#n ty to everyone that voted yes! we can all have some fun n enjoy some cute lovey dovey fics for the valentines season <33< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[vampiricgf]

also I did not forget about the valentine's event I have planned for my milestone celebration, I've just been busy with this commission and general life stuff as well as my fic for secret santa so I'll have the info post about that collab up soon tho so everyone has time to plan n write! :3

[holidaywishes]

It Had To Be You VII

Chapter Seven: Can You Hold Me?

  Summary: The hockey season is in full swing and so is the New Year. While you’re busy with schoolwork, Tyler’s busy with games and practices but you make sure to text each other as much as possible knowing you can’t see each other. But as the year gets more complicated and stressful, you pull away from pretty much everyone -- including Tyler and James.

  Author’s Note: The year is 2016; Lemonade was released, Leonardo DiCaprio finally won an Oscar, Closer was on every Spotify list/radio station all the time, This is Us was making people cry every night, Hamilton had everyone buzzing and then the world started to fall apart. There were far too many celebrity deaths it seemed, Donald Trump decided to run for president and won the electoral vote and there were 133 shootings in the US only 164 days into the year. It was a rough one guys, so get ready for some angst and tears in this chapter (not necessarily from you as readers but from Y/N and everyone involved in the story.) Thank you everyone for reading this little series, it means so much to me and I hope you continue you to enjoy what comes out. I’m sorry this one is so late, I meant to get it out sooner but got busy with schoolwork and I’ll admit, it’s quite jumpy, but the next one will be better hopefully. ENJOY!

  Warnings: none really? Angst, maybe some cursing, talk of violence, a lot of time jumps

  Song Credit: Can’t Stop The Feeling -- Justin Timberlake, Closer -- The Chainsmokers & Halsey, Can You Hold Me -- NF & Britt Nicole

  masterlist

  “Me and Ali are done. For good this time.”

  You couldn’t stop staring at Tyler’s last text to you. And yours to him. “Miss you.”

  Yes, you were drunk. And yes, you missed him. But you couldn’t help but think that you sent that message and that’s why the two of them broke up.

  ‘No, shut up (Y/N), it was just a coincidence!’ you screamed to yourself, ‘I mean how conceited can you be?’

  Of course it wasn’t about you. It had to have just been a coincidence. The two of them were always on the verge of a breakup anyway, it really was only a matter of time. You didn’t know how to respond to him though because to say you were relieved for the break up would be an understatement, but you knew telling him that was crass.

  “Are you okay?” you finally typed

  “I’m great! It’s a fresh start. Happy New Year by the way.”

  “Ty...”

  “Yeah?”

  “You don’t have to pretend you know. You’re allowed to get emotional”

  “I know, but I don’t have any regrets about the break up. What we had was fun, sometimes, but exhausting the majority of the time.”

  “I’m here, you know, if you want to talk. Just a phone call away.”

  “Thanks. I know. So am I.”

  What was that supposed to mean? Did you tell him something else? Did you call him drunk?

  “Happy New Year, Ty”

  You were expecting something in return, some kind of response, but there was nothing. Suddenly, James popped his head up and groaned; he must have a worse hangover than you from the look on his face.

  “When did we get back to the room?” He mumbled, holding his head and walking over to you.

  “I was wondering that same thing…” you watched as he sat down next to you, resting his head on your shoulder, “when do you have to work next?”

  “Luckily not until tomorrow. What do you want to do today?” He asked

  “Hockey?” you answered with a smile and he sat back, a look of concern on his face

  “You want to go play Hockey?”

  “Not play, watch. The Winter Classic is on. Montreal and Boston. Should be good.”

  “Hmmm, I didn’t really think you even liked Hockey that much, especially when it’s not the Dallas Stars…” he said a little childishly, earning a confused glare from you.

  “They’re like the biggest rivalry in the league. And I know Chris will be watching. I wanna watch it. I didn’t know it was going to be such an issue.”

  “No issue, I’m just surprised is all. Turn it on, I’m in for a chill day on the couch” he settled in

  “It doesn’t start for a few hours. So… we could… go down to the bar, grab some food. Take some pictures… Be tourists for a little bit longer?” He shook his head and you just rolled your eyes. You settled into the couch with him and laid there, so comfortable you almost fell asleep but made yourself wake up to watch the game. You half-expected him to jump up when he heard the loud screams on the TV but he just laid against the back of the couch, passed out and snoring slightly which made you giggle.

  The game was pretty intense and every bit as entertaining as you thought it would be. With a score of 5-1, Montreal beat the Bruins and you knew Chris was shouting with excitement.

