#jamie works a diner job now

[scoonsalicious]

3.3 Bucky

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Fem!Reader

Summary: Lily McIntyre, trainer for new SHIELD recruits at the Avengers Tower, has been in love with her best friend, Bucky Barnes, from the moment she met him. She's been content with her role of the #1 girl in Bucky's life, even if it means she has to sabotage a romantic relationship or two. It'll be worth it when he realizes that they're meant for each other, right? There's just one small problem: Lily McIntire never expected Bucky Barnes to fall for You.

Warnings: (For this part only; see Story Masterlist for general Warnings) Language, brunch, toxic plants.

Word Count: 1.5k

Previously On...: Your coworkers warned you about the history of the Winter Soldier.

A/N: Time for Brunch!

NOTE! The tag list is a fickle bitch, so I'm not really going to be dealing with it anymore. If you want to be notified when new story parts drop, please follow @scoonsaliciousupdates

Thank you to all those who have been reading; if you like what you've read, likes, comments, and reblogs give me life, and I truly appreciate them, and you!

Bucky held the diner door open, allowing Lily to walk in first. It was a sort of tradition of theirs– brunch every other Saturday at Melinda’s, a cute little cafe about a twenty minute drive from the Compound– that they’d been doing for years now.

“I’m so glad to finally be spending some time together,” Lily said as she slid into their usual booth by the window. “I feel like it’s been ages.”

Bucky chuckled as he picked up his menu– not like he didn’t already know exactly what he was going to get: a black coffee, scrambled eggs with sausage and bacon, a plate of home fries, and a short stack of chocolate chip pancakes. “Lil, we hung out last night,” he told her.

“Last night doesn’t count,” she pouted, picking up a sugar packet from the little ceramic container on the table and beginning to play with it. 

Bucky put down the menu. “Why not?” he asked.

Before she could answer him, the waitress came to take their order. Bucky liked her– Mya; she was always friendly and put an extra pancake on the pile for him, free of charge.

“Hey there, Buck,” she greeted warmly, “Lily. Good to see you two again.”

“Hey, Mya,” Bucky replied with a dazzling smile. “How are you this morning? How’s Frankie?” Mya was a single mother, working two jobs, so Bucky always made sure to tip well and inquire about her son.

“He’s good, Buck; thanks for asking. He really appreciates the autographed Avengers picture you got for him; brought it to school for Show & Tell and everything.”

Bucky laughed good naturedly. “My pleasure,” he said. “They always make us take those dumb publicity photos; figured something good should come outta them.”

“Well, he’s very grateful, all the same,” she said with a grin. “How are–”

“I’ll take a Cobb salad, no bacon, dressing on the side, and a Diet Sprite. Thank you,” Lily interjected, smile tight.

Mya blinked a few times before replying “Yeah, sure, absolutely,” as if she hadn’t just been interrupted. She turned to Bucky. “The usual for you, Buck?” she asked.

“Yeah, please. Thanks, Mya.” Mya took their menus and, promising their food would be right out, walked away. Bucky followed her with his eyes to make sure she was well out of earshot before he turned back to Lily. “What the hell, Lil?” he asked her.

“What?” she asked, seemingly nonchalantly. “I’m hungry.”

“So, you couldn’t wait five seconds for her to finish speaking?” he asked accusingly. 

“Hey, she gets paid to serve, not to flirt,” Lily snapped. 

Bucky rolled his eyes as he leaned back. “You always think everyone’s flirting with me. We were just talking about her kid. What is with you today?”

Lily sighed and looked up at him, blue eyes turning sad. “I’m sorry– I’m just tired. I told you, I didn’t sleep well last night, and it’s making me cranky. Don’t be too mad at me, okay, Jamie?” She smiled and reached her hand across the table to grab his. “It’s your fault, after all.” She winked at him.

Bucky smiled and squeezed her hand. “I told you I was sorry,” he said. “And now I’m making it up to you by buying you brunch. Gotta take care of my best girl, right?” Lily beamed at him. 

“Right,” she agreed with a nod. “Hey, just out of curiosity, where did you end up staying last night? Did you go back to the Tower?” Though Tony Stark had moved the Avengers operation to the Compound Upstate, he still utilized the Tower for Stark Industries, and kept apartments available there for the team to use if they found themselves in the city overnight.

Bucky pulled his hand back from hers and scratched the back of his neck. Lily squinted her eyes at him, and he knew he’d just revealed a sure tell that he’d done something she’d not be pleased with. 

“Oh my god, Bucky,” Lily said angrily. “Do not tell me you stayed the night with Nat’s friend.” The way she said ‘friend,’ with her voice getting incredibly shrill at the end, had Bucky inwardly cringing. 

“Well, by the time I got her back to her place,” Bucky defended, “it was already pouring. Wouldn’t’ve been safe for me to head back in those conditions.”

Lily seemed to be mulling over his words. “I guess,” she said, after a moment. “So, what? You sleep on the couch?”

For some reason, Bucky couldn’t get the words out to tell his best friend the truth– that, no, he hadn’t slept on Major’s couch. In fact, he’d slept on her bed, but it didn’t really count, because the two of them had hardly done any sleeping at all. Instead, he just brought his coffee cup to his lips, took a long sip, and nodded.

“Good,” said Lily, seeming satisfied with his answer. “I don’t like the idea of you hanging out with her. She was a total bitch.”

Bucky frowned. He realized that the interaction between Major and Lily last night had been… tense, but he fully hadn’t expected that she would call Major a bitch and tell him she didn’t want him to spend time with her. “She was just defending herself, Lil,” he said cautiously. “You were kinda out of line with that anti-girly stuff.”

Lily gave him a wounded look. “I cannot believe you would take the side of a complete stranger over your own best friend,” she said, looking affronted. “She was incredibly rude to me.”

Mya returned then with their meals, and Bucky waited until she had walked away before continuing: “I’m not siding with anyone. I just think you should take into consideration that you were rude to her, first, Lil. She was acting defensive because you put her on the defensive.” 

“I didn’t do anything wrong!” Lily crossed her arms, pouting.

“Lil, doesn’t it bother you that you don’t have any female friends?” he asked carefully.

She scoffed. “What do I need female friends for?” she asked. “They just wanna talk about stupid girl shit and it’s dull and boring. Besides, I have you. I don’t need other friends.”

It struck Bucky then how very sad that seemed. Sure, he didn’t have many friends, himself; just Steve, Lily, Sam, and the team, but he was a 100-plus year old, formerly brainwashed, ex-assassin with PTSD and a list of issues a mile long, so it was to be expected. But Lily? Surely a young, vibrant person like her should be hanging with more people than just him?

“This was what Major was talking about,” Bucky said gently, choosing to ignore his observation for the time being. “You can think feminine things are dull, and boring, but it’s not fair of you to consider them stupid just because you don’t enjoy them. And it’s definitely not cool of you to look down on people who do.”

To Bucky’s dismay, Lily’s bottom lip began to tremble, and he feared she was going to start crying. “Why are you mad at me?” she pouted. 

Bucky felt his facial features soften as he looked at her. “I’m not mad at you, Lil. I just think that, maybe, you should reconsider your stance on some things, that’s all.”

Lily seemed to consider his words for a moment, before she broke out into a giant grin. “Okay, Jamie,” she said, digging back into her Cobb salad. “If it’ll make you happy, I’ll do better.”

Well, Bucky thought, that went better than expected.

They ate companionably for a while after that, sharing small talk and enjoying each other’s company. When it came time to leave, Bucky paid the bill, making sure to leave a little extra for Mya to make up for Lily’s earlier rudeness. 

As they were walking out, Lily interlocked her arm with his. “Do you want to do a movie night at my place tonight?” she asked. Since Lily was a member of SHIELD, and not an Avenger proper, she didn’t have an apartment at the Compound. Instead, like most of the other agents who were based there, she had a place of her own in town. Usually, Bucky relished spending time at her place, where it was quiet and far less crowded. 

But then Bucky remembered he’d asked Major out to dinner for this evening. “Shit, Lil,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck with his vibranium hand. “I can’t tonight; I’m sorry.”

“What, you abandoning me for a hot date or something?” The words were phrased as a joke, but there was an edge to her voice that told Bucky she was genuinely afraid that was why he was saying no.

He let out a forced laugh. “Of course not,” he said, immediately wondering why he was lying to her. “I just, uh, promised Sam we’d do a guys’ night. You know how he gets if he thinks people aren’t paying enough attention to him.”

Lily scoffed. “He’s such a fucking drama queen,” she said.

“Heh, yeah.” Bucky sent out a silent apology to both Major and Sam for the lie, and hoped he could get Sam to back him up on it. He had told Bucky he’d be his wingman when it came to Major, after all.

<- Previous Part / Next Part ->

[sarahvisscher]

Chapter 1

"Have a nice evening, Juul!", the manager calls out, waving from her office, when I clock out with my card to go home after a long day of work. I throw my bag over my shoulder, put my card away and wave back through the window.

The fresh air greets me when I open the doors and I sigh deeply. What a chaotic day and how much energy customers can demand from you. Fortunately, I can put everything aside. I'm just here to give people advice about the clothing and accessories we sell. It's not my dream job either, but choosing your career at this age is impossible. I always wanted to become a flight attendant, but over the years my interest has waned. I feel at home here in the store and this is fine for now.

It is still very busy in the city and the new hotspot Centrum Diner is packed. The exterior already looks so inviting with the green plants on the wall, lighting above every seating area and I haven't even been inside yet. I hear that you can order really tasty sandwiches there, so it's high time to go there. Another reason to go to this bistro is the nice boy from the motorcycle group. At least, I assume they are here, they always walk in the same direction.

Am I stalking now?

I really need to tell myself more often to stop daydreaming. I'm busy enough with my own life. Besides, I really have to hurry now, otherwise the supermarkets will close and I won't have dinner for today. I run as fast as I can to the parking lot, but when I'm almost at my car, I see a group of parked motorcycles. Are they? I look again and recognize the colors of the engines. This group drives by very often… and yes, there is the nice boy! He is wearing his black, red motorcycle suit and helmet.

The boy is tapped on the shoulder by one of his friends. He looks up from his phone and sees me staring. I quickly pull my head in the other direction and continue walking. This is so embarrassing, he saw me staring from a distance. The more I think about it, the more I blush. Maybe I should have waved? Should I have said something? No…he probably didn't see me properly.

In addition to my job in the clothing store, I also regularly look after the children Liz and Jamie. They live in the same apartment complex and the parents have asked me to babysit some evenings so that they can work extra hours or go to a restaurant. After I ate my own dinner, I went straight here. Liz and Jamie are also two big sweethearts and quite independent for their age. I love coming here and feel so much love for these sweet children. We often watch Disney movies or I read from one of their favorite books. After I put them both to bed, I have to wait until the parents come back.

I sit on the couch and open my phone. While scrolling through TikTok, one video stands out to me.

Is this the friend I saw today standing by his parked motorcycle?

Him who tapped the cute boy?

Out of curiosity I click on his profile R7_offical, I watch other videos, until he comes up on my screen. Something about men wearing helmets or masks makes them so mysterious. And I already have a huge interest in motorcycles.

I think that comes from the family. My father got his motorcycle license when I was just born, so I grew up with it quite a bit. My mother, on the other hand, is not a fan of it.

To pass the time, I made myself a cup of tea and kept scrolling on my phone. After a few minutes I hear footsteps on the other side of the front door. A key goes in the lock and the door opens. Liz and Jamie's parents are home, so my shift is over. After talking to the parents for a moment, I walk back to my own apartment, open the door and sprint straight to my bedroom. I plop down on my bed and fall asleep immediately.

__________

"That looks great on you Juul, just look in the mirror," says my best friend Lisanne. I turn to the mirror and admire the blue and white off-the-shoulder dress I'm trying on. We are shopping together and actually already have bags full, but it is never enough. In the meantime, I see Lisanne diving between the clothing racks to look for more. "You don't think it's too naked?" I ask. "No, you're crazy, it looks sexy like that!", Lisanne shouts from the store. She's right, it looks quite sexy and I already know exactly which shoes and bag I'm going to combine this with. I turn back to the mirror, but stop my head when I look through the store's display windows, I see the motorcycle group walking by and they stop at the entrance of the store.

“Oh my god,” I say out loud. Lisanne looks at me questioningly and then turns towards the shop window. At a small distance is the boy with the motorcycle group, they all wear a one-piece motorcycle suit, gloves, large motorcycle shoes and a helmet. He raises his visor, but wears a balaclava under the helmet, which puts the emphasis on his eyes. The sun shines on his face and I see his bright blue eyes sparkle.

Slowly I see him lift his arm. First he seems to raise his balaclava slightly and then he waves. He waves in my direction.. he waves at me.

Shit.. I'm staring again and this time he saw it. I wave back briefly and then quickly duck into the fitting room. What should I do? Panic sets in and I'd rather sink into the ground now. His beautiful blue eyes in my direction, his attention on me and what am I doing? I'm hiding.

"Are they gone?" I take a deep breath and step out of the fitting room, but when I look up the group has already moved on. I told her that I often see the motorcycle group passing by and suspect that they come here for a drink and then continue on the road. My head is working overtime. I want to know who that boy is.

All chapters

[readingforsanity]

Brain Damage | Freida McFadden | Published 2016 | *SPOILERS*

After years of hard work, Dr. Charly McKenna finally has it all. Prosperous career as a dermatologist? Check. Spacious apartment overlooking Central Park? Check. Handsome lawyer husband? Double check. 

Then one night, a bullet rips through the right side of her skill and she loses everything. 

As Charly struggles to recover from her brain injury, she begins to realize that the events of that fateful night are trapped in the damaged right side of her brain. Now she must put the jigsaw pieces together to discover the identity of the man who tried to kill her...before he finished the job he started. 

Charly McKenna has a seemingly perfect life. She is a successful dermatologist, helping people figure out their weird skin rashes, funguses and other things that peril people. She has an amazing two-bedroom condo overlooking Central Park, and after a few short months of dating, she is married to her gorgeous lawyer husband, Clark. 

But, everything changed when one night Charly returned home and an unknown assailant shoots her in the head, leaving her for dead. In the beginning, things aren’t looking well for Charly. She is in a near comatose state, and when she comes out of that, she has difficulty navigating things on her left side, which her rehabilitators say is called left neglect. 

Confined to a wheelchair in a hospital, Charly goes through various therapies to help her navigate her new life. Her left arm doesn’t work, and her perception of her life side is nonexistent. She strikes up friendships with Jamie, a young man with a 6 year old son, who took a tumble down the stairs that left him with a traumatic brain injury as well as Angela, who after taking birth control found a blood clot in her leg that traveled to her brain. 

Her therapists struggle with Charly as she has her good and bad days. Charly’s mother visits every day, but her husband doesn’t visit at all. Charly finds this odd, but he tells her it’s because of work at his lawyer practice. 

When a police officer visits, he tells Charly that they found the man that had shot her: he was the husband of a former patient, and after helping her with psoriosis, she ended up leaving her husband which greatly upset him. He confessed everything, and Charly, despite her shortcomings, successfully identifies him based off of pictures the detective shows her. 

And suddenly, Clark begins to visit more and more. But, slowly, Charly’s memory continues to come back to her. She remembers that prior to her accident, about two months before, she found out Clark had been cheating on her with a woman named Haley, who she considers to be much more attractive than her, before and after the shooting. After Regina, the wife of the man who shot her calls and tells her that Clark and her husband had been friends and neighbors, Charly realizes that Clark was involved. 

Jamie, her friend in the rehab center, finds Clark in her room early in the morning, and helps save Charly from disaster. Clark is arrested and confesses to being involved in the attempted murder plot. Jamie is being sent home from the rehab, and confesses that he’s in love with her but Charly can’t seem to come to terms with this fact. 

A year later, Charly is going to lunch with her best friend Bridget and her daughter, where she finds out that Bridget is pregnant with her second child. At the diner, they run into Jamie and his son Sam. Even after a year, Charly is still self-conscious despite making super strides in her recovery. Jamie is still pining over her and the two of them share a kiss, leading the readers to believe that the two of them will end up together, as Charly explains that this is the man that she’s been waiting for. 

