#so we're just trying to keep her comfortable and warm til she passes

[queeniecamps]

sorry i haven't finished that one wip yet, my cat's trying to die lol

[rainbowglittr]

Through the Dark: Sneak Peek

Prologue

"The couple has elected to prepare their own vows. Jesse you can start." He passed Jesse the Mic. Jesse grabbed my hand.

"Jaleia, from the first time we met I was drawn to you like a magnet. Even as an eleven year old, I knew you were someone I wanted to be around forever. As the years passed my love for you not only grew but I knew that I didn't just love you but I was IN love with you. Unfortunately we drifted apart and moved away from each other. But what is meant for you will always find you as we found each other at that Starbucks. Ever since that day I knew I couldn't let you slip away again. You are beautiful beyond imagination, intelligent beyond belief, funny beyond comparison, and the only person I want to love for the rest of my life. I want to grow with you, love you, and cherish you for the rest of my life. I know we haven't seen the darkest hours yet or the roughest waters of our lives yet,  but there's no one I'd rather navigate the seas with.

Jaleia, I promise that I will always be worthy of your trust, considerate of your feelings, that I will never stop getting to know you, that I will allow myself to be vulnerable with you like no one else, and lastly that I will always put your needs ahead of my own. I love and accept everything about you, the good and the bad. I love you, Jay. I promise to love you, protect you, listen to you, and elevate you, for the rest of my life. I love you and everyday I thank God that I met you and that he made us for each other. Thank you for joining me on the crazy journey we call life. I am so blessed to love and to be loved by you. I love you. I'm done now."

Everyone laughed. I wiped the the tears from my eyes. I was so nervous. But hearing Jesse declare his love for me it warmed me. All the months of planning, sleepless nights trying to make it work, and now here we are dedicating our lives to each other.

"Jaleia, your vows."

"I should've went first, how, how can you follow that up?" I said. Jesse laughed along with the guests. I held his hand and felt him squeeze it.

"I can't top your vows, I won't try I mean you're a song writer...so no competition but I am going to speak from my heart.

As much as I can try to be the most confident person in the room, I'm not. And I needed someone to understand that. To find someone to be vulnerable  with, someone that loves me without question, that I can trust with the craziest and darkest parts of me, means everything to me and is so rare. You are so unselfish, loving, talented and amazing. I am so amazed at how we complement each other. There are no words to explain how much I love, value, and trust you. I love you and all your annoying habits like how you can never match your socks by yourself. And I mean never. I also love how you learned how to cook Sheppard's pie at three in the morning because I had been working for twelve hours straight and craved it. Because of you I've never been scared to follow my dreams or be successful. And by your side I can't wait to encourage and support yours. I love you and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you. I thank God everyday for you and I am so happy to be your wife. I promise to love you, encourage you, and support you. I love you, Jess." As I spoke tears followed down my face even though I promised myself I wouldn't cry my eyes out. Jesse squeezed my hand again and mouthed "I love you." I mouthed it back.

"Now it's time to exchange the rings. Can we have the rings please? Jesse take this ring and place on Jaleia's finger." Jesse took the ring and slid it on my finger.

"Do you, Jesse Kendrick Thomas,

Take Jaleia Serena Michaels as your lawfully wedded wife,

To love, protect, and cherish,

For better, for worse,

For richer, for poorer,

In sickness and in health,

Faithfully,

Til death do you part?"

Jesse looked in my eyes and said

"I do."

"And Do you, Jaleia Serena Michaels,

Take Jesse Kendrick Thomas,

As your lawfully wedded husband,

To love, protect, and cherish,

For better, for worse,

For richer, for poorer,

In sickness and in health,

Faithfully,

Til death to do you part?"

I put the ring on Jesse's finger and looked him in his beautiful eyes.

"I do." As I said it a loud sigh erupted from Jesse's mom. Jesse squeezed my hand again. He looked at me as if to say ignore it, and then smiled.

"Then by the powers vested in me by the state of New Jersey, in the presence of God, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

The guest cheered. Jesse lifted my veil and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck. I never felt as happy as I was in this moment. Our noses touched as we stared into each other eye.

