#oc: riley smith
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Find Bucky Barnes masterlist here.
Simon 'Ghost' Riley masterlist.
Navigation:
❤️🩹⃤ Angst/ sensitive content
❤️🔥⃤ Smut (?), spicy, or smth like that
🦋⃤ Fluff or just something cute
🪐⃤ Short blurb
💀⃤ Military setting

❤️🩹⃤💀⃤ Interpreter's prayer. (Series)
My main Simon Riley fic.
Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 || Part 5 || Part 6

🦋⃤💀⃤ Return
❤️🔥⃤ Pleasure to meet you
❤️🩹⃤🪐⃤ Happy endings
❤️🔥⃤ If I kiss you
💀⃤ Undercover. Part 1 || Part 2
❤️🔥⃤ In the car
💀⃤🦋⃤ Wink
💀⃤❤️🩹⃤ Traitor. Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 (soon) || Part 5 (soon)
❤️🔥⃤ Imagine RP with Simon Riley
❤️🩹⃤ Unrequited love
🦋⃤🪐⃤ Valentine's day with Simon
❤️🩹⃤💀⃤🪐⃤ Valentine's cards
❤️🔥⃤🦋⃤💀⃤ Valentine's day smut.
💀⃤🦋⃤🪐⃤ Marking territory
🦋⃤🪐⃤💍 Breakfast
🦋⃤🪐⃤💍 Spider
❤️🩹⃤ Do you feel anything? Part 1 // Part 2
❤️🩹⃤🪐⃤ Will I ever be enough?
❤️🩹⃤ New territory
❤️🩹⃤🦋⃤ Old Simon Riley x Reader blurb

🪐⃤🦋⃤ My sweet life moodboard/masterlist. -Navigating life with Simon. Sitcom-style fanfiction.
❤️🔥⃤ Imagine, short blurb.
🦋⃤❤️🔥⃤ I can fix you- Hockey AU
🦋⃤ Tabloids- Hockey AU (NHL Player!Simon x girlfriend)

Moodboard.
Summary: You are King Simon’s most trusted ally, gifted with the ability to glimpse the future. With your guidance, he has risen to become one of the greatest rulers the kingdom has ever known. But when forgotten memories begin resurfacing, unraveling secrets buried in time, everything changes. What will he do when forced to choose between you and his people? And when love and duty stand at odds, which path will you take?
Light angst, heartbreak, a bit of smut here and there.
Chapter 1 is up!!!
#writers on tumblr#simon ghost riley#simon ghost riley x reader#simon ghost x reader#simon riley x oc#simon riley x reader#simon riley x you#simon ghost riley x female oc#simon ghost riley x female reader#simon riley x female reader#cod x reader#ghost cod#ghost#ghost masterlist#arcadia smith#masterlist#fanfic#fanfiction
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Eva + A
Summon the Devil event
When she was a young witch, Eva accidentally summoned the Devil while mispronouncing a charm during a ritual. That was ten years ago and she still hasn’t find how to cast him back to hell. Since then he takes a wicked pleasure in ruining her peace.
Now he lounges on her sofa with a glass of wine, offering soul-crushing and sarcastic commentary like “wow, you call that a circle of protection? My weakest demon could cross that in heels.”
Every attempt to banish him ends with him clapping slowly and saying, “A for effort, F for literally everything else. Fashion style included.”
She’s tried everything. Holy water, salt circles, even therapy.
Eva got used to it but she dreads the day she’d have to confess to Jack, “So… There’s something you should know… The Devil lives in my house and doesn’t want to leave. He rated your way of fucking a plain and boring five.”
Tagging those who participate: @evita-shelby @justrainandcoffee @littlepeakydevil @cillmequick @zablife @radioactiveradarzoneuvb-76 @rei-is-still-here @brummiereader
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Laqueus
Latin: noose, snare
Tommy Shelby’s new master isn't content with just him. Brilliant and Eva find themselves playing to Section D's tune or risk losing what each of the four love most.

Lucy Winters belongs to @mischievouslittlecreature
Vēnor taglist: @justrainandcoffee @mischievouslittlecreature @zablife @call-sign-shark @thegreatdragonfruta @hoodeddreams13
Laqueus
#eva smith shelby#evacore#tommy shelby x oc#peaky blinders fanfiction#brilliant chang x oc#venor series#lucy winters#eva smith riley
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♡ \(..◜ᴗ◝..) /♡
first tumblr post yayaya
#yandere#oc#oc art#oc artwork#oc artist#yandere simulator#yansim#yancore#rileyposting#art#artists on tumblr#started playing yansim again#so i got inspired to draw this LOL#riley smith#ocs#my ocs#my art#oc stuff
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revamped some really old ocs…
Riley Fisher and Jenny Smith both use she/her pronouns!
#I feel like I’ve been making more and more misc lesbian ocs lately#…actually just lesbian ocs in general#fuck it we ball. I love representation#let’s go lesbians let’s go#Riley Fisher#Jenny Smith#Jutlin’s characters#ocs#cats#dogs#furries#furry art#wing prints#o great tumblr gods please don’t kill the quality
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Alejandro: "You know Spanish?."
Soap: "No."
Kenneth (COD oc): "Tengo que hacerlo, o mi esposa me gritará si no lo hago." (I have to, or else my wife will yell at me if I don't.)
Alejandro and Rudy: *laughs*
Ghost: "..."
#oc: kenneth smith#alejandro vargas#call of duty oc#call of duty#cod oc#cod#los vaqueros#rudy parra#johnny soap mactavish#simon ghost riley#kenneth speaks spanish because of paige#a canadian that speaks spanish 😂😅🤣
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Flirty Graves HCs ft. OC Amanda
Graves is a flirtatious man, and even if the poor soul he's flirting with doesn't reciprocate those feelings, they are victims to his Southern charm. Some examples include, but aren't limited to:
Amanda – She was the only main female on the team when Los Vaqueros, 141, and Shadow Co. were working together. Graves swings all ways, appreciating a pretty face when he sees one. He flirted shamelessly with Amanda, who only stared at him the first few times before he advanced his methods and she became a flustered mess. She didn't like Graves, she didn't even want him there and to he an ally, she had her eyes on the mysterious Ghost, who also liked her. To say, Ghost did not like Graves and was very jealous.
Rodolfo – While Amanda had a nice body and pretty face (what, he can be shallow sometimes), Rudy had personality with the two aforementioned traits. Graves developed feelings, real feelings, for the younger man, and didn't give two fucks that Alejandro already claimed the sergeant major. He didn't listen to the warnings (hell, even Valeria warned him to stay away from Rudy), and Rudy is an easily flustered man, so Alejandro was very possessive and jealous.
And last but not least, surprisingly Graves had a thing for Ghost too. Ghost didn't know this, this giant man was oblivious to the flirty comments and sly glances thrown to him by the American, as he was too engrossed with Amanda. Let's just say, Graves didn't have an issue with having a threesome.
#cod mw22#cod modern warfare#my headcanons#headcanons#oc amanda smith#amanda smith#phillip graves#rodolfo parra#simon ghost riley#alejandro vargas#john soap mactavish#call of duty#graves was just asking to die#and worst part I might find the man attractive#im doomed
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Lol yeah pretty much 😅

“The fruit was never an apple”
Max Svabinsky, (1873-1962)
“In Paradise” circa 1918
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My OCs
TW: towards the end there are mentions of a lesbian being outed, homophobia, murder, kidnapping, child experimentation, and trauma.
So, for a while I've had a group of OCs that are, like my main characters. Not just one or two either. Basically what I'm posting here is the bases for my OCs. So, whenever I go to write a story with them, i start with this and then change their personalities and backstories as needed. I figured I could put that basic information here and ask the tumblrverse to send me questions and stuff about these characters. This is so I can deepen their characterisation. They're not limited to a high school setting. That's just so I have some frame of reference for a timeline for these characters. Some have more information than others, because some of these characters I've had longer.
Also, if any of you have read or do read my Girl meets World x OCs story, the Serena Willis and Mason Lane in that story will probably have different personalities to the Serena and Mason described here, because they're in the Girl Meets World universe.
You'll see most of them kinda revolve around each other. These characters weren't made for a specific story. They're almost placeholders. They just kinda exist in my head and jump into any scenario i need. So here is the most basic barebones information about each. It's not a lot of information.
Hayley Riley is a bisexual woman who has blonde hair, hazel eyes, and caramel-colored skin. She is confident, though cold, distant, and uncaring at times. She is playful and sarcastic around her friends and is a good listener who gives good advice. She is protective and the most likely to get into a physical fight, though her words can be just as hurtful. Hayley can be very guarded around people she doesn't know well. She is attracted to both men and women, with a preference for someone's personality over their appearance.
Teagan Jane (TJ) Smith is an energetic, outgoing, tomboyish girl who is playful and enjoys pranking people. She is protective of close friends, romantic partners, and family members. She is a lesbian and doesn't get along well with her homophobic mother, though she has a very good relationship with her dad. She is clumsy and has red hair and grey eyes.
Alice Michaelis is Teagan Jane Smith's (TJ's) best friend. The three have been friends since they were five years old. Alice is fairly quiet but confident, graceful, and loves reading, especially fantasy books. She is polite, friendly, and distant unless around her friends, family, or romantic partners, with whom she is more playful. She is smart, peaceful, sweet, and caring, and the least likely to physically fight someone, preferring to use her words. She is attracted to men and women. Alice has dark blue hair, light blue eyes, pale white skin, and a gothic, doll-like appearance.
Ryder is an emo who has been friends with Hayley, Alice, and TJ since middle school. He's very guarded, moody, and sarcastic towards most people, but can be slightly more open and playful with his close friends and twin brother, Oliver. He's protective of his friends and Oliver and is willing to fight, like Hayley. He's also the second most likely to fight in the group. Ryder is attracted to both men and women but doesn't engage in casual hookups or dating just for the sake of it. He has black hair, blue eyes, pale white skin, and an emo look and style.
Aiden has been friends with Hayley, TJ, and Alice since middle school. He is friendly, responsible, and the voice of reason in the group. Aiden is the peacekeeper, keeping the more chaotic members of the group from going too far. He is the best listener and the best at giving advice. He’s protective but less likely to physically fight than the rest of the group, except Alice. He prefers to deescalate conflict, both within the group and outside it, and is unlikely to be actively rude or mean on purpose. Aiden is smart, kind, and one of the more open and trusting members of the group. He has light brown hair and brown eyes. Aiden is also the most athletic and sporty member of the group.
