#tomorrow is our final wednesday where we get a hot drink and hang out in class and then watch something in discord in the afternoon

[endwalkr]

:[

[evermoreholland]

in harmony | tom holland

-> singer!reader x tom holland

-> summary: after a nasty break up, you go to london with your two best friends in hope to find inspiration for your upcoming album and a london boy soon became your muse.

-> word count: 5.7k

-> a/n: wow. this is probably my favorite fic of mine. i hope you all enjoy it as much as i do. big thank you to @rainbowrobin for hyping this fic up and being its biggest fan. also thank you to @cali-holland for beta reading this for me! your support means the world to me and you inspire me every day to keep writing. love you to bits <3

~~~

Breaking up with someone you used to care about was never easy. In fact, grieving and eventually getting over that person was the hardest thing to do. You were a singer so relationships that went public usually ended up terribly wrong. The good part about it is that you can write a hit song about the experience.

Breaking up with your past boyfriend was probably the worst experience for you thus far. You thought that he was the one, every move you made was for him and you ended up depending on him constantly. And he broke your heart. He played you like a fiddle and played with the strings of your heart. He cheated on you with someone you were insecure about the duration of your relationship with him, which made everything feel worse.

You decided that you needed a change of scenery in hopes to clear your head. You had been spending time in your Los Angeles apartment moping around, trying to get over your ex-boyfriend. You also had a deadline for your new album and you haven’t even started. Your album was due towards the end of the summer, and it was now spring.

You sat down on your sofa with a pen and notebook in your hand. You were determined to write something. You didn’t want to write songs about your breakup, but that was all you were thinking about. You saw your phone on the coffee table light up and buzz. It was your manager and agent, Cassandra. You picked up the phone nervously, knowing that she was going to ask about your progress or lack thereof.

“Hello?” You answered.

“Hello, Y/N,” Cassandra greeted sweetly. “How’s the album coming along? We need to start recording soon.”

“Funny you ask.” You always tried to make fun out of an uncomfortable situation.

“Y/N.”

“I’m sorry, Cass! I have no idea what I should be writing about for this album.” It’s not like you didn’t want to write. You did, but you had no idea what to write about.

“Maybe you need a change of scenery, dear. You haven’t been out in months,” Cassandra suggested.

“Maybe you’re right.”

“Where would you want to go? You can stay there for the rest of the spring and the beginning of the summer.”

You thought about it for a moment. You definitely wanted to leave the country.  “How does London sound, Cass?”

“Sounds nice. I’ll book you, Natalie, and Sarah tickets for this weekend and I’ll rent the three of you an Airbnb for your stay,” Cassandra confirmed. Natalie was your personal assistant and your best friend. Sarah was your older sister who traveled with you everywhere and she helped you with many of your songs. She was good to bounce ideas off of. You had the perfect team.

“Perfect. Thank you.” You both said your goodbyes and hung up.

***

Tom got off the airplane and sighed in relief. He was finally home. After many months of filming on another continent, he was back in London. Tom was ready to finally sleep in his own bed and hang out with his brothers and friends once again.

Harry and Tom took an Uber back to Tom’s apartment. It was fairly late and all Tom wanted to do was sleep. In the Uber, Tom and Harry made light conversation.

“You want to go to the new pub by our flat this weekend? Haz and Tuwaine want to hang out,” Harry asked.

“Sure,” Tom mumbled. To be quite honest, Tom had absolutely no desire to go out at all this weekend, but he knew that his mates wanted to see him. He did want to see them too, so he agreed.

“Sounds good.”

***

You packed your suitcases for London at the last minute. In your defense, Cassandra only booked Thursday night’s tickets on Wednesday, so you didn’t have that much time in the first place. You were planning on using your time in London to relax and to create a healthy headspace to write your next album.

You called Natalie to ask her opinion on some of your outfit choices. “Nat, am I going for a  casual look this trip? Like sweatpants and t-shirts?”

“Absolutely not, Y/N. Are you insane?!”

“It was just a question, Natalie.” You defended yourself. “What should I pack then?”

“I don’t know, just look hot. You need to get out of the post-breakup sweatpants phase.”

“Fine,” you grumbled. You grabbed some cute spring sundresses from your closet and threw them into your suitcase. You packed some jeans and blouses as well.

You hung up with Natalie and took a look at your bag. “Should be good.”

***

The flight to London from Los Angeles was long and exhausting. You arrived at Heathrow airport in the early afternoon on Friday. You immediately went to the house to rest up from jetlag. Once you woke up a few hours later, Sarah was pressuring you and Natalie to get dressed. “We’re going to the pub! Get up, ladies!”

“What? Why?” Natalie groaned. You and Natalie were laying on your beds in your shared room. Sarah jumped onto your bed and tackled you.

“Sarah, we’re exhausted,” you said. You pushed your sister off of you and sat up. “We can just go tomorrow.”

“It’s the pub’s grand opening! It’s supposed to be fire!”

“Fine,” you mumbled. You got up and began unpacking your suitcase. “But I refuse to wear heels.”

***

Harrison made his way to his best mate’s flat to pick him up for the Cheer Beers grand opening on Friday night. Harrison used his spare key to get into Tom’s place. “Tom,” Harrison called out. He made his way to Tom’s bedroom to make sure he was ready for the night.

“In my room!” Tom exclaimed. Tom sounded upset and agitated. Harrison entered his room anyway because he wanted to hang out with his best friend. He opened the door and noticed Tom laying his bed under the covers.

“Are you alright, mate?” Harrison asked. Harrison noticed Tom in his pajamas while in bed. “Why aren’t you ready to go? Harry already went out with Tuwaine to wait in line.”

“I want to hang out with you all, but I’m just so jetlagged, mate.”

Harrison took his phone out of his back pocket to check the time and noticed an Instagram notification from you. He opened it out of curiosity and it was a direct message. It said that you would be at Cheer Beers tonight with your friends and asked if he was going. Harrison and you had met at an award show a few months back and you became friends. “You know what I just found out, Tom?”

“What?”

“Y/N L/N is going to the grand opening tonight.”

“You’re lying just to get me out of bed!” Tom accused him. Tom didn’t want to admit it, but he fancied you. He has been following you on social media and listening to your music for a while now, so Harrison saying you were going to be at the pub caught his attention.

“I’m not.” Harrison showed Tom his phone with your direct message. “I had no idea she was in town, though.”

“No clue, either.”

“Now will you come?” Harrison asked. “I know you have a huge crush on her.”

Tom eyed him skeptically but then let out a sigh. “Fine, I’ll go.”

***

You waited in line outside of Cheer Beers with Sarah and Natalie. You were wearing a black sleeveless cocktail dress with black slip-on vans. You saw a few familiar faces approach you and you realized that it’s your friend Harrison and his mates. You recognized one of his friends to be Tom Holland.

“Hey, Haz!” You greeted. He pulled you into a hug and squeezed you tightly. You pulled away and said, “Following me, I see?”

“Very funny,” he replied. “We were coming to opening night anyway. We were planning this in honor of Tom’s return from filming.”

“Oh, that’s right,” you said and then turned to Tom. You put your hand out for him to shake. “I’m Y/N.”

He shook your hand and you felt his sweaty palm touch yours. You could assume that he was either unwell or nervous. “Tom. Nice to finally meet you.”

“Likewise.”

You introduced Natalie and Sarah to Harrison and he introduced the rest of his friends to the three of you.

“Would you like to share a table with us?” Harry, Tom’s younger brother, asked you.

“I’m sure that Y/N L/N would have much better opportunities than to sit with us, Harry,” Tom interjected.

“Actually, Tom, we would love to.” You all entered the pub and grabbed a table in the back room. Harrison sat between Sarah and Tuwaine. Harry sat by Natalie. You sat between Natalie and Tom, per Natalie’s whisper in your ear to go for it. You all got your first round of drinks.

“So what brings you to London?” Tom asked.

“Needed to clear my head,” you said and then ate the olives from your martini.

“So you flew halfway across the world?” Tom was amused and you could tell. He wasn’t trying to laugh at you particularly, he just thought it was funny that you chose London of all places.

“Shut up,” you teased. “We’re here for the summer. A vacation, or holiday, if you will.”

“Nice, nice.” You could feel the slight awkward tension between the two of you. You were basically strangers so it made sense. You decided to try and break it. “How was filming for the third Spider-Man film?”

Tom’s eyes lit up at your sudden interest in his work. “Can I tell you a funny story?”

***

Three hours passed by and you decided to call it a night. You talked with Tom the entire night. You enjoyed his company but you were also jetlagged. “Tom, I’m tired,” you said as you leaned on his shoulder.

“Me too.”

“Want to walk me home?” You asked.

“Would love to.” You both got up from the booth and Tom paid for your drinks, even though you protested. Harrison, Tuwaine, Harry, Sarah, and Natalie didn’t look like they were ready to leave any time soon so you said your goodbyes to them and left with Tom.

“How far are you away from here?” Tom asked you.

“About a ten minute walk.” You began walking in the cool London air.

“So, Harrison told me that you were writing for your new album. How’s that going?”

“Not well,” you said as you crossed your arms over your chest. “It’s been fucking difficult.”

“I’m sorry, love.” The pet named warmed your heart and body even more. Tom wrapped his arm around your shoulder and pulled you closer to him. “I wish I can help you out somehow.”

“It’s alright. Getting out tonight helped me get into a good headspace,” you said.

“Glad to hear it.” You arrived at your Airbnb and Tom walked you to the front door. “I had a great time tonight, Y/N.”

You smiled, the first genuine smile that you’ve had in a while. “Me too, Tom.” You opened your door to enter.

“Wait.” Tom stopped you. “Let me get your number.”

“Sure.”

***

Two weeks had passed since you arrived in London and you and Tom have been texting back and forth. He had even taken you on a tour of London. He took you to all of the hot spots. Occasionally, Tom, Harrison, and Harry would come over to your Airbnb to hang out with you, Sarah, and Natalie. You were developing friendships with everyone, but you felt a bit stronger about Tom. He was charming, kind, and really funny. You enjoyed his company and you finally got the chance to start writing for your upcoming album. You realized that you didn’t want to write about your breakup with your ex, but instead write about your crush on the brown-haired London boy.

“How is the album coming along?” Cassandra asked you on the phone.

“Pretty good. I have a killer single coming your way and many other songs too.”

“Remember, we need to start recording at the end of July.”

“You got it.”

“You sound happy,” she commented. She was right. You were happy and finally completely over your ex. “It’s a good look on you.”

“Thanks.”

“What are you writing about?”

“Oh, you know… London, pubs, boys,” you trailed off.

***

Harrison was busy planning his upcoming date with your sister, Sarah. They hit it off extremely well at the opening of Cheer Beers. They got each other’s numbers and planned to go on a date. To be honest, Harrison was stressed out. He scored a date with Sarah L/N, which ultimately shocked him. So, he decided to go to his best mate for some advice.

Tom was sitting in his living room and Harrison entered with two dress shirts in hand. One of them was a white button-down and the other one navy. “Which shirt should I wear on my date with Sarah?”

“Black slacks, right?” Tom asked.

“Yeah, and a black leather jacket.”

“Go with white,” Tom suggested.

“Thanks, mate. Another question,” Harrison proposed. It felt natural for Harrison to ask Tom about his lady troubles, even though Tom had been single for a while.

Tom nodded his head to urge Harrison to continue.

“What if I fuck this up?” He asked nervously. “I really like Sarah.”

Tom got up from the couch to come closer to Harrison and put his hand on his shoulder. “You’ll be fine, mate. Just be yourself. She’ll fancy you, I promise.”

“How are you so good at giving me advice but you can’t get a girlfriend?”

Tom mocked being bothered. “Rude,” he scoffed.

“What are you waiting for?”

“If I say the perfect girl, will you slap me?” Tom joked.

“Yes, yes I will,” Harrison laughed as he replied. “I think that you already found the perfect girl at Cheer Beers.”

“We’re still getting to know each other. Why must we move so fast?” Tom wondered. He wanted to take things slow. His life had always moved fast and he wanted something to move at his pace, for once. Too many relationships have moved too fast and he ended up hurt.

“Because she’s only here for so long and I have a feeling that she likes you,” Harrison reasoned. Tom was starting to feel the same way about you too.

“Fine. While you go on your date with Sarah tonight, I’ll see if Y/N wants to hang out.” He picked up his phone from the coffee table and texted you asking if you wanted to come over. You replied saying yes and he smiled. “We’re hanging out.”

“Great. Don’t forget to use protection,” Harrison said as he ran away to go get dressed for his date.

“Fuck off, you div!”

***

Tom went to the grocery store to pick up some snacks and beers before you came over to his flat. He tidied up the living room once he got home and made sure to fluff the pillow to make them look nicer. Even though you and Tom were only friends, he couldn’t help but make sure that everything looked perfect for you.

You arrived 30 minutes later. You wore sweatpants and a sweatshirt, along with your slides. Your hair was out of your face and Tom thought that you looked stunning. “Hey.”

“Hi,” Tom blushed. “Nice sweatshirt.” Your sweatshirt was light blue and it had butterflies on it. Tom realized that he loved that color on you.

He led you to the couch and he sat beside you. “So what did you do today?” You asked.

“I worked on a script that I’m writing and then I helped Harrison get ready for his date with your sister. What about you, love?” The pet name made your heart flutter. Tom was definitely charming.

“I worked on some songs for the album,” you answered proudly.

“Care to share?”

“Willing to share what the script’s about?” You asked back, already knowing the answer.

“I’m legally not allowed to share, so no. I’m sorry, darling.”

“Then my answer is the same.”

“Well played, pretty girl,” he flirted. “Wanna watch a movie?”

“Sure, what do you have in mind?”

“Avengers: Age of Ultron?”

“Yes, it’s one of my favorite Marvel movies!” You exclaimed. “I have a feeling that you knew that already.”

Tom smiled at you as he picked up the remote from the coffee table and turned on the television. “I may have, but only because Haz told me. Don’t worry, though. It’s one of my favorites too.”

Tom found the movie and before he hit play he got up from the couch. “May I offer you some popcorn before we start the movie? I have beer as well.”

“Yes to both, please.” Tom went to the kitchen to pop the popcorn and grab some beers. He came back around five minutes later with everything.

“Here you go,” he said as he handed you a bottle of beer. “I know it’s not a martini.”

“It’ll have to do,” you teased. You pat the seat beside you to urge Tom over. “Now, come sit.”

Tom pressed play and the Marvel introduction appeared on the screen. You moved closer to Tom and he wrapped his arm around your shoulder, just like he did that night at the pub. “Is this ok?” He asked.

“It’s perfect.”

Around an hour into the movie, the popcorn was finished along with your first bottle of beer. Tom’s hand was still resting on your shoulder but now your head was resting on his. “Y/N?” Tom called out.

“Yeah?” You asked as you moved your head away from him so you could look at him.

“Can I be honest with you about something?” You nodded so he would continue. “I really want to kiss you.”

“Can I be honest with you?” You asked while smiling.

“Yeah.”

“I really want you to kiss me,” you said as you leaned in. He pressed his lips against yours in a soft first kiss. You kissed back almost immediately. After a couple of seconds, you pulled away from him.

“Wow,” he said.

“Ditto,” you said and then pulled him back towards you. You kissed him again and you knew that from now on, you couldn’t get enough of him.

***

Tom and you didn’t finish the movie the other night. After your many makeout sessions with him, you decided to go home, and you promised him that the two of you would get together again soon. You went home with the biggest smile on your face. Since your kiss, you and Tom have not talked about the status of your relationship. As of right now, you were just friends who have kissed before. No biggie.

It was now the 28th of May and you were sitting on a park bench having coffee with Harrison. It would be Tom’s 25th birthday in four days and the two of you were attempting to plan the perfect party for him.

“You’ll get the decorations, Sam will cook a few dishes, and I’ll provide booze,” Harrison said, listing things off. “We’ll host it at my new flat and I already called everyone.”

“Sounds great, Haz. I just hope he has a great time.”

“I’m sure he will,” he said as he winked at you, indicating something.

“What is that supposed to mean?” You asked, referring to his wink.

“I know that something happened between the two of you last week. Tom hasn’t stopped smiling since the two of you started hanging out. I’m sure he’ll be happy to know that you planned a party for him.”

“We all are planning it,” you corrected him.

“Yeah, but it’s not like he fancies me,” Harrison laughed.

You rolled your eyes at the blonde-haired boy in front of you. “Whatever.” You got up from the park bench and began walking towards his car. “Come on, Harrison. We need to go to the market.”

***

It was the 1st of June; Tom’s birthday. You woke up early to make sure that everything was ready to go for the party tonight. Harrison and Tom’s brothers planned a golf trip with Tom while you set up Harrison’s flat. You brought Sarah and Natalie along with you to help.

“Move that banner a little more to the right,” you told Sarah. She moved it as you requested. The banner said, Happy 25th birthday, Tom! in light blue glitter. “Looks great. Thanks, sis.”

You blew up balloons, set up tables for the food and drinks, got streamers and ribbons, and finally assembled the cupcake tower with the cupcakes you and Natalie baked the night before.

“Red velvet. Nice choice,” Sarah said as she took a look at the cupcakes on display.

“They’re Tom’s favorite,” you pointed out.

“Seems like you know a lot about him.”

“Well, he is my friend.”

Natalie laughed at your response to your sister’s comment. “Is that all he is?” She asked.

“For now.” You pulled out your phone from your pocket to check the time. It was the early afternoon and the party would start in a few hours. “We better get going to get ready. Sam will bring the food and set it up within the hour.”

Before you got into the car, you texted Tom to wish him a happy birthday and he responded with a heart emoji. You smiled to yourself and then got into the car to drive to your Airbnb.

The three of you washed up and got dressed for Tom’s party. You decided on wearing a light blue sundress with daisies on it. You matched it with white wedges and you did your hair to your liking. Once you were all ready you drove to Harrison’s. When you got there, Harrison, Sam, Tuwaine, and a few other friends of Tom’s were already there.

“Harry is bringing Tom in around 15 minutes,” Harrison told you.

“Ok. Everything seems to be going pretty smoothly.”

“We make a pretty great team,” Harrison said in appreciation for all of the work to make Tom’s party happen.

“Tell that to Sarah over there,” you teased him. His date with your sister went well from what she told you, but because of Harrison’s nervousness, they haven’t talked much since. “She’s been dying to hang out with you.”

“Are you just saying that so you can have Tom all to yourself when he gets here?” He tried to joke.

“No,” you said seriously. “Go talk to her, Haz.” You pushed him lightly in her direction to encourage him to go talk to her.

“I see Harry’s car pulling up!” Sam said a few minutes later. “Everyone get ready.”

Harry used Harrison’s spare key to get into his flat and once both of them entered you all yelled, “Surprise!”

“Thanks, guys!” Tom said in shock. Tom made his rounds to greet everyone to say thank you. You waited patiently in the kitchen for the birthday boy. He finally approached you after a few minutes. “Hey, love.”

“Happy birthday,” you said as you pulled him in for a hug. “You look very handsome.”

He pulled away to look at you. “Thank you, but you’re absolutely stunning.”

You leaned in to kiss his cheek and then said, “Thanks, Tom.”

“I should be thanking you,” he said and then grabbed your hands to intertwine your fingers together.

“For what?”

“Harrison told me that you helped him plan all of this, so thank you.”

“It’s my pleasure,” you said genuinely. “You like it?”

“I love it. He looked over to the counter and saw the cupcakes. “Is that a cupcake tower?”

“A red velvet cupcake tower,” you confirmed. “I baked them.”

“You’re a goddess.” He kissed your lips for half a second and then grabbed a cupcake from one of the tiers. He unwrapped the cupcake and then took a bite. He hummed in delight.

“I’m taking that you like them,” you giggled at the man in front of you. He could seriously make anything look cute.

“They’re heaven,” he moaned. Tom dipped his finger in the frosting and swiped your nose with it. You looked at him in shock. “Aw, you look so adorable,” he said.

You laughed at his antics. “Glad you think so, babe.”

Tom’s lit up at the pet name. “Babe? Hmmm.”

“Yeah, babe.” You took some frosting from what was remaining of his cupcake and placed some on his nose to match you. “You look very cute with frosting on your nose, babe.”

Tom grabbed a napkin from the counter and cleaned the frosting off the both of you. “We’re both very cute.”

“Ok, lovebirds,” Sam called out for the two of you. “Let’s get this party started!”

“Before we go out there, I have something to ask you,” Tom said.

“And what may that be?”

“Will you go out on a date with me?” He asked nervously. You felt your heart skip a beat and you could’ve sworn that you felt Tom’s heart beating rapidly from how close you were standing to him.

“I would love to, Tom,” you said and then kissed him to confirm that you really wanted to.

***

The rest of the night went well and Tom enjoyed his time with his friends. You, Sarah, and Natalie crashed at Harrison’s place along with Tom and Harry. The party ended late and the five of you were too tired to drive home, so Harrison offered to let you all stay there.

You woke up early and made your way downstairs to heat the kettle for tea. As you were waiting, you heard footsteps, and soon enough a pair of arms wrapped around you. “Good morning, beautiful,” Tom said and then kissed your clothed shoulder.

“Morning.” You turned around so you could face him. “How did you sleep?”

“Not so well,” Tom said as he stretched out his arms. “Harrison’s a kicker.”

“Poor baby,” you teased, and then Tom pouted. “Quit pouting, Tommy. I know you’re faking it.”

“Fine,” Tom mumbled.

You turned to the stove and saw that the kettle was ready. “Want tea?”

“Please. A splash of milk and a spoonful of sugar, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” you said as you poured him a cup. “So where are we going on our first date?”

“That’s a surprise, darling.”

***

A week after Tom’s birthday, Tom texted you asking if you were available to go on your first date. You had been working on the album the entire morning so you thought it’d be nice to go out with Tom. You replied yes and he told you to be ready within the hour. Tom knocked on your door around an hour later, with a bouquet in his hand. “These are for you, love,” he said with a smile as he handed them to you.

“Thank you, Tom,” you said and then sniffed the flowers. “Come in while I put these in some water.” Tom entered your Airbnb and you searched for a vase in one of the cabinets. Once you found one, you filled it up with water and put the flowers in. “We should be good to go now.”

Tom held your hand as he led you to the car. He opened the door for you and then got in and started the car. “You ready?”

“Where are we going?” You asked.

“You’ll see in around 15 minutes, angel.” Tom grabbed your hand that was resting in your lap and brought it up to his lips to kiss it. “I don’t think I told you this, but you look ethereal.”

“You’re quite the charmer, Holland.”

“I aim to please,” he joked. “But in all seriousness, you always look gorgeous.”

Tom was by far the kindest man you have ever met in your entire life. You have known him for barely two months but he made you feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. You had never felt this way about anyone before.

Tom drove down to a lake. “It’s one of my secret spots,” he told you.

He led you down to the grass near the water and he set up a picnic there for the two of you. “I made sandwiches, cut up some fruit, and some apple cider.”

“It looks good. Thank you, Tom.” He pulled everything out from the picnic basket and handed you one of the sandwiches.

“Anything for you.”

“So this is one of your secret spots, huh?” You asked.

“Mhm,” he mumbled as he took a bite from his sandwich.

“So you bring a lot of girls here?” You teased and you could’ve sworn that you saw Tom almost choke on his sandwich. “Is that why it's so special?”

“Very funny, love,” Tom said. “No, I actually come here alone.”

“I’m guessing because it’s quiet.”

“Yeah, I come here when I need to clear my head.”

You looked around the area and you immediately understood why Tom liked it so much. There was a beautiful, cool breeze and the birds chirping sounded like music to your ears. “It’s beautiful. Thank you for bringing me here.”

“I can drive you here to write songs if you’d like,” Tom offered.

“That would be lovely.”

You and Tom spent a couple of hours at the lake. You talked about anything and everything, and you finally felt yourself get closer to him. You felt him opening up to you too, which you felt good about.

“Would you like to go on a drive with me?” Tom asked once you both packed up the remainder of the picnic.

“Will there be music involved?”

“What would be a nice evening drive without music? C’mon, let’s go.” Tom led you to his car and you began your drive. The sun was setting and it was beautiful. “It’s wonderful outside, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is,” you said.

“I had a great time with you, Y/N.”

“Me too.”

*** Once Tom dropped you off, you began writing another song. His date left you inspired and you were starting to like him more and more. Each time you saw him your feelings for him grew. He inspired you to write your song, London Boy.

Tom wanted a second date. He felt so good leaving the first one and knew that he wanted to pursue a relationship with you. He knew that it would be hard but relationships won’t always be easy. He decided to call you the next to ask when he could see you again.

“Tom, we just went out,” you teased.

“I know, Y/N, but I like you. A lot.” You thought that it was cute how Tom was eager for a second date. You were excited too.

“I like you, too. I would love to see you again, too,” you said.

“Coffee? I don’t drink it but I know how much you like it,” Tom offered.

“How about tea? Know any good spots for a cup of tea and maybe breakfast?”

“I know just the place. See you soon, Y/N.”

***

Many amazing dates with Tom and a bunch of fun days in London later and you know that you’re ready to start recording your next album. People had their assumptions about you and Tom. Rumors had gone around but Tom and you didn’t address them.

London inspired so much of your album that you decided to record there. The rest of your team flew out and you began recording.

You called Tom asking him to come to the studio. “I’m recording one of my favorite songs today. I would love for you to come if you’re free.” You were recording London Boy today and you wanted Tom to hear it since he hadn’t before. It would also be a good way to officially tell Tom that you’re falling in love with him.

“I would love to come. Send me the address.”

“You got it. See you in 20.”

You sent Tom the address of the studio and he was there within 15 minutes. You greeted him at the front. “Hey, babe.”

He kissed you on the cheek and then asked, “Are you excited for today?”

“Very. I’m excited for you to hear the song,” you said as you led him into the studio. You introduced him to Cassandra and the rest of your team.

“Y/N, get your pretty ass in the booth,” Cassandra said. You walked into the recording booth and put on your headphones. “Let’s do this.”

“Tom, sit up in front,” you said and then he took a seat beside Cassandra. “This one is called London Boy.”

The upbeat music came on and you knew that you were skipping the intro for now so you went in with the first verse.

I love my hometown as much as Motown, I love SoCal And you know I love Springsteen, faded blue jeans, Tennessee whiskey But something happened, I heard him laughing I saw the dimples first and then I heard the accent They say home is where the heart is But that's not where mine lives

You heard Cassandra tell you to stop so they could play it back. You saw Tom smiling at you as you were singing and you took that as a good sign that he was enjoying it.

“Now for the chorus.”

You know I love a London boy I enjoy walking Camden Market in the afternoon He likes my American smile, like a child when our eyes meet Darling, I fancy you Took me back to Highgate, met all of his best mates So I guess all the rumors are true You know I love a London boy Boy, I fancy you (Ooh)

You ended up finishing the recording of the song in an hour. You left the booth for your break and you first greeted Tom. “What did you think of it?”

“I love you, too,” he said. You leaned up to him and kissed him with every fiber of your being.

“That’s good because many of these songs are about you.”

“And I can’t wait to hear them all,” he said and then smiled.

“I can’t believe how I’ve only been here for three months and I already feel this way,” you said honestly. You have never fallen so fast for anyone, but it feels right with Tom. Everything feels right with him.

“Well, believe it because it’s real,” Tom confirmed. “Be mine, Y/N?”

“I thought you’d never ask, lover.”

