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asherlockstudy · 1 year ago

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did you watch the last GME? what are ur thoughts

I did.

Once more I am so conflicted over it. I feel a warm and fuzzy - not necessarily pleasant - sensation, like a mix of being embarrassed and mildly inebriated. And I don’t think this is entirely spontaneous. I think they passed it on to me. But it certainly doesn’t help that my day otherwise sucked. I did laugh throughout it, so there's that.

GME 3 SPOILERS BELOW THE CUT

I won’t linger too much on my negative feelings because I have talked about this before and it hasn’t changed the third time. But I can’t help but stress once more that it was evident again that some of their boundaries were getting crossed, Link in the suckling (but if my perception is of any worth, I think he was also uncomfortable in the milk pumping one but he was deflecting by acting cool). Rhett was uncomfortable throughout whenever Link started talking for too long or too freely, as usual. But it was bad enough that Link expressed it openly that his boundaries were crossed and again, I don’t like this being the case and also I don’t understand why the fuck they keep doing it (or maybe I do…?) since they are not okay with it even after freaking practices.

I enjoyed the crew’s presence, mostly because their presence comes as such a stark contrast with that of Rhett and Link’s. It was almost relieving seeing them having fun, laughing, being silly before returning to the lingering vague anxiety of what Rhett and Link will have to do or choose to say next. What a highlight Emily’s accident was! I hope she doesn’t feel bad about it. And the one thing I enjoy about GME somehow the most is that nobody among them seems genuinely made for that type of content. But their persistence of going back at it again and again makes it very amusing to me.

A lot of the content was too prepared and practiced, which kinda turned me off, even though I respect the reasoning behind it. Even Link’s personal story towards the beginning was prepared and practiced since they threw the graphic of “we are still good” before Link remembered to say it. Which brings me again to all my questions of “why going to certain places” since you have practiced so much and apparently know what the various situations you’d get into would be in advance.

The bullying of the commentators was hilarious - it was the comedic highlight of the show for me. I also loved Link shaming Rhett’s butt. Did he say “your ass is the laughing stock of asses?” Or something like that. Oh boy 😄

Me during the mooning: oh they actually have better asses than they clai- *sees the chocolate asses* …. Never mind. (Don’t come at me for this!!!!!!!!!)

It was a good choice that they weren’t…. as inebriated as the previous year. Imagine if they were. Clearly intentional that they weren’t. I know some people complained they were a little more reserved but I believe it was ultimately a wise choice.

However, Link’s mild intoxication made him so lovely. And wasn’t he especially loving to Rhett? He kept touching him, on the shoulders, almost stroking him. He was smiling so tenderly to him. He was so appreciative, so full of love in his words. (How beautiful that part of Rhett being the funniest guy he knows and not being threatened by him was!) Even though part of it, like before the stun cane, was strategic, I am convinced he was being genuine, just more open. More real. Surely not a side Link shows in front of others often but I think it might be a bit like that when they are alone, because there have been implications in many occasions that Link is sweeter, more sensitive, more affectionate, more fragile than he lets on publicly. The most intriguing one was Rhett though, because his face was a rollercoaster. His expression often dropped when Link talked a little too much or at the expectation of Link talking too much. But when he was not worried, he looked at Link with a variation of this (stealing screenshot from @jula483):

I honestly haven’t seen a purer look of affection in one’s face, even if it was within the context of all of Link’s ass hair getting pulled out simultaneously.

That game titled as "your parents forcing you to go to law school" or something? Remember it? Link raised a middle finger at that moment. I think there was a recipient there, Rhett's dad.

It was odd how much Rhett did not want to answer the question about the effects of age on his body. He really was like “Oh you want me to give a real answer about it?” and then never answered, which passed under everyone’s radar, including Link who answered normally. What was the real answer Rhett did not want to give? Infrequent hard-ons? I am not sure it was sexual because this was something he could easily skip and talk about non-sexual effects that happen to everybody, just like Link did. I once again made a bad thought and… I am sorry. Lately, I am a little alarmed by how much they make jokes about Rhett dying first (they always did but it’s become more frequent) and by some insinuations they have made that they even had little arguments about Rhett taking proper care of his diet (the bacon discussion if you can recall) Rhett did say he was diagnosed with high cholesterol, plus all the OURA rings he has. High cholesterol is not anything unusual and I believe they make a bigger deal of this than it should be. I wonder if they are hiding something more there too. That part on Ear Biscuits when Link said he was building a social circle in order to not “go under” once Rhett passes left a bad aftertaste to me. His eyes water almost every time aging and death are mentioned. And Rhett saying in Last Meals that the only thing he is worried about was how Link will handle his death? Why has this shit become a pattern, guys? You are young, hopefully you still have many decades before you. High cholesterol is not the end of the world. Jeez. Hope there’s not more there.

I am dying to know what it was about Lily coming home that Link wanted to talk about its reason so bad but couldn’t. Was it professional… about a special project or personal? Because if it’s personal, I can once again only connect it to all the other personal things Link is dying to talk about but can’t, or Rhett won’t let him. I guess if it was about Lily, he would say it? Who knows. It was curious though.

Link assuming the question was about whether Rhett and Link have caught each other having sex WHILE having sex with each other without a second thought. I very much doubt it was entirely accidental or not thought out at all. Don't tell me they practiced everything except getting to know the questions they will have to answer. I believe Link feigned misinterpreting it in order to pass the message that this thought comes naturally first to him without question, for reasons. Rhett calling him out on his mind going there and naming him "tumblr" was neither teasing exactly nor startlement at all. He was simply abdicating himself of this. He left Link alone on this. He did damage control by making Link the butt of the joke. It is very similar to Rhett's notoriously slipping and saying they were thinking about being in a relationship with one girl at the same time and Link doing damage control by mocking Rhett that that was what he was dreaming. It's the same thing, except Rhett slipped while I believe Link said that on purpose.

Okay, let’s go to the elephant in the room and the only thing that essentially matters in this whole project. Yeah I saw some people “entertain” the idea and bloody “happy wake up��, folks. I am talking about Link’s attempt to come out. To be fair, it was more than an attempt. And I am very calm about it because a) I have been expecting it for months now, as I have explained and b) Link did allude to it a few weeks ago during a GME promo. This is a fact that kills the speculation that “oh Link always says things he does not realise how they sound” and all that crap. A couple of weeks ago or something, while promoting GME, Link said that there might be an “emotional speech” by him that year and that it was a reason we should watch and support it. During the GME itself, there was a recurring reference to the possibility of Link eventually giving an emotional speech, with Rhett becoming very explicitly more and more opposed to it as time passed. Furthermore, in the GMM of Friday, Link was more loving and affectionate than typical, and because I watched it before GME, I suspected that Link had calculated in advance that by that time (post GME) he would be able to act more freely. Based on how things unfolded, it was evident that Link had already made his intention clear to Rhett and apparently the crew, which means the crew indeed knows a lot, if not everything. Rhett was definitely unhappy about it but Link promised he would keep it strictly about himself and Rhett did not have the power or right to prevent him from doing that. As the day actually came, Link was unsure whether he was ready enough to actually do it. It was unclear whether he would go through with this and Rhett hoped until the last moment that Link would eventually chicken out. The plan was for Link to allude to it in the aftershow mostly but because of his anxiety, instead of taking the initiative and starting the big talk, Link just blabbed it out at a point in the main show when he was countering Rhett in a relatively “light” moment. By countering Rhett exactly in the moment he was saying “he was not gay and not being gay was cool”, the impact of his statement was washed out by the act of countering a poorly phrased sentence but also taking advantage in a moment when his own statement would have the least consequences for Rhett since Rhett had just stated he’s not gay. Just like he had promised he wouldn’t involve Rhett in this.

In any case, everyone can try as hard as they want to “not assume” and to “not take out of context”, however Link’s statement was perfectly clear. He mildly scolded Rhett for misspeaking like “not being gay is cool” because “he was on a journey of his own regarding the exploration of himself and his identity” or however exactly he phrased it and “it took a lot of courage to do it”. Yeah, there are no alternative explanations. Whoever needs to deal with this will have to deal with this.

After that, Rhett became progressively more negative in the idea of Link saying more, so plainly that… well… he was downright verbalising it lol He told him to give up on his intentions for an emotional speech, he told him that “whatever it is, keep it to yourself”, he told him “maybe say it to your Uber driver on your way home but not here”. Like, how much clearer should they make all this? I honestly don’t think at this point if people keep acting like it never happened, it will be beneficial for Link. I think it might even feel invalidating, nullifying. He wants to come out, it’s Rhett that won’t let him.

But hey I don’t mean Rhett is a bad guy because his motive is not to oppress or torture Link. Rhett is simply highly aware of all the things that can go wrong in their situation and he’s got a point about that. Besides that, Link might have promised to keep this strictly about himself and not include Rhett, however I think Rhett knows that this is UNREALISTIC. If one of them comes out as attracted to men, and one 99% did already… essentially, people will eventually take it for granted for the other guy as well. Of course, “it doesn’t mean that just because he is attracted to men he is attracted to Rhett and blah blah blah” but honestly… if that’s your argument, listen to yourself. It’s possible, because all possibilities exist but it is the most IMPROBABLE possibility ever. What was the onset of Link’s sexuality exploration? A show? An actor? A friend he meets once a month and low-key doesn’t even care about? Or maybe the guy he has attached to his hip since childhood, shared girlfriends with, shared beds with, shared studies with and shared a living with? The guy he acts rabid for and the guy he teared up because he kissed through plexiglass and the guy he keeps getting on homo scenarios, initially accidentally and now “for the views”? The guy he abandoned his religion with? Besides, if you take into consideration both the coming out and then all the "Rhett is the funniest guy I know, I love him, my best friend etc" musings, it's not hard to put two and two together.

And here’s the thing; none of this is one-sided. Link did all this WITH Rhett, not for or due to Rhett. WITH. So Rhett knows that everyone with common sense and a good understanding of statistics will be able to tell that:

Link comes out as non-straight >>> Link loves Rhett >>> it is mutual >>> Rhett is not straight either.

Rhett did try to overcorrect the situation so much. I am not gay. It’s cool not being gay. I mean, it’s okay not being gay. My wife this, I did that to my wife. Fucking a vagina just hits differently. I ate out my wife. THANKS FOR SAYING I AM THE CUNNILINGUS CHAMPION.

The most Rhett implied was that apparently he could “make it work for science???” or something like that, even though he is not attracted to men. I found it interesting how this seems to agree with my speculations on how their relationship started - with Link coming out to him and probably tricking him into a purely “friends with benefits - no feelings attached” situation which Rhett hopelessly thought would be an easy peasy arrangement for his sex positive self - only for it to blow up on his face. All these can be perceived through the allegory of “We Dug A Medium sized Hole” but on other projects as well. It could even still be how Rhett genuinely feels - that Link is his exception in the rule, romantically at least. In any case, Rhett knows it’s a slippery slope. And he’s not ready for it at all. But we will see how Sextember goes. Is it going to be overcorrecting or will Link push through it a little more?

Their scripted videos show that there is an intention towards pushing, however Rhett or even both of them pull back whenever it threatens to become more serious. Link wasn’t bummed one bit at Rhett for preventing him to disclose more. I think a part of him was relieved from the pressure when Rhett took charge to instruct him to not go on with it.

Rhett was so painfully aware of everything. The aftershow was literally delayed because he had locked himself in the toilet checking reactions to the show. His personality is not at all ideal for so risky moves and it explains his dread apart from the factual very real dread of shooing away half the viewers and thus half the income, let alone half the family. You know, this is ultimately why I dislike GME. I suspected it but I think now I understand because they basically admitted it on the show themselves. GME, much like their scripted videos, is conditioning of the viewers. An evaluation of how much their viewers are eager to take. Making them used to it. They did these things and then asked the viewers whether it was not too much or too much. What’s the point of this? Your viewers paid for adult content (although that exceeded a typical No-porn/ no-sex mature show), why do you ask them if they can take it or not? They plainly admitted that they were taking this feedback into account. “We draw conclusions from it!” Yeah, they draw conclusions about how far they can go. Is their audience ready for an “what if we told you it’s all true”? Are their viewers willing to consider such imagery might be a real thing between them?

Ultimately though, they are not okay with being like that in front of viewers. Link was frustrated, not because what happened was gross, but because it put him in such a vulnerable position. What happened yesterday doesn’t differ much from a soft only fans situation, I will repeat. There was sexual stimulation of one friend to another. And secret lover. In front of thousands paying for it. Not everyone is made for this. Most people aren’t made for this actually. I am adamant that it is not healthy for them in specific and it would be much healthier to eventually decide whether they would like to keep their truth secret but safe forever or come out bravely knowing they might be sacrificing a lot of very important stuff in their lives but at least finally finding some inner peace. This thing now is slow burn torture without ever achieving closure. This is the reason I speak badly about GME. It is not comedy. It is comedy rooted in a very difficult, a bad situation that involves suffering. People have said before that I make this a bigger deal than it is. You are entitled to your opinion but from my side I also don’t think you are right.

Okay, I screwed this up. I said this wouldn’t be as negative. I am sorry. But whoever comes to my blog for my thoughts on this knows my feelings about it more or less. I can not gloss over it. They are real people. Their situation is real and it is a hard one. I believe they don’t know how to handle it. I don’t pretend to know better, I am just sensing the way they are taking might not be a good way. I wish the best for them, no matter what their choice is. When someone intoxicated tells you after the show he himself hosted that everything is a blur and that they don’t know how to feel about it and that they aren’t happy but they are happy for you being happy with it and that they aren’t willing to rewatch any of this, if that’s not a red flag the size of an elephant I don’t know what is.

#rhink #rhett and link #gme #gme 3 #gme3 #randl #r&l #negativity #brace yourselves for this #mythical #tw negativity #tw cholesterol #tw health mention #tw diet mention #anon #ask

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abigettie · 2 years ago

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Chapter 5: Three Strikes And Your Out

warnings!swearing, death! grief, kissing? Funeral, small spicy bit, plane crash, hospitals. That’s it please tell me if I’m missing something!

AN: does anybody know how to link stuff so it doesn’t take you to the website and stays on the app? I’ve been having trouble with that I’m just wondering if there’s anything I can do to change it, I’m so sorry this is so short I’ve just been so busy lately and it’s currently 1:45 am no joke that’s the actual time the next chapter will be out next week maybe the week after but I do have a Rhett Abbott fic in my drafts if anyone wants to read that anyway I should probably go to bed, another thing I do take requests!! Just let me know what you want to read it might take me a while to write it but I’ll eventually do it! Oh and I’m totally rushing things between the two of them but it’s fine bc you only have so much time when your a naval aviator!

BxB 4eva

——————————————————————————Bonnie sat on the side of her bed staring at the long sleeved black dress she had chosen months ago for this occasion, the day didn’t feel real to her even though she had been preparing herself for two years but she never thought it would happen so fast she stood up and made her way to the bathroom she through some water in her face to wake up she felt hands on her hips she looked in the mirror to see Bradley “G’mornin honey” he said against her neck as placed a kiss against it making it shiver “I’m going to take a shower okay?” Bonnie nodded as she watched him turn on the water testing the temperature with his fingers she turned back to look in the mirror as Bradley undressed not caring if Bonnie saw, Bonnie pulled back the shower curtain revealing a very shocked Bradley she stepped in and closed the curtain behind her “what are you doing!?” He asked as he brought his hands to his eyes so he wouldn’t seem rude “showering” Bonnie grabbed Bradley’s wrists and brought them to her hips his eyes still squeezed shut “open your eyes Bradley” she said pressing her body against his felling his semi hard cock pressed to her stomach “you don’t know what your getting yourself into”. The pair sat quietly in the bronco Bonnie fiddled with the hem of her dress looking over at Bradley who tapped his fingers on the steering wheel “Brad?”

“Yes honey?”

“After this mission I think I’m going to turn in my wings” Bradley showed down and pulled the truck over “are you sure you want that honey?” He asked grabbing Bonnie’s hand looking into her eyes she nodded silently “I saw what the navy did to my father, I don’t want to be like him, I want to get married and have a family and actually be able to be there for them” she said pressing her lips into a thin line “Bonnie I support your decision, I saw what the navy did to my mother and I don’t want it to do that to you” said Bradley as he pulled back onto the road “how about we get married after this mission then we can have some little Bradshaws running around” Bradley said making Bonnie laugh “Bradley we aren’t ever dating!” She said “we can fix that”

“Bonnie, Isode, Ross I have loved you since we were 14 your the most beautiful, amazing person I’ve ever met, would you make me the happiest man ever and be my girlfriend”

“Let me think, you know Bradley, David, Bradshaw I think I would like that”

“Are you sure we’re not going to quickly?” Bradley asked “we’re in the navy we’re a loud to move quickly”. There was a few cars in the parking lot when they arrived a few meaning Iceman’s Jeep and Mavericks speed bike Bonnie could tell Bradley was uncomfortable “we can stay in the truck until somebody else shows up” she offered looking over at his frown “it’s okay honey” he said talking off his aviators and slipping on his cap “well don’t you look handsome” Bonnie said fixing the collar of his shirt “do you know how many times I’ve done this?”

“A lot”

“A whole fucking lot, this is the same as all the other times so we’re going to go out there stand where we need to stand, shake the hands of the people we need to shake, salute the admiral and try to keep our tears a bay” said Bonnie as she fixed her makeup and looked over at Bradley “you would make an excellent admiral” he said with a stupid smile “what can I say, its in my blood”. Bonnie stood talking to one of her dads old friends Derek? Or was it dan? She couldn’t remember he hadn’t given her his call sign so she had no clue who he was “if it isn’t Bonnie Ross herself” Bonnie turned around “Slider?”

“Hi Bonnie” the words came out of his mouth softly as he hugged her “what are you doing here! I thought you were in Boston?” She asked giving him a hug “ if I missed your dads funeral he would haunt me forever, he actually said that he would he was always a man of his word so I’m not taking any chances” he said laughing Bonnie smiled it was nice to see people she loved no people he loved in one place smiling, laughing, crying, it made her feel warm full even just as he made her feel. Bradley felt out of place, half of the people that would talk to him would always say “you look so much like your father” or “your father was a good man” all he could do was smile and nod he knew his father was a good man his mother told stories about him as if he was her world, he understands why Carol never dated after Nick passed he only sees himself with Bonnie just as his mother had only seen herself with Nick, Bradley makes his way over towards Bonnie who ever she’s talking to has his back towards him as he walks to her “Bradshaw?” He heard someone breathe out Bradley looked at the man who said it as he stood beside Bonnie wrapping his arm around her and letting his hand rest on her hip “slider” Bradley said giving the man a curt nod “Jesus Christ you look like your father” slider said his facial expression looked almost like he was talking to a gost “thank you sir”

“I uh should probably go talk to Iceman and Maverick it’s nice seeing you two” Slider said giving Bonnie a hug and Bradley a firm handshake the pair watched as he walked over to Tom and Pete whispering something to the two making Maverick tense up, the sound of Taps rang through Bonnie’s ears everything was a blur as she watched Iceman and Cyclone fold her fathers flag her eyes full of tears as Iceman handed her the folded flag tears in his eyes as he gave her a salute she watched him closely as he placed her fathers wings on the coffin jumping at the loud thunk it made as he punched it into the hard polished wood the sound of gunfire made her blood run cold making her remember all the times she went hunting in Canada with her dad thinking about the first and only buck she ever shot he was so proud he showed everyone the photo of her and that stupid buck. The funeral ended at 9:30 everyone filed out quickly due to the fact there was still work today Bonnie made her way through the rows of white headstones finding the one she was looking for quickly giving Bradley a small smile as she stood beside him “he’d be proud of you”

“I know, he’d be proud of you too”

“I know”, the change room was silent Phoenix seemed to sense that Bonnie didn’t want to talk about the morning she got changed out of her dress and braided her hair quickly even beating Natasha leaving the room she was the first one in the classroom that day she sat in her normal spot leaving the chair beside her open for Bradley when ever he got there, “first ones up this morning will be swan, Phoenix and Bob get your gear and head out to the tarmac” maverick said as the three made there way out of the room “thank god we didn’t get paired with hangman” bob said making Bonnie smile “who says I can’t be worse then hangman you know swans aren’t as angelic as you think” she joked shoving bobs shoulder before she walked over to her plane. Missing the target pissed Bonnie off she shook her head as she popped up climb up to 8 Gs was fine at first until it wasn’t Bonnie felt herself slipping in and out of consciousness “swan do you copy?” She heard mavericks voice through the coms “I copy, I don’t think I’m going to get any more Gs then this today Mav I felt myself slipping” she said as she maneuvered her plane to meet back up with Phoenix and Bob “blue team that’s a fail,alright let’s get back to the tarmac Rooster Fanboy Payback your next get suited up and be ready when they land- Bird strike” Maverick yelled over the coms “Shit!” Bonnie said as the red light flashed signifying her left engine was on fire “ Left engines on fire and climbing!” She yelled pulling up “throttling back! Shutting of file to left engine, extinguishing fire!”

