#the game was. chaotic to say the least. still had fun!!!!!!

[byler-seguin]

couple pics from warmups tonight 💚

[fazedlight]

“You didn’t jump,” Kara said.

Lena glanced up from her lo mein container, chopsticks in hand. “Jump?” Lena asked curiously.

Kara nibbled her lip thoughtfully, staring down at her potstickers. The evening had been a quiet one - a welcomed change of pace, after a wonderful and chaotic afternoon at Alex and Kelly’s wedding. When all was said and done - after the couple had left for their honeymoon and the party had quieted, after Eliza had taken Esme home for a fun week making chocolate chip cookies with her grandmother - Kara and Lena had found themselves in Kara’s apartment, settling down in their pajamas with a dinner of Chinese takeout.

“For Kelly’s bouquet,” Kara said. “You didn’t jump.”

Lena shrugged, digging into her food with her chopsticks again. “It wasn’t heading towards me.”

“You could’ve used magic,” Kara suggested, thinking of how a certain other super had used her powers to yank the flowers midair.

“And start a duel with Nia?” Lena grinned. “Seemed unwise. Besides, she has a likely candidate.”

Kara smiled. 

“At least I was there,” Lena teased softly. “I didn’t see you in the crowd.”

Kara shrugged. “It’s a human tradition.” 

Lena tilted her head. “What did Krypton have?”

Kara grimaced. “Genetic testing. AI matching. Rules about guild marriages,” she said, “My uncle destroyed the AI, at least. But romance was secondary on Krypton.”

“What about now? On Argo?”

“Romantic love is… still an alien concept, on Argo,” Kara said thoughtfully, popping another potsticker in her mouth. “It existed in some of our stories. But our upbringing, our culture- we had to squash a lot of that down.”

“And now?”

“Now it’s like…” Kara’s voice had lowered to a murmur, and Lena noticed a pink tint rising in her cheeks. Kara cleared her throat, staring into her food. “Now it’s like they’re marrying a close friend,” she continued. “I wouldn’t say they have romance like Earth does.”

“Like marrying a friend,” Lena mulled.

Kara quietly picked at her food.

“And what about you?” Lena said, partially curious, partially… well. She knew Kara could hear how her heart had started pounding, as much as she wished she could hide it.

“Me?”

“You grew up there. But you’ve been here for so long. Where do you fall?”

Kara’s brow crinkled. “I think I…like all the little things,” she murmured. “Giving flowers and chocolate. Kissing. Holding hands.”

“But?”

“Not a but,” Kara said as she glanced up - still avoiding Lena’s eyes, but looking thoughtfully ahead. “It feels so alien to me, but in this wonderful way. Exhilarating. Strange. I feel like I have this chimeric type of romance in my head - not Earthian, not Kryptonian. Like romance is…”

Kara grew quiet, turning her head to her food again, staring silently as the blush on her cheeks seemed to deepen. 

Lena watched for a moment, taking in the unmoving kryptonian - the hint of tightness in her posture, the unusual muteness and stillness. “What is romance for you, Kara?” Lena whispered.

Kara slowly tilted her gaze up to meet Lena’s. “My perfect partner at a game night,” she confessed quietly. “Knowing someone so well that it feels like magic when we’re together.”

Lena let out the breath she didn’t realize she had been holding.

Kara nibbled nervously at her lip. “You- you don’t have to see it that way,” Kara said, her voice cracking. “It’s not- it doesn’t have to change anything. But I’ll understand if it’s too much…”

“I feel it too,” Lena whispered. “When I’m with you. It always feels like magic.”

“Really?” Kara said. “You could want- you-”

“I didn’t want to catch the bouquet unless it was for you,” Lena confessed. “I just- all I want is to be with you.”

Kara smiled wide, and Lena watched on as the tension seemed to melt away from the still-blushing kryptonian’s frame. “I love you, Lena.”

Lena smiled back. “I love you too.”

[cauldron-of-oddities]

If this is Jinx's official (travel) map, I love it.

Most important:

Zaun (and Piltover) - Chez Jinx - house or home of Jinx, surounded by the sun and clouds and, most importantly, hearts 💖 - She still thinks of it as home, so I have good hope she'll go back. (And back to Ekko and the firelights and connect to her sister again)

And the travel lines go to and from Zaun several times, so maybe a drop-in isn't that rare. A cycle of travel, drop in for a kiss (let me dream) from Ekko, and then cause some mayhem for Vi and Cait to deal with and then travel again.

As for the rest? Love and have to laugh at her opinions, and if she's been to these places, it says a lot about her experiences.

Noxus - des mechants - bad guys - just no - there's an image of a square headed vampire (at least he has fangs) and angry scribbles - this was clearly not a good time.

Freljord- mega trop - mega too much - probably froze her butt off (her sense of fashion is no good here), trolls and who knows what else (I'm certain someone with more lol knowledge can add) She might have had fun making a snowman or two.

Demacia - bling bling and snobs - no translation required, what it says on the tin. There's a diamond there too, why do I have the feeling she's wanted for theft? I am guessing she had a blast causing chaos and left when she deemed them all party poopers with their heads stuck up in their pompous asses. (and a google search for prout prout informs me they're farts)

Targon - trop loin??? - too far??? I can't guess here. Has it been deemed too far or has it gone to far?

Shumira - hmmm, ok. - thoughtful, there's a cactus and a spiky critter. An interesting experience? Think she might have found some lore on Janna?

Ixtal - jungle magique - magical jungle - stars and a potion bottle - feels like she enjoyed it for what it was, probably got her curious mind buzzing, if how she was with hextech is anything to go by.

Shadow Isles - Habitants Maudits - Cursed inhabitants - ghosts and gravestones and all that creepy stuff - doesn't feel like she liked it there more like - yuck creepy, interesting but not for me. (and maybe looking 'death' and a curse like that in the eye is a deeply unsettling thing)

Ionia - trop calme - too calm - there's a sleeping head there, sheep, and a game of x&o. My guess is that she was bored, good for a nap, but too much looking for balance. Reading the info about Ionia, though, there should be quite the under current of tension - or is this prehaps hinting that Noxus has not invaded yet?

Bilgewater - Pirates - with a big giant heart. Yeah, I think she had a blast here. It's also where the drawn ship is headed. Free to indulge in more of her chaotic behaviours, picking uo bounties, pestering/ running from bounty hunters, hanging out at the bar. Jup, good time. I have been informed that she'd probably get along with several of the inhabitants and possibly make friends.

[qatarsprint2023]

𝖿𝗋𝖺𝗍!𝗋𝖺𝖿𝖾 𝗑 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋

beer pong with frat!rafe word count: ca. 900 this is my first time writing something for obx, so please be gentle with me 🙏🏻

The bass from the huge speaker in the corner thumped through the crowded living room, a pulse of energy that vibrated through the floorboards of the Frat House.

You squeezed through the sea of people, clutching a red solo cup filled with something that was probably too strong for your liking.

You weren't a big fan of these kinds of parties—too loud, too chaotic—but your roommate had dragged you along, promising it would be fun. So of course, since your New Year's resolution had been to be more social this year and you couldn't give up a week into January, you came along.

You'd lost your roommate somewhere in the crowd to either booze or some frat boy with a charming smile, though the latter was more likely.

Pushing through a group of people with a mutter of "Sorry... 'scuse me...", you finally made it into the kitchen, hoping for a minute or two you wouldn't have to apologise for bumping into someone else every two seconds.

Well, thought wrong because you saw a group of frat boys gathered around by the snack table, laughing loudly at some joke made by one of the brothers.

There was a tall guy leaning against the counter as he stood by the group, dressed in a faded sweatshirt with the Greek letters of whatever frat this was emblazoned across his chest.

He had this... intriguing air of confidence around him— smirk playing on his lips as he talked with his brothers, blonde hair tousled in a way that looked effortless but somehow still intentional? Another one of those guys with that easy charm that drew people in without even trying.

You decided to ignore them and grab something to snack on because at least that might give you an excuse to somewhat politely decline attempts at conversation from random guys that had been approaching you and your roommate for the past half hour you'd been here.

"Hey there, watch what you're grabbing! Those pretzels are a hot commodity," you heard someone say beside you in a jokingly chiding tone as you reached for the bowl with pretzels on the table.

Turning around, you raised an eyebrow at the blonde guy with the sweatshirt— broad chested beneath the fabric and with a confident smirk tugging on the corner of his lips.

"I'll keep that in mind. Didn’t realize the snack table was part of the VIP area," you replied, matching his tone.

"Rafe," he smiled that charming smile of his and outstretched his hand toward you. You nodded, shaking his hand in that playful manner he'd been using.

"Y/N," you replied, finishing the contents of your red solo cup with a grimace before grabbing some more of whatever it was some booze wizard had whipped up there. It was strong, but surprisingly good.

"You care for a beer pong, Y/N?" Rafe asked, nodding towards the large sliding door to the backyard where there was a significant group of people gathered on the porch. "Promised Jason from Sig Nu I'd rematch him."

"I... don't know who that is, but I know beer pong," you laughed, nodding as you and Rafe walked past his brothers, who were already deep in conversation again, and out onto the porch.

God, it was packed out here.

Not as bad as the crowd in the living room, but since everyone had made a little circle around the beer pong table, there were a lot of people crammed into a small space.

Rafe reached for your hand. "Here," he offered. "Wouldn't wanna lose my beer pong partner now, would I?"

When he finally found the guy he'd apparently promised a rematch, he leaned in as you finished your drink. "You ready to show these guys how it’s done?"

"Born ready," you laughed as the game from the people who were playing before you went outside came to an end under loud cheers and clapping.

Your own game went by rather quickly because for some reason your throwing accuracy was still very much in tact after two cups of that mystery drink while the two guys from the other Frat were in way deeper than you or Rafe, so in the end they'd racked up a total of a whopping 10 points.

At this point you're hammered, high-fiving Rafe and barely registering that one of his brothers took a photo of you two.

"Gonna need your insta now," Rafe called over the music as the two of you turned away from the beer pong table to allow the next teams to play.

"Huh?" you asked in return, stepping inside through the sliding door.

Finding yourself in the kitchen again, Rafe reached for another beer.

"Your insta," the boy repeated, a lopsided grin on his lips. "To tag you in that photo Kev took of us."

You have no idea who this Kev guy is, but you reach for your phone in an instant. If a hot guy's asking for your insta, you're giving it to him, that's a rule. Especially if you're trying to be more sociable Sophomore year.

"Gotta celebrate beating Sig Nu once again," Rafe keeps going and takes your phone from you. "I swear, no fine motor skills left there."

You laugh in reply to his little dig, taking your phone back once Rafe's written your insta down in his notes app.

"You're definitely allowed to be my beer pong partner again, you know?" he tells you, already halfway out on the porch again, some brother dragging him out. "You can have some of the VIP pretzels, too, next time."

[vampiriito]

Summer was a piece of heaven (JJ Maybank x shy! kook! reader) Chapter 3

A/N: Hi loves! I'm so happy to be posting the third chapter for this story. I think I'll make a master list after just so i can update it. Anyway, have fun reading this chapter I'll see you at the end! (also the reader 100% listens to men i trust and the marias.)

Summary: In the midst of a '7 minutes in heaven' game you and JJ end up together for one round, and to get away from the girls desperately trying to make a move on him, JJ doesn't hesitate to jump on the chance to interact with you more.

To you, the idea of a perfect summer meant lounging indoors, the air thick with smoke and laughter as you and Maisy drifted through hazy afternoons. Or perhaps it was skating aimlessly around the island, the wheels of your board humming beneath you as you chased elusive moments of photographic inspiration. The world blurred into a series of snapshots—soft lights, sharp angles, candid smiles. Maisy, however, was the embodiment of your opposite.

With her strawberry-blonde hair catching the sunlight like threads of spun gold, she was a living glitter bomb—vibrant, explosive, impossible to ignore. She seemed to survive on a diet of Gatorade and the occasional cup of instant noodles, yet her energy was boundless. Somehow, she managed to act like a carefree kook and, paradoxically, not at the same time. She straddled the line between the laid-back island life and something altogether different.

Maisy reminded you of those affluent girls who were only in it for the endless parties and not the veneer of elegance that wealth was supposed to bring (not that you were the embodiment of classy and preppy). A super-rich kid with nothing but loose ends, perpetually floating in a state of being just a little tipsy. She navigated the world with a reckless abandon, her days a whirlwind of glittering nights and half-remembered escapades. So, her approach on helping you overcome shyness and social anxiety was exposing you to endless house parties and keggers alongside her.

Still, you loved Maisy, as messy and carefree as she was. She was truly a force to be reckoned with and you liked that about her. And if you didn't, at least you could say you got used to her habit of partying and dragging you along with her. Because truth was, you both enabled each other. She's been here since you moved to the Outer Banks and she never once judged you for being in love with the same guy for almost 9 years, despite the fact that she believed fiercely in hook-up culture and "dating as many so you wouldn't have to settle for just any" as she liked to put it. And you helped ground her, you helped her out with her hangovers and taught her that staying in was necessary and fun at times.

"I don't know, Maisy... you remember last time-.. I ended up getting pushed into a closet," you groaned, dragging your feet as you approached the vibrant glow of the crowded house. Another house party. Yet another one of Maisy's brilliant ideas.

The bass from the music thumped loudly, reverberating through the soles of your shoes as you walked. Strings of fairy lights draped over the porch flickered like distant stars, casting a warm hue over the swarm of partygoers spilling onto the lawn. Laughter and fragmented conversations floated through the night air, mingling with the faint scent of ocean breeze and the sharp tang of spilt drinks.

You could already predict Maisy's response—how she'd gush about how lucky you were to get stuck in a closet with your all-time crush. But that wasn't the point. The memory still made your cheeks flush, not from fondness but from sheer embarrassment. The cramped space, the awkward silence (at least on your part) punctuated only by the sound of your own racing heartbeat. The way his shoulder had brushed against yours or the way he got close when teasing you, sending your thoughts into a chaotic spiral. It was a level of social torture you'd rather not relive.

Mimsy rolled her eyes at your complaint, clearly amused by your reluctance to attend the party and get stuck in another closet with JJ.

"Oh come on, Y/n.. You're overreacting. Sure, that was a one-time thing, but chances of that happening again are small. And besides-"

She grabbed your arm and started pulling you towards the house.

"-you know you secretly loved getting locked in that closet with him."

"Yeah... and now every time he sees me he refers to me as 'mouse', because i was too quiet." you kicked a stray can to the side as you walked on the front lawn, slowing down. "Please Mimsy.. let me go home.." you pleaded, pouting dramatically.

Mimsy rolled her eyes again, clearly immune to your pouting and pleading.

"No, absolutely not. You've been cooped up in your house all week. You need to go out and socialize. And this party is the perfect opportunity."

She gripped your arm more forcefully, pulling you towards the entrance of the crowded house.

As you and Maisy stepped into the house much to your dismay, a wave of sound and energy crashed over you, nearly overwhelming your senses. The air was thick with the mingled scents of perfumes, colognes, and the unmistakable aroma of excitement. Music blared from towering speakers, the bass thumping so powerfully it resonated in your chest. The place was alive—people dancing with wild abandon, conversations and laughter blending into a buzzing symphony of life.

Maisy led the way through the throng, her grip firm around your wrist as she expertly navigated the labyrinth of partygoers. Her strawberry-blonde hair shimmered under the strobe lights, and her sequined dress caught every fragment of light, making her sparkle like a human disco ball. She moved with purpose, her eyes scanning the room intently. The kaleidoscope of faces and flashing lights made it difficult to focus, but Maisy seemed unfazed.

Suddenly, a wide smile spread across her face, her eyes lighting up with unmistakable excitement. She had spotted who she was searching for. She leaned in close to you, her voice barely audible over the noise.

"There he is."

She tilted her head toward a tall figure standing on the other side of the room, leaning against the wall and nursing a drink in his hand. JJ.. who seemed to be surveying/ half-heartedly participating in what looked like a 'spin the bottle' party game.

"So what? There he is.." 'in all his glory, looking like a demi god and almost glowing under the dim lights of this house,' you thought to yourself. You were utterly smitten with this boy and it was pathetic at this point, even after all these years.

You frowned at Mimsy, adjusting your glasses as you looked at her, silently questioning her for her actions.

Maisy smirked at your reaction, clearly enjoying the conflict of emotions on your face. She knew how much you had been pining over JJ for years, and she was probably relishing in the fact that the object of your affection was right there in the same room as you.

She gave you a gentle push toward JJ's direction. "Go talk to him."

"No!... Stop. I can't just-.. go up to him," you whisper-shouted, your voice laced with urgency and a hint of panic. You glared at her, eyes reflecting the swirling chaos of emotions inside you. Your heart pounded fiercely in your chest, each beat echoing in your ears like a relentless drum. As you spun around to face her fully, your feet tangled beneath you, causing you to stumble slightly. The sudden movement sent a rush of heat to your cheeks, a flush of embarrassment mingling with your anxiety. The air was thick with the scents of cheap perfume, beer and liquor, and a hazy hint of weed, adding to your disorientation.

You clenched your fists at your sides, nails digging into your palms in an effort to steady yourself. A knot tightened in your stomach, twisting uncomfortably as a wave of dread washed over you. The mere thought of approaching him made your breath catch—a mix of fear and something else, something that both thrilled and terrified you. The crowd around you moved in a blur, their laughter and movements amplifying your sense of vulnerability. It felt as if the spotlight was suddenly on you, exposing every insecurity.

Maisy rolled her eyes in frustration, clearly not surprised by your reluctance.

"Yes you can! You've been crushing on him for years. This is the perfect opportunity to strike up a conversation with him."

She grabbed your shoulders, turning you back around to face JJ's direction. "Without any weird coincidences causing you to.." she added with a wide smile.

"Look, they're playing some sort of party game..." you rambled, your voice edged with a mix of frustration and anxiety. "There is no way in hell I'm going up to him while he's surrounded by girls who are practically lining up for him to spin that bottle and have it land on them so they can make out or whatever it is that they do."

You pointed emphatically toward the table where he sat, the center of attention amid a sea of eager faces. The crowd around him was animated, laughter and playful shouts filling the air as the bottle spun on the worn wooden surface.

He leaned back against the wall with effortless charm, a casual smile playing on his lips as he engaged with those around him. The sight sent a twist of something complicated through your chest—part longing, part envy, part resignation. Your heart hammered in a confused rhythm, torn between the desire to be near him and the overwhelming urge to flee from the very idea.

Maisy followed your gaze, her eyes widening as she saw the game that was being played. With the snippets of conversations she could make out over the music and the empty bottle of beer spinning on the table, she could only guess they were playing '7 minutes in heaven.' She was aware of the game's rules and how popular it was at parties, especially for people who were keen on making out with others. Classic.

She let out a low whistle as she scanned the girls surrounding JJ and his friends. They were all dressed to impress, no doubt hoping to get lucky and have the bottle land on them.

She turned back to you, a sly smile on her face, a wicked glint in her piercing green eyes. "Interesting..."

She watched as the game continued, the girls getting more and more excited with each turn. Meanwhile, her mind was already brainstorming how she could get you and JJ in the same room for 7 minutes.

JJ watched as the bottle spun around, landing on one of the girls standing around the table. She squealed in delight as she grabbed the hand of the guy who had spun the bottle and pulled him off towards one of the many empty rooms in the house.

He chuckled as he watched them disappear, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the guy. He knew all too well what it was like to get locked in a room with a girl who was trying desperately to make a move on him.

As the game continued, Maisy continued to watch the scene unfold with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. She knew that this was the perfect opportunity to get JJ and you alone together-.. again. She just had to find a way to make it happen.

And then, an idea struck her. Which you could see written all over her freckled face, the notion scaring you even more.

Maisy leaned in close to you, her voice low and filled with a hint of excitement.

"I have an idea. Follow my lead."

Before you could protest or ask her what she was up to, she grabbed your arm and pulled you towards the table.

"No- Maisy listen we-..." you whispered in a panic, feeling yourself getting dragged towards the table and cutting you off mid sentence.

As you reached the table, Maisy stepped forward swiftly, cutting off any protest you were about to make.

"Hey guys, mind if we join?" she chimed, her voice effortlessly cheerful.

A ripple of attention passed through the group of boys and girls alike as they glanced up, their eyes scanning over you and Maisy. Under the soft glow of the overhead lights, their gazes took in Maisy's radiant confidence and your more reserved demeanor. JJ's gaze lingered on you, his eyes—a striking shade somewhere between blue and green—holding an unreadable expression. Time seemed to slow as his attention rested on you, the surrounding chatter and music fading into a distant hum. The subtle arch of his brow and the way the light played across his features left you momentarily breathless. Your heart fluttered, a mix of nerves and anticipation surging through you.

Pope was the first to chime in, a friendly smile on his face. "Sure thing, ladies. Make yourselves comfortable."

The girls surrounding the table grumbled in protest, clearly unhappy with the addition of two new players. But the boys paid them no mind, their attention focused on you and Maisy.

Maisy dragged you over to an empty spot beside JJ, plopping down on the ground next to him without hesitation once he did the same, seemingly more interested in the game now. You were forced to follow suit, sitting down next to her, feeling extremely nervous and out of place. You could feel JJ's eyes on you, but you avoided looking at him, your heart pounding loudly in your chest, leaving you to glance around the table nervously, inspecting each player and how attractive they were. You felt out of place. These people knew how to make-out and such, and here you were... like a complete loser.

As JJ watched you closely, taking in your fidgety movements and nervous glances around the table, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for you. You looked like a deer in headlights, completely out of your element. And yet there was something about your nervousness that he found both endearing and amusing.

His eyes drifted to the girls sitting around the table, taking in their confident smiles and flirty glances in his direction. He knew exactly what they were after, and it only made him roll his eyes for some reason.

He shifted his gaze back to you, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched you fidget with your fingers. You were clearly uncomfortable, and he could see the nervousness etched on your face. He felt a strange urge to reassure you, to tell you that you had nothing to worry about. But he quickly pushed that thought away, reminding himself that he shouldn't care about someone who he barely knew.

The game continued, the bottle spinning round and round, making girls squeal in delight every time it landed on a guy they wanted. With each spin of the bottle, the excitement in the air grew. Girls were practically drooling over the idea of getting to makeout with the guy of their choice. But JJ was growing increasingly disinterested in the game, finding it mundane and tedious. Sitting in the twinkie and getting high suddenly sounded delightful to him.

He glanced over at you, noticing the way you were alternating between fidgeting with your necklace or countless rings adorning your fingers. You looked completely uncomfortable being surrounded by all these couples. The pang of sympathy was growing the more he watched you avoid eye contact with people, and he couldn't help but wonder if you'd ever even kissed anyone before.

He was interrupted from his thoughts as the bottle suddenly landed on him. A collective gasp went around the table, followed by a few excited whispers and giggles. The girl who had spun the bottle was looking at him with a hopeful expression, clearly eager for the chance to kiss him in private.

But JJ just rolled his eyes, feeling bored and uninterested in the prospect. He was about to decline the girl when suddenly Maisy chimed in, her voice filled with mischief.

"Oh, I don't think so. The bottle is telling us he needs to spin."

