#like i remember once i went home from college 2 weekends in a row for some reason (its a 4 hr drive i must have had a reason)

[tchaikovskaya]

lol dont reblog!!!! also mild ed tw (numbers mentioned but nothing w graphic descriptions):

throughout all the years ive been sick the thing that sticks out the most to me in terms of other peoples reactions to my weight change (in either direction) is just how quickly their opinions seemed to flip with what was objectively not a significant difference. like i would get complimented when i lost weight, some people even gushing over how good i looked to them, bc id get to a point where clothes hung on me “well” and i looked more lively i guess (like more energetic and actually present in a sense, and thats how i felt oddly enough, even tho i was depriving myself so much). and then i would continue losing weight at the exact same rate as before, with the same methods, and its like there was this Perfect point and then immediately beyond that it was a 180 turn, people told me i looked sick and frail and told me they were worried for my health. the difference between those two states is like MAYBE five pounds. thats it. and im very tall so 5 lbs on me is an even smaller difference than on an average woman. in the blink of an eye, overnight, i went from looking “aMaZiNg” to looking ill apparently..? is that not the most fucked up thing you’ve ever heard lmaooooo..... the consensus ideal is apparently “as thin as you can possibly be without looking malnourished and skeletal”

[stardustjie]

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐝𝐥𝐞 — chapter 2

vi x reader

words — around 2500

summary — violet's greatest dream was to come back home, watching netfilx until 3am and sleep until noon on sunday morning. too bad you found a new excuse to mess with her and sticking your noise in her personal business.

author's note — it took a little longer to write this due to personal problems. i'm deeply sorry about this

coming back home was more complex than vi expected. she was still mulling over what she agreed to earlier and how right it was to pretend you two were together. the truth was — she felt trapped. it had been four months since she and caitlyn had officially broken up and it seemed like nothing had changed since they were an item. the sun rose and set all the same, but it seemed almost as if not a day had passed.

she had lost count of how many rumors she heard. some people didn’t believe it and thought that they weren’t really over and pretended to create some drama —although neither one nor the other were the kind of person who liked such nonsense— and those who believed it had spread the rumor that she was still on caitlyn’s leash like she was her watchdog. they said she was right behind her her out of desperation.

it was irritating and it wasn’t like her to worry about the rumors, but when those rumors became a problem for her friend they also became a problem for vi. daphne simmons was in sophia murphy’s social group, one of the many girls recruited, and caitlyn didn’t tried to keep her interest in her a secret. it wasn’t necessary, actually. even if she told soneone, no one would believe it. after all, for almost everyone she was still in a relationship.

"of course she does! she looks at her like she's the only one in the room. they share a few classes and caitlyn sits just a few rows behind us so she can see her better." you said, playing with your hands. you were blushing a little and refuses to look at the other girl in the eyes while talking. "daphne sometimes lookes over her shoulder just to catch a glimpse of her pretty face. i don’t know you, but for me she has a crush."

she parked her car in the usual place, just behind her house. she didn’t get out at first, but she stayed for a moment to think. she sighed and repeated again that that was not such a stupid idea. she repeated that this plan, as strange and unrealistic as it was, could have solved the personal problems of three different people. vi shook her head, grabbed her backpack in the backseat and got out of the car.

she lived in a three-floor building on fishamble street. the ground floor was the perfect Irish-style pub run by her father and, occasionally, her and her brother. she used to take care of the bar on weekends and claggor during the weekdays as a part-time job. the second and third floors were the actual house and were accessed through the back door that led to both the bar and the front door. she took the stairs and went home.

on friday, everything went according to plan. she came to pick you up at 7.30 am at the place you had sent her on whatsapp, near grafton street. once at the university, you smiled at her and got out of the car together. you held hands all over the parking lot and up to two steps after the entrance. her skin was much softer than you thought. when you got to vi’s class, you said hi real quick. you waved your hand at her and then you wouldn’t talk to each other all day until it was time to go home.

•♡•

violet had a shift at the bar on saturday. sometimes she wondered why she decided to work the weekend and give up the extra sleep hours in the morning, then remembered how much a parking spot in college would cost and got up. the opening hours in the morning were from 10.30am to 3pm so vi could postpone the alarm and sleep an hour more. she had obvious dark circles since been watching a netflix cartoon until 2:00 in the morning, and now she couldn’t wake up properly.

that morning she went down to the pub with her hair still wet and dark circles evident from the night before. she was still quite sleepy. she never had a light step and the noise of combat boots on the wood of the stairs made people know that they were waiting for her that would not be late to arrive. entered the door, rubbed her eyes and murmured "good morning". only after a moment she realized who was waiting for her.

"your girlfriend paid us a little visit! why didn’t ya tell me?" powder seemed almost offended to learn that her older sister had found a new girlfriend without telling her anything. violet, on the other hand, looked like a crippled deer in front of the headlights. she couldn’t realize you were going to showing up at her dad’s pub before the opening and she started wondering how the hell you got in. at this point, she thought getting into other people’s property was a strange talent of yours.

vander was behind the counter cleaning glasses before opening. he had a smug smile on his face, but he didn’t say anything. he greeted vi without stopping to do what he was doing. powder was sitting on one of the two stools in front of him. she had her head on the counter, a braid around her, and her favorite glass in her hand. on the stool next to you, with your head resting on your hands and elbows on the wood of the counter.

"we wanted to keep it just for us for a little bit, but i missed her so much! i just couldn't wait so see my pretty girl again." you said, turning a little with the stool. violet tried desperately not to let her nervousness show and put her hand on the back of her neck and you looked at her with that usual smirk. powder played with the straw of her drink waiting for her sister to do anything. violet sighed and looked you in the eye.

"yeah, missed you too... would you mind coming upstairs a second?" she asked then took your hand and forced you to get up from the stool. you would walk up the stairs quickly as violet wanted to get out of that room before it got any worse. you chuckled and turned to powder to wave your hand at her. she was smiling and had a straw between her lips that almost fell on the wood of the counter.

"see ya later, love birds!"

•♡•

"what the heck are you doing here?" she asked. you sat in the desk chair, looked at your half-girlfriend and then all around you. by a person like her you had expected a more tidy room given the attention he reserved to the car's interior. on the desk were scattered sheets, a book, pens and various make-up products. there were clothes dangling from the top of the bunk bed, shoes were piled in a corner near the entrance next to the bedside table of the lower bed and on the mirror were drawn the same neon doodles you saw in her car.

"i... forgot my jacket on your backseat yesterday. sorry." you admitted. to be honest, showing up at her house was not really planned. definitely not the first choice. the jacket you forgot was your favorite, and you couldn’t pass up a great opportunity to mind your semi-girlfriend’s business. you could text her and ask her to bring her on monday, but you could also have a good reason to go into her bedroom and invade her personal space. you also knew powder and this was a bonus point.

she was the one who let you in after she saw you turning back and forth in front of the pub entrance. you were wondering whether to go in or not, but she was out before you could make a decision. when powder heard you were apparently her sister’s girlfriend, she decided he couldn’t leave you out, especially if she wanted to know more about violet’s love life. you certainly had something in common — you both loved bothering your favourite pinkhead.

"couldn't you wait until monday?" violet carried it up her face and sighed. you ignored her and started snooping through her things. passed hands on make up products — two liquid eye-liners, lipsticks of various kinds, three mascara and a palette of MAC eye shadows. there were also some hand creams, some american comics, a graphic novel and an open notebook with notes of analysis highlighted. they were definitely violet's because his sister didn’t seem like the type to write comic sans.

you stopped the pictures of models and celebrities with the undercut attached to the edge of the mirror. you took one. they were attached with transparent scotch to the glass, some of them were scribbled with the same neon colors you saw before. a couple were just photos of ruby rose during the first season of batwoman or in arrowverse, who didn’t have an actual undercut but was still gorgeous. you didn’t recognize the othets

"yeah, i wanted to get a proper undercut for a while so i put those here. maybe someday i will convince myself to" violet approached the chair, put her hand on the back and took the picture from your hands. portrayed one of those pinterest models that appear when you look for "women undercut" with beautiful silver highlights. not quiet her style. she bent slightly towards you and you could clearly feel her natural pomegranate scent.

"cut it! it's a non-written rule: every girl who breaks up must change hairstyle." you raised your index finger to underline the brilliant idea you just had. you looked up at her and smiled. il seemed like the best idea you ever had, but her perplexed face suggested she had a different opinion. she seemed to be looking for the nicest way to tell you that she wouldn’t even dream to do it. you turned in your chair and she walked away. you looked at her with your puppy eyes, and she sighed.

"pretty please! it will show them you are really over caitlyn. i mean, you used to have that hairstyle when you dated her, so if you cut it everyone will understand the message" your hands joined as if you were begging her, she rolled her eyes. you could see how annoyed she was by your constant insistence and your ideas about how to complicate her life. pretending to be in a relationship was pretty stressful on its own, and you minding her own business didn’t make it better. "you would look like laura dean..." you said like you were hoping to convince her.

"she’s an horrible person, y/n" she snorted again and crossed her arms. she couldn’t believe you wete actually suggesting that you cut your hair to look like one of the worst female characters she had ever read of. you crossed your legs and tried to look as confident as you could, but you knew she was tired of your nonsense. at the end of the day she had had those pinterest photos taped to her room for weeks, but she didn’t like the idea of someone telling her to cut her hair when she herself had been indecisive for months

"i can fix her. beside, i'm a simple person — i saw a pretty girl on the cover, i bought it." you answered holding your face in your hands. you closed your eyes and moved your head left and right as in souls. when you opened your eyes, you took a good look at the girl’s blue ones. you turned around and took the graphic novel that was sitting on your desk, and you opened an unspecified page, and the first thing you saw was a close-up of the already named laura dean. ylu pointed at her with your free hand.

"so the secret to win your heart is being pretty?" she giggled. she walked to the door to open it and then leaned against the wall, looking at you amused and she smiled. she could see how you were practically bouncing off the chair cushion from the excitement. she stood next to you just two seconds before you started explaining what you had in mind.

"the secret to win my money is being a pretty girl on a book. the secret to win my heart is still a secret, but getting that undercut is a good start." you started, sitting straight in the chair and closing your hands together in front of you. in your voice she could hear the enthusiasm she did not share at all. " we went home together on thursday, came together on friday and on monday you show up with a nice undercut. everyone will get the hints."

"no. get out and stop messing with my life." and kicked the chair. the side of the chair slammed against the wall of the corridor and you heard the door slam violently next to you. you stood there for a few moments and couldn’t realize that your half-girlfriend had thrown you out with her chair. you still had the graphic novel in your hands and a finger in the middle of the pages as a bookmark.

you started laughing. you weren’t offended and the situation was so surreal that you couldn’t do anything else. after about ten seconds you felt the door open. violet was slightly red on her face and avoided your look. she took the book out of your hands and ignored how confused you looked and walked over to the bar. the sound of her footsteps and the creaking of the floorboards filled the silence.

"I forgot i’m supposed to work!" she yelled from the bottom of the ladder and you heard the door slam. you laughed again. you got up a little bit later and went to the back where the car was parked. powder gave you back the jacket you left in the car and you left right after. she giggled all the time, clearly amused by the situation. you didn’t see violet until monday morning, when she picked you up from the usual corner.

[amanda-glassen]

Nugget prompt #128483937

I want….. Jamie and the bb feeding Serena carbs when she’s drunk 😆 because yes

...because drunk snack thief Serena is one of my favorite versions of Serena.

Binge drinking happened twice a week when Serena was in college, rarely when she was in her twenties and almost never once she reached her thirties. The former sorority girl had become mature and responsible even if her sister teased her for being a stereotypical wine mom; however, that weekend her sister Lexie, the vodka aunt, was in town and she wasn’t going to let Serena get away with just a couple of glasses of wine with dinner.

They had martinis at an upscale lounge, but the vibe of the place didn't satisfy Lexie, so she soon found herself at a college bar playing Shot Roulette with some frat boys. She couldn’t remember how she got to that point and, quite frankly, she didn’t think that mattered. What did matter to her was that Serena Benson, winner of their brother frat’s flip cup tournament in 2008, still had it in her to steal drinking game glory away from frat boys at age 34.

It was a little after midnight when she got home, which was earlier than the usual 2 a.m. that she’d end her nights at in college, but after a martini and 10, 11, or 12 shots－she couldn’t even remember－all she wanted to do was get home to her girlfriend and her daughter where there were no frat boys and the floors weren’t sticky with spilled drinks. She took off her dress and tossed it on the couch the moment she entered the living room, feeling grateful that she had decided to wear biker shorts and a cami underneath. Next were her strappy heels that she almost fell over trying to take off. 

“I’m home!” she shouted a little louder than she had hoped when she got into the kitchen. Her daughter and her girlfriend were making pizza rolls, her daughter’s favorite midnight snack, and it dawned on Serena that she needed to load up on carbs if she wanted to soak up all the alcohol she had consumed.

“Mom!” her daughter said as she rushed over to give her a hug. “Jamie and me made pizza rolls! Want one?”

“My sweet little girl,” Serena responded, holding her a little too tight for Olivia’s liking. “My Ollie Koalie, I would love a pizza roll.” She looked over at Jamie who had placed Olivia’s plate of pizza rolls on the counter.  “Isn’t she beautiful, Jay? I made her! She came from me. This perfect child who I never want to stop cuddling…”

A pleading look from Olivia signalled to Jamie that it was time to intervene. “I know, babe. Ollie is a great kid, but maybe it’s time to let her have her snack.”

She looked over at her sister who had begun rummaging through the cabinets for some tortilla chips. “Bless you, Serena, for always having junk food.” Lexie sat down on the floor, her back against the wall, and started shoveling chips in her mouth.

Serena hopped up on the counter－or at least she attempted to－and was thankfully caught by Jamie who lifted her up so she could sit on the counter. Olivia may have offered her one pizza roll, but with the plate so conveniently located next to her, she quickly popped two in her mouth followed by another three.

“Mom!” Olivia looked in disbelief at a nearly empty plate. “You only left one for me!”

Serena gave her daughter her most pleading look. “You know I love you more than anything.” 

“Here,” Olivia groaned, giving her the last pizza roll.

“Did you two have fun?” Jamie asked while she put more pizza rolls in the microwave for Olivia.

“Your girlfriend still has it,” Lexie mumbled, her mouth full of chips. “Serena is a fucking beast. Pardon my language, Ollie. We played shot roulette with some frat guys and even if you can stop after three shots in a row, my little Ser Bear kept going. She had a shot of Fireball, a shot of fucking white wine, and a shot of vodka in a row and didn’t even flinch. Those guys looked at her like she was one of the seven wonders of the world. They were so weak. They couldn’t even hold their alcohol.”

Jamie took the plate out of the microwave and set it aside to cool down. “Babe, how are you alive? How many shots did you take? Are you feeling okay?”

“Somewhere in the double digits,” Lexie answered for her, her voice filled with pride. “Serena is fine. This is nothing though. You should have seen her in college.”

Serena had started to question if she was, in fact, fine. The room wasn’t spinning and she could still feel her face, but she didn’t remember feeling this tired when she was taking shots at 18. Maybe I just need more pizza rolls. When Olivia left to get something from the fridge, Serena took it upon herself to start eating the freshly microwaved pizza rolls.

“Mom, what the heck?” Olivia set a water bottle next to her on the counter. “I go to the fridge to get you some water and you repay me by eating my snack? Why are you stealing food from your child? I need this so I can grow!”

Her daughter’s outburst made Serena start to laugh uncontrollably. Okay, now the room is spinning. She held onto her daughter so she could stay balanced. “I love you, Ollie.”

“No!” Olivia said as she broke free from her mom’s embrace. “Snack thieves don’t deserve koala cuddles.”

“It’s okay, kid. I’ll make you some more,” Jamie told her as she put yet another plate of pizza rolls in the microwave. “Just keep these out of reach of your mom. She’s too drunk to get off that counter so as long as you eat them in another part of the kitchen, you’ll be fine.”

Lexie and Olivia went to bed fifteen minutes later, which left Serena alone with Jamie in the kitchen. “Did I ever tell you how hot you are?” she tried to say in a flirtatious tone of voice, but soon realized her words were probably slurring.

When Jamie stood in front of her, Serena wasted no time before wrapping her arms around her neck and leaning into her. “Do you feel okay, babe?”

Serena nuzzled into her, hoping it would make her feel better. “Everything is spinning and I can’t feel my lips. I don’t feel okay. I don’t feel 18 anymore or 21. I feel 34. I’m gonna be throwing up all morning, aren’t I?”

“Yup,” Jamie tried not to laugh. “I can’t say I’ll hold your hair back, but I’ll put your hair in a bun so it doesn’t get in your hair.”

“Thank you. And Jay?”

“Yes, Ser?” 

“I can’t get off this counter. Can you carry me to our bed?”

[mcwriting]

sweet home alabama (2)

Hi all! Between marriage project and some one shots, I decided to upload this chapter!

Reminder: Characters have strong southern accents (save for Tom in the present).

Masterlist

Word Count: 2618

Warnings: slight injury mention

∆ present ∆

The weekend came and went, allowing Tom some time to get a new wardrobe for farmwork and acquire a pair of boots, as his last pair had been passed down and worn out by Sam years ago.

Tom had been enjoying a peaceful rest when he was jolted awake by two hands forcefully shaking him.

“What the- Sam! What are you doing?” Tom exclaimed, sitting up.

“You gotta go to Mel’s today, right? Sun rises in an hour. Better get up and eat ‘fore you head over there,” the younger brother explained. Tom tossed back his head and groaned.

“Fine. I’ll get up,” he replied, tossing off his quilt and sheet.

With the money Tom had made in recent years, he had been able to send some home every so often, which helped fund a much needed expansion of the family home. Unfortunately, they hadn’t added enough bathrooms for each brother to get their own.

“Tom! What in God’s name is taking you so long! You’re gonna be working cotton not modeling it!” Harry yelled, pounding on the door.

“Alright alright! It’s all yours!” Tom exclaimed as he opened up the door. Harry couldn’t help but laugh at his brother.

Though Tom had dressed in a button up, jeans, and boots, he had also made sure to style his hair until every wisp sat straight.

“You know you’re gonna sweat that gel off in ten minutes, right? Especially if you wear a hat.”

Tom rolled his eyes.

“Harry, you know me. There’s always a camera somewhere. Gotta be ready for anything. And it’s pomade, not gel.”

The other young twin just rolled his eyes back and slammed the door shut.

∆

A few minutes down the road, y/n was getting ready to start her own day. She rose at dawn like always, stretching a bit and hopping out of bed.

Though she was living a country life, she still took the time to do a full skincare routine, being especially attentive to the products she used and how much sunscreen she applied.

Since she wouldn’t be at any farms in the morning, y/n put on leggings and tshirt and headed out the door, a granola bar in hand. She only had to drive a mile away to get to the “s.h.e.d.”

As usual, she was the first one there, so she keyed in and turned on all the lights. She took in a deep breath of the smells of the soil and chemicals around her as she tossed on her lab coat.

You didn’t think she was any ordinary farm girl, did you?

In reality, she had actually gone to UCLA, getting degrees in both chemistry and environmental engineering. Now she had spent the last year doing research thanks to a grant to improve the agricultural health of her hometown so she could eventually receive a master’s degree.

But we’ll talk more on that later.

Now that the sun was finally peeking above the horizon, her two lab assistants finally showed up.

Her assistants, Ciara and Jacob, were students at a community college in the town 45 minutes away. They were bright and the three always enjoyed working together, as they played fun music and conversed while recording research.

“Hey! Glad y’all could finally make it! Y’all know that last week I collected more samples from Mel’s, so today I want to prepare a gram from each jar in solution so we can run samples and start looking at what nutrients need supplementing and where so I can put a fertilizer together for tomorrow.”

The two were happy to follow their boss’s instruction, and y/n couldn’t help but smile as she scanned over her lab, remembering where she started.

∆ 16 years old ∆

Y/n had always been good at school.

A straight A student, never one to act out or deliberately miss work. Everyone knew she was bright, and she continued to prove that as she aged.

By sophomore year of high school, she was already an above-average scorer on the ACT and was taking courses above her grade level to keep from boring herself.

But in a town as small as hers, one could only get so advanced in high school alone.

Thankfully once she was a junior, the community college Ciara and Jacob were now attending allowed students to enroll in some basic online classes and receive credit, so long as they had good enough internet connection.

