#rosie has some feelings about football

[onsomenewsht]

I just wanna feel something, tell me where to go

About when she wants to win gold and you talk too much but don’t answer her questions

《 read part 2, 'cause everybody knows something I don't wanna know

》 Alexia Putellas x fencer!Reader

》 words count: + 1.7k

》 the mountain’s call [way of saying]: the irresistible pull or urge to pursue a challenging goal or adventure

“You look like someone who needs to see the best place in the entire Village”

Alexia looks up from the pass’ lanyard she’s fidgeting with, finding your open smile even before spotting your outstretched hand. Her eyebrow rises on its own accord, always sceptical around strangers.

The Olympic Village is big enough to welcome the egos of some of the best athletes in the world, but not big enough to avoid their clashing. It’s actually encouraged.

Within a certain limit, obviously.

The footballer sees you in passing almost every day, given that the Spanish Team rooms are basically neighbours with the Italian Team ones. Your outgoing attitude and friendly nature make you pretty popular around the village. The fact you’re easy on the eyes and quite the talk among the players isn’t lost on Alexia either – she likes good gossip like anybody else.

“Come on, Reina, don’t let me stand here like an idiot”, your teasing words take her back from her overthinking one more time.

“Shouldn’t you be somewhere celebrating that?”, she points to the medal hanging around your neck.

A genuine smile rises on both your faces as you mindlessly hold the piece of gold to look at it one more time, feeling like this is some kind of dream.

Your gaze falls on Alexia, still sitting in a corner of a communal break room when her teammates are cheering all around for one more victory in their Olympic journey.

“I’m gonna celebrate for the next four years, I can spare some time for you”

“Congratulations, by the way, I heard it’s not the first one”, she takes your hand as you burst out laughing, helping her on her feet.

You may have hosted the closest thing to a party you can do in the Village when, just earlier this week, you won your first gold medal.

It’s not your first Olympics, it’s not even your first Olympic medal. But finally being a gold medalist? An Olympic Champion? You sure could not let it pass over in silence.

The short walk is filled with small talks and giggles, you do most of the talking but Alexia’s grin stays firmly on her face the entire time. You notice her rosy cheeks and more relaxed stance, holding yourself high with pride to finally see the blonde so carefree around you.

“How did you even find this place?”

The night lights of Paris really turn the city into some sort of fantastic dream, the view is easily able to take the breath away from the little balcony you open for her. You’re on top of the biggest complex in the Village, the usual chaos that fills the French capital is somehow just background noise.

“Fencing is an ancient discipline”, you start, barely avoiding Alexia’s playful hit on your arm at your documentary-like approach.

“Jokes aside, the Italian school basically created fencing, but then the French school redefined the system to what it’s like today and they will not shut up about it. It’s a long lasting rivalry between two countries that, sportwise, hate each other”

“Everyone hates the French, sportwise”, the Spain captain agrees, mimicking your move as you sit on the floor of the balcony.

“Fencing into the Grand Palais in fucking Paris is like playing every single game as a World Cup final against the host country in a stadium filled with their fans and colours”

“Dramatic”

“Of course! You’re putting Italian and French people in the same place, asking them to fight with swords, literally. It’s gonna be dramatic”, you let your gaze wander around as the blonde’s one tries to find something inside you.

Alexia waits for you, understanding just now how your cheerful and playful behaviour hides something more complex.

She has turned on your Team Final on her way back from the stadium, curious about it – about you – after the little party you put on for the entire Village following your Individual Final victory.

She got nothing about what was happening, not understanding how some hits were good and others were given away or not counted. She prides herself on being able to recognise good athleticism and quick leg ability though. The way you move on the piste, quickly but precisely in every single gesture, is mesmerising. The way your mind acts even faster than your body is even more captivating.

What surprised her the most is the way you hold back.

While your opponents celebrate any conceded hits and your teammates celebrate loudly all the successful points, you stay stoic and firm the entire time.

It’s something she doesn’t expected from you, usually so excited about everything.

That’s probably one of the reasons that brings her here with you in the first place.

“You don’t look dramatic when you fence”

“Oh, you watched me?”

“It was the bare minimum after your detailed commentary after our last game”

“I’m Italian, I’m a football fan from birth”, you say, rolling your eyes humorously, not ready to reveal that the Spanish team is the only one you care about keeping up with during this Olympic tournament.

Alexia Putellas just admitted she turned on your Final to see you win a gold medal.

“Wait, let’s just go back to you watching me fence”

She smile at your weak attempt to avoid her question, genuinely amused about you but pretty sure you’re gonna tell her everything she asks – eventually.

A comfortable silence between the two of you fills the air for some minutes, somehow guiding your bodies closer.

“How did you find this place?”, the Catalan winks when you turn to look at her.

“I hate fencing with the French”, you start to explain after a bit with a serious note underneath your voice, “I lost my last Olympic Individual Final against a reckless fencer with the most annoying Parisian accent ever”

Another moment passes, Alexia doesn’t pressure you but can feel you relax when she places her hand on your knee.

“Last time I was in Paris, I injured myself. I was out for nine months and lost two major tournaments. This Olympics being hosted here as I was supposed to redeem myself and prove to be good enough at the same time? Really took a turn on me at first”, you avoid her gaze as you sum up one of your biggest fears to a stranger on a balcony viewing Paris’ landscape.

“I needed a place to escape without running away”

“And here we are, facing Paris from a hiding spot”

How the footballer manages to understand you so well in such a short amount of time, in such an unusual setting, is really something that surprises you. Your eyes meet and you can distinctly feel your heart skip a bit.

“I befriended a handyman, this floor is for staff only as some sort of control room”

“This explains the private balcony”

“I should have started with this and not the unasked story of my life”

You can still feel Alexia’s hand on you, mindlessly caressing your leg as you try not to implode and hide the redness of your face. She smirks.

“We’ll play France in the semifinal”, she says with a hint of disbelief and irony.

“Fuck the French”, you state solemnly, “It’s basically a wanna-be repeat of the Champions League’s final, you’re going to be fine”

“If you just jinxed it–”

“I did not, I know an Olympic Champion when I see one”

The burst of confidence and the firmness in your voice, despite the easy way you’re both talking about Spain’s next game, are enough to subside the noises inside Alexia’s head – your voice is a good distraction and your presence is a welcoming discovery.

“How is it?”

“What?”

The blonde’s finger points at the piece of gold still hanging on your neck, you’re just glad it’s her other hand as you look back and forth between her and the medal.

“You won enough to know how it is”

“It’s my first Olympics”

“In Italian there’s a word, I don’t know if you have the same difference in Spanish. It’s olimpionico and it’s not like olimpico – olympic”

“You never go for the straight answer, do you?”, she interrupts you with a teasing smile.

“No, never done anything the straight way my entire life, now let me go on with my wise and deep talk”, you graciously – and quite bravely on your part, if you must say so yourself – drop your arm around her shoulder, releasing a breath as she smoothly adjusts her body closer.

“Olimpionico is formed from the Greek ᾿Ολύμπια, which means ‘competitions of Olympia’ so our Olympic Games, and the root of νικάω, that I don’t know to explain how but can be translated with ‘victory’ or ‘winner’ and you have to trust me on this one”, you’ve never been happier with your strict education and the Italian questionable school system.

“I’m still waiting for the point”

“I mean to say we have a specific word for an Olympic athlete who doesn’t just compete in the Olympic Games but actually wins”

“You won enough Olympic medals to know how it is”

“The last time we won bronze as a team and I lost the gold against the obnoxious Frenchwoman, Alexia, keep up”, you’re perfectly aware of her hand on your thigh and her eyes burning on your face – she definitely noticed your red cheeks and the cracks on your walls.

“It’s my first Individual gold and this is my first Team gold, it’s– I don’t know how to explain, but it’s–”

“It’s olimpionico?”, she indulges you, her accent around the Italian word is way more charming than the French one.

“You get it”

“Olympic Champion sounds so uncool now”

As the night turns into a darker shade of black and the Paris lights really do the city’s name justice, you feel like there’s something profound linking you with the athlete curled on your side.

It’s a shared desire to prove yourself to everyone, while wanting to make just a few close people proud. It’s a shared hunger to be the best among some of the greatest, but to make sure the ones around you shine as much.

It’s a shared feeling, deep inside, telling you’re right where you’re supposed to be.

[sansaorgana]

would benny be a girl dad or a boy dad?

either way I can see him getting teaching his child (let's say 5 year old) how to ride a bike because they want to be just like their dad but benny knows the dangers of a motorcycle and the heart attack it would give his wife (reader) so they just settled on a regular bike.

what about girl dad benny who's daughter has a pink bicycle with a little flower wicker basket in the front

hi! 😌 honestly, I don't know. I can imagine him as a girl dad and a boy dad equally, although I assume he didn't have a good father growing up, so being a boy dad could terrify him a little... anyway, dad!Benny is apparently something I really enjoy writing because I loved every moment of it 🥰 before someone points it out – yes, he's drinking beer & smoking cigarettes with the kid around and yes, his wife (the Reader) is the one responsible for cooking and cleaning around the house (she has a job, too) – it's the 70s, okay? 🤷🏻‍♀️

I had to close my requests for now because I got so many 🙏🏻

The garage where Benny worked as a mechanic was closed every Sunday but the store where you worked part-time was open every day of the week and sometimes they were asking you to show up on the weekends – especially when one of your co-workers was sick – but you didn’t mind it that much since they were paying more for working on Sunday. Today they wanted you for only one six hour long shift anyway so you would handle that with no problem.

In the morning, you prepared breakfast for everybody and went upstairs to change into your work clothes and to put light makeup on. When you went downstairs, Benny and Rosie were sitting on the couch together and watching cartoons. Your five years old daughter was curled up and rested her head on Benny’s chest as they both laughed at something silly.

“I’m leavin’,” you announced but they didn’t even turn around to look at you. You sighed. “I’m leavin’,” you repeated as you leaned in to give Benny a kiss on the cheek. Then you gave one to your daughter. “Don’t let her watch TV for too long,” you furrowed your brows at your husband. “I’m gonna bring dinner with me but you can make sandwiches,” you reminded him.

“Don’t worry ‘bout it,” Benny mumbled.

“Be careful, mummy!” Rosie waved her hand at you and you waved back with a wide smile before leaving the house.

When the door behind you closed, Rosie moved even closer to her daddy as she sighed.

“Daddy?” She looked up.

“Hm?” Benny asked as he put his arm around her and caressed her back.

“But I want to watch cartoons all day long,” she pouted and Benny chuckled before looking down at her face.

“Yeah, I know, baby, but they don’t show ‘em all day long,” he pointed out.

“What are we gonna do then?” Rosie whined.

“Dunno,” Benny shrugged his arms. “Whatever you want.”

“Whatever?” Rosie’s eyes sparkled and Benny nodded – unsurely, though. “Can I colour your tattoos?” She made puppy eyes at him.

“Yeah,” Benny sighed but with a loving smile.

Rosie clapped her hands, forgetting the cartoon on the TV immediately. She kissed Benny’s cheek and scrunched her nose at the itchy feeling of his facial hair before she jumped out of the couch but then, she froze.

“Wait, do you go to work tomorrow, daddy?” She asked, concerned. Benny nodded at that. “Well, maybe then no colouring…”

“It’s fine,” Benny chuckled. 

They had learnt already that one shower was not enough to get those marker pens out of his skin.

“I don’t mind it, baby,” he assured her and she smiled again, widely. Then she ran upstairs to her room for the set of marker pens that you had given her for her birthday.

Benny changed the channel on TV since Rosie wasn’t interested in watching cartoons anymore. He switched to some football game and went to the kitchen to grab a beer. You would usually scold him for starting so early but you weren’t home.

When he went back to the living room, Rosie was already taking out the marker pens out of the box. Benny sat down on the couch and opened the can of beer with a wink.

“Don’t tell mummy ‘bout it, huh?” He chuckled and Rosie pretended to zip her mouth. “Good girl,” he patted her head and focused on the game on TV.

Rosie sat next to him and took one of his arms to colour the tattoos. She was trying to do a good job with it and not to cross over the lines. She was so focused on that task that she stuck out her tongue a little and her brows furrowed.

“You know what tattoo is my favourite, daddy?” She asked suddenly.

Benny, who had been lost in the game, immediately focused on his daughter’s question instead.

“Which one, dollie?” He asked.

“The rose, of course!” Rosie giggled. “It’s for me!” She exclaimed proudly and picked up a pink marker pen to fill in her favourite tattoo with her favourite colour.

“Um…,” Benny looked at her, concerned, and her hand froze in the air. “Could you… Choose a different colour perhaps? I’ve told you already I don’t want no pink on me,” he reminded her and Rosie sighed.

She looked down and started to look for a different marker pen.

“Why don’t you like pink, daddy?” Rosie asked.

“It’s not that I don’t like it. But it’s for girls,” Benny explained as he took a sip of his beer. “Men don’t wear pink.”

“Elvis had a pink cadillac!” Rosie pointed out. “And you have a tattoo of a rose. It’s girly, too,” she added and picked up a green marker pen.

“Okay, alright,” Benny sighed, giving up. “Paint it pink, I don’t care,” he shrugged his arms.

“Really?” Rosie looked up with widened eyes and a big grin.

“Yeah. If someone says something, I’m gonna remind ‘em who’s the boss around,” he laughed and Rosie squealed out of happiness before changing the maker pen for the pink one again.

“You’re the best, daddy!” She hugged him before starting to colour the rose tattoo.

Benny smiled to himself and went back to watching the game on TV. Those words coming from his daughter meant more than anything else to him.

When the game was over, Benny was already covered in colourful drawings. Rosie not only had coloured his already existing tattoos but also added a few new ones – for example a ginger cat she really wanted to own. She had no idea you and Benny planned to adopt one for Christmas as a surprise.

“My second favourite tattoo is this one,” she pointed with her little finger at a heart with a ribbon on it. And on the ribbon there was your name. “The one for mummy.”

“Your favourites are my favourites, too,” Benny smiled at her and opened his arms. Rosie crawled upon his lap and hugged her daddy tight. “You hungry, baby?” He asked and placed a kiss on the top of her head.

“Nah,” Rosie shook her head and scrunched her nose. “Can we play outside?”

“Sure. What you wanna do?” Benny patted her back.

“I want you to show me on the motorbike,” Rosie looked up with a pleading look. Benny laughed at that.

“No way.”

“But daddy…” Rosie whined.

“Rose, your mother’s gonna kill me,” Benny told her.

“She won’t find out!” Rosie promised.

Benny contemplated it for a moment but eventually agreed with a sigh. Rosie left his lap and ran outside and Benny stood up and went to the garage. He opened the door first and saw Rosie already waiting on the driveway while she kept dancing around happily.

He glanced at his Harley with a hint of melancholy. It was not like he wasn’t driving it at all anymore but these days his motorbike rides were rare. Next to the Harley there was his car parked and that vehicle was simply more useful when you had a family and a kid.

His good, old Harley. Benny patted it lovingly. He was grateful to you that you had not wanted him to sell it. Even when you had been kinda broke and needed money for the house. You had told him it would be fine without selling it. You knew the importance of this motorbike for him. And you knew how much it would devastate your husband if he had to sell it.

“Come here,” Benny waved at Rosie and she ran up to him, excitedly. “You can sit on it,” he told her but her smile dropped.

“No, daddy! I want to ride it! And outside, not inside the garage!” Rosie insisted and Benny sighed.

“Do you have to be so stubborn?”

“Yeah! I’m your daughter!” Rosie pointed out with a grin. “And mummy’s, too! You’re both stubborn as a pair of mules!”

“Rosie…” Benny scolded her as he gave her an unpleasant look.

“What? That’s what you are like whenever you’re fighting!” Rosie rolled her eyes.

