever she tried to comfort her, the soft scratches leaving a trail of fire down her smooth skin. she liked the contrast of the dark red polish that made her seem mature to the light pink polish a week later that made her seem vibrant.

or maybe she was simply just relaxing, stretched out on her cream colored couch, history book in hand. paige always loved the small moments they had to relax together. the pair sat on the couch, a shared blanket sitting across their laps (mainly catherine's because she always stole it), madison curled up by her side with a show playing quietly in the background as they talked about their days, homework they were stressed about, or whatever else was on their minds. the woman always relished those moments, and she sort of missed them.

she felt like catherine had been away more in recent weeks, leaving shortly after the woman returned home instead of staying to have dinner with her, and dismissing her invitations to hang out, whether alone or with the team. she tried her best to avoid the thoughts, but they were frequent.

however, paige could always rely on her daughter to keep her from her own mind by her loud ass toys.

"ah!" the small girl screamed, whatever game she was playing in her mind clearly getting intense.

closing her eyes at the sound of madison, yet again, slamming her blue, toy truck into paige's nearly brand new t.v. stand, paige sighed. "madison.."

madison could hear the seriousness of her mothers tone, the blue truck coming to a complete halt in her hand. "yes?" she responded, hesitantly looking up to catch the scary blue eyes that said everything paige needed to.

"i'm not playin' witchu," paige started, madison sighing to herself before she backed away from the t.v. stand.

pouting, the girl eventually put her toys away, a habit catherine stowed upon her, eventually making her way towards her mom. climbing up the couch paige was still resting on, madison fell to the woman's side. wiggling beside the woman to get herself comfortable against her, madison watched as paige clicked random keys on her device. naturally, paige let an arm fall over her daughters body, hugging the girl into her side as her eyes stayed glued to the screen.

the girl opted to watch her cartoon quietly for a few minutes before, again, interrupting the silence.

"mom?" madison speaks out of nowhere, eyes looking down at the small uconn jersey she was sporting, matching paige's almost identically, as she picked relentlessly at the printed '5'.

paige looks down slightly at the small girl with curiosity. "wassup?"

"i'm bored." the girl dragged out, dramatizing her feelings greatly.

paige nodded, "i know, babe. just a little longer."

madison sighed again, the boredom absolutely overwhelming in her mind. "when're we leaving?"

the pair were waiting for catherine to arrive, eagerly awaiting paige's first game of the season. catherine insisted on bringing madison, which, in turn, meant she too was attending.

paige wouldn't lie and say she wasn't nervous about bringing madison. no one really knew paige had a kid, and she knew that after tonight, there was a big chance of it coming out. she wasn't embarrassed or shy about the fact by any means, she just wasn't sure what to do. how to respond to the overwhelming questions she expected would come, and the invading ones. madison's safety was one of her biggest priorities, and possibly jeopardizing that made her nervous.

"whenever cat gets here." the blonde answers. "which better be soon, because i need warm up."

"i can help you!" madison offers, nothing but the excitement from her amazing idea coating her words.

paige smiles down at the girl once again, a shocked expression on her face to appeal to the five year old. "you can?"

"mhm." madison hummed confidently, "i know how to play basketball like you now, too!"

paige let out a soft laugh before closing her laptop screen. she was studied out for the day, deciding maybe she should give it a break and hang with her daughter. "bet, aight." she spoke before getting up and trucking over to the basket madison had just 'neatly' put back together minutes prior.

digging around in the basket of toys that laid neatly in the corner of the living room, paige found a small, light, pink basketball, practically waiting for them. since madison has started playing sports, some of her stuffed animals were quickly replaced by a variety of balls that correlated with different sports, the small girl absolutely adoring each and every sport she tried out.

taking the pink ball in hand, paige quickly tossed it over to daughter as she nudged the small coffee table to the same corner the toy filled basket resided with her shin, allowing more space for their roughhousing.

the pair let the ball bounce between them. paige obviously went easy on the girl, letting her make shots into the basket of toys they declared would be the net. though, she did relish the few times she would block madison with ease. or how the girl would fume when paige would steal the ball, and all paige could imagine was steam leaving her red ears.

they were absolutely disturbing their neighbors below them.

"see, mom? now you are playing with me!" the girl spoke, paige laughing as the saying she spoke earlier completely went over madison's head.

it wasn't long into their small and crammed scrimmage that catherine arrived, the pair almost dismissing the sound of her keys jiggling out of the lock and the wrapped up pink flowers in her free hand.

"sorry, sorry, i got stuck at the club." the woman spoke before noticing the sight, absolutely adoring it. "that's all the jumping around i heard." catherine spoke, a small laugh in her words and she walked in further, not bothering to lock the door behind her.

looking up the second her words registered in her head, paige's brows furrowed, dismissing everything else. "the club?" in a quick move, madison was stealing the ball from paige's hands and 'dunking' the pink basketball into her net, a satisfied 'yes!' leaving her lips.

the brunette's face mimicked paige's confusion, brows furrowing as well. "yeah?"

"you still work there?"

a small laugh left her lips, the feeling of madison clinging harshly to her leg eliciting it out of her. her hand reached down to rub the girls back as she spoke, "yeah, i never quit." catherine responded before continuing with her explanation, "i just pick up a few shifts here and there."

guess that's what she does in her free time, the woman concluded to herself.

paige wondered as she turned off the t.v. before she walked around the room for her bags and car keys, ready to leave as soon as possible, not even noticing the flowers in catherine's hands.

after grabbing her necessities, the blonde turned to find catherine eyeing her expectantly. paige couldn't help but furrow her brows once again, wondering what catherine was trying to remind her of. taking a step back to take in her appearance, she caught the soft pink flowers that laid in the woman's arms.

"what're those for?" paige spoke softly, though her face didn't represent her words fairly. she already knew what and who they were for, and she could immediately feel herself falling.

"these—" catherine started, already tripping over her words as she pushed the bouquet to paige. "they're for you." she said simply, completely oblivious to paige's tender thoughts, her stomach sinking slightly at paige's lack of a reaction.

the blonde felt her heart swarm. she didn't normally receive flowers. the gesture was so sweet, something she wasn't expecting at all. she was soon lost, eyes fluttering between the woman and the rosy pink flowers in her hands. she saw catherine's genuine smile and eager face, her eyes lit. taking the bouquet out of the woman's hands, she spoke softly. "thank you."

she couldn't even smile, she was just so taken back. "i really appreciate it."

catherine wasn't expecting a big reaction or an overwhelming hug by any means. but she definitely was looking for a little more than paige's calm reaction. maybe she overthought the flowers, maybe they weren't a good idea. "if you—" the woman, started, cutting herself off by trying to correct her over-caring tone. "if you don't like them, i can take them." she spoke, her head shaking with her words.

paige looked up from the bouquet, "what?" she asked, confused once again, her voice soft and almost breathless. her breathing had stopped momentarily as she lost herself in thought. "no, no," she realized she must've looked like she didn't like them, shaking her head slightly. "i love them." she assured, her crystal eyes locking with catherine's unsure ones. "i promise. don't worry."

catherine nodded, her face softening with less stress than moments before. "just a.. good luck wish on your first game!" she explained, though it wasn't needed. "from me.. and maddie!"

paige finally let her smile show, nodding. though it was more of a smirk mixed with a grin, her face a mix of shyness and adoration. she wasn't sure how to feel. though they were all good things, she didn't know what to think.

"can we go now?" a small voice interrupted the pair, something that happened quite often between them.

looking down at madison, catherine nodded eagerly. "oh—yes! we need to go, like, now."

˚✧.*

paige took it upon herself to explain spectator ediquite to madison on their drive there—explaining when to clap, how to send good luck to free throwers, and when to throw up the number three with her fingers.

they arrived with only moments to spare before paige's head coach, geno, would have a heart attack at how late she was.

walking down the hall that lead to the court, paige explained to the brunette where she and madison were seated before crouching down to madison. "don't wander off, always stay with cat.. and send me lots of luck, aight?"

madison nodded enthusiastically, hands flying in the air to wiggle her fingers the way paige had showed her on their way over.

laughing, paige pulled the small girl into a tight hug. "m'kay, i love you." she spoke as she pulled away, madison's response almost identical to paige's.

eventually, they all go their separate ways on opposite sides of the hall, paige turning the corner that led to the locker rooms and catherine walking madison to the huge double doors that entered them into the court.

upon entering, the woman could immediately feel the good energy that radiated the stands. and it wasn't even fully packed yet. though, catherine was glad they got there when they did, wanting to sit as close to the floor as they possibly could.

definitely not court side, but still super close. and close to where paige and the team would be sat.

the pair sat comfortably as they stands filled quickly and the noise getting louder by the minute. catherine was already digging into her purse for snack number two for madison when the lights finally dimmed, listening to the commentators call out the names of the starting players for each team.

to say the stands went crazy when they called paige's name was an understatement. though, they had the buzzing energy of madison to thank for that, the girl never jumping and cheering so loudly in her life.

˚✧.*

the pair watched the ball game intently. and though uconn held a pretty good lead on the opposing team into their fourth and final quarter, they were still watching as if it was a neck-and-neck game.

catherine's eyes were fixed on paige, watching as she dribbled the orange basketball down the court slowly, dragging out their shot clock as much as she could. paige looked to the crowd, not even worried about the point guard hovering just feet away from her, searching for the faces she'd been playing for all night.

finally she caught madison's lit up face, smiling happily at the mere fact that her daughter was finally here, watching her play, cheering her on and loving her unconditionally.

then, she found catherine's face, shooting her a nod and a smile.

luckily, the blonde was so far away, because she would've instantly seen the sheer, red blush that instantly flooded catherine cheeks.

the woman sat back in her seat at this, flustered and confused at how such a simple gesture left her head spinning and her mind fuzzy.

she wasn't allowing her thoughts to travel where they so desperately wanted to go, and where she so desperately wanted to avoid. she didn't understand the things she was feeling, and she wasn't sure why. paige was just her friend, a great friend. why were things suddenly feeling so complicated? so uneasy? so.. intimidating?

unfortunately, though, her thoughts were just too loud. the small voice in the back of her mind asking the inevitable question she's been pondering on since that halloween night. did her feelings for paige run deeper than she originally thought? was paige feeling it too?

sighing at how fast her mind was moving, her face dropped. catherine was soon filled with regret. she regretted being as close to paige as she was. she regretted the flowers she bought her earlier. she regretted the innocent, lingering touches they shared.

she couldn't allow herself to feel the way she did, and she hoped desperately paige wasn't taking catherine's actions the way her subconscious had been praying for. the woman hoped, and she wished, and she prayed that things weren't the way they seemed.

but for some reason.. even she could not convince herself that what she was feeling wasn't true.

"cat, look at mom!" the small girl beside the flustered woman cheers, her clapping bringing catherine back down from her clouded mind.

the brunette simply smiles down at the girl, "she's amazing." she nodded and genuinely,  agreeing with madison beyond tonight.

paige simply and truly was amazing to her.

authors note!

i am SO happy to hear you're all enjoying this silly story as much as i enjoy writing it. of course, tell me all of your thoughts! reading your comments might be my favorite thing in the world. i'm sorry this chapter is so dialogue heavy, but i had so much dialogue inspo and i normally struggle with it so i'm trying to take it as a win haha.

and omg a little protective paige?? i'm already obsessed. AND cat lowk confessing her feelings abt paige to herself?? im so excited.

also, just noticed i hit 100 followers?? ugh you’re all so sweet. i promise, your support does not go unnoticed, and it really does help motivate me!! thank you thank you thank you!!!

as always, let me know your thoughts!!