Because she was ahead, y/n had a free period where she could mooch off of the school’s wifi in an empty classroom. However, she didn’t have the same luxury at home, and had to go to Tom’s to complete any assignments after school.

By this point, Tom had been going to small auditions for a couple years, picking up the occasional commercial role and making a few bucks here and there, enough to get his family better TV and internet, anyways.

“Hey, y/n?” Tom asked one day, late in the fall. He laid back on the bed, tossing a foam basketball above his head while y/n worked on her college math class from the floor. She hummed in response, holding a pencil between her teeth.

“What are you plannin’ to do with all this college stuff anyways?” he asked. His accent was still as strong as ever. He hadn’t taught himself to let it go yet.

“I’on know. Maybe git a degree and move out of this town for a while. Find a real job that ain’t baling hay or planting stuff. You know I really love science,” she replied. She knew she had a lot of options, she was only a couple points away from that perfect ACT score by now.

There was a pause as she continued to tap numbers into a calculator and record them.

“I got another audition ‘fore thanksgiving,'' Tom announced after a while. Y/n didn’t look up.

“Oh yeah? What for, toothpaste ad or somethin’?”

“Uh, no actually. This one’s for a movie. A real movie.”

Y/n dropped the pencil and looked up at Tom, pushing up from the ground to sit on her knees as he sat up straight.

“Really? You’re serious? You ain’t pulling my leg or something?”

Tom smiled big and nodded.

“I mean it. I really got this audition coming up.”

“Oh my gosh, TOM!”

Y/n quickly stood up, tackling her best friend in a hug, practically ending up on his lap. They stayed that way for a while.

“Tom, this is seriously incredible. You’re gonna be in a movie!”

He pulled back quickly.

“Don’t be too quick, now. This is only an audition, there’s no way to say I’ll actually get the part-” he started, but y/n got off him and kneeled on the floor, so that her eyes were level with his and she could grab his upper arms to look at him directly.

“You’re gonna get that part,” she smiled, unable to contain her excitement. “You’re gonna nail that audition, and you’re getting that part. This is gonna be your big break, I just know it.”

“Thanks for believin’ in me. Hopefully I won’t prove you a liar this time,” he replied, pulling her up into another hug.

She ended up being right, too, because after his first audition, he got a callback during Christmas break and secured the role which he’d film the summer between junior and senior year.

The pair knew they were really starting to grow up, but didn’t let their different pursuits come between them just yet.

Tom was the one who drove her to her final ACT where she got her perfect score (since she didn’t have a car yet), and the movie filmed a few hours away in the Birmingham area (where y/n drove Tom’s truck in his absence since he was still too young to live there alone).

It worked, for the most part.

∆ present ∆

Tom drew in a sharp breath and winced, limping through the barn and plopping onto a hay bale as he gulped down some water. He had been walking up and down the rows watering the plants, as the four-wheeler Melanie’s dad typically used to water was broken.

“How’s it looking, Mr. Carmichael?” he asked, dabbing away the sweat on his forehead with a towel as he rehydrated.

The older gentleman stood up and looked at Tom.

“Well, son. I’ve almost got this thing here fixed, but you ain’t looking too good,” he pointed out.

“What do you mean, sir?” Tom asked. He may have lost his accent, but didn’t forget his manners.

“Looks like you’ve been ridin’ horses the way you’re walkin’. New boots? Not to mention that sunburn you’re startin’ to nurse. Why don’t you run up to the house and have Mel fix those up. I’m sure her momma fixed some lunch for ya, too.”

“A- are you sure, sir? I’ve only got about 10 more rows before I’m done.”

“No, no. It’s alright, boy. Run along and fix yourself up. I’ll handle the rest.”

Tom thanked the man and slowly got up, immediately remembering the pain in his feet and now aware of the stinging on his cheeks.

He’d forgotten that boots don’t really break themselves in and he hadn’t worn very thick socks. He also had somehow neglected that the sun beats just as hard in the farmlands as it does in Malibu.

He waddled up to the house, where Melanie was on the porch reading a book.

“Well by God, Tom. You’re walkin’ like you just got your back blown out for the first time,” she laughed, causing his cheeks to redden more.

“They’re new boots, alright? Now could you help me out? Your dad said you might know of something?”

She looked past him towards the barn, then closed her book and nodded her head towards the door, standing.

“Come on. Momma made you a sandwich if you want it. You can leave your boots by the door.”

They headed inside, a large living room on the right and the kitchen to the left. Tom wiggled his shoes and socks off in the entryway as Melanie ducked into a hallway to grab a few things.

“Oh Tom! I’m glad you came in! Are you hungry? I’ve got lunch for ya,” Mrs. Carmichael said as she appeared from the kitchen.

“That would be really nice, Mrs. Carmichael. Thank you,” he replied as she sat him down at the kitchen table, placing a plate with a turkey sandwich and some chips in front of him along with a glass of sweet tea.

He dug into the meal, immediately realizing just how hungry he really was. By the time he’d finished the sandwich (which really didn’t take that long), Melanie appeared with a laundry basket full of stuff. Tom washed down his meal with some tea before speaking.

“Jesus, Mel, how much does it take to patch up some blisters?” he asked.

“First off, don’t be takin’ the Lord’s name in vain in this house,” she commanded, pointing her head towards her mother in the living room, to which Tom covered his mouth and shot a thumbs up. “And second, I figured it best just to grab all my stuff than dig through it.”

She plopped the basket on the table and herself into the seat next to Tom, stealing a chip from his plate. It crunched in her mouth as she began pulling out random things like a stethoscope, a blood pressure cuff, and meds.

“What’s that all for?” Tom asked, brows furrowed. Melanie gave back an equally confused look and went back to digging.

“What do you mean? They’re just medical supplies.”

“Well, yeah, but I mean why do you have a stethoscope and stuff?”

She paused what she was doing and looked back up at Tom.

“You do know I’m a nurse, right?” she asked. She immediately knew he didn’t by the way his eyes popped open.

After high school, Melanie had been able to go off and get her nursing degree, now working in the closest hospital which was, you guessed it, 45 minutes away.

She usually worked 12 hour shifts at the hospital Tuesday through Thursday, spending her other days at home so she could respond to small needs around town, especially on weekends when people liked to get drunk and be reckless.

“Oh, wow. I didn’t realize that. Good for you,” Tom replied, unsure of what else to say.

“It’s alright. You’ve been gone quite a while and we all know you ain’t checking in on what happens ‘round these parts no more. Now take this and let me grab the aloe from the fridge,” she said, dropping two advil on his plate and getting up.

Tom did as told, feeling the weight of what she had dismissively said. He really hadn’t checked in since leaving. Sure, his brothers and Harrison sometimes kept him in the loop. At least, he thought so.

He was trying to remember what the last big piece of news he had heard about home was, but came up short. He couldn’t even remember the last time he had seen anything on social media about home, since he’d unfollowed most of the people back home after his career took off.

They all reminded him of y/n anyways.

“You mind if I put some of this on your face?” Melanie asked, snapping him out of his thoughts. He obliged and she spread some of the cool aloe gel over his sunburn.

“Feel better?” she asked, to which he nodded. “Good, now let’s take a look at those blisters.”

She cringed when she saw how beat up his feet were. She pulled out a bit of numbing gel, hydrocolloid bandages, and fabric tape. Soon enough, she had his blisters all covered up and was handing him some more bandages and tape.

“Now I want you to leave these on as long as possible, alright? When they fall off or the spot in the middle gets too big, you’ll switch ‘em out for new. You should be in ship shape here in a few days. And you best not forget sunscreen from now on.”

“Will do. Thanks again, Mel. Hard to believe I’ve been gone long enough for you to become a nurse and all, huh?” Tom asked, half joking. Melanie nodded.

“Yeah, well. ‘Lot’s changed around here, even if it don’t look like it. You’d be surprised… Now before I forget...” Melanie quickly got up and left the room, returning with two wood and metal contraptions. “Here’s some boot stretchers to put in your shoes when you get home. Should help stretch ‘em out and I’m sure the boys would lend you some leather conditioner.”

With that, Tom put his boots back on and thanked Mrs. Carmichael for the meal, heading back outside. He found Mr. Carmichael sitting on the now-functioning four wheeler.

“Well, boy, you all good?” the older man asked.

“Yes sir. Melanie got me all taped up and your wife made a great lunch. So what else do you need me to do?”

Mr. Carmichael looked around for a moment, staring at a few things, then back at Tom.

“Well I got the rest all watered and y/n won’t be around with fertilizer till tomorrow so why don’t you go home and rest up those feet, eh?”

Tom tried to object, as it was still quite early in the day, but the old man wouldn’t have it. He eventually conceded and gave one last thank you, hopping into his old truck and heading home, pondering why y/n would be bringing fertilizer in the coming day.

∆

A/N: hope you guys are liking this story so far! I really love the time jumping, and the progression of it in future chapters is really cool!

Send a message or ask if you’d like to be added to my permanent or series taglists so I can verify you’ve been added!

Tag list: @jackiehollanderr, @one-big-fangirl, @l0lmk, @primadonnasdream, @bookworm06, @thenoddingbunny-blog, @agentnataliahofferson, @spider-babe, @stxfxniexreads, @mortallythoughtfulgurl, @onebigolemess, @justafangirlduh,

[marshmallow-phd]

Catching Rain

Part of The Untamed - EXO Wolf Universe

Genre: Wolf!AU

Pairing: Minseok x Reader

Summary: You were more than satisfied with your life. You attended a nice college, had nice friends, a nice boyfriend. That’s what your life was: nice. You weren’t looking for anything more, so what were you to do when this seemingly harmless boy walked into your life and turned your nice little world into one much more dangerous?

Part: 1 I 2 I 3 I 4 I 5 I 6 I 7 I 8 I 9 I 10 I Epilogue

**

The beams of sunlight fell down from the wide open sky, placing warm yet gentle kisses on your cheeks and nose. It was rare for the weather to be so nice this time of year. Usually, the bitterness of winter was still holding on. But today, spring was reminding you that it was just around the corner. The heavy, feather-stuffed coat could be kept in the closet, at least for today. The striped flannel was more than enough protection from the slight breeze though you barely noticed its touch. Above you, the sky was a dazzling pastel blue with only a few puffs of white here and there.

You fingers itched down by your side where they kept you steady on the stone table where you sat. It was truly a beautiful day, too beautiful for late February. The lighting was too perfect to be ignored. With enough coverage so the shot wouldn’t be overwhelmed….

“What are you plotting?”

Your eyes snap open and you look down at your best friend. The thought had only just popped into your head. How she could read you so easily was truly terrifying at times. “Nothing,” you lied coolly. “I’m not plotting anything.”

Willa rolled her eyes. “Please. You had that smirk on your face and your fingers were practically dancing on the table. You’re easier to read than you think.”

“(y/n), please tell me you’re not going to go out into the woods again?” Erik looked up from his tablet with pleading eyes. His wire-rimmed glasses were perched on the tip of his nose, giving him a childlike quality. The wind ruffled his sandy hair. He squinted up at you with concern. You were a bit surprised that he’d caught the conversation, given how concentrated he was on his drawing. “You remember what happened last time.”

Of course you did. You were there, weren’t you? Sure, to say that it wasn’t a slightly scary experience would be a lie. But it was something you’d expected to happen eventually considering your outside activities.

A branch knocked loose by the storm from the night before had fallen from its perch, hitting you in the head. While you remained conscious, you were disoriented and had trouble finding your way back to the city. It was nearly dark by the time you made it to your car, but you had no issues driving yourself to the emergency room. The doctor declare you fine beyond the small gash atop your head, however he still preferred someone else to drive you home. Poor Erik nearly had a heart attack when he found you sitting in a hospital bed with dried blood on your face.

“It was a freak accident,” you reassured him. “Not likely to happen again.”

“But the odds still exist,” he argued. You “hmphed” at him. Why was he suddenly spouting statistics at you?

“Not to mention, there have been more wolf sightings,” Willa added, earning a glare from you. Wasn’t she supposed to be on your side?

But you couldn’t stay mad at them for long. Your brain was too logical, too in tune with being able to understand people to ignore their side of the argument. Hopping down from the table, you gave in. “Alright, I get it! You guys are saying no ventures into the trees where I get the most beautiful photographs I’ve ever taken. Noted.”

“You are such a city girl,” Willa said teasingly. It was true, though.

Throughout your childhood, your exposure to nature was the local park with its scarily overweight squirrels and hordes of annoying ants. It was a shock to your family when you chose to go to college outside of the city you knew and loved, electing to attend a smaller campus surrounded by woods and a good two hours from the nearest airport. They didn’t think you would be happy so far away. But you needed the change. You wanted to challenge yourself. Besides, if you hadn’t come out here, you wouldn’t have met Willa or Erik. And they made you very happy indeed.

Swiping up your bag from the bench, you gave Erik a quick kiss goodbye and waved to Willa. “I’ll see you guys after class.”

Willa grimaced. “Actually, I have to work.”

Erik looked equally as guilty. “And I’m meeting with Don to help out the theatre department.”

Perfect. “Don’t worry about it,” you said with feigned of disappointment. “I’ll survive. Maybe take some pictures of downtown. I’ll see you guys later.” With both of them occupied, there was no one check in on you. And you hadn’t exactly promised either of them….

Your light steps from the free evening grew heavier as you came closer to the building that the math-related classes called home.

Truly, this was your own fault. No one should have allowed you to pick your own schedule. The first two and a half years of college were spent taking all the fun, digital art major-related classes you could. The idea that you would eventually have to take the general studies classes was a problem for future you to handle. And that’s what brought you here: almost to the end of the finish line and now you were stuck taking all the subjects that you weren’t good at in order to actually graduate on time next year with your bachelors and qualify to move on to the masters. You hadn’t pinned down exactly what you would focus on when that time came, but it meant staying here, with Erik. And you loathed the idea of being left behind while your friends moved on with their lives.

The main hall inside was buzzing with voices as dozens of students hung about, arguing over answers and whining about what they would do once the weekend had finally arrived. Words mixed in with the clacking of keyboards and the faint scribbling of hurried pencils that didn’t do the homework the night before. It always amazed you how loud this place could be. Your earlier assumptions had made you think that this hall would be a second library, with stressed out students shushing each other so they could concentrate. But really, it felt more like the cafeteria; a social hangout before life interrupted again.

The classroom was mostly full by the time you arrived. Rows of crooked desks filled up two-thirds of the room with just enough space for the GTA to stand at the whiteboard and not be uncomfortable or crowded. Taking your normal seat near the front – which was unsurprisingly empty for the most part - you took out your notebook and pencil, ready jot down the main points of the day’s lesson. Until then, you scroll through the endless stream of social media on your phone.

While you were normally a friendly person, you’d elected at the beginning of the winter semester to stay serious and not give in to any distractions during this period. Because you knew yourself and you knew that you would give in to any temptation to not pay attention during this hour and a half, including talking to the shy freshman girl behind you who looked desperate for some form of friendship.

Two minutes before the class was scheduled to begin, the GTA walked in, a binder tucked under his arm and a messenger bag hanging from his shoulder. None of the conversations slowed down as he unpacked his laptop on the old desk situated in the front. Even as he opened it up and cleared his throat, the whispered chatting went on. It didn’t help that he wasn’t the most authoritative-looking person. He was on the shorter side with a friendly face that made him feel more like a peer than a teacher. Or maybe it was just because he was closer to your age that made you feel that way. It certainly didn’t help that he asked to be called by his first name rather than the typical formal address that you’d been raised with.

Sungkyu smiled brightly as he stood up. The marker made a pop when he uncapped it. “We’ll start on page ninety-nine, chapter four part two.”

That was how he started each class. No hello or good afternoons with mumbled replies. Straight to the lesson without forcing everyone to pretend like they were excited to be there or demanding a more energetic reply. Perhaps that was the one advantage of having a GTA. They knew what nonsense to skip.

An hour and a half later, you were free. Sure, your brain felt a bit like mush from concentrating so hard on the algebra equations, but now you could relax. Since that was your last class of the day, you were back to that lightness, with that spring in your step. The sun had somehow become brighter, even more inviting in the small amount of time you’d spent indoors. How could you ignore the call now?

Back in your dorm, you unloaded your backpack of the unneeded supplies for your venture. Out came the textbooks and binders that were neatly organized. In their place came a water bottle from the mini fridge you and Willa kept between your beds, a couple of granola bars you stashed away for emergencies, and the leather bound sketchpad Erik had given you for your birthday last year that housed all the photo ideas that randomly popped into your head throughout the day. Checking your watch, you assumed that you had a good three or four hours before your absence was discovered. A slight sense of adventure tingled in your chest as you slung your bag over your shoulder and scooped up your camera case from the foot of your bed.

You didn’t look back as you left the dorm and headed for your car. When – because it was a matter of time, not if – Erik and Willa found out, they’d be sure to lecture you until the end of time. But you had a feeling that it would be worth it. What was that famous saying again? Better to ask forgiveness than permission?

As much as you appreciated their concern and understood where they were coming from, the trees were calling out to you, begging to be captured within the lens of your camera. The photographer that lived inside urged you on. If they were really that upset, you’d make them dinner to make up for it.

**

Minseok wasn’t hiding per se. He simply needed a quiet place to grade these papers and with eight other rowdy wolves coming in and out of the house, “quiet” was not exactly an easy thing to find. So… yes, he was sort of hiding in his car in the detached garage. It wouldn’t be for much longer; he only had two or three more assignments to look over and, at this point, he had the answers memorized, meaning he didn’t have to stop and look at the key every five seconds.

Blowing out air, Minseok ran a hand through his black hair as he leaned back. Sometimes he wondered why he took up this position. He didn’t need to. It wasn’t required for him like it was in other masters degrees. But the offer was given and he took it. Maybe he liked the excuse that he was busy so he couldn’t go out with the younger wolves all the time. Unlike the extroverts who knew every restaurant and bar in town like the back of their hands, he preferred it out here, in the woods. Homebody felt like an understatement.

Finally through with grading, he neatly packed the papers away into his bag (divided by clear plastic folders labeled by class) and got out of the car. He left the garage with a smile on his face. Before his feet could hit the first porch step, his name rang out in the field. 

“Minseok!”

He half-laughed, half-sighed as he shook his head. He shouldn’t be surprised that he was discovered the moment he left the safety of the garage.

Running towards him as he turned around were the three goofballs of the pack: Baekhyun, Chanyeol, and Jongdae. Their faces and clothes were covered in mud, making Minseok take a step back.

“Where have you been?” Chanyeol asked when they came to a stop in front of him. Thankfully, they kept their distance. Now Minseok just needed to keep them from going in the house.

“Grading papers,” Minseok replied. He wasn’t going to reveal where he was grading them.

“That sounds boring,” Baekhyun said with an expression that made it seem like he’d smelled something bad. Although, given his current state, that was quiet possible.

Jongdae whipped his hair, sending tiny droplets of muddy water everywhere. Minseok jumped back in an effort to dodge them, which sent the former into a laughing fit.

“Come on, Minseok,” Jongdae waved his hand through the air, still trying to catch his breath from laughing so hard. “You know, wolves aren’t supposed to mind getting dirty.”

“Wolves, no. Humans, yes.” The eldest wolf eyed the three of them. “Well, most humans, anyway.”

Smiling broadly and unbothered, Chanyeol made a move towards the porch.

“No,” Minseok said firmly, blocking the giant’s path. Putting his bag down on the porch he pointed to the side. “Go around and use the hose. You’ll get mud everywhere.”

“We’ll clean it up,” Jongdae whined.

“Not to his standards,” Baekhyun chuckled. Completely unbothered, he followed orders and ran to the back of the house. At first, Chanyeol pouted as well, but then he must have found the fun in the idea because only a few seconds later he was ripping his shirt over his head and running after his best friend.

Jongdae gave one last look of pleading. “Can I please go inside and take a shower?”

Minseok nodded. “After you use the hose.”

“But it’s cold.”

But wolves don’t get cold. Minseok went to pat the poor guy on the back, but then stopped, remembering why he wasn’t letting him inside in the first place. “Rinse off and then we’ll go for a real run to dry you off.”

Jongdae mulled over the offer. Grinning, he said, “Deal!” He was back behind the house in the blink of an eye.

Looking over at his bag, Minseok contemplated his options. He could leave it there and risk one of the guys forgetting the “hands-off” rule or he could take it upstairs to his room, leaving those three alone with the water hose for five minutes. It might not sound like a terrible option, but Minseok had known them long enough to understand that they could find trouble without even looking for it.

