#if he plays basketball i am more than willing to be his cheerleader

[satoruoo]

SIGH.

nice boys and sour hearts | satoru gojo x reader

wc: 4.6k cw: minor swearing, he refers to u as 'momma' once (its normal i promise) n i think thats about it post suguru defection, shoko typical smoking ; no established relationship b ur def more than friends

i didnt want this angst to be too intense so i made it super duper fluffy. hopes it tastes like strawberries to u cs it does in my head ; another one of those fics i whipped up to meet the weekend deadline b i’m actually proud of this one not proofread!

satoru hates arguing with you.

it bites at him; twists his heart from the inside out in such a gut-wrenching way that he can hardly stand seeing your nose wrinkle in frustration and your eyes narrow with impatience, let alone hear the words coming out of your mouth, dripping with venom and irritation directed at him. he's never been used to being on the receiving end.

it tastes sour; bitter on his tongue in a way he's never been accustomed to. his tastebuds only recognize the sweet taste of fruit syrup, powdered sugar, or warm chocolate as home; he never indulges in the bitter, like the black coffee the kid he took in seems to like so much. but he'll take the silly sour lemon drops with sweet cream in the center, only because they remind him of you. you, so sweet when you love but sour when you're annoyed, which happens to be now, in this instant.

of course, he'll tell himself he doesn't mind. that sweet and sour have always gone nicely together. like strawberry lemonade on hot summer afternoons when the both of you have had enough of being stuffed into a clammy hot classroom with your musclebrain teacher. sometimes its the three of you, maybe even the four of you if you get lucky with the pixie stick trade offering (a healthier alternative to a cigarette, you both agreed on). but nowadays, it was only ever the two of you. the bitter had chosen his own path, and tangy was locked up in the infirmary sun up to sun down.

but right now, you're upset with him. and he absolutely despises it— to him, it's abhorrent. a strong word, but it's only fitting. but he can't help it when your conversation lingers in his mind, spinning itself a web of self-doubt and hurt and anger as he slips his gym shoes off and redresses himself by the school lockers, running a hand through his hair with a forced, annoyed exhale.

it was nothing big, really. or at least, that's what he thinks. you'd been in the gym after school, watching as he messed around with the basketball, seeing how long he could go dribbling by himself with a bump of his knee there, pushing it to the floor with his hand and watching it bounce back up with mild interest. he had no one to play with, but at least the ball would come back up no matter how much he pushed it down.

it was small. barely worth fussing over.

he had already been irritated. it was hot out, because summer was coming around. sweat beaded on his neck and rolled down his chest, seeping into his shirt as he wiped his forehead and made another shoot at the hoop, landing back on his feet with a soft thud as the basketball rattled around the rusted metal ring and fell through the net for the nth time that afternoon.

a hum of approval comes from your throat, followed by a loud whistle of contentment from him as he watches the ball bounce on the floor. he hikes his sunglasses up his forehead, bringing an arm up and wiping away the sweat on his cheek with his sleeve as he turns to look at you.

"that was pretty good, yeah? i think i deserve a celebratory smooch. lay some sugar on me, momma'." he laughs, loud and arrogant. you just give him a pointed look at that, but he ignores it as a sign for something wrong and only acknowledges it as your dramatic endearment. like speeding up at the sight of a yellow light in hopes that you'll make it instead of slowing down at the warning.

his shoes made squeaking sounds on the gym floor as he made his way over to you, swiping his shades off his face and sliding them onto your forehead, nestling in your hair as he grabbed a rag from the bench and wiped the sweat from his jaw. you have his uniform jacket on your lap, the yellow button glinting in the dying sunlight filtering in through the windows, reflecting off indiscernible flecks of dust in the air.

you had watched him with quiet contentment, observing the languid way he moved, graceful like a dancer moving in water. but then, you seemed to remember something; his lips pressed into a thin line, tilted to one side in anticipation. it made you hesitate— he always knew when you were about to speak before you even opened your mouth. he had come to notice, and appreciate, little things about you like that.

"were you smoking with shoko?" you had asked him. he tilted his head, eyebrow cocked up as he made a face. "no, i wasn't. why d'ya ask?" he huffed, watching from the corner of his eye with mild disinterest as the basketball, still rolling from his previous goal, bumped into the wall. cocky as ever.

(he wouldn't even look you in the eye when you were being dead serious.)

you reach a hand into his jacket, fishing around for something in his pocket; that gets his attention. who knows what trinkets and candy wrappers he has in there? and he'd hate for you to send him to his yearly checkup early again; the nurses always try to coddle him, and he has half a mind to charge for battery. nevertheless, he almost mistakes what you pull out for a lollipop stick. but it's not— it's a cigarette; a white papery hit of cancer with a dead cherry. certainly not a wise idea to keep that in his pocket among the other very flammable wax wrappers and the occasional flower petal, but who were you to judge? you, who's lips pucker like they've just tasted lemon juice when he eyes the unlit cigarette, utterly unamused.

he knows that you know it's his; the subtle glistening of pink around the end points to the gloss on his lips; he can practically taste it on his tongue. he wonders if you'd put the cigarette to your mouth too if you could have a sample of his lipgloss; then again, you could always just ask for a lip-to-lip taste, and he'd indulge you without a second thought.

you twist the cigarette butt between your fingers so that he can see the remnants of faint strawberry pink on the edges. he just rolls his eyes with a loud huff, leaning his weight back on his heels and shoving his hands in his pant pockets.

"yeesh. you're such a goody two shoes, y'know? how come shoko's allowed to smoke 'n i'm not?" he drawls, an arrogant lilt to his voice as he sticks his lower lip out. you can see a matte spot where the gloss had been transferred to the cigarette paper. you just sigh exasperatedly (he feels like a kid when you do that) and lean forward, resting your elbows on your knees. his jacket bunches up in your lap.

you tap the cigarette to his chest a few times; it makes a soft thumping sound against the fabric, and for a moment he's grateful of the noise; it sounds just like the way his heartbeat picks up with each touch, but you don't hear it. he wonders if you ever will. maybe one day, when there isn't so much distance between you and he has the opportunity to tuck your head to his chest, right over his heart.

"it's not that i care about the lung damage, idiot. why were you smoking?" you asked, voice softening. and he absolutely hates when you do that, because it always pulls on his heartstrings and brings a flush to his face, the way you treat him. he thought that if you did it enough, he'd be sent to the doctor for heart palpitations instead of a sweet tooth.

he doesn't answer you at that. how could he tell you, when he knew all that'd result from it was a thorn in his side? you, being the rose. so beautiful but awfully prickly and unfairly sour like a lemondrop with a sweet inside. then again, he'd much rather have your interrogating care than lose you, like what had happened with the reason he was trying out smoking in the first place.

then, it happened— your voice went unbearably soft, like puffy white covers and featherlight pillows with silk covers on a saturday morning, looking out the window to see pink tulips against a cloudy blue sky as the sun streamed in. it almost made him want to clutch your hand over his chest and see if you could feel the way he was reacting. no doubt, it was filled with such patient tenderness; all-encompassing sweetness it made him want to cry. so he coughed to cover it up, averting his gaze and bringing one hand to his face to absentmindedly smooth down the strands of damp white hair hanging over his eyes.

"thinkin' about suguru again, are you?" you asked gently, tucking the cigarette back into your pocket—yours, not his—and reaching out to take his hand.

his lips parted ever so slightly, gaping like a goldfish. he knew he looked silly, and he should've been okay with that— because being vulnerable with you, out of everyone he ever knew (with maybe the exception of one) was easier than breathing; came more naturally to him than his gravitation to a challenge. the same could be said for sweets.

(maybe he'd have to re-evaluate his proclaimed taste, then. since you were more sour than sweet.)

but this time, he wasn't okay with it. it had been hard to talk about what had happened with suguru one year ago since— it formed a nasty lump in his throat, bitter like black coffee and the wrong mix of herbs. it made him feel weak. reminding him of his shortcomings, which, in his mind, shouldn't even exist in the first place. but you never had a problem ripping his problems from the shielded cavity in his gut, bringing them under the operator's light to dissect and solve like a surgeon. forget about forcing him to the doctor's— at this point, you should be the one in the white coat, not shoko. he thinks about what you'd look like with blue gloves on your delicate fingers for a moment too long.

"what's it to you?" he snaps back after what feels like three years of his life. his fingers tighten around yours for a moment before he pulls his hand away abruptly.

the frown that lingered on your face from then on had been burned into his memory.

and, well, that was his mistake. it spiraled from there— because he knew what it was to you, and he hated that. hated that you could see straight through him like a cloud blue stained glass window; without rose colored lenses like the ones he always wore (the ones he rocked, he thinks).

a crack of thunder overhead jolts him from his thoughts; he couldn't even get in there to dust the spiderwebs away before being jerked back into reality. he clicks his tongue in disappointment, watching as the skies pry themselves open and rain begin to fall in the way it only did over heavy summer showers. he wishes the sky would stop its weeping, but even the strongest has his limitations.

but it doesn't matter. he has one of those cheap plastic umbrellas he'd bought from a convenience store one day in a late march many moons ago, during the brightest blue spring of his life. and so, he didn't understand why he was lingering at the door, swinging the umbrella around his fingers by the hook on the handle, watching as the rain fell with increased fervor. there was no plastic button to keep the folds tied up, so it floundered around with each swing like a tulip bent by monsoon winds. maybe on the coast of some faraway land with windmills and fields of flowers. he wonders if he'll ever get to see the world with you someday— a fleeting thought that crumbles instantly when he conjures your pretty face in his vision, clear yet distorted like a reflection on a glazed pond, rippling water from the dragonflies that skipped over the surface.

you were definitely still angry with him, because you hadn't showed— normally, you'd walk home together. sometimes with shoko, if she didn't leave early. angry words echo in his mind, the image of your downturned lips swimming in his bright vision as he watches the rain streak down the window panes by the lockers. there's a fog settling over the grass outside that's sure to leave dew after the storm. he wonders when that'll be.

"why can't you ever take me seriously? can't you see i'm worried about you?"

"of course i can. but i don't need your damn concern!”

...

he'd been sorely mistaken, that was for sure. loosing his cool and snapping at you wasn't exactly something he took pleasure in, either way. he leans back on his heels, tapping his foot impatiently as he holds the umbrella like a cane against the floor. infinity could probably do away with the rain. another reason as to why he's not even sure why he's waiting here, or why he's holding an umbrella. perhaps to keep in case he has to offer it to some poor, shivering and cowering young maiden lost beneath the shading of a bus stop behind a curtain of rain droplets, with a charming grin and a wink.

maybe.

a shuffle behind him catches his ear; he turns his head, an unamused expression on his face as his eyes drift over the empty room to land on you. the shadows beneath your eyes are prominent, and your hair is unkempt. there are sleep lines on your face; you probably fell asleep in a classroom somewhere, which is why you delayed.

it was evident you weren't expecting to see him, though— with the way your eyes widened a little before they dropped again, nose bridge wrinkling slightly as if you'd caught the scent of something unpleasant. your eyes left his, and he felt a little disappointed as he watched them wander toward the window, where the current downpour was prominent. he didn't like the way it made his chest pang when your attention was anywhere but him, so he raised his hand lazily, tilting his head to catch your attention that he so clearly craved.

"yo. got an umbrella?" he calls, tapping the tip of his budget can on the floor. the thud is the only sound for a while as your gaze wanders back over to him; reluctant.

