#rachelwrites

[musingsbycaitlin]

if i must give up, then so must you: a wip intro

it's been about a year since i last posted on here, and even longer since i posted a wip update or intro, and i apologise for that. basically living away from home at uni made me ✨anxious✨ and ✨mentally ill✨ so the only writing i ever did was for assignments and my creative brain was turned off entirely. but! now that i'm back home and getting help, boy do i have a wip intro for you!

tw: gun violence, alcohol abuse, emotional abuse

disclaimer: this is my original work and plagiarism is never tolerated.

okay let's go:

genre: literary fiction

setting: 1800's, somewhere in the wild west

predicted word count: 50k

pov: first person, present tense, unnamed narrator

status: about 5k into the first draft

aesthetics: loading a rifle, wind whipping up skirts, dusty earth under feet, struggling to breathe, sleeping for a week, floral wallpaper, sunlit dust in the window, long-legged spider crawling along wooden floorboards, fingernails brushing arm hair, dogs barking in the distance, creaky gates, chewing tobacco floating in a whiskey glass, snuffed candles, laced lingerie hanging on the back of a chair, teeth touching

summary: it seems odd that her grandmother would lie, but our unnamed narrator is questioning her late grandmother's wisdom after a group of bandits raid her town. over night, she feels compelled to follow a lone cowboy she spies from the edge of her town, and finds herself going on a reflective journey across the wild west. From town to town, she wanders and meets people; she falls in love with someone she didn't expect; she learns what it means to be a woman without the burdens of her grandmother's lies. 'if i must give up' is a story about learning truths whilst growing up secluded, and reflecting on past traumas and the guilt that lingers there.

characters (the few main ones at least):

narrator: 20, (she/her), this barbie is down on her luck fr. she is just muddling her way through compulsive thoughts and actions and following this guy just because she can. a truly chaotic queen.

anne: 30, (she/her), the definition of gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss. she says, dont talk to me unless you're pretty, but if you're pretty she can't talk through the drool. somehow a simp. anne please explain yourself to me.

jonah: 30-ish, (he/him to a hellish extent), good god please sir just sit down. major gael vibes, let that sink in. this ken's job is emotionally manipulate. im done talking about this man.

brady: 46, (they/them), a cowboy just out for a good time, riding and riding in both connotations of the word iykyk. lets give a hand to the obligatory orville peck inspired character of the book. if tassles on cowboy hats where invented, they would be rocking it daily. oblivious yet knowledgeable, gruff yet softly spoken. they are my fave, i will take no further questions.

[artie5o5]

Besties would you like to link short stories published online by your favourite #writblrs in reblogs I really wanna read literary fiction XD

[coffeeandcalligraphy]

have you ever thought about making a discord or something for viewers of your videos? I think talking about writing with other rachelwrites enjoyers would be fun :)

Hiiii :) personally no even tho it does sound fun! That’s a lot of responsibility & I’d want to make sure I’m approaching it correctly, esp. bc if there are fans in the chat I want to ensure I’m assessing that power dynamic & I am honestly too anxious for that responsibility atm!

[takeariskao3]

Do you know of any fics where Harry and Hermione talk about their feelings for Ginny and Ron?

to be honest i’m really not the best person to ask for recs.. i’ve read and actively read hinny but i have specific tags/dynamics i look for and there are definitely people out there who have read more. @narukoibito has excellent rec lists. @fairsquare16 and @nuatthebeach have read incredible amounts of content and are way better at remembering things than i am. @read-a-hinny-fic is another really good resource!

as for your ask.. i can think of one where parvati and seamus have a book club where they lament about their unrequited loves and harry joins… but that’s the only thing that comes to mind off the top of my head. and it’s doesn’t heavily feature hermione.

long story short by rachelwrites

[itssoweirdyoureher]

Your Lines Suck

The sound of the door slamming and then a locker creaking open tried to break through the haze of pure exhaustion that had overcome Lily about 20 minutes ago. It wasn’t until her fellow resident spoke that she resigned herself to come back to the land of the living.

“Alright, Evans?”

Lily chose not to answer. She was protesting human speech at the moment.

When she didn’t answer, James kicked the wooden bench she was laying across. “Oi, are you alive? Is this some elaborate ploy to get me to give you shirtless CPR?”