~~~

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tagging: @tomsbabymomma @canwekissforever-hazzy @pinklxmonade​ @tomsbrina​ @storybookholland​ 

[aficwhore]

Truth Is

Chapter 1: A Night Many Months Ago

Frankie "Catfish" Morales x F!reader

Summary: When reuniting for the mission in Colombia, Frankie and the reader (nicknamed "Chipmunk"), bicker due to their rocky past. After some angry exchanges, a few truths come out, changing both of their perspectives. Will the relationship be mended? Or once this is over, will they go back to the way things were before?

Word Count: 3K

Warnings: explicit language, blood, violence, guns/weapons, lots of angst and emotions, infidelity, talk of sex and sexual encounters, drinking, mentions of drugs, talk of death, and talk of mental health(PTSD, depression).

A/N: This was inspired by the song "Truth Is" by Sabrina Claudio. I want to make this a series (my first series ever), but it's still being decided, so please let me know if you want this to be continued! And I am still taking requests and prompts! Thanks Lovelies <3

"Cmon, please Chip, we can't do this without you." Santiago begged, his hands clasped together in front of him to show his desperation as he stood before me in my small apartment kitchen. I sighed, glancing around our surroundings. He had come to ask about joining one last escapade, one last job and we'd all be set for the rest of our lives.

