#like my friend would probably be like haha I am on campus

[bunibelles]

Intrusive thoughts hour 😭🫶🏼

[shalomniscient]

Sev I've been having a lot of thoughts about Rahu x Milf!Reader these last few days (you've seriously gotten me addicted) and I'm just having so many thoughts that I need to express to you.

First off, I'm a firm believer that, yes, Rahu is the one full-on panicking once Milf!Readers water breaks. Like girl had a whole list of the things she needs to grab before getting you to the hospital, and it's all neatly packed and already to go, but she completely forgets about it or forgets where it is instantly. I imagine you're just standing off to the side, the bag in hand, and a hand on your stomach, acting like you aren't currently in labor. Poor girl is feeling so dumb when she finally notices you and the bag, then proceeds to take it from you finally as well as your car keys before you both leave to the hospital in silence (she's embarrassed and it's so cute).

Also, Rahu with a lactation kink!?!? I'm sorry, give me a moment, I think my horniness has just risen tenfold. She's such a needy and whiny puppy for your milk, and she's probably latched onto your nipples more often than your guy's baby is (she can be very possessive over your tits). I'm sure if she had it her way, she would be latched onto them all day, 24/7. Forget school or work or anything, she wants Mommy's milk.

I have more thoughts, but I thought I'd just share these two and not overwhelm you (considering your backlog of stuff, which btw, make sure to take breaks and don't force yourself to write). Anyway, it's 1 in the morning where I am, and I desperately need sleep, haha.

SINS IT IS BED O’CLOCK YOU BEST BE SLEEPING ?? 🔫🔫🔫

that being said 👀👀👀 girlfailure rahu SO TRUE like active combat situations? no problem. someone coming at her with a knife? cheap shit. the mother of her child going into labor? EXTREME PANIK 😭😭😭 you’re squeezing her hand while in labor and SHE is squeezing right back because she’s stressed out of her mind, more than you are LOL

cw. lactation kink

but yeah rahu and lactation kink goes CRAZYYY like she’s become even more puppy than before, if that’s even possible skdhdkskdkdk poor reader’s tits can’t catch a break LMAO after the baby is fed she’ll be sitting nearby giving you the most puppy dog eyes you’ve ever seen and once you give her the go ahead i swear this woman will be leaping over tables and furniture to bury her face in your chest 😤😤😤

also on that possessive of reader’s tits note… a student once saw reader on campus and in the presence of both reader’s son and rahu said “damn she’s got a nice rack” and instead of rs throwing hands immediately he (and several other friends) has to hold rahu back from absolutely mauling the other guy. rahu is puppy for reader but for anyone else ?? she’s a got damn doberman and she’s NOT afraid to bite as a warning

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for blocking someone / not wanting to talk to them / having limited contact after they ticced?

TW abelism

So I know the title sounds bad. But. Hear me out.

So I am disabled I use a cane. And I just started university. I’m somewhat open about being disabled as I use a cane so I am used to getting questions and I feel it’s easier to rip the proverbial plaster off.

I was talking to a guy (I’ll just call him guy) on the course running adjacent to mine as we have some lectures in common. This was over text message so I can get to know people around my campus and make some friends in a new city.

I first get inklings that he’s probably a not so nice person as he says to me ‘I like to tell jokes. But I can’t tell them because they’re to dark and blunt.’ And when I ask to hear a joke he says no. I don’t want to be to judgemental off or the bat, so I don’t push him to make a joke and I leave it at that.

But saying that seemed like a red flag to me? I also didn’t want to be judgemental and potentially just not talk to someone over something small like that.

So when we have our cross over lecture I see Guy afterwards, we say hello and after talking for a while and he goes ‘haha you have a cane!’ In a voice and points at my cane.

I am somewhat taken a back because I was somewhat open about being disabled and y’know. Maybe don’t say that to me?

I said ‘don’t do that. I don’t like it.’ Guy said ‘it’s just a joke.’

I said ‘but I still don’t like it.’

Guy continued on the ‘it’s just a joke’ path and when I looked upset he asked me ‘why do you look upset?’

So me and my friend left and I blocked Guy on this messaging thing because frankly enough I wasn’t keen on talking to him and I was really upset. (My friend cheered me up with hot chocolate bless their heart)

Guy texts me somewhere else and says ‘I’m so sorry I don’t think before I speak Somtimes. I have Tourette’s and autism.’

Now here’s where I may be TA. I still don’t want to talk to him. I want to block him again. I want him to leave me alone. I don’t want that type of energy in my life and frankly enough I don’t need it.

If he had said ‘I’m so sorry I have Tourette’s that was a tick’ in the moment, I would have understood and moved on. I’m disabled too. I get muscle spasms with my disability, so I understand that’s not the same but I also sympathise. It’s bloody hard.

The thing that upset me was he defended it with ‘it’s just a joke.’

But I also understand not wanting to share your disabled /nurodivergant status. It’s a very sensitive thing, and there where people also behind the lecture theatre who heard what Guy said about my cane, plus my friend who was with me.

So. WIBTA for blocking guy / not talking to him / having limited contact based on a tic?

What are these acronyms?

[avalil18]

(Series) Only The Young

Summary: you and Joe meet at OSU and start to get to know each other

Pairing: Joe burrow x reader

———————

September 10 2017

Y/n POV

It was a cool September day at OSU. The sun was shining but a crisp in the air flowed. I was heading out the door to go to my English class. I was wearing jeans, a white long sleeve Flowy top, and boots. My backpack was as heavy as a boulder and was making my back ache. Once I got to my English class I sat down on one of the auditorium seats and pulled out the moving table from my arm chair to put my notebook and pen on. After a few minutes more people started to come I wasn’t really paying attention to any one of them until someone caught my eye. It was one of the quarterbacks from the football team. He recently joined the class. I’ve seen him walk around before and I’ve seen him play. He is really good at football but I don’t understand why he is a backup. He should be QB1 from the way I seen him play. He sat down in the row below me. He fisted bumped someone who was probably one of his friends and pulled out his stuff from his bag. He was so cute. But I have to focus. The class was long but all I could think about was him. He was right there the whole time just being perfect. As the bell rang it startled me but I got up and put my book in my hands and swung my backpack on my shoulder. As I was getting out of the row to head out someone bumped into me. It was him! My books fell out of my hand and he went to pick it up.

“Oh my god! I am so sorry”-joe

“Are you ok?”- joe said as he handed me my books back

I smiled

“Yeah! I’m ok. Sorry that was my fault I wasn’t looking.”-you

“Haha! Don’t worry about it I wasn’t looking either.”-joe

“I’m Joe by the way, Joe burrow!”-joe

He puts his hands on the straps of his backpack clearly not knowing if he should shake my hand

“I’m y/n!”- you

“Well y/n it was nice meeting you,and so sorry for bumping into you.”-joe

“Don’t worry about it! And it was nice meeting you to Joe burrow.” -You say with a smile

Joe smiles big trying not to blush but I could definitely see it.

We both walked out and onto the main campus. He wasn’t a little bit behind me but I could feel eyes on me as I walked and knew it was him which gave me butterflies.

“Wait y/n,wait up!”-joe

I turned around to see his beautiful blue eyes and wide smile.

“Do you by any chance have the notes from last class? I missed them because I was at an away game.”-joe

I smiled

“Yeah! I was actually about to go to the library to finish them though. You can join if you want!” - you

Um! What was I thinking! Inviting the QB to take notes with me!

“Yeah actually! I would like that!”-joe

“Great! This way!”-you

Joe started walking with me and my heart was pounding. After a few minutes Joe spoke up.

“So, tell me about yourself!”-joe

“Haha! Well since you want to know so badly. I am from Northgate,Ohio which is right out of Cincinnati. I have an older sister and a twin brother! And I love dogs and the beach!”-you

“Oh!I’m from Ohio too! I have two older brothers!”-joe

“Really! Where in Ohio?”-you

“Athens!”- joe

“Oh I’ve been of Athens! My friends and I used to go there sometimes during the summer because there is this old house on the lake and where we used to hang out!”- you

“Yeah! The famous lake house! I go there all the time!”-joe

“Haha that’s so funny! People in Athens are so sweet that’s one of the reasons I’ve always loved going.”-you

“Yeah,they are really nice!”-joe

Joe and I got to work on our notes but we couldn’t stop talking and laughing.

“So you really only seen Star Wars once?”-joe

“Yes!”-you

“Damm y/n I really got to go take you to go see it. You have to watch it!”-joe

I looked at him in shock. Did Joe just ask me out?

“Let me take you out Saturday night! We can go to the theater right around the corner.”- joe

“Are you asking me out on a date, burrow?”-you

“Maybe…”-joe

“Well then it’s a date!”-you

“It’s a date! Here give me your phone number.”-joe

I handed him my phone. My heart is racing. I can’t believe I’m going on a date with Joe!

“Here! I will text you.”-joe says handing back your phone.

“Ok! See ya! Got to get to physics which sucks!”-you

Joe looks back at you in shock.

“You hate physics? I love it!”-joe

“What!! I can’t stand it! I don’t understand what Professor Burn talks about. Well I just don’t understand it in general.”-you

“How about I help you! You can help me in English and I will return the favor by helping you with physics!”-joe

“Ok! I got to go but text me!”-you

“Ok! Bye y/n!”-joe

“Bye Joe!”-you

I walked away with a smile on my face.

————————-

Joes POV

I got into English class and there she was y/n. She was beautiful. Brunette hair, blue eyes, and an amazing smile. She’s very sweet and calm. She has a funny laugh that makes me get butterflies. She sits right behind me. I always find myself looking at her for to long whenever she gets called on.

As I was walking out I wasn’t looking where I was going and bumped into her.

“Oh my god! I am so sorry!”-joe

I bent down to get her notebook and English book. As I gave it to her she smiled which made me get all giddy inside. I introduced myself and she did the same. We both walked out and I didn’t want to stop talking to her so I decided to say I didn’t do my notes and if she could let me borrow her notes. I actually did do them. All of it. I ran up to her and I asked. I then found myself sitting in the library with y/n taking notes. I found myself staring at her beauty. She was perfect. I knew I needed to ask her out. She got me. And not a lot of people really click with me like she did. She was different. A good different. So I asked if she wanted to watch Star Wars with me at the theatre even though i watched it millions of times. And she said yes! I gave her my phone number and turns out she needed help with physics which is my specialty. My plan is to take her out Saturday then maybe if she feels comfortable to come back to my place to study. Not to do anything else. I’m not that kind of person to rush into things like that and I know people are different when it comes to those kinda getting together things and I respect it. I was kinda sad when she left to go to class. I just wanted to keep talking to her forever. But now I have to plan the perfect night for Saturday.

——————-

Authors note:Ahhhhh first one of the series! Yay! I hope you guys like it! This is apart of How you get the girl🩷✌️

[orizukuin]

What do you think of Charlie and Mike? Liek, how do see them separately and them being together?

Hi! Great question! Haha! So I'll be honest with you!

In comes with seeing them as individual characters : 

To Charlie, when the first time I saw them (UWO: CHAPTER 5) I already knew this character would grow on me in a way that I won't stop talking about them 24/7 ((Shout out to my Girlfriend who will hear me- talk about Charlie non-stop at most random times..)) 

I do think Charlie is a Fun character during those times. And what I adore about them the most are the expressions throughout the game (UWO) there's just something into it that pulled me into liking Charlie more than the others (probably because of how crazy they look)- Finding CIU in the Play Store is gives me excitement as I started saying stuff like: "Ehh?? there's a part two?? no way" and of course like every simple minded person- I installed it (lmao) 

Finishing the game, I felt that the game had more holes that needed to be covered. But later on, I found out that the game was rushed due to the contract being over, so it's understandable- I'm just thankful that the game was released and not canceled, haha! 

But anyways!!! CIU honestly showed me another side of Charlie that I never truly expected. Knowing that side of Charlie just made me love their whole character even more ((even other players not very fond of it)) 

And to Mike: 

Oh, Mike that silly-looking boy. At first, I never really paid attention to him like every other person does since he probably only had 10?) or a bit more dialogue. But he soon grew on me as I kept replaying the game to get the other endings alongside the other achievements, which came with the Fanarts of him and Charlie together. ((those fan arts pushed me so now my entire works only revolve around them, not that I'm complaining or anything:]]] ))

In full honesty. I feel bad about what happened to him like Broo got one of his eyes taken out! it probably confused the crap out of him since neither of them expected it to happen- and I bet it hurt like a b*** 

((i know,since i almost got one of my eyes taken out by my nephew during my 13's the knife tip didn't meet my eye and i am glad that get to dodge it- but still side of my eye still bleed so not Gucci))

Overall I view Mike as an interesting character whom we need information other rather than "Charlie's friend" not to mention.

We also need a piece of information as to what might happen to him after the Eye-stabbing incident. He's friendly towards other students. He is your typical Social Butterfly. I swear he has the energy of that college senior who will approach a lost Freshman then them out on the whole campus and later check up on them during the first week.

And to the question of how I more likely see them together :

Charlie and Mike are together like a pair you'll never expect to work. Both have their strengths and weaknesses but can still make things look easy. Let's put it away like they are doing a collaboration project together. Who knows? They can defend the whole research together or by themselves as if precisely doing it isn't all nerve-wracking.

However, if you meant that question as "both in a romantic atmosphere" 

Then I can tell you how Charlie and Mike won't realize their growing feelings. Mike will probably catch into it one day, as a sudden realization hits him that leaves to say something like:  "Holy F- I'm catching feelings for Charlie-Charlie..."  out of the blue.

However, he would most likely push those feelings aside. He knows to himself that Charlie doesn't need to be with anyone else who needs the teen to be in a romantic setting. He might never say it by word. Mike respects his friend's boundaries and is careful towards the teen, always checking if Charlie's all right with doing things that are out of the teen's personal preferences. 

They are taking things slow since Charlie doesn't like fast turns and somewhat still needs to get used to slowly opening themself out to the world. 

For Charlie, if they realize. I guess it will take them a long to come to terms with it and most likely keep it to themselves like Mike's since they aren't sure if the feelings are true or if it is just a mutual thing since it is only Mike who put an effort into knowing and understanding them.

((I think they can be great in a slow-burn side of writing))

That's all of it! I hope I gave you the answer you're looking for Anon! 

[blank-house]

This time I've got a question for you guys! I think it's impossible for the whole team to respond hehe, so just respond if you want to! Do you have a favourite? Idk if this is like asking you to pick between your children lol but do you have a favourite romance path? Or a path/charachter you find easier to write than the others? Like, if you met all of them IRL who would you get along with best?

I pitched this question to the server and lmao i'm just gonna copy and paste everything the members who responded said.

