#should her name be Ronnie?

[toasternuggets]

Robert or Radford reading a bedtime story for their little sister, I just think it'd be cute to see more of the siblings bonding from them :3

I AM SO PROUD OF THIS WHAT? Teeehee SILLIES

[theheroand]

homo urge to redraw that one Very Lesbian Makeup Image with ronnie

[vivwritesfics]

Set The World On Fire

Chapter Six

Lando Norris had been incredibly angry when they met. Incredibly angry, but sweet enough to help her. Turns out he just needed somebody to talk to, somebody to be there for him.

He was easy to fall for, and that put her in a world of danger

Mafia AU

1.7K

Series Masterlist

"You need to stop taking me places in a private jet or I'm gonna get used to the princess treatment," she said with a giggle as she looked out of the window, watching the clouds go by. Below them was nothing but ocean.

Lando put his drink down. "C'mere," he said, beckoning her over.

She left her seat and walked over to him. Lando patted his suit clad thighs and she sat down on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. They hadn't been dating for long; it was the most intimate thing they had ever done.

Lando had his arms wrapped around her. "Get used to the princess treatment," he said. "That's all you're gonna get with me." He kissed her cheek as she laid her head on his chest.

That was how they sat together on their flight to Spain. "What's your sister's fiancé's name?" She asked, her hand resting over his beating heart.

"Carlos," he answered. "He's an ass."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm sure he can't be that bad, he is gonna be your brother in law, after all."

"Trust me, baby, he's the worst."

Baby. She liked that. She really liked that. "Tell me everything I need to know. Who's gonna be there? Who of your family should I expect to meet?" She asked eagerly.

Lando couldn't stop himself from smiling. It was something he had noticed, that the only time he smiled was when she was with him. There was no way he could get through the wedding without her.

"Okay, so you've got Carlos and his sister. I've only met them once, but from what I remember, they just whisper mean things between each other in Spanish. Then there is Carlos's parents, Sainz and Mrs Sainz, his wife. I'll try and keep you away from them. Everyone else? I'll introduce them as you meet them," he said, his hand moving across her thigh.

She suppressed the shiver that ran down her spine. His fingers were so soothing. "What about your family?"

Lando shook his head. "My mum is dead, my step mum is dead, and my dad is almost dead," he said, his grip on her tightening.

"Shit, Lan," she whispered, hands reaching up to run through his curls. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't apologise, I never told you," he mumbled.

His phone went off, but Lando ignored it. She kissed the top of her head and squeezed her. "Thank you for coming," he whispered. "I seriously couldn't do this without you."

It wasn't long before they touched down in the Sainz family's private hangar. It was full of other private jets, from the other families that had arrived for the wedding. Lando took her hand and led her out of the jet. There was a car waiting for them when they stepped out into the warm Spanish air.

Lando opened the door to the car for her. "Such a gentleman," she said with a grin as she climbed into the car. Lando followed her in and placed his arm over her shoulders.

Their bags were placed into the back of the car and their driver set off. The fact that they had a driver was crazy. "How do you and your sister know Carlos?" She asked, settling against his side.

It was hitting her just how little she knew about him. And with every passing moment, the number of questions she had just grew.

Lando thought on his answer. It was easy for her to assume that it had been so long since they met that he didn't remember. "Our dads did business together a few years back," he answered simply.

She let out a laugh, her body gently shaking against him. "Seriously, Lan. Who the hell are you?"

Lando squeezed her shoulder. "Have you seen Legend?"

"The movie?"

He nodded his head.

"Lando, are you telling me you're a gangster?" She asked him, unable to hide the laugh about to erupt from her lips.

"No! No, but I'm essentially Ronnie Kray," he answered.

"Ronnie Kray, the gangster that sold protection to people?"

Well, that was part of that he did. "Yeah, but I'm not a gangster and everything I do is legal."

He was a fucking mystery.

***

Lando felt incredibly guilty about leaving her in the hotel room. But Hamilton had called for a meeting and, being the representative for the Norris family, he had to attend.

"I'll be gone an hour at most," Lando said as he leaned over to kiss her.

"Lan, it's fine," she said and pulled a book from her bag. "Have fun! Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" She called.

Lando let out a laugh. That kind of high pitched shrieking laugh that she was already in love with. "I'll try not to," he said and kissed her again.

He walked out of the hotel room as she cracked open her book.

Lando couldn't hide his smile as he climbed into the car waiting for him. It was already full of other heads of family or their representatives. Lando sat himself beside Magnussen and Perez. Max Verstappen, representing the Verstappen family, sat opposite him, with Mick Schumacher beside him.

Mick was... different. He wasn't representing the Schumacher family. But his father died before he was ready to takeover the family. The Verstappens tried to take Mick and his family in, but Schumacher had a plan in place in case of his death. He didn't want Jos looking after his family, and had instead sent them to the Wolff family.

That was who Mick was representing. His name was Schumacher, but he was representing the Wolff family.

"You brought someone?" Max asked Lando as he sat down.

Lando slowly nodded his head. "Yeah, I did," he said, not elaborating further.

"Is she... aware of what's going on?" Mick asked.

Lando sucked in a breath. "No," he answered, looking at the other representatives. "She hasn't got a clue.

Max leaned forward. "Interesting," he said, wearing a little smirk. "What did you tell her?"

"She's called me a gangster, and we're gonna leave it at that."

Max sat back in his seat, hands clasped together in his lap. "Good luck with that," he said, turning his attention to the window.

It was obvious what Max was thinking. Of course it was a bad idea to take her to a mafia wedding when she had no idea what was going on. But Lando wanted her protected from that world. The less she knew, the more protected she was. She could still get out.

Perez shook his head. "Bad idea, man," he said. "I didn't tell my wife and I almost lost her."

Lando didn't answer him.

The car pulled up outside of Sainz's house. They filled out of the car, one by one. Three more cars were already outside of the house, and it was clear they were the last ones there.

Lando walked into the house with Max. Just a few years before they would have been talking and laughing like kids while their fathers worked. But now they were the ones working in their fathers steed.

"How are you holding up?" Max asked quietly as they walked through the Sainz house.

Lando let out a breath, just grateful that Max had waited until they were out of the car to ask. He looked around the Sainz house, the house he had been in just weeks before. "She's somewhere in here," he said. "I just wanna know how she is."

They walked into the Library. Several chairs were set around a table, most of them filled. In the corner of the room was a much smaller table, a chess set on it. Lando knew exactly who had set that up.

He sat down and Max sat on his right. Alonso was on his left and the other heads of family filled the table. Carlos was there, sat beside his father.

The most commanding presence at the table was Hamilton. He gave Lando a slow nod as a drink was placed in front of him.

As soon as they all had drinks, Hamilton stood, glass in his hand. "As per tradition, we are here to celebrate the union of the Sainz family and the Norris family. The trading routes between Norris and Sainz will be reopened, benefitting all of us. Lets discuss product and trading route."

Clearing his throat, Lando stood with the speech his father had prepared for him. "This decade of war between our family has affected The Norris family and it's ability to move our product into other Spain and other European countries. This union will not only help reignite our relationship with the Sainz family, but will aid in our strengthening our relationship with the Ferrari family."

He placed the cards his father had written out for him into his pocket. "I do think it's unnecessary to involve my sister in things."

Brown eyes snapped towards him. "Hijo de puta." (Motherfucker).

Having said his piece, Lando sat down. He wasn't paying much attention as other heads of families discussed what the reopening of the trading route would do for them.

After five minutes, he stood up. He wordlessly left the room, navigating his way down the hall and into the kitchen, towards the bathroom.

But somebody was already in the kitchen. The fridge door was open as somebody, dressed in most of a fine suit, pulled cold beers from the fridge. He held them in his arms, used his elbow to shut the fridge and turned around.

He nearly dropped them when he saw Lando. "Oscar!" He called.

Oscar rushed to put the beers on the table. He threw his arms around Lando and patted his back. "I didn't think I'd be seeing you until tomorrow," he said, his hand on his shoulder.

"Hamilton called a meeting," he said.

Oscar nodded, making a mental note to keep her in her room for the night.

"How is she?"

Oscar breathed deep. "She's... coping," he said. "We're gearing up for one last fun night before the wedding." He pointed back to the beers and Lando nodded his head.

"Look after her for me, yeah?"

"I will."

Lando helped Oscar place the beers into his arms and sent him on his way.

a/n: (wow i never do these, this feels weird) Sup guys! So i mentioned the Kray twins and, for those that don't know, they were london gangsters in the 1950's (check out the film legend its soooo good). It feels like a gamble putting mention of them in here and if anybody is offended, send me an ask and I'll change it! (i purposefully didn't mention Reggie for obvious reasons)

Permanent Taglist (CLOSED): @biancathecool @rewmuslupin @prettiest-at-the-party @hellowgoodbye @minkyungseokie @formulaal @darleneslane @hiireadstuff @urfavnoirette @goldenharrysworld @andydrysdalerogers @hrts4scarr @llando4norris @evlkking @lilymurphy03 @hollie911 @customsbyjcg-blog @honethatty12 @nikfigueiredo

Series Taglist (CLOSED): @millinorrizz @cinnamongirlontv @sainzluvrr @aquangxl @drunkinthemiddleoftheday @queenofmanydreams @somepeoplemaybe @shobaes @thatsusbitch @ibanstro @sobersidedly @ririgy @barcelonaloverf1life @hotbuns13 @dinodumbass @bellezaycafe @maddie-naps @yl90 @itscrzy @dontleaveitsmyfault3 @jule239 @noneofyourfbusinessworld @annispamz @mxmtewnz @thehufflepuffavenger1 @eviethetheatrefreak @lovejunz @nervous-bee @lifelessfan @phantomxoxo @ln4norizz @ladymarvel27

[dannyricsmirrorball]

everything is papaya? • ln4 part 1 ੈ✩‧₊˚

ੈ✩‧₊˚ pairings || lando norris x m.mount gf!reader

ੈ✩‧₊˚ genre || social media au

ੈ✩‧₊˚ summary || y/n and mason have been together for three years, they’re the picture perfect couple. what happens when they get swept away by the world of formula 1 and a certain papaya driver?

alt. y/n is in love with her boyfriend, chelsea golden boy mason mount, but what happens when she meets another certain golden boy?

ੈ✩‧₊˚ warning || cheating, reader is not the best person ever

ੈ✩‧₊˚ a/n || title is inspired by colours by halsey if you couldn’t tell LOL i thought it was kinda funny like everything is blue (chelsea) but then papaya (mclaren) idk if it is tho hahah. also i know everyone wants p4 of tying the knot and i promise it is coming.

NOT PROOF READ

2022

liked by masonmount, chelsea fc, and 198,093 others

yourusername you did it baby! world champs 💙

tagged masonmount, chelseafc, lew.mount, jazbenham

username18 LIVE BLUE BLEED BLUE DIE BLUE

username82 obsessed w them

chelseafc LFGGGGG 💙

masonmount we did it baby ❤️💙

masonmount my luckiest charm 😍

⤷ yourusername 🤭

username63 BEST WAG

benchilwell YEAHHHH LETS GO

jazbenham 😘😍💙

username18 literally the cutest couple ever

username63 my parents fr

liked by declanrice, benchilwell, and 103,038 others

yourusername bleed blue forever

tagged masonmount

username13 i actually cant

username45 mase w kids 😭

username22 THE MATCHING FITS IN CHELSEA BLUE 🥹

cartiamallan 😍

username18 chelsea princess

username2 she’s the biggest chelsea and mason supporter 💙🥰

masonmount my favourite things all in one 🤩

⤷ yourusername 🥹

username17 this is a mason mount fanpage and i love it

chelsea our girl in blue 💙

username64 the only wag to ever exist

liked by sophiaaemilia, declanrice, and 98,092 others

yourusername little dump 🌷💐🌸

tagged masonmount, benchilwell, declanrice

username18 I HAVE JUST DIED

username63 dec and mase bts 🥹

username3 MUM AND DAD

username85 love her friendship w chilly and dec

benchilwell did me dirty mate

⤷ yourusername your best pic me thinks

username16 her photo dumps are always so iconic

masonmount in love with you

⤷ yourusername in love with YOU

⤷ declanrice gag

declanrice thanku for getting this photo of me and the loml… what’s ur name again???

⤷ yourusername permanent thirdwheel 😭

liked by yourusername, landonorris, and 309,727 others

masonmount f1 debut 🏎️

tagged redbullracing, philfoden, bennyharris, woody_, adamdavidharris, googlepixel

username18 omg my worlds colliding

redbullracing great to have you mase 🙌

username83 need to know if he met any of the drivers

⤷ username14 he was w rbr so i think he met checo and max

declanrice 😍

landonorris great to meet ya mate 🤝

⤷ masonmount mega drive pal 👏

username27 OMG LANDO AND MASON??!

philfoden mega weekend

yourusername cutie

⤷ masonmount love u baby ❤️

mclaren our garage next time 🗣️

⤷ username72 YES PLEASE I NEED A LANDO MASON INTERACTION

username19 aww that selfie is so cute

liked by landonorris, jackgrealish, and 180,007 others

yourusername watched cars go vroom with my best friend ❤️🏎️

tagged masonmount

philfoden aw thanks mate ur my best friend too 😍

⤷ yourusername love ya ronnie 😅

username87 omg they’re so stunning together

username4 she would make a perfect f1 wag

⤷ username73 too bad her and mase are never splitting 🤷‍♀️

masonmount the best time with you love

username17 omg lando liked??

⤷ username4 aw i hope he and mason+y/n actually hang out

username27 my queen at the monaco gp 😍

username74 immediately need y/n at every gp purely for the fitssss

declanrice he should wear a helmet every time he drives

⤷ yourusername agreed 😀

⤷ masonmount oh 😕

username16 the way he’s looking at her in the last slide 🥹

liked by riabish, yourusername, and 41,082 others

maxfewtrell monaco 2022 🇲🇨

tagged riabish, landonorris

username17 who’s the girl on lando’s right

⤷ username15 probs their friend lol?

username93 y/n liking?

⤷ username11 we are witnessing the merge of the mason mount circle and ln4 circle and i’m living for it

riabish fun times 💕

quadrant fresh 💚

username62 to be in monaco playing volleyball w landonorris and his mates

liked by username81, username4, and 1,098 others

ln4_updates lando is back in the uk after the monaco gp 🏎️

sources: landonorris ig story, maxfewtrell ig story

username17 yay finally back home

username73 awww quadrant reunion 🩷

username92 missed seeing lando w the team

username63 not for long LMFAO

username4 home for five seconds apparently 😭

username71 guess he was home for a layover 💀

username13 mans was back for all of 12 hours 😀

username02 i’m so confused what everyone means by not for long

⤷ username4 check the latest post

liked by username18, username83, and 12,982 others

lm4_updates lando seen with new mystery girl in croatia. many believe her to be the same girl from the photo previously posted by maxfewtrell. has our favourite papaya boy finally found love 🧡

username17 lando finally got a girl

username6 tough day for the ln4 girlies

username83 awww they look so cute

username01 he looks smitten!!!

username3 i refuse to believe that he has a girlfriend

username16 there goes my paradoxical relationship

username24 another gold digger

⤷ username7 stay mad he’s not gonna fuck u

liked by yourusername, declanrice, and 230,968 others

masonmount my baby 🩷

tagged yourusername

username17 god i have seen what u have done for others

username83 somebody sedate me they’re so cute

declanrice whipped

yourusername mine 💖💘🤍💕💞💗

⤷ masonmount miss u sm baby come back 😕

⤷ yourusername 🥹 counting down the days masey 🩷

username62 THEYRE SO CUTE

username17 never met any couple as whipped for eachother as y/n and mason

⤷ benchilwell neither

username61 the it couple

username19 them being so cute in the comments i literally cant

liked by username7, username44, and 13,092 others

wagsworld BREAKING: y/n y/l/n photographed today with mystery guy in the balkans, all we know is that this is not y/l/n’s long term boyfriend and chelsea starboy mason mount… have the pair broken up? or is this a matter of infidelity?

username18 NO FUCKING WAY

username55 love is dead

username64 i can not see 👩‍🦯

username71 cheap slut. always knew she wasn’t good enough for him.

username16 I DONT BELIEVE IT

username1 NO FUCKING WAY

username92 no no no NOOOOO

username17 this is crazy but u know what’s even crazier… the fucking comments she left on his post?!?

⤷ username78 RIGHT? what level of psycho do u have to be to tell ur boyfriend u love and miss him so much and quote on quote ‘counting down the days’ whilst CHEATING ON HIM

username62 yk who else was spotted in the balkans with a mystery girl just yesterday…

⤷ username7 dead could u imagine lmao

⤷ username49 there’s no way tho

⤷ username72 is kinda random that they’re in croatia at the same time…

liked by username18, username91, and 12,082 others

wagsworld following cheating and break up rumours, it seems chelsea golden boy mason mount and model girlfriend y/n y/l/n have repaired their relationship.

according to sources close to the couple, the couple were not broken up and were in a good place. mount asked his girlfriend of 3 years if he knew the guy (see photos on our page), and if not, he didn’t want or need to know who it was. y/n says it was not someone either he or her knows, calling it the worst decision of her life.

username21 i knew mum and dad wouldn’t give up this easily!

username16 i’m sure there’s an explanation but the important thing is they are getting through it together 👏

username14 i’m gonna be real… y/n does not look like she could care less

⤷ username5 literally she’s like ‘ok yep soz cool’

username2 why does it look like mason is apologising when y/n is the one that cheated lol

username16 nah no way he’s taking her back

⤷ username26 don’t think they actually ever broke up

username7 bro is spineless

username18 i too would forgive my stunning supermodel gf even if she cheated on me

liked by masonmount, jackgrealish, and 231,028 others

yourusername my forever ❤️

tagged masonmount

masonmount always ❤️

comments on this post have been limited by the user

liked by sophiaaemelia, judebellingham, and 140,082 others

yourusername 🎞️🎞️

tagged masonmount, jackgrealish, declanrice, benchilwill, cartiamallan, judebellingham, kaihavertz29, sophiaaemelia

username18 this is so so cute

username52 crazy how she cheated and everyone just pretends it never happened

⤷ username28 it’s been 4 months get over it she obv regrets it and they’ve worked out everything

cartiamallan awww this is so sweet babe

judebellingham i made it into the dump! 😎

username16 the ones of mase are so 🥹

jackgrealish 🤘

england the gang is who we trust 🩵

sophiaaemelia ahhhh ily

masonmount film DUMP

masonmount love u baby

⤷ declanrice mwah 💋

⤷ yourusername oh…?

liked by ameliadimz, declanrice, and 89,082 others

yourusername football, friends, and fun

tagged masonmount, sophiaaemelia, chunkz, ameliadimz, declanrice

usernams44 fave chelsea girl

ameliadimz friends!!!! 💕💕

⤷ yourusername get mase on csd so i can crash!

⤷ ameliadimz let’s just have our own date 😘

sophiaaemelia star girlllll

masonmount my girl 💙

username16 poor y/n always thirdwheeling mason and dec

⤷ benchilwill a struggle most of us face

⤷ yourusername it’s even worse when ur there mate 🤨🙄

username17 her game pics and fits are unbeatable

username62 once again may i say 🗣️ chelsea princess 🗣️

⤷ chelseafc louder for the people in the backkkk

liked by england, cartiamallan, and 180,726 others

yourusername bring it home 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🍻

tagged england, masonmount

username17 mason’s biggest supporter 🤩

england 🗣️🗣️

masonmount yeah babyyyy

masonmount can u wear that everyday?

⤷ yourusername we’ll see how u go and if it brings u good luck then maybeeee

username47 her little england set WHAT 😭

username73 girl drop the link i NEED

jazbenham cutest 🌸

riabish 😍

⤷ username18 random?

username62 the most stunning wag

username5 RAHHHH 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🍻

declanrice lfg mate but was the second pic necessary

⤷ yourusername just jealous aren’t ya dec?

liked by mclaren, yourusername, and 308,937 others

masonmount proper thanks to mclaren for this amazing opportunity. so so very cool to finally meet landonorris (properly), doing big things mate 🧡

tagged mclaren, landonorris, yourusername

masonmount also look how cute my baby looks 😍

⤷ yourusername you’re so cute baby 💖

username17 TECTONIC PLATES SHIFTED

username4 my worlds colliding omfg

username91 big day for annoying people (me)

username67 mans cant go anywhere without his emotional support girlfriend

username62 y/n and mase are literally attached at the hip

mclaren so great to have u champ 🧡

declanrice formula 1 lad

landonorris cheers mate, mega time 🧡

⤷ username62 NOT OKAY

⤷ username72 scremainf xrying theiwing up

⤷ username17 THEY CANT JUST SPRING THIS ONTO US

liked by yourusername, masonmount, and 409,837 others

landonorris mega day at the factory with this champ in the house 🧡 we’re rooting for ya 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

tagged mclaren, masonmount, mclarenshadow

username17 i will never shut up abt this

username63 big win for the lando mason girlies

masonmount great day brother 💙

username72 obsessedddd

username16 f1 and football’s certified pretty boys

username8 need the vids from today

mclaren 🧡🧡

chelseafc love to see it 🤩

username37 need them to become best friends IMMEDIATELY

maxfewtrell 😶

liked by landonorris, masonmount, and 90,082 others

yourusername on the green ⛳️

declanrice acting like you didn’t get absolutely trashed

⤷ yourusername omg fight back?!? masonmount

⤷ masonmount he’s not wrong love

 ⤷ yourusername third wheel in my own relationship smh

username17 awww they went golfing how cute

username64 i love that y/n always goes golfing w mase even tho she finds it so boring bc she said that being w him makes it fun

masonmount my fave caddie ❤️

⤷ yourusername foreverrrr

landonorris what’s ur handicap? 😳

⤷ yourusername 😶😬🫨

⤷ username55 lando y/n bestie agendaaaaa

⤷ username13 this also reaffirms my mason lando bff agenda

lilymhe we should play!

⤷ yourusername OMG YES 💖 but for both our sakes maybe we should just hit the town instead 😬

⤷ username18 ummmm WHAT??

⤷ username6 lily and y/n are friends…? since when?!?

⤷ username83 the lore is going crazy

⤷ alex_albon yeah if she’s as bad as last time i think that’s a good idea too

⤷ yourusername wounded

⤷ masonmount when did u guys play? 🤣😅

⤷ username36 😶🫨

liked by england, masonmount, and 234,860 others

yourusername couldn’t be prouder 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🩵💙🤍

tagged england

username15 so so proud of the boys 🫶

username54 this post is so sweet

declanrice family 🩵

username16 the second pic 🤣

username46 i love her relationship w the boys so much like mase isn’t even in the third pic but she’s just that close w everyone

jazbenham 💖💖

england big moves 💙🤍

username26 tough loss but mega plays throughout the cup

masonmount i love you i love you i love you x100000

⤷ yourusername so proud of you love 💗 a million kisses for u 💋

username35 fave wag fave team

judebellingham love ya y/n/n 💙

benchilwell just the start

⤷ yourusername so proud chilly 🤍

username72 mason mount w kids p273636 makes me explode every time

2023

liked by landonorris, masonmount, and 340,521 others

yourusername monaco you beaut 🥂

tagged masonmount, landonorris

username16 all hail y/n y/m/n y/l/n

username72 slowly becoming queen of the paddock as well

username19 i am FLOORED

username82 holy ferrari red

username18 omg above lando’s garage? so cute

⤷ username47 fueling my lando mason besties truthhh

username79 is mason going to man united??

username17 THE LANDO AND MASON PICCC

masonmount the most beautiful girl in the world ❤️

username71 people died

riabish pretty gal 💕

landonorris big ln4 fan?

⤷ yourusername huge

cartiamallan we are going to monte-carlooooo

⤷ yourusername but what abt our crap tour?! 😉

username12 were her and mase not w redbull tho? why is she at the mclaren garage lol

liked by joaofelix79, maxverstappen1, and 6,098,827 others

masonmount thank you redbullracing for this amazing opportunity! had the best time with the best people.

congrats on the win maxverstappen1, and big shout out to landonorris - mega proud 🧡

tagged joaoxfelix79, benchilwill, yourusername, landonorris, maxverstappen1, redbullracing

username17 the pic of y/n he’s fr her biggest fan 🥹

username47 i just keep winningggg

username88 and the lando mason universe expands

yourusername 🩷

benchilwill great time mate

declanrice yes max family good??

username71 are u going to man u?

redbullracing 💙

landonorris great to see ya mate 💚🧡

username16 TRAITOR

username72 the last photo I HAVE DIED

username14 “chelsea is my blood” rumours better not be true mate or u have another thing coming

liked by username3, username18, and 12,082 others

ln4_updates new couple alert? model y/n y/l/n, notably football star mason mount’s longtime girlfriend, has been spotted with lando a handful of times in the past couple of days following the monaco grand prix (which both mount and y/l/n attended together). y/n and mason’s recent posts don’t allude to any break up or fallout but rather affirm their ‘strong’ relationship. is this a mere friendship or is there something else going on here…?

username4 welp wouldn’t be the first time…

username71 no fucking way

username8 lando and mason are literally friends. he was probs with them or going to meet up with them in all of these.

username62 not again 🤦‍♀️

username37 yk what they say. once a cheater…

username18 or maybe just MAYBE they’re fucking friends?

username27 this makes a lot of sense tho

username62 not her literally hanging out w lando and his friends while on holiday w her BOYFRIEND

username26 no way she’s doing this to him while he’s going through all the chelsea man u shit

username2 my man has ENOUGH going wrong for him already

liked by masonmount, benchilwill, and 189,082 others

yourusername you’ll always be my babyyyyy

tagged masonmount

username18 parents fr

username73 they’re beating the cheating and broken up allegations!!!

username1 girl-

masonmount my girl ❤️

⤷ yourusername forever 🥰

username72 not y/n trying to save her ass from the cheating allegations 😭

⤷ username13 well she obv didn’t bc her and mase are still together

declanrice sickening but cute

lilymhe cuteeee

⤷ yourusername 😘

⤷ username17 THEYRE FRIENDS??

username62 icl they’re so cute even if she did cheat

username17 the orange flowers tho HAHAHA

ig stories - yourusername, landonorris

swipe up

liked by yourusername, declanrice, and 592,082 others

masonmount forever yours. forever mine.

tagged yourusername

username7 when we go crashing down we come back everytime!

username62 beating the cheating allegations!!

username73 best couple

username12 she’s chelsea princess FRRRR

⤷ username3 repping the blue even at tennis matches 😭

⤷ username8 wonder how she’s gonna take his move

⤷ username92 he ain’t moving!

yourusername my love ❤️

username4 i cant believe we thought hey were over

username91 the legendary miss y/n y/l/n and the unstoppable mason mount

username82 modern day posh and becks fr

username53 they’re forever 🩷

liked by pierregasly, username16, and 70,083 others

f1.wags BREAKING: y/n y/l/n and lando norris spotted getting close in spain just days after denying cheating rumours. wonder what y/n’s boyriend, chelsea wonder boy mason mount, thinks about this…

part 2 coming x

[reareaotaku]

Schoolboy Crush

Summary: Kim really wants to confess, but he's to nervous to approach you. Hopefully, Ronnie [Ron] can play wingwoman and help out her best friend Pairings: Male! Kim Possible x Fem! Reader Tw: N/a Taglist: N/a [I kept Kim's name the same cause I like it better than Konner]

Kim watched you from where the cheer squad was. You were at the top of the bleachers doing what looked like homework. He would probably do the same if he wasn't forced to get ready for the game. Everyone knew these games lasted hours and some people wouldn't get home until late, making it hard to get any homework done.