  “So, your boys won!” you texted

  “Hell yeah they did!” was his only response before a string of emojis and gifs

  “You texting Tyler?” James asked

  “No..?” you responded, confused. And then you realized he was probably asking because Ty used to play for Boston -- something you had totally forgotten about until this very moment. You thought about texting him with a sarcastic the guys have fallen apart without you but decided against it. Since he hadn’t responded to you for a few hours, you didn’t see the point in texting him again, especially about this. So you left it.

  “So, have you heard?” your sister, Lucy, asked and you looked up at her from the floor, where you were reading a magazine as she cleaned the apartment around you,

  “I’m not sure…” you said tentatively, “what do you mean?”

  “Trump” she said plainly, “he’s like actually a forerunner…”

  “Ugh, don’t start,” you groaned, “I thought when he announced he was running, it was a big joke. I can’t believe it’s… like a real thing.”

  “Well, at least we’re not American…” She added

  “Yeah, well, it could have consequences for us too” you raised your eyebrows at your sister, who just sighed which you knew was her way of trying to move on from the subject. It was only a month into the year and there were already 11 shootings with 24 people dead and this whole election year was becoming a spectacle. Your spirits were low and all you really wanted was to talk to your friend.

  “What’s wrong?” Your sister questioned, concern in her voice.

  “I… Should I text Ty?” you quickly responded, expecting her to say of course not, let him text you… I’m sure he’s just busy instead you got

  “I don’t care. Call him, text him or don’t. It doesn’t matter.” You were shocked and your face visibly showed it, jaw dropped, eyes practically popping out of the sockets.

  “C’mon (Y/N), the two of you have gone weeks without talking before haven’t you?” She asked and you nodded, “and when you finally talked it’s like nothing had changed…”

  “But it’s different now…” you trailed off at the end of your sentence

  “Why? Because he’s finally single?” She pried, “he’s never actually single you know. He’s always got… someone.” You scoffed at her response but knew she was right. Tyler was never alone for long but the fact that he hadn’t talked to you in a month was what was different. Whether he was single or not.

  “Plus, you’ve got James” She added

  “I know, I just…” you faltered, “I don’t know. Things are tense with us right now. He’s working so much, it’s almost like we’re not even together.” Your sister gave you a sympathetic look but the two of you knew she couldn’t relate since she was in a new relationship and oh so in love. She was where you were at the beginning.

  When you realized that talking to Tyler wasn’t actually what you wanted, you walked away from Lucy into the other room to call Diana.

  “Heyy! Happy New Year!!” She greeted you from the other end of the phone

  “I’m sorry that I haven’t called you in like… forever,” you could feel yourself start to cry and you weren’t entirely sure why, “I’ve been such a sucky friend”

  “No, oh my gosh babe! Don’t cry, I can hear you crying” she pleaded, “you haven’t been a sucky friend. We’ve both been busy. I don’t know the last time I was in the same city as you, let alone close enough to have a meal with you.” It had been forever since you talked to Diana and she was your closest friend, the one who knew all your secrets and all the things that made you tick. The fact that you were so busy with your relationship and the complications with Tyler and his love life made it impossible for you to confide in Diana without stuttering but with the way the year was going, you needed your friend. You needed Diana.

  “Can I see you? Reading week is next week and I need some Best Friend time..” you joked halfheartedly

  “I would love nothing more. Should I meet you or do you want to meet me?” She questioned, basically asking if you wanted her to come to Calgary or if you wanted to head down to San Antonio.

  “Hmm, meet me..” you paused, “James would love to see you too, but he’s out of town and I don’t really want to be in Texas right now.” She didn’t question that and you were so relieved. You weren’t even sure you would know where to start. When you finally met up with her, you felt like the world was lifted off your shoulders. She listened to your problems, you listened to hers, you laughed about everything and attached to each other’s hips as to never let the other escape. This was what you were craving, sister time, with the sister you didn’t have. You spent the week doing everything you could, never leaving each other’s side -- meaning you barely got any sleep -- trying desperately to enjoy the time you had with Diana. But when the time came for her to go back to Texas, you knew you had to let her go.

  “I don’t want you to go…” you whined as you gave Diana a side hug, walking her to the cab waiting outside your house.

