#something weird is ABSOLUTELY going on in Texas
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Okay okay okay i have so many thoughts
You’re so right about the callbacks being about other people. I’m thinking Lightning 2.0 centers around Bobby. We get a “go get em, cowboy” but this time it’s “hotshot” and from Bobby
And then they’d get to finally talk about the ��mom brought two kids into this marriage but you brought one” and “my captain’s not my dad but he might as well be” like just admit (confess) that y’all are family to each other please oh my god
The convo you mentioned could parallel the season 2 convo of “do you think it’s weird I still live at Abby’s?” “Yes” “yeah me too, don’t tell anyone” like ending this new convo with a don’t tell anyone right after Confessions??
Totally hear you on the Buckley Siblings track for this too. I’m less convinced because they just had their little chit chat at dispatch. However! Maybe we do get that Buckley Siblings moment - Buck coming to her about his feelings after seeing someone hanging from the ladder, her reassuring him, pregnancy announcement and then maybe her showing a little of her own fear she couldn’t show chimney. A little callback to losing Daniel, raising Buck, and losing Buck. Maybe a “family’s what you make it” parallel to “you don’t find it, you make it” and eddies little speech to chim in season 3? Idk just spitballing now lol
Also if Chris doesn’t come back soon I’m gonna start posting nonstop about how difficult it is to switch schools within the same CA district much less to another state and much much less for a kid with at least a 504 plan I’m gonna scream
I feel like we haven't given enough thought to how emotionally devastating 8x07 Hotshots could be. It has serious red-herring-episode-title potential.
I know it's the name of the silly little firefighter show inside the silly little firefighter show. But thinking of Hotshot as a term itself? It's giving me the same feeling as "go get 'em, cowboy." Like "go get 'em, hotshot" would have had the same effect.
and it's plural. I'm not saying dual near death experience... but I'm not not saying dual near death experience.
#something weird is ABSOLUTELY going on in Texas#as a gal with a complicated parental history let me tell you right the fuck now#things are not sitting well with me#if Eddie doesn’t get to yell at his fucking mom at the end of this I’ll go do it myself#thank you thank you for all of your thoughts!!!#literally tell me all of them pls#evan buckley#eddie díaz#buddie#bobby nash#buckley siblings#911 abc#911 season 8#911 spec#pal drones on
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This is a stick up 🔫 Imma need to hear your fave hangster headcanons asap
SAM THANK YOU 🙏🙏✋🤚
i have to start off with my absolute favourite i have a post about it somewhere, jake got a tattoo of their wedding date on his inner bicep and bradley would always trace over it when they were falling asleep, after the divorce jake got it removed (writing a fic about this rn 👀) and he would trace over the scar to help himself fall asleep. he never told bradley he got it removed until after they got back together, bradley understood why and would've done the same thing. After they had been together again for a while they agreed to not get married again but they were committed to each other and bradley got a little tattoo in the same place to show jake that (idk what tattoo bradley gets im still deciding on that i think it might be like a piece of wheat or something?)
bradley sleeps super weird, he has like one paper thin blanket and sleeps like a dying victorian child unless hes with jake cause they’re both big snugglers when they’re together. jake LOVES blankets, he runs warm but he loves being cozy he always has like 5 on the bed and theres throw blankets all over his house
bradley loves french toast 🤚 hes so good at making it its perfect every time and jake cant get enough of it, they’re both good at cooking but nothing compares to bradleys french toast
jake loves to take bradleys clothes, he wears bradleys hoodies all the time, he steals his hats, tshirts, anything he can get his hands on that fits him well enough
bradley gets super cold in the winter and despite jake growing up and living in texas he does pretty well in the cold and makes fun of bradley for it, hes a texan and reminds bradley of that every time he complains about the cold. ice and mav have a cabin up in colorado or somewhere so when they aren't using it bradley and jake go up there, most of the time bradley is huddled up inside by the fire with jake laying on top of him as they watch the snow fall outside
#I have a few headcanon posts scattered around my blog#like the infamous bradley vaping posts#most of my headcanons are just about jake i need more bradley ones#sorry this is short but after writing the first two my brain died 👎#hangster#jake hangman seresin#bradley rooster bradshaw#calkaleasks
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one of my friends and i were talking about life and where we would be in a few years and it made me a lil bit sad
#we were driving somewhere and i said something about how she was going to move away one day#(she doesn't wanna live in texas forever esp cause she's lived here most of her life)#and we talked about how one day we'd both probably just be fond memories to each other#like just people to look back on when thinking about your early 20s or whatever#SHE said this not me. i think it's so fucking morbid#but like she's not wrong and i keep thinking about it#how everyone you ever love will leave u some day?? isn't that just so absolutely fucked#but like. we're probably gonna part ways someday#and then we'll just start talking less and less and less and one day not at all#cause that's how life is isn't it#someone can mean the absolute WORLD to you one day#and a few years later you might not even think about them unless something prompts it#and i DO Try to talk to my besties as often as i can#but maybe i should get on real social media or something idk#it's literally impossible to talk to every single person who has meant something to you on a regular basis#and i think that's what social media is for??? idkkkkk#i'm being melancholy and CRINGE today ig#idk it's weird how u can go from 'we're going to be at each other's weddings' to 'eh we probably won't see each other much if ever#in another five years'#she's said both of those things. one of them is more realistic than the other.#delete later#you just gotta leave before u get left ig#sorry for quoting taylor swift
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Can you write Thomas Hewitt, Billy Lenz, the Sinclair Brothers, and RZ Michael Myers hearing their s/o refer to something they don't like as "icky-yucky" for the first time? It's a little weird but I say it a lot and I wanna know how they'd react. Thank you!
「 ICKY-YUCKY ! 」 . . . 📂
slashers: various
w.c: 1.14k
⊹˚.⋆ synopsis . . . how slashers react when their s/o says “icky-yucky”
⊹˚.⋆ starring . . . thomas hewitt, billy lenz, vincent sinclair, bo sinclair, rz michael myers & gn reader
⤷ thomas hewitt
• You know I’m gonna have to bring it up: cannibalism
• Regardless of how you and Thomas met, you’re obviously gonna know that the meat isn’t always.. trustworthy
• He’ll definitely be confused on why you’re apprehensive to eat the plate of food in front of you he just set down
• He’s grown up with it, you know? Plus, it tastes fine to him
• But he’s not gonna force you to eat anything you don’t want to
• Lunda will just buy you other foods with the money they took from you when they took your things
• And I can guarantee that some of the food is definitely out of date and tastes absolutely disgusting
• For example, It’s a hot summer day in the Texas heat, (absolutely unbearable btw coming from a texan) and you and Thomas are out, working.
• Thomas can see the sweat sweeping through your shirt and dripping off your skin, so he decided to get you a fresh cup of lemonade.
• Unfortunately, the lemonade was out of date..
• When Thomas hands you the cup you thank him gratefully and lift the cup to your lips
• The sour taste makes your nose scrunch and the now thick consistency slimes its way down your throat as you swallow it down.
• “Icky-yucky,” you mumble.
• Thomas hears this and tilts his head slightly. Did you not like it? He grabs the cup out of your hand, rushes back to the kitchen, and gets you something else.
• He never wants to disappoint or hurt you
• He threw out the lemonade jug out IMMEDIATELY after getting you something else to drink
• Never want to hear the words “Icky-yucky” from you again (lightheartedly!!) he always wants the best for you
⤷ billy lenz
• We all know Billy has an insane dirty mouth
• And some of the things he says are.. gross
• It was just another day of doing nothing
• You were just lounging on the couch, bored out of your mind with a book in hand
• And you would be lying if you weren’t waiting for the phone to ring
• It had become your duty to answer it as you were the most un-phased by “the moaner”
• And now it excited you, for it was your own form of entertainment
• The phone rings to your delight and you hurry to pick it up
• “Hi Billy”
• “Pretty piggy!”
• His little giggles escape the phone
• “What, what.. is p-piggy doing!?”
• “Reading, what is Billy doing?”
• The most mischievous giggles flood your hearing, “You!”
• You sigh although you have a huge, cheesy smile on your face, “Now that was just.. the opposite of smooth! It was.. uh, icky-yucky!”
• He whines as he repeats the word, almost tasting it. “Icky.. yucky..”
• He starts to repeat it over and over and over before he pauses and his heavy breathing floods your hearing
• And then he speaks
• “I-is Billy icky-yucky?”
• His tone isn’t sad, you can hear the smile on his face
• It’s just harmless teasing, you know?
• You readjust the phone with the smile before responding
• “Yeah but I like icky-yucky”
⤷ vincent sinclair
• Vincent is dedicated to his art
• That’s obvious
• So he’s in the studio a lot
• Making all types of things out a wax
• Cough cough, humans
• So as Vincent’s partner, you’re gonna be in the studio a lot too
• And I can guarantee that there’s a few safety hazards down there
• And you’re at some point going to burn yourself
• Vincent is at his desk, while you’re fiddling around the room, bored out of your mind
• Your fingers grace the walls and the candles mindlessly
• Because of your lack of attention, you fail to see the lit flame above the candle right in front of you
• So as your finger drags across the candles, right into the flame..
• You burn yourself.
• “Ouch!” you yell as you scamper away from the flame
• The burn has started to inflame the tip of your finger as you winced
• Vincent rushed over to you the moment he heard you yell
• His large hands cupped your wrist as he examined the burn
• It wasn’t bad, but you’re probably gonna want to put it in cold water and wrap it up
• But that doesn’t stop Vincent from worrying about you
• You can feel his worry, but you just smile at him and brush a lock of his long, dark hair back. “I’m fine, my finger just feels icky-yucky”
• Vincent tilts his head at the wording but his worry had faded
• He holds your wrist and takes you upstairs to treat your small burn
• He’s an extremely doting and caring boyfriend
• I love Vincent sm
⤷ bo sinclair
• Louisiana is hot
• Pretty obvious fact
• Another obvious fact?
• Bo Sinclair is hot
• I had to, I’m sorry
• Although in the movie, it was Lester who had dealt with the animal remains rather than Bo, I think eventually as Bo’s partner ur gonna have to deal with more than one dead animal rotting away in the Louisiana heat
• You’re in Bo’s truck, driving around to cure your boredom
• Cause being completely honest, things get boring quick in an abandoned town after awhile
• And you spot a dead raccoon on the side of the road
• At the sight, Bo’s parks his truck and looks at it
• He picks the animal by its tail and starts bringing it to your window
• “Isn’t it cute?” He teases with a strong southern drawl
• “No! What’s wrong with you!?”
• “He wants to be your friend, [Name]”
• “Bo, stop! That thing is icky-yucky! Go throw it off the road.”
• He grins cheekily at you before he chucks it off
• As he hops back into the driver’s seat, he turns to you with a smirk
• “It wanted to be your friend..”
• “I will literally kill you.”
⤷ rz michael myers
• It’s a known fact Michael is a murder
• It’s also a known fact that’s he extremely dangerous and threatening
• Are these very good reasons you shouldn’t date him? Yes
• Do you listen to common sense? No!
• That being said, he would never hurt you
• You’re one of the VERY FEW ppl he likes
• But that doesn’t stop him from hurting others
• You hadn’t seen Michael is a bit and it was starting to get dark which made you worry
• You’re at your dining table, working on some paper mache (an interest you wanted to take part in to relate to Michael more)
• When the man himself waltz in through the front door
• His clothes are covered in dried blood
• You can not only see it but also smell it
• “Mickey, no offense, but can you PLEASE change? That blood is just icky-yucky.”
• He stares at you for a bit before going to your room and changing
• Michael likes your honesty a lot
• Plus the fact you were not scared by the blood, but rather disgusted?
• for lifers with this beautiful man
✎ notes . . . I’m so sorry this took me so long 😭
◯ 🖖🏻 ⭒ ⧆
©️ sethcertified 2023
#☆ — sethcertified#the texas chainsaw massacre#tcm#thomas hewitt#black christmas#billy lenz#house of wax#vincent sinclair#bo sinclair#halloween#rz halloween#rz michael myers#x gn reader#gn reader#thomas hewitt x gn reader#billy lenz x gn reader#vincent sinclair x gn reader#bo sinclair x gn reader#rz michael myers x gn reader#thomas hewitt x reader#billy lenz x reader#vincent sinclair x reader#bo sinclair x reader#rz michael myers x reader
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The weird radical/revolutionary politic larpers on this site are so allergic to political pragmatism I swear lmao. I am definitely left of the Democratic Party and I am certainly voting for Joe Biden in November. Not because I like him (I don’t). He is absolutely horrific on Gaza and that’s only the top (and priority considering there is a genocide going on there) of a list of complaints I have about him. I even voted uncommitted in my state’s presidential primary (the Pennsylvania one; I had to write it in) to protest. However, I’m still thinking pragmatically. Trump has said things that make me credibly think he will be worse on Gaza (insane that being worse on Gaza than Biden is possible but it is unfortunately), and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Project 2025, the potential for him to appoint more deeply conservative justices, more of his aggressively screwing over poor and middle class people with his tax policies. And does anyone else remember the spike in hate crimes after the race was called for him in 2016? Before he was even inaugurated? Whether people vote or not in November we will still have to deal with one of these two men in office come January unless all of the internet ancom larpers overthrow the government by then (doubt), so I’d rather deal with the one who will be marginally less bad and who didn’t try to overthrow the government. Can’t have your revolution if nobody’s alive cause you kept pushing off politically participating because there was no perfect option. 👍
Political pragmatist anon, sorry for ranting in your askbox but I feel like I lose brain cells watching these people talk. The other day I saw someone say Biden is bad because Roe v. Wade fell under his administration… even though the reason for that was Trump appointed justices. 💀 (2/2)
Fucking insane. Sincerely.
It's a completely, flatly binary choice for anyone with a brain stem and sincerity. It's distilled into the two below images:
Where all major third party candidates are even on the ballot
How many electoral votes the largest of those (green party, a.k.a. Jill Stein) would win if they won every single state they're on the ballot for.