Mason is the final member of the friend group of Hayley, TJ, Alice, Ryder, and Aiden. He joined the group last, moving to the small town they live in during their freshman year of high school (or equivalent age in non-high school settings). Mason is very energetic, outgoing, playful, and jokey. He is the biggest prankster of the group and often teams up with TJ to prank the others. Mason is the most rebellious member of the group but is not mean or rude. He is the most open and trusting member, friendly to anyone who isn’t actively being mean to him or his friends. Mason is the “golden retriever” friend—energetic, slightly forgetful, and airheaded but not completely dumb. He has green eyes and his hair is naturally dark brown, but he dyed it purple with Alice's help. Alice naturally has blonde hair, which she dyes dark blue.
Reece is the golden boy of the school, with blonde hair and blue eyes. He's very athletic and is the captain of the football team. He's also very smart and one of the top students in every class. Reece is rich and popular, known for his kindness and friendliness towards everyone. He's always willing to help others and is often tasked with showing new students around the school. He used to be friends with Hayley, TJ, Alice, Ryder, and Aiden in middle school but gradually stopped hanging out with them as much before high school. They are still civil with him, but he's no longer really part of their friend group. He briefly dated Hayley in middle school, but they mutually broke up, deciding they were better as friends. He currently dates the golden girl of their school, Everley.
Everley is the golden girl of the school, with blonde hair and green eyes. She's very athletic and the captain of the cheer squad. She's also very smart and one of the top students in her school. Everley is rich, popular, kind, and friendly. She's always willing to help and take on additional responsibilities. She was never a member of Hayley, Alice, TJ, Ryder, and Aiden's friend group. Everley is currently dating Reece.
Serena Willis is the best friend of Reece and Everley. She has black hair and blue eyes. She's rich, athletic, and smart, like Reece and Everley, but isn't as friendly or helpful. Serena can be mean, rude, and snobby at times. She is a closeted bisexual who pretends to be straight and is also fairly cunning. Serena used to be friends with Hayley, Alice, TJ, Ryder, and Aiden but gradually stopped talking to them, like Reece. Serena and Reece have been friends practically all their lives as their parents were also friends. Serena used to have a secret crush on Hayley in middle school but never told anyone. She is currently dating Jason McCall. Serena is the vice captain/co-captain of the cheer team when in a high school setting.
Ryder and Oliver are identical twins with a close brotherly relationship but have very different personalities and friend groups. While Oliver is polite and friendly towards Ryder's friends, Ryder is much more dismissive of Oliver's friends and doesn't really talk to them. When he does interact with them, Ryder treats them similarly to how he treats anyone who isn't Hayley, TJ, Alice, Aiden, Mason, Oliver, Serena, or Reece—sarcastic, moody, kind of rude, and generally uninterested in talking to them. Oliver has the same black hair, blue eyes, and pale white skin as Ryder, but his style is much less emo. Oliver is more open and friendly, outgoing, nice, and popular. He has a much cheery disposition compared to his moody brother. Oliver generally likes people and is not rude, mean, or moody. He can be playful but isn't really sarcastic. He's more likely to light-heartedly tease and joke than make witty remarks or sarcastic quips. Oliver is one of the nicer members of his own friend group, being the second nicest. Oliver is athletic and on the football team.
Jason McCall is the popular bad boy and heartbreaker/player of the school/town. He's very flirty, playful, and confident. Jason is also athletic and is on the football team. He is dating Serena and is friends with Oliver, Ryder's twin brother. He has a twin sister named Jasmine, who is also in his friend group. Jason has a rebellious streak and can be cruel at times. He is attracted to both men and women but only dates women, as he doesn't want anyone to know he likes both. He has dark brown hair, blue eyes, and is muscular and athletic looking.
Jasmine McCall is Jason's twin sister and is friends with Jason and Oliver. She's very much the popular, cool girl—cool, calm, and collected. Jasmine is friendly towards most people and can be a flirt, mostly with guys but occasionally with girls. She's a loyal and trustworthy friend and sister who jokes around a lot and can be sarcastic. Jasmine tends to hide her emotions unless she's around her friends. She is generally nice but can be a bit mean and manipulative when she feels threatened by or jealous of someone. Jasmine has dark brown hair and grey eyes. She is on the cheer team when in a high school setting, making her quite athletic.
Carson is friends with Jason, Jasmine, and Oliver. He's a flirt and a heartbreaker who doesn't care about his partner's gender and is unashamed about his heartbreaker ways. Carson is very confident, chill, and relaxed. He doesn't really care about anyone who isn't his family or friends but remains popular due to his charisma, charm, and humor. He's protective of his friends and is very playful and jokey around them. Carson is on the football team and has light brown hair and green eyes.
Carly and Melissa are friends with Jasmine, Jason, Oliver, and Carson. Carly and Melissa are also cousins.
Carly is an outgoing, bubbly, girly girl who loves hanging out with and meeting new people. She loves fashion, gossip, and makeup. Carly is very sweet and friendly, being the nicest member of the friend group. She is a massive social butterfly and has brown hair and brown eyes.
Melissa, her cousin, has black hair and green eyes. Melissa is not as girly as Carly and is the biggest rebel of their group, though she isn't really mean. She is sarcastic, playful, and sassy. Melissa is protective of her friends, especially Carly, and can be quite distant and cold toward those she doesn't know well.
Both Carly and Melissa are athletic, popular, and on the cheer team. They have a close relationship as cousins.
Yes, most of these characters are attracted to both, this is mostly for shipping purposes, so I can have them get with anyone.
Additional information:
I go back and forth on the reason, like whether it's just rich girl problems or more traumatic and it generally depends on the story, but Hayley's parents aren't really around a lot and her house is the one they usually have, like, sleepovers at her house and stuff.
In a supernatural world they are the following:
Hayley is a vampire witch hybrid (born a witch, turned into a vampire)
TJ is a demon
Alice is a fallen angel
Ryder and Oliver are vampires
Aiden is a werewolf.
Mason is a magic user (Witch/Wizard/Sorcerer, either way he was born with magic)
Jason and Jasmine are werewolves because Teen Wolf + McCalls = I now have to make the McCall twins werewolves.
Carly is a witch werewolf hybrid (mum's a witch, dad's a werewolf, born both)
Melissa is a witch vampire hybrid. (Mum is Carly's mum's sister and also a witch, dad is a vampire. In my suprenatural AU, Vampires can be either born or turned but it is hard for vampires to have children and so most vampires are turned, not born)
I haven't really decided what Carson, Serena, Everley and Reece are. Kinda like the idea of Serena being a siren or mermaid but, like, in a H2O just add water way, where they can walk on land but if it rains bam, mermaid tail, because that's comedy folks.
Everley, Reece and Carson I don't know. I kinda want them to be something I haven't mentioned here. I'll probably do some supernatural research to find something, maybe in the faefolk area for Everley and Reece? I don't know. I feel like i used to think of Carson as a werewolf vampire hybrid but i have enough werewolf and vampires so i think I'll change that after some research.
I tagged them with first and last names. Anyone not with a last name I haven't decided yet. I'm sure i did think if last names for all of them but I can't remember some of them.
Sometimes I make the fallout between Serena and the others messy with the backstory that Serena outed TJ as lesbian, which resulted in TJ's mom kicking her out and living with Hayley instead.
that's not always canon though
TJ does usually end up living with Hayley either way.
Hayley's parents (if they're alive) are cool with TJ living with them.
Whenever I think of them with superpowers, it's usually the Hayley crew as villains, and the double J squad (Jason and Jasmine) as heroes.
the Hayley crew were kidnapped and experimented on and trained. They eventually became more powerful than their captors and killed them to escape and were labelled as villains ever since
Oliver was at a friend's house or something when Ryder was kidnapped and thought he was dead
Hayley was five and watched her parents get murdered before she was taken
TJ was probably sold or given to the people experimenting.
Sometimes, my characters get to just live happily and be chaotic. Other times i give them serious trauma and then make them suffer.
#oc#ocs#my ocs#female oc#male oc#hayley riley#tj smith#teagan jane smith#alice michaelis#mason lane#ryder#oliver#aiden#jason mccall#jasmine mccall#melissa mcallum#carly mccallum#carson rivera#serena willis#everley#reece#headcanons#kinda#does it count if it's your own characters?#i've decided yes#i haven't written a book#so none of this is actually canon yet#and simultaneously#it's all canon
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the voices made me do it
#Cod#cod mw2#liking cod men isnt enough i need to have a self insert oc#cod oc#cod oc: Riley smith#men#<3
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worst kept secret - w.smith
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w.smith x thornton daughter! oc | 8.5k
summary: When San Jose Sharks rookie Will Smith secretly starts dating Riley Thornton—daughter of Sharks legend Joe Thornton and housemate of teammate Macklin Celebrini—he thinks they’ve pulled off the ultimate stealth romance. With whispered rendezvous, late-night escapes, and a suspiciously dented bush, Will and Riley manage to keep their relationship under wraps from everyone… except, well, everyone.
masterlist
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The restaurant was dimly lit and tucked away off a quiet street in downtown San Jose, the kind of place where the lighting was low, the tables were close together, and the world outside felt like it didn't exist. Will reached across the small table, his fingers brushing against Riley's. "You know," he said with a crooked grin, "I still can't believe you picked this place. You're like, weirdly good at Yelp."
Riley smiled, her eyes glowing in the candlelight. "It's not that hard, Will. I just read reviews and don’t get distracted by places with giant burgers in the photos."
"But those are the best photos," he said, laughing softly. His fingers laced with hers under the table. "Six months of this and you still keep surprising me."
She tilted her head, feigning thoughtfulness. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"Best thing," he said, his voice low. "By far."
They’d slipped into this bubble so effortlessly—soft smiles, shared bites of pasta, occasional brushes of knees beneath the table. No one in the restaurant knew who they were. No one cared. They didn’t have to watch their backs, or check if anyone was filming. It was rare.
Riley reached into her purse and pulled out a small, crumpled Polaroid. She passed it to him with a grin. "Remember this?"
Will looked down and chuckled. It was a blurry shot of the two of them from their first official date—him mid-blink, her laughing too hard to keep her eyes open. "You said this was too ugly to keep."
"It grew on me. Like you."
He shook his head, leaning back in his chair, absolutely enamored. "You're gonna kill me one day."
They were halfway through dessert—splitting tiramisu, his fork always trying to steal from her side—when Riley suddenly froze. Her hand brushed against his wrist in warning. "Don’t look now, but... is that Eky and Fabes at the bar?"
Will’s smile dropped. "What? No way."