"no, i don't. i didn't expect it to rain so hard today." you responded quietly, stepping over to him with a small sigh. almost a little resigned, he thinks. he can't be sure, though. he never is with you. doesn't know whether to expect his candy to be sour in the center or the other way around; but maybe he likes a bit of uncertainty every once in a while. (not with you, though. if it means arguing? never with you.)

his sunglasses are hooked around the collar of your shirt. he doesn't know why it takes him so long to realize, but when he does, he has to clear his throat in an effort to hide the heat on his face and do away with the blush. "here. take mine. i don't need it," he says curtly, offering his umbrella to you. he wants to snatch the shades from your shirt, but he doesn't want anything to go wrong, so he just eyes them warily, careful not to let his gaze slip past into anything you'd be pissed at him for.

you eye him, eyes narrowed as you raise an eyebrow, but you don't protest. your fingers brush against his for a brief moment when you take it, shaking it a little before opening the door and stepping outside, opening it up. it looks like a little clear plastic mushroom cap over your head; you're short enough to constitute as the stalk in his eyes. it's a little funny, but he has to stifle the laugh bubbling on his tongue lest you think he's making a mock of you.

he follows after you, slipping past to stand at your side with his hands in his pockets. you can't help but feel a little curious despite your prolonged anger (you like holding grudges, he knows), so you sneak a glance upward to satiate your wonder. you don't expect him to look as breathtaking as he does.

the clouds are light overhead; they're not a heavy blanket of gray anymore, and a small strip of light manages to push through, shining on satoru's pale white hair. you can make out the edge of his undercut against his neck when the wind picks up a little, the color of fluffy white clouds on a lavender sunset with the sway of yellow flowers beneath an expanse of a bright sky. there's a little cat hair on the collar of his jacket; you realize with a faint flush that it must've been from when you were holding his jacket for him in the gym. somehow, the cat you have at home found its way to satoru. you hope your pet has become a matchmaking fortune teller, for the sake of your happiness.

what catches your eye the most, though, isn't the cat hair on his dark jacket or the faraway look in his misty blue eyes; it's the outline of rain water around him, a product of his infinity, you realize. he's dry underneath the downpour, and it never ceases to amaze you. it's like there's a soft glowing halo against the backdrop of tangled wires, gray walls and pale green bushes— he looks like an angel boy, school bag hooked and hanging over one shoulder.

eventually, you manage to peel your gaze away, and he notices— looks down at you, pressing his lips together and running his tongue over them. he can taste strawberry gloss.

wordlessly, you start walking. and he follows suit, rain bouncing off of him; you catch yourself sneaking glances from under the roof of your clear umbrella between raindrops that slide down the clear plastic. sometime during the walk home, he had gone off and gotten himself a drink from a nearby vending machine— the red can catches your eye, and your fingers curl around the rubber handle of the lent umbrella as you watch him drink; the bob of his adam's apple before he crushes the can up and tosses it into a nearby bush, causing a brief scattering of leaves and a downpour of collecting droplets onto the pavement.

despite the rain, the weeds between the cracks in the sidewalk still stay strong; they have deep roots. much like the way you never fail to scowl at him for littering. he catches it— of course he does. he's been praying for a sign you're not still so hopelessly angry with him that you can't even bring yourself to have a civil walk in the summer rain together. after the scowl, though, comes the smile— the one that always makes him melt in his shoes, much like the sunshine after the rain.

and there it is at last, he thinks. the hard sour coating melts away on his tongue, draining the taste of lemon to reveal a sweet, genuine center. all it takes is time. your lips curve up, and you duck your head, hiding the small bemused laugh that leaves you breathless.

"what are you laughin' at?" he huffs, glaring down at you. but there's no malice behind it— if only you could feel the wave of relief that's washed over him, a crest of white foam that leaves behind still waters reflected in the pools of sapphire in his eyes. nothing like the hit of numbing nicotine he'd shared in the shade of an alleyway with shoko earlier that day— away from the sun; away from you. hidden from both. or maybe they were the same— to him, he couldn't differentiate.

"i'm not laughing!" you protested weakly, immediately wiping the grin from your lips, and he regrets speaking up. "just.. i dunno."

you walk in silence for a little longer, content to listen to the rain lighten up overhead. satoru kicks a plastic onigiri wrapper out of the way, splashing up a puddle as a frown dampens his face when the wrapping only clings to his shoes. he's fine with getting a little grumpy if it means seeing you smile again. and even better, you laugh again— so sweet, like the chiming of bells in the wind's melody.

"please don't do that again." your voice sounds so very small when he hears it again, and he looks down at you from beneath long white lashes, the corner of his lips quirked up. the shape of them is almost cat-like, you think. he doesn't even know what you're talking about— a vague idea, at best— but he won't do it. not if it means hearing you sound so pathetically... sad. he doesn't like it. it's far too bitter for his taste. let the black betta you both used to know indulge in dark coffee and bitter cologne— he likes things sweet, like the cream surrounded by tea leaf matcha in the center of his mochi and fluttering feeling he gets when you run your hands through his hair, fluffing it up to your heart's content.

(as long as your heart is happy, his is, too.)

"i won't. happy now?" he sticks his tongue out, making a face. but you both know he means it— he hates breaking his promises to you. you smile when you look up at him again with a small nod, and he feels his knees wobble a little. he just hopes you don't notice. "sorry for lying. i just.. don't like it when you're mad at me. and you look at me like that," he mumbles under his breath, bunching up the fabric of his pants between his fingers. then, after a moment, "geez, you're so dramatic. quit carin' so much." he really hopes you don't stop, and it makes him feel like the world's biggest hypocrite. the strongest, but so weak for you.

"sorry, can't. the day you stop crushing your soda cans and littering is the day i'll stop caring, 'cus that won't be my satoru anymore." you tease. and he laughs, throwing his head back so you don't see the red that spreads across his cheeks, dusting his skin like powdered sugar on top of a strawberry crepe. he always wants to be your satoru, so he figures he'll keep littering. a few money fines here and there mean nothing to his undentable wallet, or the erratic beating of his heart, trapped against his ribcage in a feathery blooming of flowers he only gets from you and your pretty smile underneath the layer of lemony sourness.

you walk along the road for a little while longer. the rain has lightened, but it's still going— incessant, dripping from the leaves of trees and the knotted black wires overhead. he still has his infinity up, which means he can't pet the cat the two of you spot on your way back, but he's perfectly content to watch you do it. you scratch its chin, smiling at the way it purrs and nuzzles into your hand, and he wonders if he'd do the same if he was in its position.

he's lost in thought when you speak to him again, shoes splashing against murky puddles in the backdrop of a never-sleeping city; tokyo's bright skyline always makes your eyes go round with wonder. you say something, and he chuckles, warm and velvety. and then you realize what's been off with him this whole time— he doesn't have his shades on.

you slip them off the collar of your shirt, smoothing down the fabric before you reach over and attempt to nudge his arm. you don't think it'll work, because he still has his infinity up— and your sleeves are already getting spattered by rain that leaves darkened wet spots on the cotton. but to your amazement, your fingers make contact with his sleeve, and you watch in wonder as the rain actually falls— soaks into that little patch of wet fabric that you're able to feel on his arm. that he's turned his infinity off so you could touch him. you spare a glance up at him, only to find his head angled away from you. you might be hallucinating, but the tips of his ears seem red.

you don't linger on it before you're tugging on his shirt with a frown, getting him to look down at you as you unfold his glasses and offer them over to him. he takes them quickly, and you don't miss the way the rain stops falling onto his arm again, back to bouncing off the invisible shield that protects him from everything (but you, it seems). he slips his dark shades back over his eyes, obscuring oceans of pure blue that seem like they've trickled in from the purest snowcaps on the distant mountains dotted with old red tori gates and shrines with scrapped paint. but you can't stifle the smile that spreads across your lips this time— giddy and fresh and filled with youth, blossoming like sakura petals in a spring that seems so far away yet so close with his presence by your side.

you don't say anything for a while. you're content to watch the rain wash down the pavement and into the gutters, past cute little coffee shops and parks with ponds as the droplets from the sky scatter the water in part of a never-ending cycle; watering the surface of the earth and bringing life that would soon spring up as shroomcaps and fresh dew on the clean cut green grass. you wonder what satoru sees through his lenses— though, you already know. you've worn them plenty of times before, when he insists on having your perfume cling to the frame for long missions he's sent on alone, when he can't have you hold his jacket, or his hand, or scold him for sneaking a smoke when you're not watching. that, and the extra lemondrops he keeps in his pocket; gifts from you that he's fought hard for.

you're more prepared to not feel any interference of his infinity this time when you reach over, and this time you don't go for his sleeve—yanking him close to you by his hand and forcing him beneath your umbrella. you feel the way he freezes up for a moment, but his fingers fill in the gaps between your own like its the most natural thing in the world, palms pressed together in a little breathless hug that leaves no room for the humid air.

"don't waste your infinity on the rain, dumbass. you'll fry what little is left of your brain." you scold him, and he just grumbles and scoffs angrily under his breath, cursing you as he hunches over and ducks his head to fit under the umbrella to negate his height. his hair brushes against the plastic roof of the umbrella, and his lanky limbs are still awkwardly sticking out, but his fingers tighten around yours and his thumb rubs over your knuckles, still a little damp from your earlier encounter with the rain, and you can't help but smile a smile bright enough to wash away every last bit of cloud in the sky. his personal sunshine.

even though he still prefers sweet things, satoru's come to like the taste of lemondrops. sweet and sour go well together, after all. just like you and him.

its okay if it doesnt taste like anything to u as long as u enjoyed it :) thanks for reading !! my (riaki) stuff. don't repost and/or plagiarize !

[bvtbxtch]

Obsession | Eddie Munson

Day Eleven of Kinktober

Summary: Eddie's obsession with you has been fun and games - late night drives, hookups and even a couple of dates. He has seemed to cross a line as of late, marking you as his territory.

wc: ~2.5k

Pairings: Ghostface!Eddie Munson x Cheerleader!Reader

Warnings: this has to do with a serial killer and is smutty so an obvious 18+ MDNII!!! Is in order. Murder and serial killers, blood, knife play, mask play, consensual non consent at first, oral (m receiving), anal play, protected p in v sex, established relationships.

in collaboration with the amazing @darknesseddiem! stay tuned for their prompts next week!

a/n: I know I am now technically a day behind but I promise it will pick up. Today is my birthday so I will probably end up posting two stories tomorrow instead of today! I am definitely willing to turn this universe into a series if you're interested! Potential for Ghostface!reader is definitely budding!

Your ponytail flicked as you bounced on the balls of your feet. The gym was full of screaming teens, but he couldn’t be seen from the bleachers. No, you knew he was there but he wouldn’t let you know exactly where. The buzzer on the wall blared signaling a win for the tigers. All of the green and white jerseys flocked to the center of the basketball court to celebrate the win - in what Eddie thought was a barbaric and a little homoerotic show of muscles and lack of cranium. He loathed these games with all of his heart, he loathed Jason Carver - jock and sole reason Eddie’s gaggle of freshman DnD nerds were scared to walk alone down the hallways - the most. Of course his manicured smile sauntered up to you and your horde of preppy ponytails. He hated the toxic positivity second to Jason. But you were different. You and your sunshiny smile encountered Eddie underneath the bleachers, a joint in your hand and flush across your cheeks. Eddie had hid away from PE, and you were hiding from Andy Dwyer and his endless barrage of courting offers. He had laid hands on you before, and each time he would ask you out, he would get more and more aggressive. You told this to Eddie in blind confidence, the attraction and understanding between the two of you magnetic. You and Eddie were fast and strange friends, and either even odder romantically. The line was crossed after you both had snuck to the back woods lining the Harrington house during one of his bi-weekly ragers. He had drunkedly kissed you and when he backed away, you pulled him back in. You had been inseparable ever since - well understandably, save school and other social events. Eddie wasn’t dumb - you had a lot going for you and being seen with him would be social suicide. And that’s why the freckle on your glowing reputation that was Andy Dwyer needed to be wiped away.

Hawkins High was shocked at the passing of one of the basketball meatheads, of course. They found his body strung up in one of the basketball hoops, a neat puddle of blood dripping onto the hardwood below. You came running to Eddie to his picnic table, eyes wide and face pale. 

“Teddy, you’re never going to believe what happened. Oh god I feel like I’m going to throw up.” you panted. Eddie rose, expression stoic as he wrapped himself around you.

“What’s going on sweetheart?” Eddie’s voice laced with fake surprise.

“A-Andy… someone… they killed him. Like murdered him. Apparently the custodians found him flayed and stuffed into the fucking basketball hoop.” You could feel tears of horror threatening to spill through your curled lashes. You looked up at Eddie, who was surprisingly calm. He looked down at you with cold eyes.

“Well, guess he finally got what he deserved.” You pulled at the lapels on Eddie’s vest. 

“Eddie, people are saying this is an attack against the popular people. What if one of the cheerleaders is next? Wh-what if I’m next?” You whimpered. Saying these things out loud made you more scared than you thought you were. Eddie’s hands migrated down your arms to your hips and he lifted you to sit on the edge of the old wooden picnic table. 