He decided to go with the second option anyway, knowing his students’ papers would at least be safe.

Just inside the living room, Sehun was glued to the TV screen, controller in hand. He was pressing down on the buttons with more force than necessary. The maknae would never admit it, but he was too competitive when it came to video games. One time, Minseok walked in on Baekhyun whacking Sehun on the head with the plastic controller because he was getting beat so badly. Thankfully, this time Sehun was alone. If he remembered correctly, Jongin and Yixing were in class while Junmyeon was conducting his office hours. At least the four of them took school seriously.

Minseok didn’t bother greeting Sehun as he made his way through the living room and up the stairs.

His bedroom, pristine and magazine-worthy – was at the end of the hall, near Junmyeon’s master. It was a good thing that Junmyeon’s great-to-however-many-degrees-grandfather thought to build a large farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. The alpha didn’t think that it had ever been quite this full since it had mostly been just his family that occupied the walls in the past, but the foresight to think of a larger pack down the line had been there. Each of the wolves were able to have their own rooms, their own space. Given how sloppy some of the others could be, Minseok was thankful. It hadn’t always been that way, but those days were long gone.

Near the beginning when Minseok first officially joined the pack, he’d tried living alone in his parents’ old place in town. The call to be together, with his brothers, was too great. It was an uncomfortable feeling. To this day he wasn’t sure if it was the wolf’s nature that caused it or simply the fact that, as the eldest, he worried about the younger wolves and preferred to be around where he could keep an eye on them. That meant that the peace and quiet was over, but sacrifices could be made and he was much happier here, anyway.

Placing his bag on the desk, Minseok sighed to himself before heading back downstairs where trouble waited.

To absolutely no one’s surprise, Chanyeol, Bakehyun, and Jongdae had turned rinsing off into a full on water war. Pretty much all the mud had been washed away, but that didn’t stop them from stealing the hose from each other and creating new mud in the backyard. They were all without their shirts, showing they were in this for the long hall.

At one point, Jongdae had snuck behind Chanyeol, who currently had possession of the garden hose, and twisted the rubber tube to stop the flow of water. Confused, Chanyeol looked directly in the mouth to discover the reason why. Which meant he fell right into Jongdae’s trap. The troll let go of the hose and the water came rushing back, spraying like a geyser in Chanyeol’s face.

Jongdae fell backwards onto his butt with how hard he was laughing. Chanyeol whipped around to get him back, catching Minseok in the crossfire.

Chanyeol cringed guilty. “Oops. Sorry.”

Minseok chuckled it off. It was just a shirt. “It’s alright. I promised Jongdae a run anyway. It’ll be dry by the time we get back.”

Baekhyun perked up. “A run?”

Minseok nodded. “Yes, you can come, too.” He was already undoing the buttons, folding the shirt and placing it on the ground once it was off. Maybe this run was what he needed. He wasn’t sure what difference it could possibly make. He’d been on hundreds of runs in the past. But something told him to go now. So, once he was ready, he shifted onto all fours and ran after the other wolves who’d already almost reached the tree line.

[hyuniebaby]

Focus (7)

Pairings: Baekhyun x Y/N x Junmyeon

Warnings: mentions of sex

AU: College student! Baekhyun, Professor! Junmyeon AU, college!au

A/N: I don’t proofread when I post so there might be typos 😅 I’ve been busy with work so I haven’t updated in a while~ If you’re still reading this fic, I just want to say thank you!

@coffee-prince-kyungsoo

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11

You spend the next few days avoiding Baekhyun. The task was extremely hard since you were both in the same program. One time he had his Advanced Biochemistry class just before your Organic Chemistry class in the same room. When you saw him making his way out of the room, talking animatedly to Jongdae, you immediately went to hide behind Seulgi. Lucky for you, you were shorter than her. He wasn’t able to notice you but your sudden movement caught Jongdae’s eyes. He smirks but doesn’t say a word to Baekhyun. Especially not when you were trying so hard to hide.

Jongdae, being Baekhyun’s best friend and roommate, naturally knew about Baekhyun kissing you. As much as he wanted to help Baekhyun out of his misery, he didn’t want to interfere. The last time he did, it went extremely uncomfortable for him as you’ve both been seen by a professor walk out of the janitor’s closet. It ended up with him being shouted on by Baekhyun and being ignored by Baekhyun the whole night when he tried to explain what happened.

Baekhyun, on the other hand, wanted to apologize again but this time for kissing you so suddenly. He honestly doesn’t know what he was doing and why he did it. But how was he supposed to tell you that? “Y/N, I’m sorry I kissed you, I don’t know why I did it.” Uh, no. That doesn’t sound like an apology to him. So despite having seen you many times when you tried to hide from him, he only looks at you longingly and doesn’t try to talk to you just yet. Maybe you weren’t ready to hear it too, he guessed, considering you were going out of your way to avoid him. Not to mention you running after he kissed you. To him, it seems logical to give you some time to process and get over it before he tried to apologize.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

You’ve been so hung up on Baekhyun’s kiss that you neglected your studying. By the time the weekend came, you rejected your friend’s invite to a party. You planned to study the whole weekend at home to catch up with all the lessons you weren’t able to read about for the past few days. You were halfway through your Organic Chemistry notes when someone rings the doorbell. “Delivery for Ms. Y/N!” You hear someone shout.

Huh, you weren’t expecting something to come today, you thought. You went to open the door only to be greeted by a bouquet of flowers. “I’m sorry but I think you have the wrong address,” you tell the delivery man. The “delivery man” lowers the bouquet to reveal his face.

“Junmyeon?” You gasped. The first thought that came to your mind was that the person in front of you wasn’t Mr. Kim today, he was your friend, Junmyeon. He ditched the smart casual outfit and only wore a hoodie and some pants.

“These are for you.” He hand you the flowers. “Can I come in? I wanted to talk to you.”

You guide him to the dining table where your laptop and notebooks were scattered.

“I’m sorry to disrupt you from studying,” Junmyeon says as he scratches the back of his neck.

You respond with a nod as you carefully placed the flowers on the table. You were still quite mad at him for leaving you high and dry the other day.

“I just wanted to say sorry for the thing that happened a few days ago...”

“Oh you mean when you didn’t allow me to cum?”

He smiles sheepishly, flustered at how blunt you were being.

You’re friends with Junmyeon even before anything sexual happened between the two of you so you were open and comfortable talking about it with him than with Baekhyun. “I mean come on, Junmyeon, I understand we all have sexual urges. It’s fine. We’re human.” You ran your fingers through your hair. “But personally I think it’s unfair that you didn’t let me cum,” you sigh.

“I’m sorry,” he says. “I just — my mind got clouded when I saw your hickey. I wasn’t in the right headspace.”

You were used to having sexual affairs, it wasn’t a big deal to you. You’ve had plenty of one night stands over last year with strangers. The only thing that was weird right now was that it was Junmyeon you did it with. A friend. Your professor. So you don’t know how to proceed with this. Same as how you didn’t know how to act with Baekhyun because of what happened to the two of you between the sheets.

It even complicates things when you hear Junmyeon say those last words. He worded it as if he was jealous that you’ve been doing this act with another man. And then you remember how Baekhyun sounds exactly the same the last time you talked and he reacted the same way. How possessive, you thought.

But if they were possessive, you were greedy. You wanted to have them that way again, despite the strain in your “relationships”. You wanted them to touch you and fuck you. Your thoughts were heading in another dangerous path so you cough and try to clear your mind.

“Yeah, whatever, Junmyeon. Just don’t do it again next time.” The words flew out of your mouth before you can even comprehend what you said.

Next time? His eyes widened. Will there be a next time? He sure as hell hopes so. Your mouth was amazing and he wanted to feel you again, but in your pussy next time. This excites him.

You were flustered with what you said. But if you talked right now, you’ll be embarrassing yourself more so you remain quiet. You stare at your notes as if they were the most interesting things in the world. You were hyper aware that he was looking at you. You kept your mouth shut.

Then Junmyeon sighs. “What are you studying, princess?” You blush at the pet name.

“Organic Chemistry.” You say. “I didn’t know it was supposed to be this hard.” The sexual tension now gone as you talked about your studies. “I mean, I know some basic stuff because of the training we received for the quiz bee last year but some of these things are really hard to understand. My professor won’t even teach us properly. She makes us answer all the problem sets in the book every meeting. How can you even answer something that you haven’t learned yet?”

Junmyeon looks at you softly. “I think I can help you with that. Although, I’m not as good in Organic Chem than I am with Biology...”

Your eyes sparkled at what he said. “That’s alright! You know I need all the help I could get. I’m pretty sure you know that I need a dumbed down version of the lesson if I need to get the hang of this.”

So for the next few hours, Junmyeon helps you study. Being your tutor for over a year, he knows how to get his point across to you so it wasn’t really hard for you to understand what he was saying.

The study session was interrupted once again when you hear jingling of keys. You see your parents standing by the door and you got up from your seat so fast to hug them. “You came earlier! I thought you weren’t supposed to come back until next week.”

“We missed you, darling.” Your mom coos.

“Next week’s meeting was rescheduled so we decided to go back here. How are you sweetheart?” Your father says.

“Everything’s fine. Junmyeon’s here, he’s helping me study.”

On cue, Junmyeon shakes hands with your parents to greet them. Your parents respected Junmyeon because he tutored you for over a year and had significantly improved your grades. They knew you remained friends with him after so they weren’t bothered by the fact that you were hanging out. Your mom invites him for dinner, but Junmyeon politely declines, claiming he still had some paperworks to sign and that only dropped by to help you study. He bids everyone goodbye after a few minutes of small talk with your parents and leaves.

By dinner time, you converse with your parents, asking them about their trip and what they did. In turn, they asked you how was your first week back at school and you internally cringed at the fact that the first week of your school was troublesome. You don’t tell them that though. You just tell them that it went by pretty quickly.

When you’re done with the dishes, you resigned to your room to study again. You studied until the weekend was over. You were a slow learner so you needed to promptly start studying instead of cramming everything the day before a quiz or major exam comes up. It works for you though, you get to learn at your own pace.

The next thing you knew, it was Monday again and you had Bio class. Since you and Junmyeon made up, you were slightly less worried about going to class. The only problem was Baekhyun was there and you don’t know if you should still avoid him or if maybe you should make up with him too...

As you enter the room, you scan for any sign of Baekhyun or Sehun. You release a breath of relief when you realized they weren’t there yet. Having arrived 15 minutes earlier than the start of the class, you sit by the middle row and start plugging on your earphones. You reread the lessons you studied over the weekend.

You were interrupted when someone taps your shoulder. You remove your earphones and look up to see Sehun smirking at you. You roll your eyes at him as he sits beside you.

“Is that the proper way to greet your friend?” He says.

You immediately fake a smile and use a high pitched voice, “Hi Sehun~”

Sehun frowns in disdain and shakes his head. “So... has was your talk with B?” He moves his eyebrows up and down.

“I remember making a promise to you last week? And it goes by ‘I will kill you,’ do you remember?” You smile at him.

“As I’ve said, I’d like to see you try.”

“Can I borrow your hand?” You ask him.

Sehun eyes you warily but gives his hand eventually. You smile and grab one of his fingers and start bending it backwards.

“Ow!” He shouts and snatches his hands away from you. “What a devil!”

You roll your eyes. “Stop overreacting. It wasn’t that bad!”

He raises his brow in response.

“Now that that’s all done,” you start saying, “last week he apologized to me. For — uh, reacting weirdly when he saw me and Jongdae. He explained how Jongdae wanted to ‘seek me out’ when he found out what happened between me and B. And then....”

And then Baekhyun arrives and you immediately shut your mouth. Sehun notices Baekhyun’s arrival but continues to look at you, asking you through his eyes for the rest of the story. But you don’t budge. Sehun figures that you won’t talk if Baekhyun was there so he sighs and pinches his nose in frustration. He hates it when people leave him hanging.

You didn’t expect Sehun to turn around and ask Baekhyun what happened last week. Your eyes widened. You look at Baekhyun and he looks at you. You plead with your eyes, asking him, no, begging him to not say anything to Sehun. But if anything, Baekhyun doesn’t like that Sehun still hangs around with you and that he sits beside you when it was supposed to be Baekhyun’s seat.

So out of spite, he says, “I kissed her.” at the same time that Mr. Kim comes in the classroom. Somehow, Mr. Kim heard what Baekhyun said and figured out that he was referring to you. Sehun, on the other hand, was shocked. He faced you while you buried your face in your hands.

It hasn’t been an hour since you’ve sat on your chair, but you feel like you’re so done for the week already.

[scandeniall]

Dear Diary

song 1: dear diary |  good & bad masterlist | prev | next

Pairing: sakusa x reader

Summary/warnings: life has been kicking your ass yet you don’t want to tell sakusa/profanity

WC: 1.5K

“How’ve you been,” you paused debating on answering honestly or not. Switching your phone to speaker, you fiddled with the covers resting beneath your fingers before sighing out. “I miss you Yoomi.” A silence comes settled through the phone line. “How are you doing?” The insistence of your well being causes another sigh to escape your lips. Of course he could tell that something was off even through the phone and a part of you curses his observational skills. “Im just--really fucking stressed,” you mutter out reluctantly. 

“Have you been taking care of yourself? Eating real meals and getting proper sleep?” The questions being rattled off on the other side of the phone causes you to crack a small smile at his concern. You could only imagine the furrow in his brows at the thought of a lack of concern for your own health. You almost miss the ending of the questions as he tells you not to lie to him. Your silence causes Sakusa to sigh on the line. 

“Sometimes I hate how much you really know me.” You voice the thoughts that had previously been in your head. Sakusa could hear the slightest of background noise as you maneuver yourself under the warm comforter and shifted to get comfortable. “Do you need me to come home.” The words aren’t phrased as a question, and that causes you to quickly shake your head despite the fact that he couldn't see that.

“No-no. Yoomi, it's fine. I just- I just need to get my mind right and relax. I just needed to hear your voice tonight, that's all.” You tell him, despite wanting nothing more than for him to be back with you.He’d been on the road for the last month, a series of away games and such. And right before he left, you’d been out of town on a major business trip. It seemed as if time nor luck were your friend. It’d been at least a month and a half since the two of you were anywhere near one another. He’d still be gone another month and all either of you could do was wait it out. 

The silence that followed your response was telling. You could already imagine the way Sakusa has his eyes narrowed in thought. Thinking about whether he should push for your well being or let it go for now. The quietest sigh escaped his mouth from the other side of the phone. He’d made his decision. “I miss you too. I’ll be home soon.” 

Life after that phone call seemed to grow progressively worse. Not only had you and Sakusa not been able to squeeze in another talk in the following week, but life sucked. Your job has been giving you more and more responsibility, and allowing you more freedom. On one hand that was great, a celebratory text sent to your boyfriend at the talks of you in for a promotion, however it was tiring. You were coming home later and later, exhausted and starting to neglect your own health.

It’s not you were intentional in the neglect. It just felt too damn hard to come home after a long day and cook a healthy and fulfilling meal. When you were home you were suddenly reminded of just how empty the apartment was without Sakusa. Dust that was normally absent due to his cleanliness began to appear. Dishes piled up more than he would have liked. Whenever you did bother to straighten up at least for his sake, it drained you. 

Adulthood was really kicking your ass and it came to a head one night when you woke up sweating. As if life couldn’t drag you down even more, your AC had gone out right during the hottest part of the summer. Come morning you found out that your landlord had gone on vacation and could not and would not be able to fix the unit for at least a week. 

So you’d done what you usually did. Sucked it up and forced yourself to push through. Not a word of your woes to Sakusa who had more important matters to attend to other than your slump. You went to work, exhausted yourself there and dragged your feet into the dreaded heat of your apartment. 

Upon entering you were automatically hit with a wave of heat, making your already sluggish steps heavier. Kicking your shoes off you offhandedly waved hello to the person seated on the couch before dragging yourself towards the kitchen like it was completely normal. A moment later you stopped in your tracks. “Yoomi?”

The slightest nod from your boyfriend caused you to blink in surprise before launching yourself into his arms. “What are you doing here,” you muttered as his hands ran up and down your back. Pulling away slightly you eyed him. He looked tired. Eyes unusually sunken and you noticed the tiniest sheen of sweat across his forehead. You went to pull away knowing the touch paired with the heat would likely make him uncomfortable. To your surprise, the hands wrapped around your middle didn’t make any moves to release you. “You needed me so I came home.”

You felt a squeeze in your heart as your arms tightened wrapped around his shoulders. “But I didn't say anything—“

“Your voice. On the other week. And then your texts were different.” Of course he noticed. The conversation had already signaled to him that you weren’t the best. Your shaky exhales as you insisted that you were fine and that he didn’t need to come home. Then he noticed the jokes within your texts began to slowly subside. You’d also found yourself saying that you missed him more than usual. “So you came back?”

“I have a 3 day weekend this week. Then I’m back to practicing.” You nodded in understanding the two of you releasing one another and you noticed Sakusa frown. “Why’s it hot?” You explained about the broken AC and about the suffering you’ve endured for the past 2 days. “Did you get any more fans?” He looked annoyed once you denied purchasing any additional appliances knowing he’d had to get that done for you. “You know you’re more susceptible to nosebleeds in the heat right?”

“Thank you Dr. Omi,” you teased, laughing at his scowl from the nickname. The two of you settled onto the couch, your head coming to rest on his shoulder. “It’s common knowledge.” His replies allow a lightness to settle in your heart. One you hadn’t felt in weeks. The two of you settle into a silence for a little while his hand rubbing soft circles on your knee. “You need to take better care of yourself. And tell me when you need me.”

“I didn't want to take you away from your busy schedule,” you hum out. You feel the movement against your knee stop, a former grip replacing it. “I don't care how busy I am, I’m here. Now stop being annoying and tell me things.” You feel yourself jokingly roll your eyes before agreeing. However that wasn’t enough as you heard the scoff from next to you. 

“I’m serious. You remember what you told me back in college”

“Pretty sure I told you a lot of things back then,” you tease, taking his closest hand and interlocking your fingers. “You believed in me,” he started catching your eyes. “Told me you always knew there was no limit to me. That means I can handle it. Don’t feel like you’re annoying me.” Your eyes widened at how he remembered that very specific moment. 

It was around 4 years ago. He’d just told you that he signed to MSBY, something everyone around him was dying to know. Yet you were the first person he told. He remembered how your eyes beamed as you sat on his lap, your phone camera in his face recording the moment for memories sake. He didn’t even bother swatting it away like he usually did. He’d allowed you to place messy kisses all across his face despite the feel of your tacky chapstick. “Why do you remember that,” you questioned a soft smile gracing your own features. 

You notice the shrug of his shoulders as he helped to to sit you sideways into his lap. “Doesn’t matter. Now tell me what’s wrong. And then we’re going to get some fans.” You nodded leaning so that your lips met his for a soft kiss. “I really missed you,” you murmured into the kiss. And while he was only there for the weekend it was enough. He came home for you. The one who has loved and supported him with open arms for the past 5 years. He’d be damned if he didn’t try to make up for it. 

So you told him everything on your mind. Laughing every time he scolded you for the little things. “Don’t let the dust build up by the time I get back next month.” To “You need to sleep more.” And in return you got the same. You got the story from the exhaustion laced in his eyes. The hours it took to get to you, and the germs he forced himself to sit through to make it happen. And despite the annoying heat in the apartment, neither of you have felt that good in a while.

a/n: wow i FINALLY got at least 2 consective songs in a row done so now my prev/next is relevant for at least 2 parts. This took a different route than I initially planned for, nor is it exact in its storytelling. It was also started 2 months ago and finished now bc it was kinda hard for me. Anyways hi um did you catch the no limit to you ref? bc yeah i love that and to date still my fav piece ive ever written. you dont have to read that to understand this but its 5.4k words if you have some spare time.

anyways: im about to be on an 8hr car ride so feel free to request stuff. rules 

[yikesharringrove]

So I have this theory that Steve and billy would take a long time to get to each other. They both have so much damage. They know they would be amazing but they also know they aren’t ready yet. So they go with their separate ways. They grow up, they get better. 10 years later they are both back home for a wedding (let’s say Dustin/Erica because I personally think they would be awesome. She would run his life and he would thank her for it) And S/B realize they are ready now. The timing is perfect

Read on Ao3.

“It looks good, buddy.”

Steve was sitting bored in the leather armchair. His hand was propping his chin as he stared at Dustin. He had tried out 18 suits and Steve was tired.