“Alright, alright,” Benny gave up already. “Move away now,” he told her and she took a few steps back to watch in awe as he jumped onto the motorbike and started it with an aggressive kick. He kept looking behind to make sure she wouldn’t suddenly jump ahead and get hurt.

Benny drove outside to stop on the driveway and beckoned Rosie over. She followed him, curiously.

“You have to hold me very, very tight, you hear me?” Benny explained as he was helping her to sit behind him. He already regretted his decision to agree to this madness.

“I hear you, daddy!” Rosie promised and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“I’m not gonna drive fast and we’re only gonna be riding up and down the street once. Don’t ask for more,” Benny told her.

“Okay!” She exclaimed happily.

Benny took a deep breath in and left the driveway to enter the street – slowly and carefully. He ended up driving with one hand as he kept his other one on Rosie, just in case her grip turned out to be not strong enough.

“I love it already, daddy!” He heard her giggle and that sound was like honey being poured onto his heart.

When they made one round, she asked for another and then another and another. Benny just couldn’t say no.

You left the bus with a takeout dinner still warm in the bag you were carrying. The day was nice and sunny so you weren’t hurrying to go back home. Your walk was slow and steady as you admired the trees and the sky and the sound of children playing in the background.

After a while, you furrowed your brows at the sound that was oddly familiar. No, it could not be… It could not be the sound of the engine of Benny’s motorbike, could it?!

You picked up your pace and when you finally approached your street, you froze at the sight of Benny driving his motorbike with a cigarette hanging from his lips as he was laughing. Rosie was sitting behind him and giggling while her legs were swinging in the air. You got dizzy at the sight.

Yeah, Benny was driving very slow and he was keeping one of his hands on Rosie just in case… But still, it was dangerous.

“Benjamin Cross!” You yelled and they both froze at the sight of you as their eyes widened in fear. It was nearly funny how much they looked alike at the moment – a father and daughter indeed.

Benny stopped the engine immediately and you could see his face got a shade paler. He mumbled something to Rosie and she jumped out of the motorbike before running towards you to give you a hug.

“Mummy!” She greeted you with a smile. “I made daddy show me how to ride a bike!”

“I could see that,” you smiled fakely at her and then gave Benny a deadly look. He was slowly driving back towards the house and inside the opened garage.

You took Rosie by her hand and dragged her behind you as you followed your irresponsible husband.

“Don’t be angry, mummy!” Rosie started as she felt your annoyance. “We were careful,” she assured you. “And it was not like daddy wanted to! I had to convince him!” 

You didn’t answer and just waited outside the house as Benny parked his motorbike and closed the garage door before joining you awkwardly. He was avoiding looking into your eyes.

“You been driving around with a little kid in the back, risking your lives, while the garage door was open all this time?” You asked him and he looked down.

You sighed and squeezed Rosie’s hand tighter before going inside the house. Benny put out his cigarette on the ground and followed you.

You let go of Rosie’s hand and went to the living room to be able to get inside the kitchen where you wanted to put the takeaway dinner but then you spotted a mess in the living room.

“What is that?!” You gasped at the sight of the marker pens scattered everywhere. And on the coffee table there were two empty cans of beer.

You turned around, even more angry than before. Both Benny and Rosie looked down.

“Rosie, put the marker pens inside the box and take them upstairs to your room where their place is,” you told your daughter. “And wash your hands before dinner.”

“Yes, mummy,” she sighed and rushed to do what she was told to.

To Benny, however, you didn’t speak a word. You just gave him a dirty look and went to the kitchen to unpack the dinner.

He followed you with the empty cans of beer and threw them inside the trashcan before washing his hands in the kitchen sink. They were dirty from the grease.

“You’re fucking irresponsible,” you scolded him, trying to keep your voice low.

“I am not, we were careful,” Benny tried to explain himself but you ignored him.

“And the beer… Jesus, Benny. I’ve been telling you not to drink before noon at least, yeah? You think I’m gonna tolerate you drinking that shit right after breakfast?” You shook your head.

“I don’t do that every day,” Benny reminded you and looked at you like a beaten dog.

You tried to keep an angry face on for a moment longer before finally cracking a smile and opening your arms to give him a hug.

“Benny, baby,” you kissed his cheek and caressed his hair as he wrapped his arms around you. “I nearly had a heart attack back there, seeing Rosie on that goddamn bike.”

“Sorry ‘bout that, but she kept convicin’ me and I wanted to make her happy,” he explained and you sighed. Then you smiled, noticing the colours on his tattoos.

“Just don’t do that again, please,” you pleaded as you moved away to cup his face and look into his pretty baby blue eyes. “If something happened to either of you… I’d go crazy, Benny.”

“I know,” Benny cleared his throat. “I’m sorry.”

Rosie ran inside the kitchen that very moment and she hugged your waist.

“Mummy, don’t be angry at daddy, it’s my fault!” She tried to defend him. It was adorable. You caressed her hair.

“No, baby. Daddy’s an adult so it was his fault. But it’s okay now,” you assured her. “That won’t happen again, just so you know. No more riding a motorbike,” you told her and she pouted but didn’t try to fight you.

“Show me your hands, baby,” Benny looked down and Rosie showed him. They were still quite dirty from some marker pens and some grease. Benny chuckled at that and shook his head. “Come on, we gotta clean them better,” he picked her up to help her access the kitchen sink as she began to scrub her hands under the stream of warm water with the help of the dishwashing liquid and you focused on dividing dinner into portions.

On the next day you weren’t working and you allowed Rosie to skip kindergarten. When you were at home, there was no point in sending her there and you enjoyed spending time with your daughter. She was helping you to clean the house since you couldn’t do that on the previous day due to your shift at the store.

Around five, you were preparing the dinner with the help of Rosie while listening to the songs on the radio and singing along together when you heard Benny’s car parking on the driveway. You looked out of the window and waved at him. He waved back and Rosie squealed excitedly, leaving all the vegetables she was supposed to chop behind as she ran outside the house.

You shook your head with a chuckle and wiped your hands in your apron before walking outside as well to see Rosie jumping into her daddy’s arms. Benny hugged her and patted her back.

“I got somethin’ for ya, baby,” he told her. “Your own bike,” he added and your heart skipped a beat.

“What?” You crossed your arms and approached them two. Rosie was excitedly clapping her hands and you put your hand on her shoulder. “You being serious, Benny?”

“Just wait and see,” Benny chuckled and opened the trunk of the car before taking something out of it.

That something was a small pink bicycle with a little flower wicker basket in the front that made you gasp an oh as your heart fluttered at the sight. Rosie squealed and began to jump around out of happiness.

“Thank you, daddy, thank you, daddy, thank you!” She was repeating over and over.

Benny’s face lit up at the sight of her happiness. He opened his arms and she gave him a big hug again.

“We gotta make sure it’s good for ya, come here,” he put his hand on Rosie’s shoulder to walk her up to the bike. “Stand here,” he pointed at the ground next to the bike to adjust the height of the bike’s saddle. “Yeah, perfect,” he mumbled to himself. “I’m tired today, so I’m gonna park it right in the garage and we can try it out some other day, okay?”

“Yeah! I can wait!” Rosie nodded and then she turned around to look at you. “Mummy?”

“Yes, baby?”

“Are you angry that I have my own bike?” She bit on her lower lip and you chuckled before ruffling her hair.

“No, love. It’s just a bicycle and it’s very pretty. I’m very happy that you have it and that daddy will show you how to ride it, yeah?” You bopped her on the nose and her eyes sparkled. “Benny!” You shouted after him as he was inside the garage. “We’re going back inside. Dinner’s almost ready,” you told him and you took Rosie back inside.

You finished preparing everything and you put it inside the oven before letting Rosie go to her room to play for a while before the meat and vegetables would be ready. When she was upstairs, you joined Benny on the couch. He was watching TV as usual after work and you put your arm around him to play with his hair. He hummed at your touch while the muscles of his shoulders relaxed.

“That’s so sweet of you,” you told him and took his hand into your free one. He lazily turned his head around to look at you. “The bike and everything… You’re such a good daddy,” you whispered.

“Yeah, who would have thought, huh?” He chuckled and looked down.

“That’s not what I meant,” you squeezed his hand. “But… It had to cost a lot, that bike,” you swallowed thickly.

You loved your life with Benny and your little family. You were happy but it was no secret that money was something you often struggled with. 

“It’s fine,” Benny nodded. “I promise ya.”

“Well, okay then,” you sighed and lowered your head to put it on his shoulder. Benny caressed your back and kissed the top of your head. “I love you, Benny.”

“Love you, too, sweetheart,” he answered with a smile. “Thank you.”

“For what?” You furrowed your brows.

“For everything,” Benny shrugged his arms. “For saying yes and I do, for givin’ me Rosie, for savin’ my life.”

“I didn’t save your life, Benny,” you caressed his chest gently. “You saved your life on your own when you made your decision to settle down.”

It was something you two would never agree on. Benny kept insisting you were his saviour and you wanted him to finally realise that he could be a good man on his own as well and not only because of your love and presence or because of Rosie’s existence.

But what mattered the most in the end was that you loved each other and you were happy.

MASTERLIST || BENNY MASTERLIST

[alittlebitofloveliness]

Johnny Cade fic

Sometimes, keeping secrets is necessary.

For all the gang is close, close as brothers- sometimes closer than that if Soda and Steve’s weird dynamic is anything to judge by- Johnny knows that some things are best kept between two people, three in some situations, or guarded closely to oneself when a secret is more shame than anything more. It’s why he and Dally patch each other up so often and leave the others out of it, Dally with his warlike ways and gritty survival, him with his stupid broken heart and the bruises it earns him. It’s easier he thinks, to keep that sort of sharing and vulnerability for two people instead of seven, just like it’s easier for Darry to only ever truly talk to Two-bit, and for Soda to haul Steve out for a drag race when he shows up on the Curtis’ front porch with cold eyes and yet another bloody lip. Not everyone needs to know everything. Some things are best kept between a few folks, and if those things are named secrets, well, so be it. It would do more harm than good for Darry to find out what Pony says when he’s ranting to Johnny, and Dal never needed to know half the things Johnny and Darry did to get him out of scrapes he never even realized he’d gotten himself into. 

Another thing Johnny knows about secrets: some are more important than others. Knowing the nickname Steve’s mom used to call him is a far less important secret than the real reason Dal left New York, but Johnny keeps any and every secret entrusted to him locked up tight behind layers of stubbornness that could rival Pony in even his most pigheaded moods. He learned a long time ago that loose lips sink ships- and he couldn’t live with himself if something he knew and let slip ever ended with one of the gang getting hurt. Hell, he can hardly stand to live with himself now.

“Stupid grease,” For a second Johnny thinks the insult is being tossed at him, but when he looks up the soc- some asshole with the dumbest fucking haircut Johnny’s ever seen- doesn’t appear to have even noticed he’s rounded the corner as he grumbles to the rest of his buddies all dressed in letterman jackets and combover hairdos, “can’t believe some greaseball kid thinks he can work with my girl.”

“Least the kid is smart,” a guy with a yellow madras shirt Johnny recognizes from his own C level english class says. Johnny had thought he was dumb as a post before he’d been sat next to the guy. Compared to goldie he was fucking Einstein himself, “I got stuck with Rosie. Dumb bitch wouldn't recognize her own face in a mirror.”

Look who’s talking, Johnny thinks, fully intending to keep minding his own business. Socs pissed off and planning to jump a greaser kid was nothing new in the halls of Tulsa high, and he wasn’t planning to stick around and find out which unlucky guy was gonna be the latest target of the football team. Maybe they’d be stupid enough to go after Curly Shepard again and get their asses handed to him. Johnny fucking hates Curly shepard, but even he has to admit the guy is a straight up beast in a fight. Real tuff.

“Doesn’t mean I’m gonna let some freshman grease named after a damn horse chat up my girl.” The soc with the ugly haircut sneers, “we’re gonna teach that kid a lesson. Lawson says the kid’s on the track team, so we’ll catch him when he’s done practice so the coach don’t go looking.”

The soc keeps talking, joking with his buddies, probably describing in vivid detail how he’s planning on beating up Johnny’s best friend- his thirteen year old best friend- into a pulp. Johnny can’t hear it anyway- not over the roaring in his ears.

Steve is cursing and fighting with his combination lock when Johnny finds him just outside the science wing, his carefully gelled hair a stark contrast to his grease stained t-shirt. For all the dark cloud of his mood is nearly visible, Johnny still can't help but feel bad for him. Soda had officially dropped out just over a month ago and Steve was still taking it mighty hard. He kind of understood- Steve didn’t have a ton of friends besides the gang, and with Evie skipping half the week and Soda working full time, Steve's social circle at school had shrunk to near zero. 

“We got a problem,” Johnny tells him without preamble, and there’s a grim determination in Steve’s eyes when he turns to him, nodding and following him down the hallway without a word. Besides his gruff but unflinching loyalty, one thing about Steve that Johnny appreciates is that, like him, Steve feels no need for meaningless pleasantries. 

As they stalk through the halls, no doubt looking like they mean business if the way socy girls and a few fresh men give them a wide berth is anything to judge by, Steve doesn’t ask questions, no doubt knowing that Johnny will explain everything as soon as they track down Two-bit. 

“Two,” Steve barks as soon as they spot him, flirting with a pretty blonde who’s rolling her eyes but moving closer to him just the same, “let’s go. We got a problem.”

He must be able to tell he’s serious because he gives the blonde a final leer and joins them immediately.

“What’s goin’ on? I’d nearly talked her into lettin’ me take her to the Dingo on Saturday.”

“There’ll be other girls for you to disappoint sexually,” Steve rolls his eyes, “but Johnny says we got a problem right now.”

He turns to Johnny expectantly.

“I overheard some socs earlier talkin’ ‘bout Ponyboy,” Johnny starts. Both older boy’s eyes darken, comprehension dawning. This isn’t the first time one of them overheard some soc planning to give Pony a good jumping and Johnny doubts it’ll be the last, just like he knows it won’t be the last time he, Steve, and Two will fight them off before they can so much as breathe wrong in pony’s direction. Of all the secrets he keeps Johnny thinks this might be the most important, and he thinks Two and Steve feel the same way. Darry and Soda worry about Pony enough as it is, they hardly need to be terrified about him getting beat up at school too; and Pony would never forgive them fighting his battles for him. Hell, if he ever found out he’d probably pick a fight with a soc on purpose just to prove he’s tough. He still don’t get it, that he’s tough enough already for all he likes his books and movies and stuff. Not many folks can go through what Pony’s gone through and not lose a piece of themselves that Pony has kept spectacularly, miraculously, intact.

 “Said they were plannin’ on jumpin’ him after track practice,” Johnny continues, “it was some guy with a dumb haircut, and that guy I sat with in english last year. Mark somethin’?”

“Bradshaw, I think,” Steve spits, “Sounds like him and Ian Cosegrove. They were in my history class last year, and they’d probably be in Pony’s english class now he’s been moved up. One of them has that real dumb haircut?”

“That’s them.”

Two bit cracks his knuckles,  “Let’s go.”

It’s not hard to track the socs down from where they’re hanging out on the hood of some flashy mustang Johnny wished he could steal. It also isn’t hard to beat the two of them to a pulp, and their buddy who joined in too, because for all they’re football player they aren’t greasers, and they aren’t filled with the sort of fiery rage that’s coursing through Johnny’s veins, and Two-bit and Steve’s too.

Sure, no one was allowed to mess with anyone in the gang, but that went double for Ponyboy. None of them would ever be right again if anything happened to the kid, and they all knew Darry probably couldn’t survive it. Hell, Soda couldn’t either, 

Later that day, after Steve has waited around an hour to drive he and Ponyboy home just in case, Johnny hides his swollen knuckles in his jacket pockets and tucks this latest fight close to his chest, another secret best kept to himself.