The group was taken aback by Mimsy's audacity, but JJ was secretly grateful for her intervention. He didn't want to get stuck in a room alone with some random girl who was probably just using this game as an excuse to make a move on him.

He gave Maisy a small nod in thanks, grabbing the bottle and spinning it again, hoping it would land on someone more... JJ didn't even know himself who he wanted it to land on. He wasn't in the mood for a mindless one-night-stand that night.

The bottle spun around and around, the tension growing with each rotation. But to everyone's surprise, including JJ's, the bottle landed on you.

You were busy giving Maisy a silent look for interjecting and making people glance in your general direction before realizing that the table went quiet and now everyone was looking at you in particular instead of shooting dirty looks at Maisy.

Shitshitshitshit... what were you gonna do? tell him to spin again? get up and leave the room? no, that would just be rude.

Maisy was grinning widely, clearly enjoying the turn of events. She nudged you discreetly, silently urging you to go along with this.

But you were frozen in place, your heart pounding in your chest as JJ's gaze lingered on you. He hadn't said anything yet, his expression unreadable, and the silence around the table was deafening. No squeals or giggles, just the thumping music and buzz of conversations.

'He's gonna grimace and spin again, you'll see Maisy,' you groaned internally as you waited for JJ to say anything, or do something. Anxiety was churning in your stomach, afraid you'll get rejected in front of all these people.

The silence was stretching as everyone waited for JJ's reaction. Meanwhile, JJ tilted his head to the side to look at you better, his eyes studying you closely, silently taking in your nervous demeanor.

He knew you were uncomfortable and anxious. And for some strange reason, he hated that. He didn't want you to feel uncomfortable in front of all these people. It made him want to do something, anything, to make you feel better.

He leaned back, folding his arms across his chest, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Looks like we're going into the room together, mouse."

What were seven minutes? Seriously, it would be like the blink of an eye. A brief escape from the stares and whispers that seemed to press in from all sides. But you couldn't shake the guilt, knowing you wouldn't be able to muster a single word, let alone make out with him in that cramped, dark room.

You parted your lips, ready to say something, anything—but the words stuck in your throat. Swallowing hard, you pressed your lips together and stood up shakily. Your legs felt like jelly as you glared at Maisy, who was all smiles and mischief. The protests from the other girls at the table barely registered in your mind; they were a distant murmur compared to the roaring thunder of your anxiety.

JJ's gaze remained fixed on you, his unreadable expression adding to the maelstrom of emotions swirling within you. The warm, ambient light of the room seemed to dim slightly, heightening the sense of isolation. You took a deep breath, trying to steady yourself, but the air felt thick and heavy. With a final, pleading look at Maisy, you braced yourself for whatever embarrassing situation came next.

JJ followed your lead, getting up from the ground and stretching his arms. He looked relaxed and nonchalant, the complete opposite of you, who looked like you were about to pass out from anxiety.

Maisy was still grinning from ear to ear, clearly enjoying the show she had helped create. She was already mentally high-fiving herself, convinced that this was the beginning of something between you and JJ.

The atmosphere around the table was palpable as you and JJ walked away from it, heading towards an empty room on the other side of the house.

You could feel the eyes of the other players on your back, and you could practically feel their envy and disappointment. But JJ didn't seem to care, he just continued walking beside you, his hands casually shoved into the pockets of his cargo shorts.

As you and JJ reached the chosen room, JJ gestured for you to go inside, a smirk still on his face. You stepped into the dimly lit room, taking in the surroundings. It was a small space, with not much more than a bed, a desk, and an office chair. Guest room most likely.

JJ followed you in, shutting the door behind him with a soft click.

You looked around the room, taking in the colors and the way everything was placed. The color of the comforter or the curtains framing the tall windows. Queen-sized bed, a desk with common office supplies. Bed-side tables with lamps perched above them. 'How is this room so clean?' you wondered.

Anything to distract you from the fact that you were alone with JJ again. Your heart beat a little faster at the thought. The soft hum of distant conversations and muted laughter seeped through the closed door, a reminder of the party continuing without you. Yet here you were, ensconced in this intimate space that felt worlds away from the crowded rooms beyond. You couldn't decide if it was luck or misfortune that kept orchestrating these moments—the universe weaving threads that repeatedly pulled you into his orbit. With the recent events, you learned you'd prefer to stay out of it. It was more nicer watching him from afar when he wasn't aware of your existence.

You absently traced your fingers along the edge of the mahogany side table, feeling the smooth grain beneath your fingertips. A porcelain vase perched atop it held a bouquet of lilies, their fragrant petals unfurling gracefully. The delicate beauty of the flowers mirrored the fragile tension hanging in the air. You stole a glance at JJ, catching the soft profile of his face as he looked thoughtfully at a painting. The warm glow from the nearby lamp cast gentle shadows, highlighting the contours of his jaw and the tousled strands of hair that fell just above his eyes.

He leaned back against the door, his eyes studying you carefully now instead of the painting. He could tell you were nervous, the way you were fidgeting and avoiding his gaze. He still couldn't understand the notion. You claimed to not be scared of him, you didn't seem particularly inclined on jumping his bones, so what was your deal?

"Relax, mouse. I ain't gonna bite."

At the sound of his voice you whipped your head around almost painfully, shooting him a nervous and uncomfortable expression.

You were frowning gently as you turned to face him completely, fidgeting with your fingers as you looked down. You went over all your interactions in the past and the last one wasn't so bad. Especially when he looked so pretty on the beach, asking you about your photography, engaging in small-talk like you were acquittances. Were you? Does getting locked in a closet for roughly 20 minutes count as acquainted?

JJ pushed himself off the door, slowly sauntering towards you with his hands in his pockets. He observed the way you fidgeted with your fingers, a small frown on your face.

He stopped just a few feet away from you, tilting his head to the side as he looked down at you. "You look like a scared little mouse. Relax, seriously."

He reached out, gently tapping your chin with his index finger, lifting your head up so you were looking at him.

"Most girls would be ecstatic at the thought of being alone with a cute guy," he said, his voice softer than usual, a small chuckle following. His eyes held a gentle sparkle, the faint amusement dancing just beneath the surface. The soft southern drawl of his voice wrapped around you like a warm blanket, momentarily easing the tension that knotted your stomach.

He was trying to ease your nerves, sensing the subtle tremor in your hands and the way your gaze flickered uncertainly. There was something adorable about your timid, almost mouse-like nature—the way you seemed so small and delicate amidst the chaos of the party he saw out there. It amused him slightly, but as he watched you, a pang of guilt tugged at his conscience. It was kind of mean, now that he thought about it, to find entertainment in your discomfort.

You narrowed your eyes, swallowing the hard lump in your dry throat. 'Trust me, I'm more than ecstatic, i just have trouble finding the courage to even speak a word to you' you thought, stepping away to walk through the room slowly, almost like you were sizing it up with your legs.

JJ watched you closely as you walked around the room, his gaze never leaving you. It was almost predatory the way he watched you, like a cat eyeing its prey. His eyes roamed your body, taking in every curve and dip, and you could practically feel the heat of his gaze on you.

He stayed where he was, leaning against the door once again, his arms crossed over his chest. "Y'know.. the whole point of the game is to make out."

You shot him a dirty look, still pacing around nervously. You didn't even wanna play in the first place, let alone make out. You were afraid to even speak, what making out is he talking about?

JJ chuckled at your defiant look, figuring you probably weren't down to kiss him any soon. He could see right through your facade, he knew that you were nervous and uncomfortable.

He pushed himself off the door, walking towards you. He could tell you weren't exactly experienced in the making out department.

"Relax, mouse. I'm not gonna bite, remember? You can talk to me, y'know."

"Can i leave please?" you spoke softly and hesitantly. If you were out there, where the music was louder he probably wouldn't have heard you from how quiet you spoke. You weren't repulsed by him, that would be ridiculous. You were way too nervous and this game was stupid. You knew you weren't gonna speak to him let alone make out anyway. It was probably better for both parties involved if you just left.

JJ halted in his steps, taking in your words. He was surprised by your request, he didn't expect you to ask to leave so quickly. He had assumed that you were secretly enjoying this game of 7 minutes. Which, again.. was a dumb assumption to make.

He paused for a moment, studying you closely, trying to figure out if you were serious. And then, he spoke, his voice quiet and gentle."You really wanna leave, mouse?"

You frowned in nervousness, the expression nearly forming a soft pout. You didn't, but the terror gnawing at you made it impossible to hide your unease. 'What were you so afraid of?' The question looped endlessly in your mind, each iteration intensifying your anxiety. You were already quiet by nature, but now words seemed utterly out of reach. Clamming up was inevitable. The last thing you wanted was to make the situation more awkward than it already was. If only he would return to the party, back to his element, then you could slip away unnoticed. You longed to scurry off and hide in a bathroom until Maisy called you, and he'd get paired with a person who was actually gonna play the game the way it was intended.

JJ observed your frown, your lips turning into a soft pout. He could see the anxiety written all over you, the way your jaw was tensing, the way your eyes kept darting around the room, avoiding his gaze. He felt the urge to want to keep you safe and make you feel less agitated.

He didn't want you to be uncomfortable, he didn't want you to feel anxious. And he most certainly didn't want you leaving the room out of fear or worry. He let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair. "We don't have to make out.."

JJ's sudden statement took you by surprise, you hadn't expected him to say that. You paused for a moment, looking at him with a mixture of confusion and relief.

He continued, his voice quiet and low. He took a step closer, his eyes fixed on you.

"We have 7 minutes, so we could talk instead. If you want."

You didn't expect him to pressure you into making out, obviously. But the wat he said it, it was so considerate, like he didn't want you to be uncomfortable. Or maybe he was a normal person pitying you for being so timid. Probably the latter.

You exhaled softly in relief, adjusting your glasses. You knew you weren't gonna do much talking either, but it was nice that he wanted to.

JJ observed you closely, taking in your soft exhale of relief. He was starting to realize that you were different from the other girls he'd met, the ones who would gladly throw themselves at him given the chance. You were almost like a shy little mouse, trying to hide and not get caught. Hence the nickname.

He took a few more steps forward, closing the distance between you. He now stood only a few feet away from you, his eyes fixed on your face."So, what do you wanna talk about, mouse?"

As he stepped forward-- you stepped back a bit too clumsily for your liking. You didn't like people stepping close so abruptly, even if it was JJ. That was worse. You parted your lips as if you wanted to say something, but pursed them back, shrugging instead. You had a bit of courage to say a few words, but it melted away as he fixed you with his gaze.

JJ chuckled at your retreating steps. It was painfully obvious that you were uncomfortable with people getting close to you, especially him. But he found himself wanting to break through your comfort zone, to see what was hiding behind that shy and nervous demeanor.

He stayed where he was, giving you some space, but still maintaining eye contact. He waited for you to find your voice, his patient gaze on you.

A few moments of awkward silence passed, the only sound in the room was the faint noise of music and chatter from the party outside. JJ continued to watch you, waiting for you to say something, anything.

But you seemed frozen, unable to find your voice amidst your own thoughts and anxiety. JJ took a deep breath, and decided to take the initiative. "C'mon, mouse. There must be something you wanna talk about."

Since you were a little girl you didn't think of yourself as interesting. Not when you grew up and realized, people thought quietness and timidness meant you were shallow and boring, lacking in any substance. Besides what could you possibly talk about? he didn't seem to know anything about drawing, photography or skating whatsoever. You could talk about surfing, but who wanted to nerd out over surfing with the love of their life? No one. It was worse given he was trying so hard, and you were just frozen.

Your frown returned, feeling dread fill you once again as you seemed to not find your words in the chaos of being on edge and nervous, and you wanted to leave again suddenly.

JJ watched as your frown deepened, your eyes darting around the room as if trying to find an escape route. He could practically hear the wheels turning in your head as you tried to think of something, anything to talk about.

He took a step closer, noticing the change in your expression. He knew you were on the verge of bolting, just like you did earlier.

"Mouse, relax. You're gonna give yourself a panic attack if you keep tensing like that."

You were damn near one. It was hard when you spent more than half of your life pining and wishing you could have a conversation with him and now when you got your chances, you were just... clamming up. Mute. You wanted to cry but that would be pathetic. Who cries in front of their crush? No one (again). You were acting too weird and strange and you imagined what he was thinking, 'i got paired with this weirdo, and now i need to make her feel comfortable because she acts like a mouse who can't speak to humans to save her life.' This is so embarrassing, ugh. Can God give you a break?

JJ's eyes stayed fixed on you as your thoughts continued to swirl inside your head, practically visible on your face.

He could sense your inner turmoil, the way your thoughts were racing, the way your body was tense. He had never seen someone so nervous before, and it strangely intrigued him. Who in their right mind would be a complete mess around JJ Maybank?

He took another step closer, his expression gentler than his usual animated ones. "Mouse, you're over thinking everything. Just relax and calm down. Talk to me, anything, please."

"I'm so sorry.." you finally found the words, apologizing for acting so damn quiet and reserved and making the situation strange. But it wasn't better because your words were shaky and soft. Great. At least you managed to make eye contact with him for 5 seconds!

JJ raised an eyebrow at your apology, he was almost surprised to hear your voice for the first time since this whole event began. It was soft and shaky, but it still made his heart flutter a bit. He could see the effort you were putting in, even if it was miniscule.

"You don't have to apologize, you're not doing anything wrong. I asked you to talk to me, mouse."

JJ's voice was softer now, his normal teasing tone replaced by a more tender one. He was really trying to make you feel more comfortable, to ease your anxiety.

He closed the distance between you, stopping just a few inches away from you. He looked down at you, his gaze gentle and not at all intense like it was all the other times.

"Just be yourself, okay? Who cares if you stumble over your words or stutter. I just wanna know more about you."

"I don't know what to say.." you choked out. It was true, all your hobbies or interests or even jokes disappeared from your mind leaving you empty brained. Mostly. Cause it was now full of anxious thoughts and sarcastic monologue. You took a small step back, shifting your weight from one foot to the other, your eyes darting away as soon as they met his.

JJ noticed the subtle shift in your stance, the way you fidgeted and avoided his gaze. He knew you were struggling, trying to find something to say but coming up blank. And every time you managed to look at him, your eyes immediately darted away.

He took a deep breath, racking his brain for something, anything to keep the conversation going. And then, an idea popped into his head.

"Alright mouse, let's try something different. I'll ask you questions, and you answer, yeah?"

That could work... somehow. You nodded slowly, forcing your self to lock eyes with him although you desperately wanted to move them away.

JJ's eyes fixed on yours as you tried to maintain eye contact. He could see the effort you were putting in, the way you were forcing yourself not to look away. It was cute, in a strange way.

He took a deep breath before asking the first question, keeping his voice gentle and conversational. "Okay, first question. What's your favorite color?"

"Purple." you mumbled softly, shifting on your feet. "...or blue." the same shade of your eyes, you thought. You squeezed the thought out of your brain before you could get flustered though.

JJ nodded thoughtfully, his gaze fixed on you as he took in your response. There was something oddly endearing about the way you struggled to choose between purple and blue as your favorite color. He tilted his head slightly, a small, playful smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Purple and blue, huh?" he mused, his voice gentle yet teasing. "You must like the ocean, then?"

The words hung in the air between you, a light-hearted attempt to ease the tension. His smirk widened just a fraction, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement. The soft lighting of the room seemed to highlight the sparkle in his eyes, making the moment feel intimate and unexpectedly tender. It was as if he was trying to bridge the gap between your nervousness and his curiosity, finding common ground in the simplest of things.

You felt a flutter of warmth in your chest, a smile threatening to break through your anxious facade. Maybe, just maybe, this wasn't as terrifying as you had imagined. You glanced down briefly, your cheeks flushing slightly, before meeting his gaze again. It was half true, you did love the ocean, loved to swim and read on your dad's boat when you could. The smell of the ocean was calming. And so was JJ, at least when you watched him from afar. He smelled like actual ocean water. That wasn't creepy at all.

JJ's smirk grew as he took notice of the small smile on your lips. It was a little odd how something as simple as your favorite color could get you to relax, even if only for a moment.

He took a small step closer, his eyes fixed on you. "I should've figured you were a fan of the ocean, you give off the same vibe as it, all calm and peaceful."

That was oddly romantic. In a weird way of course. The words caused your brows to furrow gently, your face warming up just a tad bit. You were too busy studying his face to dart your eyes away nervously anymore.

"You like to surf right?" you asked without realizing, silently congratulating yourself for actually making conversation.

JJ was a bit surprised that you actually initiated conversation, asking him a question. It wasn't the most complex question, but it was something. He liked it. More than he cared to admit.

He nodded, a smile tugging at his lips again. The question was a pretty obvious one, everyone knew he lived and breathed for surfing.

"Yeah, love it. Nothing beats the feeling of riding those waves. You surf?"

Your expression teetered between 'yes' and 'no', a gentle shrug accompanying your ambiguous smile. "I like to do it on the pavement," you mumbled, the words slipping out clumsily. What you meant to say was that you loved skating—gliding over concrete as surfers ride the waves. But the explanation tumbled awkwardly from your lips, causing a flush of embarrassment to warm the tips of your ears as you realized how silly you might have sounded.

JJ raised an eyebrow, a look of curious confusion on his face. He tried to make sense of the answer you gave, trying to figure out what the hell you meant.

He scratched his head, looking at you like you grew a second head. But then, the pieces clicked into place. "Pavement... You mean skateboarding, mouse??"

You nodded in embarrassment, adjusting your glasses. You loved to surf but preferred skating. It helped you get to places given you were scared of driving. Another normal teenage personality trait.

JJ tried to hide his smirk at your admission of liking to skateboard. It was pretty cute to imagine you all decked out in pads and a helmet, rolling around on a board. He could only imagine how much you probably sucked at tricks, given how anxious you were all the time.

He chuckled, a playful tone in his voice.

"You must be quite a sight, mouse. On wheels."

"I've been skating since i was 8." you stated, more to add to the conversation than to counter his teasing comment.

JJ's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He didn't expect you to have been skating for so long. He almost let out a scoff at the fact that you could be good at something and yet so bad at talking to people.

"Damn, that's a long time. You must be a pro by now, huh?"

You nodded silently, a bit smug at the compliment about being a pro. You were awfully proud of your skating skills. And your painting and photography ones. It seemed the only skill you didn't have was talking to people.

JJ watched your nod, noticing the hint of smugness on your face. For some reason, seeing you acting like that amused him, and he smiled at how proud you seemed to be about your skills.

He had a feeling that you were really skilled at your hobbies, after all, they were probably the only way you actually interacted with the world, given how shy and quiet you were around people. He crossed his arms over his chest, looking down at you. "I bet you're like a pro skater girl, huh mouse?"

You smiled shyly, pursing your lips together. You shifted on your feet once again. You kinda liked how he went with the fact that you struggled to speak and just understood what you were trying to say without having to say a word. It was oddly intimate.

JJ's gaze softened as he saw your shy smile. He could tell that you were slightly more comfortable now, your body language was less tense and your eyes didn't dart away as much as they did before.

He leaned against the edge of the desk, his arms still crossed over his chest, watching you intently. He didn't speak for a moment, just taking in your features, the way your hair framed your face, how your glasses sat on your nose, the way your lips pursed when you were nervous. He couldn't believe that he didn't notice how pretty you were before. Sure, you were the shy, quiet, nerdy girl, but you were actually beautiful, your eyes sparkling behind your glasses the eyeshadow you were wearing and the mascara accentuating them. He shook his head slightly, trying to get rid of the thought.

After a few seconds, he spoke up again, his voice softer than it usually was.

"You know, mouse, I can tell you're better at your hobbies than you are at talking to me."

You looked down for a second, furrowing your brows thoughtfully before raising your eyes again. It was true, you were, funnily better at skating or painting or photography than talking to people. It had always been a problem for you no matter how talented you were. Your expression was back to embarrassed, but your smile still tugged at your lips.

JJ took note of your furrowed brows, sensing the internal struggle you were having. He couldn't help but wonder what was going on in your head, why you were so damn quiet all the time.

He pushed himself off of the desk, taking another step closer to you. The urge to try and get you to open up was growing stronger, even if he knew that wouldn't happen easily. "You're really bad at communication, you know that?"

JJ's statement wasn't meant to be mean or rude, he was merely stating a fact. He didn't understand how someone could be so bad at something as simple as talking, yet be so good at other things. He took another step closer, now only a few inches away from you. He looked down at you, his eyes studying your face intently.

"You act like you'll pass out if you speak more than ten words per minute, mouse." he murmured tenderly.

You scoffed, shrugging as you adjusted your glasses. You just couldn't allow yourself to speak sometime. It was like, you would rather come off as quiet and mute than awkward and an stuttery mess.

JJ chuckled at your reaction, finding it somewhat endearing that you would scoff instead of denying his observation about your lack of communication skills. It was strange, he never thought someone could look so cute trying to argue or look offended.

He reached out, gently pushing your glasses back into place when you adjusted them. The gesture was a bit more intimate than he had intended, but he didn't pull away, letting his fingers linger near your face for a moment longer. "You really are a shy mouse, aren't you?"

You froze up a little as he adjusted your glasses for you. Your brows raised and your expression probably resembled one of a scared bunny in front of a truck. You felt like it. It was embarrassing how shy you could be and how much JJ affected and brought it out of you.

JJ noticed the way you froze up when he touched your glasses, and he couldn't help but find it adorable how much you reacted to such a small gesture. It was as if his presence alone was enough to fluster you.

He leaned in a bit closer, his voice low and a hint of a smirk on his lips. "Whoa there, mouse, don't go passing out on me now..." he teased lowly, the tip of his nose grazing yours.

The closeness of your faces caused your breathing to stutter in your chest. Your brain was malfunctioning, your eyes drifting to his lips. For a second there you thought he was gonna kiss you. Now, you were desperately racking your mind for something smooth to say, but coming up blank.

The more you blushed and fidgeted, the more amused JJ was. He couldn't hold back his smirk, seeing how flustered you were just from his touch and his words. It was like poking a shy puppy.

He let his hand fall gently from your ear, his fingers briefly brushing against the flushed skin of your cheek before dropping back down to his side.

"What's the matter, mouse? Cat got your tongue?"

'Wow. We were now venturing into making puns about my quietness, even including my nickname I'd earned for that very reason'. It felt oddly intimate--but then again, everything seemed intimate to you given the overwhelming love you were carrying for JJ.

You let out a small, amused laugh at his joke. It was a soft sound, almost inaudible. A genuine reaction that warmed you from the inside out. The corners of your lips curved upward ever so slightly, betraying the swell of emotion you felt but rarely expressed. JJ's eyes flickered with a hint of satisfaction at your response, a subtle spark that made your heart skip.

JJ's smile widened a bit as he heard your laugh, if it could even be called that. It was more of a quick exhalation through your nose, but it was still a laugh, and that caught him off guard just like the other times he heard it. You found him funny.

But it was a pleasant surprise, it made him want to hear more, and soon enough he was trying to think of something else to say to get a reaction out of you.

He leaned down, his voice dropping to a low, almost whisper. "Is that why you don't talk much? You think you're gonna stutter or make yourself look like an idiot?"