Lily cracked one of her eyes open at the word “shirtless.” He was standing at his locker staring at her while changing into his scrubs. The way the light was hitting him really showed the definition in his muscles. Lily couldn’t believe the jerk had time to work out regularly enough to have that nice of a body. It just wasn’t fair. “’Lo, Potter. Been here for about,” she interrupted herself with a god-awful yawn, “30 hours now. Nice pecs.”

James smiled at her as he pulled his shirt on. “Tough luck. I’m only here for a couple of hours today.” He turned back to his locker, but looked over at her when he said, “You know, if you’re too tired to drive home, you can walk to my place. I think Remus is crashing in Sirius’ bed, but mine should be free.”

Lily almost choked at the idea of sleeping in his bed. She had been harboring a slightly life-consuming crush on James since he saved her ass during rounds when they were interns. Being in his bed would definitely not help her get over it—which she still wasn’t sure she was trying to do because sometimes it seemed like he liked her back. She couldn’t tell. One minute they would be almost flirting, and then the next they’d be screaming in the middle of the hallway about charts. It was a mind fuck that she really didn’t have the energy to deal with today. But she also really didn’t think it would be wise to drive home. She couldn’t even keep her eyes open long enough to be sneak a peek as James changed his pants. HIS PANTS. The boy had a great arse too. It was a pure fact—ask anyone.

She finally got ahold of herself long enough to spit out, “Eh, no it’s fine. I need to pick up my laundry—”

“Evans, the only thing you should be doing is finding a bed that is not in this hospital and sleeping for a solid 18 hours.”

Lily sat up at this point, but her eyes were stilled closed. “I’m fine. Really. I just need to splash some cold water on my face, and I’ll be good to go.”

James chuckled, “You’re good to go? Really?”

“Mhm. Really…truly—” Lily froze as she looked down at the sock that had just hit her in the face. “Did you just throw your sock at me?”

“No, I just threw yoursock at your face,” James sighed as he ran his hand through her messy hair.

Lily only slightly leaned into his hand… and it was only because she was so tired of gravity trying to push her into the ground.

“You’re not fine, Lil. You forgot to put on one of your socks. You only have one out of 3 buttons done up on your jeans, and your shirt’s on backwards. Just go to my place—you know the passcode to get in. I’ve got plenty of food and clothes you can borrow, and I’ll pick up your laundry on my way back tonight because I already told Remus I’d get his for him. He hasn’t been feeling well again.”

It was the perfect solution for her. She knew it, and James knew it. “I dunno, James—”

“Come on, Evans. I need someone to check on Remus anyway for me. The bloody bloke is almost as stubborn as you are. But, I can’t make you do anything, and I honestly don’t have time to convince you otherwise.” James stood up to grab his tennis shoes out of his locker, before slipping them on and slamming his locker shut. He lifted one foot onto the bench and started to tie his shoes without looking at her once.

Lily knew he was annoyed at her now. He was just trying to be nice, and he obviously didn’t understand she wanted to take him up on his offer, but was refusing due to emotional instability. She didn’t know how she would feel after being in his space for so long. She was already so attracted to him it was ridiculous. Even now, practically half-dead, she felt herself reacting to the sight of his jaw clenching. Honestly, just the sight of him was making her feel more awake. She was bloody ridiculous. She was a grown woman, and her friend was offering to help her.

Lily reached forward and laid her hand on his wrist. “I’m sorry. I’ll go over and check on Remus before I snoop through all your things.”

James let out an all-too-familiar long, steadying breath before turning his head towards her and grinning like the bloody ponce he was. “As long as there’s sleep and a shower thrown in there somewhere, I’m fine with it. I’ve got nothing to hide. You, on the other hand, stink,” he said with a wink. He just laughed when she started stuttering and blushing like an idiot. He started walking away, but before the door slammed shut, he turned to look at her. “I’m serious, Evans. When I get home tonight, I better see you in my bed.”

*****

Lily let out a sigh of relief as she closed the door to the on-call room. She could barely make out the figure on the bed, but she knew it was James. “Hey, there you are. I was waiting for you… in your bed. Like you told me to.”

“Good to know you’ll follow my orders.” James almost grinned, and added with a wink, “Ya know, for the future.”

“God, you’re the worst.” Lily knew he didn’t take her statement seriously because he pulled her down next to him on the tiny, single bed. Lying side-by-side like they were supposed to be doing in his bed a couple of hours ago. His arm was under her neck as she turned onto her side to look at him. “But really, what happened? You never came back to your place.”