So Lilly's a writer and they said:

jamie is my boy toy because i like men who hurt my feelings and theres something that gets my engines revving when its someone who isnt immediately emotionally available easiest to write is percy and its bc i have the personality of a (socially conscious) frat boy id probably get along with cameron JFOENFKSN but i reckon thats it

Tsy's our sprite artist and she says:

hmmmm for me I would say Reynah!! I love bossy princess :melt: I like how she make Deja and Cam nervous with her presence haha😆 There's a lot in her smile and brow, like she's smiling but at the same time it's….more than a smile 😎 (the bossy aura)

Chochi's our UI artist and art director, they were also in charge of Elio's and Cameron's design! However, all they said was:

YOU ALREADY KNOW WHO IT ISSSS

ahdladha to clarify, Cameron's their all time favorite and they have been down bad since the concept art. It's actually hilarious how whipped they are for them and they have pleaded often for a Cameron route. We, the members on the writing end, like to make their life difficult by making drabbles about Cam Cam heh

Aiden helped with writing content during the Otome Jam and she said:

elio and cam elio buff and cameron hot

Which was pretty explanatory hah

Next up we have Poob, he's a BG artist on the team and he said Percy because:

hes annoying and i like that in a man

Which is very fair lol

We have another UI artist who helped us during the Otome Jam who wishes to remain andnonymous and they said:

elio bc he is my sweet sweet sweet babygirl i love him so much

Rachel's a writer we recruited to help with content after the jam, and she says:

Cam's actually my favorite. I love their friendship with the MC so much. Every time I see them I want to hug Cameron and not let go

Peach is Cameron's voice actor! And they said:

idk if this applies to me too but cam is 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼 they're such a fun character ! very relaxed and suave lolol but also they are,… hot

Kat is Reynah's voice actor! She says:

i am a big fan of the student gov girlies i too was an overworked undergrad who did too much with campus events 😔

Tippi's also a BG artist! She said:

Cam is adorable and I want to protect him and Percy is a beautiful man whore who I wish will play me around like a fiddle and then marry me

As for me, I'm all over the place. I already know I'm gonna get boo'd by some members of the team if I say I love them all equally-- they've seen first hand how quickly I buckle when it comes to Percy hahhh-- but it is true that I love every one of our characters. Each romance route gives me massive brainrot (I'm currently in my Jamie era) for their own reasons and each character is simultaneously easy and difficult to write for. But no matter what, I have fun in every instance. As for who I would get along with the best, that would be Deja, Cameron, and Reynah. Hah, they were written to be great friends after all.

[leaderoffestivals]

Blackjack Chapter 14

Tetora: He~h! I’ve learnt something new today!

Madara: Hmmm~? … … What’s this, Tetora-san? Why are you looking at me with such bright sparkles in your eyes?

Yumenosaki 1.5: 4th Tour-Blackjack Chapter 14 The Gift That Was Never Delivered Chapter 6

Scenario Writer: Akira Season: Autumn Characters: Kanzaki Souma, Mikejima Madara, Nagumo Tetora, Sakasaki Natsume Proofed by: @ryuseipuka​

< An hour later. Just after Anzu and Shinobu have departed to rescue (?) Mayoi. >

Souma: Sigh. I wish you would cease the making of these requests of me, Mikejima-dono.

It is my honest wish not to be excessively involved in "this side" of things.

Madara: Hahaha! However, if I’m unable to rely on you, I’d have no choice but to rely on Kanata-san, thouuugh? 

Souma: Good grief. I am easily swayed by the mention of Shinkai-dono’s name… … You are as cunning as ever, Mikejima-dono.

Madara: Fufu~! I reeeally wish you would call me ‘wise’ instead!

Tetora: He~h! I’ve learnt something new today!

Madara: Hmmm~? … … What’s this, Tetora-san? Why are you looking at me with such bright sparkles in your eyes?

Tetora: That’s because Mikejima-senpai is an outstanding predecessor whom I respect very deeply, of course! Ossu!

Madara: Mmm~m. I don't think it’s a good idea for you to take after me too closely as a role model, you know~? I'm sure there are much more respectable "teachers" around to serve as your example to follow, such as Chiaki-san and Kuro-san, right? 

Tetora: Nope. I’ve been persevering along those paths all this time but they’ve all come to dead ends. I’ve been starting to think I need to find other paths and ways to become stronger!

That’s why I believe the former Ryuusei Purpleーsomeone whom Morisawa-senpai respects very much, and whom Taisho acknowledges as an equal rival!ー

ーI’ve come to the conclusion that you, Mikejima-senpai, would be the perfect candidate for me to look up to as my mentor!

I wanna learn from you, Mikejima-senpai, and become stronger and stronger!

Madara: Ahaha~... … This must’ve been how the green guy who had to train the lil’ kiddo in that manga must have felt, huh! (1)

Souma: Haha. You have an unusually troubled expression on your face, Mikejima-dono. It is such a refreshing sight to see. 

Madara: Si~iigh. Aaall my kouhais just aren’t cute at all, huh~?  Kohaku-san and Anzu-san as well. All I want as a senpai is for my kouhais to make an honest, genuine fuss over me, though!

Tetora: Alright! If you so wish, I, Nagumo Tetora, will make a big fuss over you! Ossu!

Madara: Mmm~, what you’re offering is not quite what I’m asking for. 

Souma: If you would wish to be genuinely loved by your kouhais, Mikejima-dono, you should move yourself to express your love for them in a more honest fashion too. 

Divine retribution and poetic justice (2)—how you treat others will be reflected as if by mirrors back unto you.

Madara: Awww man, that really hurts my ears!

Well! That’s enough of that. It’s gonna be a problem if an outsider like me remains on Yumenosaki’s campus grounds forever, so I guess I’ll have to entrust this place to Souma-san from here on out. 

I’ll be waiting close by, so don’t hesitate to light the beacon fires to call for aid, should ever the need arise.

All riiight then, I wish you both fair winds and godspeed!

(—sound of Madara walking away—)

Tetora: Ah—Mikejima-senpai... ...he’s gone. I still have so much more I wanna learn from you, like the ways of being a hero and so on!

Souma: Fufufu~. To Mikejima-dono, an encounter with a kouhai who genuinely adores him as you do is a rare occurrence, so he probably fled because he has no idea how to deal with it. 

He speaks about wanting honest kouhais, but when one expresses genuine affection towards him, he retreats in fear. That esteemed person is a difficult man, as usual. 

Tetora: Hm? Are you a close friend of Mikejima-senpai, Kanzaki-senpai? Why does it feel like the both of you have known each other for a long time, somehow… …?

The both of you seem to be able to understand each other without the need for words—honestly, it almost feels like the both of you are family!

Souma: I only established proper contact with that esteemed person sometime during the last year. Our families, however, did have various comings and goings between us.  

Just as with Shinkai-dono—we have met with each other at family gatherings when we were children. Despite that, we were both reserved, and thus took care not to approach each other. 

Tetora: EH! Are you actually related to Mikejima-senpai, Kanzaki-senpai?

Souma: No. We are not bound by any bonds of blood, but our families are affiliated in various ways. You might say that we are all foxes from the same den.

This time as well—It is because of those connections that I was summoned here to be relied on in this way.  

Anzu-dono and Sengoku required covert passage into the ‘Underground’, and for that purpose, it was necessary that I bring the influence of my household to bear. 

This has led to Nagumo being stranded on the surface alone. I am truly sorry for that, but… …

Tetora: Oh! This wasn’t your fault at all, though? Right from the start, that Underground? Or whatever you call it—Big Sis Anzu and Shinobu-kun were the only ones supposed to go, anyway!

I’m the one who insisted on tagging along, so this is all on me. You couldn’t have possibly known to prepare one of those ticket-like things for me to enter the Underground, after all!

Souma: Still, I apologize. Had I been informed in advance, I would have been able to do something about it. 

That being said, there are still matters remaining which we aboveground must attend to. It would be greatly appreciated if you could provide your assistance with those, as well. 

Tetora: Ossu! If there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll do it!

Souma: That is a fine response. … … It may be that we may encounter some skirmishes later on, so let’s carry out some sparring to keep our bodies warm. It will also serve as a way to pass the time. 

Tetora: It’ll be an honour! Taisho has spoken highly of Kanzaki-senpai’s skill as a formidable fighter. I’ll be glad for the opportunity to spar with you!

Souma: Well, I am an expert in the ways of the samurai when compared to an amateur. 

Come, Nagumo. Let me assess the strength of Kiryu-dono’s beloved disciple!

Tetora: Ossu! I’ll be in your care!

LET’S GOOOO!

Souma: Hmph! Too naive! Indeed, it would prove beneficial for you to receive tutelage under Mikejima-dono—Your sole chance at victory would have been to initiate your attack while we were still talking!

Your attacks are straightforward to the extreme! Those will not destroy true evil!

Tetora: Ossu! I thank you for your well-meaning advice! Take! THAT! And THAT!

Souma: Fufu~ What is this? You bear the name ‘Black’, and yet are unaccustomed to battles in the dark, are you?—’Ryusei Burakku’!

Natsume: … … Why have you guys started sparring all of a sudDEN? Are both of you characters from a fighting manGA?

Souma: Hm. Sakasaki-dono. What is your business here? (Swiping sound)

Tetora: (Thumping sound) UWAH!? You swept my feet out from under me, just when we were looking at Sakasaki-senpai?!

Souma: Fufu~. Inattention is a great enemy ♪

Natsume: SeriousLY? It’s great that you two seem to be having fUN, but it would be better if you didn’t make such a fuss nOW. The kitten and her company are in the middle of an undercover mission after aLL.  

Souma: That is so. … … It seems that you are one pulling the strings behind this incident, though? What on earth are you up to, Sakasaki-dono? 

Natsume: No~, I’m not up to anything nefarious at aLL. I’m not at all like a certain Glasses—a person who plots darkly behind the sceNES, all the while pretending to wear the face of a compassionate perSON.

Souma: Ngh—I will not tolerate this slander of Hasumi-dono! What Hasumi-dono does is termed ‘strategy’, not ‘conspiracy’! 

Natsume: Well~, unlike His Majesty the EmperOR, that bespectacled right-hand man of his has been behaving honourabLY. I’ll take back what I said about him scheming behind the sceNES. 

More than thAT, I’m really not up to anything underhanded this time eithER. I only offered the kitten and the kid a solution after they came to consult mE—

—because that is the duty of a fortune-tellER, you sEE. 

Souma: Ha~. Surely, you must have some other goal in mind, correct? Some other purpose?

Natsume: Of courSE, I’ll receive my proper paymeNT. I’m not doing this out of charity after aLL. 

There is a secret slumbering in this laND. We’ll unearth iT, and come in contact with the mysteRY. 

We’ll dissect that mystery with science and loGIC, and gain mastery over iT. That’s our mission as modern-day wizARDS. 

Natsume: Now thEN. What enigma will emerge from Yumenosaki’s Underground, I wonDER? Will it be a demon or will it be a snAKE? I’m looking forward to seeing iT ♪

It won’t matter how perilous the secret which emerges from the earth may bE. I, Sakasaki Natsume, on the name I bear as one of the ‘Five Eccentrics’, will master and bend it all to my wILL. 

—————-To be continued——————-

Translator’s Notes:

1) Madara should be likening himself to Piccolo and Tetora as Son Gohan in DragonBall Z. Gohan was 4 years old when he started training under Piccolo… a baby, lol. (points below) Tetora is not that small, Madara!

2) Souma is poking Madara by echoing what Madara said in Myriad of Colours and Flowers.  3) I only jumped to translating this part cos it has Madara in it + Madara-Souma childhood crumbs + I’m so chuffed that Tetora knows Madara is Ryusei Purple. 

[bondew]

lmao imagine not having friends cade, and imagine ur friends leaving u for sport dazz! losersssss!!

Cadence Lane.

As the professer walks in i fix my posture and move my gaze from the window to him. My laptop is already open on fresh word doccument, along with a second tap with the project. I've already emailed it so I doubt we will use it, best to stay prepared though. He begins to ramble and the 60 people in the room are visibly bored. I end up doodling on my pale hand with a black pen, still paying attention but just keeping myself occupied. I've forgotton about the idea of taking actual notes and I'm just remembering everything important. It may sounds like I dont like what I do but when you have the same chatty teacher each lecture you just eventually get sick of it. I can't stop thinking about that boy from the library, I wonder why he didn't stay with his friends, I mean they looked like they were having a great time. He was weird, reading about bugs instead of being with your friends. Like if I had friends I would spend as much time with them as possible, and I'd feel pretty shit if they were having a bunch of fun without me. Not that I want friends! That's so stupid. Maybe they're mean to him? I wouldn't be too surprised, they seem very different to bug boy. Two hours later half the class are dead asleep, the rest are bored out of their minds and a couple weird students are all bubbly and awake. To be honest they are probably survivng on caffine. I pack up my things as we get dismissed, sliding my laptop and pencil case into my black messenger bag. Shoving on a white coat over my turtle neck I step out into the hallway, just a couple steps out i run into someone. "God! Watch out!" I say by instinct. I stare at the persons as they beg to be forgiven, "Oh! I'm so sorry sir!" They smile sweetly and looks at me. "Bug boy?" I accidently say aloud. "Oh yeah! Haha!" He holds up the heavy book. "Oh shit- um I didn't mean to say that out loud, sorry!" Wait why the fuck am I apologising- I never do that! I look back up and he's just laughing while walking away.

Bug Boy.

For some odd reason as we practice my first scene, which Juliet isn't even it I'm shaking- like I may get nervous sometimes on stage but never during rehearsal?! Despite this I think I did an ok job, it's just weird how I'm so nervous today, when I woke up I was fine! God.. I spot my friends walking down the hallway as I exit the auditorium, running to them I instantly just start smiling and joking away. My friends complain about their classes and then before I can even start on mine, they all excuse themselves so they can go to training. My smile fades but I wipe it back on and just keep walking. Suddenly I bump into someone. "God! Watch out!" They snap, and I start apologizing continually. "Oh! I'm so sorry sir!" "Bug boy?" They say and I stare into their emerald eyes before realizing that they sat in front of me in the library, I hold up my book and start laughing. "Oh yeah! Haha!" I start to walk away but I still hear them say something and then mutter to themselves. I make my way off campus and find a ramen shop, I actually see a couple of my friends outside of the group but decide to just eat by myself. Swiping my card I buy a bowl and sit down at the bar seats. They don't come over to me so I assume they didn't see me. The food comes out quite quickly and I start slurping. I wonder why that guy remembered me, am I that memorable. Well it was only a couple hours ago- and I did wake him up. Oh shit- Now I've woken him up and bumped into him! He probably hates me.. I hang my head and the front of my hair touches the soup in the bowl, I pull up my head and wipe the tuffs with my sleeve. Picking up the bowl I slurp down the soup and pay before leaving. My couple friends are still in there, they were probably just talking. Luckily my literature class got cancelled since my professor is sick so I can just go back to my dorm. The streets are quite empty as I cross back to the UNI, suddenly a cast of grey storm clouds shower me in rain and I am forced to run back. Slumping down on my hard mattress I grab a towel and aggressively shake my head. Pulling off my wet clothes, I hang them on the windows and change, leaving my shirt off. I sit down at my desk with a blanket wrapped around me I check my emails just in case my professor uploads any work. Sadly she did and I'm forced to write. I begin to thoroughly read the email and I'm shocked when it's free writing. She never lets us do free so this is quite exiting. We have to write at least 10,000 words, my current work in progress has around 8,000 so I just continue that. Around an hour later it's finally at just over 10,000 and I can submit it. I make sure to replace all the swear words and recheck my spelling and grammar about a million times.