You nodded in affirmation of his assumption, "It's hard for me to speak sometimes.."

JJ studied your face again, his brows furrowing slightly.

He could see the discomfort in your expression, the way your lips pouted and your cheeks flushed was almost involuntary. If you really struggled to talk as much as you did, no wonder you were so shy and quiet all the time, being forced into situations where you were expected to speak must be hell.

He shook his head, a look of slight irritation on his face.

"That's bullcrap, mouse."

He reached out without warning, resting one hand on your shoulder, his fingers gently squeezing the fabric of your shirt.

"You're smart, I know you are. I've seen it. You're just too damn afraid of saying the wrong thing, that's all."

He leaned in even closer, his voice dropping even lower, almost to a murmur now.

"But you gotta just tell your damn brain to shut up and your mouth to talk. You're overthinking it, mouse."

The small gestures of squeezing your shoulder was so sweet it made you almost sick with butterflies. The way he squeezed your shoulder, so hesitant, it made you feel like he was genuinely trying to comfort you, instead of just a mindless physical touch like he usually did to get into girls' pants.

You didn't know what he meant by smart, and the fact that he'd seen it. But your brain was too focused on the warmth of his big hand and his soft and reassuring compliment that you didn't think twice about it. "Okay." you murmured back nodding gently

JJ felt something tighten in his chest as he took in your response, nodding like it was as easy as flipping a switch. It wasn't, he knew that from his experiences with you, but he didn't want to discourage you.

He knew he should pull his hand away, but for some reason he couldn't bring himself to move it just yet. He was too focused on the way your shirt felt, the warmth of your skin where his fingers made contact. "Promise me you'll try, mouse."

"I'll try it. Promise." you found yourself promising. Even though it wasn't that easy. You both seemed to know it. And you were suddenly curious why did he care? I mean you weren’t exactly friends. You were the girl that had been following him around secretly and pining after him and he was just the oblivious love interest. It didn't make sense.

JJ took in your promise, his heart feeling tighter at the way you said it, as though his opinion meant something, as though he mattered to you. He knew he shouldn't care either about someone like you, yet his hand lingered on your shoulder, and he had no plans of moving it.

He couldn't deny that there was something different about this moment, something almost tender and intimate, and he didn't want it to end just yet.

"Good, mouse. That's all I ask." His fingers continued to grip your shoulder, his thumb gently tracing a small line back and forth through the fabric of your shirt.

"And if you start to panic or overthink just.. Say the first thing that comes to mind, no thinking about how stupid it sounds."

He realized that he probably didn't need to give you actual advice, but it came out anyway, he wasn't quite sure why.

"When i panic i go silent." you realized, that even though your sentence was to counter his advice in a way, you had actually done what he said. That was the first thing that came to mind and for some reason you just said it. Very easily.

JJ raised his eyebrows slightly at your response, realizing how easily the words came out.

He chuckled softly, a mix of surprise and amusement in his voice.

"And there you go, mouse. That wasn't so bad now, was it?"

He gently squeezed your shoulder again, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction, as though he had just solved some kind of complicated puzzle.

"I guess not." you chuckled weakly, adjusting your glasses as a way to distract yourself from the feeling his small and gentle shoulder squeeze gave you.

JJ's eyes followed your hand as you adjusted your glasses again, noticing how your action seemed to be more of a nervous tick than a necessary adjustment.

He smirked, leaning closer as he spoke in a low voice.

"You know, mouse, you've adjusted your glasses like ten times already. You're gonna break them if you keep touching them like that."

"I don't see any glasses on your face, for you to know." you narrowed your eyes, the smile still tugging at your lips. A casual teasing comment? wow we are making so much progress here.

JJ raised an eyebrow at your suddenly snarky comment. He was taken aback by the change in your demeanor, but he couldn't deny that he liked it. He didn't expect you to be the type to dish back at him, but you proved him you were full of surprises.

He kept his hand on your shoulder, not budging an inch, letting your words sink in. Then he chuckled. "Wow, mouse. Someone's feeling feisty today, huh?"

You found your self grinning almost like an idiot at his teasing, knowing he meant no harm with it. Your grin was followed by a soft chuckle, your eyes shifting their focus between his own.

JJ found himself unable to look away from your eyes as you chuckled and grinned. He was used to girls blushing and squeaking at his words, but you had completely caught him off guard.

He squeezed your shoulder again, his fingers gently pressing into the fabric of your shirt. He felt a strange sensation in his chest that he couldn't quite explain.

Your expression was almost one of awe as you stared up at him, still grinning slightly, but it was a bit softer now. You shifted on your feet once again, for the first time in your life not stepping away when someone was that close. You knew he wouldn't try to kiss or do anything although a part of you still wanted it. It felt nice to just be.. close.

The way your expression softened as you looked up at him caught JJ off guard even more. He could see the hint of awe in your eyes, the way your grin became softer, less cheeky.

He was used to girls either blushing or pushing him away when he got close, but you didn't do either. You just stayed still, letting him keep his hand on your shoulder, even though he should've pulled away long ago. He felt a strange warmth in his chest as he looked down at you, his fingers still gripping your shirt's fabric.

JJ swallowed, his throat suddenly feeling dry for some reason. Normally he would've pulled away by now given that the seven minutes were probably over, gone to get a beer and look for someone to distract him from whatever the hell was going on in his head. But something kept him rooted to the spot, his hand not moving from your shoulder, his eyes refusing to pull away from your face. This felt so much better than making out with a stranger and he was surprised at the thought.

He opened his mouth to make a joke, some smartass comments to break the tension, but no words came out. He just stared down at you, speechless for the first time in his life.

Although your phone's ring tone seemed to match your personality in a strange way, the sound of the song 'show me how' by men i trust playing so suddenly caught you and JJ both off guard despite the soft sounding song.

You fumbled to pluck your phone from your back pocket, almost dropping it from how startled you were, glancing at the screen to see Maisy's name on your screen. 'Of course she'd interrupt right now' you groaned internally as you picked up the call hesitantly.

JJ felt like he had been snapped out of a trance after your phone rang, the sudden sound making him jump slightly as he watched you fumble to pull it out of your pocket.

He took a small step back, taking his hand off your shoulder as you answered the call, a small frown on his face. He knew it was probably Maisy, but he couldn't help feeling a twinge of irritation.

He leaned against the wall, folding his arms across his chest as he waited for you to finish your call. He couldn't make out what Maisy was saying on the other end, but he could tell by the sound of her voice that she was probably asking why you weren't around.

He rolled his eyes at the thought of her constantly checking up on you, like some overprotective mother. He knew she meant well, but it was still irritating.

"No... what? I'm not making out with him Maisy... don't be stupid... I'll be out in a bit." you mumbled as Maisy overwhelmed you with a barrage of questions, which you didn't answer. You only answered the last one, which was more excited and bubbly than the others and you were still a bit bitter she put you in the awkward situation of having to play the stupid game in the first place.

JJ couldn't help but overhear some of the conversation, although it was difficult to make out most of what was being said on the call. He heard you quickly deny making out with him, which made him smirk to himself.

He leaned his head back against the wall, his gaze drifting down to you as you hurriedly answered Mimsy's questions. He couldn't help but feel a hint of annoyance at the way Mimsy was clearly looking out for you, too much if you asked him.

You hung up after a few more minutes of Mimsy speaking and you just humming in response, stuffing your phone back in the back pocket of your shorts. You raised your gaze up to his, the awestruck expression coming back slowly as you expected him to say something regarding your interruption or anything.

JJ held your gaze for a long moment, his eyes studying your expression. He could see the awestruck look slowly returning as you met his gaze, and it only lasted for a brief moment before he finally spoke up.

"Let me guess, Maisy was wanting to check up on you and make sure I wasn't mauling you alive or something." which was funny because Maisy was asking you the complete opposite.

"Well our 7 minutes were up 23 minutes ago... apparently." you grimaced at the last part of the statement, surprised it had been 30 minutes since you stepped in the room. Time passed so quickly

JJ let out an exasperated sigh as you mentioned the 7 minutes being up so long ago. He pushed off the wall, shaking his head.

"Of course she was timing it. Why am I not surprised."

He stepped closer to you again, a slight irritation in his expression.

"She probably thinks I'm taking advantage of you or something."

"No... she thought we were... uh, making out." you stuttered, smiling awkwardly.

JJ froze in his steps as you revealed what Mimsy had actually said. A mix of shock and disbelief washed over his face, and he couldn't help but let out a disbelieving chuckle. "Making out? Seriously?" He shook his head, running a hand through his hair. That was an obvious assumption, given that was the whole point of '7 minutes in heaven'. Still, he was annoyed at the fact that she had interrupted.

"Well.. we've been here for 30 minutes and.. that's the whole point of you know.. 7 minutes in heaven?" you adjusted your glasses, letting out a small awkward laugh. Maisy was convinced the two of you got up to more than kissing since you were gone for so long.

JJ rolled his eyes at your response, unable to refute your reasoning. You were right, after all. It was a game about making out, and here he was just holding your shoulder like an idiot.

He stepped closer again, his gaze meeting yours. "Yeah, yeah, I guess you're right. But Maisy has a one track mind, she always does make assumptions about things."

You shook your head in agreement, looking down thoughtfully. JJ watched you as you looked down, the silence between you growing longer. He felt a strange tension in the air, and he found himself unsure of what to say or do next. He shifted on his feet, his fingers itching to reach out and touch you, but he held himself back.

He cleared his throat, trying to break the tension. "So... what now, mouse?"

"I guess we go back to the party... your friends are probably looking for you." you hummed, looking up and shifting your weight from one foot to the other.

JJ nodded in agreement, knowing that his friends were probably wondering where he had disappeared to.

"Yeah, they're probably wondering what's taking me so long." He paused for a moment, his gaze falling on you again, a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

"Guess the game's over, huh?"

"Yeah... sorry if it wasn't what you expected." you apologized softly, fidgeting with the frame of your glasses.

JJ's chest tightened a bit at your apology. He couldn't believe you had actually said sorry for not making out with him.

He shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Don't apologize, mouse. This was...unexpected, but not in a bad way. I didn't mind that we didn't make out."

'Yeah but you're supposed to.' You didn't understand why he didn't just come here with a girl who would've actually made out with him instead of staring at him and stuttering over her words like an idiot.

You hummed, a small smile tugging at your lips as you looked up at him, nodding in a way that said thanks. You were glad he accepted to just talk, despite him doing most of the talking.

JJ could see the hint of confusion in your eyes, and he knew you were wondering why he hadn't just come in here with someone else, someone who would have actually played the game the way it was intended.

He found himself not really understanding why he had agreed to the game in the first place, and why he stayed in here for nearly an hour just talking to you.

He chuckled softly, shoving his hands into his pockets. "So, you gonna tell Mimsy we didn't make out?"

"She knows... it's not my thing to just... makeout with people." you mumbled, looking down in embarrassment.

JJ saw the way your face flushed red as you admitted that you weren't into making out with random people, and he couldn't help but find it endearing. It was a stark contrast to the usual types of girls who threw themselves at him.

He raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Not your thing, huh? So what is your thing then, mouse?"

You shrugged, forcing yourself to look up at him. You couldn't see yourself just making out with random people and then just moving on. Besides you've been in love with the same guy for almost half of your life. You were destined to be a loser who was attached emotionally to someone who had no idea she existed like a week ago.

JJ watched you shrug, sensing a hint of hesitation in your expression. It was clear you weren't the type to just go making out with anyone, and he found it...refreshing. Most girls he had been with were usually quick to jump into his arms, no questions asked.

He took a step closer to you already missing being close to you, a smirk on his lips. "You don't do casual making out?"

You shifted in a way that basically said 'kind of', a small tight smile tugging at your lips. Of course you needed an emotional connection to have your first kiss. It was ridiculous to think about something else for yourself. And you were attached emotionally to someone who probably never needed one in the first place to make out or hook up with a girl. How ironic.

He chuckled softly at the way your body language confirmed his suspicions. He knew you were the type who needed an emotional connection to be physically intimate with someone.

He paused for a moment, his mind flickering back to the countless girls he had made out with at parties or hook-ups, girls he couldn't care less about in the morning. He couldn't help but feel a small pang of regret, realizing how different his own approach to intimacy was.

He looked down at you, his gaze softening as he saw the hint of vulnerability in your expression. He suddenly felt a pang of guilt at the thought of his past behavior, especially after seeing how different you were. He took another small step closer, his voice softer this time.

"You know, it's not a bad thing to want that emotional connection before being physically intimate with someone."

'Yeah but it's hard when the person you're in love with doesn't reciprocate your feelings. Unrequited love is a bitch,' you thought.

You hummed, looking up and sighing, nodding towards the door of the room you were both still in, away from the loud party. You weren't exactly thrilled to go out there but the thought of just staying here... it was way too vulnerable and he probably wanted to go back to the party anyway.

He followed your gaze to the door, knowing that the party was still going on outside. He could hear the sound of music and shouting, but he found himself not wanting to leave just yet.

'Just a few more minutes...' he thought to himself, his gaze returning to you. "Yeah, we should probably head back out there." He knew he should be eager to go back to the party, to find another girl and have a good time. But for some reason, he was reluctant to leave your side.

He hesitantly took a few steps towards the door, stealing one last glance back at you.

"You ready to go back out there, mouse?" He waited for you to respond, part of him hoping you would say no.

You found yourself shaking your head no despite following behind him awkwardly, a small frown on your face as you stayed silent. Of course not. But you weren't gonna tell him you were planning on just hiding away in the bathroom like a loser.

JJ's eyebrows raised slightly as he saw you shake your head no. For a moment, he hesitated, his hand on the door handle.

"No? You're not coming back out with me?"

He turned to face you fully, a mixture of surprise and curiosity on his face. He had expected you to say yes, to agree that you should both return to the party.

You nodded, signaling that even though you weren't thrilled about it, you were in fact going back to the party. You were gonna try and find Maisy and maybe just maybe have a drink. That could help probably. What could go wrong?

JJ studied your face for a moment, his gaze lingering on your expression. He could tell there was more to it than you were letting on, but he didn't press the issue.

"Alright, if you say so."

He reluctantly led the way out of the room and back into the loud and rowdy party. The sound of music and laughter filled the air, and JJ scanned the room and the crowd for Maisy since he didn't just wanna leave you all alone. He found her standing by the drinks table, sipping on a red solo cup.

Your brain was instantly assaulted by the myriad of sounds and different conversations happening all at once. Once you stepped out, your eyes scanned the room too, noticing Maisy by the drinks table. You turned to JJ, pointing to your best friend, silently telling him that you would be going back to her in a few.

JJ nodded in understanding as you pointed towards Mimsy, signaling that you would be heading back to your friend. He knew that you preferred to be around someone you were comfortable with, especially in a crowded and noisy environment like this.

His gaze followed you as you began to make your way over to Maisy, his hands still shoved in his pockets. He hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should leave you alone or stick nearby.

You glanced back at him, giving him a small wave and a small smile as you made your way back to Mimsy. That was the least you can do, given you just acted like a weirdo in the room for 30 minutes.

JJ watched you walk away, a faint smile on his face as you gave him a wave and a sweet smile. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself, realizing that despite your shy demeanor, you were actually quite friendly.

He turned away, heading over to where his friends were gathered in a circle near the stairs. But his mind was still preoccupied with thoughts of you, and he found himself stealing occasional glances in your direction from across the room.

As soon as you reached Maisy she squealed in excitement, wrapping her arm around your shoulder in a side hug earning a small grin from you. Maisy's sudden excitement was infectious as she wrapped her arm around your shoulder, pulling you into a side hug. You couldn't help but grin at her eagerness, feeling a sense of comfort in her presence.

She looked at you with a wide grin on her face, pulling away slightly to speak. "So? How was it? Did you two kiss?"

"I told you... we didn't kiss." you sighed, frowning to yourself.

Maisy groaned in disappointment, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Why not? You were in there for like an HOUR."

She looked at you with a mix of curiosity and annoyance, clearly expecting something more exciting to have happened.

"It was 30 minutes!" you protested, shrugging, "i got scared.. and he said we don't have to makeout... "

Maisy raised an eyebrow, a small smirk on her face. "You got scared? And he said you didn't have to makeout? That's not very JJ-like."

She leaned in a bit closer, her voice lowering to a whisper.

"Did you two at least talk or anything? Or was it just... awkward silence?"

"Yes we talked... well in my own way of talking to someone when I'm nervous beyond belief." you confirmed, smiling to yourself softly.

Maisy studied your expression as you confirmed that you had talked with JJ. Your small smile and the soft look in your eyes caught her attention.

She couldn't help but grin, a spark of curiosity in her gaze.

"What do you mean by 'in your own way of talking to someone'? Did you stutter? Or say something embarrassing or weird?"

"No...! it was just... well he was doing most of the talking." you grimaced awkwardly, leaning against the drink table.

"He wasn't cocky... he seemed like he was actually thinking before speaking to me. Like I'd get scared and bolt out of the room.." you chuckled gently, "which i asked to do..."

Maisy snickered, a knowing look on her face. "Ah, so JJ did most of the talking, huh? Typical."

She took a sip from her red solo cup, eyeing you carefully. "And let me guess, he probably just made jokes the whole time and was being his usual cocky self?"

"He wasn't cocky... he seemed like he was actually thinking before speaking to me. Like I'd get scared and bolt out of the room.." you chuckled gently, "which i asked to do..."

Maisy's eyebrows rose slightly in surprise at your words. JJ, not being cocky? That didn't sound like the JJ she knew. And him actually filtering himself to not scare you? That was even more surprising.

She took another sip from her cup, mulling over your statement.

"He wasn't cocky? And he actually was being careful with his words around you? That's... unexpected. And kind of sweet, actually"

"He gave me advice about talking to people and kept his distance not to like startle me with physical contact.. i don't know, he seemed like he was careful around me." you looked down thoughtfully your mind drifting to when you were both just staring at each other while he held onto your shoulder, "he placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it comfortingly..." you quipped up as if it was some sort of big deal.

Maisy's eyes widened slightly as you recounted the moment when JJ had placed a hand on your shoulder, her lips curling into a small smile. "Wait, he squeezed your shoulder? Like, to comfort you?"

She couldn't help but tease, her words dripping with playful sarcasm. "Oh, wow, how romantic. How'd you manage not to swoon at his gesture?"

"Don't remind me... i probably looked like a lovesick idiot staring up at him." you groaned squeezing your eyes shut.

Maisy snickered, thoroughly enjoying your embarrassment. "Oh, you definitely looked like a lovesick idiot. I can just picture it. Big, moony eyes staring up at him, practically swooning at his every move." She continued to tease, taking another sip from her cup.

You groaned once again at her teasing, growing more embarrassed by her description. "He probably thinks I'm a weirdo who can't speak to humans to save her life... "

Maisy chuckled, shaking her head. "Nah, I doubt he thinks you're a weirdo. If anything, he probably thinks you're cute and a bit awkward. Most guys find that endearing."

She gave you a reassuring smile, sensing your embarrassment.

"He does not think I'm cute. If anything he probably thinks I'm strange!" you whisper shouted at her, leaning in so she could hear you over the party music "remember i told you we talked on the beach the other day... he found me taking a picture of a seagull eating a french fry. So embarrassing."

Maisy's eyes widened in surprise at your revelation, a smirk appearing on her face. "He found you taking a picture of a seagull eating a french fry? That's hilarious, but also kind of adorable in a weird way." She leaned in closer to you, her voice tinged with mischief.

"Did he make fun of you for it? Or did he just stand there silently, probably thinking you were the biggest dork he's ever met?"

"No... he was interested in my photography, actually... i ended up showing him my pictures of the starfish too.." You nodded almost smugly, recalling how good those pictures were, "although i was careful not to accidentally show him the pictures i took of him secretly. " you added, the feeling of being creepy stirring in your stomach again "i feel like a stalker Maisy.."

Maisy tilted her head, intrigued by your revelation.

"He was interested in your photography? That's unexpected. I figured he'd just make fun of you for taking pictures of a seagull eating a french fry."

She raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in her voice. "You didn't accidentally show him any of the secret pictures of him, right?"

"Which brings me to my point..! If he ever... in like a parallel universe decided he liked me.. how would i explain that I've been taking pictures of him secretly for 8 years? That just wouldn't work. I think i should just kill myself.." you rambled, gesturing wildly, your expression growing more agitated as you completely disregarded her question and statement.

"Oh, for pete's sake, stop being so dramatic."

Maisy chuckled, rolling her eyes at your exaggeration. "Okay, you've been taking secret pictures of him. So what? It's not like you're some creepy stalker. You're just a girl with a crush who doesn't know how to express her feelings without a camera."

"Yeah but... i dunno how I'd feel if someone was taking pictures of me without me knowing!" you raised your brows at her, "Maisy seriously... i need to disappear." you deadpanned, fingers reaching up to adjust your glasses which were askew from gesturing wildly.

Maisy shook her head, a stern look on her face.

"No, you do not need to disappear. And stop being so hard on yourself. It's not like you're some freak or something. You just have a secret crush on JJ, and taking pictures of him is your way of expressing that."

She paused for a moment, a sly smile forming on her lips. "And let's be honest, he's not a bad subject to photograph. He's handsome, after all."

You groaned more dramatically, throwing your head back in mock despair. Maisy was always the kind of friend who just kinda... enabled you. In everything really, not just your weird crush for JJ Maybank. "He is handsome... like sometimes it makes me wanna cry and scream. It's so unfair how perfect someone can be." you grumbled, "and i have no chance whatsoever. No chance."

Maisy couldn't help but smirk at your dramatic reaction, enjoying how easily you could be riled up when it came to JJ.

"You're being way too hard on yourself, you know. And you don't know for sure that you don't have a chance. Maybe JJ isn't as unattainable as you think."

She took a sip from her cup, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

"Maybe he actually likes you back, but just hides it really well because... well, he's JJ."

"Look at him," you murmured, your gaze lingering on JJ. "He's the very definition of an American heartthrob. Why would a guy like that ever be interested in someone like me? It's ridiculous."

You nodded subtly towards JJ, who sat across the bustling room, the warm glow of ambient lights casting a golden sheen on his features, his hair falling over his eyes in a messy yet perfect way. He was surrounded by his Pogue friends, their laughter melding with the hum of the party. His carefree smile and easy laughter only accentuated the effortless charm he exuded. The way he leaned back, casually engaging with those around him, made him seem almost untouchable—a living embodiment of every teenage dream.

"Besides, he doesn't even know I exist," you sighed, a mix of longing and resignation threading through your voice. "He barely knew I existed until about a week ago when I got locked in a closet with him accidentally for twenty minutes."

The memory sent a flush to your cheeks—a confusing blend of embarrassment and a flutter of excitement. Those twenty minutes had been a whirlwind of awkward glances and stilted conversation, the close quarters amplifying every fleeting touch and shared breath. Yet, despite the nervous tension, there had been moments when his eyes met yours, a flicker of genuine curiosity breaking through the awkwardness. But as soon as the door had swung open, reality crashed back, and he slipped effortlessly back into his world—a world that felt miles away from your own.