He tilted his head slightly, casual-like, and there they were—William Eklund and Fabian Zetterlund, both in jeans and button downs, standing at the bar like they owned the place.
"What do we do?" Riley hissed, pulling her hand back like it had been caught on fire.
"Shit, shit, okay... act normal. No—wait, don’t act normal. They know what normal looks like." Will scrubbed a hand down his face. "Do we have a back door?"
Riley peeked around, heart hammering in her chest. "Kitchen entrance. There—see the hallway by the washrooms?"
He nodded quickly. "Let’s pay and move. Fast."
They did their best to settle the bill without drawing attention, Riley ducking her head, Will sliding the cash across like he was in a spy movie. Then they stood, trying to move naturally, not too fast, not too slow, weaving toward the washrooms like they were just going for a stroll.
The kitchen door swung open. A server stepped out. Will grabbed Riley’s hand and pulled her with him, slipping through just as it started to close. They burst into the steamy, bright chaos of the kitchen.
"Sorry! Just—emergency," Will muttered to a startled line cook, who blinked but said nothing.
Out the back door. Into the alley. Cool air hit their faces like a splash of water. Riley laughed as they ran, hand in hand, past the dumpsters and out to the parking lot.
They didn’t stop until they reached Will’s car, slightly out of breath, grinning like idiots.
"Okay," Riley said, hands on her hips. "That might have been the most stressful dessert I’ve ever had."
"That was so close," Will gasped, laughing. "You think they saw us?"
"No. I think we got lucky."
They stood there, caught in that in-between moment—adrenaline still buzzing, the quiet hum of the night settling around them. Will looked at her, really looked at her, and something in his chest cracked wide open.
"I love you," he said suddenly, the words tumbling out with a kind of reckless honesty, like they'd been pacing behind his teeth for hours, maybe days. He hadn't planned to say it, not tonight, not like this, but in the hush of the parking lot, with her cheeks flushed from laughter and her eyes still wide from their shared escape, it felt impossible not to. It was as if the adrenaline cracked him open and the truth came spilling out, raw and real and totally unfiltered.
Riley blinked. Her lips parted. The world went still.
Then a soft smile crept across her face, eyes glimmering with warmth and surprise. "You do?"
He nodded, heart thudding in his chest. "Yeah. I—I didn’t mean to say it like that, I just… I do. I love you."
Riley stepped closer, her boots crunching softly against the pavement, and lifted her hand to his cheek. Her thumb brushed lightly over his skin, and her eyes didn’t leave his for even a second.
"I love you too," she said, her voice barely above a whisper but brimming with certainty. She watched his face as she said it, the way his eyes flickered with a mix of disbelief and relief, and it made her heart squeeze.
"I’ve been wanting to say it for a while," she added, her lips curling into a shy smile. "But I didn’t want to freak you out."
He laughed softly, leaning into her touch. "You could never freak me out."
Riley’s fingers slid back into his hair as she pressed her forehead to his. "You’re stuck with me now, Smith."
"Good," he whispered. "I wouldn’t want it any other way."
He kissed her then, gentle and full, like the kind of kiss that made the rest of the world blur into soft lights and distant sounds. It was the kind of kiss that spoke every word he hadn’t said yet, that carried the weight of six months of stolen moments, whispered jokes, and every time he’d had to pretend she wasn’t his in public. Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, anchoring herself to him as if afraid this moment might vanish. His hands slid up from her waist to her back, pulling her closer, until there wasn’t a breath of space left between them. The kiss deepened—still tender, but charged with all the emotion they usually had to hide. It was slow, reverent, like they were both trying to memorize the way this felt, just in case they never got a moment like this again.
Behind them, a car door slammed. They broke apart instantly, heads whipping toward the noise. A couple exited the restaurant, laughing, not even looking their way.
"Close call number two," Riley whispered.
Will grinned, forehead pressed to hers. "Worth every second."
They kissed again, softer this time, and in that small pocket of the parking lot, hidden from everyone, it felt like the world had stopped just for them.
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Will pulled up a few blocks from the Thornton house, headlights off, engine humming low, the street bathed in the warm amber glow of old-fashioned streetlights. The windows were cracked open just enough to let in the cool breeze, and for a few extra seconds, neither of them moved. The night was too perfect, too quiet, too suspended in the afterglow of everything that had just happened.
Riley reached for her bag in the back seat, fingers brushing over the strap, but paused when Will gently touched her wrist. His hand lingered there, warm and familiar.
"Text me when you're in," he said, voice low and sincere, like he wanted to memorize every second of these last moments with her.
Riley smiled, leaning across the console so their foreheads touched. "I will. And if I get caught—"
He smirked. "You won’t. You’re too good."
"But if I do, at least it was after the best night ever," she whispered.
Will’s thumb brushed over the inside of her wrist. "Still worth it."
She kissed him again—slow and lingering, a quiet promise—and then opened the door. The slam of it was too loud in the sleepy neighborhood. She ducked her head instinctively, slinging her bag over her shoulder, and waved as he eased away from the curb.
Before she could even tuck her phone into her pocket, it buzzed—FaceTime. Will.
She answered with a smirk. "You’re obsessed."
His face appeared on screen, grinning. "Just making sure you get to the door safe. Go on, I wanna watch."
"You are so dramatic," she muttered, but angled the camera to show her feet as she walked. "This is such boyfriend behavior."
"Good thing I’m your boyfriend, then."
She bit back a smile. The closer she got to the house, the more the butterflies stirred in her stomach. She turned the camera to her face when she reached the steps. "Happy now?"
Will grinned. "Very. Sleep tight, Ry."
"You too, Will."
She hung up but didn’t put the phone away. Not yet. The night felt like magic, and she wanted to hold onto every spark of it for as long as she could.
The second she stepped inside, the living room lights were on. Her dad was parked on the couch, headset on, controller in hand. Macklin was beside him, just as focused. Fortnite flashed across the big screen.
Joe paused the game the second he noticed her, his eyes narrowing with a sharpness that made Riley instinctively straighten up. His controller dropped onto the couch cushion beside him with a soft thud, and he pulled the headset down around his neck like a man about to conduct an interrogation.
"Hey," he said, but it wasn’t casual. It was the kind of 'hey' that carried weight, like a loaded question. "Where’ve you been?"
His posture shifted—arms resting heavily on his knees, shoulders squared, the full dad stare in effect. Riley knew that look. It was the same one he used when Macklin snuck into the pantry at midnight or when the boys forgot to rinse their gear after practice. Protective. Sharp. Borderline terrifying.
He glanced at the clock, then back at her, a muscle twitching in his jaw. "It’s almost midnight. You didn’t answer my last text."
"I was out with Grace," she said quickly, voice light, trying not to sound too defensive.
He arched a brow, not letting up. "Where exactly?"
"Mini golf. That new glow-in-the-dark place near the boardwalk. We’ve been planning it all week."
He didn’t say anything right away. Just looked at her. Searched her face. Not angry—just locked in full dad-mode. The kind where he didn’t need to raise his voice to make her squirm.
"You drive yourselves? Who else was there?"
Riley swallowed. "Just us. Grace drove."
He tilted his head slightly. "You usually let me know when you’re going out that far. What if something had happened?"
"Nothing happened," she said gently. "I’m fine."
"I know. I’m your dad, Riley. That’s kinda the point."
Macklin, still oblivious, chimed in with perfect timing. "Oh! I think Will went there tonight too. Said he had a date. Did you see him there?"
Joe’s head snapped toward Macklin, then back to Riley.
"No," she said quickly, clutching her bag tighter. "We must’ve just missed him."
Joe’s eyes narrowed, lips pressing into a line. Something about the way he looked at her made her wonder if she’d slipped up somehow.
Macklin groaned. "Dang. I was hoping you’d get a look at the mystery girl. He’s been so secretive about it."
Joe chuckled, shaking his head, but there was a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes that hadn’t been there a moment before. "Yeah, that kid’s hiding something," he said, voice laced with amusement, but edged with something else—interest, suspicion maybe. He leaned back on the couch, arms crossed, like he was mentally running through the possible girls Will might be seeing. "Secretive little bastard. You’d think after all the hours he spends at the house, I’d get some intel." He smirked, then glanced sideways at Riley. "You ever notice him acting weird lately? I mean, weirder than usual?"
"Nope!" Riley forced a yawn. "Well, I’m exhausted. Night, boys."
"Night," they both mumbled, already back in the game.
She bolted up the stairs, praying her poker face had held up. But the second she opened her bedroom door, she jumped.
Her mom was sitting on her bed.
"Mom—"
"Hi, sweetie." Her mom’s voice was soft, but there was a sharpness in her eyes Riley knew all too well—the quiet kind of knowing that only mothers seemed to have. She patted the spot beside her on the bed, her posture calm, composed, almost too casual. "Sit," she said, but it wasn’t really a request. It was the same tone she used when Riley was five and tried to hide a broken vase behind the couch. That tone that said: I already know the truth, but I’m giving you one last shot to come clean.
Riley obeyed. Her heart raced.
"You were with Grace?"
"Yep. Mini golf. Then ice cream. Home now."
Her mom studied her. "Uh-huh."
Riley gave her best innocent smile. "She already texted you, didn’t she?"
"She did."
Riley exhaled. Nailed it.
But her mom kept looking at her, a knowing expression softening her features. The kind that said, 'You think you're being subtle, but I've been watching you since the day you were born.' Her eyes flicked down to Riley’s fingers still curled around her phone, then back up to her face, lingering just long enough to make Riley feel like a lie was scrawled across her forehead. She didn’t press, though—didn’t need to. Her silence was its own kind of interrogation, gentle but suffocating, wrapped in love and quiet judgment.
"You’re a little too good at that story," she said gently.
Riley opened her mouth to protest, but her mom just kissed her forehead.
"I won’t ask again. But be careful, okay?"
Riley nodded slowly. "Okay."
Her mom gave her a small smile. "Goodnight, baby."
"Night, Mom."
Once the door clicked shut behind her, Riley exhaled fully for the first time all night.
She grabbed her phone and texted Will one word: "Safe."
A second later: "Also, we’re SO bad at this."
He replied instantly: "Speak for yourself. I’m flawless."
She laughed into her pillow, heart full.
And somehow, even with the close calls, the hiding, the lies—it all still felt worth it.
⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻
Saturday morning hit like a slap to the face.
The rink was humming with the usual buzz—music low, sticks tapping on the rubber flooring, the hiss of skate sharpeners and the occasional burst of laughter from the showers. But Will felt like he was walking a tightrope the moment he stepped into the locker room. He had barely made it to his stall and started unlacing his shoes when Macklin’s voice rang out.