“I don’t know, Steve. I don’t think I like the blue.” It was his sixth navy suit. Steve wanted to bash his head in.

“I still maintain I like the first one.” Dustin took another look in the mirror before nodding.

“I’ll put the first one back on.” Steve groaned at the ceiling.

Steve was Dustin’s Best Man. They had kept in close contact even as Steve moved to Chicago, worked entry-level jobs until he went to college, studied, and became a special education teacher.

Dustin had recently graduated from MIT, was living in Indianapolis with Erica. He worked at an engineering lab, was designing already. Steve was very proud. The past few months he had driven to Indy every Friday and staying through the weekend, helping him with plans, the registry, and addressing invitations. He nearly shit when he wrote Billy Hargrove’s name and address.

“Okay, I think this is the one.” Dustin was back in the first one. Steve wanted to hit his head against the wall until he fucking died.

  “Okay, so we’ve got me and your mom, and the Sinclairs, and Marnie, and Robin at Table 1. Table 2 is El and Mike and Will and Seth and Reggie and Max and Angie and Lucas, which, shouldn’t he sit at table one? Family and that. Table 3 is Nancy and Jonathan and Mrs. Byers and Hopper and-” Steve choked on the next name. “Billy? Why didn’t you tell me he was coming?” Dustin looked up from the huge board they had been using to make the seating chart.

“Does it matter?”

“Yes. You know he’s the love of my fucking life.” Steve was gawking at Dustin who rolled his eyes.

"He's not. You've just been gross and hung up on him for ten years, Steve. That's lame."

"We could've had something! We were getting close and I kept-"

"You were getting closer and you kept feeling electricity and then he died and then he was fine and then he ran away to California I know, Steve." Steve felt his face heat up He looked back at the seating chart. "Stop pouting."

"I'm not pouting." He was totally pouting. "It's just, I haven't seen him in ten years. It's gonna be, what if he's moved on."

"He's not bringing a plus one."

"Maybe they couldn't come." Dustin rolled his eyes.

"Just fucking talk to him when you see him. Don't know why it has to be such a big deal."

"I can't talk to him, Dustin. what would I say?"

"Start with hi, Billy. And just see where it takes you."

"I just, it's been a while since I've dated and-"

"But it's time you moved on from Taylor. I told you that guys was bad news, and lo and fucking behold, he ends up sucking." Steve shifted uncomfortably. That relationship had ended over three years ago, ended with Steve spending two months on Robin's couch. He was still in therapy over it. 

"Yeah, I know." Steve was talking to his arms, folding tightly over his chest.

"Buddy, I'm not trying to be an ass. Just saying. You're doing much better after that. And Max says Billy's really good. That he's got his life on track and is happy."

"Then he probably has someone. And he might not even be into guys!"

"Okay, then get over your lame self, and be his friend." Steve huffed. "But whatever you do, just help me finish this fucking seating chart."

Steve was fucking running.

He had been in charge of the rings, and he had, misplaced them.

Because of course he fucking did. Of course, he held onto them for weeks only to lose them on the day.

He was sweating through his white shirt in the Hawkins heat. Running from room to room in the upstairs of the old house. His parents kept the Hawkins house, just in case they were ever passing through. Steve doesn't think they've spent more than three hours in it since he was nineteen, but it gave him a free place to crash whenever he was in town.

He was tearing through rooms, anywhere he could've been these past few hours. He knows he had the rings when he put on his shirt, had them in his pocket when he realized he needed cufflinks.

He flew downstairs, rummaging through the drawer in his father's side of the bathroom, finding the rings exactly where he had stolen the cufflinks from. They were thin, gold bands. Erica's had a small diamond set into it. They were engraved on the inside, quotes for Star Wars, Dustin's holding Princess Leia's I love you, Erica's with Han Solo's I know. Steve had made fun of them endlessly when he had picked them up from the jeweler's.

"Steve, you're a fucking idiot and also a genius." He scrambled to his car, driving well over the speed limit to the venue, a historic house in the old part of Hawkins. It was grand and beautiful and much cooler than the summer air outside. Steve was so focused on delivering the rings he didn't notice the Camaro sitting out front, still in its pristine condition. He opened doors at random, getting screamed at by Erica's Maid of Honor, Marnie, when he burst into the wrong room. Marnie fucking hated Steve, and he didn't really know why. Apparently it had something to do with the engagement party. But, he got blackout fucking drunk at that thing, so he had no idea what she was so pissed about.

Well, now she was quite obviously pissed that he had slammed open the door to find her and Erica in robes, getting their makeup done. She threw a shoe at his head.

He was fucking sprinting down a hallway when he crashed right into a fucking wall, solid and steady. He was knocked back on his ass,

"Oh shit, sorry!" He looked up, finding Billy Hargrove staring down at him. "Steve fucking Harrington. As I live and breathe." Billy's hair was long, was wild and big. He was wearing a well-fitting suit, looked thick and muscled, more than he had in high school. Steve's mouth went fucking dry. Billy had his shirt unbuttoned to the bottom of his sternum, showing off a large chest piece, gorgeous flowers weaving around and through the scar on his chest. Steve could see it was healed, but still raised, pink and shiny in a few areas, the skin pulled and puckered where Billy had been stitched back together.

Billy extended a hand, a scarred tattooed hand, and heaved Steve off the floor.

"Hi, Billy." Billy grinned at him. It was softer than he remembered. "You look good."

"You seen yourself? You're still as pretty as I remember." Steve fucking giggled like a fucking schoolgirl. He had let his hair grow out some since high school. Some of the kids liked his long hair.

"What have you, what have you been up to?" Steve was overly aware of his arms. Was trying to find a way to hold himself that didn't look stupid.

"You know, California. USed my government hush money to go to culinary school. I'm a sous-chef now at a restaurant in L.A."

"Oh, wow. Congratulations. You've really, you've come a long way. You look, happy." Steve flushed a little more.

"What are you doin', Pretty Boy?" Steve's heart tripped over itself at the old nickname.

"I'm in Chicago, now. I teach special education at an elementary school. I'm actually, I'm in line to become head of the department when the current one, when she retires." Billy's eyes crinkled at the corners with his smile.

"That's so perfect for you. What made you choose special ed?"

"I went to college and learned I'm dyslexic." Billy barked a laugh, one Steve had never heard before, a fucking real one.

"You didn't know? I could've told you that!"

"I mean, I just thought I was fucking stupid, but once I learned what the problem was, the university gave me some resources to help. I was actually in the nursing program, but I kept thinking about how the university helped me so much, that getting a real diagnosis was fucking life-changing, not only for school, but just in the way I thought about myself. I don't want kids to grow up like I did, convinced that their literal disability is just, just stupidity." Steve met Billy's eyes, saw them glow with fondness.

"I'm so happy for you, Steve. I'm so proud you found such an amazing calling, you seem like you've come such a long way." Billy squeezed his upper arm, made Steve melt.

"Thank you, that, that really means a lot to m-"

"Steve! I have been looking for you for hours. Where have you been, Asshole?" Dustin was stomping down the hall

"Doesn't matter. I'm here, I've got the rings, I'm ready to go."

"Did you not have the rings?" Dustin looked like he was going to explode.

"I have them! See!" Steve pulled them out of his pocket, clinking them together. "All engraved with your nerd shit and ready." Billy was watching them, an amused look on his face.

"You are a nightmare and the worst best man in the history of-"

"Can you not be dramatic for one fucking da-"

"I'm allowed to be dramatic today, I'm getting marrie-"

"You're never allowed to be dramatic you little-"

"God, you two really are brothers. You fight like siblings." They both whipped to look at Billy, giving him the exact same pissed off-glare. Billy laughed at them.

"Look, I'll get outta y'all's hair." He clapped Steve on the shoulder. "It's good to see you, Stevie. Hope we can catch up more. Congrats, Dustin." He trotted down the hall. Dustin grinned at Steve.

"It's GOOD to see you, STEVIE. He's totally into you. It's exhausting being right all the time." Steve slapped his arm.

 The ceremony was short and sweet.

Steve stood behind Dustin, handed him a tissue when he got all misty, took one for himself when he began tearing up. He noticed Billy sitting a few rows back, noticed how his eyes were always on Steve whenever Steve's trailed over to him. He was smiling softly at him, even fucking winked at Steve, made him go red and look away. Robin noticed something off about him, noticed the way he was flushed, raised her eyebrow for her spot in the first row with Claudia. He shook his head.

The cocktail hour took place outside in the oppressive heat as the large ballroom was altered from ceremony set-up, to dinner and dancing. Steve was overseeing the transition, as Dustin was extremely specific, and someone needed to deal with it.

"You've been weird all day." Robin knocked her shoulder into his. "It finally catching up to you that one of your kids is married?"

"Mike and El have been married for like, years."

"Yeah, but Dustin is your baby." Steve rolled his eyes.

"It really doesn't bug me. I just, Billy's here. We like, talked earlier. And he kept, lookin' at me." She sighed.

"You know what I've always said about Billy. When he was coming into Scoops like, every day and being all flirty. But just, be careful he's been through a lot and, I just don't want the whole Taylor situation to happen again." He shuffled his feet.

"It won't. He seemed, happy. Like he was all bright and was, was laughing, and I've never heard him laugh like that." Her eyes were soft.

"Just be careful, Dingus."

 At dinner, Steve had to give his speech.

He was a wreck, had dropped his cards, and started fucking crying a couple different times. But he got laughs in all the right places, and Claudia had cried loudly so he was feeling pretty alright about it.

He had made a point not to look at Billy the whole time, couldn't fathom looking into his bright eyes as he talked. As dinner winded to a close, the bar opened, and the music began.

Dustin and Erica's first dance was so sweet, they had chosen At Last, the Etta James number that made Steve and Claudia tear up. Lucas took Erica out next, swapping with Mr. Sinclair as Claudia took Dustin.

And then the music devolved into upbeat dance numbers, kept everyone on their feet for hours.

Steve was taking a much-needed break. Nancy had worn him out during Rio, arguably the best Duran Duran dong to ever exist according to Steve.

"You're really tearing it up out there. Nice to see your taste hasn't changed at all." Billy was leaning against the bar, was nursing an amber-colored drink. Steve sipped his pink wine.

"I stand by Duran Duran." Billy laughed, leaning forward enough for Steve to feel his warmth.

"Your speech was nice."

"Thank you! I was so fucking nervous, you have no idea." It was easy talking to Billy. Felt like not a day had passed since they were sitting on the hood of Steve's car at the quarry together, throwing rocks into the water and passing a joint back and forth.

"I wanna know everything about from these past ten years." Steve took in a big breath.

"You pretty much know it all. Took me a good while to get my shit together and get through school, finding something I'm passionate about."

"But there has to be more. A lot can happen in ten years. You dating anyone?" Steve's heart lodged itself in his throat. He blinked down at his wine.

"Not right now. Last one was, uh, it really fucked me up." Billy's hand was so warm when he placed it on Steve's shoulder.

"I'm sorry I asked. You don't gotta explain." Steve blinked, shaking himself.

"Are you, are you with someone?" Billy chuckled. He ran a hand through his hair, through the wild curls Steve was obsessed with.

"Nah. Hard to find guys that don't get weirded out by the scars. I've got a whole lotta baggage."

"Sorry, guys?" Billy gave him an odd look.

"Yeah, Harrington. Guys. I'm gay. That a problem?" It was the closest Billy had looked to his old Hawkins self, puffing his chest up.

"No, that's not a problem. Just didn't know is all. I'm, uh, I'm bisexual." Billy's eyebrows shot up.

"No shit?"

"No shit." Billy smirked at him.

"You know I've always had a thing for you." Steve choked on his wine, coughing harshly as Billy laughed, thumping him on the back.

"Don't say that shit to me. I've had the biggest stupidest fucking crush on you since I was seventeen. That summer before everything when to shit, when we were, like, hanging out, I kept thinking something was gonna, was gonna happen." Billy's smile fell.

"I know. I'm sorry, Stevie. I just, I wasn't good back then. I was so fucking angry, about moving to Hawkins, and everything with my dad, and then getting possessed, I wouldn't've been good to you. And you deserve good, Stevie. You wouldn't have grown like you did if you were always trying to take care 'a me."

"Sometimes, the growing hurt, and I, I wish some of it hadn't have happened."

"I know how that feels, Pretty Boy. But the growing, sometimes it has to hurt. Everything that happened to me, everything with that thing, it made me who I am, and for the first time in my whole life, I really like who I am." Steve took a breath.

"You know, I never got the story from you. Why you actually moved to Hawkins. You'd say something different and ridiculous every time I asked." Billy looked down at his drink.

"My dad. He caught me with a boy in my room. He said, he told me living in the midwest would straighten me out. I think he thought either I play straight or I'd get hate crimed."

"I'm sorry, Bill." He smiled at him, just one side of his mouth ticking up.

"Honestly, Pretty Boy. Like I said, everything really happens for a reason. That's what I live by now, because all that horrible shit, it led me here, and I'm okay."

"Good for you, Bill. I really mean that. You've made such a great life for yourself." Billy pressed in closer to him, made Steve's breath catch.

"Thank you, Sweet Thing. That means a lot comin' from you." He leaned even further into Steve's space. "You wanna get outta here? I've got a nice hotel room." Steve felt warmth spread down his spine. He hooked a finger into one of Billy's belt loops.

"You know, I've always loved that car 'a yours. First time I saw you get out of it, kept thinking about getting fucked in that back seat." Billy groaned, his head falling onto Steve's shoulder.

"It's parked right outside." Steve leaned to Billy's ear.

"Race ya."

They ran, giggling like little kids all the way to Billy's vintage car. Billy fumbled with the keys, dropping them twice before Steve yanked open the door, diving in the back seat.

They were still giggling as they struggled outta their clothes, making out in between items. Steve flopped down once he was undressed, pulling Billy down on top of him, laughing as Billy knocked the wind out of him.

The giggles turned to moans when Billy latched onto his neck, sucking and biting. He finally put his hand in those curls, the other trailing down his back, ghosting over the scars there.

"I love all your tattoos. So gorgeous." Billy pressed kisses down his chest. He stopped at the large scar running from the inside of Steve's collarbone a few inches down his arm.

"What's this from?" Steve stiffened under him. He sat up, brushing some hair off of Steve's forehead.

"It's, it's from a surgery I had."

"What happened?" Steve pushed his hand away from the scar.

"Shattered my collarbone." Steve was sitting up, was tugging his pants back on.

"Shit, Stevie, I'm sorry. I won't, you don't have to talk about it." Steve huffed, flopping back into the seat.

"It's okay. It's just-" He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Billy tugged his own slacks back on. "The relationship I told you about. The last one I was in." BIlly's eyes went big. He took Steve's hand.

"Stevie, I'm sorry." Steve shook his head."How long were you two together?"

"A little over four years."

"Holy shit."

"I ended things over three years ago. Packed my shit and left when he was at work. Lived with Robin after that." He crossed his arms over his middle. "I should've known too. There were, there were so many red flags, but I didn't, I never really ever felt loved, and he told me that he loved me, and so I stayed. Through everything."

"Was he your first relationship since Nancy?"

"Like, full relationship. Once I moved to the city, I let myself go wild a little bit, fucked around with a lot of different people. I thought he was it for me, thought he was the one. We moved in together after about six months." Billy placed a hand on Steve's thigh.

"I'm sorry, Baby. I know how you feel. I know how painful it is to live like that."

"I know you do. And I'm, Robin and Dustin really helped me. They helped me find a support group for queer abuse survivors, and, and Robin drove me to therapies, and I'm so much better, but it's, especially the scar, it's a painful reminder." Billy leaned over, pressing a light kiss to the center of it.

"Stevie, I really like you. I'd like to do this properly. I want to take you on a date." Steve looked at him with wide eyes.

"You, really?"

"Yeah, Baby. Been gone on you since I was sixteen years old." Steve took Billy's face between each palm, kissed him softly, smiled into it, into how right it felt, these two broken boys, these two healed men finally finding one another again.

[purplesurveys]

1114

survey by dishwallafied

WHO was the last person...

you spoke to, in person? I think it was my sister, like earlier at 1 AM. She was the last person apart from me to head upstairs for bed.

you called? I tried calling our internet service provider’s hotline to inquire about our lost connection last weekend, but all I got was a useless automated message saying they’re on top of all concerns and will be addressing ours soon, which did not make any fucking sense because I didn’t get to report my issue anyway. Their social media was virtually useless too, and my dad had to physically go to one of their offices last Monday to settle the issue.

that called you? My phone’s not near me at the moment (omg a rarity) but it was the delivery person for Reggy’s croissants. GPS has always hated our street and has never been able to identify it, so whenever anyone in the family makes a purchase for delivery we’re bound to get a call or two from the rider assigned to our order to ask for directions.

you texted? It was the same delivery guy. He had tried to call me but I was in a meeting that I couldn’t get out of, so I explained to him I could only text. I also gave him a Waze link containing the exact positioning of our house so that he could set it up on his phone.

that sent you a text? I think it was just my mobile services provider sending out some random promotional text. Idk, I never open those.

you kissed? Gabie.

that kissed you? Also her. I don’t plan on kissing anyone new any time soon.

you yelled at? I haven’t recently been in a situation where I’ve had to yell at anyone...I do slightly raise my voice a lot on video call meetings just so I’m sure everybody on the call can hear me. That’s the closest I’ve got.

that yelled at you? My mom, when she was being a real drama queen about MY money a couple of weeks ago.

you watched a movie with? I watched it by myself, but I remember calling my ex for comfort because the movie was a little scary and creepy. I also remember how bothered she sounded that I was calling her, as if I was a huge burden, so...there’s that. Y’all do me a favor and be with someone who gets delighted when you call instead of making you feel like you’re a waste of space okie?? Good

you ate dinner with? My family. My dad laksa for dinner, which was perfect because I had been watching 2 Days 1 Night yesterday and the cast members kept eating ramyeon, which made me develop a serious craving for noodles all day.

you were in a photo with? I think it had been a family selfie. My family and I were about to leave the accommodation we stayed at in Tagaytay, and my mom wanted a final photo in the living room before we stepped out.

you took a photo of? My employer sent out heart-shaped red velvet cakes for all of us for Valentine’s Day, so I took a photo of it with Cooper in the background to share to the work group chat. I definitely did not expect any goodie sendout considering I never viewed Valentine’s as a special day even when I was still in a relationship, so it was a nice surprise to receive. 

you went to a concert with? Oh my Paramore show was a solo date. Gabie did come to the arena with me and I also drove Denise, Erycka, and Leigh, but the three of them settled for a different section somewhere farther out given how they already did VIP seats for Paramore’s previous concert in 2013. It was my turn to have a front-row seat and since I didn’t know anyone who was as big of a fan as I was or was willing to shell out ₱7,000 for a VIP seat, I went by myself.

you lied to? I think it was Bea, my manager? She scheduled a quick call last Tuesday just to do a check-in with me, and she was asking how I was. Of course I had to tell her I was doing fine, which is never completely true for a lot of people, I think. I didn’t want her to ask me to open up anyway, so saying I was fine was the easy way to go.

you invited somewhere? I recently saw a music clip of a certain song that’s played a lot in bars, so I tagged my entire college barkada telling them we should go back to TK soon, at least when the lockdown and the pandemic subside considerably.

you dated? Gabie.

you dumped? It worked the other way around.

you rejected? I mean, I guess I technically rejected the girl Mik told me was interested in me. We never met since Mik refused to tell me her name or show a photo, but I informed him I wasn’t planning on talking with anyone soon so she can stop thinking I’m available.

you held hands with? Angela.

you hugged? Andi, before they got out of my car since we were parting ways for the evening.

you let cry on your shoulder? This hasn’t happened in a very long time. Most likely Gabie, but this would’ve been around at the start of 2020 when we could still see each other regularly.

that let you cry on their shoulder? Figuratively, Angela and Andi.

you bought a gift for? I got a weekend accommodation for my family, but it was really meant for my dad for his 50th birthday.

you wished a happy birthday? Hans.

that disappointed you? I was more annoyed than disappointed, but it was some random Fil-Am who was being ignorant at the Subtle Filipino Traits Facebook group. That community gives me a huge migraine most days because of Fil-Ams who continue to romanticize the ~beauty~ of the country whilst completely ignoring the socio-political trainwreck here, but the group is kind of the place to be for Filipinos so I can’t see myself leaving it either.

that stayed over at your place? They didn’t stay over for the night but Angela and Hans did a surprise visit to my house a few days after Christmas.

that let you crash at their place? Gab. I used to always crash at her place when I’ve had a few drinks.

that made you angry? Idk man, can I give Mark Zuckerberg as an answer? HAHAHA I went on Facebook first thing today and the first thing I saw was a Facebook Memory, and it was a photo of me and Gabie at Athenna’s birthday party four years ago. I got irritated at first until I remembered that we were both tagged in the post, which means it would most likely show up on her feed as a Memory as well. Just to humor my petty ass, I kinda hope the memory would make her sad, wherever she is; but otherwise seeing the Memory pop up didn’t make me sad or bothered anymore so that’s a win for meee.

that complimented you? Leah, my employer’s CEO. She did a check-in call with me recently to get to know me better, so one of the first things she asked was a list of the clients I handle. I happen to be in the team that works with the company’s more big-league clients, so once she heard the brands she told me I must be a good enough worker to be assigned those clients. It meant a lot and it still does.

whom you complimented? Bea. I just let her know how helpful she’s been with me considering I’m a fresh graduate on her first job in a work-from-home setup in the middle of a global pandemic.

you thanked? A supplier I’m currently in contact with, for work.

that thanked you? The said supplier thanked me back.

you saw, in person? My sister.

that bought you something? Dad bought siopaos for us yesterday.

that made you laugh? The cast of 2 Days 1 Night, from when I was watching the show last night.

that you said you loved? I don’t remember. I think it was Kate since she helped me out with a favor.

that said they loved you? Hannah.

you flipped off? I haven’t whipped out the finger in a while, come to think of it.

you made a silly face at? Not a person, but Cooper.

that drove you somewhere? Dad was the driver for our Tagaytay trip.