To me, this story was incredibly different than her others. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Watching Charly struggle with her recovery, not believing in herself and refusing to believe she was going to get better, was heartbreaking. Watching her recovers lowly but surely was an amazing thing; though usually I am surprised by the twists, this book didn’t offer much in the way of many of those. I saw the culprit coming from a mile away, as many people had pointed it out to Charly throughout the novel. 

Definitely a 5/5 read! 

[percontaion-points]

Client No 5 chapters 7 & 8

This book review contains discussions of SW; reader discretion is advised

Click to see the rest of the snark & image descriptions

Chapter 7

“Let’s get all this junk off your face, shall we?” Scott said. 

“What?” 

“Your makeup. I’d like to see your actual face.”

[...]

“I’d much rather suck your cock,” I offered, hoping to dissuade him. 

He gave a half-smile but shook his head. “All in good time.”

This dude is honestly so gross. I think that he would have had a better time trying tinder or literally any other dating app. 

I know that this is supposed to be a romance novel, and thus, Ally ends up falling love with him for the HEA, but at the same time… It would honestly serve him right for intentionally crossing so many boundaries with a woman that he’s hired for sex. 

“Is Ally short for anything?” he whispered, looking into my eyes.

“No,” I lied. My full name wasn’t for clients. It was only for my family.

Honestly, she should have picked an actual working name, and not simply her nickname that even her family calls her. 

“You know who I am. What I am. I’ve never hidden that from you. You’ve paid me!” 

Suddenly I was angry. And so was he. “You hide everything from me!” he said. 

I’m sorry, but you don’t hire an escort because you want long-term companionship. You don’t get to be angry that she won’t tell you her real name or a single thing about herself. 

This isn’t romantic, it’s weird and creepy. 

I strode out of the room without waiting for his response and, as I walked through the suite, I wrapped my half-wet hair up into a tight bun. The envelope was sitting on the table where we’d left it, and I grabbed it quickly before slamming the door behind me and leaving the hotel. 

That was the end of Client Number Five.

Chapter 7 summary: In the shower, Scott says that he wants to clean all of the make-up off from Ally’s face. She protests and internally tells the readers that her make-up is a shield between Ally and Allison. 

Then she randomly starts crying, for no real reason. She’s going to take her money and leave, but Scott convinces her to stay, watch a movie, and eat ice cream with him. So they do that, and then get into the tub when they’re done.

He wipes the make-up off her face then. Then he adjusts one of the tub jets so that it hits her in the right spot and gets her off. They bang. 

Scott then gets angry that she’s “hiding things” from him, despite Ally having made it really clear that she’s not here to fulfil his “girlfriend experience”. She gets out, throws her clothes on, takes the money, reminds him that he paid for sex not a date, and leaves. 

Chapter 8

“This is going to be the best job ever!” she said.

Chapter 8 summary: The plot with Scott now on hold, we move onto the side-plot of Amy, the desk clerk at the hotel Ally talked to several chapters earlier. 

The two of them meet up at a diner as promised, and Ally answers some of her questions about SW. She calls Todd because Amy is interested in doing this instead of working at the hotel. Todd agrees so long as Ally can also test the new girl out, since he’s been getting a lot of requests for girl/girl stuff. 

Amy and Ally then go to a sex shop, where they talk about dildos and anal beads. It’s nothing but a tedious filler scene. 

When they go to Todd’s apartment, they’re kind of put off because Zach is still there. He had a date, but she cancelled at the last minute. So the three of them go to Ally’s apartment, since Jamie is out with a client. 

Amy goes down on Ally at Todd’s instructions. After getting Ally off, Todd fucks her. Amy is kind of disappointed once it’s over that she didn’t get to cum, and Ally tells her that it’s how it is when you’re in this line of work. But Ally then tells Todd that if Amy did a good job, he should help her out here. So he gets Amy off, and tells her that she’s hired. 

[ashleyoneill]

introducing ASHLEY “ASH” O’NEILL, thirty-two, manager of the white whale bed and breakfast. misquamicut resident. details under the cut. 

LONG STORY SHORT — trigger warnings: parental deaths, gambling, substance abuse. 

born in carson city, nv as the younger of two children. all the members of his family (rather staunch irish catholics) have always led small lives, and it’s expected that ashley would follow the same path. 

his mom died of a stroke when he was three, so his only real memory of a parent was through his father. his dad worked odd jobs around town and earned himself a fairly good reputation, though most days was spent at the family diner that’s been in their family for ages. 

while ashley was learning the trade of their family diner, his older brother garrett was already in a fancy schmancy high school making connections and intent on studying medicine. 

ashley didn’t have much ambition — or did not particularly care to have one. a great deal of his teenage years was spent indulging himself in petty crime, just narrowly avoiding prison time with his father’s help. 

an attempt at rehabilitation was made with his brother’s encouragement, and he moved to new york for college (while his brother went to medical school). but he fell into old paths, and found a vice befit his recklessness but disproportionate to his money and life skills — gambling. 

he dropped out of college sophomore year, but kept the illusion so his dad would keep sending money to him. that move effectively bankrupts their family, and by the time his father had seen through his web of deceit, his father had already sold off their lot and diner. 

they didn’t have much of a relationship after that. ash went back to school and finished up the rest of his degree, but none of his jobs quite stuck. he gambled, viciously, and drank just as hard. he lost as many times as he’d won, and those paltry amounts were just enough to tide him over the big apple for a couple of years. 

the news of his father’s death on the other side of the coast wracked him more than he cares to admit — and that was enough to send him down the straight and narrow for a second time. this time, he jet set off to westerly, a small rhode island city where his brother now practices medicine and lives with his wife and kids. 

he’s been managing the bed and breakfast since the start of the year, but some days are quieter than others. in that idle time, he thinks of all the ways he could leave again. there’s no telling where his restlessness takes him, but he’s determined to battle it out. 

PERSONALITY & HEADCANONS

Area Man Nostalgic For Time When Ads Targeting Him Not As Sad

cat dad, and a little more introverted than he cares to admit. 

big ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ energy most days. please bug him all you like while he sits idly at the local B&B. 

while ashley reveres his brother and is grateful for his support, i imagine his brother (just imagine a hot rich NPC doctor idk) never really warmed up to him and had always looked to him as a child. if your char has been around westerly a while, it’s likely they’ve heard his brother shit talking him over the past decade. 

QUICK STATS

zodiac: scorpio ☉ gemini ☽ libra ↑

mbti: istp (the virtuoso)

6′3″ and bi bi bi

character pegs: jimmy mcgill (better call saul), roman roy (succession), luke crain (the haunting of hill house), johnny lawrence (cobra kai), mark grayson (invincible), jamie tyrone (long day's journey into night), abel except cain just kinda kept him alive out of spite 

[kcrabb88]

Queer Movies/Books/TV Shows for Pride Month!

Happy Pride everyone!! For your viewing/reading pleasure I have made a (non-exhaustive) list of queer media that I have enjoyed! 

Movies/Documentaries

Pride (2014): An old tried and true favorite, which meets at the intersection of queer and workers’ rights. A group of queer activists support the 1985 miners’ strike in Wales (complete with a sing-through of Bread and Roses + Power in a Union)

Portrait of a Lady on Fire: On an isolated island in Brittany at the end of the eighteenth century, a female painter is obliged to paint a wedding portrait of a young woman (or, two young lesbians fall in love by the sea, and you cry)

God’s Own Country: Young farmer Johnny Saxby numbs his daily frustrations with binge drinking and casual sex, until the arrival of a Romanian migrant worker for lambing season ignites an intense relationship that sets Johnny on a new path (Seriously this movie is GREAT and doesn’t get enough love, watch it! It’s rough but ends happily)

The Half of It:  When smart but cash-strapped teen Ellie Chu agrees to write a love letter for a jock, she doesn't expect to become his friend - or fall for his crush (as in she falls for his crush who is another girl. This movie was so good, and really friendship focused!) 

Saving Face:  A Chinese-American lesbian and her traditionalist mother are reluctant to go public with secret loves that clash against cultural expectations (this is an oldie and a goodie, with a happy ending!)

Moonlight:  A young African-American man grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and burgeoning adulthood (featuring gay men of color!)

Carol:  An aspiring photographer develops an intimate relationship with an older woman in 1950s New York (everyone’s seen this I think, but I couldn’t not have it here)

Milk: The story of Harvey Milk and his struggles as an American gay activist who fought for gay rights and became California's first openly gay elected official (the speech at the end of this made me cry. Warning, of course, for death, if you don’t know about Harvey Milk)

Pride (Hulu Documentary):  A six-part documentary series chronicling the fight for LGBTQ civil rights in America (they go by decade from the 50s-2000s, and there is a lot of great trans inclusion in this)

Paris is Burning (Documentary): A 1990s documentary about the African American and Latinx ballroom scene. Available on Youtube!

A New York Christmas Wedding:  As her Christmas Eve wedding draws near, Jennifer is visited by an angel and shown what could have been if she hadn't denied her true feelings for her childhood best friend (this movie is SO CUTE. It’s really only nominally a Christmas movie and easily watched anytime. Features an interracial sapphic couple!) 

TV Shows 

Love, Victor: Victor is a new student at Creekwood High School on his own journey of self-discovery, facing challenges at home, adjusting to a new city, and struggling with his sexual orientation (this is a spin-off of Love, Simon, and it’s very sweet and well done! Featuring a young gay man of color)

Sex Education:  A teenage boy with a sex therapist mother teams up with a high school classmate to set up an underground sex therapy clinic at school (this has multiple queer characters, including a featured young Black gay man and also in season 2 there is a side ace character!) 

Black Sails: I mean, do I even need to put a summary here? If you follow me you know that Black Sails is full of queer pirates, just queers everywhere.

Gentleman Jack:  A dramatization of the life of LGBTQ+ trailblazer, voracious learner and cryptic diarist Anne Lister, who returns to Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1832, determined to transform the fate of her faded ancestral home Shibden Hall (Period drama lesbians!!! A title sequence  that will make you gay just by watching!) 

Tales of the City (2019):  A middle-aged Mary Ann returns to San Francisco and reunites with the eccentric friends she left behind. "Tales of the City" focuses primarily on the people who live in a boardinghouse turned apartment complex owned by Anna Madrigal at 28 Barbary Lane, all of whom quickly become part of what Maupin coined a "logical family". It's no longer a secret that Mrs. Madrigal is transgender. Instead, she is haunted by something from her past that has long been too painful to share (this is based on a book series and it’s got lots of great inter-generational queer relationships!) 

The Haunting of Bly Manor:  After an au pair’s tragic death, Henry hires a young American nanny to care for his orphaned niece and nephew who reside at Bly Manor with the chef Owen, groundskeeper Jamie and housekeeper, Mrs. Grose (sweet, tender, wonderful lesbians. A bittersweet ending but this show is so so wonderful)

Sense8: A group of people around the world are suddenly linked mentally, and must find a way to survive being hunted by those who see them as a threat to the world's order (queers just EVERYWHERE in this show, of all kinds)

Books

Loveless by Alice Oseman:  Georgia has never been in love, never kissed anyone, never even had a crush – but as a fanfic-obsessed romantic she’s sure she’ll find her person one day. This wise, warm and witty story of identity and self-acceptance sees Alice Oseman on towering form as Georgia and her friends discover that true love isn’t limited to romance (don’t be turned off by this title, it’s tongue-in-cheek. This is a book about an aroace college girl discovering herself and centers the importance and power of platonic relationships! I have it on my TBR and have heard great things)

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters: Reese almost had it all: a loving relationship with Amy, an apartment in New York City, a job she didn't hate. She had scraped together what previous generations of trans women could only dream of: a life of mundane, bourgeois comforts. The only thing missing was a child. But then her girlfriend, Amy, detransitioned and became Ames, and everything fell apart. Now Reese is caught in a self-destructive pattern: avoiding her loneliness by sleeping with married men.Ames isn't happy either. He thought detransitioning to live as a man would make life easier, but that decision cost him his relationship with Reese—and losing her meant losing his only family. Even though their romance is over, he longs to find a way back to her. When Ames's boss and lover, Katrina, reveals that she's pregnant with his baby—and that she's not sure whether she wants to keep it—Ames wonders if this is the chance he's been waiting for. Could the three of them form some kind of unconventional family—and raise the baby together?This provocative debut is about what happens at the emotional, messy, vulnerable corners of womanhood that platitudes and good intentions can't reach. Torrey Peters brilliantly and fearlessly navigates the most dangerous taboos around gender, sex, and relationships, gifting us a thrillingly original, witty, and deeply moving novel (again, don’t be thrown off by the title, it too, is tongue-in-cheek. This book was GREAT, and written by a trans women with a queer-and especially trans--audience in mind)

A Tip for the Hangman by Allison Epstein: A gay Christopher Marlowe, at Cambridge and trying to become England’s best new playwright, finds himself wrapped up in royal espionage schemes while also falling in love (this book is by a Twitter friend of mine, and it is a wonderful historical thriller with a gay man at the center).

Creatures of Will and Temper by Molly Tanzer: a very very queer remix of The Picture of Dorian Gray (which was already quite queer), featuring amazing female characters, a gay Basil, and a much happier ending than the original. 

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston: The gay prince of England and the bisexual, biracial first son of the president fall in love (think an AU of 2016 where a woman becomes president). Featuring a fantastic discovery of bisexuality, ruminations on grief, and just a truly astonishing book. One of my favorites!

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston:  For cynical twenty-three-year-old August, moving to New York City is supposed to prove her right: that things like magic and cinematic love stories don’t exist, and the only smart way to go through life is alone. She can’t imagine how waiting tables at a 24-hour pancake diner and moving in with too many weird roommates could possibly change that. And there’s certainly no chance of her subway commute being anything more than a daily trudge through boredom and electrical failures. But then, there’s this gorgeous girl on the train (This is Casey McQuiston’s brand new novel featuring time-travel, queer women, and I absolutely cannot WAIT to read it)

The Heiress by Molly Greely: Set in the Pride and Prejudice universe, this takes on Anne de Bourg (Lady Catherine’s daughter), and makes her queer! 

Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters:  Nan King, an oyster girl, is captivated by the music hall phenomenon Kitty Butler, a male impersonator extraordinaire treading the boards in Canterbury. Through a friend at the box office, Nan manages to visit all her shows and finally meet her heroine. Soon after, she becomes Kitty's dresser and the two head for the bright lights of Leicester Square where they begin a glittering career as music-hall stars in an all-singing and dancing double act. At the same time, behind closed doors, they admit their attraction to each other and their affair begins (Sarah Waters is the queen of historical lesbians. All of her books are good, and they’re all gay! The Paying Guests is another great one)

(On a side note re: queer books, there are MANY, these are just ones I’ve read more recently. Also there are a lot of indie/self-published writers doing great work writing queer books, so definitely support your local indie authors!) 

[ameliaxsong]

– Amelia Song –

Age: 35 Birthday: December 1st, 1987 Zodiac: Sagittarius Gender/Pronouns: Cis Female & She/Her Sexuality: Heterosexual Relationship status: Single Hometown: Seattle, Washington Occupation: Bartender at Decades Nightclub Current residence: Downtown Positive traits: Outgoing, loyal, hardworking Negative traits: Manipulative, jealous, hot-headed Face claim: Jamie Chung

Background - tw: alcoholism, drugs, death

Amelia was born and raised in Seattle to two alcoholic parents who didn’t care much for her. They ignored her a lot until they realized how great of a dancer she was. At the age of three, they put her into dancing classes. All throughout the years of dancing, she had competed in many dace competitions, ballet being her top category of dance, she collected a lot of trophies and winnings and was well known at her young age. She was a happy, determined, hard working kid and didn’t let her parents get in her way. When she was 15 years old, her parents both had too much to drink and they were driving her home when they got into a car accident, killing both of them on impact and putting Amelia immediately into foster care. Once she moved to and from foster homes, her life turned for the worse. Now 16 years old, Amelia had just moved into a foster group home for girls in Portland, Oregon and the kids at the high school constantly teased her for being a dancer…she failed classes and eventually dropped out, turning to drugs as they kept her alive. She had no positive mindset, all she wanted to do was get high and win more dance/ballet competitions.