  “I know, I wish I didn’t have to go either. BUT!” she interjected, “we will make this, US, a priority. More best friend time is definitely on the horizon.” You smiled widely and sent her off in the cab, watching it drive away and waving to Diana when she turned around to look at you. It was always sad leaving your friends but Diana was always the hardest to leave behind because there was no judgement with her; She knew all of your secrets and would keep any new ones locked in a sealed box. Never to be opened for any reason. Which is why you were so confused that you didn’t tell her what was going on between you and James, or that Tyler and Ali had split up and that you felt semi-responsible for it.

  Why didn’t I just tell her? You thought to yourself. She would’ve comforted you about James and told you that Tyler and Ali aren’t your problem and to just focus on your own relationship. So, not telling her about this stuff felt like a betrayal. Two minutes later, when she couldn’t have been more than 10 blocks from you, Diana sent you a text.

  “I know about Ty and Ali by the way… I just didn’t want to push you.”

  “How did you find out?”

  “The internet knows all… What I don’t know is why you didn’t tell me?”

  “Honestly babe, I have no idea. My head’s been so twisted since New Year’s Eve. James and I have spent so little time together, that I’m beginning to forget what his face looks like lol”

  “And Tyler fits into this how?”

  “I guess I keep thinking back to that summer at the cottage… That was so fun and carefree.”

  “Not buying it. Did something happen out there?”

  You stared at your phone screen for a few seconds before saying anything, trying to breach the answer carefully.

  “Not technically but there may have been a.. moment…”

  “A moment? Meaning you looked longingly into each other’s eyes and fell deeply in love?” That kind of moment?”

  When you didn’t respond right away, she went into a frenzy of gifs and emojis.

  “😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮”

  “D”

  “Diana!”

  “I mean don’t get me wrong. I’ve shipped you two from the beginning”

  “But what about James?”

  “Okay enough GIFs please. Look yes, there may have been a moment at the cottage but it ended quicker than it began. We finished the week together, without any moments, and I met up with James in Montreal. But when I found out he and Ali split.. I was kind of happy?”

  “Okay no more GIFs, except one.”

  “Sorry had to. It fit. Look, I get it. She wasn’t good for him. He wasn’t good for her. The relationship sucked. And moments happen. Relationship or not. So, I’m glad you had one, but I’m also proud of you for not acting on it.”

  “Thanks Mom…”

  “You’re welcome boo 😉”

  “Please don’t make this ‘moment’ thing into a big deal… Because it’s not.”

  “Okay, sure. No worries. I just thought I’d get it out and let you know I knew. Because I know you and I know it would’ve eaten you up inside if you never told me…”

Tyler’s P.O.V.

  It had been two months since you talked to (Y/N), since you told her that you and Ali were over, and you were confused when there was no sign of her. No texts, no calls, no DMs, nothing. It was like she was a ghost, or just ghosting you. You managed to keep yourself busy so you didn’t have to think about her.

  Every second not spent with the dogs, at practice or at a game was spent with the team outside of the rink. It was easier on the road, because the guys were all stuck together, but when you got home you were faced with how quiet your house was and you would jump back in your jeep and head to the rink. You hadn’t actually realized what was going on in the news recently because you were keeping yourself so busy until you finally got a text from (Y/N).

  “OH MY GOD, PLEASE TELL ME YOU’RE NOT IN TEXAS!”

  “Montreal”

  “Thank god”

  “What’s going on?”

  “Have you not been watching the news?”

  “Are you talking about Trump?”

  “What? No, Ty, there was a shooting today. In Houston.”

  “Oh, well I wouldn’t have been in Houston anyway…”

  “Seriously? That’s all you’re going to say? Just like that? Like it doesn’t even matter that people died?!”

  “(Y/N), I didn’t mean it like that. Of course it’s terrible. All I meant is, I’m fine and I would’ve been fine even if I were in Texas because I would’ve been in Dallas not Houston.”

  “Sorry for worrying about you”

  “I don’t appreciate you being this sarcastic after not speaking to me for two months”

  “ME?! NOT SPEAKING TO YOU?!”

  “Yes.”

  “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?”

  “No…”

  “OH MY FUCKING GOD TYLER!”

  “What?”

  “YOU WERE THE ONE WHO STOPPED RESPONDING TO MY TEXTS! WHO NEVER CALLED ME!! WHO NEVER MESSAGED ME!! MY GOD!!”

  “Calm down..”

  “HERE I AM, WORRYING ABOUT YOU BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF A GUN FILLED, MASSACRE INFESTED AMERICA AND YOU’RE ALL ‘YOU HAVEN’T TALKED TO ME IN TWO MONTHS…’ REALLY?!”

  “(Y/N)...”