He looked around for his friend, Ronnie. Kim's eyes were brought to a large plate of nachos and eye-straining blonde hair. Kim walked over, before calling the girl's name.

"Ronnie!"

Ronnie looks around, trying to see who was calling her before seeing her best friend Kim. She walks over and leans over the balustrade [looked that up] while trying not to spill her nachos. "Oh, hey Kim. What's up?"

"You see that girl over there?" Kim points where you are, writing in a notebook.

"Oh, Y/n? Yeah, I think we have history together."

"Great! Go talk to her."

"What?" Ronnie looked at Kim, confused. "Why?"

Kim clasps his hands together, "Please?"

Ronnie's eyes widen in realization, before pointing at Kim. "Oh my god, you have a crush on Y/n-"

Kim quickly jumps up, quickly putting his hands over Ronnie's mouth, "Not so loud! Do you want the whole school to hear you?"

"Sorry. Wow," Ronnie looks back over at you, "Who would have thought..." She looks back at Kim, "So what am I supposed to say?"

"I don't know. Anything! Talk about history- Just talk to her."

"Fine, but you owe me."

Ronnie walks over to you, eating some of her nachos to cool her nerves. She couldn't believe she was playing wingman for her best friend. God, she better not screw this up.

You feel a presence near you and looked up to see Ronnie, surprising you. You had never spoken to the girl before, so you wondered what she could possibly want.

"Um, hi?" She awkwardly waves and you look at her confused.

"Hi."

There was a few seconds of awkwardness, before Ronnie points to the seat next to you. "That seat taken?"

"Uh, no. Go ahead." You scoot over, making room for her.

"I'm Ro-"

"I know. We're in History together."

"Right. I didn't know if you knew," Ronnie lets out a forced chuckle, "my name. Uh, whatcha working on?"

"An essay that's due for English. I want to get it done before the weekend."

"Essay? We have an essay due?"

"Uh, no- I'm in AP."

"Oh!" Ronnie's eyes lit up. "Uh- I think Kim has that class, too."

"Yeah, we sit near each other."

"So, uh, what's your opinion on Kim?"

You look a little bewildered at her question. "He's uh... fine, I guess?"

"Fine, that's it?"

"I mean, he's not like other guys, I guess."

"Oh, yeah. For sure, for sure," Ronnie takes a big bite of her nachos, causing you to cringe internally. She chews a bit before turning towards the game, "He's one of a kind, right? I mean, he's cheer captain. Plus, his mom's a neurosurgeon and his dad is a rocket scientist."

"Yeah, I heard about that. Must be a lot of pressure to uphold."

"Yeah, but he manages. Plus, he's kind of cute too, right?"

"Uh, yeah I guess he is kind of cute- Wait, does Kim have a crush on me?"

Ronnie's face errupts in red, and nearly drops her nachos. She puts them down and quickly shakes her hands, "No! No, no, no! Haha! Where would you get an idea like that??"

"Well," You rub the back of your neck, "You know, if he does you should tell him that I think he's kind of cute."

"Well, uh I would- If he did like you, which he doesn't- Because I would never- haha, share my best friends secret like that. But if he did like you-" In the middle of his rant, someone interrupts, thankfully saving him.

"Ronnie, there you are! I've been looking everywhere for you." Kim looks over at you, fauxing surprise, " You're Y/n right. I don't think we've met, I'm Kim."

"Pleasure," You grab his hand, shaking it, causing him to smile.

It may not have been what Kim wanted, but it was something. He was so glad he heard Ronnie or his chances would have been ruined. He's just have to find a way to ask you out on his own.

[bothoutsiders]

It had been tough for Tim lately, but he couldn't give up. Only because that was what Jason would've wanted. He knew that, they spoke about it so many times before. If something were to happen to me, you have to continue with your life, Timmy. Promise me that. And Tim, in his stubbornness, would answer with a Nothing is going to happen to you, I won't let it happen. I’ll kill anyone who even tries to hurt you. 

Sadly, Tim wasn't strong enough to protect Jason. He didn't kill anyone either. And, this time, Jason didn't come back to life.

He moved out of Gotham, because starting over sounded better. He could fulfil his side of all those daydreams he shared with Jason. Those silly little thoughts he would tell him about, and Jason would answer with That sounds great, we should do that! or I'm down for that! You'll be a hot teacher. I'll come visit you, pretend I'm your student, and flirt with you.

Jason won't be able to play his part, but it was a promise. Tim was going to play his.

"I know you're still new here, and you need time to understand how everything works, but we need everyone's help." The lady said as she poured some milk onto a plate.

"It's fine, Nina. I heard it was busy season. I'll do my best to help with the load of work." Tim paid attention to the stray cats that came to drink a bit of the milk. There were four of them, they waited their turn patiently, but never ventured into the office.

Another teacher had once told him, that although they were used to feeding a large number of cats, their numbers eventually dwindled to the four he had in front of him. Two of them would actually let humans pet them, while the other two would run away as soon as they saw someone walking close to them.

One of them called Tim's attention. It was a small cat, a kitten still, orange and with only one eye. It made him think of Jason. He wondered if humans could be reborn as animals, but as soon as he caught himself thinking silly things, he went back to work.

Days passed and every morning he would see the kitten. It didn't have a name. One girl would call him Ronnie, but another guy would call him Pirate. In Tim's mind, he would call him Jason.

Maybe he could adopt him, give him a home and, maybe... They could keep each other company. After all, they both had no one else.

Busy season didn't end anytime soon.

He had been so wrapped up, trying to understand everything, help around, keep up with everyone, that the news took him by surprise. They had caught the four cats and taken them to the vet for a basic check up because before, there used to be five cats. The one missing had to be put down due to a life-shortening illness that spreads fast between cats. A stray infected cat was dangerous.

Tim didn't think much about it, trusting they would all be fine.

Nina spoke, her words barely intelligible to Tim, but one word caught his immediate attention.

Tim’s head whipped toward Nina, so quickly, he thought he would snap his neck.

"What?"

"He's sick. He was so angry that we caught him, and it seems he is pissed to be caged, but we needed to check on him, and the vet just told us that he's sick."

Tim didn't know what to say, but he felt his eyes tear up. He missed an opportunity. Maybe if he had adopted the kitten the first day, he wouldn't have gotten sick. He wouldn't have to die. Again.

"I don't want to go, but my boss told me I have to be there in his last moments. I've done this before, and it's awful. I don't even like cats, but... It's a very depressing moment."

He thought about it, because maybe he could go and be there for the kitten, but he didn't feel ready either. Seeing someone die is something he didn't think he could stand again. It had happened so many times already.

He decided he couldn't do that. Maybe it was better if he ignored all that. It was just a cat, right? And it wasn't like the kitten had any bond with anyone, either.

All day, Tim thought about it. He wondered if there was something he could've done different, or how it would be to have that kitten at home.

"We have the pit ready." Nina said the next day, looking through the window and pointing at a small deep hole. "I asked the guys from the other department to help."

Tim looked at it, but made no comment. It sounded awful how they were getting ready to kill a living being. He knew it was a merciful death, but... It still sounded awful.

Two days passed when Nina spoke again about Jason.

"It was terrible." She rested her chin on both hands, looking behind Tim, remembering what happened. "Ronnie was pissed, hissing at everyone in his final moment. When we buried him, his body was still warm."

Tim scratched his neck nervously, leaving red marks behind.

Good thing it was time to go home.

He was surprised to feel tears rolling down his cheeks on his way home. But he wasn't so surprised to feel awful and believe that things could've gone better for Jason if only he had done something, but no. He had to be so busy, trying to distract his mind of the grief he was still feeling for losing his fiancé.

Maybe next time he would do things differently.

[seeingivy]

ribbons release

actor eren x f!reader

**part of my method acting series

content: happiness for once. until it is not. ronnie's love for foreshadowing strikes again.

an: not a fan of this chapter, but we digress. read it and do not kill me if you don't like it.

song: not explicitly mentioned, but this chapter reminds me of about you by the 1975. ratty healy, I hate you but you ate on this one thing.

previous part linked here

--

“I ju-just sent my loc-location, Eren.” 

“I got it, Y/N. I just need you to hold on for ten more minutes, okay? Can you do that for me?” 

“Y-yes.” 

Seattle is famous for rain. You understand that all too well now. After what you’ve counted as twenty-seven minutes - from when you went to take the trash out to the mailpost you’re hiding behind now - you’re all but soaked. Drenched. 

Your phone is blowing up with texts, the rain is only getting harder, and the mini black dress and ribbon in your hair do no favors to keep you warm. You slide out of your call with Eren and quickly scan through the messages, buzzing so loud they’re blocking Eren’s voice. 

reiner: so, so proud of you always!!! stop being a big famous pop star and go back to being the little twerp who needs my help killing spiders on set :/ 

levi: I love you too, kid. And on a real listen, we really do love the album. 

armin: ann and i are smelling a triple threat on the horizon. love you to the moon and saturn <3

connie: i was accidentally pooping while i listened to dorothea for the first time and i think the combination of those two things at once gave me like a really visceral reaction. im not ok. u are amazing. 

mikasa: u are givg me aneurysm. pls don’t forgor to call me the scnd ur okay. 

erwin: Call me ASAP. 

erwin: Not urgent. Just feeling emotional about my little Canadian reaching hearts all over the world. 

king of bitches (maybe: ryomen sukuna): Fluff shit indeed. Blow me a kiss when you beat James for Album of the Year. 

danny: where is the album release post? it’s almost been half an hour. 

You have bigger problems at the moment. Like the frozen piece of fabric you’re wearing. You should have named the album sweaters or scarves or something. Then at least you’d be warm. And blend in with the paparazzi. 

Fuck.

“W-wait, Eren. Y-you ca-n’t b-be the one to get me.” you murmur, shivering through your teeth.

“Do you want to stay with someone else? I know nice people here. My neighbor is in her late forties and has like two middle school aged girls that are really nice. They’d take care of you, I promise you can trust them and-” he rambles. 

“N-no. I want to st-stay with you. But pa-papara-zzi. S-send ss-omeone e-else.” 

“Paparazzi? Why are-?” 

“Er-eren.” 

“Would it be that bad if it was me? Like it has to be someone else, Y/N?” 

“Y-yes.” 

“I have someone in mind. She’s leaving right now, okay?” 

Eren’s sound is muffled over the line now, which has you digging your phone into your ear to catch the ends of what he’s saying. 

Blast the heater….butt warmer on before she’s in the car….bring it up and I will kick your freeloading….

“Y/N?” 

“H-here.” 

“Good. I’m sending her. Don't get upset, this is the best I could do, okay? I-I promise she’s actually nice. You can trust her and-and I’d never send someone who would do something bad.”  

“O-okay. I t-trust you. J-just get me ou-out of th-this, please.” you whimper, praying to god the rustling behind you is a rabbit and not the group of them finding you. 

“I’m trying sweetheart, okay? She’s speeding. She’s on Main and Third, three lights and she’s there.” 

That’s when you see it. The flash of the camera. And hear five consecutive clicks right after. You look around the periphery, before you see two of them, two tall guys speed walking closer to where you’re hiding. 

So you do the only thing you can. Stand up and run instead. 

You scramble up off the pavement, hiking your dress down, and keep running down the block. Climb up the gates, knock over trash cans to block the way, anything to stop them. And when you look back, after who knows how long, you realize they’re gone. 

And sit flat on the messy pavement, finally lifting the phone back up. Only to realize Eren’s no longer on the line because your phone is dead. You drop it straight into your lap and dig your hands into your head, covering your ears to stop the pounding sound of the rain from getting any louder. 

God. Just breathe. Whoever is coming to get you is on the way. They’ll come get you and then you’ll be out of this mess. 

You hear three resounding clicks and a flash of a light to look up at two different paps, two girls this time, getting a straight on picture of you. And all you can do is put your head down in your lap and cry. 

They already got the picture. There’s no point in trying to run out of it anymore. 

“Y/N.” 

“Pl-please. I’m b-begging you. You already got your picture and can ss-spin it into whatever you want. I-I’m still a person, please. Just let me go.” you respond, the tears blinding your sight of vision. 

You feel a towel being wrapped around your shoulders and soft hands lifting you up by your arms. And then all of a sudden you’re in a warm car, being sped out of the neighborhood past the groups of paparazzi in between the houses, and not directly across from them having your picture taken. 

You’re in a car. You’re okay. You’re leaving. You’re okay. 

You lean back and breathe hard, phantom sobs still racking out of your chest, trying to register that you’re almost there. Safe behind closed, triple locked doors. 

“D-did you tell Eren?” 

“Yes. He’s not far, we’ll be there soon, okay?” 

“Okay. T-thank you. I’m Y/N.” 

“Lana.” 

You turn your head to actually take in the driver this time, to be met with the Lana you feared. Ricky’s ex-girlfriend, Lana. She has short brown hair - entirely different from her long, beachy waves from the Girlfriend incident - a pointed nose and a very clenched jaw. 

“Th-there are more blankets on the floor. I pumped the heater pretty hard, but I’ll turn all the fans your way. And anything you could possibly need is being rushed to the house for you, so just don’t worry, okay?” 

“I appreciate it. Thank you for coming to get me. I-I” 

“Please don’t thank me. I just-” 

She takes a harsh intake of breath and turns to give you a look, her mouth upturned. 

“He locked you out, didn’t he?” she whispers. 

“Yeah.” you respond. 

“What did you do?”

“I told him I didn’t like him back.” 

She turns her head towards you, a look of confusion on her face. 

“It was a PR thing.” 

She snorts. 

“Your managers must hate you.” 

“I’m starting to think they just might.” 

“Well. Don’t feel bad. Not for a fucking second. Just because he likes you, doesn’t mean he’s entitled to you reciprocating back. You like who you like. And if I were you, I wouldn’t stop liking a guy like Eren for a skeeze like Ricky either.” 

You lean against the glass, hot air blowing in your face, as you take in her expression - so enraged, so exasperated, so furious that it gives you a chill. But when she looks over and gives you a halfhearted smile, you see the pained expression there too. 

That’s when you pinpoint it. Lana reminds you of Historia. 

“I’m sorry.” you respond. 

“For?” 

“You knew he locked me out. He must have done it to you too, no?” you whisper, the tension in the air delicate. 

She swallows hard and clenches her knuckles on the steering wheel, eyes laser focused on the red light shining on her face. And beyond the original striking features - her sharp jaw and nose - you see the softness too. The dimples, the wrinkles near her eyes, the light brown freckles. 

“I wanted to take time off from acting. It-I did a role that was really traumatic and I just needed a break. And he was just about to go on tour and he wanted me to come to support. Like a little cheerleader.” 

“So he locked you out?” 

“For two days. He-he’s just. A lot of the fame stuff got to him when he was really little. And now he’s got this convoluted sense of self-image and it just- I don’t know. He’s got problems.” she responds. 

“I’m sorry. Really, that’s-” 

You stop talking, words failing you. And maybe it’s the way your head was frozen ten minutes ago and it’s being melted now, or that the picture they took is going to leak soon, or that there is no good thing to say to something shitty like this. It only took him three months to turn on you, which you’re guessing is generous now. She must have infinite patience for putting up with it for an entire year. 

“In a weird way, I’m glad it’s me and not Eren. You- this does something for me. Making sure you’re not out there for two days, it-it helps me.” she whispers, looking over to give you a smile. 

“I really appreciate you, Lana. Thank you. And I-I’m not mad at you for the Girlfriend thing. You had every right to do that.” 

“Y/N. I have every right to drag Ricky James’ name through the mud. But not yours. And I- shit. Please don’t tell Eren we talked about this. He’s going to kill me.” 

“Why?” 

“He told me that if I brought it up, he’d kick me out of his house. I kind of stay there because I-I hate living in our townhouse on set because of how toxic it is and he was nice enough to offer. And he made it very clear that I have to pick you and make sure you’re okay, not make you uncomfortable or anything. We’re here to take care of you and-” 

“I brought it up. I’ll deal with him if he gives you a hard time. I used to be really good at that type of thing.” 

“I know for a fact that you could tell him to twirl in the air like a show pony and he’d do it.”

“I’ll test the theory and let you know.” 

She laughs, giving you a smile which you warmly return. Your phone buzzes in your lap, finally revived, and you send a quick message to Mikasa and Jean before shutting it off. 

“I-I didn’t know that it was going to go that far. I knew the song and that we were just going to sing it. Let people speculate it was about you. I-I didn’t know they’d have a girl who looked like you OR bring Eren up on stage. And Eren didn’t know anything about the song or the performance at all - they, they set him up.” 

“Why would they do that? I mean, they got horrible backlash in the entire thing.” 

“They thought people would like it. And they severely underestimated how much people love you. And they did it because, Eren- he. He doesn’t follow rules and-” 

“Follow rules?” 

“I’m saying too much. He-he’s going to get mad. Ju-just rest, okay? You’re okay now, we’re two minutes from the neighborhood..”  

You give her a questioning look, which she returns with a dismissive shake. Stubborn - she’s Historia alright. You lean back in the chair and reach for the music nob, twisting it on. Only to be met with the Teletubbies Theme blasting through the car and a very flustered Lana turning the knob off. 

“Fuck.” 

“Teletubbies?”

“I-I can explain.” 

“Please. I’d love to hear it.” 

She drums her fingers on the steering wheel as the silence hangs in the air. 

“Okay. Maybe I can’t explain.” 

“No need. I appreciate versatile music taste in prospective friends. Especially classics like this.” you respond, cranking the music back on. 

“Friends?” 

“Don’t be silly. Not exaggerating, but I think you quite literally saved my life a few minutes ago. You’re like the La-La to my Dipsy.” 

“Lame. You’re more of a Tinky-Winky. And anytime. We girls stick together, right?” she responds, reaching for your hand and giving it a squeeze. Like Eren. 

Did she learn the hand squeezes from Eren? Is he squeezing her hands? They live together so …are they dating? 

“We’re here.” 

You nod, appreciative of Lana more than maybe any person on god's green Earth, as she pulls into the driveway and helps you out of the car. It’s only after sitting that you’re realizing your legs are so bone dead tired that you’re barely moving on your own. 

You move past the hood of the car as Eren walks into the garage, immediately beelining towards you. His hair is long again - it’s always changing every time you see him - and he’s all wound up with tensions sitting in his shoulders. His hands are warm and cupping your face, yanking the cold towel off and replacing it with a warm one. 

“Hey. You-you nicked your face, Y/N. And you’re freezing, you-” he whispers, brushing his fingers across the skin near your eye that stings on touch. 

Lana holds the door open as he leads you in, arms aggressively moving up and down your shoulders and his face all pinched up in concern. 

“You’re good to go? I put your stuff out by the door.” Eren says, gesturing to Lana. 

“Is she leaving?” you ask, looking up at Eren. 

“Yeah. Don’t worry, it’ll be just us. And I’m sure Mika and Jean will drop everything to fly out for you tomorrow, I can tell them if you need me to and-” 

“Well, don’t make her leave. She shouldn’t stay on that stupid set just because of me.” you respond. 

Eren looks over and glares at Lana, who is now wide eyed and giving Eren a sheepish smile. Fuck. He asked her not to talk about that. 

“Lana.” he says, in a warning tone. 

“Eren. Chill out. I didn’t even-” 

“You’re so full of yourself, you know that? You- she got drenched and the rain and you were talking about set?”

“It’s not like that! It just came up and-” 

“Oh, for sure. You just happened upon it like you were a villager walking in a town square. Ooh Y/N. You just got drenched in the rain and chased by paparazzi, but more importantly, the girls I work with are super bitchy.” he responds, mimicking her voice. 

“You-it wasn’t like that! You’re so aggravat-” 

“Eren. Leave her alone.” you ask, looking up at him. And you’re sure you must look horrible because he immediately stops when he looks at your face again and signals for her to leave, which she’s receptive to. 

“Okay. Lana, text me when you’re there. And check if you were followed on your way out.” Eren says. 

Lana stops and holds both of your arms at your biceps, hands soft on your skin. 

“Do call me if you need anything, okay? Especially Ricky related. Whatever you do, I’ll back you up, Tinky-Winky. ” 

“Thank you, La-La. I’ll take you up on that.” you respond, giving her a warm smile. 

“Oh god. No. No, you don’t get to be friends now. Fuck no, Lana. Please stick to the geriatric grandmas you play Scrabble with.” 

“You’re just mad they beat you at mahjong last week. Because you’re a prissy loser.” 

“And you’re-” 

You jab Eren in the side, signaling him to stop, as they both nod and she slides her way out. From the way he’s arguing, the look on his face is so similar to the one he gives Connie when they argue, you know they could go on for years if they got the chance. 

“Fuck you, Eren.” 

“Eat shit, Lana.” 

She flips him off as the door clicks shut behind her, the lack of her presence making you suddenly aware of your breaths. And of Eren, warm Eren rubbing into your shoulders and concerned green eyes staring into yours. 

“I like her.” you whisper. 

“Me too. Don’t tell her that though, she’s got an ego problem.” he responds.  

You laugh, which has him smiling at you, and suddenly you’re sobbing. And on cue, Eren has his arms around you, his touch warm and his voice oh so soft that it kills you. That you haven’t seen him in two months. And haven’t talked to him for longer. 

“Eren.” 

“Hey, hey. Don’t cry, it-it’ll be okay. I- we’ll fix this, okay? I’ll call Levi and Hange, whoever you want, they’ll all come and-” 

You reach up, tangling your arms around his neck as he keeps nervously talking, trying to hold you closer even though it’s not physically possible. And he’s just so- 

So familiar that he feels like home. 

“You’re breaking my heart here, Y/N. Please stop crying, I-I’ve got you, okay?” he murmurs, straight into your skin as you nod, trying your best to even out the sobs still leaving you. And slowly but surely, the stream slows and your breath evens out enough to get at least a few words out. 

“Okay. Okay, okay. I’m okay.” 

“Y/N?” 

“Hm?” 

“As much as I like holding you, you’re freezing. Take a shower first and we can do this all you want, okay?” 

You pull back, wiping the tears off your cheeks and giving him a nod. He gives you a small smile, before placing his hands on your shoulders and leading you down towards the bathroom. And you don’t miss all the posters and pictures he has on his walls - one from each season of Attack of Titan, a few of him and Armin, and even one of him and Lana flipping off the camera together. 

He pushes you into the bathroom and immediately turns on the shower all the way to the hottest setting, before turning around and putting his hands on his hips. 

“Towels, clothes, shampoo. There’s soap in there already and take as long as you want. Sit in here for three days if you have to just- do-do whatever you have to do and-” 

You pick up the bottle of shampoo, the lavender scented Pantene, the one that you’ve been using since you were fifteen. And you know, you know that Eren’s atrocious ass uses a three in one hair and conditioner so it’s not his. 

“Eren.” 

“Hm?” 

“Did you just happen to have the brand of shampoo that I use?” 

“N-no. Those are Lana’s.” 

“Then why are they unopened?” you ask, giving him a smirk. 

He glares at you, before rolling his eyes and holding your face. And now he’s leaning so close, so close that your lips are only a few feet away from yours, when he talks. 

“You know why you can’t make fun of me for keeping a spare of your shampoos in my house?” he whispers, green eyes burning in yours. 

“Why?” you whisper back, stomach lurching. 

“Because you’re actually here. I knew you’d come back to me.” he responds, giving your cheek a pinch before walking out. 

And when you watch him walk out, giving you one last smile before he shuts the door, you can’t help but roll your eyes. Typical Eren. Funny, irritating, and soft all in one. 

He’s the same as you left him. 

--

You pad out of the shower, Eren’s hoodie and sweatpants ridiculously huge on you, as you follow the sweet smell into the kitchen. Eren is leaned over the counter, sliding vegetables into two bowls of ramen as you walk in. 