(and don’t forget, there are more frequent updates on my wattpad @uwupaige)

thanks for reading!🩷

- mari 🫧

6.7k words.

[couldawouldashoulda50]

From Completely Different Worlds - William Nylander

The Sweden Chapter - Part Three

For @misshoneyimhome birthday celebration - I hope you enjoy this next part. And no rush with this either - I know you are killing it with your training 👏💞

A/N - so this was to be the final part of the Sweden Chapter but I still have more that I want to write for these two so yeah... I will need to do another part to this.

Just a quick note, that this is 10k words. I really try hard not to release these larger stories as readers are busy, and I totally get that. But I couldn't find a natural break in the story (that was obvious to me anyway) in order to further split this up.

Notes and Warnings - goes without saying - profanity, smut (basic p in v, oral - m receiving). I think that's it.

18+ only please.

Camilla Nylander Altelius stood waiting at the arrivals gate at Stockholm's Arlanda airport with a simple sign with two letters colored on a white foam board: L and G. Her young nieces wanted to make a sign for William's friend, Loren, who was coming to visit him from Toronto.

Although Camilla knew the sign was not necessary since Loren knew what Camilla looked like, she thought it was a sweet gesture from the girls nevertheless.

Despite her typical friendly nature, Camilla stayed off to the side of the other folks who surrounded her while waiting for their respective arrivals. The Nylanders are well-known throughout the city and preferred to blend into the background and remain inconspicuous.

She watched carefully as the passengers from Loren's flight began to trickle through the doors. The number of passengers were many, and there were moments where Camilla had to stand on her toes to try and spot Loren as she walked through.

But as the people who disembarked the plane met their awaiting greeters, Camilla grew nervous as there was no sign of Loren.

After 30 minutes, Camilla texted William to make sure that she was supposed to be on that flight. A panicked William responded straight away, confirming that she had texted him once she was in her seat. It was a direct flight, so there were no connecting flights to miss.

William said he would text her to see if everything was okay.

After calls and texts went unanswered and unread, William and his parents were visibly concerned.

Camilla continued to wait patiently despite the knot that had formed in her stomach.

Close to 45 minutes after the plane had fully disembarked, Loren appeared looking a little tired but incredibly relieved when she saw Camilla there still waiting for her.

Camilla cheekily held up the sign, and Loren hurriedly walked up to her, a mix of joy and appreciation expressed on her face.

The two embraced excitedly, and the chatter between them began while Camilla motioned to take Loren's carry-on.

As they walked, Loren began to profusely apologize and explain the reason why she was held aside.

As she tried to explain, Loren also felt her phone buzzing in her purse with incoming calls.

Camilla saw that Loren was getting a little frazzled and overwhelmed, so she stopped walking, took Loren's hand, and warmly reminded Loren to breathe.

Loren did exactly what Camilla told her. She breathed deeply and managed to squeeze in another apology for the delay. William had told his mother about how considerate Loren was, almost to a fault.

Armed with this knowledge, Camilla joked that William, who she assumed was the one calling Loren's phone incessantly, could wait or else she'd ban him from using it altogether. He still had to listen to his mother, she said.

Loren nodded enthusiastically and replied, "I can hold him while you grab his phone." She looked at Camilla and blushed. "I imagine he's pretty stressed right now."

Camilla nodded and draped her arm around Loren's shoulder as they began walking. "He's just really looking forward to seeing you again. And I can see that you are excited to see him too."

They liked each other instantly, and their connection was almost palpable.

Loren continued to explain that customs had flagged her as entering with a tourist working visa. All the paperwork met the requirements and everything was above board, but the officers wanted to look through her suitcase and ask her questions anyway. They even asked to see some of her content and videos.

"They asked who I was staying with while I'm here—I thought I'd better keep William's name out of this, so I hope it's okay that I said you and Michael… that I'm a family friend?"

I really, really like this girl, Camilla thought.

Camilla chuckled. "It's all actually true. You'll be coming to the lake house to stay with us during your trip, and you are absolutely a family friend."

Camilla exuded beauty and grace. She was warm, caring, and Loren sensed a deep wisdom in her.

Never mind William—Camilla was Loren's new crush.

Camilla and Loren chatted on like old school friends as they rolled Loren's luggage through the bright open space towards the exit to the car park.

Loren's nervous excitement looped throughout her entire body.

Seeing William. Meeting his family. Seeing his home. Greeting his dogs. Going out with his friends.

While Camilla and Loren had been talking and navigating the airport, they seemingly missed several calls from William. Camilla finally heard the chime from her own phone and this time, it was Michael calling her.

Camilla spoke Swedish and then let out a chuckle while rolling her eyes. Loren smiled at her but tried to mind her own business as they stepped on the elevator to go to the 4th level of the car park.

Camilla put her phone back in her purse and smiled at Loren. "A certain someone has been trying to get a hold of us—he's been panicking a little bit. But we're almost there."

Loren took a deep breath and exhaled, placing her hand on her stomach to try and calm the butterflies. Loren's hand was even trembling slightly.

Camilla glanced over sympathetically and put her arm around Loren. She said nothing, but the comfort in her gesture spoke volumes.

When the elevator doors opened, Loren's pulse was racing so fast, she had to grip the handle of her luggage hard as a distraction.

They walked past a large cinder block post, and that's when she saw him. He was leaning up against his SUV, a baseball hat shaded part of his face as he talked to his Dad. The off-season certainly agreed with him. He looked incredible.

Loren's breath caught in her throat as they came within view. William turned and half-jogged, half-sprinted towards Loren.

She let out a little squeal of pure happiness as William pulled her in, hugging her tightly. Her feet left the ground as William's embrace was so strong and exuberant, she almost got lost in the moment and wrapped her legs around him.

William leaned in close, his lips brushing her ear. Though his words were muffled, they expressed absolute joy and relief that she was actually there with him. Loren's fingers trailed up the back of his hair as she whispered, "You look amazing. I'm so happy to see you."

After William stabilized her on the ground, Loren looked over to Michael and tried to settle her emotions as she introduced herself. Michael embraced Loren as well, and the two exchanged pleasantries as William put Loren's luggage in the trunk.

Holding the back passenger door open for her, Loren slid onto the seat, unable to quell the smile on her face. William slid in next to her. His cologne must have pheromones in it as the effect it had between her legs was immediate and intense.

If Loren was feeling the heat rising in her panties, William was right there with her. He was thankful that his parents agreed to accompany him, so that he could keep a low profile, yet still be at the airport when Loren arrived.

But God, how he wanted her in that very second. If they were alone, he could have easily found a secluded area, adjusted the back seats, and spent hours pleasuring and exploring her body. From the moment they expressed how much they missed each other in the previous weeks, the anticipation of their reunion was now reaching a fever pitch.

The confined space of the car only seemed to amplify the mounting desire them. Forced to keep the heightening tension at bay, Loren answered more questions about her overall travel experience.

Did she sleep? How was the flight? How was the meal?

As Loren engaged in laughter and further conversation with Michael and Camilla, William remained quiet. He watched her bright and effervescent personality immediately enchant his parents. As the SUV approached the city centre, her excitement overflowed as the beauty of Stockholm was in her line of vision. William leaned in close to Loren, and with their fingers entwined, his thumb caressed hers drawing light circles on her skin.

Every so often, Loren would turn to him, her eyes were alive and sparkled with joy. She radiated pure happiness, and William felt his heart swell with an sense of absolute contentment. The only thing he wished he could change is pressing for her to come sooner.

As they approached a beautiful and ornate stone and brick building, William leaned over an quietly explained that his siblings are waiting for them in his flat. He knew she would be fatigued but he felt it would be best for her start adjusting her body clock to local time, and remain awake until later that evening.

Michael and William unpacked Loren’s luggage and followed her and Camilla up the one flight of stairs to William’s door. Loren smiled at Camilla and took a deep breath. She could empathize with Loren’s nervousness, she felt the same meeting Michael’s enormous family back when they were dating.

Camilla ushered Loren through the front entrance and were first greeted by Pablo and Banksy, both on standing on their hinds legs, clamoring for Loren. She knelt down, scratching and rubbing both dogs while murmuring words of affection against their faces.

William warmly placed his hand on the small of Loren’s back as she stood up, letting her know he’s putting her bags in his bedroom. That felt surreal unto itself.

Then William's siblings approached Loren. Introductions began with his three younger biological sisters, who welcomed her with warm hugs and laughter, playfully teasing William in the process. Michelle, William's half-sister, was slightly more reserved, but she and Loren connected instantly—much like Loren had with Camilla.

Alex was next. He grinned widely and gave Loren a sizeable hug and expressed how great it was she was able to visit. He made a dig or two at William about his golf game and said he looked forward to Loren kicking his ass on the course.

There was only one person who appeared unimpressed by Loren’s arrival. To say she was unenthused would be an understatement.

Alex’s girlfriend, Isla.

Her greeting to Loren was cold and unwelcoming. She barely accepted Loren's offered handshake, and sneered at Loren when she said she was so happy to meet Isla.

After returning to lean against a door jam, she scanned Loren and her attire, she muttered comments under her breath to Alex in Swedish—remarks that were unmistakably snide. Alex scoffed incredulously at his girlfriend’s jeers and ridicule towards his brother’s guest. “Look, be nice. She doesn’t have a lot of money.”

“She had enough to fly here. Oh wait, I bet William had to pay,” Isla said scornfully. “There’s a million girls around here that would suit William so much better than her.”

Alex pulled Isla into a side hug. “Okay, tiger…that’s enough. You don’t know her to say anything like that.”

“Fuck that. Oh shit….she’s going to be coming out with us to Gemma too, isn’t she. Oh god, I don’t want to be stuck with this girl all night, Alex.”

“Isla - c’mon. She came here to see William…not everything is about you,” Alex playfully jabbed.

“Yeah, well - William should have maybe given Margot a chance. Given he fucked her, she thought he might have been interested….. we’d all have so much fun together, and Margot is a way better fit for his lifestyle. If could be him and Margot together tonight at the bar and he can send this one home,” Isla said, flippantly pointing towards Loren.

Isla sipped her drink and watched how everyone was fawning over Loren. They certainly never treated her like this when she and Alex first started dating.

Isla didn’t even realize that she was glaring at Loren, but Loren sure noticed.

As she sat across the room, Loren was baffled and worried at the same time. The exchange between Isla and Loren could not have been much more than 20 seconds and Loren was wondering what the hell she had done to Isla for her not to like her….already. Loren wanted to make a great impression across the board, and Isla in particular, given the boys’ tight knit relationship. It would be a major blow if the two ladies couldn’t find at least some common ground.

She just met you - what the fuck happened that she can’t stand you already? Loren thought as she felt her gut twist.

William's sister, Stephanie, called out to Loren after speaking with Camilla.

"Wait—so Loren, you're going to be working during your vacation? What kind of work is it again? Mom said you were held back after you landed—and the guards went through your stuff?"

William had heard about Loren's brief detainment during the car ride to his place. Once more, he felt pangs of guilt as he reflected on her sacrifices. Loren had just started a new job, and he had practically begged her to visit. The sudden realization of how self-centered his request was began to weigh on his mind.

Since William had implored Loren to visit, he offered to cover not just her expenses, but compensate for her time away from work. And as expected, she refused, having dipped into her Caribbean getaway fund to pay for the flight and time away from work.