They are literally, legally, incapable of winning the election. They are not on enough state ballots to win and Jill Stein would need to somehow win California and Texas to even "win" all the states they're on the ballot for. Which, again, would still not be enough to win the presidency and throw it to the currently existing Republican House of Representatives. Which would put Trump in office.
It's that straightforward. That simple. That BLARINGLY obvious to literally everyone except these people.
On the one hand you have:
Significant and continuous support for Israel and it's genocide
Record levels of pardons for low-level drug offenses
the gearing up of the strongest anti-trust regime since the early 20th century
the most aggressive NLRB I've seen in my lifetime, with massive wins and institutional changes to help workers
Including getting Rail strike workers a week of sick-leave that gets paid out at the end of the year, which is better than NYC and LA sick leave laws
Millions of people (not enough) getting student debt forgiveness
Some trillion dollars (not enough)of investment in renewable resources and infrastructure
Proposed taxes on unrealized capital gains (a.k.a. how billionaires never have any money but can still buy Kentucky, Iowa, and Twitter)
Effectively an end to overdraft fees
The explicit support of leftist world leaders like Lula de Silva. Who he has explicitly worked with to expand worker rights in South America.
Has capped (some, not enough, only a tiny amount really but it's something) some drug prices, including Insulin.
Reduced disability discrimination in medical treatment
Billions in additional national pre-k funding
Ending federal use of private prisons
Pushing bills to raise Social Security tax thresholds higher to help secure the General Fund
Increasing SSI benefits
and more
vs
Said Israel should just nuke Gaza and "get it over with"
Personally takes pride in and credit for getting Roe v Wade overturned
Is arguing in court that the President should be allowed to assassinate political rivals
Muslim Ban Bullshit, insistently
Actively damages our global standing and diplomatic efforts just by getting obsessed with having a Big Button
Implemented massive tax cuts on ich people, tax hikes on middle class and poor people, and actively wants to do it again
"Only wants to be a dictator for a little bit, guys, what's the big deal"
Is loudly publicly arguing that the US shouldn't honor its military alliances after-the-fact
Tore up an effective and substantial anti-nuclear-proliferation treaty with Iran
Had a DoEd that actively just refused to process student debt forgiveness applications that have been the law of the land for decades now
Has a long record of actively curtailing and weakening the NLRB and labor movement, including allowing managers to retaliate against workers, weakened workplace accommodation requirements for disabled people, and more
Rubber stamped a number of massive mergers building larger, more powerful top companies and increasing monopolistic practices
Fucking COVID Bullshit and hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths
Openly supporting fascists and wannabe-bootlicks ("Very fine people" being only the beginning of it
It's really not fucking close.
#biden#trump#gaza#palestine#politics#original content#union rights#realism#2024 election#jill stein#rfk jr#cornell west
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IMPORTANT VOTING INFORMATION
Now more than ever, it is important to make sure that you are registered to vote and that you fully understand all the requirements for in-person, mail-in, and absentee voting. Double check your registration OFTEN to make sure nothing has changed. Don't give Republicans ANY reason to disqualify your vote.
The video below explains some concerning trends happening in swing states. And while her point about the Montana and Oklahoma issues may not be as nefarious as projected (there are articles online saying the issue in Montana was a glitch and the Oklahoma purge has been ongoing by independent auditors), the other ones are more credible as deliberate attempts to suppress voters.
Regardless, it is in your best interest to make sure you are fully informed of what is going on regarding voter registration and laws in your state.
Transcript:
So Trump is now saying he doesn’t want a second debate with VP Harris. And you could say that’s because he got shellacked in the first one and doesn’t want to embarrass himself again, but I think something more nefarious is going on.
Trump is not campaigning in swing states. He’s not trying to sway new voters. And he keeps going around saying he doesn’t even “need votes”, that they “have all the votes they need”. In fact, he just did an interview with Fox News where he said he “wouldn’t run in 2028 if he loses”, but then he said, “Let’s just hope we’re successful in this one.” Not, “Let’s hope we win this one,” “Let’s hope we’re successful.”
People should think it’s weird that Republicans don’t seem to care about how bad their candidate is. That they don’t seem to care that Project 2025 came out, and we can all read for ourselves how awful their plans for America are. And it’s weird that so many swing states are suddenly changing their election laws and purging voters, or making it harder to vote, or count the votes just weeks before the election.
Look at what’s going on around the country. The Secretary of State of Montana just “accidentally” left Kamala Harris’s name off the absentee ballot. They sent the ballots out to absentee voters without VP Harris’s name on it.
The Texas Tribune just announced that Texas officials have absolutely scrubbed their voter rolls, and people should go out and check it they’re still eligible to vote.
Oklahoma purged 450,000 people from the voter registration list last week. That is one-fifth of their state’s voters who have to re-register seven weeks before the election.
Georgia’s GOP Board of Elections just passed a whole slew of new rules, including the biggest one being that they have to hand count every ballot. But they already have a rule that says they can’t start counting ballots until Election Day. So counting 5.5 million votes is going to require a lot of time and a lot of staff that many local jurisdictions in Georgia simply don’t have. So when the votes can’t be counted on time, that’s going to give space for the MAGA lawyers to come in and claim the election is defaulted or fraudulent , and kick the entire election back to the state House, or subsequently, the whole state misses the deadline to certify the Electoral College votes, and they either don’t send electors from Georgia at all, or they potentially pick their own alternative slate.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court just said that all mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania have to have the “correct handwritten date on the outside of the envelope, or the vote inside won’t count.” I mean, sure, check to see if your envelope is dated correctly, but why would the handwritten date on the outside of the envelope disqualify the vote inside? Doesn’t it have to be postmarked and / or received by an official agency before even being opened?
Republicans even tried to change the rules in Nebraska for how electoral counts would be awarded less than 50 days before the election.
You have to ask yourself, “what are they doing?” And why do they keep accusing Democrats of trying to cheat? Talk about projection. This is the same party that was pushing for the SAFE Act in Congress and threatening to shut down the government if they didn’t get it. Their claim, which luckily, we have currently moved on from, is that they were just making sure every voter was an American citizen, which of course is important. But it has never been a real problem, no matter what Republican propaganda tells us. But they conveniently forget to mention that the SAFE Act also said, if you didn’t have a passport, something that fifty percent of the population doesn’t have, then your birth certificate had to match your ID. Which of course, would be impossible for say, any married woman who took her husband’s name. And there are lots of people who say, “So just use your marriage certificate to prove that you changed your name,” but the SAFE Act says absolutely nothing about your marriage certificate or license to count as ID, and it takes time to find that document and submit it and process it when we only have weeks before the election.
We need to be incredibly clear. The Republicans were looking to outright disenfranchise the women of America, Republican and Democratic women of all ages, I might add. And it’s not just women they’re looking to disenfranchise, because while the gubernatorial candidate, Mark Robinson’s scandals have been sucking up all the air in North Carolina, the RNC was quietly trying to block the UNC students from voting. But they recently lost that lawsuit.
If you have to keep changing the laws to get elected, you’re not winning elections. You’re sabotaging elections. The whole thing reminds me of that quote by the Russian communist leader Joseph Stalin, who said, “The people who cast the votes don’t decide the election, the people who count the votes do.”
So look around at what’s happening in America right now. The Republicans aren’t trying to win. They’re trying to make sure the Democrats can’t win. And while that should freak you out, I sincerely hope it also inspires you to get your friends and family out the polls and vote wholeheartedly against this kind of behavior.
#fuck republicans#fuck trump#fuck republikkkans#maga morons#maga assholes#vote democrat#vote harris#harris walz 2024#vote blue#vote kamala#voting#voting rights#voter registration#voter suppression#do you know the laws in your state?#are you registered to vote?
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Crack theory that I personally think would be incredibly funny:
The reason Marisol NoName’s been so bland and we haven’t learned so much as what she does for a living is because this is actually Vertigo. She’s intentionally infiltrated Eddie’s life for something nefarious, and after digging up photos of Shannon during their 48 hours of living together, she went and hired someone who looks like Shannon to mess with him for reasons.
Something absolutely ridiculous, like she's after that random fucking Chevelle. Eddie inherited it from Isabel when she moved to Texas, but it was actually used in some big unsolved historic bank robbery before his grandparents got it, or maybe his abuelo had a secret life. Marisol and her brother are the grandkids of Abuelo's old partner who got caught, and they've been searching for years and thought the key to the lost money would be inside the car.
But Marisol has been searching it while she babysits Chris and he's distracted playing video games. She can't find anything, so she'll have to talk to Isabel herself and see if she can get more information. But Eddie doesn't go out to Texas very often so she'll have to bring Isabel out to LA. How does she do that? Create an emergency so the whole family will have to come running to Eddie. An emergency like a total breakdown over Shannon's doppelganger, and then when they're all preoccupied with Eddie seemingly imploding his life, Marisol will make her move.
Supporting evidence:
How did Marisol NoName-NoJob buy a house by herself in LA? Why wouldn’t they at least tell us what she does or say her family has money? It would take one single line of dialogue. Suspicious.
She recognized and approached Eddie in the glue aisle
Who in their right mind would agree to move in with a guy they’ve only been dating a few months? She was snooping.
The nun thing was insane and why wouldn’t they at least give a reason for her quitting?
Eddie’s presumably been to her house multiple times, so wouldn’t he have noticed if she was actually super religious? She brought a damn Jesus bobblehead to move in and put it in a box of bedroom stuff, that doesn’t sound like the kind of person who would keep it all shoved in an armoire.
“You two aren’t going anywhere” sounded like a threat and jumping up to hug Eddie and Chris like that was an objectively weird thing to do in that moment.
“You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” I know it’s a thing people say but I hate her.
Edy is such a mediocre actor that I can’t tell if Marisol’s smiles are supposed to be genuine or not.
Unless it was for another job, she posted a video whispering about a briefcase and being creepy on a set.
A nun kills the imposter in Vertigo and maybe Eddie finds closure by saving Kim this time.
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Halcyon - Ch. 1: Can I Buy You a Beer?
You run into someone you don't expect when out for a drink. A continuation of Halcyon, a modern no outbreak AU TLOU fic found on Tumblr here.
Yes it's a Javi gif but we're gonna say he's Joel because Joel is in his 30s for this fic, OK?
Pairing: Joel Miller x Female Reader
Warnings: Modern No Outbreak AU, No use of Y/N, Slow burn, 18+ only, Minors DNI
Length: 5.7K
AO3 | Prologue | Next Chapter
Austin, Texas
September 30, 2022
You were going to strangle Alyssa.
It sure as hell hadn’t been your idea to go out drinking to celebrate the end of the first month of the school year. Definitely not your idea to do it at a bar that looked like it hadn’t been cleaned this decade. And it absolutely was not your idea to try to pick up a guy while out at said dingy bar.
But it apparently was Alyssa’s idea of a good time.
You sighed as you watched people go to and from the bar from your seat tucked in the corner. You tried to come up with stories for the people you could see in the dim light, like they were characters in a book you were writing. The biker in a leather vest, you decided, had been an accountant for 20 years when he bought a Harley during his midlife crisis. He’d become a mechanic when he became too obsessed with the bike to be satisfied behind a desk. His wife was pissed but his son thought he was way cooler now. The couple at the end of the bar were on a second… no, third date. She was deciding whether or not to fuck him. You thought it was going to go in his favor.
Alyssa had moved out of the seat next to the guy she’d taken up with and into his lap. You wondered if there was a world record for how far someone’s tongue could be down another person’s throat. It had to trigger her gag reflex at some point, right? Or maybe she didn’t have one. That must be nice. Maybe that was the key to being good at oral. Maybe you’d be better at it if you didn’t have a gag reflex. Maybe you’d still have a husband if you were better at oral.
You downed the last of your Shiner and rapped your fingers along the side of the glass. That was one upside to being back in Texas, at least. Shiner Bock on tap was a nice perk.
Next time you went out with Alyssa, you were driving yourself. If there was a next time.
But you’d probably cave before too long. You didn’t have many friends and you liked her. Even though this night hadn’t been much fun and getting to know her at all had been awkward at first. Alyssa was a few years younger than you and the first time she’d stumbled into your office she had your book in her hands and a wide smile on her face.
“I am so sorry if this is weird,” she said after a brief introduction. “But… I’m in love with your book and I am dying for you to sign it!”
“Sure,” you laughed a little and she passed it to you. You flipped to the title page and scrawled “Alyssa, Thanks for reading. With love, your coworker” before you penned the signature you’d practiced a million times with your agent below and handed it back. She squeaked, a little giddy, before offering to show you the best restaurants near campus. You didn’t have the heart to tell her that you’d grown up in Austin so you had plenty of favorites without any extra help.
Still, you had this strange drive to have Alyssa see you as a normal person. Award-winning author famous was, thankfully, not the kind to get you recognized on the street but it still made you uncomfortable. Book signings and readings were exercises in misery. There was the acute agony of being observed and noted, the strange knowledge that, for these strangers, this brief encounter was going to be something they remembered. They’d remember if you had a mustard stain on your shirt or if there was lipstick on your teeth or if the stress you were under as you traveled from city to city while your marriage fell to pieces around you made you snap at someone. You never realized how keenly you valued anonymity until it wasn’t an option anymore.
The very last thing you wanted was someone who was a fan with an office two doors down from your own.
So, you’d decided to have her be a friend instead. Make it so she saw you as a person and not someone from the inside of a book jacket. The two of you had gone to lunch a few times and out for a quick drink once, too. It had been nice and, ever since, it felt like she had stopped watching you like a pseudo-celebrity and started seeing you as a friend. Or, at the very least, a friendly acquaintance.
So when she’d asked if you wanted to get some drinks tonight, you’d said yes, envisioning the lounge she’d suggested the first time you’d gone out, one with jazz music playing quietly enough that you could chat over it.
That was not where she suggested this time.
But you were already here and edging in on tipsy and if you were going to spend the night alone at a bar and, eventually, at home with your vibrator, you may as well be drunk doing it.