He’d never have it any other way. Steve and Two wouldn’t either. The Curtis’ looked out for them all- it was only right they return the favour whenever and however they could.

Johnny listens to Pony and Steve argue, watches Two light up a cigarette, and smiles.

It’s no secret it’s tough sometimes to be a grease. But he wouldn’t have it any other way. 

[gadriezmannsgirl]

Dating Pedri González Would Include...

Dating this guy is being in a roller coaster, in a good way

You met him on a clothing shop, casually walking with your girl friend when he walked behind you and tripped causing him to step on your back heel pulling your shoe out.

"Puta madre, joder, I'm so sorry"

"...They were white"

"I'll buy you new ones"

"Nah, don't worry. I'll just give them a wash and all good"

The moment you smiled at him and not yelled at his face for his mistake, he fell for you.

You knew who he was but you also knew he was just another normal human being who was really good playing your favorite sport and outside the pitch he was just Pedro.

But still commented he should always be careful, look around and not only on the pitch with a smile on

"You know me?" He asked as you laughed lightly

"But you're also funny" You laughed "Kind of forgot who you are?" He shook his head still amazed by you

"Pedro González" He shyly said as you smiled

"Y/N Y/L/N" And with that you left

He searched up for you everywhere.

TikTok, Twitter, Instagram... You name it, he searched for you and he found you.

@ pedri asked to follow you

You smiled and accepted him

And ever since that day, he texted you daily, he found ways to connect with you, a friendship was born and later on, your relationship.

The amount of love this man has for you it's not countable.

He often uses Lightyear's phrase when you ask him how much he loves you: To the infinity and beyond

He's just deeply in love with you.

Talked about you to his parents.

And when you finally met them they instantly loved you. Rosy was happy she got you as the daughter she never had. And Fernando was happy his son was happy and in good hands.

Going to his matches with the 8 on your back, supporting him.

Having inside home dates and them being the best ones ever.

He L-O-V-E-S spoiling you.

He would gift you a bracelette with P.G8 in your three months anniversary, since that day you've never taken it off.

You on the other hand give him a black bracelette too with your initial and a football ball. He only takes it off when he plays.

Your parents love him and he loves them.

Whlist driving he would definitely have his hands with yours or on your thigh

Singing at the top of your lungs while he drives. Also being the DJ, often playing Quevedo, Rosalía and Taylor Swift

Car rides towards nowhere, just driving the two of you during midnight for late night McDonald's or the ones where you go to the beach or a little 2 days vacation.

Talking about driving.

He would and would not like to teach you how to drive.

He would because you look absolutely gorgeous in, with and doing everything. And he also would want you to drive him around sometimes. And he wouldn't because he loves driving you around and also he's afraid for the three of your lives. Your, his and his cars.

Either way, after lots of begging, he would accept.

Teaching you should be both a really good and bad memory together, laughing, spending good time with each other and at the same time he's shitting himself for both of your lives

"LOOK AT THE ROAD!" "I'M LOOKING!"

Fights like every other couple, but you both eventually calm down for a while and fix the problem.

He can get jealous, if he's feeling intimidated. Quickly showing everyone, who you belonged to. But he trusts you with his life.

You trust him too, but get jealous as well and mostly when there are some girls who ignore your existence and just shamessly flirt with him.

You can't believe their audacity.

You also know he doesn't have eyes for any other girl but you. He has let you know that and doesn't mind reminding you who he belongs to sometimes.

With sweet words, acts and you know...

He lives for making you happy.

"Pap-I mean... Pepi"

"Y/N"

You are best friends and lovers at the same time.

Everyone loves your relationship.

INSIDE JOKES

You could be out with the team or family

When Fer (mostly) says something and it reminds you both to something, expect you both crying in laughter and face fully red not being able to explain yourselves.

Fer hates when that happens but secretly he loves the fact his brother found his person.

His hand is in yours all the time.

He just loves grabbing your hand in his. Playing with your fingers calms him down.

Meanwhile you, play with his ring to calm yourself down.

You also love leaning into his chest, it's just so big, perfect and strong that you wanna lay there for the rest of your lives.

He would try and help you with homework but the second he saw the amount of calculations, laws and unknown words he got up.

"You get into it, I'll make you some food amd cheer for you"

He would share his food with you, surprising everyone in his house. Especially Fer

You looked at his plate and pocked his bicep a few times making him look at you "¿Qué pasa?" "Your chips look better than mine, can I have one?" He smiled kissing you softly "Las que quieras, bonita" He grabbed two "Venga, here comes the airplane"

When Fer tried it wasn't the same result tho

"Heyheyhey, what do you think you're doing?" "Grabbing a chip?" "No"

You would be the type of private but not secret couple.

Definitely being seen around sometimes, mostly in his car.

But no one knew your private life since all of your social medias were private.

His true fans, love you and love the fact you make their golden boy happy.

The guys teasing him as they see Pedri being whipped.

But they were happy for him that he found you.

He's happy that he found you. And he wants to have you by his side forever.

And you want him forever too.

Who knew a stranger in a clothing shop who pulled your shoe out would end up being the love of your life?

Expect a relationship full of love, laughs and joy.

So, like I said in the beggining. Dating Pedri is to put roller coaster mode on, in the best way possible.

°°° °°° °°° °°°

Taglist: @gaviypedrisbride @stuckinaf4nfiction @elijahslover @azzpenswrld

[twdgwritings]

Marlon Headcanons

Paring: Marlon x Fem! Reader

Warnings: typos probably, my opinions, everyone lives AU, swearing, abusive/neglectful parents, think that’s it?

Summary: General and Romantic headcanons about Marlon.

A/N: I wanted to do more, but I can’t think of anymore. Y’all are welcome to share some ideas, I could do a part 2.

-General-

I don’t think he is from West Virginia originally (where the game takes place). I think he and his parents are originally from Kentucky or Tennessee. He kinda rednecky but like, not that bad??

Marlon was abused at home. Mostly getting beat by his father, his mother was neglectful and just turned a blind eye or was too scared to stand up to his father. Because of his home life he began to act out violently, starting fights and just being a bully. He didn’t mellow out until he got to Ericson’s where he became a more laidback kid, though still acted out towards the adults and authority figures.

Adding into that, I think it’s why he caved to Lily and Abel. Some trauma within him kicked in again, reminding him of his father and fear overcame him. Nobody knows of his abusive home life other than Louis, he doesn’t like to talk about it.

He is a big fan of football, it was the only thing his father and him bonded over. His favorite team is the Detroit Lions, he has a jersey somewhere in his room/office.

Can’t clean up for shit. Marlon keeps a little pathway clean for walking but other than that, his room messy as fuck. Please make him clean up a little bit.

Marlon is the type of guy to say he is 6’0 but he is actually 5’11, nobody corrects him but they just stare at him like; -_-

He is a side sleeper, mostly to make room for you or Rosie. He also kinda snores but it’s so soft, so you can sleep.

Will cry himself to sleep every now and then, mostly because of stress and the weight of being leader.

Has crushed a soda can on his head before, left a temporary red mark that everyone made fun of him for.

Marlon’s is a rock fan, he likes AC/DC, Linkin Park, Guns n’ Roses, Green Day. But I can see home liking a few songs outside that genre.

-Romantic-

Marlon is definitely straight. He had some sort of toxic thing with Brody before what happened with the twins, but she dumped him after that. They still managed to stay friends and agreed not to cause problems for the other person’s love life.

He tries to be a good boyfriend to you, though he tends to be overprotective. As we know when he gets scared, he gets mad. Not at you (unless you are being dumb and risking your life doing stupid shit. Then he kinda does.) just the situation. He is so scared to lose you.

Painfully obvious about his feelings before confession, everybody knows he is crushing on you. (Mostly because Louis ran his mouth to everyone when he found out). Though once you are together he is a little shy about affection, but also very proud to show off his girlfriend.

Marlon’s love language is physical touch and acts of service, both giving and receiving but he will do whatever you need of him.

On that note… He is so fearful of losing you, no matter if it’s by dying or just breaking up with him. Marlon doesn’t mention this fear but you can tell he has it. Giving you a sad, but lost kicked puppy look. He also asks if you are happy and if you need anything.

Marlon has given you whatever is left of his food, or even went without to give more food to you in tight spots. He wants you to be as healthy and taken care of as possible, even if he must give something up.

One time you fell asleep in his bed cuddling up to Rosie, and by a miracle Marlon found a working camera. So he took a picture of his two favorite girls and keeps it on his desk, it makes him so happy.

He is the time of guy whenever you go hunting or patrolling together, he will hold your hand and dramatically swing them.

Marlon wanted to teach you to use his compound bow, mostly just as an excuse to get closer to you and get handsy. Loves to stand behind you, adjusting your arms and hips to “help you”.

[funnyjb]

You’re all mine

Summary: you and Joe end up confessing your feelings not just towards each other but also to your parents.

(September 2020)

It was a normal Friday night. You were at your best friend’s house for annual movie night and dinner. You have know Joe all your life. Your moms have been besties since middle school. They introduced the two of you when you guys were only 2 years old. Ever since you both have been best friends. You have always had some sort of feelings towards Joe but never told him. You thought it would ruin your friendship.

You both were laying on Joes couch watching Anyone But You. You were snuggled into joes neck and his hand was on your thigh. You guys always cuddle but something felt different. Like there was a different spark between you and Joe. A good spark. Your eyes started to get tired. Joe noticed your tired eyes and smiled. Knowing how safe and comfortable you felt laying on him. He then moved his hand from your thigh to your back. He rolled up the bottom half of your shirt and started drawing shapes on your bare skin. Going up and down your spine. It sent shivers all up and down your spine. You always imagined what it would be like to be his girlfriend. He always takes you to his events and everyone always asks him if you are his girlfriend. He smiles and his cheeks always get a little rosy. He says “no, she is my childhood best friend.” And that’s all he says. Sometimes people will tell him that they thought we were a couple because he sometimes puts his arm around me and we always check up on each other. It makes you get all happy inside. Like maybe there is a spark or a chance.

After a couple minutes your eyes finally closed and you fell asleep. Joe kept rubbing your back and watching the movie. But soon after he became tired to. He picked up the remote and turned the tv off. He then looked at you. He was mesmerized by you. Your beauty, your love, your kindness, your laugh. He loved everything about you. He realized a while ago that he had feelings for you. He just has been in football mode and didn’t even realize that he caught feelings. Joe stopped rubbing your back and put his arm under your legs and his other arm around your back to pick you up bridal style to put you to bed. You woke up to the sudden movement. All you did was wrap your arms around his neck and close your eyes again. He stood up with you in his arms and walked up the stairs. You usually sleep in the guest room so you thought he was bringing you in there, but he didn’t. Instead he brought you to his room. He laid you down on the side he doesn’t sleep on and out the covers over you. Turned off the lights and went over to his side. Crawled into bed next to you and looked over at you. You were on your side, your back was towards Joe. He watched as your body rose and fell from your breaths. They you quickly realized where you were once you felt Joe get it. You woke up and looked at Joe.

“Hey.”-joe

“Hi”-you

Then you moved your head to his chest and snuggled into him. You realized that Joe probably has feelings for you now because he put you in his bed. Joe didn’t really show a lot of affection to anyone really so when he shows it to you, you always feel like he had some sort of feelings towards you. He started playing with your hair as you curled up next to him.

“So, you probably know that I like you now since you are laying in my bed and-”-joe

You cut him off with placing a kiss on his lips

“Yeah, I know.”-you smiled

“Ok, good.”-joe

He kissed you

“Are you coming back with me to Athens tomorrow?”-joe

“Yeah, I figured I could see my parents and spend time with them.”-you

Joe nodded his head

“By the way, I like this.”-joe

“What do you mean?”-you

“Us, together.”-joe

“Like boyfriend and girlfriend kind of thing?”-you

“Yeah!”-joe

“Speaking of that, what are we?”-you

“Well, since we just kissed and we both have massive feelings towards each other I think it’s only right we start dating.”- joe smirked

“Ok burrow, deal!”-you

We both laughed.

Let’s just say the night ended in both of us not in our pjs.

———————————-

(Next day) in Athens

“Hey Mama!”-you

“Hey,hon!”-your mom

You just gotten to Athens with Joe and in your backyard with your parents, but Joe is coming over soon with his parents and his siblings for some barbecue.

After setting up the table outside for everyone to eat the Burrows finally arrived.

“Hey guys!”-robin and jimmy

“Hi!”- your dad and mom

After they hugged Robin and Jimmy moved to you.

“Y/n! You look gorgeous as always.”-robin

“Aww thank you, Robin!”-you pulled her in to a hug

“Hey sweetie.”-Jimmy

“Hi Jimmy! So nice to see you!”-you pulled him into a hug

After saying hello to joes parents you see Joe and his siblings.

“Y/n! How have you been?”-codie (Jamie’s wife)

“I’ve been good! How about you? How are the kids?”-you

“They are amazing! They are with my parents tonight.”-Codie

You then said hello to Joes brothers and made some funny jokes with them about when you were younger. As you laughed with Dan you see Joe approaching.

“Hey.”- joe blushed

“Hey.”- you smiled

You pulled each other into a tight hug. Your arms around his neck and his arms around your lower waist.

Your families still didn’t know about you and Joe so you guys had to keep it low key.

As you moved out of the hug, Joe still had one of his arms around your waist and was staring so deeply at you. You locked eyes with him. You were about to say something when your mom called.

“Dinner everyone!”- your mom

You pulled out of Joes contact and walked to the table. You intertwined your fingers with his as you walked over to your seat. Joe sat next to you.

“This looks amazing!”- Dan

“Thank you.”- your mom and dad

Everyone started eating and it was so good no words were said for a whole 5 minutes.

“So, y/n how are things at work?”- Jimmy

“It’s been good! Patients come in and out every day. Some stay longer than others and I usually work more with them.”- you

You are a physician psychologist at your local hospital in Cincinnati. You have been there for three years and love it.

“That’s nice. Anyone give you crap?”- Jimmy

You laughed

“Sometimes, but really just the teenagers who hate talking about everything and anything. I can handle them though.”- you

“Good. Always knew how to put someone in their place.”- Jimmy

“It’s true. She once got sent home from school because she started going off on one of her school bullies.”- your mom

“Oh yeah! I remember that, it was awesome.”- joe

Everyone laughed

They started talking about how Joe and I were inseparable all through elementary school to college. Then they switched subjects into joes love life.

“Joes only had one crush his whole life. I don’t think that’s changed.”- Dan smirked over at us

“Yeah, and I never found out who it was.”- you laughed

“Oh well, you know her very well.”- Dan

“I do?”- you

“Yeah, she is brunette, works in a hosp-.”- Dan

“Ok, ok, I think that’s enough Dan.”- joe

“Hey, he was just about to tell me.”- you

“I know he was but you definitely already know who my crush was and still is.”- joe

“No I don’t.”- you

You were honestly a bit confused. Surprisingly because you can read a room very well and always good at figuring out details but you can’t seem to get it.

“Yes you do y/n, especially after last night.”- joe looked up at you and smirked

“Last night? What happened last nigh- oh.”- you

Your face became flushed

“Wait, what happened last night?”- Dan

“Wait, I was your crush all along? It took you this long burrow to tell me?!!”- you

“GUYS! What happened last night?”- Dan

“Yeah!”- everyone

“Ok, ok, last night we told each other we like one another and we hooked up.”- joe

“WHAT!”- everyone

“You didn’t need to tell them the hooked up part Joey.”- you laughed

“Sorry.”- joe whispered with smile

“Wait, wait, you guys hooked up last night? Finally!”- Codi

Everyone laughed

“So, what are you guys now? A couple?”- Jamie

“Yeah, yeah we are.”- you looked up at Joe

Joe nodded with a big happy smile

“OMG! Finally.”- robin

“Seriously.”- your mom chuckled

Joe put his left hand on your thigh and you put your hand on top.