“Shit! Right engine is out but still spinning I’ll try to restart it”

“Swan it’s on fire don’t-“

“Throttling up!”

Maverick watched as Bonnie’s plane started to go down “extinguishing right engine! Shit Shit Shit!” She yelled and the plane went out of control “punch out punch out swan!” She heard maverick call

“You can’t save it! Eject Eject!”

“Ejecting!” That was the last thing out of her mouth as she pulled the ejection ring the last thing she saw was the canopy not opening correctly a horrifying crunch was heard over the radio “Shit! Swan do you copy! Swan do you copy!”

“We need search and rescue, she hit the canopy but I see a parachute!” Maverick said panicked “everyone back on deck”. Bradley sat in the dark waiting room of the hospital it was empty which didn’t surprise him due to the time he heard footsteps approaching

“She’s stable at least that’s what I overheard” maverick said walking up behind Bradley “that’s good” was all brad said still taken off gard by the whole situation “I’ve never lost a wingman”

“Your lucky,Fly long enough and it will happen there will be others” Pete said as he walked towards the door “easy for you to say, no wife no kids no one to mourn you when you burn in” maverick tensed

“Go home get some sleep” was all he said “why’d you pull our papers at the academy, WHY DID YOU STAND IN OUR WAY!” Bradley shouted

“You weren’t ready”

“Ready for what huh? Ready to fly like you?”

“No, ready to forget the book trust your instincts don’t think just do, you think up there your dead believe me!” Mav snapped

“My dad believed in you, Bonnie believed in you! I’m not going to make the same mistake”.

#top gun maverick #bradley rooster bradshaw #penny benjamin #bradley bradshaw x reader #fanfic #fiction #romance #bonnie #natasha phoenix trace #bob floyd #i need to study #i need to go to bed #i need sleep #how’s your day going?

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calamityandme · 1 year ago

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I’ve had a better couple of days thank goodness.

Yesterday I had a “me” day. I played a lot of BG3. ROMANCED ASTARION! It was at the tiefling party/bonfire or whatever. It was so fun lol.

I made myself chicken and dumplings for dinner that night. Spent time with Danny. Overall a good day.

✨(I need to talk about my special interests now)✨

Today I cleaned for R. I had a slightly different list than usual. I didn’t clean parts of the upstairs bathroom because she had already cleaned them, for example. I decided to switch things up with my listening selection. While I cleaned I listened to Rhett and Link’s podcast Ear Biscuits on Spotify. I hadn’t listened to them in a while because I’ve been enjoying cleaning while listening to my library audiobooks, but I remembered that they do special sex themed episodes during the month of September called Sextember so I checked those out.

I really enjoy those episodes of Ear Biscuits. I enjoyed What Are Our Sex Lives Like? (Ep. 395).

I listened to half of EP. 394 Kinks We’ve Tried (Or Will Try) but it was also funny. I only listened to half because I had finished cleaning by then, nothing against them. I plan on finishing it sometime soon.

I want to go on a little bit of a Rhett and Link tangent lol. I have been watching Rhett and Link’s content ever since I was first given access to YouTube. I was introduced to them when I stumbled across their video Squirrel Rights Song.

youtube

I have watched Rhett and Link videos at many varying points in my life. Sometimes almost religiously watching uploads, other times forgetting about them for a year until I’m recommended an interesting Good Mythical Morning segment by the YouTube algorithm.

Their videos are just a safe place for me. I have definitely looked up to Rhett and Link as father figures in my life when my dad wasn’t there when I needed him. Rhett and Link had time for me every morning lol. That was enough to leave a good impression on me. I even wrote to them back in the day and drew something of me and my friend meeting Rhett and Link lol. I was 17 and she was 15 at the time lol. Looking back, I’m sure if I actually ended up sending them my letters/package that the drawing of the two grown men standing next to two teenage girls would probably be creepy lol. Maybe it was a good thing those letters stayed in my sentiment box.

I loved the first Good Mythical Evening. I paid for it so my friend and I could watch it together. My friend C is also a long-time fan of Rhett and Link.

I just have enjoyed their content and how it’s changed over the years. I loved the small town commercials, the rap battles, the many GMM changes and skits that have stuck with me throughout the years (Moolissa, Cotton Candy Randy✨). I have a lot of good memories with their content.

But anyways done talking about that lol.

I went to this coffee shop by my work and got myself a special coffee to celebrate going to work today. I really contemplated calling in sick today but I knew in my bones I needed to get it over with.

A few days ago I tried to get coffee from this place and I didn’t have enough money to get the coffee, so i apologized and left the drive thru coffeeless. I thought I had enough but I was $2 short. Today I asked to pay for 2 coffees and only get 1 to make up for my grievance. They were nice about it.

It felt really good to pay for the coffee I couldn’t have earlier. I got myself some lunch and dropped some things off at a donation center near me before going back home for the day.

I played more BG3 today lol. Started watching this alien movie called Arrival. It’s pretty good so far. I have just been trying to take it easy since today was my “hardest” day of the week. Hard meaning most physically exhausting I would say.

Tomorrow is engagement photos. I’m so so nervous but excited. I know I’m fat and I’ll look fat so I’m trying to brace myself. Fat doesn’t equal bad. I am fat and that’s okay. I’m beautiful because of me and everything that I am. Mantra for photos ✨ I’m excited for my mom and maybe nana to see our venue too.

I’ll end this post with some marigolds from our garden. Ignore the dirt lol.

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twosroos · 2 years ago

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All Grown Up [Chapter 2]

roos says ! yes the gif is rhett abbot, i know, shhhhh. closed proximity? yes. also, protective bob is a new favorite of mine :)

desc: bob's missed probably more than one big event, a dinner and a thunderstorm seem to tell you God-- or just fate wants you to talk it out.

notable characters: robert "bob" floyd

TWs: desc. of past abuse, narcissism, and gaslighting. cursing, mentions of fighting, threats

ao3 link ! previous chapter ! next chapter

Your plan of horse training fell out of your mind as you stood, watching both Molly Floyd and your sister as they toddled around with the horses. And it especially died when Molly called to your sister, “we should get Robby to ride Fuego when he gets here from the store!”

Shit. You were not ready for this. Not now, not ever.

“Ma, I have some laundry and such to do—“ you call across the field where she stands, watching the girls as they feed Fuego apple treats when he does little tricks you’d taught your sister to do with her. She’s now teaching Molly the same ones. You bite your lip before you speak up again, “Can I run home and do that for a bit before coming back later?”

“Are you sure you don’t wanna run Fuego before it gets hot?” Your mom asks, sending you a look. When you meet her eyes with a bugged-out look in them, she huffs, waving you over. Slumping your shoulders, you make a slow walk to where she stands by the fence because you already know what she’s gonna say. She’ll tell you to talk to Robert, then say how much he’s missed you or something along those lines.

“Talk to Robby.” Your mother murmurs, “lord knows he’s missed ya.”

‘Two for two,’ you think bitterly.

“Ma, it’s been like… nine years since he moved away. And it’s been five years since we last spoke in person. We’ve texted like… once every other month, sometimes even longer, since that thanksgiving party when his mom forced us to talk and gave him my number.” You grumble, looking away so your mother can’t see the genuine upset look in your eyes, “I don’t think there’s any more dynamic duo.”

“Yes, there is, you’re just being stubborn. I don’t know what happened between the two of you before he left, but c’mon. You both were twenty the last time you spoke in person, and it was awkward as hell to watch, now you’re both twenty-five.” she sighs, “Get your head out of your ass.”

“My head is nowhere near my ass, excuse you,” you say, but find you want to be like an ostrich in the sand when a beater Chevy pick-up pulls up to the barn with a low rumble and a crack of its missing cylinder. You want to curl in a ball when the engine shuts off, and the door opens, Molly screaming her brother's name as she slips back through the fence.

“Just look at him—“ your mother whispers, idly smacking your shoulder as she slips through the fence to help her horse— Aster, who got his leg stuck in the feed again.

He wasn’t actually stuck, he just liked to complain until he got help.

So, against the burning in your stomach, you look to see him. And Robert Floyd has changed, drastically. He’s still wearing the same thin wired aviation-style glasses, he doesn’t really need them for anything other than reading and flying— but he’d told you that fateful thanksgiving when he looked relatively the same in his bulky hoodie and jeans, that he liked to wear them because he’d ‘never forget them that way.’ Which wasn’t true because two days later you were shipping them to a Naval postal office in Nevada.

His hair is much shorter now, no longer at its beautiful shoulder length. You had loved to run your hands through its slight wave, you also loved to braid it or put it up in little ponytails. His scruff was growing in a bit like he was taking an opportunity to not shave now that he was home for a few weeks, and he had a newly healed scar across his lower jaw that still left some bruising by his ear. But other than that, he was still Robert. (Your Robby, you remember calling him as a kid, when you two were actually ‘married’ with Ring Pops you bought from the gas station at the end of the road.)

But one thing stuck out to you, in the summer heat he wore a thin white tee, and you could see every bit of muscle definition he had in store. Sure, he had always had a bit of muscle, and as a more reserved person you only got to see it when you went swimming or boating with him, but now it almost strained the old shirt.

“Hey Mols, Gennie.” He calls, his voice even having changed, losing a bit of its southern drawl. Then, he turns to where he hears your Mom complaining to Aster behind you and catches your eye. He lets out a low whistle that makes a smile crack across your lips subconsciously.

“You’ve aged like a fine wine,” he calls, a bit of his drawl coming back as if it was magically reborn in his throat.

“So have you.” You reply, throat dry. As much as you want to run into his arms and hug him— then slap him for leaving for so long, you feel rooted in your place. There he is, after years of wishing he would come back, and you feel so stupid because you can’t even muster a single word out of your chapstick-covered lips. (The same lips you want to press to his, you think to yourself bitterly as you scowl.)

You look like a damn idiot, you think after a beat of silence. You find yourself praying to God he doesn’t think the same. He shuffles awkwardly, sparing glances between your eyes and your body, before humming to himself.

"What, uh-- what's..." He drawls, before just stopping himself and sighing, slamming the door shut to his truck like it's personally offended him.

"I've been fine." You pick up on what he's trying to ask instantly, it's just like he's back in high school trying to start a conversation with someone new again, "I went to college for Equestrian studies, in Savannah, and then I came back home. I live in that little cabin on the property, like a little apartment. My mom and I fixed it up after December."

You didn't need to tell him why December was important, he wasn't there. He’d also never met your ex-boyfriend. Bob would’ve known immediately Mike was gonna be a douche. You wished he’d been there to help you, secretly,

You find it hard to keep your lips shut when he shifts, his arms flexing— and the only thing you can think of is how he’d probably be able to knock Mike out with one hit.

Bob stammers, “What-- uh. What do you do now?"

"I run a horse sanctuary and training facility about a half-hour to the coast. I help do rehab, run events, and do private barrel racing and show lessons for kids." You explain, "I also do equine therapy for kids, we're doing a thing with the Air Force next month for retired veterans. Uhm." You shuffle on your feet, "what about you?"

He leans his arms on the fence, watching as the girls run amuck in the field now, the animals paying them no mind. You remind yourself your next project is making that cow section your mom wanted to use for dairy. Bob talking pulls you out of thought, “That's nicer than what I’m stuck with. I'm a Lieutenant Weapon's System Operator, WSO, with the Navy. I don't fly the plane but I sit in the back and run radars, bombs, and such so the pilot doesn't have to. I just finished an assignment with my squadron at the Naval Air Base in Miramar, at Top Gun. I have to go back for reassignment with them.”

"I don't know what any of that means." You chuckle, moving over to you're on the fence, but a good fifteen or so feet away from him. You knew squadrons, but the knowledge of what a WSO left your brain. Bob always had the military family growing up, not you, so you’d missed out on that knowledge.

"You'll learn," he says like you'll talk to him again after this. Do you want to? You want to tell yourself that you don't, but you know deep down you want to spend every living, breathing moment with Robert Jameson Floyd like you used to. But the silence was washing over you, making everything uncomfortable, so you stand from where you lean and make your way back to the barn, calling over your shoulder as you suddenly find the guts to ride again.

"Welcome home, Floyd."

From behind you, Bob watches you leave, mentally praying he'd never have to see the way you stared at him with some sort of unfinished puppy love in your eyes again. You may have thought it was unrequited, but he knew better. Despite himself, Bob knew he was doing it too. Considering, even with the four different partners he'd taken since leaving home, he'd never gotten over you. You had always been his endgame. Whether he liked it or not, you consumed every moment of his waking thoughts. Every single thing he did, he told himself you'd be proud of. Every single day he lived, breathed, and fought through every shit-filled mission and squadron to survive to see you just once more.

And now that he was just seeing you, it didn't even feel like enough.

He wanted to hold you in his arms, he wanted to kiss you and tuck you to his side and announce you two were finally dating to family, friends, and to his squadron, but who was he kidding? You were no longer as close as you had been, there was no more dynamic duo, no more Bob and Y/n. It was not Bob, Y/n. A pause between you. He'd told himself these three weeks he had in South Carolina were gonna fix everything.

But god, you'd changed.

Either you dyed your hair or spent enough time in the sun to cause it to lighten. Your usual freckles were much deeper now, with a few randomly littered scars to match it. You'd clearly let your hair grow out, considering it fell under your shoulder blades now in two, perfectly done braids-- a new skill as well. He was able to see the distinct changes in your style, new, tighter outfits, and no more makeup to dot your clean skin.

You were stunning, just as you were in high school, but god something felt different. Maybe it had been time, but you looked... better than he remembered from that awkward thanksgiving about five years ago. Even if you'd kept in contact, it was mostly about your younger sisters, family friends, or stupid questions like the color of your cast when you fell out of the tree in his yard and broke your arm. It had been pink the first time, then green, then blue, then white and red because it was almost Christmas. Your mom still had the casts somewhere in your basement, apparently.

He's pulled from his thoughts but the sound of a whinny, turning around to see you lightly stretching atop of your horse he'd only seen maybe three or four times before he'd moved away. He knew it was Fuego, by the dark color of the horse's hair, and he watches as you whistled and clicked in the certain way that sent Fuego tearing along the dirt. She kicked up in puffs as you lead her along a designated path of the right barrel, the left barrel, then the middle one before ripping forward. Molly started cheering, climbing up the fence to get a better look with Genevieve beside her.

"Miss Y/n is so cool!" Molly cheered, waving as you turned Fuego around after her spark ran out and she'd tired. You let her slowly pace back, waving back to Molly once she was in your eyesight, your sister giggling happily as she clapped.

His mom hadn't been kidding when she said you'd gotten really good at barrel racing and other horse-related things. It took everything in him to not say that you were cool, and so so pretty too.

"Miss Y/n's got a big race Friday." Molly informs him, "She's going up against a bunch of people she wants to beat!"

"That's fun," He murmurs, mentally making a note to ask his mom if they should go. Bob, despite being reserved and shy most days, knew you had seen him in every stage of life. Nothing about you made him want to hold back, he wanted to love you, and he hoped-- somehow, you'd see he cared before he had to leave, but he wasn’t sure if that would happen. You had grown since he was gone, and probably had eyes for better guys— like Rooster. Hangman, maybe, if he’d ever get his head out of his ass.

But the squadron had heard his drunken confession of love, and they’d be on their way to his quaint little farm for the biggest fourth of July party in South Carolina— as his mom called it. He had only a few weeks to either make it so you liked him, or to hide you from the squadron.

The time restraint was gonna stress him the fuck out.

...

Your mother had decided to invite Bob and his family over for dinner since your father was still in Jersey helping his brother with his Blueberry harvest as he did every year. the dinner plans were great because you loved his sister and Step-Dad and didn't wanna have more leftovers than you could eat again, but you did not want to see Bob at all. With dirt on your jeans, you stood at the oven, cutting up some turkey for the dinner your mother had prepared.

"Mom!" Genevieve called as soon as your two dogs, a Border Collie named Lieu (for Lieutenant) and a German Shepard named Cappy (for Captain), "The Floyd's are here!"

Your mother turned, setting a dish of shrimp down on the table as an appetizer, considering you both were still cooking, "Let 'em in, hon."

"Is Robby here too?" You asked and your mother nodded, continuing to hum along to Dolly Parton. Turning yourself to the dish in front of you, you continued to cut up the meat without acknowledging the group that had walked in. You knew Bob's family like the back of your hand, the way his mom kicked off her boots at the door, but his Step-Dad, Tom, wore his boots into the kitchen before remembering to take them off every time. His only sibling, Molly, would usually yell 'Daddy! Your boots!' and he'd laugh, saying, 'Thanks, Pumpkin,' before he'd clamber back down the steps to take them off.

"Miss Y/n," Bob's mother, Jenny Floyd-Boseman, said, stepping up to wrap one arm around your shoulder, "This is a beautiful lookin' slice of meat."

"Thanks," you smile softly, "I'm using my Nana's old rub recipe so, I'm kinda hoping my nostalgia didn't make me remember this tasting better than it was."

"This isn't Mikes Nana, right?" Jenny says, stepping back with a wicked look in her eyes. You try to hide your flinch at his name with an easygoing smile.

"Lord no. Asher would kill me if he even thought I was using something from Mike's family." You laugh, Asher was your older brother by only thirteen months, he was currently down in Tennesee running an apple farm with his childhood sweetheart, but he'd be back for the 4th of July party. As would your other younger siblings, twins by the names of Avalon and Gisele.

"Mike was a dirtbag." Tom says, giving you a tight hug, "How're you doing, Mini-Sav?"

He'd always called you Mini-Sav, after your mother Savannah, because you were practically a carbon copy of her. It made you laugh, "I'm doing wonderful Mister Boseman."

"Good." He smiles and plants a kiss on your hairline, before turning to help Molly and Genevieve set plates on the table.