You made your way to the bar and ordered a tequila shot and another beer, drumming your fingers on the bar top as you waited for your drinks.
“Well hey there, beautiful,” a man who had to have at least 10 years on you sidled up next to you at the bar. “What’s a pretty thing like you doin’ getting your own drinks?”
“No one else was volunteering,” you gave him a tight smile. “But I’m not looking for company so…”
“Don’t tell me you’re here all by your lonesome?” He smiled a lopsided, cocky smile, looking you up and down. The accent felt a little heavy handed and the cowboy hat put it over the top. You wondered, idly, if he was hiding a bald spot under there.
“I prefer flying solo, but thank you,” you said, peering around him to watch the bartender flirt with a girl who looked like she was newly 21 and probably here slumming it at this bar that was far from the school. You sighed and settled in to wait even longer for your drinks.
“Girl as pretty as you shouldn’t be all on her own,” he said, leaning against the bar and blocking your view. “No way someone hasn’t snapped you up yet, a face like that…”
“Oh my face has nothing to do with it,” you smiled, forcing your eyes to go wide enough that you looked a little crazed. “It’s because I’m a murderous sociopath with six bodies buried beneath my house.”
The man just blinked at you, a puzzled look on his face. You could practically see the wheels turning in his head and you considered, for a moment, timing him to see how long it would take to piece it together.
“She’s right you know,” a familiar voice from behind you made you stiffen. “There's a reason she's here alone. This one’s insane, she’d chew you up and spit you out, man. Best you find someone else to try n’take home.”
“Sorry, man,” he said. “Didn’t know she was spoken for.”
You watched the man shove himself back from the bar and prowl off to find another woman to try and bed before turning, slowly, to the man standing at your back. Your heart beat picked up in spite of yourself when you saw him, as tall and broad and somehow even more handsome than ever.
Joel Miller smiled, one of his cocky, lopsided smiles that made his cheek dimple.
“Hey, Goldie.”
***
It was you.
Here, in this shitty bar in his corner of Austin on a Friday night was you.
Joel froze when he saw you, sitting in a corner by yourself, watching the bar with a far away look on your face.
It was a look he knew intimately, even though it had been 11 years since he’d last seen your face in person. You’d get that look when you were thinking about something important, something you wanted to remember. You’d have that look and then you’d open up that gold notebook of yours and write furiously for a minute or two before stashing it away.
“You ever gonna let me read any of that?” He’d teased one day as you sat, curled up in the corner of his couch, your notebook on your knees.
“No,” you scoffed. “Trust me, you don’t want anywhere near this disaster area. It’s basically just the word vomit version of my brain, it’s a mess up there.”
Joel didn’t push you on it but, truthfully, he’d have killed for a chance to see inside your mind for a moment. He wanted to crawl inside your skull and look at whatever you’d let him see. He wanted to memorize you, carry you with him, wrap himself up in you at every opportunity. You felt like home, more than anything else he’d ever had. Of course he wanted to be close enough to you to see inside your mind.
But that was a long time ago. Yes, it had been 11 years since he’d seen you but it had been even longer since he’d seen you when you weren’t pissed at him. In fairness, he was pretty pissed at you, too, but you’d started it.
And he wasn’t even sure why. He didn’t know what set you off to begin with. One night it was prom and the next thing he knew, you were gone. Taking off across the country before graduation without so much as a goodbye. You changed your number and your mom wouldn’t give it to him and you were just gone. Like the two of you hadn’t spent every day together for the last three years, like he had all meant nothing at all to you.
Joel saved up the money to buy a bus ticket to your fancy fucking college, intending to find you there and demand an explanation, but that hadn’t gone as planned. He just settled into not knowing and not understanding why the most important relationship in his life had been ripped away from him without a word.
But it had been a long time. He’d moved past the resentment of it and now he was all but awestruck at seeing you again.
“Hey, do you want…” Tommy’s voice trailed off and his eyes tracked where Joel’s were looking. “Holy fucking shit, is that…”
“Yup.”
“Did you know she…”
“Yup.”
Tommy was quiet for a moment.
“Know she was gonna be here?”
“Hell no.”
Joel caught a glimpse of his brother nodding out of the corner of his eye - he wasn’t about to stop looking at you, he was worried if he did you might disappear again - and sighed.
“You gonna talk to her?” Tommy asked after a moment.
“No idea.”
“Shit dude,” Tommy clapped his hand on Joel’s shoulder. “Good luck with… whatever the fuck is gonna happen there.”
Joel glared at him for a second but kept his eyes on you. One of the other guys on the crew went to get the first round, something he appreciated because it meant he could keep watching you at a distance. He wasn’t sure what the fuck to say to you and he wasn’t about to just go talk to you with nothing to say.
But then you went to the bar and a guy was clearly annoying the hell out of you and, before he really knew what he was doing, he was heading for you.
“Hey, Goldie.”
You looked at him for a moment. You looked as surprised to see him as he was to see you.
“Hey, Joel.”
He smiled a little wider.
“Can I buy you a beer?” He asked.
“You’re a bit late, I’m afraid,” you said. “Already put it on my tab. But that’s assuming the bartender remembers I exist which seems like it might be aiming a bit high…”
Joel hung over the bar and hit the top of it a few times.
“Hey, Jimmy!” He yelled. The bartender whipped his head around. “Stop fuckin’ around, get my friend her shit, yeah?”
“Yeah, yeah,” he said, turning back to the woman he was talking to for a second before making you a shot first and then pouring your beer. He set both in front of you at the same time.
“Thank you,” you said, both to Joel and to Jimmy, and you did the shot, wincing as the tequila went down.
Joel whistled
“Shit, you lookin’ to get fucked up?”
“Well,” you coughed a little on the liquor before taking a sip of beer. “I already need to take an Uber home because the friend I came with is currently being devoured by that charming gentleman over there…” You nodded to a man at a table against the wall, a brunette draped across his lap who looked to be surgically connected to the man at the mouth. “So I figured, fuck it, may as well get hammered.”
Joel laughed a little at that.
“Since you’ve got no one else to get hammered with,” he shrugged. “Want to do it with me? Catch up a bit?”
You thought for a second, taking a sip of beer.
“Sure,” you said. “Yeah, that sounds good.”
Joel got a beer, too, and followed you back to your table before he settled in beside you. Part of it felt so natural, being next to you, but it was so different, too. You were different, fuck knows he was different.
“So,” he said, watching you. “You’re in town.”
“I am,” you nodded.
“Visiting Anna?” He asked, even though he knew the answer. It had made news, the fact that you were coming to teach at UT.
“Work,” you said. “Moved back a few months ago.”
“So what do you do now?” He asked. “For work, I mean.”
“Teach, mostly,” you said. “I’m at UT now. Literature and creative writing.”
“Seems right up your alley,” he nodded. “Always liked that sorta thing. You ever write that book?”
You nodded, taking another sip of beer.
“Yeah,” you said. “Just one, though.”
“Ever publish it?”
“Yeah,” you nodded again. “A few years ago…” Joel laughed and you frowned. “What?”
“You really think I don’t know you wrote a fuckin’ book?” He asked. “Course I know you wrote a fuckin’ book. Jesus, Goldie, your name is on fuckin’ posters and shit! You think I live under a rock?”
You laughed.
“You dick!” You shoved him playfully. “Look, you’re basically illiterate, I didn’t want to assume…”
“Hey just because I do shit besides read does not mean I’m illiterate!” He laughed. “You’re just a nerd…”
“You only finished high school because I’m a nerd,” you rolled your eyes. “Pretty sure your coach was ready to make me an honorary member of the team since me hounding you about homework was the only thing that kept your ass grade eligible.”
“Oh, you were the MVP,” he smiled, watching you take another sip of your beer and you smiled that amused little smile, the one you had when you were humoring him, the same one you’d had since you were 15 years old. “No question about it.”
“Since you know all about me apparently,” you teased. “What’s been going on with you?”
Joel shrugged, taking a drink. Mostly to buy himself time.
Did he want to admit to you that he’d all but taken his life and driven it into the ground since he last saw you?
Not that he ever felt like he had much potential, anyway. You and his mom had been the only people who’d ever really seen anything in him. But then you left and she died and was he even failing anybody anymore? Certainly not himself. And everything he did now he did to make sure he didn’t fail his daughter who, for the last 10 plus years, had been the only thing in his life that made it seem like all the shit was worth something.
But he wasn’t sure he wanted to tell you about her, either. It seemed cheap, to bring her up in a bar to you of all people, one of the only reasons she existed in the first place.
“Kept busy,” he said instead with a shrug. “Workin’ construction. Roped Tommy into it about a year ago, too. His dumb ass kept getting into it with people, told him I wasn’t going to keep bailing him out of jail if he didn’t at least look like he was trying to get his shit together.”
You nodded and took another sip of beer.
“Do you like it?”
He shrugged again.
“Pays the bills.”
“Not what I asked, Joel.”
He looked at you. You were watching him in that keen way you had, your head cocked slightly to the side, your eyes looking at him like you could cut through everything, everything he ever had or was or would be, down into the lanky boy he’d been when he’d first met you.
“Not sure why it matters,” he said after a minute. “But it’s fine, I guess. Crew’s good. Work’s steady.”
“It matters because you deserve something that fulfills you,” you frowned slightly. “Don’t you think so?”
He laughed once, looking at you for a moment.
“Haven’t thought about shit that way in a while,” he said.
Since you left, he added silently. He didn’t say it. Wouldn’t say it, even though part of him wanted to. Wanted to demand an answer, wanted to yell at you, wanted to cry at you and make you answer for the destruction that you left behind you. Destruction that Joel wasn’t entirely sure he’d ever really recovered from, just found a way to live in the rubble of it all.
But you were here now, talking with him again.
“When was the last time we did this?” He asked.
“Did what?”
“Talked.”
You smiled a little.
“You mean besides the time you decided to yell at me about my romantic choices at my mother’s funeral?” You asked, brows raised. “Been a while.”
“Since prom?” He asked quietly.
He watched you clench your jaw before nodding and taking a drink.
“Since prom.”
Joel picked at the label on his beer bottle for a moment as you sat with your hands between your knees and looked anywhere but at him. Eventually, you picked up your drink glass again with your left hand and Joel traced your bare ring finger with his eyes.
“Thinkin’ I might have been right about the romantic choices,” he teased lightly and you frowned before he nodded at your hand.
“Ah, right,” you said, extending your hand in front of you and running your thumb over the inside of that finger like you would if there was a wedding band there. “Yeah, it turns out going on a book tour when your marriage is on the rocks isn’t the best way to handle things…”
“Shit,” he shook his head a little. “I’m sorry, Goldie, that…”
You scoffed.
“No you’re not,” you put your hand back in your lap. “You hated him. You said all of three words to Gale and you hated him…”
“OK first of all, his name was fucking Gale,” Joel cut you off. “And second of all, he was a fucking douchebag.”
You snorted into your beer, coughing and choking on it for a moment and Joel clapped you on the back as you held on to the table, trying to laugh and breathe at the same time.
“You alright there?” He asked, leaving his palm in the middle of your back.
“Fine,” you coughed, pounding your chest with your fist. “I’m fine, I just… It’s so funny, but Gale isn’t even his birth name.”
Joel gaped at you.
“You’re shitting me,” he said. “That asshole chose the name Gale?”
You nodded, still coughing and laughing.
“He did,” you said. “He did, he thought it made it sound him more authorial and academic, he changed it before he started teaching. His birth name is fucking Bradley - his mom still calls him Brad - and I only found out when filling out the marriage license.”
“What a fuckin’ dick,” Joel laughed, his hand still on you. He was touching you. He hadn’t touched you in so long and he was touching you. “Jesus Christ… Sorry if you’re still hung up on the guy but shit, you can do way better than that.”
“It’s fine,” you laughed, calming down a bit and nodding to yourself. Joel watched you, uncertain. “Really, it is. I’m not going to pretend like I entirely agree with you but… things look different once you’re outside of the marriage and not in it anymore… Anyway. You married? Kids?”
“Not married,” Joel said, still not sure how he wanted to tell you about Sarah. If he even should, if the two of you were going to just go your separate ways after tonight and never speak again it felt wrong to share her. “Not even dating, really. At least, nothing steady…”
You laughed.
“Christ, why am I not surprised?” You teased. “You always had a way with the ladies. Haven’t outgrown that yet I take it?”
Joel smiled a little.
“Why outgrow what’s fun?”
You smiled a little back.
“Fair enough,” you said. “Don’t you want that, though? Something stable?”
“Is anything stable?” He asked. “Shit, half the people we went to school with now are fuckin’ divorced, what difference does it make?”
“Yeah, I guess I am one to talk,” you said, polishing off your beer.
Joel winced.
“Fuck, not what I meant…”
“It’s fine,” you shrugged. “I just… it didn’t work out and that’s that, right?”
“Right,” he said, watching you closely for a moment. “Hey, since you’re lookin’ to get hammered and I don’t got shit else to do tonight… shots?”
You laughed a little.
“I don’t know that I want to get that hammered,” you said. “I’m not a teenager anymore…”
“C’mon, Goldie,” he teased. “It’s on me. Plus it was my birthday the other day, gotta do at least one with me for that.”
“Oh shit,” you said. “It was, wasn’t it? You turned 33 on… Monday? Monday, right?”
“Right,” he laughed. “So, you in?”
You laughed a little back.
“Alright,” you said. “You’ve sold me. But I’ve got the first ones, it was your birthday, after all.”
The two of you moved to open bar stools on the end of the bar and ordered the first two shots - tequila - and clinked your glasses together before downing them, slamming them down on the bar top when you were done.
“See?” Joel teased. “You still got it in you.”
“If you say so,” you coughed a little and then laughed.
“Another?” He asked.
You looked at him for a moment.
“Fuck it,” you said and Joel flagged down Jimmy and ordered another round.
By the time it was last call, your friend had come over to say goodbye, her lipstick smudged around her lips and the mouth of the man she’d been draped across, and the bar had gotten quiet, just a handful of stragglers left even on a Friday night.