“So, it’s been me all along.”- you

“Always has been.”- joe smirked

“Such an ass, burrow.”- you

You leaned on for a kiss.

“You’re all mine.”- joe

——————————————————————-

[hannahssimblr]

At the house, I am conscious of the mess. Nobody has made an effort to clean up properly for weeks, and now dishes and miscellaneous bits of rubbish litter every available surface. The bins are full. Tangles of chargers and cables pile up on the table, and water damage has well and truly set in on the oak flooring under our feet. The same patch of floor that Evie’s hair is dripping on now, but while it’s too late to save it, she might as well add to it. 

“Wow, this is a beautiful house,” she says, and I have to check her face to see if she’s taking the piss out of me. She looks genuinely charmed. I frown.  

“I’ll get you a towel downstairs.”

As we descend to the living room, I find myself holding my breath. It seems even dirtier than the kitchen there, and I wonder how and when this happened, how it is even possible. Yet here we are, and it is. I pray there are clean towels, at least let there be clean towels…

Oh, thank God. 

I hand her one from the hot press. It is old and scratchy, and likely a victim of my mother, back when she used to dye her hair at home, evidenced by the big, bleached patches all over it, but at least it’s clean. I show her the bathroom. 

“Feel free to take a shower if you want to. The water is hot.” As it constantly is, because I turned it on at the beginning of the summer and found the system so complex that I never risked turning it off again. I’ll be hearing about it when my dad gets the bill, but that’s an issue for September. 

Evie peeks in. “You don’t want to go first?”

“No, go ahead.”

As soon as I hear the hum of the shower, I pounce into action and tear into my bedroom. I yank all the dirty clothes off the floor and fire them into my already heaving hamper, then kick a pair of shoes under the bed, followed by a mucky football and some art magazine Jen thought I’d like, but I never read.

There are chocolate wrappers on the floor. What kind of creature am I? Was I sitting on the floor at some point, feasting on a family packet of dairy milk bars, or did these just fall out of my pockets? I rush around, picking them all up, then reach the wastepaper basket to find it full. I curse under my breath and yank the bag out, tying it in a hasty knot, then carry it and the two handfuls of coffee mugs strewn about the place up to the kitchen. There is nowhere for them to go, so I shove the mugs into the sink and toss the bag on the floor. 

She’s showering for ages. Good. 

Next, I tackle the bed, straightening out the duvet and pillows, which are, mercifully, clean. I could tongue-kiss the past version of myself that ran them through the wash two days before. To make extra sure, I give them a good, long sniff. They still smell like detergent. The clean clothes from that same wash go from the armchair to the wardrobe, and books on the bedside table. The tennis racquets… they’ll be fine, leaning against the wall. When I step back and examine my work, I determine that it’s barely passable, but time is surely running out, and she can’t shower forever. The dust on the floor can stay another day. 

Lastly, I toss my sweaty clothes onto the pile and peel off my sodden shorts. Once I have changed into something clean, I carry all the laundry out and heave it into the washing machine, right by the door of the bathroom. Evie hums tunelessly in the shower, and for a moment or two, I stand and listen. I wonder whose shower gel she is using, and shiver inexplicably at the idea of her choosing mine. 

I arrange myself in a casual position when she comes back into the room, hanging out on the end of the bed. She’s rosy from the hot water, and her hair lies flat against her head, so straight and fine that her ears poke out the sides. 

“You don’t have to wear the same wet t-shirt,” I inform her. “I can put your clothes in the dryer.”

She pulls at the hem and looks down at those two, damp, triangular patches. “It’s okay,” she shrugs. “They’ll dry on me.”

“You can leave all your wet stuff on the floor. I’ll sort them out after my shower and I’ll just find you something else to wear.”

“But I won’t fit in your clothes.”

“You’ll fit in a t-shirt, won’t you?” I saunter over to my wardrobe and lift a t-shirt from the stack. It’s old, and has a hole in the armpit, hence it’s permanent relegation to the beach house wardrobe, but like everything else in this house in its current state, it will suffice. 

“Thanks,” she says. I leave her to change and head for the shower. 

“What are you looking at?”

She jumps and turns around. I’ve caught her nosing around and looking at my notice board. She points at it. “Your ticket to a music festival.”

I hesitate, trying to gauge whether Claire has blabbed to her about what I said or not. “Oh yeah, are you coming?”

“I don’t know.”

“You should. All of us are heading up to it.” I pull a pair of socks out of a drawer and plonk myself onto the bed to put them on. 

She sits with me. “I’m not sure. It’s kind of a bit complicated.”

“Is it?”

“Yeah,” she hesitates before deciding to divulge. “Kelly and Claire are in a big fight about it. Claire wants to go, and Kelly doesn’t want to, even though it’s Claire’s eighteenth birthday the same weekend. It’s… it’s all a bit silly if I’m honest.”

I frown. “She doesn’t want to celebrate her friends’ birthday in a fun way?”

“No, it’s more than that. It’s that she doesn’t want to hang out with Shane for the whole weekend. She’d be too embarrassed to. She’s weird about that kind of thing.”

I should proceed with caution. I say, “sounds a little selfish to me.”

“Kelly’s a complicated person. I think she means well, she just… isn’t great at expressing herself. She gets angry at people instead of telling them how she feels in a normal way.”

I could talk a lot of shit about Kelly Healy, but I‘ll save it. I know that teenage girls’ friendships are strange and nuanced in ways my brain will never fully comprehend. Things never seem to be simple enough to just end the friendship. It must drag on for eternity until one of them is irreparably damaged in its wake. “So what, she’s forbidden you both from going to the festival?”

“She hasn’t said that we’re forbidden.”

“But you’re not going because you think she’ll be angry with you.”

“Pretty much.”

“So what about Claire? It’s her birthday.”

She groans. “I know. I hate this. I hate when people are fighting, and I feel like I’m in the middle of it. I don’t know what the right decision is.”

Tell me about it. “The thing that you want to do more, that’s the right decision.”

“I knew you’d say something like that.”

“What do you mean?” 

“Something wise.”

I laugh. If only I could take my own advice. 

She heaves out a sigh and slumps over her knees. “I can’t talk to either of them about it. Kelly is impossible, and Claire hasn’t been around. I’ve barely seen her at all since they fought. I don’t even know where she’s been.”

I blink. “Oh, she’s been here.”

“What?”

“Yeah! I thought you knew. She’s been coming here every day for ages.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“And did she tell you why?”

“No, I didn’t ask. I thought it was just to hang out with Shane.”

“With Shane?” She straightens to look into my face and I grin.

“Yeah, they’ve been hanging out.”

“Go ’way.”

“I don’t know exactly what’s happening, but they hang out a lot, go for walks together and watch TV in the living room. I usually just leave them alone, but…” I tap my nose.

“Oh, I knew it!” She throws herself back on to her elbows and shakes her head. “I wonder what this is going to mean for Kelly.”

“Kelly can grow up. She doesn’t have a say.”

“Ugh. I know. It’s just impossible not to worry about it.”

“Evie, how often do you let that girl live inside your head? Forget about it. Let Shane and Claire deal with her.”

“Okay, I’ll try.”

It’s not lost on me, the juxtaposition between this conversation and the one I had with Alison this morning. These two girls are only a year apart in age, and yet somehow their lives oppose so diametrically. Am I the same boy with them both, or have I somehow split in two? How can I be worrying about Alison and all that she’s been through, while hours later coaching Evie through friend drama? I know the turmoil and stress is real for her. I can tell by the things her face is doing, how she nibbles on her lip, the way her brow furrows, but I am comforted by it, by how simple it is. Maybe it would be good for my soul to spend more time with Evie. 

Regardless, I move on from this specific theme and bring the conversation back to where it began. “And as for the festival, I think you should come.”

“Hm.”

“Will you?” She doesn’t answer, so I assume she hasn’t heard me. I nudge her. “I want you to come. Will you come?”

“You want me to?” She echoes, like she doesn’t exactly believe it.

“I do.”

“Okay then.”

Perhaps someone else would find it worthwhile to read into the fact that she seems to want to do everything that I do, but I’m not really that bothered. I’m just glad that she agreed for the sake of herself. I suspect it may be a rarity for her. 

Beginning // Prev // Next

Corresponding LG Chapter [2]

[luminouslywriting]

I just love the idea of the guys as dads. Like, Bucky would be the fun dad who coaches the kids' baseball team and gets super into playing princess with his daughters. He would host Fourth of July pool parties and take the family on the best vacations. Gale would be the patient, quiet dad who helps with homework and always knows when something is bothering one of his kids, and exactly what to say to fix it. Rosie would be the dad who nurtures the kids' intellectual curiosity and has real, in-depth talks with them and is the best at cheering them up when they're sad. And Brady, the man that he is, would be the dad with seven kids who treats every single one like they are his only child, and is super hands-on with the entire Brady bunch.

Nonny, you are so on the mark with all of these and I have a few thoughts to add—gracefully, of course :)

Cut for length, paragraph form, more under the cut:

Bucky Egan as a dad is the dad who thrives in the summer. He's the one who comes home with new flavors of ice cream and popsicles for the kids because, "hey, it's summer!" And he throws around a baseball or football after a long day of work because his kids get to have his attention. He's the type of dad who shows up front row to the ballet recital and cheers as loud as a baseball fan. He's the type of dad who takes pinkie promises seriously and knows exactly what Disney princess is the best one (it's clearly Belle). Bucky is the type of dad who insists on holding the 4th of July parties and has the best sort of fireworks. But he's also the dad who insists on having the coolest birthday parties and makes a big deal over kindergarten graduation. He's the type of dad who loads all of the kids into the car because the Grand Canyon needs to be seen—it's actually a trip to Disneyland, but that's besides the point. He's the type of dad you feel safe going to about things and he's always going to listen and care about what you have to say. He's the type of dad that everyone's friends want to be over at the house because he's fun and he's cool and still acts like a teenager. 11/10, let this man be a dad.

Gale Cleven as a dad is the dad who you know you can go to about anything. Whether it's the math homework that takes hours and hours at the kitchen table or if it's a last-minute science project, he's ready and willing to help with it all. He's the type of dad who supports your dreams and helps you set goals to achieve it. He's the one who asks if you've practiced your instrument or how long you were at baseball practice for this week—and then faithfully shows up to see the pay-off for your hard work with a smile and a treat afterwards. He's the one who watches things quietly and then comes to talk to you at the end of the day with soft words and kind advice. He's the one who takes long drives with his troubled teenagers and they can talk about all sorts of things and he just feels like a safe place to all of them. He's the type of dad who casually fills up your gas tank because he's out and about and knows that you forgot and it's just a good thing to do. He's the one who works extra shifts because his daughter really wants that doll or his son really wants to go to the baseball game—and he's always ready to talk or share things with them whenever they want. Gale Cleven is the one who wasn't sure about being a dad but everyone knows that he's the best dad in the world. 15/10—a slight mess about it, but the best in a crisis and knows how to respond.

Robert Rosenthal as a dad is the one who starts buying books at a young age and tries to make curiosity something to be encouraged and enjoyed. He's the one helping them figure out science and math in the form of baking and teaching english through epic fairytales. He's the one who you can ask any sort of political or social issue questions to and he usually has an answer for you. In the event that he doesn't, he asks for some time to research and learn and then get back to you on it. He wants to talk in depth about religion and God, and if that isn't for you, then he respects that and your boundaries. He's the type of dad who is seen as all-knowing and wise, even though he's still learning himself. He's the first to apologize or recognize that he has faults, but he's also the first to support you in your goals. You want to work for NASA? Buckle up, he's going to get you there one way or another. He's the type of dad who keeps every school project you've ever done and remembers every little hope or desire that you've ever had. Rosie is the type of dad who expresses praise and pride in your work and acknowledges your hard work and talent in anything and everything that you do. He's the type of dad that as you grow older, it's easier to be his best friend. 10/10 he's going to be the best dad to talk to as an adult.

John Brady as a dad is the one who knows how to connect with each and every kid. There's a wide variety of interests, goals, hopes, dreams, and hobbies—he can only do so much. But he's the sort of dad who sits down to talk with each kid genuinely and wants to hear about their day. He's the one who finds himself so entirely invested in whether or not Lana is dating Jodi's ex-boyfriend, or if the Bears are going to the Superbowl, or if the New York City Ballet is performing Sleeping Beauty this year or not. He's an expert in remembering who is friends with who and knows all of his kids' friends by name. He's the one who swaps off to drive them to piano lessons or to dance practice—then alternates between getting home late from work and picking up the boys from basketball or track. He never complains about it and he'll never admit if he has a favorite—he makes all of his children feel like they're the favorite. Each has a special relationship with him. John Brady as a dad is the type of guy who keeps a gaggle of pictures in his wallet and is just waiting for someone to ask him about his kids because he's so proud and excited about each and every one—even if their path isn't as linear or as clear as the others. He's the one who everyone feels like is so involved and great that he must just be a dream. 12/10 recommend giving this man a whole horde of children, bc he's ready for them.

[moody-alcoholic]

Football

It's the euro's and like a good brit living in Denmark I have been doing my legal requirement of spreading the good word that it is in fact coming home. Especially after seeing this. I don't actually watch football so yeah...

Summary: Johnny invites 141 to watch a Scotland vs England game. Kind of a follow up to this short, same alternative timeline. 2.2k words. CW: Alcohol, people getting drunk.

Masterlist.

Enjoy <3

I watched John running round the kitchen plating food and moving it to the table like he was preparing the last supper.

“You sure you don’t want me to cook something?” I asked opening another bag of crisps and emptying them into a bowl. 

“Picky bits.” He says looking at the spread of food on the table. John made me drive him to Iceland to raid their party food selection, it looks like he’s made enough food for a party of 15 not 5. I looked over at the TV, it was the pregame rundown, Scotland vs England, quarter finals? Semi finals? Some kind of final. As soon as John found out about it he insisted throwing a ‘loosers’ party for England, he even bought a bottle of champagne to celebrate. I down the last of my glass of cider. 

“I’m going to get more cider do we need anything else?” I ask as I head to the basement.

“Bring a bottle of scotch for LT and Price.” I rolled my eyes heading down and grabbing a case of the homemade cider and 2 bottles of scotch. When I make it back up I hear another voice. I head into the kitchen seeing Gaz and John hugging. I put the crate of cider in the kitchen top accepting Gaz’s hug when he turns to me. 

“Beer?” John asked heading to the fridge. “Or Rosaly made some homemade cider?” 

“Cider sounds good.” I smile as Johnny takes out one of the bottles and fills a glass. I wait for him to taste it. He looks at the glass then back at me.

“That’s delicious.” He says taking another sip. I smile at him.

“Its sea buckthorn and honey, I’m experimenting with different flavours.” I say feeling proud. I hand some more cider bottles to John and he squeezes them into the fridge slamming the door shut. I watch as Gaz heads into the living room John follows him. I move to the sink looking at the pile of dishes stacked up from all the ‘cooking’ I have no idea how we managed to use so many. The next job in this house has to be getting a working dishwasher. I see lights coming up the drive, a jeep parks behind Gaz’s car. I see Price and Simon step out. I suddenly feel nervous for some reason. I head back picking up my glass and refilling it with more cider, I take a sip to calm myself. I had no reason to be nervous. 

“So which team are you rooting for Gaz?” I hear John joke as the doorbell rings. I find myself rushing to answer it leaving John to his conversation with Gaz. 

“Hey,” I smile as I see Price and Simon. 

“We bought a bottle of champagne for when England win.” Price says handing me the bottle.

“Shame we won’t need it but thanks anyway.” I say moving to let them in. I close the door behind them as they start taking their coats off. I move some coats around on the hooks so they have room for theirs. Simon smiles at me and it sends shivers down my spine I grip the neck of the champagne bottle tighter. I smile back hoping he would think the heat in my cheeks was from the alcohol. Did he get better looking since I saw him last? It's probably just the alcohol.