  “MY GOD, HOW COULD I BE SO THOUGHTFUL TO MAKE SURE ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS IS SAFE IN THE STATE THAT HE LIVES IN. I’M SO FUCKING SORRY!!!”

  “HOLY SHIT RELAX!!!!”

  “DON’T FUCKING SWEAR AT ME”

  “STOP!”

  You took a breath before sending your next message, waiting to see if she’d start up again.

  “I’m sorry. We’ve both been busy that we kind of fell out of touch over the last two months. Of course I didn’t mean it was just you. I just… didn’t expect that from you. Thank you for worrying about me. I didn’t mean to brush it off like it didn’t matter. It does. I was just a little.. shocked... that that was the first thing I heard from you after all this time”

  You watched as the speech bubble popped up and disappeared about five times. Nervously awaiting her response.

  “I’m sorry.”

  That was all she wrote. But it was all you needed. You wanted to break the tension but weren’t sure how, so you were happy when she did first.

  “So, what’s with all the losses lately?”

  “Bad streak”

  “Mind somewhere else?”

  “Apparently”

  “I don’t play basketball…”

  “😉 haha very funny, read the words dummy.”

  “Gotcha 😉”

  “Well it’s been good catching up… for the most part haha. But I gotta go, school stuff.”

  “Talk to you later?”

  “Expect too many text messages too close together”

  “That’s the (Y/N) I know lol”

  “BYEEEE!”

   You finally had her back in your life and you finally felt relaxed. Like you had a second to breathe for the first time in months. And you were determined not to let her go this time.

  After finally talking to Tyler, you were finally able to feel like your life was getting back to a point where you felt like yourself. You and James were in a good place, -- your sister constantly said that the two of you made her sick, which meant that you were doing something right -- Chris’ new wife was actually becoming a really close friend of yours, you were making an effort to see your friends and vice versa. The summer was going incredibly smooth and stress-free. Until the day when everything changed.

  “I got. That. Sunshine in my pocket, got that good soul in my feet” you danced around your apartment to the upbeat song, singing loudly and occasionally popping your head out the window and singing to your neighbours, who gave you unapologetically rude looks. Your neighbours knew you were like this when you were in a good mood, so it stunned you when they glared at you the way they were. You stopped what you were doing to ask them what their problem was but before you could, Kayla was running through your door. Tears streaming down her face.

  “Kayla?” you said softly

  “(Y/N)...” she whimpered

  “What’s wrong?” you could feel the look of worry on your face, a million things running through your mind

  “There was a shooting… in Florida” tears streamed down her face and she fell to the ground

  “Florida? Wait.. wasn’t..” suddenly it hit you, “Ethan?”

  “We haven’t heard any news,” her boyfriend, Marcus, said as he consoled Kayla, “but it was bad (Y/N). They’re saying like the worst mass shooting yet”

  “Oh my god… this, I mean… this can’t be…” you couldn’t get yourself to get a sentence out once you began sobbing, falling to the ground next to Kayla, “what is happening to the world?”

  “It’s not like the world was a good place to begin with,” Marcus interjected, “bad shit has been happening since… forever…”

  “But this year…” you wiped your nose as tears rolled down your cheeks, “I mean it feels like every other day there’s been a shooting.”

  “133” Kayla finally spoke up, her breathing harsh, “they’ve counted 133 shootings with this one.”

  You didn’t know what to do. You couldn’t sit still or you’d keep crying but you didn’t know what to do. Or say. You just knew you had to get a hold of Ethan. And Chris. And Lucy. And Diana. And Tyler. And Candace. And Cassidy. And James. You sent a frenzy of texts to everyone you knew, whether they were near or far from Orlando, whether they knew people there or not. You needed to make sure they were okay. And find out if they knew anything. One by one, people kept getting back to you, telling you they were okay and they’d let you know if they heard anything from or about Ethan, but there was still nothing from him so you panicked. Quickly hopping up and running around your apartment, cleaning to distract yourself. When you reached your kitchen, you stared at your fridge and your cabinets trying to decide what, if anything, to make. Settling just on cheese and crackers, placing them on a plate and bringing them to the other room, but the air was too heavy to think about food. You wandered over to shut the music off because you didn’t need that playing right now, just then James walked through the door and you ran to him, practically assaulting him with a hug.

  “Whoa… what happened here?” he said looking around the apartment.

  “We just heard about what happened in Orlando last night, but we haven’t heard from Ethan and he was there…” the words fell out of your mouth without you even thinking about them

  “Calm down, babe, shhh…” he said, wrapping you in a hug, before you pulled away.