[subspaceember]

I don’t think anyone is gonna ask me this, I’m picking some.

01 It’s cordial but only because they don’t know much about my gender or politics. I worry what would happen if they did.

03 god yea

04 probably

07 potato soup I made and a chocolate milkshake

08 nope. Physically weak and uncoordinated.

09 only when they’re driving me nuts

12 yup. Brain won’t let me sleep.

Most of these can be answered by saying that I don’t really feel much at all

16 i don’t know. Not well.

18 nah they’re friends

22 haha nope

30 society, my government, my school, my own executive dysfunction, a physical health thing I won’t go into, my various mental health problems, dysphoria

32 purple and sometimes a nice amber, depends on context

33 god yes

34 So I was driving around my college campus in my car (which I crashed a few months ago). I think I kept ending up places I didn’t know existed and that I wasn’t supposed to be. Eventually I ended up on the side of the road after I realized my car was destroyed and didn’t work anymore. I think I hid it in a building.

35 former boss at the engineering company I worked at the day I left and never came back

38 nope that was either 2019 or like 2013

56 none?

57 I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not. It seems to happen to other people sometimes.

58 a good rainy foggy fall day. Preferably in a forest somewhere or on a windswept beachside cliff. Late October weather.

59 yeah

60 not at this point

62 i wish I knew.

63 I am thinking about that a lot

I want to come back to this later and see what’s changed.

70 horrible questions ... Fuck it

01: Do you have a good relationship with your parents? 02: Who did you last say “I love you” to? 03: Do you regret anything? 04: Are you insecure? 05: What is your relationship status? 06: How do you want to die? 07: What did you last eat? 08: Played any sports? 09: Do you bite your nails? 10: When was your last physical fight? 11: Do you like someone? 12: Have you ever stayed up 48 hours? 13: Do you hate anyone at the moment? 14: Do you miss someone? 15: Have any pets? 16: How exactly are you feeling at the moment? 17: Ever made out in the bathroom? 18: Are you scared of spiders? 19: Would you go back in time if you were given the chance? 20: Where was the last place you snogged someone? 21: What are your plans for this weekend? 22: Do you want to have kids? How many? 23: Do you have piercings? How many? 24: What is/are/were your best subject(s)? 25: Do you miss anyone from your past? 26: What are you craving right now? 27: Have you ever broken someone’s heart? 28: Have you ever been cheated on? 29: Have you made a boyfriend/girlfriend cry? 30: What’s irritating you right now? 31: Does somebody love you? 32: What is your favourite color? 33: Do you have trust issues? 34: Who/what was your last dream about? 35: Who was the last person you cried in front of? 36: Do you give out second chances too easily? 37: Is it easier to forgive or forget? 38: Is this year the best year of your life? 39: How old were you when you had your first kiss? 40: Have you ever walked outside completely naked? 51: Favourite food? 52: Do you believe everything happens for a reason? 53: What is the last thing you did before you went to bed last night? 54: Is cheating ever okay? 55: Are you mean? 56: How many people have you fist fought? 57: Do you believe in true love? 58: Favourite weather? 59: Do you like the snow? 60: Do you wanna get married? 61: Is it cute when a boy/girl calls you baby? 62: What makes you happy? 63: Would you change your name? 64: Would it be hard to kiss the last person you kissed? 65: Your best friend of the opposite sex likes you, what do you do? 66: Do you have a friend of the opposite sex who you can act your complete self around? 67: Who was the last person of the opposite sex you talked to? 68: Who’s the last person you had a deep conversation with? 69: Do you believe in soulmates? 70: Is there anyone you would die for?

[purplesurveys]

1860

What store did you last buy clothes from? Landmark. I had a last-minute need for a dress for a family friend's debut, and with the One Free Time I had so close to the date, that was my best bet to find something, anything haha. I didn't find anything I was envisioning, but I got a pretty enough blue-green day dress.

Which parent are you more similar to? I am so much like both of them in many ways. I have my mom's explosive temper, uptight-yness, facial and verbal expressions; but I also got my dad's patience, liberal way of thinking, love of animals, and awareness of pop culture lol.

What are some of your favorite qualities for another person to have? I find it very cool if they have a hobby they have no shame in being a geek about. Most people (at least here) still think it's a loser thing to have encyclopedic knowledge about a niche interest – because being mainstream is the correct way to do things! /s – which is SO annoying to me.

What smell reminds you of your childhood? Brewed coffee and warm pandesal. This was my grandparents' default breakfast, and it stung to miss out on this smell when we moved + even more so when my grandpa passed.

Are you happy with who you are? I am increasingly learning to be.

Do you ever sleep with your bedroom windows open? I did that until college – pre-job, essentially, when I wasn't yet able to contribute to the family monies. Now that I'm able to help out, I have the AC on hours a day and haven't had the windows open in years lol.

Have you ever had a job where you didn’t fit in with your coworkers? Nope.

What was the last word document you typed? It was a transcription of an interview.

Have you ever gotten sick from someone else’s cooking? Yeah, I got food poisoning from a stick of barbecue at my uncle's place one time. To this day I still haven't eaten anything inihaw if it's there.

Do you crave approval and attention from others? Approval, yes, as a perfectionist; attention and affection not nearly as much.

What was the last kind of cheese you ate? Manchego.

Do you have any crazy neighbors? No but there is a toddler who wail-cries everyday which drives *me* crazy.

Have you ever abused any substance? No.

How young is too young to be sexually active? I don't think there is an age for something like this. If you are, you are.

Would you ever dye your hair silver? Probably not.

What was the last fun thing you did? Welp I hung out with Angela and Hans the other night and all we talked about were plans for their wedding lol.

Have you ever dated someone who had a child from a previous relationship? Nope.

Is there any drama currently going on with your family? Kind of but it's mostly blown over now. When it does get mentioned it's mostly in passing or just general updates of what's been going on since.

What’s your favorite kind of soup? Miso.

When was the last time you were on a university campus? I was in UP around two months ago to have late lunch and watch a softball and football game with Andi.

Do you know anyone who practices Hinduism? No.

Where’s your favorite place you’ve ever lived? This current house.

When was the last time you spoke to the first person you ever kissed? Three and a half years ago.

How many texts have you sent today? Just a couple.

What’s a political issue you have a strong opinion on? The blatant Chinese bullying of the Philippines.

What snacks do you like to get at the movie theater? Potato Corner is a Must for me, and I feel like malls understand that now because in nearly every cinema you go to you are guaranteed a Potato Corner five steps away.

Have you ever stayed in a hotel in the center of a big city? Apart from my own country where most hotels are in the center of big cities, I have done this in Shanghai, yes. It was nice, because knowing that China blacks out the internet there happened to be wi-fi in the hotel I was staying at.

Are your fingernails painted? Nope.

What was the last fruit or vegetable you chopped/sliced up? I don't think I've ever chopped a fruit or veggie before.

When you take a nap, do you nap in bed or on the couch? Either, really. I feel like I've done a share for both equally.

Do you have any plans for tomorrow? Eh, just work.

[zhrx]

it's a draft of my unposted eremika fanfic

that i already planned since 2021, making a draft for chapter 1 before the final part start, ending up burning into ashes due to procrastionation.

BUT! it's such a waste to buried it deep into the grave yet before actually try to publish it, so here is a snippets of what chapter one would be, enjoy..? (although pls don't throw your precious phone at me due to the cringeness, my inner 12 yo probably still thriving at those) _____________________ (oh so if you are new, i recommend follow my eremika playlist because every chapter is centered around the songs included, thankuu)

Chapter 1: Have we met already? (Eren’s POV)

Oct 31th 2023 | 21.19 PM [Jean’s Party]

It’s probably fate, or just a perfectly coincidental moment for Eren. But he knew there was something he didn’t quite understand happening the moment he locked eyes with her. Yeah, her - the beautiful lady in a red dress that passes him at the stupid Halloween party that Jean throws, supposedly to “meet the pretty sorority ladies, Eren! Live a little bit” and shows off his hosting skills. Haha yeah, it’s not like that skill exists.

___

Oct 31th 2023 | 14.20 PM [Annie and Armin’s Apartment]

Earlier that noon

“I think you’re allowed to take a break, Mr. I-Am-Taking-My-Life-Too-Seriously-Or-AI-Will-Take-My-Job Jaeger”, Armin said as he looked over Eren on the floor, surrounded by his worn-out medical textbooks with colorful post-it notes all over the pages. Eren scoffs, “Someone needs to find the cures you know. And what about you, the one who actually works part-time at library because you apparently love to study some... triangle rock thingy”. “I think you very much know it called a pyramid, Eren”, he said whilst rolling his eyes.

He saw Annie sitting by the sofa and offering her a hot cocoa and cozying up beside her while peering over her laptop screen filled with kitten videos and law PDF books. “What Armin meant to say is you should get your life together man, being too busy in your studies have an almost zero percent for you to meet someone”, Annie said, meeting Eren’s pair of green eyes giving her death stares while mouthing “fuck you” before he resumes his studies “. “Well, there’s a 0,001 percent he could met someone, honey. Maybe we should try to be more optimistic?” Armin says. She replies, “If you're saying optimistic in that questionable tone, you surely think it's impossible for us to double date with Eren at this point.”

“Okay, first of all, we DID already have our double date with Historia. And even at that point she doesn’t realize yet she ‘swings’ that way until she met that brown haired woman.” Eren tries to argue, waving the paper in his hand to emphasize his point. “I don’t think hanging out with your childhood friend is called a date, you don’t even like her that way” Annie retorts back. Suddenly, Annie bolts up, causing Armin to almost spill his cocoa due to the sudden movement. Before Armin can speak, Annie interrupts, "You should go to the party Jean is throwing tonight! I heard he invited everyone on campus as part of welcoming new students, but we all know he's just trying to spread his...wing, not leg mind you. You might meet someone there".

Eren sigh. This was not the first time his friends had tried to coax him into searching for a partner. He thought it a waste of time, having to deal with someone else's emotions. He shudders, recalling witnessing his brother's on-again, off-again situationship.

His brother would say things like "She's just my coworker, Eren, nothing more." Then he would drunkenly call late at night, complaining "Why isn't Pieck interested in me anyway? People would throw their panties seeing me." Or "Yelena really rubbed me the wrong way but gosh I would gladly sell my soul for her body." And other explicit things would be thrown at Eren before he would throw his phone away and let his brother continue ranting for another two hours until passing out.

Pathetic.

He considers people who cannot stand being alone as pathetic human beings.

_______

[sometimesanalice]

Aah!! I absolutely love getting your reblogs! It is so much fun for me to see what resonates with people when they read my fics! I love this kind of commentary! 🥰

more for you friend!

Rooster had been anxiously waiting to hear the story of your first official time, the one that was with someone who wasn’t him. He didn’t realize that you still considered him your first.  He’d figured that part of your history had long been overwritten by whoever had been lucky enough to catch your eye and make your heart race in a romantic way.

You can already see how much he cares about her🥺 -- He does, he does!! She has always been his favorite person, which is why he always hopes and wants the best for her (even back then with 21 year old bradley thinking she deserved red roses and all!). And for him, he didn't realize that she still considered him her first, since it was something between two friends at the time. Since they never talked about it, he didn't realize it had mattered that much her too.

Bob being the team player that he is starts talking about how he’d lost his one summer in college to another camp counselor, going into more detail than he’s ever given before, probably trying to redirect the attention to himself to give the two of you a moment to regroup.

Ahh Bob to the rescue!! 🫶🏻👏🏻-- you can always count on Bob to come through! He is the quietly confident type too, so he's not one to really overshare. But I just imagine him leading with every little detail trying to cover for them a but, even has his face is bright pink because it's the most he's ever given any of them about his sex life, lolol

Your mouth opens and closes a couple times before you speak, “That title would also go to Rooster.” The admission is soft, but sure. Where his heart had been pounding before, now it feels like it had stopped completely.

He is holding his breath, I can feel it-- he's causally shredding a coaster to smithereens on the table. If there's one thing Bradley Bradshaw doesn't have, it's chill. Haha! I had a line in my original draft that it was supposed to be the first time that night since the game had started up that he was relaxed because he knew it wasn't going to be him and that they could all move on from that plot twist that had been dropped, but I really liked just how twisted up he was about it. Especially since he was still trying to work out his feelings about why he was so on edge about it and all. He's just one giant, handsome 404 ERROR, haha!

After dropping your things off in his dorm room, he takes you straight to campus where he gives you the Official Bradley Bradshaw Certified UVA Tour. He buys you lunch from one of the food trucks in the Amphitheater “for sustenance” before taking you to see the highlights. You start with the Rotunda and then the academic village, making a special pitstop at the Whispering Wall for you to tell it a secret.

Ahhh this is so nostalgic for me, I lived for a while in Charlottesville so I appreciate all those details of the area🫶🏻-- ahhhhh, stop it!! Did you really?? I know it's "fanfiction", but if I am able to find the information or read up on things for my fics, I take the time to do it because I want those details to help bring it to life! So I was out on Reddit and researching what things there are to do in the area and what people liked to do and the places to visit! I'm so happy those little tidbits brought back some fond memories for when you lived there! I love the thought of aa carefree Bradley there getting to have a normal college experience, when his life has had some serious ups and downs.

“Jesus Christ,” Bradley mutters under his breath, looking up at the speckled ceiling trying to decode the flecks like tea leaves. “She’s cracking jokes like she didn’t ask me to make her come.”

Bradley have you never heard of humor to dissolve the anxiety and tension?-- lmaooooo, Mr Overthinker Man is STRESSED! He's trying to take it so seriously (like stressed Bradley on that carrier is one of my favorites in TGM, I just imagine him treating this conversation with that same kind of gravity). But her little pro/con list suggest actually sent me, she loves to tease him, and while she was definitely saying it to be helpful it's also just so amusing.

Bradley had never given much thought to his size until now. He knew he was big, but seeing that your thumb couldn’t reach the tips of your fingers when your hand was curved around him was an ego boost he didn’t know he needed.

On the inside, he is puffing his chest in pride-- oh you know he is just PREENING on the inside!! He is feeling so smug about himself. Like it's one thing to know- or to have other people tell you- but another thing seeing it. And he was definitely feeling himself in that moment.

“Come back here, kid,” Bradley mumbles, his eyes still closed, “I need to cuddle after I come, so I’m gonna need you to indulge me here for a moment.” He strokes a soothing hand down your back. And while he says it’s for him, you know he’s still trying to take care of you.

--I had a lot of fun weaving in things from the original series into this AU. I really wanted to play with the what-ifs, but in a very specific way, like what things would stay the same and what would be different. But Bradley being clingy after he comes is canon in every timeline, lol! Especially with her, he can't help himself but be affectionate. And with this, I think he knew and could tell she was feeling self conscious and a bit in her head in the after of it all, and really wanted to be that safe space for her. But also for him, I think he needed it too, because he was so concerned about her comfort the whole time, that just getting to hold her was something he needed too.