Finally breaking the silence and meeting his weary gaze, "Who all have you rounded up? If Will or Benny said no, there's no way I'm doing it without them." I took another deep breath, turning to continue the dishes I had been doing when Pope showed up.

Santi's face began to light up, his stance growing slightly as he grinned, "Great! They both wanted in, so did Tom." Seeming relieved he leaned against the counter next to the sink and crossed his arms.

"And F-Fish?" I hesitated, pausing the scrubbing on the porcelain dish in my hand. It felt like the air in my lungs no longer existed. My heart began to pound it's way up my throat and into my ears.

His head dipped down, feeling the concern laced in my voice. Clearing his voice, he quietly explained "Haven't asked him yet, he was last on my list."

I silently placed the last dish onto the rack near the sink and wiped my wet hands on my jeans, looking down and watching the wet marks gradually making themselves known. No longer forcing myself to make eye contact, I nodded at the ground.

"Look, querida, if you two just talked I'm sure it would work out." He pushed himself off the counter and stepped towards me, reaching a hand out and gently rubbing my shoulder to console me. "But don't let this change your mind, we really do need you."

"When are you going to mention it to him?" I breathed out, wanting to keep any and all emotions at bay. His hand on my arm squeezed, as if he was trying to give me some courage.

"Tonight, at Benny's fight, I thought his spirits would be up enough to persuade him." He chuckled lightly, knowing his plan was to take a little bit of advantage of Frankie's mood.

I laughed softly, "Definitely sounds like a Santi move if you ask me."

He smirked and shook his head "I know, shame on me." As he dropped his hand back to his side he quirked, "You should come tonight, we can go out for drinks after the fight, relax a little before we leave tomorrow."

It took me a second to register what he said, but when I did I burst out "wait what?! Tomorrow? Santi, why didn't you tell me that? You forgot the biggest detail!"

He cowered down slightly, rubbing the back of his neck "Because I knew you'd yell at me, it was worth a shot putting off the anger a little longer." He smiled coyly.

Rolling my eyes I couldn't help but forgive his dumb smile. "Well it starts soon, why don't I get my things real quick and we can head to the arena together?"

His smile widened, "Of course!" I grabbed my purse and keys, making sure to turn off the lights and lock the door behind me. As we made our way down the elevator and out to his car, Santi told me a few details about the missions and the plan. But once we got into his rinky dink ford truck, I turned to him.

"About Frankie, I'm sure one of the boys told you, but just in case; his license was revoked." Santi's face contorted with confusion.

"What? How? Did he crash or hurt somebody?" He questioned quickly.

After taking a breath of courage I spoke, "No Pope. He-He was caught with coke."

Santi stayed quiet, turning the engine on. "I don't get it" A sad expression plastered on his face.

With a furrow in my brow I spoke again, "What don't you get? He was doing drugs, hardcore ones at that". I began to ramble more, "For what reason, I'm not sure, maybe the PTSD and depression. Maybe he felt he had no one to go to-"

"Stop. I know." He cut me off while finally shifting the gear into drive and moving up forward. "You can't blame anyone for this. All we can do is move on and help him. He's our friend, okay? But I know he's still the same Fish, just a little turned around."

"I know, okay. I can't help it. From what the boys told me, he seems to be a lot better." I added, stirring in my seat. "Anyways, it's been awhile since all of us have been back together. It's exciting."

Santi snickered, "But didn't you all hang out while I've been out of the U.S.?"

Seeing that we're close to the arena's parking garage I explained, "I mean, yea, but only me, Ironhead, Benny and Fish. I haven't talked to Redfly in months, we all had a fallout with him. Especially me."

"Tom didn't say anything when I talked to him, Do you wanna fill me in?" He asked with a quirked eyebrow.

Huffing, I turn to face him, telling him the events of that night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The four of us, the Millers, Frankie and I sat on my couch, watching TV and talking, when we hear a bang at the door. I got up to open it and find Tom slumped on the doorway. He looked rough and smelled like he had been drinking the past several days. "Woah, Tom, you're really drunk, and you drove here?"

He snapped, beginning to yell, "Who are you to judge me? Huh? My wife left me, this is how I cope." He angrily pushed his way past me and tumbled into the living room. He was greeted with the boys standing around him with concerned faces.

"What the hell were you thinking? You know how dangerous that is? You know you could've called and we would've been there for you!" I raised my voice back, causing Tom to swing around to face me.

He laughed darkly, "Oh shut up 'Miss Perfect,' just like you did for Fish? When he was nose deep in coke? Or are you too self obsessed? Or do you just have favorites!"

"Hey man, that's not cool." Will interrupted and tried to get a handle on Tom. Frankie lowered his head in embarrassment. Will reached forward and placed a hand on his back, but things escalated more.

"Oh okay, yea protect the whore, we all know she's there for you guys more than just talking. I wouldn't doubt it if you all fucked her too. But me? Nah, you leave me out of everything." Tom howled, yanking away from Will and slurring his words and no longer making sense.

Anger becoming more prominent, I spoke, "Seriously?! Whore?! How is it my fault that you push us away and don't let us help? We include you in everything, but you have your head so far stuck up your ass you never show up!" I've come face to face with him, my hot breath and voice blowing into his face above me. "And another thing, I'm not a whore, you asshole, I'm with Frankie!"

He leaned closer to me, his breath reeking of alcohol, "Just him? Does he know where you're at everyday Monday and Wednesday at 1?! I doubt it!"

Frankie speaks up, "What? What is he talking about?" A devilish smirk makes its way to Tom's face.

"Nothing, I swear it's nothing." I try to explain, making eye contact with my partially hurt lover.

"Tell him, tell him you've been seeing a 'Dr. Philips.' Go on, do it." He rubs it in.

Looking behind Tom, I saw Frankie looking like his world had just shattered. "You've been seeing someone?!"

Panicking, I speak, "Yes, but it's not what you think, I promise!"

"Then what is it?" Tom adds, stumbling back a foot and crossing his arms contently at the damage he just caused.

Benny spoke up, knowing the truth about who I was "seeing." "You need to leave man, you have no right to say shit like that. You don't know the real situation"

Tom burst, yelling "I want her to admit it! I want her to admit that she isn't the perfect bitch she makes herself out to be!"

"Fuck you! Get the hell out of my house!" I scream, tears slightly welling in my eyes. "Frankie-" I turn to him, but to find him grabbing his things. "Baby please, let me explain."

"Explain what? You've been cheating on me?" his voice is loud, and cracks slightly.

A tear breaks its way down my cheek, "I haven't, Frankie, please believe me." I grab his hand, trying to stall his movements, but he pulls away.

"You just admitted it!" He frowns and yanks his hand away and heads for the door.

"That's right Fishie boy! Leave her, she's no good anyway!" Tom squawks as Benny grabs a hold of him and shoves him to the door, Will right behind to help.

"You bastard!" I lunged forward and swung my hand, landing right on the side of his face with a loud crack. Frankie spun around, startled at my actions.

The action only fueled Tom's anger because he ripped away from Benny's grip and grabbed me. I didn't back down and started to shove him and swing my arms, hitting him in the face and chest as he fought back.

But just as quickly as the fight started, it ended. Frankie tore me off of Tom, pinning me to his chest and stopping my brutal hits. Will and Benny wrested Tom into submission and dragged him out of the front door as he yelled slurs at me, and dumped him outside with a battered face.

While the brothers were dealing with a drunk Redfly, Frankie scolded and verbally fought with me.

"Just tell me! Who is Dr. Philips!" He questioned, slightly shaking me by the shoulders.

With many emotions running through my head, I couldn't process what was going on. "I-I can't, Frankie, I can't even admit it to myself." Tears streaming down my face I brought my hands up to the sides of his face. "But you have to believe me, por favor (please)."

Francisco looked like he was fighting an emotional battle in his mind. He finally spoke, "Either you tell me, or I leave, I can't do this, not if you keep things from me."

Feeling my heart break, I whispered "Please, mi amor (my love), don't make me. I'm not strong enough." My eyes now running like an open faucet and my hands tightly pressed to his cheeks.

He blinks away tears, reaching his hands up to grab mine and pull them away from his face, "Then I have to go." He drops my hands and turns to leave.

"Por favor no me dejes! (Please don't leave me)" I call after him, watching as he heads out of the door and into the night, leaving me alone. I drop to the floor, tears blurring my vision and all that can be heard are my sobs.

After what feels like hours, Will and Benny return, picking me up off the floor and taking me to my bed. They lay me down, attempting to help my emotional breakdown. They pick up whatever mess that was left after the event of that night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~end flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"And after that night, Tom was no longer invited anywhere with us. Frankie distanced himself and refused to talk to me. But Will and Benny did their best to be there for me in any way they could. They did the same for Frankie. But as for Tom, they casted him out, because he changed, badly." I finished covering the story of that night, fighting the tears that threatened to spill. "And the Dr. Philips I was seeing, was my therapist. I didn't want anyone to know I wasn't okay mentally. I was embarrassed and part of me didn't want to admit I needed help. The lives we chose aren't easy."

Santi parked, and seemed shocked, "I'm sorry love, I knew you split with Fish, but didn't know any details or about Tom." He reached over and patted my thigh sympathetically. "I really am sorry that you went through all of that because Tom was an asshole. You really don't have to do this-"

"No I want to, I'm in a better place, so is everyone else." I smiled shyly, wanting to lift the spirits. "So what do you say? Let's go wrangle up our boys and get rich?"

Pope smiled brightly, "Hell yes!" We both got out of the car, and headed to the back of the arena and knocked, hoping Will was there to open it like he told Santi he would. Much to our luck, the door swung open to reveal a tall, smiling, blonde Miller brother.

"Brother!" Santi chuckled as he pulled the eldest Miller into a hug, clapping each other on the back. They pulled away as Pope headed inside to find the others.

"Hey pretty girl, long time no see." Will joked, hugging me tightly.

I scoffed, "Will, you were just at my house last night." We both laughed and he led me into a rank smelling locker room, which I assumed was for Benny to get ready. As we rounded the corner, I saw Benny and Tom chatting on one of the benches between the lockers.

"Chipmunk!" Benny roared as he ran over, picked me up and spun me around. "I missed you! I'm so glad you could make it!" He sat me back down and stepped back to sit on the bench again.

"Of course, I wouldn't miss you getting your ass beat for the world!" I giggled as I winked at him, showing the younger of us a bit of love.

He shook his head with a grin. As my eyes left him, they met with the eyes of Tom. He seemed to have a look of regret, trying to give me a sad smile.

I walked over to him, reaching my hand in a fist forward, lightly tapping his shoulder, "Hey fly, how you been?"

A small wave of relief washed over him as he responded "I'm good Chip, how are you? And look I'm really sorry, I wasn't in a good place and I regret-"

"Its okay Tom, really, it is. I'm just glad you're better. It's water under the bridge." I sit next to him and pat his back, showing that all, or at least most, is forgiven.

He nods slowly, "Thank you, it means a lot that you're here."

"Oh cmon you have to admit it, you couldn't do it without me, the best there is." I pretend to act over confident and burst into laughter. And Tom joins in.

As Tom and I begin to catch up, talking about what we've missed these past several months, I overhear a conversation.

"Hermano (brother)! How are you?" Santi greets Frankie, I assume, he was the last of us, who wasn't already here. When I realize that it is him, my heart begins to race. My skin starts to burn and get hot, my palms becoming sweaty.

"Pope! Benny! Ironhead! What is this, a reunion?" Frankie's voice echoes as they come closer. As the three round the corner, "All we need is Redfly and Chip-" Frankie stops as we become revealed to him. Tom gets up immediately and struts over to give Fish a hug. Frankie's face lights up with glee and hugs him back. When they step away from each other, I wearily stand up and all he does is give an awkward smile and nods in my direction.

Benny attempts to whisper to Santi, "Ouch, that's cold." And Santi jabs him in the stomach with his elbow, causing him to double over and make a "hmf" sound.

Being slightly hurt, I break the uneasy tension by opening an invitation, "Alright well I'm gonna go get a beer and find us some good seats, it's close to showtime!" Faking a smile I continue, "Who's coming?"

"Me, I can't be in here with this doofus anymore." Will chuckle as he ruffles Ben's hair and follows right behind me.

When we make it to the concession stand and order beers, Will taps my arm, "How are you feeling?"

With a sigh, "Honestly I expected that, but it hurt more when it actually happened. But what can I say." I grab out drinks from the concession worker and thank her and turn on my heels to find a seat. "I love him, and if that means waiting to mend things, it worth it, even if it means waiting forever."

Will offers a sympathetic grin. "It'll work, just watch. Oh! Over there! Perfect seats!" He points as his attention was caught by an opening near the rink. He pursues it as I follow behind.

While we sit, we joke around, waiting for the rest of the gang to come sit and watch Benny get thrown around. Finally the last three show up and sit with us, Tom sat on Will's right side, me on his other side, Santi on my left, but when Frankie walks up, he bends down and whispers to Santi, causing him to scoot further away from me and leaving room for Frankie to slot himself between us. Which took me by surprise. Once he was seated, he glanced over to me and gave me a genuine smile.

We don't say a word as the lights begin to dim and the announcer's voice breaks through the speaks, introducing our dear Benny and his opponent.

Our small group starts to cheer and scream Benny's name, to show him support. As he enters the rink, he searches for us, and when he finds us, he smiles big.

In the midst of all the commotion, Frankie leans over and whispers to me, "I missed you, cariño (sweetheart)."

My face whips around to meet a very close Fish, who is smiling. "I missed you too." I give a small smile and lean to my side to shoulder bump him, as he places a hand on my knee.

[hyuniepot]

the butterfly effect. || chapter 3

chapter word count || 1,763

genre || thriller, angst, drama

members || mark lee, na jaemin, lee jeno, huang renjun, lee donghyuck, zhong chenle, park jisung

warnings || mentions of death, implications of depression

pairing || fem!reader x jaemin || slight fem!reader x mark

synopsis || you never thought you’d be able to play with fate so easily, especially not through some shady app. but you suddenly must say goodbye to what you know and hello to a new world where everything seems perfect.

taglist || @gothboyjisung​ @jeongyoonohs @doiewonu @huanginjoon​

a/n || please read the replies to see what was removed from the beginning! luckily it was only one paragraph :-)

previous chapter

Wednesday, September 13

The past week had been great. You had gotten used to your new schedule and friends. You were starting to think maybe you could get used to this. Granted, doing something after school everyday whether it be practice or hanging out with friends, got pretty exhausting. But you didn’t mind. In the long run, it helped you sleep better.