Maisy followed your gaze towards JJ and his friends, taking in the sight of him. He was indeed a sight to behold, with his easy confidence and charm. She chuckled at your statement.

"Yeah, he's a heartthrob, no doubt about that. But don't underestimate yourself, either. Just because you're shy and prefer to keep to yourself doesn't mean you're not worthy of his attention."

She paused, nudging you lightly. "And hey, getting locked in a closet with him for 20 minutes doesn't sound like a bad start."

"I think we've got a 'the blind leading the blind' situation here. You're being delusional. He doesn't even go for girls like me." you gestured to yourself in a self deprecating way.

Maisy rolled her eyes at your self-deprecating gesture.

"First of all, don't talk about yourself like that. You're not some sort of undesirable troll. You're cute and sweet and talented, and any guy would be lucky to have you."

She raised an eyebrow at your comment about JJ not going for girls like you. "And who says he doesn't go for girls like you? You don't know that for sure."

"I've liked him for 8 years. I seen the girls he goes for. And none of them look or act like me." you groaned, rolling your eyes.

Maisy snickered, amused by your melodramatic attitude. "So just because he's gone for a specific type of girl in the past doesn't mean he's limited to that. You never know, maybe he's got a secret thing for shy, awkward girls who take pictures of him secretly." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, enjoying the chance to tease you.

"Great. Stab me while you're at it too would you?" you deadpanned sardonically, your expression melting into one of mock irritation. "Maybe twist the knife so you would be sure?"

Maisy cackled, thoroughly enjoying your sarcastic response. She loved how easily she could rile you up when you were in a mood like this.

"Aw, don't be like that," she chimed, smirking playfully. "I'm just teasing you. And hey, who knows, maybe JJ will surprise you and turn out to be the kind of guy who falls for the shy, camera-wielding girl next door."

"Nope. Not in a million years. It's not gonna happen. I'm gonna have to get a 100 cats and die alone." you pursed your lips, shaking your head dismissively. The thought of that actually happening seemed so out of touch that it made you almost amused if not sad.

Maisy snorted at your exaggerated statement, rolling her eyes at your melodramatic tendencies.

"Oh, please. You're not going to die alone. And you wouldn't be able to handle a hundred cats anyway. They'd end up taking over your house and probably start a cat army or something."

She smiled, gently patting your shoulder in an attempt to reassure you. "You'll find someone who appreciates you, Y/n. And who knows, it might just be JJ Maybank."

"Being in love with JJ Maybank feels like what it would be like to deal with a hundred cats or even more.." you sighed, frowning to your self as you stared at JJ across the room. Your sentence was supposed to be light-hearted but it came out as love sick and yearning.

Maisy smirked at your love-sick tone, fully aware of how deep your feelings for JJ ran.

"Oh, my sweet, lovesick friend," she teased, poking you in the arm. "You've got it bad. You're practically drowning in JJ Maybank-induced cat lady delirium."

You groaned in despair, throwing your head back once more. You had it bad and it was comical. You were gonna end up carrying these feelings to your grave and have to watch him get married to someone else. What a fun way to spend your life.

Maisy chuckled at your melodramatic display, shaking her head fondly. She couldn't help but find your love-struck state simultaneously endearing and amusing. It was like watching a rom-com unfold right in front of her.

She leaned in closer to you, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You know, if you keep pining after JJ like this, he's bound to notice eventually."

You gave her a withering look, your expression a mixture of despair and disbelief.

"Notice? He'll probably just laugh in my face. Or worse, he'll think I'm a creep who's been stalking him for years and collecting his chewed gum or some bullshit.." You let out a defeated sigh, imagining the worst possible scenarios in your head.

Maisy couldn't help but snicker at your self-deprecation. She shook her head gently, rolling her eyes affectionately. "Oh, please. You're not a creep. And he won't laugh in your face. He's not a complete jerk, you know."

She paused, her tone becoming more reassuring.

"And as for stalking him, well... maybe stop taking secret pictures of him whenever the opportunity arises, and he won't think you're creepo camera girl."

"But he's just so pretty... it's like he was made to exist through camera lenses." you mumbled and sighing dreamily. You studied the way he looked under the lights of the house, the way he smiled and laughed, having to lean down to talk to his friends. His hair looked so pretty, it looked like it was glowing and his eyes were twinkling when he laughed and let the small dimple in his right cheek show.

Maisy grinned at your dreamy description of JJ. Your infatuation with him was so obvious, it was practically radiating off of you. She playfully nudged you.

"Oh, my god, you are so hopeless. You're gonna end up melting into a puddle of hormones right here, right now if you keep drooling over him like that."

"I'm not drooling. I'm just.. observing. He looks absolutely beautiful, i can't believe this guy actually spent 30 minutes alone with me just to get me to talk to him and snap from my shy daze." you sighed, pouting dramatically.

Maisy rolled her eyes yet again, shaking her head at your melodramatic tendencies. "Oh, you're not drooling, you're just admiring the beauty and perfection of JJ Maybank to the extreme. Totally normal behavior."

She chuckled and patted your shoulder, her tone filled with exaggerated disbelief. "Yeah, imagine that. A guy actually spending time to talk to you and make you feel comfortable. How shocking."

"I'm going for a smoke.." you shrugged her hand off your shoulder, waving a hand dismissively in her face.

Maisy let out a dramatic gasp, feigning offense at your dismissal. She placed a hand on her heart, faking heartbreak.

"You're going for a smoke? Just like that? No dramatic declaration of your unrequited love for JJ first? No fainting spell? No tears?"

She smirked, winking at you. "Just a casual, 'I need nicotine, and I need it now'?"

"I hate you Maisy." you shot her a faux glare, weaving through the crowds of people to reach the back door of the house, passing by JJ and his friends while you did so, suppressing the urge to glance at him.

Maisy let out a playful laugh, her eyes glimmering with mischief. Watching you make your way through the throng of party-goers, she couldn't help but smirk. As you passed by JJ and his friends, Mimsy noticed JJ's eyes linger on your form for a moment, before snapping back to whatever conversation he was engaged in with his friends.

She chuckled to herself, shaking her head. "Denial, denial, denial..."

Meanwhile, JJ's conversation with his friends had been interrupted by your passing. He found himself involuntarily stealing a glance in your direction, his eyes narrowing slightly. As you continued towards the door without acknowledging him, a hint of disappointment flickered across his face, quickly masked by a casual smirk as he turned his attention back to his friends.

Reaching the back door you let yourself take a deep breath in, the slightly cold and crisp air of the summer night soothing your overstimulated lungs. You stepped out in the small backyard, sitting down on the stone steps, bringing your cigarette pack out and fishing one to light it. You glanced up at the starry night sky, adjusting your glasses as you took a long drag of the cigarette, letting yourself relish in the feeling of the nicotine seeping into your brain slowly.

As you settled down and lit your cigarette, taking a deep calming drag, JJ, who had been in the midst of a conversation with his friends, excused himself with a casual wave of his hand. He'd been unable to keep his gaze from drifting towards you and the pull he felt to be near you was stronger than he'd expect. With an air of nonchalance, he slipped away from the group and made his way outside to where you were sitting.

He approached you silently, his hands casually shoved into the pockets of his jeans as he leaned against the wall next to the stone steps. He watched you absently staring up at the night sky as you exhaled a plume of smoke, before he finally spoke up.

"You know, those things'll kill ya."

You jumped slightly at the sound of someone speaking, side-glancing to find JJ, standing by your side. You didn't even hear him approach or see him whatsoever, your heart leaping in your throat as you stared at him silently.

JJ found a small smirk tugging at the corners of his lips as he observed your slight jump. He hadn't meant to startle you, but watching your slightly wide-eyed, deer-in-the-headlights expression made him amused. He leaned back against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, as he casually looked down at you.

"Didn't mean to scare ya," he drawled softly, raising an eyebrow at your silent staring.

Your eyes studied his face in the dim lighting of the backyard, nodding hesitantly before ashing your cigarette and turning to take another drag. You suddenly felt like you were being the subject of god's past times, seeing you had no way of trying to compose yourself without JJ's presence suffocating you and causing you to clam up.

JJ, his charismatic smile and easy confidence. The way he effortlessly charmed everyone around him, how he seemed to command attention. Then there was you, the quiet, anxious wallflower, with an intense crush on a boy who would likely never notice your existence beyond the random awkward instances you've had.

The contrast between you and JJ was stark, and while the thought made your heart ache, it also added to the intense love that welled inside you.

As you continued to analyze JJ, your gaze tracing his features, he observed you with quiet contemplation. He was used to having girls' eyes on him and often didn't think much of it. But there was something different about the way you were looking at him. There was a mixture of fascination, shyness, and maybe even a hint of pain in your expression. It puzzled him, causing a slight flicker of curiosity to dance in his eyes.

He leaned his head back against the wall, his gaze still locked on you. "You're staring, mouse."

Your eyes darted down as soon as he said that, adjusting your glasses shyly, your sneaker digging into the grass underneath it nervously.

A small huff of laughter escaped JJ's lips as he watched you fidget under his gaze, your eyes darting back down to the ground, your shoe digging into the grass. He pushed off the wall, stepping closer to where you were sitting, closing the space between you. He sat down beside you on the stone steps, his shoulder brushing against yours, making your heart race.

He was close now, closer than before.

He could smell the faint scent of your shampoo, a combination of something sweet and floral. The way the light from inside the house illuminated your face, casting soft shadows across your features and making your eyes glitter like dewdrops.

He watched you as you fidgeted nervously, unable to keep his eyes from tracing the lines of your profile, the curve of your lips, the slope of your nose. Then he spoke, his voice quiet, yet filling the space between you.

"You still haven't answered my question, mouse."

"What was the question?" you inquired meekly a stark contrast from how you talked to Maisy just a few minutes ago, feeling a bit insecure under his intense gaze, the way those beautiful blue eyes of his roamed over your face.

JJ's smirk widened slightly as you responded, your voice soft and demure. He liked that you were quiet, shy. It was a stark contrast to the confident, outgoing girls he usually went for. And there was something about the way your voice sounded, the way your words came out almost hesitantly, that made him want to hear you speak more.

He leaned in a bit closer, his shoulder still pressed against yours, and his voice lowered to an almost whisper.

"I asked you...why were you staring at me?"

You wanted to stand up, your body tensing from him sitting down so close and leaning in to whisper, the smell of his cologne and the faint smell of weed invading your nose. Your brain felt overwhelmed, like it did when you saw JJ, but it was a hint worse, given he was now standing so close.

"I wasn't.. i was just-... i didn't mean to stare." you stuttered softly, shifting awkwardly on the step you were sitting, turning your head away to take another drag of the cigarette, hoping it will calm you down.

JJ couldn't help but chuckle at your fumbled response, your tension palpable. He found the way you reacted to his proximity both endearing and frustrating. Part of him wanted to push further, to see how flustered he could make you, but another part, a part he hadn't realized was there, wanted to reassure you, to make you feel comfortable around him.

He watched you as you tried to recompose yourself, averting your gaze and taking a drag of your cigarette. His eyes traced the movement of your hand bringing the cigarette to your lips, the way your fingers trembled ever so slightly. He shook his head slightly, a small smirk still playing on his lips.

"You're not a very good liar, mouse."

He adjusted his position, shifting himself a bit closer, his knee now touching yours. He could practically feel the tension rolling off of you. Your nervousness, your vulnerability, it was attractive in a way he hadn't experienced before.

"I think you were staring... and I think I know why."

"I don't mean to be creepy." you mumbled, not being able to stop the almost scared frown on your face. Of course he'd be weirded out. You were growing more embarrassed as he continued to stare at you and study you, his knee brushing against yours.

Your words were quiet, almost apologetic, and they tugged at something in JJ's chest. He hadn't expected you to think you were being creepy by staring at him. He was used to girls staring at him all the time, hell, he liked the attention usually. But hearing you say it, seeing the mix of embarrassment and fear on your face...it was a new feeling for him.

He chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"You're not being creepy, mouse. I've had people stare at me for a lot worse reasons than staring cause you think I'm pretty."

His tone was light, a hint of humor in his voice, but there was a subtle hint of truth to his words. He had a reputation for being a troublemaker, for getting into fights and skipping school. He was used to people staring, whispering, making judgements based on gossip and rumors.

But when you said it, it felt different. Maybe because he found himself oddly enjoying your attention, even if it made you anxious and flustered. He looked at you, studying your expression closely.

"Besides... I like it when you stare at me."

Your frown deepened as you became more flustered, avoiding gazing into his eyes. What did that mean? 'i like it when you stare at me'. You knew JJ liked the attention, it made his ego soar, and you wanted that. You wanted to command the attention and get long stares for being smoking hot and beautiful.

JJ could practically see the gears turning in your head. He could almost hear the anxious thoughts racing through your mind. He observed as your frown deepened and you avoided his gaze, his smirk growing the more flustered you got. He was enjoying watching you squirm, but there was something else there as well, something he wasn't quite used to feeling when he got attention from a girl.

He chuckled again, shifting his body a bit so that he was facing you more directly, his knee still touching yours. "Why do you look so worried, mouse?"

You shrugged mutely, raising your eyes to look into his before darting them away to put out your cigarette. You looked back at him, your frown melting away into a neutral expression, almost in awe as you pursed your lips together awkwardly.

JJ watched you as you put out your cigarette, his eyes lingering on your lips for a moment before darting back up to your eyes.

He was struck by your neutral expression, the way your frown softened into something more neutral, almost in a sort of quiet contemplation. He found himself wanting to know what you were thinking, what was going on in your head as you sat so silently next to him.

He leaned in closer, his closeness and the smell of his cologne still making you tense up. "Cat got your tongue, mouse?"

You smiled shyly at his pun. You had heard him make it before, and it amused you every time. It was endearing in a way. The way the small nickname and the phrase were supposed to be teasing and most people would take it as him making fun of you, but you found it dorky. And it gave you butterflies. Maybe he wasn't funny and you were just biased.

JJ noticed your small smile, and it tugged at something in his chest. The way your lips curled up, the way your eyes seemed to light up, it was almost intoxicating. He found himself wanting to see it again, to see you smile like that more often, to be the cause of that smile.

It was an unfamiliar feeling, this desire to make someone happy, to be the source of their joy. He'd always been more consumed with his own enjoyment and pursuits, not really caring about others too deeply. But now, with you...

He felt the need to make you smile more. He wanted to see that shy, gentle expression on your face more often. He shifted his body again, closing the space between you even more, his shoulder now pressed against yours, his knee still touching yours.

His voice was quieter now, laced with a hint of gentleness that he usually didn't use when speaking to others.

"You have a nice smile. You should do it more often."

Your smile turned more genuine without realizing. The way he said it, like he wasn't trying to charm you into a hook up or something, like he actually meant it, still holding his gaze. Your eyes narrowed slightly as if you were inspecting him closely, "thanks.. you too" you managed to speak the words at the forefront of your mind for the first time.

Your smile growing more genuine, it was like a small victory for JJ, knowing that he was the one who caused it. He continued to hold your gaze, feeling a flutter in his chest when you said that he had a nice smile too.

He was used to compliments, sure, but there was something different about the way you said it. The small, simple compliment held a weight different than the usual comments he received.

He chuckled softly, a slight pink tinged in his cheeks. "You think I have a nice smile, mouse?"

You wanted to find a way to say that, nice was understatement. That his smile was usually the subject of your pictures and that the sight of it beat every piece of scenery or painting by a long shot. But you didn't know how.. He made a casual compliment, of course you weren't supposed to respond with a lovesick rant about his smile and the way it made your knees buckle.

You looked down thoughtfully, furrowing your brows as you tried to figure out how to voice your thoughts.

JJ noticed the thoughtful expression on your face, the little furrow in your brows indicating that you were contemplating something. It amused him to see you so deep in thought over something so simple. He waited quietly, giving you time to gather your thoughts.

He found himself studying your profile, taking in your features as you gazed down at your feet, a small smirk on his lips. "What're you thinking about over there, mouse? You look like you're solving world hunger."

"Yeah... i mean, your smile is nice. Coming from a photographer." you spoke up, settling on that statement even though you wanted to say so much more, talk about his dimple and the way his eyes looked more blue when he smiled or how pretty you found him generally.

JJ's smile widened as you spoke up, your compliment making him feel a bit flattered.

Nice. Coming from a photographer. He could tell there was more you wanted to say. He could see it in your eyes that you had more to say, more thoughts swirling around in your head. He couldn't help but find that your obvious hesitancy made him feel giddy.

He looked at you, his gaze fixated on you, his smirk softening into a small, teasing grin.

"Just nice?"

"Picture worthy." you mumbled simply. 'That sounds so vague and creepy, you dumbass... you act like you can't physically say more than 3 words.' you scolded yourself internally at how dumb you sounded, wanting to facepalm but choosing not to.

JJ's smirk grew wider as you added 'picture worthy,' his ego swelling slightly. He loved the attention, and he always relished being called attractive. But there was something different about the way you said it. It wasn't a flirty compliment from some girl he had no interest in. It was quiet, sincere, like you truly believed what you were saying. He noticed your mumbled self-correction and chuckled under his breath.

He reached over, playfully ruffling your hair. He didn't know why he did it, he just wanted to feel more contact with you, to push your buttons a little bit.

"Well, I'm flattered, mouse. I'll have to remember that next time I'm having my picture taken." He smirked, his eyes holding a playful glimmer as he pulled his hand back, resting it back on his knee.

Your brows raised a little, another smile playing at your lips as he ruffled your hair. Usually you'd get uncomfortable and start stuttering about how much you hated having your unruly hair being touched, but with JJ it was like you didn't mind as long as he was making contact with you in some way.

You reached up to gently soothe your hand over the hair, to tame it, adjusting your glasses after as you raised your brows and smiled at him silently.

JJ chuckled as he watches you react to him ruffling your hair. He had expected you to get flustered or swat his hand away, but instead, you just smiled and gently fixed your hair. He found it endearing, the way you didn't get mad or annoyed. It was almost like you enjoyed having his hands on you, even in a small, subtle way.

He couldn't help but grin a bit wider as you fixed your glasses and smiled back at him. You were so quiet, yet somehow, you made his heart race. He found himself becoming acutely aware of the small space between you. The way your knee was brushing against his, the way you sat silently next to him, your soft smiles and quiet mannerisms. He felt a strange urge to say something, to break the silence, to keep the conversation going so he could continue to be close to you.

However, for the first time in his life, JJ found himself at a loss for words. He cleared his throat, trying to find something to say, anything to not let the quiet moment end.

JJ suddenly realized that the silence between you was starting to stretch on. He wasn't used to that. He was used to girls talking his ear off, trying to impress him or hoping for his attention. But you weren't like that. You were quiet, reserved, thoughtful. It was different, but he didn't mind it. In fact, he grew to enjoy it for reasons he couldn't quite explain.

He shifted his body slightly, leaning a bit closer to you, the movement making his knee press more against yours.

You bumped your knee against his gently, shifting on your spot. Your smile fell naturally as the silence stretched on, your expression turning into the same one of awe that JJ had seen a couple of times in the few instances he interacted with you. Just watching him silently

JJ watched you just as intently, noticing the way your expression changed, the way your features softened into one of quiet fascination. He couldn't help but feel a flicker of warmth in his chest as you gazed at him in silence.

He was used to being looked at by girls, to being the subject of their admiration and desire. But with you, it was different. There was something about the way you looked at him that was different from any other girl he had ever met. He felt like you were seeing him, truly seeing him

He let the silence linger for a moment longer, enjoying the feeling of having your knee pressed against his, the way you looked at him with that quiet, dreamy expression.

Eventually, he spoke up, his voice a bit shaky from the unfamiliar feeling of butterflies in his stomach.

"What are you thinking about, mouse? You're staring at me like I'm an exhibit at a museum or something.

"I'm just thinking.." you responded, surprising your self that you answered so casually, still quietly but casually.

He chuckled at your response, a hint of surprise in his expression. He was used to you being shy and awkward, but the casual way you replied to his question was a pleasant surprise, making him think you were actually taking his earlier advice. He smiled, his eyes studying your face closely. "Just thinking, huh? That's it? No specific thoughts or weird things floating around in that pretty head of yours?"

He shifted again, his knee staying pressed against yours. The small point of contact was surprisingly pleasing to him, like he couldn't get enough of it. His smile stayed in place, his eyes lingering on your face, waiting for your next response.

You shook your head in response, your smile still in place as you gazed at him, adjusting your glasses once again.

JJ noticed the small gesture of you pushing your glasses back up your nose. It was such a simple action, but somehow, it was so captivating to him. He found himself wanting to reach out and touch your face, to adjust your glasses himself just like he did back in the house, just so he could feel your skin against his fingers.

He held himself back, resisting the urge to act on the impulse, instead continuing to study your face, his smile growing a bit more.

He leaned in a bit closer, still holding your gaze, his voice a little lower, almost a whisper.

"You know, mouse, I don't think I've ever met someone who stares as much as you do. Most people get bashful or embarrassed when they stare at me for too long."

"That's my version of speaking." you stated, humming to yourself.

JJ raised an eyebrow at your response, a hint of surprise in his expression. He chuckled again, amused by your straightforward answer.

"Your version of speaking, huh? Just staring at me without saying a word, that's how you choose to communicate?"

You nodded mutely, your smile growing a little more bashful as you stared at him.

JJ found himself smiling at your shyness. He could tell that you weren't used to talking to people, definitely not to boys, especially not boys like him.

"Well, mouse, as much as I appreciate being your personal exhibit to stare at, I could use some actual conversation every once in a while, you know."

"Sorry.. i just get a lil' intimidated." you mumbled, looking down shyly.

JJ felt a pang of surprise at your unexpected admission. He hadn't expected you to say that you were intimidated by him. He was so used to girls falling all over him, trying to win his attention and approval. But this... this was new.

He softened his expression, realizing that he needed to be a bit gentler with you. Your shyness was an important part of your dynamic, but he didn't want to make you uncomfortable by over-stepping with part. "Intimidated, huh? What's there to be intimidated by, mouse?"

"Just.. speaking to people is really hard for me, sometimes." you found yourself admitting softly, looking up to meet his eyes.

JJ felt a flicker of something odd in his chest as you admitted that speaking to people was hard for you. He was used to girls confessing a different kind of difficulty with him, not an anxiety about social interaction. He desperately wanted to reassure you now, to make you feel comfortable around him. He held your gaze, his expression a little gentler. "Speaking is hard for you, huh? But you're talking to me right now."

"Why do you wanna talk to me?" you asked gently, narrowing your eyes in genuine curiosity.

JJ was caught off guard by your question. He had never been asked why he chose to talk to someone before. It was always just a given that girls wanted to talk to him, he never had to justify it.

He paused for a moment, trying to figure out how to respond. Why did he want to talk to you? He wasn't quite sure himself. Maybe it was the fact that you were shy and awkward, a stark contrast to the usual girls who chased after him. "Why do I want to talk to you? Why not?"

"People usually give up when they see i just clam up and well... stare at them quietly." you shrugged, pursing your lips together, "They think I'm rude." you mumbled, almost disappointed at the notion.