“Listen to me. Nothing is going to happen to you. As long as I’m around, you’ll be safe. I’ll always be watching, okay?” Eddie eyed you carefully, wishing he could tell you everything so you really didn’t have to worry but it was still too soon. You would know everything in due time. You nodded your head slowly and Eddie pulled you in to kiss your trembling lip still. You heard the bell ringing in the distance and pulled away from him. 

“Shit, I gotta go to math or else Mr. Finnigan is gonna kill me.” you pouted. Eddie stepped back to let you off the table. You grabbed his cheek and pulled him in for one more kiss. You turned and hastily trudged through the field to the school, looking back at your mop headed boyfriend. His usual dopey smile was replaced with a clenched jaw. You entered the school and tried to push down the sick feeling in your gut that Eddie might know more about Andy than he let on. 

Eddie often climbed through your window late at night. Your parents didn’t approve of you dating, especially a person like Eddie Munson, but he was good to you, better than any of the jocks or preps that would be a parent’s wet dream to be introduced to. You were reminded of that again that night, when Jason Carver got too close and crossed way too many lines when he thought no one was looking. ‘His friend was dead’ he said. ‘He just needed some company,’ he said. Still no excuse to pull you in by your arm and press his lips to yours. When you pushed him off with a disgusted scoff, Jason Carver called you a prude and a tease and that you would be lucky to have him because no other guy is going to want to touch you after the shit he spreads around the school. Little did the both of you know, Jason Carver dug his own grave, not yours. 

You had your PJs on, fresh and clean from showering off the sweaty game. You cheered hard - everyone did, for a desperate distraction from the brutal murder of one of your own. You swear you could still see red blood staining the ropes of the basketball hoop. You grabbed your book, ready to forget about the day, about Jason and about Andy. Sleep was just about to take over when you heard a rapping on the window, the same secret knock you and Eddie had created, but it sounded like something like a twig or a piece of metal tapping against the window. You looked up from your book to be greeted by darkness, the familiar face of that lopsided smile not peering through your window like normal. Your brows furrowed together in confusion as you went to unlock and open your window. You stuck your head out of the window, greeted with even more confusion as you met nothing but the gray shingles on your roof. Suddenly, you felt a gloved hand on your mouth and pressure that pushed you back into your room. You tried to scream, but your breath was pulled from your chest in pure shock. You didn’t realize you had screwed your eyes shut in horrid anticipation. When you stilled against your wall, you opened your eyes to be greeted by two black holes contrasted by a stark white mask, its mouth morphing into an unnatural scream. Your breathing picked up as you realized your worst nightmare was coming true. Andy’s death was a statement and you were next.

Streams of tears fell down your face. You wanted to fight, to plead or to hide to save yourself, but you were hypnotized under the mask’s gaze. You couldn't see who was behind it, but could tell their stare was boring holes into your soul. The figure pulled out a knife from underneath the large coat they wore and you began to cry. The masked figure shushed you and you could tell the familiarity of his voice, even though in your shock, you couldn’t quite place it yet. The form ran the knife down the front of your nightshirt, eliciting goosebumps radiating from your sternum. You jerked against him, hoping to free yourself but he held your shoulder at a bruising strength and pinned you to the wall, the knife now mere inches from your throat. 

“Don’t worry doll, I’m not gonna hurt you if you just hear me out, okay?” You felt your world slow and your knees gave out at the familiarity of the voice. You gently moved your hand towards the mask and pulled it up to reveal the sweaty face you hoped wouldn’t be under the mask. Your breath heavied as you pulled the mask off all the way, revealing splats of blood across the left side of his face and scratch marks on his neck.

“What did you do, Eddie?” your voice shook.

“I was protecting you, doll. He was all over you at the game. No one touches you like that.” You felt the bile rise in your throat at the realization that this was in fact someone else’s blood on him, that the scratches on his neck were probably Carver’s last ditch efforts for his life. “I’s so sick and fucking tired of those meatheads thinking that they can just take what they want and not suffer any consequences. You aren’t just there at their disposal.” Eddie’s voice raised and there was a crazed glint in his eyes. He let go of you hastily and you flinched. Eddie’s eyes softened and his hands went to your hips just like they did the day Andy was found. 

“I meant what I said that I would never hurt you, doll. I meant that. I’m always looking out for you, that’s why I had to knock some sense into fucking Carver.”

You wanted to be scared. You wanted to run and scream but your heart swelled in your chest. The boy who stood before you proved that he would do anything to protect you. Fuck, you could probably tell him someone looked at you funny and he would take care of it. You pulled Eddie into a needy kiss.

“Thank you for telling me, and thank you for trusting me, Eds.” Your hands snaked into his large trench coat and you hooked your fingers into his belt loops. You pulled down on them and Eddie gasped out in excitement. He only hoped that you would understand, but this was above and beyond. You wanted to show him that you would do anything for him as well. You grabbed the mask out of Eddie’s hands and put it back on his face with a mischievous smile. You backed Eddie up to the foot of your bed and sat him down. You lowered yourself between his legs and undid his jeans. You could tell that Eddie was already growing hard and violently turned on. You released his hard cock from his dark denim and the mask tilted upwards in satisfaction. You lowered your mouth onto his member. Eddie’s hand flew to your hair, pulling softly. You let out a moan that vibrated through Eddie’s whole body. You bobbed and gagged until Eddie was a shaking mess underneath you, and drool was pooling at the base of his length and down to his balls. You detached your mouth from him and replaced it with your hand, pumping hard. You could hear the pants your boyfriend was making underneath the mask, they were delicious and you wished you could save his sweet sounds to play back when you were alone. You looked at the empty sockets and you placed your mouth on his heavy balls. You suckled and licked like a woman starved. 

“Fuck, baby, you take me so well.” Eddie cooed. “Do anything for you, keep fucking going” You giggled into him and rubbed your manicured hand over Eddie’s weeping tip. He hissed loudly and with a ‘fuck’, he pulled you off of him. He grabbed you by the shoulders and flipped you face down onto the bed. 

“Now as much as I want to see your face painted with my cum, I wanna make that pussy mine.” You tried to look back at him but you felt the cold point of his knife on the back of your neck. 

“You’re gonna keep your face down and that ass up for me baby. Be a good girl and show me how much you want it.” You moaned lightly at his words, your pussy already impossibly wet. You felt the knife trail down your back overtop of your night shirt. You felt Eddie flip the bottom of your shirt over your ass.

“Now, now, what on earth am I gonna do with these on?” Eddie scolded, peering down at your pink cotton panties. With a small gasp from you and a flick from the man’s wrist, your underwear were now in pieces, granting unlimited access to your sweet cunt. He plunged his middle finger into you with no warning, making you moan into your blankets. He pulled his finger out and put it into his mouth under the mask.

“Delicious baby. I can’t wait to devour you whole.” His voice was dark and muffled. He pulled the mask up so it rested on his curls. “But if I don’t fuck you right now, I am gonna fucking combust.”

“Please, Eddie, please.” 

The man spread your legs and returned the knife to the back of your neck. He pressed slightly, encouraging you to spread yourself out for him and push your head further into your sheets. You heard the crunch of foil opening. 

“You ready for me, doll?” Eddie sneered. “You gonna take me like a good girl?” You shook your head violently. Eddie grabbed his length and hissed as he ran it through your wet folds. You whined at the stretch of his fat dock pressing into you. He stretched you to the point where you had no idea how he was going to move, you were already so full. You felt the knife leave your body again and you heard a slump of Eddie removing his jacket and shirt. You looked behind you to see Eddie slowly pumping in and out of you, his soft abs tensing as he thrust. His pale skin was littered with black tattoos and spatterings of red blood. Eddie felt your tight pussy clench against him and any kind of control he was trying to maintain was gone. His grip migrated to your hips and you were sure he would leave bruises later. He burrowed into you at an unforgiving pace, making you see stars. You cried Eddie’s name out, edging him closer and closer to his release, but he was determined to make you fall apart under him. He moved his hand to rest on your ass, sending a couple of slaps to your round cheeks. 

“Eddie… I’m gonna… I-”

“Let go for me, good girl. Come on.”

Eddie’s thumb moved to tease your puckered hole that was on perfect display for him. He pushed into your tight hole up to his first knuckle and you cried out in ecstasy. Your orgasm waved over you and you shook like a leaf around him. Both of your holes had him in a vice and it sent him over the edge as well. The two of you moaned together as you worked each other through your climaxes. 

You stilled until both of your chests were done heaving. Eddie pulled himself out of you with a grunt and he stood off of your bed. You got up to face him, holding the mask’s cheeks like they were just an extension of your lover. 

“Stay the night?” you asked.

“I would love to, but can I steal a shower? Don’t wanna get your pink sheets all bloody.

taglist: @sadbitchfangirl@vintagehellfire @catcrown21@brinleighsstuff@dark-angel-is-back@lovemegood@joantje@adrenalineeerevolver@poofyloofy@aol19@anxiousobserver@filth-fiction-archive@emxxblog@eddies-acousticguitar @ali-r3n @mmunson86 @sluggzillaaa @hideoutside @kirstinjayjay @crybabyddl@keikoraven If you would like to be added to my taglist, please fill out this form and follow me!

[xianglingslesbian]

oh I'll give u a character alright: Izuki, Kiyoshi, Riko and Aomine <333 technically that's four, but what goes around comes around (I'll keep this circle of love goin forever buddy)

VICCCC ily my man <33 thank u!!! aight putting this under a cut bc it got long

Izuki

Why I like them: izuki’s just overall so amazing! he inspires me to give my best in the stuff i do, and although it sounds a bit silly i try to be a person that he’d be proud of. his puns are hilarious and well-thought-out (as a person who loves words and word jokes, i’m naturally drawn to him lol). they’re also a way to take the heat off the team, he’s so hardworking and never views obstacles as obstacles, rather as hills he must climb to find newer skies. he’s also rather clever and employs his brains to great effect when his body fails him! izuki embodies the meaning of ‘eagle’ in the truest sense - waiting to strike when the time is right and not failing when it is.

Why I don’t: *sweats* can’t really think of a reason i don’t like izuki, at all??? i guess he can overwork himself a lot and tends to keep his true emotions hidden which could lead to misunderstandings between friends (although this is totally headcanon territory lol)... i also didn’t like the ableist comment he passed on hayama (“i’m just glad you weren’t smarter than me”). but i think he can (and will!) grow from that kind of stuff, he is that kind of person so yeah no particular reason for me to dislike him at all

Favorite episode (scene if movie): how dare you make me pick s3 e8 izuki vs kasamatsu, hands down. i know its like cliche or whatever but that moment just told me so much about izuki as a character? he’s willing to do what it takes to win, he’s adaptable and dependable and he doesn’t let shit get him down ever. it’s gorgeous

Favorite season/movie: s3, he got some fantastic moments in there!! although i will say i loved the spotlighting he got in s1 in the seihō match

Favorite line: “Fear isn't a bad thing. There are some things that can only be done by cowards.” this is first of all such a nice thing to say. ‘fear is not bad’ is just... so fucking wise? keep in mind that this boy is 17, i’ve met 30 year olds who are less mature. secondly it feels like izu’s speaking from experience?? like he has a lot to be scared of, i’m sure. particularly of falling behind and being a burden to his teammates. but it’s that ‘cowardice’ that drives him to practice so so hard. that visceral terror of weighing on seirin is what pushes izuki beyond his limits - which is why here he can empathise with furi’s fear, and knows how best to employ it.

Favorite outfit: look i hate last game w/ a passion but that lil tie/shirt/hoodie thing he had going? that was literally so cute. izuki in general has a p great fashion sense but his last game outfit takes the cake <3

OTP: hyuuizu oh my god i could talk for years about them but since this post is gonna be very long i’ll refrain. just. they are perfect they are fucking perfect

Brotp: kiyoizu!! kiyoshi is izuki’s biggest enabler and i love that for him <3

Head Canon: izuki can be very very passive aggressive when he’s angry at someone/sad and gets cold and withdrawn. it’s not fun to experience but tbh if you upset him you probably deserve it

Unpopular opinion: izuki should’ve been naturally better in canon. it’s not fair to shaft him and give the ‘trier’ thing off to himuro. that being said i am p happy with who he is as a person

A wish: i want to know how izuki felt after middle school! izuki’s and riko’s backstory focuses so much on hyuuga its dumb >:( he also would’ve been demoralised but he didn’t quit bball and i would like to know his thought process!