A thought nagged at him.

She always seemed to add to his life, while he somehow subtracted from hers.

And yet Loren was interacting effortlessly with his family. Her smile and infectious laughter seemed to help dispel these notions that were infecting his mind.

He had begun to consider that they might be on the precipice of something really amazing with one another, and he silently vowed he would show her the best time in the coming days.

Loren explained the basics of her language vlog, and how her new manager was receptive to her apologetic vacation request. They devised a plan for Loren to do some field work in Stockholm related to those with dual and multiple languages. Getting a tourist working visa was simple due to less stringent requirements for Canadian citizens. They could review the footage upon her return and create a multi-part segment. Her manager even suggested they might reimburse part of the trip if her videos ended up being published.

William's youngest sister, Ella, chimed in, suggesting that since Isla had her own vlog, perhaps she and Loren could collaborate.

Loren looked towards Isla, hoping this could be their common ground. Her smile quickly faded as Isla chuckled, as if the mere idea was utterly absurd.

Loren's personality was highly empathetic—she absorbed energy from those around her. She could often relate to and understand others' feelings deeply, sometimes even adopting their worries as her own.

This is why Isla's demeanor affected Loren to her core. She wasn't used to evoking such a negative response, especially from someone she had been looking forward to meeting.

Loren looked towards Isla again, hoping to find some connection. Her smile faded as Isla chuckled dismissively.

Isla's immediate dislike may have gone unnoticed by most of the group, except for Alex, as she was quite vocal about her disdain for Loren. However, Michelle, the Nylander’s older half-sister, quietly observed Isla's unwarranted behavior. Noticing how Loren's bubbly and personable nature seemed to wilt from her interactions with Isla, Michelle internally resolved to be an additional support to Loren.

Much to William's delight, his family instantly warmed to Loren.

In one moment, he observed his father engrossed in conversation with her, explaining the ins and outs of Swedish culture and cuisine. William heart swelled watching Loren, clearly fascinated with Michael as she listened intently with genuine interest. After Loren was whisked away by the Nylander women, Michael was quick to approach William and tell him how impressed his is with her.

Alex approached his brother and father and the three sat down together and continued to enjoy some drinks and appetizers that had been laid out. Most of the woman had congregated in the kitchen, which was just through an open doorway from the living room. William had a clear line of vision to Loren as she leaned against the countertop, her engagement with the ladies remained effortless.

Alex followed William’s gaze and chuckled at how smitten his brother appeared to be.

“Fuck dude- keep staring,” Alex laughed. “She seems really nice though - fucking banging hot,” he added. Michael sent his second son a disapproving glance.

“I think she’s probably one of the kindest people I know. And yeah - she’s smokin’ but I don’t really even care about that….and neither should you.” William playfully backhanded his brother’s arm.

Michael smirked. He was proud of his boys and how much they loved each other.

Isla’s comments to Alex regarding Loren using William for money remained in his head and Alex decided to cut to the chase. “So - did you have to pay for her trip? You said she’s broke -,”

William was quick to interject. “Bro - I didn’t mean it like that…all I meant is she doesn’t have a lot of money to spend on extras. She works basically three jobs - she’s trying to set herself up so she eventually doesn’t have to work as much later on. I didn’t mean she was broke like that.” William thought for a moment before he continued. “I actually don’t think I have paid for more than a few meals in the time I’ve known her. She’s super fucking stubborn about paying her own way. I actually feel like shit since I asked her to come here. I offered to pay for her flight and she flat out refused. She ended up using money that she was saving up for a winter vacation.”

Alex raised his eyebrows and glanced at his dad. The two were taken aback with what William had revealed. Alex thought maybe if he explained this to Isla, she could back off Loren instead of trying to bulldoze her.

Michael turned to William. “You’ll just have to make sure she has a better time than she would have had she gone away in the winter. Maybe take her somewhere else while she’s here.”

As the men continued their chat, laughter from the kitchen suddenly echoed throughout the room. William watched Loren as she animatedly gestured as she explained something to the group with her special brand of wit. With his interest piqued, he listened in and heard key words of airport, security guard, camera, and the a surprise reference to triple x-rated movies. He smiled to himself and wondered what the hell she was talking about. Whatever it was, she was getting a chorus of laughter from the women.

William loved how Loren just seemed to bring a whole new dynamic to his family and felt himself falling more for Loren by the second.

His mind snapped back from his musings to hear Isla, with her tone bordering on loud, on the phone in the corner of the room. It made him wonder why she seemed to be excluding herself from the rest, but he didn’t spend time worrying about it.

Loren excused herself and headed to the washroom. As she gently closed the door behind her, she leaned against it, taking a deep breath to steadying herself. She felt so exhilarated from the welcome she had received from his family, and just being in William’s presence.

After washing up, she caught sight of her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She was losing steam and felt tired, but William and his siblings had plans to take Loren to A Bar Called Gemma, a cozy and popular watering hole in the city.

The prospect of experiencing Stockholm's nightlife and meeting William's old friends both excited and slightly intimidated her. She was eager to see William at home, in a completely different light than Toronto and to understand more about the world he came from. Yet, she was worried now more than ever about making a good impression, especially given the less-than-warm reception from Isla earlier.

Loren heard a soft knock at the door and responded with a quick apology and that she would be out in a moment.

William’s muffled voice sounded on the other side of the door, asking if he could come in for a moment. She opened the door wide enough for William to slip in, undetected.

His hands immediately grasped onto the narrow part of Loren’s waist. “You’re killing me out there y’know,” William said as he brought his lips close to hers. “They can see why I think you’re incredible, and they’re in total agreement.”

Loren pushed thoughts of Isla and her initial reaction out of her mind. This was not the time to mention her noticeable dislike of Loren, as she felt it would stir up unnecessary drama. What mattered to her the was the warm welcome she had received from William's family and the look in his eyes from the moment they were reunited. The Nylander’s approval and enthusiasm meant the world to her, and she resolved to focus on why she was here to begin with. She came to be with William. He wanted her there with him. He invited her so she could experience his world, explore Stockholm and get to know him more as well as the people who were closest to him.

Loren smiled softly, her cheeks flushed and her heart fluttered with William's words and his body pressed against hers. Loren leaned in, closing the distance between them, and brushed her lips against his. The kiss swiftly became deeper and full of need, but remained brief—a silent acknowledgment that they still had company and needed to wait to act on their desires.

William gave Loren’s waist a gentle squeeze before he exited, while Loren waited a few more minutes before she reappeared in the living room.

The dinner which had been previously arranged and now delivered, was a veritable feast from one of Stockholm’s most renowned sushi establishments. The spread before them was wide array of beautifully crafted sushi rolls, sashimi, and other Japanese delicacies artfully presented on platters with decorative embellishments.

The dinner conversations were lively, with laughter echoing through William's flat's open windows and spilling out onto the street below.

Loren found herself thoroughly entertained as she witnessed, on several occasions, William's siblings treated her with lesser-known and rather embarrassing stories from William's teenage years. The accounts ranged from innocent misadventures to moments that everyone cringed in unison before erupting into side-splitting laughter.

As more sake was handed out, the stories began to take a turn towards the more scandalous side of William's youth. Tales of wild parties, questionable decision-making, and narrow escapes from trouble had Loren both shocked and amused. William, his face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and laughter, finally decided to intervene with a subtle reminder that he had just as much dirt on his siblings. The laughter was an indicator that perhaps William’s defense was flimsy but after some good-natured protests, the siblings conceded defeat – at least for the moment.

Loren began to clean up the plates and utensils but was met with Camilla waving her off from doing anything of the kind, reminding Loren that she was on vacation. Instead, she assembled and instructed the male members of the family to do the clean up.

The women remained in the living room, digesting the smorgasbord of food they had delighted in. Stephanie received a message from a friend who planned to meet their group later at the bar, and called out to William, asking what time he thought they would arrive at.

Another animated discussion ensued as the ladies wanted time to freshen up and have a few more cocktails before the group headed out. Loren asked what the dress code was, trying to visualize what she had packed for the trip. Chelsea had helped select a number of mix-and-match casual, smart casual, and classy clothing options, so Loren felt confident that she should have something that would look nice.

Isla interjected—she had been sitting quietly, messaging and scrolling on her phone in a chair just off to the side of the rest of the women. "I was thinking—it might not be so much fun for Loren, coming out with us tonight. You know, we start drinking and then we forget she doesn't speak Swedish… she won't understand any conversation. She might feel like she doesn't belong."

Loren felt her cheeks burning. Although Isla's sentiment seemed to be born from concern for her, there was a hint of something else in her tone. Language and cultural differences aside, Isla simply did not want Loren around, and she was making that very apparent.

Isla continued, "We cannot spend the night translating everything—you know, it will be hard for her to have fun, or anyone else."

Alex had returned to the room, followed by William. Alex had only heard part of Isla's attempt to dissuade Loren from coming. William had not heard it at all.

Loren watched Alex say something in Swedish to Isla in a low, warning tone. His statement to Isla was just out of earshot of William.

Isla's response was blunt and mocking and undoubtedly was in reference to Loren. Loren then watched William's sisters and their perplexed expressions as they observed the interaction between Alex and Isla.

Isla's tone was becoming slightly louder and more defensive as Michelle began to intervene.

The situation was becoming increasingly uncomfortable, and Loren decided to put an end to it.

Glancing across the room at Isla, Loren smiled warmly. "No, you know what—Isla's right. It's going to be really hard for me to keep up with conversations, and I don't want to take away anyone's enjoyment by having to stop and explain things to me."

William was quick to look at Loren first and then over to Isla. His eyes darkened as he tried to piece together what the hell had changed from the moment he left the room. After getting to know Isla over the years, William had grown wary of some of her behaviors. He was heavily suspicious that Loren's change of heart was likely due to something that came out of Isla's mouth.

Before William could object, Michael calmly reminded Isla that virtually everyone there and in their respective friend groups, spoke English well. Isla was quiet, but made a retort under her breath.

Loren once again spoke in a gentle but clear tone. “I understand what Isla is saying - I can imagine that once everyone has a few drinks in them, it’s going to be more natural to slip back into speaking Swedish. And - it has been a super long day. I’ve loved every second of being here but maybe it’s better that I sit out this time and get some rest instead.”

It actually pissed Isla off even more, seeing how agreeable Loren was to concede to her.

William looked defeated and a little shattered. “I could stay back with you - “

Loren shook her head, vehemently but kindly declined. “You have friends coming - I don’t want you to cancel on them, not because of me.” Loren looked at William hopefully. “Before I leave, we can try and carve out some time for a dinner or drinks - a meal sometime with them, maybe?” She looked at William and smiled with appreciation. “I really am ok to stay back here, and I want you to go out and have a great time. I’m totally okay with that - gives me a chance to sleep before you come back home.”

William chuckled lightly as behind Loren’s bright eyes, there was a hint of suggestiveness only discernable to him. She had a point. Ever since her saw her, sleep has been the last thing in his mind so she’d better take the opportunity while it’s there.

“Loren, if you’re okay with it, I’ll stay back with you. We can watch a movie - in English,” Michelle said rather coolly, her eyes briefly glancing towards Isla.

“We can stay for a little longer too, if that’s okay with you, Loren?” Camilla smiled. “I have so many questions, you might be tired of me by the end of the night,” Camilla said with a wink.