JJ was surprised by your admission. He found it hard to believe that others found you rude just because you were quiet and shy. But then again, he knew how harsh teenagers could be when they didn't understand someone.

He hummed softly, his expression becoming a bit more thoughtful. "So you just clam up and stare, huh? And people think you're rude? Just because you don't talk much?"

You nodded humming gently.

JJ shook his head incredulously. It seemed almost absurd to him that people would judge you for being a quieter person. In his experience, people usually judged him for being too loud and rowdy, not the other way around.

He tilted his head, his eyes studying your face. "That's bullshit. Just because you're quiet doesn't mean you're rude. People are just dumbasses for jumping to conclusions like that."

He paused for a moment, his eyes still locked on yours. He could sense that you were self-conscious about your introverted nature. He wanted to make you feel comfortable, to assure you that you didn't have to change who you were just to please others.

He shifted a bit closer to you, his knee still touching yours. "You know, mouse, if people can't handle a little quiet, that's their problem. I think you're fine just the way you are."

"It's a bit surprising... given you're always so... loud." you chuckled, adjusting your glasses. Suddenly, the whole thing about you and him being 2 complete opposites didn't seem so bad when he told you you were just fine the way you were.

JJ couldn't help but let out a bark of laughter at your comment. It was true, he was usually the loud and rowdy one who drew attention. In contrast, here you were, the quiet and shy one.

He smiled at you, a hint of warmth in his eyes. "Yeah, I guess we're pretty much opposite, huh? The loud and obnoxious guy and the quiet and shy girl."

He shook his head, a flicker of thoughtfulness in his expression. The realization that you two had so little in common suddenly made him appreciate your differences even more. The contrast was intriguing, it made him wonder about all the things he didn't know about you yet.

His smile broadened as he spoke again, his voice softer this time. "But hey, opposites attract, right?"

Your heart fluttered a little at his words, another shy smile creeping up on your lips. It sounded like he didn't mind at all that you were quiet, quite opposite.. he seemed to like the contrast. You nodded, shifting on the stone step a little, pressing your lips together nervously.

JJ didn't miss the way your smile turned more tender. It was a subtle change, but one he couldn't help but notice. He found it strangely endearing, the way you fidgeted nervously and shifted on your spot.

He inched a bit closer to you, his knee now firmly pressed against yours. His eyes stayed locked on your face, noticing the way you bit your lip nervously.

"You know, mouse, there's nothing wrong with being quiet. I like your silences. They're different."

He found himself becoming increasingly drawn to your quiet demeanor. In a world where he was used to girls constantly talking and seeking his attention, it was refreshing to bask in the silence with you. There was no pressure, no expectation for you to fill the air with conversation just for the sake of it.

He chuckled, a hint of playfulness in his eyes. "Besides, I can be loud enough for the both of us. You can just sit there and silently judge me until I shut my mouth, right?"

"I like how loud you are." you answered gently, your smile still tugging at your lips as you studied his face in the dim light from the moon and the light coming from inside the house.

JJ was surprised by your honest response. He was used to people telling him he was too loud, too rowdy, too obnoxious. But here you were, seemingly appreciating the very trait that most people found annoying about him.

He chuckled softly, a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. "Really? You like that I'm loud? That's a first. Most girls usually tell me to shut up."

"I wish i could talk that much.." you admitted, chuckling softly.

JJ was fascinated by your desire to be more talkative. It was such a stark contrast to your usual quiet demeanor. He found himself wondering if you had things you wanted to say but were just too shy to express them out-loud.

He leaned in a bit closer, his knee still pressing against yours, his eyes studying your face closely. "You wish you could talk more, huh? What would you say if you had the confidence to?"

"I dunno... just normal stuff that i can't seem to be able to say. Talk to the cashier or be able to present something in front of the class without feeling like i wanna cry." you admitted, looking down in something that almost looked like shame.

JJ was surprised by your disclosure. He didn't expect you to admit that you struggled with such simple things as talking to a cashier or presenting in class. The vulnerability in your voice tugged at his heartstrings.

He reached out, gently tilting your chin up, making you look at him. "Hey, listen to me. It's alright to feel anxious about those things. It doesn't make you any less than anyone else."

He paused for a moment, his gaze holding yours. He wanted to make sure you understood the sincerity in his words.

"You don't have to try and talk more if it's not in your nature. But if you want to, I could help you practice. We can start small, maybe some small talk with people. You can even try talking to me, I'm a big boy, I can handle it."

Your heart was torn between feeling fluttery and warm that he wanted to help you although he had no good outcome from it. Just from the kindness of his heart.

The other part felt anxious and jittery at actually asking him for help with such a basic task. it seemed too comical to you to have people help you with speaking publicly. Especially being at the age where you were supposed to be fearless and do teenage things without a care.

You smiled at him raising your brows, "Why would you do that?"

JJ found himself chuckling at your question. It amused him that you were bewildered by the idea of him wanting to help you.

He lifted a hand, running it through his messy hair. "Why? I don't know, maybe I like the idea of having a shy and quiet little mouse following me around, making me feel like a big shot by comparison."

He shrugged, a smirk on his face. "Nah, seriously though, I guess I just like the thought of you feeling less anxious about talking in public. And hey, who better to practice with than me?"

"I mean... i dunno.. we barely know each other... you know? Why would wanna help a stranger like me?" you asked chuckling nervously. You didn't want to annoy him with your questioning, but you were genuinely curious, especially the part that was hopelessly in love with him.

JJ considered your question. He hadn't really thought too deeply about his reasons for offering to help you. But now that you were asking, he found himself pausing to think about it more intently.

He ran his hand through his hair again, his smirk faltering a bit as he met your gaze. He wasn't used to having deep philosophical discussions. He usually just did things on a whim without overthinking it.

He hummed softly before answering. "I dunno, honestly. I just... want to help you, I guess. You just... you seem..."

He paused, searching for the right words to describe you. He could say that you intrigued him, that you were shy and quiet and that fascinated him, but that wasn't the whole picture. There was something more...

He took a deep breath, holding your gaze. "You just... you're different, mouse. I don't know why, but I want to get to know you better. Not just to help you speak more, but to know you more. Another friend won't hurt you, right?"

As much as you loved Mimsy, her approach with your quietness was a bit aggressive. Pushy even, at times. You were used to it, having her help you by exposing you to these things.

But JJ seemed to have another approach, and as much as it hurt to hear the word 'friend' you still felt happy that he wanted to befriend and help you. That was enough for you at the moment.

You nodded smiling at him, "okay. That sounds nice." you mumbled, shyly.

JJ's heart suddenly felt a strange flutter at your soft, shy reply. The way you smiled at him and agreed to his offer made him feel a surge of something that he couldn't quite identify. But he pushed it aside, attributing it to the novelty of having someone new to talk to.

He smiled back at you, trying to appear nonchalant. "Great. So it's settled, then. We'll work on your public speaking skills together. You and me."

It's almost funny how the term "we" can make your heart flutter, especially when followed by "you and me." Those simple words stirred something profound within you. It was a pleasant feeling, though you suspected he was helping you out of the kindness of his own heart. Your awkwardness seemed to spread to others like a silent contagion whenever you interacted with someone. As reckless as JJ was, you knew he was secretly a sweet guy, even if he didn't always show it.

Since the conversation at the party, it felt as though you'd fallen even more hopelessly in love with JJ—if that was even possible. Approaching him around town was still beyond you, but you found yourself waving or offering a shy smile from across the street whenever you "accidentally" crossed paths while seeking photography inspiration. It was a subtle shift—small and awkward—but a shift nonetheless. These fleeting interactions were like delicate brushstrokes adding color to the canvas of your boring and mundane life.

For JJ, he found the small changes in your behavior around him strange, in an alluring way of course.

The way you always made eye contact, smiled, or even waved at him when you saw him around town was a nice change of pace, and although he would never admit it, it made him feel a bit excited. It was almost like a secret game, a silent connection between you two even if you never spoke directly to each other.

The glances, the smiles, the waving... it all felt like a hidden language, an untold story that only the two of you shared. And it was addictive, in a way. JJ found himself looking forward to these little interactions, like they were precious treasures that he didn't want anyone else to discover.

He tried his best to appear nonchalant, hiding the fact that your small gestures had an effect on him. But deep down, he couldn't deny the strange flutter that they instilled in his chest.

As days turned into weeks, the small interactions between JJ and you became more frequent. He found himself looking for opportunities to bump into you, pretending to be shopping or just hanging out in places he knew you were likely to be. The excuse of helping you with your public speaking was slowly becoming less and less necessary. Even he couldn't deny it anymore.

He still tried to keep up the appearance of nonchalance whenever the two of you encountered each other, but there was a subtle change in his demeanor. A softness in his eyes.

During the rare times you actually spoke, he found himself listening intently to your soft and shy words, hanging on to them as if they were precious gems. He'd nod, smile, and even tease you occasionally, but somewhere in the back of his mind his thoughts were racing. He'd wonder to himself if you felt the same strange connection he felt.

But being the reckless person he was, he pushed these thoughts aside, telling himself it was all in his mind. After all, why would a girl like you like someone like him?

—♡‧

A/N: Jeez, this one felt so long while editing, I've caught a cold and my period is close :( This song is so cute y'all, so you can listen to it while reading the story! I feel like it matches the vibe of it and if you're reading this far, don't hesitate to leave a comment with what you want to see me post after this story! love you ♡

Tag-list*:･ﾟ✧ @cali-888, @bee-43, @jjscoquette, @melsbels-zip, @stanseventeen @bailsmbnk

Divider credits: @cafekitsune

Previous | Next*:･ﾟ✧

[pandorasword]

Chaeri as the 8th and youngest member of BTS.

CHAERI'S MASTERLIST

PTD On Stage in LA | Day 3

❒ genre: Slice of life

❒ words: 972

❒ summary: In which Chaeri uses Tae's beauty to her benefit

❒ prompts requested from the dialogue prompts game: “Wow, I really can’t speak, huh? Must be because of how pretty you look”

She was never good with words. She preferred facts: solid, reliable, hard to misunderstand. Words, on the other hand, always seemed elusive, ungraspable, especially when she had to use them in English. The situation worsened drastically when she found herself in front of thousands of people, right after singing for two hours non-stop. What was so difficult about a simple 'thank you'? For her, it was a real mystery. In fact, she didn’t believe a speech was necessary to express the emotion she felt every time. Hearing her songs sung by so many voices, with different accents, but with the same passion she put into them… she was sure it was evident during her performances how much she appreciated and was grateful for everything.

But it should be considered that those who cause their own misfortune should weep for themselves. She knew that day would come. She had all those years of experience and a highly competent team to ignore the inevitability of that moment. She could have taken the time to prepare a few sentences in English, memorize the pronunciation, and say them on stage. Instead, look at that, she had done nothing and couldn’t even remember why

In just a few seconds, all the times she had literally fled the room when she saw the English coach enter came back to her. It was almost like a scene from a cartoon: he came in one door and she scurried out the other, as if her only purpose in life was to avoid that conversation.

She had to refrain from slapping her forehead for being so stupid and irresponsible. She was still on stage, under the gaze of thousands of people.

Tae had just finished his speech. His English was insecure, his pronunciation questionable, but at least he had said something.

That evening, he stood out among the other seven, entirely dressed in red with a mask on his face, he had fun dancing and singing in a costume inspired by the Squid Game series, which had conquered the world in record time. And the crowd was ecstatic. A true show genius, born to capture attention: that's who Kim Taehyung was.

A shiver ran down her sweaty back, a testament to the hours spent jumping and running, reproducing the choreographies she knew by heart for that performance. 

It was her turn to speak.

With an uncertain gesture, she brought the microphone to her lips. Embarrassed, with no idea what to say or how to formulate a coherent speech, she searched the most remote areas of her brain for a foothold, a memory, or anything that could help her find the right words.

Then, suddenly, the screams of the crowd became so loud that they overwhelmed even her chaotic thoughts. Behind her, on the huge screen, appeared Taehyung who had removed his mask. 

And, damn, he was breathtakingly beautiful.

At that moment, a fleeting memory from a few days before came back to her: she remembered Namjoon, visibly irritated, trying to watch an episode of Friends. The younger members of the group were making noise around him, forcing him to restart the same part of the episode several times because he couldn't hear the lines.

Yes, that line she had heard repeated at least five times was perfect, and luckily, it had stuck in her mind.

She turned towards Taehyung, just a few meters away from her. The blue lenses of his eyes shone under the reflection of the multicolored stage lights, accentuated by the glows of the armybombs not far from them.

“Wow, I really can’t speak, huh? Must be because of how pretty you look”

The crowd roared in approval, shouted for the interaction, clapped for the way the boy's cheeks turned red, almost as red as his costume, because of the unexpected compliment.

The rest of the members burst into laughter, teasing Taehyung, while she realized that the attention from her speech had successfully been diverted elsewhere.

What a perfect end, she would have shaken her own hand in congratulations.

Later, in the backstage

“Chaeri-yaaaaa, you made me blush like crazy out there. Did everyone notice?” said Tae, walking beside Chaeri, an arm around her shoulders and almost all his weight leaning on her, partly from the exhaustion of the evening, partly because he loved to tease her.

"Every single person here saw how red you got" Jimin replied with an amused smile before the girl could, taking the perfect opportunity to tease his group mate when he was usually the butt of the jokes.

"Aish" Tae sighed theatrically, faking a look of devastation "my reputation as a tough guy is ruined because of you, Chaeri-ya."

Chaeri raised an eyebrow. “When have you ever had a tough guy reputation?” she said with a playful tone

"Hey, you" a sarcastic, accusatory tone came from Namjoon as he approached the trio, who were dragging their feet, destroyed by now, along the floor, hoping to reach a place where they could sleep for hours. Many hours.

"Don't think I didn't realize you did it to avoid the speech you were supposed to prepare for tonight" Namjoon looked at her with a look that said it all, the look of someone who raised you and knows all your little tricks. 

"Oops?" she looked at him, softening her eyes and curling her lips a bit to look more innocent - which she wasn't - and more forgivable - her behavior was absolutely unforgivable -. 

"So you didn't think for real that I was so handsome to leave you speechless?" Tae had pulled away from her half hug to look her in the eyes, his tone high-pitched.

"If it makes you feel better, I really think you're the prettiest of us all" 

"Ha! Did you hear that, Hyung? I really am the prettiest"

taglist: @alixnsuperstxr | @bts-dream | @enchantingbrowneyedgirl | @ycuvi | @cosmicwintr

[burningfairytales]

On Bokuto being Fukurodani’s captain

I promised myself I wouldn’t make another Bokuto defence post, but I’ve been reliably informed the Fukurodani tag is lacking posts and I’m here to contribute.

We’ve probably all seen it - the post that is like, “every captain acts like a father figure to their team, and then there’s Fukurodani”

And I mean, it’s funny. It got a good chuckle out of me, too, because that is how jokes work. Jokes have to be funny, they don’t necessarily have to be true.

Because yes. For Karasuno, whose line-up consists of three first-years, and the dynamic duo Tanaka-and-Noya, sure, Daichi is more of a father figure. So is Kuroo, I suppose, for Nekoma (though where Daichi is the tough-love kind of dad, I see Kuroo as the “hey x, i’m dad” kind of person.)

And it works for them, because that’s what those teams need.

They’re young. They’re chaotic. They need a voice of reason (Karasuno) or, failing that, at least someone who’s capable of mediating in a fight. Who’s willing to tell the children to suck it up and make up, even if they weren’t in the wrong (Nekoma).

A captain should be what the team needs, after all.

But that is not how Fukurodani works.

Fukurodani has a completely different dynamic than Nekoma and Karasuno. Sure, they bicker. They probably fight, too. But listen. Save Akaashi and Onaga, the entire team is made up of third years - and we all know that in terms of maturity, Akaashi is on their level if not higher.

(Sorry Onaga. I’m afraid I don’t know enough about him yet to include him in that statement. Doesn’t come across as particularly childish either, for what it’s worth!)

So you’ve got an elite team. A team of more-or-less adults. The millennial kind of of adults, maybe - the “i need an adultier adult” kind. But a team of people who know when it’s okay to fool around and when it’s time to call it quits.

In a team like that, what use is a father figure?

And then there’s Bokuto.

Bokuto who is very much not mature at all. Bokuto who doesn’t know when to stop, when to call it quits. Bokuto who goes out to play not for the sake of winning, but to enjoy playing. To have fun. Winning is just the result of that.

Bokuto who looks at his teammates and gives them permission to just fool around and have fun, just for the sake of it. Want to try a cool spike? Great! It worked? That’s awesome, teach me how to do it.

Didn’t work? Too bad, try again.

Bokuto who gently and sometimes not-so-gently pushes his team. Try harder. Do better. Not because it’s disappointing if they don’t, but because it’s more fun if they do - because Bokuto firmly believes that they can.

Fukurodani is a great team. An elite team. They know they’re good. Maybe sometimes, just “good” feels like enough to them - but never to Bokuto. If you run three laps today, you might make it to four tomorrow. Maybe five laps the day after.

Bokuto is the kind of person who reaches, who moves forward, who doesn’t want to stop improving.

He’s also the kind of person who motivates his teammates to try harder simply because that’s what he does. They don’t want to fall behind. If Bokuto can do it, then so can we.

I think it’s such in important scene, at the end of the match against Mujinazaka, when Bokuto shakes hands with Kiryuu - not just because, despite their loss, Kiryuu can honestly say that he’s glad he played his last match against Bokuto, though I’d say that says a lot about Bokuto in general. It’s not a bad thing, losing to him. It’s sad - of course it’s sad, but it’s not frustrating. They played a good game. Hell, they had fun. It’s an acceptable loss.

But the really important part, to me, is when Bokuto holds onto his hand and tells him, “you should tell your team to give you better tosses. Even if it’s asking too much. You should still do it.”

Because not only does that show that Bokuto isn’t an idiot - he’s very much aware of what goes on on the field. He noticed that most of those tosses sucked. Kiryuu is amazing for managing to hit those, and Bokuto isn’t afraid of telling him that.

And it’s not even that he’s telling his opponent, hey, you’re already pretty incredibly and you could spike better if the set-up worked in your favour. (Because contrary to what seems a popular opinion, Bokuto’s “I’m the best!” Doesn’t mean “everyone else sucks.” I don’t understand why people tend to make him egoistical. Bokuto stops at nothing to tell others when they’re doing well and compliment them.)

No, the really important part of that exchange is that Bokuto is also saying, you aren’t letting your team improve if you keep letting them keep get away with this.

And it’s true, isn’t it. You can help your classmate cheat or do your coworker’s work for them - it saved them in that moment, maybe, but they will not learn. You’re taking away their opportunity for improvement.

Kiryuu can tell his team, it’s okay if your tosses are shit, I will hit them anyway. But at the end of the day, those tosses are still going to be shit. It doesn’t make them better players, and if any of them want to keep playing after high school they’re going to be in a lot of trouble, because not everyone will be able to hit them - or be even willing to try.

So no, Bokuto is about the farthest thing from a father figure. But he pushed his team to do better. Forces them to pick up the pace one way of another, sometimes maybe through his bad moods, but also by motivating them to stop accepting “good” as “good enough.”

And look, I’m not completey oblivious. I’m fairly certain Bokuto is probably not great at handling the official side of being captain - club applications and funding requests and whatever needs handling. But he’s not doing it alone, is he?

And of course Akaashi is impressive, making vice-captain as a second year. And I’m willing to bet Bokuto was the first to insist he’d have to do it.

So you’ve got the captain who pushes and the vice-captain who keeps things level. I’d say that’s the kind of team Fukurodani needs as their captains, don’t you?

[dr-spectre]

Guys, i wanna preach something to y'all.

If you really love a character and if they are really important to you, but you feel like a large majority of fans treat them poorly and they mischaracterise them. Don't be scared to talk about it.

PLEASE!

This is not even focused on Splatoon, no, this is just in general. If you genuinely love a character so much and they are treated in a way where you feel like it doesn't represent the character's true personality, events, arcs, etc, then speak up about it. Make a post on any social media platform or forum. Speak your peace, share your evidence, do what you can to say "hey guys. I think you should all take a second look at this character i really like! They have some cool stuff about them that not a lot of people talk about!"

I think a really great example of a character who's been really mischaracterised is Deadpool. In the comics he's a sad clown sort of guy where he hides his pain, suicidality and depression behind jokes and 4th wall breaks. He's a bad dude who tries his hardest to be a good person, but he fails over and over again and he doesn't believe he can ever be loved or respected. He's funny but he also has depth and layers which is so important to create an everlasting character. Or at least that's what I've heard he's like from comic fans. I haven't read the comics but i plan on to some day because I'm fascinated by his depth and i wanna experience that.

However in his first major solo appearance, which was the game, he was treated as only a loud mouth jokester who sees every woman he comes across as "awooga! boobies and ass!!!!" and all the depth and nuance is gone. Even though they had a comic writer who worked on Deadpool comics for years, he didn't fucking ATTEMPT to give the character any form of intrigue. Just... nothing. Only memes and pop culture references that'll become dated in 5 years.

And a lot of people think that's just who Deadpool is... That's how so many people got introduced to this character which caused misinformation to spread about him for so long... And that fucking sucks dude.

Thankfully the movies have some form of an emotional center with Wade and Vanessa's relationship and they give the character... SOMETHING!!!!! At least the comic fans seem to be pretty okay with movie Deadpool from my knowledge, which is good.

ANYWAYS! BACK TO SPLATOON!

Do you guys remember when Pearl and Marina used to be treated like this? Pearl as some big forehead joke of a character, while Marina was some bimbo with huge honkers and a giant waist.

Oh yeah, this was how they were treated for years. I remember it man, i fucking remember it all. I was there. Sorry to tell the new fans who joined from Splatoon 3. Even after Octo Expansion gave them detailed backstories and further explored their personalities, they were still mischaracterised as flanderised jokes and nothing more in the community.

But after people took the time to get to know these two, after people spent 7 years with them and discussed the interesting things about them online, they are now portrayed significantly better than how they used to be treated in the community and are celebrated as some of the best characters in the franchise. As they fucking deserve to be treated. Fans don't treat them as jokes anymore, casuals don't make tired old jokes anymore. Everyone loves these two now and for the right reasons.

And all it took was a small section of people to praise their best attributes and eventually overshadow the misinformation about them. Pearl is celebrated because she is genuinely a great character with a heart of gold and a want to care for the people around her. To make every day chaotic and to have fun with her CANONICAL GIRLFRIEND!

Marina is celebrated as a character who autistic people can look up to and find comfort in. AND THAT IS FUCKING AWESOME!!! AND IT ALMOST NEVER HAPPENED! If no one bothered to look deeper at her character then maybe many peoples lives could have never been changed for the better... Isn't that crazy to think about?

If you can change one person's perspective on a character you love, and they feel that energy and they wanna help you share that energy with more people, then i think you've done something truly amazing. Eventually that shit is gonna spread further and further AND FURTHER!!!!!!