And Jake too, for that matter. Bless Javy for finding ways to distract him because you could tell than man was chomping at the bit for more details. But you’d already given him more than enough.

Lmao Javy is putting in the work-- someone has to rein in Jake Seresin, lmao

“Bradley,” you say, softly. “Listen, I’ve had a lot of good sex since then. Great sex even.” He presses his lips together and nods. “And with other men, if I felt like they weren’t putting in their best effort I’d kick them out because the bar was set very high early on.” You see him fight back a smirk. “That’s my girl,” he murmurs, with pride.“

I'm screaming!!! She being an absolutely queen and not lowering the bar?! Bradley being so FUCKING proud?! I can't 😮‍💨🫠🥰-- ahhhh! He really does only want the best for her! And I think he's especially proud of the fact that she knows her worth and doesn't let anyone get by by not fully showing up. I think one of the things I love about them the most, something that carried through here from the OG series, is that they always see each other in the best light. And I think they often wish the other person could see themselves they way they see them. So here, bradley knows she deserves the world, and he's glad that she never settled for anyone who wasn't worth her time.

I want it to be different, sweet girl,” he says, cupping your face in his familiar hand, “I’m ready for it to be different, if you are.”

🥰🥰🥰-- the first official "sweet girl" always makes me soft!

Your reblog made my day!! I am so happy you had a fun time reading this one! 💖

Between Friends

Summary: Bradley and you don’t talk about that Spring Break. But a single question asked during a night out at the Hard Deck might just change things between the two of you forever.

Pairing: Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw x Female Reader

Length: 11K

Warning: smut (including loss of virginity), brief mention of underage drinking, and college!bradley in a backwards hat

(Author's note: Happy Birthday Jordan! I wrote this just for you! Look at me keeping secrets from you! Enjoy!)

𝐍𝐎𝐖

Rooster couldn’t control his bouncing leg.

That night at the Hard Deck had started out like any other: good music, good drinks, good people. Over the course of the evening, he’d found himself seated between you and Bob in a lopsided circle with the rest of the Daggers around a few tall tables that had been pushed together just shooting the shit.

It was all fun and games until swapping stories about embarrassing middle school moments turned into cringing over first kiss stories turned into Seresin grinning like a shark asking about how everyone’s first time went down.

Rooster felt his pulse kick up with every collective laugh and groan as his friends went one by one sharing how they’d lost their virginities. Because with each passing story, it meant that you were one person closer to going. And for the first time in his life- even after over two decades of friendship- he didn’t know what your answer was going to be.

So he is just as shocked as his teammates are when you tentatively reveal, “So, um, my first time was with Rooster.” He doesn’t miss the way all his friends’ heads snap towards him. 

All eyes are on the two of you, and you’re pointedly looking anywhere but him.

Rooster had been anxiously waiting to hear the story of your first official time, the one that was with someone who wasn’t him. He didn’t realize that you still considered him your first.  He’d figured that part of your history had long been overwritten by whoever had been lucky enough to catch your eye and make your heart race in a romantic way.

The two of you had never talked about it in the after.

Not once, not ever.

He didn’t care that people knew, he just wasn’t expecting it.

Jake starts the group out of its stunned silence by slapping a heavy hand on top of the table, nearly sending some bottles to the floor, “I knew it! I knew y’all couldn’t have been friends all this time and not have tried it out at least once.”

“Jesus Christ, dude, chill,” Javy mutters. He’s always been the better of the two about reading the room.

Trying to spare you from being put on the spot even more than you already were now, Rooster mumbles through the way he’d lost his to a girl from his AP Econ class after a playoff baseball game.

He stares at the way you’re nervously picking at the label of the Blue Moon he’d grabbed for you when he went to get a refill of his own. He can practically hear the way your brain is buzzing. He wonders if you wish you could take back the words from where they are sitting on the table with the collection of bottles and peanut shells for everyone to see.

Bob being the team player that he is starts talking about how he’d lost his one summer in college to another camp counselor, going into more detail than he’s ever given before, probably trying to redirect the attention to himself to give the two of you a moment to regroup.

Rooster makes a mental note to tell Penny to put all of Bob’s cream sodas from now on on his own tab.

He doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do here. Or where to look. Or where to put his hands. He wants to talk to you, but there’s no good way for him to go about it without drawing even more attention to the two of you.

You were supposed to be going on a first date tonight, but he’d talked you into canceling to hang out with him instead. He likes having all of your attention on him. And maybe he’s been a little selfish with you, because he doesn’t like to share you with anyone else. You’ve always been his best friend.

Rooster likes that he gets to talk to you whenever he wants now, and that it doesn’t feel like a never-ending game of catch up anymore. In the year since the Uranium mission, he’d felt like all the fragmented pieces of his life had finally come together. He’d reconnected with Mav, he was living in the same city as his best friend, and he had a place he could finally call home.

He didn’t just want the highlights with you, he wanted everything in between too. There’s no more distance due to time zones and scheduling times to call because now you only live 20 minutes away from him. And the next time he comes home from a deployment, he knows he’ll get to look forward to seeing you there waiting for him.

He feels like he’s learned so much more about the grown-up version of you over the last year than he has in the last ten.

Jake jumps in barely a breath after Bob finishes telling his story. “Well, we all know it’s not the first who matters, but who was the best.” Rooster doesn’t trust the gleam in his eyes or the sharp smile on his face. “Since Bradshaw cut you off before, how’s about you go first this time, darlin’. You can tell us about who knocked your socks off. Maybe this time he’ll let you finish, if you know what I mean.”

It’s thinly veiled snooping disguised as chivalry, and it doesn’t fool anyone. Nat’s eyes dart to him briefly, trying to get a read on him.

He’d been 21 at the time. And while he knows more now that he did then, he also knows his name isn’t going to be coming out of your mouth for a second time tonight.

Rooster takes a sip of his beer, needing something to do.

He knows you’ve been with other people. You’d lived with your ex for over a couple years, for fuck's sake. But it was like an unspoken agreement between the two of you to not talk about your sex lives with each other.

His leg starts bouncing again and he realizes he really doesn’t want to hear this. Not because of his ego, but because he doesn’t know what to do about the knot that’s formed in his stomach.

Your mouth opens and closes a couple times before you speak, “That title would also go to Rooster.” The admission is soft, but sure. 

Where his heart had been pounding before, now it feels like it had stopped completely.

It’s been 13 years since that Spring Break. 13 years and he’s still your best?

Barely five minutes ago, he hadn’t known where to look. But now? Now he couldn’t stop staring at you.

He just didn’t understand why you still wouldn’t look at him back.

𝐒𝐏���𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊, 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟎

When you’d floated the idea by Bradley about visiting him at UVA for Spring Break during your weekly phone call, you’d been braced for the disappointment of him already having plans. It was his Senior year, it wouldn’t surprise you if he wanted to go out with a bang and make the most of it. Especially since he would belong to the Navy soon enough.

But he’d taken you by surprise when he started enthusiastically listing off all the places he wanted to show you, planning out your trip like a well-seasoned travel agent before you’d even booked a plane ticket.

You’d started looking up airfare before you’d even hung up the phone. And thirty minutes later you had a confirmation email flagged in your inbox after elatedly charging that aisle seat to the credit card you only used for emergencies.

It had been close to a year since you’d last seen him. He usually spent his Winter Break with your family, but this year he’d stayed on campus for the holidays and it was the longest the two of you had ever been apart since you’d first met him when you were 8.

And maybe that’s why it took you so long to spot him in the Arrivals area of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport.

You’ve always prided yourself in being able to pick Bradley out of a crowd anywhere, but in your cursory glance you hadn’t recognized the tall, broad guy with the UVA shirt pulled taut across his chest and wearing a baseball hat backward on his head. It wasn’t until your third searching pass that you’d caught the lips that were quirked up in amusement and those familiar brown eyes trained on you as he leaned ever-so-casually against the faux wood paneling on the wall waiting for you to notice him.

He’d filled out in the months since you’d last seen him. He was more toned than you remembered him being with definition in places where there hadn’t been before. His face had more distinct angles and less baby fat cushioned curves. Still a bit boyish, but he was well on his way to looking like a man.

Bradley raised his hand like he was going to wave, but then he’d mimicked casting a fishing line in your direction and reeling it in. And it was so endearingly stupid- so him- that you couldn’t help but take the bait and made your way towards him with the biggest grin on your face.

You’d ignored the jittery flutter in your stomach as you’d weaved between people and luggage. You’ve never been nervous around your best friend before. There was something that had on your mind a lot as the days to your visit inched closer, but you’d shoved that out of your mind, because you were finally standing in front of him in person for the first time in months. 

“Hey, kid,” he’d greeted you, taking your bag, “Charlottesville must have known you were coming, because she’s going to be sunny for you all week.” As soon as you were within arm’s reach, he tugged you right into his chest for a hug. You could feel the unspoken I missed you in the way he squeezed you just that bit tighter before releasing you.

Then he was dropping an arm over your shoulders and steering you towards the exit and driving you into town in the beat-up car he’d bought after selling his prized Montero, the car that Mav had given him for his birthday.

You’re only there for a week and Bradley doesn’t waste a single moment of it.

After dropping your things off in his dorm room, he takes you straight to campus where he gives you the Official Bradley Bradshaw Certified UVA Tour. He buys you lunch from one of the food trucks in the Amphitheater “for sustenance” before taking you to see the highlights. You start with the Rotunda and then the academic village, making a special pitstop at the Whispering Wall for you to tell it a secret. And then he takes you on a more historical tour, like showing you the exact route he used to streak The Lawn and pointing out the place he’d puked after his 21st birthday.

It’s clear he’d put so much thought into your visit because it seems like there is never a down moment. By the end of the third day you’re more surprised that you don't wake up every morning with a printed itinerary on your pillow.

He sneaks you into the Slaughter Rec Center to rock climb, claiming he had a person on the inside with the right connections. But really from what you could tell, the pretty girl at the check-in counter clearly had a crush on him. He takes you to the batting cages he likes to go to before Dead Week, and spends the time there equal parts making fun of your power swing and trying to fix it.

You get your revenge the next day standing outside of the imposing columns and massive doors to the Fralin Art Museum. Skeptically eyeing the sculpture in the front of the building that kind of looked like a giant wisdom tooth, you mentioned, “I didn’t realize you’d become such a patron of the cultural arts.”

“Hey now, I like artsy shit,” he’d said, only mildly affronted.

You snorted at that. “Is there an exhibit on beer pong and blunt rolling you wanted to see?” Through the window you’d spotted some large landscape oil paintings in ornate gilded frames and carved marble busts of what you assumed were probably of some of the Founding Fathers.

“You just missed that one, it was last month,” Bradley lobbed back, opening the door for you.

“What a pity,” you’d said with a dramatic sigh, “Guess we’ll have to settle for some tasteful nudes instead.”

“If we’re lucky,” he’d muttered under his breath, as you passed under his arm.

And then you’d felt the corners of your mouth kick up.

Turning around you’d pressed your finger to his chest, whispering so the person behind the ticket desk didn’t hear you, “Twenty bucks says you don’t make it thirty minutes in there.”

He narrowed his eyes, taking in your sly grin, “You’re on, kid.”

It’s the easiest $20 you’ve ever made.

The two of you call it a truce only after he tips your kayak into the still chilly Rivanna River.

Later that night, he takes you to a party on “Mad Bowl” that one of his frat friends was hosting. The backyard was all strung up with red and green Christmas lights like they had been too lazy to take them down after the holidays and decided it added to the outdoor ambiance instead of packing them away.

He was still just as protective over you as he was back in high school. Spending the whole night keeping an eye on you and handing you drinks that he’d uncapped himself using the opener that he had on his keychain, the one that still had the little fighter jet charm you’d given him ages ago dangling from it.

The days pass all too quickly as he shows you all of his favorite spots.

You knew UVA wasn’t where he’d originally wanted to be- where he thought he’d be- but you were happy that he seemed happy here.

But in between the late-night microwave ramen and movie watching and crossing off all the things on Bradley’s Spring Break To-Do List, there’d been something you’d been wanting to talk to him about. But you were having so much fun with him, you’d missed your best friend over those long months apart, and you didn’t want to ruin the time you had left with him here.

It lingered at the back of your mind like a phantom hair that you can feel, but can’t ever seem to brush off no matter how many times you attempt to. You felt like you were waiting for the right time that you weren’t sure would ever come. And if you were being honest, you weren’t entirely sure you would even be brave enough to ask if the time came.

The two of you had woken up way before the sun this morning.

If anyone other than Bradley had asked you to wake up before 5 AM to go hike to watch the sunrise, you would have laughed at them. But because it was Bradley, you’d set the alarm without comment. Even though he did have to gently pry you out of his roommate’s bed- with the fresh sheets he told you he bought especially for your visit- and lace up your shoes for you.

The views at Humpback Rock had been worth the hour hike up to the outcrop of craggy rocks. The sunrise painted them a stunning shade of soft orange as the rays illuminated evergreen covered hills and valleys that extended in front of you to the skyline. You and Bradley watched it in silence, shoulders pressed against each other  as you took it all in.

You’re cozied up on your bed for the week, flipping through a book you’d brought with you, but hadn’t touched at all until now when Bradley comes back from the showers. His hair is still damp and the ends are starting to curl a bit.  

He drops a Styrofoam cup of coffee on the nightstand next to you.

You hadn’t been sure what rooming with him would be like, the two of you together 24/7 since his roommate had left to go home for the break.  But it felt like you were two kids at sleepaway camp getting away with mischief rather than two broke college students only pretending to get away with mischief.

He sits down at the edge of his bed, his elbows resting on his thighs, “So.”

“So?” you repeat, blowing on the hot coffee before taking a sip.

“Are you going to tell me what’s been up with you?”

You wince, and it’s not because the coffee tastes like tar. 

“What do you mean?” you try to ask casually.

Bradley gives you a look that says you don’t fool me, kid. “You’ve been squirrely. I didn’t want to press it, but I can tell there’s something on your mind.” He takes a sip of his own milky battery acid. “Are classes going better since you switched majors?”

You nod, looking anywhere else other than at him.

“How are things with your Dad?”

You offer him a shrug.

He sighs your name in exasperation. You can tell he is trying to tamper his frustration at your lack of cooperation.

“Is it a guy?” Bradley tries again.

You swear you feel your heart stop, because you knew what you wanted to ask him, but you didn’t know how he was going to take it.

You fiddle with a string on his roommate’s comforter. “There’s something I wanted to talk to you about,” you admit, tentatively, “But I’m nervous.”

Bradley’s eyebrows pull together as he sets his coffee aside, “C’mon, it’s just me. You can talk to me about anything.”

“It’s more of a question.” One you’re still deflecting from asking.

“Ok, well you know you can ask me anything.” His tiny dorm room feels even smaller as the two of you try to read the other’s face.

Taking a deep breath, you ask the question that’s been rattling around in your brain for weeks.