Loren flashed a smiled of appreciation to Camilla, Michelle and Michael too. Given the “girl-talk” that might ensue, Loren wasn’t certain if Michael really wanted to stay behind, but he seemed happy and comfortable as he relaxed the in overstuffed plus chair, nursing his sake.

With the evening plans now confirmed, Isla and William’s three younger sisters ventured to a better lit spot in the apartment to reapply and freshen their makeup. Camilla poured herself another glass of wine, leaning into Loren saying Michelle would be driving them home, so she’s decided to indulge a little.

William found a spot next to Loren on the couch. He couldn't shake the unease about leaving her behind, but his heart also swelled seeing how good-natured Loren was in how she handled the situation with Isla. He asked her softly if she was sure about staying in, and he apologized if Isla made her feel unwelcome and excluded. As tight-knit as his family was, that's not how they operate.

William leaned his forehead against her hair, thinking about how he could take her somewhere and just be totally alone with her. For days. His dad was right—he could make it worth her potentially missing out on a sunny vacation in the dead of winter.

But for right now, he breathed in her comforting and light fragrance, quietly telling her he wouldn't be out late.

—

William and his crew arrived exactly on time for their reservation at the bar. Because of the number of Nylander siblings, significant others and the size of his friend group, reservations were always warranted, especially in the cozier cocktail bars like A Bar Called Gemma.

With everyone now assembled and accounted for, the Nylander group accounted for a large portion of the total capacity of the bar. Knowing who they are, the owner and bartenders knew the Nylander’s would keep them busy with many orders throughout the night.

The bar had clustered tables together for their group, allowing everyone to mingle easily. William sat with his longtime friends, Anders and Erik, and their girlfriends. When asked about Loren's absence—with some concern for her well-being—William briefly mentioned he'd explain later, hinting it was related to Alex's girlfriend. However, he emphasized how thrilled he was that Loren had made it to Stockholm and she looked forward to meeting everyone.

Their lively discussions continued as they perused the menu and the myriad of cocktail options.

William bought the first round of drinks for the entire house. Shortly thereafter, trays of flaming monkey heads—containing Gemma's signature cocktails—were distributed to the patrons, elevating the festive energy to new heights. A rollicking "Skål!" echoed through the bar, catching the attention of many passersby outside.

The bar's owner, anticipating a busy night, greeted William and his guests. He thanked William for his generosity with buying the house a round, and offered complimentary snacks to pair with their creative cocktails.

William sipped his drink and cheerfully caught up with his friends, but Loren lingered in the back of his mind. He wasn't worried per se—his parents and Michelle had already taken a clear liking to her. It was simply the fact that she was so close in proximity, yet not by his side.

During a lull in an otherwise entertaining conversation, William excused himself and stepped off to the side, pulling out his phone from his jeans. His initial instinct was to text Loren directly, but he quickly changed his mind, opting to text his dad to ask how everything was going. He admitted to himself he was fishing for some positive feedback about Loren. He was already filled with admiration for her, but he wanted to hear straight-up from his dad what his thoughts were.

His dad's comments did not disappoint. Though the messages were short, Michael's words echoed what William already felt about Loren, and then some. But hearing the same adjectives about Loren being used by his dad, who he felt was also a keen and excellent judge of character, further solidified everything William had seen in her since their first meeting.

With William’s mind at ease after his dad’s final message about taking Pablo and Banksy home with he and Camilla, he heard a light squeal from Isla. He watched as her slender figure quickly slid off the stool and approached the doors where three of her friends awaited her.

William shot a look towards his little brother, who seemed just as surprised with the sudden arrival of the three pretty, young blondes who were part of Isla’s social circle. Included in the trio was Margot, and upon seeing William, she waved and eagerly approached him.

“Heeey, Willy! Good to see you - wow….you’re still so tanned!”

William smiled in acknowledgement and gave Margot a rather non-committal side hug.

Isla pointed at Alex to move stools so her friends could all squeeze in together, which eventually forced a total reconfiguration of the seating arrangement.

Relieved that he remained surrounded by his brother and close friends, William listened to his brother express his relief and excitement about joining William in Toronto this coming season after signing with the Toronto Marlies.

As time ticked on, the ladies in the group had all congregated together and had become a little more boisterous from the many cocktails consumed. Anders and Erik chuckled as they looked on at their dates, astounded at the number of conversations happening simultaneously.

William, however, was lost in thought. The evening had not turned out the way he had planned, and he was on the cusp of just paying everyone's tab so he could leave and go home to Loren. He hadn't had more than 5 minutes alone with her, which were spent in his bathroom, no less.

William's phone buzzed and his pulse jumped, hoping it was Loren texting him, which would help to lighten his mood. Instead, the message was from a couple of tables over—from his sister, Jackie.

J: Did u have sex with Margot when we were away?? 😬

William glanced over at Jackie, wondering where a question like that came from.

J: I need to tell you something but I don't want them to know you heard it from me. Delete these after.

William, not in the mood for cryptic exchanges, texted back asking her to come over and just talk to him.

With a shrug, Jackie made her way over to William's table, where Anders and Erik also sat. Alex had vacated his stool long ago to join Isla, and it was the conversation between those two that Jackie heard what she heard.

Jackie began speaking quietly. “So you slept with Margot?”

Anders and Erik exchanged knowing glances, their smirks widening as they looked over at William. William rolled his eyes at his friends before responding. “Yeah - once…why?”

“Isla didn’t want Loren to come tonight. She was saying to Margot that she needs to take her shot with you - that you and Margot should be dating. Margot suits you better apparently.”

William started to turn to look towards Isla but Jackie quickly snapped at him not to.

“Don’t look over at her. I don’t want her to guess that I’m telling you this stuff.”

Anders and Erik were enthralled with the new saga unfolding. Alex returned to find Jackie in his spot and motioned for her to vacate his stool. Jackie gestured she would in a minute then shoo’d Alex away.

Jackie leaned into William a little more, knowing she had to be quick with her words. “Isla was mocking Loren - she told us she thought she was so fake. She keeps going with really nasty comments about her clothes and how she looks - Michelle heard her and even said something back to her.”

William clenched his jaw and gritted his teeth

Jackie was trying to remember the most important parts as she could not believe what Isla was saying about Loren. "Alex was trying to tell Isla that Loren paid her own way—that she's not using you for money or anything. That pissed Isla off even more. So Isla said to Alex that maybe she should just tell Loren that you fucked her best friend a few weeks ago. She's twisting it around, saying you made it seem like you really liked Margot. So like—you're probably playing both of them. And—that you sleep with every girl that you can get your hands on."

William was caught between a rock and a hard place. He wasn't going to approach Isla as he knew of her confrontational and defensive tendencies, and he wasn't looking to make a scene. The problem was there was truth in Isla's accusations toward William. He had slept with Margot, and he had, in the last couple of years, indulged in the never-ending supply of accessible women.

William looked across at Anders, then Erik, and then to Jackie. His mind was suddenly clouded with a mix of resentment towards Isla and anxiety about hearing she might try to sabotage what he was starting to build with Loren.

Shaking his head, he knew he had to get in front of this situation, bite the bullet, and just be honest with Loren. As far as Margot, he thought his general avoidance for the remainder of her stay in Saint Tropez would have been a clear indicator that their one evening together would remain a singular event. He was going to have to make sure Margot understood that they had no future together.

William rubbed his face with his hands. "Fuck—what a fucking bullshit situation this is." He turned to Jackie and wrapped his arm around her. "Thanks, my spy. I'm glad you told me. Fuck, I don't want to have to explain this shit to Loren," William's tone was full of regret.

Anders looked at William, his face shrouded in concern. "So, the Margot thing… is—did you—is it like a cheating thing—meaning cheating on Loren?"

"Loren and I aren't—dating… like she's not technically my girlfriend. So, no… I don't feel like I cheated on her, not exactly. But I care about her, and I do feel really fucking shitty about it." William shook his head. "On the other hand, the thing with Margot actually pushed me to call Loren. I kind of realized that—I missed talking to her, y'know?"

Erik tossed an ice cube around inside his mouth and then crunched down on it. "Bro—that's a bit messed up. But—I wouldn't put it past Isla to tell Loren—I think she likes to just lob a grenade into the middle of something and watch the chaos. You'd be better off telling Loren yourself and just hope she'll accept it for what it is."

"Yeah, use the Nylander charm that you claim you have," Anders scoffed, teasing his friend.

Jackie's exaggerated roll of the eyes made the men around the table chuckle. "The girls got all the charm. And the looks. And the hair. All the boys have are their appendages that keep getting them into trouble," Jackie said dryly before William feigned putting her in a headlock.

"Are you going to say anything to Isla?" Erik asked, unsure of what he would do in the same situation.

William rubbed his beard, gently at first but then a little more forcefully out of frustration. "Fuck. I want to. But I've heard her and Alex get into it after he's tried to call her out—like posting private shit on TikTok… and man, it's like a fucking war. I'm just more concerned about Loren right now."

One thought remained which he kept to himself. Fuck—here you go again. She comes all this way to see you, and you're going to end up hurting her all over again.

—

William arrived home just after midnight, his social battery completely drained. Save for hum of his climate-control system, his flat was silent and he immediately missed Pablo and Banksy excited greeting.

Entering his bedroom, he saw Loren in his bed, her face slightly illuminated from the street lamps which towered along the sidewalks outside his window. He had seen her in states of exhaustion after long shifts at the group home, lightly snoring and mouth agape. Although he would chuckle at her endearingly comical appearance, he still thought she was ravishing.

Tonight, she looked ethereal, her luminescent tanned skin, dotted with the freckles along her cheekbones, the same ones he had tenderly kissed many times.

He climbed into bed and slid next to her, pressing his lips against her warm skin. With her eyes still closed, she began to smile. In a move so fluid it seemed choreographed, she turned towards him and pulled their bodies together, limbs soon intertwining. The embrace was more than physical. It was a culmination of so many emotions that ran deeper than either of them could find the words for.

For William, it was the reminder that Loren often sensed what he needed before he even knew himself. Her hand that caressed the ridges of his back and shoulder muscles found its way to first his face, and then his hair. She kissed him tenderly under his chin and along his jawline as he pulled her towards him even further. A lazy smile spanned her face as she opened her eyes and absorbed every one of his beautiful facial features.

William slid his body down slightly which allowed him to nuzzle his face into the crook of her neck. Loren wasn’t complaining, but the way in which he held her - it resembled something different.

His lips tickled her neck as he spoke in a low, gravelly tone. “How was tonight? How did everything go?”

He smiled against her skin as he felt her trying to contain her giddiness. “William, I just - holy shit - I cannot begin to tell you how much I love your family. Like - ,” Loren paused, trying slow her mind down so her mouth could catch up with her thoughts. “I guess I see why you are they way you are. I really - I mean, no offense because it would have been amazing to go out with you - but I had such a great time with them here.”

Loren pressed her lips along William’s hairline. “How was the bar? Did you have a fun time?”

He nodded his head slightly. “It was ok. Wished you were there,” he said quietly, lifting his head up to look at her.

William looked like something was weighing on him as Loren studied his weary expression and tired eyes. She stroked his stubble just under his jawline and gave him a reassuring smile. "I know it's late, and I'm not trying to pry, but I'll listen if you want to talk," she said softly.

He looked into her dark eyes, adorned with long thick eyelashes and he wondered how he could possibly shit on Loren’s parade already.

With it being almost 1am, he was still wrestling with one question that he had in his mind for hours.

Does Loren need to know about Margot - tonight?