An oh-god-please-dont-ever-happen: i. uh. i guess izu quitting basketball. because i genuinely cannot see that happening. it brings him so much joy, he should never stop cold turkey. i can imagine old man izuki hobbling about a court giving little kids pointers and making them laugh T-T

5 words to best describe them: “big brain caffeine-powered clown baby” 

My nickname for them: babyzuki/izu/shunshun

Kiyoshi

Why I like them: lots of reasons! kiyoshi is an admirable person. he’s strong, yet friendly and gentle, and he loves his team above all else, which i just find beautiful. i find his manipulative side also pretty cool, bc it shows off how multifaceted he is.

Why I don’t: this is more of a fandom reason but i really dislike how kiyoshi is always said to have had the greatest impact in hyuuga’s story. he badgered and manipulated hyuuga, and while some may argue hyuuga needed that push, it only worked bc hyuuga had had time to think about shit. he’d also been given space by riko and izuki (two integral parts of his life whom the fandom looooves to sideline for uwu kiyo//hyuu). 

Favorite episode (scene if movie): yousen match (can’t pick the episodes)! i loved the backstory we got for kiyo vs mura and i loved how kiyoshi was willing to smile and play but also refused to lose. he truly stole the show despite kagami being the one to finally take down murasakibara, it was gorgeous <3

Favorite season/movie: s2 for sure. kiyoshi wasn’t allowed to shine much after yousen imo - all the focus was on hyuuga kagami and kuroko, and to a lesser extent izuki. not complaining, but yeah

Favorite line: “Let’s go have some fun.” i know it’s kinda cliche but i do love how kiyoshi’s always thinking about playing a good game and enjoying basketball. he wants to play because he loves it and as someone who loves a sport as much as kiyoshi loves b-ball, that love is so poignant and tender

Favorite outfit: practice clothes! kiyoshi looks great in pink <3

OTP: kiyohana. hateshipping amirite ;)

Brotp: kiyohyuu! i love them as friends so so much <3

Head Canon: kiyoshi is half-iranian on his mother’s side and is muslim. i won’t say too much because i am not muslim myself, i need to do more research into this but i’ve had this headcanon for quite a while now!

Unpopular opinion: he should be bullied more for the fact that his canon power is having yaoi hands

A wish: kiyo finds something he loves as much as b-ball. he can’t canonically play at this level again, so if he found another sport/competition/anything, it’d be amazing

An oh-god-please-dont-ever-happen: he should never become demoralised. kiyoshi at heart is a dreamer, so let him dream, let him look towards tomorrow with a smile always

5 words to best describe them: “useless dreamy dumbass cheerleader clown”

My nickname for them: kiyoyo, bc my feelings about him have yo-yoed a lot lmao

Riko

Why I like them: im a lesbian, next. /j i love her because she’s so tenacious and driven. yet she’s also kind and gentle, and never loses her humanity. she cares, and she cares hard. she’s so fucking smart too like... coaching a hs basketball team at 17 against players of NBA calibre and making them win? i could never. seirin without riko is nothing.

Why I don’t: i dont like the constant slapstick of her beating up her boys. also, i dislike how the narrative forces her to act ‘feminine’ and then has the boys think of it as nothing. like first of all if someone like her offered me a kiss i would so take 100, and secondly... why is a girl’s worth so tied to her femininity? it’s awful

Favorite episode (scene if movie): her sending in furi vs kaijō, early in s3. it was an exceedingly smart move that could have only come from her knowing her players’ strengths and weaknesses intimately, and being a brilliant coach. just amazing <3

Favorite season/movie: all of them! riko has some amazing moments each season, so i can’t really pick

Favorite line: “Humans grow. Don't act like you understand when you don't even realize that!” here, riko knows and knows well that she is in her element. momoi might have the data, but riko understands adaptability and knows how to predict stuff. in that way, one can draw parallels between takao vs izuki and momoi vs riko: takao and momoi are recon experts, whereas riko and izuki are strategists. momoi uses raw data; riko manipulates the data to her advantage

Favorite outfit: idk if this is exactly an outfit but her glasses are so cute oh my gosh. (i’d kill to see her in a leather jacket tho)

OTP: rikomomo!!! i’m 100% sure that momoi’s fixation w/riko’s boobs is just... repressed lesbian sentiments. also sports girlfriends gimme

Brotp: hyuuizuriko. i hc that hyuuizu were tgt since elementary school and riko joined them in middle school so... childhood friends feels!

Head Canon: riko knows how to shoot a gun. her father owns one so it makes sense

Unpopular opinion: riko does not need to have bigger boobs in fanart. please stop sexualising a 17 year old girl

A wish: white suit riko please

An oh-god-please-dont-ever-happen: her ever leaving behind sports in any way shape or form. it’s her thing. in the same vein, she should never have to change herself or become more traditionally feminine to be ‘appealing’

5 words to best describe them: perfect perfect perfect perfect perfect

My nickname for them: ai/riri

Aomine

Why I like them: aomine is just a pure, hurting young man that deserves help. he’s passionate, and his fire died down out of no fault of his own. that fire’s reignition through kagami is one of my favorite scenes <3

Why I don’t: he’s perverted as hell and i dislike that. it plays into the ‘brutish dark-skinned pervert’ stereotype which is yikes. also i thought we were done with pervs in anime

Favorite episode (scene if movie): s2 seirin v touou when kagami enters the zone!! aomine’s finally happy and it’s so amazing to watch <3

Favorite season/movie: s2, he finally got happiness and peace of mind

Favorite line: “You’re the best!” there’s just so much of pure joy in this line. he’s so so beside himself that he finally has someone he won’t destroy. kagami sees aomine the person, and that person is so happy, it’s beautiful

Favorite outfit: the leather jacket from the finale lmaooo he looked so cute

OTP: AOKAGA BABY i could write an essay tbh

Brotp: aomomo!! theyre such good friends and bi/lesbian solidarity too!

Head Canon: aomine cannot dance. he has stepped on kagami’s feet multiple times. he has also attempted to twerk when drunk. kuroko recorded the whole thing and uses it as blackmail in case the puppy eyes and “but aomine-kun you didn’t fist bump me back” don’t work

Unpopular opinion: more a fandom thing, but you all need to stop making aomine the aggressive/possessive top/‘seme’. it’s racist as fuck

A wish: aomine goes pro. it’ll be amazing for him, a huge challenge and kagami will be there too so its a win-win ;)

An oh-god-please-dont-ever-happen: he quits again/b-ball loses its allure. aomine at heart is someone who needs passion to drive him so i just want that passion to always burn bright within him

5 words to best describe them: “bastard baby needs a hug”

My nickname for them: dai-chan, momoi rubbed off on me

[amalee]

// Shoot your shot not hoops //

Pairing: Jungkook x Reader

Genre: Fluff || college au || Basketball player au ||

Word count: 4.9k

Summary: His sole purpose was to win his final game this season, the one he’s been training far too long for. It would be so much more easier if his eyes weren’t searching for her in the crowd every five seconds.

A/N: I know nothing about basketball so please don’t come at me.

~

Tae: i hope you’re ready

Tae: i’m coming to pick your lazy ass up

Me: what makes you think I’m coming?

Me: i have hw to do

Tae: come on, tomorrow’s my last game and I want to spend it with my best friend

Me: guilt tripping me, nice

Seen at 8:55pm

You starred at your phone for a few seconds clicking the lock button afterward. Of course Taehyung would unexpectedly show up outside my apartment complex at midnight with no reason other then “I’m bored.” Your ringer had gone off startling you, displayed was Taehyung’s name. Picking up, you put him on speaker.

“Hello?”

“We’re here, hurry and come out.” You heard him say. With a sigh you got out of your sofa and deciding that sweatpants and a hoodie were good enough to present outside.

“Yeah, okay I’ll-“

“I know you’re probably still on your bed or sofa so hurry your slow ass up.”

“Jesus Taehyung quit rushing me or I’ll really stay in tonight.” You said locking your door heading towards the elevator coming to an abrupt stop hearing another person laugh through the other side of the phone.

“God Taehyung, is Kevin Copeland in your car or something?” 

“Uh, no. But Jungkook’s with me if you were wondering. Also who’s Kevin Copeland?” He asked confused.

“It’s a White Chicks reference.” You trailed. After not hearing a response from him you continued. “You know what, never mind. I’ll be there in a bit.” You said hanging up before he could reply.

Standing near the parking lot waiting for Taehyung and Jungkook to show up you noticed Jungkook’s fancy car roll up as Taehyung rolled down the window, being met face to face the first time this whole day.

"Took you long enough.” He grumbled a bit annoyed, he sat in the passenger seat while Jungkook was the one the driving. Rolling your eyes at him you got in the car.

“I had to do homework to do Tae-“

“You know you really sound like a nerd right now.” Jungkook interrupted chuckling. He probably heard what I said over the phone about his laugh.

“At least I have the decency to finish someone else’s homework.” Glancing up at Taehyung you continued, “You need to quit sending me your homework tae unless you wanna fish it out from my trash later.” You replied hearing a quiet chuckle from Jungkook.

“Tell me Jungkook, are you...perhaps still afraid of girls?” Taehyung silently laughed, cupping his mouth with his hand avoiding Jungkook’s hard stare at him.

“What are you talking about nerd?” His thumb tapping on the steering wheel had stopped noticing how your eyes were starring at his hands.

“Anyways where you guys taking me?” You asked suddenly interested noticing it wasn’t the usual path to Denny’s or iHop but than again it was Jungkook driving not Taehyung.

“Denny’s.” Taehyung replied cooling down from his laughing fit he had a few minuets ago.

“Then why the hell are we going this way? There’s a Denny’s right there.” You pointed at the window but no one was looking that direction.

“Calm down nerd, there’s one with less people since that Denny's is always packed.” Jungkook replied.

“Quit calling me a nerd, you loser.” You sighed out crossing your arms together.

“Nerd.” Jungkook said looking at the rear view mirror waiting for you to react to his words a smug smile plastered on his face as if he were proud of what he said.

“Loser.” You scowled.

“Ner-“

“Oh my god you two, shut up we’re here.” Taehyung interrupted peeling his eyes off his phone the familiar bright yellow sign displayed with the words ‘Denny’s' was seen.

~

Jungkook was right, this Denny’s was empty. There’s was only a couple customers and a few staff members seen.

“Order whatever you want, its not like any of you were willing to pay anyways.” Taehyung said eyes glued to the menu.

Your face beamed with excitement, “really?”

Taehyung slowly looked up at you with disgust as Jungkook smiled softly his eyes also glued to the menu as well.

“What are you smiling about loser?” It didn’t take Jungkook a while to reply back.

“I’m getting a free meal for Taehyung. Who wouldn’t be smiling at this?”

“Yeah, okay, whatever just don’t order too much, I’m really going broke guys.” Taehyung replied to Jungkook.

After a couple minutes passed you finally got your food. Jungkook ended up ordering the most as always.

“Are you not full? I’m dying from eating these pancakes.” I said gazing at Jungkook who continued to eat ignoring yours and Taehyung’s stare.

“Stop staring at me, it’s weird.” Jungkook finally spoke after a while, chewing slowly his cheeks puffed out from stuffing his food there. “Anyways I’m done.” He said throwing his head back stretching his arms in the air.

“Alright Taehyung, I know you want something from me, what is it?” You asked. This free meal means he defiantly wants something from you.

“What? I don’t want anything from you.” He lied, it was clear he was lying.

“Alright then, take me home loser.” standing up you waited for Jungkook and Taehyung to follow.

“Okay, okay, wait.” Taehyung panicked taking a hold of your arm preventing you from leaving.

“Can you wear my jersey?” He asked glancing up at me lips pursed together, he looks like he’s debating to continue talking.

“Is that all you wanted?” You narrowed your eyes at him.

“And sit...with the cheerleaders?” He added.

“With the cheerleaders? I think not.”

“Please, you’re my best friend and I need the support,” his lips were out pouting, with a face of disgust you pat his shoulder lightly.

“You’ll always have my support Taehyung, just not from the cheerleaders seats.”

“Please, it’s my last game and I’ve never seen you sit in front at any of my games,” he frowned.

“Fine. But I’m sitting nowhere near those cheerleaders.” Crossing your arms together heading out the doors towards Jungkook’s car. Ignoring how his face beamed with happiness and Jungkook who stood there awkwardly waiting to leave.

“Send me home Jeon.” You said with a yawn deciding to sit in front this time having Taehyung sit back, “wait, where you taking us?” My face furrowed with confusion waiting for Jungkook to reply.