“Hey.” 

“Hi. Took a while. Thought you died in there.” Eren responds, pressing his hands to your skin to test how warm they were. 

“I almost wish I did.” you respond, laughing. 

Except Eren doesn’t find it funny and instead he’s dropping the utensils and standing at your side. 

“Y/N.” 

“I was joking!” 

“Nothing about that was funny. Don’t ever joke about that.” he responds, rummaging through the drawers at your side before pulling out a little tube of gel. 

Eren taps the top of the counter, which you jump onto, before he takes his place in between your legs. His hands are focused on reading the instructions, forehead all scrunched up in concentration.

“What’s that?” 

“It’s like this…scar ointment or whatever. Helps things heal better, I want to use it on that cut on your pretty face.” he responds, twisting it open and squirting some on his finger. 

He brings his hands to your face, eyes intently focused on your cheek. You hiss the second his finger makes contact with your skin, the tingling sensation catching you off guard. 

“I’m sorry sweetheart, I know it hurts.” he whispers, smothering the cold gel down the side of your eye. 

“I-I fell on the pavement. My knees are pretty bad too, Eren.” you whisper, which he nods at. 

After he finishes, he’s carefully sliding the ends of your pants off and carefully placing the ointment on each of the jagged marks on your legs. And you eye the bowls of ramen at your side - knowing instantly that the one without mushrooms is yours - and reach for the food. The broth is so warm it soothes the aching feeling in your throat, still seasoned to perfection the way Eren always makes it. 

“Eren.” 

“Hm?” 

“Can I ask you a weird question?” 

“Sure.” 

“Are you and Lana dating?” 

He looks up from your leg and gives you a devilish smirk. And then starts laughing. Like full on, crouched over, tears from his eyes laughing.  

“Okay. It wasn’t that funny.” you murmur, rubbing your hands against the warm bowl and frowning. 

“Oh god, Y/N. Jesus-” 

“It’s a normal question! She lives with you, you trusted her to come get me, and you guys have a picture together in the hallway.” 

“Are you jealous?” he asks, standing up and leaning straight into your space. 

“Absolutely not.” 

“Are too.” 

“Am not.” 

“You don’t need to get all embarrassed. Watching you kiss Ricky James made me want to break something, preferably his neck.” 

You swallow hard at the mention of Ricky again, the thought of him and what happened was so far away because you were with Eren. In his space, in your shared bubble, after so long. And he catches on too fast because he’s already profusely apologizing. 

“Hey. I didn’t mean to bring him up, I-I’m not trying to push you into telling me what happened it’s just-” 

“No. No, Eren. It’s okay. I know. I-” 

You breathe in hard and put the bowl of ramen down and reach for his hands instead. You keep your eyes focused on them - on the little mole on his left hand, the feeling of his knuckles underneath your fingers, and on him squeezing your hands three times before you start talking.  

“Ricky and I were faking the relationship for PR. Since London Boy and all that, it was Danny and Sareen’s idea. That-that’s why I stopped talking to you, I-I felt bad. And I was ashamed that I was even doing it, I-I don’t know. The Little Women press and all that, it would just get people to stream and talk. Make me a triple threat. And then today, I- He told me he liked me. And I said I couldn’t do that right now. That I don’t like him back. I went to take out the trash because it was so awkward and then I was going to go home but he- he locked me out. And when I asked to come back in, he repeated the same words to me. That he couldn’t do that right now.” 

Eren lifts your hands, still locked with his, and presses a kiss to the top of your knuckles, as you continue. His lips burn your skin, still. 

“I was out there and it-it was cold. And then I heard the cars and I saw seven paparazzi trucks, right on the porch. Ricky, his address isn’t leaked. No-no one knew I was there or that he was but they all showed up, right when I was out there and-” 

“He called them, didn’t he?” Eren asks, his tone so harsh, so unyielding that it almost doesn’t sound like him. 

“Yeah. And I ran, for so long. I- they got a picture. A few, I know they did and I was just so, so scared that I was going to be out there forever, that I was all alone and they were just going to-” 

Eren reaches forward, wrapping you in his arms for what feels like the fiftieth time tonight, but you welcome it. Focus on his heart beating under your ear, running your fingers over his fish tattoo on his bicep, and on his soft, steady breaths. 

“Eren.” 

“Hm.” 

“You didn’t say anything. What are you thinking about?” 

“What I’m thinking isn’t productive for you to know right now.” 

You look up at him, giving him a questioning look. 

“Drop it, Y/N.” 

“No. Tell me. I’m sure you’re mad and all but-” 

“Mad? I’m fucking furious, I’m livid. That he fucking locked you out and left you in the cold. You-you could have been seriously hurt. You are hurt. And not only that, the fucking paparazzi. You-you ran in the cold, you fell, you can’t stop crying and-and- I’m going to kill this asshole when I see him next because it’s his fault you’re feeling like this.” 

“Eren.” 

“No. Shut up, Y/N. I’m being serious. I-I don’t like seeing you like this and don’t tell me not to. He hurt you. It’s that simple.” 

You deflate, knowing Eren too well to know that he won’t drop this. Especially when he’s overly passionate, deep in the feeling right now. 

“Okay. But can you just be here for me right now? I need you here and not all….tense and mad. B-Be soft. And warm.” 

He stops, the frustration in his forehead dissolving as he takes a breath and smiles at you. Not fully, but it does the job. 

“Okay. I can do that. Let’s watch Fruits Basket. And then go to bed.” 

“You hate Fruits Basket.” 

“But I love you. Enough to watch your weird bestiality adjacent show and pretend to like it.” 

You smile and he reaches forward to pinch your cheeks. 

“Look at that smile. There she is. There’s my sweet girl.” he whispers, voice all tangled in his throat. 

--

You wake up to an empty bed, Eren’s side cold. And you pull his hoodie on before padding downstairs to find Eren’s phone pressed to his ear. He gives you a wave and points to the plate - a mix of eggs, french toast, and fruits - perfectly placed to perfection. 

You give him a smile and he walks off, taking the phone with him. You frown as you watch him disappear, jabbing your fork through the cantaloupe. 

What is he talking about that’s so important he doesn’t want you to hear? 

You jump off of the stool and quietly pad towards the direction he walked, hiding in the hallway. He’s leaning against the wall, staring at the picture right across - one of Levi and Hange kissing your cheeks at the vow renewal - and angle yourself to hear his words. 

“Is he okay?” 

“I’m glad. You tell me if you need anything else, okay?” 

“Okay, Coco. I missed you too, yeah?” 

Who the fuck is Coco?

He hangs up and you immediately scramble back to the kitchen, trying your best to stay inconspicuous as he comes back and gives you a smile. It doesn’t reach his eyes, the expression on his face almost tired. 

“Hey sleepyhead. You okay?” 

“Mhm. Food is really good, Eren.” 

He gives you a smile as he sits at your side, eyes focused on you as you eat your food. He places both of your phones in front of you, and you spot yours with nearly a hundred notifications. But when you reach for it, Eren grabs your hand in the air and locks it on his own instead. 

“Just-wait. Eat first.” he says, his tone hollow.

You turn your head to the side and take in Eren’s expression, downtrodden and uncharacteristically unexpressive. The complete opposite of Eren yesterday - moony eyes and soft smiles. 

“Eren.” 

“Y/N. If I ask you to do this for me, can you trust me and listen?” 

“No. You-what’s wrong? You’re being weird.” you ask, reaching for his hand. 

He looks over, the look indiscernible, as he leans forward and presses a kiss to your cheek. 

“You-I took care of most of it, okay? Levi and Hange are coming. Just, don’t panic. You-it’s okay.” 

“Eren. You’re scaring me. Just tell me.” 

He takes a deep breath, cracking the knuckles in your hand as he nervously talks. 

“You-your pictures leaked. The ones of you running last night. And-and people started speculating really fast - wondering why you were running and crying on the night your album released instead of celebrating it. And-and then Ricky, he tweeted a bunch of things.” 

You pale. And reach for your phone, which Eren stops again. 

“They’re lies. Obviously. You don’t need to read them, not yet. And Lana told me she’s ready to back you up, whatever you want, when you need it. But, that’s not-” 

“What, Eren? Just spit it out.” you respond, frantically. 

“They- Ricky’s fans are mad at you. They’re sending you death threats.” 

“Oh.” 

You deflate, staring at the cold mess of breakfast on your plate. Death threats. Hate, you’re no stranger too. Of people commenting on your looks, how bad your singing is, how lame you are. But wishing you were dead? Full on, unbothered and cursing your existence? 

“And not just you, but your family too.” he whispers, watching your face fall. 

Your family. Your parents, Colt, Falco-

“Excuse me. What did you just say? 

Eren doesn’t respond and the tears fall immediately from your eyes, hot and angry as he reaches forward, immediately swiping them away. His expression's pained, he knows this all too well.

“I sent your family a security detail. Don’t worry. Colt was only minorly injured and-” 

You stand up and grab Eren’s shirt, bundling the fabric into a fist in your hands, as you glare at him. 

“Injured? What the fuck do you mean injured, Eren?” 

He sighs, lifting his hands to move yours, and hold them. You’re still clenching hard, so hard you’re sure you’re drawing blood, but he’s doing his best to uncurl your hands as he talks. 

“They threw a brick through the window. And the glass, Colt was sitting right there. I was just on the phone with Falco, he said he’s doing better. The security detailing has medical so you don’t have to worry about that again and they’re both okay and-” 

“No part of this is okay, Eren! Quit saying it’s okay when it’s not! They almost killed my brothers.” 

“Y/N.” 

“No. No, this is horrible, Eren. They-they don’t do any of this stuff. Falco’s barely thirteen. And Colt - he’s going to college. He’s not a celebrity, he’s not a singer, he’s just a student. How is he supposed to go out after this? Why- how is it supposed to be normal? And now, they’re going to be like us. They’re going to feel like they’re trapped in this fucking suffocating ass fish bowl and everyone’s watching and laughing at them and they just-” 

“Y/N. Stop. It’s not going to-” 

“Falco’s too soft for this. He’s just a kid, Eren. I can’t- no. This isn’t fair. Eren, they didn’t even do anything. They’re literally just related to me, they just love me and they’re getting hurt because of it. You- you’re probably getting dragged in the mud too. Everyone who helps me gets subjected to this, loving me comes with this big thing behind me and I can’t even keep people who get it with me. I let you go when you were the only person who understood and I messed it all up and got myself involved with Ricky James of all people and-” 

“Y/N. Stop. Please."

You sit flat on Eren’s floor, head in your hands, and cry, teardrops falling straight onto the floor. And Eren’s sitting there with you, with your big mess of jumbled feelings and mistakes, and trying his best to help you with it. 

That’s how Levi and Hange find you two, after pocketing the spare key Eren told them about. After he insistently called them and payed for a private jet, going on and on about how Y/N needed them. And here you two are, despite their original conceived notions that you two were fighting, on the floor, in each other’s arms. 

“Some things never change, huh?” Hange whispers. 

“Yeah. They keep fucking crying every time we see them.” he whispers back. 

--

Between Levi and Hange - Jean, Mikasa, and Connie who make it out that night - and Eren and Lana, they fix things. Most things. 

Ricky’s narrative about you is clear cut - half-true and half-fake. Your team forced him to date you and defend you for PR purposes, after the Girlfriend incident. There was an agreement that you two would write certain songs, make certain appearances, and support each other. 

But then Ricky turns the gate. Says that you’ve deeply, severely hurt him. That you led him on, that you used him to boost your own ego, and that you were dangerously obsessed with fame and not him. That you were all things - heartless, fake, that he doubted if you were even a real person. A glorious pop-star, empty and hollow on the inside.

And people jump on it fast. Citing the fact that you would throw away your friendship with Historia to be famous, that you stopped dating Eren when he stopped being successful, that you can go to tours but not to Mikasa or Jean’s birthday parties. 

The worst part? Ricky lied, but the things they pointed out were true. Every mistake you make is on display and that people make it a point to draw attention o it. That you really were in too deep, too deep into pleasing Sareen and Danny, and being a triple threat that you forgot that they were all there too. 

Eren, especially. Sweet, sweet Eren who saved you, who held you when you needed him. 

You look over at him and Lana, the two of them very aggressively debating how to use their last turn of their daily Wordle, and feel your heart deflate. 

You dropped the ball. You’ll never make it up to him. 

Lana, in her infinite kindness, has chosen to share her own story, as a corroboration for yours. That Ricky taunted, mocked, and harassed her the entire time they were dating. That you're anything but the things he says. Because she’s had enough and she’ll do it to help out her Tinky-Winky. (Much to Eren’s dismay, he hates that you’re both becoming closer as time goes on.) 

And to complement the announcement, Lana asked for one thing. To go out in style. You wrote a song with her and promised her that she was going to be the lead actress in the music video. A girl rage moment, like The Man. Danny and Sareen approve the move, making no comments or concerns about anything else that happened, and ask to be involved when the time comes. 

You sit on it for a few days. Till you’re ready. But where you are now - with these people - needs to stay for a little longer. Before you brace everything again. 

“Yo.” 

You smile, opening up space for Connie on the couch for you. 

“Hi Con.” 

“Deep in your thoughts there, princess. Thinking about how your album is about to go Multi-Platinum?” 

“No. Just the entire thing.” you respond, frowning. 

Connie rolls his eyes, reaching forward to squish your cheeks way too hard. 

“Ricky, when I catch you, Ricky-” Connie says under his breath, 

You snort, reaching forward to push Connie off. You focus back on Eren and Lana, who are now pulling each other's hair and a nice string of insults, as Mikasa and Levi brew their tea, entirely unbothered in the back. 

And when the screen in front of you flashes, when your third album goes Multi-Platinum after a week of being released, they’re all climbing on you. Jean and Mikasa are hollering in the back, Connie and Lana are jostling you in the air and pressing kisses to your cheek, and Eren, Levi, and Hange smile at you, the three of them enveloped in their own hug, across the way.

You split your separate ways at the end of the week, when you’re ready. Connie, Jean, and Mikasa return to set, Lana and Eren are gone with the wind, and Levi and Hange disappear again. 

When you sit on your plane back home, it sits in. How lonely this entire thing is. How a week full of your friends who love you only happened because of this sickening thing. That it's not a given, that they're presence is only in the bad times and almost never the good.

Your phone buzzes in your lap and you pick up your phone to read the notification. 

eren: don’t be a stranger. fish like to swim in schools, not alone. 

It’s something that rings in your mind, time and time again. When everyone else wins the war, when you keep performing and letting them take and take, for the sake of the work. For the art, for your dream.

And when you give up acting, singing, and dancing at the end of it all and make zero intentions to ever do any of this again, the question still bothers you.

If fish like to swim in schools, why did Eren push you so far away? Why was he so intent on swimming alone? Where you couldn't follow?

eren: I'm not saying that for you. and I know that this is selfish but...

eren: I need you just as much as you need me.

.

.

.

Fucking liar.

--

next part linked here

taglist:

@k0z3me @kayleegomez @yihona-san06 @bsenpai @sweetenertea @mykyoon @violetmatcha  @rebeccawinters @cutiejg @bokutosthings @bookwrmm @mblrrr @wheredidmycrowngo @somethinginyoureyes7 @chilichopsticks @okaystopwhore @you-always-made-me-blush @itzmeme @firelordazulaaaa @whoami-72 @g-ghostly @intimacywithceline @erensmoodygf @cocomellxn @princess-ackerman @jaegerfiles @cacapeepee @squirrelspoetry @rui-0836 @moonmalice @invisible-mori @sofiasber @bbybeeb @timetobegone @tee4str @ttokki2 @leave-rae-alone @ec3lipsy @officialsimpp @gojojang @yookayyo @lordbugs @multiplefandomthings @iobeyfandoms

[beamtori]

𝟓-𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

nonidol!jacob bae x afab!reader

you've heard plenty of things about certified campus crush jacob bae, but when you finally meet him, you decide to find out if the rumors are true.

6.0k words (ITS ONLY THIS LONG BC OF THE PLOT), strangers 2 lovers, tutor!jacob, mentions of physics (yuck), swearing (not from jacob 💀), SMUT (minors dni), penetrative sex, oral sex (f.receiving)/face riding (m.receiving), cum eating, fingering, kind of sweet..., kissing, this was kind of tame ngl, pet names (smart girl, angel, baby, beautiful), barely proofread i am up past my bedtime 🤣

a/n: there is hope for me yet o7 @winterchimez here's the thing 💀, @zzoguri @snowflakewhispers to the jacob stans...

“OH MY GOD, YN!”

Your friend Ronnie's voice drew you out of your bubble, and you ripped the earbud out from your ear without looking up from your laptop screen. “Yeah, babe.”

“Jacob Bae just walked in—” Her hushed squealing was paired by an insistent tapping on your arm from across the table inside the café.

You made a face, taking the other earbud out. “Who?”

Ronnie's face flattened into incredulity. “The guy I have literally been talking your ear off about for the past month.”

Jacob… Jacob Bae… ah, Jacob. The name echoed something familiar in your near-empty noggin. Sometimes names just didn't stick when you were busy with other things like the torque and force mechanics you were trying to nail for your physics midterm in two weeks. “Oh right.”

“Damn,” she swore, twisting over her shoulder toward the entrance. She turned back to face you with a pout. “He just left.”

“He didn't get anything?”

“No,” Ronnie sighed. She twirled her pen around between her fingers, then tapped the top edge of your laptop screen. That was what pulled your eyes away from it. “I feel like I haven't seen your eyes in the last ninety minutes, Yn.”

You huffed a laugh, scribbling a note on your scratch notepad about how you performed the last exercise incorrectly. Just like the last one. “We are here to study, Ron.”

Ronnie gave a small smile, but the edges were down turned. “Yeah, I know we said that, but it was kind of an excuse for me to get you out of your apartment.”

“I go out of my apartment,” you protested.

Her eyebrow lifted as she reached for her iced coffee. “Besides for food or class.”

You opened your mouth, then snapped it closed after giving it more than a moment's thought. “Listen,” you ended up with as a response.

Ronnie snorted. “See? I haven't hung out with you ever since your last physics midterm, Yn. It's normal to worry about your friends, you know?” She nudged you teasingly from across the table.

You finally set your pen down to massage the pulsing headache beginning to form between your eyes. You wrinkled your nose up. “I guess you're right.”

“I know I am,” she mused. “Hey, if physics is overwhelming you, then you should totally go check out their tutoring center. I'm sure they have one.”

Your shoulders immediately slumped. Just the thought of the physics student center sent a queasy churn to your stomach. It wasn't that the people there weren't nice, it was just the fact that you hadn't had the best track record with tutors. No matter how hard they tried, no matter what method was used, you could never seem to get it down. Most of the time, you just forced yourself to buckle down until some miracle got you to get the correct answer. (Awful learning strategy, but you would take luck over skill at this point. Your GPA needed the luck.)

“You're probably right,” was what you said to her anyway. You knew she was just trying to help.

Shaking the negative thoughts away, you lowered your laptop screen to swap your pen for your untouched beverage. “Tell me about this Jacob guy again. How do you know him?”

Ronnie's eyes lit up, and you found yourself slowly relaxing again. “I'm pretty sure he's everybody's campus crush or something. Every time I bring him up with my other girl friends, they also seem to know about him? Which is crazy.”

You nodded. “Yeah, this is a pretty big uni.”

“Right? But—” Ronnie groaned, slumping back in her seat. “He's so hot, Yn-ie. I swear to god, his smile makes my fucking panties melt.”

You nearly snorted your drink up and out of your nose, and your friend slapped a hand over her mouth when you realized she said that out loud. “Please,” you wheezed, swiping your thumb at the corner of your lips. “So he's that attractive? Is he a good guy though? Like does his physical traits overcompensate for a… uh, an awful personality or something?”

“That's the best part—”

Your eyes narrowed. “No way.”

“He's literally the nicest person on Planet Earth, I swear to god, Yn.”

“You've talked to him?”

She paused. “No…”

You sent her a pointed look. “Then you can't say that unless you've talked to him, Ronnie. That's just how it works.”

Ronnie pursed her lips, gesturing vaguely with her hands. “It's just something you have to trust me on! Everybody knows he's super cool and handsome and just a top notch, cream-of-the-crop—”

“Not me,” you pointed out with a laugh.

“That's because your head is where your calculator is.”

You gasped, pressing your beloved scientific calculator to your chest as if hiding it from your friend's words. “You take that back! She's been more loyal than any man, thank you very much.”

Ronnie rolled her eyes. “Okay, that's probably true, but Jacob's gotten five-star reviews from everybody!”

“On what account?” You scoffed.

“You just have to trust me,” Ronnie repeated, emphasizing her words with a cheeky smile.

Your face contorted into one that clearly gave away your disbelief. “Okay, sure.”

Despite your reluctance to go in the first place, you found yourself walking down the hallway of the physics department building toward the student center. There were usually TA office hours held here throughout the week, and a couple of the physics professors even came here to hold their own help sessions, but the hour you chose was none of those. Frankly, you had zero faith you were going to be able to learn this from someone else successfully; there was just something weird about how your brain worked.

Nonetheless, you were desperate.

The room was rather bustling when you arrived with nearly all of the group tables filled up with students helping each other work through the problems. Anxiety settled in your gut like a parasite, and you meandered toward the side of the room where there was an open single desk. Maybe if you just sat here and worked on your problems by yourself, you could technically still say you came to the student center like a coward.

With a sigh, you began pulling your materials out from your bag to get to work. Immediately, you realized that you had last stopped working on an awful problem you didn't even know how to start.

“Hi!”

You startled, head whipping upward fast enough to give you whiplash. Heat swarmed up to your neck and ears.

There was a guy standing in front of you with a boyish smile and wearing a deep purple Laker's hoodie. With a sweater paw, he gave a wave, repeating his greeting. “Hi, I'm sorry I snuck up on you. I was wondering if I could be of any assistance?”

The way his dark brown hair curled over his forehead and the way his molten brown eyes shone so warmly in the fluorescent lights was throwing you off your mark. And that was only when you weren't already stunned by the absolute beautiful smile adorning his—you snapped out of it.

A sheepish smile wormed its way onto your face, and you cupped the back of your neck. “Oh, that's okay, I tend to get kind of oblivious with my surroundings,” you laughed nervously. Why was the way he looked at you making you so clumsy with your words? “Uhm, I guess maybe? I've kind of been stuck on this torque problem for a while.”

You swallowed, spinning your laptop around to show him the practice problem on the screen. His eyes skimmed over the words, tongue jamming into the side of his cheek.

“Oh, I see,” he said kindly. “This problem is notoriously awful, but I have a trick for getting through these ones if you'd like.”

“Oh, really?” You couldn't help the hopeful tilt in pitch at the end of your question, and you watched him drag over a spare chair to sit adjacent to you.

He settled next to you, his knees knocking against yours, and you both blurted out apologies to each other. “Sorry,” he murmured. “May I?” He gestured to your writing utensil and notepad.

“Yeah, of course.”

He twirled the pen between his fingers. “Ooh, these ones are nice to write with. Super smooth.”

You nodded. “Yeah, for sure! They also last really long, too.”

There was an interesting gleam in his eyes as he peered over at you. “That's also true.” He shook his head, a sheepish chuckle falling from his mouth. “I'm sorry, I just realized I completely butted into your study session, and didn't even introduce myself.”

You couldn't help the small flutter in your chest. Oh, the bare minimum of chivalry, and yet, here you were feeling so woozy from it. “It's no worries,” you assured him, “I really would have just stared at this thing before giving up, so.”

He brushed a hand through his hair. “I totally get that. Physics isn't for the faint of heart, so you're already doing great by coming here for help in the first place. I'm Jacob, by the way.” He accompanied the latter with an outstretched hand toward yours.

You licked your lips, managing a small smile and clasping his hand in a shake. “Nice to meet you, Jacob—” That name sounded familiar, “—I’m Yn.”

But there were probably hundreds of Jacobs who went to this school. There was no way that the one time you happened to come to the student help center, the Jacob Bae that Ronnie gushed to you about just happened to be the guy to help you.

It was ridiculous.

“Yn,” he repeated, as if trying the way your name tasted on his tongue. “Nice to meet you, too,” he beamed. You realized how your heart stuttered every time he smiled.

His eye contact lingered, and then he cleared his throat. “Sorry, shall we?” He motioned to the problem, and you nodded eagerly.

“Yeah, let's do it,” you said. You subtly brought your hand up against your cheek and felt your skin. It definitely was hot to the touch; why did this guy have to be so attractive? If you weren't going to learn anything because of your weird learning quirk, you weren't going to learn jackshit because the man teaching you was just that distracting.

It turned out miracles did exist.

“You would not believe what happened to me this afternoon.”

You paced about the bedroom in your apartment with your phone on speaker and broadcasting Ronnie's voice. You had just gotten home from the physics student center, your heart rate still over the speed limit and your skin warm. There was a giddiness and adrenaline making your fingers twitch, and frankly, you couldn't sit down for this.

“Why? What happened?” Your friend asked in earnest.

You massaged your lips together. “Okay, you know the other day when you were telling me about that Jacob Bae guy?”

You could hear the excitement creeping into her voice. “Yes…”

“Do you know what his major is?”

“I'm pretty sure it's physics...”

You had to stop and slap your hands to your face. The sound was loud enough for Ronnie to hear on the other side, and she began barking out the standard “What happened? What happened? Tell me what happened!”

“Okay, so I went to the physics student center to try and get help, right?” When you heard Ronnie's hum of acknowledgment, you continued on, “And there's this one problem I've been stuck on for an illegal amount of time. And this guy comes up to me and asks if he can help me, and Ronnie—Ronnie, he was so—”

“Hot! Panty-meltingly attractive?”