His silent retort was firm. You cannot drag this on. You cannot spend days with her, have sex with her, and then tell her about Margot.

William hesitated for another moment and then took a deep breath before speaking.

“I’m not sure where to begin - and I’m so sorry to even have to tell you this at all, let alone when you’ve basically just gotten here. But - Isla didn’t want you to come tonight, because she invited a friend of hers to see if her and I could make something happen.”

Loren’s insides flinched and her pulse quickened. Her stoic expression belied how her stomach suddenly twisted and her racing mind. Judging from the look of regret on his face, William wasn’t done either.

His crystal blue eyes fell downward to the pendant fixed to the delicate chain around Loren’s neck. “This friend - Isla’s friend - Margot….her and I had sex while she was staying with us in Saint Tropez.”

Loren’s eyes trailed down William’s face as she processed his words. A short breath escaped her mouth as she pictured William in bed with some Nordic stunner. Loren bit her lip and looked away, trying to find something to focus on. So she chose the small, fine hairs on William’s shoulder. She found them oddly comforting.

She listened to William as he explained what he realized about his feelings for her after Margot left his room. It was the shove he needed in order to reach out to her, and having Loren there now means so much to him.

Loren remained silent for a long moment, her fingers that had been tracing patterns on William's skin now lay motionless. The warmth and security that was present just moments before faded quickly. Although she understood his explanation, and all the layers of their situation, she couldn't shake the sharp sting that accompanied his confession.

As the moments passed, a dull ache formed in her chest. William and Loren and what they were - or weren’t - had never been defined. The ambiguity of it all meant there were no boundaries in which either of them had to be accountable to. This arrangement was one that seemed tailor-made for William’s lifestyle, but Loren knew in her heart, it didn’t suit her at all. The gap between having reasonable expectations and their mutual desires now lay before them and was impossible to ignore.

Loren’s eyes reconnected with William’s. Her gaze, which had sparkled with adoration and excitement moments before, was now filled with uncertainty and the internal ache that goes along with it.

William started to apologize again, but Loren interrupted. “Do…you have feelings for Margot? I mean, I know - I appreciate your honesty but I guess I'm a little confused why Margot is the one girl you're telling me about?”

William quickly read between the lines. Loren assumed there had to be other women he's slept with throughout the offseason, and her question to him hit hard, because she wasn’t wrong.

“No, I don’t. I know how this might sound but I guess - I was lonely, or thought I was.” He knew he had to be transparent and honest despite how guarded he could be with his emotions. Loren deserved to hear how he feels about her.

And so he began, hoping he wouldn’t sound too corny or over the top.

“We didn’t spend the night together. I know how this can make me sound…like a player - like someone who just fucks around all the time. But the minute she left my room, you were the only person on my mind. It just hit me - felt like a punch in my stomach…when I realized just how badly I wanted to see you….so I had to message you.”

Loren lay there recalling the night he messaged her weeks ago. She replied back, and soon they were engrossed on a video call. After a few vodka coolers, she didn't remember much of what they spoke about, other than her glasses. He REALLY liked her in glasses. He gave her a certain look that only William could. It was comically frustrating to Loren, how, by just looking at her, the pressure between her legs could immediately be felt. She wasn’t complaining though. She gave herself two hardcore orgasms that night as she pictured him, with that face, fucking her hard.

She stifled a smile and continued to listen intently as William

William didn’t want to push his luck, but he needed to touch Loren. He lightly placed one hand on hers while his thumb stroked hers. “The thing is - the reason I’m telling you about her is Isla. She got it into her head that I should have given Margot more of a chance. I mean, I kind of went off and did my own thing for the rest of the time she was at the villa so I didn’t interact with her much. I don’t know what went on but I guess when Isla found out you were coming, she made this last run at pushing Margot and I together.”

Loren fought the urge to not to roll her eyes at the notion of Isla’s interference, but Jesus. What the fuck.

“So tonight, Isla was pretty drunk and was kind of saying a lot of shit that’s not worth repeating. She thought she might need to tell you about Margot - “

“Fuck - William….how can she dislike me this much already? I mean - I’m not for everyone but Jesus…give me a chance first, then she can hate me all she wants.”

William tried not to chuckle but Loren and her self-deprecation always made him laugh.

“I didn’t mean to sound so ‘why doesn’t she like me’ but - wait …is she going to show up with a fucking pitchfork and run me out of Stockholm all by herself?”

William’s eyes floated across her face and absorbed her exquisite features. “Fuck that - and by the way, you were amazing with how you handled everything. Even with me leaving you here too - I still can’t believe how bad that sounds - I left you here on your first night...”

“I think I had a far better night that you did so I guess...thanks for ditching me…”

William hung his head in mock defeat.

A long silence hung between them before William leaned towards her in a slow and deliberate motion. He lips kissed her softly, almost tentatively as though he was testing the waters between them.

Loren felt unsettled given the information and events that had transpired on her first day in Stockholm. Perhaps she felt this way about William too, as much as she did not want to admit it.

A battle raged in her mind between letting go of her concerns and retreating into self-preservation mode.

William began noticed that Loren’s kiss and touch was less eager, less enthusiastic than usual. He grew anxious with worry that there was far more going on behind the even-keeled front she put up.

William broke from their kiss, his hand slid under the nape of her neck and gently grasped a handful of her hair. He rested his forehead against hers not knowing what to say or do.

“Are you - I mean fuck…this hasn’t gone the way I wanted it to…but are you okay - like okay with me? I hope you’ll forgive me for what’s hap-,”

“William….you haven’t - why are you asking for forgiveness from me?” Loren consoled, while being genuinely perplexed. “You are 100% free to do what you want and be with whomever….I know I’m not anything to you…”

Loren’s eyes grew wide with her poorly chosen words. “Wait, no….that came out wrong….that’s not what I meant….” As soon as she said the words, the dejected look on William’s face nearly shattered her heart. “I’m sorry - I think I’m just super tired…I’m not thinking straight…”

He could see her struggling to stay awake, her eyes looking more bleary with each second. “Okay - yeah…we’ll just leave it. Sleep on it.” William pressed his lips against Loren’s. He wanted to feel her so badly and yet somehow, everything he had hoped for and wanted seemed suspended indefinitely.

Loren fell asleep almost immediately on her back, which prevented William from nestling in behind her as he usually did. He expelled a deep sign, turned onto his stomach and waited until sleep found him.

—

As Loren slowly regained consciousness after a long, much-needed sleep, her eyes gradually focused on the surroundings of William's bedroom. Still on her back, she lay motionless, her gaze fixed on the curtained windows that filtered the bright morning sun. A gentle smile began to tug at the corners of her mouth. The memory of last night's conversation had faded, replaced by a renewed sense of excitement and anticipation for the days ahead.

With little disturbance, she turned onto her side to face William, who remained sleeping on his stomach.

He looked ridiculous and perfect with his matted blonde hair sticking up in all directions against his pillow. His trimmed mustache, which was both polarizing and popular with so many females, was surrounded by stubble which seemed to grow thicker by the minute. His lips were smooshed firmly against the pillow, forcing them to part, allowing light snores to escape.

The longer she gazed at him, the more she could imagine the feeling of him inside her. The blissful intensity of wanting him grew rapidly, and with the decision to go with it and not fight it, she slid out of bed to freshen up.

When she returned to the bed, William had flipped onto his back. His body mostly uncovered and his legs slightly splayed, Loren could see a burgeoning erection tenting his shorts. The images it conjured in her mind made her salivate.

On one hand, she didn't want to disturb his sleep, knowing how much he treasured his rest. But it had been months since she last spent time with him, time which was shrouded with the noise of the playoffs and the team's eventual defeat.

Carefully reentering the bed, William groggily motioned for Loren to come towards him. She gracefully crawled over to him and pleasantly surprised him with soft, open-mouthed kisses on his neck. He groaned as her mouth began to travel further down, across his chest, kissing and tonguing his nipples. Loren slowly climbed on top of him, pressing her throbbing need against his cock.

Looking down at William’s face as he turned to look at her, daylight illuminated the turquoise in his eyes - making him that much more irresistible - and she began lowering her mouth to his.

“Mmm….Loren, I’ve got morning breath - you don’t want that…,” William said, his voice still sounding husky from just waking up. He playfully gave her ass a little squeeze.

Loren smiled as she lowered her mouth once again, this time close to his ear. “Nylander’s don’t get bad breath…” she purred softly.

She kissed a line back towards his mouth. He didn’t stop her this time.

Loren kissed him with a fierce yearning, as months of pent up emotions took the form of intense passion. Her raw display of emotion which she no longer could suppress unleashed a whole new level of desire in William.

With the thin layer on fabric between them wet with arousal, Loren rubbed and grinded her pussy firmly against William’s shaft. He was beyond aroused and worried he might cum far too early, as he desperately wanted to feel her bouncing and grinding hard on his cock. He gripped her ass cheek once again - but something else inside of him took over for a moment and he firmly smacked her ass. Her mouth fell open with a air of surprise, followed by smirk so seductive he had bite the inside of his cheek to try and quell the urge to cum.

William’s arms enveloped Loren as she continued to grind on his cock. “Fuck - Loren - I’m too close…you gotta get on it…I wanna cum inside you,” William groaned desperately.

William released his hold around Loren’s torso and she sat up, fully straddling William. His eyes focused on the puddle mark on her cotton underwear.

He had to bite his cheek again.

She shimmied a little towards his thighs, pulling the waistband of his shorts down. The smile that his exposed cock evoked on Loren’s face was one of the sexiest things he had ever seen.

She slid her own panties off and cast them aside before she fully engulfed his cock in her mouth. She heard William chanting her name - leading to pleas for her to fuck him - that he was dangerously close to cumming.

For William, Loren had always exuded something he had rarely seen before. It was part of the lore in various songs - a demure and elegant woman to the outside world versus a total uninhibited spitfire in the bedroom. She just kept getting better, more confident and somehow remained soft and seductive.

William guided Loren back into position atop him, swiftly aligning himself with her entrance. She eased down his length in one fluid motion, a soft gasp escaping her lips as she adjusted to his impressively thick girth.

William's mouth fell open as Loren's tightness gripped the length of his shaft as she began to ride him. His hands pushed up the thin cotton fabric to expose her bouncing tits—a sight he could never get enough of. Loren moaned loudly as she arched her back, spreading her legs wider as her arousal began to seep down his shaft and drip off his balls.

The sensations were so intense that Loren all but collapsed onto William as he took over bucking his hips, driving hard into her. Her forehead was pressed into the pillow and her breath was hot against William's neck. Wrapping one arm around her waist and snaking the other to lightly grip the back of her neck, he continued to fuck her until her eyes were literally crossed.

William grunted and bucked and soon called out that he was about to cum while gripping Loren's ass hard. As he did, she pushed down and grinded back and forth on his cock, covering her mouth to stifle a shriek as clear fluid shot and sprayed out all over his cock. Seconds later, he pressed his cock deep within her and coated her walls as he twitched and spasmed with each release.

They lay there, still intimately connected in their blissful aftermath, barely able to form coherent thoughts. It seemed the only words either could muster were a breathless "Holy fuck."

After a few more moments, as the euphoria became manageable and Loren regained her ability to form basic sentences, William coaxed her out of bed and into the shower. What could have been a quick 20-minute rinse turned into a leisurely 40-minute affair. They spent most of their time—and the hot water—standing still, exchanging long, delicious kisses while their hands roamed each other's bodies.