“Taehyung’s house is closer in this neighborhood.”

“Ah, you’re such a confusing dude.”

“What do you mean? I’m the least complicated person in the world.”

“Just hearing you say that, assures me that you’re a complicated person.” You snickered.

“Hey, you asked me to take you home and I am, I’m just taking Taehyung home first.” He mumbled chuckling noticing how Taehyung put on his headphones to block out our bickering.

“Okay, but my place was closer to that Denny’s than Taehyung’s.”

“Don’t throw me off Nerd, I know what I’m doing and where I’m going.”

“Whatever you say loser, just don’t get lost.”

After what felt like years passed by Jungkook stopped in front of Taehyung’s apartment complex.

“See, we made it perfectly fine at Taehyung’s place.”

“Yeah, but it took you an hour when it really should’ve taken half an hour, look,” You pointed at Taehyung who was sleeping peacefully in the back, “he’s already sleeping.”

“Okay fine you win, I was lost halfway there.” He admitted.

“I told you it was the wrong way,” You ushered him out of the car, “just hurry and wake Taehyung up.”

After a couple minutes have passed Jungkook finally managed to get Taehyung to safely head in his apartment complex. He came back in the car putting his seat belt on before driving off.

“So, I heard your ex girlfriend broke up with you?”

“Yeah, like five months ago.”

“Hey that’s when we became friends, oh wow, I feel like your rebound but as a friend.”

“You are my rebound.” He stated, voice laced with flirtation.

“Shut it Jeon.” You scoffed.

“How long have you been playing basketball?” I asked another question, this time genuinely curious.

“Since middle school, I met Taehyung during tryouts.”

“Really? I don’t recall you and I going to the same middle school.”

“I moved shortly after, then in high school, I joined again.”

“What inspired you to play basketball? I mean there are so many other sports.”

“Um,” he thought for a moment before continuing to speak, “my senior, Min Yoongi really inspired me at first, I looked up to him. He was always so cool playing basketball,” he explained, “what about you? No sports?”

“Nah, never really the type to play sports. I liked volleyball and I used to play, when I was younger I’d play with Taehyung but he took interest in basketball more,” You answered. “Hmm, what about relationships? Is there someone you’re interested in?”

“Well, I have someone in mind but I don’t know if she likes me back.”

“Don’t worry, she’ll be stupid if she didn’t like you back.” You assured.

“Yeah, I guess, she doesn’t seem interested though,” he glanced at me before turning his gaze back on the road.

“So...what’s special about this girl?” You uttered out.

“She’s really cute and comfortable around me, she’s pretty open and very blunt, she’s also quite cruel towards me but that’s part of her charm,” he said with a shy smile.

“Seems like you pretty whipped for her,” You noted the way his eyes crinkled into crescent moons his dimples on display.

“I’m absolutely whipped for her,” he grinned with a soft voice, “what about you? Interested in someone?”

I pondered for a moment looking anywhere but him, “I, uh, I mean I have someone in mind, but I think he likes someone else,” I shrugged brushing it off. “Anyway. How long have you known this girl for?”

“Just a couple months,” he answered, “what about this boy? How special must this he be that you like him?”

“Quit overreacting Jeon,” You glanced over him making eye contact with each other for a split second before you turned your head away. “Keep your eyes on the road loser, you don’t wanna die before your game tomorrow.” He turned his head back with a sly smile.

“Come on, I’m waiting for you to tell me about this boy.”

Pretending to think for a moment you finally spoke, “he’s a pretty playful person and just someone fun to be around,” I snickered, “his humor isn’t dry either, I always get a good laugh from him.”

“Oh yeah? Who is it? I bet it’s Taehyung, you’re always laughing when he tells jokes.”

“What? No,” You denied, “but he’s a friend of Taehyung though, he also plays on your team.” Jungkook stayed quite nipping his lower lip.

“I think you should shoot you shot,” He replied after awhile.

“Shoot my what?”

“Your shot, you know, like confess your feelings for him.”

You laughed looking out the window, “that’s a stupid phrase.”

“But not a stupid idea,” Jungkook clicked his tongue, “I think I’ll shot my shot after the game tomorrow, it’ll be a good way to end my day.”

“Yeah? What if she rejects you? Ever thought about that loser?”

“If she does I’ll still be okay because at least I won the game,” he shrugged nonchalantly.

“What if you don’t win? Will you still do it?” You asked.

“Hmm, I doubt we’ll lose tomorrow, I’m pretty confident we’ll win.” You looked over his way with a small smile.

“You better kick their asses Jeon.”

~

“I didn’t realize there would be this much people.” You whispered setting myself in the front section sitting closer to the opposing teams side so you could get a better view of Taehyung and Jungkook playing.

Tae: Y/n where are you?

Tae: you forgot my jersey :(

Me: no I’m wearing it right now

Tae: we got new jerseys

Me: ugh tae, i’ll come right now

Tae: hurry game starts soon

Me: how come I wasn’t aware of this earlier?

Seen at 7:37pm

Confused you looked at his jersey you were wearing hurrying your steps towards the locker room.

“Goddammit Tae, you’re making me look like such a fool running on the court just to wear your jersey.” You mumbled under your breath.

He stood outside the room waving his hands at me like a happy child waving at a puppy on the sidewalk, he motioned me to walk his way as if you weren’t walking his direction in the first place.

“Here.” He said as he threw the jersey you way, landing on your face, grabbing the material.

“Wha- Taehyung it’s the same jersey I’m wearing, you really made me run across the court to wear your jersey that I’m already wearing?” You asked baffled.

“Just look at the backside. Also give your friend the one you’re wearing right now.” He whispered in my ear nudging my shoulder, signaling me to go back to my seat. The referee blew the whistle before you could say anything back.

Walking back to your seat taking Taehyung’s jersey you handed it to your friend who sat next to you.

“Taehyung wanted you to wear it.” You shrugged putting the other jersey on. It was slightly bigger than the other one otherwise wasn’t any different.

“That’s nice and all but why are you wearing Jungkook’s jersey? I thought Taehyung wanted you to wear his?” She replied slipping on the fabric over her head.

“What,” you croaked, “Jungkook’s? As in Jeon Jungkook?”

“Yeah, Jeon Jungkook, the jersey says Jeon, number 01.”

“Are you sure it says Jeon? Not Kim?”

“I think I can read four letters Y/n.” She replied taking her phone out snapping a photo, “look.”

Looking down at the phone you saw the number 01 instead of 31. “See, Y/n, it says Jeon, J E O N,” she spelt out, “you can see on the front of the jersey, the number is 01, that’s Jungkook’s number.”

You took out your phone texting Taehyung even though you knew he wasn’t going to see until it after the game.

Me: i hate you

Me: fucker

Delivered

The bell rang indicating that the game was finally starting. It started off smoothly Jungkook and Taehyung passing the ball to each other and throwing the in to hoop. The opposing team was good, they’re good at blocking, good at shooting hoops, good at defending but weren’t good working together, surly that’s an advantage to us right?

The game went on. The score was 46:48 and we were currently winning by two points.

Taehyung passed the ball to Jungkook who caught it with ease looking at my direction for a split second before the ball was stolen away from him.

“Come on Jeon. Stop getting so distracted.” You were starting to worry, they’re amazing players but so were the Tigers.

The Tigers currently had the ball, the player, same guy who took the ball away from Jungkook shot the ball and it went in. The score tying.

“Are you kidding me? He was traveling, he clearly took way more than three steps without dribbling!” You yelled ignoring the amount of people from the crowd who disagreed with me. The game went on as your heart continued to beat with every step Jungkook took. He was blocking the player who held the ball and right as he was about to shoot he’d pushed Jungkook down.

“What was that? That’s a foul! Referee you better blow your whistle right now or I’ll do it for you!” You shouted face twisting with anger catching Jungkook’s attention, his eyes met mine for the first time the night as he softly smiled, the exact same smile that night we were at Denny’s. You smiled back screaming his name giving two thumbs up.

“Go Jungkook!”

This was it. The score was tied again and Taehyung was the one who passed the ball to Jungkook. He caught the ball dribbling it in the opposite direction towards the opposing teams side.

With less then ten seconds left on the clock he searched in the crowd again our eyes locked the second time that night. He grinned turning his gaze back to the game with only three seconds on the clock he swiftly threw the ball with so much confidence and so much ease the ball was heading towards the hoop. Everything went in slow motion as he threw the ball.

And just like that, he missed the hoop.

The bell rang and the game was over. Disappointed, people left the building. You stayed back until almost everyone was gone finally deciding to go to the locker room where Jungkook and Taehyung were. You hung outside the locker room waiting for either one of them to come out. Taehyung came out first with a sad smile.

“Good game, you did amazing.” You nudged his shoulder watching as he smiled a bit.

“Thanks Y/n.” He said trying to smile again but failed to do so.

“Come here,” You pulled him into a hug, “don’t sulk too much, player 31’s waiting outside for you,” He pulled away from the hug confused, “but I’m player 31.”

“I know but who’s wearing your jersey right now Tae, go sulk to her instead.” You nudged him away from me his box smile finally returned as he rushed off outside not forgetting to wave bye to me.

You watched as boys slowly walked out of the locker room, Jungkook’s face still wasn’t visible.

“Coach, is Jungkook still in there?” You asked as he exited out the room.

“Poor kid is taking it hard on himself, I told him he can play next season but he refused to.” He answered shaking his head.

“Well, I’ll see you later then.” You said to him as he walked off. Opening the doors to the locker room you walking slowly towards Jungkook who sat on the bench playing with his fingers.

“Jungkook?” His eyes shot up at me as you walked closer towards him. He was changed into a dark gray hoodie with his hair parted in the middle. You sat next to him patting his back softly.

“I messed up, I ruined the whole game.” He whispered his head was hanging low, looking straight at the floor.

“Hey, come on, you and Taehyung basically carried your team the whole game, don’t be so hard on yourself because you missed one shot.” You comforted rubbing his back.

“Yeah, but this shot counted, and I missed.” He sighed throwing his head back groaning, “I messed everything up, I practiced so long and hard for this.”

“Come here you big baby.” You pulled him into a hug to which he gladly accepted placing his head on your shoulder.

“You all worked hard for this, I know you had a lot of pressure being the last person to shoot the ball but nobody’s dead right? You didn’t kill anyone for missing the hoop,” You reassured. He didn’t say anything for a short while before you decided to speak again.

“Do you wanna go on a date with me?” You asked, as he pulled away from the hug, looking at me with a blank stare.

“Of course,” he said with a toothy grin.

~

“Denny’s?” Jungkook snickered from the passengers seat.

“Wanna go somewhere else?” You suggested looking his way.

“No, Denny’s is great.” He looked back at me with a smile.

“Quit starting at me, it’s weird.”

“I love looking into your eyes, they give me a sense of comfort.” Jungkook informed with a soft gaze a smile spreading on your lips.

You parked the car near the entrance as Jungkook held open the door for you.

“Why thank you, I feel like a princess now,” You joked watching as Jungkook’s face beamed. “Should I call you princess now? Does that better sound than nerd?”

“I like both nicknames,” You teased with shrugged.

“A girl with taste, I love it.”

We sat down across each other not bothering to look at the menu already knowing what to order. Jungkook pat his pockets frantically, “I forgot my phone and wallet in the car can you give me your keys so I can get them?” He said voice laced with panic.

“I’ll pay.” You offered as his attention went back on me, “but I’m supposed to pay for the first date,” he pouted scrunching his nose.

“Fine, go get your phone and wallet.” You let in throwing him your keys from your pocket.

“Thanks,” he caught the keys with no effort, “oh, can you order for me too, you already know my usual.” You nodded and ushered him to go. As soon as he was out of your sight you waved for a waiter.

“Hey, I found my phone but some reason couldn’t find my wall- what is this?” He pointed at the table that had things off from the kids menu.

“Just sit down, I think the waiter mixed up our order.” He followed what you said raising his hand up as the same waiter from before came over.

“Um, excuse me, I think you might’ve mixed up our orders with someone else’s.” 

“No? This kind lady ordered off from the kids menu.” She replied as Jungkook cocked his head to the side looking back at me. “Did she now?” He said trying to refrain himself from grinning. The waitress left with an awkward smile as you covered your mouth with your hand trying to hide your laugh.