“Rosie!” John shouts, I move past Simon into the living room handing the bottle of champagne to him.

“From Price for when England win.” I say. I’m not the biggest football fan, the only time I really watch it is when John is watching it, like today. I enjoyed the banter though the winding people up, seeing how passionate people get about it, sometimes a little too passionate. 

“Shame we won’t get to taste it.” John says nudging Price who rolls his eyes.

“Drinks” Johnny says clapping his hands together. “We have beer, cider, scotch.” 

“Beer is fine.” Price says sitting down on one of the sofa’s next to Gaz.

“Yeah, beer.” Simon nods. I turn to the fridge taking out two cans handing them to Price and Simon. John sits down on the bigger sofa next to Simon as the TV changes from the pregame rundown to a live view of the players making their way to the pitch. I go to the table grabbing two bowls of crisps and bringing them over to the coffee table. 

“Come on Rosie it’s starting.” John says enthusiastically patting the spot next to him, I smile sitting down with my glass of cider. The boys banter back and forth, talking about which players they think are going to do well. They all seem to know so much about it, talking about coaching styles and past players. I want Scotland to win now, it’s a pride thing. The match kicks off, every time a team gets close to the goal it’s followed by people sitting up in their seats mumbling things followed by sighing and cursing. I smile sipping my cider and snacking on cheese puffs. If anything I was looking forward to being able to relax after the last few days of helping John around the house, there is always so much to do. I see Gaz put his empty glass on the table. I get up to refill it.

“I can get it.” He protests. 

“It’s fine you’re watching the game I don’t mind getting the drinks.” I smile heading to the fridge when I hear John cheering and cursing coming for the others mouths, I turn to see. Johnny is stood up, I can see the Sottish team sliding around on the pitch. With a recap of the goal. 

“Rosie bring the scotch we need to celebrate!” I chuckle taking out some glasses. 

“Trying to get us drunk MacTavish?” Price asks. 

“Course sir.” He replies coming over to help me carry the glasses. He hands them out as I pour. 

“Te victory!” He says raising his glass I copy him, the others reluctantly raise theirs and we all drink. I close my eyes as I force it down, it burns tasting like I’ve just inhaled a mouthful of smoke. I cough covering my mouth with the back of my hand.

“I don’t know how you can drink that.” I say making my way back to the sofa with the bottle of scotch and a bottle of cider. I fill Gaz’s glass before topping mine up and drinking a big gulp to get the taste of scotch out my mouth. My head is really swimming now. Not much else happens game wise then it’s half time. John gets up and encourages everyone to get something to eat. I feel mellowed out, my cheeks hot. I go to the table grabbing a plate listening to them banter. 

“Yeah well England play dirty they always do.” 

“Just wait till the next half you’ll see.” 

“You know I’m yet to see Scotland get close to the goal again.” 

“We may have a shite coach but we’ve passion, and that's all ya need.”

I listen to them and smile piling my plate with food and head back to the couch. 

“Cook all this yourself Johnny?” Simon asks.

“Aye, I’m a man of many talents.” He says leaning back on the sofa, I look over at Simon chuckling, I see him roll his eyes. I put my empty plate on the table finishing my glass of cider as the game starts again. A few minutes into the next half England equalise much to the disdain of John. Price pours us all the celebratory shot of scotch which I reluctantly accept. I drink it letting it burn my throat, I pull a face but it’s getting easier, maybe because I’m getting drunker. I excuse myself to the bathroom, I feel slightly unsteady on my feet. I look in the mirror, my cheeks are flushed and my eyes glazed over. I should start taking it easy, the cider is good though. I drink a handful of water from the tap getting rid of the woody taste in my mouth. I hear cheering again. I pee quickly then rush out to see who scored drying my hands on my jeans. It’s Price and Gaz stood up with Simon patting John on the shoulder laughing. I make it back to my spot not even registering the glass of Scotch pushed into my hand. I hold it up.

“John I think it’s time to accept we’ll be drinking warm champagne.” I giggle. He huffs and reluctantly drinks his scotch. I do the same quickly following it up with a mouthful of cider. I feel sleepy now with a full belly and a warm body. I lean back on the sofa hearing Simon teasing John who sometimes gives into his little jabs by scoffing. I chuckle leaning into Johns ear.

“Want me to beat him up for you?” I joke. He chuckles. 

“Yes please,” he jokes back, I laugh nudging him. Simon looks over at me from behind John, he smiles. His eyes are shining in the light, they look almost golden. My breath catches in my throat and I look away sheepishly. The rest of the game becomes more intense as the time ticks closer to full time. More mumbling and cursing I see Price almost stood up rubbing his hands as the ball moves more in Scotland's favour. I pulled my legs up on the sofa arranging the pillows to support me so I could curl up laying on the arm. I look at John stretching his leg out. He came back from deployment with a fucked ankle he insists he doesn’t need seeing to. Typical Johnny, means I have to drive him everywhere though. I look back at the TV I can’t tell if the game is close or not, I hear the casters explain there’s 10 minutes overtime.

“Watch this,” John says confidently. “Scott's work best under pressure.” 

“So thats why you like defusing bombs so much.” Simon laughs.

“Aye.” Johnny replies I smile. I hear them talking between each other, there voices getting more slurred as they finish off the bottle of scotch opening the next. My eyes feel heavy I’ll close them just for a second. 

I didn’t realise I had fallen asleep but when I crack my eyes open again the game is finished, something else is on the TV now, the volume on low. I look over at the other sofa it’s empty, there is a blanket over me now. 

“She has a thing fer you ya know.” I hear Johnny say. I freeze they must think I’m still asleep, I close my eyes keeping my breathing steady. 

“Don’t be silly.” I hear Simon scoff. Holy shit are they talking about me? I don’t care anymore I’m too invested in what I’m hearing. 

“Mate have you seen the way she looks at you?” Johnny says, I feel him reaching for the glass of scotch. “Never mind that you should see the way you look at her.”

“Fuck off.” He says, followed by an awkward chuckle.

“The navy medic and the SAS lieutenant Price would have a fecking field day.” Johnny laughs. 

“You’re drunk.” Simon says chuckling. 

“So are you.” Johnny replies. There is silence for a few seconds I feel Johnny move, standing up. 

“I’ll get her to bed, you wanna watch something when I get back?” John asks. “I’m sure there is some late night romantic drama we can sink out teeth into.” I hear Simon tut and sigh, I almost laugh breaking my cover I bite the inside of my cheek instead. 

“C'mon on lass.” I feel John shake me. I pull off my best ‘just woken up act’ opening my eyes and yawning. 

“Did we win?” I ask. 

“Na, we’ll have to save that bottle of champs for something else.” He says as I sit up. I look over at Simon sitting leaned back on the couch one arm tucked behind the back pillow. I smile at him. He smiles back I turn away feeling myself blush. 

“Come on, I don’t wanna be sharing a bed with LT he’s always nicking the covers.” John says putting his arms out and pulling me up. I can still feel the effects of the alcohol my body feels all wobbly. I steady myself on his arms then let go. 

“I’m okay,” I yawn again. “You guys get back to whatever you’re doing.” I walk round the sofa using it to support myself. I want to look back and see Simon again. What does Johnny mean ‘the way he looks at me.’ I shake the thought away, it’s just Johnny being Johnny I swear he’ll be paring me up with Gaz and Price soon. I sneak a peak as I turn to make my way up the stairs, I see Simon run his hand run through his hair. I smile making my way up the master bedroom. I don’t bother turning the light on just stripping to my underwear feeling around the floor for my pj’s I climb into bed. I close my eyes trying to sleep again but all I could think about was Simon, I smile letting myself enjoy it for once too drunk to care. He really did have the kindest eyes. 

I really can't write Scottish slang to save my life

[graysnetwork]

Ik no one asked but I wanna see if anyone else thinks abt what Keegan would look like

Preferably with hair😊

Jk I love him and all but I like to think of him when he’s young and not necessarily in the military, like what he would look like.

First off

He has black hair, I like to think he would leave his hair messy, he doesn’t style it an any way but if he has too, he will

U Can js search up messy black hair guy idk but that’s basically what u think

But he would keep it short

Cuz he got them beautiful blue orbs LMFAO😭

Nah but he knows they’re nice and pretty bcuz ppl tell him, and he wants to get compliments sometimes

Keegan has rosy cheeks!!!

I think he’d look like such tomato in the sun (me fr)

Maybe has rocea but he never asked his mother or his doctor about it

He’d obviously not big but he probably does go to the gym, he can totally rock abs or a tummy (😋)

Anyways

But he probably has abs out of his choice of wanting to look scrumptious

don’t even get me started on facial hair

Okay get me started 😌

He shaves everyday but Ik he got a stubble (he’s my hubby I gotta know these things)

He prolly get facial hair a little later in life or he just waxed that damn mustache cuz he looks clean af

If you like the facial hair, he’s keeping it 100%

But he’d never let it grow a lot cuz he don’t like it looking so outgrown

Oh and he has clear skin but he has sensitive skin that he’s been workin on since freshman year

(We love a skin care king😌)

Now I want to put in some head-cannons for him in general (idk if there’s like a back story for him but THESR ARE HEAD CANNONS SO ITS WTV)

I have an imagination obviously so I thought he would have three other siblings

An older brother, him, a sister, and another brother

That js sounds right yk

He’s moms boy, but I think the minute he was in high school he got really close with his dad and he definitely started drinking at 19 with his dads permission

His mom probably made him the best option in high school

Like she would just teach him so many things, and how to be the most respectful guy ever, girls were definitely in love with him

But he’s also the flirty type that makes jokes to try and get closer with people

But he’s also quiet so his friends would most definitely make him go up to people

Keegan played sports alright, no changing my mind

He played football, Fútbol (soccer wtv), baseball

So he was really well rounded with sports and liked the whole feeling of winning.

He probably went to a university with a full ride scholarship for one of his sports

And then he left when he was recruited

Also I was wondering what I had forgot but I finally remembered

And I believe this has gotta be cannon

He listens to Taste by Tyga and Offset

Cuz there’s no way he doesn’t listen to it during workouts

Like yes new York loves the taste and so does LA

(He also like Go Loko)

I LOVE HIM SO MUCH CAN U TELL??

But if y’all wanna say smtg diff, Fr tell me I would like to know what u guys think Keegan looks like

ALSO WHY IS CHARACTER AI DOWN TODAY 😭😭

[halfway-happyyy]

into gold II {rooster bradshaw}

synopsis: rooster bradshaw’s emotional baggage could fill a cargo container ten times over. he is the single father of a precocious and bubbly six-year-old, and despite his best efforts, has fallen head over heels for someone arguably more damaged than him- his daughter’s first grade teacher.

characters- bradley ‘rooster’ bradshaw, frankie bradshaw, female ooc scout wallis (she/her pronouns)

or- the one where scout falls for Frankie before she falls for rooster.

word count- 2400+

read part 1 here

When Rooster allows himself a couple of rare moments to reflect on Sunday morning, it’s easy to feel blue about the state of all things. But then Frankie will tell him a joke she heard at school:

-What does a cloud wear under his raincoat?

I haven’t the faintest idea, Frankie.

-Thunderpants!

Or she’ll hand him a photo she drew of him in his… F/A-18? Or she’ll curl into his side in front of the television and fall asleep. And he'll know then, without a doubt, that he is the luckiest man in the world. He’s reminded of this fact as he rolls to a halt in front of Penny’s house. The beautiful sound of Frankie’s laughter floats in on the breeze through the Bronco’s open windows and makes him smile. He watches sheer joy bloom on her face as Maverick plays with her in the front yard, and something heavy tugs on his heartstrings.  

You should be here, dad.

Rooster exits the car to lean against the passenger door, not wanting to ruin their moment just yet.

“Papa!”

Frankie catches sight of her father and bolts from Maverick’s embrace to run into Rooster’s outstretched arms, and he reckons there’s no better feeling in the universe. He holds her to him, peppering the top of her head with dozens of kisses.

“Hi papa,” Frankie’s cheeks are rosy and she’s breathless from play.

“Hi Frankie. Did you miss me?”

She nods fervently, circling her tiny arms tighter around him.

“But you had fun with Mav and Penny, right?”

Frankie nods again.

“Well, well, well. You certainly look like you had a good weekend.” Maverick surveys the sight of Rooster with a wry smile.

The younger pilot laughs sheepishly and scratches at the back of his head. “There’s a reason I never really go out with those guys anymore.”

Maverick’s laughter is booming. “You deserved it, kid.” His gaze drifts to Frankie’s and he bends down to her level. “Go see Pen about some cookies before you leave, Frank. She just made a batch of fresh ones.”

Frankie squeezes Rooster’s hand and dashes off in the direction of the front door.

“You bringing her down to the beach?” Maverick asks.

Rooster nods. “Dogfight football Sundays are her favourite. Will we see you there?”

“Penny and I wouldn’t miss it.” Maverick affirms.

His expression is unreadable; Rooster gets the feeling he’s about to ask him something, when Frankie bursts from the house, her tiny hands laden with two bulging Ziploc bags of homemade chocolate chunk cookies.

“Looks like you won the jackpot, Frank.” Rooster muses and watches her place the cookies carefully into her green dinosaur backpack. “Well, we should probably head out sweetheart. Did you thank Mav and Penny for hanging out with you this weekend?”

The elder pilot bends down so that Frankie can wrap her arms around his neck. “We had a good time didn’t we, Frank?”

“Yeah Mav!” She grins and plants a sloppy kiss on his stubbled cheek.

“Don’t get too carried away with your goodbyes, Frank. Mav and Penny are meeting us at the beach in a little bit.”

Rooster watches her beautiful blue eyes widen in sheer delight.

“Dogfight football!” She squeals and doesn’t waste a second before jumping into the back of the waiting Bronco.

~

“You’re late, Bradshaw!” Jake yells an hour later and is about to rib him some more, but he falters when he notices Frankie in tow behind him. “Well, if it ain't Frank the Tank!” He jogs to where they’re standing and gathering her into his arms, spins her around in dizzying cirlces. The girlish trill of her laughter fills the humid saltwater air around them.

Rooster marvels at how well Jake does with children and reckons with a wry smile, that perhaps there’s still hope for the elder pilot yet.

“I’m wearing the boots you got me!” Frankie exclaims, excitedly.

Jake bends down to get a good look at the fire-engine red cowboy boots he had picked up for her on his last trip home to Austin.

“So you are, and might I add that they have never looked more stunning on anyone else before.”

Frankie’s cheeks glow pink- she’s about to say something else when she notices Scout a little way beyond the crowd and her eyes widen in delighted surprise.

“Miss Wallis!”

Scout’s eyes light up when she catches sight of her, and she raises a hand in greeting. “Hi Frankie!”

Rooster hadn’t considered her being there; figures that if he had known, he might have thought twice about coming. Especially with Frankie.

“What on Earth are you doing at dogfight football, Miss Wallis?” Frankie’s chest heaves from running through the sand to get to her.

Scout catches Rooster’s gaze for a second and he remembers instantly, the feeling of her hand in his two nights ago and how it felt like he’d known her for years instead of a mere couple of hours, and it’s all he can do not to gather Frankie in his arms and take her back home.

To spare them both heartache that would ensue sooner or later.

“Well, a little birdie flew by and told me that there was going to be a football game on the beach today, and I figured maybe I should drop by to cheer everyone on. What do you think?”

“I think that’s a good idea, Miss Wallis. Can we do it together?”

“I’d like that, Frankie.” Scout beams widely and holds out her hand for Frankie to take, which she accepts happily.