There was silence for a few long moments, and then James took a deep breath. “We lost a kid today. Teenager, really. He was 14… but he looked so young on that table. It was meant to be a simple appendectomy, but he had a heart problem, and there were complications.”

Lily didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to. She knew it was best to let him talk when he got like this. Losing a patient was never easy, but kids were always the hardest.

“I just…I know it wasn’t my fault. There wasn’t anything I could have done, but I still had to listen to the parents tell me it was my fault.” He looked at her then. “I haven’t had to tell a parent that their kid’s gone before this. It’s a whole other ball game, Lil. I mean, no one takes the kind of news we deliver well, but these parents…you just watch the light leave their eyes. I don’t know how to describe it. The guilt and disappointment…” James turned his head to look at the ceiling and then squeezed his eyes shut.

He clenched his jaw.

He cleared his throat.

But he couldn’t talk anymore.

Lily ran her fingers across the crease between his eyebrows, down his nose, and stroked his jaw with her thumb. This wasn’t how she imagined doing this with him, but he needed her and that’s all she cared about. Her feelings didn’t matter when James was hurting.

“I’m sorry, James. I… I’m so sorry. That sucks, and I’m sorry you had to go through that. I bet you did really well though. You’re really good with patients’ families. You know just the right words to say… and the right moment to rest your hand on their shoulders. It’s amazing how easily it comes to you.” Lily pulled his chin towards her so she could look him in the eye. “I don’t want you to think that just because this family took the news horribly that it’s your fault. You said it yourself, you did everything you could—and I’m guessing you went above and beyond to try and comfort that family. Don’t let them ruin how open and honest you are with people during those situation. It’s one of the things that make you, you.” Lilyswallowed, “It’s what makes you special.”

James’ eyes had not left hers since she started what had basically become a monologue. They had started out dull and sad, and while those emotions weren’t completely gone, there was a new spark in them.

James curled the arm that was under her head, so that he could hold onto her shoulder. It was a weird sort-of side hug while lying down, but it was still nice.

They stayed like that for a few minutes before James looked at her again.

“Man, you must have been really disappointed when I didn’t come back. I didn’t know you wanted me in bed so badly. That was an impressive speech, Evans.”

“Shut the fuck up, Potter. I hate you.” Lily tried to squirm out of his hold, but he only squeezed her against him harder—which she didn’treally mind that much.

“You do not! You think I’m special. Tell me, Evans. Were you waiting on my bed in a seductive pose? Was there lingerie involved? What about candles and roses? I bet that whole ‘I have no laundry’ thing was a lie, just to throw me off!”

“It was not! I honestly have no clean underwear. I’m wearing a bathing suit right now!”

James laughed so hard the bed was shaking underneath them. Lily was honestly just enjoying the fact that he was happy, at least for a moment. And, if she was being honest, she couldn’t complain about the way his body was moving against hers. Her secret crush was well and truly out in the open now, so she wasn’t going to waste a perfectly good opportunity to enjoy James Potter. Once he finally settled down again, he looked over at her with an expression that could only be described as a smirk. “Don’t worry, Evans. You won’t need underwear around me.”

Lily groaned. “Oh my god. Your lines suck, Potter.”

He just laughed and pulled her close, finally kissing her.

[lonelyocean]

I'm just so happy I got to lighten up your day and pleease, there's no way I'll be dissapointed, really! Don't stress too much about it. As long as you're happy with it there's no way I wouldn't be. Good night for now. I hope your dreams treat you better tonight :)

I am filled with warm fuzzy feelings and anticipate zero nightmares (pray with me). Good night to you too and I’ll try to write something else for John to stress over ^.^

[coffeebeanscreative]

Story snippet

[inkandbrush]

Blue

The first boy I ever loved had eyes like my father's: blue as the shards of discarded Robin's egg that I found (every spring) nestled in new grass on the path to our mailbox. In the spring we laid on the hill by my childhood home and watched the clouds. He would point out their shapes but I was too busy watching blue sky reflect in his eyes to see the one he claimed looked just like Gandhi. Last May my dog found a baby bird, scrawny and squawking for food, lying alone on the ground, surrounded by shards of blue. The dog barked softly, nosing damp feathers. (She wanted to eat the bird, or maybe take it home and put in the box with her tennis balls.) I scooped it into my palm and set it down in the shallow bowl of a nest, resting between pine branches above my head. Three days later, the boy with robin's egg eyes told me he "needed space." That afternoon I remembered reading somewhere that you should never pet a baby deer, because does will reject their fawns if they smell like a human. (I wonder if robins have a sense of smell.)