It took a few shots but you’d given up on keeping any distance from Joel at all, your bar stool sitting against his, your body pressed against his side, your head on his shoulder.
“Hey Jimmy!” Joel slapped the bar top a few times. The man came over and leaned on the bar, looking at you tucked against Joel. “Think you can get me a cab?”
“Sure as hell not lettin’ either of you two idiots drive,” he replied, going to get the phone.
“Hey,” Joel nudged you. “Where… where do you live? Need an address, gonna get you home.”
You thought for a second and then devolved into half drunk laughter.
“I don’t know,” your words were slurred. “Oh fuck, I’ve only lived there like… a few… a few… fuck. When did I move?”
“Before the school year?” He asked.
“Right,” you nodded. “Prob’ly right, that’s… that’s when. S’not long. I don’t know where it is, oh shit…”
“S’OK,” he said, putting an arm around you. “Just… just come home with me, s’fine.”
“Yeah?” You asked, raising your head slightly. “You… you don’t mind?”
“Don’t mind, Goldie,” he said gently. “Never mind, not with… not with you.”
You nodded and dropped your head back to his shoulder.
Joel had to half carry you to the cab and you dozed off against him on the drive, pressing your warm, soft body against his, passed out enough that you were drooling on the shoulder of Joel’s t-shirt, soaking through to his skin. He didn’t mind.
“She gonna be alright?” The cab driver asked as Joel paid him and nudged you awake.
“M’fine,” you waved him off.
“You know this guy?” The man asked, watching you in the rear view mirror.
“Him?” You asked, brows raised. “‘Course I know him, this… he’s Joel, he’s my best friend, s’fine.”
The driver nodded once.
“Good,” he said. “Take care of her, alright buddy?”
“Sure,” Joel said, setting you down in the back of the cab. “Always have.”
He got out and went around to the other door, almost tripping on the curb, before tugging you out of the backseat and against his side. You laughed and then shushed yourself.
“Sorry,” you tried to whisper but failed. “S’late, I should be quieter….”
“S’fine,” he slurred. “The neighbors think I’m trash anyway, not gonna ruin my reputation…”
You snorted at that.
“Assholes.”
He helped you up to the front door and fumbled with the lock, the two of you stumbling in. Julie, Sarah’s babysitter, shot up off the couch, a groggy look on her face.
“Wha?” She blinked for a second.
You yelped and Joel shushed you.
“Sorry,” you failed at whispering again. “But Joel… there’s a teenager in… you’ve got a teenager on your couch.”
“Yeah, she does that,” he tried to whisper back. “S’fine. How’d it go, Julie? Everything OK?”
“All good, Mr. Miller,” she stretched and got up, meeting Joel in the entry way. “She went down at 9:30 after trying to talk me into watching Coyote Ugly…”
“Oh lord,” Joel sighed. “Last thing she needs is to get it in her head that she should be singin’ and dancin’ on a bar…”
“Don’t worry, I said no,” she smiled. “But I think one of her friends at school is obsessed with it, not sure how else she’d know about it… Anyway. How about you pay me next week?”
“Oh shit,” he said, going for his wallet. She laughed.
“Seriously, don’t worry about it,” she said. “Not sure you’d remember paying me right now and I’m even less sure you can count.”
“Thanks,” he said, grateful. “You drive safe, alright kiddo?”
“Will do,” she laughed a little. “Night, Mr. Miller. And Mr. Miller’s… friend.”
“Night!” You said, a little loud before clamping your hand over your mouth and laughing. Once the door was closed, you turned your attention back to him. “Ooooo you’re Mr. Miller now.”
“Yeah, I’m gettin’ old,” he said, guiding you inside. “Here, I’m gonna put you to bed and then I’ll take the couch…”
“You absolutely will not,” you snorted. “I’m… I can sleep on the couch, not… not letting you take the couch in your own house. ‘Specially not when you’re old enough to be Mr. Miller.”
“Goldie…”
“I will move and sleep on the floor.”
He sighed and started moving you toward the couch.
“You ever gonna be less stubborn?”
“Nope,” you popped your lips on the p as he set you down. He got the blanket Julie had been asleep under and draped it over you as you snuggled into the couch. “Hey Joel?”
“Hm?”
“Who was that girl?” You asked, eyes already closed. “Why… why did you have a teenager in your house? This is your house, right?”
“S’my house,” he said, tucking you in. “And don’t worry ‘bout it. Just go to sleep.”
You yawned.
“Thanks, Joel,” your voice was groggy. “For taking care of me. Missed you.”
He stopped and looked back at you for a moment.
“Missed you, too.”
He went to bed, trying not to think of the last time you’d fallen asleep on him.
***
The Morning After Prom
May, 2008
The pink and orange of dawn woke you up. You were on Joel’s chest, his shirt unbuttoned so you could feel his skin on yours and your dress was still bunched around your waist from when Joel had slid the straps down your arms the night before.
You enjoyed it for a moment. The feel of Joel’s skin, how his chest rose and fell with his breaths, how the early morning light caught in the curls that had broken free of the gel you were sure his mom had put in it the night before. He smelled good, like cologne - the kind that a man would wear, not the Axe shit that drenched the hallways of your school - and soap and a hint of sweat that just felt like the essence of him. You wanted to stay like this with him forever. Be this close, know him in this way. It felt right, it felt beyond just good.
And then you remembered, you weren’t supposed to be here.
“Joel,” you whispered, sitting up from him and shaking him gently but urgently. “Joel, wake up!”
“Hm?” He mumbled, groggy, his eyes opening slowly.
“We fell asleep,” you said, still whispering even though there was no one here to hear you. “We’re not supposed to be up here, we have to go!”
“Shit,” he blinked the sleep from his eyes and looked you over and you were suddenly fiercely aware of how naked you were, how the light of day was creeping in and casting over your exposed skin. Joel reached out and cupped your cheek. “Sorry, didn’t mean to pass out…”
“It’s OK,” you said quickly, clutching your dress over your naked breasts as you slid the straps back on. “But we should get home, we didn’t tell our moms that we were going to be out all night, I’m sure they’re pissed…”
“It’s prom,” he said. “Think they expected it to be a late one. But… you’re right, we should get going.”
Joel got up and offered you his hand, pulling you to your feet. It wasn’t until you moved your lower half that you realized how sore you were between your thighs, your skirt falling back down to your feet. Joel held your hand for a moment once you were standing and his skin felt hot against yours. You dropped his hand and cleared your throat awkwardly.
“You should button your shirt,” you said quietly, nodding to his bare chest. “And… um… Zip up your pants.”
“Oh,” he looked down. “Um… Right. Right.”
He moved quickly as you looked over as much of your dress as you could see and Joel used the glass of the press box as a mirror to adjust his hair.
“Do I look OK?” You asked when he was done, turning so he could see the whole dress. “Not like… not like we….”
“There’s… um…” he cupped the back of his neck awkwardly. “I think we made a mess of the back of your dress, I didn’t think… should have moved it, I guess…”
“Shit,” you twisted, trying to spot it. “Do you think…”
“Just don’t turn your back to your mom,” he said quickly. “Should… should be OK.”
“Right,” you said. “Yeah, that’s… right. OK.”
Joel led the way to his car and the two of you sat in silence on the ride home. You kept glancing at him out of the corner of your eye, his elbow propped on the door of the car, hand on his mouth, his face drawn.
What were you supposed to do now? You’d never done… this. You’d never been in this position and now you were here with Joel, the person who was your best friend, the person you knew better than anyone else in the world, the person that everything had felt so right with it had been impossible to stop.
But what did you do now?
He stopped in your drive way and sat there, staring straight ahead.
“Thank you,” you said. He looked at you, his eyes a little wide. “For taking me to prom, I mean. It was… I had… It was good. I liked it. It was good.”
“Yeah,” he nodded after a moment. “Yeah, I’m glad I… got to go with you. To prom.”
“Right.”
You looked at him. You wanted to kiss him. Wanted him to hold onto you and tell you that everything was going to be OK and that you were going to figure this out and it would be you and him together just like it always had been.
Instead, he tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
“I’ve got church this morning,” he said. “And then we’re goin’ to help my grandma in the afternoon so I don’t think I can see you until tomorrow…”
“I’ve got that doctor’s appointment in the morning,” you said. “So… I guess I’ll just… I’ll see you at school?”
“Right,” he said. “Yeah, right. I’ll… I’ll see you at school.”
You smiled tightly at him and leaned in slowly to kiss him on the cheek, hoping that he would turn his head and press his lips to yours the way he had the night before.
He didn’t.
“Thanks, Joel.”
“Yeah.”
You went inside and got undressed in your bathroom, looking at the stain on your dress, hoping you’d be able to get the stain of your blood and his come out before your mother noticed and it ruined anything else.
Next Chapter
A/N: Eeeeeeee! I'm so excited now that this story is properly going!
I hope you enjoy exploring Joel and Goldie with me. I really love their friendship and the way they care for each other and I think there's so much to explore with the both of them.
I do have an updates blog. Follow it here and subscribe for alerts when I post.
Thank you for being here! It really does mean so much to me to share this story with you. Love you!!
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hey! can i put in a request about long distance friends (maybe theres a lil summin going on but who knows?) reader and schlatt?
just have an idea of reader living in brighton or something and schlatt comes to visit...
sorry for the wait anon, pls enjoy!
jschlatt x reader
summary: schlatt has a crush on you, but you live in an entirely different country. he’ll find a way to make it work.
warnings: uhhhh
a/n: i got this request in a group of other notifications while i was at prom, i almost didn’t notice it :p also idk how school works in the uk sooo lmao
"listen, jay, we can meet up as soon as this semester ends, alright?" you say, trying to compromise with him. "as soon as I get back, I'll hop on a flight to Austin."
It's not like you wanted to put such a big wedge between the two of you, but you had gotten such a big offer from University of Brighton (full ride, you couldn't turn that down) towards your Art and Design degree, that there was absolutely no way you were going anywhere in the US. You lived in New York originally, you and Schlatt grew up together. It was weird being so far away from him.
"you can't just come now? take a week off or something?" he groaned.
"you know I can't," you sigh, sitting down on the bed in your dorm. "it's may. i'll be there in a few weeks, the term isn't much longer."
it was always odd having this conversation with him. something never felt right. you understood wanting to see him as a friend, but you always wanted to see him more than that. you chalked it up to being so close, but you knew in some small part of your mind that it wasn't the reason.
"alright, fine. but you're coming straight here when you're done."
"deal."
~
schlatt nearly lost an arm and a fucking leg trying to get here. first, the airport in Texas wasn't accepting his passport, then there was an issue with his luggage, and he almost missed his flight. and if that wasn't enough, he couldn't find the correct exit in the airport in Brighton, and there were no taxis available, making him stand there and wait for 45 minutes. thankfully, you had told him the time of your graduation in a phone call a few nights ago when you were complaining about how late it was.
he finally made it to the college after his many issues, and was just in time to watch you walk the stage.
"Y/N L/N, graduating with honors and a bachelor's degree in Art and Design." The crowd clapped as you stepped up on stage, from your seat down on the floor, taking the diploma and shaking the hands of the many people on stage. on your way back down, you think you pot a familiar face, but psych yourself out of the thoughts before you think about it too hard.
the ceremony ends a while after, and the crowd and graduates are dismissed. you planned on just going back to your dorm to pack, taking your cap off and holding it and your diploma under your arm as you walk, staring down at your phone.
"leaving without me?" you hear from behind you, making you perk up and whip around, seeing your favorite person standing behind you.
"oh my god!" you exclaim, jumping into his arms excitedly. tears of joy brim your eyes, laughing as he hugged you back.
you stayed like that for a good minute or so before he put you down and you separated.
"when did you get here?" you ask through laughs, wiping your eyes.
"just a while ago, made it right on time." he answers.
"jesus christ, i love you." you say before even realizing your mistake, and it took you a moment to register his silence.
you look up at him once you realized, a look of terror and guilt on your face. he looks serious, making you question if you had just blown it all. you hadn't even planned on telling him at all.
thankfully, he breaks and laughs, pulling you into a hug again. "love you too, toots."
you let out a breath of relief and laugh, holding him as tight as you can. "you came at the perfect time, I need someone to help me pack."
schlatt playfully groans in response to that, but looks down at you. "i guess i'll help you."
a/n: i crave the schlanket can someone buy me one
© property of xoxoluka. do not repost.
#jschlatt#jschlatt x reader#schlatt x reader#jschlatt x y/n#jschlatt x you#schlatt x y/n#schlatt x you#jschlatt fanfic#schlatt#schlatt fanfic
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YOUR WRITING IS AMAZING 💞 i beg you to write some headcannons about the sawyers family with their s/o, in tcsm. with the new characters from the game if you can (sissy and johnny)?? thanks🫂
Sawyer Family x gn!reader basic hc’s
Omg this took way to long, writers block is a killer. I’m gonna admit I had to do some research and read some fics to get to know some of the characters I don’t usually write, but here we go<3
Disclaimer: the Sawyer family tree is so very very confusing, so the characters I went with: Bubba, Johnny, Sissy, Drayton(who is gonna be the older brother but more father figure bc his role is confusing), and Nubbins,
If I missed anyone, let me know and I wasn’t completely sure if you wanted this fluffy or smutty, so I went safe. If you did want smut, ask me please. And it shall be done:)
Bubba
•The sweetest boy, always reaching out to you for affection.
•He’s a big hugger, and a bear hugger too. Sometimes forgets how much bigger he is than most other people, but how can you say no? Even when he’s knocked the wind out of you with those big arms of his.
•He’s a simple man, he could die peacefully and fulfilled in your embrace.
•PRAISE HIM!
•He corrects himself on accidental roughness, tell him he’s doing such a good job and he’ll melt.
•Sometimes he gets easily frustrated because of people not understanding his intentions, so be patient with him. Reward him with hugs and cuddles and he’ll be satisfied.