Despite the girls' enthusiastic cheering, a grueling hour passes beneath the relentless San Diego sun, and Rooster (out of breath and embarrassingly sunburnt) is the first to admit that he’s played better games. Jake and Coyote take turns teasing him mercilessly about it, but he can’t seem to take his eyes off Scout and Frankie gallivanting up and down the beach like a couple of old friends. Frankie picks out shells and rocks that strike her fancy, and Scout drops them into the pockets of her sundress for safe keeping.

When Frankie catches up with Rooster and Penny a mile down the beach, she’s breathless with triumph. “You’ll never guess how many shells I found, Papa. Look at this one,” She whispers and opens her tiny palm to reveal a miniscule, speckled cowrie shell.

“That’s a pretty cool one, Frank. You'll have to add it it to your collection." Rooster eyes Scout’s dress, which had been knee-length thirty minutes ago, and was now hanging around her ankles, the hem of it damp from sand and saltwater. "Did you thank Miss Wallis for hanging onto them for you?”

“I did, Papa. Can I go show some of my shells to Bob and Phoenix?” Rooster nods and watches Frankie bound away, her red boots kicking up a sandstorm as she disappears down the beach.

Scout clears her throat. “For what it’s worth, I think it’s why they make these dresses with such deep pockets.”

Rooster turns to her then; wishes for a moment that fate had intervened seven years earlier, instead of two days ago.

There’s no such thing as ‘right person, wrong time’ Bradley. The right person will never come along at the wrong time.

He hears his mother’s voice so clearly some days, it’s as if she’s still around somewhere.

“I never got to thank you for Friday night.” Scout finally offers.

Rooster frowns. “What for?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard such a fantastic rendition of a Jerry Lee Lewis song. It’s like you were born to play it.”

Rooster muses at how close she came to the mark. “I don’t have very many memories of childhood before the age of six, but my old man used to love that song.” They wander back to the group of pilots and significant others that had elected to stay after the game for the bonfire.

Jake's busy tossing the football back and forth to Coyote, but when he notices Scout, he winks and asks, "How'd I look out there, Wallis?"

She’s about to respond but Phoenix beats her to it, her tone deapan. “Like a magnet for melanoma, Bagman.”

A chorus of laughter erupts, and all Jake can do is roll his eyes and say, “It seems we have a comedian in our midst, friends.”

“You looked a picture of unbridled athleticism, honey.” Scout giggles by way of putting the flames out, and drops into a seat next to Maverick.

Rooster takes this opportunity to introduce the two. “Maverick, this is Scout Wallis. She just so happens to be Frankie's teacher."

The delicate creases next to the elder pilot’s eyes deepen as he offers her a wide beam. “So, it’s you we have to thank for the plethora of silly jokes Frankie likes to tell us.”

Scout’s cheeks redden before she offers a sheepish shrug. “It turns out that in the state of California, bad jokes are a prerequisite for primary schoolteachers.”

Maverick’s laugh is hearty and booming, but when it subsides, his expression is thoughtful. “In all seriousness though, you’re doing a wonderful job with her.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Captain. Frankie is a dream to have in the classroom.”

If Maverick wonders how Scout knew to refer to him by his naval rank, he makes no mention of it. Rooster, however, does wonder. He's about to ask her about it when Penny leans over and says, “You were at the Hard Deck on Friday night, weren’t you?”

Oh shit.

Maverick’s eyebrows rise in mild amusement.

“I was yeah,” Scout admits. “I had the pleasure of a very special performance.” She winks at Rooster who fights the urge to drop his gaze.

“Let me guess, he hit you with the old tried and true, Great Balls of Fire?”

“He sure did,” Penny laughs. “Had the whole bar in a tizzy.”

“His dad used to play that song on the piano like his life depended on it.” Maverick murmurs, by way of explanation.  

Rooster could see the wheels turning behind those beautiful eyes of hers again, and where he had never easily shared any part of himself with Frankie’s mother, he was struck suddenly by the want to share every part of himself with Scout. This notion made him uncomfortable for a multitude of reasons; least not of which was because his best friend, who seemed just as crazy about her as he was, was only a couple of feet away.

“I take it there’s history between the two of you?” Scout's voice shatters the muddled silence.

Rooster laughs and glances sideways at the surrogate-father figure before him. “Yeah, something like that.”

The night unfolds the way in which Sunday nights often do for Rooster and Frankie: with an abundance of friends and family, the warm salty air a salve for their souls. Frankie and Scout take a couple of turns throwing the football back and forth; Rooster notices the spiral Scout has on her and grows even more bewitched by the woman before him. When she’s had enough for the night, she drops into a seat next to Penny, their quiet chatter a soothing comparison to the hoots and hollers of the pilots around them.

A little while later, Frankie (exhausted from the day’s events, and with a stomach full of sparkling water and hotdogs) wanders over to where Scout’s seated, climbs onto her lap, and promptly falls asleep. Rooster watches Scout’s arms instinctively circle his daughter’s slumbering figure, and a chunk of ice the size of texas chips away from his heart. With a slight pang, he knows their time to leave has arrived.

“You’ll be hard-pressed to pry them apart, Bradshaw.” Jake’s Southern drawl is thicker under the weight of the couple of beers he had under his belt.

“Don’t I know it.” Rooster sighs and pushes himself from his seat to wander over to where Frankie and Scout are. He drops down into the sand in front of Frankie to rub the flat of his palm over her small back.

“Is it time to go?” Scout whispers.

Rooster nods and waits a second for Frankie to stir. “Come on Frank, it’s time to go home to bed.”

His daughter opens her eyes, her expression stupefied from the weight of sleep. “I don’t want to, Papa.” She pleads.

Rooster kisses the top of her head. “I know, sweetheart, but it's time.” She lets him lift her into his arms without any more fuss. It only takes a second before he feels the steady rise and fall of her chest against his shoulder to know that she’s back to sleep. He turns to Scout, not wanting to say goodbye but accepting the inevitable. “It was a pleasure seeing you again today.”

Scout gazes up at him. “The pleasure was all mine, Rooster. She’s a great kid.”

It’s only after they’ve returned home for the evening, Frankie tucked into bed, and his own eyelids fighting the lulling tug of sleep that he remembers Frankie’s precious shells. He makes a mental note to text Jake about them tomorrow. He lets his mind drift back to that wondrous woman before sleep settles in for good; wonders again how she knew Maverick’s rank, and how she possesses an ease to military life that most civilians don’t usually have.

Maverick stops by the next morning for coffee before Frankie’s awake for the day.

“There’s something going on between you and Frankie’s teacher.” His tone is mild and lacks any accusation.

“Well you certainly are direct this morning, aren’t you?” Rooster takes a deep sip from his mug, savoring the slightly bitter taste of the roasted beans on his tongue, before he answers no.

Maverick shifts in his chair. “But you’d like there to be?”

Rooster hesitates before nodding.

“You have to tread carefully here, kid. Frankie’s crazy about her.”

And so is Jake Seresin.

“Yeah well, Jake beat me to it, so there isn’t much else to say.”

Maverick’s viridian gaze twinkles knowingly in the light pouring in through the kitchen window, giving his head an almost imperceptible half-shake. “The feeling was mutual, Rooster. Everyone knew it.”

They sit in silence for a moment before Rooster asks, “Did you wonder how she knew to call you Captain? You weren’t wearing anything that gave you away.”

Maverick finishes the rest of his coffee and sets the mug down against the wooden tabletop. “What did you say her last name was?”

“Wallis.”

“She teaches at Mason elementary?”

Rooster nods.

Maverick shifts again in his seat and closes his eyes as if he were sifting through a mental rolodex of memories. “I believe her husband was top of his class at NAS Fallon in 2016. A truly great fighter pilot.”

Rooster blanches. “She's married?”

Maverick grows somber. “He died in enemy combat almost five years ago now.”

[89pedri]

card sharks, playing games

Part 1: Put your lips close to mine, as long as they don’t touch

Pairing: Mason Mount x fem!reader

Word count: 2.6 k

Summary: Mason x reader play a dangerous game of cat and mouse, each trying to outmaneuver the other. Moving with the grace of dancers, your steps are calculated and precise as you circle around each other, playing mind games and testing your limits. Getting lost in the game, unable to resist the pull of each other.

This series will contain fluff, angst, and potentially smut (depending on how I feel about writing it for the first time.)

Note: This had started as a oneshot idea (that was headed a different direction), but I think I like this better. I hope you enjoy reading this and look forward to the next part :) Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

Part 1: Put your lips close to mine, as long as they don’t touch

As you walk into the house with your friend, Mabel, the first thing that hits you is the thumping beat of the music, so loud, you can barely hear your thoughts. As you look around, you can see groups of people chatting, and laughing with drinks in hand. However, what really catches your eye are the famous group of footballers, influencers, and minor Z-list celebrities. You and Mabel exchange a knowing look, thrilled to be part of such a vibrant scene. 

You see Ben’s face light up across the room as he sees Mabel, rushing to the door to greet her with a hug and kiss on the cheek.

“I can’t believe you made it. Thank you for coming.” Ben says to her before turning to you and doing the same with a smile. 

As the story went, she had met his sister at the gym, who just so happened to set them up on a blind date a few weeks ago. Since then, they had begun going out and from what you had heard and from what you could see, they seemed to enjoy each other’s company. 

“And you must be Y/N. Nice to finally meet you,” he continues while addressing you. 

You return the smile at his hospitality. Not being able to concentrate on his words, in shock at the fact that you find yourself surrounded by some of your favourite footballers. 

Ben introduces you to some people as he walks you across to his hall, but your mind has no time to remember who is who, the situation you find yourself in leaving you completely enthralled. 

You finally get to the kitchen, and he grabs one of the twenty bottles of liquor sitting on his counter, tequila. He grabs three shots glasses, one for each of you. 

As you’re standing around waiting for him to pour, from the corner of your eye, you notice him. He’s not even two feet away. I mean, how could you not notice him. He stands out among all of the people around you. Not just because of his height and physique, his flushed cheeks, and his loud laughter. A laugh that echoes in your head as soon as you hear it, one you’re sure you could recognize anywhere after having heard it for only a few seconds.

He stands out. Not just because of his flushed rosy cheeks and relaxed demeanour. Not just because he had been clearly drinking. But also because of the way he effortlessly commands attention. Because of the way his given charm seemed to have the people around him (yourself included) cling to every word he says and laugh at every joke he tells. 

“Hey, pour one more. And bring your friend over there, the one with the glasses,” you whisper to Ben, just loud enough for the two of you to hear.

You shock yourself at your sudden boost of confidence, but you figure that you only have one chance to get to know him.

Immediately, Ben follows your gaze in his direction and smirks.

“Mase, come here!” he shouts over the music, as he pours another shot. 

Mabel, immediately catching onto your game, grabs Ben’s arms towards the living room, sending you a wink as she leaves Mason and you alone. 

“Well, I guess we can do these together then?” you speak to him for the first time as you gesture to the four shots that had been poured out. 

“You know, you could at least tell me your name before you try to get me drunk,” he smiles at you as he takes his glasses off, placing them over your head.

“I’m afraid,” you begin, taking the first shot, “you’re already drunk. You have that drunk glow. But if you must know, I’m Y/N,” you say as you take the second shot. Immediately, you regret it, feeling the familiar burn in the back of your throat.

But you figured, that if you wanted to keep your confidence streak going, tequila sure as hell would help.

He chuckles, looking at you as you pick up the next shot glass, immediately grabbing your hand to stop you.

“Well Y/N, nice to meet you. I’m Mason.” he smiles as he takes the drink from your hand to his lips.

“I know. I saw you on TV at the World Cup. Number 19, I think.”

“That’s me,” his eyes widen with amusement, “so you're a football fan?”

“It’s the World Cup, everyone was watching,” you tell him, not wanting your cover to blow. Of course, you were a football fan and a Mason fan at that. But he didn’t need to know that. Not yet, at least.

“Fair,” he tells you, seemingly convinced by your answer.

“Do you smoke?” you ask him immediately, changing the subject. 

“Nope, do you?”

You knew the answer, of course, he didn’t. He’s a professional athlete, for God’s sake.

“No, just wanted an excuse to go outside and get some fresh air.”

“You know,” he chuckles, “if you wanted to take me out, you could’ve just asked without making an excuse.” 

You roll your eyes at him but feel grateful that, at least, he wouldn’t take the night too seriously.

Nonetheless, he motions towards the back door and gives you a knowing smile, suggesting that he, too, wanted to escape the noise and commotion of the party. As he leads you through the crowded living room, you feel his hand gently guiding you through the throngs of people.

As you as you step outside into the backyard, you’re struck by the sudden quietness. You swear you could hear his and your heartbeats in sync. The contrast between the chaotic energy of the party inside and the serenity of the outdoors is stark, and you feel a wave of relief wash over you. 

He gestures for you to follow him towards a secluded corner of the garden, where a small seating are had been set up with a soft glow of fairy lights illuminating the space. 

Dreamy, you think to yourself.

As you settle into the comfortable cushion, he leans dangerously close to you, his voice low and hushed as he speaks to you.

“So, Y/N, you know what I do, it’s only fair you tell me what you do.”

“I’m a full-time student, doing my Master’s.”

“Smart and beautiful.”

You feel a nervous flutter in your chest as you dare to look into his eyes for the first time that night. Warm honey brown, you make a mental note. With a depth that seemed to draw you in. His gaze meets yours, and you can’t help but feel a sense of curiosity, intrigue, and mischief. It’s as if your eyes are speaking the same language to each other without saying anything. As if you were both starting to play a game that either:

You were both sure to win, or 

You were both sure to lose. 

It was both exhilarating and intimidating. 

You roll your eyes at him for the second time that night, “How many of the girls in there have you used that line on?”

He laughs, “You’re the first one I’ve used it on tonight.”

“Very funny, Mason.” 

“You know, I’ve been told that, apart from my amazing football skills, I also have a pretty good sense of humour.”

“Is that so?” your own smile playing at the corner of your lips. “Have you also been told that you’re quite humble.”

“Oh, it might’ve come up,” he retorts, “but, I’m more interested in seeing if I can make you laugh tonight.”

“You know, I’m not that easy,” you say with a teasing tone. “If your sense of humour is as good as your pickup lines, you’ll have to work harder than that.”

He leans in close to your ear, “Oh, I’m up for the challenge,” he whispers. 

You feel a shiver run down your spine as his breath tickles your ear. You catch a whiff of his scent, a mixture of cologne and alcohol. He smells… strong and masculine, with notes of wood and spice that are both comforting and alluring. The kind of scent that makes you want to stay frozen in place and breathe him in. Mixed with the cologne, the unmistakable smell of alcohol lingers on his breath. You feel the liquor you’d had starting to take its own effect, intoxicating you when mixed with his body heat and the soft brush of his breath against your skin. You feel your senses being heightened. Feeling more alive than you had in a long time.

Sure, you were pushing his buttons, testing his limits. You knew you were playing with fire, but you couldn’t resist the thrill of the game. 

“Well, I’m not going to make it easy for you,” you say with a flirtatious smile. “You’ll have to earn every laugh.”

 ◌                             ◌                                       ◌           

                                            ‧₊ *:･ﾟ彡       ◌                 ☽︎       ◌

            ◌                                 ✩彡 ･ﾟ *:                                     

                                ◌                                        ◌

And that’s how the rest of the night went. Engaging in a subtle game of one-upmanship. Testing his boundaries, trying to outsmart him throughout the night.

The two of you only wander into the house occasionally to pour yourselves more drinks, and to laugh at his friends’ antics. 

You also find yourself getting closer and closer to him. Physically, at least. At one point, you realized you were leaning in so close to him that your legs were practically intertwined. And before you knew it, you had somehow ended up sitting on his lap, his arms wrapped around your waist, holding you close. It felt electric. The tension -palpable as you felt his body shake whenever he laughed and when he looked into your eyes. 