[clarapswald]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley, Lavender Brown/Parvati Patil, Seamus Finnigan/Dean Thomas Characters: Harry Potter, Parvati Patil, Seamus Finnigan, Ginny Weasley, Lavender Brown, Dean Thomas, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom Additional Tags: Pining, Mutual Pining, Friendship, i mean it's not not canon compliant, Book Club, Fluff, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Book 6: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Summary:

harry finds himself, amongst other things, pining endlessly for ginny during his sixth year. parvati and seamus, who are doing some pining of their own, decide to take him under their wing. (welcome to book club.)

based on this text post of mine

[tophbejfong]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Sokka/Zuko (Avatar), Minor or Background Relationship(s), Aang/Katara (Avatar), Suki/Ty Lee (Avatar) Characters: Sokka (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar), Toph Beifong, Katara (Avatar), Mai (Avatar), Aang (Avatar), Ty Lee (Avatar), Suki (Avatar), Azula (Avatar), Hakoda (Avatar), Lu Ten, Ozai (Avatar) Additional Tags: Red White and Royal Blue AU, Alternate Universe - Royalty, Fluff and Angst, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, super slow burn, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse Summary:

they spin around a few more times and zuko stumbles. sokka takes the opportunity to shove him backwards, hard, but zuko has a tighter grip on him that he thought because he follows the prince, the two of them tumbling— straight into the seven tier wedding cake. (obligatory zukka rwrb au)

well here it is!! the rwrb au, the longest thing i’ve ever written. please enjoy.

[ao3feed-zukka]

one save at a time

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/31OtKGU

by rachelwrites

in which sokka is the least mild-mannered reporter in all of republic city, zuko is his new photographer, and the blue spirit is the first actual superhero the city's seen. and sokka sees no connection between these events. nope, not a single one.

Words: 18114, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Avatar: The Last Airbender

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Sokka (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar), The Blue Spirit (Avatar), Katara (Avatar), Aang (Avatar), Azula (Avatar), Suki (Avatar)

Relationships: Sokka/Zuko (Avatar), Minor or Background Relationship(s), Aang/Katara (Avatar)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Superheroes/Superpowers, Friends to Lovers, Mistaken Identity, Superhero/Reporter AU

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/31OtKGU

[lolladova]

gratitude -- I am in no isolation; I can feel more than loss! this, I will only remember if I write it. you -- should you read it?

what comes from me goes to you

what comes from you goes to me

what comes from me goes to you

what comes from you goes to me

-- as you read it.

[coffeeandcalligraphy]

it's so fun that sometimes when i see stranger things fanart of those two guys on my dash sometimes they're so harrison and lonan that i forget that they're not legitimate fanart and Rachelwriting has not yet gotten all the acclaim it deserves

omg do I now need to go find some stranger things fanart???

also 🥺 makes me soooo happy that people around the world think about my boys! ahhhhhhhh I could scream for eternity :’) made my day!

fanart is welcome tho 👀

[ao3feed-jily]

i'm not bitter anymore, i'm syrupy sweet

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3gPJGB6

by rachelwrites

“moony!” someone bellowed from down the hallways. “moony, where are you?”

lily raised an eyebrow at him. “that sounds suspiciously like your best friend, sirius black.”

remus cringed a little and gave a shrug. “okay, maybe tonight I’m on the run from my friends.”

Words: 4210, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling, mauraders era - Fandom

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Lily Evans Potter, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew

Relationships: Sirius Black/Remus Lupin, Minor or Background Relationship(s), James Potter/Lily Evans Potter

Additional Tags: Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort, The Prank, werewolf rights, Nice Peter, James Isn't An Asshole, Lily Isn't Always Right, Severus Snape Bashing, Established Relationship, Breaking Up & Making Up, well sort of

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3gPJGB6

[read-a-jily-fic]

Short and very very sweet.

Your Lines Suck

The sound of the door slamming and then a locker creaking open tried to break through the haze of pure exhaustion that had overcome Lily about 20 minutes ago. It wasn’t until her fellow resident spoke that she resigned herself to come back to the land of the living.