This was exactly the kind of start William had hoped for—even better than he could have imagined. He was determined to show Loren the most amazing experiences and give her the time of her life, just as she deserved.

[fuxuannie]

* pairings : orpheus de ross x gender neutral reader

* prompt : a novelist is left to write about his feelings for the person who he loves dearly, surely he couldn't struggle doing that, right? (wrong.)

* authors note : i love orphy sososos much <3 first fic,, reqs r open ♡.

ORPHEUS was a man who could express himself better with a pen and paper rather than use his own words. He was more than capable of doing so, but some things tend to leave him tongue tied. And there was someone that he wanted to have them untie it for him.

You were someone who shared unconditional kindnes to Orpheus, at the time, he really didn't think much of it. He appreciated your kind gestures, but never reciprocated. It was until one day, you had written him a good luck note, and given it to him before his games would start within the day.

It wasn't much, but the little gesture left an impact. The next day, he had approached you with a small smile and a letter in hand, an expression that you didn't often see from him. Nevertheless, you smile and give your due thank you.

One letter turned to two, two into three and three to a box-full of little notes and letters that the two of you were exchanging in the span of a few months.

Orpheus had grown fond of you in that time, he'd never admit it, but he'd often miss you dearly, and would read the letters he collected in your voice while you're gone. and those of the manor knew it.

"Confess to them already!" Suggested Emily,

"Man up and tell them before someone else does." said Naib,

"Just take your time and confess when you're ready." Patricia sighed.

None of those ideas he was a fan of, mostly because it involved actually telling you how he felt. Which in truth, he didn't want to do, nor was it any of their business to be snooping on his love life.

But despite believing it was for the best to stay friends, his evergrowing feelings were getting harder to control, as the simple brush against your fingertips made him ever so quietly flustered.

snap snap.

The sound of fingers snapping caught his attention.

"Orpheus?" Alice, his dear friend called out. "You're usually not so lost in thought, do you have something in mind?" She asked, snapping Orpheus back into reality as he now recalled he agreed to meet her for tea. So currently, they were in Alice's room. She sat on her chair, while Orpheus sat on her bed across to her.

"Well, it's more.. someone." He replies, clearing his throat as Alice couldn't help but smile. "Oh? Have you found someone you're interested in?" She teased, but Orpheus remained quiet. His silence speaking much louder than the words he would never admit.

"You have?!"

"You of all people, should have been the last one to know."

Alice was immediately overjoyed, "I thought you would die alone and sad! Oh my gosh, who is it?!" she questioned eagerly. "One, rude. Two.. its (name)." He admitted honestly, not bothering to hide his feelings or anything of the sort.

Alice's eyes practically lit up. "(name)!? I knew it! You two have been spending an awful lot of time together, and the way you couldn't help but cover your mouth after speaking to them was such an obvious sign! You do not simply like them, you are inlove with them!" She accused him of his love crimes, and admittedly, he pleaded guilty. Hanging his head down low as he hid his red cheeks.

"Yes, I may or may not be inlove with them. But I.. I don't know exactly how to tell them. Actually, I'm not even sure if i want to" He puts his cup of tea on her desk. Almost mumbling that entire ramble as Alice puts her index over her lips, as if she was in thought.

"How about you write a letter? You seem to be good at it, and it'll be sweet! Sure, theres a difference using your voice in a confession compared to a letter, but at least they'll be able to keep your words and preserve it forever. It's almost like that the paper is a promise to them! As long as those words are written by you, for however long they last, you promise to stay true to the words you wrote." She suggests with a snap of a finger and a small smile.

Though the idea sounded really corny, Orpheus couldn't deny that it would've been easier. He was always better on paper than in person, and he couldn't deny that he could write a novel long confession for you. Cause thats how you made him feel, with a simple gesture of kindness, you had even the most stoic and calm man stumbling over his words. So surely, it wouldn't be the hardest thing to do.

If only he knew how badly he'd eat those words later. Cue to the fact it's 11pm, Orpheus' usually tidy and organized hair turned to a mess as he pushes it back for the 10th time. Crumpling the 16th paper and dumping it in the trash, usually Orpheus wouldn't mind a Writers Block, but the fact he asked you to meet him in the Dining Room tomorrow made him really stressed.

"Maybe I should call it off.." But even before he could finish that thought, he could already hear Alice's nonestop scolding about being afraid of his own feelings. But maybe he was, maybe he was afraid of his own feelings, very specifically the fear of losing you because of it. He's read it a thousand times in several novels, the guy confesses to the person they love and boom. They lose them. He didn't want that to happen, especially not with you.

However, Orpheus didn't want to be a man filled with regret. So he emptied his mind, grabbed a pen and he focused on one of the very few things that mattered in his life. You.

It's 6AM, the manor was playing classical music on it's exact cue. You sat in one of the Dining Room chairs, humming to yourself while waiting for Orpheus to arrive. While the man himself was having Alice tell him for the 100th time that his hair looked fine, but put his pants on backwards.

"(name)?" He calls out for you from behind, a hand on your seat as you turn around and smile. "Orpheus, good morning." You greet him as usual, his gaze on you is so soft. So warm and welcoming, he pulls the chair to your side and turns it so it can face you properly. "So, I wanted to tell you something." He began, trying to maintan eye contact with you as he avoided the urge to look away.

"(name), for the longest time, I-"

"I like you too, Orpheus."

He's not allowed to get another second in, and you look at him with the most serious expression on your face. "I like you." You repeated. His entire composure that he tried to build up all night melted. You smile a little at his reaction, watching him scramble to cover his mouth as a tint of red glows on his face.

You gently take his hand away from your face, and hold it in your own. "I'm sorry if I ruined the moment." You apologize, squeezing his hand as he's now left to show his entire world his very flustered expression. "No uh, actually I'm glad you did. I spent 5 hours trying to uh.. plan a confession and.. was left thinking of you and nothing else that I forgot to write something." He confessed, laughing to himself as his gaze was originally you and his hand intertwined together, but was pleasantly surprised to see you slightly blush.

"You.. were thinking of me?" You asked, "The question should be, when do I not think about you?" He answered.

There was a comforting silence, before Orpheus lifted your hand up to plant a kiss on your knuckles. Just incase that the lips was something you weren't ready for yet.

"Actually, I think that the question should be.. What now?" He said softly, and you quite literally pull him into a hug. "Take one step at a time. We'll figure things out together, right?"

He smiles, returning the embrace. "Right." He pulls away for a moment, looking you in the eyes and carressing your cheek before you gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Hah.. Thank you. For everything."

Maybe confessing wasn't such a bad idea after all.

[specialagentlokitty]

Mr Evershed x student!reader - the closest to family

Hej me again. I have another request. Can you write a Evershed x Student Reader with prompt List 2024 number 27? Thank you again! Have a nice day. ☺️ - @marieamardill 💜

27: “I need a parent or guardian to sign this.” “I’m neither.” “You’re close enough, sign it.”

Looking at the letter in your hands, you looked back up at your teacher.

“Seriously?”

“I’m sorry, but we need written consent by somebody to say you can come on the trip.”

You held up the letter.

“Who the hell am I gonna get to sign it? Let me just consult the spirits of my dead parents and see if they’ll let me go on a trip.”

“(Y/N), I legally can’t let you come without the consent form, I’m sorry.” She sighed.

“Didn’t want to go on the shit trip anyway..”

You shoved the letter into your bag and you stormed out of the classroom furious.

Walking down the hallways, you barged past a few students, and you made your way to the office and threw the door open as you walked in.

“(Y/N), as energetic as ever I see. Have you had your lunch?” Mr Evershed asked.

“Not hungry.”

He looked up from his computer and he sighed softly.

“What’s wrong?”

You shrugged a little and you buried your nose into the fabric of your jumper.

“There’s a trip I want to go on..”

“Well, why don’t you? I think it would be a nice break for you anyway, there’s no reason for you not to be able to go.”

You looked at him.

“Really?”

“Well, yes, of course. You should go.”

You nodded, digging through your bag to pull the letter out and you handed it over to him.

“I need a parent or guardian to sign this.”

Reaching over, Mr Evershed took the letter giving you a sightly confused look.

“I’m neither.”

You shrugged slightly, grinning a little at him.

“You’re close enough, sign it.”

Mr Evershed looked at you, and he chuckled a little bit, grabbing a pen, signing the paper.

He held it out and when you went to take it he pulled it back making you huff a little bit.

“This doesn’t mean you get a free pass at of everything, do you understand?”

You quickly nodded your head and he handed it over to you this time.

You grinned a little and put it back in your bag.

“So, I’m really the closest thing to a guardian?”

“Well yeah, you convinced the school board and social to let me stay here, even though they don’t know I’m living on my own. You still look after me, that’s basically a guardian right?”

“Yes, thought I would still appreciate it if you found a responsible adult you could live with, a family friend or something of the sort.”

You shook your head.

“Nah, plus it’s just for another year anyway, until I can leave and get a job.”

“No college?”

“Nah, I don’t have time for that. Plus if I get a job I can buy things.”

Mr Evershed rose an eyebrow at you.

“Do you need money to buy things?”

“I have money, I can buy some things?”

“What are you living off exactly?”

Digging through your pocket, you pulled out your phone and took the back of your phone case out, putting a £20 note on the desk.

“This.”

“A week?”

“Every two weeks, but it work you know? If I don’t buy all that much, and get the cheaper stuff.”

“This isn’t enough (Y/N).”

“It’s fine sir, really, I got it all figured out.”

Mr Evershed sighed heavily, and you put your money back in your phone case and put your phone away.

Reaching under his desk, Mr Evershed pulled out a plastic bag and stood up, placing it at your feet and sat down down, going on his computer again.

You looked at the bag and opened it, looking inside to see some food, mostly canned or dry foods you could store for a long time.

“What’s this?” You asked.

“I know you feel embarrassed about going to food banks for help, so I did some shopping, this is stuff that’ll last longer, every month I’ll get you a couple of bags.”

“Why?”

“Because you need to eat, and it’ll take some stress of your shoulders.”

You smiled a little and looked at the headteacher.

“Thanks sir..”

He smiled back at you.

“If you need any more, or want something different just let me know. But you can’t tell anybody (Y/N), because if you do I’ll have to stop, and they’ll most likely put you in care.”

“I won’t, I promise. You’re the best! I’ll come get it after school!”

With that you grinned brightly and jumped up, running out of the office making him laugh slightly and shake his head.

He knew you weren’t a bad kid, you were just trying you best and you were doing great, you just need an extra helping hand here and there

[mintytealfox]

So we have Survivor Nort Decucts... And now we have Hunter Nort deducts... Put them together and what do we get?