At 18 years old, she was kicked out of the dance academy for failing multiple drug tests and not wanting to go back to the group home for girls, she decided to be homeless and found a strip club to dance at. She was a very popular stripper and many people loved her. She used her dance skills and flexibility to the test here and while she wasn’t the best in the beginning, she found herself easing more into the job as time went on. Amelia made money by stripping and nights when she wasn’t on the pole, she was bartending. She didn’t have much experience with making drinks but she was going to do anything to make money. While she was doing great with both jobs, she constantly felt ashamed of herself…she never thought she would become a stripper. She knew it was one of the only ways to make money to not live on the streets anymore, that was until she found a waitressing job at the local diner.

She was thankful that no one recognized her from the strip club or her cam girl job and while waitressing helped her from living off the streets, she was still disappointed in herself. With nights off from work, Amelia went out for drinks, dancing and went home with a lot of men. Some of the nights out turned into dates and while the men were fun to have sex with and be around, all she wanted was the attention they gave her and didn’t think about what the real thing could be like. Love. Love was something she never really thought about until she met a man who seemed to really care for her. The sex was great, they laughed and had fun on dates and he made her feel special. After a few months of being together, he told her that he was falling in love with her and while most women would react happily, she was scared and she ran. She didn’t know what love was and she was scared to truly let someone in, to let someone know everything about her.

Amelia packed up her things and got back on the road traveling around different states, to find new adventures. Not having any solid destination, she drove and drove for miles on end, stopping in as many states as she could and meeting new people along the way. It took her a few years to settle down in one place until one day, she found herself in a little city located on the Rocky Mountain range, Bradford Springs, Colorado. Amelia found it quaint and welcoming so she decided to get a small apartment downtown and get a bartending job at the local nightclub, Decades. She has been living in the city for two years now and doesn’t plan on leaving anytime soon. She often thinks about what it would be like to dance again, having that passion to compete or even teach, but the pain that came from the sport was unbearable and how it lead to her darkness. She is now slowly trying to find who she is and who she wants to be.

[ilovefandoms102]

His Girl-Part 3

Pairing: Jamie Henson x Plus Size Reader

Summary: Life after a cruel summer…

Note: The last and final part! I can’t wait for season 2 to come out!🥰

Warnings🛑: teen pregnancy, mentions of kidnapping/missing person, stalking, attempted kidnap, violence

Part 2

1994

Kate had been saved from our assistant principal Martin Harris. According to the news outlets, she had been trapped in his basement the whole time she was missing.

My parents kicked me out when they found out I was pregnant, so I have been staying with Jamie for the duration. Our baby boy was growing amazingly, and it seemed like the weeks were flying by.

The baby was due any day now which had Jamie’s nerves on edge. He was very attentive during the pregnancy and was excited to be a dad.

We were lucky to have Jamie’s mom who offered to watch the baby while we went to school. She said she didn’t want me to miss my senior year which I was extremely grateful for.

Our baby boy was born August 1, 1994.

1995

Upon graduating, Jamie and I worked endless hours to save up for our own place. I got a job at one of the local diners while Jamie worked for the serving company and a local car garage. I was so proud of him for working so hard to provide for our family.

The only thing I wish he would get under control is his drinking. It hurt seeing him drown himself in alcohol while I was trying to give our child the best life possible.

One night however will change our lives forever.

1996

It was an oddly chilly night in Skyline, I was walking home from work since I just worked a few blocks away from our apartment building. I suddenly got an eerie feeling, like I was being followed. I turned my head and saw someone walking closely behind me, my steps quickening immediately.

Then I heard shoes hitting the pavement faster, and I sprinted. I was almost there when I was tackled, my scream being covered by a large hand. I fought against my attacker, screeching for help, and for Jamie.

Someone must have heard me because in the next second after what felt like hours of fighting, my assailant was being thrown off of me. I fell to my knees, crawling as fast as I could out of the alleyway. I saw my boyfriend running to me, relief washing over me.

“Baby! Oh my god!” he shouted, helping to my feet.

The police officer that lived next door to us knocked the man out cold, using his pager more than likely to notify the sheriff. I sobbed into Jamie’s chest, holding on to him for dear life.

“I-I was so-so scared J.” I cried, my entire body shaking so much my knees began to wobble.

“It’s alright my love, I’m here.” he whispered, rubbing my back gently as police officers surrounded the area.

“Don’t let me go.” I sobbed.

“Never, I will never let you go baby.” he assured, watching as the person that threatened our family was taken into custody.

From that day forward, Jamie never picked up another drink.

Tagging:

@xxxlaura @toni9 @write-from-the-heart @demirunner @halsmultibitch

[presidentbungus]

🖊 and/or 🧠 :0

🧠 - Medic/Merasmus. I don't even know what this would be but every so often it bounces around my brain and that's the important part. I think it would be terrible by god I'm gonna figure out how to write it

🖊 - umm here's one I wrote for an au a little while ago that i didn't actually expand on. bully me into expanding on it please🙏🙏

Around the middle of recess Jeremy rolls around the back of the building to check the basketball court, cause that’s usually where fights are—and he doesn’t know what he’s expecting but Tommy Higgins, who plays soccer after school and is the size of an 8th grader, might fit the bill somewhat.

They’re hunched down in the middle of the snow, and Scout might see a little red staining the white—he’s on top of some little skinny kid he’s never seen before, who’s only wearing a T-shirt and blue jeans, giving him what looks like the noogie of his freakin’ life. The kid looks at Jeremy an’ cries “tell the teacher”—and Tommy’s head snaps where he’s looking, right at freakin’ Jeremy, and—and he wasn’t sure if he was gonna step in here but he probably doesn’t have much choice now.

Surprisingly, Tommy doesn’t move from his place—just keeps hitting the other kid on the head, a gross little grin splitting his face. His teeth look like little white beetles. “If you’re smart you’ll beat it, Germ,” he says.

To be honest Jeremy doesn’t feel that brave his he puffs up his chest anyway, takes a step forward, makes a fist and makes sure to keep his thumb on the outside like his brother Jamie keeps telling him. “Nobody calls me Germ and gets away with it.” He uses his best Saxton Hale-voice, all low and grumbly, and he marches up to Tommy and raises his fist an’ smacks him right on his dumb stupid face.

—

He sits on the stupid little chair outside the principal’s office—it’s not like it’s new to him but it still feels so shameful. ‘Specially cause his mom went in the room with Tommy’s parents and the walls aren’t that thick. She’s yelling at Principal what’s-his-freaking-name now and she’ll yell at Jeremy in a bit, when she marches out and drags him along in the car to the diner even if school’s not over yet. They’re suspending Tommy two days and still not sure what they’re gonna do with Jeremy—the same, probably. Injustice or whatever. As far as it went it could’ve gone worse—when he was in fourth grade Tommy swung at him with one of the big reading textbooks and knocked out two of his teeth, and they had to take off his braces to fix them and then put them back on and whenever he starts work in the diner he’s gonna have to do extra shifts working free to pay back how much it cost. It’s this whole thing. Anyway this time he got away with a black eye and his wrist hurts a lot but it wasn’t that much.

That kid sits across him. Looking at the floor. His nose stopped bleeding awhile ago but he still squeezes it with a tissue, like he’s worried it’ll come back. Hasn’t said a word since they got pulled in by the PE teacher, who Jeremy doesn’t know the name of since it’s the seventh replacement this year. And, like, he knows heroes don’t need thanks or whatever—but it still pisses him off a little—no thank you, or good job, or nothin’.

So he just stares and hopes he’ll get the message. And he keeps not getting the message, and he keeps not getting the message, so Jeremy stares and then he takes a breath and says: “You’re welcome, by the way. That I saved you.”

“… Thank you,” short and quick, in a lil’ accent Jeremy can’t place.

“I think I should get somethin’. About you.”

“We’re in front of the principal’s office.” He almost sounds worried. “If you try anything I’ll—“

“Whoa, hey. I just got my ass beat for you. Calm down.” An office lady glares at him. “I mean, uh, butt. What’s your name?”

“… Um.” The kid pulls his knees up to his chest, sniffling—god he’s tall. “I think—I mean—my name is Mickey.”

“Mickey. Huh. It fits, I guess—“

“But call me Mick.”

“… Well, okay. Mick."

[scapegrace74-blog]

Ginger Snap, Chapter 3

A/N  And just like that, here’s another chapter of Ginger Snap.  This one has no Chef!Jamie (at least not in person, but he is the invisible third presence in the room) but read it anyway!  He’ll be back in the next chapter, I promise.

Previous chapters are best enjoyed on my Ao3 page, because I have a bad habit of going back and editing them after they’ve been posted.

I appraised my reflection in a plate glass window.  Today was my thirtieth birthday.  I’d spent most of the day at a fancy salon having assorted hairs waxed, plucked and uncoiled.   Twenty minutes in the capricious October wind, and my sleek hairstyle was on the verge mutiny.  I smoothed it down as best I could with my palms, mentally shrugged my shoulders, then entered the upscale restaurant.

“Happy birthday, darling.”  Frank left a dry kiss on my cheek, careful to not mar my make-up, as he greeted me.  “You look very beautiful with your hair straight like that.”

It was clear why Frank had chosen the Witchery for my birthday celebration.  Nestled against Edinburgh Castle, it radiated history with its dark woods, tapestry-covered walls, burgundy banquettes and faux Tudor painted ceiling.  Everywhere crystal and silverware reflected the bountiful candlelight.  I pictured Jamie’s thick-soled work boots striding across the antique Persian carpets towards the kitchen and had to suppress a giggle.

Frank stood respectfully while the maître d’ pulled out my chair.  He played the part of the genteel academic to a tee.  Ten years’ my senior, he sported thick-framed glasses, a full head of dark hair and a trim figure that spoke more to abstemious habits than vigorous exercise.  Still, he was wearing his best tailored suit and the tie I’d bought him for Christmas.  I reminded myself that I was lucky to be in a relationship with a decent, courteous and dependable man who offered me the stability my tumultuous childhood had been sadly lacking.

We conversed quietly as we each perused the leather-bound menus, the noise of other diners a discrete background hum.  Frank told me all about the history of the sixteenth century oak panels that lined the room, and I listened politely.

“It’s so refreshing to see an establishment buck the trend of those horrendous open-style kitchens,” he pronounced with a dramatic shudder.

“Oh, I don’t know.  I rather enjoy watching the orchestrated chaos that goes into making my meal.  It’s like dinner theatre,” I contradicted.

“Some things are better appreciated unseen, darling.  It’s like that gaudy museum we visited in Paris.  Ductwork and elevator shafts on display along with the art.  It’s tremendously distracting, and not at all the point.”

He was referring to our visit to the Pompidou Centre the previous summer.  I had found the juxtaposition of modern art and naked architecture fascinating.   Frank much preferred the Louvre.

I was saved from having to defend my opinion by the arrival of our waiter.  Using a well-manicured fingernail to indicate his choices, Frank ordered for us both.

“The lady will have your Grand Cru Mambourg.  I’ll start with a Lagavullin 16, and proceed to the Chambolle-Musigny with my main course,” he said with conviction.

“Very good, sir.”  The waiter collected the enormous wine menu and decamped, having failed to even look me in the eye.  A little ember of resentment glowed in my belly.

“How did you know what wine to order when I haven’t told you what I’ve chosen as my main course?” I challenged once the waiter was out of earshot.

Frank looked perplexed, as though we were acting in a play and I’d suddenly said the wrong lines after countless perfect dress rehearsals.

“It’s your birthday, darling.  You always get lobster for your birthday.”

I thought about this.  He wasn’t wrong.   I liked lobster.  The first time we celebrated together in Boston, on my twenty-fifth birthday, it had felt like a sophisticated, grown-up choice.  But I never intended for it to become my only option.

The rest of the meal passed without event.  Frank was more animated than usual, reaching across the table to caress my hand twice and joking that his Angus steak tartare appetizer made him feel like a veritable red-blooded carnivore.

Once our plates were cleared Frank cleared his throat and squared his shoulders in a way that reminded me of the day he announced that we would be moving to Edinburgh.  Now what? I wondered.

“Claire.  Darling.  I think you know how happy you make me, and how delighted I am that we’re building this new life together back in the UK.  Your thirtieth birthday is such a special occasion, and I think it’s fitting that we mark it with something momentous.”

He reached across the table and took my left hand in his right.  His skin was cool and dry against my oddly numb palm.  I considered whether I might be going into cardiac arrest.  My heart felt untethered in my chest, leaping towards my throat and then plunging into my gut.  I concentrated on taking short, sipping breaths so that I didn’t regurgitate lobster all over the pristine white table linens.

Frank continued, unaware of my turmoil.  “I’d like us to be married within the year.  That way, our children will be born before you enter the high-risk years.  A late-spring wedding sounds lovely, don’t you think?”

He looked at me expectantly, so it must be my turn to speak.  The problem was I couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

“I’m sorry, are you asking me to marry you?” I managed to ask around my stomach, which had joined my heart in my throat.

Frank chuckled.  “Of course I am, darling.  Isn’t this what we always planned?”

Strictly speaking, it was what Frank had always planned.  He’d certainly never made any secret of the fact that matrimony and a family were what he saw in our future.  So why was I blind-sided?  It felt as though I had been driving a practical four-door sedan with an excellent crash test rating at highway speed, only to suddenly realize that nothing happened when I pumped the brakes.

I said the next thing that came into my malfunctioning brain.

“What about my licensing exams?”

“There really won’t be time, darling.  Planning a wedding is a full-time job in itself, from what I hear.   We need to get moving if we’re to have two children.  You aren’t getting any younger, you know.”

I nodded weakly as though this made some kind of sense.  Frank took the gesture as silent acceptance of his hyper-practical proposal, clapping his hands together in delight in a way that made me jump.

“Marvelous.  Now, I know that you’re very particular about jewelry, so I thought it best that we shop for a ring together.  But I wouldn’t dream of celebrating your special day without giving you something tangible.  Happy birthday, Claire.”

He pulled an envelope from his inside jacket pocket and slid it across the table.  My fingers trembled and twitched as I tried to open the seal.  Inside was a certificate printed with a familiar logo.   I looked at Frank in shock.  How did he know?

“I know how much you want to learn to cook.  This place has an excellent reputation, despite their ridiculous name.  They offer group lessons, but only at their location in Leith.  I suppose the rent is cheaper there, but clearly that was out of the question.  Fortunately, I was able to arrange something more suitable with the owner, so you’ll be learning at home from a private chef!”

At that moment our waiter reappeared carrying a bowl of dark, rich-looking pudding.  As he placed it on the table in front of me, the spicy vapours of whisky assaulted my nose.  With a flourish, the waiter extracted a long-handled lighter and ignited the liquor.  Through the ensuing burst of purple flame, Frank’s familiar features transformed into something far more sinister.

[futurewriter2000]

A new kind of summer

A/N: The original was supposed to be way way WAY different but I changed it and made it a bit fluffy. I don’t know why this idea came into my mind but I’m glad it did. I think it’s cute. I hope you like it. 

REQUEST: Hello thereee! Are you taking requests for Dead Poets Society? If you are, can I request a Charlie Dalton x female reader? I don't have a specific plot in mind, but I want it with lots of fluff 😂 By the way, I apologize for my English they're not my native language and they're awful 😭 thank you for your time! ♥️ (I have read almost all of your stories and they are awesome, I really love them!)

XX

Summer. Some people call it the best time of the year. You call it a season of sweating and working your ass off to pay tuition for college. 

You’ve never really wanted to work three jobs but it was the only option for you. Your father wanted to wife you to a lawyer, you wanted to forge your own future. You’ve promised yourself you’re going to be your own woman. You’ve come this far and you will continue to prove everybody else wrong about you. You were not made to marry a rich lawyer. You had more potential than just be a housewife. 