"Yo, Smitty," Mack said from across the room, spinning a puck on his palm. "How was that glow-in-the-dark mini golf place? You said you were taking that girl last night."
Will froze for half a second. His fingers stuttered over his shoelaces before he forced a lazy grin and leaned back. "Oh—uh, yeah. It was... fine."
"Just fine?" Macklin raised an eyebrow. "That place is sick."
"Yeah, well, the date kind of sucked," Will said, trying to keep his tone casual. "She wasn’t really who I thought she was. We didn’t vibe. So I bailed early."
That answer seemed to satisfy Mack, who shrugged and went back to flipping his puck. But before Will could let out a breath of relief, Eklund and Zetterlund came strolling in, mid-conversation.
"I swear I saw his car last night," Eky was saying. "At that restaurant on Third—what’s it called, the Italian one? Real dark lighting, kind of bougie."
"Oh yeah," Fabes added. "That’s where I saw it too. You weren’t at mini golf, man."
Will blinked, caught like a deer in headlights. "No, yeah—I mean, I was. I just... went to get food after. Alone. That restaurant’s got good takeout."
"You got takeout?" Eky asked, suspicious. "You parked?"
Will nodded too quickly. "Yeah. It was late. I didn’t want to eat at home."
Fabian squinted. "You were there for like an hour."
Will’s palms started to sweat. "I was hungry."
The chirping started almost immediately—good-natured, but relentless. Macklin howled with laughter while Eklund clapped his hands like a game show buzzer had just gone off.
"So let me get this straight—you had a bad date, left early, then took yourself to a romantic candlelit restaurant for some alone time?" Eky asked.
"Inspiring," Fabes added. "Real commitment to the solo vibes."
Will rubbed his face. "You guys suck."
Just as the chaos was starting to calm, his phone buzzed in his open duffel bag. He reached for it instinctively and unlocked the screen.
At the top of the screen, glowing in bold letters, was a message from Lover 💫💛.
Will nearly fumbled the phone straight onto the floor.
"OHHHHHH," Macklin sang, his head whipping around. "Who’s Lover💫💛?"
Will scrambled to lock his screen. "Nobody. Just a friend."
"A friend who texts you at nine a.m. with heart emojis?" Eky grinned, voice sing-songy.
Macklin leaned forward like a bloodhound. "Wait—if your date was that bad, how come Lover💫💛 is texting you right now? You sure you bailed early?"
Will opened his mouth and closed it again.
And just then—like fate really had it out for him—Patrick Marleau walked into the room with a coffee in one hand and a towel slung over his shoulder.
"Oh yeah," he said offhandedly, clearly having caught the tail end of the conversation. "Smitty came in late last night. I think it was past one."
Silence fell over the room like a dropped puck.
Will stared at Marleau, who didn’t even blink as he walked past to grab some tape.
Eklund turned slowly toward him. "Late, huh? I thought the date was a bust?"
"I thought you went home," Zetterlund added.
Macklin was staring like he was trying to read Will’s mind. "Wait. Did you—did you go out again? With someone else?"
Will was desperate. He felt like he was being cornered by a pack of wolves.
"Yeah," he blurted. "Yeah, okay. After the first one flopped, I hit up someone else."
The boys erupted.
"PLAYER!" Fabian shouted, laughing.
"Damn, Smitty! The San Jose ladies aren’t safe!" Eklund whooped.
Macklin leaned back, his eyes wide. "Okay, now you have to tell us who it is. What’s her deal? Is she cute? Are you seeing her again?"
Will could feel his soul leaving his body. He gave a weak laugh. "Nah, I don’t think it’s going anywhere. Just... spur of the moment."
"Cold," Fabian said. "Ice cold."
They were still teasing him when the coach called them out onto the ice, but Will barely heard it. His brain was a mess. All he could think about was how badly this entire situation was spiraling.
And he still had to find a way to tell Riley.
Three days later, he did. Or rather—Riley found out before he could confess.
He was sitting in his car after practice, sipping a smoothie and scrolling through his phone when a text popped up.
Lover💫💛: should i be worried about my competition? 👀😏
Will stared at the message, groaned out loud, and dropped his head against the steering wheel.
Another text came through.
Lover💫💛: i hear there’s a mystery second girl 😱
Lover💫💛: should i be flattered or insulted that i didn’t make the story? 😂
Will quickly tapped out a reply.
Will: okay in my defense i panicked
Will: they cornered me and marleau BROKE THE CODE
Lover💫💛: lol i thought you were flawless?
Will: 😒 betrayal from within
Lover💫💛: don’t worry. you’re safe... for now. but if you EVER try to “spur of the moment” another girl, i will personally tell my dad everything
Will winced. He knew she would, too.
Will: you’re evil
Lover💫💛: and you love it 😇
He leaned back in his seat, a grin tugging at his lips despite the embarrassment still bubbling under his skin. Somehow, even in chaos, she made everything better.
But seriously—he had to work on his lying game. Or better yet, find a way to make it so they didn’t have to lie at all.
Someday.
⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻
To say the plan was airtight would be a stretch, but Will and Riley had been playing this game long enough to know the drill.
Step one: lie convincingly. Riley told her family she was spending the night at Grace’s. It wasn’t even a big stretch; she’d stayed there before, and Grace had already been prepped to cover.
Step two: clear the house. Her parents and siblings—Alya and River—were off at the new movie everyone had been hyping for weeks, complete with dinner reservations after. Macklin, who was usually the wildcard, had texted earlier to say he had a date and wouldn’t be back until late. That was a win.
Step three: park Will’s car three blocks over, behind a long hedge on a side street where no one would look twice.
And step four: finally, finally relax.
They were curled up on Riley’s bed in her room—second floor, blinds drawn, lights low, the TV casting soft glows across the walls. Riley’s head rested on Will’s chest, his arm around her shoulders, thumb gently brushing her upper arm. They were on season three of New Girl, and while Riley adored the show, she could hardly believe that Will had been the one to suggest it.
“You’re seriously obsessed,” she teased, glancing up at him during a commercial break.
Will gave her a look that was part sheepish, part proud. “It’s elite television. Schmidt is a cultural icon. I don’t make the rules.”
Riley snorted. “You said you’d never seen it before we started.”
“I lied. I watched, like, four seasons in secret freshman year. Don’t tell anyone.”
She laughed, burying her face in his sweatshirt. “Your secret’s safe with me, Smitty.”
But before Will could come back with a sarcastic quip, the sound of the front door clicking shut echoed faintly from downstairs.
They both froze.
Will’s hand paused mid-circle on her arm. Riley sat up slowly.
“Did you—?”
“I definitely—”
“Someone’s home.”
Will was already moving, bolting upright and scrambling off the bed like a man in a spy movie. Riley followed, peeking out the window just in time to hear footsteps in the hallway.
Then: “Hey Ry!”
Macklin’s voice.
Crap.
“Wanna watch a movie or something? I’m bored and my date didn’t go well. Just another clout chaser. Oh—by the way, did you see that car down the street? Looks exactly like Will’s. Kinda sus, right? Oh and speaking of Will, did you know he loves to watch New Girl? Have you seen it? Should we try it tonight??”
Will, in the corner, was flailing silently. His mouth was open in horror, arms gesturing wildly in a panicked charade that screamed make him go away.
Riley’s eyes were wild as she pointed at the door. Macklin’s footsteps were getting closer.
Will mouthed, “DO SOMETHING!”
Riley threw her hands up and made a split-second decision.
As the doorknob began to turn, she shrieked: “MACK NO! I’M CHANGING—NAKED! I’M, UHH, CHANGING SO I’M NAKED. GIMME A SEC!”
The footsteps stopped. A beat of silence.
“Okay, sheesh,” Macklin said, unbothered. “I’ll be in the guest house. Gonna set up the show.”
They heard him shuffle away.
Will collapsed onto the floor, face buried in the carpet. “I’m gonna die. This is how I die. Heart attack at nineteen. Cause of death: panic.”
“We need to get you out,” Riley whispered, already scanning the room.
“I parked three blocks away, Riley. We’re upstairs. This house has like thirty windows. It’s a fortress of doom.”
They started whisper-arguing, huddled by her bedroom door, trying to figure out the logistics of sneaking Will out without Macklin noticing. Every creaky floorboard felt like a landmine.
Step by painful step, they crept down the staircase, Riley leading the way, Will behind her trying not to breathe too loudly. The house was mostly dark, save for the soft glow of a hallway lamp near the front. The stairs creaked ominously with every shift of weight, and both of them paused more than once, holding their breath at the slightest sound.
Halfway down, Riley whispered over her shoulder, “You’re walking like you weigh five hundred pounds.”
“I’m literally trying not to die,” Will hissed back.
They made it to the bottom without detection, dodging into the hallway beside the front door. Will wiped his palms on his jeans, adrenaline rushing like he was sneaking out of some high-security vault instead of a suburban house. He reached for the door—
Then the flash of headlights spilled across the foyer.
Riley’s breath caught. “Oh no. My dad.”
“What?!”
“I thought they were going to dinner after the movie!”
Panic overtook reason. Riley shoved Will toward the front door with surprising force.
“What are you—” he started.
“Just GO!” she hissed.
The door flung open and she practically launched him out onto the front steps. The sound of a car door slammed from outside.
Riley shoved him out the front door and directly into the massive hedge beside the porch.
There was a rustle, a yelp, and a very clear, “Son of a—Riley!”
“Shh!” she hissed. “Hide better!”
The front doorknob turned again and she slammed it shut behind her, bolting to the back of the house like a cartoon character. She sprinted across the yard and slipped into the guest house just in time to hear the front door open.
Inside the bush, Will sat hunched, tangled in twigs and half-covered in leaves. His hoodie had a stick poking out of the hood. A spider crawled up his sleeve. His entire body was buzzing with nerves, but all he could do was sit still.
He watched the Thornton family walk past the front foyer, chatting casually. Joe, Alya, and River. The coast was almost clear—
Until he looked up.
In the second-story foyer window, two faces were pressed against the glass.
River.
And Tabea.
Riley’s mom. Very observant. Very amused.
Tabea smiled, wide and smug, then gave a small wave. Her hand rotated into a ‘shoo, shoo’ motion. River, bless his soul, looked confused but entertained.
Will mouthed please no and Tabea just winked.
Humiliated, Will gave a tight, sheepish wave, rubbed the back of his neck, and started jogging toward his car.