"We're married now babe. I love you." He said.

"Yeah we are, I love you." We turned to face all of our friends and family. Everyone was clapping and cheering except for Jesse's mom. She had a sour look on her face. I don't know why it bothered me so much I knew she didn't like me but, couldn't she fake it for one day, a moment? But I smiled brighter and felt the energy of the room fill with love.

"For the first time, let me introduce you to Jesse and Jaleia Thomas!"

We walked down the aisle hand in hand, smiling and dancing to the cheers of all our friend and family. I kissed Jesse on the cheek. I really felt so warm and loved and happy, I started to cry again. When we got out the ceremony room, we walked out to one of the side rooms. We still had to take pictures while our guests had Cocktail hour.

"You know you're supposed to be happy right, not crying?"

"Yes I know, stupid. I love you husband!"

"I love you too, my beautiful wife." He leaned into me about to kiss me but I leaned back.

"Before you do that, we have pictures to take! You cannot mess up my makeup! "

Jesse sighed, "Ughhhhhhh...."

"Why do you hate taking pictures so much?"

"I don't, it just takes forever. I'm hungry. Can't I just-"

" No, if something gets on your tux, I'm going to be pissed. "

"Fine, let's just get this over with."

" You're so dramatic! " I rolled my eyes at him.

"I'm dramatic? Please, have you met yourself?"

I stood up, pretending to be offended. Then I thought of something.

" Babe, is your mom-"

"I don't care what my mom is doing as long as she's doing it quietly and it's not disruptive. Today is about us. Just us. I just married the most beautiful, sweetest, sexiest, amazing woman in the world. And I want to spend the rest of the day celebrating that. Also half drunk. More like in a comfortable buzz. Either way my mom can't ruin anything if we don't let her, okay? I love you and that's all that matters. Just us. Okay?" He said while holding my hands. I smiled and straightened his tux.

"Okay. You sir, are not too bad yourself. Ready for pictures?"

"Yes, let's go. But first-" Jesse caught me off guard and kissed me. His hands were on the sides of my face. My hands were on his chest and neck. It's like he put all of his love in this kiss. His lips moving slowly and sensually against mine. I felt warm and tingly all the down to my toes. We took a quick breath as looked into each other's eyes. Suddenly the door banged open.

"Guys, we are on a schedule! There is no spot on the schedule for secret hookups! There is a spot however, for pictures. We've been looking for you for like ten minutes!" Kiara said exasperated. As the Maid of Honor, she was also the "Wedding Director" making sure that I was staying on schedule, which I knew I wouldn't because it's my wedding day and time is irrelevant to me so she was tasked with keeping time.

"Sorry. We're coming! And we were not hooking up." I said, grabbing Jesse's hand and walking towards the door.

"That bright red lipstick on Jesse says otherwise. "

"Jesse! I told you!"

"What did I do?"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[shamelessllamapeanutthing]

My MatchaBlossom playlist

Here's the link to the playlist on Spotify-

Song meanings and POVs elaborated on down under.

Call it what you want- Taylor Swift

(Let's start with a TS song cause why tf not. I am and always will be a total slut for her 💜)

Okay, just the general vibe of this song is that of a person who's been through a bit and has now found a love so beautiful it's helping them heal and I feel like that ties in so well with Cherry and Joe's entire arc. I hear this song in Cherry's POV when Joe's affection is starting to restore his faith in love and life after Adam's done fucked it all up. Or even when his anxiety gets really fucking bad or whatever. It's just got big comfort vibes and I am a total whore for Cherry acknowledging and appreciating everything that Joe does for him.

All my flowers grew back as thorns,

Windows boarded up after the storm,

He built a fire just to keep me warm.

Explosion- Zolita

PINING JOE PINING JOE PINING JOE

*ahem* let me be more articulate.