WHAT was the last thing you...

touched? Aside from my keyboard, my vape pen.

threw? Cooper’s bowling pin squeak toy. He’s gotten a lot better at catching things with his mouth, so I’ve been throwing it a lot at him to continue training him.

ate? A caramel croissant.

drank? Coffee.

found stuck in your teeth? Haven’t had this happen to me in a while.

cooked? I’ve never tried cooking anything.

baked? Idk, maybe cookies 873984732842 years ago.

threw away/tossed out? The packet for the sauce that came with the siopao my dad bought.

bought? I made a purchase for 20 bags for a work thing, but only because I was assigned to do the whole correspondence with the supplier. My manager was the one who sent over the payment when the purchase was confirmed.

sold? I don’t think I’ve ever tried selling anything before.

took a photo of? Cooper hahaha. I had been dancing to a song and he was staring at me.

were frustrated with? Our internet provider when they cut off the connection last weekend.

broke? I’m not sure if I can say I broke it, but the adaptor for my phone charger finally gave up on me the other day. I’ve taken to borrowing my sister’s for now, since she says she “doesn’t use it a lot” anyway.

spilled? Some drops of coffee spilled out of my mug when I dumped several ice cubes in it.

tripped on? Kimi. He follows me evvvvvvverywhere, so I bump into him at least once a day.

kicked? I’m not really sure.

put batteries in? Haven’t had to use batteries in a while, either.

turned on? The Bluetooth on my laptop.

turned off? The electric fan last night since I found it loud.

wrote? Other than my answers to this survey, I’ve also been talking with Angela this morning over Messenger.

wrote on? Other than my phone/laptop, my journal.

cleaned? My glasses.

stuck up your nose??? My finger when a nostril itched recently.

WHERE was the last place you...

dined at? Ramen Nagi.

ordered something to go? I don’t do takeout deliveries, but the last thing I got for delivery was banh mi and iced Vietnamese coffee last week.

bought something? Facebook Marketplace.

cried? In the living room. I came across that viral video of a guy proposing to her girlfriend at a Taylor Swift concert, when he knelt at the exact moment Taylor sang “He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring” from Love Story. It was such a sweet, classy, non-cringey public proposal and I allowed myself to be swept away by the cheesiness of it all, haha.

felt uncomfortable? Dining room table. I was sharing a story to my parents about work involving a guy and my mom asked me if I had a crush on him. My dad kind of snorted and said, “Her? Crush on a guy?” which told me he knew something was up re: my preferences lmao. They’ve never heard anything from me yet, so that made me feel awkward and I most especially didn’t want my mom to catch on to the question and suddenly put me in the hot seat.

drove to? Other than back home, I last drove to UPTC.

had an appointment at? Google Meet, hahaha.

went on vacation? Tagaytay. 

hung out with a friend? Andi and I went to a Korean barbecue place at UPTC (again), but we also drove to UP after just to revisit the good old days of being in campus.

bought clothes? H&M in Feliz.

spent more than you had planned? Ramen Nagi. I had a couple of add-ons in my meal and I didn’t know their service fee was going to be quite high, so my final bill ended up being slightly more than the budget I planned out for that day.

saw a band/singer/musician perform? Late 2019. My ex and I stopped by a jazz bar and there was a live band playing.

WHEN was the last time you...

told someone 'I love you'? Last Friday.

cried? Last night.

laughed? This morning. Cooper was being silly around me and my dad, as always. This time he was unusually behaved when we let him out, and the bizarreness of it all made us so unsettled we ended up laughing.

left your home? Last Sunday. I might go out later, too.

drank a soda/pop? Early last year. There was Coke being served at an org event, and since I felt thirsty and there was no drinking fountain around I just said fuck it and drank the soda.

made your bed? Last night when I left my room to settle in the living room.

visited a doctor? May last year.

went to the emergency room? Other than when 23 years ago when I was born, I’ve never been brought to the emergency room.

kissed someone? September.

hugged someone? Mid-January.

prayed? Six years ago. Or maybe five; I can’t really tell when exactly I made it a point to stop for good.

worked out? Around a week ago. I’m thinking if I should keep at it or if I should just stop, seeing as I’m not willing to give up my favorite foods anyway lmao.

made a phone call? I tried to make a phone call to our internet provider last weekend.

answered a phone? The other evening when the landline rang.

had an argument? Two weeks ago, instigated by my mom as usual.

played a video game? I think 2-3 weeks ago when I got in the mood to play the Switch.

played a card game? Safe to say at least a couple of years ago.

played a board game? November when we suffered a power outage for two days and had nothing to do at home.

rode a bike? LOOOOOOOOL March. The lockdown had just started and I made plans to learn how to ride a bike, but those plans fell through as soon as they began.

fell on your butt? This doesn’t happen often.

took a shower? Last night.

took a bubble bath? I can’t even remember anymore; this is a rare occasion for me.

watched TV? I last watched a TV show in general last night, but I last watched something on an actual television last Sunday when my family watched a Sunday mass livestream.

saw a movie at a theater? December 2019.

ate fast food? I got Bonchon for my family last December, if I remember correctly. My dad had done a huge favor for me and I asked what I can do to repay it, and he said to just buy dinner for the 5 of us for that evening.

ordered a pizza? Last month.

made someone laugh? I’m not sure if I had made her laugh in real life, but Angela and I had a humorous conversation over chat earlier this morning.

sang? Few minutes ago.

played a musical instrument? Absolutely no clue.

read a book? Couple of weeks ago when my employer sent me this book on PR that I was asked to read in preparation for my meeting with Leah.

drove a car? Last Sunday.

went swimming? Think it may have been my Nasugbu trip with Angela, Sofie, and Gabie back in August 2019.

got a sunburn? Idk man, when I was 8? I stopped getting sunburns as I got older.

went to church or temple? The last Sunday in March before the lockdown started.

went shopping? I did my final around of Christmas shopping last month for friends I still had to give presents to.

drank alcohol? Sometime last month after my work shift, following back-to-back meetings with my least favorite client.

smoked a cigarette? Feb last year, I think. I don’t buy cigarettes of my own and I’m also a lot more watchful of my cigarette usage, so I haven’t been able to smoke since I haven’t been around a crowd who does. I mostly vape.

threw up? I last felt like throwing up back in May, but I haven’t actualy thrown up in at least a couple of years now.

had a headache? Just this Thursday.

had a cold? No idea.

had the flu? It wasn’t strictly the flu, but I was last sick in May.

had your hair cut? March last year.

dyed your hair? Never done it.

laughed so hard that you cried? It’s happened in at least the past couple of weeks, I’m sure.

[knjnvrland]

Prank Wars - ch. 2

> pairing | jungkook x reader

> word count | 2.5k

> genre | college!au, fluff, smut

> warnings | swearing, alcohol consumption

> synopsis | College can be a stressful time in anyone’s life as it is, why don’t we throw a little prank war in the mix to make it harder?

> fic masterlist

> A/N | English is not my first language, I’m sorry for the eventual spelling mistake, please let me know if you find any! 

CHAPTER 2 - Dying it Red

Getting past the embarrassment of your first day of classes, when everyone would stare at your stained clothes, the next couple of the weeks flew by fairly smooth. You made a few acquaintances in classes, which was enough for group projects and study dates, and found your way around campus with the help of your brothers and your brother’s friends. Your friends now, too. You had lunch with at least one of them every day and stopped by Jin’s cafe almost every morning for a free snack that your brother basically forced into you, using you as a guinea pig for the recipes he was trying. It was alarmingly easy to get into the new routine. 

“Then you press this button and wait for the light to turn green.” Alice was helping you out with your laundry, teaching you how to work the machines at the basement of the student's dorms. “Just be careful to be here when the timer is done, otherwise someone might take your clothes out and who would want another person’s hands in their underwear?” She played around when the harsh sound of the washing machine began, letting you know it was doing it’s job.

“Babe?” A male voice called, descending the last steps of the stairs, and you both turned around to face Yoongi with another boy trailing behind.

“Hey Yoongs, we were just finishing here.” Alice smiled warmly at her boyfriend. “Long time no see, Jungkook.” She then turned to the messy haired boy all dressed in black, walking to him and wrapping her hands around his waist. She probably couldn’t reach all the way around his neck, as her hugs usually went, because of how tall the boy was. “This is y/n, the Kim’s baby sister.” She stepped away and signaled to you, and that’s when you realized that this handsome guy in front of you was also the asshole that ruined your otherwise perfect first day.

“We actually met before.” You smiled with your lips tight together, trying to hide your annoyance. “He bumped into me on my first day here.” At that Alice let her mouth hung open, joining the dots in her head but not adding to the conversation.

“Really? I don’t remember you.” The boy looked confused, clearly being genuine on his lack of memory of the accident. Well, how could he remember you when he didn’t even had the decency to turn around and apologize that day. “Nice to meet you, anyway.” He smiled at you but you turned around, pretending to be entertained by the rotation of the washing machine.

Yoongi, sensing the tense atmosphere, wrapped his arm around his girlfriend’s shoulder. “If we don’t leave now we might miss the beginning of the film.”

“Are you coming y/n?” Alice asked.

“Nah, I have to wait for this to be finished and then I might drop by Joonie’s place, but thanks anyway.” Jungkook was already at the stairs again when you finished answering, not bothering to say goodbye at all. Alice noticed it and gave you a sympathetic smile, leaving with Yoongi behind the youngest boy.

“What an idiot.” You let out a sigh and pulled out your phone to text your sibling’s group chat about meeting up later, you might as well enjoy your Friday night with them somehow.

“That's cheating!” Taehyung yelled. “You can’t all team up against me!”

“Sorry Tae, y/n never played before, we’re just helping her out.” Namjoon explained, just as Jin killed Taehyung for the third time in a row.

Jin picked you up and you ended up at the boys' place. Jimin had a date and Hoseok was practicing late, so you and your brothers had the apartment all to yourselves. You ordered pizza and revived the old playstation 2 that was the center of so many fights between the three boys growing up. You were never a tomboy, in a house with so much testosterone, your mother made sure to keep you by her side, dressing you up in girly dresses and gifting you all the dolls you would ask. Don’t get it wrong, you could still beat Taehyung in a play fight any day, and had your fair share of scraped knees and quick trips to the hospital because you were playing a little bit too harsh trying to keep up with your older siblings, but videogames were never really your thing.

“She's fine! You don’t need to help her every time we play something new.” He whined, letting go of the controller to grab another slice of greasy muzzarela pizza. It was true, you were a fast learner and definitely didn’t need your brothers teaming up to help you out.

“But it’s funnier this way.” You stated, taking advantage and killing Taehyung once again when his guard was down because he was shoving the entire pizza into his mouth.

“Hey!” He complained with his mouth full. “That's it, I give up, you guys suck.”

“Don't be such a baby.” Jin shoved Taehyung’s shoulder with his own. “We'll play nice next round.”

“I’m not asking you to play nice, I’m asking you to play fair.” he pouted.

Namjoon patted Tae in the head. “It’s alright, we won’t count this one on the final score.”

“But I still won.” you gloated, finishing off Jin’s character on the game when they were all distracted and standing up to grab another soda from the kitchen.

“I trusted you!” The eldest shouted dramatically and you laughed to yourself, proud of your definitely-not-fair victory.

You brought back drinks for everyone as a way to say sorry, and you all settled, trying to choose another game to play next. Namjoon was distracted by his phone, texting someone non stop. Jin snatched the phone out of the other boy’s hand to read without permission, and both of them started wrestling on the ground for the device.

“Give it back!” Namjoon was on his side with his legs wrapped around Jin’s waist while Jin was laying on the ground, chest down with one of his arms pushing Namjoon’s face away and the other trying to keep the phone as far away as possible. You already knew what would happen next before Taehyung even made the first move to stand up, so you were prepared when the phone flew to your hands, being snatched by Tae from the pile of limbs tangled on the floor and thrown at you before he was pulled into the mess.

You scrolled through the texts in the open conversation and handed the phone back to Namjoon, who had given up and was on the floor, red faced and short of breath. 

“It's just a party.” You informed the other two.

“Who’s? Where? When?” Taehyung eagerly wanted to know.

“Some guy named Jackson? I don’t know, it sounds like it’s at a fraternity.” You answered, not really interested and just wanting to go back to the game.

“It’s at Delta Sigma.” Namjoon clarified. “It’s next weekend and it sounds like it’s going to be big, it’s their beginning of the school year party and they’re introducing their new boys to the world, I guess?”

“Oh, we’re definitely going.” Jin stated. “I went to a lot of their parties when Mark was still living there and it’s always legendary. Also, they have the best booze."

Namjoon went through the details while Jin sent a text to the group chat with the rest of your friend group to let them know and soon after everyone -even Yoongi- was in. You chose the next game and the four of you went back to playing and bickering as if you were still teenagers in your home’s living room.

“Can I borrow this earring?” Alice asked you, popping her head into the bathroom where you were doing your make up. You nodded and she disappeared again.

The party began an hour ago, but Yoongi was finishing his shift at the radio and he was your lift there, so the two of you could take your sweet time getting ready to go. The week went by fast and, apart from having to see Jungkook more now that he was settled into his new apartment and finally began hanging out with the rest of the group, you couldn’t complain. He still had no idea why you were always so cold with him, but made no effort to find out either, assuming you were just a little bit closed off. He was also driving there with you, taking advantage of Yoongi’s promise of sobriety and the fact that they lived in the same building, and you had made up your mind that, by the end of the night, you would make him apologize to you for ruining your favorite shirt and the perfect planned first impressions you intended on making on your classmates.

Just as you were finishing applying your lipstick, Alice’s phone rang and she letted you know that Yoongi was waiting downstairs, so you grabbed your phone, handed your keys to your roomate, letting her responsible for it, and walked out the door.

The ride there was quiet, Jungkook ended up going earlier with the rest of the boys and only needed Yoongi as a ride back home later, so you didn’t have to sit through the uncomfortable silence that would've settled if he was on the back sit with you. When you got there you could tell people were already wasted. You spotted Hobi right away, he was chugging down god knows how much beer at once and being cheered on by a group of people around him. Yoongi left to find Namjoon and tell him about some new project and Alice made her way to where the alcohol was with you trailing behind her. 

Jimin was there with a group of people, mostly girls and, of course, Jungkook. Alice said hi to them and you waved, not really wanting to introduce yourself to the strangers in the group and specially not very keen on getting another step closer to the boy who spilled his coffee on you and never apologized. Did I mention he never apologized? Because he never did. What an asshole. Jimin handed you a shot and you poured it down your throat without even asking what it was. You were not really a big party person, and the only way to get through it was getting shit faced drunk, and that’s what you were planning on doing.

You spent most of your time dancing with Jimin and Alice, or by the kitchen filling your cup. You bumped into your brothers but honestly, you were not really into the idea of seeing them make out with random people or embarrass you with their drunk dancing, so you kept your distance. You would bump into Jungkook every now and then as well, and Alice had to keep you from going up to him and making a scene. You just wanted him to apologize, really, but you were not sure you could let him know that without calling him a few names you thought suited him much better then ‘Jungkook’ before.

It was just a second that Alice turned around to look for her boyfriend and you were already gone from her sigh. You were a little bit tipsy, sure, but you could get a drink by yourself without your friend constantly by your side. On the way to the kitchen you even had a small conversation with a handsome stranger with light eyes and dreamy lips that you were sure would not have happened if you had Alice with you. You were looking for another beer, just to drown your nerves a little bit and go find that godlike creature again, when you spotted Jungkook. There was a girl standing by your side with a tall red cup filled with god knows what and you didn’t think twice before gabbing it and throwing it. Your aim must have been a little off though, because instead of hitting your target, the splash of alcohol landed on the person beside him, who just happened to be your brother.

“Y/n what the fuck?!” Taehyung turned around to find you frozen in place looking as guilty as ever. The group of people around them took a step back from the mess and Jungkook started laughing hysterically.

“Sorry Tae that wasn’t for you.” The words barely audible over the loud noise of people talking around you. You had no idea what had gotten into you and could feel your face getting warm. “I was aiming at Jungkook.” 

At that the other boy stopped his laughter and looked offended at you. “What? Why?”

“Because you should learn some manners, asshole!” You couldn’t hold back you annoyance even though you knew you were overreacting, but the alcohol in your blood took control of your ability to filter your words and you would rather have people think you were red because of anger then because of shame. Taehyung started to laugh then, not really understanding what was happening, but amused seeing you argue with someone that wasn’t him for once.

“What have I ever done to you?” Jungkook was just as confused as your brother.

Before you could answer and give him a little bit of your mind, Alice and Namjoon walked in and found the absolute mess you had made. See, the drink you threw was a dark shade of red, and the kitchen had white tiles and white cabinets all around that were now all tainted a lovely shade of pink, as was your brother’s bleached hair and light clothes.

“Dude what happened?” Namjoon was the first to speak, but Tae just waved him off, finding the situation more funny then anything else. He could get back at you later anyway, and growing up with you gave him the ability to read you better then anyone else, so the act you were putting to sound tough didn’t mean a thing to him and he was enjoying seeing how far you would go to hide you embarrassment.

“Maybe I should take y/n home.” Alice stated, grabbing the empty cup from your hand and leaving it on the counter, as if disarming you of a powerful weapon. She then passed her arm through your waist and led you to the door. You could only follow along, unable to react when you fully realized what just happened.

Finding Yoongi was easy, he was on his way to the kitchen and met you halfway, not needing any explanation before following the both of you to his car. The drive home was silent, apart from some underground rap song playing from Yoongi’s sound system and Alice calling a friend of hers who was at the party to see if they could give Jungkook a ride home later. You laughed to yourself, remembering the boy's face when he realized the target was him, and that alone made it worth it. The fact that you stole his ride back was just a plus to the situation. He was a handsome boy, you couldn’t deny it, so wiping that bunny smile from his face gave you more pleasure than you were able to put into words. You would have stopped there, honestly, but deep down you knew that what took place at the party was just the beginning.

> A/N | It /really/ starts here, I guess. Have a nice day, wherever and whoever you are :)

TAGLIST IS OPEN

[smallerinfinities]

Meet the Teacher

a/n: In which Shawn is an elementary school music teacher capturing hearts

Hellooooo! So, I haven’t written a fluff oneshot in God knows how long. @mendesftoakley inspired me yesterday morning though and I couldn’t get this out of my head. I might write a part two? I’m kind of obsessed with this idea of music teacher Shawn. It’s cute as fuck. Anyways, as always, let me know what you think! I love all of your feedback! 

warnings: fluff shrapnel embedded in your heart forever from the 2.3k ovary explosion

“Mommy, we’re gonna play instruments!”

You smiled at your seven-year-old son in the backseat. He was practically vibrating with excitement. It was Meet the Teacher Night and you were finally meeting his favorite person—Mr. Mendes, his elementary school music teacher. Honestly, you kind of wanted to kill this illusive and illustrious Mr. Mendes because Julian wouldn’t shut up about him. In the last three weeks, he had started banging on every available surface in the apartment, saying things like “awesome, dude!” and “play with your heart,” and had asked for a guitar for Christmas no less than six times...in September.