Just as you feel him leaning in. And if his mind is racing as much as yours is, he was leaning in for a kiss. You rack your brain, trying to come up with an excuse to get out of the situation.

As if by some divine intervention, you feel your phone vibrate in your pocket.

He chuckles as he looks over you shoulder. “Looks like she’s looking for you,” he says, looking at you with a mischievous glint in his eyes. 

You glance up at him, feeling vulnerable, all of a sudden sobering up as you notice how close you are. The unspoken push and pull that’s been building all night becoming all too apparent now. 

He squeezes your waist, placing a chaste kiss on your neck, “Don't want to share you, don’t want tonight to end,” he says playfully, before pulling you in for an even tighter hug. 

Your heart races as you feel his body against yours, and you can’t help but wonder what his kisses would feel like on your lips.

But you have to stay strong, you remind yourself.

Because, for as much as you’re enjoying his company, you don’t want to be just another girl on his list. As fun of a story as this would make, you needed to remind yourself that this, wouldn’t mean anything to him.

So you pull away from the embrace and give him a weak smile. You feel his eyes burning with a desire that you’re not quite ready to explore yet. 

“I had a really great time, Mase, but unfortunately, I have to head out now,” you say, aware of the potential hangover looming over you the next morning. 

“Aw, lover girl, do I get a goodnight kiss before you go?” he asks with a playful grin, finally asking the question that had been pondering his mind all night.

You pause, scared that he can hear the uncertainty in your thoughts. Kissing him tonight would only complicate things, you tell yourself.

“I have to be honest with you, I can’t kiss you.”

He looks at you disappointed as he asks, “You don’t have a boyfriend, now do you?”

You chuckle, “No, it’s not that, I just don’t want to risk ruining the great memory of tonight by complicating things with a kiss.”

He looks confused, so you explain, “Did you have a good time tonight?”

“The best,” he counters almost immediately.

“Exactly, I did too. This memory… This,” you gesture between each other, “will forever be great. But, if we kiss tonight, if might ruin this memory.” 

“Why would it ruin it?”

“If we kiss, this becomes real. You might use too much tongue or not enough tongue. And then, suddenly... poof, spell’s broken.” 

“I promise you, I will use exactly the right amount of tongue. Plus, I’m a great kisser, I have references.”

“Anyone in here?” you ask him, half-jokingly, half-seriously. Thinking of all of the gorgeous girls that were at the party, you were sure he had kissed a couple. That would explain some of the looks you had been getting from them.

He throws his head back, laughing with his entire body. Infectious and joyous, you can’t help but smile, feeling the warmth of his energy radiating toward you.

But he doesn’t respond, you note.

As his laughter dies down, you lean in, savouring the tension between you. You know you shouldn’t do it, but you can’t resist the urge to tease him. You lean in even closer to him, lips mere centimetres apart. You decide to give him a taste.

You pull him in, enough to keep him intrigued. 

You figure that, if you put your lips close to his, as long as they don’t touch, nothing is ruined. The memory is still great.

“And in any case,” you whisper, “the best part of a kiss is the anticipation. The excitement of wondering what’s going to happen. The build up…”

“And then,” he tells you, just low enough for you to hear, “when it finally happens, it makes it all the more special. Pure magic”

“Exactly. But, that moment can be just as special on its own, don't you think?”

Both of you don’t say anything. Staying in that position for what feels like an eternity. Fearful that, if you say anything, if you move, it will taint the memory.

You fight every urge to kiss him, muster up every bit of self-control you have before you place your hands on his eyes. 

“Close your eyes,” you murmur. As he obliges, you pull away and stand up, finally making your way to the door. You don’t dare look back at him as you walk out.

And you’re confident that the memory of the night would stay with you, pure, and unadulterated. The laughter, the teasing, the anticipation, you’d remember it all for what it was.

Maybe it’s for the best that tonight stays as it is, no strings attached and no complications. Maybe it’s for the better to keep the memory of the night intact, keeping that mystery alive. Still, you can’t help but feel a little disappointed. Wondering what his lips would taste like.

But it’s all just part of the game, you tell yourself.

Walking outside, you see Mabel waiting for you, and the cold air suddenly hits you. Just now realizing how much his body heat was keeping you warm throughout the night.

Despite all of the emotions running through your body, however, you’re almost certain that this wouldn’t be the last time you saw him. 

You pull him in, enough to keep him intrigued. 

But pull away, enough to protect your heart.

[alexhornefan]

ALEX HORNE & GREG DAVIES - extended version- THEY LIKE TO WATCH podcast P.1

Greg describes himself working as looking like a T-Rex as he lays down and has his laptop on his chest.

Alex described the gift from their manager last year as the most inappropriate present and that he took it straight to the charity shop (a gun that shot insects, Greg calls it a salt gun and says he still has his). Alex says he doesn't want to shoot things.

Greg says he is writing a series at the minute.

They talk about Greg's bad sleeping pattern he's in right now. He rules out having the male menopause and said he's been having the sleep issues for about a year (disturbed sleep where he sleeps 11pm-3am, then gets up, has tea, falls asleep at some point and wakes again about 9am, and he feels awful from it).

Alex talks about his frequent nudity on the show. He says he doesn't want to do it and his MIL doesn't want him to do it as she is constantly furious with him. Greg intervenes and says she's also furious at him and Alex explains she doesn't like Alex to be demeaned and it's often by Greg, but also can be contestants, such as Rhod. But Alex says he thinks becuase he has an average to below average body and he's the creator of the show, it's funny for him to be in those situations and he has no problem with it.

Alex says maybe he wants to be dominated.

Greg says anytime Alex is asked to do something just for fun, he will always do it and says it's one of the many things he admires about him. Alex says he likes fun.

Greg says Alex has removed all fun barriers. Greg talks about the story with Rosie Jones asking him to bring the stuffed owl to her at the Groucho Club. Greg says there was no pause between Alex being asked to get the owl and him going to get it.

Greg says he and Alex are clean living boys. Alex talks about being very drunk on the night out at the Groucho Club and says the message he got from Rosie the next day and it said 'It was so nice to finally meet you properly. What fun. Thank you for bringing the owl to the table' and Alex had to recollection of it and didn't know what the owl reference was and had to phone Greg or Tim about it.

Greg talks about his camping trip with Alex. The host asks if it was just the two of them and Greg says they were with friends, and Alex adds 'And a dog'. Greg says they arrived at the camp site, they set up the camp, they got out a BBQ and within 10 minutes they drank so much that neither of them remember any of the trip. Alex added it was a two hour evening and then they went to bed.

The host asks if they had a social event they were throwing, when they would invite the other and when it wouldn't be awkward not to invite them (he asks the number, like if they were inviting 50 guests, they'd have to invite the other person, or it if was more intimate and they were inviting 20 guests, would they get invited etc.) Greg says that in recent years the number has come down significantly.

Alex says their are many specific events where he won't invite Greg. Alex mentions parental social events, before Greg says that he thinks Alex presumes he won't like things. Greg says whenever Alex invites him to things he always follows it up with 'you probably hate the idea, don't worry about it'. Alex reminds Greg that they met up 2 nights ago and as soon as he got there Greg said he didn't want to be there. Greg says that it was a specific event and Aex says that there are a lot of specific events.

Alex is asked what he wouldn't invite Greg to and if it's down to Greg causing havoc. Alex says it's not to do with Greg causing havoc, more hassle. Alex says he had a Chesham Ladies Football match he didn't invite Greg to. Greg says that was right. Asked about a more grey area for an invite and Alex says about a pub quiz in Chesham he does with Tim Key and John Robins, he says that he thinks Greg would like it (and Greg says he would) but it's a long way and then how would Greg get home. Greg says he'd stay at Alex's and so Alex says Greg is invited. Alex then says that the pubs is a small pub and he'd get a lot of hassle and Greg says this is all stuff that Alex doesn't need to worry about and Greg can worry about it.

Greg says some of his friends call his FOA, for Fear of Authority and says he doesn't let go as quickly as Alex does, but he has the trench mentality where if one does it, he'll go too.

They talk about Greg being a fun guy and having a pile on with Carol Volderman and Self Esteem. Greg also says that one of Self Esteem's people screamed about her having a bad back, but she was on top of Greg.

They talk about comedians not knowing about Taskmaster. Greg says Jamali Maddox not knowing anything about TM and Greg is certain he didn't know who Greg himself was. Alex cites Daisy May Cooper as another. Alex also mentions Judi Love being another.

Alex and Greg says they both enjoy it when the contestants don't know much about the show, especially with how ridiculous the show is. Alex mentions the series 17 women not knowing anything about the show and how much he enjoyed it.

Alex talks about tasks per series and says not many get scrapped if they don't make the series.

Talking about the costs of tasks, Alex says it's about £250 per task and they like to have evetyday items rather than specific odd items for a task, like a metal cage. Alex also says he already had the giant inflatable ducks. Greg mentions that the origin of the show in Edinburgh was Alex bringing home-made things with him and it's good that it's maitained through the show.

About people saying no to doing the show. Alex mentions David Mitchell, but thinks it could happen. Dawn French had some diary conflicts and Stephen Merchant has neither said yes or no.

Greg says non-comedians that he knows have said no because it's not for them. Asked if he can still enjoy their work and not to it personally, Greg says yes and that the show, as silly as it is, isn't for everyone. Alex agrees.

Alex says there are people that they haven't asked because they don't think they'll do it, and mentions Mickey Flannigan, and Greg says Mickey has turned it down. He says he called Mickey's agent and asked him to do it and he just said 'Nah'. Alex said it's fine and they respect that and it's always worth an ask. Alex also says they haven't asked Ricky Gervais, for example. Alex also said that they were amazed that Victoria Coren Mitchell and Bob Mortimer both did the show.

They talk about cleaning up a body and hiding it (after Greg brings up The Cleaner). Alex talks about himelf and a friend seeing someone in Chesham with a large suitcase and they were convinced it had a body in it. Greg talks about he and a friend's discussion on who you would call up if you had to bury a body and Greg thought of a certain friend and when he saw him next he bought up the conversation and asked if he would help him bury a body and the friend said 'My friend, I wouldn't even ask you what happened'. The host asks Alex if he would help Greg with the body and Alex says yes, but Greg disagrees. Alex says he would ask what happened. Alex said he would bury a body *for* Greg and Greg asks would you bury one *with* me, and Alex says he would. Without being prompted, Greg says he would bury a body with Alex because he knows him well enough now to know that if he had a body to bury there'd be a good reason for it.

Alex tells the story of burying his dead pet snail santa and hitting a underground wasps nest and the wasps flying at his children and the fox digging up the snail, eating the snail and leaving the shell on the doorstep. Alex said he thought it was funny and the kids did too.

[pedriswife]

hii can i request a pedri x reader x bestfriend!gavi where pedri & y/n is in a secret relationship and only gavi knows about them. All 3 of them enjoy fooling everyone, acting like they’re all just bestfriends but pedri & y/n has been dating a long time. When someone asked them if either gavi or pedri is dating y/n all of them would answered with “no, we’re very strictly platonic”. Pedri & y/n would act like a couple as a joke infront of people but then they burst out laughing and ew-ing to eachother. Then one day one of the barca teammate found them cuddling and being “too cosy to be just bestfriend” & the said teammate took a picture of them without them realising it and send it to the groupchat. Gavi would laugh and having the time of his life after seeing pedri & y/n red faces due to the embarrassment of getting caught

you can add or change anything if you like! but just make it fluffy and funny!! ❤️❤️

𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 ☆ 𝐏𝐞𝐝𝐫𝐢 𝐆𝐨𝐧𝐳𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐳

Faking a relationship isn't easy. But neither is pretending to be just friends when in reality you're more than that. And this is your and Pedri's situation.

You have been dating for quite a while now; just around a year and the only people who knew about this relationship were your and Pedri's parents and of course, Gavi.

The two of you have mutually decided to keep the relationship private to everyone else; you didn't feel comfortable enough letting others know about it, let alone the public. Even though most people would be supportive, you knew that there was always going to be someone hateful just around the corner.

However, ever since you let Gavi into the circle, the 3 of you have been hanging out together ALL THE TIME. You developed some sort of a friendship with Gavi and made sure to include him in your plans as you grew closer, most of which was the two of you messing around and Pedri trying not to lose his head.

One day, during a training session before a match, you made your way to the stands as per usual, where you cheer on your boyfriend and his best friend. During a break, Gavi, Pedri and Ansu made their way to where you were sat.

"Hey guys, some good training going on the pitch" you started off the conversation, making sure to maintain the 'just friends' image between you and Pedri.

The three boys nodded in agreement and continued the conversation about football, with you occasionally chipping in. Their voices eventually blurred into the background as you focused on Pedri, loving the sound of him talking and how he looked; sweaty hair stuck to his forehead, rosy cheeks and the signature cheeky smile decorating his face.

Anyone from a mile away would notice the loving look etched on your face and of course Ansu picked up on it.

"Oi y/n, what's with the puppy eyes? You and Pedri got something to share with the class?" He joked, the commotion attracting other players to come around and check the tea out for themselves.

"What? NO" - you faked offence, scoffing at the statement - "Pedri and I are STRICTLY platonic" you finished off, giving Pedri the 'change the subject' look.

He picked up on your cue immediately and ushered the boys towards the changing room, telling them to cut the bullshit in the process. Gavi was the last one to go, and before he set off he had a knowing smile on his face and mouthed "close one" before turning around and leaving.

Once the rest of the boys left and Gavi caught up with Pedri, your boyfriend turned around giving you a wink and blowing you a kiss. You smiled in response, and waved him goodbye.

After the boys were finished, you joined Pedri, Gavi and Ansu on their way to Pedri's house to play Fifa.

Pedri was tasked with turning on the PS5 and was shortly joined by you, giving him a kiss on the cheek. Gavi and Ansu were in the kitchen, faffing around with snacks and cans of coke.

"Close one today huh?" Pedri said, gently putting his hands round your face and leaning in to give you a kiss on the forehead. You nodded and sat down on the couch, exhausted from the day's events. Pedri joined you, engulfing your body in a massive hug and giving you a kiss again, this time on the lips.

What the two of you didn't notice, is that Ansu was standing in the doorway holding his phone in one hand and the bowl full of crisps in the other. His mouth was wide open; he was proven right but this time he had evidence to back it up.

Finally, he entered the room and Gavi soon joined, you and Pedri making some distance between yourselves to dispel any more rumours. This was done too late however; all of you in the room got a notification from the collective group chat that you have with all the Barca players, their girlfriends and yourself as well.

As you opened the message, your mouth dropped down to the floor; there was a picture of you and Pedri sharing the quick kiss on the sofa sent by Ansu himself. As you scrolled through, you were met with other players replying with "knew about them for ages" or "finally".

Gavi's laugh was what broke the initial silence. Out of everyone, he was enjoying this situation the MOST. The looks of shock on your and Pedri's face is what did it for him. Soon enough, Ansu joined in and you looked at Pedri to see his reaction. He was looking straight at you, with a hopeful smile on his face; he extended his arm, which you gratefully took and pulling you in close.

"Maybe them knowing isn't so bad? I mean, we were really bad at pretending" he said, still smiling. You nodded, relieved that you didn't have to keep your relationship a secret in front of his team mates anymore.

Seeing you nod in agreement, Pedri took this as a cue to leave yet another kiss on your lips, this time, officially in front of his friends.

Gavi audibly gagged and Ansu covered his eyes, mumbling something along the lines of "get a fucking room".

Safe to say, they were going to see more of that in the future.

A/N: hey anon, apologies this took so long, I just didn't know how to start it off at first. It's a bit different but I hope that you'll still enjoy it🫶🏼

[iwant-fuitgummi]

Sumeru Headcanons pt. 1!

(part 2 here!)