TEENAGED PINING JOE

Don't call me about him I don't wanna hear

Put him out of your mind just make him disappear

Stop pretending you got nothing left to hide

My memory is slipping and it's killing me alive

Reached the bitter end

Can't pretend I'm not in love with my best friend, my best friend

Hate that you know me- BLEACHERS

Okay I think this song fits Cherry very well, especially when he is still trying to understand his dynamic with Joe. My personal headcanon is that Cherry is prone to bouts of self-hatred because of his anxiety and consequently, doesn't always consider himself deserving of Joe's love, and so, he tends to dislike it at times when Joe seems to understand him better than others and anticipate his needs so well, and I feel like this song depicts that beautifully.

Sometimes I hate that you know me so well (so well)

Sometimes I, I hate that you know me so well (and I hate ya)

Some days I, I wish that I wasn't myself (No)

No luck! (No)

And I hate that you know me so well

Heart attack- Demi Lovato

Okay, I can not be the only person who thinks of teenaged Cherry every time this song comes on. Imagine a Cherry who's flabbergasted by the strength of his feelings for Joe, and can never figure out what to do with himself.

Never break a sweat for the other guys

When you come around, I get paralyzed

And every time I try to be myself

It comes out wrong like a cry for help

It's just not fair; pain's more trouble than love is worth

I gasp for air; it feels so good, but you know it hurts

Lover- Taylor Swift

I have a very specific scene in mind when it comes to this song and that is MatchaBlossom slow-dancing in the first house they get together.

We could let our friends crash in the living room

This is our place, we make the call

And I'm highly suspicious that everyone who sees you wants you

I've loved you three summers now, honey, but I want 'em all

Make you mine- PUBLIC

You knew this song was going to end up on here lol.

Strangely enough, aware as I am of the fact that most of the fandom believes Joe was the one chasing Cherry (and I agree) this song just hits me as all Cherry's. It has all of his characteristic dogged determination and refusal to admit defeat lol

Well, I have called you darlin' and I'll say it again, again

So kiss me 'til I'm sorry, babe, that you are gone and I'm a mess

And I'll hurt you and you'll hurt me and we'll say things we can't repeat

Mess is Mine- Vance Joy

Slightly older, mellowed out MatchaBlossom, starting to realise they're in this together for the long run, that they always have been.

Further I feel like verse 1 and 2 respectively follow Joe and Cherry's POVs

First we have Joe, who is just brimming with the realisation that Cherry is his for good.

Talking like we used to do

It was always me and you

Shaken up and shipping out

Check me in and check me out

...

Hold on my darling

This mess was yours, now your mess is mine

Secondly, we have Cherry, who considers himself unbelievably lucky to have been considered worthy of Joe's love and keeps wondering if he is half as good a partner to the other man as he is to him.

See you in the market place

Walking around at 8 AM

Got two hours before my flight

Luck be on my side tonight

You're the reason that I feel so strong

The reason that I'm hanging on

You know you gave me all that time

Did I give enough of mine

More than Friends- BEKA HONNE

Baby MatchaBlossom pining. Really sweet, soft vibes. I keep thinking of shy, unsure junior high school Kaoru and Kojiro suddenly becoming blushing, stuttering messes around each other for a period of time as they both hit the realisation that they'd very much like to be kissing each other and it's very much not a Friend™ thing.

It happens after Joe has freshly realised that he is bi after all and Kaoru is exactly what he needs. Again, verse one reminds me of Joe, verse two of Cherry. They are down under respectively.

Driving home and those cats eyes got me seeing you

I'm always seeing you

I don't know how to tell you that I was wrong before

I thought I needed more

I was wondering if we could talk

I think about you every day

And the mixtape you made

Is all I ever to play

And every song reminds me that

You and I

Should be more than friends

...

I never thought I would see your face at my door again

Not at 3 AM

And I don't know just why I wasn't enough before

I thought you needed more

I know you came here to talk

Can't listen to the tape I made

It brings me too much pain

Cause every song reminds me that

You and I

Should be more than friends

This song can also work if you reverse the POV orders and then see it post Adam, but the vibe is a lil too soft for that.

Night go slow- Catey Shaw

MatchaBlossom but in a chill, lo-fi aesthetic.

The cars all stop where they are

When you take my hand, there is no time

Every moment that passes by with you

I wish I could rewind

Let go of your ways

And forget today

Just follow me tonight

Do you understand why I put all my plans on hold?