“You took my wallet didn’t you?” He poked his inner cheek with his tongue glancing down at the table before fixing his eye back up at me, as you slipped his wallet out from your pocket and onto the table sliding it his way.

“Don’t worry, I already payed.”

“When I told you to order for me I didn’t expect to get this,” he laughed, “Mini corn dogs with three chicken tenders? That’s all?”

“Ah, ah, ah,” you tsked, “don’t forget your Jr. Milkshake, oh,” You gasped, “Is that your Jr. Ice cream I see.” You pointed as the waitress set it down on the table. “Thank you ma’am.” You smiled at her turning your attention back to Jungkook who had a big grin on his face. He stretched his arms over the table fingers landing on both side of my cheeks pinching them softly. “Thank you,” he said as the grin on his face made you smile.

“Ouch Jungkook, you’re pinching too hard,” You said slapping his hands away, feeling a blush form on your cheeks.

“You’re just too cute,” he replied reaching to touch them again but you slapped his hand away. “Stop it.” This time you was the one frowning.

“Okay, okay, i’m sorry, let’s eat yeah?” He said picking up his mini corn dog and popping it in his mouth. He slowed his chewing, blinking his wide doe eyes at me.

“Do you...know anything about basketball? I heard you yelling in the crowd.” Jungkook snickered recalling the memory from earlier.

“Of course I do, who do you think taught Taehyung how to play.” You defended myself.

“Oh really?” Jungkook murmured amused.

“Yeah, of course.”

“How many players in a team?” He questioned.

“What is this? A speed quiz?” 

“Just answer the question princess.” Your cheeks felt hot at the pet name he called you along with the emmbarasent from not knowing anything about basketball.

You covered my face with your hand, blocking his view of me, ignoring how wide he grinned, “nine?”

“Fifteen.” He replied smirking.

“Alright, alright, I’m uncultured, I’m sorry.” I held up my hands defensively. He replied back with a smile, dimples and all.

“Fine, what about volleyball? How many players in a team?” 

“What? Now you’re quizzing me?” I nodded waiting for a response. ”9.” He replied with full confidence.

“12. If you’re including substitutes.”

“This is why I play basketball, and you play volleyball.” He chuckled.

“Hey, do you wanna trade my ice cream for your milkshake?” He asked his doe eyes staring deep into mine.

“Nah, your ice cream is melting, also it’s called a Jr. Milkshake and Jr. Ice cream, sir, please correct yourself.” I teased grinning.

He pouted crossing his arms together, “and to think I was gonna share my melted Jr. Ice cream with you.” He corrected himself crossing his arms together feeling betrayed.

“Aren’t you such a cutie, yeah you are.” I said in a baby voice squishing his cheeks together as he scrunched his nose smiling. I let go staying silent for a while admiring him.

“Let me take you to one more place.”

~

“I love this court. I didn’t know you knew about this place.” Jungkook’s face was plastered with happiness.

“I didn’t, I just noticed it when you took me back home from Denny’s that one night.” I replied opening my back trunk which was filled with unnecessary stuff. After searching for a bit I finally found my old basketball.

“Oh cool, I didn’t know you used to play.” Jungkook nodded impressed.

“I used to play a little with Taehyung and my dad. Obviously Taehyung followed the basketball route and I didn’t.”

“That explains who Taehyung learned basketball from.” He chuckled, I sheepishly nodded passing him the ball. He examined it briefly before walking to the court. He dribbled the ball a few times before shooting it in the hoop the ball falling in smoothly.

“I wish I shot it like that at the game,” he huffed running to pick up the ball from the floor. He kept shooting hoops as I watched from afar clapping every once in a while when he made it in. He turned his head my way with a smirk and a wink before shooting again and once more made it in.

“Come play with me, I’ll be much more fun than just standing there.” Jungkook was sweating and panting hard motioning me to come to him. I walked over to where he was standing which was in the middle of the court, he threw me the basketball.

“I’m a little rusty but I’ll give it a go,” I cocked my head to the side dribbling the ball a few times before aiming the ball to where the hoop was finally throwing it. A laugh left Jungkook’s lips as the ball went over the hoop. It was nice to hear him laugh but also embarrassing.

“You know what, let me try that again.” Jungkook ran for the ball and passed it my way. Once again I swiftly threw the basketball toward the hoop, and failing to make it in as it bounced on the rim. Jungkook laughed again running for the ball throwing it to me. Try after try I continued to miss each and every time I shot at the hoop.

“Hey don’t laugh, it’s not funny.” I pouted frowning with a sigh, "I give up."

“You said you were rusty at basketball not bad at it.” Jungkook joked. I scoffed throwing him my middle finger. 

“Ha, ha very funny, now come teach me how to shoot hoops or you’ll be the new target.”

His laugh turned into a small smile as he walked over to me standing behind my figure, I realized how significantly taller he was compared to me. 

“When you hold the ball to shoot make sure your dominant hand is behind the ball and your non dominant hand on the side of it.” He placed my right hand behind the ball and my left hand on the left side of the ball, “when you shoot the ball make sure you arms are bent as well as your knees, and when you’re ready to shoot straightened them both,” I nodded slowly mentally taking notes in my head as he guided me through the steps of throwing the basketball. I followed all the advice Jungkook gave and threw the ball.

“And you missed,” he chuckled softly, “I think you’ll have a better chance shooting your shot than hoops,” Jungkook grinned passing me the ball once again.

I threw the ball straight at him the ball bounced off his arm as he groaned in pain rubbing the sore spot.

“There, I shoot my shot.” I yelled at him smiling widely. He smirked before throwing the ball back at me with a soft grunt but instead of letting it hit me I caught it.

“I shoot my shot too, I think she like me but I don’t know.” Jungkook shouted with a shrug cheekily smiling.

"Don’t worry, she does likes you back." I shouted back using the things Jungkook taught me and ignoring it all shooting at the hoop, and sure enough I made it in. Jungkook stood there with a proud smile as a loud gasp left my mouth. “Did you see that? It was amazing!”

“You’re just full of surprises today.” Jungkook said with a proud smile walking over towards me clapping his hands together.

“Shut up Jeon.” I pulled him into a tight hug looking up at him, he hugged back kissing my forehead. 

“I’m absolutely whipped for you,” he whispered. I cupped his face pressing my lips onto his, with zero hesitation he kissed back deepening the kiss, his lips were so soft, and tasted like the milkshake I shared with him earlier. We pulled away panting heavily placing our foreheads together not saying anything, just enjoying each others company. 

Jungkook snaked his arms around my figure, bending down nuzzling his head on the crook of my neck placing small kisses all over as my arms wrapped around his nape playing with the back of his hair.

“Did know Taehyung was in on all of this?” Jungkook chuckled, “actually he’s the one who planned all of this. “I never realized you were wearing my jersey until now. He told me he was gonna switch it out with his but you were already wearing his." He sheepishly laughed.

“That little fucker, I love him.” I smiled content.

“You’re such a loser Jeon,” I chuckled softly, “and i’m definitely whipped for you.” 

“Even though I lost today doesn’t mean you get to call me a loser, my pride is hurting.” He continued sprinkling pepper kisses on my neck with his arms wrapped tightly around my waist.

“At least tonight, instead of the game you won me right?” 

“Hmm..” he mumbled agreeing, “I won you.” Jungkook repeated locking eyes with me one last time that night connecting his soft lips back on mine.  

[quirkykayleetam]

Coach Daniel Wei

Check the tag #High School AU if you want to see how our other Broken Pieces characters fair in this setting.  Beth seems to be the most overwhelmingly popular.  Many thanks to @stoic-whumpee and @burtlederp for their inspiration.  Apologies, I have a lot of feelings about public school gym classes and this got long.

Coach Daniel Wei’s gym class seemed normal for the first few weeks.  Or at least, it did for most students.  The only real difference was that he joined in with the class for 80% of their exercises and dressed out when they did.  He never asked anyone to do anything he wasn’t willing to do first.

The whispers began when people started talked to the Gym Abstainers, the folks in every class who refuse to change into anything other than skinny jeans, sit on the bleachers gossiping through class, and wear their Fs with a badge of pride.  For them, the first week was anything BUT normal when, instead of ignoring them or bellowing at them, Coach Wei approached them with a smile.

“Fantastic!  I’m glad we’ve got so many folks to work with this semester.”

The group of students exchanged awkward looks as he pulled out a list.

“I get that failing gym is kind of a tried and true thing.  If that’s what you really want, fine.  But I’d rather ask you, is there any sport or other physical activity you’ve ever wanted to learn more about?”

“How about kicking your ass?” a voice from the back said to a chorus of laughs.  Daniel grinned with them.

“I’ve got more martial arts certifications than you can count.  I’d be happy to teach you, but I would caution you NOT to make that your final exam.”

The group quieted and he turned back to the paper in his hand.

“This is a list of all the sports in season right now.  I’ve talked to the coaches and they’re looking for strategists.  That means going to all the games, learning the rules inside and out, and figuring out where the teams can improve using stop action reply, statistics, basically anything we can get from the VR club.  I’ll have laptops in here starting tomorrow for anyone who is willing to give it a shot.  Any takers?”

Slowly, the list got passed around.  He got back a lot of names plus a folded note with some scrawled initials reading: “Can you really teach me martial arts.  I don’t want to fight you, but I’m really into Mortal Kombat and think it might be cool.”  Daniel smiled.

The whispers increased two weeks later when Daniel showed up to class in full army fatigues.  Sure, most of the kids new he was ex-military, but he had never gone out of his way to SHOW it before.  He gathered everyone into the bleachers.

“As you know, up until now our units have been about basic physical exercises and team sports: stretches, push-ups, basketball, that kind of thing that I’m qualified to teach.  Today, I’d like to introduce a guest speaker and teacher, Ms. Angelica Turnfeld from the School of Performing Arts.  She is here to lead us in our unit on ballet.”

Daniel gestured and a beautiful woman with chestnut brown skin and pure point shoes burst into the room.  Even on the cheap gym floor she was grace incarnate and Daniel smiled at the few gasps he heard from the bleachers.  Angelica was a performer; she knew how to make an entrance.

“Uh, so what are we gonna do while the girls work on their twirly-twirls?” Trent said flatly.  He was the star of the football team and never let anyone forget it.  Daniel just smiled.

“Good question.  You’ll be with me, working on the male parts of the routine.  I can understand if you’re hesitant--ballet takes an incredible amount of stamina, dexterity, and upper-body strength--but I think you can handle it Trent and Ms. Turnfeld is here to help us out whenever we might need a hand.  Now,” he clapped his hands and music started playing from the back of the gymnasium.  “A demonstration!”

Daniel had to concentrate with every fiber of his being through the next five minutes.  Ballet was not his strong suit, but that was fine.  He was mostly there for the lifts and to make Angelica look as amazing as possible.  By the time the music ended, he could see most of the girls looking in wonder while some of the guys were contemplating the idea of holding a beautiful women in their arms and the rest were impressed or at least resigned.

By the time class ended, a few shy girls who had yet to excel in anything else, but took dance in their spare time, lead the class.  They left with a gaggle of cheerleaders asking about their footwork.  The football players’ jaws dropped as Angelica recounted her training schedule.  Someone from the bleachers who had yet to say anything asked Daniel if they could study Angelica’s dance group for their “coaching statistics grade thing.”  Daniel kissed Angelica’s hand and smiled.

---

Then came the breaking point: Final Exam Assignments.  Instead of judging all students by the same state standards that all the athletes passed with flying colors and everyone else dreaded with stones in their stomachs, Daniel handed out what they would each be tested on in one month’s time. 

 Austin, who had extreme asthma and would likely pass out if he was forced to run the traditional mile test, was assigned weight-training exercises and research on ways to improve health other than extensive cardio.  Brittany, who could cartwheel like nobody’s business but struggled with body image, was asked to do a back-hand-spring and research how many calories professional gymnasts ate every day.  A note at the bottom of her assignment said:  You need fuel to do beautiful things and what you do is beyond beautiful.

“What is this bullshit?” Trent demanded, waving his slip in Daniel’s face.  Daniel studied it.

“I believe it says that you’ll be graded on ballet, Mr. Johnson.  I’m not looking for you to choreograph your own routine, but you should be able to do the basic forms and maybe stretch for something more advanced.”

“And how am I supposed to learn this shit?”

“Well, for starters, I wouldn’t call it ‘shit,’ but I’ll help you out.”

Daniel glanced over to where the cheerleaders were gathered, comparing assignments.