“Bradley, I was wondering if you’d be my first?”

Less than ten words. That’s all it takes to tilt Bradley’s world off its axis.

He’s loved getting to show you around UVA this week. It wasn’t where he thought he’d end up, but he hadn’t lost sight of where he was going. He was going to be a Naval Aviator one way or another. He just also got to have a normal college experience too, one he’d been excited to share with you.

Bradley had originally been invited to go stay with one of his friends at his family’s beach house, but when you called and asked about coming to visit Charlottesville, it was an easy choice for him. He’d pick you every time.

It had been even better getting to cross off some of the things on the bucket list he’d made for his Senior Year with you in tow, like the hike he’d taken you on this morning.

He loves the views from up there and thought it would be something you’d like too, but he’d never done the hike early enough to catch the sunrise before. It was actually something he was planning on going the morning of graduation as a symbolic way to end his time at UVA, but getting to do it with you was special in its own way.

And while he’d caught you lost in thought more than a few times over the last few days as he showed you around, he never in a million years would have ever expected you to ask him that.

Bradley knows all the words you just used, but they don’t make sense to him in that order.

His brain is working in overdrive trying to figure out if there is any possible way he could have misinterpreted you.

“Your first…”

You take another deep breath and tip your chin up in resolve before looking him dead in the eye, there’s so much vulnerability reflected in them, “I haven’t had sex before, Bradley. And I’m really hoping that my first time can be with you.”

Bradley wants to tell you to put your Styrofoam cup down because he’s worried the tight grip you have on it might crush it, but he feels like the wind has been knocked out of him.

He didn’t realize when his leg started bouncing until he sees you glance down at it.

Shooting to his feet and off his bed, he goes to lean against his recently decluttered desk. There’s too much restless energy coursing through him to just sit like he isn’t completely reeling. 

“Shouldn’t you want to do this with someone special? Like with rose petals and all that shit?” He scrubs a hand over his face. Rose petals and all that shit? God, he sounds like such a fucking dumbass, but he’s struggling to keep up.

And if he’s being entirely honest, he’s pretty surprised to learn you’re still a virgin. Not that there’s anything wrong with it, but he knows you’ve had at least one serious boyfriend since you’ve gone to college. He figured that you got asked out all the time. He saw the way that some of the guys in his buddy’s frat were looking at the pretty girl with the dimples and big smile.

The girl who just asked him to be her first.

He hates the way your shoulders have slumped forward, like you’re trying not to cave in on yourself, “So, you don’t want to?”

“I didn’t say that.” His answer takes him by surprise.

The only other sound in the room other than his pounding heart is the whir of the air circulating in his dorm. 

“Would it help to make a pro con list?” you offer, less than helpfully with a little shrug.

“Jesus Christ,” Bradley mutters under his breath, looking up at the speckled ceiling trying to decode the flecks like tea leaves. “She’s cracking jokes like she didn’t ask me to make her come.”

“Technically, I didn’t say anything about that. I just asked you to be my first.”

“I’m not taking your virginity and not giving you an orgasm,” he states, and your eyes get wide. He runs his hands through his hair. “Sex makes things complicated, kid. We’ve got a good friendship.”

You sit up straighter on his roommate’s bed and bring your knees to your chest. It exposes the backs of your thighs and he has to shake the mental images of skin on skin out of his head.

There’s a look on your face that tells him you feel ridiculous even asking him, “Do you think you’re going to fall in love with me or something?”

“No,” Bradley says, honestly.

He knows you’re just trying to make a point.

The two of you have been friends for over a decade. He knows he cares about you- he always has- but he couldn’t imagine what anything other than just friendship would look like with you.

You nod in agreement, like you had been anticipating the answer before you’d even asked him the question.

“And do you think I’m going to fall in love with you?” you ask, your head tilting to the side.

He doesn’t even blink, “You can do better than me.”

And he means it.

Even if there was something more between the two of you, you’ve always been too good for him. And knowing him, he’d find a way to fuck it up. You’re the last person in the world he’d ever want to hurt. He’d let you down before, he doesn’t want to do it ever again.

You shoot him a disappointed look, like you don’t like hearing him say that about himself. And he’s oddly touched that you’re defending him against himself. 

“You’d literally be doing me a favor.”

Bradley is still surprised that he hasn’t ended this conversation yet. The two of you were supposed to go to the movies, but that definitely wasn’t happening now.

“I’m not saying no,” he says, “But I need you to help me understand. Why me? Why now?”

“Bradley, I want it to be with you because there’s no one else I’ll ever feel as comfortable with as I do with you,” you explain.

He watches as you unfold yourself and climb off the bed, coming to stand in front of him. You gingerly reach out and put your hand on his forearm, like you don’t want to startle him. Not that he’d be able to move anyways since it feels like the soles of his feet are cemented to the floor.

“I keep waiting for it to not feel like such a big thing, but every time it seems like it’s going to happen, I freeze. And I know you’d take care of me, and I’m not talking about orgasms.” You stumble over the word a bit, not fully meeting his eyes as you say it. “It’s scary enough as a girl and I’m worried I’m going to be too in my head with anyone else. But I also don’t want to look back and have any regrets, and I know I wouldn’t have any with you.”

The mention of regrets makes his stomach twinge. His heart feels like it’s hammering in his chest. He doesn’t know what to say.

You are looking at him with such open sincerity. He has never been good with talking about his feelings, he’s always been the type to bottle things up, while you have always worn your heart on your sleeve. It was just another way that you were braver than him.

“I know it’s a lot,” you say, letting go of him to take a step back, like you want to give him breathing room, “So if it’s too big of an ask. Or if it’s not something you’re comfortable with-”

Bradley shakes his head cutting you off, “It’s not that at all, kid. I just haven’t done this before.” Your eyebrow scrunches together in confusion. “I mean, I have,” he corrects, “But it’s not the same. All the girls I’ve been with had already had experience. And if we were going to do this, I would want to make sure it’s as nice for you as it can be.”

“So you’d be my first and I’d be yours? Well, kind of.” You give him a little smile, it’s a shy but hopeful thing. There’s only a hint of your dimples, but it’s enough. And he feels that practical part of him that had been holding back soften at the sight of it.

He doesn’t think he’s ever said no to you, excluding the times you tried to get him to give you his beer at the house parties he took you to in high school, and that was more out of self-preservation from a healthy fear of your mom than anything else.

When you wanted to learn how to drive a stick shift? He took you to the abandoned parking lot, it didn’t matter that you didn’t have your learner’s permit yet. When you wanted to learn how to throw a punch? He was making sure you knew not to tuck your thumb under your fingers, so that you didn’t break your own thumb instead of someone’s nose.

He’s always had your back and you’ve had his. That’s how it was between the two of you.

You’ve already said it, but he needs to hear it again, “You really want to do it?”

“I really want it to be you, Bradley. I really want to do this with you. I trust you the most.”

He’s always been willing to help you with anything you’ve ever asked of him, why should this be any different? What’s a couple orgasms between friends?

“Ok,” Bradley nods. If it’s to reassure you or himself, he couldn’t say. “I’ll do it. We can do it.”

Your eyebrows raise in surprise, like you were fully prepared for him to let you down gently, “Really?”

You didn’t ask for his why he was agreeing, but he was going to give it to you anyway.

“I don’t think I’ve told you this, but I lost mine to Samantha Prescod after the game against Centennial that got us a spot at State that year,” he waits until he sees the recognition cross your face before continuing, “But I had also just learned about my mom’s diagnosis and I was trying to find anything I could do to not think about it.” He rubs at a spot underneath his collarbone, it never got any easier talking about his mom. “I think she assumed that I’d done it before, because we didn’t really talk about it. She was there and into it, so it just sort of happened. Actually, I’m pretty sure she only slept with me because she wanted to make her ex-boyfriend jealous, because they got back together like three days later.”

It’s probably for the best that Samantha Prescod lives on the other side of the country now because you look livid. Your eyes spark with anger and disbelief on his behalf.

“It was years ago, it’s fine, kid” he shrugs, trying to brush off your concern. “But if I had a do-over, I don’t know if I’d make the same choice again. And that’s not something I’d ever want for you.” You deserve the rose petals, but he’ll do his best for you. “So we can do it, but I have one condition.”

The relief on your face and the way the tension in your shoulder releases only solidifies his decision.

“Tell me,” you say, taking a half-step towards him, “I want you to be comfortable too.”

Bradley pushes off his desk and meets you the rest of the way, “If you even think you’re feeling uncomfortable- about any of it- I need you to tell me. And we’ll stop and figure out where to go from there. If it’s a change of position, if it’s a full stop and order pizza instead, we’ll do that.” He pauses and reaches out to tip your chin up. “I’ll do whatever you need, got it?”

You throw your arms around him, and his wrap around you just as easily. Your hair smells like the travel sized shampoo he’d picked up for you, figuring you wouldn’t want to use his 2-in-1. You murmur your thank you into his shirt followed by a fuck Samantha Prescod that makes him squeeze you just a bit tighter to him in affection.

When you step back and look at him, your lips twitch upwards, “What’s with the look, Bradshaw? Don’t tell me you’re going to lie back and think of England?”

That makes him chuckle, your joke lightening the mood in only the way that you can do. He rolls his eyes in equal parts exasperation and fondness.

“God, I haven’t been this nervous since I lost my own virginity. I was so stressed I was going to blow my load in two pumps and lose my street cred.”

You snort and send him a smirk, “Well, you must have done just fine. I overheard some glowing reviews in the girl’s bathroom on more than one occasion.”

“I maybe lasted ten trusts, but I had the good sense to eat her out after,” he admits, and then tacks on for good measure, “I’ve gotten better since then.”

“What a stud,” you tease.

This is easier, this feels like the two of you. This should be fun, it shouldn’t feel serious. He can make it good for you.

You look up at him shyly from under your lashes, “So how do we do this?”

He feels like he only just wrapped his head around the idea of it, but now he was facing the very real possibility of seeing you very naked very soon.

“You want to do it now?” Bradley blinks.

“I mean, if you’re up for it.” You scrunch your nose when you realize you’ve made a terrible double entendre. “No pun intended, I promise.”  

He wipes his hands on his pants.

“You sure?” he asks again.

“I’m sure, Bradley. As long as you are too.”

He nods, “Then I guess we just…”

He’s not sure where he was going to go with that. But he’s spared from being roasted by you for making some sure to be lame birthday suit joke because you’re untying the bow on the soft lounge shorts you’d thrown on after your shower from the hike, and all the words get trapped in his throat.

You don’t look at Bradley as you slide your shorts down your legs. And you definitely don’t look at him when you pull your shirt over your head, leaving you in only a soft green mesh bra and your cotton underwear. They’re mismatched, but sex with Bradley wasn’t originally on the Spring Break To-Do List agenda for today.

In fact, you hadn’t even been sure you were going to go through with asking him until he brought up the point that he knew you had something on your mind because you apparently had no poker face.

While it felt like you had a swarm of butterflies whirling in your stomach, you also knew wholeheartedly that this was the right choice for you. Everything he had said had solidified that for you.

You weren’t sure how you were ever going to thank him for this, but you had a lifetime of friendship with Bradley to figure it out.

His room cast in the soft afternoon light, the blinds only partly closed. There are little streaks of gold that line the plaid comforter on his bed. He’d been right, Charlottesville had stayed sunny just for you.

As you climb into it and situate yourself against his pillows, you can help but notice just how much his bed smells like him. It’s not the spicy scent you associated with the High School version of him. The woodsy and warm scent embedded in the threads of his sheets suits this grown up version of him.

You feel equal parts overdressed and underdressed in your bra and underwear. You know the latter are going to come off eventually, so you make a split-second decision to just take them off yourself under his covers. The idea of Bradley helping you to pull them off later seems like it would be too intimate based on the way the thought of it makes your cheeks heat up.

It’s practical, you’re being practical, you think to yourself.

You chance a peek at him and are surprised to see that he hasn’t budged an inch. It’s almost like he is waiting for you to get completely settled before he dares to move a muscle. His eyes are trained on the pile of your clothes on the floor, he looks lost in thought.

“Bradley?”

The sound of your voice seems to kickstart him into action.

He shucks off his shirt in that kind of reckless way that seems to be ingrained in boys and then unbuttons his pants. You’re torn between feeling like you should give him privacy and wanting to watch. What you were expecting is the way he takes the time to pick his clothes up before folding them over the back of the chair at his desk.

Your mouth goes dry as you take in the sight of his body, the diffused light perfectly outlines the shape of him. His broad shoulders are rounded with the muscles he’s gained from whatever exercises the NROTC has been putting him through. Your eyes dip down to his defined chest and over the ridges of his abs. You’ve seen him in swim trunks plenty of times, but seeing the way the muscles of his thick thighs fill out the black boxer briefs he was wearing was entirely new to you.

Bradley approaches you and then pauses as he bends down to collect your pile of clothes on the floor, his hand hesitating only for a second when he reaches for your underwear. He drapes all of your things on top of his on the chair and makes his way back to you.

The gesture makes you melt a little like a soft serve ice cream cone on a summer afternoon.

You lift the corner of the cover for Bradley and he climbs in next to you. You move closer to the wall, trying to make more room for the bulk of him in his small bed, and he shifts in even closer into you until your bodies pressed tight against one another. The curves and angles of the two of you slotting together like pieces of a puzzle.

It feels like the two of you are teetering there on the edge of something. You both know exactly where it’s going, but are unsure of how to make it from Point A to Point B. Both waiting on the other person to make the first move.

He rests his warm hand on your stomach, the muscles there jumping on their own under his touch in anticipation. Your faces are close since you’re sharing his pillow. His brown eyes are searching yours, probably looking for any sign of hesitation that you don’t feel.

“Tell me how you’re feeling.” It’s not a question, but a request.

“Overwhelmed,” you admit, “But in a good way.” He runs his palm lightly up your stomach and back down, soothingly.

“Good, that’s good,” Bradley says, clearing his throat, “You’re supposed to feel a little ‘overwhelmed, but in a good way.’” You feel your lips pull up at his gentle teasing.

He smiles softly at you. His face has always been so familiar to you. The pink from his scars have finally faded, but you wonder when his eyes start crinkling around the corners.

You let go of the comforter to run a finger down the top of his nose, “I don’t know how this has stayed so straight.” He’d been in more than a couple fights in his teen years, including one that had sent him through a sliding glass door.

“Probably the combination of a little luck and the fact that none of those guys could throw a punch,” Bradley smirks. He shifts on his side, propping himself up on an elbow looking down at you, still running his hand along your stomach. “What have you done so far?”

His fingertips circle your bellybutton and your stomach swoops like it’s on the swing carousel ride at the fair.

“Some over the clothes stuff…” you stammer. You’re having trouble focusing because all your attention is on his big hand and how it feels against your oversensitive skin. “And I have a vibrator, but ah…”

You’re so keenly aware of his hand. With every lazy circle he makes, he has you wondering if this is going to be the one where he finally moves his hand lower. That part of you in flutters in expectation because you know it’s coming.

You let out a shaky huff when his fingers trails back up your stomach.

