#me when the snippet for my jay fic reads like nct jeno fanfic

[zreamy]

light grad school dump for the end of term !!!

(I want to use this post in lieu of an author’s note on skr when I post it, as I have a bit to say which I'm putting under the cut + something exciting at the end !!!)

I want to start by expressing my thanks to everyone who has read my work and enjoyed it, whether you read NTL when it first dropped or you found my blog this morning, thank you! Truly, thank you. I am immensely grateful for all of the sweet words and feedback I’ve received since I started my blog, and I wanted to say that they have been a huge source of reassurance for me, and have gotten me through more creative blocks than I can count. 

I’ve had an extremely hectic 2024, and somehow it’s already December 1st and I haven’t finished a fic yet……. have I’m really really trying to get SKR finished, and I only have one more scene to finish before I send it to Emma, which is exciting and frustrating all at once. I’m looking forward to sharing it with you guys, and hope to manage my time a bit better so I can keep writing for this blog as it’s something that I really enjoy doing. I’m also hoping that with the fic being almost 40k words, I’ll be able to make up — even if only in small part — for going a whole year without posting a fic.. 

And for all of your patience, please enjoy a random (unproofread) 1084 word snippet from skr !!! 

“I keep meaning to ask you,” Jeno starts, tilting his head as he speaks. “What the hell happened to you at the bonfire? I remember you and Jaemin seemed pretty comfortable again when we left, but then me and Hyuck got back, and poor Jaem could hardly remember how he got to the beach, never mind where you went.”

At this, a hodgepodge of vivid memories comes to you at once — kisses and late drives in July, sneaking off at parties to feel the wet heat of a summer evening hang over your shoulders, old feelings (good and bad) — threatening to bubble beneath the surface. A thick coolness settles in your chest, only spreading the more you try to will it away. 

You sigh, adjusting your tote bag on your shoulder. “That was ages ago, Jen. Leave it there.” 

He frowns, seeming to pick up on your discomfort and hesitates before speaking with an earnestness that catches you off-guard. “Look,” he says, lowering his voice. “I’m not going to judge you for hooking up on the beach—I won’t even pry for details, I just want to know who it was so Jaem and I can scare them a little.” His tone is oddly protective, brotherly. 

It’s sweet, really, what Jeno’s willing to do under the guise of protecting you, but you can’t help but scoff anyway, knowing it’s partly an excuse for him to show off his gym gains. “Jaemin isn’t exactly intimidating,” you point out. 

Whatever he says in response is as good as nothing to you, whose breath has caught in your throat at the sight of Jay. The iciness quickly subsides when you see him, melted by an overwhelming heat coursing through your body by the second. He’s in the middle of a heated volleyball match with some guys you know because Jeno knows them—Heeseung, Jake, and Sunghoon. It’s no surprise that they’re attractive, they’re college athletes—good looks might as well be part of the team contract. But Jay? Jay’s glowing. The sun beating down against his honeyed skin and making the sheen of sweat covering his body attractive. 

“Ahh,” Jeno hums in understanding, following your gaze. “One of Jaemin’s football buddies, huh? No wonder you’re so secretive.” 

“I didn’t hook up with anybody,” you assert, finding it impossible to look away. “He made it clear he’s not interested, not like that anyway.” 

“Sure, he’s not.”

Jeno comes over to sit with you, slinging an arm — and what you think must be all of his weight — over your shoulders, saltwater dripping from him down your back. “Jay, huh?” he asks—smile wide, eyes tired.

You only shrug in response, the weight of his arm pressing down as damp sea air clings to your skin. 

There’s a glint of mischief in his eyes as he laughs to himself. “You know what’s funny?” 

A sigh slips out of you. You’ve known Jeno long enough to know that most of the things he finds funny aren't usually very funny at all. “What?” you ask, watching Jay, who’s chasing Jake around the shoreline with a water gun that seems to have appeared from thin air.

“It’s not much,” he says. “It’s just.. I would’ve thought Heeseung was more your type.” 

He has your full attention now, eyes on him and the smirk he’s wearing. “What? Jay’s not good enough for me either?” you ask, scared to hear his answer. 

“No!” Jeno shakes his head vigorously as if offended by the mere suggestion. “Not at all. If anything I’m relieved it’s Jay, he’s sweet, good head on his shoulders. If I didn’t know you so well, I might say Jay’s out of your league.”

You’re not sure what to make of that, brows knitting together as your lips curl downwards. “I can’t tell if you’re insulting me.” 

“I’m saying I think Jay’s a good match for you, that’s all.”

At this, you hum, playing nonchalant so Jeno doesn’t see how much you value his opinion. You only let yourself smile when you look over at Jay again—who is currently being dragged at the foot through the ocean by Jake, thrashing around and yelling in protest. 

“Want me to put in a good word?” Jeno offers. “I could warn him about your Jellycat problem.” 

You roll your eyes, nudging him. “Liking plushies is not a problem, Jen. You are a problem,” you say, throwing sand at his face, laughing when he sputters. 

Jeno shakes his head, getting water and sand all over you. “Hope you’re happy, Duckie,” he says after a beat, standing up and ruffling your hair. “Jay’s going to pay for that.”

Before you can ask what he’s talking about, he takes off sprinting towards the water, towards Jay—poor, unsuspecting Jay. Jeno barrels into him, and both boys disappear into the ocean with a huge splash, surfacing in seconds, though only Jeno comes up with a grin on his face. Jay’s spluttering, somehow still attractive as he pushes his hair back. Jake roars with laughter, clapping Jeno on the back, seeming pleased to have an ally and Jaemin runs over to join in, whooping and hollering like it’s the best thing he’s seen all day. 

You feel bad about it, you do, honestly, as you see Jay running around the shore for dear life, three guys ganging up on him for different reasons—though you can’t help thinking it’s better him than you. 

“Time!” Jay yells, forming a T with his arms. “Time! Time, please!” Despite his best efforts, his pleas are ignored and the other guys keep pushing him around. 

Finally, waterlogged and exhausted, Jay gives up. At the first opportunity, he runs from the water without looking back, only stopping to throw himself down on the blanket beside you. “Man,” he says, fighting for breath. “What did I do?”

“Well,” you start. “I might have had something to do with Jeno tackling you,” you admit through a laugh. 

Immediately, Jay looks betrayed, shaking his head. “Wow, and here I thought we had something going,” he mutters dramatically. 

You hold up your hands defensively, eyes wide as you nod, and Jay’s façade crumbles immediately, wearing a smile of his own at the sight of you. “We do! We do! You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” you explain, trying your best to ignore the butterflies in your stomach. 

Jay grins at you, nodding his head. “I guess it all worked out in the end—I’m exactly where I want to be right now.”

Plus also this !!!

(Idk when I can post it bc 1. Needs beta reading, but 2. I submitted it (in third person w named characters) on Friday for my assignment and I need to get it graded before I can post it) Plus also because it was an assignment for uni it's like barely 3k words !!!

Sending all the love in my heart, and plenty of hugs, Zo xx

p.s. @asahicore mama a skr snippet behind you 🤍