When he finally reached it, he dove in like a man escaping war. His phone buzzed in the console.
From Lover💫💛: sorry for the bush shove 😂
From Lover💫💛:: also u screamed. not very stealthy of u
From Lover💫💛: but also you’re welcome. i saved your life
From Tabea: caught! lol. don’t worry i won’t tell 🤭
From Macklin: bro i’m watching new girl rn with Ry
From Macklin: SCHMIDT IS ELITE
Will leaned his head back against the headrest and groaned.
This was getting out of hand.
⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻
Riley had known this moment was coming.
The morning after the bush incident, she tiptoed into the kitchen like someone sneaking into a crime scene. The house was quiet save for the hum of the coffee machine and the low murmur of the morning news on the TV. She’d barely made it three steps inside before she saw her mom—Tabea—at the kitchen island, coffee in hand, reading glasses perched on her nose, the picture of calm but with that trademark glint of knowing in her eyes.
"Morning," Tabea said, without looking up.
Riley hesitated. "...Morning."
She tried to sneak past her like she was still twelve and hiding bad report cards in her backpack, but the moment she reached for the fridge, her mom spoke again.
"So," Tabea began, voice too casual, eyes still on her tablet. "How’s Will?"
Riley froze mid-step, one hand on the fridge handle, a flush of heat rushing up her neck.
"W-What?"
Her mom looked up then, eyes warm and full of mischief. "You know, Will. Will Smith. Hockey star. Hidden in my hydrangeas last night like a raccoon. That Will."
Riley groaned, slumping against the fridge door. "Oh my god. You saw that?"
"I saw the top of his head rustling like a cartoon. And so did River, by the way. You’re lucky your dad’s terrible with peripheral vision."
Riley buried her face in her hands. "This is so bad. I was gonna tell you, I swear. I just didn’t know how."
Tabea chuckled and got up to pour another cup of coffee. She handed one to Riley, nudging her gently toward the bar stools. "Relax, kiddo. I’m not mad. Honestly, I’m mostly impressed."
Riley blinked. "You are?"
Her mom nodded, sitting across from her. "Will’s a good guy. Polite, driven, respectful. And I’ve seen the way he looks at you, the way you smile when you look at him. So... I approve."
Riley let out a long, relieved breath, slumping forward onto the counter. "I really thought you were going to ground me or something."
"Oh no, I’m saving the punishment for the part where you shoved him into a bush."
Riley winced. "Desperate times."
Tabea smirked. "You could’ve at least warned him first. I had to keep River from reenacting the whole thing with his ROBLOX this morning."
They both laughed. The tension that had been building in Riley’s chest for days melted a little, replaced by something warmer. The kind of warmth that came from knowing you weren’t alone in something complicated.
But then her mom leaned in, dropping her voice like she was revealing state secrets.
"Now, about your brother."
Riley groaned. "River saw too, didn’t he?"
"Saw and enjoyed the show. And you know that boy can’t keep a secret to save his life, especially around Macklin. He worships that kid. One casual conversation and we’re all doomed."
Riley covered her face again. "I’m so doomed."
"Not necessarily," Tabea said, sipping her coffee with all the calm of a woman who had already played this game and won. "You just need to bribe him."
"Bribe an eleven-year-old?"
"Bribe him well."
Riley stared at her mom for a beat. Then she sighed. "I’ll figure something out."
—
Cornering River took strategy. He was slippery and fast, always bouncing from one obsession to another—video games, hockey, Macklin Celebrini. She caught him one afternoon post-practice, lounging on the couch in his Sharks hoodie and eating cereal while watching old Macklin highlights on YouTube.
"Hey Riv," she said, sliding in next to him with a smile she hoped looked friendly and not desperate.
"Hi," he said through a mouthful of Cheerios, eyes never leaving the screen.
She eyed him. "So. About the other night."
He paused mid-spoon.
"What about it?"
"You saw something."
River blinked innocently. "I saw lots of things."
Riley narrowed her eyes. "Bush. Boy. You know what I’m talking about."
He grinned slowly, the picture of smugness. "You mean when you shoved Will Smith into Mom’s hydrangeas?"
She slapped a hand over his mouth and looked around wildly. "Lower your voice!"
He pulled her hand off with a look of offense. "Relax. It’s just me."
"Exactly. And you’re the liability. So I need you not to tell anyone. Especially Dad. Or Macklin. Especially Macklin."
River gave a dramatic sigh and leaned back like a mob boss considering a deal. "Fine. I won’t say anything."
Riley’s shoulders sagged in relief. "Thank—"
"Under one condition."
She froze. "What?"
"You have to drive me to hockey. And whenever I want to go out."
She gaped at him. "Go out? You’re eleven. Where would you even go?"
"Not my problem," he said cheerfully. "Also—I want snacks on the way. Real ones. Not apple slices."
"I don’t drive!"
River shrugged. "You have a boyfriend who does. Figure it out."
Which is how, two days later, Will found himself in the driver’s seat of his brand new Ford Bronco with Riley in the passenger seat and River in the back, smug as ever, acting like he was royalty with state secrets locked behind his mischievous grin.
“Thanks for this,” Riley mumbled as Will pulled out of the driveway.
Will gave her a long-suffering look. “I am being blackmailed by a middle schooler.”
“Technically, we are.”
River leaned forward. “Can we get slushies after?”
“No,” they both said in unison.
And from that day forward, anytime Riley tried to skip out on a River-dropoff, he’d just send her a knowing look—the kind of look that said I know things. And every time, she’d shut up and climb into the car without protest. It didn’t go unnoticed.
“Why does Riley always get so quiet around River?” Alya asked once.
“She’s probably scared of his Fortnite kill count,” Macklin joked.
⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻
It was a random Tuesday when it all started to unravel again.
Riley had stopped by the Sharks facility to drop something off for her dad—just a spare charger and a sweatshirt. She was walking through the hall when Mario Ferraro caught sight of her.
“Hey, Riley,” he said. “Your dad’s not in his office, but he’s around. Oh—hey, isn’t that Smitty’s sweater?”
Riley froze. She looked down.
It was a black hoodie. Very oversized. Subtle logo near the wrist. The number 2 printed faintly on the sleeve.
Crap.
“Oh,” she stammered. “No. It’s Macklin’s.”
Mario raised an eyebrow. “Huh. Thought he was wearing his black one today.”
“I mean—he has multiple. I think. Anyway—I gotta go!”
She speed-walked out of the hallway like it was on fire. Mario watched her go, eyebrows furrowed.
“...But there’s a number 2 on the hood,” he said to himself.
From that moment, the veterans on the team started watching more closely.
First it was the way Will smiled every time his phone buzzed. Like, grinned—soft and sweet in a way most of them had never seen. Then it was how he always had a smoothie on game days—one that conveniently matched the one Riley had in her hand when she stopped by. Not from the café near the rink either. From a place across the city. That took coordination.
There were bracelets—subtle, barely visible, but clearly matching. Hers had a tiny silver "W." His had a tiny letter “R.”
Then there were the glances. Not subtle ones. Full-on longing, heart-eyes, across-the-room movie magic nonsense. Like they forgot other people had eyes.
By the time the Sharks’ annual charity gala rolled around, most of the older guys already had their suspicions.
Will arrived in a deep maroon suit that looked like it belonged on the red carpet. Sleek, sharp, clearly not chosen last minute. Five minutes later, Riley walked in wearing a maroon dress—long, form-fitting, elegant as hell, the kind of dress that made people stop talking mid-sentence.
They didn’t arrive together. Didn’t touch once all night. They mingled like professionals, always in separate circles, but never out of each other’s line of sight.
But the veterans didn’t miss the matching colors. Or the way Will’s eyes followed her every time she walked past. Or the way she accidentally let a hand brush his arm when she slipped behind him to greet someone. Or how his smile lingered just a beat too long.
No one said anything. Not yet.
But the vets shared a knowing look. The kind that said: we see you. And now, it was just a matter of time.
⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻
For a guy with killer instincts on the ice, Macklin Celebrini was alarmingly oblivious off it.
Will and Riley’s relationship had been going on for months now—hidden in plain sight, wrapped up in a string of inside jokes, soft glances, and near-catastrophic slip-ups. And while the veterans were beginning to connect the dots and River had them under playful blackmail, Macklin remained… blissfully unaware.
And that wasn’t for lack of opportunity.
It started on a quiet Thursday. The team had a rare off day, and Macklin, ever the extrovert, found himself bored and wandering. He decided to swing by the Marleau house, figuring Will would be around to kill time with him. Patrick opened the front door with a warm smile, still in his Sharks hoodie and holding a cup of coffee.
“Hey, kid. You looking for Will?”
Macklin nodded. “Yeah, just bored. Thought I’d come hang out. He around?”
Patrick shook his head, casual as ever. “Nah, he didn’t tell you? He’s out. Said he was going to see that new Marvel movie—something about Captain America or whatever. Seemed pumped.”
“Oh,” Macklin said, brows lifting. “Nice. I asked Riley if she wanted to do something earlier too, but she said she already had plans to go see that same movie.”
Patrick blinked, then shrugged. “Must be popular.”
“Guess so,” Macklin said, scratching the back of his neck. “Weird coincidence.”
And that was it. That was all he thought of it. Not that Will and Riley were together. Not that they were probably sitting side-by-side in the back row sharing popcorn and whispering their favorite lines. No, to Macklin, it was just a fluke in timing and taste.
Then there was the ring incident.
A week later, the two of them had carpooled to the arena for morning skate. Will was driving, music playing low, windows cracked to let in the cool air. Macklin had tossed his gear in the back and hopped in without a second thought.
They were halfway through traffic when Macklin reached down to adjust his seat and noticed something glinting in the cup holder.
“What’s this?” he asked, holding up a small gold ring with a delicate pearl in the center.
Will swerved slightly.
“Whoa,” Macklin laughed. “Dude, relax. Is this Riley’s?”
Will’s mouth opened and shut. Then opened again. “Uh—yeah. Kind of. She, uh, she dropped it at a team thing. I think. I told her I’d get it back to her, but I keep forgetting.”
Macklin frowned, rolling the ring between his fingers. “We haven’t had a team thing in, like, two weeks.”
Will nodded far too quickly. “Yeah, no—I mean, it was more of a small one. Not everyone was invited. Kinda like a mini-meeting. Media stuff. You know how it is.”
Macklin looked confused but shrugged. “Weird. She wears this thing everywhere.”
Will let out a nervous laugh. “She’ll get it back. Promise.”