“What is it?” Bradley’s hand stops moving. “What are you thinking?”

“Honestly?” you say, trying not to squirm, “I’m getting really horny and you keep teasing me.”

He presses his lips together like he’s trying not to laugh at your overshare, and there’s amusement in his eyes.

“You know, some people call it foreplay,” he drawls. You’d roll your eyes but his fingertips are by your bellybutton again and you want him to keep going. “You ready for more?” You nod a few times because if he doesn’t touch you soon you might just crawl out of your skin. “Ok, gonna stop ‘teasing’ you now.”

This time his hand doesn’t stop at your bellybutton, it keeps moving down, down.

You stutter over a breath when Bradley’s fingers touch your clit. You feel yourself melt a little further into his mattress. He’s making easy circles, letting you get used to someone’s fingers other than your own on the most sensitive part of you. Your hands are clutching tightly to his comforter, unsure of what else to do with them.

“Spread your legs a little wider for me,” he murmurs. You feel your face heat up. He’d just given you a direction, but it sounds almost indecent coming out of his mouth.

You shift, moving your legs apart further for him, until he secures your left between his own, opening you up even more. You know you’re wet and now he does too. Bradley’s fingers slide easily over you as he increases the pressure on your clit. You can feel the intensity of his gaze on you watching for your reaction as he figures out what you like the most.

It doesn’t take him long to learn your body. You don’t know whether to be impressed with him or embarrassed with yourself at how quickly he’s worked you up.

Your breathing feels so loud in your ears in the quiet room, every breath and sigh is amplified. There’s a certain thrill in not knowing how he’s going to touch you next, your own fingers pale in comparison now.

His warm breath coasts down the side of your neck causing you to shiver at the sensation. It makes goosebumps break out along your arms and your nipples pull taut.

He notices. Of course he notices.

“Are you cold?” His voice is low in your ear.

“No, I-” Oh god, you’re right there. “B-bradley, I’m-” You’ve made yourself orgasm plenty of times, but you’ve never shared that part of yourself with anyone else before. No one knows what you sound like or what you look like when you come. But now, Bradley was going to have the piece of you too. A whine escapes you without your permission.

“It’s ok, kid, I’ve got you.”

You’re seeking and searching, but it’s Bradley’s fingers that have the answer.

And you come with your stomach twitching and hips jerking as he murmurs praise in your ear.

His fingers slow down, featherlight on your clit, but your heart is still racing when he rasps, “There’s one, you up for another?”

Bradley loves that moment during sex when he hears that first gasp or moan. He loves learning what sounds of satisfaction he can pull from his partner. He loves knowing he earned it. But he never in his life could have ever anticipated hearing those sounds from you.

In his bed. Because of him.

He didn’t expect the lick of heat that curled up his spine at the shape of your legs and the curve of your ass as you were stepping out of your shorts. He’d never seen anything so strangely endearing as it was watching you shimmy your underwear off under the shield of his covers.

Every hitch in your breath made his blood run hotter in his veins. He was trying to control his cock, but he’d started getting hard the second you’d pulled your shirt off. Your bra was some kind of sheer thing that left nothing to the imagination, and while he wasn’t trying to check you out- because that’s not how it was between the two of you- he couldn’t help the way his eyes flickered down.

You’re slippery, wet, and warm. And he knows he can make you come again.

“Do you want me to use my fingers now?”

You crack an eye open at him, it’s the first time you’ve opened your eyes since he first touched you. Your eyes are bright in that way that only comes with an orgasm. “I thought you already were.”

“Such a smartass,” he grins.

Bradley changes the unhurried circles he’d been making on your clit to the upstroke that made your hips jerk up into his hand the first time he’d tried it. The little noises you’re making have him fighting the urge to grind himself against you for some relief of his own. He’s still got your knee tucked between his own; where there had been a hint of polite space between your bodies, the way you’re writhing now has him pressed up against your hip.

You gasp, breathily, “Oh, you’re hard.” The disbelief is evident in your voice, but it’s the look in your eyes that he doesn’t know what to make of, something like surprise.

He’s been trying to be a gentleman, this is about you and not him. There might not be anything romantic happening between the two of you, but this was hot and he was more than a little turned on. And he knows you are too because he can feel how wet you are under his fingers.

“’Course I am,” Bradley says, nudging his nose against your temple, “I’ve got a pretty girl in my bed half naked.” He didn’t want you to feel like you were in this on your own, so he lightly rocks against you. He wants you to feel him, he wants you to know he is into this too. “Are you ready more?”

“I’m ready, I want more,” you confirm, wrapping your hand around his bicep.

Your breath hitches as he teases you with just the tip of his finger.

He’s been told before he has big hands and thick fingers, he’s always taken it as a compliment in the past, but now he’s scanning your face for any trace of discomfort as he sinks one into you.

Your eyebrows twitch then smooth out and your mouth drops open as he starts pumping his finger into you in a smooth rhythm.

“That feels nice,” you sigh, airily.

He knows you like it when your hips tip up just a fraction. His comforter is bunched around your waist and your nipples are peaked against the see-through fabric of your bra. He gets his thumb on your clit and you whimper as you tentatively roll your hips against his fingers.

Bradley hums his approval, “Atta girl. There you go, find what feels good for you.” His voice sounds low even to his own ears, a throaty rumble. He feels you clench around his fingers and it sets his pulse racing. It’s a piece of information he tucks away for himself.

He’s gentle on your clit, but now that he knows you’re into it he’s setting a more purposeful pace with his fingers.

You’ve got your bottom lip pinned between your teeth, like you’re trying to swallow down your sounds. He didn’t realize how much he liked hearing these new sounds from you until you started trying to muffle them. On the next slide of his finger into you, he knows exactly what he’s looking for.

You suck in a sharp breath of surprise when he finds it.

“Is that the right spot, kid?” He sounds so smug. You curse and your hand clutches at his shoulder. “You want to try a second finger?” he murmurs into your ear.

“Yes,” you rock into his hand, “Yes, please.”

“Whatever you want, Miss Manners.” His chest feels like he’s taken a shot of Fireball. “You’re so polite when you’re trying to get your way.”

“I’m always polite,” you challenged weakly, pressing your head further into his pillow.

“Mhm,” he indulges, fondly, “You’re the sweetest girl I know.”

And then he fills you with two fingers.

“Jesus, Bradley,” you gasp, offering more of yourself to him.

Your nails dig into the muscle of his shoulder as he lets your whimpers and whines guide his hands.

The two of you have your eyes fixed on the way the tendons of the visible part of his forearm are flexing before it disappears under the covers as he works you.

Bradley curls his fingers into that spongy part of you and your hand flies to his wrist, gripping him tight. It makes him pause, worried that he might have pushed you too far too fast.

“No, no. D-don’t stop,” you plead, desperately, “I’m so close. Keep going, please.” You squeeze his wrist encouragingly.

“Sorry, sorry,” he soothes. He focuses his efforts on that spot again now that he knows you weren’t wanting him to slow down, but rather trying to hold him in place. His fingers inside of you and his thumb on your clit working in tandem to get you there again.

“I just- yes. Like that. Oh fuck. Keep doing that. Oh my god. Please, Bradley.”

He’s heard you say his name a lot of different ways, but never like this.

Your back arches and you twist yourself towards him, burying your face against him and keening into the hollow of his throat as you come around his fingers.

You jerk and writhe into his hand, your knee slips free of his and your thighs clamp together around him. Bradley rolls off the arm he’d been leaning on and brings it to cradle the back of your head, pulling you closer and holding you to him as he steadily works you through it until you’re loose-limbed in his arms.

He waits until your rapid pants have evened out before he slips his fingers from you. The displeased sound that you make makes the corners of his mouth twitch. He should have known you’d be bossy. He rubs gentle circles into the divots at the base of your neck as you come down.

Bradley can feel your lips graze the side of his neck when you finally speak, “So, um, let me know if you need a letter of recommendation or anything. I’d be happy to pass one along to your next partner.” You languidly prop yourself up on his chest and he notes with pride that you look a little flushed. “But, seriously, I get it now.”

He huffs a laugh as he toys with the end of your hair, “I’m glad it lived up to the hype. Well, at least that part of it.”

You press your lips together like you’re deciding something, tracing idle shapes on his stomach, and he can’t decide if he thinks you’re doing it without realizing it or if you’re the one doing the teasing this time. Your eyes flick down to his visibly hard cock and he feels his face heat up, “Can I?”

“Do you want to?” Bradley wants this experience to be everything you need and want it to be, but something about the tables turning here and the idea of you being the one to touch him like that makes his heart pound.

“I want to make you feel good too,” you softly tell him, resting your chin on your shoulder. The tender way you’re looking at him makes his teeth ache.

“Ok, but only for a little bit,” he agrees. Bradley knows he’s walking a tightrope with this, he’s aching and more than ready to be touched, but he doesn’t want to come all over your hand.

He plants his feet into his mattress and lifts his hips enough to pull off his boxer briefs, sighing in relief as his cock bobs free.

“That can’t be average,” you mutter under your breath.

He doesn’t know if you meant to have said it out loud but he smirks all the same, “I’ve never been average a day in my life, kid, Grade A student here.”

A groan slips out of him as your tentative fingers grasp his cock. There’s a lack of finesse in the way you touch him, your hand isn’t nearly as well-practiced as his own. He wraps his hand over yours, guiding your strokes as he shows you just what he likes.

“You can grip it a little firmer,” he coaches. You nod studiously, like you’re going to be tested on it later. Together the two of you work him from root to tip.

Bradley had never given much thought to his size until now. He knew he was big, but seeing that your thumb couldn’t reach the tips of your fingers when your hand was curved around him was an ego boost he didn’t know he needed.

You get more confident with every glide up and down the length of him. Your tricky thumb sweeps over the tip, collecting what precum had gathered there, and it makes your hand slide easier over him. When he accidentally thrusts into your hand, you grin and there are those dimples again.

“Ok, ok,” he blows out a shaky breath, stilling your hand with his. “We gotta stop or I’m going to come. And I’m not about to be a one pump chump.”

“It sounded like you’re more of a ten pump chump, if I remember correctly,” you tease, looking all too pleased with yourself. “Don’t worry, Bradshaw, your street cred is safe with me.”

He shakes his head in amused disbelief, “You’re such a goddamn menace. I knew I shouldn’t have told you that part.” He surprises the both of you when he wraps an arm around you and rolls to pin you under him.

And it’s like all the air is sucked out of the room because your thighs are cradling his hips and his cock is resting heavy on your stomach.

Neither one of you dare to move. He’d give anything to know what you’re thinking right now, he feels out of his depth as he watches you watching him.

His tongue feels thick in his mouth, “Are you on-”

You nod before he even finishes the question.

“Do you have-”

He nods before you finish yours.

“What did you promise me?” he prompts, squeezing the dip of your waist.

You hold up your pinky to him, “I’ll tell you.” He wraps his own crooked one around yours and gives it a shake.

Bradley doesn’t know what comes over him, but he drops a kiss to your shoulder as he reaches over you into the drawer of his nightstand to fish out what he needs. He’s thankful when you don’t comment on it because he wouldn’t even know how to explain it.

He leans back on his knees and rolls the condom on with practiced ease, then flicks open the cap to the bottle of lube he’s also grabbed and drizzles it over his cock.

“Am I not…” you trail off. He doesn’t think he’s ever heard you sound this shy with him before.

“You’re plenty wet,” he assures you, pumping himself- once, twice- just enough to coat himself, “But this’ll be good too. I think you’ll like it.”

Bradley settles back over you, one arm braced by your head and the other on your hip, as your hands come up to rest lightly on either side of his ribcage. He rocks against you to demonstrate; the head of his cock nudges your clit with each silky pass. You exhale heavily at the sensation as he eases you into the motion of it, as he shows you what it’s like with another person.

You’re holding him close, and in just a moment the two of you will be the closest two people can be.

He makes only enough room to reach down between your bodies, only looks away from your face long enough to line himself up with you. There is such trust in your eyes as you gaze up at him, it’s not something Bradley takes for granted.

You nod, your fingers stroking his sides.

God, does he want this to be good for you.

He takes a breath.

And then he’s shifting forward and pressing in.

Bradley thrusts into you with all the careful gentleness you’d expect from him.

His thumb skimming along your forehead as he pushes in, in, in.

When he found that spot inside of you with his fingers, you thought you were going to fly away from the intensity of it, but then he’d pulled you into the safety of his arms and you felt like you could fall apart because he’d be keeping the pieces of you together.

He’s been so good to you. He is so good to you. He’s the best person you know.

The more of him he gives you, the less you feel like you can catch your breath.

You feel hot, hot all over. And much fuller than you’ve ever been.

Some sound must make its way out of you because Bradley offers you a low soothing noise before you feel his lightly chapped lips against your temple.

There’s something about this that reminds you of the time he tried to teach you how to skateboard. Always waited until you told him you were ready, until you found your balance. He’d held your hand as you cautiously rolled along the sidewalk, you were less worried about falling with him by your side. Only this time, his hand is on your waist and the only movements are his hips against yours as he rocks into you.

Little by little. Inch by inch.

You clutch at his biceps at the slight stinging sensation and you feel him hesitate.

“It’s just a lot,” you whisper. His fingers flex on your waist.

“You’re doing so good, just a bit more,” Bradley murmurs, encouragingly.

There’s pressure, there’s a give, and then there’s relief when his hips finally, finally meet yours.

“Shit,” he curses under his breath.

Your eyes had flickered shut somewhere along the way. You open them to see that Bradley’s face and chest are flushed pink, the muscle of his jaw flexing. The furrow between his eyebrows is so deep that you release your grip on him to smooth out the lines with an unsteady fingertip.

He reads the question in your eyes.

“You’re just really tight,” he grits out, voice strained.

You assumed that was a good thing, but he’s holding himself so tense above you that now you’re not sure. “Do I-,” you fumble over the words, “Does this feel good for you?”

He huffs an incredulous laugh, and brushes back some hair from off your face, “You feel really fucking good, sweet-”

Your whimper cuts him off when he pulls out a fraction and then pushes back in.

His brown eyes take you in as he does it again, more this time. Pulling out just a bit- just enough- and then filling you again. The discomfort fading more with each thrust as he guides his hips to yours until yours are tilting up to meet his seeking more.

It’s a conversation between your bodies, the give and the take of it all as Bradley introduces you to this new unspoken language. You feel yourself flutter around his cock, stretched wider than you’ve ever been.

You feel that heat spreading underneath your skin again as he surely and steadily pumps into you. It feels like your nerves are on fire. You didn’t expect to even come once and you’re well on your way to a third.

He reaches down and hooks your leg over his hip. His hand slides up along the outside of your thigh and under your ass, tilting your hips up towards his even more. He’s so much deeper like this. Your hands slide into his hair, tugging at his curls.

“Bradley, I-I think… I feel-”

 “You’re gonna come,” he rasps, nodding at you. Encouraging, coaxing.

He grinds his pelvis against your clit with every deliciously slow roll into you.