You nearly bursted into laughter at how ridiculous all of this sounded. “He was just so cute. Like fine-cute. And he actually helped me, dude. You know my weird schtick about people teaching me—”

“Oh my gosh, for real? He was actually able to help you out?”

You flopped onto your bed, grinning at the ceiling in pure relief and accomplishment. “Yes! If he's the Jacob Bae you were talking about…” You sighed, shaking your head, “He gets my stamp of approval.”

Rather than coming back to your apartment defeated as you thought you would, you left with a newfound confidence in your abilities to understand physics, new tips and tricks from Jacob, and… you were probably going to frame the little “You did well today, Yn! Super lovely meeting you. x, Jacob” note he left for you in the corner of one of the notepad leaflets. It was his faith in you and unrelenting patience that got you through your practice problems today.

Maybe you weren't a lost cause after all? Crazy.

“I told you!” Ronnie exclaimed.

You drew an arm over your eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Gloat all you want.” You were still proud of yourself, and way too satisfied with how the day went.

“Well, hello hello,” Jacob chuckled as he sidled up by your desk with a white lollipop stick hanging out from his lips. His eyes were crinkled in amusement as he peered down at you with his hands shoved into his pockets, hair tucked beneath a black baseball cap.

“Hey,” you chirped. “How're you?”

He smiled around the sweet in his mouth, stepping over to drag a chair beside you as he always did. It had been about a week since you first met him, and you had yet to fail to come to the tutoring center once. “I'm great. How about you? Ready for the exam tomorrow?”

Your hand met your forehead, and your expression coaxed a chuckle from him. “I definitely feel more prepared than a week ago, but it's still nerve-racking. The horror stories I've heard, Cobie…”

Something appeared in your view. You blinked, surprised, when you realized Jacob was holding out a little lollipop in front of you bundled in a standard paper wrapper.

“Encouragement,” he said simply, giggling at your doe-eyed expression.

You broke out into a smile and accepted the lollipop from him, eagerly twisting the wrapper off to pop the treat into your mouth. “Thanks, man.”

“Yeah, no worries. I had extras and thought you might need the extra boost.”

“That's really sweet of you,” you said in earnest. “I haven't had a lollipop in forever.” Your lips pursed around the head as you took the strawberry flavored pop out of your mouth to look at the glistening surface in the tutoring center lights.

You licked your lips of the juices, not catching how his eyes darted to watch you do so.

He cleared his throat, shifting his lollipop from one cheek to the other. “So, what did you wanna go over today?”

It had been a little over a week since you first met Jacob and came under his tutelage. It seemed the chemistry-turned-physics major always happened to be free to cater to your needs every time you walked in for help. Everything Ronnie had told you that day in the café had been true—not only was Jacob an absolute stud, he was also a perfect angel. You couldn't believe such a divine human being even existed, let alone continued to find your company amusing enough to still tutor you one on one without payment.

(And you couldn't believe you were even able to focus around him. There were always gentle brushes of his hand against yours, lingering glances that made your neck heat, and the like. Your heart cartwheeled in your chest with more agility and frequency than your physical body could.)

By the time the physics midterm exam rolled around, you were feeling much more prepared for the material you would be tested on. The exam flew by in the blink of an eye, and before you knew it, you were breaking out of the examination hall and into the cool autumn evening. Your stomach growled as you wandered down the street toward the university district to find dinner.

Adrenaline still pumped through your veins from the exam, but your mood was substantially higher than it was after the first exam.

You stood outside one of the ramen shops in the district, head cocked to the side as you contemplated the menu plastered on one of the windows.

“Yn?”

You broke out from your food-searching daze, your lips pulling into a smile as you greeted Jacob coming down the sidewalk toward you. “Hey, Cobie. What's good?”

Jacob grinned as he sidled up beside you, one of his hands carding through his hair before sticking itself back into the pocket of his dark bomber jacket. “I'm just looking for dinner," he chuckled. “Did you just come from the exam?”

“I did,” you confirmed with a bob of your head.

“And? How'd it go?”

Your smile widened, and you ducked your head for a second. “I think it went pretty alright,” you admitted. “I don't wanna jinx myself though. But I think I do deserve a reward for making it through, don't you think?”

Jacob nodded. “Oh, for sure. You've been so good for m—I mean,” he coughed, amending his words, “You've worked really hard these past couple weeks and so it deserves a little celebration. Are you… are you here with anyone?”

“Definitely not,” you winced sheepishly, “since I just got out of the exam and all—I don't usually make plans right after tests.”

“I see; I get that.” He rubbed the back of his head, tongue ghosting over his bottom lip. “Well, I'm not really here with anyone either. Would you mind some company?”

You met his eyes and your heart did the little hop-n-skip it always did when you made eye contact with him. “Yeah, I'd love some company, actually. I'd love to repay you for all the help you've given me recently.”

He chuckled, swinging the door to the shop open for you. “Trust me, it was my pleasure, Yn.”

If there was one thing you knew for sure, Jacob was a gentleman through and through. If chivalry was dead, then Jacob Bae was dead—okay, maybe that was a little morbid to think about on your way home, especially when the man in question walked right beside you, hands tucked into his jacket pockets with a wistful little smile on his face.

Dinner had gone splendidly—except for the fact he had a feeling you would want to pay for his meal and subtly slipped the waiter his card before you could. The cherry on top was his offer to walk you home—only if you were comfortable—and though you knew that definitely wouldn't even on the ledger, you accepted his offer. More time with him? Yes, please.

“This is my building here,” you murmured, worrying your bottom lip between your teeth as reluctance for this evening to end worked its way up your throat. You inclined your chin to the apartment complex coming up just a few hundred feet ahead.

“Ah,” he said under his breath.

The two of you stopped in front of the entrance to the lobby, facing one another. “Thanks for dinner,” you said for what seemed like the fifth night.

He beamed. “Anytime, Yn. I loved hanging out with you.”

If you wore a heart rate monitor, it probably would have been screaming at you right about now. “Uhm… would you… like to continue hanging out with me? I mean, like, coming up?” You nudged your thumb behind you in the direction of the doors. Was that too forward of you?

His eyes widened a smidge, and his smile softened at the corners. “I'd love to.”

A giddy sort of feeling bubbled up in your chest as you and he shared wide grins, and you led him up to your apartment. Your hands shook slightly as you arrived at your door, your keys jingling against one another as you sorted through them for the right one.

“I wasn't expecting company, so I hope you don't mind the mess,” you laughed nervously, fingers pinching the right key to insert into the lock.

He gave a kind smile. “Oh, it's no worries at all. Actually, can I—I should probably say something before we go in.”

Your movements stopped short and you turned to face him, wide-eyed. “Uh oh,” you mused half-heartedly, “this is the moment you tell me you're a serial killer.” Please don't be a serial killer…

That coaxed a bright laugh from his mouth, and your heart melted a little bit. He shook his head, “No, no. Nothing of that sort, I swear! I just…” His lips pressed into a smile again and he confessed, “I'm attracted to you, Yn. Ah, there it is; I said it.”

He released a nervous giggle, cupping the back of his neck.

Starstruck, you lost the key in your hand. “Me?” You stammered. Were your ears deceiving you? “Like… in a not-just-friends way?”

Jacob nodded. “Yeah, in a not-just-friends way.” Then quickly added, “I mean, if that makes you uncomfortable, I can totally leave. We can be just friends, too, if you're okay with that. I just think you're gorgeous, and smart, and—”

“Can I kiss you?” You blurted.

“Please do—I need to shut up.”

And you gladly shut him up.

You stepped forward and closed the gap between you, his hands coming up to cup your face as your lips met. He tasted like spearmint from the gum he offered right after tonight's meal—always thinking of everything, this one. His mouth was soft against yours, something tender and gentle, giving you enough space to pull away if you wished.

But you didn't. Good lord, you wanted more.

Your eyes fluttered open just as he did, his nose bumping against yours.

“Inside?” He murmured.

You nodded. “Yeah, inside.”

You fumbled with the keys into your apartment, hand blindly flipping the light switch on as Jacob found your lips again, hands grappling onto your waist. His foot kicked the front door shut behind you both as shoes came off.

Your back met the wall just as you slid a hand into his curls. The sound of keys hitting the floor echoed in your ears, but your other senses were far too overwhelmed with Jacob right now—the smell of the cologne clinging to his clothes, the soft earnestness of his mouth against yours, his hard body pressed up—

“So sweet,” he groaned, squeezing your sides. “Could eat you up.”

You whimpered at his words, his mouth breaking away from yours so you could both shove your jackets off your shoulders. “You shouldn't say things like that,” you breathed, pressing your hands against his chest.

The corners of his lips curled upward. “Actually,” he drawled, dropping his mouth near your ear, “that's not a bad idea.”

Your knees nearly buckled. “Huh?”

Your mind went fuzzy as he attached his lips to the side of your neck, suckling sweetly against your pulse, your skin, your collarbone.

“You're a smart girl,” he chuckled warmly, the vibrations sending something just as warm to your panties. “You can figure it out.”

He smiled against your throat, feeling your pulse skip. “There you go,” he purred.

You knocked your head back against the wall at the thought of what he was insinuating—planning—to do to you. When you turned your gaze down, you nearly whimpered again at the sight of him sinking down to his knees before you with a wicked grin on his face.

Forget angelic—this man could be the Devil if he so wished.

“I have a bedroom, you know,” you attempted to joke, but you were also dead serious. Was he seriously about to…?

His hands—large, warm, veiny, and studded with rings—smoothed over the fabric of your skirt, not daring to venture under until you gave him the go-ahead. “We'll get to that,” he promised. “May I?”

You wrestled down a swallow, blood hammering in your ears. “Yeah,” you croaked.

Jacob licked his lips, then pressed a featherweight kiss to the side of your knee. He glanced up at you in silent question. Was that okay?

You nodded in approval, moving your hands into his hair and to cup the back of his head.

He continued on, kissing his way up your inner thighs, until his head dipped beneath the hem of your skirt and you could feel his hot breath fan over your clothed cunt.

Your breath hitched when you felt him blow cool air at the wet spot that collected at the bottom of your underwear.

Jacob's warm laugh met your ears. “You're so cute,” he murmured. His nose nudged you through the damp fabric, and he marveled, “You're so wet for me—can’t wait to taste you.”

Your fingers tightened in his hair. “Please, Cobie.”

“Almost there, angel. You've been so good for me.”

A whine fell from your lips at that, and you slapped a palm against your mouth. God, you sounded so desperate, and maybe you were.

He slowly tugged your underwear down, and you stepped out of them. With the barrier out of the way, Jacob went right to work, licking a broad stripe up your slit and sending you careening against his face.

“Shit,” you swore, one hand grappling onto his shoulder.

Jacob held you upright with one of his arms looped under your thigh to anchor you into place. His nose bumped against your clit as he wormed his tongue through your folds.

You grounded your hips against his tongue, his mouth, his face, begging for more.

His lips latched onto your puffed up clit next, and your head knocked back against the wall again. “Jacob, please—”

He teased your opening with one of his fingers, then dipped it into your weeping cunt. The metal ring was cool against your pussy lips, the sting delicious, as he thrusted his fingers in and out of you as his mouth sucked on your clit mercilessly.

“Jacob, right there—please, please, please—” You tugged the strands of his hair and he groaned into your pussy, the vibrations going straight to your sensitive nub. You rocked your hips against him, desperately chasing after your own high.

You felt a second finger enter you, and the two digits curled and jammed against the soft, gummy spot inside you.

He licked your clit, replacing his tongue with his thumb for a second. “Close, angel?”

“Mhm,” you bit your lip. “Please, I'm so close.”

You moaned as he reattached his lips to your clit, vigorously suckling it until it was bruised, his fingers ramming up into you in tandem. His arm tightened around you as you cried out, your fingers clawing into the meat of his shoulder—your knees buckled, your vision went white for a split second, and fire erupted in your belly as you went over the edge.

Jacob's tongue lapped up all of the slick that had collected, and you sucked in a breath when his tongue dove through your folds and made you clench around the appendage.

When his head came out from under your skirt, his hair was a ruffled mess (thanks to you), and his face gleamed in your arousal and his sweat. He met your eyes, sticking his two fingers in his mouth to clean them.

You nearly went over again at the sight. “Fucking hell,” you exhaled, curling an arm around him as he clambered up to his feet.

Jacob smiled, swooping in to kiss you again so you could taste yourself on him. His hands smoothed down the sides of your body before coming down to cup the backs of your thighs. “You feeling okay?” He murmured into you, coaxing you to wrap your legs around his waist, thumb grazing the skin on your leg.

“Mmh,” you hummed against him, breath hitching when your bare pussy brushed against the rough hardness in his jeans. “Definitely better than okay. What about you?”

“Same here.” He cradled your head with one hand, and held you up with his other. “Do you want more?” He asked you breathlessly, pulling away.

His hand smoothed over the top of your head fondly. You nodded. He seemed to always be wanting to give. “Only if you want more.”

“Yeah, baby. Where's your bedroom?”

He had scooped you up and laid you out over your bed sheets like his own personal feast—and to be so very honest, you wouldn't mind being his meal every single day.

“This is cute,” he said cheekily with his knee pressed into the mattress as he climbed over you onto the bed.

You cupped the side of his face to draw him down to you. “You didn't even look at the room,” you mused into his mouth.

He hummed deeply, maneuvering your head back to deepen the kiss. He pressed his tongue into your mouth, the rough surface massaging against your own and making you forget your own name. “Anything you—” he said at last, “—I find unabashedly cute.”

“Unabashedly, you say?” You teased.

Jacob broke away only to tear his shirt over his head and to give you space to do the same. You pulled your shirt over your head and swiftly undid the clasp of your bra, your eyes fixing on the carved muscle flexing on his stomach as he settled back over you.

His tongue darted out of his lips. “Like what you see?”

You couldn't deny it; who were you trying to fool anyways? “I do.”

Maybe he was surprised by your forwardness. A bit of pink brushed his cheekbones and he leaned over you to press a kiss to your lips. “I can say the same about you, beautiful.”

He trailed one of his knuckles down the valley between your breasts, your chest rising and falling with your every breath. Goosebumps rose upon your flesh as he went, and you were itching to feel his mouth on your skin again.

“Can I touch you some more?” He murmured, eyes darting up to yours.

You nodded earnestly.

Jacob bracketed his arms next to your body and lowered his mouth over one of your nipples. Your fingers found his hair again with a gasp, arching yourself into his mouth and relishing the feeling of his skilled tongue swirling around your perked nub. His other hand gently massaged your other breast, squeezing the mound affectionately.

You covered his hand with yours, urging him to fondle you harder, rougher. The way his skin felt against yours was heavenly.

You sighed his name, wrapping one of your legs around his waist to grind your pelvis against his hardness.

He groaned around you, “Ugh, Yn.” He popped his mouth off your breast, lips trailing down to your belly, all while he grinded into you to chase some form of relief.

“Jacob, please,” you rasped, urging him with a harsh thrust. “Wanna feel you.”

You were tugging your skirt down your legs next, accompanied to the sound of his belt buckle clinking and the denim falling to the floor beside your bed. His erection tented his boxers, and his face looked flushed, but he dug around in his wallet for a spare condom before coming back to you.

When he yanked his boxers down, his heavy cock sprung up and slapped against his stomach. You pushed yourself up onto your elbows to watch him tear the condom packet open with his teeth before sliding the rubber over his throbbing cock.

He groaned softly under his breath, a muscle in his jaw feathering as he wrapped his fist around the head and squeezed himself lightly.

“You're really hot,” you said then, catching him off guard and making him grin boyishly.

He laughed, leaning down to find your lips in a sweet kiss. “Yeah?” He murmured. “You walked into the tutoring center and I knew I was gone, I thought you were so pretty.”

Your chuckle was muffled against him. “Trying to one-up me, Jacob?” Your mirth sobered slightly as he rubbed the tip of his cock between your slickened folds.

Jacob nipped at your bottom lip. “You’ve always been a fast learner.”

As he pushed himself into you, stretching you out inch by inch, you melted into him, fingers digging into his shoulders and his face burying itself into the hollow of your neck.

Your stomach rose and fell with your quick breaths. “Holy shit,” you moaned, mouth falling open as you clung onto him. You could feel him filling you up, the condom doing nearly nothing to hide the ridges of the veins along his shaft. They rubbed against your walls, and you clenched desperately around him.

Jacob moaned loudly, his hips twitching against yours. “Baby, please," he choked out. “You're so—god, you're so tight.”

“You can move now,” you told him softly, cupping the back of his head.

You felt him nod, and with a groan, he pulled his hips back and pushed them into you again. The first thrust was delicious, the second and all the rest were sublime. With every drag of his cock against your walls, you could feel your stomach clench, the pressure building inside you.

His hips slammed against yours desperately, the bed rocking with your movements beneath you and knocking against the wall—thunk, think, thunk—a steady rhythm. He seemed to be consistent in everything he did.

Jacob pressed his body weight against yours as he moved against you. The room filled with the sounds of both of your bliss, and the lewd squelching noises every time he fucked himseld in you. You could feel the wetness and sweat dribbled to your thighs and your ass; barely comprehending just how messy this would be.

“You feel so good, angel,” he groaned, reaching down between your bodies to flick his thumb over your clit.

You yelped, the sensation nearly tipping you over. “Jacob, oh my god—”

“So good for me,” he murmured, sweat dripping down the curve of his sculpted nose. “Gonna come again for me? Nice and pretty as always?”

Your head nodded vigorously, your hips rising to meet his, pelvic bones smashing against each other, his balls slapping against your ass. “Shit, I'm so close!”

You could feel yourself being cranked and wound up like a jack in the box—the precipice was in sight and just in your reach.

Jacob's thrusts grew sloppy, but rougher as he reached his own high. He grunted against your skin, and you both came at once, his hips stilling inside you as you clenched down hard around him.

“Jacob,” you cried out for what seemed like the thousandth time tonight, while his own voice hoarsely grunted your name by your ear.

For a moment, you let your breathing and heart rate steady. You gently brushed your hand against the back of his head as his arms wrapped around your body and he littered your skin with kisses.

“How was that, angel?” He murmured to you, voice husky. He raised his head up to meet your lips with his.

You kissed him back. “It was really good.”

Jacob gave a warm chuckle, eyes crinkling with a smile. “Yeah?”

“Five stars,” you joked.

That drew a slightly louder laugh out of him, and he carefully pulled his softened cock out of you. Swiftly tying the condom off, you directed him to the waste bin beneath your desk.

Jacob settled onto the edge of bed next to you and one of his hands cupped the side of your face, his thumb trailing over your cheekbone. “I meant it—you’re really, really gorgeous. And I know this kind of moved fast, but I'd really like to see where this goes.”

You bit your lip around a smile and met the twinkle in his eye. “I feel the same way.”

You slowly sat up and draped yourself around him, one of his hands holding your forearm to return the gesture. “How's a bath sound?” You asked. You wanted to do something for him now.

He grinned, pressing a kiss to the side of your head. “I would love that.”

a/n: abrupt endings are my weakness 💀 someone remind me how to write a conclusion

tbz m.list

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Bisexual. Bisexual. Bisexual. Bisexual!

It was the only word that was now bouncing around in Eddie Munson's brain. Steve had come out several minutes ago along with Robin, and they had long since moved on to playing Rocky Horror Picture show. The characters danced around in front of him, along with the word bouncing around in his head, in time with the music. Steve was saying how hot Tim Curry was, and suddenly Eddie imagined putting on the outfit himself. He imagined Steve saying that about him as he ran his hand up his thigh. Eddie shrieked.

"Pause! I have to make a phone call!" Eddie exclaimed, jumping up.

It was like all the lights in his head turned on, and there was this little man standing standing next to a projector as he showed Eddie all of the things that he had suppressed.

"Are you okay, Eddie?" Steve asked.

"Yeah, can I use your phone?" Eddie exclaimed.

"Sure, man," Steve said.

Eddie rushed into the kitchen and grabbed the phone. He dialed the familiar number pretty quickly and waited impatiently as the phone rang. A few rings later, and Ronnie answered the phone.

"Hey, Ronnie," Eddie said.

"What did you do now? Your voice sounds pretty high," Ronnie said.

"Nothing, Jesus," Eddie said rolling his eyes.

"You haven't been accused of murder again, have you?" Ronnie asked.

"No!" Eddie exclaimed.

"Yeah, you still haven't told me exactly what happened," Ronnie said.

"And I'm still not going to," Eddie sighed. "This isn't why I called. Do you know David Bowie?"

"Do I know him personally? No," Ronnie said. "Do I know of him? Yes."

"Ugh, you sarcastic shit. I think I'm like Bowie," Eddie said and groaned. "Ugh, I had that word in my head, but I think it fell out. . . Bisexual! Yes, that."

"Oh. Wow," Ronnie said and paused. "Would it annoy you to know that I kind of already figured that out a long time ago?"

"What? How?!" He asked.

"Oh, you were obvious even if you didn't know that you were being obvious," she said.

"Well, you could have given me a heads up, Ronnie," Eddie said.

"Oh, yeah, no. This was something that you needed to figure out for yourself," she said, and she paused. "Thanks for telling me."

"You're my best friend, Ronnie. You should be the first one to know about anything big like that," Eddie said. "Which apparently you already knew about."

"And yet, I still don't know what happened over spring break," she said. "Which is fine. By the way, even if I didn't know before I left, I would have known immediately when you made the call from the hospital and ranted about Steve Harrington's strong arms."

"Jesus, don't remind me," Eddie blushed. "I was high on pain meds."

"By the way, when I called before, it was Steve who answered. I like him. I approve of you and him raising that orphaned child together," Ronnie said. "He wouldn't shut up about you or what you're like with that kid. Jesus, why didn't you tell me you adopted a child with a man?"

"His name is Dustin, and he has a mom," Eddie rolled his eyes.

"I definitely like him better than Paige," Ronnie said.

"Would you give it a rest about Paige?" Eddie rolled his eyes.

"I still don't think she ever had a deal in place to begin with. You would have gone to LA, and there would have been no audition," Ronnie said.

"I'm hanging up now," Eddie sighed, the corners of his mouth lifted up.

"Good luck," Ronnie said, and Eddie hung up the phone.

Eddie walked into back into the living room where Steve and Robin were whispering amongst themselves.

"Everything alright?" Steve asked as Eddie sat back on the couch.

"Yeah, apparently I'm bisexual and I've always been like that. I just didn't know it," Eddie shrugged.

"What? Are you telling me you just had a crisis? Did you just go double-check?" Steve asked.

"Yeah, a little crisis, but I'm good now," Eddie said. "I called Ronnie."

"Ronnie?" Robin asked.

"Eddie's Robin," Steve explained.

"You have a Robin?" She asked.

"No, a Ronnie," Eddie corrected, and she rolled her eyes.

"So, you realized it just a few minutes ago?" Steve asked as he leaned over Robin.

"Yeah, after you guys came out, then when Tim Curry came on and then again when you called him hot. All I kept thinking about was how I wished you were calling me hot," Eddie rolled his eyes.

"Time for us to switch places," Robin grinned.

Steve and Robin swapped, so now Steve was sitting close to Eddie. He put his arm on the couch behind Eddie.

"Eddie," Steve said softly, and Eddie turned to face him. "You are very hot. Hotter than Tim Curry. You would look absolutely sinful in that outfit."

He leaned forward and kissed Eddie gently. Eddie kissed him back before Steve broke the kiss. He leaned back against the couch and pulled Eddie against his side, wrapping his arm around his shoulders.

"If Vickie wasn't working tonight, then this could be a double date," Robin said.

"Next time," Eddie grinned.

"Welcome to the club, Eddie," Robin said.

"Thanks," Eddie said softly.

Eddie relaxed into Steve’s arms, turning sideways and burrowing his head into Steve’s neck while throwing his arm across his stomach. The puzzle that was his life felt a little more complete now.

[hp-hcs]

(Fine, I’ll do it my damn self: part 3 of my silly lil mlm stories <3)

Slytherin Twin — draco malfoy x male! slytherin! weasley! reader x harry potter

tws: umbridge’s blood quill, maybe like a pinch of homophobia?

i need more representation of slytherins who enjoy care of magical creatures goddamnit

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Ronald Weasley.”

“GRYFFINDOR!”

“Y/N Weasley.”

Oh, no. Minerva McGonagall does not get paid enough to deal with another set of Weasley twins.

“SLYTHERIN!”

Maybe I should retire, Minerva thinks faintly.

You don’t seem to mind at all that the Great Hall is dead silent as you skip towards the Slytherin table, your brothers watching in a mix of shock, fascination, resignation, and abject horror.

You plop down right next to Draco Malfoy, grinning widely at him before waving cheerily towards some of the older students who are struggling to hold back their unabashed glee.

“A Weasley in Slytherin? I thought your entire family was made up of idioticly naïve fools,” Malfoy sneers sharply, a look of contempt rising on his smug face.

“Draco Malfoy in Slytherin? How much did your family have to pay to ensure you got in?” you reply with a sweet smile on your face. The older students stare in awe at the Weasley who just left a Malfoy speechless.

Much to their surprise, however, Draco’s face broke out into a grin. “So you do belong here. Very well then, Weasley. Lovely to make your acquaintance.”

“Likewise, Malfoy.”

~~~

“‘The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir beware.’ What does that even mean?”

“D’you still think it’s about Potter?” you ask around a mouthful of toast. “Cause I think you might’ve been wrong ‘bout him, Dray.”

“Potter is a spoiled prat, Y/N. Just because he’s the Chosen One, he thinks he’s so special-”

“My brothers broke him out of his uncle’s house over the summer. They’d put bars on his window and starved him.”

Draco stops his tirade about Potter, looking positively bewildered. “What?”