•Late night talks! Even if it’s more enthusiastic grunts and whines. You’ll both be lying in bed and he’ll just be babbling happily about his day, or about how much he loves you with the widest grin on his face.
•He’s never really had a ‘relationship’ before, so there are times when you have to remind him what’s appropriate in front of the family and what’s not.
•Like sometimes he’ll get really excited, and start kissing you all over.
•But it’s at the dinner table, and some people in this Texan conservative household don’t want to see that PDA.
•His brothers and sister just love teasing him left and right about you, and he couldn’t care less. He loves you, and he’d tell the whole world if he could.
•The warm humidity of Texas is all he’s ever known, so one night there’s a weird and sudden cold snap, and he is absolutely freezing. You aren’t allowed to move from being his personal heating pad.
•But you aren’t complaining, trapped in a pile of blankets with the man you love isn’t the worst way to go.
•Sometimes he’ll go hunting in the forest and bring you back wild fowl, or something other than what the Sawyers all usually eat.
•Sure he wants you to be part of the family, but he notices the way your face scrunches up at the prospect of eating other people.
•It confused him at first, then it clicked that you didn’t like eating people. Like how he didn’t like his vegetables(or that’s how he thought about it).
•So he brings you other more humane alternatives.
•He hates rain and storms, they confuse him. As nobody took the time to explain to him what was happening, why everything was so loud and dark.
•It takes a lot of convincing and encouragement until he’s not cowering in fear at the thunder and lightning(thinking of making a one shot about this tbh).
•To sum it all up, he’s hopelessly in love, and he’d do anything and everything to protect you, and make you happy. He loves the feeling of your soft skin on his. Even if you have rougher hands, it’s nothing compared to his, and he loves it.
•Be gentle with this man, love him to death I beg<3
Johnny
•He’s a cocky bastard, even before you were officially together he was treating you like you were married to him under the state.
•Has absolutely no shame, and he will make out with you in front of Sissy to make her annoyed.
•He’s hyper fixated and persistent, meaning he will get what he wants eventually. So it’s better not to fight him on it(whatever it may be).
•Just like with Bubba, he is teased RELENTLESSLY. More so about how soft you make him. Or how whipped he is for you.
•Whenever he does something remotely sweet or nice to you in front of his siblings(and sometimes even his father and mother) he’ll get a sharp whistle and a chorus of teasing and laughter.
• “Wow Johnny, you really are just a softie huh?”
• “Shut it..”
•He’d never admit it to his family, but he would do anything for you.
•Any guy(or girl frankly) makes the mistake of catcalling or harassing you? They’re dead on the news the next morning.
•As I said even BEFORE you guys were officially dating.
•And he’s a jealous jealous man, so even if it was a misperceived or imaginary threat, it’s enough for him to kill them.
•He tries to be normal for you at first, tries to ignore the taunting from his family that he’ll slip up and scare you away.
•Then he quickly discovers your a freaky little thing by nature, even if your a little freaked out at first.
•Because who wouldn’t want a boyfriend so obsessed with you that he’ll murder for you?
•He likes it when you touch his hair, especially when he’s all sweaty from one thing or another.
•He won’t make you eat people, sometimes he doesn’t either. Not because he’s disgusted by it, more so because he gets bored of just one thing.
•The type to decide when you wake up, whether he’s up before you or not. Sometimes he’s clinging onto your midsection telling you ‘just five more minutes’ for the next hour and a half,
• Other times it’s a note left on your nightstand after he’s left to do farm chores, saying ‘If I see you up before 11 so help me god’
Sissy
•She personally lives for the thrill of bringing you(male, female or other) back home to her family. Specially her daddy.
•She doesn’t hide anything about her life from you even from the beginning. Meaning she expects the same blatant transparency.
•Loves annoying her brothers, mostly Johnny.
•She refuses softness in front of her family because as stated prior, she knows she’ll be made fun of excessively for it.
•That’s not to say she isn’t clingy and all over you.
•She is, it’s just much less ‘lovey dovey’ more ‘this person is mine, touch them and I’ll kill you’.
•She loves when you treat her, growing up she was often overlooked by her family, or even underestimated.
•Buy her something pretty, or something like a plant and she’ll be even more in love.
•She’s never liked loud animals, but she likes cats. Despite her family’s protests, onetime when she was a kid Nubs tried to kill a cat for lunch, she beat him silly. Saved the poor orange kitty and fed it for years.
•Her favourite colour is orange because of that.
•She sleeps like she’s constantly taking up to much space, she curls into one side of the bed and tries to keep there.
•It would be greatly appreciated if you pulled her close, let her uncurl from her little self created ball.
Drayton
•This man has his moments, and I’m not completely sure how I feel about him.
•The Sawyer family often picks on each other and teases each other but Drayton and Nubbs often take it just a little too far.
•His younger siblings are constantly poking fun at his attempts at leadership, and I feel like that makes him a deeper character then I’ve really thought about before.
•He’s a classic older cowboy type, a gentleman with a very stereotypical older brother vibe.
•He tries to keep his family safe, and that includes you when you find your way into his heart.
•He isn’t exactly ‘sweet’ but he can commit to sentimental gestures if that’s something you like.
•The occasional bouquet of wild flowers on your nightstand, or a kiss on the cheek before he goes out for work in the morning.
•He often judges himself too harshly, his decisions and his ability to lead his family, just tell him he’s doing good. He’ll melt in your hands like putty.
•His siblings often make risky choices just to show they can, and it stresses him out(more than he’ll show or admit).
•He can be bad at minding his manners, especially when people are riling him up.
•All he needs is someone to come home too, someone who can appreciate him for all he does and all he tries to do.
(His is really short but I’m unfamiliar with his character😂)
Nubbins
•He’s definitely the most openly clingy if the bunch, he’ll stick to your side like he’s glued there.
•Whether you’re going for a drive into town, or just getting up to go make something for yourself, he’s on your tail.
•He loves being pressed up against you, barely(if any) space between your bodies.
•It makes him feel safe.
•Drayton, Johnny and Sissy often tease him for being dumb, but he’s not dumb! You don’t think so..right?
•Unlike many of the others, if he needs your reassurance, he’ll ask you for it.
•He loves it when you run your fingers through his hair, or down his back.
•He tries to be polite, at least after you teach him what exactly that means.
•He’s very possessive, some days when there isn’t any work that needs done, he’ll just hold you hostage in your bed.
•He loves sunrises, sometimes he wakes up at a specific time just to watch them(his internal clock).
Some of these are shorter than others, if you want anymore specific head cannons let me know, or any other characters<3 have a lovely day.
#slashers#slashers x reader#x reader#bubba sawyer#nubbins sawyer#sissy sawyer#johnny sawyer#drayton sawyer#bubba saywer x reader#bubba x reader#fyp2023#tcm game#johnny tcm#tcm nubbins#tcm#texas chainsaw game#texas chainsaw massacre#headcannons#x gn reader#x fem!reader#x male reader#x poc reader
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Hello! This is my first time requesting something so sorry if it's weird or something.
But moving on I was wonder if I could request super southern s/o like she's from Texas has a heavy accent rides bulls in rodeos just pretty much a cowgirl reader for task force 141 + Alejandro please and thank you!
Omg nooo, it’s not weird, i think it’s cute. So i did a few headcanons for you anon. I don’t know much about rodeos but i hope i got it right lol, hope you like it! 💗
Cowgirl
Task Force 141 + Alejandro x Reader
Warnings: none, just fluff.
Simon Riley
♡ He never thought he would be attracted to a cowgirl, cuz country girls were never his type, but he fell for you no matter how hard he tried to deny it.
♡ They don’t have rodeos in the uk, so obviously you had to explain everything to him when you became a couple.
♡ Simon thinks that you should be really crazy to ride those dangerous bulls, and if it were for him, he would make you quit. But he knows it’s your passion, so he supports you as long as nothing bad happens.
♡ If he can, he will go with you to the rodeos, helping you to get ready and then watching you ride, standing at the in-gate, hoping that everything goes well.
♡ And if you are the best rider of the night, he would definitely shower you in praises, giving you a big hug and maybe even some flowers that he bought at the fair.
Johnny Mactavish
♡ He kinda knows what rodeos are, so when you tell him you are a bull rider he thinks that’s the coolest thing ever.
♡ He’s kinda extreme too, so he begs you to teach him how to ride a bull, just for fun.
♡ Johnny absolutely loves parading you around, telling everyone that his pretty girlfriend is also a very skilled cowgirl.
♡ He texts you everyday after your daily trainings to see how you did.
♡ You both have very thick accents, so every time you speak together, having a fast conversation, no one can understand what you’re saying.
♡ He watches you ride every time he can, sitting on the stands, cheering for you while he eats popcorn.
Kyle Garrick
♡ He fell in love with you the moment he saw you riding one of those bulls as if it was something easy.
♡ He calls you “my little cowgirl”.
♡ A very supportive boyfriend. He loves going with you to the rodeos every time he can, helping you with everything and giving you a quick kiss before you ride.
♡ Most of the time he watches you from the stands, but sometimes he gets distracted and then you find him petting the horses.
♡ If you are the best rider of the night, Kyle takes a lot of pics and posts them on his instagram.
John Price
♡ He doesn’t like it at all. He thinks it’s really dangerous and that one of those beasts is gonna kill you one day.
♡ But he knows you’re not gonna quit just for him, so he tries to be supportive, letting you do it as long as you don’t get hurt.
♡ Deep down he loves seeing you wear the typical cowgirl outfit. He thinks you look super sexy in it.
♡ Everyone thinks you’re an odd couple. Cuz it’s really weird to see an english military captain with a country texan girl, who would have thought you’d be a match?
♡ If he can go to see you ride at a rodeo, (which is rare because he’s always busy) he will just watch from the in-gate, contemplating every movement while he talks with your trainer.
♡ At some point John tries to convince you to switch to barrel races, but then it backfires when you tell him that now you wanna do both.
Alejandro Vargas
♡ He’s the most supportive out of them all.
♡ He grew up in a little town in Las Almas, always seeing the colorful fairs with jaripeos, which is basically the mexican version of rodeos, so he knew exactly what you were into.
♡ He fell hard for you, captivated by your beauty and your skills to ride those animals.
♡ If you marry him, he’d definitely buy you a nice house in the outskirts of Las Almas, with lots of land for you to have as many horses and bulls as you want.
♡ Alejandro loves horses, that’s obvious, so he buys a percheron just to ride for fun while you are doing your daily trainings with the bulls.
♡ He sits with your family almost every time he goes to the rodeos to watch you ride, cheering loudly for you. And your parents love him, there’s no doubt in that.
♡ If you are the best rider of the night, he hugs you really tight while telling you that he’s really proud of you.
#call of duty fanfic#alejandro vargas x reader#johnny mactavish x reader#john price x reader#simon riley x reader#kyle garrick x reader#cod fanfic#simon riley fanfic#Alejandro Vargas fanfic
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Hi Sam! Recently diagnosed midlife ADHDer here. First, thanks for talking about your ADHD & sharing what you’re figuring out. It’s super helpful to someone on a similar trajectory.
I just saw a reference to your photo books for the first time & it seems like a great way to help with memory issues that come with ADHD (like I know I did [x thing] but when?). Could you talk a little about the process of collecting photos & such all year & then how you create one?
Thank you!
Ey, happy to have helped! Congrats and sympathies on your diagnosis. And honestly it's good for me too, talking all this out, it helps me get my thoughts in order. I often namedrop you guys to Therapist, you are "my readers" :D
The process of putting the photobooks together is...well, it's a lot, so this is going to be a super high-level overview, but basically yeah I wanted to have records of where I'd been and what I'd been doing that were more concrete than just digital photos on a hard drive or a cloud. But I didn't really want to just print the digital photos and put them in a box, either, so I started making photobooks. Usually I go through Walgreens or Shutterfly for printing, whichever has the good coupons when I'm working on it.
So, here's the weird, kind of obsessive part: a huge help in making a yearly photobook, for me, is the fact that I take my photos off my phone at the end of every month. I have some that live on the phone -- my growing collection of photos of my niece, a selection of photos from my Europe trip, some memes -- but those live in their own folders. The main camera roll gets downloaded every month, and I put them all in a file labeled with the month and year (2023-01, 2023-02, etc). It's a recurring task in my to-do list, that I offload the photos on the last Saturday of each month. You don't necessarily have to do it this way, though -- it's just what works best for me, and I encourage people to find a way to do things that will actually be functional for them.
Across the course of the year, although really moreso in October and November, I go through the photos and remove any I absolutely know I don't want to keep. Once I've done that, I save a copy of the whole year's worth of photos to my digital archive, and I take another copy and label it "FOR PHOTOBOOK" which allows me to do more culling of them than I otherwise would, because I know anything I delete is still in my archive. And this all has the advantage of me knowing that the photos in my archive are at least SOMEWHAT organized.
So I go through all the year's photos in the For Photobook file, month by month, sort them into folders by event (so there's, like, 01-Polar Vortex, or 04-Europe, or 09-Birthday) and clear out all but the photos I know I want most. My photobooks are generally longer than the default length they give you at most sites, so I usually do have to add a few pages (they're like $1/page or something) but not too many. Often these days I have some stuff that's events, like the Europe trip, and then some stuff that's just like....a folder of funny shit I saw in Chicago, or a folder of all the food I photographed that I want to save. The cats generally get their own four-page spread at the back. :D
In 2020, I will say, there were only two themes: CATS and COVID. I alternated pages.
Anyway, once I've got the photos sorted, and deleted any I don't want to include, I get on Shutterfly or Walgreens Photo and start up a new photobook project. I upload the first folder of photos, place them on the page with suitable captions, then upload the second folder of photos, etc etc, until all the photos are uploaded and placed in the book. I don't caption extensively -- often it'll just be a page that'll say like "TEXAS IN JULY!" and all the photos from that trip. But it definitely does help me keep track of what I was up to. And it's kind of soothing to review the year and see all the stuff I accomplished.