Your mouth drops open at the feel of it, it’s better than anything you’ve ever imagined. You don’t think your faces have ever been closer than they are now. Bradley is breathing your air, and you’re breathing his. Bradley’s pupils are blown wide, his heavy-lidded eyes are locked on yours. You didn’t know there could be so many shades of brown. His curls are a mess and it’s all because of you. He licks his lips and your breath catches in your throat when his eyes dart down to your parted mouth.

His next thrust into you hits that spot inside of you just so right that it has you gasping.

It’s so good, it’s too good, it’s overwhelming.

You wrap your arms around his neck clinging to him, your face buried against him. Bradley drops his head to your shoulder, you feel his lips brush against your clavicle. Your head moves away on instinct, making more room for him if he wants to do it again.

You get lost in the feeling of his cock hitting you in all the places you’ve heard about and read about, but have never felt for yourself until now. He’s still got your ass gripped in his hand, whereas your hands can’t stay in one spot. They’re tangled in his hair, running over his shoulders and down his abs, gliding over his back aided by the sheen of sweat he’s worked up.

You’re not trying to hold yourself back, but it feels like you’re standing on the tallest diving board at the pool, your toes curled around the edge, but still too nervous about the drop to jump.

“C’mon, kid. You’re right there,” he breathes hard, “I need you to come for me. Just one more.”

He gets his fingers back on your clit and it’s the end of you. Your back is arching so much you think you might snap. Your toes curl so tights they may never unfurl. The force your orgasm overtakes you, demanding everything you have up to offer and then some.

You hear Bradley’s moan as you pulse around his cock, trembling under him as the waves of pleasure wash over you. His hips stutter against yours, finally losing that steady rhythm he’d set, you pull him tighter to you and it’s not long until he comes too.

It’s all white noise. All you can feel is your heartbeat pounding, until little pieces of the world come back into focus.

The hum of the fan.

The beam of warm afternoon light through the blinds.

The smell of the now cold coffee on his nightstand.

In the after, you’re all too aware of every place your body is touching Bradley’s.

He’d somehow managed to roll on his back and had taken you with him. He was literally just inside of you, but yet it feels like your leg draped over his thigh is somehow more intimate. A prickly self-conscious feeling settles over you. Unsure of what the rules were for friends who just had sex, you attempt to peel yourself off of him, but the heavy arm over your waist keeps you in place.

“Come back here, kid,” Bradley mumbles, his eyes still closed, “I need to cuddle after I come, so I’m gonna need you to indulge me here for a moment.” He strokes a soothing hand down your back. And while he says it’s for him, you know he’s still trying to take care of you.

He hums when you lay back down. You set a hand on his chest. He reaches for it with his free one and threads your fingers together. It makes you melt further into him.

You feel a little different. But mostly, you feel like a weight you didn’t know you’d been carrying had been lifted off of you.

Your first time was everything you hoped it would be. You were safe and cared for, and you already knew, you’d never have any regrets about it. And it was all because of him.

“Thank you, Bradley,” you say, softly.

“Anything for you, kid.”

Your early morning catches up with you as you lay there, warm and secure. Your eyelids get heavier with each pass of Bradley’s hand along your spine. And you drift off to the sound of his heartbeat under your ear.

You’re still you. And Bradley is still Bradley.

It was just… something between friends.

A few hours later the two of you are still in his bed.

Only now you’re clothed and swapping the cartons of Chinese food that he’d ordered while you’d napped against his chest, and fighting over the fortune cookies watching some reruns of old sitcoms. You couldn’t hear their laugh tracks over your own.

The last couple of days you had at UVA fly by just as quickly.

You don’t know how, but the two of you managed to cross of all the things on his Spring Break To-Do List. And before you knew it you were back at the airport.

Bradley had insisted on walking you in, wanting to see you off.

Neither one of you has ever been good with goodbyes. So you don’t give him one, instead you reach for your bag and tell him, “Ok, see you in June.”

Bradley doesn’t let go, clearly confused, “What the hell are you talking about?”

You grin because it feels like a checkmate.

“You didn’t think you’d be getting that diploma all by yourself, did you?”

He looks thunderstruck.

You and your mom already had the plane tickets and hotel room booked. Your stepdad wouldn’t be able to come, but he was planning on sending your mom with one of the cakes from his family’s bakery. You’d been tasked with finding out what flavor, carrot cake or peanut butter- Bradley’s two favorites- but you could iron out the details with him later.

You’d had a busy week, plus it was more fun this way.

Bradley tugs you into his arms, yours wrap around him just as easily as they always have.

“June?” he asks into the crown of your head.

“June,” you promise.

And when he lets you go- for real this time- it’s with a smile that takes up his whole face.

He doesn’t say goodbye either, “Be good, kid. See you in June.”

𝐍𝐎𝐖

You avoid Rooster for the rest of the night.

And Jake too, for that matter. Bless Javy for finding ways to distract him because you could tell than man was chomping at the bit for more details. But you’d already given him more than enough.

You could have lied, you probably should have lied. It might have been easier than feeling like you’d hung up part of yourself on the drying line for everyone to see. But in that moment, the thought of lying and saying anyone else’s name other than Rooster’s had made your stomach turn.

Because it was the truth, he was your first, but he was also your best.

When you come out of the bathroom, there’s no missing Rooster. He’s leaning against the wall by the entrance. It takes him a moment to notice you since he looks lost in thought, but when he does you feel pinned to the wall by the intense look in his eyes.

He stands to his full height as you approach, you know he wants to talk about it.

You shake your head at him, “We don’t need to do this.”

“No, kid, we really do.” He takes you by the arm and leads you to a quieter spot away from everyone else.

“It was just a game,” you start before he can, “And now I know more about everyone’s sex life than I ever wanted to.” He crosses his arms over his chest at your attempt at deflection. “Look, I’m really sorry if that was something you wanted to keep a secret or just between us. I should have asked you first if that was ok to share.”

“I don’t care about that.” Rooster waves you off and takes a step closer to you, his eyes searching yours. “All this time and I’m the best you’ve ever had?”

“Are we really doing this? Here and now?”

You peer around him to look and see if anyone is watching the two of you, it feels like a showdown. But all the Daggers are occupied, probably on purpose. You’ve never seen Mickey with such a serious look of concentration on his face.

“Here and now,” he confirms.

You feel flustered, “Rooster, it’s been 12 years and we haven’t talked about it once-”

“Bradley,” he cuts you off. He takes another step towards you, so you’re toe to toe with him. “I’ve always been Bradley to you.”

The tension that had crept up in your shoulders releases a bit.

“Bradley,” you say, softly. “Listen, I’ve had a lot of good sex since then. Great sex even.” He presses his lips together and nods. “And with other men, if I felt like they weren’t putting in their best effort I’d kick them out because the bar was set very high early on.”

You see him fight back a smirk.

“That’s my girl,” he murmurs, with pride.

Your breath gets caught in your throat, you know he hears it because his eyes take on a richer shade of brown. You both feel the shift, tension churning between the two of you.

Taking a deep breath, you continue, “But I was telling the truth when I said you were my best. Probably because of the way you made sure I knew that you cared. I don’t know how to describe it. It was just different with you.”

You feel his finger graze the back of your hand.

The sounds of the Hard Deck fade into the background as you stare at each other. Entire conversations are being had as you look into his eyes and he looks into yours. Words and sentences spoken with glances.

Just friends don’t look at each other like this.

“It’s never been like this,” you whisper, “We’ve never been like this before.” You gesture at how close he is to you.

How he’s almost got you backed up against a wall.

How he’s looking at you like you’re his.

“I know.”

He says your name and your heart somersaults in your chest.

“I want to see your tattoo. I keep finding myself looking for it when we’re all at the beach. And then I get annoyed, knowing that people have seen it and I haven’t.”

“My tattoo? Bradley, what-”

“I want to see your tattoo,” he repeats like it’s a fact. “And I want to punch Seresin in his smug face every time he flirts with you.”

You roll your eyes, “Jake doesn’t flirt with me, not really. He just likes riling you up.”

“What if I said I wanted to try this as more than friends.” Bradley settles a large hand on your hip. “What if I said that since you’ve moved here I’ve had a hard time keeping my head on straight.”

“Bradley.” His name falls out of your mouth so easily now that it can.

“I want to take you home with me. I want to kiss you. I want to make you come. I need to know if you sound the same in my bed. And then I want to take you out for breakfast and buy whatever fancy coffee you want and as many pancakes as you can eat.”

You’ve been told that you wear your heart on your sleeve, but he has always worn his on his face. There’s no mistaking the open want on his face.

“Bradley, it’ll be different this time.” For so many reasons.

Because it’s not a favor being asked. It’s not some new experience being tried with the person you trust the most, with everything. You’d be on equal footing. It wouldn’t be a friend helping a friend, the two of you would be crossing that line between friends and more because you want each other in that way.

“I want it to be different, sweet girl,” he says, cupping your face in his familiar hand, “I’m ready for it to be different, if you are.”

He looks from your eyes down to your parted lips.

“We didn’t do that last time,” you whisper. Feeling brave, you reach out and run your fingers along the buttons of his shirt.

“No, we didn’t,” he agrees. His eyes are trained on his thumb as he skims it under your lip. “And that’s a damn shame.”

Bradley’s face is all you can see. Warm eyes, a still-straight nose, and a soft smile that is for you and you alone.

He dips down and your eyes flutter closed, your head tipping up on its own in anticipation.

His lips brush your cheek. It’s not enough.

You tug on his collar, but he chuckles and kisses your cheek again, lingering longer this time.

“I’m not kissing you for the first time around the corner from a bathroom,” he rasps.

You open your eyes and see the amusement in his. He always did like teasing you.

“Oh, where do you plan on doing it then?”

“Outside your front door, like a gentleman,” he says, like it’s obvious.

You can’t help but grin because Bradley Bradshaw can’t wait the extra 10 minutes it would take to drive to his place instead of yours. He wants that kiss just as badly as you do. You watch as a matching smile to yours blooms across his face.

It feels normal to slide your fingers between his much larger ones. It feels right as you lead the way out of the Hard Deck with him only a step behind you.

As it turns out, he only makes it as far as the Bronco before he’s spinning you back towards him and pressing you against it. His hands are on your hips and yours are wrapped around his neck as he kisses you for the very first time.

Bradley kisses you like a man who knows what he wants. And what he wants is you.

It’s not tentative in the way that first kisses usually are.

He kisses you like he knows you.

Because he does.

Later, when he closes the door to the Bronco for you, it feels like the end of one thing. But as he slips his fingers into yours when he backs out of the parking space it feels like the beginning of something new.

That night tangled in Bradley’s sheets- he’d kissed you at every light which made those extra 10 minutes it took to get to his home worth it- he makes your back arch and your toes curl as he makes you come with his fingers and mouth and tongue and cock. His lips dropping kiss after kiss on every part of you that he can reach. Because he can, because you want him and he wants you. 

The way he touches you tells you that he remembers it all.

He was you first, but what you wouldn’t learn until later, is that he would also be your last.

And he’d be the only man to ever have your entire heart.

Happy Birthday Jordan! An AU just for you! 💖 I adore you and I hope this year is the best one yet!

A big thank you to @callsignspark and @ofstoriesandstardust for their help and beta reading and their woogirling! I appreciate you two so much!

Author's Note: this was a "what-if" AU set in the 'Like I Can' universe! If you want to read about what really happens you can read it here!

You can read more of my stories here!

Taglist:

@gretagerwigsmuse @sehnsuchts-trunken  @callsignspark @notroosterbradshaw @tongue-like-a-razor @laracrofted @ofstoriesandstardust @bradshawsbitch @starryeyedstories @top-hhun-main @startrekfangirl2233 @callsign-viper @teacupsandtopgun @angelbabyange @oneelleandaneye @mizzzpink @cornishkat @alana4610 @20th-centu-fairy-girl @pono-pura-vida @donttouchmycarrots @eg-dr3amer3 @whaledots-blog @a-beaverhausen @hangmanscoming @mandolin22 @theweekndhistorybook @lilpeekabooze @high-bi-imgonnacry @ahintofkiwistrawberry @ruewrote @spiderman-stilinski @jayniebop @my-soulmate-is-mycroft @imaginecrushes @keyrani @chicomonks @artemissunn @mayempress @eddiemunsonreader

[hyperact]

02/09/23

recapping everything that's been happening to me...

i made it to third sem *crowd cheers*

osjur. a LOT of pros and very little cons

college starts. kinda mid as of now

well, since i will be in my second year of my college, here's a few goals i have been hoping to achieve:

learning new skills. i will try to enroll to MySkill by next week and hopefully i would be discipline enough to achieve my goals. i want to learn at least 5 skills, especially about data analyzing and business plans, in the six months of my enrollment and implement the concepts and mindset i've studied during my osjur

since i have been accepted into my himpunan jurusan, i want to be active and know more people in there. i will join at least 3 kepanitiaan, either within himpunan or at college in general within my second year

last but not least, i will keep my GPA gradient positive and receive 0 B grades on my second year while maintaining my relationship

now that that's done, let's recap my life!

my friendship with my college friends from high school is at an all time low. frankly, i don't really care because our circle has been described as too apathetic and [redacted]-based. also, i have new friends! i'm genuinely happy about it and i hope it can get to a deeper friendship. i also have been trying to be active and contribute something to my angkatan, especially since we'll be very very busy soon.

next. osjur has been very fun! i won't be saying too much but they have teach me a LOT of things and i will try to implement each of it to my daily life.

my relationship with d is... well it's not going anywhere. actually, it's probably going downhill since we'll only meet when we pass by every wednesday. i'm 80% fine with it, romantic relationship isn't really something i look for, as long as d stays as my friend i will be happy.

i've been trying to save money too! it's currently at 33% of the goal i make. but at the same time i've been spending money on merch and i promise i would budget better haha. merch buying will be only once a month max and if i buy merch, then i am not allowed to check-out anything from shoppee and vice versa.

i haven't been very clean lately... i should call someone to clean my room and laundry my stuff. i should also buy and stock food for my midnight snacks. also: i should continue walking to campus, it's the only physical exercise i do.

i've stick lots of photobooth pics and letters i receive on my wall as a way to make myself feel happier. i think it's working. i'm trying to change the way i speak because i feel like i sound angry or annoyed whenever i criticize or talk about something passionately. hopefully it worked...

lastly: i want to eat pork so badly.

[suckitsurveys]

Do you plan your meals in any way? Oh yeah. We make a plan every week for dinners and my lunches for the work week .

Have you ever been front row at a concert? Which one(s), and how was the experience? I have a couple of times when I saw Kill Hannah as a teenager, and maybe some other times with other smaller bands.

What’s the strongest earthquake you’ve ever experienced? I've only ever experienced aftershocks.

Do you know your best friend’s middle name? Yes.

If you have a passport, where do you store it for safekeeping? I don’t have one.

What’s your favourite kind of juice and when did you last drink some? I like apple juice/cider. It’s been a bit since I’ve had some.

Were you in the scouts when you were young? I wasn’t.

How long are your fingernails right now? They could be longer.