  “Wait, what are you doing here?” you asked, “You told me you were going to be in Toronto the rest of the week…”

  “Uhh, I was supposed to be, but I got done earlier than I thought I would, so I came home” he faltered for a second but you were too invested in Ethan to fight with him about it. James looked nervously around for a second before saying that he was sure Ethan was okay, earning a loud sigh from Kayla.

  “You don’t know that…” she said as she stood up, “you don’t know anything, I don’t even think you care!”

  “Kayla!” you yelled after her as she ran out of the apartment

  “Don’t worry, I’ve got her,” Marcus said, his eyes darted between you and James, “you just deal with this.” You could feel James’ shocked expression but stopped him before he could say anything

  “Don’t.. say anything. Not now, James” you said defeated. He nodded his head, walking over to the door to close it, then turned around to sit with you on the couch; watching you play with your phone nervously.

  “Babe, I --” he was interrupted by the sudden chiming of your phone and you quickly answering it

  “Hello!?” you said in anticipation

  “(Y/N)?” a voice asked

  “Yes, that’s me” you were agitated that this woman wasn’t getting right to the point

  “My name is Margaret, I was asked to call you on behalf of Ethan Anderson” she began and, when she heard the hitch in your voice, she realized how terrifying this call seemed, “he’s okay, love. I apologize, I didn’t mean to frighten you”

  “Oh thank god!” you let out a sigh of relief and a fountain of tears

  “He’s just in Orlando General Hospital right now but he asked me to call because he didn’t have access to his phone. Yours was the only number he remembered by heart” she said sympathetically

  “Can I see him? Is he being released?” you asked, the tears continuing to fall but you managed to steady your voice, “what’s happening?”

  “He’ll only have to be here for about a week, you’re welcome to see him but he told me you live in Alberta, so you might not make it down” she answered softly

  “I do, but I can be there for him whenever he needs me. Whether it’s the day he gets out or tomorrow. I can make it work” you said enthusiastically

  “That’s wonderful (Y/N) but if I could..” she started, “I might just suggest you wait. He’ll be home before you know it and I wouldn’t want you wasting a trip.”

  “It wouldn’t--”

  “Let me just interrupt to clarify myself. Ethan is going to be just fine and he’ll be out of the hospital and on a plane by the end of the week. I wouldn’t risk coming down here right now with everything that’s happened” she stated plainly and you were silent while she finished explaining how chaotic everything would be and how you and Ethan would benefit if you waited until he was home to visit him.

  “Okay. No, I understand. Yes, thank you Margaret. Thank you for letting me know he’s okay” you said and she hung up after saying goodbye. You hadn’t realized you were pacing all over the entire apartment until you were standing in front of the dining room table once you hung up the phone. You grabbed the back of the chair in front of you and exhaled as you let your head fall. He was okay, he was okay. Thank god he was okay. You jumped slightly when James came up from behind you and rubbed your back.

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, “everything okay?”

  “Yes! Good news finally, Ethan is okay, he’s in the hospital but he’ll be out and home in a week” you answered gleefully. James smiled and pulled you in for a hug. For a second, you let yourself melt into him, missing this feeling, but there was a smell on his sweater that you didn’t recognize and something about the way he was acting that made you pull away.

  “Why are you really home early?” you quizzed

  “I told you, the trip was shorter than I thought it would be” he countered

  “So the perfume I’m smelling is something cheap you bought at the airport? To what? Cover up the bourbon you’ve been drinking?” you snapped

  “(Y/N), what’s gotten into you? There’s no perfume, I haven’t been drinking. I don’t know what you’re smelling..” he asked, raising his eyebrow and shaking his head. “I’m sorry babe, but I think you’re just tired.”

  You should’ve realized then that something was wrong. That the relationship was falling apart. That he was lying to you. That you weren’t going to last. But you couldn’t help but think that, right here right now, he was right and you were just exhausted from crying and cleaning and worrying about Ethan. So, you let him win. When you probably shouldn’t have.

  “You. Look as good as the day I met you, I forget just why I left you, I was insane” You danced with your friends for the first time in months, to celebrate love and life and to say goodbye to the summer. Jumping around and singing “baby pull me closer in the backseat of your rover” at the top of your lungs. It made your heart so happy to see everyone again, but no one so much as Ethan. The smile on his face so big, it almost stretched off his face; you hadn’t realized how much he needed this until he dragged you all outside to tell you how grateful he was for you.