“Dana, would you mind helping Trent for a moment?”

She ran over, her brown ponytail bobbing with movement and for a moment Trent looked mildly pleased.

It didn’t last very long.

Less than ten minutes later, Dana and Trent got into a screaming match that Daniel pretended not to hear.  It ended with Dana stalking back to the bleachers to talk to her friends while Trent, naturally, headed to Daniel.

“Dana won’t help me.”

“Oh, that’s too bad.  I can get you some books from the school library tomorrow, but it really is easier to learn from someone who knows what they’re doing.”  Daniel shrugged.  “I guess you’ll just have to get by.”

Trent’s face turned white, then red, then a rather startling shade of magenta.

“Is...Isn’t she gonna get points off?  For like, not helping me, Coach?”

This time Daniel looked Trent straight in the eye.

“Do you remember our basketball unit?  When I asked you to help Austin with his free throws?  You said it would be unfair to grade you on how much be improved because his natural talent had nothing to do with you coaching him.  I thought I’d apply the same idea here.”

Trent looked away first.

“You’re welcome to try to find someone else to help you,” Daniel continued, “But knowing Dana, rumor would have spread by now that you did not treat her very well.”

Trent looked up.  The girls in the gym stared daggers back at him.  He gulped.

“Good luck, Mr. Johnson,” Daniel said, turning back to his paperwork.  “I would hate to see you get a rough grade in gym.”

After that, all Daniel had to do was watch Trent struggle and wait.  In two weeks, Kelsey, a freshman with a bit of a stutter, started correcting Trent on his forms.  He yelled at her.  She shrugged him off.  He tried her suggestions--which worked.  She looked at him until he couldn’t get the next step down and finally broke.

In three weeks, Trent himself ran up to the coach.

“Look, I get that I was being an asshole.  Can I go back to something that will really help me now?”

Daniel smiled at him.

“I just talked to your football coach, Mr. Johnson.  He says your footwork has improved immensely and he’s even more excited about your college prospects next year.  You’ve got another week and a half left.  Why don’t you see what else you can do?”

[ohsupernaturall]

Chapter 1 (Always and forever and in-between)

"To be understood is to prostitute oneself" 

— Fernando Pessoa 

Song Muse “Just the girl by the click five”

The hierarchy was something to be reckoned upon in tree hill generally and tree hill high specifically; that was the reason Nathan Royal Scott, star shooting guard for the tree hill ravens, son of the infamous loaded Dan Scott and boyfriend of the ever popular cheerleader Peyton Sawyer felt entitled. That was of course before his illegitimate half-brother Lucas turned things around, securing himself a spot in Nathan’s basketball team, and aiming for his girlfriend.

That was why he needed to bring Lucas down a notch or two, and that was where Haley James came into the picture.

Haley James was Lucas’s best friend, has been since they were eight years old, and if she weren’t Nathan probably would have never noticed- nor given her the time of day. She was an over achiever, with the best GPA in the school, a tutor to people doing less than well in school and an employee in Karen’s café- Lucas mother’s Cafe . In short, a nerd, so the idea of her and Nathan crossing paths was highly unlikely.

Until Nathan saw her with peripheral vision as he looked over at Lucas, the girl was so tiny; he felt as though she could fit into his pocket, with a smile too big for this world.

“Hey who is that girl he is always hanging out with?” Nathan asked his own best friend and sidekick Tim.

“Who knows? Why you feel like slumming?” said Tim jokingly, Nathan scrunched up his nose in mock indignation and shoved Tim playfully- as if that would ever happen.

Still his father’s words rang in his head ‘If someone isn’t on his side then they are his opponent, the only way to deal with an opponent is to identify their weaknesses and attack them’

Nathan fully intended to exploit Lucas’ weak points. He followed Tim to their next class.

###

Haley was walking out of the tutor center when she heard someone whispering her name loudly. She stopped dead in her tracks, school was deserted; students had gone home but she stayed later than usual to go through some notes, she had prepared for a D+ student she was tutoring.

“Psst, Hales!” the voice called again and she looked around.

Lucas’ head was peeking out the door of an empty classroom.

“Luke?”

“I need help” said Lucas through gritted teeth.

She moved closer “Wow! Wow! Damn it Lucas. My eyes! What happened?”

Her friend was stark naked, aside from two basketballs giving him some coverage. He looked absolutely pissed. “What do you think happened? Guess who took my clothes in the locker room?”

She sighed loudly; Nathan Scott was the epitome of scum.

“Well?”

“Well what?” Haley asked confused.

“I need clothes!”

“I would be very happy to help you Luke, but I am still wearing mine, and I don’t think they would even fit you”

“Very funny” Lucas dead-panned “just help”

He pushed himself back into the classroom and shut the door.

“So how exactly did that happen?” Haley asked fifteen minutes later, she had run to his house, grabbed something for him to wear and returned to school in record timing

“I took some extra time in the shower” Lucas explained as they walked away together “I came out and all my clothes were gone”

“Enter your savior” she said, giving a fake courtesy.

Lucas chuckled, throwing an arm around Haley. “Well, your damsel in distress is eternally grateful”

###

The tutor center was a place Nathan hasn’t gone to before, but there he was; a paper assigning Haley to be his tutor in his hand. When he signed up, there had been four other tutors available to help him, but he insisted on Haley. That way he was hitting two birds with one stone; first, he actually did need assistance with his grades, if he didn’t improve, he would end up working in his father’s dealership, and second, he would be messing with Lucas big time and that was the best part.

“Hey!” Nathan smiled sweetly as he walked through the door, moving closer to Haley didn’t make her seem any bigger.

Haley stared in what seemed to be confusion and resentment for a split second, before asking “Can I help you?”

“I hope so, you are my tutor”

She eyed him from head to foot before laughing cynically and looking away “Right! I don’t think so”

“You are Haley James, right?” He confirmed, looking down at the paper in his hand. Haley was quick to grab it, huffing in annoyance, and then she saw her name. Perfect, that was just perfect. She was already doing all she could to be a professional and not tell him off for what he was doing to Lucas.

“I am sorry” said Haley “I am best friends with Lucas”

“Well then I am sorry too” joked Nathan.

“Forget it, I will find you someone else” said Haley dismissively.

She attempted to step out when Nathan’s lean form blocked her way “Whoa! Whoa! Look! Look! There is nobody else; I would be fine with it if there was”

“If there were” corrected Haley.

“See you are helping me already”

“Look I can’t help you and on top of that I won’t help you, okay?”

Haley quickly walked away but not before spotting a confused frown crossing his face. He was flabbergasted in fact; it usually took him a much lesser dose of puppy-dog eyes to get what he wanted from a girl.

“Wait” he chased after her and had barely grabbed her arm, before she jerked it away from him, quickly he raised a hand “Sorry, sorry, look I don’t understand”

“Then you do need help, because I made myself loud and clear, I will not help you”

“But Ms. whatever her name is, told me you were available to tutor me”

“Ms. Mckee” she rolled her eyes.

“Right”

“I never said that I didn’t have time. I said I refuse to help you” she spoke every word slowly as though he were an idiot.

“Why?”

“Why?!!” she looked at him in disbelief “How about I make your life miserable in every single way possible, and then you will know why!”

“I don’t even know you”

“Yes, but I know Lucas, and I know what you did to him in the locker room”

Nathan stifled a laugh, she flared her nose “and see there it is, now, excuse me, I need to go”

“No, wait” his face turned serious “Sorry, I just…”

But she was already out the door.

Agitated by his very presence, Haley was thankful the day was over, she all but stomped her way home. He was a major-insufferable-up to no good- jerk and he had every word she said coming, strutting around like he owned the world. Figured he was Dan Scott’s son, though underneath the façade Haley could almost spot remnants of a human being, she almost felt bad; actually she felt terrible; so terrible that her heart ached. Something about him seemed so innocent, young even; she guessed that if he were to murder someone, convicting him was highly unlikely. After all who could suspect the charming boy with bright blue eyes and a coy smile?

“No” she whispered to herself.

On the other hand, Nathan was still scratching his head in confusion; never has any girl talked to him that way, even before his rapid rise to popularity, girls seemed to take an interest in him, he found that out at fourteen when a smoking hot senior, Taylor, pulled him into his room at his parent’s beach house and slept with him, he hadn’t even initiated it. In fact, as he remembered it, he was incredibly nervous, but that seemed to make him even more desirable, adding to the fact that it was also a party held in honor of him joining the varsity team; that was an epic night.

Then there was Peyton, he got to know her shortly after and they talked a lot, soon enough he asked her to be his girlfriend, and they were happy, ‘were’ being the keyword. She was too much, always irritable, cranky and melancholic, so what if he hung out with his friends? She didn’t expect him to devote every waking moment to her. As well as the fact that she was crushing on Lucas, that on its own made his blood boil, she was his girlfriend. During their latest fight they were in his car and she was acting like a total bitch, she threw a fit and decided to walk home; in a beat Nathan threw her pompoms out the window and left her on the side of the street. Sure they were alright now, as alright as it can get anyway, he likes Peyton, she is his girl and the sex is amazing but if she was going to be like that, then he didn’t need the added drama. Which brought him back to Haley, he actually felt ashamed at being scorned by her, he knew he should have retorted, but something about her demanded his respect and he was willing to give it to her; that was new.

###

“You wanted to see me, Mr. Kelly”

“Yes, please, come in Mr. Scott” the teacher peered at him over his glasses.

Nathan moved closer standing at the teacher’s desk, a test held tightly in his hand with a big ‘F’ marked boldly in red.

“So, if this is about my grade…”

“Yes, Mr. Scott, it is in fact about your grade, I assume you are aware that you need to maintain a certain grade point average to be able to participate in any athletic activities”

Nathan rolled his eyes, and spoke through gritted teeth “Yes”

“And you are falling behind, I am afraid you might not be able to play basketball anymore if you don’t turn it around”

“I know” Nathan said annoyed.

“Perhaps you could try tutoring; we have some fine students who are more than willing to help”

He didn’t attempt to even hide his sneer.

The teacher sighed and spoke softly “Listen, Nathan, I know that a young man in your position might find it embarrassing to ask for help, but it beats the alternative, that is if you want to keep your position on the team. You do want that don’t you?”

Nathan nodded briefly.

“Then I think you should go to the tutor center right away, it is the seventh room on your left” he pointed out the door. Nathan grabbed his test, and made for the door.

“If you could” Mr. Kelly interrupted, making him turn around “see if Miss Haley James is available to tutor you, she is quite promising and I am not supposed to show favoritism, but I must admit, she is the best”

Without a word, Nathan clenched his jaw and headed to the tutor center. Not only did Lucas take his spot as shooting guard on the team and his girlfriend’s affections, he was indirectly stealing his entire basketball future all together.

“Hey” Nathan walked in with a melancholic expression “I just wanted to let you know I will be fine”

“Great” responded Haley, carelessly.

“I mean F is for fine, right?”

He lifted his test briefly to show her the grade before turning around and walking away. Haley could only stare after him mouth agape in shock, she stood that way a little, before rolling her eyes and shrugging, what was she supposed to do?

“You could tutor him” a small voice in her head whispered. But she pushed that thought away quickly, it didn’t matter how sincere he looked.

###

He highly doubted that there would never be a sound that aggravated him more than his father talking to him about basketball. Nathan loved the game, the rush and the crowd’s adoration, but when it came to Dan Scott, everything between him and his son was about sports, whether it be his next game, his faulty (according to his father) techniques or how unlikely it was to beat the older man’s score from when he was in high school. Nathan was sure he could do it, but it really hurt his feelings that his dad seemed to think so little of him.

“So how did it go?” Dan Scott asked “with practice”

Nathan shrugged “I am small forward”

“And what did you do about that?”

“What do you want me to do dad?”

“I told you, I want you to eliminate the competition” Dan stated firmly.

“You mean your son?” said Nathan venomously.

“Don’t call him that”

“I am going upstairs” he said quietly, walking out of the room. His father already had too many high hopes on him being the star athlete, he would go insane if he were to know that Nathan might have to be forced to leave the team because of grades all together, that was a school rule and even Dan would have a hard time switching it around in their favor like he does.

He drew a shuddering breath as he laid down on the couch, picking up the phone, Haley’s number was inscribed on the paper where she had been assigned as his tutor, it was Karen café’s number, where she worked, she had thought it useless to use her house number since she was hardly there unless at late hours of the night when people shouldn’t even be calling. It rang a couple of times before she picked up.