“So who’s paying?” Hyuck asks, sliding into the booth seat across from you. Mark sat next to you.

“So who’s paying?” Hyuck asks, sliding into the booth seat across from you. Mark sat next to you.

“So who’s paying?” Hyuck asks, sliding into the booth seat across from you. Mark sat next to you.

“I can,” you say. “I have some extra money.”

Hyuck nods. “Good enough for me. When was the last time you paid?” he teases.

“I don’t know,” you say, grinning. “It’s not my fault you guys like to pay for our food.” you didn’t even know if that was true.

“You guys? More like just me. When was the last time you paid, Hyuck?” Mark asks. You internally cringe at your slip-up.

Hyuck puts his hands up in defense. “Hey, don’t get mad at me! I pay… sometimes…” he mumbles.

A waitress takes your order and you pull out your phone as Mark and Hyuck talk about something that happened in their science class. The ButterFly app is still there, almost taunting you. You ignored it and opened instagram. Finally, your social media was back to normal. No unsettling ads to be found.

You liked some pictures from your classmates -- Yeri’s selfie and a screenshot of her listening to Ariana Grande. Sihyeon, one of your new friends, posting a candid photo of her outside of a store. Suhyun, showing off a makeup look she did recently, looking cute as usual. A boy named Xiaojun posted selfies as well. You didn’t really know him, but you both had the same history class. You quickly scroll past a selfie of Naeun and Jaemin, trying to ignore it entirely.

“Do you remember that?” Mark asks you, laughing.

You put your phone down. “Remember what?”

“When you were scared of butterflies.”

You smile. Finally, something from this universe you already knew. “Yeah… I remember,” you reply, laughing. “Why do you ask?”

“Because our friend Hendery said he used to be scared of them too. It made me think of you.” Mark says, glancing away from you. “And then I took you to that butterfly garden and you suddenly loved butterflies. It was kinda cute, watching your feelings towards them turn from fear to love,” Mark tells you. You ignore the warmth in your cheeks.

The waitress returned with your food, putting it down on the table. You dug in, realizing how hungry you were. You, Mark, and Hyuck just talked about random subjects like the shows you’ve been watching on Netflix, things that happened at school and practice, and how good the food tasted until you were all ready to head out.

“I’ll go pay,” Mark says, scooting out of the booth.

“What? Mark, I said I was paying,” you argue, quickly scooting out after him.

“It’s fine. I’m used to paying.” he replies.

“Oh my god,” Hyuck groans. “You better not complain about me not paying ever again. You’re the one always volunteering.”

Mark shrugs. “I’m feeling generous.” he starts to walk towards the front counter.

“No. I said I was paying, so I’m paying.”

You go to follow him, but Hyuck suddenly grabs your wrist. “Hey, can I use your phone real quick?”

You stand, stunned, for a moment at the question. “Uh, yeah. That’s fine. The passcode is 7492.” Hyuck nods and lets go of your wrist, and you turn to catch up with Mark.

He’s pulling out his wallet. “Mark, I’m not giving up. Let me pay, please?”

Mark grins. “Okay. Since you’re so adamant,” he puts his wallet in between his arm and his side. “Rock paper scissors? Best out of 3.”

You roll your eyes, sighing. “Fine.”

Rock, paper, scissors, shoot.

You cheer as you beat Mark.

Rock, paper, scissors, shoot.

Mark wins.

Rock, paper, scissors, shoot.

You return to your table, dejected. Damn it. You didn’t even care about paying, you just wanted to beat Mark. “How is he so good at every-”

Your heart nearly stops as you see Hyuck on your phone. You recognize the familiar layout of ButterFly. And he was looking at what you sent. You snatch your phone out of his hands, your face growing hot with embarrassment. How the hell were you going to explain this to him?

“You downloaded it?” he asks, softly.

“Yes. But it’s… I just,” you try to speak, but nothing would come out.

“I knew it,” he breathes. “I used it too.”

You’re stunned again. You don’t even know how to respond. You weren’t even sure if you understood what he was saying.

Hyuck stares ahead. “I wished for something too,” he tells you. “And it put us in the same universe.”

You’re suddenly lightheaded. So this Hyuck was the one from your old life. The one who annoyed you and Jaemin everyday. And he knew you were the old you.

“Listen,” you say. Your voice is trembling. “We will talk about this later.”

“Talk about what?” you turn and see Mark.

“Homework. I used her phone to call my mom and when I hung up she got a text from a friend. We all have literature together and we just found out we have a project due on Friday.” Hyuck says, nonchalantly. “It’s a long story, but now we only have two days to do it.”

You nod, thanking the Gods above that Hyuck was a good liar.

“Damn,” Mark picks up his drink and drinks what’s left. “That sucks. I hope you guys get it done in time.”

“Yeah. We’ll have to work on it tomorrow. We don’t have practice, how about you?“ Hyuck gets out of his seat.

“I don’t either,” you reply. You all exit the restaurant start your walk home.

Mark and Hyuck talk again. You wonder what Hyuck could have wished for that put you in the same universe as him. Maybe it was the same thing. You just tried not to be too freaked out by it and tried to mentally prepare yourself to talk about it with Hyuck. You had just started to feel normal here, and now everything was turned upside down.

You make it home safely and try to relieve your stress by hanging out with Jisung and Chenle, who had come over after school. You watch them shoot hoops outside for a bit.

You wonder where Jisung’s love for basketball came from. He wasn’t really into it in your old life -- he was more into dance, although he was starting to become more and more uninterested in it. You knew Chenle was always into basketball, so maybe he was able to keep Jisung interested in it.

Then you remember that here, Mark and Hyuck were both on the basketball team. You start to think maybe Mark helped Jisung and Chenle get into it. You make a mental note to try and get Mark or Jisung to talk about it with you soon.

Once the sun started to set, Chenle went home and you went inside with Jisung. You did your homework with him. “Hey, (y/n?)”

“What’s up?” you respond, not looking up from your paper.

You hear Jisung shift in his chair. “Did you and Mark break up?”

You almost break your pencil out of surprise. You look up at Jisung, who is staring back. You weren’t even sure how to respond. Were you dating Mark? In the past week you’d spent with him, there was nothing that indicated you were dating him. He never referred to you as his girlfriend or anything like that. So surely, Jisung had to be confused right?

You took your chances.

“Jisung,” you chuckle. “Mark and I were never dating.”

Jisung’s eyes widen. “Really? But you guys spend so much time together… I just kinda assumed…” he continues working on the assignment in front of him. “I just thought you didn’t tell me because it’s none of my business,”

You sigh in relief with a smile. “But why do you ask? Mark and I are still great friends.”

“Well,” Jisung puts his pencil back down and closes his notebook. “He never comes over anymore.” he says softly.

Your shoulders drop and you sigh. “He’s just really busy,” you reply. “He’s busy with school and he has practice after school. He doesn’t have a lot of free time these days.”

“I know…” Jisung says softly. “Which is why I feel so dumb complaining. I just… miss hanging out with him. But he’s your friend, not mine. I don’t think he wants to be hanging out with some kids,”

“Hey,” you say firmly. “He’s your friend too. Trust me, Mark doesn’t care about his friends being younger. You’re only what, 2 and a half years younger than him? That’s nothing!” you say. “Seriously, you’re too in your head, okay? Don’t overthink it. Mark doesn’t hate you or anything.” you tell him.

Jisung avoids eye contact with you as he picks up his things, standing up from his spot.

“But… don’t feel dumb for being worried about things like that. It’s normal. Don’t be afraid to talk to me if you’re ever feeling sad, alright?” you tell him. He gives you a small smile before nodding and leaving the room.

It was awkward to tell him that. Jisung never talked about his feelings to you, and you definitely didn’t do it either. That just wasn’t how your relationship was. Jisung was 10 times happier here than he was in your old life, but even now he still had worries. All you could feel was guilt; You had been sacrificing Jisung’s feelings for the sake of not feeling embarrassed.

You shake the feeling off and try to finish your homework. You had enough to feel stressed and guilty about, there was no to go back and fix things now.

Or so you think.

[bytheangell]

Spilling Truths

(Read on AO3) (Content warning: alcohol/drinking/bars)

It takes a lot of convincing for Jace to get Simon to agree to go out on a Wednesday night when he has an 8 am class on Thursday mornings, but Jace is particularly motivated for St. Patty’s Day. He might’ve let him skip out if Simon hadn’t mentioned that he stayed in the last two years of the holiday, too, which is something Jace makes his personal mission to rectify.

Jace cycles through the usual bribes - greasy food before and after they go out to the bar (or bars plural, depending on where the night takes them), the promise to leave before last call, swearing he won’t complain when Simon’s alarm wakes them both up after far too little sleep - before Simon finally gives in and agrees to go out.

All of Jace’s excuses are just that: excuses. Sure, it’s one of those things Jace actually believes everyone should go out and experience the atmosphere of once - there’s nothing quite like an entire bar of drunken college kids screaming along to Flogging Molly, after all - but if Simon had decided to stay in then there’s a good chance that Jace might’ve skipped out on the night, too.

Because the truth is that he doesn’t want to spend the night out getting drunk with his usual go-to group of drinking buddies, not when he could spend it with Simon. They’re roommates, but between classes, clubs, and other hobbies, they don’t see each other nearly as often as Jace would like, especially considering his steadily growing crush on Simon the past few months. And with the end of the year steadily approaching and no promise that Simon will want to live with him again next year, Jace is determined to make the most of every chance he gets to spend a little more time with Simon now.

So yeah, he’s selfishly thrilled when Simon agrees to go out for the holiday after a long day of rough classes and exams, even if he knows they’ll likely both suffer for it tomorrow.

“I’ll try a green beer but if you think I’m doing that awful shot with the milk then you have another thing coming,” Simon warns Jace the moment they step into the pub and see the specials for the night. “I don’t care what holiday it is, that sounds disgusting.”

“I think I can live with that,” Jace agrees, laughing.

Apparently, Simon could use the break much more than he originally let on, because they’re only at the bar for an hour, maybe an hour and a half tops, before Simon starts to sway every time he moves. In fact, Simon must’ve had a really long day, because Jace is positive this is the first time he’s seen Simon properly drunk since they met at the start of the year.

“How’re you feeling there, Si?” Jace asks, eyebrow raised. He ordered the both of them some food that should be arriving any minute now, which won’t be a second too soon from the looks of Simon. He wonders idly if Simon actually ate anything all day if he’d been stressing over exams.

“I feel grrrrrreat!” Simon exclaims, the last word mimicking that one cartoon cereal tiger Jace remembers from commercials as a kid.

“Great,” Jace says, laughing. “Try not to feel so great you throw up on your new shoes, alright?”

For someone who claims to not care about these sorts of events, Simon didn’t hesitate to buy a pair of green Converse to wear out with his green plaid shirt for the occasion.

Simon nods and salutes in Jace’s general direction. “Aye-aye, captain.” Simon pauses, giving Jace a quick up-and-down. “I should start calling you Captain,” Simon adds, the words slurring together though his tone is much more serious.

“You absolutely should not,” Jace says, shaking his head and taking another very long swig of his drink. He’s torn between wanting to catch up to Simon’s level of intoxication and wondering if maybe he should hold back in case he needs to be extra sober to get them both back in one piece.

“But you’re like, really hot. Like, Captain America levels of hot, so it totally fits. I’m going to get you a shield and call you Captain,” Simon elaborates, and Jace… well, Jace has to actively ignore the flutter in his stomach at Simon’s words, because Simon is drunk. He isn’t actually flirting with him.

“You’re drunk, and I’m going to pretend you never said that,” Jace says.

“Oh, okay,” Simon says, frowning. “So if I say,” Simon continues slowly, then pauses to consider something very intently. The silence stretches on for half a minute while Simon gathers his thoughts into something coherent. “If I tell you that I’ve had a huge crush on you all year, and that it’s super unfair when you sit around in a towel for an hour after you shower, and that I really want to kiss you, like, all of the time… You can just pretend I never said any of that, too?”

Jace stares at Simon in wide-eyed silence for a minute because what the fuck is he supposed to do with that?! He knows what he wants to do, which is to lean across the space between them and kiss Simon hard enough to knock him off his bar stool. But Simon is drunk, and drunken confessions are one thing, but acting on them is another entirely. The last thing Jace wants to do is ruin things before they even have a chance to start.

So what Jace actually does, with all the self-control he can muster, is say, “How about this: I close our tabs, you sleep this impending hangover off, and in the morning I’ll tell you that I have a huge crush on you, too, and we can figure it out from there.”

Jace waits, anxious for Simon’s reply, afraid he might realize exactly what he said and take it all back and leave them both right where they started.

Instead, Simon nods with a satisfied grin on his face at Jace’s suggestion. “Okay. Yeah, that sounds good.”

It takes them much longer than it should to get to their room, mostly because drunk Simon feels the impulse to climb everything from fences (as a ‘shortcut’, even though it takes him approximately 10 minutes to make it over and he nearly breaks his leg falling off the other side) to trees (which he can’t actually climb, and instead hangs uselessly from the lowest branch of over and over again without being able to pull himself up), but by some small miracle Jace manages to get Simon back to their dorm, changed into sweatpants, and into his bed.

Just as Jace is walking away he hears Simon say his name quietly in question. “Jace?”

“Yeah?” Jace answers, turning back around.

“I’m going to be really excited when you tell me you have a crush on me tomorrow,” Simon says, giving him a wide, sleepy smile.

“I can’t wait,” Jace smiles back, before turning off the light. He’s already counting the minutes until Simon’s 6:30 am alarm, which shifts from ‘way too early’ to ‘not nearly soon enough’ in Jace’s opinion, knowing what new adventures the morning will bring.

[writingbykrystal]

"Oh my goodness, I am so, so sorry!"

Mortified, Eva looked at the man she just bumped into, and unfortunately spilled hot coffee all over. He looked to be about her age, brown hair, blue eyes, with now slightly crooked glasses over them.

"Hey, it's ok, it's no problem," he said, dabbing at the coffee with a napkin.