  “After what happened, I didn’t think I’d ever get out to another club again. Never go dancing. I thought I’d just stop living my life. But you all have made everything so effortless for me to jump right back into life and I will never stop loving you for that” there was no better response than a group hug and one you were determined to give before he burst into tears.

  “We love you, Whethan!” Diana, Kayla and you all yelled in unison before heading back inside, earning an embarrassed “never call me that again” from Ethan. The night continued with no more tears, just drinks and dancing. And a text from Tyler. Followed by a voicemail from Candace. You checked the text first since you didn’t have to find somewhere quiet for it.

  “So, November 9th. You, me, Jamie, Katie, Candace, dinner at the Tower?”

  “What?”

  “I’ve got a game in Calgary on November 9th and I thought it would be nice to have a ‘catch up dinner’”

  “Like a dinner to catch up? haha”

  “Exactly. When I said this to Jamie, he reacted like a child. Emphasizing ‘catch up dinner’ about five times before finally saying ‘Ketchup dinner’ as if I was supposed to find it hilarious”

  “Oh Jamie. Of course, see now I need to see him just to chirp him for that. You got me.”

  “You’re in?”

  “I’m in. but I gotta go, partying. Getting too drunk to drive”

  “Don’t drink and drive”

  “I don’t drive to start with, so no worries!”

  You assumed the voicemail from Candace was about the dinner so you didn’t text her or check it, opting instead to continue your night. You woke up the next morning to a slew of unanswered calls and voicemails from Candace. You read some of the texts she sent but they were kind of gibberish so you turned to the voicemails instead.

  “Am I a terrible girlfriend? I didn’t think I was but stupid Richie seems to think I’m not ‘flexible’ enough. What does that even mean?”

  You shook your head but went on to the next message.

  “I’m excited to see you in November but don’t expect Richie to be there. Not that you would. But he’s a fucking dick and we’re done.”

  It was finally making sense. The rest of the messages were variations of this and you could tell she was a little drunk or else she would’ve just sent a really long voicemail instead of calling you 10 times to say the exact same thing. Apparently, Richie -- her boyfriend of almost two years -- cheated on her and she found out that night when they were celebrating his friends promotion at work.

  “I know her, (Y/N), I think that’s what makes it worse! UGHHHHHHHHH”

  There was one message in between that sounded like a pocket dial because it was all fuzzy and muffled so you went to the last one and your heart practically jumped out of your chest -- you had no idea how to respond to it.

  “He’s in love with you you know. Tyler not Richie. My brother is so smitten with you that he texted me to ask me to go to this dinner at the Calgary Tower so you didn’t think it was a double date with Jamie and Katie. I could see how worried he was that you’d think that, I just couldn’t say no. I’ve never really seen the boy in love I don’t think. But I know what love looks like. Because I’ve been there. It sucks. You know that. You’re in love with James. But Tyler’s in love with you. Just thought you should know. I have to go kill Richie now.”

  What the fuck were you supposed to do with that?

[whatta-babe]

Sweet Cake Sweeter Kisses| Sam Holland

A/N: So I just finished writing a one-shot. Pretty shit. Haha, yeah. I decided to move out of my comfort zone and write an actual one-shot instead of a headcanon. I was inspired by Sam’s Instagram story that he posted yesterday of a Spider-Man cake and the fact that the Holland brothers are very competitive against each other. I hope you enjoy!

Warnings: Light swearing

          It is February 13, and you are mentally preparing yourself for what may or may not be a traumatizing experience. You see, every year your boyfriend, Sam, and his twin, Harry, have a competition on their birthday. Who has made the better birthday cake for their brother? It is a vicious and yearly battle between the 2 boys, and as of right now, Harry is in the lead by 1 point.

        The entire Holland family (including Harrison because he is an honorary Holland) decided that Harry’s cake was better than Sam’s camera design. So yes, Sam is super bitter. You had not been able to cast in a vote because you are incredibly biased towards your boyfriend of 3 years. And no one better tell Sam this, but you are kind of glad that you were not allowed to because you would have chosen Harry’s as well. Shhh!

        But this year Sam decided to bring out the big guns- you. With your super-mega-awesome baking skills (Sam said it, not you) and your literally-oh-so- amazingly-amazing artistic talent (you can quote Sam on that too), you were going to help Sam win this thing.

        It had taken a lot of groveling on his part before you finally crumbled. Honestly what really sealed the deal was when he was pressing gentle kisses up and down your neck. He should not be allowed to do that because he knows how that turns your brain to mush! The nerve…

        But here you are now, tying an apron over one of Sam’s shirts that you had stolen some time ago. You really hoped that you could help him win this year. The reason that you had been so reluctant to agree in aiding Sam was because you didn’t want him to be disappointed in you if you couldn’t help him succeed. Of course logically you knew that he would never be because Sam is the most loving boyfriend of all time but still.