Not Afraid Anymore- Halsey

Okay, this one goes a lil heavy but imagine a traumatised Cherry, ya know after Ad*m, finally learning to let himself go and feel things again, emotionally and sexually, with Kojiro.

I also feel like they are two kinky bastards so really if you only wanna interpret it like that be my guest.

I am not ashamed anymore

I want something so impure

You better impress now, watching my dress now fall to the floor

Crawling underneath my skin, sweet talk with a hint of sin

Begging you to take me

Devil underneath your grin, sweet thing

But she play to win, heaven gonna hate me

People Crying Every Night- A R I Z O N A

I hear this song as Joe trying to get through to a hesitant Cherry, trying to make him see that while they don't get a say in so many other things, things that have happened and things that will happen, they get to choose the life they have together. They get to pick out their happy ending, build one out of scratch with each other and even if they have nothing else, at least they have this.

Oh and as the day

Turns into night

The things that we can't say

The things we try to hide

Like everyone else

We can't choose the way we die

Oh but we can choose

The way we live tonight

Oh I wish I had the answers

I wish I had the time

To give you all the reasons

Why it's worth it down the line

Ready to go- NEFFEX

This song is an ✨ aesthetic ✨

Okay but imagine, young, punk! MatchaBlossom, maybe around the time when they're travelling the world together?

It's all hot and heady, and Joe is thrilled by the wild, wild force of nature Kaoru is. He can't do anything but give in.

She said stay for a minute

Play with my limits

Drink till we're sinnin'

Baby I'm ready to go

...

She said she's finally alive

When she starts losing control

I said I know what to do

Just let our bodies go

Shine a Light- BANNERS

Another Kojiro song. This one reflects his inner struggle as he feels torn between wanting to comfort and protect Cherry after Adam, and the fact that he is hopelessly in love with Cherry who inadvertently keeps hurting him with how he is lost in the huge web of feelings he can't parse through, not completely blind to how much Kojiro loves him but not fully realising it either. This song reminds me of a confused and helpless Kojiro. Loving Kaoru is such an integral part of him that it makes him, him and it is his constant in the rapidly changing world around him as he stands on the brink of adulthood. He is very nearly ready to beg for mercy and yet knows he, himself is saved by the love he has for Kaoru.

And when the night falls, oh, call on me

Just don't forget to show me some mercy

Ooh, say you're mine

Ooh, take me higher

Sleepover- Hayley Kiyoko

JOE PINING @ HOMOEROTIC SLEEPOVERS WITH YOUR B(est)F

You wanna be friends forever?

I can think of something better

I'm just feeling low, feeling low

Sleeping here right next to me

But will you ever mess with me?

No

Thank you, my twilight- the pillows

Listen, this has been my fav classic Japanese love anthem for so long and to think it is PERFECT for Matchablossom just makes my heart go 💞

The lyrics are heart-wrenchingly raw and real, which is great reflection of Joe and Cherry's relationship. I include a translation of a few verses below, the first one seems something snatched straight out of Joe's internal monologues and the second one depicts the breathless intensity and loyalty so typical of Kaoru:

If you think it looks like I'm waiting for someone

Then you're right

I've been waiting for you

...

Sometimes people will ask me

"How far will you go for her?"

BABY as far as it takes

Wings- HAERTS

Another song depicting Cherry healing from Adam and learning to accept Joe's love, but a fluffier and sweeter way to go about it.

In which, Cherry decides to separate all of the sweeter moments of his and Joe's days with Adam from all of the bitterness, and carry that in his heart after they part ways and he finally moves on.

I will never let you go

I know you want it, know you want it

Learning love means not to know

I'll learn to take it,

Would you mind- PRETTYMUCH

Ending this post with a fluffy, flirty rec that could be Joe's anthem. See for yourselves.

Say you don't catch feelings, you say you ain't the love type

I'ma have to work, then, uh the whole night

Nothing like your ex, no, this ain't what you used to

Just give me that chance, girl, uh, won't lose you

See it? ;) Also, I feel like Joe had typical frat boy taste in music at some point so