Furiously blushing, Eva said, "I truely am so sorry. Let me buy you another one, since yours is all over your shirt."

Glancing at his watch, the guy said, "You know what, I actually have to go, but I'll let you buy me a new one some other time. How about tomorrow, same time, same place?" With that, he swept out the door, leaving a stunned Eva staring after him.

Belatedly, she yelled after him, "Wait! Did you just ask me out?" But it was too late, he was already gone.

Eva glanced at her watch and cursed. No time for a new coffee. She was already late for work.

-----

"Leah, I am so, so sorry I'm late, I was at the coffee shop and I ran into this guy, like literally ran into him and-"

"Eva. Chill. It's no big deal, you were what, six and a half minutes late? It's fine."

Still out of breath from running, Eva brushed a stray hair out of her face. "What do we have today?" she asked.

Leah checked her watch for notifications. "Looks like Hornet and his gang are doing a death ray again this week. Bright Shadow wants us to go check it out. Ugh, we're with Clyde too. I can't stand that guy."

Eva sighed, "Dammit. Ok, lemme just get changed quick. You gonna bring us?"

"Yep," Leah replied. "Meet me in parking lot when you're done. And tell Clyde that if he pukes again, I'm leaving him with Hornet's henchmen this time."

-----

When Leah teleported the three of them to the top of the sky scraper where the death ray was located, three villains were already waiting for them: Ember, the flame thrower, Silver Streak, the speedster, and someone she had never fought before. The unknown villain had a green mask covering his face, and what looked like cargo pants with dozens of pockets.

Ember looked at the group of heroes. "Well, well, well, what do we have here. Come to stop our evil plan I suppose?"

Leah, or as she was known at work, Slip Space, replied, "You will never succeed in your plan, Iz- I mean, Ember, heroes always win."

Ember narrowed her eyes. "I guess we'll have to see about that." Without warning, Ember launched a fireball at Slip Space, who then disappeared and reappeared behind Ember.

The other villains took that as a signal, and attacked, with Silver Streak going after Clyde, leaving Eva facing off with the new guy.

The guy in green opened up one of the many pockets in his cargo pants, and took out a handful of some powdery things that he threw at Eva.

She sneezed. "What is that, pollen? That's not gonna do shi-"

Before Eva could get another word out, the powder expanded into thick vines that wrapped around her entire body.

The guy in green laughed. "That's what you get for picking a fight with Chokeweed."

Eva grinned. "Well, you shouldn't have picked a fight with Electra!"

She flexed her hands, and a bolt of white lightning fried the vines holding her, and blasted Chokeweed backwards, knocking him unconscious.

Eva looked over to her co-workers, to find that they had similarly beat their opponents. Leah was tying up Ember and Silver Streak, and was talking to them, probably reprimanding them about how evil always loses, and that being bad guys is well, bad.

Eva shot a bolt of lightning at the death ray, destroying it, and then Leah took them all back to headquarters.

-----

The next day, Eva got to the coffee shop at the same time as yesterday. She scanned around the building quickly, but didn't see the man from yesterday. Disappointed, she walked up to the counter to order.

"Don't bother," said a voice from behind her. "I already got you one."

Spinning around, she saw the same guy from yesterday, holding two drinks.

"Hey! I was supposed to buy those!"

The guy laughed. "Oops, I forgot. Next time you can buy. My name is Ethan, by the way."

Eva laughed. "Bold of you to assume that there will be a next time. My name is Eva."

-----

A week later, Eva was once again late to work after losing track of time while on a walk with Ethan. Breathless, she attached herself to Leah, who was just about to leave with Jack on their way to stop Red Hornet's villains from robbing a bank.

"Nice of you to show up," Jack teased her as they made their way up to the bank.

"I'm sorry, but I've been seeing this guy, and I lost track of time."

Jack laughed. "It's all good, bro, I do that all the time with my boyfriend."

The three heroes were met at the bank enterence by Silver Streak, Chokeweed, and the shifter named Menagerie.

Slip Space and Jack Frost faced up against Silver Streak and Menagerie, once again leaving Eva with Chokeweed.

The hero and villain were better matched off this time, and their battle was the longest one. It finally ended with Eva shooting a razer strength bolt at Chokeweed, which blew him backwards and knocked his mask off.

Sauntering over to him, Eva was about to deliver her well rehearsed hero speech, when she stopped, shocked to her core.

"Ethan?" she cried, thunderstruck.

"How do you know- Eva!?"

Eva turned and ran away, leaving her colleagues to deal with the villains.

-----

"Hey, Leah, can I talk you you?"

Leah looked up from her sandwich. "Go for it," she said, taking a bite.

"So, there's this guy I've been kinda seeing, and I really like him, but-"

Intrigued, Leah said, "Go on."

"But, he, he works for Red Hornet. We've fought him before. He's a villain."

Leah blinked at Eva. "So?"

"So? What do you mean 'so'. He's a villain. We're heroes. We are on opposite sides. Good versus evil. I can't go out with him!"

Leah started to giggle. "Eva. That doesn't matter. All that hero, villain stuff, that's just work, babe. None of that lasts outside of work hours. Heck, even within work hours."

Dumbfounded, Eva replied, "What?"

Still laughing, Leah said, "Dude. Izzy, Ember, carpools with Jack every time they go to the same event. Jack is dating Menagerie, who is actually named Thomas. Ember is Jessie's twin sister and my best friend. Me, Jessie and Jack hang out with Izzy, Thomas, and Adam, Silver Streak, all the time. So don't go all Romeo and Juliet on us over literally nothing. Look, I know Izzy was mentioning a new guy over there, who didn't have many friends at work. I'll get her to invite him to games night, and you two can be on a team. So just pop a chill pill, and we'll see you at my place on Wednesday."

Leah walked away, and Eva went home to call Ethan, and re-evaluate her entire life.

[talkfastromance4]

Fractures– Calum Hood (Part III soulmate!au)

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Copyright talkfastromance4 © All works is intellectual property of the author. All rights reserved. Any redistribution or reproduction or any part or all contents in any form is prohibited. You may not, without written expression and consent from the author, distribute works amongst other social media platforms

Word count: 6.3k

Warnings: casual drinking, angst, smut and more angst

Song inspiration: Clementine by Halsey (because of the color imagery), In Your Eyes by The Weeknd, Hesitate by the Jonas Brothers, Deathbeds by Bring Me The Horizon

Author’s Note: yes the graduation is unrealistic to be done that fast but hey, that’s the magic of writing, anything is possible :)

donate to my ko-fi here :)

Masterlist

The Click (Part I) || Measured in Momentes (Part II)

Enjoy! :) feedback is always welcome

• • • •

With classes finally finished, Rose and Calum can finally spend more time with each other without the school curriculum hanging over their heads. To celebrate, they sat at their usual booth in The Dainty Dove where they had their first date nine months ago. Tracey is always their waitress when they come in and she even gave them a sundae for dessert, on the house for their classes being finished.

They tried eating at La Perle a few times but when they giggled a little too loudly and received one too many looks from the other guests, they decided that The Dainty Dove is their spot.

Full of their dinner and complimentary sundae, Rose and Calum arrive at his place satisfied and happy. Rose is excited to sleep in tomorrow as she doesn’t have a shift at the CBS until Wednesday, an end of school year gift from Teresa. The couple climb the stairs to Calum’s bedroom, their movements a bit sluggish as they brush their teeth and wash their faces. Calum makes a big show when Rose changes in front of him, he always lets out a low whistle of appreciation. Rose always responds with a blushed smile that he adores.

When they crawl under the covers, Duke climbs his own little stairs so he can lay curled at their feet, Calum pulls her close and kisses her forehead. He keeps his lips pressed there, inhaling her rose and rainwater scent that he loves so much.

“How does it feel finishing your first year of school?” she asks quietly, her fingers trailing to his neck so she can twirl the strands.

“Great, it was a lot of work but I’m glad I did it,” he grins in the dark. He kisses her forehead once more before shifting onto his pillow. “How about you, Rosie?”

“I’m proud of myself. When I tried college the first time, I couldn’t manage my time well and didn’t really have the motivation like I do now. I can’t wait to go back but I’m excited for the summer.”

“I am too. We’re going to do so much together I bet you’ll get sick of me,” he chuckles slipping his hand beneath his t-shirt she’s wearing. He rubs gentle circles on her lower back.

“I’m not sick of you yet,” she giggles then her voice turns serious with a twinge of hesitancy. “I’ll never get sick of you. Will you get sick of me?”

“Never, sweetheart,” he promises. “You’re my one love.”

“You’re my only love.”

Whenever one of them utters the ‘L’ word, the warmth in their chests glows a little brighter each time. Since that first night when they both said it, the glow seems to grow stronger. As their relationship grows, so does the light within them. Hers is a burning red while his is a warm golden yellow that only the two of them can see.

“Even your heart’s like a rose,” he’d told her one night while they laid under the moon, hands on each other’s chests, right over each other’s hearts so the light would shine through.

As time progressed, the glow began to hum quietly, their love growing stronger. A small vibration within their chests that synced their hearts perfectly.

If one of them were feeling an emotion strongly, the other could feel it as well. One time while Calum was out for a drink with Luke, he suddenly felt incredibly sad and the hum inside him intensified. Instinct made him call Rose immediately only to discover that she found out her grandmother had passed away.

Another instance was when Rose was working a night shift at the CBS and while she was wiping the counters, she felt white hot anger blooming inside her. It was so intense that she threw the sanitizing spray bottle against the wall with her chest feeling equally as hot as her temper. Intuition told her to call Calum. Turns out he was frustrated with one of his assignments.

While they were both in each other’s arms, lips traveling over skin, ragged breaths letting out gasps and moans, the hum became more of a racing flutter. As if their hearts sang to each other whenever they connected so intimately; the most intimate way you can connect with someone. It strengthened even more in that instant when they declared, ‘I love you’ and their bodies were paralyzed for the smallest moment as the euphoria was exchanged.

“Have you fallen asleep on me?” his deep voice pulls Rose from her thoughts.

“No, just taking a walk down memory lane.”

“Can I join you?”

They continue talking until Rose eventually falls asleep, she’s always the first one to fall asleep. Calum counts her breathing which usually helps him lull into his slumber, but he has music notes floating behind his eyelids. He hums the melody out loud, pair that with her breathing he does eventually slip into sleep.

The next morning, Rose awakens to an empty side of the bed. She feels a sort of melancholy in her chest, and it’s when she lifts her head up that she hears it. The soft strum of guitar strings harmonizing with the low tone of Calum’s voice drifts into the room. Curious, she follows the melody to Calum’s music room a few doors down from his bedroom.

She’s only been in there once when he gave her a tour of the house. Rose has never seen him in there then she’s suddenly filled with guilt that she took him away from making music. He took the year off, she knows that, but did that mean he took a year off from creating music? He wrote lyrics constantly, some he even shared with her, but she’s never heard him sing like this.

Rose peeks around the corner to see him sitting in his swivel chair, beanie atop his head while he sings his song. She can barely make out the words but picks up on a few . . . ‘home . . . calling me . . . back to you . . . my home . . .’

The wood creaks when she leans on it more, alerting Calum of her presence and his head lifts quickly. Their gazes meet, she’s filled with more sadness as she stares into his eyes and begins to cry.

“Why are you crying?”

“Why are you sad?”

Their questions overlap then Calum sets his guitar on the ground. He motions for her to join him with his fingers and she shuffles in, wiping the tears from her cheeks. Calum drags her onto his lap, his thumb drying her cheeks even more.

“I don’t mean to cry,” she blubbers as more tears fall against her will, “I can feel how sad you are.”

“I’m sorry baby,” he sighs. “I had this melody in my head, and I got to thinking of back home and had to let it out. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

“I’m just too sensitive,” she giggles wetly. “We can go to Australia if you want, it isn’t fun being homesick.”

“You’re perfect,” he shakes his head then kisses her cheek. “Home is wherever I’m with you, sweetheart.”

***

Rose stands next to Ruby while Calum and the others are skirting around backstage preparing for the Friends of Friends show they’re putting on tonight. It’s a few hours until doors will open, and Rose is enjoying watching Calum in his element, it’s a side she hasn’t seen before.

He’s approached by a lot of people while he’s setting the stage with speakers and cords. She can hear the sense of authority in his voice as he instructs them on what to do or where to go. He catches her eye, shoots her a wink and Rose giggles while she waves at him.

“Can I ask you something?” Ruby asks swirling her black straw in her vodka soda. The ice clinks hard against the glass that her eyes are glued to.

“Anything,” Rose shifts so she can rest her elbow on the bar top. She and Ruby have become quite close, Rose considers her a best friend.

“When . . . how did Cal tell you the ‘L’ word?” her honey brown eyes lift to meet Rose’s dark blue.

“It was right before we were leaving to meet you and Ash for dinner, actually,” Rose starts, “I wrote a poem that had the word in it. He found it and I felt embarrassed but then he said it and I said it and . . . something changed when we did.”

“What changed?”

Rose glances up at Calum who is now lifting a large speaker onto his shoulder. The action made his shirt tug open revealing a triangular view of his chest, allowing some of his tattoos peek out. Even from this distance, she can faintly hear the hum of his heart, and see the glow in his chest radiating dimly. She feels her own heart leap at the connection.

“It’s like our hearts met,” Rose finally says turning her attention to Ruby. “They synced up somehow and we can really sense what the other is feeling.”

“Is there a glow? Or a light? I’ve been doing some research on soulmates and not many people are like you and Calum. I’ve only read about two others who have said the ‘L’ word and they spoke of a light.”

“Yeah, there is a glow. When we first said it, it was like it transferred between us, his is more of a warm yellow and mine is red. The hum has become more recent. We’re still trying to figure it all out ourselves.”

“That’s . . . interesting,” Ruby swirls her straw in her glass again. She’s not acting like herself; she’s being very reserved compared to her usual frenzy energy.

“Rue, do you want to say it to Ashton?” Rose asks softly.

“Yes. Maybe. I’m not sure,” Ruby sighs. “I’ve been feeling different lately. I think I almost said it yesterday while we were doing yoga. It might have just been the moment of calm or something but I... I felt it. In my chest.”

“Why didn’t you say it?”

“What if he doesn’t say it back?”

Rose rests her hand on Ruby’s shoulder, giving her a tight squeeze. “How could he not? You’re soulmates.”