So you put your apron on and your best smile, serving all the customers that came in and out of the diner. 

“Anything else that comes with that coffee?” you heard one of them say and you immediately rolled your eyes, ready to snap at whoever was sitting behind you. 

“Serve you out through the door-” you turned around to see two familiar brown eyes cockily grinning back at you. “Charlie?!” you smiled as he leaned forward. 

“The one and only!” he continued to smile wider as you tried to bring yourself together from the sudden shock. 

“Wha- how-”

“I expect a hug before I answer you any questions.” he continued to give you the cocky grin until you walked around the counter and gave him a hug. 

You see, you and Charlie were in a friend group. One specific friend group that was only reserved for all the kids that lived in the neighbor lake houses in this place. Since kids, summer was reserved for the place at the lake, where kids from all sorts of places came and met each other. The town was small, that was why everybody knew everybody but nothing was better than the summers with Charlie Dalton, Matias Howell, Knox Overstreet, Jamie Saint-Clair, Anna Adams and many more. - And the memories of all those summers came rushing back when you were holding Charlie in your arms. 

“Look at you- you work here.” he smiled and you nodded, going back behind the counter. 

“I do work here and at the motel and I babysit. Every summer.” 

“Wow! Three jobs.”

“Have to pay for college.” you smiled, pouring him a cup of coffee. “How about you- I heard about the-”

“You have?” he furrowed his eyebrows.

“Mums talk, Dalton. You know them and their gossips.” you tried to relax him from the metnion.

“Yeah, well. I really don’t like talking about it.”

 “You don’t have to.” you said, seeing one of the customers raising their hand. “I’ll be right back.” you said, going to the customer and giving them the receipt. 

He watched you as the man paid you and watched your ass when you left. He shot him a nasty glare before turning back to you. 

You’ve gotten taller, your breast got bigger since the last time he saw you, your hips wider, your thighs stronger, your hair changed completely, your skin tanner- “You’ve grown up since I last saw you.” he said before he could stop himself. “A real woman.” he wiggled his eyebrows as you rolled your eyes. 

“Are you flirting with me, Charlie Dalton?” 

“I don’t think flirting is a sin, do you?” he asked, wiggling them again as you continued to watch him from the corner of your eyes, smirk placed underneath. 

“You know what you did to me when I was a kid?” you leaned forward on the counter, only an inch apart. 

He shook his head biting his lip and glancing between your eyes and your lips.”Crushing on me?” 

“No. I was crushing on Knox and you-” you poked his shoulder as he chuckled, knowing excatly what followed. “- you made the poor quiet and shy me embarrass myself in front of him.”

“You blush a lot. You’re cute when you blush.” he said, almost humming the words that came out of his mouth and leaning forward. 

“Well, I’m not quiet or shy anymore.” you leaned back and started washing the glasses. 

“I’d like to see that personally- maybe somewhere alone.” he winked and you narrowed your eyes at him, shaking your head. 

“You’re unbelievable, you know that?”

“I do. It’s a gift to be honest.”

 “A curse, I’d say.”

“Oh, come on, darls. You and me isn’t such a bad idea- and Knox already has a girl, so you’re lost with him.” 

“I haven’t seen Knox since I was sixteen, Dalton. He wasn’t all I ever thought about plus when I think about it, he wasn’t my type at all.” 

“That’s good to hear.” he said with a smug expression on his face. 

“You’re smiling...” you pointed at his face with your pen. “Why are you smiling? Oh-!” you gasped, coverin your mouth with your hand and letting out laughs. 

He lowered his head in an embarrased smile but didn’t deny it nor hide it away. He bravely, looked you in the eyes and leaned back.

“You had a crush on me? On ME?!” you squeeled and he laughed. 

“You make it sound impossible.”

“It was- Charlie I had no idea what my hair back then was-my eyebrows were sewed together, my pimples were enormous and I was shy and quiet girl who got picked on by...” you continued to smile, walking forward and poking his chest with your pen. “...you.” 

“I was a kid, (Y/n). I tried to embarras you in front of Knox because I wanted you to think you have zero chances with him. It’s illogical now but then it made quite a lot of sense to me.” he continued to grin as you poured another customer coffee. “Plus, I liked the hair but the eyebrows really were a disaster.” he started to tease and you threw your pen at his face, hitting the side of his head. 

“You know usually when you embarras someone and pick on them, they won’t make them like you.” you leaned forward but his grin was still not wiped off. 

Instead he glanced between your eyes and your lips, licked his bottom lip and stretched the grin even wider, up until the mischiviousness reached his eyes and he put his hand under your jaw and pulled you into a kiss. Short but slow and deep, as he always wanted to do it. 

Shocked by his action when he pulled away, you felt the heat rise on your cheeks and your mind go speechless. You stared as he continued to smile.

Crunching his nose, he grabbed the cup in his hand and chugged it down. “Been in love with you since we were seven, (y/n)(y/l/n) and since then I knew I’m going to marry you.”

“You’re crazy.” you laughed, putting your hand under your chin and brushing your thumb over your lips. 

“Crazy enough to come and find you-  ‘because when I was feeling most alone, my thoughts found my way to you and soon, did my heart and body.’” he placed his hand on his chest. “Charlie Dalton.” he winked. 

“So now, you’re a poet?” 

“Somewhere there, yes.” he started backing away.

“I still don’t trust you.”

“Oh, honey. You’ll grown to love me.” 

[1787americanrevnerd]

The Life of Rebecca Barnes

Sorry if the dates are wrong, I tried my best to do the math.

The Howling Commandos had finally tracked down the only living family of James Barnes. James never talked about his personal life before the war to any of the Commandos and he really only talked to Steve. And since the Barnes' family is very closed off, it was hard to find James's family to offer condolences. He had died a while ago in the Swiss Alps, the army was going to send a letter but the Commandos thought it would be better to say it in person.When they came to the small apartment in NYC and knocked on the door they were not expecting a young girl with three other kids clinging onto her. The girl had frizzy, curly, hip-length dark brown hair. The Commandos knew this was the right house because the girl had the same smile as James.

"Hello, what can I do for you?" she asked. Dum Dum spoke next, "Is it okay if we come inside we worked with James." The girl nodded and ushered them inside. "Rikki, who are these people," asked a little girl with dirty blonde hair and green eyes. "Well, Lizzy these are some of Jamie's friends." Rikki picked up Lizzy and put her on her hip. "Is Stevie coming?" The Commandos felt guilty at the question Lizzy asked, Steve died the day previous."Anyway, what brings you to my apartment?" asked Rikki. "Well we are looking for a Rebecca is she home?" said Gabe Jones. "Oh, that's me, Rikki's a nickname my stupid brother gave me when we were kids." The Commandos now felt even more saddened by the news they were about to give the Barnes family. "Could we talk in private," one of the Commandos asked Rebecca.

Rikki led them into a separate room so that they could talk privately. "So why are you at my house?" asked Rikki. The Commandos knew that they should rip the bandaid off but it's still difficult to take off the bandaid. "Rikki that's a funny nickname," said Jim trying to start a conversation. "Yeah, I would always try to annoy my brother by calling him Jamie because he didn't like to be called, and I quote, "A name meant for a girl" so I always called him Jamie. He then started to call me Rikki since it sounds like a boy's name. And it just kind of stuck.""Ms. Barnes we have some unfortunate news to tell you," said Jack. Rebecca stiffened, "Is Jamie okay?" All of the Commandos looked down and Rebecca gasped. "He died in action, we were ambushing a train in the swiss alps and your brother fell off the side. He died fighting, I'm sorry for your loss," said Gabe. "Why isn't Steve here telling me this then?" questioned Rebecca. "Steve died crashing a plane into the ice in order to save millions," explained Dum Dum. They tried to say nice things to her like, "It's okay." "They died for a greater cause" but with every word Rebecca got angrier. Rebecca stood up and wiped off her tears, " No it's not okay my brothers died! For you people, and then you start saying meaningless words to me about it. Get out, get out of my house goddamn it!" The Commandos left silently not wanting to upset Rebecca further.

Rebecca went to her siblings, "I have some bad news, Stevie and Jamie died in the war." Lizzy and Martha went quiet and Linda, who was only a baby, started to cry. Rebecca wanted to cry too, but she had to stay strong like Jamie always did.Once the kids went to bed Rebecca dropped on the floor and started crying. "We can't even bury a body," she said over and over again. Jamie was always so full of life it's hard to imagine him dead. Deep down inside Rebecca believed that he was not dead, they had always had a twin-like bond, even though there was a 3 year age difference, meaning that they always knew what the other thought and the other well-being. Rebecca Barnes hated the people responsible for her brother's death and Rebecca needed to bring them to justice.

One Year Later

Rebecca wanted to do something worthwhile and she thought joining the S.S.R. was the only way to do so. Rebecca had good grades and experience with things the S.S.R did. She had taken criminology and forensic science in school and had just finished her combat training.When she was in the office and the man put down her file her looked up at her and said, "Why should we hire you?" he asks. Rebecca thinks about it and says, " I want to make the world a safer place and-" The man cuts her off, "No, no, no, I mean why would we hire you a woman. We already have Margret." Rebecca stands up and slaps her hands on the table, "Listen here you short sexist piece of sh*t, if a man came in here with the file I have I know for a fact you would hire him. Also, it is my human right to be able to work if I want to, I'm leaving so give me a letter when you make up your mind."

As she stormed out she was cut off by Margret Carter, "I agree with what you said about the chief being a short sexist," she didn't finish her sentence being a proper lady. Rebecca however was not, "Piece of sh*t." Peggy nodded. "I know a great Diner around here would you like to go once my shift is over?" Rebecca didn't have many friends this would be good for her. "Sure I would love to."

When they went to the diner Peggy led them to a booth and she sat down. "So what's your name?" asked Peggy. Rebecca hadn't even realized that they didn't know each other's names. "Rebecca Barnes," she said simply. Peggy froze at the surname remembering someone who was lost in the war. "Peggy Carter," Peggy said thinking that Barnes was a very popular surname it could be a whole other family.

"Do you have any siblings?" Peggy asked. "I have three younger sisters, Elizabeth, Lidia, and Margret. And I ha- had one brother, James," answered Rebecca. Peggy was now sure that this is the sister of James Buchanan Barnes. "What about you do you have any siblings?" asked Rebecca in return. "Yes I also had an older brother," replied Peggy. "I'm sorry for your loss," replied Rebecca. "It's okay, it was a long time ago." Rebecca was very easy to talk to, and she wasn't like the people Peggy was usually drawn to. She was far from a proper lady, she sat like someone who was not taught proper edict, and she was wearing pants. Not pants made for women but pants that probably belonged to a man at some point. "Your pants where did you get them?" Peggy asked. "They're hand-me-downs, from my brother. Money was never tight at my house but it just made me feel more normal, you know wearing hand-me-downs like most other younger siblings. Anyway enough about me, what's your deal?"

"I have worked in the SSR for a long time and I didn't get many jobs or respect until the war when I helped with Project Rebirth. After the war, well I turned into the secretary. I want to show people that I can do just as much as a man can and that I didn't just become an Agent because there weren't enough men to do the job. Why are you here?" Rebecca knew her answer, " You might not like it or agree with it but, I want to take down the people that hurt me and so many families. I don't want anyone else's brother to die because of a war. And the only way to do that is to rid the world of insane people who want to take over the world." Peggy nodded, "Well seeing as we will be the only women in the department I look forward o filing papers with you and hopefully putting "villains" in jail." Rebecca smiled and took a sip of her water, this felt like a good thing.

2 years later

It was Rebecca's first mission, there was no one left to do it. She had to take down some drug dealers. When she got to the location something was wrong the drug dealers were there all right but there were other people there. They had the HYDRA symbol on their jackets. Oh, how stupid had we been to think that if we killed the leader that they would die she thought. She had to move closer to get a better look.

She went up in the vents in order to hear and see everything clearly. Unfortunately, the vents were not very strong and she fell from them. The drug dealers left and the HYDRA soldiers pinned her to the ground. "Let's see who you are," the soldier said as he reached for the dog tags she wore. "These say, James Barnes, you can't be him. You must be his sister but which one? Are you Martha, Lidia, or maybe Elizabeth? Wait you are in your twenty's oh yes you must be Rebecca. Your brother's favorite."

"What are you going to do to me now that I know you still exist?" she asked. "Nothing, we know that you will be too scared to tell. Now run along and don't come back. She ran back not wanting to die. But she will tell people about Hydra.

Once she was out of earshot the soldier said, "Send the Winter Soldier after her. We can't have her knowing about us, or him."

---------------------------------------------------------------------Rebecca was on a date with her boyfriend of one year, William Proctor. They had stayed at Rebecca's house since they were an interracial couple so no one would serve them at restaurants. "So how was work today?" asked William. "It was good," lied Rebecca. She still hadn't told him about her real job he thought she was working at a DMV. "You're lying, you always take a sip of your wine and look left when you lie," said William. If he wasn't catching her lie Rebecca would have thought that it was very sweet that he notices the small things about her. "It wasn't the best but, I did get to try something different. William, I don't work at the DMV, I'm working at the S.S-" at that moment a metal hand went through the wall.

It was a man dressed in what seemed to be kevlar, he had a district metal arm, and was wearing a mask. Or a muzzle, part of Rebecca thought. "Is this someone from work?" asked William sarcastically. "Yeah, I was trying to track down some drug dealers, ran into HYDRA. I guess they sent their puppet after me," she replied. The man didn't like her comment very much because he started to attack her. Rebecca blocked most of his punches until his knife cut into her right shoulder, he then pulled it down to her wrist causing a massive cut along her arm. "Rebecca are you okay?" asked William from where he was standing in the kitchen. "Yeah just throw me a wrench or a knife!" yelled Rebecca. She had an idea, it might not be great and was based on a very flimsy theory but she wanted to try nonetheless. Once, William passed her a long kitchen knife she tried to shove it into one of the slots on the metal arm. She was successful she then twisted them with great struggle though since the man was trying to kill her. William came from behind and put two more objects in the man's metal arm. By this time Rebecca had already done quite a bit of damage. Knowing that he would lose the man left. Rebecca then collapsed in William's arms.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------"So how did you really cut the entirety of your right arm?" asked Peggy. "What do you mean? I was in a car crash and I cut myself on the window," answered Rebecca. "That's absolute rubbish, you're a great driver. Also, you're a terrible liar," Peggy told her. Rebecca sighed, "A man broke into my house, probably working for the people I "met" a few days back, he cut my arm." Peggy nodded, "What did he look like maybe I know about him." Rebecca thought back to the most distinct thing about him, "He a metal arm for his left arm." Peggy's eyes widened, "People have been talking about him, civilians I mean, a man with a metal left arm comes up at least once with every political murder after the war. People started to call him the Winter Soldier, the S. S. R. has been looking into him for a while now, but nothing comes up, he's like a ghost." Rebecca smirked, "Well then it must be a miracle that I'm still alive."

2 years later

This was Rebecca's first mission since she found out she was pregnant. She and William had decided that William would stop working, he didn't like his job much anyway. Rebecca almost got fired because the S. S. R. didn't want to pay for her maternity leave. She told her boss that she wouldn't take the leave, her husband (they aren't technically married but they have known each other for three years) would be home taking care of the child. She still went on missions since she only had a small baby bump. Nothing dangerous though, just a stakeout with Peggy and Howard. She told them about HYDRA well, she told Peggy and Howard overheard. She and Howard didn't get along, he was egotistical and cocky, two traits Rebecca hated. Howard had an equal despise for her, she was too reckless, something that wasn't always a good thing.