Do you like the Scream movies? They’re okay. I think I’ve only seen the first two?

What sort of music have you been listening to lately? Billie, Lana, the Barbie soundtrack.

Are there any bills you need to pay? I’m sure but everything is on autopay. I don’t even know when stuff goes through anymore haha.

Have you ever been told you look like a celebrity? When I was in my early 20s (and so were they) someone told me I looked like Elliott Page. And another time someone said Drew Barrymore? I don’t think I look like either of them, or any celebrity, so.

How many people could sleep in your home? (Not counting floor space, beds and couches only) Probably 4 total.

Are you a fast reader? Sure.

Do you own a leather jacket? Nope.

Is there a university campus in your city or town? Um, we have SEVERAL of those. I’m on one of them right now, lol.

Who last called you on the phone? Did you pick up? If so, how long did you talk? An unknown number that I did not pick up.

What grocery store/supermarket do you shop at most frequently? Jewel-Osco.

Do you know how to play the card game Hearts? I’d need a refresher but I have played it before.

Are you a more of a light or heavy sleeper? I can be both.

Have you ever done freelance work? What did you do? I have not.

Name four things you can see right now. Four Funko Pops: Pikachu, Ron Swanson, Princess Carolyn, and Post Malone

Do you charge your phone every day? Do people not?

Is your washing machine currently running? I don’t have my own washing machine. I either use my dad’s or the apartment’s shared one.

How’s your energy levels today? Pretty low.

Have you ever torn a muscle? Nope.

Do you have any cereal in your house at the moment? I am pretty sure there’s a box of Cheerios.

When was the last time you went out to eat? Where did you go and who with? I think that was when my friends were here. We went to Portillo’s before I dropped them off at the airport.

Is the street you live on short, long, or somewhere in the middle? It’s a pretty standard Chicago side street size.

Should you be in bed right now? I would LOVE to be.

[umichenginabroad]

Find Me In Class or... Running Off to Vienna

Hey přátelé,

It officially doesn't feel like I'm on vacation anymore. Classes started last Tuesday, and my schedule means I have 9 am ones every day. I'm not exactly a morning person, but since my schedule last semester at Michigan was essentially the same, I'm keeping up... at least for now haha. We have 3.5 hour classes with a 30 minute break built in, and sitting in class for that long is definitely something I'm having to get used to. Fortunately, most of my classes have been pretty engaging. I'm taking 5 classes in total: Introduction to AI, Database Management Systems, Communication for the Tech Sector, Tech Ethics and Public Policy, and Augmented Reality: Leadership Development for the Tech Sector.

The view from our school building -- makes up for the 20 minute daily walk from our apartment

Unlike my EECS classes at Michigan, each one of these classes is interactive and more discussion based. It was a nice change to be able to form connections with professors easily. All of mine have such interesting backgrounds with many coming from working in the industry. Some highlights of class include playing Kahoot to review Python knowledge in AI and completing a lifeline exercise in Leadership Development to learn more about the other students on my program!

Played a pretty competitive game of Kahoot and learned a bit about the statistics of the tech industry

I'm a big fan of studying in the Law Library on campus, so I wanted to find somewhere similar here in Prague. Enter the Academy of Sciences Library! Our director for the program recommended we register at this library, so I headed over one day after class and the process is surprisingly easy. You do have to pay a small fee, which I didn't expect as most American libraries are free to enter, but it was only about $10 for 6 months. Just look at the architecture and vibes... definitely puts me in more of a studying mood than my apartment.

Beyond all the academic responsibilities that started, my roommates and some other friends on our program decided to travel to Vienna for the weekend. This was probably one of the first places on my travel bucket list, because, like Prague, I had only ever heard good things about the city. It's also only 4 hours from Prague, a straight train or bus ride (we actually took both, one there and one back).

Took a bus Friday afternoon and saw the sun set over a lake

Our Czech teacher had mentioned that Vienna is similar to Prague but a little cleaner and more modern, and I definitely got that feeling when visiting. I'd have to say my favorite parts were definitely the teal and marble buildings and the delicious breakfasts we had. I would be very content if you just left me to marvel at all the pretty places around the city ngl. I'm a big planner and decided to create the route we walked on Saturday which ended up being around 30,000 steps. I don't know what my friends thought, but I'd say I'm now pretty qualified to be a tour guide haha [to my friends-- sorry for killing your feet but thanks for coming along :)]

Blue skies for our first full day (we got rained on on Sunday </3)

I almost didn't want to come back to Prague. Thankfully, more adventures to come!

Na shledanou,

Catherine Jiang Computer Science Tech Career Accelerator in Prague

Czech Words

přátelé - friends

Na shledanou - goodbye

[veritable-trash]

You Know The Rules

look at that stupid slutty mustache... god please answer my prayers just this once

Pairing: Finnegan(Everybody Wants Some!!) x Fem!Reader

Summary: God you hate him.

Word Count: 2K

Rating: M - mainly for drugs babayyyyy, weed, that good, otherwise it's pretty clean in these sheets(this time around)

A/N: haha. no one asked for this. but listen! all my glen powell sloots we need to remember the original. sweet daddy finnegan. mustached, shaggy haired, 80s baseball player i mean i couldn't have written a sluttier man if i tried. this movie isn't the greatest, but the music is dope, the outfits are cute, and it serves as a public service announcement that men need to start wearing crop tops IMMEDIATELY. this is a petition for men to start dressing like sluts again so i can finally be at peace. anyways this is completely and utterly self serving but the glen powell top gun resurgence just kept reminding me that this is peak glen to me. give me mustaches or give me death!

sorry that i haven't written... or literally done anything of value in an eon. my brain has given up and also i moved and am currently unemployed and am about to go travel for three months and want to write but have zero inspiration and tumblr makes me sad because everyone is so good at writing and i am a troll under a bridge. this is me trying to release the need to produce things of "value" because does that even mean anymore? i hope someone finds this a little fun because honestly i kinda did :) hugs and kisses <;33333

tell me what you think! i'm literally begging! on my hands and knees! the desperation is palpable yeesh

masterlist yay yay!!!

~~~~~

College.

What a fucking heinous place. Filled with suffocating expectations, the constant need to pretend you’re someone you’re not because of everyone else’s supposed opinions of you. 

It made you want to vomit. 

And yet here you were, cowering in the corner of the kitchen at this stupid, lame, awful college party. A baseball party no less. Those absolute heathens. Probably the worst category of men on this campus by about 20 miles and you were definitely counting. 

The joint you haphazardly rolled in the absolutely disgusting bathroom crackles between your lips as you try to tune out every single person here and catch the steady baseline of the song playing hoping that that will somehow lull you into a state of calm.

This new weed sucked shit. All stems, all seeds, and got you high for about 30 seconds. You were going to kill Willoughby when you saw him. Honestly the only baseball player in this house you liked and even he was about to get moved right onto the shit list with the rest of the men of this house. 

Your friends had badgered you endlessly all week to ask Willoughby for the invite, not that you really need to even ask him. Girls? More than one? The baseball boys were already salivating like it was their last meal on death row.

The standards in this place were in the fucking basement. 

Some would call you a pessimist. Angry, bitchy, snippy, negative, the whole gambit and they might be right. But college was a fucking weird ass place that made your skin crawl and your anxiety spike and all you wanted to do was smoke your green, pass your classes, and watch your cartoons in peace, please and thank you. 

And then his voice cut through your slow building haze like a serrated knife on a chalkboard. Made of sandpaper.

“Sweetheart! I thought Willoughby mentioned you’d be here, and why am I not surprised you’re toking it up alone in our kitchen, my favorite little stoner weirdo.”

Finnegan.

The absolute ultimate fuck. 

Mustached, wide shoulders, shaggy blonde, crisp baby blues, he was everything your vagina yearned for until he opened his stupid mouth. And of course that was just as pretty as the rest of him too. 

You’d met him for the first time freshman year. Fresh faced and thinking the world was truly your oyster, he’d popped into your life in intro to philosophy and swept you away with his silky, fancy words and the fact that he looked like that. 

He’d invited you to the first baseball party you’d ever gone to and made you a special promise that he would be your knight in shining armor for the night. That he’d be waiting for your arrival, was counting down the minutes till you showed up at his door and he could dance the night away with you.

That was until you saw him sucking face with Tracy. Who was also in your intro to philosophy class. 

Obviously, you’d hated him to his core ever since. 

But for some reason he’d stuck around. Always kept tabs on you, always had a class with you, always found you at any party, bar, disco, literally fucking anywhere and it made you want to tear your hair out. 

He was your pretty boy kryptonite and you needed him to leave you the fuck alone.

“Oh Finny. Finny, Finnegan, fuckhead. You know I thought I’d somehow be able to avoid you tonight but it seems like my stalker persists no matter the obstacles.”

Smoke trickles from between your clenched teeth and he has the audacity to stare at your lips and grin.

Fucking grin!!!

“You wound me princess. Ain’t even gonna share that little pinner of yours, I mean the absolute cruelty of it all.”

The grins still blazing on his lips but in Finn fashion he has to play up his part. 

Clutching at his pearls, leaning against the kitchen counter like you’d just stabbed him straight through. Your eyes roll so far back in your head they almost launch themselves out of your skull. 

“No Finn, I’m not gonna share with the likes of you. Go find Will and get him to roll you one, he’s the one I got the weed from anyways. Or maybe go find some other poor unsuspecting girl to do the deed for you, but you ain’t getting shit from me. You know the rules sweet Finny: ass, cash, or grass and god only knows I ain’t taking any of those three from you.” 

You regret those last few words the second they enter the air between you.

Because Finnegan’s eyes drop straight to your mouth again and now he’s crowding you into the corner of the counter. 

“Oh sweetheart if you just let me show you what this ass can do I think you would be singing quite a different tune. You think I’m all bravado and show but you and I both know the two of us could be quite a duo. I just know you’re absolutely unreal beneath that veneer of hatred you slap on.”

He’s still staring at your lips, the joint hanging limply between them as you try and control your breath and not cough up a lung. 

Two can play this fucking game.

You take a thick drag, the tip burning bright orange and crackling like cinders and his eyes only deepen in shade. The smoke curls out and up into your nose and he stares at you his jaw dropping a little slack as you play him like the fucking fiddle he is. 

“Finn.” Your index finger trails up his arm as you ash the joint in the sink, and you can feel the muscles of his bicep twitch with the contact. “If you think I’m gonna let you touch me you’ve lost your god damn mind. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go find some peace and quiet. Away from you.”

Your voice is sticky sweet and he barely registers that you’re telling him off for the millionth time tonight until you’re traipsing out of the kitchen at lightning speed before you do something else you’ll regret. 

He got too fucking close this time around. You let him get too fucking close. 

Your feet stomp quick up the stairs to the only safe place you’d ever been able to find in this house. 

The roof. That blissful open space, like the crispest breath of fresh air it tasted almost minty. Your hands dig into your pockets looking for your weed, your lighter, and your rolling papers-

Fuck.

Of course you’d forgotten papers, predicable as always and fucking annoying as hell and you’re about to turn back down the stairs when your eyes land on something sitting on the windowsill. 

Finn’s wood pipe. 

You loved to hate it but it was his calling card. Stupid and quirky and so perfectly him that the sight of it made you heart twist just a little. 

Not that you would ever fucking admit that. 

Well beggars can’t be chooser as they say. 

It’s deceptively crisp out on the roof as you shuffle around other groups till you get to your super secret corner on the far side of the house. No one ever seems to want to venture this far and you could smoke in peace and tranquility as the rest of the party raged somewhere far, far away. 

The bowls packed, green just catching a smolder and you have to admit the stupid Sherlock Holmes pipe is kinda fun. Maybe you’d leave a fresh bowl packed for sweet Finn as a secret thank you gift. 

Maybe this weed was stronger than you thought. 

“Alrighty first you don’t share your joint, then you verbally assault me in my own house, and now you’re smoking out of my pipe? You really are trying to start a fight with me this evening now aren’t ya?”

Your eyes are red rimmed and your brain has that pleasant haze coating every synapse and you can’t find it in you anymore to really fight Finn right now. The stars look too damn good and the tree has hit too damn deep to let your hackles rise.

“You know maybe I’ve been giving you a bit of a hard time, but you damn well deserve it.” You smile around the pipe as you take another drag, but this time you pass it to Finn as he sits down just a little closer than usual. 

His fingers snag against yours as you pass it and you both flinch a bit at the contact, sparkles zipping up your arms.

He stays quiet this time around, pulling puffs as you both watch people flit around the grass below you, the party continuing into this seemingly never ending night. 

Friday’s, they really were something.

Your knees knock, fingers catching again as he passes the pipe back to you. Another pull fills your lungs and you lean back, back, back until your back presses down on the cool paneling of the roof and you let the smoke drift up and away among those pretty little stars. 

“Finn you can just be so fucking annoying sometimes, I just wanna shut you up for like five seconds so we can all take a fucking breather.”

He laughs at that. Real and deep, curling around the base of your spine as he turns to stare down at you and the feeling spreads all the way to your fingertips. All the way to your toes.

“I’m well aware, but it’s sorta a part of my charm. I’m just waiting for it to final start charming you.”

Your eyes click to his, haze lifting for a split moment, and his eyes twinkle almost brighter than the stars. 

“That’s such a fucking line and you know that shit doesn’t work on me. Fool me once and all of that jazz.” But you can’t stop staring at him and now his eyes color puzzled, a little hazy as he tries to decipher your words. “Oh come on, freshman year? You invited me to the party with all your fancy little words that you love to spin for me to only find you eating Tracy’s lips straight off her face? Honestly she still talks about that night to this day so I guess in a weird way kudos to you but man that did sting a bit.”

You chuckle around another pull and you go to pass it back but he’s clearly no longer interested in that. He seems very intent on memorizing every detail of your face under the stars and you can’t help but wiggle a little under his hyper focused gaze. 

“I-I didn’t know that you were there that night. McReynolds told me you’d left with some dude and Tracy was more than willing to fill in that blank.”

Oh fuck.

You’re both just staring at each other as moment after moment click like puzzles pieces. Every snippy comment, every lingering glance, every class, every time you just happened to run into each other all no longer strange coincidences and some secret hatred. Every little moment stitching itself together till it left just you and Finn. 

And there’s that fucking grin again.

But it’s softer this time, a little less sleazy and a little more lovely and now you’re sure his eyes are brighter than any star. 

Your own lips tick up with a soft, nervous smile.

His fingers card between yours and he brings your knuckles up to his lips, stupid mustache tickling your skin in ways that make you shiver. 

“I feel like nows the time to return to my earlier question since you finally shared some of that green with me, so what do I owe ya? Ass, cash, or more grass?”

You snort into the air between you and his grin splits into a megawatt smile and you finally let yourself tumble head first into kissing stupid, idiot, fuckhead Finnegan.

“Ass, 100%.”

~~~~~

tell me what you think if anyone is actually reading this because i'm bored and this site is lonely and i just want some weirdo friends who also think mustaches are peak sexiness. alright i need to go to sleep the psychosis is taking over :P