So that's the bare bones -- by all means feel free to ask questions, although if you guys wouldn't mind asking in comments or reblogs if possible, that should keep the discussion contained as necessary. :)
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4, 7, 9, 12 for the ask game <3 (all glee if possible)
Yay, thanks for these Crys! 7 was previously answered so I went ahead and skipped it :)
4. say something nice about a ship you don't ship (it can be another ship in your fandom, a mutual's OTP, etc)
I don’t ship St. Berry, but I am of the opinion that if it couldn’t be Finn, I’m glad it was Jesse. He and Rachel really are two sides of the same coin and they seem to love each other very deeply and I hope they’re happy together!
9. a ship that isn't your OTP but that you enjoy
Samcedes 😭 they are my emotional support heterosexuals your honor. But also, they are two genuinely good people who care deeply about one another samcedes you will always be endgame to me
12. compliment someone else in your fandom
Okay this is gonna be a lot because I AM going to do all the active fandoms I’m in! So under the read more!
Glee:
First of all you, Crys! And @backslashdelta You are both so talented with your gif making that it kind of drives me insane.
@kurtsascot is probably one of the most talented writers I’ve ever had the pleasure of interacting with. I feel so lucky that we’ve gotten her so late in the game! I feel similarly about @rockitmans and @thelegendofjenna
@esilher @twinkkurt and @justgleekout make the most BEAUTIFUL fanart I’ve ever seen, and I also wanna thank @carsonphillips for klainegifs and keeping the fandom interesting with their events!
@somefeministtheatrepls is not only an amazing friend but the most thoughtful beta reader and honestly partner in my writing?? Writing is much less stressful because I don’t even worry about things being clunky or weird because I know her ass will help that chapter SHINE
@nancysgillians @kurthummeldeservesbetter also get shoutouts because they are wonderful people to have in your life
Newsies:
I could fill novels with how much I love and appreciate @somanywords! Their amazing storytelling and also volunteering to make art for the MiniBang I hosted earlier this year??? On top of listening to my insane ramblings?? They don’t make em like this anymore folks
@one-paper-bag is also SOOOOOO incredibly talented with their art, and their lovely comments on my Spider-Man AU keep me going (on GOD we are gonna get you another chapter ON GOD!!!!)
@livesincerely and @agentsnickers are some of the most prolific and INSANELY TALENTED writers I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading, and also genuinely lovely people! You know when you see someone on your dash and ur just like “wow. I hope they are having a FANTASTIC day and life. They deserve one.”
@piedoesnotequalpi and @regina-cordium are also so incredibly FUNNY and have the most correct takes on every single newsie and that’s on that ❤️
911:
I’m relatively new to this fandom, so I don’t know a ton of people yet, but there are def people I see on my dash that I have noticed!
@cranberrymoons @lesbianrobin @insertlovelyperson have written some of my absolute FAAAAAAVE fics! I feel like they really have a handle on who the characters are in a way that’s true to the show and kind of difficult to pull off!
@texasbama makes amazing gifs and honestly anytime I see her on my dash I laugh bc genuinely she’s so funny. Also on the list of hilarious contributors is @buckgettingstruck
And a couple of people who I think have genuinely great vibes are @buckera @leathercouchcushion and @yaz-the-spaz
And of course I can’t talk about 911 without a second mention to @regina-cordium who puts up with all my Texas!Buddie nonsense andbansndbsk
-
Okay yeah so that was a LOT sorry!! I didn’t mean for it to get so long BUT I do mean every single word! I’m really blessed to have met so many amazing people through fandom and my experience on this site has been nothing less than superb because of yall ❤️
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Hey. Y'all wanna hear some crazy talk?
This will probably be the deadliest tornado season on record for the Bible Belt.
Texas is on fire with over a million acres burned. El Niño is on a weird downturn dropping blizzards across California and Colorado. Hot air plus cold air equals big boom. And that's just the science part of it.
CONTENT WARNING: mentions of Death, murder, natural disasters, related to hate crime, references to spiritual practices
The spiritual part of it? Asshole colonizers killed an all-black wearing two-spirit Choctaw kid in Owasso named Nex Benedict.
I'm not going to be surprised if tornadoes rip apart the bigoted governor's house. I'm not going to be surprised if Owasso is ripped off the map. I'm not going to be surprised if that one Senator has to deal with funeral after funeral and a state of emergency for the rest of his term. I'm not going to be shocked if the resultant economic downturn collapses the political power of the red states, and I'm not gonna be surprised if we get a second dust bowl outta this.
To top it off, there's a new twisters film in post production. The first twisters film came out during a weird spike in tornadoes as well. It's like the collective unconsciousness of the artistic/filmmaking world knows what's about to happen.
Now. I do not speak for all natives. As for myself, and some other natives - a tornado is not just hot air plus blizzard air. It's a person. It is an entity. We can talk to that entity, and it talks back. And my understanding was a lot of those entities wore black. A lot of those entities came with more than one spirit. It's possible to have a "family of tornadoes."
One little problem- someone just prematurely sent an all-black wearing Choctaw two-spirit back to the sky.
I don't even know them. I don't have any reason to believe that the spirit of that innocent kid might be vengeful about what happened. But I got a pretty good handle on what the ANCESTORS probably feel about that.
A kid like Nex is a gift. They can understand both sides of the gender divide, can solve problems and make medicine that no other type of person can. Owasso was blessed to have them around - if you believed in a great spirit then you'd know that the great spirit PERSONALLY sent that gift to your community. Rejecting Nex was an act of rejecting the great spirit.
Someone sent that gift back to the sky.
Don't be shocked if the sky is angry.
During certain crises, many natives believed that some ancestors went into the forests to turn into animals in order to feed the starving people when there's famine. Other spirits may go into the forest to become fire, and into the sky to become storms, when there's war. Currently, one million acres of spirit life just left for the sky - ancestral spirits no longer there to feed the people who are hungry, but who went to join the great spirit and the spirit warriors dressed in black on a warpath in the sky.
Over a million acres of Texas just burned. Smoke is how the ancestors carried prayers up to the sky where the great spirit resides. The sky is absolutely chock full of their angered prayer smoke, smokey spirits wearing black.
The sky kept telling me: This is a war. They killed the wrong kid. The ancestors will not listen to anyone who buries the hatchet this year - no true native would try to stop it from happening, because they would know the importance of the gift of a two-spirit in black clothes. They would know the importance of the gift of the animals in the forest that are their own kin relatives. They would know something is wrong, for all that to be in the sky at once, and they will know to take cover from it.
If you aren't familiar with a hatchet burying ritual, don't worry about it. It won't help you right now anyway. The sky has spoken, and believes that no one who is a true native would bury the hatchet in this instance. Man wearing black is out for blood. Move. Get out of its way. Get underground. The houses aren't safe.
It's going to be bad.
A note to natives wondering who tf I am - I don't claim to be part of a tribe but I have o-gah-pah and other tribal ancestry. Some of my non-native ancestors assisted john ross and john watts in hiding native children from the feds in white neighborhoods when shit got bad. You don't have to listen to me - listen to your own elders. Listen to your own wildlife. There are no birds in the photos of Texas wildfires for a reason. If you see them all flying the same direction, try to keep up.
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Interlude 4: A Valentine's Day Letter
Part 14 of Sometimes All You Need (A Getaway Car)
Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin x Reader
Description: You've never understood Valentine's Day. You're not a flashy person. You've never felt the need to flaunt your happy relationship in front of other people. Last year, you didn't celebrate Valentine's Day even though you were dating Jake. This year, your fiancé has been dropping hints, like he's planning something special. What you find waiting for you on Valentine's Day is far more special than you ever would have expected.
Disclaimers: None! This is the sappiest fic I've ever written
Warning: Female Reader
Word Count: 3185
Author Note: Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Here, have some Jake and Gorgeous Girl to celebrate the day! I had an absolute blast writing this fic and I hope you all adore it!
Thanks to @desert-fern for beta-reading this fic for me and catching all of my weird phrasing!
AO3: Cross-posted Here!
Wattpad: Cross-posted Here!
My Masterlist
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You’ve never understood the thrall of Valentine’s Day. As far as you’re concerned, it’s another capitalist excuse for spending exorbitant amounts of money and parading a happy relationship around. God forbid you’re single on Valentine’s Day, too. You’d made the mistake once of going to eat at a restaurant alone on Valentine’s Day. Faced with so much pity, half-hidden and cloying from the waitstaff and the happy couples in the restaurant that day, you’d nearly given up reservations you’d made months before. Since then, you’ve sworn off going out on Valentine’s Day. In any case, you can get the best parts of the holiday, the candy, the next day, all half off.
Coming up on your first Valentine’s Day with Jake, you’re not sure what to expect. He was deployed on Valentine’s Day last year and then in the hospital. Given how stressful that time was for both of you, it makes sense that you never celebrated. It didn’t bother you then, and it doesn’t bother you now. You've never doubted Jake's love for you. He loves to show you how much he loves you, but he’s never overtly demonstrative about it - something that suits you just as much as it does him. Jake usually saves his flashy tricks for when he’s Hangman up in his jet. But you’re still worried. Your fiancé is the reason why.
Jake's been dropping hints for weeks, practically since you both got home from Texas. He’d started with a simple, “You’re not planning anything for Valentine’s Day, right?” At your nod no, he’d grinned, kissed you, and then drove to work like he hadn’t upended your whole day just by asking that question. Since then, you’ve been noticing these furtive, hidden conversations Jake has been having on the phone. He’s keeping secrets, and you know he is.
You’ve never been good at rolling with the punches, is the thing. If something is happening around you, you’d much prefer to know. Jake knows this, which is why you’re standing in your short robe at five o’clock on Valentine’s Day, staring down at the envelope and rose on your bed. Jake always makes the bed in the morning, and it’s still crisp and pristine now, hospital corners and all. The only thing marring the cream-colored duvet is the bright red rose and the white envelope. You huff as you breathe in the scent of the fragrant bloom and open the envelope, pulling out sheets of paper. The letter, for that’s what it is, is written on creamy, thick paper scented with roses. Jake’s spiky hand peppers words across the sheets, and you slump carelessly on the bed to peruse his words.
My Gorgeous Girl, Happy Valentine’s Day, beautiful. I know, I know. You have a thing against Valentine’s Day. I can almost hear your voice rise up in complaint as I write my love letter to you. “Come on, Jay! You can’t tell me you want to spend hundreds of dollars just to show the world you love me when we both know how much we adore each other!” It’s true, Gorgeous. We don’t have to show the world how much we love each other. But I don’t think of Valentine’s Day as a reason to show you off. Let’s be honest. I don’t need an excuse to show my Gorgeous Girl off. Any day, any time, I’m ready to scream how amazing you are from the rooftops. But today? I want to show you how beautiful you are to me, and I guess that’s why I’m writing this letter. Do you remember that first night we met? When that idiot James had the prettiest girl in the entire place sitting across that small table from him, and he didn’t realize? I fell in love with you for the first time, that night. It feels like fate, looking back at that night. If you can believe it, I wasn’t supposed to be in that restaurant at all. I don’t think I’ve ever told you why I was there, but I was stood up that night. It was supposed to be a blind date, some girl who was a friend of a friend of Will’s. We were supposed to meet out by the fountain, and after an hour of waiting, I was in desperate need of a drink. It felt like a magic spell came over me when I walked through the doors of that restaurant. You were the first thing I saw, believe it or not. You were wearing that gorgeous purple dress, sitting in that chair by the dance floor with your hair curling around your face and the prettiest smile. I nearly walked right up to you and asked if you’d like to dance when I realized you were on a date. So I convinced myself you wouldn’t want a stranger butting in and settled in to watch you. I promise I’m not as creepy as I sound, Gorgeous.
You have to gasp and giggle a little at this point because it makes you giddy, realizing that Jake was just as enraptured by you at first sight as you were by him. You can’t believe a man as wonderful as Jake could ever get stood up, but you can’t help but be thankful that he was. Because now he’s yours, and you are never going to let him go. You sniff at the rose again and pick up the page.
You were fiddling with the drink in your hand, and every time you took a sip, I was enraptured by the little grimace of disgust on your red lips as you sipped on it. By the time you left the table to get a drink, staring at your phone like you were praying for a savior, I was a couple of drinks in and ready to do anything to make you smile for me. So I muscled up to the counter next to you and tried to steal your drink. It’s not the most original of moves to get a girl’s attention, but well, it worked, didn’t it? Fuck. My Gorgeous Girl, if you took my breath away sitting in a crowded room, then you have no idea how hard I found it to breathe when you were standing right next to me. I pushed that Old Fashioned into your hand and begged you to tell me what was wrong. You didn’t know it, but I was already gone for you. One word in that pretty voice, apologizing for trying to take my drink, and I was half in love. I would have done anything for you then. If you’re not aware, beautiful, I’d do anything for you now, too. When you told me how terrible James made you feel, I was ready to march right over and deck him. But then you let go of my hand, and I ached for that contact again. So I asked you to dance. If I thought you were beautiful walking through that door and at the bar, I was lying to myself. Hearing your laugh as I said any outrageous thing that came to my mind as we twirled around that dance floor, I knew you could never be more beautiful than you were then. I was lying to myself again, but I’ll get to that soon. Neither of us was expecting the night to end like it did, with the two of us running out of the bar and James screaming at us as we peeled out of the parking lot. But I’m so glad it did end that way. Because it meant I got to kiss you that night, feel the heat of your perfect body pressed up against mine as you sat in my lap in my truck and made the prettiest noises. Baby doll, I had to summon up strength I wasn’t sure I had to keep from ravishing you that night. The second time I fell in love with you, it was that night on the beach. The one when you found out how I got my callsign. I told you that night that I’ve never had someone defend me as staunchly and openly as you did. It’s true. I fell in love with you all over again in that moment. You listened to me spill my heart out and kissed me after I was done. I’ve never told anyone else what happened, at least nobody other than my therapist. I half expected anyone I told to run away from me like I was a monster. There you go again, undermining my walls and tearing them down like they’re made of flimsy sheets of paper rather than bricks and mortar. I told you that you brought me back to myself. I was shipped to Lemoore after my air-to-air kill on the behest of your dad, Gorgeous. I forgot about it until I sat down and thought about that night while I was writing this letter. I’m not sure you noticed, and it was probably a mere footnote at the end of your dad’s Navy career. But it changed my life. If my CO hadn’t listened to Admiral Kerner during those days, I’m not sure I’d be alive and here. All my family would likely have left of me is a medal in a box on a mantel. And I wouldn’t have you.