“Mr. Mendes says that I have natural rhythm,” he said, nodding with such certainty that you thought he might actually know what that meant. “Did he? That’s great sweetie! You really like this teacher, huh?”

“He’s so cool. I think you’re really gonna like him.” Still nodding, he smiled at you in the rearview mirror, showing off his lack of front teeth. You were glad that he’d found something to love at his new school. You’d just moved here, crossing state lines, after a nasty breakup with his father. Thank God you never married him. It made things a lot easier for you, but for Julian, well, his father loved him and he loved his father. The separation had been rough, with only a few weekends here and there for them to reunite, so having something, someone, here that kept him grounded was good.

Pulling up to the school, you saw a sea of parents and groaned. Meet the Teacher also meant Meet the Parents and it was always a struggle for you as a young mother. You knew they judged you, knew they saw you as less than because you were twenty-five with a second grader. So, the Meet the Teachers and the PTA and the parent mixers and the soccer practices weren’t your favorite thing, but you endured them because Julian was your world.

So you let him drag you inside by the hand, silently kicking and screaming like the second grader you’re supposed to be raising. The middle-aged woman that greets you at the registration desk to pick up your class meeting schedule looks like a typical PTA President, the badge on her chest proudly displaying her title. She looked you up and down and sneers a little, mentally calculating how old you must have been when you had a child.

“Music is just down the hall and to the left,” she said with pursed lips.

Oh great, music first. Julian was pulling again, practically shaking with excitement. “Mommy, mommy, we have to hurry so I can pick my instrument! I want the big clapper hands!”

Letting go of his hand so he could run down the hall, you giggled to yourself at his excitement. You watched him skip and jump down the hall, rounding the corner in his little sneakers and his favorite Spider-Man t-shirt. He really was happy here and that’s all you could ask for during this difficult time in his life. Daydreaming about the new life you building here, so far away from everything your son had ever known, you rounded the corner and immediately ran face-first into a brick wall.

“Oh, excuse me!” the wall said. Why is the wall talking?

Turns out it wasn’t a wall. It was a very tall, very muscular man. He grasped your shoulders to steady you, forcing you to back up and lean your head back to look at him. Momentarily stunned by the image, your eyes blew wide and your mouth hung open. This was the most attractive man you’d ever laid eyes on. He was broad, shoulders in perfect proportion with his waist, with a square jaw and strong chin to match. His lips looked soft, shiny like they were recently coated with lip balm, and his hair, thick dark brown curls, hung into his face at the top, just a couple of ringlets reaching down to his eyebrow. After this quick inventory of his features, you locked eyes with him, his brown (or were they just a little bit green?) ones widening to mirror yours when he looked at you. He was still grasping your shoulders and you were still trying to remember how to breathe when a small, hip-height body crashed into your legs.

“Mommy! This is Mr. Mendes!”

Oh my God.

He cleared his throat, releasing your shoulders, and backed away from you, sticking out his hand to shake. You took it, trying not to think about how rough they were from playing guitar with the kids all day. Had anyone been watching the two of them, they probably would have noticed that the shake went on for just a beat too long before either of you let go.

“Hi. You’re Julian’s mom? He’s told me so much about you,” he nodded and suddenly everything was much clearer. He didn’t look more than twenty-three, must have been fresh out of college. No wonder Julian had been raving about him for weeks. He was just slightly younger than his father, and not unlike him in appearance. God, I have a type. But wait, he’s told me so much about you? You looked down at your son’s 500 kilowatt smile and wondered what he must have told him. It was your turn to clear your throat.

“Likewise, he won’t shut up about you at home,” you smiled and he dipped his head, blushing crimson.

Oh my God.

You had to get away from him, had to get out of this bubble that seemed to only hold the two of you so you could breathe again. Thankfully, another mother made an impatient sound behind you. His head snapped up and he shook it, raking a hand through his curls. You sidestepped him and headed toward the classroom door, but not before you caught a raspy, “it was nice to meet you.”

The noise inside the room was deafening. All the kids had taken spots at the front of the room and were choosing and using various percussion instruments. Julian had secured his big clapper hands and was chasing a little, blonde girl around the room while holding the hands above his head, vigorously shaking them. You took a seat on a plastic, multi-colored riser and watched the chaos, trying not to think about the scene (or was it a dream?) at the door.

It wasn’t long before all of the second-grade parents had filed in and Mr. Mendes closed the door behind him, picking up the acoustic guitar that leaned against the wall. He clapped his hands in a rhythmic pattern and all the movement at the front of the room stopped as the kids immediately repeated it back to him. His command of the room was impressive for a man who looked just old enough to not be considered a boy anymore.

“Hellooooo, parents! I’m Mr. Mendes, and I thought it might be a good idea to start off with a little show of what your kids have learned in just a few short weeks.” He strummed the guitar and the kids hummed back to him on pitch. The guitar strapped over a white polo with blue striped detailing and black skinny jeans screamed young Elvis, and that was the energy he exuded. The kids were mesmerized as he played, all of them concentrating at once on him but also on their own instruments. Julian bobbed his head along with his clapper beats while humming the tune his idol was playing. It was a magical moment, capturing even the parents.

By the end, the kids were humming in harmony, playing their instruments—everything from clappers to shakers to spoons—in rhythm, and some of them, unable to contain their energy, had gotten up to dance around. Strumming vigorously, the kids shook and banged their instruments in an uproarious finale that had the parents cheering and whistling their applause. Everyone, parent and child alike, had a smile on their face. Mr. Mendes, flushed with adrenaline, bowed with the kids, those errant curls flopping in his face again.

He caught your eye and blushed again. This man cannot be single. You smiled at him and he scrubbed the back of his neck, a little embarrassed. One of the mothers in front of you looked back at you, catching the moment, haughty judgment in her eye as she squeezed her balding husband’s hand. Rolling your eyes, you turned and waved at Julian, who came bounding over.

“Mommy, wasn’t I good?! I never lost the beat!” You beamed at him, setting him down in front of you and holding his hand while you both listened to the rest of Mr. Mendes’ presentation. He reviewed the classroom rules, the goals for the rest of the year, and passed out a calendar of performances and assemblies that parents were invited to. His most important point was to make sure the kids learned that all music is related and even though songs might sound different or have different words, the boundaries between them can be broken. Before it was time to move to the next class, to demonstrate this point, he invited the kids back up to the front of the room.

He sat in a chair with a pair of spoons and beat out a groove as the kids bounced around him. Counting off, “1...2...1,2,3 SING IT OUT!” one group of kids started singing Frère Jacques while another started with Row, Row, Row Your Boat. At first it was a mess, causing all the parents to laugh, but it settled into something interesting, the voices interweaving together, united by the spoon beat. Watching it all was mesmerizing, everyone was having so much fun. The school bell sounded above them and the kids groaned in the middle of their song. Mr. Mendes laughed and released them, sending Julian back to you, but you could tell all of the kids were hesitant. This music room was a gingerbread house full of little Hansels and Gretels, taken under this wizard’s spell.

They weren’t the only ones. You watched mother after mother walk out of the room and not one of them left without looking back over their shoulders. He was a little intoxicating. Before you left, Julian ran from you, catching Mr. Mendes at the legs.

“Thanks, Mr. Mendes! I’m happy you met my mom!” Mr. Mendes wrapped him in a hug and looked over Julian’s shoulder at you, gracing you with the widest, brightest smile, “the pleasure was mine.” You nodded, hiding half your smiling face in your hand, trying to control the impulse to cry seeing your son so happy, “come along, Jules. We have to get to your homeroom.” You held your hand out and he sprinted back to you, energized and ready to introduce you to the rest of his life.

The rest of Meet the Teacher passed by in a haze. You met Julian’s teacher, barely ingested information about math and reading, and had an art lesson that was infinitely less engaging than music. Julian introduced you to some of his friends and you met their parents, some were more tolerable than others, and you set up a weekend playdate with his closest friend, Alec. His mother was young too, not as young as you, but young enough to get the same sort of looks in class. It was refreshing and maybe, you thought, she could be your friend in all this.

Walking back out to the parking lot, most of the parents gone already, you felt light, excited for your son’s new life here that he seemed to be settling into. Julian was walking in circles, expelling all of his pent up energy from the night, when you heard your name called from the school door.

It was Mr. Mendes. You stopped dead in your tracks as he jogged over, waving at Jules, who had made his way to the playground near the car. He paused about five yards away, hesitating, looking at you like he hadn’t planned out what to do after this, like he’d run out here on a whim without a plan.

“Uhm, hi.” He dropped his eyes to the ground and swept his foot along the pavement. You giggled at him, slapping your hand against your mouth to hold it in, not wanting to scare him anymore than he already was. “Your class seems like a lot of fun, Mr. Mendes. Julian really loves it.”

“Oh, call me Shawn,” his eyes snapped to yours, clearly not wanting to just be Mr. Mendes right now, “and thank you, he’s a great kid.”

“Oh, okay, Shawn. Yeah, he is a great kid. He’s having a hard time right now being away from his dad. It’s what’s best for the both of us, but he doesn’t quite understand that just yet.” Your eyes widened, unsure of where all that honesty came from, unsure you wanted your son’s hot, young teacher to know your dirty laundry. But, he was blushing again, “yeah, he told me a little bit, kids, you know? They don’t quite know the difference between private and public yet.”

You made a mental note to educate your son on what you do and do not tell people you barely know, but your heart warmed to know that Julian was talking to someone, even if it was this someone. He was clearing his throat again, gearing up for something. You weren’t sure what you expected but it sure wasn’t what came out of his mouth.

“So, uhm, would you...can I…would it be okay...could I give you my number?”

Shall I continue, or nah?

[whatifididsomethingnew]

Take Your Medication

I’m a college freshman in my second semester. I’ve been struggling with depression and ADHD for who knows how long, but I was diagnosed(i think? idk if it was official) in my freshman year of high school and given medication for it sometime in my senior year.

I didn’t take the medication very often. I started off strong, taking the ADHD medication especially to get me through classes and make sure the dosage lasted me to sixth period, my worst class at the time. But over the summer I stopped because I decided that the positive effects didn’t make up for the side effects: a lack of appetite and dry mouth.

Below the keep reading is my experience with mental illnesses and medication. It’s long. tl;dr If you have access to medication, take it. It helps. And make sure the dosage is right for you

 I’ve never been a bad student. Aside from failing algebra 2 in freshman year (ive never been good at “advanced” math, it was an IB class so even worse, and even better students agreed that the teacher was awful), I’ve gotten at worst 1-2 C’s per year. But since middle school I’ve found myself unable to pay attention, preferring to think about the book I want to read or the game I want to play or even just something else I started learning about. I figured out how to get by with finished homework and average tests. But I took about 6 AP tests in high school and only passed one, because I couldn’t study well enough to retain all the information I learned and forgot over the course, or pay attention to the exam to finish the multiple choice, or have enough foundation in the subject to write an essay that mattered at all.

This point in my life has almost certainly been my worst, depression-wise. I only live about twenty minutes away from my parents’ house, and I go home every weekend so I’m not just alone in my apartment for three days straight, but I’m still isolated during the week. My friends that are still in high school are busy with classes and extracurriculars and meeting with friends they still see everyday and very few of them have their own cars to drive up to visit me, and my friends in college are all busier than ever, all going to school anywhere from 15 minutes to like four hours away. My bad days are worse and happen more often and can span into bad weeks. I tend to write at best 1 page of notes after about 2 1/2 hours of classes a week, and drain my phone battery down to the sixties because I don't pay attention in lectures on subjects I’m not interested in. 

In high school I couldn’t wait for college, because I could choose my classes and the times and had the opportunity to make friends! But I realized I’m bad at making friends; I made one friend in kindergarten, when times were simpler, and all my lasting relationships (aside from my online friends, whom I treasure dearly) can be attributed to that one friendship. (I actually made a flowchart during class when another student was presenting, and I had the energy and motivation because I actually took my meds today!)

All this personal information about my Bad Times™ is to make you understand how much I needed to take my medication. But I don’t have classes everyday, so I didn’t think that taking ADHD meds everyday was worth it, and I (incorrectly) recalled that taking the depression meds didn’t help me enough to validate taking it everyday, instead only when it got really bad, but that plan didn’t work because when my depression is bad I don’t even have enough energy to text back or walk like four steps total to get my laptop, let alone walk to the bathroom and get the pills. 

So I didn’t take it, besides from when I worked my first 8-hour shifts at my first job. And those side-effects were extreme, because my body wasn’t used to these meds that were incredibly high in dosage because that’s what I need. I felt nauseous and dizzy enough to faint and went to the back room like four times an hour for a drink of water and it was still way less than I wanted. And I still didn’t learn my lesson about how the side-effects would get easier to handle if I took them more, but worse if I only took them on worst-case bases. I was thinking more in the moment about how bad I felt then, rather than about how I could feel better in the future if I pushed through.

I had a series of awful days, just last week. I cried several tears with no clear cause, only my own thoughts and boredom and depression, which means a lot in relation to me because I don’t cry. I watched Dear Evan Hansen and The Prom live, both with the original cast, and only cried a total of five tears at most, despite how these musicals and their subject matters are very dear to me. It was a bad week that came out of nowhere, nothing extraordinarily bad happened. I did the same thing as always, if not more. But still, it was a very bad week, because I was experiencing the heavy depression and it didn’t go away after I fell asleep. I don’t have classes on Wednesdays this semester; I have a lab on Mondays, and three lectures in a row on Tuesdays and Thursdays because I learned last semester that having enough leisure time to chill in my apartment for several hours between classes only makes going to the later class way more tedious. I usually get picked up by one of my parents on Thursdays while whichever of them it is drives home from work that day. That week I was lucky to have my Thursday classes cancelled, so I got picked up a day early. 

Being home is good for my health, adding it all up. It makes me a bit insecure about being independent, but fuck that I’m only 18 and I love my parents, I don’t need to be completely independent yet. Being home only improved when @pointlessoressential moved in with me; having someone so similar to me in regards of being content sitting and doing our own thing without the expectation to have something to Do™  all the time. It’s good for me, to have someone around me so I don’t get too isolated, but also not too overwhelmed. I’m usually pretty open with my mom, too, so being with her during the weekend and being able to talk with her or watch some easy TV together is good. I’ve never been very good at opening up to people; my main characterization with friends I’m not as close with is sarcasm and puns and whatever other humor to distract both of us from personal issues. I’ve been trying to get better, with help and reminders from the aforementioned bee and mom, as well as my best friend (who yes my meeting of and bonding with can indirectly be connected to that kindergarten friend, if you were wondering) who is much more skilled at telling me about her feelings than I am. But I’m trying. So I told my mom about how I had been having a bad week, once I got home.

My mom has dealt with depression her whole life, too. Most of her life she thought she also had anxiety, but when I was diagnosed with ADHD, the psychiatrist who had prescribed me the medications I take explained to both of us that ADHD in afab people (I'd say women bc my mom is cis but I'm nonbinary, so afab people) can be misdiagnosed as anxiety bc it’s different from what TV shows it to be, and the reactive anxiety (as opposed to constant, causeless anxiety from an anxiety disorder) is a symptom of ADHD. She’s dealt with the same issues all her life, so I go to her often when I hit the wall.

She told me to take the medication. I said I didn’t like the side-effects. She bought me mouthwash that helps dry mouth and a box of Rice Krispies Treats so I can eat something small but filling when I lose my appetite. She reminded me that the side-effects would improve if I took the medication more often. I am privileged in that I had the opportunity to see a doctor for my issues and be able to afford (even if barely) my medication, and I should take advantage of that instead of taking it for granted.

This is a long post, sharing my personal story about having mental illnesses, and how medication helps. It may not feel like it took effect, but then it’ll wear off and you’ll realize the difference. It’s better to feel stable, to feel “normal” for most of the day, than to get used to feeling awful. I took my medication this morning before class; I’ve taken about five hours to write this whole thing, due to having begun it before one lecture started, then continuing it during another while also listening to my professor review the first five chapters of Return of the King and discuss it with us. And now I’m in my apartment, on my laptop, switching between ending this PSA and checking on due dates and reviewing my calendar and just being 10 times more productive than I ever am.

I don’t know if anyone will need this advice. I don’t know how many will even click the read more. But this is a blog site, and this is something I’m trying to learn and have it remembered. It’s something I needed to put into words, and now it is.

[reddielibrary]

In his arms

prompt: losers all live together in college and eddie keeps having nightmares and comes to richies bed for comfort

written by: Amelia | @tinyarmedtrex​

word count: 2277

*click title to read on AO3

It started innocently enough. One night, Eddie was woken up abruptly from a nightmare. In it he was trying to escape from some sort of demon clown (or was it a werewolf? Or a leper? He wasn’t sure) that was chasing him, following him no matter how fast he ran. It was closing on him, with teeth gnashing and red eyes fixated on Eddie, looking at him like he was an afternoon snack.

“No! Nooo!” Eddie wailed in his bed, fighting to protect his child self from the much larger creature. It nearly had him, he felt finger tips touch his shirt more than once and knew it would have him soon but he had to keep running.  

“Eds!”

Eddie heard his name but didn’t register it, too busy trying to keep rows of teeth from chomping down on his arm.

“Eddie!”

He heard it again and this time felt someone shaking him. He tried to fight them off, still screaming, but part of him realized that these hands didn’t belong to an enemy, and the person calling his name wasn’t trying to hurt him.

His eyes snapped open. Richie was shaking him, repeating his name over and over.

“What? What happened?” Eddie asked, confused. He was soaked in sweat and trembling, panting as he looked at Richie.

“You were having a nightmare Eds. A bad one, from the sound of it.” Richie said, his voice low and comforting. His eyes were fixed on Eddie, full of concern. “But you’re okay now. I’m here.”

Eddie nodded, looking around his room, remembering where he was. His room, in the house he shared with Richie and the other losers. Somewhere safe. He took deep, heaving breaths trying to calm his hummingbird heart rate. “I’m okay.” He repeated.

Richie nodded, hands still on Eddie’s shoulders. “You’re okay.”

“Thanks. Sorry for waking you up.” Their rooms shared a wall, which had lead to some awkward overheard moments for both but the others refused to sleep near Richie, knowing how loudly he liked to play his music. Eddie never minded it, he could tell Richie’s moods by what music he played and didn’t mind falling asleep to his eccentric choices.

Richie was still looking at him, unconvinced. “Are you okay? Do you want to talk about it?”

Eddie shook his head. “I’ll be fine.” He felt the dream already slipping away. He had forgotten most of it already, something about lobster arms? He furrowed his brow, that didn’t make any sense.

“You sure?”

Eddie nodded. “I think I’ll make some tea.” He wasn’t sure he could fall back asleep now, his bed didn’t feel warm and inviting like it normally did.

“I’ll join you.” Richie said and stood, waiting for Eddie and not giving him a chance to argue.

Together they quietly padded to the kitchen, where Eddie made them two sleep teas and they talked for a while. Eddie hadn’t seen Richie much since he got a late night internship at a radio station, something he loved but put him on a different schedule than Eddie’s.  With seven people in the house there was always someone home but Eddie missed Richie. He missed his terrible jokes, the constant easy touches,  the way his smile filled the room.

Eddie sighed to himself, silently admitting how much he missed all of Richie- even if he wouldn’t let himself admit the reason.

“I’m going to turn in.” Eddie said, yawning widely. “I need to get up in 2 hours.” He had started a job at a hospital, taking shifts between classes to get his nursing degree. The early hours were killing him but he loved the work.

Richie ran a hand through his hair, leaving it sticking it up at odd angles. “Will you be okay?”

Eddie smiled warmly and nodded. “I will. Because of you.” Eddie turned and rinsed out their cups, missing Richie’s reaction to his words.

Eddie had thought that would be the end of it. A comforting gesture for his one time nightmare.

Until he had another nightmare the next week. And again Richie had to wake him up, convincing him that he was safe, that he wasn’t being chased.  

Eddie woke up in Richie’s arms, cradled against him. “You’re okay, you’re okay.” Richie repeated, whispering into his hair.

Eddie let himself be held by Richie for a minute, enjoying the way his long arms wrapped around him.

“I’m fine Richie.” Eddie finally said, pushing himself back. He knew letting himself get held by Richie would only lead to heartache on his part, when his brain started wondering if there was more between them.