~~~

As you were leaving the library, you bumped into Hermione Granger, your brother’s girlfriend friend.

“Sorry,” you mutter, continuing on your way. You don’t look back, so you never see the dawning look of realization once Granger unfolds the torn-out page you’d shoved into her hand.

~~~

Harry Potter opens the Gryffindor portrait at your hesitant knocking. “Oh- Y/N, right? Ron’s brother?”

You nod uncertainly. “Yeah, um… I just wanted to say that I’m real sorry about Buckbeak. Malfoy’s a git, you know.”

Harry nods slowly. “Yeah. Isn’t he like, your best friend though?”

“Like you’ve never thought of Ronnie as a git too, Potter.”

He grins and holds the portrait open for you. “Here- welcome to the common room, I guess.”

You look around, unimpressed. “My eyes are bleeding.”

Smoothing out your Slytherin sweater, you continue, “Like, this is almost as bad as Ron’s Chudley Cannons shrine-bedroom.”

A unfamiliar scowling face looks up from the couch, glaring daggers at you. “Oi, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be fawning over your Slytherin prince?”

“Hey, leave him alone, Finnegan!” Ron snaps, appearing at the bottom of the stairwell to his dorm. “I swear to Merlin, you are such a prat.”

Ignoring your brother, you raise your hands up in mock surrender, smiling patronizingly at Seamus. “Hey, no hard feelings, leprechaun. I’m just here to apologize on Dray’s behalf.”

“On Dray’s behalf,” Cormac McLaggen mocks in a high-pitched voice. “Oh, Dray!”

A few girls next to him titter with laughter.

“Malfoy your boyfriend or something, Weasley?” McLaggen spits your name like it were a curse.

“Oh, indeed,” you deadpan. “You’re invited to the wedding. Won’t you be my best man, please?”

“If you’re just here to make fun of us, maybe you ought’a leave,” Seamus butts in again.

“Whatever. Anyways, Potter, I found a couple of books in the library about the Ministry’s statutes, and I bookmarked a few pages about the fascinating Release of Liability contracts that Hogwarts students’ guardians have to sign at the beginning of every school year,” you look down at your nails, feigning disinterest. “But if you’re not interested, then I’ll be off. Wouldn’t want to overstay my welcome.”

~~~

“Y/N, here,” Pansy Parkinson said with a look of poorly-contained glee, gently setting a pure white ferret into your hands. “It’s Draco’s, and you’re in charge of ferret-sitting for the foreseeable future. Have fun!”

Blaise just slowly shakes his head and mouths I’m so sorry in your direction as Pansy drags him off, laughing mirthfully. You blink, glancing down at the tiny animal who is currently glaring at you. Draco’s indeed, you think to yourself.

“Heya, little guy. It’s snowing pretty hard outside, are you fine riding in my pocket until I get to my next class?”

You hold open the deep pocket of your robe with your free hand, the ferret immediately leaping inside. You waited as it got settled, its tiny paws and head peeking out.

Satisfied, you start your walk across the school grounds, taking a much longer path than usual to avoid your older brothers, who had been giggling to each other far too much this morning for your comfort.

You chatter to the little rodent in your pocket, about everything from the Divination test you failed this morning to the fantastic cherry tart your mother makes every Yule. Before long, you arrive and climb up the stone steps, knocking on the heavy wood door and tucking your hands into your armpits to keep warm.

The door opens, revealing the half-giant groundskeeper who smiles happily at you.

“Y/N! I jus’ put on a kettle of tea, now. Glad y’made it, lad.”

As he ushers you into the warm, inviting hut, the ferret in your pocket squeaks at the sight of the large dog asleep by the fire.

You giggle, pulling the ferret out and setting it on the arm of your chair, gladly taking the warm teacup offered to you. “Mr. Hagrid, sir. My friend Pansy just kind of gave me this little guy out of nowhere and told me I was on indefinite ferret-sitting duty.”

Hagrid sits forward in his chair, setting down his delicate china teacup that looks rather out of place in his large hand, and squints at the ferret.

“Tha’s transfigured, that is,” Hagrid grunts. “Not a ferret.”

“I figured,” you shrug. “Ten galleons says it’s Malfoy.”

The ferret squeaks indignantly.

Hagrid chuckles. “If it is y’, Malfoy, I right like you better like this.”

You reach out to scratch the top of Malfoy (Ferret?) Blondie’s head. “So can you turn him back, Mr. Hagrid?”

“‘Fraid not, with no wand,” he taps his fingers on his teacup, making a steady clink clink clink sound. “Ah! But our mutual friend should be dropping by shortly, yeah?”

His sentence is punctuated by the well-timed FWOOSH of a flooed-in visitor.

“Heya, Harry! Draco’s a ferret now.”