Remember when Shiver and Frye were treated as jokes similar to Pearl and Marina at the start of Splatoon 3? Frye with her big forehead jokes and people calling her ugly due to... well... i'm gonna make some wild accusations here but... there might be an undertone of racism when people call Frye ugly... like... i'm just saying... I'm scared of what these people think about Indian women in the real world... What views they share about them... Frye is inspired by Indian culture and by proxy, Indian women. I'm just saying...

And, of course, fans gooning over Shiver because god forbid a woman exposes her midriff and has curvy hips... ugh...

BUT THANKFULLY IT'S CHANGED NOW! Lots of people see Shiver as a silly yet fun character who has the potential for depth down the line, which people are excited to see. People adore Frye and love her personality and her family.

There are people out there who say that Frye is actually cute and beautiful, AND YOU KNOW WHAT!?? I FUCKING AGREE! If people didn't share their love and takes on Frye then maybe she wouldn't become my favourite Deep Cut member.

Now... To tie it all back to me, I'm seeing this change in perspective for a character.... with Callie Cuttlefish.

During the years 2017 to 2022, Callie was always mischaracterised as some airheaded idiot who ended up getting herself "kidnapped" and "brainwashed" and had to be saved as she was some stupid helpless victim. This was seen in official material and fan comics too. I remember it man, i really do. Hell it STILL happens till this day. That fucking summer 2024 Nintendo magazine? Jesus christ dude...

But now? That perspective is changing... Sure not everyone is gonna fully agree and there probably isn't gonna be massive change in official media, social media such as YouTube and twitter, and of course wikis. Not everyone is gonna know about what Callie is truly like and what she has truly gone through. But....

That's okay.

I really don't wanna come across as some sort of gatekeeping fan, i really hate those kinds of """fans""" so much. I just wanna educate and share my love for a comfort character of mine. Eventually the perspective shared by me and others will be spread to other social media platforms and many more people. Because that's how the internet works baby!!!!

The perspective that Callie was just a girl suffering from fame and loneliness, a girl who wanted an escape from it all, a girl who went under hypnosis to numb her pain and stay in the corruptive darkness she built up for so long, a girl who wanted to help her enemies rather than stay in her current life with a cousin who isn't there for her anymore... A girl who didn't need to be saved, but a girl who needed to be reminded of the good memories she had with her cousin, to remember what she truly stood for and the love she wants to share with everyone via music... A girl who just needed... a fresh start....

She was never kidnapped despite what official sources say... She was never brainwashed despite what they tell you... Callie had agency... Callie was suffering... Just in a more nuanced and fascinating way.

that perspective... is spreading and... I'm so happy about it...

Anyways, that's all i have for you guys. Please share your love for a character with others, share your unique perspectives to the world, you have a voice, USE IT! I DON'T CARE IF IT'LL REACH TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE! ONE THOUSAND! A HUNDRED! ONE PERSON! DON'T FUCKING MATTER!

USE YOUR VOICE! PLEASEEEE!!!!!!!!

[rye-bread-soda-iceberg]

discussion and a little theory about black swan and sparkle's companion mission under the cut (+ spoilers) aka listen to me yap about the blue thing until I go insane

the First sampo we meet in penacony, specifically the one that follows us as we're hanging out with firefly, is nothing like how sampo himself is

his personality is a poor attempt from sparkle to try and convince us that it's him, but perhaps she's not familiar enough with him anymore to know exactly how he acts. "he" is acting weird and a little bit mean towards firefly for not knowing things about penacony even though she should

I don't think sampo would do that, at least the one we met on jarilo-VI wouldn't

the second (and third) time sampo appears, and this time it's actually him, is during the girls' companion mission

during the entire quest him and black swan play this little detective game orchestrated by sparkle where she writes herself in as a murder victim and has the two find her murderer. it's fun and silly and very chaotic

the entire story unfolds inside a dream bubble created by black swan, and when it's over the giant eyeball guy tells us that even though we recognized the people in the dream, it is still a dream. it doesn't represent reality and could have been tampered with

I don't believe that

anyways so. in this sampo acts a little bit more like the one we know, maybe slightly over the top at times but I think he was putting on a performance to spice things up. he was helping out sparkle with the whole thing in exchange for his mask that she probably stole from him (that we sadly don't get to see) so I bet he really put some effort into that, even begging black swan to not skip the last murder case

But. the MOST important part of this entire quest is.. the end. and the end is definitely not a dream

after the trio finishes talking, the dream stops and we briefly return to the real world before going into a memory. and boy there's some stuff to unpack in here

first of all the way they talk to each other? they almost seem like friends. of course, their views on the pursuit of elation are still different

he is still very polite about it

sparkle doesn't mention anything except muttering "why so serious" to herself

but they do talk like old friends and it's clear that in a sense they may be

after he asks for his mask back, sparkle remarks that it is not like the sampo she knows and then this little exchange happens

it is now canon, as in acknowledged out loud by a character (in this case himself) that sampo Really did orchestrate almost every thing that happened in jarilo-VI

how did he know this was going to happen? how can sparkle guess the reason why he wants his mask back? has he done this before? well clearly, thinking back to all the chaos he unleashes on that planet, maybe some kind of catastrophe has already came to it that we don't know about?

also slightly unrelated but I think he likes living there. he genuinely enjoys living in belobog because if he didn't, he'd find a way to leave

so anyways what we can deduct from this sequence is that:

- this entire quest is most likely a memory, not a dream. black swan deals with memories and it could be possible that she had some slight changes done to it and passed it off as a dream. maybe. and this would mean that it's a real event, that happened before the jarilo-VI story

- consequently, before that sampo and sparkle were on friendly enough terms that he was willing to help her put on a show for black swan in exchange for his mask (of course, he's always willing to do something to get something in return)

so I did say I have a theory

sparkle is the reason for That One sampo eidolon, "the deeper the love the stronger the hate"

she's the only character so far that we are SURE he dislikes, and that's something knowing he doesn't admit that stuff so openly. source: listen to his lines about other characters, he always masks any kind of negative emotion about other people yet tells giovanni that if it were for him, he'd never see her again (still said in a polite way)

so the "hate" he feels, that he still masks by smiling even though his eyes are devoid of any light, as of right now can only be towards sparkle

I believe she betrayed him somehow and maybe doesn't fully realize that

she's childish, really mean, DEFINITELY cannot "read the room" in any way and I doubt she cares about other people's feelings enough, so if sampo who by nature almost does everything to hide how he truly feels about people ever felt betrayed by her, there'd be miscommunication and possibly confusion on her side and feelings of hate towards her on his side

in the main quest, before sparkle reveals herself, she mentions hearing about his deeds on jarilo-VI but doesn't seem to hold a grudge against him. she probably dislikes him as well but perhaps not as much as he does, which also leads me to think she wouldn't understand if she did anything wrong

them not talking anymore would explain why sparkle's rendition of sampo feels off and kind of out of character

this is a theory I had actually already saw circularing on here, around the time sampo and giovanni's conversation in the memory bubble got leaked. but if I'm correct it's not as discussed

sad cause it's very interesting and you know what this also means?

penacony might not be the last we see of sampo

he has so much going on behind him and this just adds to it. he doesn't speak much about his past himself, he is clearly hiding so so many things and hoyoverse wouldn't keep leaving these little crumbs of information behind if it wasn't for a greater purpose

I feel like I say this every time I talk about him and maybe I'm slowly going insane but I'm also very happy cause I want to see what my beautiful man will do in the future

thanks for reading this far if you did and sorry if this is really messy

I just wanted to let some thoughts out!

[alwayssassydreamer]

bad decisions lead to pleasant outcome

Before you continue: english is not my first language so please bare with me. Also this is the first fic I’ve ever posted and I’m still trying to improve so sorry if this is a little chaotic and so darn long. I actually got a little carried away. Sorry about the rushed end I’m horrible at writing smut. And i only write fem!reader at least for now sorry about that. And the picture does not belong to me. Oh and the story is not proofread cause I'm lazy af.

For the story: in this story you will have a devilfruit which has no name bc i suck at names but nonetheless it allows you to „die“ without dying – yeah i know makes zero sense. No seriously what i mean is that it’s kinda like in a video game where you have 3 lives before it’s game over and that’s exactly your power. You can die up to 2 times within 24hours before you need to „reload“ otherwise it’s game over for you. Yep now that I’ve written it down it sounds super weird but it’s too late to change it….so have fun.

Warnings: i have no idea – swearing, maybe a little violence/threat of death, smut-ish at the end (consent), MDNI

Shanks x Reader

You’ve been pirating around with your crew for quite some time now earning you a pretty nice bounty on your head, though not as spectacular as some strawhat you’ve heard of. If someone outside your crew would’ve to describe you they’d probably say you’re cocky, overconfident and a little ruthless. But that’s what you had to be to survive in this world. Your crew, on the other hand, would describe you as a caring, loyal and fearless captain, capable to fight off enemies stronger than you just to defend them. Your devilfruit being rather useful in that case. After a long time out on sea everyone was glad to finally catch sight of an island. You and the crew decided to celebrate this with your remaining alcohol. When you set your first steps on this island you already started to regret drinking so much. You weren’t completely wasted like some of your crew but walking a straight line was kinda difficult. Therefore you decided it would be best if everyone remaind either on the ship or the beach till you all would sober up. After a few hours passed by you decided that it was time to check the island and refill your stocks. The island seemed pretty calm with no sign of someone bothering you when you’d take what you needed. You got to a small town and decided that after still feeling alittle giddy from drinking, it would be better not to cause any drama – steal what you need and then get back on the ship and sail off. In your head everything would work out perfectly, the crew would split up, some distracting the towns people while the others take what you needed. As soon as the people realize that they’ve been robbed you’d be long gone. But of course things did not work out as you planned. A few of the towns people recognized you from your wanted poster, followed by catching 2 of your crew mates stealing some alcohol. Just your luck. You had to fight the unexpectedly good armed and trained enemies off leading to a destroyed bakery, some knocked out men and a boost of your ego. You called for your crew to pack up the stolen stuff and get back to the ship. With a shit eating grin you looked around the town, then made sure that none of your crew gets left behind. „Thanks for the goods and the entertainment“ you shouted dripping of arrogance. As you hurried back you smiled to yourself, thinking about how easily you defeated these people and why you didn’t fight them off in the first place. You were so caught up in your thoughts that you didn’t see the other ship that had arrived at the island, nor the men that have been watching the whole scene that just happened.

As you got closer to the beach a strange feeling started to spread through you. Out of instinct you reached for your sword but you didn’t have the time to pull it out when you heard a deep voice behind you. „Better keep your sword where it is. Wouldn’t want your crew to get hurt“ the voice grumbled. You immediately looked over to your crew and saw that they were held at gunpoint by some men you couldn’t quite recognize from the distance. You took a deep breath, you didn’t mind that someone was threatening you, you still had your devilfruit but what got you really nervous was the safety of your crew. If they get shot they’re going to die and that was a thought that made you a little scared and at the same time kinda angry. How dare some asshole threatening you and them. You let out a small angry huff and slowly turned around ready to attack that fucker behind you. But as soon as you turned around you felt the tip of a sword at your throat. You gasped. Not because of the sword but because you saw who was holding it. Red hair, scar over his eye, only one arm and an expression that made it clear that he was in a really bad mood. „Shanks“ you mumbled to yourself. You had never met the yonko before but you’ve heard a lot of stories about him and his men. For a moment you lost all your confidence, you were intimidated by his appearance. Fear struck you as you looked into his eyes. You bit your lower lip and looked over your shoulder to your crew before taking a deep breath. You knew you couldn’t let him see that you were in fact scared of him. Not now. Not with your crew in danger. So you did the only thing you could think of – be a pain in the ass. The most arrogant smile spread across your face as you looked back at him.

„Think that’s funny little lady?“ He hissed low and threatening. „Kinda,“ you said still with that smile on your face while deep inside you were shaking. „So it’s funny for you to have a sword at your throat and my men holding your crew at gunpoint“ he said pushing the sword a little into your skin drawing some droplets of blood. You gasped still trying to remain as cocky as you could. „Well, the thing is i could easily kill you right now. Sure you would probably slit my throat in that process but unlike you i won’t die“ you replied as you looked him deep in the eye. He raised a brow and looked over to his men then back at you. „I know“ he calmly hummed catching you by surprise. „I’ve heard of you and your devilfruit and i know that you have to be killed more than once but i think that doesn’t apply to your crew“ he said nodding over to them. „It’s up to you how this is going to end“ he added. You nibbled on your lips, looking down at the sand then over to your crew before looking down again. Well you knew you were screwed. There was no way to win this fight without losing either your lives or worse losing your entire mates. „What do you want?“ You asked defeated, avoiding his gaze. „You and your crew caused a lot of trouble in my territory“ His territory?!? How could you not see that this was HIS territory. You cursed yourself for being such an idiot and not realizing this. You vowed to never drink again when you reach an island. „See the people on this island depend on my protection therefore i cannot let you leave after destroying the bakery and fighting the towns people“ he growled as he leaned closer. You swallowed hard, his stare was so intense you were sure he could see inside your soul. At the same time you felt something else, something you haven’t felt in years. You had to look away, heart beating so fast you thought you’d lose one of your lives due to a heart attack. „What happened to that cocky attitude. Don’t tell me you’re scared“ he taunted and that’s when you snapped. You launched forward pushing the sword away from your throat with one hand, leaving a cut on it, while grabbing for your own with the other. Needless to say that was a really bad idea because just a few seconds later you heard a rumble from where your crew and then found yourself laying on your back in the sand, sting on your neck. „Don’t kill them, everything’s fine here. Seems the little lady got a bit offended“ shanks shouted over to his men. „Maybe you should stop playing around before someone gets hurt“ a tall muscular man with greyish hair and a scar on his face yelled over to shanks. „Calm down beck, I’ve got everything under control“.

You let out a small squeak when you felt shanks‘ sword move over your stomach up to your heart at the same time feeling blood run down your neck. Luckily for you the cut wasn’t too deep – no life wasted. „You almost got your crew killed“ shanks continued to taunt you. But he was right that was a close call and you finally had to admit it – there’s no way out of this. „Next wrong move and they die“ he scolded. „Just tell me what you want and stop being an asshole“ the words just blurted out of your mouth but shanks just looked at you amused. „Well if you’re that eager, i want your crew to rebuilt the bakery, give everything you’ve stolen back and i want them to stay here and help out for as long as it takes to humble you.“ He said kneeling down, his knee right next to your head. „If you think we’re“ you started but he interrupted you „I’m sorry, guess i didn’t make myself clear. I want your crew to stay here. You, little lady, will come with us“. You stared at him with wide eyes, mouth open to yell at him. But you couldn’t no words came out.

God no one ever told you what an attractive man the yonko was. No. You shook your head, now was not the time to swoon over him, he attacked you, threatened to kill your crew, he’s an asshole, a good looking one though. „Be a good girl and stop being a pain in my ass“. Shanks said with a cheeky smile, ripping you out of your thoughts. Does he know what you’re thinking, can he read your mind? His scary and intimidating expression seemed to fade as he put the sword away. „Now we will walk over to your crew and you will tell them that they’re going to stay here until we come back“ he commanded offering you his hand to help you up. For a moment you wanted to take it but then decided against it, shoving it away and getting up yourself. „Still being a brat huh“. You glared at him as he took a step closer. „Maybe I’ll have to teach you a lesson once we get on the ship“ he whispered in your ear, making you gasp and shudder. After explaining to your crew what’s going to happen and watching them walk back to the town accompanied by two of Shanks‘ men you felt the strong urge to run away. You didn’t want Shanks to teach you a lesson, nor to stay on his ship. Well you didn’t get far when suddenly two strong arms wrapped around you and threw you over his shoulder „Not so fast little lady.“ The man you recognized as benn beckmann scolded. Shanks and his men just chuckled as you tried to wriggle out of beckmanns grasp to no use. Once on the ship, beckmann followed shanks into a cabin. „She’s a spirited one, better be careful“ beckmann said to shanks as he put you down. „Don’t worry I’m gonna tame her“ Shanks said devilish grin on his face, while you started to feel a knot in your stomach. Tame you? What is that supposed to mean? Is he going to torture you? Now you started to panic but tried your best not to show it. Beckmann stepped closer one hand reaching for your sword the other grabbed your chin with one finger to make you look up at him. You swallowed trying not to break the eye contact between you two. After what felt like an eternity of him burning holes into your soul he let go of you and left the room without another word as you looked after him. „I can ask him to join us later on if you want.“ Shanks said with a small laugh looking you up and down. „But by the way you’re looking after him it seems you wouldn’t mind“

You just looked at him dumbstruck only now realizing that you’ve been biting your lower lip while your hands had a tight grip on your shirt. „But first I’ll have to teach you a lesson for what you did today“ he grabbed your waist and pulled you closer to him. Out of instinct you put your hands up and on his chest. You were so close you could feel the warmness coming from his body. You knew you couldn’t resist him forever, especially not if he was this close. You looked down at his shirt, hands carefully moving to it’s buttons opening them one by one. Shanks watched you unbutton his shirt while his hand moved under yours caressing your stomach, making you twitch and gasp at the ticklish feeling. Once you were done he let you remove the shirt from him. „Now take your clothes off“ he commanded as he let go of you. „Make me“ you teased not sure if that was a good idea (given your streak of bad ideas it probably wasn’t). „I thought you wanted to teach me a lesson“you continued feeling as cocky as you did when you fought the towns people. But when you looked into his eyes you immediately started to regret saying that. They were full of mischief and his smile was devilish. You didn’t have time to react when he launched forward grabbing your hair and pushing you onto the bed behind him. „I wanted to go easy on you but i feel like you need someone to put you in place right now“ he hissed, as you tried to wriggle away. „Where do you think you’re going.“ He teased as he grabbed your ankle pulling you closer to the edge of the bed. He unbuckled his belt and got on top of you. „Keep in mind that everything happening now is your own fault“ he growled as he ripped your clothes from you. In an instant you were completely naked underneath the yonko. The sudden air on your exposed skin made you gasp. He leaned closer kissing around your breast while his hand moved on your inner thigh drawing circles getting closer and closer to your private part. You let out a moan as he bit down on one of your nipples, feeling a smile spread on his face. „You will be sorry after I’m done with you. Now let me hear you scream my name little lady“ he said as he kissed a way up to your face until his lips brushed yours as his hand finally made contact with your center. He got you so riled up but then denied you and that went on for some time till you were a begging and pleading mess. After Shanks thought that you’ve learned your lesson he made you cum over and over again. Needless to say that his name was heard all over the ship. As you went from one high to another you thought that maybe the decisions you made today weren’t that bad after all.

[writingroom21]

Sweet Escape

Pairing: Rafe x single mom reader

Summary: Moving to Kildare with your best friend and daughter was the perfect move. The little island is perfect, the people are nice, and you are finally at peace. Then Rafe comes in with his perfect smile and charm, sweeping you off your feet. The only issue is if you are ready to let someone else in.

Warnings: none

Wc: 6.8K

Masterlist

Chapter 10: Happy Halloween

“Oh come on Peach. Just let it go.” The chubby puppy keeps tugging at the pair of pants. Vi sits there laughing from the bed as you lay next to her watching the scene unfold.

Rafe was trying to pack his bags to spend the weekend at your house. Wheezie jumped at the opportunity to watch the cute puppy which was nice. As much as you’ve grown to like the dog over the past week, you don’t think she should be at the house. June has been slowly moving back into the house. Jo switched rooms since she felt bad having her grandma live in a different house.

If you had Peach at the house it might be a bit chaotic for June. Well at least that’s what you told Rafe. The real reason is you never had a pet growing up. You don’t think you can even keep an animal alive if you had too. Plus you are all going trick or treating so a puppy by themselves is not ideal. Now that you are thinking about it, Wheezie is coming too so good luck to them.

The chubby ball you call a puppy finally let’s go. Rafe stumbles a bit, standing tall as he gains his balance. “Jesus Peach. At least you didn’t rip them.” He finishes packing his bags as you and Vi play with Peach. She’s very energetic which is perfect because she tires Vi out easily. The two of them run around Rafe’s room and you sit there watching them. 

“I know I said no at first but thank you. Peach is a good addition to the family.” Rafe doesn’t say anything, he just looks at you. Turning to look at him you give him a puzzling look. Usually he won’t stop talking your ear off, which you love. But right now he’s just sitting on his bed staring at you. “You okay space boy?” A smile spreads across his face. Sliding off the bed, he sits down next to you pulling you into his side. 

“I’m good. Just really love the two of you.” You blush hard at his words. Recently Rafe has been more open about saying how much he loves you and Vi. To be fair you think Vi calling him dad really unlocked a part of him he kept hidden. It was like a switch happened and he became more affectionate. He even became more affectionate to Sarah and Rose. With Wheezie he was always really close to her but he really opened up to the rest of his family.

It was nice to see them all getting along. Rose even started family game night on Fridays. Game night has only happened once so far but it was fun. You got to meet John B again and really get to know him. Him and Sarah seem to be really in love. Rafe even invited John B to trick or treating. A really big step for him that almost made Sarah cry. It just feels like you are finally getting a family unit that you never had.

“We really love you too. Now hurry up, it's getting late and Vi needs to go to bed.” He groans and gets up to finish packing the rest of his things. “Before we head over to the court house tomorrow I just need to let Peach out. Rose is still scared of her so I gotta do it.” You giggle at the memory of Rose’s horrified face when you all come home with the puppy. She’s never had a pet before and she never planned on it. So it was a big shock to have a dog in the house.

“That’s fine. Do you think she could watch Vi? Jo needs to get some work done and I feel bad leaving her with June.” Sharp nails dig into your calves. Peach jumps on you wanting you to give her some attention. Bending down you give her belly scratches as Rafe grabs his things. “You just made her day and she doesn’t even know yet. She’s been dying to watch Vi.” Smiling, you follow him out of the room, scooping up Vi. She waves at Peach as the chubby puppy attempts to run after the three of you.

“Bye-bye peachy.” Vi laughs out as the puppy lets out little barks. Wheezie walks down the stairs stopping at the bottom to pick Peach up. “You’re leaving already?” She bounces Peach like she was a real baby. “Yeah it’s late and someone needs to get to bed.” Her eyes focus on Violet whose eyes are fighting to stay open. Wheeze giggles and gives you a hug goodbye before retreating to her room again.

On the car ride home Vi falls asleep. Meaning you had to be extra careful when getting her inside. If she wakes up now then there’s a small chance of her going back to sleep. Luckily she was out like a light and slept through you changing her into pj’s. Which was good because you were exhausted and needed your rest for tomorrow. The last thing you want is to face Theo’s parents with little sleep.

Which is exactly what happened.

You couldn’t sleep at all. Rafe’s soft snores were like little alarms telling you what is going to happen in the morning. Eventually you were able to fall asleep but only for a few hours. Just when you got to deep sleep, your alarm went off. You had to get up and get Vi ready then yourself. You felt like a zombie as you went through the motions in the morning. 

You fell asleep on the car ride to Tanny Hill. Rafe chatted to Vi soothing you to sleep as the car rocked on the road. He left you in the truck with the window cracked as he brought Vi in and let Peach out. As the puppy ran around the yard he woke you up. Groggily you unbuckle yourself and make your way into the house. “Then we can have a tea party where we dress up. We are going to have fun.”