HYDRA was loading a truck nothing too interesting until the Winter Soldier came out to help them. He doesn't have his mask on but he was far away so no point in trying to figure out who he is, thought Rebecca. "Hey he kind of looks like Barnes," pointed out Howard. "I'm right here Stark, " growled Rebecca. "No, I mean your brother," explained Howard. Peggy leaned forward and squinted her eyes, "I mean from a distance." Rebecca laughed, "Why would Jamie be working for HYDRA? Also, my brother is incredibly vain, there is no way he'd let his hair get like that!" Peggy nodded then looked at Howard, "She has a point." Howard thought for a minute, "Maybe they put his brain in a blender?" Rebecca looked sick, "Please stop." Howard did, there were only a few things Howard was afraid of, and one of them was an angry Barnes.

3 years later

Rebecca had just had her second child, Myla, and she was already worrying. Her son, James, was a tiny terror she hoped that he didn't rub off on Myla. James had skin a little darker than Rebecca's, he had Williams nose and eyes, everything else about his completion looked closer to Rebecca. Kyla had very dark skin, she also had curly brown hair like her mother, she had her grandfather's eyes, and had Rebecca's jawline. Rebecca felt bad that none of them would ever meet their Aunts and Uncles since both Rebecca and William's family did not agree with the pairing. Rebecca felt especially bad that the one Uncle who would love to meet the kids couldn't be there. She and William had bought a small three bedrooms one bathroom house, because of the new family edition. All in all, Rebecca couldn't wait for the adventures to come with her family.

12 Years Later

Peggy had brought Rebecca to a diner to talk. "I and Stark have started something, called S.H.I.E.L.D. it's basically the S. S. R. but private would you like to join us. Rebecca nodded furiously, "Of course, I've been meaning to get out of the S. S. R. and I'm sure anything you're founding has to be worth it." Peggy laughed, "So what do you say we go and hand in our letters of resignation." Rebecca got up from the table excited to have a new beginning.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Seriously though Stark, why haven't you found someone yet. You're almost 43, times running out," said Peggy. "Look not all of us want to get married and have kids super young like Ms. I'm Fine over there," retorted Howard. "What do you mean young? I was 29 when I had James, and 32 when I had Mayla," said Rebecca. "The point still stands and I'm in a relationship now and it's going great," states Howard. "What's her name?" asked Peggy. "Maria, speak of the devil, I have a date with her. Nice talking to you ladies." Rebecca scoffed, "Let's hope this one isn't insane."

5 Years Later

"Top of the class aye?" asked Rebecca. Mayla blushed, "Yeah which means that I can choose any job I desire." Rebecca smiled, "What do you want to do then?" Mayla looked down, "Well I already applied for a job at S.H.I.E.L.D. and they hired me so I guess that." Rebecca was a little confused as to why her daughter would go behind her back on this one. "I just didn't want people thinking I got the job because of Aunt Peggy. I'll be working in the science division so I don't want people thinking I'm just dumb and spoiled." Rebecca laughed, "No one will think that you graduated top of your class from college when you're 19."

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

That same year Anthony Stark was born, Howard was nervous. He was worried that Tony would turn out like him, Peggy worried the same thing. Rebecca tried to tell Howard that Maria was a good lady, she probably toned down the Stark genes in that kid.

21 Years Later

William had come to pick Rebecca up from work. That was when something strange happened William noticed something Peggy didn't. "Hey why have these guys neer finished their mission?" asked William. Howard went to get their files, "Maybe they forgot to check in?" Rebecca shook her head, "But all of them admit to not completing the mission. And they have outrageous reasons as to why. Who believed these guys?" Peggy went to the back of the file room and took out a few more, "They were all signed by these men, we don't have any records on them until the year 1965." William spoke up, "Maybe they are in on something together, like a rival agency type deal." Howard scoffed, "There is no way SHIELD could be infiltrated." Rebecca hit him upide the head, "Your arogence will be the end of you, Stark." Peggy shruged, "We'll look into it in the morning. Howard your son is home you should be spending time with him. Rebecca if I am not mistaken you have your grandchildren Kimberly and Scott waiting for you to teach them how to properly use a gun." They all left but none of them knew that this was the last time Howard, Peggy, and Rebecca would be in the same room together.

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

They were all invited to the funeral, even if Rebecca wasn't that close to Howard. Peggy and Rebecca sat next to Tony the whole time knowing that he needed someone to be there with him. Peggy and Rebecca were like his Aunts, they were usually at the Stark estate. Rebecca and Howard would be bickering most of the time but Rebecca was still present at the house often when Tony was a child. Everyone was telling Tony about how his father was a great man and how they were sorry that he lost his dad. However Peggy and Rebecca tod him that Howard wasn't perfect and that they were sorry he had to lose his parents but they never tried to tell him what to feel or how to think about it.

18 Years Later

Rebecca had grown old and now had great-grandchildren, but she still worked at SHIELD. She didn't work in the field anymore though, she was a therapist of sorts. One day they sat her down with a young lady with bright red hair and told Rebecca to make the girl safe to be around. They were then left alone to talk and to help this girl through whatever was going on with her."My name is Rebecca Barnes Proctor, and you are?""Natasha Romanoff.""What would you like me to call you?""...Natasha.""Well then Natasha let's get started. Why are you here?""I worked for the KGB a kind man named Clint Barton dragged me here and they told me to sit through this until I was stable enough to go into the field.""I used to be a SHIELD Agent you know, I was here when this place was first built. Now I work here, helping people like you.""...Who is that a picture of on your desk?""That was my brother, he died in the war.""I'm sorry.""It's okay he's been gone for a long time. Anyway why would people think you aren't stable?""I was a Russian Spy, they just want to make sure I'm on their side.""Do you promise not to betray us?""I wouldn't dream of it. I can't go to a prison cell, again.""Great then I will tell themyou are stable as long as you come help me watch over my great grandchildren every Thursday.""I will Mrs. Proctor.""Oh please, call me Rebecca.""Thanks Rebecca."

1 Year Later

"You seem quiet today Natasha is something wrong?""It's nothing I just got out of the Hospital that's all.""What were you there for?""A man with a metal arm shot someone through me.""So I see you've met the Winter Soldier.""The Winter who?"The Winter Soldier, he's an assassin.""Why haven't I heard of him?""He's like a ghost no one can track him and every file we have of himis erased gone. You see this scar he gave me it."Natasha looked at the scar, "Looks like it hurt." Rebecca sighed, "It did for a long time, but what's done is done. Be careful Natasha." Natasha smiled, "I always am."8 Years Later"Rebecca!" called Natasha, "I brought some company for you!" Rebecca smiled, "I'm in the kitchen." She was trying to complete the crossword when she saw Natasha. "Hello, dear I'mso glad you found time to visit me." Natasha looked at the other visitors, "Guys this is Rebecca, she's a few years younger than Steve. And Rebecca this is Sam-" Rebecca inturpterd her, "Stevie! Why haven't you visited me since you came back from the ice?" Steve looked dumbstruck, "I thought you would be dead or you wouldn't remember me." Rebecca wacked him upside the head, "That was easier to do when you where shorter but this will have to do. How dare you think me dead! And I'm not that old, this brain's still ticking!"

Bucky was behind the wall he didn't really know who this lady was and he wasn't sure she would be happy to have a murderer in her house. He noticed something on her left arm then, a scar going down it. Bucky remembered that, he did it to the young women who was trying to have dinner with her boyfriend, then he tried to kill her. Bucky stepped out of the shadows to say he was sorry for hurting her all those years ago when the women hugged him. She started saying, "Jamie, I knew you were alive! Everyone said that you were dead but I knew deep down that you were alive!" Natasha smiled, that was the first time Bucky had ever seen her smile. "As I was about to say, this is Rebecca Barnes Proctor," said Natasha. When the name was said Bucky started to remember her, he would call her Rikki. Bucky hugged her back, "Long time no see Rikki." Rebecca looked at Bucky's arm, "I know what you did and I forgive you."

1 Year Later

Rebecca died peacefully in her sleep a few months after seeing Bucky again. Evryone said that since she saw him her heart had been ready to go, knowing that he was alive. Others said that she missed her friends and loved ones. Whichever you choose to belive just remember that Rebecca Barnes lived an amazing life.

[ladyreapermc]

Fic: Treat me like your boyfriend (Matt x fem!Reader)

Summary: when Matt asked you to tutor him, you weren’t aware of the mess you were about to step in.

Author’s notes: Dear anon, I’m sorry it took me so long, but your request is finally here and I hope you enjoy it. I was very rusty on writing teenagers and I definitely struggled with the love triangle aspect. 

Wordcount: 6430 (yeah, it took a life of its own)

Warnings: a bit of teenage angst, mentions of drugs, bad language, but that’s it

The last thing you were expecting to see when you got out of cheerleading practice was Matt leaning on the hood of your car like he belonged there, arms crossed behind his head, face tilted up, almost as if to soak up the last warm sun rays of that October morning.

You didn’t even remember the last time you actually saw Matt, let along talked to him. Yes, you went to the same school but traveled in completely different circles and he wasn’t all the good with attendance, especially not after what happened last year with Samson and Jamie.

Once upon a time however, the two of you had been great friends. All through elementary school and a considerable part of middle school, the two of you had been inseparable, but then his father left and his family life deteriorated and he became angry and closed off and the two of you drifted apart. Now here he was, and you had no idea why.

“That’s my car,” you said, making him crack one eye open to look at you.

“I’m aware,” he replied but didn’t move an inch and you sighed.

“What do you want, Matt?”

“Oh, so you actually remember who I am. That’s nice.” This time at least he sat up on the hood, looking you up and down with a smirk tucked on his lips.

“What. Do. You. Want?” you repeated with a glare, crossing your arms over your chest and you noticed Matt’s gaze shift, the tough guy mask slipping a bit and you could almost see the boy you used to know.

“I’m failing history,” Matt admitted in a low voice, eyes downcast. “I’m on probation. I can’t fail. I need you to tutor me.”

“No,” you said, pulling the passenger door of your car open so you could put your backpack away. “I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t?” he asked, giving you a look. “Afraid of what your popular friends will think if they see you hanging out with someone like me?”

There was a barely disguised disdain in his tone and it made you feel guilty. Even if you didn’t like to admit it, it was one of the reasons but there was also the fact that between school, practice and your part-time job, free time was almost inexistent for you. Even your boyfriend Derek had been complaining about not seeing you enough.

“I really can’t. I’m sorry,” you sighed.

“Please, Skittles,” he said, and you snorted at the old and ridiculous nickname after your favorite candy. “You’re my only hope.”

“Fine!” You huffed, taking a second to think through your schedule. “Tomorrow at 4. Joe’s diner. Do you know?”

“Yeah.” Matt flashed you a gorgeous smile as he jumped off the hood of your car and your lips twitched up too. “Thank you! You’re really saving my life here.”

“I know. So, don’t be late or I won’t do it.”

---

As you cleared the tables at the restaurant, you couldn’t help but glance at the clock on the wall and heave a sigh. It was fifteen past four and Matt had yet to show up for his lesson. You should’ve known he would flake out. He barely showed up to school as it was, why would he bother to come for a tutoring lesson?

You rolled your eyes at your own stupidity. You had to rearrange your whole work schedule, changing shifts with one of your coworkers so you could tutor Matt here while Derek was at football practice.

It wasn’t as if you thought you were doing something wrong by seeing Matt or anything stupid like that, but you knew Derek would freak if he found out you were hanging out with the other boy. Your boyfriend was a little overprotective sometimes and he always thought Matt and his entire clique were delinquents. You just wanted to avoid the hassle, so you kept the entire thing from him. Not that there would be anything to tell since Matt stood you up.

The small bell above the entry door of the diner rang and you looked up to see Matt stepping inside, sweaty and out of breath as he looked around. His expression drew into that gorgeous smile when his gaze landed on you.

He had changed quite a lot from the lanky boy you had known back in middle school. For one, he had gotten considerably taller and muscles had filled him out quite nicely. He had grown out his hair and it framed his face in messy waves, but it really suited him.

“Hey! Sorry, I’m late. Bus took forever,” he explained and you couldn’t bring yourself to tell him to turn around and leave.

“That’s ok. Just grab a booth and I’ll be right with you,” you said, hands busy with a tray of steaming plates.

He grinned and obeyed, ignoring the stink eye he was getting from some of the customers. His outfit screamed outcast and he stuck out like a sore thumb in the traditional diner.

You moved to the table to deliver the orders, sending a silent prayer that there wasn’t anyone you knew in the diner before calling out that you’d be taking your break and sliding on the seat across from Matt.

“So where are you having trouble? Classic? Medieval? Modern?”

“Everything.” Matt took out a crumpled paper from his backpack, handing it to you. It was one of his tests and the bright red F made you wince.

“Ok,” you sighed, returning the paper to him. “Then I guess we start at the beginning,” you took hold of his textbook and opened in the first chapter. “Take notes. I’m not gonna repeat myself and there will be pop quizzes.”

“Alright,” he said combing his hair away from his eyes. He pulled out a notebook that was falling apart and a pen that seemed to be completed chewed out. “Oh! I almost forgot…” he dug through his backpack until he came out with a package of skittles, pushing towards you with a smile. “As a thank you for helping me.”

You smiled too as you ripped the package open popping a couple of candies on your mouth before shaking a few on his waiting hand.

“Let’s begin.”

----

“I can’t believe you’re skipping Shelley’s party! It’s like the event of the year!” Dana exclaimed, pulling a face at you and you rolled her eyes. To your friend and head of the cheerleader squad, every party was the event of the year.

“It’s not like I’m skipping on purpose,” you replied, trying to find a better position against Derek, who had his arm around your shoulders. You usually loved to be cuddled up like this. But when you were in the middle of the cafeteria trying to have lunch using only one hand it was kind of hindrance. “I have to work.”

Unlike Dana and Derek who’s parents paid for everything they could possibly want, your father was a police officer that worked his ass off to keep your house functioning so you had to work to buy the things that you needed that weren’t his priorities. Your car needed repairs and you had your eye on a dress for homecoming dance that would cost you almost a month’s salary.

“Can’t you change shifts or something?” Derek asked with a pout and you had to fight a grimace. The only reason you had to work at the time of Shelley’s party was that you had changed your hours so you could tutor Matt.

“I’ll just go to the next one,” you replied with a small, apologetic smile, but it wasn’t enough to soothe Derek if his sour expression was anything to go by.

“Fine!” Dana huffed, throwing her long hair over her shoulder, her eyes shifting to a point beyond your shoulder, her expression shifting into one of distaste. “The creeper is staring at you again.”  

You glanced back to see Matt sitting alone a couple of tables over. As soon as he noticed you looking, he quickly lowered his gaze back to the book in front of him his hair falling over his eyes, so he had to comb it back with his fingers.

“Someone’s got an admirer,” Dana teased with an evil smirk. “A killer admirer.”

“He didn’t kill anyone, Dana,” you replied in autopilot.

You had been spending at least three afternoons a week with Matt for the past month and the two of you had grown closer again. It was almost as if the time you two hadn’t spoken for didn’t even exist.

Matt was still an angry guy. You could see in the bursts of irritation he sometimes would get when he messed up an answer or when people were being deliberately judgy of him at the diner or when talking about the crappy deal he got in life and with his family. Other than that, he was as sweet as you remembered. Also funny and kind and you loved spending time with him. Around him, you could be as nerdy and weird as you wanted because he never judged you. It was liberating really.

“And how would you know?” Derek asked with a frown of confusion.

You knew because your dad had been one of the officers involved in the case, but also because Matt told you how the entire thing had gone down.

“My dad worked the case,” you said with a shrug. “And besides, I don’t think they would let him be here if he had actually killed anyone.”

“Still, I don’t like the idea of him watching you,” he said, glaring over his shoulder. “If he comes anywhere near you…”

“He won’t, Der. Don’t worry,” you assured, distracting him with a kiss, before getting up. “I gotta go. I have to deliver an essay to Mr. Sheppard for extra credit.”

You managed to get to the hallway outside the cafeteria before Derek caught up, pulling you back into his arms.

“Baby, you have enough extra credit to buy an entire university at this point,” Derek said with a pout and you chuckled. “I barely get to see you anymore.”

“I know, I know. I’m sorry,” you said, pecking him on the lips. “Tonight. After my shift. Swing by? My dad won’t be home until later.”