"Need a hand?" A voice calls and you turn to see Bob, chewing on a toothpick idly as he breaks a soft smile across his lips when you make eye contact. You pause, listening to Shania Twain across the speakers in your house. Despite wanting to say no, you feel your mother's burning gaze into your back so you nod, pushing the uncut but of steak towards him.

"Cut it into slices as I have." You explain, "It just makes it easier for the girls to cut."

He nods, and you both work in silence, you humming along to 'You're Still The One' and trying not to think about how desperately you want to kiss the man next to you. He works silently, occasionally pushing his glasses up, and before you know it everything is cut and ready to be set on the table to eat.

You end up taking the head of one side, Bob taking the other as you all idly pass around food and the table is full of dull conversation about neighborhood gossip Savannah and Jenny had heard, or what Molly and Genevieve are doing in their classes. Kenny Chesny fills your ears as you tune it all out for a while, thinking about the certain lessons you need to run tomorrow for training when Tom's tapping the table in front of your to grab your attention.

"Sorry," You flush as you swallow your steak and sit back from your slightly hunched position, "I was in teacher mode."

"That's alright, Love." He laughs, "I was askin' if you ever heard back from Mike's sister, Shannon right?"

"Yeah." You admit, rolling your wrist, the same one your ex had slammed into a gate, taking you out of racing for months, "So, apparently she's in Texas now with Mike. Apparently, their brother's roommate came home from the Navy last night and chewed him out. I think they got into a physical fight over it, Shannon sent me pictures of his nose asking if it was broken. It was crooked so..." You snort, "Jake did a number on him. Better than Dad did."

You see Bob shift, a curious look in his eyes at the mention of Jake. You didn't know if he knew Seresin, but he might've because Jake was also in the Navy.

Your mother smiles, "Jake was an angel the one time Shannon and Chris brought him up here. Do you happen to know him, Robby? Jake Seresin?"

"Yeah, he's Hangman." Bob says like that makes sense to you, "He's the one who saved Rooster and Mav's asses--" You blink at him cursing, which makes him flush, "sorry, lives."

"Those girls have heard worse." Your mother laughs, "I'm glad the Navy's brought you a bit out of your shell."

"Yeah." Bob smiles softly, stabbing his green beans. You pretend to not notice the way he's gotten a bit tense since Mike was brought up.

"I'd beat an abuser too, it's kinda sad Jake beat me to it." Tom jokes, but the way his eyes shift to your wrist and then your shoulder, you know he's not joking. Tom, who'd become your pseudo uncle in the six years you'd known him, had been more upset than your own parents (even though they were livid, Tom was on another level) when you'd finally broke the news of Mike's narcissistic and abusive patterns to them.

"Wait--" Bob coughs with a certain look in his eyes you can't catch because he's tensing his shoulders which makes the flex-- and god he could kill you with those hands, "Who is Mike? I, sorry, if it's not any of my business it's okay."

"No, you should know." You huff, setting your fork down as you brush a hand through your hair. You don't really wanna tell Bob, but you can tell by the way his gaze is fiery that he'll probably just call Jake and ask if you don't tell him. He always was able to find out all your secrets, even if you'd never spilled a word. Bob knew you better than you knew yourself and if he was this upset you couldn't even imagine how he'd react when you told the full story. Though, that was for another day.

"About two years, I started dating a guy-- Micheal Lees. He was everything I'd wanted, smart, shy, gentle, but still tough and able to stand up for me." You cough when you realize you're describing Bob, "But he started getting just... awful around last May. He was just... ugh, I don't even know how to explain it. He was cheating on me constantly but would gaslight me into thinking it was my fault. I walked on eggshells for eight months until I realized he was stealing from me-- as soon as I knew I told Tom and Jenny."

Bob is practically seething across from you.

"I got out of it in December, which is when I refurbished the cabin in the back to live in. He stole pretty much all my money and possessions, so I got in contact with his sister Shannon and brother Chris. They helped me get back what I could, and we filed a police report and all that together." You sigh, "When I was moving into the cabin, Chris, Shannon, and Jake-- Chris's roommate, drove all my stolen stuff from Texas to here. And, that was... two months ago? Jake had to leave early though because he had a deployment in California. And that's really it."

The table falls silent for a few moments, the only sound being people's forks moving on the plates and drinks being picked up and set down before Bob takes a deep breath.

"If I ever see Mike, I'll fucking kill him." He grits out and you nearly choke at either the growl in his voice or at the genuine sincerity behind the threat. You'd always been the assertive and aggressive one growing up, but there was sweet little bookworm and volunteer Bob, who'd catch spiders and flies in cups to let them out outside, saying he'd genuinely kill someone.

Molly spilling her water takes the moment away though. You stand to grab paper towels as you shake off the feeling of dread in your gut. As you bring the paper towels to Molly, letting her help you clean up her mess, you catch Bob's eye. He's watching you, his mother murmuring something to him (probably part of the story you hadn't told), and for once you feel tiny in his baby-eyed gaze.

...

After dinner, Jenny insists on cleaning up with Tom, so you're left to your devices. You decide since you can hear thunder in the distance, to go lock up the barn. You get the goats and cows in pretty easy using Lieu as a herding dog-- which she was bred to do. You work her, watching as she gets the cows in with a little bit of a fight until lightning begins flickering across the clouds.

"C'mon, Lieu!" You shout, whistling as she finally nips the last calf to get her in the barn. You lock the door, leaning to the side to pull it shut as you drop some feed in as a makeshift treat for the cows as thanks for getting in with as little trouble as possible. The horses go in easy enough, but you notice, as you guide Lieu back to the house along a wooded trail that some of the chickens are still out. You huff, walking to their little pen when you see Cappy run straight past you-- the Shepard snarling as he chases something away.

"Captain!" Bob shouts, huffing as he runs up beside you. You laugh softly at his exasperated expression, surprised he'd been able to keep up with the dog for so long. It was a decently long run from your house to the chicken coop.

"Captain'll take care of the chickens." You inform him, leaning over to ring the bell that informed the chickens to come back to the coop.

"She was chasing a coyote, that's what I'm worried about." He stays, shoving his hands in the back pockets of his jeans. You huff, letting out a low whistle for a long moment before clicking-- a similar call to what you'd done to Fuego earlier. You're still ringing the bell as you count the chickens. Eventually, Captain does come back, nudging a few chicks along with her nose.

"See?" You tease Bob, trying to push past the awkward feeling in your gut, "Told ya she'd be fine."

He laughs, wiping beading sweat from his forehead as you help Captain get the rest of the chicks into the coop. As you lock the gate, you give both Captain and Lieu treats, letting them annoy Bob for ones he doesn't have. He laughs at them, giving them both kisses on the head instead, which they accept, as they start to march away. You cross your arms, feeling the air beginning to cool as a breeze whips the trees. You look up, dark clouds beginning to cover the sky above you, and that's when it starts to pour. You curse, whistling for Lieu and Captain as you grab Bob's sleeve, trying to run to the house which is a half acre away.

"It's too far!" He shouts, pulling you back. You slip on the newly accumulating mud and he manages to catch you, his glasses falling off in the process. You drop down, grabbing them as you spin.

"The barn!" You shout instead, it was much closer, but still a bit of a run, and you both look at each other before taking off for the barn after a beat. He manages to keep up with you-- better than he used to, and Captain and Lieu keep at your heels and you run. It takes the both of you to slam the door open and shut against the wind, but once everyone's inside and accounted for you huff, handing Bob back his glasses with a soft sorry as you pull your phone out to text your mom and tell her you'd both taken shelter in the barn and would probably wait out the storm since it was supposed to only be an hour or so long.

Then, you realize, the barn is full of animals except for Bob. Now you wished you'd run back to the house instead of coming here.

#top gun #top gun fanfiction #top gun maverick #top gun: maverick #robert bob floyd #robert bob floyd x y/n #robert bob floyd x you #robert bob floyd x reader #robert floyd #bob floyd #bob floyd x reader #bob floyd x y/n #bob floyd x you #all grown up twosroos

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apparentlynotreallyfinnish · 2 years ago

Note

Hi Appa, are you still taking prompts? If so, how about a Tweet I saw this morning "Should I stop hoping for us?"

Oooh anon, I'll always take a prompt this delicious!

---

Link is in his element. He’s gathered a crowd, holding court at the grill, playing with the tongs he’s just used to flip the meat. Rhett leans against the door frame and brings the beer bottle he’s holding to his lips, but forgets to take a sip.

The people surrounding Link roar with laughter and the way he beams tugs at Rhett’s chest. When you’ve spent almost your whole life with someone, things tend to follow a pattern. Rhett knows to wait for what happens next. He knows Link will seek him out; he’ll want to make sure Rhett has witnessed his triumph. And there it is. Link’s gaze finds his and his smile widens. Rhett lifts his drink and tips it towards his best friend. Link returns the gesture, his gaze intense. For a beat, no one else exists. The backyard is empty except for them. Link’s attention slides under Rhett’s skin, takes root deep inside him and awakens a familiar ache. It’s almost a comfort at this point. After decades of waiting. Wanting. After all that, Rhett’s grown used to his bittersweet pain.

Then the moment breaks, the chatter of the guests is suddenly loud and distracting and Link is pulled back into whatever conversation he’s been the center of. His eyes slip away from Rhett’s, leaving a chill in their wake. Rhett’s arm falls, the bottle in it clanking against the door frame. He rubs his chest with his empty hand and turns around, desperate to get away from the magnetic pull of the man haunting his dreams.

“Oof!” Rhett huffs, as he collides with a smaller figure, standing right behind him.

“Whoa there,” Jessie says, laughter in her voice as she steadies Rhett by wrapping her arms around his waist. The ache inside Rhett eases a little and he manages a smile. Jessie looks up at him and like always, she sees behind the mask he’s spent years mastering.

“Tough night, honey?”

Rhett makes a sound halfway between a confirmation and a denial. But she knows. She always does. And her hands are soothing as they map the familiar plains of his back. Rhett lets out a long breath and lets himself be carried by her touch—metaphorically of course since as we all know, he is a big man.

“He looks handsome tonight, doesn’t he?” Jessie says, her voice carrying a note of sympathy. Rhett shakes his head, but relents because she doesn’t have to call bullshit, her face does that for her.

“He’s always handsome,” Rhett concedes without fully giving in.

“True,” Jessie says with a nod. She falls silent, watching him. And suddenly, Rhett is exhausted. Air escapes his lungs and he tries to pull it back in as if mere oxygen could fill the void in his chest. Some of the anguish inside him seeps into his features and Jessie’s lips tug down at the corners. She reaches up and traces the creases on Rhett’s forehead with her soft finger tips.

“Babe?” she coaxes.

Rhett closes his eyes, trying to keep the words in, trying to stop himself from verbalizing his fears. As if saying them out loud could tempt the fates to take notice and make them true.

“I just— I wonder if…” he starts, words already tumbling out despite his superstition. “Should I just— Should I stop hoping for us?”

The sound of glass shattering makes both of them jump. It’s too fitting. A record scratch following what feels like a confession. But it’s only a coincidence—someone’s dropped their drink. Applause and teasing words fill the living room and Rhett turns away from his wife, suddenly feeling too raw to accept her comfort. But she follows, tugs him closer and grabs his jaw to force his attention back on her.

“It’ll happen. I know it. One day, he too will see clearly,” she whispers, her voice granite and her face so certain the shred of hope Rhett almost let slip away reels itself back in and wraps itself back around his heart. Rhett lets his forehead drop against hers.

“Promise?” he asks, his voice a mere rasp. And she promises, once, twice, three times. She promises with her sweet mouth and her steadying presence and somehow, Rhett is strong again. He can keep waiting. What's another year or two when he's already gotten a lifetime?

#Appa writes fic #rhink #rhink fic #pining #angst #mythical wives

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memzhay · 3 years ago

Text

Beard Daddies

For @malienessan because she gets me.

“You can’t!” Rhett said desperately from the bathroom doorway.

Link paused, the clippers whirring inches from his face. “Can’t what?” he asked in confusion.

“Your beard,” Rhett pleaded. “You can’t shave it.”

They were at the Creative House on a Sunday night. They had a little tradition that had evolved over the last few years since they got the house. The last night of a break before filming resumed, they would hang out at the Creative House, have some dinner and drinks, listen to music, and Link would shave his vacation beard. A last little hurrah before starting back to work.

“Can’t shave my beard?” Link asked incredulously, the crooked grin framed by that gorgeous, silky-looking salt and pepper beard.

“It’s not fair!” Rhett lamented. “Where is it a law that two bearded guys can’t do a YouTube show together?”

“You know there’s more to it than that. Sure, there are portions of the fandom that love me in a beard, but Rhett, they’re a minority. You’ve read the comments,” he reasoned. “Besides. There was that study about how American audiences find beards sinister. You have those giant eyes that take up 75 percent of the part of your face that isn’t swallowed in beard, and you can get away with it. But me, I’ve got this dark hair and deep-set eyes, and I look like I’m about to tie a maiden to some train tracks in the Old West or something.”

“You don’t,” Rhett insisted, and for a moment he was struck by how whiny and miserable his voice sounded. He couldn’t pinpoint just why it was so important to him, but he knew that it was.

His hand reached out halfway towards Link. Why, he wasn’t quite sure. Did he want to grab the clippers from his hand? Grab him by the shoulders and shake him until he saw reason? Reach up and touch his face and finally satisfy a deep-seated curiosity about the texture of the silver beard? Oh yeah. That was definitely it. He quickly dropped his hand.

Link noticed though because Link notices everything. He doesn’t always comprehend what he sees, but he sees it. He imagined there wasn’t much to do with Rhett from the last 37 years that wasn’t carefully filed away somewhere in his mind.

He turned the clippers off and laid them down on the sink. “Did you want to say goodbye to it first?” he offered.

“Wha?” Rhett stammered out in surprise, his big green eyes going wide.

“It’s alright, Rhett. I get it,” Link said casually. “You’re a sentimental guy, and you feel like I’m being forced into doing something I don’t want to do. Like how you think you can’t have glasses. I’ve said it lots of times, and I’ll say it some more. You can have glasses, Rhett. That’s not what is going on with me. I don’t mind shaving. But if it helps ease your mind a bit, come say goodbye.”

Link turned around and hopped up on the counter. They had installed some high sinks and counters in the master bathroom so Rhett wouldn’t have to stoop over all the time. He spread his legs a bit and raised a hand in front of him crooking a finger in a ‘come hither’ motion.

The gesture was undoubtedly sexual and should have scared the crap out of him, but the smile was relaxed and friendly. Rhett was powerless to resist and glided across the floor to stand in front of Link. With him sitting on the countertop as he was, their faces were nearly eye level which never really happened to Rhett with anybody.

“How do I…?” Rhett asked helplessly. How does one say goodbye to a beard?

“However you want,” Link said suggestively. Rhett marveled at the man’s ability to be so innocent and so carnally alluring at the exact same time. It had to be a kind of superpower.

From so close he could admire the way the silvery strands of beard reflected the light. He tentatively reached his hand up and lightly stroked Link’s cheek with his fingertips.

It was so soft. He would almost say velvety, especially if he contrasted it with the wild bushy woodsman of the north beard he sported himself these days. So much softer than it looked. Link was like that in a lot of ways though, Rhett mused as he allowed his fingers to trace his best friend’s sharp jawline slowly and curiously.

From the distance of a camera in the studio, Link appeared a whirlwind of wild energy, flailing hands, mercurial moods, but when you got close to him, you found that he really was soft and gentle. Or he could be when the mood struck him, or when he knew it was what Rhett needed. He always knew exactly what Rhett needed.

He laid the palm of his hand flat against Link’s cheek and closed his eyes as Link leaned into the touch and began to roll his face against Rhett’s palm like a cat.

Rhett took a deep inhale and was surprised by the delicious scent hitting his nose, a very light hint of citrus and vanilla. “That…” he stammered. “That doesn’t smell like the Mythical beard products,” he remarked, eyes still closed, and brows drawn together like a man trying to solve a puzzle in his sleep.

“Come here real close, and I’ll tell you a secret,” Link purred.

Rhett leaned forward as if drawn by a magnet, his hand never leaving Link’s cheek as he came in close enough for Link to whisper in his ear. In a distant corner of his brain, he registered that Link’s hands were grasping him by his hips.

“I use Mythical products on my hair, but never when I have a beard,” he whispered conspiratorially, leaning in so close like he was worried the room might be bugged. Rhett could feel the subtle scratch in his own cheek where their beards tangled and rustled against each other. A shiver ran through his whole body, and he felt Link pull him in closer by the hips while shifting himself closer to the edge of the countertop.

“I use some really expensive stuff from the UK. Because I’m worth it,” he said quietly with a pleased smile in his voice. “And while Mythical might own my hair, the beard is mine.” He said the last word almost as a growl and Rhett thought his knees might turn to jelly.

“Mmmm,” Rhett honest to god whimpered.

Link chuckled deep in his chest and continued to speak low, soft, and quiet as he rubbed his cheek against the side of Rhett’s face. “This is what you wanted, right? A couple of beard daddies letting their beards have a nice cuddle. You think about this a lot?”

“Every time you grow a beard,” Rhett admitted brokenly.

Link drew back, and when Rhett opened his eyes, he saw those sapphire eyes sparkling with amusement. “Well, all you would have had to do is say something,” Link said with a grin.

Link brought both of his hands to Rhett’s face and caressed his beard lightly with his fingers and then with the backs of his knuckles. Rhett mirrored the action and for a time they just stood there, looking at each other and reveling in being allowed to experience something new. No matter how many years they were together. No matter how much time they spent together, they were always discovering beautiful new things about each other.

The intimacy of it and how astonishingly relaxed Link was with all of it made Rhett bolder. He slid his hands from Link’s face to the back of his head, threading his fingers into the soft silvery locks and bringing their lips together as Link gasped in surprise. The shock only lasted a fraction of a second though before he was returning the kiss with passion, opening his lips, and letting Rhett in to explore with his tongue.

Link wrapped his legs around Rhett’s waist and pulled him in ever closer. He brought his fingertips to feel where their mouths danced against each other, framed by the gold and silver beards.

“Do not shave this beard. Do not!” Rhett panted when they broke for air. “We’ll write an Instagram sketch where you need to be rugged. We’ll do the Indiana Jones thing we were talking about.”

“You were supposed to be the Indiana Jones character. You would really let me be the hero to save my beard?” Link said in surprise.

“To save the life of that perfect specimen of a beard? Yes! Fuck yeah, I would,” Rhett said firmly as Link burrowed his face into the crook of Rhett’s neck, kissing and nipping and rolling his face around. The scratching of the silver beard against the tender flesh of his neck made Rhett throw his head back and moan to the ceiling.

“You think this feels good, we should see how you like being rubbed on by a beard in shall we say, more intimate areas?” Link said with a devilish gleam.

“Yeah?” Rhett asked amazed, feeling like he had just been given the keys to a new Trans Am.

Link waggled his eyebrows, hopped down from the counter, and towed Rhett by the hand out of the bathroom and towards his office.

The last night of vacation was going to be one for the record books, and the silver beard would be sticking around for the foreseeable future.

#rhink #rhink fic #beard daddies #silver beard link #malie my love!

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lallyloo · 3 years ago

Text

Jealousy

(So @imincognitohere and I were talking about EB recs, and porn, and how Link’s entire porn collection would consist of a dark haired guy with glasses and a John Mayer lookalike. Then we imagined Rhett finding Link’s JM porn collection and crying, and then just railing Link. And now we’re here.)