When the show started, Rose and Ruby were near the front of the stage, drinks in hand while they watched other performers. The first act was an indie pop duo that used synthesizers in their sound. It made the whole room vibrate and combined with their voices you could really feel the emotion in their songs.

Rose snapped photos and took videos of each performance afterward, a DJ with intense transitions, a male singer that only used a ukulele as his instrument and then a small girl band that got the crowd hyped up for 5 Seconds of Summer to end the show.

Rose could feel her heart thumping against her ribs, it’s a mix of nerves and excitement and she knows it’s what Calum is feeling. The lights go down and she can see Calum and the others walk onstage while a few people cheer and clap in anticipation. Ashton snaps his sticks together just as the lights turn red, they’re under a hazy glow as Michael’s guitar tunes in place and their voices start harmonizing.

Her heart leaps in her chest as she watches Calum completely in his element.  His fingers work the bass meticulously and when he’s at the keyboard, he still finds a groove with the music, letting it work through his whole body.

Rose’s favorite part of the performance is Wildflower. She can’t take her eyes off him and he can’t take his eyes off her. He enjoys watching her dance and sing along just as much as she enjoys seeing him perform. Their hearts are in sync, their glow starts to grow, and their eyes stay locked on one another.

When the show is over, Rose and Ruby are ushered backstage to meet the guys. They’re all taking a final bow while also ending the night with their gratitude and love for the crowd joining them. Calum leads the pack offstage, his eyes searching for Rose.

Once they’re finally together, she springs into his waiting arms. His body is warm and a little damp from playing but his cologne tickles her nose in the best way possible as she praises him in his ear, Calum’s arms around her tighten in response.

“You liked it?” he asks in her ear.

Rose pulls her head from his neck to smile at him, her fingers wipe the small beads of sweat above his eyebrow. “I loved it, you’re so good, honey.”

Calum grins widely before pressing his lips to hers.

***

Calum wakes with a pounding headache. He wishes it were from a hangover but instead, his fight with Rose still replays in his head. He rubs his eyes with the heels of his hand, getting rid of the sleep and attempting to rub the pain in his head away.

He stares at the ceiling wondering how it all went wrong from such a perfect weekend.

Calum had reserved the whole restaurant of The Dainty Dove for Rose’s birthday Saturday evening so that all her friends, coworkers, and those close to her could celebrate her birthday. He wanted the whole day to be special, so he woke up early to retrieve her favorite coffee and cranberry orange muffin from below in the CBS from Teresa.

He placed one red candle in the center of the muffin then proceeded to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ softly until Rose roused awake. Her eyes widened at the sight before her, smile apparent on her face. When Calum finished singing, she blew out the candle then gave Calum a grateful kiss.

After sharing the muffin, the pair showered together where Calum presented her with intimate touches and wandering kisses. Rose’s moans echoed against the shower tiles while he gifted her three times. The rest of the day consisted of pampering and then a lunch with Calum’s sister, Mali-Koa.

He loves how well Rose and his sister get along, they clicked instantly—which is a little ironic on its own since that’s what Rose and Calum felt when they first met-- when she visited over the holidays. A friendship quickly formed between the two and they contacted each other frequently.

When dinnertime rolled around, the two soulmates walked hand in hand inside The Dainty Dove. Rose was shocked at the party he formed for her, tears in her eyes as everyone hugged her. The night was filled with laughter, food, drinks and dancing.

While he was speaking with Luke and Ashton about the direction they wanted to take with the next album, Rose slipped her fingers through Calum’s and pulled him to the makeshift dance floor. Michael was the DJ and the all too familiar intro to ‘In Your Eyes’ by The Weeknd started to play and Rose started to dance loosely against him.

Their fingers locked and unlocked when he’d spin her away from him only to hold her even tighter against his chest, her hips rotating with his. His lips pressed to her neck, smiling against her skin as he breathed her in. She spun around and laced her fingers behind his neck, their eyes met.

“Thank you for this, I love you,” she told him, and her chest bloomed in that warm red.

“I love you, sweetheart,” he grinned, the warm yellow glow came to life in his own chest. Their colors lit up their faces, as if the sunset were settled between them.

He held her hand while he led everyone in singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her over a large cake decorated with blooming roses in every shade. After she blew out her candles, she kissed him, and  he could feel her gratitude from her lips.

Calum watches the coffee trickle into the pot as he thinks over the last 48 hours. After some cake, more dancing and drinking, Calum took Rose home. Then on Sunday, they went over to Ashton and Ruby’s for brunch. Rose moved sluggishly but as soon as she got a sip of coffee in her she was fine. Then the fight happened.

“I’m excited to get back into the studio after all this time, this was a good idea to take a year off,” Luke said shoveling more scrambled eggs on his plate.

“That’s great! Do you think you’ll tour next year then?” Rose said while she was buttering a cranberry muffin and then an awkward silence fell amongst the friends. Rose glanced up, looking from each pair of eyes until she landed on Calum who was pointedly avoiding hers.

“Uh, we were discussing touring towards the end of this year,” Luke informed, his fork still holding some eggs.

“Oh, right, of course,” Rose nodded then remained silent while the conversation picked back up.

She picked at her food, half listening and half in her thoughts. If they were planning on touring towards the end of the year, that’s in the middle of the school term. Rose felt Calum trying to catch her gaze throughout the rest of brunch, but she made sure not to meet his eyes. She’s hurt he didn’t tell her any of this and saddened that their summer of spending time together is now inevitably diminished. She hugged and kissed the others goodbye and gave Calum a cold, hard look before they exited the house.

“I’m sorry, I was going to talk to you about all this,” Calum said once they were in the privacy of his car.

“When?” Rose tried to keep her tone even.

“Definitely not on your birthday weekend,” he sighed then reached over to grab her hand. She pulled away. Defeated, he rests his arm on the center console, preparing himself for the aftermath of Luke’s slip of information.

“Then when Calum? I didn’t even know you were going back to the studio soon, or that you wanted an album to be released in what... the next four or five months? When were you going to tell me, you weren’t going back to school?” she tried to keep her tone even, but her anger quivered through her lips and Calum felt her anger shake in his chest.

“We all agreed to the one-year break, I love school, but I’ve given up a lot for this band. I can’t bail on them now.”

“You can’t bail on yourself either, you love school. I don’t think you should drop out.”

“I can’t do both. I don’t really have much of a say, Rosie.”

“Yes, you do! You have a lot of say! I know the band and music is important to you, it’s a part of who you are and what makes you, you. I don’t think you should drop out,” she shook her head.

“It’s not your decision to make,” he mumbled but Rose heard him.

She snapped her head in his direction, her heart jumped to her throat and her airway felt trapped from his words.

“Looks like you made the decision to not discuss anything with me,” her voice shook but this time with tears creeping up.

Calum felt the change within him, he’s never felt this way before, and he stared at her, but Rose kept her face turned out her window.

“Rosie—”

“Take me home.”

“Ro—”

“Please, Calum, take me home. . .” she whispered then sucked in harshly, keeping her tears in.

When he pulled up to the CBS, he tried to reach for her, but Rose fumbled her way out of the car as fast as she could then walked swiftly inside. She didn’t even turn around. Calum sat frozen for a few moments, paralyzed at their first big fight. He could still feel her emotions within him, his chest rattled when he finally pulled away to go home.

His own eyes filled with angry tears, he desperately wanted to turn around so he could comfort her, but he knew she needed to be alone.

Calum hasn’t heard from Rose since yesterday after he dropped her off. He’s tried calling and texting her, but he’s left on voicemail and on read. He goes through the motions of making his coffee, he even made Rose’s coffee how she likes it without realizing it.

His front door slams open and he rushes towards it, thinking it’s Rose and they can finally talk and make up. He sees his sister standing there instead. Although he’s happy to see her, he’s disappointed it’s not his Rose.

“Hey,” he mumbles.

“You’re an idiot, little brother. Why aren’t you over at Rose’s place apologizing?” Mali-Koa demands, arms crossed over her chest.

“I’ve been trying! She hasn’t responded back and won’t take my calls. She’s upset, she needs space.”

“Maybe last night but not right now. You really hurt her feelings by keeping all of this from her. She’s your partner, hell, she’s your soulmate, Cal. Your life and her life are intertwined forever, you shouldn’t keep things from her.”

“You don’t think I know that? I had no idea how to bring it up to her! I can feel exactly what she’s feeling right now…” he seethes as his emotions and Rose’s collide within him. Then he gives his sister a confused look, “How do you know we’re in a fight?”

“We were supposed to go shopping and get lunch, but she cancelled on me and I asked if she was all right and she told me everything. Find a way to finish school, it’s clearly important to her that you do,” she says earnestly. “I came here to talk sense into you. Go to her, Cal.”

In a split moment of hesitation, Calum darts upstairs to grab his shoes and change quickly into something other than just his basketball shorts. When he gets downstairs and grabs his keys, Duke is in his sister’s arms.

“I got Duke; you stay with her until this is resolved.”

“Thanks, you’re the best,” he huffs giving her a quick kiss to her cheek then makes his way to his girl.

Calum already had his key ready as he took the steps to Rose’s apartment two at a time. He’s breathless when he opens the door to find her exactly where he knew she’d be, in her bed with one of his sweatshirts on. As soon as she sees him, Rose bounds from the safety of her warm bed right into her arms. He caught a glimpse of her red face and swollen eyes before he held her tightly against his chest.

When they connected, Calum felt her emotions finally break. His own chest broke open while hers did. He took her sadness, anger, and frustration as his own and held her through the release. Hot tears sprung from his own eyes, they held each other tightly until the silent storm passed.

Once her body stopped trembling, Calum pushes her away slightly so he can look into her eyes. He frames her cheeks with his hands, his forehead knocks against hers.

“I’m sorry sweetheart,” he sighs, “I should’ve told you from the beginning what me and the guys were discussing about the studio and the album and touring. Touring isn’t even set in stone yet; I don’t know why Luke said that in the first place.”

“But what about school? What about me?”

Calum’s heart nearly broke at her last question. She doesn’t think he’d leave her behind does she?

“I’ll—we can figure this all out. Together, yeah?” he asks, and she nods before leaning up to press her lips to his. “Let me get you some water and we can talk about it.”

Rose went back to her bed while he poured her a glass of cold water, a trick he learned that when she’s upset, she either splashes cold water on her face or drinks a whole glass. He joins her in the middle of her bed, and she drinks half the glass before snuggling against him.

They discuss the pros and cons of quitting school, pros and cons of him being at the studio nearly everyday this summer and what touring would look like if it happened at the end of the year. As they talked, Calum felt her emotions lower and that hum in his chest became more of a steady vibration. Her hand rested on his chest with his own covering hers. Occasionally he’d lower his head so he could kiss her fingertips.

By the end of their discussion, he decided to finish school online and promised they would still spend a lot of their summer together. Touring was still up in the air but if it were to happen, she would fly out during breaks and he’d fly back to her when they’d have a longer lag between shows.

“Can I ask you something?” he asks while they’re still lying together in her bed. Their fingers lock and unlock on his chest. She nods against his shoulder. “Why do you want me to finish school so badly?”

“Because, it’s what brought you to me.”

***

One Year Later

Graduation day. A day that both Calum and Rose have been waiting for. Their friends watched them walk across the stage and toss their caps into the air. Ruby even snapped a photo of them giving each other a celebratory kiss as the caps fell around them.

Their graduation party is held at none other than The Dainty Dove where Tracey helped decorate the restaurant with streamers, balloons, signs and each table had their own centerpiece of a ‘Congrats Grads!’

It was a day of celebration of their endeavors, and for Rose and Calum, it was a night of reminiscing as they sat out on his patio once the festivities were over.

He’s sat on a chair, his dress shirt unbuttoned, his tie loose and hanging down his chest when Rose saunters out still in her dress but barefoot. A champagne bottle is clutched between her fingers.

“Hey grad,” she smiles and fits herself onto his lap comfortably.

“Hi beautiful,” he grins, arms wrapping around her body. He notices the cork is still in the bottle then glances up at her. “Need help opening this?”

“Please,” she giggles, “the pop scares me.”

Calum kisses her cheek before unwinding his arms from her then presses the bottle against his lower stomach. Rose covers her ears but still jumps and squeals when he pops the cork. It flies into the pool and a little bit of the bubbly flows over onto the concrete making Calum to lean forward and slurp some of it up. He doesn’t want it to get on Rose and make her sticky.

“Thank you, honey,” she praises resting her arm around his broad shoulders, her nails rub the nape of his neck as he hands her the bottle.

“To you, college graduate,” he toasts.

Rose holds the neck of the bottle and takes a hearty swallow; her eyes tear up a little from the alcohol and the bubbles. She holds it out to him.

“To you, college graduate,” she smiles, and he drinks the same amount as she did. He smacks his lips together leaning forward to give her a kiss. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Thank you. I’m proud of you, sweetheart, and us, we’ve accomplished a lot this year.”

“We did, didn’t we? I can’t believe I’ve been living here for six months,” she sighs resting her head against his temple, the champagne bottle nestled in her lap.

It was an easy transition of her moving in with Calum even if it was in the middle of their second school year. Nearly all her things were at his place anyway and she was always there after school. Or he’d be at her place a lot of the time, it only made sense to move into his place because the space was bigger, and Duke had a yard to run around it.

“It’s been an exciting six months,” he nods. His fingers tickle up and down her thigh. “Speaking of six months, Honey’s going to be that old next week.”

Rose glances over to their new family member behind Calum—a golden retriever named Honey—as she sleeps soundly against the glass sliding door inside the house. Duke is next to her, snuggled against her body and Rose giggles at the pair thinking of Calum’s nickname for them: Honey Duke’s like from Harry Potter.

“She’s getting so big; I wish she could stay the same size as Duke.”

“Yeah, I need to get used to having a medium sized dog now,” Calum chuckles. “But she’ll be his protector I’m sure.”

“Hey, you know what we should do?” Rose perks up, Calum looks at her expectantly, his dark eyebrows rising slightly. “Can we go to Paris again before the album release next month? I loved it when we went on spring break.”

Calum smiles at the memories of walking along the Seine and down the streets of Paris, Rose’s hand in his. The pictures from their trip are hung in a frame that resembles the Eiffel Tower in their living room. At the center is a photo of them kissing in front of the tower as it’s lit up in a dazzling light show behind them. To their surprise, somehow both of their glows in their chests appeared in the photo.