You get a hella tragic story oh my GOSHHHH 😭😭😭😭

The set up will be: 1-Surv!Norton 1-Hunt!Norton -Then my thoughts 😏

1-Kindness: Is that an Olive Branch you just threw or... (A Good Deed: Norton, a Miner, Always visited the hospice and cared for all of the homeless old miners) 1-Shrewd 'Each step requires long-term planning' (Shrewd: An old, folded letter: Yellow and brittle. It was once abandoned in a dust corner. Signed, Benny.) -This is interesting 👀 These are both the first which automatically makes me think they are connected. I wonder if the Olive Branch thrown is from Benny? Or if its from Norton with the helping out with the people around Benny? Either way Benny ends up sending a letter to Norton. Maybe it saying something like 'want to meet up? I have stuff that might interest you' or something. Which adds to my -squinting- at Benny. Sounds like Norton was alone even though Benny was around all that time? hmmm

2-Diligence: The more effort, the more rewards? (Work Record: Norton Campbell is always the first to go down into the mines and the last to leave it.) 2-Lonely: 'The loneliness of separation must be endured on the climb up' (A coin: Stained by ash, footprints, tears, and dirt from the slums.) -Brings up the whole 'he had nobody' not even Benny vibe again -squints- Where was Benny during all of this? Seems like Norton would work and work and work so he couldn't feel or notice how alone he is. Like work was his only constant and 'friend' to keep himself from going nutty, but in the hours where work couldn't be used as a distraction he was miserable 😿Crying as he clings to what little he has...my gosh. That coin was so important to him man, I wonder if it was the last thing he got from his dad or something, cause he takes it everywhere and it pops up all the time in the trailer orz which means he never spent it just held onto it enough where you see TEAR STAINS ON IT! I CANNOT-- 😭😭😭😭

3-Efficiency: We need more trials. (A stack of Recommendation Letters: It can be seen that every one of Norton's previous employers appreciated his hard work and expressed their regret at being unable to keep him for long.) 3-Sophisticated 'wear a mask for the sake of survival' (A note on the back: What a detestable Person! Wagging his tail like a dog in front of the overseer!) -This one I can’t quite grasp yet -squints- is this referring to the back of the letter from Benny? Why write that there? Is Benny talking smack about Norton being so good at wearing a mask and pleasing the employers? Or is Norton talking smack about himself? Or is Norton pissed about others doing what he is doing? Wearing a mask to just survive or what the heck? 🤣 This one is still baffling me fr fr Oh wait a min....Seems like he had to jump job from job cause employers kept needing to fire workers, unable to keep him on as an employee. Likely becoming more jaded that him working hard and being good isn't working much for him since he keeps getting let go. Then seeing some fresh faced bushy tailed worker beside him would likely piss him off lol 'Why are you acting like that we are all getting fired anyways' Yea I super don't know with this one, I am juggling so many possibilities for this one.

4-Persistence: People won't be unlucky forever, right? (1-Page Note: There are 13 items listed. The first 12 appear to be names of places, and the last one is crossed out.) 4-Willful 'Those who persist will encounter more opportunities' (A page from a diary: I found that old man's notes. Now, it belongs to the one who lives long.) -He doesn’t sound all that fond of Benny pff like there is a hint of a dig there and/or him trying to convince himself that he is going to break out of here and live. Did he decide to set a plan in motion after getting the letter from Benny? Or was it after meeting with Benny?

5-Patience: Next time... (Diary: Tomorrow, I will go to the last place recorded by the old man. If there's still nothing, then I hope he...) 5-Gloomy 'The other side of Kindness and affability' (Abandoned junk: A tattered quilt, a chisel, an unsent letter, and a small piece of wrapped and hardened white bread) -This one I don't see much of a connection other than reference to old man and then there is that QUILT that could have possibly been the one Benny had made for Norton when the Dad was still alive. 'Then I hope he...' sounds hella ominous now lol -squints- Then Is this stuff found with Benny or was it found where Norton abandoned everything? Did Norton not send a letter? Maybe he meant to go back to get his things but never got to cause of the damage the explosion deed had on his mind ah. This one also gives me more questions than answers lol

6-Courage: The more dangers, the more opportunities. (A Geological Report: Part of the tunnel had been blocked by an unidentified object. One small mistake could cause the inner structure of the mine to collapse.) 6-Greedy 'Merely retaking what the heavens owe' (A map: Several crossed-out mines and a red circle.) -I am thinking Greedy and Gloomy should switch here cause Greedy goes well with the Patience with reference to 'go to the last place recorded' BUT what the frig is that 'unidentified object' -squints- Did Norton set that up?? Was that in the red circled mine? Was the place just found like that and Norton was like -cough cough- "whatever nothing is stopping me". Is this all just setting up how Norton was willing to go anywhere to find what he is looking for? hmmmm Willing to go where no man has gone before. Smash Greed and Courage together and ya thats what you get lol A desperate dude that has nothing to loose and only to gain if this all goes right. aahh

7-Alert: You need to be more cautious. (News: Due to the use of gunpowder and detonators, the era of simple rock drilling is coming to an end. 7-Arrogant 'Only by being bolder can you challenge destiny' (Torn paper: Record the blasting's depth, distance between holes… and the amount of explosives used.) -He uhhhhh, yea he definitely ends up using explosives lol. And its interesting that he made sure that everything was measured and counted in every way. Bro knew what he was doing 1000%. He had it all down to the second, the inch! He was careful alright, careful to make sure this goes perfect AH

8-Share: You need more helpers. (Mining Precautions: Theft of explosives is illegal and will be reported to the police once discovered.) 8-Hypocrite 'Important moments must be witnessed by companions' (A memo: Two bottles of the cheapest whine for those drunkards to wet their throats. And toss some fatty meat to the guard dog.) -BRO STOLE THE HELL OUTTA THEM EXPLOSIVES LOOOOOOOL AND HE DID IT IN THE MOST CLICHE WAY EVER AND IT WORKED IIMMMMM--LOOOOOOOOOOOOOL Like How many laws did he end up breaking by the end of all this?? LIKE GEEZZ And people are so used to him being kind and caring, none were the wiser! This Duddddeeeee!! He played the LONG GAME GOLLY

9-Wisdom: Smart people know when to hold on and when to let go. (An Accident Report: An explosion collapsed a mine on the outskirts of the city. It's suspected that the miners had mishandled the explosives, and the police expressed that there's little chance for anyone to survive) 9-Ruthless 'Exploding from deep within like an ignited explosive' (A page from a diary: Those journalists and policemen are gone. So it's just that simple?) -Bro played everything! The people, the system, the science, the math?? LIKE DUDE! If it was an accident, he wouldn't have survived. Norton had this planned to the T! Every 'i' was dotted and ever 't' was crossed, he knew he was surviving that explosion if everything went perfect like he was planning for OH MY GOSH. Bro playing chess while everyone else was LEARNING CHECKERS

10-Luck: That's only because the rest are just unlucky. (1-Page Case: Moderate burns to the face. Suspected to have been caused by direct exposure to excessive temperatures) 10-Numb 'Forget them and stay away from the dark underground' (A magnet: "Maybe it can keep me away from misfortune and darkness.") -He really didn't get much out of this did he. Like, all he got was trauma, burnt up, and a magnet. And boi is he clinging to that magnet with is all. His new coin; his new thing to cling to orz He really lies to himself a lot 😿He keeps finding out far too late that what he thought would change everything just made everything worse 🙃like yes everything changed, but changed for the worst. That tunnel vision hitting him so hard he never stops to go 'huh, this is a horrible idea, how would this possibly change my fate??' Its like he is trying so hard to convince himself that it was all worth it cause he got this crazy magnet orz gooooossshhhhhhhhhhhh Instead of using this as a wake up call it seems he is pressing on that sigma grind. Nothing like a plague doctor bird man monster to set things right LOOOOL

[miladydewintcr]

Hello! Happy Friday!! I'm here for DADWC ☺️

Prompting for Eleri Tabris: your OC talking about your favorite quest!

- asexualtabris 💜

Thank you, I had so much fun with this one!! My opinions on the other main quests in DAO bounce around a lot depending on my mood, but I am always always so excited for the Landsmeet!! So here are some letters between Eleri and Anora in the aftermath of that!

(For context, Eleri spared Loghain and set up a marriage between Alistair and Anora <3)

For @dadrunkwriting

Dear Warden-Commander,

Thank you once again for sparing my father’s life, despite all that he’s done to you. I am eternally in your debt.

I’m writing in hope that we might exchange ideas, so to speak. I’ll tell you how best to interact with my father, if you’ll tell me what to do about my new husband. He’s making a rather deliberate effort to avoid me, and while I don’t begrudge him the sentiment, in public at least I’d prefer we present a united front. In private, he may hate me, if he wishes. I care not.

Looking forward to your swift reply, I’m sure.

Signed,

Queen Anora Theirin

-

Dear Anora,

I’m not using your title. Titles mean nothing to me. You can just call me ‘Eleri’, if you’d prefer it.

I’d prefer-

Tips for dealing with your father would be most appreciated. I will say, I’m finding I enjoy his company far more than I thought I would. He has a surprisingly good sense of humour, and I’ve noticed we seem to come to the same judgements about most people we meet, more-or-less around about the same time. I can see why he found such success as a leader, he has excellent taste.

For Alistair- believe me when I say that he is upset with me, not you. It was a horrific thing for me to do, arranging a marriage between someone I saw as a cousin a friend and a woman practically a stranger to us both. He does, of course, hate your father, but I’d hope he of all people wouldn’t impose the sins of a parent upon their offspring.

He appreciates when you don’t take yourself too seriously. Perhaps try cracking a few jokes with him? If you’d rather take a more material route, he enjoys gifts of runestones or of little carved statuettes. Monsters, in particular, seem to be favourites.

It will take time, as I’m sure you understand, but I have faith that he will come around. He may never forgive me, but he will forgive you. You’ve done nothing wrong, after all.

- Eleri Tabris

-

Dear Ser Tabris,

Please accept my sincerest thanks! I sent a servant to the market in search of a little statuette, and she returned with a beautiful little dragon carved from jade. It cost a considerable amount, but it was worth it for the smile it coaxed from my husband. It was his first genuine smile, I think, directed at me.

For my father, I would advise you to be direct with him. He’s never been one for the polite civilities of court, and he will appreciate if you speak your mind with him instead of attempting to obfuscate your true feelings. Even if you disagree on a matter, he will still appreciate the honesty.

If you seek to win his favour with gifts, I suggest maps. He isn’t too particular about place or function- they can be outdated, covered in decorative illustrations, scrawled with notes. I’m not sure what he sees in them, but he has collected them since I was a child. Now he’s with you Wardens, he shall have to rebuild that collection from scratch.

Thank you for indulging me and providing such sound advice. I know you’re an incredibly busy woman.

Signed,

Queen An-

I do hope, perhaps, when all this is over, it wouldn’t be too presumptuous of me to ask if we might spend a little time together as friends? At court I am typically vastly outnumbered by men, and as such I have so few female friends. You had Alistair’s approval, once, and it seems you’ve earned my father’s. I feel we would make a good match.

Signed,

Queen Anora Theirin

-

Dear Anora,

I’m not sure what you look for in a friend, exactly. I would not fit in particularly well at court, I fear, and I’ve no interest in playing nice for noblemen.

Your father has told me stories of your childhood- nothing embarrassing, don’t panic, but I’m having a little trouble reconciling the poised, elegant queen I met in Denerim with this absolute rascal of a girl with skinned knees and mud on her skirts. If she’d like to make my acquaintance, I think perhaps I could consider a friendship.

- Eleri (Just Eleri, please, if we’re to be friends)

-

Dear Eleri (Just Eleri. Since we’re friends.),

I’ve not seen that girl in a very long time. I should think she’s bursting to get out and have some fun.

There’s a decorative lake at the estate I grew up on. With my father, legally speaking, as good as dead, the estate is now mine.

I’m not sure there’s much chance for swimming in the Denerim alienage. If you’re able, I’d love to show it to you? I spent many a summer day there catching frogs, if you can believe it.

If you cannot swim, I shall teach you.

Your friend,

Anora

-

Dear Anora,

I cannot swim. It seems a useful skill to learn, though, and I’d appreciate the lesson.

Are we likely to be attacked by vengeful frogs?