He’s not really supposed to be on Link’s laptop, but Link’s running behind and Rhett really needs the May 2022 Ear Biscuits schedule now.

He silently curses himself for not keeping the schedule on his own laptop, or even his phone, but Link’s the one who types during planning sessions and they’re always together, so it’s never mattered before.

But today Link’s stuck in traffic on the way to the creative house, and Stevie’s trying to book their first guest in nearly two years, and Rhett needs the info now.

And they have each other’s passwords for this very reason.

So Rhett waits for the sign-in screen to appear, and he types Link’s password.

RaisinCRUNCH1984!

And he’s in.

The desktop is just a line of neatly organized folders against a backdrop of some douche playing guitar.

Rhett stares at the douche for a second.

He knows his name is John Mayer.

But in Rhett’s mind he’s just ‘douche’.

Link’s crazy about his music but Rhett’s not, and the guy seems like a tool anyway.

And why does Link need him on his desktop? Why not Christy? Or the kids? Or hell, why not him and Rhett? Would that be too much? No.

And sure, Rhett’s desktop is a silhouetted photo of himself in Death Valley, but that’s neither here nor there. It was a great trip, and it’s a great photo, and it’s not just some random musician guy.

Rhett tears his gaze away from the background and scans the labels on the desktop folders, stopping when his eyes hit one called ‘May’. It seems to be the most obvious choice, likely full of schedule info, brainstorming, personal appointment times, etc.

To Rhett’s surprise, the files inside seem to have much more random names than the desktop folders.

It doesn’t seem like Link at all, and Rhett is a bit flummoxed as he reads down the list of random letters and numbers jumbled together.

He settles on a file called 324_eB_32_MMdrmfanta.

He’s in such a hurry he doesn’t pay attention to the file type, and Rhett realizes it’s a mistake as soon as he clicks it.

It’s not a list of dates or information. It’s not a schedule.

It’s a video.

And it looks like porn.

There’s a room. An office maybe? The camera pans and there’s a desk and a chair and a window.. and a bed. Yep, it’s porn.

The camera pans to socked feet, and up bare legs, over a little red speedo, to a bare chest, up to the face of someone who looks a bit like a younger Link.

Dark hair, blue eyes, glasses.

There’s a knocking sound in the video, someone at the door, and Rhett is curious to see who might walk in. It’ll be a blonde woman, he assumes. A Christy lookalike.

“Link you dirty dog..”

He’s invested now, curious to see what kind of fantasies Link is into. He knows Link and Christy’s relationship has its ups and downs, and Link’s blue balls have been an ongoing joke for years, and maybe he’s invading their privacy a bit by watching this video.. But it’s not actually Link and Christy. It’s just porn. Just a fantasy Link has. And they’ve talked about fantasies before. Hell, Rhett told him about the first time he ever jerked off. Watching a little porn video is nothing.

The guy with the glasses heads for the door and Rhett is enraptured as the scene unfolds – slipping off the chain lock, a hand on the doorknob, turning it slowly. Rhett wonders what the woman’s going to be wearing. What she’s going to say. What they’re going to do. How they’re going to fuck.

On screen, the door opens and Rhett pulls back a bit, surprised, when he realizes there’s a man on the other side of it. Another brunette, with longer hair – not as long as Rhett’s, but longer than Link’s. And flowy. The guy’s kinda pretty.

Huh. Maybe it’s a threesome video? Two guys and a girl? The guy with the glasses looks surprised but pleased, and Rhett stares at the screen, wondering when the girl will show up.

The other guy says something Rhett doesn’t register, and then he steps into the room, wraps the glasses guy up in his arms, and shoves his tongue down his throat.

The unmistakable sound of a porn sax overdub echoes through Link’s office, and Rhett pulls himself out of it. He clicks through the video, skipping ahead, his eyes growing wide as he gets quick glimpses of erections, blow jobs, sloppy kisses, a finger in a butthole, AND IS THAT HIS TONGUE?? And fucking, so much fucking, fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. Rhett skips to the end to see the long-haired guy trailing his tongue over the glasses guy’s dick, licking up every messy drop of cum.

And. Oh.

The girl never showed up.

Rhett closes the video.

So Link watches porn. Gay porn.

And he’s never told him.

Rhett can’t help but feel a little confused. And a little jealous.

Why hasn’t Link told him? Why haven’t they talked about it?

Does Link like guys?

Rhett’s never been into guys. Not once, like ever.

Well, sure, he’s thought about Link once in awhile. What it might be like to touch him. Kiss him. Maybe more.

But that doesn’t count. Because it’s Link.

It’s Link!

Rhett’s not into guys. Link doesn’t count.

And if Link is into guys he clearly doesn’t want to tell Rhett yet. And that’s fine.

Isn’t it?

Rhett is a little hurt, but he’s alright with letting Link tell him in his own time. That’s what best friends are for. They’re cool and they’re understanding and they’re patient. And Rhett is all of those things.

He closes the folder, and his eyes fall to the desktop again.

To that douche.

With the familiar face.

Why does he suddenly seem so familiar?

Rhett stares at him for a moment and his blood runs cold.

The video.

The guy at the door with the stupid floppy hair.

Rhett quickly opens the folder again, choosing another file at random.

Cheesy porn music starts and Rhett watches another slightly geeky dark-haired guy with glasses flirt with a dark-haired flop. Rhett skips ahead quickly. There are blowjobs, and the flop is lifting the cute geeky guy, kissing him, spreading his cheeks as the glasses guy gasps–

Rhett closes that video, and clicks another one, and moans fill Link’s office as the video starts right in the middle of a fucking scene. Two guys. Another cute eyeglassed guy with dark hair, and some long-haired jerk. As Rhett watches, he catches sight of a guitar in the background and his face burns hot.

“Rhett?”

Rhett fumbles with the laptop, slamming it closed, but the video keeps playing and the moans of two guys echo through the room as Rhett turns towards the door.

“Link!”

Link looks furious.

“Dude, what’re you doing??”

“I was just looking for– ”

“You’re snooping on my laptop??” Link pushes past him and opens his computer, typing in his password.

“No! I wasn’t! I was just– ”

Link clicks the little x in the top corner of the video and the room falls quiet as he turns back to Rhett.

“That’s my private stuff.”

“I was looking for the Ear Biscuits schedule!”

“And you thought you’d just watch some of my porn while you were in there?”

“It said May! I thought it meant the month!”

“Well it doesn’t mean that!”

“I know that now!”

Link looks at him for a moment and then rolls his eyes. “It’s a stupid name. I’ll.. rename it.. and hide it, I guess.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“What if you need somethin’ else in the future?”

“Well I’ll know not to look in the John Mayer folder.”

Link makes a sound, something akin to a squawk. “What??”

“That’s what it is, right?”

“It’s– I mean, it’s..” Link stutters, unable to look at him. “NO.”

“Oh, come on.”

“It’s not.”

Rhett gestures to the laptop, which still sits open on the desk. “You’re tellin’ me all those dudes with the long hair don’t make you think of… him?”

Link doesn’t answer the question, he just frowns. “I should’a called it something else.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know. PORN maybe?? THIS IS MY PORN RHETT DON’T LOOK AT IT?? Does it need to be that obvious?”

Rhett can’t help but laugh, “That wouldn’t help at all. You know it’d only make me more curious.”

“True.” Link says, and he’s smiling now at least. “So fine, I’ll call it something you won’t care about.”

“Like what?”

“Well I’m not gonna tell you, ya dummy.”

Rhett raises his hands in defeat, “fine, fine.”

The room is quiet for a moment as they look at each other, and Rhett can’t help it when his gaze moves from Link’s face down to the idiot on the screen.

He’s so smug. So full of himself. He writes stupid lyrics and people just swoon over him. Link swoons over him.

But Rhett writes lyrics too. And he sings. What’s wrong with his songs?

“What’s John Mayer got that I ain’t got?”

Link’s eyes nearly bug out of his head. “WHAT?”

“I didn’t even know you liked guys,” Rhett says quietly, “and now you’re into HIM of all people.”

“What’s wrong with HIM?”

“Well, for starters, he’s a– ” Rhett stops himself from calling the guy a name. Yeah he’s a stupid dumb idiot who steals the affection of certain best friends, but Rhett doesn’t need to say that to Link. He doesn’t need to make him more upset. “He’s not.. ”

“I know you think he’s not cool,” Link rolls his eyes again. “I don’t care.”

“It’s not that.”

“Well what is it??”

“He’s not.. me.” Rhett can feel his face start to burn the moment the words are out of his mouth. It’s stupid. He’s stupid. What is this? What’s he even doing?

“Not you??” Link laughs. “Dude, don’t tell me you’re jealous of John Mayer now too.”

“Well, I wasn’t,” Rhett says, and Link shoots him a skeptical look. “I mean, maybe just a bit. But now...”

“Now what?”

“After I saw those videos..” Rhett chokes out. “Link, why’re you thinkin’ about him and not me?”

“Rhett, you’re not into guys!”

“And you are??” Rhett can’t seem to help the hysterical tone in his voice.

“Well, yeah, man.”

“Since when??”

“Since.. always, I think.”

“What about Christy?”

“Christy knows,” Link shrugs, “she’s okay with it.”

“Oh.”

Rhett thinks of his own wife and how she’d react if it were him.

Lately Jessie’s been more open-minded than anyone, more willing to learn and explore and grow. Would she be okay if he were.. if he liked..

And he already knows the answer – has heard her say a hundred times, a hundred ways, ‘we’re not who we used to be.. so whatever that means for you and Link, that’s fine by me. The four of us can figure it out.’

Rhett hadn’t questioned her at the time. Hadn’t realized what she meant.

“So, look, you found my porn,” Link is saying, “but I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do about this whole jealousy thing you’ve got going on. I’m not gonna stop watching it just because your feelings are hurt.”

“But..”

“But what??” Link asks, exasperated.

“I want you to think of me.”

“Look,” Link sighs and takes off his glasses, rubbing a hand over his eyes, “I used to think of you..”

“When??”

Link shrugs. “Awhile ago. Years.”

“Why’d you stop??”

“Rhett, listen, I knew it was never gonna happen with you so I made myself stop.”

“And it’s gonna happen with John Mayer??”

“No,” Link laughs, “it’s just a.. just a stupid fantasy.”

“So let me be your fantasy.” Rhett hates himself the moment it’s out of his mouth – he’s never said anything more embarrassing – and Link just gives him an odd look.

“Dude..”

Rhett cringes, “I know.”

“I’m not gonna fantasize about my straight best friend.”

“But I want..”

“Rhett, WHAT.”

“I’m not into guys,” Rhett tries to explain, feeling like an idiot, “but I’m into you.”

“Well, I’m a guy.”

“I know, but you’re – ”

Link steps forward, and before Rhett can say anything more Link leans in and kisses him. It seems to be a test at first, gentle, and then Link slips his tongue out, pressing against Rhett’s lips, encouraging Rhett to open for him.

And Rhett does. He doesn’t even question it. His brain just screams, yes! Finally! And he’s kissing Link, soft and wet, and an ache shoots through his body, straight to his dick.

When Link pulls away, Rhett’s still got his eyes closed, his head tilted, with a smile plastered to his mouth.

“Did you like that?” Link asks.

“Yeahhh,” Rhett sighs dreamily.

“Then you’re into guys, you dummy. The percentage don’t matter.”

Rhett’s eyes snap open. “Okay, I’m into guys.”

Link looks at him, wide-eyed, and smiles. “So kiss me again then.”

Rhett does, taking hold of Link’s face and kissing him, and he knows he’s supposed to be doing something else. He came in this room for a reason. A file or something.

But none of that matters because he’s kissing Link and Link’s kissing him back, and as Rhett pushes Link up against the desk they bump the cable on Link’s laptop and it beeps to notify them that it’s come unplugged.

“Hold on,” Link mumbles, pulling away to plug the cable back in, and Rhett’s eyes are fixed to the photo on the desktop.

Stupid John Mayer douche.

He’ll never have Link.

“What’re you lookin’ at?”

Rhett glances up to find Link watching him curiously.

“What?”

“You’re staring at my laptop like you wanna murder it.”

“What,” Rhett sputters, “no I’m not.”

“You really are jealous, huh?”

“No.”

“You sure?”

“Link, I’m fine.”

“Guess I’ll just leave it open then,” Link smirks. “Since it’s not botherin’ you.”

Rhett reaches past him and slams the laptop shut. “No.”

Link laughs. “You’re like a jealous girlfriend.”

“Boyfriend.”

“Oh, you’re my boyfriend now?”

“Maybe,” Rhett says, and he’s dying. Literally dying. Link’s never going to let him live this down.

But Link kisses him again and suddenly Rhett doesn’t care. They’re kissing and Link is touching him. Link’s hands move down to unbutton his shirt, so Rhett grabs hold of Link’s shirt and tugs it up and over his head.

“What ones did you watch?”

“What what?”

“The videos, which ones.”

Rhett nearly chokes, looking away, and Link takes him by the chin and pulls his gaze back.

“You can tell me.”

“I don’t know,” Rhett admits, “I just skimmed a few.”

“Well what’d they do in them?”

“Blowjobs,” Rhett says, replaying the scenes in his mind, “lots of fingers everywhere. Fucking.”

“Fucking?”

“Yeah, tons of it.”

Link’s fingers slide down Rhett’s belly, stopping at his belt, and the buckle clinks as Link undoes it. “You wanna act it out?”

“Act it out??” Rhett feels like he might actually scream.

“Yeah.”

“DO I HAVE TO BE JOHN MAYER?”

“No!” Link laughs and shuts him up with another kiss. “Just be you, dummy.”

“You want me to– ” Rhett stammers, speaking against Link’s lips, “Want me to go to the door?”

“The door? Why?”

“To knock? Like in the video?”

Link laughs again, and at least Rhett’s managed that. If nothing else, he can always make Link laugh.

“You watched the dorm fantasy video?”

“I don’t know.”

“Guy studying? Red speedo?”

“Ohh, yeah, that one.”

“And how’d it end?”

Rhett’s eyes go wide. “Fucking.”

“Right,” Link says, smiling back at him. “So you wanna just skip to that?”

Rhett’s died. He’s a corpse.

But he manages to breathe out, “Yes.”

Link opens a drawer and tosses a bottle of lube on his desk, and he’s saying “come on, come on,” and Rhett’s brain finally returns to him, because if there’s one thing he’s good at it’s using his dick.

He’s not quite sure of the next step because he’s never done THIS. But Link walks him through the lube and the prep, and god, his ass is beautiful, and now Rhett gets to fuck it, and when Link’s hand slips over Rhett’s dick, slicking him up good, Rhett’s knees nearly give out.

Then Link’s turning away, still talking to him, teasing, asking, “You gonna fuck me better than John Mayer would?” and Rhett grips his hips and slides in slow, easing in deep, gasping at how tight Link is around him.

And Link groans,“Oh god.. fuck, you’re in..

And moans, “Rhett, do it.”

And Rhett does.

He fucks the hell out of Link.

Plows him into the desk.

Tries to fuck John Mayer right out of his mind.

Just rails him.

And Link keeps gasping, “Yeah, like that, yeah, Rhett, fuck me like that,” and when he breathes out “better than John Mayer ever could..” Rhett stops and grabs hold of him, turning him around, needing to see him, wanting Link to see who’s fucking him and giving it to him so good.

Link goes easily, seemingly happy about it, and when Link is bare-assed on the desk with his dick in his hand, Rhett hooks his arms under his knees and fucks in again.

“Tell me,” Rhett sputters as he fucks with everything he’s got.

“Tell you what?” Link is looking up at him, dazed, and they both know Link’s teasing.

“Tell me I’m better.”

“Better than who?”

“You know who,” Rhett grits out, and he’s going to come. Soon. Real soon. And he needs to hear it so bad. “HIM.”

“Oh..” Link grins, and his voice catches in his throat as he says, “John Mayer?”

Rhett can only nod, silently begging Link to give him what he needs.

“You’re better,” Link smiles up at him, his breath stuttering, and Rhett can feel him tighten around his cock. “You’re so good, Rhett, fuck, you fuck me better than anyone.”

“Yeah,” Rhett gasps, pulling Link’s knees up higher, fucking in tighter, harder, faster, and he nearly folds Link in half when he leans in to kiss him again.

And Link breathes against Rhett’s mouth, “No one fucks me like you..” and he comes, shooting hot between them, and Rhett groans and stills, coming hard inside Link.

“Fuck, yeah, so much better than him,” Link sighs, “You’re bigger too.”

And Rhett’s pretty sure he passes out.

When he comes to, he’s still holding onto Link, and he lets go slowly, easing his legs down.

“You alright?” Link’s asking, with a little worried expression on his face.

“Yeah,” Rhett says, “was I out long?”

“You were out??” Link sits up quickly, getting a better look at him.

“I think so,” Rhett shrugs, “I dunno. Maybe it was just too good.”

Link laughs, “Dude, stop.”

Rhett stares down at him, looking hurt.

“What, you’re sayin’ it wasn’t good?”

“Rhett– ”

And Rhett knows he’s teasing again, and he knows it was good, but Rhett pushes against his chest anyway, encouraging Link to lie back down on the desk.

And Rhett leans over and licks up every messy drop of cum from Link’s chest, and sucks his dick clean too.

He’s clearly better than John Mayer.

And he definitely likes guys. Especially Link.

#rhink #fic #rhink fic #my fic #jealous rhett #i apologize for the formatting #tumblr hates when i post from my laptop

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becausethathappens · 3 years ago

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I KNOW that you already wrote us one cheerleader fic and it was REALLY FANTASTIC. But now I want a senior year AU where link is like the Only boy on the harrnet county central cheerleading team. His best friend Rhett is the captain of the basketball team… the head cheerleader amber has a crush on Rhett but link wishes his best friend would look at him instead… little does he know that Rhett is head over heals for link and he imagines peeling his cheer uniform off of him in the locker room.

i guess i have a reputation as the R&L as cheerleaders cheerleader?

so, to keep up the brand: yes, i can totally see it. ✌️😅📣 GO TEAM!

it would lead up to them trying to confront it, finally, after months of link teasing rhett that amber is always talking about him instead of practicing with the rest of the squad like she’s supposed to. it’s annoying. for a while, rhett thinks link has a crush on her because he seems to catalogue every glance she's made in rhett's direction.