“You were screaming bloody murder.” Richie told him, looking worried.

“It was just a nightmare, I’m okay now.” Eddie told him. “I’ll try to go back to sleep, i’m sure it’ll be fine.”

Richie looked at Eddie, concerned. “I don’t think you will be.” He hesitated and Eddie could see he had something on his mind. “Do you want to, um, sleep in my bed? That way if you have another one, I’ll be there.”

Eddie looked up at Richie, who was chewing on his bottom lip nervously. Part of Eddie knew this was a bad idea but a larger part of him was thinking about how safe he felt in Richie’s arms, and how much better he would sleep next to his friend.

“Are you sure?” He asked and Richie nodded. “Why don’t you just sleep here?”

Richie looked at Eddie and his bed, shaking his head. “Eds, you have a twin, we’re not 15 anymore.” He stood, offering Eddie a hand, “Come sleep in my queen, my king.”

Eddie snorted and stood. “Sweep me away, good sir.”

“Happily.”

Richie lead Eddie to his bed, insisting that he take the better pillow and his preferred side of the bed. Eddie’s heart fluttered that Richie remembered. Even though the pair hadn’t shared a bed for years it was easy to fall into the old ways, Richie started out on the opposite side of the bed but by morning he was spooning Eddie, arms wrapped around Eddie’s waist.

And Eddie promised himself that this was a one time thing. Because of whatever unspoken thing they had between them. Because he couldn’t take the fall out when Richie brought home a new girlfriend or boyfriend and Eddie had to think about them waking up like this. It wasn’t a good road to go down.

But then the next week Eddie was again woken up from a nightmare by Richie and this time when Richie asked Eddie nodded and let himself be lead into Richie’s bed without any argument. Richie pulled him close, telling Eddie that he was safe, that he would keep Eddie safe and Eddie believed him.

It quickly became a thing, Eddie’s nightmares became more frequent and Richie was always there to wake him up and invite him into his bed.

One day, over a month later, Richie had just pulled Eddie into his room and paused before they crawled into the bed. “What’s wrong?” Eddie asked, wondering if Richie had changed his mind. Maybe he was sick of having Eddie in his bed, sick of Eddie needing him so much. Eddie wouldn’t blame him. He steeled himself for Richie to let him down gently.

But Richie’s words surprised him.

“Why don’t you just sleep here?” Richie suggested. “You end up here more nights than not. And you never have nightmare when you’re here.”

“Are- are you sure?” Eddie asked, surprised. “I don’t want to be a bother.”

Richie brought his hand to Eddie’s cheek, cradling it. “You’re never a bother Eds.” He said earnestly, looking into Eddie’s eyes.

Eddie swallowed, wanting to say something. He could feel the weight of the moment, and knew what it could mean, that it could change everything. He fought to find the right words. But Richie, always the talker, spoke first.

“Say you’ll stay.”

Eddie nodded. “I’ll stay.”

Richie’s face broke into a grin and he took Eddie’s hands again, leading him to the bed. “Excellent.”

Another month passed, Eddie had no idea how none of the others had figured out yet. Eddie would crawl into Richie’s bed every night, sometimes with Richie there, other times on his own, waking up when Richie came back from his late night shift.

Eddie didn’t want to admit to himself how much he liked it, falling asleep in Richie’s arms and waking up tangled together, limbs sprawled and chests pressed close. He was starting to think that he couldn’t sleep without Richie nearby and a part of him worried about what would happen when he had to.

He found out sooner than he wanted, Richie went home for a long weekend, his quarterly trip to see his parents. Eddie went back to his bed, trying to fall asleep in the now strange mattress. He tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. He weighed his options and decided that there was only one where he would actually get any sleep. He got up and went to Richie’s bed. The familiar smell comforted him and he finally fell asleep.

The next night he again crawled into Richie’s bed, missing having the lanky form next to him. He reminded himself that all this was temporary, that their arrangement couldn’t last.

As Eddie thought this his phone rang and he grabbed it, sitting up when he saw that it was a facetime call from Richie.

“Heya Spaghetti Man,” Richie said, his face filling the illuminated screen.

“Hey,” He sighed, happier than he wanted to admit to see Richie’s broad grin and buck teeth. “Why are you calling?”

Richie chewed on his lip, not answering. Finally he shrugged, “Wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Eddie’s heart sang, hearing that Richie was worried about him. “I’m fine. I-” Eddie stopped himself from saying that he missed Richie, worried about how it would sound.

Richie didn’t seem to notice, he was looking around Eddie, not at him. “Eds, are you- are you in my room?”

Eddie flushed. “Yes, I, um, I couldn’t sleep last night. So I came in here. I can leave though, if it’s weird. It’s weird isn’t it? I’ll go back.”

“No!” Richie cried as Eddie stood. He paused and Richie continued. “No, you can stay there. It’s probably better than your tiny bed. Someone might as well enjoy my fancy sheets.”

“Richie, your sheets are from target.”

“But I sprung for the ones with spaceships.” Richie told him, grinning. “Stay there, tell me about your day.”

Eddie hesitated and then laid back down. He didn’t want to leave anyway, and Richie seemed happy that he was there. “I got to cuddle cuddle some premies today.” He started.

“You with babies, I can’t imagine anything cuter.”

“Stop.” Eddie said, watching as Richie laid down too. Both were on their sides and it almost felt like Richie was there, talking to him like normal. “Then one spit up on me.”

Richie laughed and Eddie smiled, continuing his story about his day then asking Richie about his. Eddie woke up the next morning, still curled up next to his phone.

Richie called him the next night too, the two talking until Eddie fell asleep. When Richie came home the next day Eddie practically launched himself into Richie’s arms, which lead to several long looks from the other losers.

“I missed you.” He said, refusing to be embarrassed.

Richie smiled down at him, arms wrapped around Eddie, “Missed you too.” He said softly, brushing some of Eddie's hair off his face.

“Hey Eddie, maybe let the rest of us say hi?” Bev said when the two didn’t break apart.

He flushed and moved aside. “Yea, sorry.”

All day Eddie thought about how he was playing with fire. This had gone on too long and it was too much, Eddie couldn’t handle waking up in Richie’s arms anymore, not if they were just friends. Part of his was surprised he lasted this long.

That night he went to Richie’s room again but stood in the doorway. Richie looked at him then patted the bed, “Come on darling, plenty of space.”

Eddie shook his head. “I can’t Richie, I can’t do this.”

Confusion flashed on Richie’s face. “Do what?”

Eddie let out a strangled laugh. “This! Us! It’s not normal- sleeping with your best friend every night.” He swallowed, briefly debating about saying the next piece but then he continued.  “And it’s not, it’s not enough. Not for me. I can’t have just this.” He paused again. “I don’t want just this.”  He was terrified for what he had just admitted but there was no going back now. He wanted for Richie to recoil, or to try and let him down easy.

Instead Richie stood and walked over to Eddie, grabbing his hands before saying, “Eds, do you really think that that’s was all this was?” Richie’s tone was kind, if slightly bemused.

Eddie gave a small shrug. “You never said, I thought it was just my nightmares.”

“It was never just that, even at the start. It’s always been about you and me, and whatever you want that to mean.”

Eddie’s next sentence came out small, he was still worried he was reading things wrong. “I want you.” He forced himself to look at Richie when he said it. “Do you- want me?”

Richie gave him a small smile, “Eds, all I’ve ever wanted was you.” He said, leading Eddie back to his bed.

When Eddie woke up the next morning all his doubt had disappeared and Eddie knew that he was exactly where he was supposed to be.

[yuniesan]

Girl Meets Season 6 - Episode Sixteen – Girl Meets Self-Defense

Synopsis: The Journey from High School and into College will test everything Riley knew about her life, her friendships and her love. What life lessons will she learn in her first year of college?  

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

A/N: So in DaisyAngel (on ff.net) said in one of the comments someone mentioned Maya's mother having the baby, because I used the sole focus on the first half of this on Riley, Lucas, and Zay, I never got to tell you all about the little bundle of joy, it's a boy, they named him Jonathan Chester Hunter, it's one of the reasons Maya spent so much time at home in the city on the weekends. Cory and Topanga are his godparents, and while Riley was so mixed up in helping Zay, she didn't miss anything because Josh kept her up to date, along with her parents, and I swear at some point I'm going to have to do outtakes, maybe mini drabbles, on all of these stories, because there was a lot of stuff that I took out from each season that I couldn't put in.

Sadly I couldn't finish both parts to post them today, because someone called out at work and I didn't have time to finish the second part to this.

Big note on this, I planned to write this a long time ago, yes it deals with the possibility of sexual assault, and mentions of consent and drugging, when I have chosen to write this, it had been before well before the hearings back in September. The reason why I had chosen to write this is because where I work, which is a college library, we have to have training for this and many other things that pertain to title IX, if you're not in college yet look up the law, it's meant to protect your rights if someone attacks you on campus. The talk that Riley has with her mother is actually the talk my mother gave me growing up because New York is a big city and there's always the possibility of something happening. The key thing is something I do when I'm walking home late at night, my phone is always in my pocket, and you can tap an SOS signal on the phone by pressing the power key three times and it will alert 911 to your location. I have an android phone but all phones are equip with this feature so look it up. No one ever has the right to take anything from you without your permission.

P.S. There will be more fluffy parts after this, so don't worry about that, this is just something I had wanted to do because they had done it on BMW, except this is a more modern take on the whole thing.

Also three updates in a row!!! I'm getting back into the groove of this, and I will use it to write a million life lessons if I can.

Episode Sixteen – Girl Meets Self-Defense

Riley was sitting next to Maya as her best friend sketched out a picture of her baby brother, she had wanted to use it for a painting for her parents for their anniversary, but Maya was a perfectionist when it came to her art. It was something that Riley had found hilarious at times because watching Maya disregard the world while she drew had become an adventure for the whole campus. It was right after their class, and they were waiting for Smackle and Sam to show up because it was their weekly girls' lunch date. It had started at the beginning of the semester, as a way for them to have at least an hour to catch up while also talking about their love lives.

Every once and a while Riley would refill Maya's drink as they waited, not talking, so that Maya could finish before everyone arrived. Sam was the first to get there a huge smile on her face, followed by Smackle who was engrossed in a book.

"Okay," Riley said once they were all together. "Time to put the work down, that's what we agreed on when we decided to do this."

"Fine," Smackle grumbled, before her stomach made a noise, making the genius blush.

"Don't worry I finished," Maya said smiling down at the picture of her brother. "I hope my parents love this because it's hard enough getting the kid to stop squirming so that I could get one reference shot."

"They'll love it Maya," Riley said smiling at her best friend knowing it was the truth.

"Oh, let me see," Sam said bouncing in her chair, Maya and Sam had gotten closer over the last few months, especially with their upcoming student film in the works. Which Riley opted out of seeing after they showed her one clip that made her run out of the room and towards Lucas's dorm because she was sure that she would never sleep again.

"Aww he's so cute, I could just bite his cheeks right off," Riley said when Maya flipped the picture over. Sam cooing at the image, even though she's met the little boy.

"That's not possible, unless you're a cannibal," Smackle said to them in the only way she could, and it made Riley laugh. "He is cute in the average way that all children are at that age."

"Well, there you go kid you have the Smackle seal of approval," Maya said looking down at the drawing.

"He's going to be a heart breaker that one," Sam said smiling at the image.

"God, I hope not, because from the stories my dad has told me, Uncle Shawn went through so many girls growing up," Riley said thinking about everything she had heard over the years. "And broke a few hearts along the way including Farkle's mom's which is weird enough as it is."

They all laughed at it, because while it was weird it was still a part of their families past that made up their future. As they sat there Riley watched as her friends talked, caught up and generally made plans for other things. It felt like they were all finally finding their footing after everything that had kept them apart their first semester.

"So, I heard something," Sam said to them as they finished their lunch. "Apparently there's been a series of 'hook-ups' around campus," she used air quotes around attacks which meant that there was a possibility that they weren't hook-ups at all.

"I heard about them too, and I talked to a girl who knows one of the girls that it had happened to," Maya said her voice hushed because it wasn't her story to tell. "She told me to be careful at the parties thrown by the fraternities, because someone is drugging girls without them knowing. The houses involved don't want to stop the parties until the person is found, but I don't think we should be going to any parties anytime soon."

"Why do people do things like that?" Smackle asked, because while she studied everything that she could, there were still things that she didn't know or understand. Social constructs were one of them, and she was always asking them to explain things so that she would understand better. "I know that there are certain chemicals in the brain, or how a person is raised by their family, but why would someone go after people without permission?"

"It's just one of the things that girls have to worry about Smackle," Maya said and Riley couldn't help but feel sorry for the state of the world, when girls weren't allowed to freely be themselves because there was always someone out there who wanted to do something to them.

"It's not just girls Smackle, it happens to guys too, no one is safe from a predator," Riley said knowing that after a million talks about the subject with her mother, she knew that there were too many things that could happen while she was there. Too many reasons for someone to go after her or anyone she knew, and she was afraid but she wasn't going to let it rule her heart.

"So how are we going to deal with it?" Sam asked and Riley knew that she was concerned because while no one knew who was doing it, they were all possible victims.

"The buddy system," Riley answered knowing that it was the best way to deal with this kind of problem, because being with someone lessened the risk of someone going after them. "Maya and Smackle live together, so if they have to be out at night, they need to stick close to one another, the same for us Sam, since we have the radio program, or if someone wants to go to a party only take drinks that haven't been opened, and if you see something you call the police."

"You really thought this out, didn't you?" Maya said looking at her.

"My mom talked to me a few times over the summer, there had been an incident when she had been in school, so she wanted me to be prepared if something started happening when I started here," she said thinking of her mom who had something happen to her during freshman year at college, and had told Riley about it because she wanted her daughter to be protected.

"What kind of person would go after your mother, the woman scares anyone who would dare go against her," Smackle said and they all knew it was the truth, there was no going against her in any form.

"From what I know it was a new professor, who got a little too involved with his students, my dad got suspended from school for a day because of it until they realized what had happened," she told them, it was a story that her mother had made sure that she knew because she had wanted Riley to be vigilant about what could happen. She remembered that conversation, it was one that she really would never forget.

"Riley," her mother called out from the hallway before walking into her room. "Can we talk?"

"Yeah mom," Riley said automatically walking over to the bay window, the worried look on her mother's face meant that this was the kind of conversation that they should have at the window.

"Riley, I know you're going off to college soon, and I think we should have this conversation before you go," she said her voice serious.

"Mom we had the sex talk already, we don't need to have it again."

"No this is something a little more serious, something that I think you should know about because it's something that's common on college campuses, even when I was going to school."

Riley could feel the change of tone in her mother's words, where it bordered between the lawyer, she knew her mother was and the worried parent that rarely came out because her father worried enough for the both of them. There was a story here and Riley wasn't sure if she would be alright after hearing it, but it was important for her mother to tell her which meant that it was something that should also be important to Riley no matter what.

"When I was a student in college, a professor tried to well get my attention in a way, that I didn't want," her mother took a deep breath. "I sometimes wondered what would have happened if I hadn't gotten away from him in time, or even how your father's anger would have gotten him in more trouble if people hadn't believed us."

"What did daddy do? It can't be that bad, he's a marshmallow," Riley said because she had never seen any other version of her father outside of the overprotective one, she had grown up with.

"He threw him through a glass door, and I was scared not only for what had happened to me, but also what could have happened to him," her mother took a deep breath. "Your father, he's deeply protective, not just of you but also of his whole family, and while he chases Lucas around, I think he just wants to make sure that no one oversteps when it comes to you. He trusts Lucas, I know he does, he may not show it a lot because he's still fixated on that little girl he had raised, but he does trust him."

"Mom, I'm sorry you had to go through something like that," she said taking her mother's hand and putting her head on her shoulder.

"Now for the real talk," her mother said to her, before giving her a sad smile. "I honestly wish I didn't have to give you this talk but there's enough of it on the news... and well I worry about you because you're so trusting, but if you hear about something happening, even if it's a rumor, I want you to stick close to your friends, make sure Lucas is there with you, and if you ever find yourself alone at night take out your phone in one hand with 911 already dialed, and your keys in the other."

"Why my keys?"

"If you put them between your fingers they can be used as a weapon incase anything happens. I know some places ban things like pepper spray so I want you be prepared for the worse."

"Okay so phone and keys in hand, but what happens if I drop them, or if they gain the upper hand?"

"You fight Riley, never let anyone take anything from you that you didn't consent to, and if heaven forbid that something did happen, go to the police right afterwards, and then call me because I will fight heaven and hell to make sure that they burn for what they did. Because I will protect the ones, I love the most, and make sure that you can all protect yourselves."

Riley had found out that day that her mother was fiercely protective, not only of her, but also of her friends. Protect the ones you love, and protect yourself, were words that she would always hold dearly, because her friends were like family and she didn't want anything to happen to them. So, she sat there and told them everything that her mother had said, about self-defense about the buddy system, everything because she wanted them to be able to protect themselves if anything happened.

When they separated right after Riley sent a message to Lucas, because if there was one person, she needed to talk to about this it was him. She had heard about her father's reaction, and automatically knew that Lucas would have the same, if not worse reaction, if anything happened to her. She just wanted to make sure that he didn't do anything too rash if there was someone attacking people or hurting people he cared about. Lucas was standing outside of her dorm room the minute she got there, a soft smile on his face, he was just being the same guy that she's known for years, easy going and kind.

"Hey, I um… heard about something and I want to talk to you about it," she said having the need to rip off the band-aid as fast as she could.

"Um… well sure," he said as she opened the door and let him into her room.

"I heard something from the girls as we had lunch, about… well about attacks on campus, during parties and such, and well I want you to give me your word, that if anything happened to me… that you wouldn't go all Texas Lucas."

"Riley if anything happened to you… and I couldn't stop it… Riles that would hurt me more than you know," he said a sadness in his eyes and she knew that she was asking a lot of him, but she wanted him to have his dreams come true.

"If it makes you feel better I'll take self-defense classes, I'll start a drive for girls to be better protected, I'll even talk about it on the show with Sam, Zay, and Charlie, but under no circumstances do I want you to do anything rash and stupid… please Lucas," she couldn't help how her voice broke in the end, she didn't want him to lose himself to his own anger, not after everything he's done to be a better person. Lucas knew that it was hurting her as much as it would hurt him, so when he pulled her into his arms Riley understood that he was trying his best.

They didn't say anything for a few minutes as he held her, but when he pulled away she could see the war he was having just from looking at his eyes. She reached out and touched his face, giving him a small smile and kissing him on the lips.

"I'll try my best," he said once they separated, his head resting against hers.

After that they talked, like they had promised all of those years ago, she told him about what had happened to her parents, she told him everything little detail, even the things that she hadn't told Maya, Smackle, and Sam at lunch. So of course, like her mother, Lucas set up a plan for her, even if she didn't have the chance to take self-defense classes, he would teach her. He wanted to be sure that she would be safe no matter what, even if he couldn't be nearby.

In the weeks since their conversation, Riley had set up a small network through her radio show, small gatherings for girls to understand their options, for some of the guys to know what was happening. She made sure to include anyone who hadn't felt safe on campus, because organizing things was what she did best. It worked over the years, and she wasn't going to stop now. Lucas had some guys work with their girlfriends on self-defense techniques, Maya made posters for each event, Smackle and Farkle had created little safety alarms that would sound off if the person pressed a button on their phone that signaled an S.O.S. They all worked on it in some way or another, because they all wanted to be safe.

When no other incident had been reported after a few weeks, it felt like all of them could breathe easily for once, they mostly stuck to the buddy system, and if they were alone they did what Riley had told them to do. They had all become comfortable with everything, so in the end they had let their guard down enough to go on with their lives.

It wasn't until a late night at the library, where Riley had felt like someone was watching her, as he hairs stood up almost warning her of what could happen. It was the one night where Lucas had a late class, and because it was still winter, night came a little too quickly for her. She did everything her mother had told her on the walk home, and when she had reached her dorm she had felt silly for even thinking that something could go wrong. She walked up the stairs to her floor, letting her keys dangle, and putting her phone away, because she felt stupid for having it out in the first place.

Just as she reached her door someone grabbed her and pulled her towards a dark corner on the floor, they were just at the stairs again, when she began to fight, scratching at the person who was holding onto her. Her voice muffled by their hand, she could feel them breathing against her neck and it made her want to cry. The person tightened their grip on her and kept pulling her away from the safety of her room, and when they were alone, they forced her to face them.