The other frames were of them in the streets of Paris, on a bridge, in front of the Notre Dame and other fun selfies they took. They were only there for a week because of spring break and if they went now, they would go for at least three. Rose fell in love with Paris which didn’t surprise him.

“Of course, we can, sweetheart. The bread and cheese here just doesn’t taste the same.”

They pass the champagne bottle back and forth, enjoying their moment of memories, happiness from the day and excitement for the future to come. Rose has interviews with magazines and a few publishing companies she’ll hopefully end up working for. But right now, it’s just the two of them.

“I actually have a graduation gift for you,” he says suddenly when the champagne bottle is half empty and pressed to Rose’s lips.

She splutters on her sip, wiping her chin of the dribble, eyes wide.

“Cal, we said no graduation gifts to each other,” she reprimands.

“I know, but I couldn’t help myself. C’mon,” he pats the side of her butt affectionately. “It’s in the bedroom.”

With their fingers loosely locked, they traipse inside to their room where the dogs follow them as soon as they heard movement. Rose takes one more sip of the champagne, feeling the bubbles dance inside her head as she watches Calum take a last sip before resting it on the dresser. He pushes her to sit onto the edge of the bed and he scrambles through his bookbag.

Rose watches him curiously when he pulls out a small black book. He holds it out to her, and she sees the words mon unique amour encrypted in gold lettering. Calum kneels in front of her as she opens the book gasping when she sees it’s filled with little poems and song lyrics that he’s written about her and for her.

Tears spring in her eyes as she pages through the words of his love then at the last page is a note from him that reads:

No amount of words will convey my love for you, but I’ll never stop writing of the love we have. It has powers to cross the deepest oceans, withstand any storm and shines brighter than the sun. You’re my light, my life, my one love and my soulmate. I will follow you to the ends of the earth. I have to ask you something, so look up at me with those beautiful eyes you have, sweetheart. . . .

She looks up at him and he’s holding a diamond ring between his fingers, she didn’t even notice he was knelt on one knee. Rose snaps the book shut setting it next to her on the bed, her attention on Calum

“Will you marry me, Rose?” he grins, his own eyes a little glossy.

Rose caresses his face as she gives out a shaky “yes” and then he slips the ring on her finger. She pulls him closer by the collar of his shirt so she can press her lips to his.

“I love you so much,” she sighs pulling him even more over her body. Her hands are making quick work of untucking his shirt from his dress pants. The vibration in her chest buzzes, Calum hoists her further into the center of their bed helping her remove his shirt and tie from his neck.

“I love you more than words,” he sighs when her nails grate down his chest then to the buttons of his pants.

Once he’s undressed, he helps her tug her dress off her body. Her chest is glowing red, illuminating her face in a rosy glow just as his own chest radiates the sun into his eyes. Their lips connect, he rubs himself against her core while his hand hooks her leg over his hip.

She sighs in his ear while he suckles on her neck and his fingers tease her entrance open meticulously. Her body moves like a wave beneath his as he works her over. When she orgasms, Calum situates himself more in between her thighs, his tip paused at her entrance.

Slowly and oh so gently, he laces his fingers through hers, both watching the diamond on her finger sparkle in the lowlight of the moon spilling into their room. He thrusts his hips forward slowly, filling her up inch by pleasurable inch. He watches in fascination as her mouth falls open, a quiet sigh slipping out and her chest blooms like the beautiful Rose that she is just as his own sunshine radiates outward.

Together, bodies moving in tandem with their love in a continuous loop, the colors of their hearts form an even darker orange. Their heart and soul reach a new level as the color bursts forth, exploding behind their eyes as they come together in a rush of passion. Their love is transcending, and it leaves them both breathless.

**

Calum just replied to Rose to drive safe on her way to the venue where they’re hosting another Friends of Friends show. He arrived earlier with Ashton and Ruby to help set up and go over last-minute things with the artists while Rose had some errands to run. She’s running a little late right now and a storm is coming; he knows how much she hates storms let alone driving in them.

It’s been a week since their graduation and engagement and Calum felt like he was walking on air. Since that night, their love has never felt more solid and their sixth sense of feeling each other’s emotions have changed to more selective sensations. Currently, they’ve both felt nothing but pure joy, but it radiated throughout their entire being.

While Calum is bringing in more equipment from the trucks out back, he notices the dark clouds approaching at a faster rate. Members of the crew offer their congratulations on the graduation and his engagement to Rose as they pass him by.

The stage is nearly set up when Calum scans the crowd that’s formed in front of the stage and has asked around of Rose has arrived yet. He’s met with disappointment that she hasn’t, and he checks his phone. She read his message twenty-five minutes ago, she should be here by now.

“She’ll be here soon,” Luke tries to console him, “you know how LA traffic is.”

“Yeah, but there’s a storm coming. She hates them and hates them even more while she drives. They make her nervous,” Calum stresses.

“Have you tried calling her?”

“I don’t want to distract her,” he shakes his head then hefts a speaker into his arms.

His mind is on Rose while he balances the speaker on the stand next to Ashton’s set as Ashton is securing the bolts.

Suddenly, Calum is filled with a heavy pain in his head and chest. It’s almost as if his heart is screaming and he’s blinded by a bright light that makes him collapse to the floor. The speaker is busted, and Ashton is by his best friend’s side immediately.

Distantly, Calum hears his friends calling his name, but he feels as if his head is about to split open, his chest already feels like it has. He doesn’t know how long he’s stuck in this pain filled moment of time but when he comes to, the bright light fades away and he’s staring at Ashton who is somehow still in dark shadows. He’s looking at him as if he were outside for hours without sunglasses on and his eyes are still adjusting to the indoors. He blinks rapidly trying to get normal color back.

Once he’s back in focus, his head is spinning uncontrollably, he feels nauseous from it all and dry heaves. He feels hands on him trying to push him back onto his back and others trying to tilt him over in case he does get sick.

As quick as it started, it all goes away. The burning warmth and constant hum he’s felt in his chest since he and Rose said ‘I love you’ is drifting away until he can barely feel it anymore. Panicking, he looks down at his chest, the new orange color that was created a week ago after they made love is changing back to his personal golden yellow.

“Cal! What’s happening?!” Ashton shouts shaking his friend, his voice and eyes filled with worry as Calum stares back up at him.

“Rose!” he chokes out then he hears ghostly sirens in his head and his world goes dark.

• • • •

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**if your url has a strike through it’s because your blog didn’t show up as a tag! :(

[mcwriting]

La Vita Dolce

[Edit] Before you read this, I scheduled this post last week and forgot about it until I logged on and realized it had posted. I want to take a minute to recognize George Floyd. This was in no way uploaded to diminish this situation or pretend like it hasn’t happened. It was a disgusting act of violence and murder.

Thank you for understanding, and I hope you can all forgive my carelessness.

------

Hiiii everyone. I know you all just want me to update starstruck or release the London boy sequel but here’s this instead ;)

Tbh it’s mostly an excuse for me to use some of my Italian in a one shot but it’s cute too!

Fandom: Tom Holland

Ship: Tom x reader

Setting: Venice, Italy

Word Count: 2678

Warnings: Alcohol consumption, but that’s it I think

Rating: K 

+

Early summer in Italy was like no other. 

Sure it was a little hot, but heat didn’t beat the beautiful sights, delicious food, and incredible history it held. 

Studying abroad in Venice was like a dream. You’d found a small group to hang with from your classes, and they were happy to have you around to translate since you’d studied the language back home first.

With only a week left to go, you all headed to a bar near Piazza San Marco for some Saturday-night bellinis. You ordered for everyone and waited for the drinks, conversing with the bartender in Italian.

Nearby, you’d caught the eye of a certain brunette boy seated with his friends drinking negronis. 

“Look at that girl, mate. There’s just something about the Italians,” quipped a very tipsy Tom Holland. “Too bad she probably doesn’t speak any English.”

Once retrieving the beverages, your group unknowingly sat at a table right near Tom’s, where you proposed a toast.

“A la vita dolce! Cin cin!” you exclaimed, your friends echoing the last part. (To the sweet life! Cheers!)

Afterwards, you reverted back to English in your typical accent as if nothing had ever happened.

Tom was shocked. He’d been convinced you were a native speaker. Unfortunately for him and you, however, the alcohol was taking a toll on him, and he resigned himself back to his hotel before he did something stupid.

+

Tuesday afternoon you were free, so your group decided to head back to Piazza San Marco to go take pictures at the docks and maybe grab a gelato.

Unfortunately, that plan was derailed when you found the square blocked off and a crew with cameras and other equipment. You were about to head back when you heard a male voice shouting.

“Chi vorrebbe essere in un film?”

“What’s that?” one friend, Sabrina, asked.

“He’s asking if anyone wants to be in a movie,” you answered. “They must be looking for extras.”

“We totally should!” the other, Anthony, exclaimed.

You all looked at each other. You were dressed decently enough, more like locals than tourists, and you weren’t doing anything better. So, you headed over.

“Lo vorremmo fare, signore,” you said upon coming closer.  (We would like to do it, sir)

“Ah, perfetto! Voi siete perfetti! Seguitemi, per piacere.” (Ah, perfect! You all are perfect! Follow me, please.)

After signing a few papers and explaining that you were Americans and mostly spoke English, you were led to wait with the other extras who were a decent mix of Italian and English speaking people. 

There was still no indication of what they were filming, but suddenly your stomach dropped and heart about leapt from your chest when you saw Tom Holland pass by.

“Ohhhhh man. Oh no. Guys did you see that? That was Tom. Holland. that just walked by. This is insane! How did I not know he was in town!”

Your friends and you tried to stay calm as more time passed and finally a director came to give everyone instructions.

The scene involved Tom talking with someone, so the extras were placed around the piazza doing different activities. You and your friends were sat at a little table to fake talking over glasses of wine.

A while later, Tom and the other cast came out to discuss the scene and do some blocking. You watched them converse, taking a mental image of how Tom looked in costume and the way his hair was styled.

While the director spoke to someone else, you accidentally made eye contact with Tom, who scrunched his eyebrows in confusion at you before turning towards a voice calling his name.

“Woah. Tom Holland just looked at us! This is the best day of my life!” Sabrina said quietly amongst you. 

“Yeah that’s awesome, but did you see the look he gave me? That was really strange,” you followed.

“Maybe you looked familiar,” she replied, so you shrugged it off and prepared for the first take.

+

Many takes later (which involved the actors breaking a few times), and everyone was taking a break to change camera angles and use the bathroom. The extras were allowed to stop by craft services and grab some water as it was a hot day.

While there, you noticed some people going up to Tom to meet him, but you stayed behind to respect his space. You instead continued to watch him while your friends took pictures and talked excitedly with another pair of Americans.

Again, you made eye contact with him, so you quickly darted your eyes away, pretending to join the conversation. 

You became more self aware about how you looked, even though you knew you were fine. You’d worn a flowy floral dress and some nice sandals for pictures, and your hair and makeup were lightly done to compliment the look.

You glanced over again and he was still looking at you, which was getting on your nerves. You were seriously considering going to ask what his problem was when a crew member came to tell everyone to head back to set.

As you began walking that way, you took one last glance back at Tom, who was smiling at you, and quickly described what happened to Sabrina and Anthony.

+

Another set of takes and you paused again to prepare for one last camera set up. This time, your group decided to remain at the table and enjoy the piazza’s views like you’d initially planned.

A few minutes passed of you all just enjoying your time when Sabrina hit your arm lightly.

“Omg y/n!”

“What? Is there a pigeon above me?” you asked, ducking.

“No it’s, it’s-”

“Hi there, sorry to interrupt,” a British male voice spoke. 

You froze momentarily, then slowly turned to see Tom standing right next to you, causing your heartbeat to once again go wild. He looked at you directly.

“Sorry if I was making you uncomfortable earlier, but would you have happened to be at the bar just down that way Saturday?” he asked, pointing vaguely to his right.

“The one around the corner?” you countered. He nodded. “Yeah, actually. We were out celebrating the end of our classes this week. How come?”

There was no way this was happening, right?

“Well, I was there with some mates and thought I recognized you. You speak Italian, right?”

You chuckled at his (correct) claim.

“Yeah, I do. I’m usually the translator for these two fools,” you joked, gesturing forward to your friends. “I’m assuming you heard me speaking to the bartender?”

“Yeah. I actually thought you were a local until I heard you speak English. I was gonna try and talk to you but I was intimidated and my mates needed me to get home. Let’s just say I was somewhat drunk.”

Your heart skipped a beat. Tom Holland. Noticed you in a bar, but didn’t say anything because he was intimidated. This was truly the best day ever.

“Well I can promise you I’m not intimidating, although I will admit that earlier I was gonna confront you about your staring at me.”

Tom laughed and went to reply when he was interrupted by a call from one of his costars to come block for the cameras.

“Well, that’s my cue. See you later?”

“For sure,” was all you could reply as he jogged off. Once he was at a decent distance, you all squealed in delight.

+

Finally, they wrapped for the day as the sun began to provide pink and orange streaks in the sky rather than illuminating the area as before. 

You and your friends prepared to go when a crew member came up to you.

“Excuse me, but you’ve been requested to return to set tomorrow,” he said.

“Wait what?” was all you could say.

“They’d like for you to be extras again for tomorrow’s shoot. Asked for you three specifically. If you’ll follow me I’ll take you over to get your information down and tell you instructions for tomorrow.”

The three of you followed close behind, looking amongst each other in surprise. As you talked to someone in charge, Tom walked by with his brother and best friend. 

His eyes caught yours and he gave you a wink and mouthed “See you tomorrow.” Of course he’d been behind all this. You smirked in response but kept your mouth shut for now, you’d be able to mess with him tomorrow.

+

After one easy final Wednesday morning, Sabrina, Anthony, and you headed out to grab some cappuccinos and pastries for colazione, then made your way around the canals towards set.

They were set up in a building not far from Il Ponte di Rialto along La Canale Grande to get shots around the bridge. You showed a clearance you’d been given the day before and entered the building.

You were dressed today in blush pink palazzo pants and a yellow flowered crop top with flowing sleeves. They’d asked you to specifically wear pants, which you figured had to do with getting in and out of boats.

You followed a halls to a room where other extras awaited instruction. Eventually you were told that everyone would be placed around the sidewalks and in boats once it was time to shoot.

The three of you sat down and were talking when a woman with a clipboard entered the room.