Macklin didn’t question it again. Just handed the ring back and cranked up the volume on the music like the whole conversation never happened. Will spent the rest of the drive silently cursing every decision that led to this moment.
But the worst—the absolute worst—slip-up happened two weeks after that.
It was a chill Friday night, and Eklund, Zetterlund, and Macklin were out grabbing food at a little bar-restaurant combo downtown. Will had been invited, obviously, but he’d sent a last-minute text: Rain check. Something came up.
Typical.
They were just settling into their booth when they caught sight of a figure bolting past the restaurant’s wide glass windows—a blur of motion, tall and fast and laughing under his breath.
“Was that—” Eklund leaned forward.
“Will?” Zetterlund finished.
The figure paused just long enough at the edge of the frame, hoodie half-zipped, signature gait unmistakable. And beside him, a girl with long, bright blonde hair, wrapped in a long coat and moving just as quickly.
Macklin squinted. “Looks like him. Maybe. But I don’t think so.”
Zetterlund and Eklund shared a look.
“Could’ve sworn that was his hoodie,” Eky said.
Fabes nodded. “And isn’t that Riley’s hair color?”
“She said she was busy tonight with Grace,” Macklin added helpfully, sipping his Sprite. “Probably wasn’t her.”
The other two just looked at each other.
“Yeah,” Zetterlund said slowly. “Probably not.”
The next morning, Riley showed up at the practice facility. Hair in a loose braid, sweatshirt tied around her waist, sipping from the exact smoothie shop she and Will had made their thing. She stopped by her dad’s office like usual, waved at the media crew, and paused to say hi to the players.
Eklund and Zetterlund were in the locker room when she passed.
Zetterlund turned to Eklund. “That was her.”
“Definitely.”
“She was with Will.”
“Yup.”
“Think Macklin’s figured it out yet?”
Eklund looked over at Macklin, who was humming a random tune while trying to juggle two tape rolls and a stick.
“Not even close.”
They shared a long, amused silence.
“Should we tell him?” Fabes asked.
Eky shook his head. “Nah. Let him figure it out.”
And so the chaos continued. Riley and Will, dancing the thin line between secrecy and exposure. Macklin, somehow always inches away from the truth, but never quite stepping over the line.
If anything, it had become a game.
A very stressful, heart-palpitating, constantly-about-to-get-caught game.
But it was kind of fun. Kind of thrilling. And at the very least—it gave Will and Riley stories they’d laugh about later. Assuming Macklin never figured it out first.
⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻
Will really thought he was slick.
It was a quiet Sunday afternoon when he pulled up to the Thornton house. He double-checked the text Macklin had sent earlier—something about being with family out of town for the weekend. Perfect. No risk of Macklin chaos. The plan? Play it casual. Say he dropped by to hang out. Kill time in the basement with Riley like they always did when Mack was around. Same story, different day.
He parked across the street like he usually did, tucked a little too close to the neighbor’s curb. It had become a routine by now: park out of view, sneak in, spend the afternoon curled up with Riley watching some Netflix series they’d sworn they wouldn’t binge without the other.
He knocked once before letting himself in, greeted only by the faint sounds of a hockey game playing in the living room. Joe was there, lounging on the couch in sweats, phone in one hand, remote in the other.
Will stepped inside, trying to keep his voice even. “Hey, Joe. Just came to see if Mack was around. Thought we’d hang out.”
Joe didn’t even look up. “Mack’s out of town. With his mom for the weekend.”
“Oh. Right. Uh—yeah, sh-shoot. Maybe I’ll just hang out with Riley for a bit. Maybe go watch that new movie in the basement.”
Joe nodded once, barely reacting. “Sure.”
Will turned toward the stairs, internally patting himself on the back for a smooth entry—when Joe’s voice rang out again.
“Oh, by the way,” he said, still staring at his phone, “I got a text from the neighbor. Said if you’re gonna park across from his house every night to drop Riley off, maybe don’t keep driving over his curb.”
Will froze mid-step.
His mouth opened. Closed. Opened again. “I—uh—”
“I mean,” Joe continued casually, “I don’t know why you keep parking there, kiddo. We have a driveway. Pretty sure it would save you the trouble of Ry having to walk down the street late at night.”
Will blinked. He didn’t move. He couldn’t. It was like his brain had short-circuited and all he could do was stand there, staring at Joe with full-on deer-in-headlights panic.
Still, Joe didn’t look up.
“Oh, and,” he added, almost offhandedly, “Tabea says you’re helping her fix the dent you left in the front bush.”
Will’s heart fell into his stomach, ice flooding his veins like he’d just missed an empty-net shot in overtime. He stared at Joe, frozen, every nerve in his body screaming. “You… you know?”
Joe finally glanced up. His smirk was infuriatingly calm. “Will. You and Riley are the worst liars I’ve ever met.”
Will gaped. “But—we’ve been so careful.”
Joe snorted. “Careful? You sneak in like it’s Mission Impossible, leave hoodies in our daughter's room, park in the same exact spot every night, and whisper to each other like the walls aren’t made of drywall.”
Will sank onto the nearest armchair, rubbing his face. “Oh my god.”
Joe chuckled, setting his phone down. “Look, I’m not mad. You’re a good kid. I’ve seen the way you treat her. You two think you’re fooling the world, but you’ve been fooling exactly one person. And that’s Macklin. Which, I mean—God love the kid, but let’s be honest…”
Will groaned. “I feel like such an idiot.”
“You’re just young,” Joe said, leaning back. “But not an idiot. You’ve been respectful, you’ve been kind, and as far as I can tell, you make her happy. That’s what matters.”
Will looked up, still shell-shocked. “So… you’re okay with it?”
Joe shrugged. “You’re not sneaking around anymore. That’s the only thing I care about. If you’re gonna be around this house, we do it the right way. None of this back-door, bush-diving, parking-sneaky nonsense.”
Just then, Riley came down the stairs with a bounce in her step, clearly unaware of the conversation she was walking into.
“Hey, Dad. Hey, Will. Ready to—” She stopped when she saw the expression on Will’s face. “What happened?”
Joe stood up, stretching his arms. “Ry, why don’t you help your mom set the table? Your boyfriend will be joining us for a proper dinner where we talk about the new rules in the house with you two.”
Riley’s face drained of color. “You what?”
Joe was already heading toward the kitchen. “Come on, Ry. Chop chop.”
She turned to Will, wide-eyed. “What did you do?”
He held up his hands. “I didn’t do anything. He knew. He knew all along.”
They stared at each other in stunned silence, the weight of Joe’s words still settling like bricks on their shoulders. Will looked like he’d been hit by a puck to the chest, and Riley’s jaw was practically on the floor. Then, from the kitchen, Joe’s voice floated back in—bright, amused, and far too cheerful for the emotional damage he’d just caused.
“And Will, no more parking like a lunatic, alright? The neighbor’s this close to leaving a note.”
From the kitchen came the clatter of plates and a soft burst of laughter. Tabea’s voice rang out: “You owe me a new hydrangea bush, Smith!”
Will slumped deeper into the couch. “They’re enjoying this way too much.”
Riley nodded slowly. “So much for thinking we were subtle.”
And as they shuffled toward the kitchen for what was now officially the most awkward dinner of their lives, they were met with two smug parents and the smell of garlic bread.
“You know,” Tabea said as she handed Riley a stack of plates, “we were going to let it slide a little longer. But you two just made it too entertaining.”
Joe raised his glass with a smirk. "To the world’s worst secret relationship. Honestly, we didn’t even need to see you look at each other anytime Will was around." He chuckled, setting his drink down. "Patty actually tipped us off a while ago. Said he kept noticing Will coming in late—like really late—and every time, it lined up with when Riley was gone with "Grace". Then there was Ry moping around the house during road trips, then suddenly perking up the second you were home again. Tabea and I figured it out way back and decided to just sit back and enjoy the show. Honestly? It’s been hilarious."
Will groaned into his hands.
Riley looked like she wanted to crawl under the table.
And yet—somewhere between the teasing, the garlic bread, and the new house rules (which included, notably, no more hiding in bushes), it didn’t feel all that terrible.
It felt… kind of nice.
Because now, they weren’t sneaking. They weren’t hiding.
They were just Will and Riley.
And finally, everyone knew. Well—except for Macklin. But that was a problem for another day.
⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻
It was a sunny, chill kind of afternoon—exactly the type that screamed off-day energy. The Marleaus were hosting one of their classic post-road-trip lunches. Nothing fancy. Just family, a grill on the deck, a few dogs sprinting through the backyard, and a healthy dose of hockey players lounging on patio chairs like exhausted golden retrievers.
The Thorntons were there too, all four of them. Joe had brought wine, Tabea brought a massive pasta salad, and Riley… well, Riley brought Will. Though technically, Will had come from upstairs—he was still living with the Marleaus as part of his billet arrangement, which made this whole inter-family hangout even more chaotic in retrospect. Because after Joe’s legendary reveal, the sneaking had officially ended. Everyone knew they were together. And since then, the couple had settled into a casual comfort that radiated through every room they walked into.
Everyone knew.
Well.
Almost everyone.
Because somehow—somehow—Macklin Celebrini still hadn’t figured it out.
They weren’t even trying to hide it anymore. Riley and Will were curled up together on the Marleaus’ living room couch, his arm slung over her shoulder, her feet tucked beneath her. They were talking to Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, who had dropped by while the Leafs were in town to visit the veterans and their families.
Auston greeted the Thorntons warmly, hugging Riley like she was a younger cousin. Mitch followed suit, ruffling River’s hair and grinning.
“So, Jumbo,” Mitch said as he plopped down across from Joe, already grinning, “I gotta know. How were you so chill when you found out Smitty was dating Riley behind your back?”
There was a pause.
A brief, flickering silence.
And then Macklin, who had been mid-bite of his sandwich, laughed.
“What?” he snorted. “What do you mean? Will and Ri—”
He stopped.
The laughter died in his throat.
He looked around the room.
At Will, who had the decency to freeze mid-sip of his drink.
At Riley, who looked down at her lap, trying to suppress a smile.
At the rest of the room, which was suspiciously quiet.
Macklin’s eyes darted from face to face.
Joe.
Tabea.
Patrick.
Auston.
Mitch.
Everyone was looking at him with the exact same expression: mild amusement and a you just now figured this out? glint in their eyes.
He turned slowly, finally letting his gaze fall on Riley and Will.
Riley had leaned into Will’s side, her hand resting on his knee. They weren’t even trying to be subtle.
“What…” Macklin started slowly. “WHAT?!”