"must be jealous."

and he is, but rhett doesn't realize link's not jealous of him. he's jealous of amber. she gets to cheer him on from off-court without needing the excuse to be there or reason for why she’s so hyped. it’s not like link knows why rhett shooting free throws to clinch the lead feels like someone has their foot stamped down on his chest, but it does, so he doesn’t really want to dwell on it.

and as far as link’s concerned: amber’s crush is a given. considering how impressive rhett is on the court and as a person. he can’t let himself get bogged down in the how’s or the why’s because they leave him with more questions than answers.

besides, link isn’t there to keep score.

when they eventually do get into it and rhett, who wants him to let it go, once and for all, finally snaps, like, "link, what is your deal? you think because she's got a cheerleading uniform on i'm going to just drop to my knees and beg her to date me? you wear damn near the exact same uniform and it’s not like i'm about to do that for you, am i?"

and link would roll his eyes because of course he isn’t.

and rhett would roll his eyes because link is so stubborn.

even though deep in the recesses of his mind, rhett knows that was actually a main motivating factor to playing ball, he’s since dropped it. because seeing link in the same uniform makes it feel like some wires got crossed and he can’t let himself think cheerleaders are cute because link’s now included in that taxonomy. so instead of making it cute, he’d try to make it funny.

because what is funnier than the idea of teasing link right back, for once, with that same childish, treacly needling? so rhett would do it. he goes to his knees and pulls a lovesick face that is way too easy to conjure up on command and begs, “oh, please, link, won’t you go steady with me? will you go to prom with me? i see the way you look at me! what, you got a crush on me or somethin’?”

and rhett would ramble it all out in one long, heated burst so that his frustration and adrenaline overrides him to where he just keeps talking until he finally pays attention where he’s looking up at link.

it’d feel less funny, now, from the silence in the room and the tension in his chest, but he’d try to put a pin in it. “your eyes are so blue!” he’d try to taunt, but it would come out like it’s a fact when the rest were all jokes.

rhett would realize it is a fact.

link’s eyes are so blue.

they look like cornflower against the tile of the bathroom and the light mirrored along the row of vanities.

no one else would’ve stuck around this long after practice on either of their respective teams to shoot or rally.

only them.

then link’s mask would slip for just a second, like it does when he’s got a girl gripped tight in his hands, over his head, and he can’t do two things at once. trying to keep his hold steady while acting like seeing rhett glance his way doesn’t make him question who is cheering who on, every game. but rhett would catch it, this time, like a rebound he’s been waiting on since they started playing. who can even remember when that was?

now, it’s his personal mission not to drop the ball and he knows it in his bones that he’ll lose a lot more than he’s ready to if he screws this up. his mouth would go dry and link would turn to go because he feels caught doing something he’s not even fully conscious of, but rhett would jump back up to full height and stop him. trying to find the words and failing.

instead, he’d hug him, hard and still a little sweaty from the drills they’ve been running all night. leading up to this. link would hug him back but take from it an apology and start to feel tears prick his eyes, but before he can pull back fully, rhett would swoop back in and hold him tighter. until link starts to read some kind of mutual desperation and longing from rhett, held in his arms.

so, when link does pull back and feels compelled to join their mouths, it feels like he’s doing rhett the favor of making the play, for once, instead of staying on the sidelines. which rhett would instantly pale at in utter shock since this is the stuff of his actual dreams come to life.

he’s considered them nightmares up until now because surely it would never happen, but it did. it is really happening.

they’d make out against the lockers for minutes before taking a breath and even then they’d part only long enough to gasp and rejoin. then move to the bench, sitting parallel, facing each other, draped in limbs and sweat and tears.

rhett would get brave when link moves to kiss his neck and press firm hands to all sorts of new places they’ve never been. he’ll shudder and confess, “i do want to go to prom with you. i thought about asking you, before. just as friends.”

and link’s eyes would absolutely sparkle, the way rhett would describe them shining back at him upon hearing that, when he asks, “so, does that mean we’re going steady, too?”

rhett would kiss him so hard for looking nervous still and at all unsure. he’ll be trying to wordlessly tell link that there’s nothing steady about it, but he wants it just as much. whatever this is. whatever it’s about to be. he’s always game when link wants to play.

#[puts down reverse uno card]#💕#rhink nonsense #every day it's something new #i swear #i have two other asks about this #will get to those soon #things i wrote #fluff #answers #i love you @anon

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rhettjmc · 3 years ago

Note

Prompt prompt! Something something one of them works in an animal shelter something something cuteness

Of course I had to write this for @theredquilt - you are one of the best people I have had the pleasure of meeting on here and you've been someone to confide in during my lowest point. Lots of love and I hope these 500 (774 actually, oops) words of pure cuteness makes you smile <3

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He comes in a lot, once a week at a minimum. Link recognised him instantly, stooped shoulders as he ducks through the doorway, chimes tinkling under the breeze.

“Back again?” Link asks, smiling.

“Yeah,” the man chuckles, shrugging bashfully as he stares at his shoes.

“Barbara has been waiting to see you.”

The man instantly shoots his head up, cheeks rosy and round. “Really?”

“Really,” Link is grinning now, nodding enthusiastically, “She loves you the most.”

For an unusually large man, he looks small and vulnerable, blushing. “I’m very fond of her,” he says quietly, shoving his hands into his front pockets.

“Have you thought about taking her home?” Link asks, unlocking the door to lead the familiar visitor to his fluffy friend.

“Yeah- I uh- I want to, but… I’m kinda scared, I guess.”

“Scared? Of what?” Link laughs again, scooping a handful of treats from a nearby bucket and holding them out for the other man to take.

“I don’t know - Takin’ care of her, wanting to be good for her - y’know?” He replies quietly, painfully honest.

“Hey,” Link frowns sadly, turning to face him and stopping just short of Barbara’s pen. “You come every week, bring her toys, she’s happy around you, you’d be a great Dad.”

“You think?”

“She’s had a tough life so far, as long as you keep lovin' her the way you do, you’ll be perfect for her,” Link reassures him, placing a careful hand on his shoulder.

“Thanks…” The man squints, reading the name tag pinned to Link’s shirt, “...Link.”

“You’re welcome…” Link begins, pretending to look for a name tag on the other man’s shirt.

“Rhett.”

“Rhett,” Link repeats, and there’s an awkward fumble of hands as they both reach to shake each other’s, Rhett’s neck flushing at the interaction. They smile shyly at each other, hands still clasped before they’re interrupted by the impatient yap from the capture of Rhett’s heart.

“Better not leave her waiting,” Rhett grins, his cheeks rounding under his beard, eyes instantly lighting up at the sound of Barbara.

“I’ll leave you two to it, I’ll come back in a bit?” Link asks, reluctantly dropping Rhett’s hand and finding the key to Barbara’s kennel.

His heart swells as Rhett instantly crouches to the ground, catching the tiny white pup in his arms as she bounds towards him. He cradles her in his big arms, tucking her delicate head into his neck and Link notices that his shoulders relax for the first time since he stepped through the door. Link aches to ask who or what in this Universe has left Rhett with such a burden on his shoulders, to sink to the floor himself and wrap one of his own arms around Rhett’s shoulders. But he doesn’t, of course, instead he shuts the gate behind him and leaves the man singing soft praises to his baby.

“I think I’m ready,” Rhett says as soon as Link comes back for the pair of them.

“Yeah?” Link grins, looking at the wriggling pup in Rhett’s arms, desperately smothering kisses and licks over his nose.

Rhett comes back the next week, with a folded crate in his arm and a fuzzy sheep toy.

“Today’s the day,” Rhett announces, his voice wavering slightly.

“Today’s the day,” Link repeats, and he’s happy for Rhett, truly he is. But he can’t help but feel like his insides have been hollowed out, knowing he won’t get a weekly visit from the gentle giant anymore.

“Is she ready for me?”

Link nods, slipping into the back to clip a leash onto Barbara. “You be good to him, Barb,” he whispers, scooping her up for the last time.

She yips in affirmation.

Rhett is scribbling on the back of a pamphlet when Link brings Barbara in, instantly looking up as he hears her paws tapping on the floor. “Hi baby!” he coos, taking her from Link’s hold. “My special girl.”

Link smiles, swallowing the lump in his throat. “You two take good care of each other,” he says, watching as Rhett tries to wrestle the sheep from Barbara’s grip.

“We will.” Rhett nods, looking back at Link. “Thanks… Y’know, for everything.”

Link shrugs, it’s his turn to be shy.

“You’ll uh, come visit her sometime? And me too?” Rhett asks quietly, pushing the pamphlet with a phone number and a scruffy doodle of Barbara scrawled on the back.

Link feels giddy, he’s grown strangely attached to the quiet man with the huge heart and his tiny companion and now he doesn’t have to say goodbye. He reaches over the desk to squeeze Rhett’s free hand tightly.

“I’d love to.”

#my fic #500 word prompt #turned into 700 words #theredquilt❤️#cute barb and rhett and link <3

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asherlockstudy · 2 years ago

Note

What are your thoughts on today's EB? I enjoyed every bit of it, it entailed a convo that was a long way coming for Link. I personally thought Rhett tried his utmost not to hurt Link even a little as he attempted to make him see the full picture regarding his social behaviour, it was so sweet and endearing.

I did something stupid. Even though I knew it was an important EB, I did not keep notes like that other time a few weeks ago. Also it was a kind of emotionally charged day for me too so everything’s a little bit of a mess in my head and I am pretty sure I won’t remember everything I was thinking at the time I was watching. It was a lot. This was a checkpoint in their podcast, in many ways.

When the podcast starts and Link is back from his trip, Rhett is still a little off. So even though some days must have passed, there is still something up between them. This is again something clearer on Rhett’s side. He is the one who’s antsy about something and Link responds to that. So, whatever the initial situation was, it was almost certainly Rhett who took an issue with it.

Rhett stings a little: “Don’t feel any obligation to listen to it” (his solo podcast), “You’re too busy for that”, “You know me well enough to not need to listen to me talk without you there”. I am pretty sure Link was joking there, but Rhett was responding more seriously and slightly bitterly. Furthermore that last thing is something I would bet Rhett feels it isn’t mutual; that Rhett can’t easily be absent and not care about what Link might say in his absence. Ironically enough, this eventually becomes the central theme in the podcast.

Then as Rhett explains why he’s taking the next week, he reveals how they barely saw each other in March and April and he is calm but you can see he is pissed about it. Maybe the tension has something to do with this after all. Link is a little defensive there, maybe for the cameras, saying they saw each other plenty, to which Rhett has to bite his tongue and take a sip from his cup. This makes me think that Rhett might consider Link partially responsible for the very little time they had together during these months. But this brought back memories of peak needy!Rhett during the 2020 covid carantine 😅

To reinforce his vibe of neediness, Rhett next blames Link for not persuading him to learn scuba diving earlier, saying it was an awesome experience that they needed to share together. At this point, Link is parts startled and amused, because he is secretly flattered by Rhett’s neediness. Link sort of explains that he just wasn’t used to being the one to take the initiative in their relationship and I sense there was some fear of Rhett rejecting / criticising his suggestions, but also Link almost certainly didn’t enjoy scuba diving as hugely as Rhett, that’s why he undersold it a bit in Rhett’s perception. Link feels that he has invested so much in Rhett, that there is a nasty defensiveness coming out of him in the weirdest of moments. Which is why when he has alternatives, he doesn’t want to show he needs Rhett so badly in order to do something. Rhett responds to that bitterly as well, saying: “Well, I would have begged you. Just saying”. So, you see, different love languages. But Link smiles through it, because of Rhett’s loving whine.

Skipping to the ski pass thing. This is so much more TRIVIAL than anyone made it to be, meaning Rhett and Jenna and Christy. Their reactions were SO dramatic. Okay Link messed up a bit but he had paid for all these passes and he went in with the confidence of the payer, you know. He didn’t think that they would ask all his autobiography for a ski pass. Obviously, the right thing to do was to ask for a change of the data on the pass in advance. Obviously, he should tell the truth from the beginning. But what he thought and it’s understandable was “Oh shit, the card has Michael’s name on. That’s okay, I’ll say his name and she will let me in”. He didn’t expect the age would be on there too and that this would lead to further questions. It was understandable and quite possible to happen. And I do understand his argument about Angie being more abrupt than she should. Clearly, he was there with three other teens following him eagerly, like jeez. And even if I knew she was doing her job, I would too get irritable if I had paid for a shitload of passes that my friends were not utilising and then it was me getting dragged in front of 75 people like a thief or a kidnapper. I am not saying it’s the clever thing to do but it is human and understandable and Jenna and Rhett acting so dramatic about it was excessive in my opinion. I found Christy’s insinuations cruel in this instance too. It was clear that Link didn’t think everybody owed him to pass, he just didn’t think there would be any issue since he was the one paying anyway.

EDIT: At this point I decided to take my time with the ask and rewatch important parts

This simple incident provokes a more serious conversation. However, the conversation actually went sideways. The original topic was how and why Link instinctively chooses to escalate situations without a ground reason for it. However, as Rhett tries to explore it, they accidentally find themselves in deeper waters.

Anyway, Rhett starts analysing how Link never considers how a situation can get out of control in his interaction with people and how everything - even the amount of care you have about what people think of you - should be in moderation. Link is open and thankful for Rhett’s feedback, even though he feels defenceless, and Rhett kind of mellows down. The interesting thing is that this is not the main point concerning either one of them deep inside and you will soon get what I am saying. In his attempt to defend / explain himself, an apologetic speech about how he has learned to rely for everything on Rhett comes out of Link and it is like an indirect apology for not persuading Rhett to scuba dive with him. But this was something that was produced out of many twists and turns and it wasn’t exactly the point of what the conversation was at the moment (escalating situations and expecting someone else will always handle it), so it was more like Link found a small, irrelevant moment out of the blue to apologise to Rhett than anything else.

Rhett sees the green light and goes deeper and explains how Link being himself without filter might sometimes involve him in situations uncalled for. Link grimaces through this and after a deep breath, him trying to collect himself, asks Rhett’s opinion about the incident in the movie theatre. While it is implied the situation escalated somewhat, they did not talk about the escalation but the beginning of the interaction only. Rhett then becomes real and gets closer to the source of his own frustration; he feels like he can’t enjoy himself in a social situation because he has to always monitor Link. Furthermore, an escalation might eventually ruin their night out or also Rhett can often feel swallowed and overshadowed by Link’s so strong come-on entrance.

But was this Rhett’s only problem, especially about the guy in the theatre? The awkwardness? Let’s see some specific parts of their conversation:

Link: You say I try to connect aggressively, that I try to put myself out there.

Rhett: And if you want to go to parties by yourself and do whatever you want to and see where the cards fall…. But what I am saying is when you go somewhere with me, or with your wife or with a friend, just so you know, it is the thing they are preoccupied with, is a sense of “okay, is he gonna do something that kind of makes things a little bit awkward for what it feels like his own entertainment?… And maybe it is like a “hey, I am going to… I wanna connect with somebody”… and it’s like-

Link: It IS for my own entertainment.

Rhett: I think there is a common root, like “I am gonna say this thing in this situation; I’m not taking my phone out”, is the same, there is a common root to, “I am gonna come into this group and just say something that makes people feel uncomfortable because it’s kind of fun. And you know what, a lot of times it’s actually gonna lead to a stronger connection with somebody….”

Rhett looks quite pointedly at Link.

Link: I just don’t understand why, I mean, in my mind though, talking about my neurosis of me picking out the brand of shoe I am gonna wear to this movie was something that I thought this guy would get a kick out of and he might enjoy meeting me?! (*scoffs*)

Rhett: Yeah but… all I am saying is there is a sort of ribbing.

Am I wrong to believe there might have been another problem bleeding in in Rhett’s complain and Link had picked up on it and it was the one he was actually reacting to? In a rare occasion, Rhett asks Jenna if he’s making any sense and she is slightly confused and it’s because he is saying one main thing but there is also another thing bleeding in, which makes the dialogue a little complicated.

You see, while Rhett doesn’t say anything specifically negative about it, his posture, gestures and expressions have an accusative tone regarding the implication that Link tries to monopolise people’s attention so much that it might lead to a deeper connection later. And while Link listens thoughtfully, this is the one thing he reacts to. He actually said: “Do you really think me starting a joke conversation about my neurotic shoe concerns was me hoping the guy would want to meet up with me later?”

Like, he said that. That’s what he asked. And then Rhett says “No, but there’s a ribbing” before masterfully shifting the conversation.

Rhett was going so deep about this out of a place of wounded ego, if not jealousy. He questions the reasons Link wants strangers’ attention so bad, even if it is in a positive or negative way. He puts the thought out there that maybe there is something else Link wants but if it is so (wounded ego), then at least Link should not go about it when it’s Rhett or his wife escorting him. Then he concedes that it might be superficial, a playfulness, a ribbing, but it still makes Rhett feel like he is not there, like Link wants something else. I am not saying that jealousy was the central topic in this discussion, but it was something that was bleeding in due to Rhett’s frustration and it was the primary thing that Link wanted to clear the air about.

You think I am stretching this? Let’s move forward.

Link at this point makes it clear that he welcomes Rhett’s feedback and stresses many times that “they are on the same side, that there is only one side”. This softens Rhett visibly. However, Link also points out that this conversation could have happened only between the two of them and that it would be “a little different” in private.

Link then explains how he wants to let go in social situations and he somewhat selfishly likes the feeling of having someone look out for him. Rhett describes this as “living with no filter”.

In Link’s exact words: “I think there’s so much of my life that’s like, I think so hard about it that if I can get out of my head and just get into, like, living, then it feels so good because there’s - I am just trying to explain myself. I am not defending myself. And so it helps me think there’s other things to take into account. Like, I have this desire… in a party setting where there is no stake. I feel like there’s no stakes and it’s all just about fun. And whether it’s the critic in my own head or whatever it is, there’s a lot of crunching down. So in the places where I can let loose, I find myself letting loose in a big way because it feels so good”.

So what is he talking about here? So much of his life that he has to think hard about, that it feels great to let loose, to have the illusion that there are no stakes? Is this about their job? Didn’t he previously say they have CEO brains? Is this about family? Is this about private life?

The first time Link breaks is when Rhett reminds him that he loves some people and he sometimes needs to keep that filter on for the sake of these people. While Rhett carefully keeps himself now within the context of social interactions and escalation and aggressive introduction, Link at this point is emotional so he just says:

“I just wanna jump out of the plane, you know?”

Like, WHAT are we talking about now folks? Escalation and chaotic introductions? Is that really what we are talking about??????????????

Rhett does not comment on this phrase but he does describe how Link’s chaoticness (or his desire to jump out of the plane) becomes stronger and stronger each year. He interestingly says that 10 years ago (2012 - 2013, has it been THAT long? 👀) he would never be worried about what Link would say to other people but now he is constantly concerned. The funny thing here is that if memory serves me correctly, Link was always a little strange and bold in his interactions with people. In fact, Rhett was also less skilled and stranger in the past. So, is it Link being weird what concerns Rhett or the nature of Link’s “weirdness”?

Rhett says: “There’s been good growth in a way, like “I am embracing who I am, I am being myself”.

Again, what on earth are we talking about here? “I am embracing who I am, an escalator? A stranger’s teaser?” Is this still the point of the discussion or has the main point gone off the rails?

Rhett then comments that “there is such a commitment on Link’s part for expressing himself without filter”. And he repeats there is a growth but that this growth needs to be managed. Normally, though, when something can be characterised as “growth” then it is a positive that, if anything, would need less management, not more. Link’s “growth” apparently causes problems to himself, Rhett, Christy and potentially other people as well.

Why? Link explains this immediately afterwards: “Yeah I am not jumping out of the plane alone”.

“It’s a tandem jump”, Rhett agrees.

Tandem is the bicycle for two riders. So it’s not just Link who is about to jump out of the plane. It’s Rhett too.

But they quickly correct this, saying it’s a group of people. Me thinks, wives, families, employees, right?

Rhett then says, “And if there’s one guy who’s like ‘this is what I do and I jump out of a plane, I go as fast as I possibly can’, and they’re like ‘yeah but we talked about how we were all gonna… There is a plan! We are all going to do this together!”

And then Rhett kinda rephrases it but it’s too late at this point. You do realise this has nothing to do with aggression or teasing strangers or being unpleasant in social situations anymore, right? There is a mention of a plan. This has NOTHING to do with what they were discussing before. And what they were discussing before was not Rhett’s real issue! Again, there is a plan, for a tandem fall, and essentially a group fall!!!! Nothing to do with random awkward social interactions!!!!!!! It’s literally a totally different, much more serious topic discussed simultaneously!