The words swim in front of your eyes as you cry. You don’t want to mar the letter, not when it’s the only love letter you’ve ever received, and you want to keep it for all eternity. You blot the tears away and pull the pages back towards you.
Can I just say how I’m so happy to have you, my Gorgeous Girl? Because I am. You give my life meaning.
We’ve been through some rough times since that night, and I hate that it made you cry. When I crashed that day on the aircraft carrier mere days before I was supposed to come home to you, you were the only thing on my mind. I regretted never telling you how much I loved you. You know something, baby doll? Before I met you, I thought I handled deployments well. I missed my family; of course I did. But it was easy enough to feel close to them when I got the care packages and letters as frequently as I did. But with you? Fuck, doll. You’ve spoiled me. That first time we talked on the phone when I was on the carrier, all I wanted was to wrap you up in my arms and never let you go again. As you can imagine, that’s a difficult feeling to be having when you’re miles away from the love of your life. It’s frowned upon to steal a jet for a joyride across the ocean for a reunion with your girl, though I would have risked it for you. I think I was a knife’s edge away from a dishonorable discharge for the entirety of that deployment. All I wanted was you. I thought about you, dreamed about you, and god, did I ache for your body next to mine in that horribly uncomfortable bunk at night.
So yeah, you were the last thing on my mind when I passed out because of the pain that day. I never wanted to hurt you, Gorgeous. I just wanted to come back home to you. Of course, when I woke up three weeks later and saw your pretty face, I knew I’d hurt you just as badly as if I’d stabbed you in the heart. Baby doll, did you sleep at all in those three weeks? And is it cheesy for me to say you’ve never looked as beautiful as you did when I opened my eyes again in that hospital bed? I promised myself then and there that if I recovered and if I could fly again, I’d beg you to marry me. I wasn’t sure if you’d want to stay with me, in all honesty. I know it must be stressful to have your significant other in danger for months at a time. I shudder to think how I’d act if it were you in a jet and me waiting for you back home, not knowing and praying that I’d see you again.
Of course, as I’m writing this now, I understand how scared you must have been when I told you I was going back to work early. I didn’t understand it then when everything seemed to blow up in our faces, and you told me to “Go back to base. Go back to killing yourself with workouts before you're ready. Go back to having a multi-million dollar missile strapped to your ass going faster than the speed of sound.” I have those words memorized because I think you broke my heart that night, Gorgeous. And you did it to save yourself more heartache. I spent a lot of the time I was drinking in that bar, thinking about you. It shouldn’t be surprising. I’m pretty sure I think about you more than I think about anything else. Some would say I’m just obsessed. But I think I’m just a fool in love with you. The bartender straightened me out with more than just a few strong pours of whiskey. He was talking to me the entire time I was sitting in that bar, feeling sorry for myself. By the time you came to pour me into my truck and take me home, I was ready to beg on my knees for you to take me back.
Instead, I just made you cry again. I always noticed, love. I knew every time you cried those months when I was in physical therapy and healing from that crash. You spent half the day with your pretty eyes rimmed red and your nose cherry red from blowing it. You’ve said so many times that you’re an ugly crier. You’re wrong. You’re beautiful no matter what you do. I don’t understand why you took me back. I still don’t. But I promised myself that I’d be careful when I’m up in the air again. And I have been. I have to be. Those rough few months taught me to care for myself. Because I’m not just keeping myself safe; I’m keeping your heart safe, too. Love, you tell Roos I wrote something this sappy, and I’m never going to do that thing with my tongue that makes you melt ever again. That was the third time I fell in love with you.
You snicker through your tears and re-read that paragraph again. This is why you chose to fight for your relationship with Jake that day. In spite of the Navy, you chose to fight for Jake because you can’t see yourself making a life with anyone but him. Not anymore.
The fourth time I fell in love with you wasn’t that long ago, honestly. It was on Christmas Day when I asked you to marry me, and you said yes. I still can’t believe it, you know? I can’t believe that you would want to marry me, especially after all the pain and heartache I’ve put you through. Really, I wasn’t sure you would want to keep the ring after realizing how horrible my dad is. I know I’ve got just as many of his bad personality traits as the good ones I’ve cultivated since I left home. How do I know I won’t be as terrible to our kids as he was to me? I hope that because I have you, it’ll be enough to keep me from turning into a monster of his making. Gorgeous, I so want to have that family with you. To wake you up in the morning with breakfast in bed and our kiddos toddling about on little feet screaming for their mama.
I know we’re a long way away from that right now and that neither of us is ready to have kiddos running around. But I want that with you, love. I want every bit of the heartbreak and pain and tears that life brings us. But I also want all of the happiness, all of the laughter, all of the joy.
I love you, Gorgeous.
Forever Yours,
Jake
When you set the pages carefully back into their envelope and turn around, you see Jake standing there.
“Did I make you cry again, sweetheart?”
“Yeah,” You can feel your face crumple as Jake tugs you into his arms. “I love you so much, you ridiculous man.”
“Why’m I ridiculous, huh, beautiful?”
“Because you make me fall in love with you more and more every day.”
When his body shakes with laughter, you smack his arms with a pout on your face. “Hey, stop smacking me, baby doll! Come on, gorgeous. Wear your pretty purple sundress and come downstairs. I’ve got something special waiting for you.”
Before he walks away, you tug him down and kiss him, slow and sweet. His hands slide under your robe to squeeze your ass, and you moan into the kiss.
“Not yet, gorgeous. Get dressed.”
You’re pouting and grumbling as you tug the sundress on and braid your hair. But stepping into the kitchen and seeing candles lit, you’re melting again.
“What’s all this, huh?” You’re smiling at your fiancé as he hands you a glass of wine.
“We never got the chance to celebrate Valentine’s Day last year because I was hundreds of miles away.” He smiles and shrugs gently. “I wanted to celebrate you last year, but I wasn’t sure how much a bouquet of flowers and a gift would help when I wasn’t here to celebrate with you.”
“So I wanted to go all out this year.”
“And the letter?” You step into your fiancé until there’s barely an inch between the two of you. His eyes flutter closed as you slide your fingers down his cheek while sipping on your wine.
“The letter?” He chuckles, dipping down to kiss you teasingly, a barely-there brush of his lips against yours. “Step One in my master plan. Tell my girl how much I love her in the only way I know how. Without making a fool of myself, that is.”
“What’re the next steps in your plan then, Jay?”
“What do you think of dinner and dessert?” He tugs you by the hand a leads you to the dinner he’s prepared for you, your favorite meal, and then grins.
“So I see dinner, cowboy,” You pout softly. “Where’s my dessert?”
“Baby doll, you’re looking at him!”
“What if I want my dessert before dinner, then?”
Jake’s eyes widen at your audacious words, and you laugh, the sound echoing through the house, as he takes the wine glass out of your slack hand and pulls you upstairs.
“I think that can be arranged, Gorgeous. Dinner can be reheated whenever you’re hungry.” He winks, “For actual food, not just me.”
As far as Valentine’s Days go, you can say this one is the best you’ve ever celebrated. All you needed was Jake.
I DO NOT CONSENT TO HAVE MY WORK POSTED, TRANSLATED, OR PUBLISHED ON ANY SITES OTHER THAN ON AO3, ON WATTPAD, OR ON TUMBLR BY ME. IF YOU SEE MY WORKS ANYWHERE OTHER THAN AO3, ON WATTPAD, OR TUMBLR, THEN THEY HAVE BEEN POSTED WITHOUT MY PERMISSION AND I WILL BE WORKING TO TAKE THEM DOWN.
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Our Future Day's
Joel Miller x Reader series, Chap 2, A helping hand
Masterlist
Pairing: Fem!reader x Joel Miller
Summary: Joel helps you set up new furniture in your new home
WC: 4.4k
Type: Sfw
A/n: Hi! Hope you all enjoy. Please check out my masterlist, there's a lot of stuff there. You can get to know me, you can see the rules of my blog and then you can see all of my fanfictions. You'll be able to find the previous chapters to this fic and upcoming ones. You'll also be able to find my Wattpad & AO3. Thank you
Waking up bright and early, you felt your dog, Becker, licking the hell out of your face. He most likely had to go potty. "Jesus buddy, let mama wake up." You giggled, scratching his fur. He was also just very energetic. You could see the sun shining through the windows of your new home, it was most likely eight to nine in the morning, the usual time for Becker to go pee and poop. Although, back at your family home, there was a doggy door so you never needed to be awake.
"Hold on baby." You mumbled to him, rubbing your eyes carefully, allowing them to adjust. It wasn't too hard to fall asleep last night, which was a miracle. If anything, the air mattress was most uncomfortable. You assume you'll either get your other furniture today or tomorrow, which will be Heaven on Earth! Becker continued to be a rowdy pup, running through the house and chasing a ruckus. "Alright, alright." You sighed, getting up out of the bed.
Your back was killing you but it was nothing you haven't felt before. You quickly folded up the blanket on the bed before setting it on the end neatly, although you presume Becker will later untidy it, he's a crazy boy. "Gotta go potty?" You taunted him, patting on your thighs. He stuck his tounge out and ran to the front door, pawing at it. You giggled, strolling up to the door and opening it up for him, watching as he bolted into the front yard.
Before going out with him, you grabbed your cardigan off of the hanger, putting it on briskly. The fresh morning air felt good, it smelt like rain outside. You could tell the grass was wet too, maybe it sprinkled throughout the night. Becker made his way behind the brown fence, cocking his leg up and going pee, you didn't watch though, that was weird. Instead, your eyes darted over to Joel's house. That same black truck was still in the driveway, maybe he works later? Or maybe not at all?
There were no lights on in his home. You were also still curious as to who that other person in his home last night was. Definitely could not have been his brother, it was a woman. They had a decently smaller frame and were very short. At least 5'1, if not shorter. It doesn't even matter to you, it shouldn't, you have no right to butt into his business. You're just inquisitive...
Becker ran back over to you, licking your hand as it rested at your side. "Oh what boy?" You snickered, petting the top of his head before he then bolted back off into the sideline of the yard, rolling in the damp grass. "Becker..." You sighed out, also not being able to contain your laughter. You could really go for some caffeine right now, especially with how your back is feeling. If you're going to have to move furniture today, you'll most definitely need the extra boost of energy.
You still didn't know your way around the city. It was massive. Compared to your small, average, boring town in Oregon, this was like Los Angeles. You'd never want to live there though, absolutely not. Dallas wasn't even your first choice. The job offer just wasn't something to scoff at. You were grateful for the opportunity. Originally, either Washington or Arizona were where you wanted to live. But Texas was last on your list, especially specifically Dallas.
Your phone was still inside of the house, charging on the kitchen counter. You'd need it for the GPS in order to find a local nearby coffee shop.
Whistling, you called for Becker to come back into the house. You were contemplating on whether or not you'd bring him with you to get coffee. You'd probably have to, he'd lose his mind being left all alone in an empty unfamiliar house. You didn't mind, he was just so energetic in the mornings. He slipped right past you and through the front door, running around and sniffing areas he hasn't gotten to yet. You giggled silently as you snatched your phone, checking the time. It was 9:25 in the morning, it felt good to wake up at a good time like this.
The phone was also on 100% which was a big plus, the last thing you wanted to deal with today was your charger bugging out. Your data was finicky as it was, barley having service out here which made no sense. Nonetheless, you opened up Safari and searched for nearby café's. There was one not even five minutes away, it was perfect and it was already open. You'll probably get some food while you're out too, Becker will be fine on that, he has some treats in the car.
You tied your cardigan up, setting your phone in the pocket of it as you put your slippers on. You weren't going to get all dressed up just to get some coffee and breakfast, there was no point. "Becker, wanna go for a ride?" You spoke in a high pitched voice. Becker began to pant as he ran over to you, jumping all around. "Let's go boy." You whispered, petting his soft head as you opened the front door, using your car keys to unlock the front & back seat.
As you opened up the backseat, you patted it twice, alerting Becker to jump in, which he did. He made himself comfy on the array of seats. You presume he was quite hungry, you grabbed out two treats and fed them to him. "Don't worry boy, your food may come in today." You said softly to him, kissing his furry side before shutting the car door gently, he doesn't particularly enjoy loud noises.
You climbed into the front seat and stuck your key into the ignition, hearing the affirming sound of your vehicle starting. "Good." You muttered to yourself. Your car doesn't even have any reoccurring problems, it's just an unwanted fear of it breaking down that bothers you. You could hear a song playing on the radio, instantly, you turned it up, enjoying some new noise after sleeping in an utterly silent house... Besides Becker's snoring, that is...
Pulling out of your driveway, you looked to your right towards Joel's house and seen his front door open. You didn't immediately drive off. You watched as he and his brother walked out, clearly ready for the day. Joel glanced up from his stance, seeing you in your truck. His face formed a slight smile as he caught a glimpse of your face. You smiled back, putting your hand up to give him a small wave, which he kindly returned. After that, you drove off, not wanting to make it awkward.
Joel seemed like a kind man. He was willing to help you out, which was a pro. The men back home were similar, it's always made you feel secure. Then again, you can handle yourself well. You moved all the way to Texas with little to no help. The only man by your side was, well, Becker! Best boy any woman could ever ask for!
Driving off, the roads in the suburbs weren't all that busy, in fact, most of them were empty. It's just that the main roads were going to be hell. At least it wasn't even earlier or lunch hour yet, then you'd probably have to take back roads but those would be full of people too. It's just a major change compared to how traffic was back home. Maybe in a way, it was nice? It felt more realistic. More alive in a sense. Becker surely likes it, he loves any & all attention.