“Alright, Evans?”

Lily chose not to answer. She was protesting human speech at the moment.

When she didn’t answer, James kicked the wooden bench she was laying across. “Oi, are you alive? Is this some elaborate ploy to get me to give you shirtless CPR?”

Lily cracked one of her eyes open at the word “shirtless.” He was standing at his locker staring at her while changing into his scrubs. The way the light was hitting him really showed the definition in his muscles. Lily couldn’t believe the jerk had time to work out regularly enough to have that nice of a body. It just wasn’t fair. “’Lo, Potter. Been here for about,” she interrupted herself with a god-awful yawn, “30 hours now. Nice pecs.”

James smiled at her as he pulled his shirt on. “Tough luck. I’m only here for a couple of hours today.” He turned back to his locker, but looked over at her when he said, “You know, if you’re too tired to drive home, you can walk to my place. I think Remus is crashing in Sirius’ bed, but mine should be free.”

Lily almost choked at the idea of sleeping in his bed. She had been harboring a slightly life-consuming crush on James since he saved her ass during rounds when they were interns. Being in his bed would definitely not help her get over it—which she still wasn’t sure she was trying to do because sometimes it seemed like he liked her back. She couldn’t tell. One minute they would be almost flirting, and then the next they’d be screaming in the middle of the hallway about charts. It was a mind fuck that she really didn’t have the energy to deal with today. But she also really didn’t think it would be wise to drive home. She couldn’t even keep her eyes open long enough to be sneak a peek as James changed his pants. HIS PANTS. The boy had a great arse too. It was a pure fact—ask anyone.

She finally got ahold of herself long enough to spit out, “Eh, no it’s fine. I need to pick up my laundry—”

“Evans, the only thing you should be doing is finding a bed that is not in this hospital and sleeping for a solid 18 hours.”

Lily sat up at this point, but her eyes were stilled closed. “I’m fine. Really. I just need to splash some cold water on my face, and I’ll be good to go.”

James chuckled, “You’re good to go? Really?”

“Mhm. Really…truly—” Lily froze as she looked down at the sock that had just hit her in the face. “Did you just throw your sock at me?”

“No, I just threw yoursock at your face,” James sighed as he ran his hand through her messy hair.

Lily only slightly leaned into his hand… and it was only because she was so tired of gravity trying to push her into the ground.

“You’re not fine, Lil. You forgot to put on one of your socks. You only have one out of 3 buttons done up on your jeans, and your shirt’s on backwards. Just go to my place—you know the passcode to get in. I’ve got plenty of food and clothes you can borrow, and I’ll pick up your laundry on my way back tonight because I already told Remus I’d get his for him. He hasn’t been feeling well again.”

It was the perfect solution for her. She knew it, and James knew it. “I dunno, James—”

“Come on, Evans. I need someone to check on Remus anyway for me. The bloody bloke is almost as stubborn as you are. But, I can’t make you do anything, and I honestly don’t have time to convince you otherwise.” James stood up to grab his tennis shoes out of his locker, before slipping them on and slamming his locker shut. He lifted one foot onto the bench and started to tie his shoes without looking at her once.

Lily knew he was annoyed at her now. He was just trying to be nice, and he obviously didn’t understand she wanted to take him up on his offer, but was refusing due to emotional instability. She didn’t know how she would feel after being in his space for so long. She was already so attracted to him it was ridiculous. Even now, practically half-dead, she felt herself reacting to the sight of his jaw clenching. Honestly, just the sight of him was making her feel more awake. She was bloody ridiculous. She was a grown woman, and her friend was offering to help her.

Lily reached forward and laid her hand on his wrist. “I’m sorry. I’ll go over and check on Remus before I snoop through all your things.”

James let out an all-too-familiar long, steadying breath before turning his head towards her and grinning like the bloody ponce he was. “As long as there’s sleep and a shower thrown in there somewhere, I’m fine with it. I’ve got nothing to hide. You, on the other hand, stink,” he said with a wink. He just laughed when she started stuttering and blushing like an idiot. He started walking away, but before the door slammed shut, he turned to look at her. “I’m serious, Evans. When I get home tonight, I better see you in my bed.”