Then Link stresses how a lot of it is enjoying interacting with strangers (apparently as his “grown” self?) and Rhett says this is evident, not without a hint of condescension, also implying how Link could become the guy who goes to things alone and talks strangers up. This kinda flies over Link’s head.

The second time Link almost breaks down is when he makes clear that he wants to go out with Rhett and enjoy their time together. And because Link never disappoints he saves it until the last second to make this crystal clear:

“What is this inside of me that wants to come out? Like, it goes out sideways and it… it is funny sometimes but other times it’s like… you don’t wanna, you know, I don’t wanna be the guy that’s giving people that are the closest to me a shitty time because I am having the best time of my life. That sucks.”

Link breaks for the third time. And he also just did the thing Rhett was imploring him all this time to not do. It really is a lost cause.

Now while everything at this point is clear, the one confusing thing for me is how removed Rhett is from all this emotionally, like he is not in sync with how Link feels, like it is not the best time of his life, and on one hand I am pretty sure it is because Rhett doesn’t want to jump off the plane yet and if it weren’t for Link wanting it that bad, he probably never would, but on the other hand it scares my selfish Rhink heart, as if this whole situation is just a Link thing and Rhett is just the supportive friend, you know what I mean? But it cannot be, right? This theory doesn’t agree with TLCOBC and Hazel and so many other symbolic things they have done. I was just confused when Link said he’s gotten this feedback from people that love him the most, not just Rhett. I guess or hope this meant family. But even Rhett looked confused with that lol

They wrap up this episode with Link inviting the viewers to write their thoughts he bets they have and Rhett mutters “Oh they do” but… judging from the comments they still don’t lol Or I am straight out imagining things at this point. I don’t know. As you see, I only used their words. So I really don’t know if everyone is so deaf or I am so delusional.

As a last note, I would like to mention that Rhett has softened considerably by the end of the episode compared to the beginning. I should also point out how many times Rhett repeated he loves Link in this episode. He hit a personal record. Probably because it was a tough topic and he didn’t want Link to think he blames him. My favourite moment was when he said “I say this in love” instead of “I say this with love”. Heh. And Link clearly blinked or turned to him every time. Sweet.

#rhink #Rhett and link #randl #r&l #ear biscuits #long post #long text #tw long text #anon #ask #mythical

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study-coffee-chicago · 3 years ago

Text

Country College (A Halstead Brothers + Halstead Sister Imagine; Part of AU-gust)

A/N: Thank you for reading! Remember to like/reblog and comment! I'm also donating all the proceeds that from my buy me a coffee account to Save The Children to help the children of Afghanistan. Buy me a coffee link here.

Also, here's the playlist of songs I listened to while writing this and some of these songs are actually mentioned in the imagine in case you guys wanted to listen while reading: Country College AU playlist.

I went on vacation and I swear, this entire imagine was based on stuff I did in Tennessee and country songs I listened to while there.

Anyway, enjoy!

"You got everything?" Jay asked you at six in the morning.

"For the last damn time, Jay, yes, I have everything," you answered as you jumped in the passenger seat of his truck and put your backpack at your feet and your tumbler of coffee in a cup holder.

"Jesus. I was just asking because I will not be turning this truck around," he said as he moved around the basket of snacks in the backseat so that the two of you could reach them easier. "Someone's cranky."

"Yes. When I finally got to sleep at 12:30 last night and had to wake up at 4:30, I'm gonna be cranky. Please tell me we're stopping for coffee."

"You already have coffee," Will said as he walked up to the truck. "Why do you need more?"

"Shut up. I know for a fact you drink way more coffee than I do, Mr. Med Student."

"Jesus, Jay. You sure you're gonna be able to put up with her for eight and a half hours?" Will asked.

"I dunno, man. Maybe I'll make her ride with you," he joked.

"Yeah, no way in hell that's happening," Will said.

"In all seriousness," Jay started, "stop for coffee in about an hour and a half?"

"Sounds good to me," you agreed.

"Same here. I only have to ditch you guys when we get like eight hours in," Will said.

"Gonna be weird not having you on the drive down, man," Jay mused.

"Yeah, but at least we can meet up at the rest stops and we'll be in the same state."

"Are we gonna go?" you asked. "If you two were just gonna talk, I could've slept for an extra ten minutes."

"Holy shit," Jay muttered. He turned to Will. "Guess we should get going then."

"Yeah, see you in an hour and a half. Don't piss off the driver too much, Y/N."

You rolled your eyes. "Goodbye, Will."

Will got in his car and Jay got in the driver's side of his truck.

"Eight and a half hour drive plus traffic," Jay started as you both pulled out of the driveway, "so how do want to split it up?"

"I'm tired and I wanna sleep and I don't want to drive through Knoxville because I have no idea where to go," you answered as you pulled your headphones out of your backpack.

"Okay, Miss Sassy Pants. You can drive in the middle, through Kentucky. Might hit traffic, but we'll hit traffic in Tennessee, too, so we'll both have to drive through it. Just please, do not crash my truck."

"Relax. I know how to drive. Just make sure Will stays on your ass the entire time so we don't lose each other."

***

"And, we're officially in Kentucky!" Jay announced. "Time to change the music. At the next rest stop, we'll pull over and go to the bathroom and grab some lunch."

"Jay! You can't be on your phone while you're driving!" you yelled as he reached for his phone in the cup holder, which was also acting as the GPS...even though Jay claimed he could get there without it.

"Y/N, I'm fine. I've done this for three years now. I think I know what I'm doing."

"If you say so."

He turned on a song you didn't know.

"Got a truck, get it lifted," Jay started to sing.

"The hell is this?" you asked.

"Country music. Gets changed from pop to country the second we cross the border into Kentucky. Now, shh. This is a good song. You'll like it. It's upbeat."

Jay drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and sang quietly to Redneck Be Like by Thomas Rhett as he drove while you listened. He was right. It was a pretty good song.

"All day in the sun, always havin' fun, always gettin' stuck in that muddy river. Always got a buzz, always double cup..."

"You'll know the next one," Jay promised.

"And you know this how?" you asked.

"Because it's on Tiktok. When we get there, Adam and Hailey are gonna have to teach you some southern culture."

"So, I'm gonna need a definition of southern culture."

"You'll see when you get there. Now listen. I know you know this part."

Yeah we fancy like Applebee's...

Jay was right: you did know this song. It was Fancy Like by Walker Hayes.

"On a date night," you sang along. "Got that Bourbon street steak..." Jay joined in. "With the Oreo shake. Get some whipped cream on the top, too. Two straws, one check, girl I got you. Yeah we Bougie like Natty in the styrofoam..."

Five minutes later, you pulled off to a rest stop with a McDonald's nearby. Jay and Will filled up their vehicles while you ran inside to go to the bathroom. Once you were inside McDonald's and at a table eating, you asked Will if it was true that he and Jay always changed it to country music when they crossed the border into Kentucky. Will said yes, so you knew you were in for a long car ride. Then, you and Jay switched so that you were now the one driving and you were off again.

***

Hours later, Will took a different exit to get to Nashville and gave you and Jay a salute to tell you goodbye when he changed lanes and then took the exit.

"Not long now," Jay told you. "You excited?"

"Yeah, but a little nervous," you replied.

"Oh, don't be nervous. They're all really nice. And you've already met Hailey, so that helps."

"Yeah, she was nice. She had a cute little southern accent, too."

"One of the many reasons I fell in love with her in the first place."

Before Jay left for a weekend last summer to meet Hailey halfway and then stay in a hotel for a weekend to spend time with her, he finally told you the story of how he and Hailey met.

"Hey, we're goin' to the marketplace," Adam said on the first weekend of their junior year. "You and Will up for it?"

"Uh, Will's studying like normal. I'm up for it. Kim coming, too?" Jay asked.

"I promised her ice cream, so yeah, she's comin'. Baby, you ready?" he yelled down the hall.

"I'm coming, Adam!" Kim yelled back and then walked out of the bathroom.

"Let's go and make some bad decisions," Adam stated, causing Jay and Kim to laugh.

"We can't even buy alcohol yet, you dummy," Kim said.

"I may be a dummy, but you love me." Then, Adam gave Kim a kiss on the cheek.

"Please stop before I puke," Jay said and made a gagging face.

Adam rolled his eyes. "Let's get outta here."

***

Kim was laughing at a horrible joke Adam made while he had his arm slung around him. He had taken off his signature cowboy hat and had let Kim wear it because she forgot her sunglasses. Adam said he felt naked without it on.

They were walking towards Kilwin's when Jay spotted it: a homeless guy next to a blonde who couldn't be more than college age.

"Man, look," Jay pointed.

The three walked faster.

"No, this is for my friend back at the dorm," the girl explained.

"Lady, I'm hungry. Can I please just have your leftovers?" the guy asked.

"I'm sorry you're hungry, but this is for my friend."

The guy reached for the food.

"Hey, that girl sits behind me in my women and the law class," Kim stated.

Jay, Adam, and Kim took off on a run.

"Hey, baby," Jay said and slung an arm around the girl. He leaned in close to her. "Just go with it," he whispered in her ear. "You got Anna's food?"

"Yeah," the girl said hesitantly. But then, she realized that this guy was trying to help her out. And, he was pretty sure that the girl with him sat in front of her in her women and the law class. "Yeah, I've got her food."

Jay raised an eyebrow at the guy and then looked at Adam as if asking the man to try the two of them.

"Alright, well y'all have a good night now," he said and then turned around and walked away.

Once the man was a few shops down, Jay took his arm off of her. "Sorry about that. Just thought you might need some help," he said.

"Was greatly appreciated, thank you, uh..."

"Jay."

"Jay, well I'm Hailey. Nice to meet you."

He didn't miss her cute little southern accent and he loved it.

"You getting ice cream?" he asked.

"No, I uh was just textin' my roommate to tell her I'd be back soon."

"Well, I-- we'd feel much better if you came into Kilwin's with us. Just so that creeper doesn't come back."

Hailey smiled and agreed.

Kim and Hailey started talking about their class while Adam and Jay ordered their ice cream. Then Kim ordered.

"You want anything, Hailey?" Jay asked.

"Oh no, I'm fine, thank you, though."

Jay nodded, but then turned to the worker. "And can I also get a single scoop of chocolate in a waffle cone, please?"

"Sure thing." As she scooped it out, Hailey looked at Jay and he just shrugged.

When they got to the cashier, Hailey pulled out some money and tried to hand it to Jay.

"I've got it," he said.

"But--"

"Hailey, it's fine. I can pay for a little ice cream."

She loved the way her name rolled off his tongue.

"Okay." She took her ice cream cone.

"Hey, Hailey," Kim began when they walked out of Kilwin's. "Do you have friends you need to meet up with?"

"No, I was just gonna head back to my dorm," she replied.

"Oh, did you drive?"

"No, I walked. It's only like a twenty-minute walk from the sophomore dorms."

"Well, after all that, I'm pretty sure we'd all feel more comfortable if you rode home with us."

"I don't know..." Hailey trailed off.

"Those dorms are only like five minutes away from the house we stay at. And, it's on our way there anyway. Please, just come with us."

Hailey sighed. It would be a lot faster than walking. "Okay."

Then, they finished their walk to Adam's truck and the two girls got in the backseat and the two boys got in the front.

And that is how Jay Halstead met the sweet Georgia peach that is Hailey Anne Upton.

***

Jay, Adam, Will, Kim, and Hailey were all at a sports bar one Saturday night in October. It was loud, it was rowdy, everyone was going crazy over the football game on tv, and Hailey was totally over it. And Jay noticed.

"Hey," Jay whispered from his seat next to her. "You wanna get outta here?"

She turned and raised an eyebrow at him. "You'd wanna leave and not finish the game?"

In the past two months, Hailey had been spending a lot of time with Kim, and by default, she had been spending a lot of time with Adam, Jay, and Will. She will admit going over to their three-bedroom house they all rented together was a lot better than being stuck in her small dorm with her roommate. So, she went over there quite a bit to study with Kim. And, turns out she and Jay were both law studies majors, so they had a lot of the same classes, but they were in different sections, so they did a lot of studying together, too. And, she knew like most college boys, Jay loved his football. Not as much as Adam, but he watched it whenever one of his teams were playing. Which, was Chicago or Tennessee.

"Yeah," Jay started, "it's kinda loud in here anyway. And, it's just Tennessee playing. I'd be more likely to stay if the Bears were playing."

"Okay, let's get outta here. I know a great little diner we can go to for milkshakes. Pretty sure they're open until 11 and it's only 10, so we should be able to make it."

"Adam," Jay said over the game. Adam turned to face Jay. "Me and Hailey are gonna get out of here. I'll see you back at home."

"See you," Adam said and then turned back to his game.

"Guess we know where his loyalties lie," Hailey laughed.

The two of them stood up from their chairs at the table.

"You better get my friend home safe, Halstead!" Kim yelled.

"Yes ma'am," he said, borrowing a line from Adam. "You've got nothing to worry about."

Then, the two of them made their way out of the local sports bar and to Jay's truck.

***

"You've gotta be kiddin' me," Hailey said as the two of them walked up to the diner. "They're closed. Closed at 10 and not at 11. I'm really sorry, Jay."

"That's okay. Got anywhere else you wanna go? Or I can just take you back to your dorm if you want?" Jay suggested.

She sighed. "Just take me back I guess."

The two of them walked back to Jay's truck and got in. Hailey gasped at the song that was on the radio.

"What?" Jay asked, quickly turning to look at Hailey.

"This is my favorite song!"

Lights go down, wheels go around. I'm taking you home. Hoping for a slow song to come on the radio now.

Slow Dance in a Parking Lot by Jordan Davis continued to play through the speakers of Jay's truck.

"What's it about?" Jay asked.

"Slow dancing in a parking lot."

Jay listened to a few more lines and then decided to turn up the radio and jump out of the car.

"Jay, what are you--"

But he was already at her side of the car and pulled her door open.

"Dance with me?" he asked, sticking his hand out for her to take.

"What?" she laughed as a huge smile grew on her face.

"You said the song's about slow dancing in a parking lot and we're in an empty parking lot, so, why not recreate the song?"

Hailey laughed once more and shook her head and then grabbed Jay's hand. He helped her out of his truck and then she wrapped her arms around his neck and he wrapped his arms around her waist and they swayed to the music.

"Slow dance with you. Spinning you round by the Walmart sign and moving our feet over the painted white lines. Getting close to you. Making the most of whatever we got, even if it's just slow dance in a parking lot," Hailey sang quietly.

"Spin," Jay said as he held his hand up.

"What?"

"Spinning you round just like the song says."

Hailey laughed and reached for his hand and did a spin.

"Beautiful," Jay complimented.

"Yeah, right. That's was probably the messiest spin known to man."

"Well, um, it was beautiful. You're beautiful, Hailey."

She was glad it was dark so that Jay couldn't see the heat that rose to her cheeks.

"You're somethin' else, but thank you." She rested her head on his chest as they swayed to the rhythm of the rest of the song.

The song ended and the broadcaster started talking.

"Can I kiss you?" Jay asked.

"What?" she pulled away from his chest.

"I asked if I could kiss you. Was that too much? You know what, just forget--"

"Yes, Jay, kiss me," Hailey smiled and then she and Jay both leaned in.

It was just a peck, but it was their first kiss and despite it being in a dark parking lot late at night, it was still magical.

"You know," Jay began once the quick kiss was over, "there's a Walmart across the street. What do you say we go grab pints of ice cream from there and then you can show me your favorite country songs?"

"I'd like that. Adam didn't show you enough?" she asked.

"I've only got like thirty I like. I need to expand my horizons."

"Okay, let's go."

They held hands in Walmart and then picked out their respective pints of ice cream. Then, they went back to the parking lot of the closed diner and Jay plugged in the aux, allowing Hailey to show him her favorite country songs while they ate their ice cream from the pint and even shared with each other.

Hailey knew nobody would have a first kiss story like that.

Then, at the beginning of the winter semester, Hailey's roommate decided not to live in the dorms anymore. Hailey couldn't afford to pay for a dorm all by herself, so Kim offered to let her stay with her, Jay, Adam, and Will. So, that's how she ended up living with her boyfriend and sharing a room with her best friend, Kim Burgess.

"We're here," Jay announced. "Well, actually, we're a few streets away, but that's one of the lecture halls on your right."

You looked out the window to see a big red and brown brick building with white pillars on the steps. There was also a white sign telling you what building this was.

"Wow," you said in awe. "It's like those old-fashioned colleges. I love it."

"Well, we'll give you a tour and help you find your classes sometime this weekend before classes start on Tuesday. That way, you aren't getting lost on the first day. But, we'll head to the house for now and get all unpacked."

"Sounds good to me."

Five minutes and a few back roads later, you pulled up to a simple two-story brick house.

"Alright, let's get our stuff out and get inside," Jay said.

You stepped out of the truck and started grabbing some stuff out of the back seat.

"I'll jump in the truck and hand you the suitcases. Think you can grab them when I hand them to you?"

You nodded.

"Halstead!" you heard someone shout and you and Jay both whipped your heads around to see Hailey and Adam walking out of the garage and toward the two of you. Adam, well who you assumed was Adam, was carrying two cowboy hats and he and Hailey each had one on themselves.

"Catch!" Adam said and threw one to Jay where he was standing in the box of the truck. Jay easily caught it and placed it on his head.

Adam walked over to you. "And one for you, darlin'," he said as he placed the hat on your head.

"Thank you," you said. "But I thought Kim was darlin'," you said. It'd make sense because if this guy was in fact Adam, then he and Kim were dating.

"You didn't tell her?" Hailey asked Jay.

"Didn't think there'd be a need to." Jay shrugged.

"Tell me what?" you asked.

"Well, Adam calls every girl darlin'," Jay explained. "It's just normal for him. And, down here, you're gonna get a lot of huns, sweeties, and sweethearts. A lot of waiters and waitresses do that here."

"And what do they call you two?" you asked, motioning to Jay and Adam.

"Sir," they said in unison.

"Oh, and you'll occasionally get a ma'am," Hailey added. "But, that one's rare because we don't look old enough to be called ma'am."

"Okay. And, uh, not to be rude, but what's with the cowboy hats?" you asked.

"It's a tradition we just started last year," Adam explained. "We unpack, wear cowboy hats, and drink moonshine. Oh, I'm Adam by the way, darlin'."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Y/N."

Jay handed you a suitcase and you set it on the ground. Then, you did the same thing with two more suitcases.

You grabbed your backpack from the front seat, your duffle bag from the back, and your two suitcases.

"Here, I can take those two for you," Adam said.

"Oh, okay," you said and then allowed him to take the two suitcases from you. So this is what Jay meant by southern hospitality since Adam was from Tennessee and all.

"Jay, lemme take your suitcase," Hailey said.

"Baby, I've got it," Jay argued as he jumped out of the box of his truck and closed the tailgate.

"The hell you do," she argued. "I see all your other stuff in the backseat and that basket of snacks you gotta carry in, too. Just lemme take your one suitcase."

"Let 'er take the suitcase, Halstead. Best to listen to your lady," Adam said.

"I like Adam already," you laughed.

He let go of one of the suitcases and tipped his hat. "Thank you, darlin'."

This caused all four of you to laugh and then you all went inside carrying both yours and Jay's stuff in one trip between the four of you.

***

"Shine in the fridge?" Jay asked after you and he had brought all your stuff to your room.

"Shine, Jay? How southern do you get when you're here?" you asked.