“Ok.” he smiled happily and just as you were about to step away he pulled you back once more, catching you into a longer, deeper kiss that had your knees weak and you grinning against his lips. “I see you tonight.”

You were still smiling as you headed off, not towards Mr. Sheppard’s office, but to the football field, where you met Matt by the bleachers. He has a forlorn look on his face and that was enough to make your good mood flight right out of you.

“How was it?” you asked, and he sighed, digging through his backpack.

It was his first test since you two started the tutoring lessons. You hoped they had been enough to make him improve because you could tell Matt was getting frustrated with everyone pounding on him about his grades and probation.

He handed you the folded paper and it made your heart thunder in your heart just as much as getting the results of your own tests did.

“Look, Matt, it is just the first test,” you started before even looking at the grade. “It’s ok if it isn’t a good one just yet. We’ll keep working on it and you’ll see…” you trailed off as you finally looked at the test, the C+ staring back at you and when you looked up at him, Matt had a cheeky little grin in his face.

“You jerk!” You exclaimed punching him on the shoulder as he laughed. “You really made me think…”

“I’m sorry!” he said between giggles, trying to dodge your hands. “You’re just so damn easy, Skittles!” Matt looked so good like this. Bright and happy and playful. It made your heart jump.

“I’m really proud of you,” you said pulling him for a hug, your face coming to the crook of his neck due to the height difference and you breathed deep into his scent without meaning to.

“Thanks,” he replied with a soft smile when you pulled back. “Can you help me with Math too?”

“Absolutely!”

---

Even though it was your day off, here you were at Joe’s diner, in the booth it was quickly becoming yours and Matt’s regular seats. Instead of sitting across from him, you were at his side, studying his profile as he frowned over the math problem you had presented him.

You watched as his untamable hair fell over his face and you resisted the urge to push back so you could better look at him, watch the way his brows knitted together in concentration and how he squinted his soft brown eyes at the page, nose crinkling slightly in displeasure as he tapped the pen against his lips, which were framed by a shadow of stubble, just like his sharp jawline… Shifting in your seat, you forced your gaze away, taking a drink of water.

After two months all employees and regular clients at the diner got used to Matt’s presence and no one even gave the two of you a second glance anymore, which was a small blessing. You finally managed to relax around him when Matt came around, which meant you caught yourself staring at him way too often while he worked, your mind wondering dangerous things, like if his hair was as soft as it looked or how Matt’s lips would feel against yours.

Those thoughts always filled you with guilt because you had a boyfriend. A nice, kind and sweet boyfriend that you loved, and you shouldn’t be thinking such things about Matt when he was your friend and you were in a relationship and…

“Got it!”

His excited tone startled you back to the present and you watched as he scribbled down on the page before he turned it to you with a bright, hopeful smile and your heart leaped in your chest as you got caught in those brown eyes for a second too long.

Clearing your throat and feeling your cheeks warm, you looked down at the notebook to check his answer, your lips twitching into a proud smile.

“That’s exactly it,” you declared, looking up at Matt again and his lips now showed a wide grin as he cheered and threw an arm around your shoulders, pulling you into a sideways hug.

“You owe me fries and a milkshake,” Matt said, still grinning and you snorted.

“If I’d known that was all it took for you to learn math, I’d have done it weeks ago,” you joked waving at one of the waitresses to place your order, trying to pretend you weren’t acutely aware of the fact the Matt hadn’t taken his arm away from your shoulders and you really didn’t want him too.

“So, there’s a movie with that guy from that sci-fi movie you like in the theaters,” Matt said, his tone a little hesitant as the two of you sipped milkshakes and shared fries.

“That’s specific,” you chuckled, noticing how he seemed to blush a little. “Fortunately, I do know which one you’re talking about. I’m dying to see it.”

“Yeah?” Matt looked up; eyes bright with excitement. “Maybe we could go? Together, I mean.”

For a moment, all you could do was stare at Matt in stunned silence. Was he asking you out on a date? And why on Earth did you want to say yes so bad?

“As friends, of course,” he quickly added, and you could barely hide your disappointment. His own words and the way he avoided your eyes showed his chagrin.

“Maybe, but…” you sighed, looking away, the words stuck to your throat.

“I get it, Skittles,” Matt said, at last, gathering his things, head ducked as he stood up. “Thanks for the lesson.”

He was off and away from the diner before you even process what happened. Your eyes burned and you could taste bile and guilt on the back of your throat as you swallowed around the painful lump, before picking up your bag and standing up.

Suddenly being in the diner without Matt felt unbearable.  

----

Derek’s lips traveled down your neck, his weight pressing you down on the bed as his hand squeezed your thigh, inching dangerously close to the hem of your skirt. This was hardly the first time you’ve done this, touch each other like this and he was doing everything you loved but it just felt awkward and uncomfortable.

You couldn’t bring yourself to relax and your mind kept wandering to all the wrong places. You couldn’t help but picture a slender frame on top of you, instead of broad chest chiseled by years of football practice. Dark brown hair instead of light, almost blonde hair. Scratchy stubble instead of a smooth cheek. Deep chocolate eyes, instead of hazel…

“Wait, wait,” you asked, pushing at Derek's chest and he sighed, lifting his head to look at you.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know.” You looked away, afraid of giving yourself away. “I just… I don’t feel like it tonight.”

“Ok.”

Derek sat up on the bed, running his hand through his hair, another heavy sigh escaping his lips and you could see frustration shining in his eyes. Not because you said no, but because he had been picking up the change in your mood for days now and he could figure out what was wrong and you couldn’t exactly come forward and explain it either.

“Do you wanna go downstairs and watch a movie or something?”

 You shrugged and your gaze darted around your room because you couldn’t bear to look at Derek. It landed on an unopen bag of skittles.

Matt always brought you some whenever you were tutoring him so there was always one around and you felt like the most horrible person in the world. Here you were with such a sweetheart for a boyfriend, but your mind kept shifting over for the last person you should get involved with.

“I have homework to finish,” you said instead, guilt gnawing your gut.

You knew Derek knew you were lying, but he still got up, picking up his leatherman jacket as he headed out of your room without another word. No goodbye, no kiss or hug. Just silence that felt heavy and awful and made you flop on your bed, tears welling in your eyes.

What was wrong with you? Why were you ruining life that you had spent most of your high school years building because of a guy? Who you didn’t even know liked you back?

----

You were fresh from your shower after cheerleader practice, hair still wet and hanging loose over your shoulders when you walked up to your locker to grab your chemistry book and found the note.

With a smile, you didn’t even bother to look it over, knowing what it said. Instead, you just shoved inside your pocket, while you pushed your book into your backpack, before rushing off. You had only fifteen minutes before class and the bleachers were on the other side of the school.

As expected, Matt was waiting in the familiar hiding spot, puffing on a cigarette that he put out as soon as he saw you, since he knew you hated the smoke. His smile was wide and bright and enough to make you grin because he was holding a sheet of paper and you knew exactly what that was.

“An A!” he announced, showing you his latest history test. “I got a fucking A!”

“That’s amazing, Matt! Congratulations!” you cheered all but jumping in his arms for a hug and he caught you easily. Tucking you closer to his chest.

“I haven’t gotten an A since middle school,” he commented with a grin, looking down at you. “Thank you so much, Skittles.”

“Don’t thank me. It was all you,” you said, meeting his eyes.

You were still wrapped in his arms, your gaze locked with his and there was something there that made your breath catch in your throat and your heart speed in your chest. You saw the way Matt’s gaze felt to your lips, before coming up to your eyes again and all you wanted was for him to close the distance, press his lips against yours. You actually thought he was going to do it until you hear someone clearing their throat behind you and jumped back and away from Matt.

When you turned around to look, Dana stood there, hands on her hips, green eyes narrowed as she glared at you, lips pressed in a tight, displeased line. Panic flooded your chest because there was no way to explain what was happening except with the truth and you knew how Dana felt about cheating.

There was no other way to spin it, was there? You were cheating on Derek. Or at least you were about to if Dana hadn’t walked in when she did.

You looked back at Matt and he looked pale and worried as his gaze darted from you to your best friend. Lying a gentle hand on his shoulder, his eyes meet yours. When did the two of you become so good at communicating with just one look, you didn’t know, but Matt just nodded, grabbed his things and walked away.

“Of all the guys in this school, you’re doing this with psycho stoner Matt?” Dana exclaimed and you winced, not sure what was worse: the shrill tone of her voice or her words.

“He’s not a psycho!” you defended almost on autopilot. If anyone was being the asshole in this whole situation, it was you and Matt didn’t deserve to be treated that way. “It’s just happened. I never meant…”

You rubbed your eyes, fighting against the wave of tears. All the confusion and doubt and guilt bubbling to the forefront and words poured out of you as you told Dana everything, how it started, how your feelings began to change, until the scene she witnessed today.

“Do you love Derek?” she asked, her expression softening, becoming understanding. This was why Dana was your best friend. No matter her shortcomings, she was a good person.

“I, uh, yeah?” you replied with hesitation, tone uncertain. You did love Derek right? You’ve been together since freshman year and he was such a great guy.

“It’s fine if you don’t,” Dana said, but her expression was a little sad. Derek was her brother after all. “People fall out of love. And I will never understand what you see in Matt of all people, but you can’t lead them on. Either cut Matt lose or break up with Derek.”

“I know,” you sighed, drying your cheeks because you did know and that’s why this was so hard for you. “I just need time to think. Make a decision.”

“One week,” Dana said, crossing her arms over her chest, her expression turning stormy. “After that, I’m telling Derek.”

All you managed was a nod.

----

Sitting on your usual booth at Joe’s diner, you drummed your fingers on the wooden table, your knee bouncing trying to work out some of the restless nervous energy thrumming through you as you waited for him.

A week had passed since your conversation with Dana and you finally made your decision. Surprisingly it took a conversation with your father to clear the air for you. It had been just the two of you since your mom died and even if he didn’t exactly know how to talk to you since you entered adolescence, he always tried.

So when he came back from his shift one night and found you bawling your eyes out, he sat you down on the couch and made you tell him everything that was going on. He had noticed you hadn’t been quite yourself lately and that night was the moment he figured he had given you enough space and it was time to be there.

You told him everything, just like you had done with Dana. Your dad was less than thrilled to know that you had been spending so much time with Matt without him knowing, but at the same time, he had worked the case, he knew Matt had been the only one in that group with a tiny shred of decency. He was, after all, the one who called the cops once he learned about Jamie.

“Sweetheart,” your father started, brushing away the tears from your face. “I won’t tell you what to do, but…”

“But what?” you sniffled, looking at him, vision blurry.

“The fact that you even fell in love with Matt while dating Derek says a lot, don’t you think?” he said in a low tone, his words making your heart ache.

“You’re right,” you whispered, letting out a shaky breath. “Thanks, dad.”

“I’m always here for you, sweetie,” he replied, kissing you on the forehead before letting you go.

That had been last night. After you washed your face and recomposed yourself more or less, you went to Derek’s. It was an awful conversation to have and you felt horrible for breaking his heart like that, but it wasn’t fair to him or you continue the way you were.

You barely slept and the first thing you did when you got to school was put a note on Matt’s locker, asking him to meet you at the diner after school. You had no idea if he was going to come. You had avoided him for an entire week, ignoring his notes and worried looked he threw your way in the halls and the cafeteria. He had all the right to ignore your request, but you prayed he wouldn’t.

The bell about the front door jiggled and your head snapped up, heart leaping to your throat when you saw Matt walking in, hand on his pockets, expression closed off. He made a beeline to your booth and you tried a smile which he didn’t return.

“So, you’re talking to me again?” his tone acid and cold and you flinched, forcing yourself not to look away.

“Look, after everything, I know I don’t deserve even a second of your time, but can we talk, please?”

With a sigh, Matt begrudgingly took a seat in front of you, his expression never wavering, his brown eyes staring you down, making you shift uncomfortably on your seat. Movies always made this seem so easy, but you were terrified.

“I broke up with Derek,” you said at last, once the silence between you two stretched to the point of painful. Matt’s eyes widened slightly at your words.

“Why?” he asked and once again the words seemed stuck in your throat.

“You know why,” you croaked, looking away.

“Do I? you’ve spent months treating me like a dirty little secret.” Matt all but spat, his eyes shining with hurt and your heart ached. “And then when the secret was out, you just ignored me like I was nothing!”

“You’re right and I was awful in this whole thing. To Derek and you,” you said with a sigh. “And I understand if you never want to see me again, but I like you, Matt. A lot. I love the way you frown when you’re thinking hard about something or how you smile when you’re right. I love how you look all tough and mean, but you’re actually really sweet when you let people in. I love how you let me in and I know I don’t deserve a second chance, but if you would let me try, I promise I will do my best to never hurt you like that again.”

“What about your reputation?” Matt asked, there was still hesitation in his tone, but mostly hope or so you thought. “Everyone thinks I’m a murderer.”

“I know the truth so fuck what everyone else thinks,” you declared, reaching for his hand, relieved that he didn’t pull it away. “Can we give it a try, Matt?”

“No,” he shook his head, taking his hand from under yours and standing up and you felt tears welling up in your eyes again as you watched him walking away.

---

When you walked into school the next Monday you could practically feel all eyes on you. It wasn’t such a big place so word about your breakup with Derek had spread like a wildfire exactly like you expected it would, making you wonder how much they knew.

You knew more than a few girls would be extremely happy about it. Derek was the quarterback of the football team, one of the most popular guys in the school they would most likely be lining up to replace you in his affections, especially with homecoming dance right around the corner.

Moving to your locker you let out a heavy sigh, trying to ignore all the stares, but at the same time, avoid thinking about the dress you bought for the dance that nearly cost you a month’s salary and apparently would go to waste because you had no one to go to the dance with.

Maybe it was a silly thing to worry about, but you did love school dances and all the silly rituals of passages they involved. You always felt like high school experience wouldn’t be complete unless you had a chance to go through these kinds of things.

With your biology book in hand, you close your locker door, turning around and running smack on Matt’s chest with enough force that you stumbled and he has to steady you with a hand on your elbow, his palm feeling large and warm against you skin.

“Hi!” you greeted, eyes wide in surprise. You didn’t expect him to ever talk to you again after yesterday and hope busted in your chest.

“You have my math notebook,” he said instead of a greeting, voice detached and hollow, successfully smothering the feeling.

“Right,” you nodded, trying to balance the book and dig through your backpack at the same time. It took a while, but you finally pulled out the notebook. “Listen, I still up for tutoring if you want. I know a lot has happened…”

“I got it,” Matt declared, cutting you off as he took the notebook from your hand. “Thanks.”

The last word was said in a dry tone as he walked away from you without a second look and you felt once again tears rising, your lungs constricting, but you forced yourself to take a deep breath. You’ve cried enough for boys in the last couple of weeks. You refused to cry even more. Once you felt you were in control again, you headed to class pretending not to notice the whispers.

If people didn’t know the reason why you and Derek broke up when the day started, they definitely guessed after this entire exchange. And by the time lunch rolled around, you already heard ten different and outrageous versions of the entire thing. It was getting hard and harder to ignore the whispers, but you were determinate to keep your head high because it wasn’t anyone’s business who you dated or not or why.

You got your tray and turned to your usual table where you could see the rest of the cheerleader team gathered, but before you could take a step towards it, Dana moved in your way, face drawn into a grimace and you knew exactly where this was going.

“So much for being my friend, huh?” You said with a snort and a head shake.

“He’s my brother. What you expected me to do?” Dana said with a shrug and you could see she was apologetic, but anger bubbled in your chest. “Just hand over your uniform at the end of the day.”

“Why wait?” you spat, dropping your tray with a little more force than necessary on a nearby table before you dug out the cheerleader uniform from your backpack and shoved in Dana’s chest. “There! Good luck making regionals without me.”

Suddenly without appetite, you turned on your heels and walked out of the cafeteria.

---

Two weeks later, you were hanging out at the bleachers, catching on your reading while you sat through the cheerleader team practice, taking great pleasure in seeing Bianca, your substitute messing up all the movements that came like breathing to you. Was it petty? Yes. But after everything you’ve been through these last feel days, you didn’t feel bad for your pettiness.