        As Sam strides into the kitchen with his long-ass legs, he dons his own apron. It was going to get messy in there. “Harry is at Tom’s flat right now making my cake so he won’t be bothering us for the rest of the day (mind you it is currently 9:35 am).

        “Great!” You swiftly pull Sam down by his neck to kiss him square on the mouth. When you pull away just as quickly, Sam whines slightly as his lips chase your retreating ones. “Nuh uh, mon ange. We need to start baking.”

        With a small pout, Sam’s freckled face settles into a concentrated one. He is skimming the old recipe book that is laying on the counter top. Your partner had asked you to bring it because you would be making the chocolate ganache cake that you had once made for Sam when he was having a series of bad days. He had been instantly enamored with it, and he was sure that it would score some major points with the Holland judges.

        “While you start baking the cake, I prepare the icing, fondant, the piece that we had backed yesterday, and the tools we need to decorate this,” Sam informs you authorially. You roll your eyes because even though your babe is a total sweetheart, he practically becomes a different person when it comes to making these cakes. His competitiveness with his brother is extreme.

        After 30 minutes of combining ingredients and getting every measurement just right, you finally place the 10x12 pan in the oven to bake. You sigh as you lean against the counter to rest for a second. Sam had been very no-nonsense for the last half an hour, and it was quite tiring. You knew that he just wanted to beat his younger twin, but you had been kind of hoping that this could be a fun coupley activity. But then again, you had also been expecting to be traumatized.

        Speak of the Devil, and it shall appear. Sam seems to materialize out of thin air, and you jump a bit as he comes behind you and wraps his long arms around your waist. He places a smooch onto your shoulder blade before resting his head on yours. “I’m so sorry, love.”

        You frown in confusion. “What are you talking about, darling?”

        “I know that you aren’t having a lot of fun, and I also am aware that I’m being a bit of an ass.”

        You quickly turn in his arms and bury your face into his chest. “It’s ok,” you mumble.

        “No it’s not, sweetheart.” He takes ahold of your chin to tilt your head up. “I’ll chill out.” He then proceeds to press kisses all over your face. Cheeks, nose, eyelids, chin, forehead, lips. No part of your face goes un-kissed as he smothers you.

        You giggle in delight and smush his face against your hand as you push him away. The oven timer then goes off. Perfect timing! Quickly grabbing the oven mitts, you bend over to collect the freshly baked cake. From behind you, you hear your lover groan.

        “If you weren’t bending over a hot oven, I would totally smack that ass.”

        “Sam Anthony Holland, you get your ass to the table so we can decorate this cake! What a little shit…” you finish mumbling.

        You carefully walk over to the table where Sam had set up everything you need to decorate the cake while you had been making it. As you two chatter quietly to yourselves, you cut the cake into different shapes and attach them together with icing while looking at the reference picture as your boyfriend starts almost water coloring the fondant that covers the base of the cake. You two had made that piece yesterday, as it would have been impossible to complete the entire cake in one day.

        When you finish constructing the object, you begin to carefully write the dainty words onto it…

        5 hours, 1 flour, and 3 ½ icing wars later, you have completed your masterpiece. Good God you are exhausted! You better freaking win because if not, you are going to take this beautiful piece of art and shove it in everyone’s’ faces.

        You lean on Sam heavily as he drapes his arm around your shoulder. He’s kind of hanging onto you because he is just as tired. Who knew decorating a cake could wear you so much? You situate the cake in the middle of the platter that the Holland family had gotten the boys a long time ago specifically for these cakes. With the help of Sammy boy you cover it with the lid. Tomorrow you will find out the results.

***

      You are startled awake when Paddy jumps on you and Sam. Both you and your boyfriend groan in pain.

      “It’s time! It’s time! We are going to vote now,” Paddy rushes to speak before sprinting out of the room. A few seconds later you both hear his footsteps scampering back, “Oh, and happy birthday, Sam!”

      You just look at each other in amusement and start to shuffle out of bed. “Happy birthday, mon ange,” you whisper to him as you kiss him sweetly. You then proceed to bend down to grab the oddly shaped present that you had hidden under the bed.

      Sam stares in aw, but refuses to take it. “No, love. You already helped me make Harry’s cake. Plus, just being with you is present enough.”