“He wasn’t already?”

~~~

“My father will hear about this!”

“I’m sure he will, Dray, I’m sure he will,” you deadpan, wincing at the sting of Murtlap Essence on the back of your hand.

He mumbles a quiet apology, already rewrapping Harry’s hand in fresh bandages.

If you had told any Hogwarts student five years ago that one day, Harry Potter and Y/N Weasley would be sitting on the dusty floor of Filch’s dingy custodial closet, having their self-inflicted ‘detentions’ healed and wrapped by Draco Malfoy, they would’ve laughed in your face.

Despite that, the perplexing triad found solace in each others’ presence. No words left needing to be said.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile the world goes on. — Mary Oliver, “Wild Geese”

[hellfiretropical]

This entire excerpt is taken from The Flight of Icarus.

Happy #Hellcheerday, Freaks!

Chrissy Cunningham. The name comes to me in a rush, now that there’s a spark of something beyond cowed compliance in her face. Chrissy Cunningham. She’s just a sophomore, but everyone with a working brain cell knows she’s the rising queen of Hawkins High. I’m used to seeing her as just some cutout of a cheerleader, all perfect teeth, perfect hair, perfect everything. It’s such a fundamentally uninteresting package that my brain just kind of skips over her, yawning at her existence. But there’s another Chrissy Cunningham. I just hadn’t thought she’d survived the jump to high school. I hadn’t thought she’d even existed outside the boundaries of the Hawkins Middle auditorium.

I’d almost shrieked in surprise. I’d been so focused on the brief glimpses I could catch of the audience that I hadn’t even noticed someone coming up behind me. And now there was this girl perched there, her spindly arms wrapped around her spindly legs and her huge eyes shadowed by the murky catwalk lighting.

“Are you looking for someone?” she’d whispered. Below, five seventh graders clattered clumsily through a baton-twirling routine. I hadn’t been quite sure what to do. By all accounts, this was not the type of girl who should be talking to me. She wasn’t Ronnie Ecker, not wearing hand-me-down overalls and a battered cap. This girl was polished. Her hair was blond. It curled. She looked like she’d skipped off the cover of some Nancy Drew novel. But after an excruciating silence, it became clear that this girl hadn’t made some hideous mistake talking to me, or at least not one she’d figured out yet.

So I cleared my throat and whispered, “My dad.” “Where is he?” she’d asked, leaning around me like she’d somehow be able to pick Al Munson out of a sea of equally unfamiliar adults. I’d just shrugged. Because I’d been up on this catwalk for almost an hour now, and the closest thing I’d found to Dad had been my uncle Wayne, planted way on the left side of the auditorium, watching every act with the same stoic expression on his bearded face. “He didn’t come?” I’d expected pity in the girl’s eyes, and was surprised when I found hungry jealousy instead. “He’s just running late,” I’d said, and it had sounded hollow even to me. But she’d just nodded like she’d believed me. “I came up here to look for my mom.” “Is she running late too?” She’d wrinkled her nose. “I wish. She’s right there.” I followed the direction of her finger, and instantly locked in on the immaculate, poised woman seated front-row-center. “I’m sorry,” I said, and that made the girl smile. “Me too,” she’d whispered, like it was a secret, like it was something she’d never told anyone ever before.

One of the girls on the stage below dropped her baton for the fiftieth time, and I realized the act was drawing to a close. I’d shoved up onto my knees, flinching at the dig of the catwalk grill into my skin. “My band’s up next,” I’d said. “Uh.” “Break a leg,” she’d told me, filling in the blank. “And—” “Eddie.” “Eddie. If your dad gets held up, I’ll cheer for you.” She’d flailed her arms, and I’d noticed her pom-poms for the first time.

(and it was here that he remembered)

“Right back atcha.” I’d winced as soon as it had come out of my mouth. But the embarrassment had almost been worth it for the grin it had gotten out of her.

Later, when the last chords of “Exciter” had thumped unwillingly into the offended ears of Hawkins’s parents and we’d all straggled through the final curtain call, I’d spotted the girl in the lobby, with her mom on one side and a blank-faced, suited man (her dad?) on the other. The mom had been in the middle of some lecture I couldn’t hear, but from her gestures I’d been pretty sure she’d been detailing where in the girl’s routine she’d screwed up. I’d met the girl’s eyes through the crowd, just long enough to mouth I’m sorry, one more time. I’d caught the edge of the girl’s answering smile before her mom, noticing the girl’s split attention, had grabbed her by the shoulder and yanked her toward the door.

I’d thought the last four years had stamped out any trace of the unsettled, imperfect, approachable Chrissy Cunningham. But maybe I was wrong.

[hongjoongscafe]

You have you...

Drabble

Pairing: jungkookxreader(y/n)

Genre: angst, fluff, hurt/comfort, strangers to lovers, non-idol au

Summary: when your life collapsed but found the right person at the same time.

Word count: 5.1k+

Warnings: cheating, name-calling, insults, bad texts, mentions of grinding.

Note: lemme know if you wanna be added to the permanent or specific taglist!

Masterpost

The night was a vague reflection of how you felt from the inside. The thunderstorm was taking down the whole city of Seoul. The water was pooling to the ankles and the high flash flood alert messages were stacking up in the notification centre.

But this thunder still could not match the one inside your chest.

Seeing the person you called the love of your life turning back towards you and walking into some other woman’s arms behind your back was enough for your poor heart to crumble down into ashes. The ache was too high to feel anything else.

“Baby, I will never leave you.” “I promise, you are the only one I'll ever love.” “Love, I wanna have a family with you.” “You are the prettiest.” “I am just going with the boys, I will be back before you even know.” “I'm sorry, baby. The boys kept me there. I tried to tell them that I want to be with you but you know how they act, right?” “Baby, you don't understand! I didn't mean to yell at you!” “Love, it's nothing, you are just being delusional. You know I won't do anything to hurt, right?” “I love you forever, baby.”

You scoffed. Fucking lier. There were so many moments when you felt his disloyalty towards you. But you gave him the benefit of the doubt and let him be. Ronny had his way with words. He used them for his benefit. The way he manipulated made you want to rip his head off.

If it wasn't for your colleague who saw him in the car with someone else, eating each other’s face, a couple of days ago, you would have still believed his empty words.

When he came back that night, you checked his phone for the first time as he passed out on the couch. You knew he wouldn't wake up until the next afternoon.

As much as you regretted reading those texts, one part of you needed disclosure. You sat there on the cold tiled floor, tears running down your cheeks, feeling like a loser.

-Y/n is just so fucking dumb, man. I've never been with someone as dumb as her but I guess good for me🤷🏻‍♂️.

-Hey, sexy💋 Last night was so fucking good. You were so wet for me, you little slut😏.

-Dev just asked me to fuck her. If y/n calls, tell her that I'm busy working.

-You up?

-Ronny? I need your big cock in me, plz. Meet me in the Motel…😉

-Y/n looks so fucking ugly, man. I feel so embarrassed next to her. I can feel the vomit in my throat whenever she talks. It's so fucking bitter to tell her that I love her🤢.

-Man, I get so irritated when y/n talks. I can feel myself hating her more and cheat even more just to see how fucking dumb she is.

His last text was what made you get up at this hour of the night and go to the striper club.

-She will be busy with her pathetic painting on Friday. We should meet at the bottom up. When I think about you, I can still feel my cock getting hard thinking about last time😮‍💨. [Allie- sent]

A laugh bubbled out of your throat as you read it. Him and your best friend. Who would have known?

Turns out, everyone knew other than you.

Everyone wanted some drama and they got it. The great Ronny garnished it on a plate and severed it to everyone. Even to those who you thought were your genuine friends.

Now here you were, sitting on a bench in front of a random complex, drowning in your sorrows. When you went inside that club, you caught them wrapped around each other. His one hand was groping her ass and the other was rubbing her pussy through her skimpy shorts.

Your heart was gone. There was no way your tears could stop. When confronted, they laughed and called you names. People around looked at you disgustingly for ruining the perfect mood they were in.

“Get out you bitch. No one needs you here!”

“Damn, you thought I would actually love you? So fucking delusional.”

“How can you be so dumb? You couldn't even see that we both were involved.”

“She just wants me to fuck her pathetic pussy because no one else wants that thing.”

It was difficult to handle. You just let yourself cry loudly like a pathetic person that they said. They weren't wrong. No one else ever wanted you. You were bold enough to think that Ronny truly wanted you even after seeing many red flags. But nothing could win in front of a good manipulation.

“You look like you need a hug,” a sweet voice pulled you out of your head. You looked up at him and noticed there was a charming man standing in a raincoat and an umbrella above your head.

His big doe eyes looked concerned, and his thin and pink lips were frowning. “There is a flash flood warning, you know that, right? You shouldn't be here. Do you want me to call your friends or family?”

Hearing friends and family, your eyes filled with fresh tears and started crying in front of a handsome stranger. You hid your hand behind your hands and wailed.

Six years. It was six years' worth of pain hurling out. It was hurting you as if someone had stabbed you over and over again slowly, making you feel every single inch of it. It was like someone was reopening the fresh wounds with their bare fingers that you just treated.

“I'm Jungkook,” the man said as he sat down, holding the umbrella over you. “You are soaking and it is winter.”

Jungkook was in his apartment, playing his guitar, and composing some new music. He was waddling around and looked out of his window when he saw a girl sitting in the rain, hunched over. He kept looking at her and started to worry when she did not move.

He quickly wore a jacket and raincoat and carried an umbrella for the girl.

As he got closer, he heard her cry loudly all alone in this ungodly rain. He was worried about her. The level of water was rising pretty fast. When she looked up at him, his breath hitched. She was prettier than anyone he has ever seen. So soft and innocent.

He pouted when she didn't say anything but stayed there, still holding the umbrella. He heard her cry for a good twenty minutes before she calmed down and only soft sniffles could be heard.

“I'm Y/n,” you said in your broken voice, throat sore from crying so loudly. “Can you please book an Uber?”

“Y/n, no Uber will pick you up now,” Jungkook said.

You looked at him, another set of tears ready to roll down. “Why?” Your lower lip wobbled.

“Look around, the water is reaching our ass and we are sitting on a bench,” he said.

Only then you realized how bad the rain was and he was not wrong. The water level was rising. “What am I supposed to do now?” You asked yourself, already crying again. It was too much to take in little time.

Jungkook bit his lip and thought about it for a moment. “You should come to my place. It’s bad for you to stay out here especially when you… when you are so vulnerable,” he carefully said.

He was half ready for you to get up and swim away. But he let out a sigh of relief when you nodded, agreeing with him. “Okay,” your voice broke.

Jungkook gave you a soft smile, “I live here. So follow me,” he pointed behind them at the complex. “Here, hold my hand, let me guide you in. Don’t fall unless you know how to swim,” he giggled to himself but quickly regretted when you looked into his eyes and a wobbly chin. “I’m sorry,” he squeezed your hand reassuringly as you held it. You felt your heart thump against your chest at the skin contact. Never once have you felt like this with Ronny.

Jungkook’s apartment was clean, minimalistic, and scented like fresh laundry. The light cream walls with contemporary paintings looked perfectly decorated. The simple lamps hanging from the ceiling were just enough to make it look modernized. The couch had many papers laying around along with hand-knitted blankets and a guitar on the carpeted floor. And a beer can on the coffee table. The gigantic windows overlooked the city. It looked decently luxurious.

“Umm… Stay here, I'll bring some towels for you,” Jungkook removed his shoes and scurried inside his cosy house. And came out in no time. He wrapped a bigger towel around you and handed you the smaller towel. “Washroom is there,” he pointed next to the wall. “You can take a shower. I'll give you some of my clothes. And leave your clothes there, okay? I'll put them in the washing machine with mine. Oh, wait, let me show you the drawer in which you can find anything you want… Well, almost anything.”

He waddled in front of you into the washroom. He turned on the lights and opened a drawer in his cabinet, “Here, there are sanitary napkins, tampons whichever you prefer. Shower things, scrubs, unused loofah, hair ties, these one-use undies, lotion, and face cream. Here is a hairdryer and hair straightener, if you need those. And if there is something else you need, let me know. I'll find it if I have it,” he informed and smiled at you before going out, leaving you alone. He knocked again and peaked his head inside after you opened it a little. He handed you clothes and finally left.

You looked at the closed door with wide eyes. It was amusing seeing this stranger all prepared for emergencies. His girlfriend or fiance or wife must be lucky, you thought. You shook your head in order to not think about it and compare your sorry life with the unknown girl you are not even sure existed. But it won't be a surprise if she did.

Under the warm water, your tears rolled down again. It wasn't easy to just forget and not feel hurt after committing for six years. You mourned about not listening to your gut feeling about him before. Maybe you wouldn't be here, taking a shower in some stranger's washroom.

You took your sweet time before you came out, after drying your hair. As you opened the door, you were met by the melodious voice of Jungkook. The acoustic guitar complimented his mellow voice. The lyrics brought tears to your eyes but you tried your best to not let them flow down your cheeks. You felt like sitting by him and just kept on hearing his voice but he was not in the living room.

You quietly walked towards the entrance door and found him sitting there on the floor, wrapped in a towel as he sang-

We laugh and cry together

These simple feelings

Seems like they were everything to me

When will it be

When I face you again

I want to look into your eyes and tell you

I’ve missed you

Inside the blissful memory

Even if i dance by myself, the rain pours down

By the time this fog clears

I’ll come running on my wet feet

Then, hold me

That moon looked lonely

Because I felt like it was crying brightly in the night sky

Even when I know the morning will come someday

I wanted to remain in your sky like a star~

Just then you noticed that he was still in wet clothes. “Oh my god, Jungkook! Why are you still wet? Why did you not change?”

Jungkook was startled and looked at you. He stood up and rested his guitar on the wall. “Ah, there is only one washroom. I mean, there is one by the bedrooms but the water connection is not working.”

You gasped, “Why did you not tell me before?! Go in. You are going to catch a cold.”

“Nothing will happen to me, don't worry,” he said and noticed how swollen your eyes looked. “You know what? There is a pile of clean and dry clothes over there. You can fold them and leave the dress shirts. I need to iron them beforehand. So, can you do that? As a thank you favour?” He wished it could distract you from your pain. “Do you like FRIENDS?”

You dumbly looked at the basket full of clean laundry and nodded, “yeah,” you mumbled.

“Great! I'll put it on the TV so you won't get bored… I'll take a little time there. So, yeah…” he wanted to leave you alone for a while so that you could have some space. It wouldn't hurt to do a long Sunday night routine on Friday anyway.

His trick worked decently. When he came out, he saw you ironing his clothes and silently giggling at the show. He stood there and admired you. You looked so pretty in his baggy clothes, smiling and just being there. He didn't know who you were, why you were so beaten up mentally, or why he even bothered to bring you to his house. But at that very time, he saw someone who he could consider spending time with. Maybe just to make you feel better before you go away forever.

“I didn't ask you to iron the clothes,” he said as he rubbed his towel in his hair.

“It's alright,” you whispered.

You both said nothing for a while. You ironed his dress shirts and sat on the loveseat in front of him. There was a thick layer of awkwardness. After all, you both were strangers.

“So,” Jungkook began. “Do you want to talk about it? Or do you want to be left alone? Or do you want to play any video games or board games? Beer?”

Thinking about it, you felt like talking to him wouldn't hurt. He doesn't know you and after the water drains out, you will leave this place for good. And beer didn't sound bad at all. “You wouldn't mind me talking?”

“Not at all! Why would I mind?” He frowned. “I’m a good listener.”

“I think beer will be good, too,” you cleared your throat.

Jungkook smiled and stood up with a jump, walking towards his fridge, “a perfect combination!” He came back with a box of canned beer and dropped them on the coffee table and passed you one can. The clicks of cans were heard almost immediately. “Tell me one thing first. Why are you not afraid of being here? I'm just a stranger to you. What if I do something bad to you?”

You thought about it for a second. He wasn't wrong, but, “I’ve nothing left to be worried about…” you mumbled. “I can ask you the same. Why did you let me in? What if I do something to you? Wouldn’t your girlfriend or boyfriend be angry about it?”

Jungkook looked at you with a pout but said nothing about the first sentence you said. “Well, you looked like you could use some company plus no criminal would sit in that rain to hurt me. And I do not have any partner.” He said. “Now. You can talk about it, I’m all ears.”

Your mind went back in time. The flashbacks started to pour back in. All you could do was scoff at them. It was hurting you and you needed to let your emotions out. You had bottled them up for a long. He kept you tongue-tied for as long as you remember being with him. It was shitty and you were aware of it but every single time, you just tucked your tail between your legs and went along with what he had to offer you and it was only insecurities and insults. “I’m just so fucking dumb and stupid.” Jungkook sat up straight, focusing on you fully. “My boyfriend was cheating on me with my best friend.”

“Fuck no,” Jungkook felt anger bubbling up in his guts. If anything he hated the most about people was them cheating on other people. He absolutely loathed people who even dared to think about it. He always believed in being loyal to the partners and yourself. He believed that if one was falling out of love, which is not a big deal, they should be honest about it and find a mutual solution than just going around and being a fucking asshole. He was a man of character. Je didn't even need to know how he was and he already hated him and sympathized with you.

You huffed, “There were so many times when I felt like he was cheating on me but I just trusted him too much to let those feelings get to me,” your eyes teared up as you took a long sip of your beer. “I don’t even know for how long or if he ever even liked me let alone loved me.” From his texts and how he talked to you this evening. You figured he was cheating on you for longer. Possibly since the beginning of your relationship.

You still remembered how wonderful it all felt when you got involved with him. Ronny would act as if he cared and loved you. He would spend time with you, take you to parties, and introduce you to his friends, you felt like you were an important part of his life. However, slowly he stopped taking you with him and started stay away more and more. He would smell like other people's perfume. He would come back, drunk out of his mind.

“I’m so sorry about—”

“You know what's worse?! I caught him red handed with her in a strippers club tonight. They were hugging and touching and rubbing each other. Then I just– fuck. I made a fool out of myself. I ruined everyone’s night. And they kicked me out,” you cried.

“Shit, y/n. Everything was closed down by seven. Were you outside all this time?” Jungkook asked, concerned about you.

“What else was I supposed to do? Go back to that house where I could only see how fucking brainless I am? That place would mock me for being so oblivious,” you picked another can of beer.

Taking the blanket, Jungkook walked to you and wrapped it around your shoulders before sitting back in his place. “It's not only the friend, there were so many girls in his DMs. And he said I was ugly and so irritating. Everyone agreed and I think they were right.”

“Hey,” Jungkook felt bad for you. You were beautiful and such an adorable person. “Don’t say that. They all are wrong. You are so pretty and adorable,” he let out. “I don't think you should believe in them. They have no idea what they are talking about. And you should not think about that prick.”

“I was with that prick for six years, Jungkook. I loved him for six years, slept with him, and took his shit on my head. I can't just not think about him,” you sobbed.

“How can he be so terrible? Man, if I find who he is, I would beat the shit out of him. That boy is just a scumbag. Jeez, I'm so fucking pissed,” he was holding back from asking you his location so that he could go and teach that asshole some much-needed lesson. Jungkook could never even have thought of doing something like that to anyone let alone actually cheating on someone. He felt disgusted by this boy.

“For the past six years, he has become my personality. I thought he loved me and I was just being too much to the point he even called me delusional.”

Jungkook gasped, “No way, that asshole said that. What does he think of himself? Ugh, he should be ashamed of himself.”

“He would always text me cute, lovey-dovey messages. He would buy me things after such arguments and would tell me how much he loved me and that promise to be better,” you finished your second can and opened another one.

“Honey,” Jungkook softly said. “I'm sorry but he manipulated you.”

“And I was too dumb to know that,” she shook your head and covered your face with your hands.

“No, honey, you are not dumb. I think when you love someone, you just do whatever it takes to make things work. And the person who gets manipulated, they don't get to know because that's exactly what he was doing. He knew it. It's not your fault.”

“Jungkook…?” you called.

“Yes?”

“Is your offer for a hug still up?” you shyly asked.

Jungkook quickly stood up and sat with you, wrapping his arms around you, respectfully. “Of course it is,” he mumbled.

“I should have known, you know? She was his close friend that became my friend later on. She was always overly close with him even when she had other guys in her life,” you said.

“Girls like her don't deserve a friend like you, y/n… They are just an embarrassment for us,” Jungkook mumbled as he caressed your head that was resting on his shoulder and rubbed your arm.

There was silence for a while. A comfortable one. His even breath was keeping you from drifting away. And his hand caressing your head was helping your headache. He felt safe. You felt safer than ever in this stranger's arms. He never made you feel like this ever. He only made you feel bad and dumb all the time through his sugar-coated words.

“Can you tell me about yourself? If you don't mind,” you asked.

“It's only fair. I'm Jeon Jungkook. I'm twenty-five. I make music,” he said.

“Really? What kind of songs do you sing?” you found it interesting.

“Well, you probably don't know me,” he shyly chuckled. “I have released a couple of songs on Spotify and nothing more. I can't afford to make a video just yet.”

You look up at him. “But you look like you can.”

He giggled at your reaction. You found it amusing and wanted him to giggle more. It was music to your ears. “Ah, I have a rich father so my funds were good. I saved them over the years. I bought this place with those funds but I don't take any money from him anymore. I want to earn it myself. So I spent all of the money on this apartment and nothing is left for video. I can make a low-budget one and can edit it myself. But I think I'm just not ready for that either,” he disclosed.

“That is so smart,” you commented. “You knew your priorities.”

“You can say that,” he smiled.

“Why are you single?”

Jungkook thought about it. He never really cared about being in a relationship. He was satisfied with how things were going on. “I don't know, honestly. It's been years since I was in a committed relationship. I just didn't feel like I needed it, you know?”

“Ah, okay. Makes sense,” you said. “Are you always open to strangers?” you asked genuinely.

Realization hit him this time. He was always super awkward and shy around new people. He never talked to them and usually, it would take him days to open up. He pouted, “No...” he mumbled. “Anyway, you tell me about yourself,” he quickly changed the topic.

“I'm y/n, twenty-six years old–”

“Noona!” Jungkook looked at you with a toothy grin. “You are noona!”

“Shhh,” you shushed him as you both giggled. “I make paintings for my living.”

“Really?!” he looked at your face with a wide bunny grin. “I make paintings, too. But just for fun. These are all my art pieces,” he pointed around.

You admired them for a while. The details in them were so sharply presented. The colour contrast, blending, and everything was looking professional. “Jungkook, you are so talented. They all are so beautiful. The details and technique look so consistent and appealing!”

He smiled shyly. “It's nothing… What would you like for dinner?”

You helped him in the kitchen as you both settled on making some viral baked feta pasta. And a side of cheesy garlic bread. You both talked about different things and found out that you both had many things in common. Almost everything you loved, he loved them, too. He told you about those disposable undies (it was funny for you to think about). He said that one of his girl-friend once had her periods before the time and it ruined her clothes. He had nothing to help her with and she just wore his shorts and used a tampon. He said that he felt bad for not being able to help her so he bought these just in case someone needed them.

He also mentioned how his mother was open about girls and their needs related to periods and clean shower products. So he always made sure that his place had a full stock for emergencies because his Hyungs’ girlfriend usually came along with them or other friends. He wanted them to not worry about such things and find his place comfortable enough.

You could tell he was raised by a kind-hearted and responsible woman. It was shocking to you. For six years, you lived with someone who didn't care about any of your needs or brought stuff that was considered necessary. He would just make and mess and leave. He felt like a burden more and less like a human.

“What do you think about…” Jungkook nervously started. “Dating someone now that you are single again.” he had never clicked with any women as he did now. It felt like he knew you for longer than anyone else. He wanted to hold you again and tell you how much more you were worth than you were told. He wanted to whisper good things about you in your ears and make you feel like the most special being ever.

You felt shy under his gaze. “I don't know… I have been cheated on for longer than I even know.”

“What if your date wants to be there for you and help you heal and show you what a real man is like and treats you with utmost care and serves you loyalty which is the bare minimum?” he made eye contact with you. “Because he knows he is better than him and you are much more than what he says.”

It was not worth crying over someone who gave no damn about you. But you still loved him. You needed to heal and being alone, it was going to be difficult and you needed someone’s shoulder to lean on. “I think that won't be that bad…”

Jungkook softly smiled and let out a sigh of relief. “I guess, you are going to have a date tonight by the window.”

Your little date was perfect. You both sat in sweet silence and enjoyed your dinner. He even lit some candles to set the mood. The mellow music on his record player was soothing.

If someone told you that your night would end up like this in a stranger's house like this, you would have laughed and called them an idiot. But it was not bad at all. You had nothing else left so giving this a go was not bad.

The dinner ended with ice cream and cookies. After that, Jungkook laid down some mattresses on the ground by the ceiling-length windows along with a blanket and many pillows. He left his Mikrokosmos mood lamp on and turned off the other lights. And gave you some medicines to keep you from falling sick.

You sat there, wrapped in the blanket as he joined you. “Would you like to cuddle?”

“Yes, please.”

“How are you feeling now?” he asked as he wrapped himself around you.

You smiled, resting your ear on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. “Better… Much better.”

“I'm glad,” he whispered. “Just… Don't ever believe in shit he said, okay? You are nothing but a kind, intelligent, hard-working, smart, and beautiful woman. You deserve nothing but happiness.”

“Where was I even wrong? I tried so hard for what?” you thought out loud.

Jungkook kissed your head. “You were not wrong, baby. He was. He is at a loss. He made you feel like this because he could never reach your level. You are the best and he knows it. He needed to bring you down to make himself feel better about himself. He was just a pathetic douchbad. He was just an immature boy.”

“Jungkook… Thank you for today. I don't think I could have survived anything tonight. I felt like I lost everything all at once. I'm thankful more than I can ever express. I don't know how to return this favour.” You could not express your feelings through words. They were too heavy for you to form into sentences. You have no idea what you could have done tonight if it wasn't for him and his kindness. Even if it ended without this tiny date, you were already saved by him.

After years, you felt like someone listened to you for the first time. It was enough for you to make you want to cry with joy. It felt embarrassing and yet so good.

“It's not a favour, y/n. It's just something I did because I just couldn't see you sitting on the bench like that. I'm happy that you are here and happy. If you had gone somewhere else, I would have kept on thinking about you and how you were. I'm just so happy that you are here and I know that you won't do something stupid.” He expressed his feelings.

It must have been hard on him as well. It's not a daily occurrence but something strange. But this time, it was strangely beautiful.

“You,” he said after a long comfortable silence. He was still thinking about what you said earlier. It was bothering him to an endless extent. He was afraid that you kept yourself so neglected.

“Huh?” you asked, confusingly.

Jungkook looked into your eyes and kissed your forehead softly and slowly, it felt much more intimate than he imagined. His heart was going crazy just like yours. Call it a first-sight love but you two knew it was more than that. He again looked into your eyes and spoke up –

“You have you to worry about…”

.....

Sanaa's note:

Hii! I hope you enjoyed this. I really appreciate your feedback. Plz, do leave your thoughts behind. It helps me to write more and motivates me to improve. My college is starting on Monday. So I won't be able to update anything sooner. I hope you guys understand😊

The behaviour of all the characters is visualized.

Taglist:

@veneziamadness @cheline @sansmilkbread @jayb17 @constantlydelulusional @8tinytings @tea4sykes @chimmisbae

Have a nice day/night💓

[gretavanlace]

Poppins (part 1)

Josh and Jake x reader

18+ only! Minors do not interact!

Warnings: language, kissing, adult themes, pretty tame…for now.

A tiny hand tugs at the hem of your dress before an even smaller voice floats up “He’s late.”

“Uncle Jake is always late, Lil.” You run your fingers over a dish towel before ruffling her curls soothingly. “He’ll be here.”

“What if he forgot?” Her voice wavers with threatening tears, and you abandon the tray of finger sandwiches you’ve been fussing over in order to focus solely on her welling eyes.

“Your fourth birthday?” You lend an incredulous gasp to your tone. “Uncle Jake? Forget his best girl? Never!”

Karen appears in the kitchen with Josh hot on her heels. “I said the cake should say ‘Happy Birthday Lily-bit.” He complains, shaking his head with great frustration while nervously tugging at the pearlescent beads around his neck…a habit reserved for when he is tromping along the edge of panic.

Lily-bit has been her nickname ever since she bestowed it upon herself unknowingly. Unable to pronounce Elizabeth correctly, it had stumbled out ‘Lily-bit’…and stuck, it had.

“Well, you should’ve picked it up yourself then, Joshua.” Karen snarks right back, sliding the cardboard box housing a sheet cake onto the counter. “It says Elizabeth. That’s still her name. And stop fidgeting. If you’re that concerned, drive it back to the store and cause an enormous scene like an idiot. We’ll wait.”

She bends down and nuzzles her only granddaughter’s nose. “Won’t we, baby? We’ll wait right here while Daddy goes and acts like a dumb shit at the grocery store.”

“Daddy’s a dumb shit!”

You suppress a laugh at her squeaky-mouse voice cursing as Josh grows visibly perturbed, yet calmer, all at once.

“Jesus, ma!” He searches over her shoulder and raises his voice. “Veronica, come and get your mother!”

Ronnie’s voice floats in from the family room, relaxed and unconcerned. “I’m not in this!”

Lily begins to giggle only to stop dead in her tracks when a familiar voice booms through the house. “Where’s my birthday girl?”

She’s gone in a flash. Racing from the room with an ecstatic gasp, as fast as her tiny legs can carry her. Everything else forgotten, in an effort to get to her Uncle Jake.

The three of you are drawn like magnets into the hall, unwilling to miss the spectacle of a jake-lily reunion.

“Look at this.” Josh frowns, with a smile tugging at his lips as he watches his twin scoop his niece up with a flourish. “Even my own daughter loves him best.”

“Stop.” Your elbow nudges into his side lovingly. “He’s the fun uncle, is all.”

His eyes slide in your direction as his voice drops to a whisper “All the girls I adore love him best.”

Reaching out for a lock of your hair, he gives it a gentle yank and moves in to greet his brother just as Lily relays the important news.

“Uncle Jakey,” she conspires, running her chubby hands through the hair hanging in his face. “Daddy’s a dumb shit. Gramma said.”

Jake throws his head back with a hearty belly laugh, hugging her close. “He is, girly…you’re absolutely right.”

She laughs along with him, pink-cheeked and enamored, hiding her face in his hair.

“I know it is, Lily bit.” He nods. She must’ve whispered to remind him of her big day. “That’s why I brought you this.”

She slides down, holding fast to his barely buttoned shirt as he deposits her on her Mary Jane clad feet. Her tiny palms clap with unbridled excitement as he pulls a glittering tiara out of his back pocket.

“There.” He places it carefully, tucking it into her wispy baby hair until it sits just right. “Birthday princess.”

Her eyes are flashing with devotion, as she makes grabby hands at the gift bag stuffed messily with tissue paper in his grip. “What else?”

“Later, girly.” He sneaks it behind his back with a kiss on her flushed forehead.

“He’s not that great.” Ronnie quips, feigning boredom from the other room. “Come see auntie…I’ll tell you about the time he crashed a car and broke uncle Sammy’s head.”

Lily’s eyes grow wide with concern. “You broke his head?”

“Ah, hell,” Jake waves her off with a smile. “His head’s empty anyway.”

“Jacob,” Karen scolds as if she can’t fathom the audacity. “Watch your mouth around the baby.”

You collectively watch the birthday girl scamper off to soak in the tale her aunt has to tell.

“Dumb shit?” Jake tilts his head. “Is that not what you taught the baby, on this, the day of her birth?”

She swats at him, then softens the loving blow with a peck on his lips, before wandering off with a clipped “Shut it.”

“Hey, prick.” You watch on, feeling slightly out of place as Jake pulls Josh in for an aggressive, brotherly hug. Both twins smack at each other’s backs in pats that seem as though they should sting.

They begin chatting in that strange, half-spoken, unfinished sentence, twin language of theirs, and you, feeling even more intrusive than before, move to slink off.

Jake stops you with a hand coiled loosely around your wrist, eyes still honed in on his brother while they catch up. He doesn’t dare slip his hand down to link fingers with yours, though he wants to…you can feel it.