You snorted when she once against moved the wrong direction, making Dana stop the entire routine to chide her, but not before sending a glare your way like she knew you were mocking, which you definitely were. You only looked away from the scene unfolding in front of you at the sound of your name being called. Tilting your head up and shielding your eyes against the pale winter sun, you turned your attention to the sniggering football player hovering over you.

“I heard you like tutoring guys…” he started with a suggestive smirk and you rolled your eyes.

“50 bucks an hour,” you declared, gaze shifting back to your book.

“Is that what you charged psycho Matt?” the player asked, his voice dripping innuendo.

“No, I’m giving you the moron discount,” you replied with a little sarcastic grin and his expression shifted to anger as he took a step towards you.

“Hank!” Derek’s voice all but boomed and the guy stood to attention, looking a little guilty at the other boy. “Coach wants to see you.”

Tension made you sat straighter, fingers tightening over your book as you hurried to put your things away. You hadn’t seen or talked to Derek since the day you broke up and you preferred to keep that way for as long as possible. Apparently, Derek wasn’t having it because he followed you like a shadow.

“Can we talk?” he asked, voice so small you couldn’t bring yourself to say no. You’ve slowed your steps but couldn’t really bring yourself to look at him. “How have you been?”

“All of my friends refuse to talk to me; people keep whispering behind my back or calling me names to my face; guys keep propositioning because they think if I fucked Matt, will fuck anyone…” your tone is bitter, but after everything, how else could you deal with this? “I didn’t by the way. Sleep with Matt. We didn’t even kiss.”

“I know,” Derek sighed, coming to stand before you. “I believe you and I’m sorry this is happening.”

“It’s not your fault, Derek,” you sighed too, hands in your pockets. “Of everyone, you’re the only one completely blame-free in this entire mess and I hope one day we can be friends again.”

You pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, before you made your way back inside the school, completely unaware of the pair of brown eyes watching the entire exchange. Not until the end of the day when you made your way to your car and found Matt there, much like when this whole thing began a few months ago.

You had tried to talk to him more than once during the last couple of weeks, but he either ignored you completely. He was once again hanging out with the worst people in school, jeopardizing his probation and you wished you could just walk up to Matt and talk some sense into him, but you knew you couldn’t. So, finding him here seemingly waiting for you, smoking a joint surprised and annoyed you to no end.

“What you are doing here, Matt?” you asked, putting your stuff onto the passenger seat before you glanced back at him.

“I’m here to congratulate you,” he said, jumping off the hood of your car. “You almost had me going with that bullshit speech at the diner, but here you are, two weeks later already all chummy with Derek again.”

It took you a second to realize what he meant and all you managed was to shake your head and snort.

“I don’t know what you think you saw, but I don’t own you an explanation,” you said, sidestepping him so you could reach the car door, but as soon as you pulled open, Matt pushed it close again. “What the hell you want from me, Matt!? You won’t forgive me, you treat me like shit and now you want me to explain myself for talking to the only person in this school who isn’t treating me badly? Fuck you!”

You shoved at his chest, all the words stuck in your chest for the past month suddenly finding its way out, spilling from your mouth.

“My life was perfectly fine before you waltzed back in! I had friends, I had a loving boyfriend who I loved or at least I thought I did.” You could feel the tears welling up in your eyes as your tone lost its anger, leaving only sadness. “But then you came along all brooding and rebellious, but so sweet and gentle and I remembered what was like to really be in love with someone…”

Your words were cut off when Matt brought you closer, his lips finding yours in an urgent kiss that had you too stunned to move; your hands caught against his chest; your eyes wide open. Matt was kissing you. You could feel his stubble scraping your jaw and the taste of pot in his lips.

It took a moment for the shock to wear off. For you to start kissing him back because it was the only thing you’ve been wishing for this last month.

“Why?” you gasped once he let your lips go and rested his forehead against yours, breathing hard, his hands rubbing gentle circles on your back.

“Because I couldn’t get you off my head? Everywhere I went, everything I did, reminded of you and how much I missed you and I didn’t know what else to do. I’m not good at this.”

You knew what he meant. You were learning you weren’t all that good with this, with feelings, either.

“Maybe we can work it out together?” you asked, brushing some hair away from his face, watching as his expression opened in a small, hesitant smile, that was still so bright and one of the best things you’ve ever seen.

“Yeah,” Matt nodded and this time, the kiss didn’t take you by surprise. “I’d like that.”

xxx

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[jessedvn]

HELLO ALL!! the name is sierra and i’m twenty four years old. hailing from the pst timezone, you’ll find me around at such odd hours due to my work schedule at the hospital and overall fact that i’m just a hot mess extraordinaire. message me or like this or whatever you wanna and we can connect on discord! ❤ check below for a little intro on my girl jessica. 

THE BASICS.

full name: jessica grace eden. age & birthdate: 30 // december 22nd, 1990. gender & sexuality: cis woman // bisexual. relationship status: single. children: bella eden. occupation: er nurse // part time bartender at rendezvous. hometown: charming, california. current residence: charming, california.

THE BACKGROUND.

trigger warning for miscarriage, still birth, unhealthy relationships, drug abuse !!

jessica was born and raised in charming, california to a father she lost way too soon and a mother who was more absent than present. she had a younger brother who she practically raised, only a handful of years between them, named jamie.

she was a cheerleader in high school and fairly popular despite basically being on her own with no parents for support. luckily enough, she had decent grades and good friends so her childhood wasn’t all that bad.

entering college and doing so locally, jessica decided to pursue nursing. her ultimate goal and dream is to climb the ranks and wind up on a surgical floor or an icu unit. but with working from an income on a part time job and grants that only took her so far, college was a little difficult for her. her studies were the most important, and caving to weakness, jessica turned to popping pills and partially cheating on exams to get by. not that she truly needed to, she was intelligent, but there were only so many hours in the damn day.

she eventually graduated and upon earning her degree, she also brought along her pill problem and took it home with her. she managed to curb it with the help of her little brother.

turning twenty five, jessica had met who soon would become the father of the child she lost. he was affiliated with the devil’s disciples and the relationship was on and off and a bit messy. after the loss of their child their relationship seemed to dissolve completely.

with her brother finding his way to the wicked wolves, jessica also did as well. she found solace and friendship and connection in quite a few of the members. one in particular saved her from an instance with her former boyfriend, her relapsing, all by forcing her out of the situation and smacking her right back into reality.

after the loss of her daughter and the almost relapse, jessica decided to get the hell out of dodge for some time. she left charming to pursue a job in seattle and stayed there for a few years.

now, jessica’s at a much better place than she was when she left charming. she’s returned within the last few years, scored a job at the hospital but was forced to work part time at the bar to make ends meet since she’s still pretty low on the totem pole at the hospital. she missed her girls and her brother and, well, seattle was lonelier than she’d like to admit...

THE PERSONALITY.

she’s a feisty, loud mouthed and passionate woman. she’s driven to better herself, but often falls weak to her sins and demons in the closet. she’s sharp and stubborn. loyal and soft. tenderhearted and has an insane desire for love... and garlic fries.

her aesthetics? high waisted levi jean shorts on curvy hips, open bedroom windows at night, 3am conversations in the booth of a diner, and cheap champagne in plastic cups.

THE WANTED CONNECTIONS.

FORMER BABY DADDY┊trigger warning for miscarriage, still birth, unhealthy relationships !! this one is a storyline driven connection but could work for plenty! basically, jessica and this guy had a sticky situation on their hands. he was a devil’s disciple ( how involved he was with the club is of course depending on said character ) and she was a young twenty something in college trying to make a life for herself who turned to popping pills to get through it. the relationship was on and off and very troubling, but they both were passionate and often fell back into each other. sooner or later, when the couple was off, jessica found herself pregnant. the pregnancy was hard on her body and almost as if her body betrayed her, she suffered a lot of complications up until late in the game. their child was still birth and the pair never seemed to recover or find their way back to each other afterwards. however, their relationship was passionate, so feelings could still be there.

YOUNGER BROTHER┊for headcanon purposes i’ve named him jamie, but this of course is not set in stone and can be changed upon chatting and getting things rolling! he’s about 25/26 and the younger brother of jessica. as you can read above, the lost their dad and their mom was absent and a runaway, so jessica was a big role model for jamie upon growing up. of course, when he got old enough, he began to work fo himself and do everything he could to provide for himself while also helping jessica throughout her college years. he’s currently a prospect for the wicked wolves which isn’t what jessica imagined for her brother, but she can’t really blame him for heading into that life, either.

THE SAVIOR┊this would be the member of the wicked wolves that jessica had met through her brother being introduced to the club. jessica jokes that he “saved” her from her former self, but in reality, he kind of did. he was the one, aside from her brother, that made sure jessica didn’t slip back into her old habits after suffering the loss of her daughter. he has an obvious distain for jessica’s ex, but that also fuels the fire that they are from opposing clubs. there’s a brief headcanon that he and jessica fell into bed together once the night before she left for seattle but jessica has yet to touch on that since returning to charming within the last four years.

GIRL SQUADS┊jessica is a girls girl. she needs all the girlfriends she can get. she’s got an insane love for samantha martinez and considers the girl her sister. buuuut, she keeps her circle close and tight knit, so she needs all the girlfriends that i can steal for her!

MORE CONNECTIONS...

NEIGHBORS┊jessica moved back into her childhood home upon returning to charming four years ago. it’s a smaller three bedroom home but it works, so obviously, she would have plenty of neighbors! probably old from where she grew up, and some new from where she moved back home.

EXES┊whether it be from high school, college, or before becoming pregnant, jessica did get around so this connection is very open!

ONE NIGHT STANDS, FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, LOVERS┊jessica has yet to tie herself down since her previous ex, but a girl has got needs, y’know? this connection is pretty much open to all and is a little self explanatory! 

ENEMIES┊jessica is a lot to swallow so i’m sure she’s earned a few people who dislike her... or even hate her... here and there. she probably feels the same way.

OLD DISCIPLES CONNECTIONS┊i imagine since walking away from her ex quite a few of these relationships were severed, but once upon a time, jessica befriended a few members from her time with her boyfriend/baby daddy. it might be interesting to see how they interact now!

WICKED WOLVES CONNECTIONS┊mostly because of her brother and her job at rendezvous jessica is well known within the club. she’s also a nurse, so arguably, she’s useful to the club if they ever do need her help. she’s willing to provide it. she’s grown close with a few i’d imagine! and some probably question her loyalties i’m sure.

ANYTHING ELSE? LET’S BRAINSTORM┊i’m a big sucker for brainstorming ideas i’m not creative to come up with on my own OR even starting fresh and throwing them together to see an organic connection. i’m all for it!

[spideyrights]

Partners (Series) - Detective Loki x Reader

VI. DINNER DATE

series masterlist 

“Is it alright if I head out early? Do you need me for anything?” You turn to Loki who’s attention shifts from his computer screen to you with furrowed brows and attentive gaze.

“Um, no, you can go. Any particular reason?” You hesitate on your answer as you stand, adjusting your blazer and grabbing your coat and scarf, pulling them on in hopes of resisting the sharp, icy breeze.

“Actually yes...I’m going on a date!”

“Oh..., um, with-with who?”

“The only guy I know in this godforsaken town. My mother called me and told me he lives here now, she gave him my number and hey presto he asked me on a date.” you spoke smiling, bouncing on your feet softly with excitement coursing through you. Safe to say you hadn’t been on a date in a long time so you were finally looking forward to having something company. Company that isn’t your partner of course.

Loki looked at you hesitantly, lips parted as if about to say something before he pressed them shut firmly, stopping himself. “That’s real nice. You enjoy yourself,” he spoke quickly, turning back to his computer screen in one swift motion. The response made you pout. Loki seemed disinterested which you’d expect but you also sensed a hint of irritation in his tone that you couldn’t quite make sense of. 

“You sure everything’s okay? I don’t have to go if you need me around, I barely even know the guy, cancelling wouldn’t be heartbreaking.” you offered, stepping closer to him despite him still having his back turned on you. 

“No, you go have your fun just...where are you gonna be? In case something critical happens and, you know, I need to...come interrupt your, um, date,” he says, emphasising the word date with a kind of disgust that makes you roll your eyes. He isn’t even pretending to be working now, he keeps his face turned away from you but stares blankly ahead. 

“That restaurant across from the coffee place you went to the other day, you know the Thai one?”

“Oh yeah, yeah, sounds good. So...” He finally turns to face you and this time with a forced smile, less evident disgruntlement. 

“So...?”

“So have fun.”

“Thanks! Remember I’m on my phone if you need.” 

Thus far you’d been having a pleasant night. You enjoyed the feeling of putting on a nice dress and a bit of makeup, a stark contrast to the typical dress shirt and suit skirt or trousers you’d worn day in day out, and having a nice boy come knock on your apartment door with a bunch of flowers, not that there was anything wrong with when Loki would show up in the mornings outside your apartment complex and alert you he was here with an extended honk of his car horn. Essentially you felt you were finally living a more glamorous parallel of your day-to-day life and the man sitting across from you, Jacob, was a great distraction from the case that you just couldn’t seem to tear your mind from.

“Yeah, I’m just trying my best but this case is pretty intense,” you mumble, suddenly becoming conscious of the fact that you’d been going on and on about your job since you’d gotten to the restaurant, clearly a testament to where your mind was at. “But anyway, enough about me, I wanna hear about what you do.” You listened to him intently whilst you picked at the food that had arrived not too long ago. “But yeah moving here was certainly-” He halted mid sentence making your eyes wander in the direction his attention had shifted to. Your eyes widened immediately upon seeing Loki arguing with the staff member in charge of reservations at the front of the restaurant and pointing in the direction of your table, clearly confusing your date.

“Oh no,” you mumbled, watching Loki push past the growing group of staff members at the front, badge in hand and drawing quite a bit of attention now. You turned back to Jacob, sending him apologetic eyes before standing to meet Loki, who was now fast approaching your table, at eye level. 

You sent him a look which in itself said ‘what are you doing here?!’ once he’d halted in front of you. “Detective, I’m sorry to interrupt but something important came up and we really gotta go.” His eyes moved from yours to your date, raising a hand apologetically though there was definitely an ingenuity in his actions that you could pick out.

“We’re kind of on a date here,” Jamie laughs awkwardly, trying to conceal his obvious annoyance. “I’m Detective Loki, her partner and I’m sorry to interrupt, truly,” He directs that last part at you with a look though his tone is coldly condescending to your date along with the hand he extends which Jamie takes hesitantly before Loki tugs down in a harsh handshake. “But I have some pretty important work to be done with (Y/N) here so if you don’t mind...”

You exhale softly, mouthing a ‘sorry’ to Jamie before pressing a kiss to his cheek - which you swear you saw Loki recoil in disgust at - and telling him you’ll call him and reschedule once this case is over. Loki begins to leave the restaurant, eyes from other diners still on him, and you instinctively trail behind. 

“You look nice,” he comments, not even glancing in your direction as you stumble beside him, trying to match his pace whilst simultaneously pulling your coat on. “Would you care to tell me what the big emergency is?”

He says nothing, simply crossing over to the driver’s side of the car and stepping in. You grunt quietly in frustration kicking your heel to the ground with force before following suit and seating yourself in the passenger sight with disgruntlement evident in your body language.

“I just stopped by Mrs Dover’s because she claims someone broke in. Escaped through the window and all,” he finally speaks though you’re concerned by the almost deadpan tone and expression his ‘urgent’ news takes.

“I’m guessing you then need me because you believe her and have some idea who this might be or a lead for us to work on...” you said, the reasonable tone in your voice gradually depleting. Loki wouldn’t lie about an urgent case break, there obviously had to be more to this.

“Um...no.” Your head shot up, turning to him immediately.

“No? I thought this was urgent. Like we have to go chase this bad guy now urgent.”