“Karen’s café” she answered.

“I am calling for Haley James”

“Yeah, this is her”

“Hey! It’s Nathan Scott” he sighed, Nathan had planned to apologize for whatever he had done, and to ask her for help once again, perhaps this time she would be yielding “I really need your help”

“Sorry, this isn’t her”

She hung up the phone on him quickly, not even allowing him to get a word in edgewise. Nathan put the phone down dejected, she had turned him down too many times so far, yet, he continued allowing himself be treated like a doormat. Heck, he wasn’t proud of it but he was sure he would try again.

“What was that?” Karen, who was standing at the cash register, asked her.

“Uh, wrong number” improvised Haley.

“But you just said ‘this was her’. Did you forget your name?”

Haley chuckled softly, hoping they could avert from the subject, however she still felt Karen’s eyes bore into the back of her head.

“What’s up?”

The girl turned around, struggling to find the proper words to explain, ‘the son of your ex-husband (the one who abandoned you and your child) is asking me to tutor him, oh and by the by, he has been bullying Lucas relentlessly. However now I am on the edge of caving and agreeing to it because he has a distressed quality that is tugging on my heartstrings’ didn’t seem proper, so instead she said “This…guy… wants me to tutor him and I said no ‘cause he is kind of a bad guy”

Karen raised her eyebrows “You know him?”

Haley was silent for a beat, feeling slightly ashamed “Not really, I just know of him” she answered, avoiding Karen’s gaze, by pretending to clean the counter.

“Dangerous?” pushed Karen.

“No” said Haley, curling her lips and trying to act nonchalant, she caught Karen with a skeptical expression “What you got that look?”

“What look?” asked Karen, playing dumb.

“The look that my mom always gets when she wants to throw her two cents in, What?” replied Haley sheepishly, gesturing for an explanation.

“Well, Haley, I think you have pretty good instincts. I am not trying to tell you what to do” Which meant she was “but just to play devil’s advocate, if this boy came for tutoring, maybe he’s trying to change”

Haley opened her mouth for a second, unable to find counter words, she sighed heavily; her logic had been defeated. Karen moved closer, placed two cents on the counter and said “Might be something in there worth saving” before walking away.

They younger girl, bit her lips uncertainly, the idea of saving Nathan Scott in anyway seemed farfetched.

###

It was a beautiful day, the sun shone brighter than ever, birds were chirping, and a gentle breeze ruffled the tree leaves around her. Yet, Haley sat fuming. She had her first tutoring session with Nathan, having finally agreed to doing it the night prior, right after he kidnapped Lucas to humiliate him and throw his phone away, and she loved Luke, he was like a brother to her, even more so than her actual brothers, so after a few tears, she went over to Nathan’s house and decided to stop him once and for all; her way. When he answered the door, he was definitely surprised to see her, it even came more as a shock when she told him she would tutor him, Nathan was absolutely sure she wouldn’t after Lucas told her. So, he was more than gleeful, even readily accepting her two conditions; first, Lucas doesn’t know, and second, he leaves him alone. Both seemed like a fair price, and he was more than happy to pay. As she left, Nathan stood there watching her for a few seconds, a sincere smile on his face, she was kind of cute.

Haley had the textbooks already out as she fidgeted on the bench, most of her sessions took place in school, but due to the anonymity of the situation, she had told him to meet her at the dock, take it or leave it.

“Breakfast of champions; want some?” said Nathan as he walked up to her and placed two cups of latte and a box of cracker jack on the table.

“You are late” Haley didn’t spare him a glance as he sat down.

He tore into the box of snacks, fishing for the prize and said “Oh! Please let this be a cheat sheet”. Instead he pulled out a plastic beaded colorful bracelet, the kind she used to make with her mother and sisters when she was five. Nathan looked between her and the bracelet a few times hesitantly, then smiled shyly and declared “It’s for you”

“Stop it, it’s just…”

“Come on” he interrupted, sliding the bracelet on her hand smoothly “Don’t say I never gave you anything”

He looked too pleased with himself, and Haley grabbed a textbook “Do you see this book? Because this book is me, I am math”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he still smiled.

“It’s supposed to mean, you can work your whole, I am Nathan Scott, Mr. big shot, scoring my touchdowns on somebody else, because I don’t think..”

“I don’t even play football” he said ludicrously.

“Whatever” she replied dismissing him “at the end of the day all your bluster and BS don’t mean anything to Math, because Math don’t care and neither do I”

“Well, does English care? Because I really suck at that too”

“Please don’t waste my time” she spoke as patiently as she could muster “I am already taking a huge chance on you because my instincts are screaming that you are full of sh…”

Nathan stifled a smile, looking down and nodding his head, trying to keep on a serious mature facial expression.

“Let’s just get started, okay?” suggested Haley in the most patient way she could muster, and he smiled again, his eyes gleaming “Page 81”

No sooner had Nathan looked at the book that Haley had to stifle her own laugh, his nose scrunched up in total confusion, as he read the problem out loud, frowning deeper with each word. “A class average mark in an exam is 70. The average of students who scored below 60 is 50. The average of students who scored 60 or more is 75. If the total number of students in this class is 20, how many students scored below?”

Haley was waiting for him to finish when he looked up and said “You know if I understood any of this, we wouldn’t be here right now”

She huffed out a laugh, reaching for her pencil, as she slowly explained the problem, eliciting theories he could remember and offering up the ones he couldn’t. Turned out, Nathan was actually quite smart, just needed to understand every step before he could be convinced to answer and it only took them around half an hour before he was answering summation notation problems mostly on his own. The way his face lit up with joy, actually made her smile sincerely, as he took on another problem without her asking.

Soon enough they were talking, though at first shortly and formally on her side at least, she found he armor breaking slightly and caught herself enjoying his company, his playful attitude made her laugh a few times. After they were done, he looked up at her and smiled brightly, this time, she smiled back.

“Thank you, Haley, really.”

She nodded curtly, collecting her things “I will see you next time then”

“Whoa! Whoa! Wait” he got up hurriedly “There was no way; I could solve whatever gibberish was in that book”

Haley cocked an eyebrow “and?” she asked suspiciously.

“And I am buying you ice cream”

“Nathan…” she sighed.

“Look it isn’t just for you, I like ice-cream and we have to celebrate this milestone, plus the fact that we have been together for two hours and you haven’t screamed at me” his eyes were practically dancing and she chortled at his barely contained excitement, agreeing to one scoop before they parted ways.

“So how long have you been at tree hill high?”

“All my life” she laughed.

Nathan frowned, racking his brain; he whispered “Why can’t I remember you?”

Haley raised her eyebrows in disbelief, though still smiling “Wow! Nathan Scott didn’t know who I was? My mediocre reputation has been compromised”

He swiftly corrected “No, No, I didn’t mean it like that, I swear, I just meant that…” he caught Haley staring at him with eyes narrowed mockingly “I should just stop talking before I make a total ass of myself”

“Good idea”

They arrived at a nearby ice cream parlor in silence, she saw Nathan digging for his wallet and asking her “What do you want?”

“It’s okay, I will pay” she rolled her eyes “You already got me breakfast and the bracelet.

“Who invited who for ice-cream?” he asked bewildered.

“Fine” Haley sighed “mint chocolate chip”

“Cone?”

“Waffle”

“Excuse me, two mint chocolate chip ice-creams, waffle cones” he handed the man the money, and grabbed the cones as soon as the man scooped the ice-cream “There you go”

“Thank you” said Haley, savoring her treat, and making satisfied sounds “mmm, mint chocolate chip is heavenly”

“Yes it is” he whispered inaudibly, staring at her with a gleam in his eyes

“What are you looking at?” she snapped him out of his thoughts, jokingly, she had finished her entire cone in record timing “That is the only proper way to eat mint chocolate chip ice cream”

“You want mine” he offered, dangling half his eaten cone, in front of her face.

“Nah! it’s okay” she said, clearly wanting it.

“Here, I saved it for you”

“I couldn’t”

“I want you to have it”

He chuckled, when she grabbed it suddenly, saying a quick thank you and shoving her face in it.

They said goodbye shortly afterwards and parted ways. As Haley walked home, she felt a tiny trickle of melted ice cream on the corner of her lips, wiping it away, she caught a whiff of the earthy sandalwood scent of Nathan’s cologne, still lingering faintly on her new bracelet, she wouldn’t admit it but she smelled it all the way there, and a little after that.

[jowcerejoyce-blog]

God Wanted Me to Fail

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Ever since I was young, I have been a highly ambitious person. Whenever I set my mind to do something, I did it. When I was five years old and saw Michelle Kwan fall on the ice during the 2002 Winter Olympics, I told my parents, “I want to do that.” (Not the falling, of course, but the figure skating.) When I was in eighth grade, I made a decision to try out for high school basketball. I played JV during ninth grade and played varsity sophomore through junior year of high school. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to go to the University of Virginia. I told myself, “I’m going to be a Wahoo.” By the grace of God, He blessed me and opened the door for me to do all of those things I wanted. He gave me the greatest cheerleader parents who have always been supportive of me and my big ambitions. 

My senior year of college, I told myself that I was going to get into the McIntire School of Commerce. It was a major deciding factor for me to go to U.Va. in the first place. Then my first semester came and BOOM! Single-handedly the most challenging time of my life emotionally. I legit thought I won’t make it through the semester. It was difficult for me to describe, but I felt so overwhelmed by school and just college in general. I went on a roller coaster of emotions. I had nervous breakdowns, bad anxiety, and depression. I thought God had turned His back on me and would never forgive me for all of my disbelief in Him. I thought he rejected me. 

One of my prayers in my senior year of high school was that God would mold me and make me into a woman after His own heart. I had lived a comfortable life up until high school. It was pretty smooth sailing for me. I’m grateful for so many of God’s blessings but at the same time, I was in my comfort zone. I didn’t want God to challenge me too much. I didn’t understand that my heart was lukewarm and that challenge was what I needed to have a deeper relationship with the Lord. I was a plant in need of some serious pruning. I needed the Lord to stripe me of my pride and destroy my idols. Probably the biggest idol of mine was “my” success: academic, extracurricular, etc. I say “my” because although from a worldly perspective it was mine, it was all by the grace of God. 

It wasn’t until last week that I realized I had never prayed about going to U.Va. and about the Comm school. They were my selfish ambitions. Yes, God wanted me to go to U.Va, I do not doubt that but I didn’t see until recently that God had never intended for me to go to the Comm school. It baffled me how I studied hard and still couldn’t get the same grades my pre-Comm friends were getting. I recall a friend asking me, “Why are you struggling in Econ? Didn’t you get a 5 on your AP Calc BC exam? I didn’t even get that.” It’s funny to me that God allows us to be humbled in different ways. That is what I needed: failure. There’s a saying that “failure is the greatest teacher.” I disagree since I believe the Holy Spirit is the greatest teacher; however, I think it’s good food for thought. We learn from our failures more than our successes. 

God had been inviting me to surrender so I could truly find freedom in Him. I had been wrestling with God for years. I was refusing to submit myself and my selfish ambition and will to God. When the Holy Spirit finally opened my eyes to this sinful nature of mine and I surrendered, I felt SO liberated. God started revealing to me His will that was far greater than anything I had anticipated for myself. 

I would’ve missed out on so many of God’s blessings had I chosen my own way. If I had transferred, I would’ve met so many people I met at U.Va. or had the many experiences I have had. There are still so many people to meet and experiences that are still to be experienced! It’s amazing how God works sometimes in ways we least expect too. I have been humbled time and time again but the Lord keeps building me up again and again. I also realize how I am so much more confident as a person today than I have ever been in the past because I understand that my identity is solely in Christ. I am His precious daughter and an ambassador of JC to the world. 

I’ve switched my major too many times to count. I came in Pre-Comm and then I switched to Pre-Batten. I got waitlisted to the Batten school, which is the work of God. It’s incredible to me that I even had a chance of getting in. I praise the Lord for closing that door. Now, I can graduate a whole year early (from not even knowing I was going to finish my first semester of college) with a major in foreign affairs. Currently, I am pursuing a masters in data science at U.Va. and down the road Lord-willing, I would love to get my dual MBA/MPP degree at Darden and Batten. I am a very ambitious person but God has won my heart that all I want to do is live for Him and bring Him all the glory. May He be with me whenever I go because I go where He leads me!