You follow the sound of Rose’s voice to find them in the living room. She set it up to have a pillow fort and snacks on the coffee table. “Wow, looks like the two of you have a fun day ahead.” Rose smiles at you and puts Vi down to let her explore. She walks over to you and gives you a big hug. “Thank you for letting me watch her. We are going to have a great time.”

Rose beams at you and you can’t help but to feel happy. She’s spoiled Vi endless since you and Rafe really became official. It’s like she’s taking the opportunity to have a good relationship with at least one member of the family. Rafe’s told you countless times how he and his siblings never really liked her. That she was just there because she was married to their dad.

It’s different now since they view her like family. When she didn’t leave after their dad died, they realized she did actually care. Their relationship may never be the one she wanted but at least she has a chance with Vi. It warms your heart that she gets that chance and Vi has another grandma figure to look up to. Not to mention you have gotten close to Rose.

“Alright time to go.” Rafe claps his hands as he enters the living room. Peach runs in after him, practically tackling down Vi in the process. Rose winces as she tries to separate the two. “Rafe, why don’t you put her upstairs until Wheeze gets here.” He sends you a ‘I told you so’ look before calling the puppy over to him. As he’s walking out of the room, Vi whines calling out for Peach.

Seeing the distress of the toddler Rose caves in. “The dog can stay. But I swear if she ruins something you’re going to replace it.” Rafe puts her down and ushers you out the room. “Promise I’ll pay for it.” He yells as you enter the front hall. In the truck he takes a moment to look at you. “I’m not replacing her ugly things. You’re gonna have to break the news to her if Peach destroys something.” 

You try to argue with him as he drives off but it doesn’t work. He keeps saying how she loves you and will take the news better. That if he did it she’d think he hates all her decor. Which you argued that he does so therefore he should be the one to tell her. You two went back and forth the whole drive until you were parked outside the courthouse. “Before we go in I need to just say something.” He gives you his attention worried by the sound of your voice. “Stop being a pussy and tell Rose you want to redecorate.” 

You get out of the truck giggling to yourself. “So not cool dude.” He jogs up to you and wraps an arm around your shoulder. When you walk in you see Diane is standing to the side on the phone. She waves you over and explains that Theo’s parents are going on the stand today. You can see them off to the side, chatting in a group. You make eye contact with Victoria, his mother.

She looks the same as you saw her last. Her eyes narrow at you, sizing you up. The stare is intense, making a shiver run down your spine. You try to ignore her as you chat with Diane about how she thinks today is going to run. After a few minutes it was time to go into court and you settled into your bench. Judge Argent walks in and says his little speech that he always does. “Alright Mr. Campbell, the floor is yours. You may call your first witness.”

Theo’s lawyer stands up looking smug as he shoots over a look. “I’d like to call Victoria Wixx as my first witness.” There’s a brief moment when she’s taking the stand where you get nervous. She’s always gotten what she’s wanted in life. Maybe she’d be able to persuade everyone to think Theo is telling the truth.

Victoria goes through the motion of swearing not to lie on the stand. Mr. Campbell takes a moment to let her settle in before starting his questioning. “Mrs. Wixx can you tell us how you know the plaintiff.” She smiles over at Theo and turns her attention back to everyone else. “Theodore is my son.” Mr. Campbell nods his head. “And the defendant?” 

The look on her face falls. It was like a different person was sitting there. “The defendant used to date my son in highschool.” The reminder that you considered her son as a boyfriend is revolting. “You don’t seem pleased by that statement. Did you not like the fact they were dating?” Victoria puts on a soft disappointed look as she gathers her thoughts. “At first I was very happy. My husband and I were friends with her parents. When they got together it just seemed right.”

She’s playing the act of a thoughtful mother who cares about her kid. If only they really knew they used to let him do whatever he wanted. As long as he never got in trouble or made them look bad he could do whatever he wanted.  He could probably kill someone and they would cover it up for him. 

“Over time Theodore would tell me concerning things. I just became really worried for him but more importantly worried about her.” You sit up straighter. What the hell is she talking about? Diane sends over a look to you, shaking her head. “Could you elaborate on these concerning behaviors?” Victoria nods her head, giving a pitiful sight as she continues. “It started with her needing to always check his phone. Theo had to share his location after they had a fight about him being out with friends.”

Mr. Campbell stops in his tracks. “So you would say that the defendant was controlling.” Diane stood up. “Objection, Mr. Campbell is leading to an answer.” He tries to argue but Judge Argent bangs his gavel. “Order in my court. Mr. Campbell I advise you to ask your question differently.” Diane sits next to you huffing and crossing her arms. “Don’t worry they don’t have any proof for any of this.” She whispers to you.

It does nothing to calm your nerves but at least she’s confident. “My apologies. Mrs. Wixx, how would you describe their relationship?” There’s a moment before she speaks where she meets your gaze. “Like the young kids say, it was toxic. She was always accusing him of cheating. Which escalated to her stalking him when they weren’t together. My husband and I were honestly scared for his safety.”

Judge Argent leans closer listening to what she has to say. “Wow I can’t imagine how scary that must have been.” He shoots you a look before circling back to the stand. “How did you manage this?” He blocks your view of her but you still know how she looks. You’ve seen the face she pulls when trying to gain sympathy. “We advised him to break up with her. We were glad when he called things off and went to college.”

You scoff which thankfully no one heard. “You mentioned the breakup. What caused it?” It was you telling him about the pregnancy. “She followed him to our family’s house. She was convinced he was cheating on her after he said he was visiting my mother. It was a whole scene. My poor mother was in so much distress over the whole thing.” 

What a load of bullshit. He had invited you to the vacation home which he forgot. Then he brought over another girl and I caught them. The sad thing is you still tried to forgive him and explained you were pregnant. That was what caused the break up. He didn’t want to be a dad so he broke up with you.

“He broke up with her on the spot. My brother had to escort her off the property because she kept threatening to kill herself.” Your breath hitches. What? “I’m sorry Mrs. Wixx did you just say the defendant threatened to kill herself? In what context?” All eyes turn to you. A burning sensation builds behind your eyes and the back of your throat.

You can feel Rafe’s eyes burrowing into the side of your head. He probably views you differently now. This is worse than you thought. You could handle their lies getting to everyone else because you would fight till your last breath for your daughter. But him buying into the lies isn’t something you can handle. 

“After he broke up with her, she said that she would kill herself. That if he leaves her then he’s the reason she’s dead. It was scary to see her like that. I know she’s attempted it before but hearing her plan it and blame him was frightening.” 

Diane’s hand grabs yours under the table giving it a squeeze. A tear follows down your cheek and you discreetly wipe it away. Rafe continues to stare at you but you try to ignore it. You can't break down right now. They won’t win this.

“I’m sorry for what you witnessed. It must have been hard seeing someone you cared about like that.” Yeah right, she never liked you. “It was hard especially due to how close we were with her parents. May they rest in peace.” Mr. Campbell walks back over to the table adjacent to yours. “Now that you mention Mr and Mrs. Dunn, how would you describe their relationship with the defendant?”

“They loved her a lot. It broke their heart when she ran away. When they found out about Violet they tried so hard to be a part of her life. But she wouldn’t let them and they sadly passed away before knowing their granddaughter.” 

It’s crazy how far from the truth she is. A hand finds your thigh causing you to be startled. You look over at Rafe and he sends you a soft smile. His thumb strokes your thigh over your pants to help calm your nerves. 

You still got him

“That is very unfortunate. How did you find out about your granddaughter?” Probably when their bitch of a son ran back home to them crying. “I heard it from Lily. She came crying to me after another failed attempt at reconnecting. I told Theodore right after and we’ve been trying to find them ever since.” Mr.Campbell shakes his head as he walks to the middle of the courtroom. “As you can see your honor it is in fact the defendant that was the abuser in this relationship. It also calls into question the defendant's mental health and if Violet is even safe.”

Violet not safe with you? That had to be the craziest thing you’ve ever heard. “I rest my case.” He walks back to his bench and sits down facing Theo. You can hear whispers coming from them but you can’t make it out. Diane gives your hand a squeeze before getting up.

“Mrs. Wixx, I have a simple question. When was the last time you saw the defendant?” She points back to you with her question. Victoria looks unamused with the question but still answers. “That day when Theo broke up with her.” Diane watches her for a moment. “You do know perjury can be fined up to five years. So I advise you to answer honestly.”

Victoria scoffs, rolling her eyes. “I know that’s why I am telling the truth.” Diane walks back over to you and sends you a wink. “So you did not see the defendant at her parents' funeral?” You sit up more, your hand finding Rafe’s. He gives you a squeeze having a feeling where this is going. “No, we couldn’t find her so she couldn’t be contacted.” Diane nods as she shuffles through the papers. 

She walks over to Judge Argent. “Permission to approach the bench?” He nods and waves her over holding a hand out to grab the document. The room is silent as he looks through the paper. “As you can see your honor, these documents prove my client was at the funeral.” She shoves the papers on Theo’s bench and turns back around. “The family lawyer had contacted my client a few days after the accident. Then meet with my client during and after the funeral.”

Your head turns to Rafe so quickly you were scared you might hurt yourself. He squeezes your hand leaning closer to you. 

“I advise you Mrs. Wixx to tell the truth.” Victoria looks over at her son. “I must have not seen her. It was a very hard time for my husband and I. We lost our best friends.” Judge Argent stares at her nodding for Diane to continue. “The documents also state how Mr and Mrs. Dunn disowned their daughter. Also states that the reason was due to her teen pregnancy.” Victoria shifts in her seat looking uncomfortable where this conversation is going.

“I talked to Lily practically everyday. She never told me any of that. I was told some sob story apparently.” Even when being caught in a lie she still defends it. “I would like to play the audio recording for evidence 13.” Victoria’s face scrunches with worry as her voice plays through the speakers.

“I can’t believe you even showed your face here. You were a disgrace to your family.” Her voice is sharp, venom dripping from each word. “They wanted me here. Their lawyer was the one who set it all up.” It’s weird hearing your own voice. You’ve always hated the sound of it in videos but this is worse. You sound scared. “Your parents didn’t want you in their life. You and that bastard of yours can disappear.” Theo’s dads words ring through your ears.

Rafe’s grip on your hands tightens as he tries to control his anger. “What is this? Turn this off right now.” Victoria tries to stand up but Judge Argent tells her to sit down. “Your honor.” Mr. Campbell tries to interject. “Order! There will be no interruptions during the recording. If so, I will hold you in contempt.” Everyone settles down and the recording picks up again.

“I just want to get through this. Leave me.” Victoria’s eye’s are glued to her hands as the recording continues. “You shouldn’t be here. The last thing we need is a reminder of why Theo left. You getting pregnant was the worst thing to happen.” Her voice rings loudly through the room. You can hear a sigh come from the side of you. Theo’s lawyer has his head bent down, shaking it side to side. “He’s doing better now without you. Even getting you pregnant could make him stay with you.”

“It was pathetic how long you stayed with him. He could do anything he wanted to you and you were too scared to leave.” Theo’s dad's words were like another nail to a coffin. Looks like their perfect lie was unraveling. “I’m going to my seat.” There’s a strain to your voice. Maybe it was the recording or the fact that you were trying not to cry. But you hated hearing it played back to you. “You better disappear after this. We don’t want either of you around.”

The recording stops and you can swear crickets can be heard. “I’m going to ask you again Mrs. Wixx. Did you see the defendant at the funeral.” Her eyes shoot up to Diane, a look of worry reflecting in her eyes. “I don’t remember. Like I said, it was a really hard time for me. I don’t remember this.” She’s trying to pretend to be innocent but it’s not working. “Was that your voice in the recording?” Victoria opens her mouth a few times but nothing really comes out.

“Yes but I don’t know how.” She looks around frantically acting as if this couldn’t be real. “Objection I call for this to be stricken from the record.” Mr. Campbell shouts out. “On what grounds?” He walks up to the stand placing his hands on his hips. “The witness never consented to this recording. It can not be held up in a courtroom.”

Diane hands over the last piece of paper she was holding. “Actually this recording took place in New York. One party has to consent to the recording for it to hold up. Since my client was a party to the recording and consent it can be used.” The two of them keep staring at each other ready for one of them to break. “I’m calling a recess and I will decide whether or not the recording can be used. We will reconvene in thirty minutes.”

Judge Argent stands up and rushes off with all the documents. Diane walks back to the bench and gives you a thumbs up. Mr. Campbell speeds over to his side grabbing his things then leaves. “Well I think that went well.” Diane grabs her phone, checking it as you still sit there. “How the hell did you manage to pull that off?” Rafe asks the question you are wondering. 

“I may have tricked him into thinking it would be a good idea for Theo’s parents to take the stand. Had a feeling they wouldn’t pass up the chance to lie.” You stand on shaky legs, still not really getting how good this was. You give her a hug, squeezing her tight to you. “Thank you.” It’s all you can really say. Nothing is coming to mind and nothing else seems right. “Just doing my job.”

The thirty minutes seemed like forever as you waited. When the judge finally came back you held your breath. “After reviewing everything the recording will hold up and so will the witness testimony. Mrs. Wixx does expect a hearing shortly for perjury while under oath. Mr. Campbell you may proceed with your next witness.” Victoria looks like she’s on the verge of tears. The view is oddly satisfying.

“Your honor, my next witness has decided not to give a testimony.” Judge Argent raises a brow before nodding. “That seems to be wise. Any other witness’ or evidence to bring forth.” Campbell clears his throat and steps in front of his bench. “I would like to read a note from my client. ‘I Theodore Wixx was not aware that my parents knew about Violet. They never mentioned a thing as well as pushed me to keep studying out of state. I do not agree with what my parents said or their actions.’ That’s all your honor.”

Argent calls an end to the session. You and Rafe walk out of the court house practically on a high. Sure Theo prolonged the trial by saying he didn’t know any of it but it doesn’t matter. The recording shows that he knew about the pregnancy and how he left because of it. The high didn’t last long because the truck won’t start up. Rafe tried jumping it and everything else he could think of but nothing. 

“Rose will be here in twenty. But she said we had to join them for ice cream.” You laugh then groan knowing she’s probably going to be hyper tonight. Which is a double whamming since tomorrow is Halloween. “Fine but she gets to handle her sugar rush tomorrow.” He smiles at the thought and grabs your hand. His thumb strokes yours as the two of you wait. “I think she’ll like that. She never really got that with us.”

Hearing him open up is still so new. Sure he’s always been open with you but this is him being raw. There’s little moments like these where he will randomly tell you something. Something so small or honest that makes you fall deeper.

“I think Vi likes it too. Since Lillian isn’t here at least she gets some type of grandmother.” Rafe stays quiet. Sometimes you think he’s remembering times with his mom. He refuses to talk about her, which you don’t mind. But deep down you know it hurts him. “Thank you.” You surprise him with the choice of words. “For?” He questions.

“For everything. Always being there for me. They way you love Vi and I. Mostly for being the dad she never got.” You swear you see tears well in his eyes but they don’t fall. “Thanks for letting me.” You see Roses car park in front of the courthouse. Nodding your head over, Rafe follows your gaze seeing the car. “Come on, I think there will be moose tracks ice cream in your future.

You follow him out of the car laughing as he chases you. He catches you just as you get to the car. “Mommy!” Vi sits in her car seat looking out the window to watch you too. “Hi daddy.” Steps on the stairs scares you and with a quick glance you see it’s Theo with Delia along with his parents. 

“Hey Vi fly ready to get ice cream!” Rafe opens the door for you as he talks to Vi. He gave her the nickname a few weeks back after you got a venus fly trap. You thought it would get rid of the shop's fly problem which it did. But it also has Vi in a trance as she will watch the thing to see when a fly will come. The nickname is funny but she loves it.

“Yes, chocolate.” Rafe gets in the back with her agreeing with the option. “With hot fudge.” he sends you a wink knowing he’ll have to deal with bed time tonight. From the side view mirror you can see Theo watching the car drive away. 

The rest of the night went as expected. Vi barely ate her dinner and she was off the walls. Rafe probably read Charlotte's Web for hours. Maybe this will make him see why she shouldn’t have that many sweets. Which is an impossible task since you are getting ready to go trick or treating.

“Ba ba.” Vi jumps around the room laughing as the tail of her costume drags behind her. You snatch her up taking the sheep costume off of her so you can sew the puffy tail back on. “Yeah ba ba little sheep. Now let me fix it.” She tries to fight you on it but loses. With a huff she walks over to Rafe who's putting on the last touches to his outfit.

“How’s that look Vi?” He points the bottom of the boot to her to showcase the writing. ANDY in bold letters is written on a child like handwriting but you think it’s actually his. “Good!” She shouts as puts on his vest that’s way too big. Vi walks around the room taking big steps and her hands on her hips with her chest out. “Maybe she should take my costume and I’ll go normal.”

Rafe has been fighting the idea of dressing up since you brought it up. He finally caved when Vi went up to him asking if he could be Woody. When you have an adorable three year old in your face giving you the puppy dog eyes it’s hard to resist. At least that’s what Rafe argued when he agreed. 

“Ha ha so funny. We both know you couldn’t pull the sheep look off.” You giggle as you hold up the tiny outfit. He nods in agreement carrying Vi over so she can put on the costume. “Fair enough wouldn’t be flattering for my figure.” You quickly change Vi and make sure it fits her properly. Next you look over your Bo Peep costume. Everything looks good so you grab your staff and usher the other two out. 

Everyone was already here but was waiting for the costume fix. “Alright we are all set.” The whole living room cheers as they grab their things. “Finally the metal is starting to dig into me.” Wheezie complains as the thin wire for her slinky costume pokes her. “Told you to put something over the ends.” Sarah retorts as she pulls cotton balls out of her bag. Her and John B are dressed up as Mr and Mrs. Potato head. A very cute idea.

“Come on, heard they give out full size candy bars.” Jo calls out. She looks funny yelling in her Jesse costume. You all start to follow her out of the house. “Dude you’re too old to get candy.” Topper jokes with her, making Kelce laugh next to him. Rafe had asked if they could come as they wanted to get to know you more. They’ve been really nice since you’ve met. Plus it’s nice knowing they want to do things that include Vi.

“They said something about being the fun uncles and that it can’t be John B. I don’t know, didn't really argue with them.”

They decided to stick with the theme, coming dressed as Buzz and Rex. June was going to join but once she realized how big the group was she backed down. Her excuse was she gets to still see Vi in her costume and that’s good enough for her. Plus now she doesn’t have to walk around to chase a toddler. To be fair you can’t blame her because Rafe is determined to go to all of the good houses.

As the group walks down the driveway a car door opens. Theo and Delia exit the car making their way over to all of you. Jo gets this stone cold look as she storms over to them. “Get out. You aren’t going to ruin this.” Delia looks back and forth not knowing really what to do. She clings onto Theo’s arm but he shakes it off. “Wow, still the same crazy Josephine. I’m here to be with my daughter.” 

Jo scoffs at him. “Sure just years later after you got a fiance who you want to look good for.” His face gets red, taking a step forward he tries to loom over her. “Careful wouldn’t want a repeat of bowling night.” You were just about to walk over to them but his words stopped you. Jo had the same reaction as you both stare at him.

The last time you had gone bowling was at the end of high school. You, Jo, Theo, and other friends had gone out bowling. Earlier in the day you had gotten into a fight with Theo once again about his cheating. The fight continued to bowling night and Jo got involved. A lot was said in the parking lot setting the whole mood for the night. Which was made even worse when a bowling ball fell on Jo’s foot. 

She was standing by the line up of balls when one of them fell off the stand. It was scary seeing her screaming in pain and watching as Theo tried to remove the ball from her. Now that you are thinking about it he was the only one next to her. He was on the other side finding a ball to use. With the way he mentioned the night it doesn’t seem like an accident.

“Come on man, don't make a scene.” Rafe steps in moving Jo to the side. “Let’s not ruin this night for Vi. I’m sure she’d like the extra company.” You honestly can’t believe what you are watching right now. Rafe is being kind to Theo? Well sort of. Theo looks him up and down. “Sounds good.” Everyone stares at him and Delia as you all walk over to the first house. 

“Trick or treat!” Vi’s little voice shouts as the older lady opens the door. “Awww aren’t you just so cute.” She places a few pieces of candy into Vi’s little basket which goes with your costume. You thought it would be best if you carried all of it. The lady looks over everyone’s costumes and swoons. “Oh my goodness you all look amazing. You must be very loved.” She coos down at Vi.

Vi waves goodbye as you take the basket then her hand. On instinct she grabs Rafe’s, swinging her hands back and forth. About ten minutes later the houses on the block were checked off. The group makes their way to the next street over. Kids ran from house to house getting candy that could fuel them for years. Vi held yours and Rafe’s hand jumping as you walked. “Pst.” You look over at Rafe as he wiggles Vi’s arm at you. 

It took a moment but you finally caught on. When she went to jump next the both of you pulled her arms up so it was like she was flying. She lets out a big laugh, kicking her feet in the air. At the next few houses she gets full sized candy bars meaning the adults got some of the mini sized ones. It was a fair trade so she wasn’t getting too much sugar. “Where’s your costume?” 

You turn around to see a little boy staring up at Theo. “Daniel.” Her mother warns him as she ushers him away with an apology. Theo’s nostrils flare but otherwise he stays composed. There was this house you saw a couple days ago that was decked out for halloween. They had inflatable characters and a bunch of lights. Rafe decided that was the perfect way to end the night. Vi would get to be out for a while and get good candy. Plus she’ll be asleep just past her bed time meaning her whole schedule isn’t as messed up. 

If you’re being honest it was a really good plan. As you get closer, Vi's eyes light up. “Daddy look.” She pulls Rafe’s hand harder as she uses her other one to point to the house. WIth all her excitement, you mean candy, she tries to run to the house. Rafe jogs up to her, chasing her to the house. You take a moment to look at the group. Kelce is watching as Topper fails to flirt with Jo. Sarah and Wheezie are in a debate while John B just listens.

Then there’s the two in the back.

Delia looks around at all the kids and Theo just looks bored. It looks like he would rather be anywhere else than here. You catch up to Rafe and Vi just as the old man opens the door. “Oh that’s the cutest sheep if I’ve ever seen one.” He gives her three candy bars, sending you a wink as he stands up. “Sorry sweetie but the sheep is hard to say no to. I think you can handle the sugar rush.” You laugh as you take the basket from the tired little girl. 

“Don’t worry most of this candy is already waiting for your stomachs.” You point to the group behind you that is just waiting till you get home. “Ha I can imagine. Have a great night and you keep them safe Woody.” He jokingly points at Rafe. Vi jumps at the fact she recognized the costume. “Trust me I will.” The three of you walk over to everyone calling it a night. One the walk back to the house the three year old got really tired. 

Rafe Carried her the whole way home which got some comments from fellow moms. Mostly about how hot Rafe looked carrying a kid. But some mention how you looked good as a family. You can tell he heard them because he pulled you into his side, kissing the top of your head right after. Safe to say the night was a success.

“Thank god. This suit was rubbing all the wrong places. I need out.” Kelce exclaims as the house comes into view. He rushes inside to change and Topper follows him in. Slowly everyone makes their way in but two people. Rafe said he was putting Vi to bed so you snuck off back outside.