"Oh, he gets pretty southern, hun," Hailey said.

"See?" Jay asked as he pointed to Hailey. "Told you you'd get called hun."

"So, Adam's thing is darlin' and Hailey's is hun?" Hailey nodded. "And it's because you're from Georgia and he's from Tennessee?"

"That's right, darlin'," Adam confirmed and then turned back to Jay. "Yeah, shine's in the fridge. And Kim just texted and said she's on the way back with pizza."

"You got apple pie flavored shine?" Jay asked.

"Hang on. I'm just gonna grab 'em."

The three of you sat down on the bar stools at the counter and waited for Adam to pull them out.

"Alright," Adam started after he put the bottles of moonshine with sip lids on the counter. "We have peach for Miss Georgia Peach." He passed the peach bottle of moonshine to Hailey. "We've got apple pie shine for me and Jay. We've got strawberries and creme for Kim because that's her favorite." He turned to you. "And for you, I got you blackberry because it's not that high of a proof, so it's not that strong." He slid the jar to you.

"Nuh uh," Jay said quickly and grabbed the bottle.

"What the hell, Jay? Give it back! Adam said it's for me, not you!" you argued.

"Last I checked, you're only eighteen."

"Last I checked, Dad's not here. And I know for a fact you drank before you were 21, so pass me the blackberry shine, please."

"I'll take the first sip and then you can have it." He made sure the straw part was open and then he took a sip. "Adam, that shit's like a chaser compared to the apple pie one."

"I know. That's why I got 'er that one," Adam said.

You heard a door shut.

"Pizza's here!" Kim announced.

She walked into the kitchen with three boxes of pizza.

"I got us three pies," she said as she set them down on the counter. "We got one pepperoni and green olive, one supreme, and one meat lovers." She turned to you. "And you must be Y/N. I'm Kim. I see Adam already got you started on that Tennessee moonshine."

"Nice to meet you," you said. "You're from New York, right?"

"Yup, not New York City, though. More upstate."

"Of course she's from New York, Y/N!" Jay exclaimed. "Who else would call pizza a pie except for a true New Yorker?"

"I'll take that as a compliment. Thanks, Jay."

Jay raised his bottle of apple pie moonshine in a fake cheers and then took a sip.

"Now that's the strong shit I need to start off this semester right," he announced and then set the bottle down.

"Oh, and if your brother didn't tell you yet, he turns into a borderline alcoholic when he's at school," Kim told you.

You laughed. "He didn't tell me that, no."

"Better than being a caffeine addict like Kim and Hailey here," Jay argued.

"Shut up," Hailey said. "You know you're a caffeine addict during finals week just the rest of us."

"I was a caffeine addict in high school, so we'll see what happens," you shrugged.

Kim grabbed a stack of paper plates and set them on one of the pizza boxes. "Dig in. Oh, Y/N, did Adam get you the blackberry flavored moonshine?"

"He did. Haven't tried it yet because Jay has yet to give it back to me."

Kim quickly reached down and grabbed the jar of moonshine.

"Hey, Kim! She's only 18!" Jay protested.

"So? I know you drank an insane amount during your freshman year. So shut it." Kim popped open the sipping lid. "Taste."

You took a sip. It did taste like blackberry, but it was also sort of strong, but it didn't burn your throat that bad like you had read in books that alcohol did.

"This is actually pretty good."

"I know, right? And, me and Hailey will let you try ours when we help you unpack," Kim said. "But, do not try the kind the boys have because it's nasty."

"Baby, I don't know what you have against apple pie moonshine, but it's good," Adam said and then took a sip of his moonshine. Kim rolled her eyes. Adam leaned across the counter. "The New York in her is coming out, darlin'."

"Oh, shut up," Kim said and reached over to steal Adam's cowboy hat off his head.

"Baby, now I feel naked without it," Adam argued and tried to reach for the hat.

"Sucks for you. Now eat your pizza before it gets cold."

***

"Morning," Jay said when you walked into the kitchen the next morning. "How'd you sleep?"

"Good. it's nice not having to share a room with anyone like you and Adam, and then Hailey and Kim have to. It was fun having them help me unpack last night, though," you said.

Last night, Kim and Hailey had helped you unpack and when you mentioned that you didn't really know any country music, Hailey pulled up all of her favorite country songs to play for you. You especially liked Girl in a Country Song by Maddie and Tae. They showed you the music video for that song and it was about how, in most country music videos, girls had to dress up in little skimpy outfits and have the boys just stare at them all day. So, in their music video, they changed the roles, and the guys had to dress in skimpy clothing in the music video. It was pretty funny and the song was catchy.

"Let me guess," Jay began, "Hailey showed you some good country music?"

"Yup. The songs she showed me were pretty good, pretty upbeat. Didn't sound like a cat being put in a blender like old-fashioned country, so I guess that's good."

"What do you have against old-fashioned country, darlin'?" Adam asked as he walked into the kitchen.

"I dunno." You shrugged. "Too slow for me and I just don't like the voices I guess."

"You know what we ought to do, Jay?" Adam asked and Jay raised his eyebrows, silently telling adam to continue. "We should show her all the songs that are mentioned in What's Your Country Song."

"Wait, wait. I think I know that one. I think Hailey played it for me last night. Is it the one that mentions Chatta- Chatta..."

"Chattahoochee?" Adam asked.

"Yeah, that funny word. What even is that anyway?"

"It's a river that runs through Georgia," Jay answered. "Pretty sure Hailey used to go tubing down it like we're gonna do today."

You furrowed your eyebrows. "We're going tubing? Like behind a boat?"

Adam laughed. "Christ, Jay! Do you tell her anything?"

"He doesn't," you answered. "So, explain, one of you."

"Alright, I'll do it," Jay said as he poured milk on top of a bowl of Raisin Bran. You looked at him intently. "What we do is, the first Saturday that we're all together before school starts, we go on tubes and float down the Tennessee River. We bring a cooler full of snacks, sandwiches, booze, and water, and a waterproof speaker and we just have a fun time. Oh, and this year, you're the DD."

"Me?" you asked as you pointed to yourself. Jay nodded. "But I don't know where to go! I haven't even been in Tennessee for a full 24 hours yet!"

"Kim's like the mom of the group," Adam supplied. "So she'll still be pretty lucid and could probably drive if she needs to. But, she'll at least be able to give you directions on how to get back here."

You sighed. "Good. That makes me feel a lot better."

"Where are the other two girls anyway?" Adam asked. "They're usually up a lot earlier than we are when we go on the river."

"I think they were a little buzzed last night," you said. "Might still be sleeping."

While you were unpacking, you took a few sips of your jar of blackberry moonshine, but not a lot. You'd never really drank before, much less drank moonshine and you didn't really feel like puking from being drunk or having a killer headache from a hangover...at least, that's what you thought happened from what you had read in books and seen in movies and tv shows. But, Kim and Hailey had each finished like a quarter of their jar, so they had been buzzed last night. They weren't drunk because they could still walk in a straight line and knew what they were talking about, but they did have little dopey smiles on their faces while they helped you unpack.

"She's right," Kim said as she and Hailey walked into the kitchen. Hailey's hair was wrapped in a towel, alerting you that she had just taken a shower. "Adam, can you grab me an Advil?" She took a seat on a stool and put her head in her hands. "My head is fucking killing me. I didn't even think I drank that much."

Adam laughed. "You do this every semester, baby. First shine of the year and you always drink a little too much." He handed her the pills and a cup of water and Kim quickly washed the pills down.

"I just need some coffee," Hailey announced.

"We know, you don't get hangover headaches," Kim groaned.

"Yeah, but I feel exhausted all day. Everyone goin' for coffee? I'll make a bigger pot if that's the case."

Everyone said yes and Hailey started on the coffee.

***

"Okay, we got the tubes, the speaker, swimsuits are on, we have the towels, cooler," Jay rattled off as the five of you sat in his truck. "Anyone double-check the cooler?"

"I did," Hailey said. "We got water, the same shine from last night, some white claws, the sandwiches me and Kim made for everyone, chips, and a few other snacks."

"And I threw in a little first aid kit with bandaids, alcohol swabs, Neosporin, and other stuff. And I've got the sunscreen, too," Kim said.

"See, what'd I tell you, darlin'?" Adam asked as he turned around from his spot in the passenger seat. "Kim's the mom of the group."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Kim said. "It means I'm responsible and prepared."

"Those two would get so damn sunburned and dehydrated if it weren't for Kim," Hailey said as she pointed to Jay and Adam in the two front seats.

"Thanks, Hails," Jay replied sarcastically. "Real nice."

"You're welcome," she said with a smile.

You leaned your head against the window. You were supposed to get stuck in the middle, but seeing as you got car sick easily, Kim said she'd switch spots with you.

"You okay?" Kim asked.

"Yeah, just, Jay really needs to turn on the AC before I throw up from motion sickness and how damn hot it is in here."

"Least you got that cowboy hat to puke in if you need to," Jay laughed as he reached for the AC. "You better not puke in my tuck or you will be walking home."

Adam smacked him upside the head.

"Ow!" Jay exclaimed and took one hand off the wheel and rubbed the back of his head. "The hell was that for?"

"Dude, be nice! Look at her!" Adam exclaimed.

Jay looked in the rearview mirror and saw you leaning your head against the window with your eyes closed and pinching your nose. You groaned.

"Here," Jay said and tossed you a blue bottle of Gatorade from his cup holder. "Drink this. Get you some hydration and electrolytes."

You took a few sips and then handed the bottle back to him. "Thanks."

"Mhm."

Kim moved the vents so that the AC was blowing on you more. "That help?"

"Little bit, thanks."

"Think you'll be good to go down the river?" Jay asked.

"Yeah, because then I won't be trapped in a hot box going sixty down the road!"

"She's right about that," Adam agreed. "You'll be lucky if you go five miles per hour, darlin'."

"Alright, so the motion sickness should stop. Thank God."

"Just rest your head against the window and listen to some country music," Jay said. "Speaking of that, who's controlling the music on the river?"

"I got it," Adam volunteered. "Everyone give me a song and I'll get the queue started."

***

You had been going down the river for about half an hour now and had finished a bottle of water and eaten a banana, too. You felt fine now. Adam was right, you were going slow enough that you didn't get sick, and you also weren't in the backseat of a truck.

"Hey, Kim," you started, "can you pass me my moonshine?"

"Mhm," she said. You guys had tied a cooler to a tube, which was then tied to Kim's tube. Because, the boys figured that between the five of you, she was the most responsible. They toyed with tying it to your tube because you probably wouldn't get shitfaced (like the boys most likely would) since you were underage, but you had never gone tubing down the Tennessee River before, so they decided on Kim. "Here, Hailey, hold my white claw."

She passed Hailey her drink and then maneuvered the cooler towards her, opened it, and handed you your moonshine.

"Thank you," you said and popped open the sip lid and took a sip. "Ahhh."

"Hey, drink it slow," Adam warned, turning towards you and practically yelling over the music. He and Jay were in front of the three of you girls so they could tell you if there were a ton of rocks coming or if it was super shallow coming up. "Heat makes getting drunk a lot easier because you keep drinking it because you're so thirsty."

"I don't think that's how it works, man, but whatever you say," Jay laughed.

Another song started.

"Hey!" you yelled. "I know this song!"

"Yeah, because it's old as hell," Jay laughed.

"Shut up! I like it!"

Baby you a song you make me wanna roll my windows down and cruise. Down a back road, blowin' stop signs through the middle every little farm town with you.

"And this brand new Chevy with a lift kit, would look a hell of a lot better with you up in it. Baby you a song, you make me wanna roll my windows down and cruise," the five of you sang Cruise by Florida Georgia Line while holding your drinks in pure happiness.

Because of this, you didn't notice Jay drifting off to the side toward the trees.

Jay let out a sinister laugh as he got closer. "C'mere, buddy, c'mere." The black snake stuck his tongue out and hissed. "Yeah, I know, you wanna scare Y/N, too." Jay held his hand out toward the snake. "I'm nice, I promise." The snake slithered and went up on Jay's hand and started up his arm. He turned once most of the snake was on him. He started using his other hand to paddle himself back toward the group. "Y/N!"

You turned and looked at him. You saw the snake on his arm and tears pricked your eyes. "No! No!" you shouted.

Snakes were your biggest fear and knowing that they were in the river that you were in right now was absolutely terrifying to you. And, with each paddle, Jay and the snake were coming closer and closer to you.

"Jay, please, please!"

Adam turned and looked at Jay and then back to you. "She scared of snakes?" You quickly nodded as tears ran down your face. "Jay! Stop! She's terrified!"

Jay laughed. "No!"

He was coming closer and closer to you.

Adam quickly paddled over to you and went in front of you. "I won't let it go near you, darlin', don't you worry."

"Uh huh," you said and grabbed onto Adam's arm in complete and utter terror.

Unknown to Jay, Hailey was making her way to him. But, she was behind him, so Jay couldn't see his girlfriend coming up behind him with her empty bottle of white claw raised high in the air.

He felt it before he heard her.

"Don't." Smack on the head with the empty can. "You." Another smack on the head with the empty can. "Do." Another smack on the head with the empty can. "That." Last smack on the head with the empty can.

"Ow!" Jay yelled. "Hails, stop!"

"Put the fuckin' snake back and stop scarin' the daylights outta your little sister or I will keep smackin' you, Jay!" Hailey told him.

"Fine, I'll put it back," he groaned.

"Hailey, keep that can raised above his head. If he tries to come back here, hit 'im again!" Adam yelled.

"You got it!" Hailey said. "Hear that baby? Your head is gonna come in contact with this 'ere empty white claw can again if you don't get a move on."

"I'm going, I'm going," Jay grumbled.

"Good, then you won't get smacked again."

"Just for all that," Adam started, "you wanna pick the next song, darlin'?"

"Can you play Better Dig Two by The Band Perry?" you asked. "That counts as country right?"

"Sure does, darlin'." He started messing with his phone. "Comin' right up."

"I told you on the day we wed, I was gonna love you 'til I's dead," you started to sing. "Made you wait 'til our weddin' night, that's the first and the last time I wear white."

"Snake's gone! Made sure he put it down and I even watched it slither away!" Hailey announced. "Put me in the ground, put me six foot down," Hailey joined in after she had finished yelling over part of the first verse.

"And, as for you, Jay," Adam started over the music and all of you singing. "You don't get to pick a song for the next hour."

"Son of a bitch," Jay muttered.

"Hey, you brought this one on yourself, buddy. So just sit back, relax, listen to our music choices, and enjoy your shine."

***

One week later

"And we're here!" Adam announced as the five of you pulled onto a long dirt driveway. "You ready to ride some horses, Y/N?"

"I dunno," you said. "I've never ridden a horse before."

"Oh, Adam'll make sure you're super safe," Kim reassured you.

"Okay, so whatever horse I ride won't buck me off?"

"Oh no," Adam said quickly, "we'll put Jay on Buck."

"Like hell you will!" Jay argued from the backseat.

Despite the studying the five of you had to do, you were at Adam's childhood home. Adam's parents had rented a cabin in North Carolina for the weekend since it was Labor Day weekend and needed someone to watch the five horses they owned.

His parents used to own a riding place with multiple horses, but since their kids got older, they stopped doing it because they were getting older and couldn't give the tours anymore. So, they sold most of their horses, left five so that their kids could ride them with their friends, but still kept the house and the land. Whenever Adam's parents went out of town, either he or his sister would come and stay over at their childhood home and take care of the horses. Seeing as his sister was married and just gave birth to a daughter, this left Adam. And, luckily for him, his parents were fine with some friends coming over to help Adam out.

"Relax, man," Adam began, "I'll ride Buck."

"Wait, is he called Buck because he bucks people off?" you asked.

"You would be completely right, darlin'. Which, would be the reason I'm riding him and neither of you four will be doing that."

Adam put the truck in park and you got out of the passenger seat. Yes, you had ridden in the front because Adam said you could because of your motion sickness. Jay wasn't too happy, but it was Adam's car, so therefore it was Adam's rules.

You got inside the house and it had two extra bedrooms, one of which was Adam's childhood room and had an extra twin bed in it for when his friends wanted to sleepover (Because, in Adam's words, it was only girls who shared beds at sleepovers and he said guys didn't do that, so that's why there was the extra bed). In his older sister's childhood room, there was a full-sized bed, so Hailey and Kim would share the bed and the boys said they'd move a couch into that same room for you to sleep on.

Adam opened the fridge once all of you had put your stuff in the rooms that would be yours for the weekend. "Ooooh, y'all, my mama left us some food!"

"Oh, he southern southern now," Kim laughed and walked over to the fridge. "What'd she make?"

"Let's see. We got fried chicken, mashed potatoes, cornbread, gravy, biscuits, grits, tater salad, peaches that she canned herself, and apple pie. She must really miss me if she cooked this much!" Adam laughed after he rattled off the food his mom made for all of you.

"Mama's cookin', paper plate, and tater tater salad," you said, quoting a song Jay had played on the way down here that you had taken a liking to and had added it to a playlist and been listening to it a lot the past week.

"Did you just..." Adam trailed off.

"She did!" Jay exclaimed.

"Is it that hard to believe that I know more than two country songs, y'all?" you asked.

All four of them gasped.

"She's southern! She's southern, y'all!" Hailey yelled.

"What?" you asked as you looked around at your brother, his girlfriend, and his two friends in confusion.

"That was yer first y'all, hun!" Hailey told you and pulled you into a hug. "Yer a regular southern belle now."

"Next thing you know, girl's gonna be fallin' for cowboys," Adam said.

"Aw, hell nah," Jay said. "Ain't no way she's datin' a cowboy. No way."

"Shit, Jay just went southern southern, too," Adam laughed.

"What can I say, when my girl goes hella Georgia, I go hella Tennessee," Jay said.

"That made zero sense, baby, but okay," Hailey said. She turned to Adam. "When we ridin'?"

"We can go right now if you want. Everyone good with that?"

You all nodded and then Adam told all of you to put on your cowboy hats.

***

"This 'ere's Maddy," Adam said before he helped you onto the horse. You put your feet in the stirrups. "They feel good? You can reach 'em well?" he asked.

"Yeah," you told him. "Thanks."

"You're welcome, darlin'." He turned to Jay, Hailey, and Kim. "You three remember how to get on the horses since we rode so much last year?"

"We're good," Jay said.

"Hey, baby?" Hailey asked and turned to Jay. He turned to look at her. "You think you can help me on 'im? Pretty sure Diablo's gotten a lot bigger since I rode 'im last."

"Yeah, sweetheart, I got that."

"Did he just..." you trailed off and looked at Kim.

"He did," she confirmed. "She turns into sweetheart around this time every year. Jay gets really southern after only being here a week. Might also have something to do with Adam calling me sweetheart sometimes and he just picks up on it."

Jay helped Hailey onto the huge horse named Diablo and then got on his horse. You were riding Maddy, Adam was riding Buck, Jay was riding Sinbad, Hailey was riding Diablo, and Kim was riding Atta'Boy.

"All y'all need to watch me now," Adam announced from the front. All four of you gave Adam all your attention. "Well, mostly Y/N because she's never ridden before." He paused. "To make your horse stop, just give the reins a little tug. To turn, hold the reins on your right side, and pull towards your right hip, like this." He demonstrated and pulled the reins like he told you and Buck's head turned to the right. "And turn left, do the same thing on the left side. To make them go, just flick the reins a little bit, but they're pretty well-trained, so you shouldn't need to do that. But, if they still won't go, give 'em a little kick. I promise you won't hurt 'em. But, most of all, keep at least one hand on the reins at all times. Oh, and they will try to eat on the trails, but they ain't supposed to, so try and get them to stop by pulling up on the reins if you can.