Riley found herself face to face with one of the dorm advisors, he wasn't the one for her floor, so she didn't really know who they were, but she knew that they were angry judging by the look on his face. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, she wasn't sure if she would have been prepared for this in the end.

"You should have minded your own business," he said, and she knew that she was in trouble, she had blanked out for a moment, before on instinct she kneed him in the balls before taking a swing at his face. She hit him as hard as she could putting all of her body weight into it, even though she didn't have a lot of muscle she knew that she could hit. Lucas had once told her that she had a mean right hook, he had known this first hand because she had used it on him when they had been in Texas.

Once he was down she ran out the door, down the floor until all of the adrenaline that was coursing through her body had run out just as she slammed into a very familiar chest and started crying. Lucas held onto her and she knew that he didn't know what had happened, but there was something in his eyes the minute he saw her face and she knew that he knew. He pulled her into her room and closed the door before dialing 911, as she shook on her bed.

"Someone attacked her, she has a cut on her head and she's in shock," was all she heard before she heard the pounding on her door, making her jump.

Lucas looked to the door, the operator still on the other line, but the muffled sound of a very angry person on the other side made it known that the person had followed her back. She knew that they knew where she lived, he was one of the advisors for the dorm so of course he knew. The moment the sirens went off near her window the banging stopped, and she heard someone running from her door before the police showed up.

Riley could feel her hands still shaking, she didn't want to be scared, but she was, and it was a terrible feeling. Lucas held onto her while the police took her statement, before they were taken to the hospital so that Riley could be examined. It was there that her mother had found her, her mother who had gone through something similar, her mother who she had always thought was the strongest person in the world. It was there that she fell apart in her mother's arms as Lucas and her dad stood in the doorway. She had never felt so scared for her own life, because she had been so close to being attacked and no one would have known until it was too late.

[j-jray]

chapter 2 - drunk dazed

✎ cw - mentions of alcohol, mentions of nsfw themes

✎ an ~ chapter one

grey and kei didn't intend on going out tonight, but with joy and tadashi begging and bothering them all day with going to some college party, they had to give in.

kei didn't exactly expect joy to go all out though, downing 6 shots in a row was definitely over her limit. grey was iffy about even letting tadashi near any drinks but after he promised he'd only have two, they relaxed a bit.

it was going to be a long night.

"everything is spinning," joy slurred, eyes heavy.

"yes joy, you're drunk," grey said sarcastically, sober so that they could drive everyone home.

"greyyyyyyy did i tell you *hiccup* about the time dashi threatened me?"

"dashi? threaten you?? what." their head cocked to the side in confusion.

"yess! he threatened me that if i told you that he came three times in a day he would break my polaroid. dashi can be so mean sometimes!"

silence was all that could be heard in the car, along with the very heated tension.

"tadashi yamaguchi." grey's voice was stern and serious, enough to make joy shiver.

a chuckle leaves kei's mouth by mistake. grey's head snapped in his direction.

"where is he."

"how the fuck am i meant to know?" kei rolled his eyes.

grey only got more agitated, to the point they stopped the car and questioned further.

"joy, how about you? know where he is?"

joy, in their drunken state, could only giggle.

grey's head went next to joy's ears, so they could whisper what they were about to say next.

"if you don't tell me, i'll reveal to kei about all your naughty doings," they smirked as they leaned back into their seat.

joy's eyes nearly shot out her head the moment the words "naughty doings" processed in their mind.

"I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING!?! I'm not gonna tell you anyways," she stuck her tongue at grey in a childish manner, leaving grey with no choice but to expose her.

kei wasn't deaf though. with his drunk girlfriend slumped against his chest, he tuned into their little conversation and an evil smirk grew on his face as grey threatened joy.

"what 'naughty doings' are we talking about here, hmm?" his hand cupped joy's chin, swiveling her head to look at him.

grey's voice came into conversation again. "i caught her watching porn whilst you were out last weekend."

joy's eyes widened.

kei's eyes widened.

but the widening soon turned into a eye smile as he leaned down to whisper in her ear.

"what a naughty girl you are."

joy's cheeks immediately heated up with embarrassment and fear of what would happen when they got home.

*achoo*

everyone went silent once again, until grey flung the driver's side door open and went to unlock the boot.

and there, sitting there, was a bright red and sweating yamaguchi.

"tadashi yamaguchi, you're in so much trouble when you get home."

"i-i'm sorry, i didn-" he stuttered.

"i don't want to hear your excuse," grey leaned in further, next to his flushed ears. "don't try and lie to me, baby."

tadashi's expression had fear and arousal written all over his face. grey could only smile innocently at him.

meanwhile, in the front of the car, joy was babbling even more nonsense from all the alcohol she took and as an attempt to distract kei from what grey had revealed to him.

"keiiiiii!"

"what,"

"i love you *hiccup*,"

"shutup,"

"mwah," she leans in to leave a kiss on his lips, falling asleep straight after.

looking down at his girlfriend's passed-out state, he tuts and brings her head closer to his chest.

kei awoke to a loud cry from across the house, most likely to be yamaguchi's.

ah yes, joy exposed him yesterday. he remembered.

he turned his head to peer over at joy, who was fast asleep, clinging onto his arm.

kei: what the fuck did you do to him

grey: what?? i did nothing 😒

kei: are you sure, his cries don't sound like nothing 🤨

grey: okay maybe i put a cock ring on him

thinking of keeping it on him for a couple of days

kei: smh

his texts came to a stop when he heard faint whimpers from joy finally awakening.

"oh my god my head hurts so fucking much. what the hell happened?" joy croaked, her voice raspy from waking up + their hangover.

"good morning to you too. do you seriously not remember anything?"

she replied with a tired, puzzled look.

"well, you got very drunk, grinded alot on my lap, exposed tadashi, grey exposed you and then you kept saying you loved me before passing out," he stated.

"oh."

"speaking of grey exposing you, you still need to get a punishment..."

eyes widened, they slammed their face into the pillow, refusing to acknowledge kei's previous words.

"such a fucking brat."

[btsjfans]

Class Clown Pt. 10

masterlist

part 9 

Summary: The class clown Taehyung has a lot more going on than anybody realizes, especially you, the class valedictorian.

Taehyung x Reader, fluff/angst

You heard you alarm go off, and you groan rolling over to shut it off. It was 9:30am on a Friday, your favorite day of the week. Every Friday either you or Taehyung would drive out to see each other, and this week it was his turn to visit. You’d been in college for 3 months now, and the November air was crisp in New York. You loved it here. You loved the people, the campus, the dorm, the classes, the city, everything. What made it better was that you could brag to your friends that your boyfriend attended an Ivy League as well. Life was almost perfect here. Almost. You didn’t have the company of your best friend Amari, or really any of your old friends here. Of course you’d made friends here, and you had a great group, but you had nothing that felt like home, which is another reason Tae’s visits were sweet. He was a piece of home, he made you feel safe. He made everything okay. 

He was enjoying college as well, he settled in nicely and he made a lot of friends. He mentioned how he said he wouldn't fit in at Yale, and yet he was in the ‘popular crowd’ once again. Always at social events, always posting pictures of his hijinks with his new friends, always being the class clown you knew and loved. 

You smile at the thought of him as you hastily pull on your clothes and get ready for your 10am class. You grabbed your coffee on your way out and stepped out. The air was crisp, and the sun was shining while casting a yellow-gold glow over the campus. You smiled to yourself, satisfied with where you’re at in life. 

Life had been good for you, being at college. Being out of your little bubble back home. Being free, being yourself. You knew you had to keep up your good grades here, but you didn't feel the pressure you’d felt before. Before you had to get into an Ivy League. Before you had to be valedictorian. Now, you just had to do your best. 

Your favorite class was at 2 - political science. You loved that class because it was all about facts and opinions. You loved hearing new perspectives, you loved to argue, you loved to talk, you loved to learn and surround yourself with more ideas. That, and your two best friends on campus were in there with you.

Xavier and Beth, you guys had hit it off from day one. Beth lived in the same building as you, which was convenient for late night snack runs, last minute study sessions, and impromptu sleepovers and movie nights. And Xavier, well he was his own story. With honey blonde hair, emerald green eyes, broad shoulders, golden tan skin, and an award winning smile, Xavier was easily one of the hottest guys on campus, and the recipient of many girl’s affections. You and Beth got some grief about it once you started being friends with him. Girls would give you the evil eye as you passed by with him, and you’d heard a few girls in your class complain about how you ‘so obviously wanted him’. But you really didn't care, he was so fun. You guys were like the three amigos, and it partially made up for the absence of your childhood best friend. 

You went to class and sat by Xavier and Beth, taking notes and whispering to each other in a hushed tone. Xavier put his arm around the back of your chair like he usually did, earning an annoyed huff from a girl a few rows back. Occasionally his thumb would brush your back and send chills down your spine, distracting you from what you were doing a couple times. You cast him a glance as you paused in your writing, only to find him staring at you with his enchanting green eyes. He smiled, and your mind went blank. Suddenly you seemed hyperaware of everything around you. The way he sat so close, his arm around your chair, the heat radiating off of him and that oh-so-heavenly smell that mixed with his natural scent and his cologne. You blushed and looked back to your notes, mind swimming.

You must really miss having Taehyung around if Xavier’s presence was affecting you this way.

Taehyung

Man I hate Xavier.

I drove a freakin hour and a half to see her, and yet here he is. It’s so clear he likes her, but I don’t think she realizes it. My little Y/n doesn't realize the affect she has on boys, bless her heart. I know she's beautiful and so amazing and that other guys will want her, but why this guy? I can’t compete with him, that’s for sure, so here I am, left at his mercy.

I love Y/n L/n, and that’s the one thing I know for sure in this world. I know she’s the reason I got into Yale. I know she’s the reason I turned my life around. I know she’s the reason I’m okay. 

Another fact I know for sure is that I’m scared.

I’m scared I’ll loose her.

I’m scared one day she’ll wake up one morning, and forget me. I’m not here every day, so she spends more time with Xavier than me. What if one day my weekend visits aren't enough?

My fist tightens around the flower’s stems as I watch him wrap an arm around her shoulders. They don’t see me. They just got out of their political science class. I knew she’d just be getting out, but I still wanted to be here to surprise her. I’m trying to stay calm and optimistic, but that’s kind of hard when you feel your legs shaking and heart pounding at a hundred miles an hour. I just want her so bad. I want her out of his grasp and back in my arms. Away from him.  Somewhere it’s just her and I, and we’re together and there’s no doubt that we won’t be together. I just want assurance. I want to know things will be okay. Does that sound weird and possessive? Yikes. 

You walk out of your political science class with Xavier and Beth. Xavier wraps an arm around your shoulders and playfully pushes you around, and you laugh. You three start to walk down the sidewalk when you look across the grass to see Taehyung, standing in a black turtleneck and black overcoat, with black jeans to match. He holds a bouquet of 5 roses in one hand, and has a disheartened look on his face. You blush realizing how this must look, Xavier’s arms around you. You break free of Xavier and sprint across the green to Taehyung, crashing into him. You hear him let out a soft “oof” as you two collide, but his arms still automatically find their way around you. You smile and look up at him, your face cold from the crisp air, but body coursing with heat at his touch.

“Hi,” you giggle, and he grins and cups your face kissing you. Your kiss starts out rushed and needy and excited, but slows after a moment. You both pull away, feeling flushed. You feel out of breath and excited, your heart is pounding, and you can’t wipe the smile off your face. 

“Hi,” He giggles back and holds out the roses proudly. “I brought you these.”

“Thank you Tae! They’re so beautiful,” You grin and accept the roses, hugging them to your chest, grateful he got the ones without the thorns still on. He takes his hand in yours and you wave goodbye to Xavier and Beth before turning back. You two start to walk down the sidewalk, a crisp autumn breeze in the air.  He tells you about the drive, about his life, even though you’re already caught up.

One hour passes, then two. Your heart starts to ache when you remember by Sunday evening he’ll be gone.

You’ve both quieted, and walk in comfortable silence. 

“I wish we could see each other more.” Taehyung says after a moment.

“Me too. But hey, Thanksgiving Break is coming up and we’ll get a long weekend together back home.” You smile, reminding him and he grins at the idea. You can tell he’s excited to go home, to see everybody.

“That’s true. Then after that is Christmas break, and then Spring break, and then summer vacation. Think of all the adventures we’ll have together.” He grins and twirls you. “Heck, lets go out sometime soon. Go on a weekend getaway together. Do something. Lets go now!” He grins grabbing your hands and you roll your eyes grinning.

“Hey, that sounds great, but let’s go tomorrow okay? We should spend tonight planning. Then tomorrow we can have our adventure.” You grin and smooth his hair. 

“Oh Y/n...I’m so crazy about you.” He smiles and presses his forehead against yours, kissing your nose softly.

Typically the girls you share a room with don’t bring tons of guys home, but when one of you do, it’s an unspoken code for everybody else to G E T O U T. They know the deal with Taehyung, and they’re cool with it. You’re really glad you got such chill girls who you can have this kind of deal with. You and Taehyung had the dorm to yourself for the night, which meant movies, snacks, cuddles, and kisses. 

You two were laying on the couch, cuddled up together when Taehyung started to kiss your neck lightly, sending chills down your arms. You loved it when Tae did that, he was so soft and gentle and knew all the right spots. He tightened his arms around your waist and held you close to him and trailed his lips up your jaw. You bit your lip, getting into the mood when he started blowing raspberries on your neck and tickling you, making you squeal and laugh, hitting his arms. 

“TAE!!” You yelled amid your laughs, kicking and squirming, only making him more determined, and making his laughs more wicked. 

After you watched a movie and spent a couple hours cuddling, Tae got some paper and started drafting ideas for your adventure. You guys loaded up on soda and candy, and spent your sugar high planning your adventure. 

Tomorrow was going to be perfect.

The next morning you wake up to somebody knocking at the door. You’re laying on your back in bed with Taehyung on top, his head buried in your neck. He sleeps right through the knocking and you smile kissing his head softly. You hate to get up but you were worried it was one of your dorm mates. You slipped out from beneath his body and crept out the door. You heard Tae groan in response to the absence of your body and you grinned at the image of him pouting. As you reached the door, another knock resounded and you pulled it open, grimacing at the cold breeze you were met with. Standing before you was Xavier, whose blonde hair shined in the morning glow. His green eyes shone bright, and his smile sparkled. He wore a navy blue polo sweater and khaki skinny jeans with vans. He looked like a prep model, and here you stood with messy hair, and wrinkly pajamas. Embarrassed and confused was the only way you could describe your state right now. 

“Xavier what’re you doing here?” You smile at your friend but can’t hide your confusion.

“Oh, um it’s my birthday and you, Beth, and I were going to go out remember?” Xavier tilts his head. 

“Oh my god that was today..” you breath, closing your eyes. “I’m so sorry I forgot, here I have your present in my room, sorry it’s not wrapped.” You rush back and see Taehyung smirking under the covers at you, but frowns as he looks through the now open bedroom door to see Xavier standing in the doorway. He gets up and shuts the door.

“What the heck is this?!” He hisses and points to the door where Xavier stands outside. 

“I promised him we’d go out for his birthday and he’s ready to go out and I don’t know what to do!!” You whisper back and grab the card you’d prepared a couple weeks ago and the gift you’d gotten him - a few polos and a picture frame with a picture of you, Beth, and him in it. 

Taehyung frowns and bites his lip sitting on your bed. “What was your plan for his birthday?” 

“We were going to go into the city and mess around all day. I can ask if we can go tomorrow..” You can see how hurt Tae is and feel bad. You know he was excited for your adventure today. You were excited too, Taehyung’s visits were what you lived for.

“Just go.” He sighs and rolls back into bed, facing away from you.

You frown and nod to yourself bringing out the gift to a grinning Xavier.

Taehyung

Of course. Of frickin course. It just had to be his birthday. The day of our adventure. 

I can hear his laughter outside the door. God my girl is so charming no wonder he wants her. She’s such a good person, she does so much for her friends. She-

“Oh Y/n you’re just the best friend I could have asked for!” Xavier’s laugh echoes through the apartment and I squeeze my eyes shut and yell into a pillow. He knows I’m here, he’s doing this on purpose, I just know it. I bet it’s not even his birthday. 

I grab a white turtleneck I packed and my black coat, and slip on some dark jeans and lace my vans. I stride out, looking my best.

“Hey darling, I’m going out. Text me when you’re done playing with..sorry what’s your name?” I tilt my head and give Xavier a pleasant but unimpressed look. I want him to know his place. 

“Oh, Xavier. Nice to meet you. And you are...?” Xavier returns with the same look. He’s good. He knows exactly what game we’re playing.

“Kim Taehyung, Y/n’s boyfriend of 3 years. Do you go here,or the community college? I go to Yale.” I smile and put my arm around Y/n, narrowing my eyes. His green eyes flicker but his smile never wavers.

“Oh sorry, she’s never mentioned you so I didn't realize she was taken! And yeah I go here. Y/n and I hang out every day.” He smiles at me with a charming smile. No wonder Y/n trusts this guy, he’s a walking Ken doll, the poster child for trustworthy-harmless boys. 

“Mmm I’m sure she’s mentioned me. Anyways, my dear just text if you need anything. I love you,” I smile and cup her face in my hands, kissing her deeply and slowly. I want him to see what true love is. Maybe then he’ll leave her alone.

Xavier and you stood in the kitchen in silence, staring at the door Taehyung just walked out of. There was so much tension between the two boys, and this weird unspoken..thing. You couldn't explain what you just witnessed, but it was weird. 

Xavier laughed and ran a hand through his hair. “Taehyung seems great! I’ll whip you up a breakfast, and you go get changed and we’ll head out.” Xavier smiles, and you can’t help but smile back. You walk back to your room and get changed, their conversation replaying in your head. Xavier definitely knew who Taehyung was, and vise versa. What was with them?

You walk out to see Xavier smiling at the table, pancakes and eggs spread before him. 

“Breakfast is served,” He winks.

Taehyung

I walk down the sidewalk, anger, fear, confusion, hurt, all warring inside of me. Today was supposed to be our day, today was supposed to be our adventure. I sit down on a park bench, looking out over a pond. A few ducks who haven't migrated yet quack and float around, not a care in the world. I reach into my pocket and pull out the paper we wrote our plan on. I smile as I think back to last night. Us both fighting over control of the pencil, the paper wrinkled from our warring. I read the messy, 1am handwriting.

**(below, bold is Taehyung, regular is Y/n)

Taehyung And Y/n’s Adventure Day

Wake up at 6:30am NO DUMMY THATS TOO EARLY 

Wake up at whatever time we freakin want 

Have Y/n make Taehyung breakfast  HAHA not happening babe

Make breakfast together

Get dressed and go to the city. Get kicked out of as many stores as possible

Go streaking 

Spend over $50 on dinner (WE BETTER SPLIT THE CHECK)

Make out in 5 elevators

Visit every park in the city

Take a ferry across the river 

Have a picnic

Stargaze

Talk about how much we love each other

I smile imagining what we would be doing right now. Would we be in Macy’s trying to get kicked out? Would we be making out in an elevator?

My smile fades as I fold the paper and put it away. Here I am, alone in a cold park, while she’s out with him. 

“God Y/n, how do I compare?” I ask aloud, burying my head in my hands. 

Xavier said Beth was sick as you two left your apartment. You offered to go check on your ill friend, but he acted really weird.

“N-no! She’s on bed rest! We can’t.” He shakes his head, smiling nervously.

“Well alright...what first?” You and Xavier take a taxi to the city, and while he makes you laugh and makes chipper conversation, you can't take your mind off of Taehyung. Where is he right now? What’s he doing? Is he okay?

You carry on with your day, smiling along with Xavier’s jokes, but not really listening to him. 

“Y/n?” He asks. You snap out of your daze and look up at him. You two are sitting at a cafe as night is falling. Fairy lights sparkle around you, french music plays, and the air is chilly with the November breeze; in other words, the mood is perfect for romance. “I..I know we have something.” He stands up and pulls you up too.

“Yeah, you’re one of my best frien-”

Your words are cut short as Xavier kisses you. One hand on the back of your neck, the other on your waist. His skin sends warmth through your body everywhere he touches, his sweet smell makes you dizzy. He kisses you deeply, passionately. You feel yourself kiss back.

Sooooo here’s 10..you like it? I wanted to make it good but I didn't know how so I really hope you enjoyed it. Want 11? Be sure to send feedback, it helps. Thanks!!