Theo was just about to get into the car when you called out. “Do you want to say goodbye to her?” You don’t know why you asked. Probably a last attempt to give him a chance. Stupid but you can’t explain why you did it. “Why? Looks like she’s fine in your little family.” You roll your eyes remembering why you don’t try with him. “Don’t roll your eyes, it makes you look stupid. A family costume with him was not cool. She fucking calls him dad but refuse to call me that.”

“And whose fault is that?” He stays silent staring at you for a moment. “Soon enough you’ll run out of money for that fancy lawyer. All I have to do is wait you out.” He turns around and opens the car door, driving off before you could say anything back. You walk back into the house seeing Jo distributing the candy. They all stop and watch you, looking at the table and then you again. “Just leave me some Twix and I’ll be good.” 

Rafe comes back and you all eat some of the chocolates. “Think our parents snuck out candy when we were younger?” Topper asks. Jo and John B were the only ones who said yes which seems accurate. After another thirty minutes everyone left. Jo went to bed leaving you and Rafe alone. 

“You look good in that dress.” Rafe’s lounging on the love seat looking at you. Smiling, you walk over to him and pick up the dress so you can straddle his lap. “Yeah?” He pulls you into a kiss which quickly turns into the two of you making out. His hand found your hips pulling you back and forth on his lap. You lean back smirking down at him. 

He watches as you move over the couch and back to your original spot. The cowboy hat he was wearing earlier comes into view as you place it on your head. His hands reach up unlacing the ties at the front of your dress making it loose. Cocking his head to the side he matches your smirk. “You know what they say about wearing a cowboy’s hat right darling.” 

He presses kisses to your upper breast making his way over to your neck. “Hmm what do they say?” He playfully bites your neck, positioning his hands on your ass so he can easily get up. “Now I’ve been trying to be a gentleman but you’re making it very hard to behave.” You giggle at his commitment to the bit. “Don’t need you to behave. Now why don’t you show me how much you like this dress.”

“Oh darling I hope you don’t have plans tomorrow. I have plans on not making you able to walk.”

Taglist: @haruvalentine4321@namelesslosers@ijustwanttoreadlols@drewsphswife@corpsebridenightamare@actorslover@juniperbaies@fionaswifeyy@dark1paradise@stoned-writer@notafairyteen@theoraekenslover@rafedaddy01@rrafeswhore@10ava01 @selfcontollover07@akobx @rafesbabygirlx let me know if you want to be added

[babydollmarauders]

MEDIA MANAGEMENT: BIRTHDAY EDITION — JACK HUGHES

part of the off-season editions!

notes: i know i’m not even caught up on the games yet! i am SO sorry! i’m gonna try posting a couple tomorrow! the hardest part has been finding the time to rewatch the games and take screenshots but i’m gonna try and do a few games tonight so that i can write tomorrow!

another note: i fried by brain with all the writing i’ve done today, so this isn’t nearly as fun and chaotic as i had hoped it would be when i first decided to write it :(

y/ndevils00

liked by jackhughes, nicohischier, and 144,952 others

y/ndevils00 HAPPY TAYLOR SWIFT BIRTHDAY TO THE SEXIEST MOTHERFUCKER TO EVER HAVE LIVED!!

my shoe matching, bags holding, 99 point scoring, hair cut needing, tooth losing, sebastian aho fighting, personal carrier! this kind, wise (but not smart), funny, handsome boy is 22 today!

jacky, you make me the happiest girl in the world every day, so i hope i can return the favor for at least this one specific day. thank you for being my best friend and the best cat dad! i’m so glad we had each other to lean on in our first year with the devils, and i’m so happy that you decided you liked me enough to keep me around.

we’ve had ups and downs, i’ve comforted you through losses, celebrated with you for wins, but i remain true to the fact that MY biggest win has been landing you.

i love you to pluto and wish you only the best in life, bubs. happy birthday <3

p.s. i hope you’re not already sick of hearing 22 (tv), cause it’ll be on all day! even during sexy times!

tagged jackhughes

jackhughes thank you sweet girl ❤️ i love you to pluto! i’m so grateful for you.

jackhughes however, i am gonna need you to stop calling getting ready for bed, “sexy times” and putting it on the internet where my mother can see it. she’s gonna think you’re talking about something else

y/ndevils00 your mother loves me, i can do whatever i want

elblue6 i love her and she can do whatever she wants!

jackhughes it’s my birthday and i’m feeling really attacked

trevorzegras you brought this on yourself dude

john.marino97 i thought i was the sexiest motherfucker to have ever lived?!

y/ndevils00 shhh jojo! i promise you are every other day of the year!

dawson1417 now hold on- you told me i was the sexiest motherfucker to have ever lived!

nicohischier she told me the same thing!

john.marino97 @/y/ndevils00 do you have anything to say for yourself?!

y/ndevils00 i fear i have been caught… 🏃‍♀️

john.marino97 happy birthday hughesy!

jackhughes thanks maraschino cherry!

john.marino97 not you too!

dawson1417 happy 22, man! been a pleasure playing with you! thanks for sharing your time with y/n with us!

jackhughes thanks man! you too! although i’ve had no choice in that last thing. i’d like my gf back!

dawson1417 i can’t do that.

nicohischier happy birthday jack! i’ve loved having you as alternate captain! can’t wait for next season!

jackhughes thank you cap! can’t wait to go even farther next season!

lhughes_06 happy birthday to the best middle hughes brother!

jackhughes i’m the only middle hughes brother? but thanks?

lhughes_06 yeah!

elblue6 happy 22nd birthday to my middle baby! i love you honey!

jackhughes thanks mom, i love you too! and happy mother’s day!

_quinnhughes happy bday little bro! hope you have a great day!

jackhughes thanks bro!

subbanator happy birthday lil jizzy! see you tonight, man!

jackhughes thanks man! we’re gonna have great night, eh?

y/ndevils00 what is this i hear of going out tonight? why do i find out you’re abandoning me, ON MY OWN POST?

subbanator @/y/ndevils00 sorry female jizzy! gotta take the man out!

y/ndevils00 did i just get called “female jizzy”? jackson, get this man off my post. i’m mad at you both @/jackhughes

jackhughes @/y/ndevils00 yes ma’am

y/ndevils00 @/jackhughes ….

jackhughes @/y/ndevils00 still no.

dougieham happy birthday to y/n’s other half! i think i’ve met you once or twice

jackhughes thanks dougs!

trevorzegras HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUGHESY! 22! LET’S PARTY TONIGHT!

y/ndevils00 YOU’RE going too?! what is this, not invite y/n night?!

trevorzegras it’s not that you weren’t invited, it’s just…

y/ndevils00 it’s just what?!

trevorzegras i got nothing. sorry, i thought i would come up with something

jackhughes thanks z!

jackhughes @/y/ndevils00 you ARE invited babe. i told you about it last night!

y/ndevils00 @/jackhughes oh- it was 1am and you kept saying “tomorrow” so i thought you were talking about plans for tomorrow night

jackhughes @/y/ndevils00 WHO talks about plans at 1am and refers to it as “today”?!

y/ndevils00 @/jackhughes me 🧍‍♀️ so watch your tone toothless

lhughes_06 @/jackhughes HA! SHE GOT YOU!

[silvergarnet12]

Splatoon was the first Nintendo game to push me out of my comfort zone of single player games, and with the closure of it's servers I wanted to draw a tribute to a game that really means a lot to me.

Some long rambles about the game under the cut.

When I first played the Global Testfire I was 15, and the only mutliplayer games I played were with friends in the same room.

Splatoon was also the first shooter I ever picked up, as I always liked bright colours over more realistic graphics in my games, and back then the only shooters I knew about were Halo(and that was only really a name to me!) and the CoD games.

Any worries I had about being bad quickly vanished as the sheer vibe of chaotic fun the game had, particularly when no one had played it before, got rid of any worries, and all I remember is having fun. And choosing to play as the guy instead of the girl for the first time, solely becuase I wanted a ponytail like in real life(I would continue to use the guy through the series as a tradition, a contrast to what I saw most people online doing).

When the game came out I binged the single player, and vividly remember the first time I fought DJ Octavio, and the first time I heard Calamari Inkantation. If ever a game was to convince me that a song could irreversibly change your life, it was Splatoon. Because to teenage me, in that moment, with Calamari Inkantation playing in the background while I fought an octupus DJ, it did.

It gave me terminal brainworms for this series. And here I am, 8 yrs later. Older and more tired, been through some shit, had some good times, tried, succeeded and failed in things throughout the years.

I've always been grateful that they made the decision for the player character from 1 to return, everytime they've shown up it's felt a bit like seeing an old friend, especially since as the games time skips have always had them close to my age(which probably helped my attachement back in the first game). So hi Three, can't believe we both probably pay taxes now.

I have the original two Inkling Amiibos, in a collection that is slowly building, I'm still attached to Marie, and yes I was on her team for the Final Splatfest.

I cried when it was over, just like I did in 2's Final Fest(I was team chaos, two for two baby!) and will probably do so for 3's as well. Something about this series just makes me super attached to it's world and characters.

So booyah Splatoon, my final online game of yours was well and truly years ago, but I replayed story mode to share you with a friend recently, and I think I'll refight Octavio tonight in honour of the good times.

You encouraged me to try out games I wouldn't have otherwise(hello Overwatch and Deep Rock Galactic), and outlasted one of the other major games of my teenage years(...Overwatch 1 I miss you). So thank you for that.

I'll miss Squid Jump, Inkstrike, the og kit for the NZap 89(why does it's new one not vibe with me ;-;), the Squid Sister's broadcasts and the more saturated colours. At least I can always return to the Plaza in 3, and that Spyke isn't dead like I was concerned he was when 3 released, and see the Squid Sisters perform during Splatfests again.

I have so much more to say in my heart about you but no more ways to word it.

You've been a fantastic game, and will always be a treasured experience that I am grateful to have been a apart of from the very beginning.

Now bring back Moray Towers in 3 damn it! It's in 2 but I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY FAVOURITE STAGE IF IT"S NOT IN 4.

[monoclesnapple]

Streamer!Chuuya

Bungo Stray Dogs Chuuya Nakahara X Gender Neutral Reader Beginning Note: The stream clips are taken from RussainBadger on YouTube, he's really entertaining. Hint of Rockstar!Chuuya. Word Count: 1096 (Fluff/Little crack)

Of course, he’s very popular by the time he’s 22. All those streams about the new and trending topics eventually led to his popularity. Also the fact that he’s a rockstar, so that helped.

But back when he was 15, he didn’t have that reputation of a singer, and he started his streaming first before moving to a new occupation, but still maintaining the previous one.

He had very few viewers, and he was kinda cringe. But at least you were there! 

(Background information now) You had befriended him in your freshman year of high school along with a guy named Dazai. The three of you had a lot of fun, the two guys always being chaotic and yelling at each other while you tried to calm them down.

Although you kinda got in trouble often, you still continued being stupid. You’ll grow out of it! (Debatable)

Chuuya had at some point expressed his goals of being a streamer or singer, so you and Dazai encouraged him to start with the former, so he did.

Initially, he did gameplays with commentary, but those games were first person shooters or anything online that included fighting in a team against another. Simply put, he raged a lot.

And now in the present, he still does, but it’s gotten a little more expressive since he doesn’t have anyone to scold him about what he’s saying aside from you.

He has a variety of content on his page now, like gameplays (still), just talking, random challenges, IRL streaming, etc. The different forms of entertainment really helps with maintaining his popularity.

Sometimes during streams, he would tell his viewers that he’s gonna do something for a minute until he returns. That minute is used to check on you.

“Are you hungry? We can order take out”, “You alright?”, “We can cuddle and watch a movie after I’m done”, all that is concluded with a kiss on your face.

You do like to mess with him sometimes. Sitting under his desk while he’s gaming and watching him (Just don’t screw his playthrough, he won’t talk to you for a while), going in his chat and sending a message (That shows up highlighted/on screen) about some chore he still has to do, and the like.

Anything harmless because you care about him and he appreciates that.

One time, you were making dinner and he suddenly started screaming loudly. You ensured the kitchen wouldn’t burn before knocking lightly on his door and asking if he was okay.

In response, he comes to the door and opens it a little. “Shit, sorry. Don’t worry, everything’s fine. I’ll make it up to you later,” and he takes your hand, placing a gentle kiss on it, then going back to his chair.

When he uploaded some clips of his stream to his channel on YouTube or the equivalent of the site, you saw that the reason for his scream was because he was arguing with a friend? And the microphone couldn’t capture the high volume so the yell came out quieter than it really was and the mic just cut off.

Another time, he was talking with his friends about something that had happened, and Dazai (who was playing with him, of course) just muted Chuuya’s mic midsentence. After that he went offline, ended the stream, and went to your shared bedroom to cuddle with you, pout on his face. He recounted what happened and you chuckled lightly, embracing him.

Eventually, his old streams from when he was in high school were found (He deleted the clips after saving them on a drive because they were precious memories) and uploaded.

The video included the time where he was playing a multiplayer game (Just Call of Duty, really) and there was an after death mic that allowed the dead player to say something for a second to their killer before respawning. The things he said included, “You’re so mean!”, “Hahah, pendejo!” (asshole in Spanish), “I don’t even wanna play anymore” (In a whiny voice. He said that to you and Dazai, but the mic was on.)

He barked at someone in the game results screen

At the discovery of his old streams, Chuuya panicked before laughing at them. Sure, they were embarrassing, but the comments loved it. He decided to upload the rest of his saved ones so everyone can enjoy them.

Akutagawa, his friend, sometimes play with Chuuya’s group, and when the former plays and does well, Chuuya just yells out “That’s my boy! THAT’S MY BOY! GAHDAM-” and he’s cut off. He’s a huge supporter for Aku and will cheer him on whenever he plays.

After his streams, Chuuya goes to spend time with you. It’s always wholesome and you both would never trade it for anything in the world. You scratch at his scalp while he buries his face in your chest, complaining about Dazai bullying him, or how he was getting dominated by the other players. He always has fun things to tell to you.

What you always love is that while on stream, he seems tough, loud, and in general very entertaining. But when he’s alone with you, no cameras or anything, he’s so soft and cute. Just your cute little boyfriend.

Although he can catch you off guard with his loudness, he always apologizes and makes you forget it. Despite the two of you sharing the fact that you’re both in a relationship, there’s still people prying into his life, wanting to know more. Chuuya did say that it may be uncomfortable, but you still have a large support system consisting of his fans.

A couple of his streams include you. Mainly the IRL ones, but you sometimes join him in his games. The viewers love seeing you two together and always request for more of you.

Sometimes, he practices with his guitar on stream, playing any requests from viewers, and you’re off to the side and out of the camera’s view. If there’s ever a romantic song, he dedicates it to you. A lot of love songs are asked for.

Going back to streams with Aku, he once had a coughing fit while on mic, and someone rigged it to have a voice effect. His coughs were so screwed up, it just sounded like a weird echo into the abyss.

Overall, he’s very fun to be with. You’re blessed to be the one he trusts to show his soft side to. Anyone who’s able to be his friend at least is lucky to have that title (at least in the present time).

End Note: Here are the clips used

(Edit, here's the Aku inspired one)

[sapphirestones09]

AAAAAAA FINALLY! I'm done playing @oneknightstand-if. As part of the celebration, here is Rosie's colored sketch (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ Lol, this looks like an anime title card And thus! The Stats!

Blobbed: Yep (We are what now?)

Bold : 205 (Is this high lol?) Sweet : 46 Sassy : 159 Optimist : 76

Health : 85 Mark Status : Healed Merlin Healing : 2 Merlin Forced Healing : 0

Caution : 9 Will : 7 Cloudcuckoolanderness : 42 (Not enough, we gotta go full cray cray) Silent : 7 Curse Level : 4 Fear Level : 6 Corruption : -5 (Is this low enough?) Mute : false Mindcontrol : false

Downtime : Had Breakfast | Snarfed Sweets | Shower Accident |

Route : Went into Store & Fought | (What I gotta use the hunting knives as soon as possible in some way right?)

New Inventory : Hairdryer | Sweets | Shower Mat | Everclear Alcohol (Molotov! Molotov! Molotov!) They Know : false | It Sees : Masked | You Replied False Some stats are missing when I scroll from the past posts in the forum. Such as Crazy Theory, Crazy Theory Level, Pottymouth, Serenades, Interpretative Dance, and a deep dive into the Adrian and Merlin's relationship stats (I WANT TO SEE HOW MANY TIMES I FLIRTED GODAMMIT!). I wonder if I can access it (╥ω╥) About Rosie!

You are currently known as Rosaline (Rosie) Bane a seemingly normal female wildlife biologist. You have red eyes, very long flowing icy blond hair, and a short and petite figure clad in a red cape with an amaranth face mask. People tend to take particular notice of your hair. At first glance, people tend to find you not very intimidating.

You excel at sword fighting, gardening, and having a magnetic personality. Meanwhile, you've got a weakness for prescription medications and enclosed spaces, as well as having anger management issues.

You have an ear piercing. You also have a couple of scars along your neck and wrist.

A tragic accident that claimed your whole family lies in your past and the fate of your future remains murky with the apocalypse ever looming in the background. At least no one has suspected that you are actually a serial killer.

Your final words were "And now for a final word from our sponsor—"

Note! I didnt know I could play something as chaotic and as fun as this game provided me. Its super fun and enjoyable and yet amidst the chaos I loved the characters that was shown and grown to get attached to them to a degree. Both Merlin and Adrian are mysterious and enigmatic in their own ways that makes me look forward to the story and how it progresses towards their character. Also seeing Adrian being exasperated over Cloudcuckolander MC's antics tickles my funny bones more than I can admit. I admit I was reluctant to get into the game seeing as its such a huge one, but after playing all I can say is MOAR! I NEED MOAARRRR! AND PLEASE AUTHOR TELL ME HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY PASS THE STAT CHECK FOR MOONWALKING ON THE FENCING ROUTE! I NEED TO MOONWALK! I NEED THESE PEOPLE TO CLAP FOR ME! And please can we apologize to Adrian for punching him? (っ˘̩╭╮˘̩)っ I know in the grand scheme of things, Adrian forgives us already but we still wanna apologize (ಡ‸ಡ) And oh boy, I think Im gonna draw lots and lots of fanarts now... Skill Stats!

Personality Stats!

Can we still claim to be a newbie after Merlin's extensive lore dump on us? Relationship Stats!

Inventory!

Your ultimate weapon is unknown.

You are currently armed with... nothing, at least as far as you know.

Cold Steel SRK survival knife

You also have on hand...

E-phone 7XL

several small bottles of prescription medications

photo of your family

Killer McKiller Face's favorite stuffed animal (Rip our micro pig (ಥ﹏ಥ))

well-worn Bible (To ward off evil of course!)

mystical Magic 8-Ball (Another holy item! I sure hope it does not contain anything otherworldly that will potentially endanger us and others ha.ha.ha (→_→)

small herb garden of eclectic plants including a mutant Venus Flytrap (The only queen Rosie will ever potentially bow to!)

collection of various survival & hunting knives

small bag of iridescent pearls

bottle of 95% alcohol Everclear (Molotov! Molotov! Molotov ⸜(*ˊᗜˋ*)⸝)

slightly squished pastry (I KNOW MY PRIORITIES! AND ITS SWEETS!)

[crippling-pages]

random kotlc headcanons :p

*clears throat* *puts fancy suit on* *pulls out whiteboard* @swans-chirping-in-the-distance you wanted headcanons, right? sooooooooo

Tam wears glasses, mainly to see things farther away better. He didn't know it until sometime during Flashback, he just thought everyone sees stuff that way. Tiergan helped him figure out that he needed them and helped get the perfect pair.

Biana buys Tam flower bouquets. He mentioned that he really liked flowers, and the next day she comes up to the door of Solreef, and blushing very, very hard, she gives Tam the bouquet. Linh had to spend a full 15 minutes with a dazed Tam.

When Keefe comes back from the Forbidden Cities, he uses all these weird slang words. One time, he told Councilor Emery that "You have no rizz, man. If you wanna become the alpha, you need to up your aura."

Emery is scarred for life after that exchange.

Sophie is a Red stan. She doesn't listen to Taylor Swift often, but she is forever a fan of the album Red.

When Fitz was looking for Sophie, he found a video of one of those kids baking competitions, and he was just amazed. It's how he started to get into baking.

Tam and Dex have this amazing friendship no one really knows about. It's not like they kept it a secret, it's just no one really notices either of them.

Tam can be chaotic as heck when he wants to be. Most of the time, he's the quiet and chill yet quite comfortable introvert. Though if he's got the right energy, BOOM he's as crazy as the triplets with enough energy to make the world explode.

One time, Dex asked Tam to watch the triplets (feeling pretty bad because the triplets are you know, the triplets) for him and his parents because they all were out that day, and when he came back home, they were asleep. And they stayed asleep, for hours.

It was one of the best days ever in the Dizznee household.

The reason Tam got them to sleep was because his chaotic side clicked in. It was a hour and a half game of tag.

(It was only that one time though. Next time Tam babysat, the triplets were prepared).

Even after making up with Tam, Linh still didn't really trust Rayni. But for every little conversation they have, they both start to ease up on each other.

One morning, when everyone's up for breakfast, Linh comes down and Rayni grins and goes, "What's up, Water-Gir?" and everyone is doing a double take because Linh was gonna kill Rayni. But it gets worse when Linh replies, also grinning, with "Good morning, RayRay."

Everyone else almost had a heart attack because it seemed like yesterday they were about to kill each other.

At one point, Keefe cracks a joke about Tam having a crush on Rayni (before he knew about Tam and Biana already dating), and Tam says, "Okay, for one: She's like, 25 and I'm like 16, I think, so that's disgusting, and secondly: Rayni is old and ugly, and-"

But he doesn't get to finish because Rayni hears and runs downstairs, pissed and yelling "WHAT THE HECK TAM?! WELL, AT LEAST I DON'T USE THE OVERUSED SHADY AND EMO IMAGE" and then that gets Tam pissed, so then there's this whole argument that goes on for about 10 minutes.

Basically, Tam and Rayni are siblings. Rayni is the oldest sister, and Tam is the annoying little brother.

Marella and Tam have gossip sessions during lunch; they also just have this really great friendship. (And by friendship, I mean they each have blackmail on each other and are forced to interact so the other doesn't spill their secrets).

Keefoster and Tiana double dates :>

At Solreef, Tiergan has this huge library, filled with elven books and even human books.

Tam has read almost every book in there. His favorites are the fantasy books.

His favorite book series ever is Percy Jackson. He's read every single PJO book in the library.

When Sophie finds out, oh boy do they geek out about it.

Forkle set them up on a sleepover one time, because "You kids need to be kids" or something like that.

None of them expected to have much fun, but they did. They even made a plan that once a week, at someones house they'd meet up and have a sleepover or just have fun.

TA-DA!!!!!!! KOTLC HEADCANONS YAYYYYYYYYY!!! Most of the are about Tam but Tam's amazing so its fine <3

hope you enjoyed! <3