His voice cracked with genuine disbelief. “No. No. You’re kidding. This is a bit, right? This is one of those inside joke things I’m just not in on. Will and Riley?”
Will gave him a small wave.
“Hi.”
Riley smiled apologetically. “Hey, Mack.”
“No. No way. I live with you, Riley. And Will, you’re my best friend. There’s no way you could’ve been together this whole time without me noticing. I would have known! I’ve walked into the kitchen and seen you two sitting on the same side of the table—I just thought you were bad at spacing! You guys always claimed you were just watching TV and, like, sharing smoothies. But we all share smoothies! Or at least—I thought we did! Was I the third wheel in my own house?!”
Auston choked on his drink.
Mitch doubled over laughing.
“Dude,” Patty wheezed from the other side of the room. “Come on.”
“You mean to tell me,” Macklin said, pointing between them, “that this has been happening under my nose for MONTHS?! And all those girls Will was supposedly going on dates with? The ones he said never worked out because they were ‘too loud’ or ‘didn’t vibe’? THAT WASN’T REAL? And the contact in your phone labeled ‘Lover’ that we all joked about??”
Will coughed. “Yeah… that’s always been Riley.”
Macklin looked like he was short-circuiting. “I made fun of you for weeks about that contact name and you didn’t say anything??”
Will shrugged helplessly. “I thought you were kidding. And technically, you weren’t wrong.”
Joe leaned over, clapping Macklin on the back. “It’s okay, kiddo. I told Will I approved as long as he promised to stop hiding in our bush.”
Macklin’s jaw dropped. “The bush?? You mean—that bush?”
Tabea nodded sagely. “It was a tragic loss. Hydrangeas never recovered.”
“I—HOW DID I MISS THIS?” Macklin yelled, standing now, arms flailing as he began pacing the room. “You were literally in our house all the time. I thought you just liked dinner a lot! I thought you liked hanging out with me a lot!”
Riley was giggling now, hiding behind Will’s shoulder.
Will was bright red.
Joe was openly enjoying this far too much.
“And the smoothies! The matching bracelets! The way Will would blow us off during off days!”
“Honestly, I thought you had figured it out like, ten different times,” Fabes said from the armchair.
“Same,” Eky added. “But then you just… didn’t.”
“I’m so dumb.” Macklin groaned, dropping back onto the couch and putting his head in his hands. “I can’t believe this. You were RIGHT THERE. ALL THE TIME.”
Tabea passed him a lemonade. “You’re not dumb, Mack. Just… sweetly oblivious.”
Will leaned forward. “You okay, buddy?”
Macklin peeked through his fingers. “No. I need a second to grieve the trust I thought we had.”
“You’re being dramatic,” Riley said, still laughing.
“I’m allowed! I feel betrayed! You guys made me sit through so many awkward movie nights and I thought it was just the vibes being weird. You were probably playing footsie under the blanket!”
They absolutely were.
Joe raised his drink. “To Macklin. The last to know. But still very much loved.”
Everyone clinked their glasses, grinning.
And Macklin, despite himself, smiled too.
“Okay,” he said finally. “But like… just tell me next time, okay? I can keep a secret. I swear.”
Will and Riley exchanged a look.
Everyone burst out laughing.
“Okay,” Macklin muttered. “Fair.”
#san jose sharks#macklin celebrini#macklin celebrini imagine#macklin celebrini x reader#will smith hockey#will smith hockey imagine#will smith hockey x reader#hockey#will smith imagine#will smith#will smith x reader#william eklund#william eklund x reader#william eklund imagine#nhl#nhl x reader#nhl imagine#San Jose sharks x reader#san jose sharks imagine#ws02#will smith hockey x oc#will smith x oc#emmywrites!#ws2#mc71#sj sharks#ws2 x reader#w.smith#m.celebrini
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Basic B(w)itch
Game: What does Amos think of your OC? @evita-shelby
Rules: This game doesn’t reflect the author’s opinion but the thoughts of a fictional character. Amos lacks of interest in people and is mean, sarcastic. Beside, this game is not an ego contest nor meant to be a battle. Your character get roasted, we all laugh, and that’s all. PLEASE don’t go like “blabla my character would say this, they would destroy him” like, Idc bro that’s not the point of the game.
• This is a little humbling and fun exercice aimed at making you laugh. A parody of the love and care we have for each other in the fandom. Enjoy 🖤
“Oh look, it’s Miss No-One-Resists-Me! Would you like a cup of Im-better-than-yall? You know, no amount of luxury, witchcraft or fame could cover how boring you are. You and your kin bleed just like anybody else.”
Amos wouldn’t like Eva at all. Contrary to Heaven who doesn’t care but still has an ounce of respect for her because she’s a witch, Amos would simply despise Eva plain and simple, considering her as stuck up. She might be the sweetest with her family and adorable in domestic settings he couldn’t help but find all the fuss around her utterly ridiculous. She’s no better than anyone else. Nor exceptional either. According to him she comes off as a pompous, know-it-all and show off person, who just deserves one huge smack in her face to come down one peg or two. The type of insufferable girl who should be humbled.
Also, contrary to Heaven, the fact she’s a witch doesn’t matter. Not only he’s got one home, but rumors say he steeped in black magic himself. Should he be in the same room as her for political reasons, he’d just roll his eyes and go back to his business or to Hev. The best he could do would be remain coldly polite and formal. Plus, one mutual mentioned a thing about strong women: it’s not something that influences Amos’ opinion.
The only credit he would give her is that he knows what it is to come from an influential family since he’s from the Von Bismarck lineage. Hence, he acknowledges that, sometimes, its a heavy weight to carry upon one’s shoulders.
Sorry for the burn! :) — and no hard feelings I hope, I warned y’all that it would be real roasts 😓 —
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could i request some drabbles:
Eva wanting to adopt a dog but it’s horrifically ugly (chewed up looking Chihuahua) and Tommy is like “hell no.” but Eva uses her daughters to wreck havoc on Tommy’s life and emotions until he inevitably caves. and despite his obvious disdain the dog ends up liking him best and tries to follow him everywhere much to his embarrassment when he tries to conduct Peaky business.
Thanks anon, gonna call you anon🐾 now
Xoco
Gif by @peakykoko
(No more taglists for these, we die like Grace)
“It looks like the one you had when you were little, mama!”
Those damn words started it all.
The salt and pepper chihuahua Eva arrived in Small Heath with had been old and sickly, but well cared for but the witch who had had Xoco since she was eleven years old.
It had a diamond necklace, for fuck’s sake.
Now this dog, also named Xoco, had been foisted upon him when the girls and their mother went shopping while he was meeting with the ministry of trade during their holiday in Mexico.
He had said no, Eva’s younger cousin Maddy, had given her two xolo dogs named Aristotle and Pesechat thus bringing them to four fucking dogs.
This did not include Charlie’s cats, their horses and the other animals that they had taken in at Arrow House.
“No, means no, sweetheart.” Tommy had been adamant, stood his ground and soon the matter was forgotten.
Except it wasn’t.
Flora cried the entire drive back to Chapultepec Castle, Diane glared at him until he sent them to their room, and even worse, Eva claimed to have a headache that night.
The first two he could weather; Charlie had gone through a phase where his tantrums had him questioning whether he could break his rule about no corporal punishment.
Thomas Michael Shelby enjoyed sex far too much to have his wife deny him.
Those months they were separated had been torture, but not enough to consider cheating on her because then she would kill him --- and he would have let her. And now having her deliberately do this while he is having to actually work this entire week is just cruel.
“Fine, the girls can have the rat they found on the street.” He said the next evening after Eva upped the ante by not wearing a damn thing to bed.
This had been preceded by Florence stealing all his glasses and Diane cutting holes in his pockets and both girls joining together to ruin the meeting he had before noon.
They returned home with the ugliest and most annoying dog he has ever had.
And yet, unlike the rest of the dogs –especially Cyril, that fucking traitor--- Xoco ,with it half-bitten little ears, incessant barking and need to leave to do her business outdoors through only the front door, had stuck to him like glue.
“That is the ugliest thing I have seen. Is that a diamond collar?” Ada said when she sees the little dog following him into the office and laying down protectively in front of his desk.
As if little Xoco could be of any protection.
“Yes, the girls picked her up in Mexico. She likes me for some fucking reason.” He said knowing his sister is trying not to tease him about it as he rubs his eyes.
This is made much worse when Xoco barks and snarls at his sister as if she were to attack him.
And when Ada doesn’t back off, the lapdog proceeds to attack.
It is a funny sight, seeing his sister shriek and retreat because a dog the size of rat is threatening to bite her, going as far as jumping at her hoping to get more than just her ankles.
“Call her off, Tom. This isn’t funny.” His sister said going as far as jumping into the chair to avoid being bitten by the little beast.
And he does, only after having a good laugh he hasn’t had since before France.
#eva smith shelby#tommy shelby x oc#thomas shelby fanfic#thomas shelby x oc#peaky blinders fanfiction#eva smith riley#thomas shelby imagine
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Kansas Anymore: Drabble #1
Tyler Owens x OC
Summary: In which Riley Owens, the ex-wife of the infamous Tornado Wrangler, has 36 hours to come to terms if moving to a whole new country with their small daughter is something she truly wants to do.
Warnings: Cursing, angst
✶ Chapter One ✶ Chapter Two ✶
■ Italics = Flashback
■ A/N: So this is just a little outtake update. These drabbles will be focused in the past and will spill the tea on Tyler and Riley's relationship - good and bad. I am gonna start writing chapter three in the coming days so be on the lookout for that... And I may have another fic on the brain... Stay tuned ❤️
■ Taglist is available - just drop a comment! Would love to hear your thoughts, questions, or maybe just drop by to say hello! Can’t wait to hear from y'all
TL: @ellesmythe @18lkpeters @hookslove1592 @djs8891 @smoothdogsgirl @queenslandlover-93 @imjustamehbleh @love2write2626 @lt-jakeseresin @starcrossedtrek
@lauraseresin @axolotllover225 @kmc1989
“You can’t be serious right now!” My knuckles were white as my fingers curled tightly around the handle that sat above the window. “You’re gonna get us killed – fucking turn around!”
The car veered sharply around a corner, tires squealing against the asphalt. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing like a drum in my ears. The sky was pitch black, the only light coming from the dim glow of the dashboard and the constant flash of lightening high in the sky.
“Relax, I’ve got this!” Tyler’s voice was steady, but I could see the tension in his clenched jaw and the way his eyes darted to the rearview mirror as the funnel barreled closer.