At last, Karen’s voice sounds out, and rescues you from this awkward limbo. “Can someone go collect your father and his son from the house?” ‘Your’ father and ‘his’ son, is all the explanation needed. She refuses to stake claim over any of them when they’re stretching the limbs of their Kiszka lineage.

“Took an Uber in from the airport!” Jake shirks responsibility with a lie - you can see his car swiveled crookedly in the gravel out front clearly through the bay window.

“I’ll go.” Josh sighs, turning to you. “Keep them civil, warden?”

“Of course.” You grin, smoothing a curl down atop his head with your freehand so that he looks less maniacal. It does little to help.

You’ve been alone in the entryway for less than thirty seconds before Jake is pulling you into the quiet of the hall. “How’s my Mary Poppins?” He taunts quietly. “I’ve missed you. Look at this smart little dress. You’re killin’ me.”

In reality, you’ve opted for a modestly festive dress whose skirt skims over your knees. It’s Lily's birthday, after all, not a night out.

“Jake,” you can feel the warmth of your blush, and duck your face to conceal it. “Go be with your family, you shameless flirt.”

“Do you think you’re not family?” He bends at the knees to catch your eye and counter your shy methods of hiding away. “Can’t you see the way we all love you? Me most of all.”

“Not one of your groupies,” you giggle like a schoolgirl, to your dismay, pushing a little more distance between the two of you. “Get outta here.”

He steps in even closer, and you can smell him. The warm, inexplicably comforting scent that follows him around like a delectable cloud. He’s like the woods after a campfire has smoldered itself out, mixed in with something vaguely christmas-like. “I have no groupies. I play dive bars filled with sad old men who stare into their drinks and dream about pretty girls like you.”

His fingers drift against your cheek and then curl a turf of hair behind your ear with a hushed, “I’ll find you later, poppins, yeah?”

Poppins. Yes, you’re the nanny. Yes, it’s a terrible idea. Yes, Josh has also been known to wear his heart on his sleeve for you. And yes, all those things seem to matter…that is until Jake steps into your space and fixes that warm, chocolate truffle gaze upon you. Until he lowers his voice so that only you can hear. Until his touch skates over your skin, confident and sure.

You’ve never gone too far with Jake, no matter how badly you’d like to.

There was a night, Lily conked out on her toddler bed, you off for the remainder of the night, but lingering on in the kitchen sipping Dos Equis with your charge’s favorite uncle. Gazes had locked a little too long, lips had met, until the warm, wet, grace of his tongue against your own had caused you to pull away.

“Yeah.” You nod. Leaning back against the wall when he slips away. He makes you want to run for the hills and into his arms all at once.

The party commences as Josh returns with a slightly inebriated Kelly and Samuel in tow, and everyone falls in love with Lily-bit all over again as she opens presents and charms her way through the hearts of her most beloved.

Before the candles have even been lit, she has crawled into her uncle Jake’s lap. Falling asleep like a worn out kitten, tiara askew on her head, glitter lipgloss Ronnie applied to her rosebud mouth smeared and smudged against Jake’s torn up jeans.

“Her cake.” Josh sounds both defeated and relieved…exhausted from trying to make sure her day was perfect.

“Goddamn thing said Elizabeth, anyway.” Jake huffs lazily before throwing a wink at his twin that seems to relax Josh’s shoulders in a way no one else has been able to manage all day.

“Mom’s fault.” Josh smirks.

“Isn’t it always?” Jake smiles back, as if the answer is obvious.

“Oh, to hell with both of you.” Karen sighs, with absolute love in her insult. “You have miss girl FaceTime gramma first thing in the morning.” She points at Josh to get her point across and then nudges at Kelly, who has trotted off to dreamland along with his granddaughter. “You and Sam in the car within five or you both can walk.”

~

You’re tidying up the kitchen by the warm, shadowy light of an accent lamp when Josh’s voice comes softly in the silence.

“Thought you and ma already cleaned up?”

“Just little details,” you shrug. “You know.”

“You staying tonight? It’s late.”

You have a cozy little place across town. No more than a studio, but you’ve furnished it beautifully, and eclectically, via thrift stores and yard sales. It’s you, and it’s home. Sort of. Really, the guest room here that has evolved into your room, is more home than home.

“Probably.” You swipe the sponge over a perfectly clean spot of butcher’s block “She still sleeping?”

“Out like a light.” The love dances in his eyes like it always does when he speaks of his baby girl. “Put her in jammies and all, she slept right through.”

“Well…” you offer softly, at a loss for words as you so often are when you find yourself sinking into these domestic moments with him.

“Yes, well…” he nods, tilting his head down to look at you through his lashes with the smallest of grins.

“Oh!” Your face lights up as you turn toward the fridge to pull two bottles of water out for him. His nightly routine. “Here. You almost forgot.”

He catches them one after another as you toss the bottles his way and then points with one, cap wiggling in your direction. “I wish you’d let me take care of you the way you take care of me, sweetheart.”

He doesn’t mean it in any way other than gentle…he’d like to coddle you. That’s all. Somehow, that makes your heart hurt worse.

“Don’t get too comfy with my brother tonight.” He adds, padding off down the hall before you can grow defensive.

You slump against the counter, embarrassed and sad. You wish you could chase down that spark of something that plays about in your heart for Josh now and again, but Jake always moves in…all soft smiles and whispered words. Nicknames and airy brushes of calloused hands that make you shiver and keep you awake at night…

…the memory of his tongue slipping, slick and hungry, against yours, that blurs your mind when your hand finds itself between your legs in the dark.

~

Shaking off the thoughts before they have a chance to drag you down too deeply, you finish up in the kitchen, double check the locks, and start down the hall to the room that serves as your own.

You’re moving quietly, and you know why…but you also feel a little silly for it. Aren’t you just little miss hot shit to assume Jake would be listening for you?

I mean, sure, he likes to flirt, and you kissed once for like, twenty seconds, but why would you really believe that —

“Hey, poppins.” His voice comes, smooth as warm silk, a split second after his fingers close tight around your waist. “Come here often?”

“Hello, Jacob.” You smile into the dark, covering his hands with your own.

“Oooh,” he moans softly against the nape of your neck. “Jacob? Put me in time out, nanny. Do your worst.”

“Stop it!” You laugh quietly, wrenching around in his grip to face him.

“Hi.” He grins once you’re nose to nose. “Are you staying tonight?”

His question, mirroring his twin’s, comes hushed as he walks you back against the wall.

Your reply is an inelegant swallow, paired with a nod.

“That’s good.” He trails the back of his knuckle along the curve of your jaw. “It’s so dark out there. And chilly. Best you stay here where you’re safe.”

The sincerity stuns you. He means it. He worries for you.

But are you safe?

This isn’t good. Isn’t it easier if one wants to love you and one wants to fuck you?

There you go again, running ahead of whatever this is. He doesn’t want to love you, he’s simply glad to see you snug and warm for the night.

“You know,” his fingers card slowly through your hair, lips impossibly near, breathing softly in your ear. “It would make it so much easier to kiss you if you didn’t look like a deer caught in headlights.”

A sound, foreign and high-pitched, escapes you before you have a chance to quiet yourself, and his body tenses against yours in response. “So pretty, poppins. You’re a song, aren’t you? Sweet and soft. If I played you, it’d be acoustic.”

You’re a song…if I played you…fuck…

“Jake, I…” you’re scrabbling for excuses on why this shouldn’t happen when you hear it. The faint whimper of Lily. She’s still asleep, you can tell that much, but not for long.

A bad dream, perhaps, brought on by too much excitement and sugar.

“Let me check on her.” You whisper, pushing him away gently.

“What?” He’s confused. He isn’t a parent, or her caregiver, and he’s missed the early quiet muffled rumblings before the wailing storm.

But Josh hasn’t…

And when he steps into the hall to rescue his little girl, he is greeted with the sight of Jake pressing you up against the wall, hands in places they shouldn’t be.

“M’sorry.” He murmurs, hurrying by as you break away from Jake, rushing to explain.

Your words of justification land against deaf ears and Lily’s bedroom door as Josh quietly shuts you out.

Taglist: @gretasintrees @greta-van-chaos @celestialfauna @s0livagant @groggyvanfleet @kiszkathecook @brokenbellz @llightmyllovee @doodle417 @seventieswhore @jake-kiszkas-smirk @weightofdreams-gvf @imdepressedaf1996 @greta-flanveet-admin-deactivate @alisonwonderland29 @joshkiszkas @gretavanfleas @gretavangroove @sparrowofthedawn @xserenax-13 @tbagggvf @obetrolncocktails @tripthelightjaketastic @jakeslovehandles @poofyloofy @70sgroupielovr @heatmyfleet @age-of-nyahh @sammiboo162 @spicedandicedtea @jakekiszkasleftnutsack @saoirsemaeve @mywickeddivinity @dvrkblooms @paintmyhouse @tripthelightfandomtastic @tripthelight-fanfic @mckenna4 @sarakay-gvf @theweightofjake @joshsmama @rhythm-of-space @highladyofasgard @jordierama @calumspretty

[the-ace-with-spades]

Almost finished with the last chapter of just hold my hand and questioning whether to write one more, so here are some bits that didn't (won't) make it into the fic

tw mpreg

• Jake and Bradley won't ever name their kid after someone, at least not exactly the same way, but they're okay with using some version of their parents' names, or will use it as a second names if exact same, like with the twin girls (Tommy Carole and Nicky Patricia). The exception is of course their boy, PJ (Peter Jacob), because Jake wanted some kind of name that can be shortened to XJ, like CJ, AJ, etc. Peter is also Jake's (late) dad's second name. Jake's family has a tradition of doing all of the above with all their kids.

• PJ is definitely daddy's boy (Bradley's) and he's extremely shy around strangers. Even when he was an infant and technically couldn't recognize people, he'd get very fussy when someone who wasn't Bradley or Jake's mom would hold him. Yes, this applies to Jake as well - he was on deployment the first few months after PJ was born and when he came back, PJ would regard him as stranger for the first couple of months. He accepts only a couple of people, including his favorite aunt, Nat. He's also a quiet, angel of a baby.

• Ronnie is also quiet but not as much of an angel. I've mentioned it but she has speech development issues and instead communicates in different ways - this includes being a bit more touchy and more expressive with her body language as well as simply trying to do/get what she needs herself without asking for help. They've taken her to her paediatrician but she wasn't too worried as she seems to be developing well socially and has plenty of support and examples at home.

• Both Ronnie and PJ are a bit clingy, just because Bradley spent a lot of time with them when he was on maternity leave/pregnancy leave/office duty due to the timing of the both pregnancies being so close. The twins were more used to staying with Jake's ma and had been going to the nursery/preschool most of their lives so they're the most social and the most independent of the kids. (I also think they have ADHD and are a bit oblivious to social cues...)

• The first pregnancy wasn't planned. (I might allude to it in the fic so spoilers) Bradley and Jake were actually broken up when Bradley found out - it had been Bradley who started getting a bit scared and had his issues resurfacing and did the breaking up when Jake started being more serious about them. This has happened before and Bradley would always come back within a month so Jake was going to just wait it out - he didn't know it, but this time Bradley was more adamant and had planned to be transferred and have that break up be permanent. The whole plan changed when he was pregnant just because he couldn't be stationed at Atsugi and because he felt like Jake should have a chance to be present in the baby's life. It took Jake half the pregnancy for him to actually get them to move in back together (and that only happened because Bradley was having trouble getting by alone in his apartment) and then almost another month for Bradley to actually let them get back together - he had a lot of issues before but after he found out he was pregnant it was like he started worrying about them about three times as much. It was a very emotional time for them.

• Bradley started therapy before the twins were born and Jake proposed to him when they were still in the hospital after labour (not very romantic but Bradley liked it) and married when the twins were around six months old, no ceremony, just them, the twins and Jake's ma

• The second pregnancy was planned. It was Bradley who brought up that he wanted another kid - Jake had been thinking about it for some time but remembering that pregnancy wasn't easy on Bradley, he didn't want to pressure him. It took them ten very frustrating months but another nines months later Ronnie (Veronica Rose) was born. Her second name was Jake's memaw's first name and Veronica is a name Bradley's mom really liked for a girl.

• The third pregnancy was kinda planned - they knew they wanted another kid, they just thought they would wait a couple of years before trying so it was a surprise when not even a few months later and during Bradley's flight fitness physical it turned out he was pregnant again.

• Obviously, the fourth pregnancy wasn't planned at all. They haven't talked about having more kids, but neither was opposed to, even if it was implied they would wait at least a couple of years so Bradley could get back into service for some time.

• Bradley did have problems with work related to having kids -- each time there had been offers (that sounded more like orders...) of early retirement or switch to non-flight positions and a lot of pressure to take them. Each offer and its rejection was followed by some shit happening - first time around, they put Bradley on alternative jobs that were too physical for his condition or gave him minimal maternity leave ultimateum; second time around, it was Jake's deployment being moved from after the due date to before and during the due date, Jake being sent abroad for special training way more often than anyone else. It was also why Bradley was held back from being sent to Top Gun, the argument being 'we send you there, you take a place of someone who won't get pregnant and be out of action for months'. It changed when he and Jake transferred from Oceana to Lemoore, partially due to Ice's influence behind scenes. 

• Jake had been amazing through each pregnancy, even if the first one was an adventure of trials and errors. Bradley was very stubborn and emotional and Jake had the patient of a saint and didn't take it that personal whenever Bradley would explode/reject/etc at him. But also pregnancy wasn't the easiest on Bradley (each time, the last 2-3 months he'd end up on med leave, not because he was high risk but because the symptoms were quite intense), also in the emotional sense (he's really sensitive to hormone changes) so Jake tried to make it as easy as possible on him each time.

• Further into the future, Mav will pretend he can actually tell no to the kids (he can't) but Ice straight up melted and doesn't even try to say otherwise. It's enough that they mention something once and Ice already makes up a plan to get/do it for them...

• Mav is also absolutely hypnotized by Bradley's baby bump once it shows, always so taken back when he sees it. He'd be glued up to his side if he didn't know how much it annoys him (and if Hangman was always nearby and taking the spot already...)

• Jake's ma, Pat, is quick friends with Ice (she teaches him to knit and quilt). Mav is friendly with her but it takes him awhile to warm up to her completely - mostly because he's kinda jealous? that she was there for the boys the whole time, since the twins were born, while Bradley never even thought to reach out to them or even just tell them about the kids (even if he knows it was his own fault)

• Mav and Ice also have different perspectives on Bradley having kids. Mav never thought about it, having Bradley stuck on being barely 18 in his head, and Ice always knew that Bradley would eventually make his own family, he just prayed they would be included in it.

• The first time Mav watches the kids, the twins lose their front teeth. They trip and don't even cry but when Mav checks them out, they're each missing one of the front teeth. He absolutely panics, thinking that Bradley will absolutely hate him and will never let him watch or even see the kids and then Hangman comes to pick them up and he's ready to be ripped to shreds and Jake just goes, "Oh, yeah, they've been moving the whole week. Did you keep them for the tooth fairy?" Ice makes fun of him for weeks for this even though he'd be scared shitless too, if that happened with him.

• Jake and Mav eventually do have a truce, even if they still are a bit sharp with each other. It's the typical (if less toxic) in-laws relation where Mav still thinks Bradley could do better and where Jake still thinks Mav had been a bit of a crappy dad and has a slightly limited trust in him (mostly follows Bradley's cur tho). Ice likes Jake for Bradley a lot tho.

Could go on but I'll leave it here...

[heartbreakgrill]

Delicate: Vessel (Sleep Token); Pt. 3, “This ain’t for the best.”

“Jesus, Daz.”

I looked up from my shoes, searching the crowd of people sitting before me for my brother’s brown eyes. He was twisted around in his chair with a concerned look on his face. Beneath that expression, I could tell he was really hungover. Like me, he wore eye bags, a grimace only one who had been up too late drinking could wear.

“You look like shit.”

I pulled out the chair next to Sam, dropping my bag and neck pillow onto the floor beside me. I stretched my lips apart, lamely, “Thanks so much.”

Sam faced forward as I sat down. He reached for his coffee cup, staring at me over the edge of it. “Sorry. Are you feeling okay? Oliver texted me before you guys left last night. Said you were sick.”

I flickered my eyes to the end of the table, where Oliver was sat. He gave a small smile, like it pained him to do so. I shrugged to Sam, “Fine.”

“Do you remember…anything?” Max inquired now. He chomped down on a bagel, his grin like a devil’s.

Out of the corner of my vision, I saw Oliver shift in his seat. I swallowed thickly, “Um…I remember…”

He was listening intently, anticipating my words.

“Dancing. Drinking. Dinner. Puking on the curb. After that, I…I don’t really know,” I ran my teeth over my bottom lip nervously.

“Don’t remember Oliver walking you home? Sleeping in his room? How about when I came and brought you back to ours? You don’t remember when you touched my hair and called me a poodle?” Sam rattled off a few memory joggers, but nothing clicked.

It was the truth. Well, it was…a partial truth.

I remembered snippets. Like clips from a sped up movie, shooting through my brain in memories that I couldn’t quite grasp. The warmth of Oliver’s chest, the feeling of his hoodie on my body, the Hello Kitty bandaids on my knees, his thumb stroking my cheek.

The sad part was, though his behavior was sweet that night, it didn’t change anything for me.

When I woke this morning, in my own bed, and I began to recall only small moments from the night before, I realized that Oliver only did as much because I had been seducing him all evening and, most importantly, because I was Sam’s baby sister. He would have faced hell had he not gotten me to bed safely. With the context of what I had remembered from our encounter, Oliver still couldn’t stand me. This was only confirmed when I knocked on his door this morning, secretly hoping that maybe there were missing pieces of my memory that would snap back into place once I saw him. Hoping that these missing memories would say something different.

Why? I didn’t exactly know the answer to that. From the interactions we had had thus far, I should hate him, not want him anywhere near me. But, something deep within me felt drawn to him, attracted to him. But, when he opened the door, I realized this was an unrequited want.

He looked…annoyed. He saw the hoodie in my hands, reached out with an expectant hand, and stared at me with darkness pooling in his eyes.

I set the hoodie in his grasp, brows furrowing. “Thanks…for your help.”

“Yeah,” he barely murmured before stepping back into his room and shutting the door.

So he really did hate me.

So, why was he so concerned with what I remembered?

I shook my head at Sam. My hand was shaking, from lack of sleep and anxiety, as I reached for the glass of water sitting before me. “No, sorry.”

“Oh, also,” Ronnie reached behind her, digging in her coat pocket, “Do you remember losing your wallet? The bouncer gave it to us when we were leaving.”

I ashamedly held out my hand, taking it from her. “Is that why I had to stay with Oliver?”

He shuffled at the sound of his name, glancing over his plate, dark eyes distant, dead. I watched him for a moment, noticing the way he ignored the very mention of himself, maintaining distance from our conversation even if he had every right- and every need- to speak up. Just because of me.

Sam glanced at the singer, expecting him to say something. When he didn’t, like I knew he wouldn’t, Sam said, “Yeah. Sorry. Came and got you as soon as I could.”

“It-it’s fine…” I trailed off, moving my gaze to my plate of food. Why did I feel rejected? I shouldn’t care about Oliver.

“Well, sorry for you losers, but,” Max pursed his lips, looking at our group with a cockiness in his eyes, “I’m unforgettable.”

I managed to chuckle at his air, “Oh, so true, Max.”

“In all seriousness, I had a great time last night.”

The others concerned themselves with their own conversations as Max focused on me, seated across from him. I glanced at Oliver, just curiously, and noticed he was on his phone, as per usual.

Why did he care what I remembered? Had he told me some secret? Had he kissed me, or done something inappropriate that would cause some sort of conflict? It was all very strange.

“Yeah,” I replied, distantly, before turning my focus back to Max. “Me, too. Thanks for buying my drinks.”

“Anytime, lovely.”

“Did I…” I scrunched my face up in embarrassment. Images of Max and I dancing flooded my mind. I remembered doing so, but I hadn’t realized until now that I had been so…flamboyant about it all. “Oh, God. Did i grind on you?”

Max’s grin was so bright, it nearly blinded me. “It was life changing.”

“Jesus Christ,” I lay my head in my palm, eyes squeezed shut. “Never let me drink that many Dirty Shirleys ever again.”

“Sorry,” Max spoke through his giggles, “I should have slowed you down. But, you were so relaxed. I figured you probably needed it last night.”

“Oh, I did,” I began to dig into my breakfast, knowing we’d be leaving quite soon. “I have been working my ass off in school for so long. And, I have to do it all again in just a few months.”

“Are you excited?” he asked me as he took another bite of his bagel.

I nodded slowly, “Yeah. Somewhat. I like school. But, this is so much fun, I can’t even think about that right now.”

“Don’t. Just…enjoy this. It’s already flying by. Don’t know what we’ll do for the rest of the tour without you.”

Max spoke with such sincerity that it broke my heart. I pouted at him, quickly swallowing to say, “Aw, Max. That's so sweet. I’m definitely going to miss this.”

“Two more months, love. Let’s make it last forever,” he winked cheekily, returning to his usual, teasing self.

I could do two more months with Max, with Adam, Cy, Ronnie, Sam. With weekend club trips, early morning breakfasts, venturing across Europe. I could do this forever.

But, I didn’t think I could do Oliver’s animosity forever. Not when my stomach clenched everytime he looked at me, not when my skin would get clammy, and my hands would shake with unrequited anticipation.

Not when I was feeling this way about him, and all he could do was glare at me.

-

Throughout the first week that we were in Italy, moments I experienced triggered memories like a shotgun ringing through the night. It was only small scenes, and it happened randomly, which frustrated me as each new piece of information was revealed.

The first thing I remembered was that moment when I vomited on the sidewalk. I knew it had happened, thanks to the bad taste in my mouth that morning. But, also, because I had a vision in my head of running out of the bar, scraping my knees. This was relevant to my mind because of the bandaids I caught sight of in the morning.

Oliver rushing to my aid? His whispered sweet nothings? I didn’t know about any of that until we had landed in Italy.

The plane ride had been brutal. I felt sick the entire time, and when we landed, I had to race off to the bathroom to empty my stomach. When I met up with our group, back by our gate, Ronnie had a fresh water bottle and package of pretzels ready for me.

“Thanks, mom,” I joked, wrapping my pillow back around my neck before taking the refreshments from her.

“Sure thing, peaches,” she rolled her eyes.

We all began moving, as a group, towards baggage claim. I fell in step beside Ronnie, lazily chewing on the pretzels. They were helping with the nausea.

“You remember your brother’s awful Mario impression?” Ronnie chuckled to herself, gaze distant as she thought about it.

“Oh, God,” I cringed as the scene played out in my head. ‘Why did he do that? What was that? Why did we let him go on for so long?”

“I don’t even know,” Ronnie pressed a hand to her lips as we shared a loud laugh.

Sam looked over his shoulder at the sound, slowing his feet, which were matching Max’s pace, to come to the other side of Ronnie. “What’s so funny?”

“Why are you so nosey?” I scrunched my nose, speaking through a pretzel that was between my lips.

“You’re in public, laughing like a hyena. I’m allowed to be nosey.”

I stuck my tongue out at him, and he returned the expression. “You’re a dick hungover,” I commented.

Ronnie nodded slowly, “Yeah, I’m not gonna disagree with her on that one.”

“Well, this is coming from the girl who once tore apart my favorite teddy bear because she didn’t get to have Cheerios for breakfast,” Sam leaned into Ronnie, speaking low, as if passing a secret, even though he glared at me and knew I could hear him.

I gaped at him, offended by him bringing up something that happened twenty years ago. “Dude, you literally ate the last bowl without asking. And you knew I wanted Cheerios that morning. I literally asked you to save me some! You ate a bowl bigger than my head!”

“Now, that’s impossible,” Sam scoffed, eyeing my cranium snarkily.

My jaw dropped more, if at all possible. I threw a pretzel at him, “Fuck you. You know I’m insecure about the size of my head!”

Ronnie, snickering to herself, took a chance to tease. She set a hand on my arm, smirking at Sam, “S’okay, Daisy. Your brother’s just mad you have a big head because-” she pointed at his crotch, “his is small.”

Adam, Cy, and Max heard this and, harmoniously with Ronnie, burst out into laughter. Max slammed a hand down onto Sam’s shoulder, “Ouch, dude! That’s gotta hurt!”

I giggled, glancing around the boys. My eyes ghosted over Oliver, whose back was facing me as we walked. His head was down. Ronnie’s words echoed in my memory, a distant reverberation that flashed images behind my eyes.

“It’s okay, Daisy. You’ll be okay.”

I touched my neck, nearly feeling Oliver’s fingers ghosting there, but it was just a gust of wind pushing through the automatic doors we were walking out of. The way he had touched me, the way he pulled my hair from my sweaty face, bunched it up in fist. It was so…sweet. Caring.

How was this dull man capable of such kindness if he hated me so much?

-

The time change in Italy, luckily, didn’t throw me off too badly. The next morning, I woke, feeling refreshed and no longer hungover. It was nice to not feel like a walking corpse, like I had all of yesterday.

We were here in Florence for the next week, and next week we would be in Rome. I spent the first two days wandering the streets. Ronnie and Sam would be meeting me for dinner later that evening, on the second day, so I didn’t get involved in anything too seriously. They didn’t have as much to do at the venue because things had gone so well the day before. Tomorrow, I had plans to take a tour group, like I had back in England, to catch the best sights of the city more easily.

I spent the afternoon perusing antique shops, book stores. It was interesting, to blend into the background of stranger’s stories, to not hear my mother tongue for hours at a time. I definitely had culture shock sometimes, but I also felt at peace, both humbled and relaxed by the experience.

That didn’t stop my mind from racing.

Oliver consumed all my thoughts. His hushed comfort replayed through my mind like a skipping record, white noise beneath the mangled languages filling the space around me.

The more I thought about him, his touch, his words, the tighter my stomach got. I felt like I could choke up broken wings from the butterflies that had taken up a village in my stomach. neI dreaded breakfast the next morning, knowing that it meant I’d have to look him in the eye. While he avoided me, cursed my presence, I felt myself drawn to him as every second drug past.

I tried to focus on the present moment, the gorgeous shops I was perusing, the delicious food samples offered to me nearly every two feet. What snapped me out of my racing thoughts, fully, was the sound of my phone ringing in my pocket.

I balanced my bags in one hand and dug through my purse until I found the device. I usually kept the sound off, but being that I was alone, in the middle of a foreign country, I figured it would be a good idea to have it on.

A picture of Sam and I covered my screen and his contact name- Sam Ham- was in a white font above it. I was somewhat confused, considering he was supposed to be at rehearsals right now. They had another hour before he and Ronnie would join me for our later lunch.

“Hello?” I pressed the phone between my shoulder and ear, tucking myself into the corner of the antique shop, so as not to disturb others.

“Daz, hi,” Sam breathed out. I struggled to hear him at first, as above his voice was music, loud music, accompanied by singing. Cymbals crashed, a guitar riffed, and…Oliver was singing.

I’d heard it before, on Spotify, on pre recorded tracks that Sam had shown me. Of course, I’d never really listened to it, prejudiced with my own taste of music. Hearing it like this, live, hearing the soul Oliver fueled his lyrics with…it sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn’t understand what he was singing, but I knew it was good. He was incredibly talented.

He’s a dick, I tried to remind myself.

“What’s up?” I squeezed my eyes shut in an attempt to focus on Sam, and Sam only.

He seemed to leave the room that had been housing the loud music, tone more clear as a door shut behind him. “Hey, sorry. Um…there’s some shit going on with the speakers and wires. Me and Ronnie won’t be getting out of here on time. I’m so sorry.”

“No, that’s okay!” I shook my head, “Don’t even apologize. You can’t control that.”

“I know, I just feel bad,” Sam huffed, before continuing, “Cause I need to ask a favor, too.”

I stepped to the side as a group of customers moved past me, whispering apologies. “I’m- sorry, guys- scusa- sorry, um- I’m not busy. What do you need?”

“If we ordered food from somewhere, could you go pick it up and bring it to us? I’ll cover you,” he offered.

“No, of course. Just text me the address,” I reassured him. “And I’ll cover myself. You got me the other night, anyways.”

“What? When?”

“At the restaurant? You covered-”

“Sam! Can you please tune ii’s drums again? Something’s not fucking working!”

“One minute!” Sam seemed to hold the phone away from his mouth as he spoke, which I was grateful for. “Gotta go, Daz. I’ll send you the place. Text me your order and I’ll let you know the details.”

“Okay, love you.”

“Love you. Bye-”

He cut himself off, three beeps resounding, signifying that he had hung up. Immediately, I received a text with the name of the restaurant. I quickly found something easy on the menu and replied. While I waited for him to give me the information regarding the order, I decided to head back to the hotel. I needed to drop off my shopping bags and honestly fix my hair.

Because I would be seeing Oliver.

And, despite myself, my own self interest and boundaries, I wanted to look good for him. So what if he hated me- he thought I was hot. And, I’d break my own back to just get him to look at me for one single, fleeting moment.

-

Two hours later, I was flashing my ID to the venue’s security, being led through the entrance by a worker, and wound up standing just inside the pit, right where the floor dipped down. The music was even louder in person, yet I could hear it more clearly. Oliver wasn’t on stage, nor anywhere to be seen, which I was grateful for. I needed just another moment to prepare myself to see him.

I couldn’t help but smile at Max, who was spinning around the stage, his large bass whipping through the air, effortlessly. He wore casual clothing, a sight I was used to, but had his stage mask pulled down over his face. There was a small bump from his bun, which I chuckled at seeing.

Adam and Cy were dressed similarly, with those same masks on, each fit with their own instruments. They seemed to be rehearsing a song, focused on the sound mix and not the singing, considering Oliver wasn’t with them. After a minute or so of me standing there, watching them, actually enjoying the music I was hearing, the song ended.

Sam walked out onto stage, a headset down over his curly hair, a clipboard in hand, “That was good, guys. Sounds better. Soon as Daisy gets here, we’ll break. Wanna go from the top? I’ll grab Oli-”

“Daisy!” Max, who had been fiddling with the strings on his bass, glanced up when Sam mentioned me. He spotted me, towards the back of the room, shifting the bags in my hands.

I lifted the food up in a sort of greeting, grinning as everyone looked to me, “Hey, guys!”

“Oh, thank God,” Sam wasted no time in taking off his headset, tossing it and the clipboard onto an amp next to him.

Max set his bass down, too, joining Sam as he b-lined for the stairs. Sam took a bag from my left hand and Max took the other, greeting me with kind thank-you’s and a hug from the taller man. “We’re so happy you’re here,” Max wrapped an arm around my shoulders, guiding me as we followed after Sam.

I adjusted my slipping purse strap, giggling slightly, “Really?”

“We actually are,” Adam spoke up as we bounded up the stairs.

I didn’t know where we were going, but the guys headed backstage, Cy joining in our group. Max added, “Today has been a fucking shitshow. You’re, like, a ray of sunshine in the rain, love.”

“Oh,” I grinned with a blush eating at my cheeks, “Well, then, I’m happy to be here.”

I couldn’t see much of the band’s expressions behind their masks, but I knew their words were true. Each of their pairs of eyes shone joy, lit up like fireworks.

We continued our short conversation until we reached a back room, where Sam held the door open for all of us while we piled in. Max let go of me now, moving to unpack the take out bag on the counter. I guessed this was their dressing room, considering there were racks of clothes, stray bottles of paint laying about, and bags of theirs that I recognized sat at each of the four chairs pushed into the vanity.

I didn’t notice Oliver in the corner of the room, fiddling with a piano, and I didn’t even hear the notes he was playing. I was too busy helping Max, matching everyone up with their food order, giggling as the bassist poked my side.

“You want something to drink?” He asked me, moving to a mini-fridge in the corner of the room.

I set my own carton of food down on the counter beside Max’s, then followed him. I met eyes with Oliver- well, I met eyes with the blackened slits of his mask- nearly tripping over myself. My words stuttered out as the notes he keyed out came to my hearing.

Oliver wore black, fabric pants, black socks, and a black cloak, with white emblems on the elbows. His lips and the very edge of his nose were visible beneath his mask, and I noticed he was murmuring some melody to himself. I knew that he was looking at me because I could feel the burn of his dark eyes on my skin. I peeled my gaze away, feeling my face get hot.

And I noticed he was shirtless.

This image drew another memory from the trenches of my mind.

“Wanna keep staring at me or go to bed?”

I knew I had worn his hoodie to bed, but I hadn’t remembered that he took it off of his own back.

What I replied with, what he proceeded to say afterwards- these were all blanks, holes in my memory. But, I knew, now, that he had literally given me the shirt off his back.

I looked to the slits of his mask, again, brows furrowed, jaw slack. Oliver quickly dipped his head, focused on the piano that sat on the stand before him. Max peered over his shoulder, crouched down in front of the mini-fridge. “Love? Daisy? Drink?”

I moved my head from side to side, slowly, peeling myself from my trance. I glanced down at Max, breathing deeply, shutting my slack chin. “Uh…yeah. Yeah, please. Just- water. Thanks.”

I noticed Max flicker his eyes between me and Oliver, blond brows furrowing slightly. “Oh…kay. Here you go.”