      You wrinkle your nose at him and grin. “As sweet as that is, babe, just accept it.”

      He sighs in defeat. “Fineee,” he says dramatically before quickly tearing it open.  He gasps in excitement. “It’s us! In a book!” he cutely exclaims.

    “Haha, yes my love. It’s a photo album.”

     Sam takes you by surprise when he lunges at you. You two fall onto the bed because of the momentum. As he starts kissing you, Paddy arrives again.

     “Ew, guys! I told you to come on already,” he whines before leaving once more.

     Both of you giggle together as Sam aides you in standing back up. “Let’s get this show on the road then,” you egg Sam on as you walk together down the hallway into the dining room.

      In said room, every Holland is looking a little bit fatigued but very excited nonetheless. It looks like Christmas day all over again.

      In the center of the table lies both cakes covered with their dish covers to not ruin the surprise. You don’t know about Harry’s cake, but you sure are glad that the Holland parents had gotten these boys such ginormous platters because damn, the one that Sam and you had made was extremely large.

      Paddy is practically buzzing with excitement as he waits for Sam and Harry to stand behind the cake that the other twin made for them.

      The moment the cakes are unveiled, it seems like all of the air in the room is sucked out. Everyone except for you and Sam had gasped in amazement as they gazed at your cake.

      Their eyes are glued to the realistic looking camera and suitcase. Attached to the beige bag is a blue passport, and there are special printed edible pictures adhered onto it with frosting. And perching on top of the case was the camera that you had baked the day before. It is quite the sight if you may say so.

      Paddy breaks the unnerving silence. “Welp I choose Sam’s. Harry’s is cute and all with that La La Land themed, but it’s got nothing on Sam’s! How did you even do that?”

      Everyone murmurs in agreement. “Y/N helped me,” your boyfriend boasts. “Try it! It’ll be the best you’ve ever tasted,” he continues to brag while you try to shut him up.

      You’re blushing when you say, “It’s just an old recipe that I have. It’s really nothing.”

      Tom, who had come home for a small break in his hectic filming schedule, starts moaning then. “Dis is da befst frukn thig eber,” he states. When your boyfriend’s family all agree, you blush.

      “Okay everyone! I think it’s time to vote,” Sam rushes.

      In one minute all the votes are cast, and Paddy finally makes the announcement. “We, the Holland family, have pronounce that the winner of this year’s Sam/Harry Twin Cake Duel-Off is… Sammy “Mon Ange” (at least according to Y/N. I still don’t know that it means) Holland with a 4 to 1 vote! Just saying, Harry, it was mum, and I’m pretty sure that she only did it out of pity.”

      You all laugh at the end, and the whole lot congratulates Sam and you. Sam simply won’t shut up about you! The bragging is never ending with that boy, is it?

      You turn to observe Harry and notice that he looks slightly glum. When you walk over you say, “Aw, Harry. Don’t feel bad about losing! It’s beautiful.”

      Harry nods. “Yeah. I’m honestly not really mad or disappointed about it. Yours is really amazing. Thank you for the cake. I hope Dad took a picture before it was cut into.” Harry gives you a sweet hug

      “Of course, dude! You’re like my brother! I’m glad you liked it. And I’m pretty sure he did. If not, Sam and I took quite a lot yesterday.”

      Sam strides over to you and leans some of his weight on your side as he slips his arms around you. “Let’s try some of that scrumptious cake that you made.”

      You snicker at him. “Scrumptious? Who says that? But yes, let’s. I’m also definitely trying Harry’s though too.”

      Your partner nods his slightly red head. “Yeah! Thanks for the cake, man. It looks really nice.” His arm leaves your body when he wraps his arms around his twin. Sigh. How cute!

      When they untangle from each other, Sam seizes your hand to pull you to the two baked goods. While he cuts a piece of the cake that you had baked together you collect a slice of Harry’s. It really is pretty.

      You and your lover proceed to sit down at the table with the rest of the loving Hollands, but you too are in your own little world. God. You love him so damn much. And helping him out wasn’t so bad. You too had such a pleasurable time doing it together in the end.

      In the enchanting bubble you and Sam had made with the love and affection for each other you and your loving boyfriend feed one another pieces of delectable cake. Sam blushes and giggles as you try to wipe the frosting that he had accidentally smeared on you. When you can’t seem to find it, Sam leans in and kisses the frosting away (that was apparently on the corner of your mouth) before moving to your lips. It is sweeter than any cake you have ever eaten and decide right then and there that there is nothing lovelier than the tender kiss of your soul mate.

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