“Relax? Are you kidding me?” I shouted over the roar of the engine. “We’re not in some action movie! You’re gonna get us both killed!”
He didn’t answer, just pressed harder on the gas pedal. The speedometer needle climbed higher, and I could feel the car vibrating with the effort. I glanced out the window, trees blurring into a dark smear as we raced past them.
“We can’t outrun a tornado, Tyler!” I yelled, the panic rising in my throat. “This is insane!”
Tyler glanced over, his hands reaching over, pulling the belt tighter across my chest. “Wanna bet?”
The wind howled outside, shaking the truck as if it were a toy. Debris flew past the windshield, some of it slamming against the car with loud thuds. I could barely see the road ahead; the rain was falling in sheets, and the wipers struggled to keep up.
“Tyler, please!” I tried to keep my voice steady, but it cracked with fear. “We need to find shelter, now!”
He ignored me, his eyes fixed on the road, his knuckles as white as mine on the steering wheel. The car hit a pothole, and we were jolted violently, my head smacking against the window despite the seatbelt. Pain shot through my skull, and I tasted blood.
“Damn it, Tyler!” I screamed, tears blurring my vision. “This isn’t worth it!”
In the distance, I could see the tornado’s massive funnel, an ominous silhouette against the flashes of lightning. It was like a monstrous black snake, twisting and writhing, consuming everything in its path. The sound was deafening, a constant roar that drowned out even our screaming.
“God dammit, Riley!” Tyler yelled. “I fucking got this!”
But the tornado was gaining on us, its monstrous form growing larger and more terrifying by the second. The air pressure dropped, my ears popping painfully. The car swerved again, narrowly missing a fallen tree branch.
“Tyler, we’re not gonna make it!” I sobbed, clutching the handle above the window as if it were a lifeline. My mind raced, picturing the car being lifted and tossed like a rag doll, the metal crumpling, the glass shattering. This couldn’t be how it ended.
With a final, desperate glance at the rearview mirror, Tyler seemed to make a decision. He yanked the wheel to the right, sending us skidding off the road and into a muddy field. The tires spun, struggling for traction, but Tyler kept the pedal to the metal, urging the car forward.
There wasn’t a house in sight – just an open field. I kept my eyes trained on the scene in front of us, glancing every other second to see how Tyler was reacting. His once cool and calm façade was now replaced by worry and fear – feelings that the so-called tornado wrangler never dared to show.
The car's headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the swirling chaos of wind and rain. The tornado’s monstrous form was a dark shadow against the flashes of lightning, growing larger and more menacing by the second. The air pressure dropped even further, making it hard to breathe, my ears popping painfully.
“Tyler, what are we going to do?” I cried, my voice barely audible over the roar of the storm. “There’s no place to hide!”
Tyler’s eyes darted around, searching for any sign of shelter, but the field stretched endlessly in every direction, offering no refuge. The car hit another bump, and I was thrown against the door, my heart racing faster than ever.
“Just hold on, Riley!” Tyler shouted; his voice tinged with desperation. The tires struggled to find traction in the muddy ground, the car fishtailing wildly.
I wasn’t the praying type – never having grown up going to church and all that, but at that moment I was desperate. “Please God – please God.” I whispered the words like a mantra, hoping some higher power would hear me, even if I had never believed before.
The wind howled around us, the noise deafening, as debris began to pelt the car. The windows rattled, threatening to shatter. The car lurched as it hit another rut, and I could hear Tyler cursing under his breath, fighting to keep control.
“Look!” Tyler yelled, pointing ahead. Through the sheets of rain, I could make out the faint outline of a small bridge, its weathered wood barely standing against the storm.
Tyler didn’t hesitate. He gunned the engine, aiming straight for the structure. The car bounced and jostled over the uneven ground, the structure growing larger and larger in our view. As we neared, Tyler slammed on the brakes, sending the car skidding to a halt against the side of the bridge. Without a word, we both threw open our doors and ran for cover, the wind nearly knocking us off our feet.
“Hold onto that pile!” Tyler’s voice was barely heard over the roar of the wind as I wrapped my arms around the wooden fixture. Tyler’s body hovered over mine as the rain pelted us sideways, mud and debris hitting us as the tornado approached. The red truck that Tyler treasured began to be pulled away only to be slammed back into the side of the bridge, my screams being overshadowed by the wind as nature’s force laid upon us. The wooden planks shuddered as the rusty nails began to give way, ripping off the top.
The bridge groaned and creaked, the old wood and metal straining under the sheer force of the tornado. Splinters flew through the air like missiles, and I pressed my face against the wooden pile, trying to shield myself from the onslaught. Tyler’s grip on me tightened, his body a protective barrier against the fury outside.
“We’re going to make it!” Tyler shouted, though his voice was filled with equal parts determination and fear. I held onto his words like a lifeline, my heart pounding in my chest.
The wind howled louder, and I could feel the bridge lifting slightly beneath us, threatening to be torn from its foundations. My mind raced with images of us being flung into the storm, the bridge collapsing, and Tyler’s truck being swallowed by the tornado. I squeezed my eyes shut, praying for the nightmare to end.
The noise was deafening, a relentless cacophony of wind, rain, and destruction. I felt like I was being pulled in every direction, the tornado’s force almost too much to bear. But Tyler’s presence kept me grounded, his unwavering strength giving me hope.
“Just a little longer!” Tyler yelled, his voice barely audible over the storm. “It’s almost over!”
A loud crack echoed through the air as one of the bridge’s support beams snapped, the structure shuddering violently. I tightened my grip on the pile, my knuckles white with the effort. The wind seemed to intensify, and I could feel my body being lifted slightly off the ground, the pull of the tornado almost irresistible.
And then, as suddenly as it began, the wind started to die down. The roar of the tornado faded, replaced by the steady patter of rain and the distant rumble of thunder. The pressure around us eased, and I dared to open my eyes.
The bridge was still standing, though barely. The top was partially ripped off, and debris was scattered everywhere, but we were alive. Tyler loosened his hold on me, glancing around to assess the damage.
“I think it’s moving away,” he said, his voice filled with cautious relief.
My eyes moved around, my body still shaking as tears started to prick against my eyes. The bridge was a tattered mess but for some reason we were still here – still alive. “You okay, baby?” Tyler’s hand caressed my arm, turning me to face him as he checked for any visible injuries. “Looks like everyth-“
“You stupid fucking asshole!” His body fell back at the force of my push.
Tyler's eyes widened in shock as he stumbled back, trying to comprehend the sudden shift in my demeanor. “What the hell, Riley!”
I could feel the anger boiling inside me, a mixture of fear, relief, and frustration. "You almost got us killed, Tyler! What were you thinking, driving straight into the storm like that?"
His eyes stayed connected with mine, searching for the right words but knowing they would still be wrong in my view. “Baby—” He sighed. “It’s a part of the job – tornadoes are my job.”
I stared at him, incredulous. "Your job? Your job is to drag me into life-and-death situations without even a warning? Without any regard for our safety?"
Tyler ran a hand through his hair, his face a mix of guilt and defensiveness. "I didn't expect it to get this bad. I thought we could get through it like we always do."
"Like we always do?" I echoed, my voice rising. "This isn't some routine storm chase, Tyler. This was a goddamn tornado! I could have died out there! We both could have!"
He took a step closer, his expression softening. "Riley, I know you're scared. I was scared too. But this is what I do. I study storms, I chase them. I can't just sit on the sidelines."
"But why drag me into it?" I asked, tears welling up in my eyes. "I didn't sign up for this."
Tyler took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving mine. "Because I need you with me. You're my anchor, Riley. You keep me grounded. I thought... I thought having you there would make it easier."
I shook my head, the tears spilling over. "It's not easier, Tyler. It's terrifying. I can't go through that again."
He stayed silent for a moment, “Would this be a bad time to ask you to marry me?”
My head jerking up, meeting his gaze, “What?”
I watched as he slowly reached into his denim pocket, pulling out the diamond ring. “I’ve had it in my pocket for about a week now – lost the damn box – almost lost the fucking ring a time or two.”
The tension in the air was palpable as Tyler revealed the ring. Despite the fear and adrenaline coursing through me from the storm, my heart skipped a beat. His eyes were earnest, filled with a mix of hope and apprehension.
"Riley," he began, his voice trembling slightly. "I know this isn't the most romantic proposal, and I know I've put you through hell. But I love you. I want to spend my life with you, chasing storms or not."
I stared at the ring, sparkling even under the dim light, and then back at Tyler. The weight of the moment pressed down on me, the reality of our dangerous lives juxtaposed with the promise of a future together. It was as if the storm outside mirrored the turmoil within me.
"Tyler," I whispered, my voice breaking. "This is crazy. You’re crazy."
He nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. "Maybe I am. But I’m crazy about you, Riley."
A laugh bubbled up, mingling with my tears. Despite everything, despite the fear and the chaos, there was love. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.
I took a deep breath, my hand reaching out to touch the ring. "Yes," I said, my voice steadying. "Yes, I'll marry you."
For a moment, the world seemed to stand still. Tyler's face lit up with joy, and he slipped the ring onto my finger. It felt strange, comforting and surreal all at once. But in that instant, surrounded by the remnants of the storm, it felt right.
Tyler pulled me into an embrace, holding me tight as if he was afraid to let go. I could feel his heart pounding against mine, a rhythm that matched my own. The storm outside seemed to quiet, as if acknowledging the significance of our moment.
"I promise," Tyler murmured into my hair, "I'll do everything I can to keep you safe. I know it's dangerous out there, but I can't imagine facing it without you."
#tyler owens#tyler owens x reader#tyler owens imagine#tyler owens fanfiction#glen powell x reader#glen powell fanfic#glen powell imagine#glen powell#twisters fanfic#twisters 2024#twisters movie#twisters#Spotify
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141 and Nikolai have to hold him back, and not even the 5 of them can hold back this angry Canadian moose man 😂😂😂😂😂
#oc: kenneth smith#cod oc#call of duty oc#my oc#cod#call of duty#cod mw2#cod mw2 oc#modern warfare oc#141 task force#cod nikolai#captain price#johnny soap mactavish#simon ghost riley#kyle gaz garrick#phillip graves
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WAIT! Before y'all go to sleep or get ready for the day, just know this...
Amanda and Ghost's Couple Song is "You Are My Sunshine".
Let that sink in.
Ooh the angst feels
#oc amanda smith#amanda smith#cod ghost#cod simon riley#simon ghost riley#ghost x amanda#ghost x oc#cod mw#cod modern warfare#call of duty#my headcanons#angst feels#couple songs
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