"Any questions? Everyone sure their stirrups and saddles are good?" Adam finished.

Everyone answered with a chorus of "yeses" and then the five of you were off...that was until Maddy decided she was hungry about a quarter-mile (400 meters) in.

And, to make matters worse, you were in the mountains (because everyone is in the mountains here) and Maddy was bringing you closer and closer to a small ravine.

You did not want to have the experience of trying to control your horse and deciding whether or not to jump off or not and possibly being rushed to the hospital.

"Maddy!" you yelled and tugged up on the reins. Nothing. "Maddy!"

"Pull hard!" Jay yelled from behind you.

"I am pulling, Jay!" you yelled back. "Come on, Maddy!"

Shit, she was still moving towards the edge and trying to eat more.

"Pull to the left!" Jay yelled. You pulled. Nothing. "All the way around! To your left hip!"

You did so and she moved. Finally.

"Now straighten out the reins," Jay told you. You did. "And give her a kick to move."

You did and she continued walking...this time with a huge branch and leaves hanging out of her mouth because she had gotten herself a nice little snack.

"What's with all the yellin'?" Adam asked as he turned his head around and had Buck slow down a little bit. Then, he saw Maddy. "Maddy stop to eat? She acts likes she's starvin', but I promise you she's not."

You kept going and then you started going down a hill.

"Lean forward when going down a hill," Adam yelled back to all of you, "and lean back when going up a hill."

You started going down the hill and kept trying to maneuver yourself so you were in the middle of the saddle. You felt like you were leaning too much to the right, so you kept trying to fix it, but with Maddy still walking, it was kind of hard.

You clenched your stomach muscles to try and pull yourself back to center, but it wasn't working. You tried to push up with your left foot because you were leaning to the right, but that wouldn't work either.

"Just hold on tight, Y/N," Jay told you. "Adam!" Jay yelled as you kept leaning to the right and pulled the reins a little harder to make sure that Maddy would stop.

"What?" Adam yelled back.

"We need a little help back here!"

Adam turned Buck around and he got halfway to you and stopped next to Hailey and Diablo.

"She's fallin' off, you big dummy! You gotta go!" Adam yelled. He flicked his reins. "C'mon, go!"

It was like Buck knew what was going on because the minute he lifted his head up and saw you trying to stay in the saddle, he started coming towards you.

"Buck, stay," Adam said sternly and jumped off him. He walked to your right side. "Now, I'm gonna push your saddle to the left and I need you to lean the same way, okay?"

"Lean to the left?" you asked.

"Yup," he confirmed. "One...two...three."

He pushed up and you leaned to the left, which allowed the saddle and you to be re-centered.

"Can you reach the stirrups okay, darlin'?" he asked. "Or do you need 'em a bit higher?"

"I think I need them a bit higher," you answered. "I thought they were fine, but I guess not."

"That's okay. That's what I'm here for. Take your right foot out."

You did as he said and then he adjusted the stirrups and helped you get your foot back in. Then, he did the same for the left foot.

While Adam was adjusting your left stirrup, Maddy was curious about what was in his first aid bag that was attached to Buck's saddle.

"I ain't got no treats in there, you fatty." He put his hand on Maddy's head. "There's nothin' in there for you. Get out." She started chewing on a drawstring that was on the bag. "Okay, I guess you can chew on that."

"So, to get her to turn, do I just pull like this?" you asked and showed Adam.

"Yes, but put your hand further down the reins when you do that. Works better like that."

"Okay, thanks."

"And, if she keeps tryin' to eat, pull up hard--but not too hard and far that you make her walk backward--and if that doesn't work, give her a quick kick. I promise you won't hurt this little fatty right here."

"Okay, awesome."

"You good?"

"I'm good," you confirmed.

"Okay, so if you ever need to adjust yourself, just grab this 'ere saddle horn." He put his hand on the stub on the front of the saddle. "And put two hands on it...unlike me, and then just push down with your foot on which side you want the saddle to go. Pretty simple."

"Okay, got it," you said.

Then, Adam jumped back on Buck and you were off again.

***

You and Kim were sitting up on the bed in Adam's older sister's childhood room that you were staying in and watching a dumb comedy when Adam poked his head into the room.

"Both you up?" he asked.

"Yeah," Kim answered. "Why?"

"Well, I want to go to the rope swing, and Jay and Hailey both fell asleep spooning while watching some shitty movie in the living room, so do you two wanna go? I'm bringing alcohol."

"Adam, it's like 11 o'clock at night!" Kim laughed. "We won't even be able to see the water!"

"Honey," Adam laughed. "I'll leave the headlights of my truck on! I'm not that stupid to have us jump in blind!" He paused. "You two in?"

"Sure," Kim agreed and then turned to you. "Y/N?"

"Why the hell not? I'm in college, let's go!"

"Alright, I'll let you two get changed and I'll grab the towels and the booze," Adam said.

"Adam, if you're the one driving, you cannot drink a ton!" Kim told him.

"I know! I'll just take like two shots and use moonshine as a chaser."

"You got more moonshine?" you asked.

"Holy hell, Adam," Kim agreed.

"Where do you two think I was the past hour? I went into town and grabbed a few flavors. and, I got both your flavors, too. So, y'all can't yell at me. Now, get changed so we can go before Jay and Hailey wake up and decide they want in on this, too."

***

"You good to sit in the back, Miss Car Sick?" Adam asked you.

"Yeah, you said it's only like a five minute drive, so I'll be fine. Thanks for asking, though," you answered.

"No problem, darlin'."

Then, the three of you were off to this rope swing to jump into a river in the middle of the night.

Five minutes later, Adam threw his car in park and left the radio and headlights on. The three of you got out and Adam grabbed the booze and shot glasses and then you followed him around to the back of his truck. He handed the stuff off to you and Kim to hold while he flipped his tailgate down. Then, he used the flashlight app of his phone to see as he poured each of you a shot of gummy bear flavored vodka.

"Cheers to late night decisions and possibly bad decisions!" Adam toasted.

The three of you clinked your shot glasses together and then took the shots.

"Shit. That was strong," you coughed.

"Chaser, chaser," Adam said as he flipped open the sip cap on the blackberry moonshine.

He handed it to you and you took a few sips.

"Compared to that shot, this moonshine tastes like nothin'," you said.

"See? Told you it had a low proof!" Adam exclaimed. "Now, do you two want me to go first so I can show you how it's done?"

"That might be a good idea, yeah," Kim agreed. "You've only brought me here during the day and it's been over a year, so yeah, you go first, cowboy."

"Oh, that reminds me." He took his signature cowboy hat off. "Hold this for me, will you, sweetheart?" He held the hat out to Kim and she took it from him. "Thank you. Now, watch and learn, ladies, watch and learn."

Kim laughed. "Whatever you say, babe, whatever you say."

Adam walked up to the edge of the river and waded in the water to grab the rope. You and Kim stood on the edge of the river and watched as Adam dragged the rope with him as he stood on a rock, which was right below the tree that the rope was tied to. Then, he cinched the rope between his feet and jumped up and swung forward.

"Yeehaw!" Adam yelled.

Then, after a few seconds, he let go of the rope and fell into the river.

The rope dangled back and forth until Adam grabbed it and dragged it in with him.

"Who's next?" he asked as he held the rope out.

"You wanna go, Kim?" you asked.

"You sure you don't wanna go before me?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm sure. Go ahead," you said.

"You nervous, darlin'?" Adam asked you as he took his hat back from Kim and placed it on his head.

"A bit." You looked down at your feet. "Are there snakes in there?" you practically mumbled.

"Oh, darlin'," Adam said with a wave of his hand. "I can promise you that there's no snakes in there. You've never seen a snake in there have you, baby?" he asked Kim.

"Nope, no snakes. I promise. Now, I'll go, and then you gotta go because it's so much fun!"

Kim grabbed the rope and then made her way up onto the rock. She did the same thing that Adam did and soon it was your turn.

"I'm stealing your aux, babe," Kim said as she walked toward Adam's truck.

Adam raised an eyebrow. "I don't know why you can't just listen to the radio like we've been doing, but go ahead, baby."

Kim walked over to the truck and changed the input to aux and then quickly pulled up Spotify. From there, she pulled up the song Like A Lady by Lady A, formerly known as Lady Antebellum. She turned the volume all the way up on her phone, plugged it into the aux, and hit play.

"Lady!" came out of the speakers as well as the opening chords.

You gasped as Kim came running back to you and Adam.

"How'd you know this one of my favorite songs?" you asked.

Ever since Hailey had played it for you on your first night in Tennessee when you were unpacking and sippin' on moonshine, you loved this song. It was all about feeling like a lady while wearing jeans and drinking and being comfortable with yourself and not needing a man.

"Y/N, I follow you on Spotify. I can see what you listen to. Now, go get to it, lady!" Kim cheered.

You smiled and turned around. You walked to the rock and climbed up on it just before the chorus. You grabbed onto the rope.

"'Cause I feel like a lady," you sang loudly to the music. "Sippin' on tequila with my Levis on."

You clamped your feet around the rope and jumped.

You felt weightless for just about one second and then you let go of the rope and fell into the water with a splash.

The water wasn't freezing, it was a little cold, but it was still decently comfortable. You started swimming back to the shore and grabbed the rope when it swung back toward you.

"Hell yeah!" Adam yelled as he ran up to you and took the rope so you could pull yourself up onto the river bank. "You did awesome! Did you like it?"

"I loved it! Let's do it again!" you yelled.

"See?" Kim said. "I told you that you'd love it!"

"I propose a celebratory shot for Y/N's first time jumping off the rope swing!" Adam said and the three of you headed back to his truck to have more booze.

And that is how you learned that you didn't get hangover headaches like Kim, but got hella tired the next day just like Hailey. But, a little hangover (despite not being old enough to legally drink) was all worth it because of how much fun you, Kim, and Adam had.

***

Months later

"Welcome to Chocolate Moose, everybody!" Adam announced and fumbled with the lockbox to get the key.

Since it was exam season, there was a tradition that started during the winter semester of their sophomore year that was where they'd all go up to a cabin (each cabin had a name and yours was Chocolate Moose) in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, which was an hour away from school, to go study without the temptation of parties and the libraries that were packed as hell and barely had any seats open because everyone and their mama had decided to study there.

He unlocked the door and opened it.

You walked in and were in awe. When you walked in, you saw a small kitchen complete with a stove, oven, microwave, and pots, pans, plates, bowls, cups, mugs, and silverware stored in cabinets and drawers. There was also a small pantry to your right the minute you walked inside.

Off of the small kitchen were the living room and the dining area. There was a circular wooden table with six chairs and there was a tv and a couch that folded out into a bed. Right next to that was a bedroom with a bathroom, which also had its own tv in it.

And, if you walked to the end of the living room, there was a door that led to the first-floor deck that overlooked the Smoky Mountains. On the deck was a wooden table that matched the wood of the deck and six stools, so it would be a nice place to study or eat breakfast or sip coffee in the morning.

The stairs to go to the second floor were above the table (so the table was tucked beneath the second set of stairs). When you got up there, there was a pool table, a bubble hockey table, another couch that folded out into a bed, and a coffee table in front of said couch.

To the right of the couch and coffee table was a California king-sized bed with a trunk in front of it which held the bedding for the pull-out couches. Then, there was a dresser with a mirror to the side of the bed and a closet. There was also a full bathroom with a washer and dryer and a dressing table (so tons of counter space and two mirrors) upstairs as well.

And, there was another deck on the second floor. This one didn't have a full-sized table, but it did have two chairs with a small table between, and a small couch complete with a bunch of throw pillows on one end of the deck. This deck too overlooked the beauty that was the Smoky Mountains.

"Who's that?" you asked fifteen minutes later after you had finished touring the cabin and figuring out sleeping arrangements.

It had been decided that Adam and Kim would take the first-floor bedroom and that you'd take the pull-out couch on their floor. Hailey and Jay would sleep upstairs and you wondered why you couldn't take the upstairs couch like you wanted to because Jay was quick to tell you no.

You knew they weren't gonna try to do the nasty up there since there was no door shutting the upstairs off from the downstairs, so you had no idea why he wouldn't let you sleep on the pull-out couch upstairs.

"Who's that?" you asked again while looking out the kitchen window.

Then, you saw a head of red hair in the driver's seat and rushed out the door to where the person parked their car.

"Will!" you shouted as he got out of the car. "I missed you!" You wrinkled your nose at what he was wearing: a pair of blue scrubs.

"I drove here right after I got off a twelve-hour ED rotation," Will told you. "Hence the scrubs."

"I would give you a hug, but who knows what kinda bodily fluids have been on those."

"Good choice. We'll postpone the hug until after I take a quick shower and change."

Adam, Kim, and Jay came outside and said their hellos to Will, and Jay took Will's backpack, making a joke saying that it felt like he stuffed a ton of rocks in there.

So, now you knew why you couldn't sleep on the pull-out couch upstairs: Will was sleeping there.

***

"Fuck!" you yelled as you felt a bee sting you on the upper part of your left inner thigh.

"What?" Adam asked.

You, Adam, and Kim were outside at the table on the first-floor deck studying while Will was upstairs studying and Jay and Hailey were studying one of their law studies classes at the kitchen table together.

"The fuckin' bee stung me!"

"Well, you were swattin' at him, darlin'," Adam said, which earned him a smack to the arm from Kim.

"Because he was between my legs!" you argued. "What was I supposed to do? Let him fly up my shorts and sting me there? Oh hell no!"

You got up and walked inside.

"Will!" you shouted the minute you closed the door to the deck.

"Y/N! Keep it down!" Jay scolded. "We're trying to study!"

You had made it up the first set of stairs and leaned over the railing. "Well, I just strung by fuckin' bee, so I think I can yell a bit, Jay! Will!"

"What?" he said and ripped out his headphones when you got all the way upstairs. "Med school's no joke, you know!"

"Well, what do I put on a bee sting?" you huffed.

Will sighed. "Hold on. They asked me to be the one who brought the first aid kit and I'm glad I did."

He got up and then came back with a bottle of lotion.

"Put this on it. Should cool down the stinging. Tell me if it gets worse or starts itching."

"Okay, thanks."

You put it on and hoped it would be better soon.

***

Okay, so this bee sting wasn't getting better. It was actually getting worse.

It had been itchy all day and you were currently shaving your legs in your shower. You felt the place where the bee had stung you and it was swollen as if someone had shoved a disk the size of an Oreo in your leg at the place the bee had stung you.

You got out of the shower, got changed, and walked out of the bathroom where country music was blasting and Jay and Adam were playing a friendly (okay, so maybe not so friendly) game of pool.

"Hailey, is my bee sting supposed to be super itchy?" you asked as you sat down on the couch next to her.

She and everyone else was drinking one of their two allotted white claws. Yes, during finals week you had all decided there needed to be a daily cut-off for alcohol so that you could all get your shit done. And, it helped keep everyone accountable since everyone in the cabin was only having two per day...and you weren't spending a ton of money this weekend on alcohol.

"Um, none of mine have ever been," she said. "Will!" He turned to look at her from where he was sitting and intently watching the pool game...mostly to make sure neither Adam nor Jay cheated. "Her bee sting supposed to itch?"

"Not unless she's allergic to bees...and she's not." He stood up. "Go lay on the bed and let me take a look."

"Oh, fuck no! I am not letting my brother look there!"

"Y/N, I'm a med student. I've seen a helluva lot more than a bee sting on your inner thigh. You can even go put on some short spandex if that would make you more comfortable."

You currently had on loose-fitting shorts that you knew would fall back to expose what underwear you were wearing if you let Will take a look. "Actually, I think I'll go do that," you said.

You quickly grabbed a pair of spandex from your suitcase and went back into the bathroom and changed into them.

"Y'all check for a stinger?" Adam asked.

Will must've filled him in when you were changing your shorts.

"Shit," Will cursed. "I knew there was something I forgot to do."

"What kinda fuckin' doctor are you if you forget to check something like that?" you asked Will rhetorically. "Hailey, I'm gonna need that empty white claw bottle to smack Will over the head with like you did to Jay on the river."

"Sorry, hun," Hailey apologized. "I ain't finished with this 'ere can yet."

"I'll hit him!" Jay yelled, putting down his pool stick and grabbing his empty can.

He hit Will on the arm with the empty white claw can as hard as he possibly could.

"The fuck?" Will yelled. "Why'd you do that?"

"I dunno." Jay turned to Adam. "Why were we hitting Will, again?"

"Holy shit," Adam muttered to himself. "Because he forgot to check Y/N's bee sting to see if the stinger was still there."

"Oh, okay. That was stupid, Will."

You laid on the bed and let Will look at the spot the bee stung you. Then, he put on a pair of gloves and pulled out a pair of tweezers.

"Hailey?" he called. She looked up expectantly. "Can you come over here and hold up a flashlight? I think I found the stinger."

Hailey got up and turned on the flashlight on her phone and crouched down next to Will.

"That good?" she asked as she finished positioning the phone so the phone's flashlight was pointing directly at your bee sting.

"Yup." He looked up at you. "Now, I'm gonna put one of my hands above the bee sting, that way you won't be able to see the tweezers go in. Sound good?"

"Mhm. At least this is better than when Jay tried to attack me with a snake!"

Will laughed. "I bet."

Five minutes later, the stinger was out and Will told you to put Neosporin and a bandaid over it just so you didn't keep itching it because he told you the itchiness wouldn't go away immediately.

"I need a drink," you said after you were all done.

Hailey handed you a raspberry white claw from the mini-fridge next to the couch and you popped it open.

"Thanks," you said.

"You're welcome."

"Everyone shut up!" Adam yelled. "This is Jay and Hailey's song...well, they didn't exactly meet at a bar and Hailey wasn't drinking a white claw, but it was a Saturday and those two did ditch us. So, dance you two!"

They tried to object, but Adam dragged Jay over to Hailey and Kim pushed Hailey up off the couch and towards Jay.

"Sittin' over there in the corner, baby, I saw pretty red lips workin' on a white claw," you all sang along to Single Saturday Night by Cole Swindell. And, you'd be lying if you said that this song didn't remind you of the story that Jay had told you about the first time he took Hailey out when she was bored one Saturday night in a sports bar. "Shakin' to a little Shook Me All Night Long. And I thought, man, what a beautiful sight."

You smiled. Four months ago, there'd be no way you'd know this song. But, thanks to your brother's friends and his girlfriend, you knew so many more country songs. But, most of all, if your first semester of freshman year was any indication, you were going to have the time of your life going to college here in Tennessee.

A/N: Thank you guys so much for reading! Again, please remember to like/reblog and comment because I love reading all your comments and seeing that you voted because that means you enjoyed reading the imagine! As always, if you want to be added to my taglist, just tell me and I’ll add you! Again, I am donating all my proceeds on buy me a coffee until the end of AU-gust to Save The Children to help the children in Afghanistan. Buy me a coffee here.

Taglist: @theambracer88 @virtualreader @kelelas-life @celyndavies @brookerz122493 @musicismyescape27 @anotherfan07 @thexplosivegirl@dreamingwithlens @xoxmariaxox @onechicago18 @iamasimpingh0e @i-like-sparkly-things @herecomesthewriterwitch @liampayne88

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