"Okay then..." You murmured to yourself, setting up the GPS through your phone. On the screen, the text read it was about six minutes away, it was great. Having a café this close was excellent, you'd definitely use it to your advantage. Every morning, before work, stopping by for some coffee & a bagel sounded like a wonderful idea. You just hope the prices aren't insane. Inflation is a bitch.
"Want some better tunes boy?" You shouted out to Becker with a giggle, changing the station to where a lot of calming, unwinding & serene songs played. Felt like it fit the mood. You also rolled down Becker's window for him, he loves sticking his head out and being obnoxious.
As you turned left, you got onto the main roads. A ton of small owned businesses and shops flooded the area and not only that, within the distance, large & tall skyscrapers towered over the massive city. "Holy shit." You whispered to yourself. This is where you'll be living and it feels extraordinary. If you recall, the tallest building back home was a damn courthouse and even then, it doesn't even compare to these establishments. It was a big change from home, that's for sure.
You spotted some spots you'd definitely wanna check out soon. A boba shop, a retailer, a chinese place and more. There weren't places like this back home, at least no where near your town. "Becker, we're almost there." You assured him, you could hear how quiet he had gotten. He was hungry but you'd just want to wait til the truck comes in, hopefully today, if not, it was really going to be shitty for not only Becker, but you too.
The GPS now said four minutes away but it felt closer than that. The main roads were filled but not to the brim. It was because a lot of people were at work or doing something for the day, it was Saturday after all. At your upcoming job, you won't have to work weekends which was a life saver. It'd be good to give you and Becker time together and time to set up your house. You couldn't wait to see how it will look once it's completely decorated.
Randomly, the thought of Joel came back into your head. For some reason, he was unforgettable. The way he spoke to you was unlike anyone you'd ever met before. You wanted the truck to come by today so he'd help you unload it all like he had offered last night. Imagining him in your house kind of warmed your heart & stomach. You barley knew him and yet, he was on your mind. His brother though? No. Maybe it was because the two of you didn't speak but it was also just because Joel was different. There was a different ring to him.
Minutes later, you pulled into the coffee shops parking lot, noticing there was a drive-thru which was perfect, you really didn't wanna go through the hassle of going in. Not only that, Becker wouldn't be able to come inside and he's a big 'ol whine baby without you. It would also allow you to decide on what you want easier.
You drove through, waiting patiently behind another car. This car had a Florida license plate with flowers around the border of it. "Long ways away from home, huh?" You mumbled to yourself, somewhat projecting. You still need to change your plate to be for Texas rather than Oregon. It's just a tedious process. You'd also have to change Becker's collar to have Texas on it as well, which wouldn't be too bad to deal with. There's just more important stuff to handle right now.
You pulled up, stopping at the mic system and studying the large screen that displayed all the drinks and snacks you could get. "Hi, what can I get for you?" You heard a woman say through the com. "Just one second please." You replied, tapping on your steering wheel. You were just going to get a White Mocha Coffee but you also wanted a snack. They had a lot. Bagels, bread, sandwiches, etc. And everything looked really good.
"Alright, so, I'll get a white mocha coffee and let me get the grilled ham & cheese sandwich." You spoke clearly to the woman. "Okay, in total, that'll be 13.47$ at the first window!" "Thanks." You said softly, pulling up. The sun was officially up. It looked nice in the center of the city, aside from all the people and cars. The buildings, wildlife, nature and atmosphere was all collectively beautiful. Oregon was definitely better compared to the city life but beggars can't be choosers.
As you drove up, the woman whom you were speaking to opened the window and held out your receipt. "Your total was 13.47$, correct?" She asked you with that classic customer service voice. "Yeah, here you go." You beamed, handing her your card. You took the receipt, tossing it into your center console. The woman swiped the card and tapped a few buttons before handing it back to you. "You have yourself an amazing day!" "You too hun." You said nicely to her before she then shut the door.
The next window handed you a bag and a cup. You were practically drooling over how yummy it smelt. "Have a good day." The man spoke, passing you both items. "You too." You nodded, setting the coffee in the cup holder and placing the bag onto your lap. You'd definitely have to share with Becker once you're home. "Onwards and upwards puppy." You giggled before pulling out of the coffee shop. You'll definitely come here again.
-
Hours later, you were sitting out on your front porch, scrolling through Facebook on your phone. You felt a sense of sorrow seeing all the people back home living their lives. You wish you could be there with them, especially your friends. They all mean so much to you and now, you'll rarely see them. Holidays of course and occasional visits but that's about it. It's worrisome, you don't want any of these friendships to fade away. That isn't your intention.
You also miss your family. They're all going on with their lives and it's upsetting to see. You especially miss your cousins, they were your closest members of your family. You don't have any siblings so it was the closest you got to that either. Luckily, your favorite cousin plans to visit you soon. It'll be nice, just to vent to them and hear how the family is doing. You aren't close to much others in it though.
"Becker, c'mon boy!" You shouted for him, wanting him to stop being a trouble maker. You walked towards him and looked up, a huge burst of happiness filled you. It was that truck, the one that had all of your house supplies in. "Yay!" You yelled, grabbing onto Becker's collar, pulling him back carefully into the yard instead of the sidewalk. You were very happy with this outcome. Becker definitely will be too. His dog bed will be a plus for him, no more sharing... Until he jumps into bed anyways.
The truck backed into your small driveway, badly fitting due to how large the vehicle was. It parked quickly and you ran up to the back of the truck, internally screaming. You couldn't wait to set your bed back up. You heard the truck door shut as a slim, tall man emerged from it. "Hey, this for you?" The man asked, showing you the clipboard. You read the name and nodded, "Yes, that's me." You beamed. "Alrighty, everything in here is yours then. I can help you unload if needed, unless you have others to help you." He spoke kindly, hooking the clipboard back.
You took a gander over at Joel's house, he was outside, his brother there too. They looked not busy, why not ask them to help? Joel did offer after all. "One moment." You said in a friendly tone to the man. You ordered Becker to sit and be patient before you then crossed the street. Joel noticed this, his posture forming to be more standard as he looked you up and down. He dropped his cigarette, stepping on it. "Didn't think I'd see you again so soon." His southerness was unforgettable.
Giggling, you set your hands onto your hips. "Me either... Hey, I just have a question though." You said softly, gazing up at him. He chuckled and looked down at you, he was much taller than you. "Anything." "So, that truck in my driveway, it has just about everything I own in it... Would you mind giving me a hand with it? I'll even pay you if needed." You asked with confidence. You don't even know what urged you to come over and feel so free asking him. You feel like he'll say yes, even without pay, honestly.
"Glady." Joel voiced to you, setting his phone in his pocket. "Ya think you'll need both of us or...?" "Just you should work, I don't wanna bother the both of you." You awkwardly chuckled, giving a slight smile to Tommy. Tommy nodded, he didn't seem to really care. "Sounds good to me." Joel expressed, beginning to walk alongside you to the house. Inside, you were screaming and dancing. You don't even understand why either.
"Thank you, I appreciate this. I honestly don't think the driver dude could help." You mumbled beneath your breath. Nothing against him, he just probably does it all day, it gets tiring. Joel gave you a slight laugh, "Yeah, I got it. I don't have these for nothing." Joel teased, referring to his rugged muscles. You blushed before giggling, "I see that." You whisper. Becker ran up to you as you walked into your driveway. "Oh hey there." You spoke to him, kneeling down and kissing the roof of his nose, scratching his head.
"He the only pet ya have?" "Yeah, he's my one and only baby." You vocalized, pulling away from him. "I ain't got any pets, just my daughter." Joel cackled. You were literally shocked when he said that. This man looked way too young to have a daughter. At the same time, this cleared your worries. Was that young woman in the house his kid? "Jesus, no way you have a kid?" You spat out unfiltered. "Sorry, I just didn't think you'd be old enough." You recuperated yourself.
Joel smiled at you, his facial hair scrunching up. "Yeah, had her when I was real young. High school love and having the mindset of a teenager will do that to ya." He admitted, unlocking the back of the truck, pulling it open with his arms, revealing all of what you owned. The way his fibrow arms flexed when he opened it made you feral in silence. He has such a good body. You couldn't help but look at them from time to time.
"I imagine... I never dated in Highschool or College. I just kept to myself." You spoke honestly. It's not that you didn't want to date, you just never had the chance overall. "You don't have to answer but you still with her mom?" Joel didn't reply at first, he just gave you a monotone look before he then hopped into the truck, you did too. "Nah... Her mama isn't a very good woman. I've been done with women for some time now because of her. Sarah is the only girl I need." Joel said with earnest. He was honorable for that. A father putting his children before romance is respectable.
"I totally understand that. That's a good move on your part, father wise." You complimented him. "I try." He chuckled. He didn't seem very open to speaking about her, rightfully so, who'd really talk about their child to a stranger? Joel grabbed ahold of a few large boxes. "Where you want these?" The man asked you, holding all of them with strength. "Oh, inside please, or just wherever is easier, I guess." You rambled, also grabbing a box, you already knew this box was full of Becker's stuff due to him sniffing it and scratching at it.
Joel jumped out of the truck, setting all three boxes in your kitchen, you followed behind him. He scanned the house, whistling at the sight. "Nice, mine looks similar but this is more craftsmen, I like it." He praised your sense of style. "Yeah, me too, it's nice." You snickered. You bent down and opened up Becker's box, grabbing out his favorite chew toy. "Here you go mister." You kissed his head and allowed him to play with it. "You seem like a good dog mom." Joel tittered. "Oh, I try." You said with sarcasm. It was an easy job. Just feed the fattie and baby him, he'll be one happy pup.
The two of you exited the home, Becker staying on the inside now that he had his stuff, he was quite content. Joel double checked the trailer before laughing, it was such a attractive laugh too, super country. "Damn girl, how much stuff do you need?" He teased you. "A lot." You joked. "I'm guessing you'll need help moving this bedframe?" "Most definitely." You sighed, not even wanting to dick with it. "Where's your bedroom at? Upstairs, I assume?" He questioned you. "Yes, like the first door so it shouldn't be to difficult." "Alright." Joel replied, beginning to drag it out for you.
"You're very strong." You muttered, somewhat hoping he wouldn't hear. "This is what being a contractor does to you, darlin." Joel chuckled, lifting the bedframe from one end. The way he called you darling about made you pass out, it was so different, once again, adding onto his character so much. You lost your train of thought. His body glowed in the sunshine. The minor sweat on his forehead and arms was so entrancing. "Hey?" Joel asked you, snapping you out of your head. "You alright?" He gave out a manly southern laugh. "Yes, of course, just the heat is irritating." You lied, grabbing onto the opposite end of the frame.
Until the two of you reached the top of the stairs, you opened your bedroom door, allowing him to fully push it in, placing it down onto the floor. "Want it anywhere specific?" "Just in the center there." You requested. He gently pushed it out, aligning it as well, it was like he read your mind. "Thank you." You said quietly, pulling your hair into a ponytail. You looked over at him whilst doing so, noticing he was staring at you, his eyes were dark and his expression was as if it was focused. You didn't say anything, not wanting to make yourself look stupid.
"We can go grab my bed now? I'll be able to handle the rest of the boxes on my own though." You broke the silence, pulling your hands away from your hair. "You sure? I don't mind helping ya out." "I'm sure." You spoke truthfully, turning out of your bedroom and treading down the staircase, Joel doing the same right behind you. Becker was passed out on the floor, his belly exposed and you couldn't help but snicker, he was so cute.
You stepped outside again and entered the back of the truck. It was still quite full. The couch you had purchased was also there in a clearly hefty box, you weren't excited for that. "If you wanna head home, you can actually, I might be able to handle this mattress on my own." You said, trying not to hold him up. "Don't sweat it, I got it." Joel said with a low & husky voice as he grabbed the end of it. "Y'know, I get the impression you are an independent girl." He chuckled out. You giggled and nodded, "Just how I was raised."
The two of you helped one another slip the mattress into the home and up the fabricated stairs. The sound of Joel's grunts as he moved it upwards were attractive and made you wanna risk everything but you remained silent, of course, you two had only just met. This was just such a new experience for you, that's all. Joel picked up the mattress half way, plopping it down on the frame with a groan, straightening it out too. "I'm guessing you get about 20% of this whereas that dog of yours gets 80%?" You laughed when he said that, but he was correct.
"When Sarah was little, she'd crawl into bed with me and I'd hold her. She stopped doing it as she got older, she's in her early teens now, but I'd kill for it. I have a love-hate relationship with the fact she's gettin older." Joel snickered, rubbing the ridges of his nose. "I bet... I hope someday I can experience that." You tittered, crossing your arms. "You want kids someday?" "Of course I do." You nodded. Joel didn't respond, he just gave you a half smile. "It's a blessing, that's for damn sure." He said hushly. You glimmered at him.
Your guy's eyes locked for a few seconds, your breathing also becoming heavier. He made you feel a type of way you hadn't felt before. It was a welcomed feeling though. Your stomach twisted & turned whenever he was around and you found yourself staring at him any chance you could get. He obviously didn't feel the same but it's whatever, he's not looking for a woman anyways as he stated. A small crush won't hurt, right?
A few minutes later, the two of you were back outside in the Texas warmth, basking in it. There was still a few larger and smaller boxes in the truck but you didn't mind dealing with those alone. You didn't wanna keep him busy for to long. You turned to look at him, his eyes were already down on you. It made you blush because your back was originally faced to him. You shook the thoughts from your head before talking to him.
"Thank you Joel, I'm grateful for your help." You thanked him, crossing your arms. "Course, anything you need, just give me a holler." Joel reminded you, placing his hand on your arm gently. You looked down at it and leered, discreetly biting your lip too. "Will do." You smiled up at him. Joel nodded, pulling his arm away moderately. "I'll see you around." He said softly, giving you a playful wink as he walked off. "See you Joel." You mumbled, watching as he went back to his house.
Now, you just had to deal with all of this hunk a junk. "Here we go." You groaned, hopping into the truck, all alone.
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