I reached out and took the bottle from him. Turning on my heel, I peeled myself away from the corner of the room, finding myself back at my food quickly. Max joined me, carrying his own bottle. He examined me, almost curiously, as I turned to face him. “What?”

“No, nothing,” he cracked open his bottle and took a sip, still watching me.

‘Seriously, what?” I grew impatient and snapped the words, though quietly, unwilling to draw attention.

Max held up a defensive hand, “Nothing. Sorry. Just…” Max glanced over his shoulder, to Oliver. I followed his line of vision, face heating up. “Be careful.”

Be careful.

What the fuck was that supposed to mean?

-

I’d rushed home after eating with everyone yesterday, avoiding Max, who had asked me to step outside with him after we tossed our trash away. I claimed I had a headache and needed to go lay down. Instead, I spent the evening in the hotel pool, resisting the urge to drown my stupid self in the water.

I didn’t even join the group for dinner, not even when Sam called my phone and asked where I was. He said he didn’t see me in our room. I lied and said that I’d gone out. Afraid they’d find me swimming, I snuck up to our room, changed, and made true of my words. I went to some stupid dive bar, bought tickets to see some local comedian. Some of his set was in Italian, but some in English, so I enjoyed myself as best as possible.

In the morning, I didn’t even join everyone for breakfast. I didn’t want to take any chances of seeing Oliver, nor Max, now that he knew of this stupid fucking crush I had. I waited until Sam left, then got up, showering, dressing and preparing myself to be gone all day.

I had my tour group today, so I texted Sam and told him not to wait up for me later. I grabbed breakfast at some local cafe I’d yet to try before making it to the bus. I was accompanied by some older English ladies and a group of Australian bachelorettes. We had a lot of fun together, not weighed down by the presence of any men. By the end of the day, I’d made a few friends, gained new contacts in my phone, and had a load of photos I needed to go through.

It was dark when I returned to the hotel. I sped past by the dining room, hoping everyone couldn’t see me b-lining for the elevator. Just when I thought I was in the clear, as the steel doors began to slide shut, someone stuck their hand through the partition. The elevator dinged as the doors peeled back open.

I frowned, shifting on my feet, wrapping my arms around my stomach, as Max stepped inside. He shot me a soft smile, stepping in beside me. “Hey, love. How was your tour?”

I shrugged and avoided his eye contact. Max sighed, facing the doors, as he shoved his hands into his pockets. Three floors passed by on the little digital screen before he spoke again.

“I’m sorry for giving you such a cryptic message yesterday-”

“Listen,” I interrupted him, a gross taste in my mouth, “I don’t want to talk about it, okay? I’m just trying to- ignore it, alright? It’s stupid and I don’t want to deal with it because I feel like it’ll just cause drama, yeah? Can we just…act like it never happened?”

I finally looked Max in the eye, shoulders tensed, hopeful that he would agree.

“That’s a good idea,” he nodded slowly.

“Really?”

Max gave a pathetic chuckle, “Really. I said be careful because I thought you were going to pursue something with him. And, Daisy, I just think- you’re too good for him. I love Oliver. He’s one of my best mates, but- he’s a wreck. He doesn’t have his life together. He’s so involved in his music, and this band, and he just doesn’t make time for anything else. Not even himself.”

‘That’s kind of sad,” I scrunched my nose, “have you talked to him about having healthier coping mechanisms?”

“Believe me,” Max waved me off, “we have. He goes to therapy. So, that’s something. But, I think it’s still gonna take a while before he learns to balance his personal life and this…this insane amount of attention we’re all receiving. You deserve a lot more than that. You deserve goodness and light because that’s what you are. I won’t let you get yourself involved in a shitty situation with him.”

“I don’t even know what it is about him,” I brushed my hands down my sides, as if attempting to wipe myself clean of Oliver. “Just…he’s an asshole to me-”

“I know,” Max rolled his eyes, “I’ve been talking to him about that, too.”

“Thanks,” I chuckled. Then, I sighed, and continued, “I just keep getting these flashbacks from the other night, when I was drunk. He was being…so kind to me. And, I’m a stupid fucking idiot. I get attached to people easily. So, my brain is just- fucked. I don’t want to think about him like this, but…”

“It’s okay,” Max lay a hand on my arm, drawing my gaze to his. It calmed me a bit, the soothingness of his stormy blue eyes. “We’ve just gotta get you laid. I promise that you’ll forget about him in an instant.

I bit my lip, giggling at his eyes, “You’re probably right. How about next week? I’ll download a dating app. You make sure I go out with somebody, yeah?”

“Now, that I can do,” Max tugged me into his side and leaned his cheek against my head. I wrapped my arms around his waist, comforted in his hug. “I bet these Italian boys will

The elevator doors opened again. I stepped out, turning to Max, who held the doors open, to say, “I’ll see you at breakfast tomorrow, okay?”

He reached out a hand, booped my nose, “Okay, darling.”

“It’s complicated, darling…We can have this conversation when you’re sober. Can we do that, darling?”

Fuck.

-

I couldn’t sleep.

There was still something missing, I just knew it. One more line from Oliver, one more slurred response from me. But, from what I had, from what I had grappled at desperately with my shaking fingers, I knew things were not what they had seemed to be.

I rolled over in bed, trying not to make too much noise because I knew Sam was fast asleep- evident from the snores he elicited. But, I let a small huff pull from my throat, a frustration building up in my chest that made me want to cry. My pillow was warm on both sides, the room was stuffy, sweat was pooling on my neck. My mouth was dry and I couldn’t find a good position to lay in. I just wanted to go to bed!

But Oliver was haunting me like a ghost.

His words resounded in my head, over and over, singing like when I’d get a line from a song stuck up there. They teased me, knowing they knew everything that I didn’t.

After kicking the covers off of me and throwing a clenched fist against the bed, I decided it was best for me to just get up. I pulled sweatpants beneath my long t-shirt, shoveled my feet inside my slippers, and grabbed my purse and phone. I headed for the vending machine first, purchasing a bottle of water. I cracked it open as the elevator doors shut.

I examined the buttons laid out before me. I could go down to the lobby, see if the bar was still open. But, drinking sounded disgusting right now. It would probably make me do something stupid, anyways. The roof was tempting, too. I really wanted to go there. But, part of me worried that Oliver would be there.

Part of me hoped he would be, too.

Before I knew it, the doors were opening to the roof. There was another pool up here, one I didn’t know about. Given the time- 1 am- there weren’t any guests swimming. I was going to take advantage of this newfound opportunity tomorrow, considering it was one of our last days in Florence.

I walked towards it, examining the crystal blue waters. I wanted to take a dip now, knowing it would clear my head. The shining moonlight and chlorine chemicals would force me to think more efficiently. I settled for sitting on the edge, sweatpant legs tugged up enough that I could sink my feet in.

I shuffled my playlist, some Taylor Swift song playing faintly beneath the sounds of the city beneath me. Car horns beeped, music poured from open dive-bar doorways, crowds of people rowdied down the streets. As noisy as it was, with the pool pump humming alongside the music of the night, it was peaceful.

I became mindful of my own thoughts, tracking them down, lassoing them up, so I could sift through them and organize everything.

Oliver had told me it was complicated. What was complicated? What had he wanted to speak about later? What conversation did he want to have with me, sober? From everything else I remembered- his tearing words as he shed his hoodie, his lingering touch on my body, his sweet use of the word darling- there was a tension between us that night. Was that what he wanted to discuss? Was that what was complicated?

I didn’t have much peace and quiet to myself because, soon after I sat down, the elevator doors opened. I quickly stood from the pool, shoving my cuffed pants down, exiting out of the Spotify app. I don’t know why the position I had been in felt so intimate, but I didn’t want this stranger to intrude on it.

Not that it was a stranger.

I should have known Oliver would come up here.

I crossed my arms over my chest as a breeze blew through the roof. Too, I wanted to take a defensive stance against him. He looked up when he stepped out of the elevator, cigarette already lit upon his lips.

“Oh,” he took it between his fingers, smoke pouring from his puffed cheeks. “Sorry-”

He tossed the butt to the concrete ground of the roof, stomping it out with the toe of his black Converse. “Didn’t know you’d be up here.”

Okay, that was something, too. He chose not to smoke around me. That was courteous…that was the man who had given me the shirt off his back.

I tilted my head, looking up at him as he moved closer. Why was that when we were alone, on some roof, or behind the doors of his hotel room, he felt like he could speak to me? I wanted to ask, but I wasn’t that bold.

Instead, I said, “Thanks.”

Oliver moved past me, approaching a set of chairs positioned towards the farthest wall of the roof. He sat down, stretching his legs out onto the ledge above. He leaned back in his chair and flipped his hood atop his hair. I watched him from where I stood, unsure of what I was to do. Should I sit back down on the edge of the pool, continue to ruminate over the very man now sharing the air with me?

He answered the question for me, peering over his shoulder before waving a hand, “You can come sit.”

I didn’t know if I wanted to.

But, I guess, my body did. Because I found myself pulling my legs to my chest, sat on the chair beside him, following his gaze to the city before us.

We didn’t say anything to each other for a while. To be honest, my mind had gone quiet. While my meditation on the side of the pool had been peaceful, this…this was different. This was soothing, tranquil, to just listen to his soft breathing, to feel his presence just beside me.

Eventually, though, Oliver surprisingly spoke up. I felt him look at me, but I kept my chin balanced on my knee, kept my eyes on the streetlights below. “You don’t remember anything?”

It sounded hopeful, which only fed my suspicion that something happened between us the other evening that was far from friendly, far from something he could just write off.

I chewed on my bottom lip, words choking in my throat. “Not really.”

Oliver examined me for a few moments, then hummed, “Okay.”

Just as I turned my head to see him, he moved his eyes to the city. I spoke softly, timid, “Is there something I should be remembering?”

We finally met eyes. Oliver looked taken aback to see that I was staring at him. He scratched his neck, seemingly nervously, and shrugged softly. “Not really,” he echoed my words.

I squinted slightly. “Okay.”

At the same time, we both looked back at the view.

I focused on his breathing again, listening for dips, breaks in the air he pulled in and out of his lungs, hoping I could read into his rhythm enough to find answers. He seemed focused, too, dark brows furrowed slightly.

I guess we were both thinking similarly because, at the same time, we turned to each other and began again. I started with, “Are you sure-?”

Meanwhile, he said, “You don’t remember-? Oh, go ahead.”

“No, you go,” I shifted in my seat.

Oliver licked his pink lips, glancing to his feet, “I was just gonna say…you don’t remember coming back to the hotel?”

I searched his pupils as I responded- lied, “Not really…you’re sure there’s nothing you want to…to tell me? Something important I should be remembering?”

“I don’t think so,” he quickly peeled his gaze away.

“Why did you tell me to come sit with you?” I murmured, the words slipping before I could stop them.

Oliver sighed, “I don’t know. Thought it would be nice. Like when we were in London-”

“Like when we were in London and you proceeded to pretend like we never did this? Like when we were in London and you kept interrupting me, so I couldn’t tell everyone we had been up on the roof together?”

“Yeah, like that,” he shrugged.

I scoffed, shaking my head at his passiveness. Impulsively, I decided to stand, decided to just not care like he seemingly did, “I’m gonna go to bed.”

I made for the elevator, hearing a scuffle behind me as Oliver must have stood to follow. I hit the button a few times in the hopes that I could escape inside the steel doors before he could catch up. I peered over my shoulder and saw that he was just watching me.

I shook my head again, facing the elevator with squared shoulders. Then, his footsteps began moving closer. I reached out a shaking hand, thumb punching against the button, rapidly.

“Daisy,” he called out, just a few feet behind me.

The doors opened, I shot inside. I pressed my floor number just as Oliver reached the elevator. He slipped inside while the doors slid closed. I huffed, tilting my head up to stare frustratingly at the ceiling. He watched me.

“Daisy,” he spoke, softly, “I need you to be honest with me. What do you remember?”

“Oh, cause you’re such a conscientious person yourself!” I threw a hand up and it smacked against my outer thigh. I just kept shaking my head.

Oliver ran a hand through his hair, knocking his hood off. “I really don’t think we’re on the same page right now, Daisy. Please, if we can just talk about this, if you could just tell me what you remember.”

“If I lay down next to you, I don’t think I could keep my hands to myself.”

I stared blankly at Oliver as my head rushed.

He continued with the belief that he now had my full attention, hands braced between us, “I want to figure this out, okay?”

“I do want you.”

“Oliver,” I frowned, pleading eyes burning through him. “I don’t…I can’t play this game with you.”

“What- what game?” he lay his arms at his sides, shoulders slackening. “Daisy, I’m confused.”

“So am I, Oliver. I’m so…you’re fucking with my head.”

“What do you remember?”

“It doesn’t matter, Oliver,” I waved him off. Then, I brushed hair behind my ears, shaking fingers rubbing my neck nervously. “I just don’t want to do this with you. Max…I know Max is right. I should listen to him.”

“What? What did Max say to you? Daisy, please-”

The elevator doors opened, revealing our floor. I glanced between him and the opening, a promising escape from all of this, at least for now.

Oliver seemed to beg me, with his dark eyes, to stay. But, like always, he just didn’t say anything. So, I smiled sadly at him, lips tight, arms wrapped securely around my stomach. And I left him in the elevator.

I made it back to Sam and I’s room, quietly guiding the door shut behind me. I kicked off my slippers and turned into the bathroom. I needed to splash some cold water on my face. However, before I could close the door, a soft knock sounded from the hallway. I rested my hand against the doorknob, holding my breath, as I stared towards the noise.

I knew who it was. I knew what he wanted.

If I was as smart as I thought I was, as protective of my boundaries and my peace, I just wouldn’t answer.

But, as much as I hated to admit, I wanted him, too. I wanted him like a flower wants the sun, thirsty and impoverished. Ever-reaching, fingers stretched out, dragging through the stale air for just a spot of light.

So, I opened the door. I let him burn me with that distant gaze, let him speak my name like a whispered prayer, let him take my cheek and hip in his hands, let him tug me out into the hallway, and I let him kiss me like a solar flare, explosive and scarring.

[lovesickonmybed]

all you had to do was stay | (1/?)

eddie Munson x OC | chapter 2 | series masterlist

summary | vivian and eddie were best friends until he betrayed her. she decided to get revenge, but it went too far.

word count | 4,156.

warnings | swearing, alcohol, underage drinking, sexual content, themes of abandonment, smoking, and bullying.

a/n | i don't have anyone to edit for me or anything like that before posting so please feel free to give me some feedback about this first chapter!! also listen to all you had to do was stay (taylor's version) while reading this!

Nobody spends their spring break praying for it to be over…except maybe for me. I used to spend my spring breaks at Eddie Munson’s trailer playing D&D and listening to whatever metal albums we had all put enough money together to buy. Now I spend them at endless parties praying that whatever is in my cup will be enough to drown out my hatred for the people I now surround myself with. I would kill to be back at Eddie’s trailer playing D&D and listening to Black Sabbath, I would kill to be anywhere but Lovers Lake with a beer I didn’t even want in my hand.

Eddie became my best friend in 6th grade when I moved to Hawkins. Back then, I was pretty awkward and pretty angry at absolutely everything. My dear old dad had packed up everything and left me and my mom to try to survive on our own, so we moved back to my mom’s hometown of Hawkins, Indiana. It was nothing compared to back home in New York. I hated it, I hated my dad, I hated everything. But then I met someone who understood my anger, someone who knew exactly how I felt. His name was Eddie Munson. He was dorky as shit but also the coolest kid I had ever met. His hair was buzzed, he wore band tees, and he hung out with a girl who was just as cool as him. Veronica Ecker, or just Ronnie for short. She was tall with dark hair and a baseball cap she refused to ever take off. 

I remember walking in on my first day of 6th grade at Hawkins Middle. I was oh so lucky to be a new student on Halloween day. Everyone was in costume, I was just in an orange sweater and black jeans. I couldn’t afford a costume and we had thrown out all my old ones in the move. We couldn’t bring too much with us to Hawkins. There were already rumors about me before I had even stepped foot on school grounds. Rumors that I moved there because I got kicked out of every school in New York for starting fights. Another rumor spread that I was somebody from a government experiment that they had planned to plant at the school for research. It’s impressive just how creative 6th graders can get. The truth was too boring for them and nobody had cared to hear it, well, not nobody. Eddie Munson had waltzed up to me as I sat on the bleachers, he was wearing a pair of devil horns, a big grin spread across his face. “You’re the new girl, right?” He had asked.

“If you’re gonna ask me about the rumors then they’re both true and you should definitely avoid me,” I said sarcastically. I couldn’t help being defensive after having kids whisper about me all day, giggling to one another about how weird I was.

“Nah, they’re bullshit. You don’t look like you could win any fights against anybody,” Eddie joked.

I liked him from that very moment.

“You don’t know that, I bet I could take you, shrimp,” I joked back. It was the first time in a while that I had smiled, the first time in a while there was anything in my eyes besides anger.

“You know, maybe you could…but just think of all the people we could take on as a team,” he smiled. His smile is infectious and the grin on my face got even wider.

“You’re right…we’d be a great team…I’m Viv, by the way,” I said, sticking out my hand for him to shake. I had cracked royal blue nail polish on my nails and a variety of different rings I had found in my mom’s things littered both hands. His hands weren’t much different than mine, his nails had clearly been chewed short and he also had his own assortment of rings.

“Eddie, Eddie Munson…” 

From that moment on we were friends. He introduced me to Ronnie and then in 7th grade we met Dougie and he joined our group. We had all even performed together in our school's talent show. They had me on vocals because I couldn't play any instruments and I would say that I killed it but half of Hawkins wanted us dead or expelled after that so maybe it’s for the best if I forget it ever happened. Or if I forget that anything had ever happened with that group at all. It’s so strange to know that the people who had taken me in and became my first friends here are the ones who hate me most now. I can’t say I blame them though…

When high school started we were all losers, I mean we were losers in middle school too but it became even more obvious once we hit high school. Jocks hated Eddie and Dougie, targeting them constantly. The cheerleaders and preppy girls had it out for me and Ronnie as well. Nothing says ‘Loser’ like getting trash dumped on you or having to memorize your friends' locker combinations for every time they were stuffed into their own locker and needed you to get them out. For all of Freshman and Sophomore year, I was called ‘Pizza Face’ or told that I was ‘flat as an ironing board’ y’know just all the best things you could say to a deeply insecure teenage girl whose hormones had favored developing acne over developing breasts. 

We had taken our love for D&D with us into high school and created a safe haven for people like us, the freaks and the outcasts. Eddie called them his ‘lost little sheep’ and it became his mission to find them…but it turns out a lot of those other freaks and outcasts had believed the lies fed to them about D&D being satanic so attendance was lacking. Nonetheless, we had somewhere we felt safe and it was exactly what we needed. Eddie became our leader, which sadly meant he’d get the most shit from bullies like Tommy H. 

There was nobody worse than Tommy H. His father owned the biggest and most successful car dealership in town. On top of that, he was also a star athlete (which is shocking considering how awful he is at pretty much everything I’ve ever witnessed him do) and that meant he could get away with whatever he wanted. He’d always go after Eddie, he’d start shit with him and then go crying to Principal Higgins about how Eddie had started it and there started Eddie’s record of so-called bad behavior. Being a Munson means it’s practically impossible to do anything and not get shit for it, Tommy knew this and used it to his advantage. He used Eddie as a punching bag and would get away with it, hell most of the time Eddie was the one taking the blame when Tommy would walk away without a scratch on him. And all of this makes me hate myself even more for what I did to Eddie…what I did to all of them…

It was the summer right before the start of junior year. I had been in New York visiting family for June and most of July. I had called Eddie almost every day to let him know about my trip, I did leave out a few key details though…the details of how I had gotten my braces off, how I had finally found something that fixed my acne problems, and most importantly I kept it a secret that I had finally started to develop. I had always had a bit of a crush on Eddie, as we had gotten older it had only gotten worse. I’ve never been good with relationships, my first kiss came from a game of Spin the Bottle in 8th grade. It was awkward, messy, and something I’d pay thousands to erase from the minds of all who witnessed it. I had a boyfriend at one point too, I’d use the term boyfriend very loosely though. It was Charlie Stump, he was a loser like me and we ‘dated’ Freshman year. Our relationship consisted of holding hands and sharing one kiss before he broke it off because he thought metal music was satanic. He was just something to fill the void that I had hoped Eddie would fill instead.

Ronnie had told me about the time Eddie had tried to kiss her when they were 13, I remember wishing it had been me instead, I would’ve let him kiss me whenever he had wanted. Me and Eddie were complicated…we were flirty with one another but whenever someone would address it we’d both claim it was a joke. I lied every single time. I cherished every single touch I got from him, they all felt electric. I cherished every time we’d hold hands to cross the street or to lead one another through a crowd, I cherished the kisses he’d give me on the cheek or forehead whenever I had saved his ass from his bullies, I cherished how he’d hold me against him when we’d watch horror movies. I was never really scared, but he never had to know that. I was lovestruck, but I knew he’d never feel the same. I saw how certain girls would catch his eye, preppy cheerleaders, good girls, girls that were nothing like me. Girls with perfect skin, perfect teeth, perfect bodies, perfect lives. I couldn’t compare. 

When I had finally started to look like the girls that caught his eye I was overjoyed. It was stupid, I felt good because I thought I would finally have a chance with my best friend. My best friend who had been designated as the freak of Hawkins High. His house was my first stop when I returned from my trip to New York. It was late but his trailer was only about a mile from the apartment complex I lived in with my mother. I had put on my best outfit, something that would surely make him swoon. It was a black denim dress, it buttoned up and the skirt flared out at the bottom, it was cute. I had even learned to do nicer makeup when I was visiting my cousins. I switched out my heavy eyeliner for something more soft and subtle. Something that girls that he likes would wear. I walked over with a smile on my face and hope in my heart. This would be the night I would win him over…or so I thought. 

When I arrived at the Munson residence I was met with the site of an unfamiliar car parked in front of the trailer. It was way too nice to belong to Wayne or Eddie, it was out of place for Forest Hills Trailer Park. My heart was beating faster as I became anxious. Every step I took towards his door felt heavy, it was like my body was slowly becoming filled with lead. I took a deep breath and I finally was at his door. I knocked and waited. It took him a minute to answer the door and when he did I was shocked. He was shirtless and his hair was a mess, there were a few hickeys scattered across his neck and collarbones, he looked hot. But once I got over how good he looked I was overtaken by jealousy. It looks like somebody beat me to it.

“Holy shit…I was not expecting you, Viv,” He chuckled. He was almost unaware of his appearance, unaware that it’s pretty obvious what he’d been doing. 

“I-I just got back into town…I wanted to surprise you…I guess you’re busy…”

Before Eddie could respond I saw a girl walk up behind him, I recognized her instantly and became filled with rage. Nicole fucking Summers. The goddamned bitch who had been tormenting me since 6th grade, she was the one who made up the rumors about me moving to Hawkins for getting expelled from every school in New York. She’s the one who cut off a chunk of my hair in 7th grade, the one who told everyone I still wore a training bra in 8th grade. She was the one who started calling me ‘Pizza Face’ in Freshman year, going as far as to get all her friends to throw slices of pizza at me at lunch. Sophomore year she had stolen my clothes after gym when I was in the shower and I was forced to find them in just my underwear. Out of anyone he could’ve fucked, out of anyone he could’ve lost his virginity to why the fuck did it have to be her. Sure his options are slim but I was right there. 

I was beyond stunned when she began to speak. “Vivi, is that you? You look…different. I guess you grew out of your ugly duckling phase, huh?” She teased. She was in one of Eddie’s shirts, her makeup smeared and her neck was covered in hickeys just like Eddie’s. It took everything in me to not break both of their noses right then and there. 

“I’m just gonna go. Clearly, you’re busy,” I spat out at Eddie. He was lucky I was holding back my anger. I didn’t even let him respond before I was marching off and away from his door, once I was a far enough distance away I started to run. I screamed and I cried and I ran all the way home. My mascara burned my eyes but I ignored it. Eddie’s betrayal had hurt me worse than anything physical ever could. He didn’t notice that I changed, he didn’t care, he fucked the girl who had made my life miserable. At the time I didn’t know it was a one-time thing. She had wanted to brag to her friends about ‘taking the freaks virginity before his loser little friend got a chance.’ 

I locked myself in my room for days, I was beyond angry. I wanted to tear them both apart and then put them back together again so that I could do it all over again. I didn’t know what to think and I didn’t know what to do…until I did. I ignored any calls from Eddie, Ronnie, or Dougie. I told my mom that if they came looking for me to tell them I was sick. I couldn’t face any of them, if I did I wouldn’t have been able to hold myself back. I devised a plan, a plan to get Nicole back for fucking Eddie and one to get Eddie back for fucking Nicole. It was a plan that would go too far for too long. The few times I had gone out in public I had overheard something about there being a party at Steve Harrington's house. His parents were always gone and he hung out with just the people I needed for my plan. 

On a Saturday night in August, I found myself on the front doorstep of the Harrington residence. I was in an almost sheer blouse, my lacy red bra showing through the material, and a mini skirt, it was nothing like I had ever worn before. My makeup and hair were perfect, I knew what these guys liked, it was exactly what Eddie liked. I took a deep breath before waltzing in, heads turning as soon as I walked in the door. I had never been to a party before and I had certainly never looked like this before. “Do you have a staring problem or something, Caleb?” I asked one of Tommy’s cronies. He was closest to me and a perfect target for my plan.

His eyes were glued to me, raking up and down my body slowly. “When Nicole said you got hot I thought she was kidding…” He said as he licked his lips. I rolled my eyes and walked towards the kitchen to find something to drink. 

As I made my way into the kitchen I bumped into none other than Steve Harrington himself. He did a double-take when he saw me. “Holy shit…w-what are you doing here?”

“Can’t a girl go to a party, Harrington?” I replied. He was still sputtering and his face was all red, it felt great to fluster a man like this for once in my life. 

“B-But…you…you’re-”

“I’m what? I’m a loser? An outcast? A freak? Not anymore, Harrington.”

He cleared his throat and got a hold of himself, “Where’s Munson? Aren't you two inseparable or something?”

“Not anymore…I umm…let’s just say I outgrew him.” I was totally bullshitting. 

“Really?” Steve asked. He was looking at me the same way that Caleb was when I walked in. 

“Really. Now do you mind showing me where you’ve got some vodka, I really need a drink.” What I needed was liquid courage, courage for the idiotic bullshit I planned to do that night. Steve led me to the vodka and I took a shot, and then another. I was on a mission but fuck I needed that to be able to succeed. 

I look over at Steve and bat my eyelashes, “Hey, Stevie, do you know where Tommy’s at?”

He scratches the back of his neck as he tries to think, “Last I saw him he was outside in the pool.”

I get on my tip toes and kiss him on the cheek, “Thanks, Stevie.” His face is flushed when I walk off to go find Tommy. It doesn’t take me long, he’s lounging on one of the pool chairs with a beer in his hand. He’s not somebody I find particularly attractive but I’ll have to fake it for my plan. I smile down at him. “Hey Tommy,” I say as I bite my lip. He looks up at me with wide eyes that get even wider as he takes in my appearance. 

“No fucking way…Nicole wasn’t lying…” He’s taking his time to admire me, I hate how his eyes feel on me.

“It’s amazing what a few months can do, huh? Do you…do you mind if I sit down with you?” I bat my eyelashes at him and he crumbles beneath my gaze. 

“Be my guest…” His eyes are glued to my body, more specifically my chest. 

“So, how was your summer?” I ask, I sit across from him with my legs uncrossed, he has a perfect view of my lacy little thong. It’s red and leaves barely anything to the imagination, it’s ideal for a creep like him. His eyes trail down to the spot between my legs and he smirks.

“It would’ve been a lot better had I known you were spending it turning into this, fuck…” He groans. I’ve got him right where I want him.

“It’s amazing what a summer away from Munson could do to a girl,” I giggle. It feels awful coming out of my mouth, worse than the vodka taste going down. 

“You’re done with him, huh? Wanted to join where you should’ve been the whole time…fuck if we had gotten our hands on you sooner just imagine what you would be Vivian…” He marvels, “I knew you weren’t like them…like those freaks. Bet Munson dragged you into all that satanic shit, you’re better than that, better than him…” Tommy rambles. 

“He did…I-I’m not like that anymore,” I lie through my fucking teeth.

“Yeah? You a good girl now?” Tommy teases. 

“I am…can I show you just how good I am, Tommy?” I flirt. 

“Harrington’s got a guest room upstairs that’ll be perfect, baby. Think of it as your initiation into the good side,” Tommy says. I think he’s exaggerating that last part, that he’s being dramatic, but after what we did that night he had no plans of ever letting me return to Eddie again.

In Sex ED they don’t tell you how needy a guy can be after a one-night stand. This was supposed to be a one-time thing that would get spread around to Eddie so that he’d hurt as bad as he had hurt me. But instead, Tommy got attached, and I became his little project. He planned to mold me into his little homecoming queen. And Eddie…Eddie was more than hurt, he hated me. I can’t blame him, I hated myself for it. I expected an angry phone call or an aggressive confrontation but instead, I was met with radio silence, not only from him but from every single one of my old friends. I went too far and had no other choice than to stay with my new ‘friends’. On the first day of Junior year I walked into school a completely different person. People had heard about my transformation and they had also heard about me hooking up with Tommy, I was already the talk of the school and first period hadn’t even started. When I said that Tommy planned to turn me into his little homecoming queen I wasn’t kidding. He made Tina and Carol take me shopping at the goddamn Gap. They picked me out new outfits, told me how to do my hair, who to talk to, what music to listen to, who to be. The worst part is that I kind of…liked it. I liked how I looked in my new outfits, I liked how my hair framed my face, hell I even liked the music they picked out. It turns out Madonna isn’t too bad when you don’t have somebody trying to shove down your throat that enjoying her music is the worst crime someone could commit. 

So on the first day of school I walked in wearing a pink turtleneck, a light washed denim skirt, and a pair of knee high white boots. I felt pretty, I felt confident, I felt fucking amazing. Well I did until I saw my locker. Eddie had taken the liberty of breaking into the school and defacing my locker, in blood red spray paint the word ‘TRAITOR’ had been written for all to see. It didn’t take a genius to know it was him. He watched me walk up to it with a proud smile on his face, leaning against the lockers right across from mine. Ronnie and Dougie were beaming with him. I was raging, I wanted to punch him in the face. I wanted to yell that he was the traitor for what he did with Nicole Summers, but instead I walked up to him and simply said, “The same could be said for you. At least I wasn’t a pity fuck.” That set him off. Before I know it he’s dragging me down the hall by my arm and into the janitor's closet, he slams me against the wall and for a second I smile. Maybe in some other universe he’s dragging me in here to confess his feelings for me and to kiss me, not in this one though, in this one I ruined any chance of that I could’ve possibly had.

He glares at me like he wants me dead and I’m sure he does. He has me pinned against the wall, his face only inches from mine as he begins to speak. “You may have new friends and a new look but you’ll always be a fucking loser!” He spits. It’s an anger I’ve only heard reserved for people like Tommy. “Your new friends used to treat you like you were nothing, don’t think they won’t drop you once they get bored of you. They’ll throw you out and you’ll have nobody because you burned any bridges you could’ve had back to us. You’re fucking pathetic, Vivian.” Eddie spits in my face and walks out, leaving me to process really how bad I had fucked up. He’s right, but I can’t go back now. I don’t have that choice anymore, I lost my chance when Tommy unbuttoned my blouse upstairs at the party. 

So here I am, senior year, still unfortunately friends with Tommy, Carol, and Tina. Carol had the grand idea of throwing a party at Lover’s Lake and was ready to have my head if I skipped out on one more party this week. I didn’t bother showing up in a swimsuit, I have no intentions of swimming. I’m in a red tight fitting t-shirt, black denim cutoffs that show off way more of my ass than my friends thought was acceptable, and a pair of beat up black converse. I’m standing away from most of the crowd sipping on a beer that tastes like actual piss and regretting giving into Carol's whining about how I just had to come tonight. I scan the crowd and attempt to pick out somebody who I might not hate spending my night with when I see him. He’s in a white t-shirt, ripped light wash jeans, and a pair of boots. His hair is tied up and he’s lighting a cigarette. Fuck.