Cyno

he/they

26

Transgender Man, Gay

Engaged to Tighnari

Family: Collei (Adopted Daughter), Lisa Minci (FF Sister), Candace (Sister)

Best Friend: Tighnari

He has bad sensory issues. This is why he doesn't wear shoes. It's also why he doesn't wear a lot of clothes, honestly. He hates the way that fabric feels. He feels trapped. So, he wears the bare minimum that is "socially acceptable."

Autistic. Special interest in, you guessed it, TCG. They also love studying old unsolved cases that the Akademiya has on file, and then trying to solve them.

I feel like he'd love FNAF if he were real.

They constantly call Collei "Collei Flower." They started doing it at Windblume and haven't stopped since then.

Speaking of Collei, she's one of the few people that he lets borrow his TCG cards. He taught her how to play, built her a deck, he even gave her some of his duplicates so she'd have a better chance at winning. He also watches over every time she plays. It's like a dad at his son's football game.

Hates the rainforest. They always get eaten up by mosquitos :(

He uses Tighnari's tail and ears as fidgets sometimes. They'll just be sitting on the couch reading or something and Cyno will just start messing with his ears or combing his fingers through his tail.

Okay so they did them dirty in game. Cyno is buff.

Tighnari

he/they/kit/kits/stem/stemself

26

Nonbinary, Asexual, Biromantic

Engaged to Cyno

Family: Collei (Adopted Daughter)

Best Friend: Cyno

Tighnari's in game color palette hurts me so I darkened everything a bit.

He's definitely autistic, but we already knew that. His special interests are botany and mycology.

They also have an auditory processing disorder. Their ears let them hear a lot, so it's hard for them to focus on one thing at a time. They're also very sensitive to sound; Alhaitham lent them some of his noise cancelling headphones [adjusted by Kaveh to fit Tighnari's head (and style) of course] to help.

Kit has a huge lighting scar on kits back. Kit's also scared of storms, but kit tries to pretend that kits not. Cyno can tell something's up, though.

Speaking of being scared of storms, Tighnari is scared of electro in general. Stem gets very nervous when stem sees Cyno's vision activate, but stem pretends stem doesn't.

He's a vegan. He absolutely hates the meat industry and how it treats animals. He grows all of his food by himself in Ghandarva Ville. Collei's asked him if he'd like her to become vegan, too, but he always says "You're still growing, you need all the nutrients you can get," and tells her about all the supplements he needs to take.

They love lizards.

Collei

she/they/he

15

Genderfluid, Asexual, Greyromantic, Gynosexual

Family: Cyno (Adoptive Dad), Tighnari (Adoptive Parent), Candace (Adoptive Aunt), Amber Hasenkamp (FF Sister), Kaeya Alberich (FF Brother), Wanderer (FF Brother)

Best Friend: Kirara

She has a lot of pet lizards! A leopard gecko named Fatin, a panther chameleon named Ziad, a bearded dragon named Kirvi, a frilled dragon named Nayja, a blue tailed skink named Ghaith, and a rosy boa named Anisa. They're all random lizards that Tighnari gave her to help her feel more comfy being alone. She likes them because "they have scales like me!"

In addition to all of these lizards, they also have a service dog. His name is Jabir, and he's an amstaff terrier. He warns her when her Eleazar is about to flare up and gets help.

After Eleazar disappeared, Jabir became Collei's emotional support dog.

Collei has scale-shaped scars on his body from having Eleazar for so long. He also often uses elbow crutches and a wheelchair, since Eleazar had him in bed so often that he's struck with bouts of weakness.

She has cataracts in her right eye.

Candace

she/her

28

Cisgender Woman, Lesbian

Dating Dehya

Family: Cyno (Brother), Collei (Adoptive Niece), All of Aaru Village

Best Friend: Layla

Huge family woman. Loves Aaru Village more than herself.

She runs a soup kitchen in the desert for passing travelers who can't afford food. Plus, there isn't a lot of food and water in the desert, so it's helpful for pretty much everyone.

She's Cyno's older sister. She taught him how to use a polearm when they were younger. She's super proud of him now! Supportive sister :D

She doesn't really like makeup or jewelry, but Dehya does. She lets Dehya give her fun little accessories and lets her do her makeup.

Candace is buff. I don't care. She's built.

She hates the cold with a passion.

She does pottery as a hobby! Her vision helps her keep the clay wet when it needs to be, and it gives her something to do with her hands when she's not busy. She can't focus when she's not doing something physical (she just like me fr)

She gifts small pottery to Collei! She used to make them as hard for her to hold her medication, but Collei doesn't really need it anymore so she just gives her cute ones. She made a clay vase shaped like Baron Bunny once.

Very light sleeper. She's always on alert to protect Aaru Village. She also has Insomnia.

Alhaitham

he/it/xe

25

Nonbinary Man, Gay, Aroace Spectrum

Unofficially Dating Kaveh

Family: Nahida (FF Daughter)

Best Friend: Kaveh

EVERYONE SHUT UP. DESHRET REINCARNATED. LOOK AT HIS EYES HOW IS IT A COINCIDENCE. HIS EYES LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THE SYMBOL THAT REPRESENTS DESHRET. ahem. anyways.

Autism™

He's not the best at social cues. If he does notice them, he just... doesn't care.

I have two different routes here:

1. It's very sensitive to sound and uses its headphones to block them out (this one's pretty much canon)

2. It's deaf and the headphones act as hearing aids. In this scenario, Kaveh learned sign so that he could talk to it when it doesn't have its headphones on.

In both scenarios, Alhaitham knows sign.

Xe wears braces on xyr arms to help with arthritis. Xe writes constantly, so xyr arms are under a lot of stress 24/7.

He LOVES grammar and language. Can and will go on rants to Kaveh about interjections and participles and prepositions. He loves editing essays. He loves fixing them. So. Much.

Sorry that was me projecting. Anyways.

That gem in its chest glows to determine how drained its social battery is. If the gem isn't glowing, it does NOT wanna be there.

Xe has pica and dermatillomania. Kaveh makes xem little toys to pick at so xe doesn't pick at xyr skin. Kaveh also constantly bandages xyr hands so xe doesn't pick at xyr fingernails and hangnails.

He has a pet fish in his office at the Akademiya. It's a tiger barb named Cod-veh. Cyno named it because Alhaitham couldn't think of a name. Kaveh doesn't know that's its name. Don't tell him.

It has tons of succulents. It's a literal god at caring for them. It's actually bizarre.

Wanderer -- Kunimitsu/Beleth

he/they/ae/eni/eniself/rem/rems/remself

~22 (physically), 500+

Genderqueer, Aromantic, Pansexual

Family: Raiden Ei (Mother), Yae Miko (Mother), Raiden Makoto (Aunt), Raiden Shogun (Sister), Xiao (FF Cousin), Nahida (FF Sister), Collei (FF Sister)

Best Friend: Nilou

I named my wanderer Kunimitsu. It has the opposite meaning of Kunikuzushi, and I can still call him Kuni :3

And I gave him a Goetian name, too. Beleth. I chose Beleth because he looks like a cat and plays music (according to Wikipedia idk). This way it ties into Scarameow and his signature weapon.

Best friends with Nilou!! She's teaching them how to dance (secretly ofc). Nahida convinced them to do it, said it would be like physical therapy. Kuni didn't like her at first, but has since grown attached to her and gets sad when they have to miss classes.

Since aer ball-jointed, ae often have aer joints lock up. When this happens, ae uses aer vision to move around. It's not easy, but ae manage. This is why Nahida told aer that Nilou's dance classes would be physical therapy, to stop aer joints from locking up. If Kuni was a human, it'd be arthritis. Ae wears braces on aer arms.

Kuni has a crack in enis face from where eni fell from the Shouki no Kami.

I uncovered rems beauty mark. Honestly just because I think it's pretty. But for an actual reason rem would stop hiding it is...honestly, since Ei doesn't remember rem. Plus, Nahida helped rem become more confident in remself and rems own skin.

He sees Collei as a little sister. He remembers seeing her around Dottore's lab when she was a kid, so seeing her in Sumeru made him weirdly happy. He'd die for her fr.

They visit Xiao occasionally and spar. Kuni found out that he was Morax's kid and was like !!! He like me fr !!!

Feeds the stray cats around Sumeru city. It's gotten to the point that they see him and all come running hoping for snacks and affection.

Nilou

she/her

22

Transgender Girl, Demiromantic, Bisexual

Family: the Zubayr Theater Group

Best Friend: Wanderer

She has a pet bunny named Parisa and two bird named Abtin and Afrin. Parisa is a French lop that she got during a trip to Fontaine, and Abtin and Afrin are rose-ringed parakeets.

Literally one of the most fearless people in Teyvat. Don't test her, she's not afraid of you.

Social butterfly, everyone loves her! Dehya often acts as her bodyguard during shows.

She's getting over anorexia. Her friends have helped her overcome it, and she's now healthier than she's ever been.

She's great with kids! She runs a class where she teaches them (and Wanderer) to dance!

She's such an animal person, literally a Disney princess. She loves animals and animals love her. She always carries snacks around to feed them, too.

Layla

she/they/xe/ey/star/starself

21

Nonbinary, Aromantic, Lesbian

In a QPR with Faruzan

Family: Dori (Sister)

Best Friend: Candace

Narcolepsy, anxiety, ADHD, Tourettes.

Her vision helps her stay safe during narcoleptic sleep attacks. If she's busy and just conks out, her vision will catch her with her shield.

They often have their vision active to keep themself cold and awake.

Xyr anxiety is really bad, but gets worse when it's exam season. Xe doesn't know how to calm down :(

Ey gets distracted very easily. Dori doesn't help, considering she's always showing em her newest wares.

Also Dori and Layla are siblings to me.

Star LOVES astrology SO SO MUCH. Star can't help but infodump when someone brings it up.

She really admires Faruzan and loves spending time with her, so they decided to get in a QPR (queer platonic relationship). They're both super happy!

Faruzan

she/they/ey/thy

23

Demigirl, Aroace

In a QPR with Layla

Family: None :(

Best Friend: Kaveh

I honestly love Faruzan as a character idk what to say

She's pretty and she's silly.

They have a pet mini Tent Tortoise. Its name is Niaz and they got it because "It remembers the same world that I do."

Autism. Special interest in mechanics.

Ey've had a hard time adjusting to modern life, but that's okay! Layla and Kaveh are there to help em!

Not much else to say, I love her.

Nahida

Any Pronouns

~9, 500+

Family: Greater Lord Rukkhadevata (Mother), Wanderer (FF Brother), Alhaitham (FF Father), Raiden Ei (FF Sister)

Best Friend: Paimon

Paimon and Nahida are besties idc

Albino Nahida real

She has the personality, mannerisms, and habits of a nine year old, but the intelligence and wisdom of a god.

I really like Nahida's character so there's not much for me to say

[hannahssimblr]

Chapter One (Part 2)

Back at the house, Shane’s mother Caroline is pulling rocket out of the vegetable patch. She complains all the time about having planted it without realising how invasive it is and how it would choke and overcrowd her shallots. Beside her is a growing pile of herbs, some of which she will offer to me before I go home, and I’ll take it knowing that my parents don’t know how to cook with things like rocket. 

“Well,” She says to me with the sun in her eyes. “How did you get on?”

“Horrible.” I say. “I thought I’d be sick.”

“Great to get back into the swing of things again.” She says. “Sure you’ll be flying up and down those fields again in no time.”

“I hope so.” Down the garden Claire is lying serenely in the sun next to a flourishing bed of summer flowers. When I go over to her she squints up at me and says “You’re a bit sweaty.” 

“Yes I know.” I say, and I lie down beside her with my arms and legs spread eagle and close my eyes against the warmth of the sun. 

“This is why I don’t do things like running.” She says. “I can’t stand the feeling of exertion.”

“I can’t imagine you sweating.”

“‘Cause I don’t do that.”

Shane is toeing a football around the grass nearby with Rosie snapping at his feet. I can’t fathom how he has the energy. “If I’d it my way you’d be out of bed at six, running up and down the park with me.” He tells her. 

“I’d never do a thing like that in my life.”

“Evie will though, won’t you?”

I sigh. “I suppose.” We have a plan in place to get me fit again once we go back to college in a few weeks, and now that Shane is moving to Portobello it means he’ll only be a five minute cycle from our apartment. When it’s time for our run he can just come and get me. The thought is ominous, but not half as ominous as the thought of heading back to Dublin after the summer, even if I won’t be in the NCAD building much this year.

There isn’t much that stands out from second year. It passed me by in a haze, and all that I really did was work and study, eat and sleep. I chose to specialise in illustration, just like I said I would, and I enjoyed it, but it really just became my life, and once again I fell into the role of the quiet girl in the back of the classroom, never all that willing to participate in pub nights with the others. I went home and drew all evening instead, sometimes hanging out with Jaz and Serena when they were over, but apart from that it was quiet. I didn’t want any new people in my life.

Marnie specialised in graphic design, Dean in painting, and we never spoke except for the time that she said something to me in the canteen about liking my hair. I didn’t say anything back to her and then she never tried to talk to me again. They don’t talk to each other anymore either, but I don’t care about what happened. I saw Dean in the hallways once or twice, and out in the yard with some girl who I almost felt like warning about him, but then chose not to risk getting tangled up in his rotten web again. I hope that she will be smarter than I was. I decided to take an optional extra year and do an internship, but they did not, and so next May they will graduate without me and I’ll never have to see them again. 

“Are you excited for your internship thingy?” Claire asks me, somehow following my train of thoughts to the same point, and I tell her that I am. “I’m scared too though.” I admit. “I feel like I wouldn’t know how to act in a real work place with professionals.”

“You’ll be grand. You worked in that café before.” 

“Yeah but a café is very different from a screen printing studio, I think probably anybody can pour an americano and put a bun on a plate. The people at the studio are going to be actual paid artists who design things and sell them.”

“But you are an actual artist.”

“Not yet.” I shift up to lean back on my elbows and watch Caroline busy at the beds still, the soft buzz of the honeybees in her hives fill the air with a pleasant, comfortable sort of ambience. “When I get paid for something I’ve done, I think then I can say that I am.”

“Hm.” She says. “Well then you can say it after you’ve painted that window later on this week.”

“Oh yeah.” I say, remembering the promise I made to my former manager to do some typography on the front window of the café. It’s the kind of thing I haven’t done before, but the idea of it feels so exciting that I feel I’d probably do it for no money at all, but the fifty euro he’s offering sounds enticing too.

“Here, what’s the name of that printing place you’re going to work?” Shane wants to know, and I tell him. “Mezzotint.”

He nods. “I think I know one of the lads that works there.”

“Really?” This incredibly culchie man and the amount of alternative social circles he seems to have a finger in never ceases to surprise me. Since when is he randomly hanging out with screenprinters?

“Yeah.” He says, kicking the football into the back wall of the long garden with a thwack. “Simon something. He’s hung out with me and my friends a few times now. Nice lad.”

“Is he a single lad?” Claire asks for my benefit, and I lightly thump her on the arm. She’s only teasing. She knows I’m firmly settled into being entirely romantically unavailable again. Safe limbo, married to myself, never looking at any boys. 

“Wouldn’t say so.” Shane says. “I think he’s going out with one of the girls.”

“Oh no.” I say sarcastically, and take my phone out of my bum bag to check the time. “Anyway, I think it’s time I head off.”

“Aw, stay.” Claire says, but I show her that it’s almost five and she understands immediately. Kelly works with her dad, the head chef at a local hotel, every weekday until five. She’ll be home in about ten minutes and I don’t want to be anywhere near this garden when she is.

“Don’t forget the rocket.” Caroline tells me, and I don’t. I grab a generous handful from her and let myself out over the stile ladder. 

“Same time tomorrow.” Shane yells after me. 

“Ugh!” I yell back, and take off over the fields that lead me back towards town. 

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