“Aren’t all aspects of this investigation important?” he speaks with a hint of sarcasm and teasing in his voice but you’re not exactly in the mood to find this amusing. You loved your work of course but you did feel like you needed a night away from this case to clear your mind. Unlike Loki you couldn’t run on caffeine and determination. You admittedly didn't mind being back in his company however. 

You reached over, shoving a hand into Loki’s jacket pocket, clearly alarming him as he half-heartedly tries to shuffle away. Opening it and finding one poorly detailed scrawl you grow more confused. “Loki you have one note in your notebook, no leads and no evidence. Plus I’m quite sure that woman is barely sleeping or eating, not to suggest anything about her information but...this is not urgent.”

“Well she also told me about the thing about Keller being out with the police when he’s not,” he spoke matter-of-factly, as if this was greater evidence in his favour. 

“So what you already knew?” you retorted with a shake of your head. Loki pauses, you can tell he’s thinking of more to say but your only focus is on why he’s going through so much of an effort. It couldn’t be because-

“I noticed in Keller’s basement he was missing like half a bag of Lye. I think that gives us grounds to investigate Keller.”

“That’s something at least,” you sigh, falling back into the seat in defeat. “But now you’re driving me back to the office, away from my date even though we have nothing to do.”

“We have plenty to do. We need to figure out where Keller is going.”

You pause, eyes fixed on Loki who remains focused on the road ahead despite being stuck in heavy traffic and having nowhere to go. You finally choose to spit out the question lingering wordlessly in the air. “Why did you do that?”

“What?”

“You know what? Interrupt my date with something you know isn’t urgent. I know you’re not an idiot.”

“Well thank you.”

“Don’t avoid my question.”

Loki exhales, shuffling in his seat slightly. You can’t tell whether the discomfort is physical or emotional. With him probably both. “No reason, I just thought I should tell you what I found out.”

“David.” 

“I let you say my name which was a kind gesture, there’s no need to say it like that.” You say nothing in response. He’s being defensive and guarded and joking around more than usual which you, piecing together with your expert detective skills, pointed to one obvious reason.  “If you didn’t want me to go on the date you could have just told me.”

“Why wouldn’t I want you to go on the date?” he scoffs with a crinkle of his brows and upturned lips in an expression of disbelief. You don’t even think he knows the answer to that question himself. 

“That’s what I want to know.” You notice how his jaw tenses and his eyes darken slightly, all other expression dropping from his face instantaneously and the humour he once had flowing freely quickly dissipating. You don’t know what had just happened. 

“Just drop it, okay?”

“No”

“(Y/N)”

“Whatever.” You cross your arms over your chest, your attention falling to the view flying by as the car speeds through the now empty country roads. The blur of trees and wet soil isn’t enough to distract you from the word feeling stirring in your stomach. You should be mad at Loki and you should be wishing you were on your date, but you’re not. Strange. 

“Okay, come on, don’t be like that,” Loki reasons, finally diverting his gaze from the road to in your direction every few seconds to notice your apparent anger. “I can order you Thai food and...light a fucking candle on our desk, huh? Is that better?”

The gesture makes you smile softly though you try to hide it, knowing he would be way too easily victorious if you agreed immediately. “Sounds great except you’re not the person I’m supposed to be on a date with.” He pauses. 

“I’d like to think I’m a worthy alternative.”

Your gaze turns back to him having noted his cheeky tone and, unable to hide the smile of your face, you finally meet his eyes. “Mhm, just about.”

You hovered by the front of the precinct, awaiting yours and Loki’s Thai food delivery driver. It was freezing outside but you’d volunteered to be the one to take the outside shift of picking up the food whilst Loki got the utensils just because he picked up the food last time. Also the fact that you knew Loki didn’t wrap up when he went outside to wait for the food insisting it ‘would only be a few minutes in the cold’ and you would hate to see him fall ill and miss work so you felt this was the better option. You, unlike your counterpart, were wrapped up in a cardigan and a coat, rubbing your faux leather gloved hands together to create some kind of warmth.

“Detective (Y/L/N)!” You turned in the direction of the friendly voice only to see the officer who had offered you his coat a week back now with his stuff in his hand, clearly heading home, as were most of the others bar you and Loki. “Don’t tell me you and Loki are pulling another last night.” “I’m afraid we are, Officer. I’m waiting on our Thai food delivery right now.” He smirks, his eyebrows raising which makes an expression of confusion wash over your own face. “What?” “Nothing, nothing. Just...you and Loki...spending a lot of nights here together,” he says, enunciating in a way that should make you catch on to what he’s implying but your own naivety makes you miss it completely. “All I’m going to say is that the talk of the precinct is how you gave Loki the first hug he might have had in his entire life the other day.”

Your eyes widen and cheeks warm despite the cold, slightly embarrassed. You didn’t know anyone had seen that. “I’d like to say we’re friends,” you mumble, picking at your gloves which only makes his smile grow, noting your almost schoolgirl like shyness. “I mean of course we spend time together, we’re working a very important case together.”

“Oh I know, Detective, I’m just saying...” he pauses but you raise your eyebrows and step forward, gesturing for him to continue. “It’s like the guy is walking on sunshine or something. It’s magic that I can even hear his voice in the precinct let alone a laugh, strained as it may be. And, well, it’s always because of you.”

You don’t know what to say. You’re almost stunned into silence. Sure you knew Loki was renowned for being the grumpy type and sure, you may have noted that your relationship was more pleasant than it initially had been but...others were noticing too? 

“If that’s Loki walking on sunshine I’d hate to see what he’s like on a bad day,” you joked, trying to ease the tension and discomfort of the conversation. 

“Sweetheart, we’ve all seen the bad days but he hasn’t had a bad day since you got here. That’s saying something.” You’re startled out of the conversation by the delivery driver riding into the station so you make a soft jog to meet him halfway and grab your food, paying and trying to hurry into the station to avoid further conversation about Loki.

“See you tomorrow, Officer.” “Enjoy your date, Detective.” “It’s not a date!”

“Sure it’s not,” he chuckles softly but by then you’re half running back to your cubicle to avoid hearing it. Placing the food down, the noise alerts Loki of your presence and he turns to you, his brows furrowing as soon as he takes in your appearance. “You okay?” “What? Um, yeah,” you mutter, pulling off your winter wear and trying to act casual. “Anyway, Keller.” Your attempt to change the subject works successfully as Loki’s expression transitions into focus. 

“Yeah, Keller. I think we should trail him. See where he goes. Whether it’s Jones or the girls, he’s doing some shady shit for sure.” Loki focuses on pulling the various boxes of food out of the bag, checking their labels, seeming to look for something in particular. “Here, I ordered that noodle thing you like.”

He hands it to you, not looking at you, his eyes still fixed on the food he unpacks but you smile adoringly at him, even if it goes unnoticed. Probably better if it goes unnoticed. “Thanks,” you mumble, a hint of smile in your voice and it makes his eyes dart to you for just a moment with a tight-lipped smile and flushed cheeks.

“I think I should go see the Birch family. There’s no need for both of us to follower Keller, it might just make things more suspicious.” Loki looks at you inquisitively before nodding slowly, hesitantly agreeing. “Um, sure, I guess but what are you gonna do with the Birches?”

“Talk to them. They probably need it.” Loki blinks harshly, the twitch returning and he drops his head, almost like he doesn’t want you to see it which only brings a frown to your face. “We’re coming up to a week missing,” he says, indicating to you how that stress twitch might have come about.

“I know.” There’s silence after that. The harsh impact of reality falling between the two of you, a heavy burden to carry. You both pick at your food, unnerved by the thought but it’s silent still, much easier to swallow when unspoken. 

David: Keller’s on the move, good time to hit the Birches

You skim through the message, finally rolling your car up from a few yards away from the house - what you and Loki had deemed a safe distance in case Keller saw you and caught on - to the front of the house, stepping out. You quickly pulled your phone back out, typing a short but sweet response.

You: Thanks, I’m heading in. Stay safe :)

Your phone buzzed only a few seconds after. 

David: Always 

You shut your phone off just as you approached the door, raising your hand up to knock on it but it opens before you can. You’re met by the face of Eliza Birch, the teen daughter. “Hey, sweetheart, are your parents home?” She looks at you somewhat hesitantly through the small amount she’s pulled the door open, just enough for her head to peak through comfortably, though her body language is less tense from the softness of your tone. “No.”

“You mind if I come in anyway? I can show you my badge-”

“I know who you are, it’s fine,” she mumbles, pulling open the door to let you pass through which you respond to with an appreciative smile. 

“So you have any idea where your parents are?” You walk through the house slowly, taking in your surroundings. The house is almost too perfectly suburban for you to believe it’s been hit by such tragedy. Pictures are littered around of the happy family, many with young Joy in them, with little ornaments, some you can tell are handmaid child’s crafts, dotted around the household. You finally enter the living room, seating yourself down on an armchair just as she seats herself on the couch.

“I don’t know. Dad started going out on the searches and now mom does too.” She’s nervous, clearly. She tugs at the sleeves of her sweater, pulling them down over her wrists and she watches her own feet kick together, rubbing against the carpet.

“You don't go with them? You stay here?” She nods. She doesn’t nod eagerly. She nods rather solemnly. 

“You mind if I take a look at your sister’s room?” She seems to agree in that she stands without speaking, leading you upstairs to the bedroom. The room is perfect for a girl like Joy. It’s beautifully decorated with an assortment of her interests; princesses, sports and animals. It makes your lips turn up in a kind of sad smile. This expression soon drops however when you notice one of her drawers left slightly ajar.

“Have you guys been in here since Joy was gone?”

“Not really. A couple times here and there on the first day but after that not really.” 

You pull the sleeve of your sweater over your hand and use the covered palm to pull open the drawer slightly more. You notice Eliza shift behind you, presumably to see what you’re doing but you try and block her view with your body. The drawer is a mess. Her clothes are haphazardly scattered all over the drawer, lacking in the neat folds and orderly fashion you could see present in every other aspect of the room. You pulled open the drawer below. It was in pristine condition, untouched and what you expected this other drawer looked like before someone messed with it. You shut both of them, trying to maintain a cool and calm facade.

“What were you and your parents doing last night? Around 8pm?” you ask, pretending to look around the rest of the room like you hadn’t already found what you were looking for.

“What the hell? You’re accusing us-”

“No, Miss Birch, that’s not what I’m doing. I just need to make sure you and your family are safe at all times during this investigation. Think of it like a routine check. You’re not under suspicion of anything.”

She looks like she doesn’t believe you. You don’t like disappointing people but you can hear Loki’s voice in your head telling you to push past being courteous and try and get some real answers. You raise your eyebrows at her, making clear your question still stands.

“My parents were out searching, I was home.”

If she was home she would have heard someone break in surely. If it was the same person that hit the Dovers then she might have heard and reported it like Mrs Dover, you thought. “And what were you doing? A vague idea for around that time.”

“I don’t know...I was on the phone with Ralph for a while. I had a bath. Not exciting.” You nod, your eyes fixing on her and it seems to make her nervous. It would make sense for her to not hear an intrusion, it would also make sense for Ralph to have not heard also. 

You’re interrupted by the buzzing of your phone.

David: Keller spotted me and flipped, he’s walking home and he’s drunk so get out of there before he spots your car or something. 

You slip your phone into your back pocket, immediately walking past Eliza and back down the stairs. “Thank you so much for your help, Eliza. If you or your family need anything, I promise I can help, day or night.”

You hover by the door, ready to leave but not before you hand her your card and she scoffs slightly. “I didn’t know police officer actually cared.”

“The good ones do,” you smile slightly and she nods with a quirk of her lips. “Plus I’m new. I’m sure I’ll stop caring in ten years.” This causes her to crack a real smile and what sounds like half a laugh passes through her lips and she shoves the card in her pocket which seems to you like success.

You hurry across the lawn stepping into your car and retrieving your car as you start the engine.

You: Anything good?

David: Not quite. You?

You: Not quite.

David: See you back at the station.

You: Race you there.

David: You’re annoying.

You exhale a soft laugh at the text, setting off before Keller can catch sight of you and have an outburst at you too. Once you’re back at the station you notice Loki already in his cubicle, scrolling through something on his computer with focused eyes. Upon seeing you return to your desk he does a double take before a ghost of a smile graces his lips. “Beat you.”

“I don’t think calling me annoying counts as agreeing to a race.”

You don’t bother seating yourself in your own chair, instead you linger behind him, one hand on the back of his chair and one hand beside his which lays on the mouse as you read the article he reads. “Oh shit, this Keller?”

Your heart drops reading about his father, his father’s suicide and him discovering the body. Though your eyes perk up when you spot an address. 

“234 Campello Street,” you both say aloud making you turn to look at each other at the same time. You notice how close your faces are and you hover in that position a moment before you turn back to the screen despite having nothing else to read. You notice how his eyes stay on you a few moments more before he leans back in his seat with an exhale.

“Guess I know where we’re heading next.”

tags: @mother-dearest-loves-me  @mariamermaid  @vigilanteavengerqueen   @superheroforrent  @peterbxrnes   @igotanaddixon  @blablasomethingblabla  @cafeaufeels   @montypythonsholysnail  @carolines24   @chimera4plums   @oswald-1998  @iv-nyc 

[renee-writer]

The Diner Chapter 12 Small Town

They drive into her home town just as the sun was setting. Main street is lit up by the reds and oranges of setting sun. It is beautiful, transforming the old wooden buildings that saw Sherman into works of art. She catches her breath as Jamie pulls into the front of the Hut.

“Are ye okay?”

“No. Not really. I am about to quit the only job I have ever have in preparation to leaving the only place I have ever lived.”

“Again lass, ye needn't.” She is shaking her head as she undoes her seatbelt and stands up. She takes the two steps that brings her to him.

“I must. I want to explore writing. Really writing. I want to see the country. But more, I need to explore what this is between you and I.”

He reaches for her hand and relaxes as soon as they are touching. “I agree. I just wanted to make sure this is completely what you want.”

“It is. Come. I need to start saying goodbye.” They climb out of the truck and walk in together.

“Well, bless my eyes, look who finally made it back. You are a day late Claire.” Ruth Ann, her manager calls out. “And who are you?”

“Ruth Ann Walker, meet Jamie Fraser. Jamie, Ruth Ann, my boss. Jamie is,” exactly how to complete that. Lover, partner, rescuer, knight. “ahh travel partner.”

“Travel partner?” Every other conversation in the diner has stopped as the patrons all watch the interaction between Claire and Ruth Ann.

“Yes. Ahh, can we go to the back?”

“Yes. Stop your staring and eat y'all. Come on Claire and Jamie.” She leads them back into the back part of the diner. Past the kitchen where Mary was working. “Mary, mind the front a moment.” Mary nods looking at Claire with wide eyes.

“Okay girl. Spill. What is going on?”

“I have fallen in love,” Ruth Ann's eyes go to Jamie,” with writing,” she quickly adds. The rest she needs to figure out herself before sharing. She gives her a very condensed version of the last few days. No mention of the sex or overwhelming feelings.

“I have the opportunity to write, to see the country, to get out of here. My heart will always be a part of this place but. “

“Claire, I am happy for you. Sad for me but. This is a can't miss opportunity. Now Jamie,” she turns her full attention to him,” she trusts you. But, I don’t know you. This little girl is like my own child. I have watched her grow up. If anything happens to her, I will hunt you down. They will find parts of your body all over this side of the Mason-Dickinson line. Am I clear?”

“Yes ma'am. She will be safe with me. Nae harm will come tae her, I swear.”

“Good. Now Claire,” She moves to her desk and pulls her business checkbook out.,” let me write you out what we owe ya.” She does and hands it across to her.

“Ruth Ann! This is five times what I make a week.”

“I know. It includes all the vacation time you haven’t taken. You will be around a few days?”

She is still shocked by the size of the check and takes a moment to answer. “Ah yah. I have to clean out my apartment.”

“Good. Come back in tomorrow and we will give you a proper sent off.”

“Ruth Ann, thank you. For everything.”

“Welcome girl but we ain’t saying goodbye yet. Get some rest.” She hugs her and Jamie shakes her hand and they are off to her house.