Yours,

Eleri

-

Dear Eleri,

Maker, it’s been a while since a letter drew such a laugh from me! I would hope the frog population have long forgotten my past transgressions- but if not, I shall have the Warden-Commander of Ferelden to protect me, should I not?

Your friend,

Anora

[reivrze]

hi, miyu! i just found your blog today and INSTANT FOLLOW! i'm in awe because of your beautiful writings; the way you described the scenes like in the jay one, it gave me butterflies fr 😍🦋✨️i also appreciate and love that you spent your time putting cute and aesthetically pleasing designs in each of your content, it's so cute 💓💓💓

also, i see that you are accepting requests? if it's okay with you, can i request headcanons/reactions (whichever you think is better and easier to write) of how enha would show their support when their partners want to try something new? like picking up on new hobbies such as signing up for dancing classes, learning foreign languages and etc.? i'm currently picking up on a few new things myself and have been struggling to keep consistent 🤧 i hope you're having a great day and please stay safe and keep hydrated! 🙆🏻‍♀️

a/n : this is such a cute requests >.< the fact that this is my first ever request makes me so happy oml. legit called my friends bcuz i got excited ㅠㅠ i chose to go for a headcanons format since its what i find easier to do at the moment, so i hope you're satisfied :) i had a hard time coming up with what to write for heeseung and niki tbh lmao

pairing: enhypen x gender neutral!reader

genre: fluff

warnings: none really

m.list !

— heeseung would find this new interest as a way to spend more time with you, with his overload of work, he'd want to pick up on whatever you do on your free time to be able to make up for all the times he had to reschedule a date because of work. this new hobby would definitely a bonding experience for the two of you.

rest of the members under the cut !

— jay would be the type to show his full support to anything you'd like to try, he wouldn't be able to hide his admiration. if your new hobby was something you did at home, like drawing or writing, he'd sit next to you and just watch you with those lovey dovey eyes he gets around you. but he also has this need to take care of you and makes sure you're balancing self-care and working.

— jake would be slightly competitive but not in a bad way! he'd want to try whatever you were trying out or get super curious about the lessons you'd be starting or the activity you were starting. he'd ask a lot of questions, trying to involve himself as much as he could and show his full support for you :)

— sunghoon isn't the best communicator, he gets shy whenever confronted to his feelings towards you, so his way of showing support would be through little actions and gifts. if you were starting new lessons, he'd write you a little good morning letter and wish you the best for your day. you can expect flowers on the kitchen counter for you when you get back home ( AHHH MY HEART &lt;3 )

— sunoo is your BIGGEST cheerleader !! i can't stop emphasizing the fact that this boy would literally be there for you through every step of whatever you were trying. he is on a mission to not let you give up. if you were attending new classes, he'd hide little notes in your notebooks giving you motivating words. just overall your own personal cheerleader

— jungwon's love towards you sometimes translates as him basically mothering you. he's very supportive of your choices and wants you to succeed but he can't help the need to want to make sure you're doing okay. this includes him having to physically pull you away from your work to take a break and eat something, to force you into drinking the required amount of water per day, and picking you up and putting you in bed to make sure you get enough sleep.

— niki likes to pretend he's fully grown and is able to do anything so when you told him you were starting a new activity, he became overly confident and would challenge you to who could have a better result (this is if your new hobby is something like drawing). other than his slight competitiveness, he loves to see you so determined to accomplish something and would find you working adorable.

© miyu 2023 - do not copy, translate, repost or plagiarise my work anywhere !

[phoenixfangs]

tagged by @rizaposting HOLDING UR HAND AND PRESSING MY FOREHEAD AGAINST UR SHOULDER i never get tagged in these so this is fun huehue

are you named after anyone? not technically, ive asked my parents multiple times about How they came up with me and my siblings names, but they just. didnt think very hard about it. fjkdlsjfdlas. but in a way im named after my mom, because me and saturns given names start with the same letter as our moms; my younger siblings names start with the same letter as our dads. i guess me and saturn could also be named for one of my dads uncles?? our names mixed make that uncles name. but idk im not willing to believe my dad cares that much about Anyone in his family to honor their memory through our names lawl

when was the last time you cried? i think the other day watching atla, when zuko and iroh reunite before the final battle. zuko trying to stumble through an apology and thinking iroh must hate him, but iroh just without even saying anything grabbing zuko and pulling him into a tight and tearful hug... man ;_;

do you have kids? HELL NO!!!!! im barely halfway through my 20s i should be at the club. dont want kids, never wanted kids, will never want kids. i will tolerate being my nieces and nephews cool auncle when my siblings start having kids of their own, and No More, thanks

do you use sarcasm a lot? i guess so?? its hard to gauge. i feel like most of the time i speak sincerely, but i will also throw in the occasional sarcastic quip. shrugs

what sports do you play? i dont play any sports anymore, but up until high school i played softball. i was pretty good i think! pitcher and second base. also in middle/high school i was a baton twirler for band and i guess dance competitions (i have Never thought of it as 'dance' but i guess technically i was dancing... blegh), and im gonna count that as a sport. any activity with the possibility and probability of being hit on the head by a metal rod counts as a sport to me

what’s the first thing you notice about people? probably their height. most people are taller than me but i will make an immediate note of people who are Shorter than me

what’s your eye color? grrrreen gray? i spent a few minutes staring at my eyes trying to figure out the color but all i did was strain my eyes jfldks

scary movies or happy endings? hmmmmmm i love both. i like blood and gore and guts and evil, but i also like heartwarming fluff where everything works out. i cant decide!! it just depends on my mood hehe

any special talents? i hesitate to claim i have perfect pitch because it sounds self congratulatory, but im pretty sure i have perfect pitch lmao. i cant Identify notes by name but i can recreate pretty much any note i hear, as long as its in my range. im not a good singer though lawl i dont have the technique. in the same vein, i can recreate other noises i hear pretty well, like i taught myself how to do the perry the platypus clicking sound Thing he does just by listening to it

where were you born? texas born and raised! everyone i knew growing up was a redneck or a 'cowboy church' christian

what are your hobbies? drawing, writing fanfic oneshots or rps with friends, bideo games, rewatching the same handful of tv shows and letsplays and video essays over and over again

do you have any pets? my son, my sweet bubby, apollo :> my stupid little man, hes gonna be 3 this year i think! flame point siamese kitty, dumb as rocks, currently i think hes burrowed in the sheets on my bed taking a nappy

how tall are you? 5'2", but add a couple inches because i almost exclusively wear shoes that add height, like my Big Dyke Boots i wear every day hehe

favorite subject in school? any of my electives probably, like art and music/band. in college my favorite classes i ever took were film appreciation, screenwriting, and theatre directing (which i signed up for thinking it was film directing, but it was still so fun and interesting)

dream job? honestly?? i think anything on the set of a movie or tv show would be awesome. maybe creative consultant, so that i can interject my own ideas into other peoples projects. i tend to feel my most creative when im working Around other peoples ideas tbh. all that, or lead writer/director on my own tv show/movie/video game, if i ever feel like i can handle that pressure

GET TAGGED @applescabs @lizardyeast @cottagegay and anyone else that sees and wants to participate :>

[daybreakrising]

Upon entering the homestead, the first thing noticed would be the soft music playing through the living space, the gentle sounds of the zither being plucked filtering into the air and upon the table a bottle of Kaveh's favourite wine - at least the one that is usually out of his price range - a glass and some snacks that complement the flavour. Proof he's listening. There is no sign of Alhaitham, the man himself making himself scarce, still holed up within the Akademiya completing his tasks for the day, a rare occurance for the most part though given the state it had been left in during his tenure as Grand Sage understandable. And perhaps a little deliberate. Still the wine is the perfect temperature so it suggests meticulous thought in the execution of his schemes.

It is not only in the open living area that his signs of marking Kaveh's day linger, but in the office too. Here sits the gift, a set of seven beautifully bound books with gilded lettering down the spines, one for each continent of Teyvat, the titles of each The Architecture of _____. It had taken some work to get his hands on the complete set, particularly ones of such quality, though the lengths to which he has reached will remain unknown. A basket sits beside it, one filled with the specific brands of paper Kaveh prefers for his drafts and blueprints, the writing implements he utilises the most and the set of bath salts he's been favouring as of late. It's both a practical package and a slight push towards some self care. Tucked between the items is a simple card, one that only has his name scribed upon the front.

Kaveh,

Do not ask me how much they cost. I won't tell you. Just accept that I have used my finanicial freedom as I desire. I'll bring dinner home, should you go to Lambad's I'll leave it in the kitchen for you. Preferrably don't wake me up on return.

Many happy returns,

Alhaitham.

It is not a day he tends to celebrate with any enthusiasm, if at all. He indulges those close to him who wish to mark the day, of course, and he accepts their well wishes and their gifts with honest gratitude and delight (though insisting the latter is not necessary, of course). But he would much rather the day go on as any other - as it had for many years. There is, after all, little point to a celebration when there is no one to celebrate with.

Things are different now, of course. There will be friends to coax him away from work, to insist on buying him dinner and drinks at Lambad's, to fill the silence with love and laughter. He is gradually coming to appreciate the day a little more with each new year that passes, and it is all thanks to those he surrounds himself with.

So it is with a lingering smile that Kaveh approaches the front door of home - no longer just a house he lives in, he notes, but home - and pats down his pockets in search of his key. The smile drops instantly as he comes up empty, the keys seemingly absent upon his person - again. He will never hear the end of it from Alhaitham.

He falls back against the front door with a weary sigh, contemplating where to camp out until the scribe finishes work - and he pauses. There is... music... coming from within the house. Could it be that Alhaitham is already home? With a sudden spike of hope, he reaches for the handle, and - yes! It is unlocked!

"Before you start, yes, I lost my keys again..." He calls to the room beyond, awaiting the dry remark that will inevitably follow. When it doesn't come, he pauses in the doorway. Yes, there is music playing, but the house feels... still, devoid of presence. "Alhaitham?"

He glances about for signs of the scribe, and finds none. He does, however, spot the expensive bottle of wine on the table, sitting next to a single glass and an assortment of carefully selected snacks. Immediately, the architect feels a lump of raw emotion settle in his throat. He listens.

Although he is now certain that Alhaitham is absent, he still pads through to the office - their office - to check. The chair sits empty at the scribe's desk, the surface clear of the usual paperwork and stacks of books, signs that he is working late at the Akademiya tonight. His own desk, however, is decidedly not empty.

There is the softest of gasps at the sight of the beautifully bound and gilded books, and tentative fingers stroke the cover of the first with utmost care. He has a rather scrappy copy of the Sumeru edition on his shelf, battered and well-thumbed, pages beginning to fall loose from their bindings. How often has he uttered a desire to replace it, to own the full set? He listens.

And then there is the paper, the writing implements - even the bath salts he has raved about for the last month. All his favoured items, all things only someone who paid attention would pick up on. The lump in his throat becomes an ache in his chest - just as raw, but warm, too. It is almost too much, and he reaches for the card with eyes that sting with threatened tears. The words written upon it immediately summon a soft bark of fond laughter. It is simply so Alhaitham - blunt, to the point, seemingly devoid of any real emotion or sentiment, but Kaveh knows better.

He plucks the bath salts from the basket with a gentle smile. There is sentiment, he muses as he trails back to the living room to fetch the wine and the snacks. There is emotion.

A long soak and a glass of wine, then - the perfect premise to a quiet dinner at home. Truly, he thinks, the best way to celebrate his birthday.