*****

Lily let out a sigh of relief as she closed the door to the on-call room. She could barely make out the figure on the bed, but she knew it was James. “Hey, there you are. I was waiting for you… in your bed. Like you told me to.”

“Good to know you’ll follow my orders.” James almost grinned, and added with a wink, “Ya know, for the future.”

“God, you’re the worst.” Lily knew he didn’t take her statement seriously because he pulled her down next to him on the tiny, single bed. Lying side-by-side like they were supposed to be doing in his bed a couple of hours ago. His arm was under her neck as she turned onto her side to look at him. “But really, what happened? You never came back to your place.”

There was silence for a few long moments, and then James took a deep breath. “We lost a kid today. Teenager, really. He was 14… but he looked so young on that table. It was meant to be a simple appendectomy, but he had a heart problem, and there were complications.”

Lily didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to. She knew it was best to let him talk when he got like this. Losing a patient was never easy, but kids were always the hardest.

“I just…I know it wasn’t my fault. There wasn’t anything I could have done, but I still had to listen to the parents tell me it was my fault.” He looked at her then. “I haven’t had to tell a parent that their kid’s gone before this. It’s a whole other ball game, Lil. I mean, no one takes the kind of news we deliver well, but these parents…you just watch the light leave their eyes. I don’t know how to describe it. The guilt and disappointment…” James turned his head to look at the ceiling and then squeezed his eyes shut.

He clenched his jaw.

He cleared his throat.

But he couldn’t talk anymore.

Lily ran her fingers across the crease between his eyebrows, down his nose, and stroked his jaw with her thumb. This wasn’t how she imagined doing this with him, but he needed her and that’s all she cared about. Her feelings didn’t matter when James was hurting.

“I’m sorry, James. I… I’m so sorry. That sucks, and I’m sorry you had to go through that. I bet you did really well though. You’re really good with patients’ families. You know just the right words to say… and the right moment to rest your hand on their shoulders. It’s amazing how easily it comes to you.” Lily pulled his chin towards her so she could look him in the eye. “I don’t want you to think that just because this family took the news horribly that it’s your fault. You said it yourself, you did everything you could—and I’m guessing you went above and beyond to try and comfort that family. Don’t let them ruin how open and honest you are with people during those situation. It’s one of the things that make you, you.” Lilyswallowed, “It’s what makes you special.”

James’ eyes had not left hers since she started what had basically become a monologue. They had started out dull and sad, and while those emotions weren’t completely gone, there was a new spark in them.

James curled the arm that was under her head, so that he could hold onto her shoulder. It was a weird sort-of side hug while lying down, but it was still nice.

They stayed like that for a few minutes before James looked at her again.

“Man, you must have been really disappointed when I didn’t come back. I didn’t know you wanted me in bed so badly. That was an impressive speech, Evans.”

“Shut the fuck up, Potter. I hate you.” Lily tried to squirm out of his hold, but he only squeezed her against him harder—which she didn’treally mind that much.

“You do not! You think I’m special. Tell me, Evans. Were you waiting on my bed in a seductive pose? Was there lingerie involved? What about candles and roses? I bet that whole ‘I have no laundry’ thing was a lie, just to throw me off!”

“It was not! I honestly have no clean underwear. I’m wearing a bathing suit right now!”

James laughed so hard the bed was shaking underneath them. Lily was honestly just enjoying the fact that he was happy, at least for a moment. And, if she was being honest, she couldn’t complain about the way his body was moving against hers. Her secret crush was well and truly out in the open now, so she wasn’t going to waste a perfectly good opportunity to enjoy James Potter. Once he finally settled down again, he looked over at her with an expression that could only be described as a smirk. “Don’t worry, Evans. You won’t need underwear around me.”

Lily groaned. “Oh my god. Your lines suck, Potter.”

He just laughed and pulled her close, finally kissing her.

[lonelyocean]

Anthony. His name is Anthony. His name is Anthony and he’s a banker in corporate investment and loans. Fancy.

The very fancy, very important and very official sounding title is actually just a way to: a) pay the bills b) feed his pet parakeet and c) impress his family at the annual Christmas turkey carving.

It also sounds very nice on first dates. Before the wine has been poured and the inevitable question of, “so what do you do?” arises. Anthony’s been on plenty of first dates. They’re quite fun usually, but the girls (or guys) always seem to lose interest once he starts to explain what investment banking actually is.

He hasn’t been on many second dates