“Is there a y/n y/l/n here?”

You stood up, confused.

“That would be me,” you replied, aware of everyone looking at you.

“Oh good. You’ve been requested for a different part so if you could just follow me...” she trailed, turning out the door.

You looked at Sabrina and Anthony in confusion, but they just gestured for you to leave as you rushed after the woman. She led you to another room where you found directors and actors conversing.

Those facing the door glanced up as you walked in, and Tom’s eyes caught yours. He smiled and fully turned towards you, causing everyone to face you.

“I hear you’re bilingual. Do you know how to memorize a couple lines?” the director asked as soon as you were close.

“I think I can handle that,” you replied nervously.

“Alright good. You’re gonna pretend to do some translating for Tom here since our other actor couldn’t make it. Why don’t you guys go run that while we finish setting things up outside.”

Another person handed you a couple script pages as you and Tom were once again ushered to a new room.

“You know I never officially introduced myself. I’m y/n,” you said once you were alone.

“I know. I overheard your friend say it yesterday. I’m Tom by the way, but I’m guessing you knew that too.”

You laughed talked a few more moments. Eventually an Italian man entered the room and you got to work. The scene involved Tom yelling if anyone could translate Italian, you saying yes, and him pulling you from a sondolo to do so. It was only a few lines, but it was the biggest thing you’d ever done.

Eventually came time to actually shoot the scene, and you waved excitedly to Sabrina and Anthony, who stood on the bridge. They gave you thumbs up and Anthony snuck a picture of you next to Tom.

You quickly blocked in front of the cameras, then got into the tethered boat where three others were sitting. After a few moments of adjustments, the director finally called “action.”

Tom attempted to speak to the Italian man, then frantically looked around the area.

“Does anyone here know English and Italian?” he called.

You went from pretending to speak to the others to looking his way.

“I do!”

He muttered a line, then came and helped pull you from the boat clumsily. You almost tripped, but continued on.

“I need you to tell me what he’s saying,” Tom said. You nodded.

The man, Tom, and you spoke between each other quickly, and the scene ended off with Tom yelling out a “Thank you!” as he ran towards the bridge.

You cut, received some notes, then reset. The main concern was around you getting out of the boat since you’d almost fallen. You ran it exactly the same a couple of times, thankfully not tripping as before.

Later, you were allowed to take some creative liberty and go slightly off script. Since you had to translate lines, Tom and the other man changed it up a bit, so you just followed their leads. 

At one point Tom missed a line so badly that you all broke out laughing. Another time, the man said something in Italian that you misheard, causing you to translate, then realize how wrong it sounded and stop the scene in a fit of giggles.

Finally, however, you were done and they prepared for a shot with some other actors. Tom came up to you as Sabrina and Anthony congratulated you.

“Great job back there, and sorry for almost pulling you into the canal a few times.”

“Hey, water under the bridge,” you winked, “I’m just glad you didn’t dunk me since that water is so nasty. I’d probably have made you pay for emotional damages.”

“I definitely don’t blame you. I really wanted to ask you though if you’d like to go to dinner Friday night? Now that I’m sober and slightly less intimidated, I want to try this again.”

You smiled and glanced back at your friends who were silently trying to hype you up.

“That sounds perfect.”

+

It was your three year anniversary with Tom, and he was surprising you with a trip to an undisclosed location from London. All he’d said was to pack summery clothes and at least one outfit for a nice night out.

You waited with the bags for him to print the tickets and your heart fluttered upon seeing them.

You were going back to Venice, the place you’d first met. 

After filming that scene, you’d been eventually called to Atlanta for a couple of reshoots, and later invited to the premiere. Almost a year of mostly flirting between your Venice date and the premiere led to Tom asking you to be his date that night, and the rest was history.

You hadn’t been back since, so you held back tears as you looked over the water as the plane landed, thinking of all the incredible memories you’d made when studying abroad.

A water taxi brought you to a hotel right off La Canale Grande, where you were shown to a lofted hotel room with a small balcony overlooking the water.

A few days after arriving, Tom told you to dress up, as he’d made reservations for dinner at a prestigious restaurant. After the meal, you strolled around the canals as the nightlife began to come alive.

It wasn’t long until you came upon a bar, the same one Tom had spotted you in about 4 years ago. 

You went in, ordering the same drinks you’d had back then, except this time Tom knew you were his.

“Cin cin?” Tom asked, raising his glass.

“Si, cin cin,” you replied, mimicking the movement before taking a sip.

Eventually, you left and headed back to your hotel. It was late, so only the streetlights illuminated the walkways, dancing off the water in the wind.

You were now in a simple silk robe standing on the balcony, eyes closed as you listened to the sounds of drunken laughter and boats paddling along. 

Two warm arms enveloped you from behind and you let yourself melt into them, leaning your head back to rest under Tom’s chin.

“What are you thinking in that pretty little head of yours?” he whispered.

“How much I love this place. And you. And how I wish we could stay like this forever.”

He hummed and swayed with you for a few minutes before flipping you around to face him. He pulled you into a deep kiss.

“Let’s go inside, babe. This city doesn’t need to see everything we do,” he breathed, a mischievous smile on his face.

With that, you stepped inside, closed the door, and ended the night in the sweetest way possible.

Truly, this was la vita dolce.

+

Ahhh I’m so happy I finished this. Honestly, I probably could’ve put more Italian in this but I’m lazy and didn’t feel like thinking of lines and things to translate back and forth lol. Let me know if you liked this and would like to see more things that utilize Italy and the language! Love you all, as always :)

[jay-and-dean]

I don’t need you  Chapter 4 : Raging Fire

Dean x reader

Summary : She’s a warrior, she’s a loner. Nothing can stop her, nothing ever had. She doesn’t need Dean, does she ?

This is a request by @magssteenkamp​ that I decided to turn to a serie, see the original request on the serie Masterlist.

Serie Warnings : Swearing (duh). Mention of death. Smut, probably all kind from rough to fluffy, I’ll precise in the chapters if there are specific warnings. Fluff. Angst of course.

Chapter warnings :  Swearing (duh). Alcohol abuse. Mention of death. SMUT (light, distant? I don’t want to say too much, still 18+). Angst and flames.

Words : 3.2 k

Note : I’ll try to stick to the 3k rule, like for Rescue You

If everything goes as planned, you’ll get one chapter every wednesday (Thanks to @magssteenkamp, I call it WednesJay, lol. Sorry okay, I shut up).

***Want to read more ? => MASTERLIST***

*** I don’t need you MASTERLIST***

__________________________

4.     RAGING FIRE

Reader’s Pov

           The ceiling is spinning.

           I get up but stumble and almost find myself on the floor, leaning to the wall, I grunt. Another sip on whiskey, then another. I’m breathing heavily, trying to think though that thick haze I created myself.

           I must have freaked him out, Dean.

Shit, why did I kissed his neck ? Or was it the attempt murder that scared him ? I grunt again, trying to walk straight to my psycho wall but I stumble once more, and catch myself on the table.

“Shit !”

           On the wall, with all my researches : the articles that shows Holloway’s head on the Lincoln statue in the circle of the anti-possession symbol, to sign from the hunters ; with crazy  titles like “Gang or Satanist secret society  ? Are the missing teen related to that ritual ?” And the articles about the fire that burned out an entire building to the ground without spreading at all to the others. That magic fire is a real blessing.

           I’m just so tired and confused. Nothing feels right. I knew vengeance wouldn’t be enough to move on, but I didn’t know I would feel that void inside of me. The worse is, I don’t really know what left that deep hole inside my chest.

“Stupid” I whisper, taking another sip of whiskey.

           I throw myself at the wall, ripping everything, tearing up each piece of paper one by one. Making everything fall from my desk in a rage I don’t quite understand.

           My phone rings, it’s Joe again… If I don’t answer, he will show up, and I don’t want that. I pick up the phone and sit on the floor, among the pieces of my life.

“What. Joe.”

“Y/n ? I was worried” he says with his honeyed voice.

“You always are.”

“Are you drunk again ?”

“Yes” I chuckle, feeling the tingling in my face skin.

“Y/n… I know this is a hard time for you but… Maybe you shouldn’t stay alone for a while, you could come at my place if you want…”

“Was they scared of me ?” I cut him and he sighs deeply.

“You have to stop being obsessed with Dean Winchester, Y/n. He left, you were doing good before him, what is the problem ?”

Before him ? When was before him ?

“You’re such a party pooper, Joe…” a hiccup punctuate my sentence. “Maybe I just wanted to have fun with him.”

“Yeah I think we all noticed that” he grunts. “Listen, please stop drinking and I’ll be here after my shift… You should come back to work, Y/n, Gerald won’t buy the sick things longer, and you know you need that job.”

“I do” I admit.

I need that stupid job. I need it because it pays food, and heating, it pays for safety and dignity. And when you stopped school at 12, you don’t have that much options.

“I’ll come to work tomorrow, but don’t come tonight, I won’t open the door. I’m getting drunk until I pass out, and tomorrow I’ll be back to my shitty life…”

I take another sip of whiskey.

“Don’t say that… You have me and you’ll find other cases. You’re the best woman I know… Please be careful” he tries but all I can hear is the love in his words.

A love I don’t want, a love I don’t deserve or need at all.

           I hang up and notice the Winchesters notebook on my right. I sigh. I’m not obsessed with Dean Winchester. I just like his story.

           I just feel like I knew him, like Sam and him had been my only friends for years.

           And now I like his face too. And his smell.

           I smile and close my eyes for a second, picturing my lips on the skin of his neck. I hum, and put a hand on my lower stomach, where it tickles. I take a deep breath and let my hand go a little south, my head a little back. Shy with my own body, almost surprised by its strong reactions.

“Dean…” I murmur in the dizziness of my drunk state.

I open my jeans with one hand, and slip my finger where I rarely go for anything else than cleaning.

Oh fuck…

           The bottle of whiskey I was holding on my other hand falls and spills everywhere.

“Shit !” I kneel to try and save my precious notebooks, opening the Winchesters one to check no alcohol damaged it.

           785-555-0128

I’m one call away.

           D.W

My eyes widen.

           Why the hell would he give me his number if he doesn’t want to see me ? Or maybe was it before I almost killed him…

           My sober mind tries to tell me to let go, but my drunk mind… I dial the number, my jeans still open, the notebook in my hand.

It rings three times…

“Dean Winchester” his sleepy voice answers and I smile like an idiot.

“Hey…” I just say, my stupid smile in my voice, and I hear him move.

“Y/n ?”

“I found your note” I state, shrugging although he can’t see me.

“I’m glad you did. How are you ?”

“I’m drunk” I answer, his voice somehow relaxing me.

“O-okay… So Joe didn’t give you the note Sam wrote I guess.”

“A note ?” I think hard, the alcohol making it even harder now, like Dean accentuated its effect.

“That’s what I thought” he grunts. “We left him a note for you, with our numbers. I-I was worried about you. So, no fangs ?”

“No fangs” I nod. “You can relax.”

He chuckles and I smile at the muffled sound of his laugh.

“I am relaxed, sweetheart.”

“Do you call all the girls like that ?”

A silence.

“Does it matter ?” he says lower, and I’m suddenly very aware of my open jeans.

“I was going to touch myself” I state, my drunk mind winning completely, but take another sip anyway, like I needed courage to be at ease with my words.

“Oh really ?” his voice goes even lower. “Why did you stop for me ?”

“I found your number…” a hiccup. “I thought…” I let a finger linger on my own cleavage, lost in the haze of whiskey and in Dean Winchester.

“Did you want me to help you with something Y/n ?” he grunts and my heart races.

“You’re not even here… Why did you left ?” I whine.

“I was… I didn’t want to but… You didn’t need me, us. Do you need me to drive to you ?”

“No… By the time you arrive, I won’t be drunk anymore…”

“That’s even better, Sweetheart.”

“Yeah but not drunk me is no fun… Her p…” hiccup. “Pants is always in place.”

He chuckles again.

“And now yours is not ?” he asks like he was weighing his words.

I shake my head, forgetting he can’t see me, and hear him take a deep breath.

“You should have fun, you deserve that” he states calmly.

I drink from the bottle again, and put my hand back in my panties, grazing my folds.

“I am.”

Something is yelling inside of me to stop that madness, but it’s so far I can’t hear it behind the desire and the alcohol.

“Oh really you are ?” he asks, as I slip a finger between my folds. “I should let you then… Call you tomorrow to speak to not drunk Y/n.”

“But it’s now that I need you…” I exhale, a soft moan escaping my lips when my already too sensitive clit swells under my fingers.

A short silence, then he sighs.

“What are you doing ?” he says with an authoritarian tone.

“Rubbing down there…” I fully moan now, my desire like a fire raging inside of me. “Imagining you can touch me through the phone.”

“Fuck… If I was there, I would definitely put my fingers inside you… You know… Replace yours with mine… Are you wet ?” he almost pants, and that makes me clench around nothing.

“Yes… very.”

“Then use your middle and ring fingers Sweetheart, go deep. And think of me.”

I do. Spreading my legs wide, I cry out, my stomach shaking, frustrated that my hands are not thick enough, not strong enough, not his.

“Dean…”

“I’m here, I’m right here. How does it feel, Y/n ?”

“G-good…” the alcohol is pounding in my head, and I flatten my palm to crush my clit as my fingers go the deepest they can, again and again… And again. “Fuck ! Dean…”

His breathing is fast and heavy, he groans at the sound of his name. I have no idea if he’s touching himself, if he’s hard… I think he is, he sounds like he was craving, another louder groan escapes his lips after one of my moans.

           That all it takes. I come in a strangled cry, my legs carrying my hips a little off the floor, dropping the phone to grab my own thigh. I don’t say a word but whine loud, and my butt finally hits the floor again.

           I’m panting and so drunk. Trying to catch the phone that bounced a little further, I fall on my side, grabbing it as I can.

“Hey Y/n ? You’re still there ?”

“Yeah…” I answer sleepily, my body bathing in the liquor I spilled earlier, the room spinning too much to keep my eyes open.

“You… Sweetheart, you really are something…” I hear him chuckles, holding my phone close to me like it was him, the same way I used to do with the Supernatural books. “Y/n ?...”

His voice is distant and I nod…

 *******

             Hot.

           Burning hot and hard to breathe.

           My aching hangover brain tries to register what is wrong, and I open my eyes.

           Fire. Fire everywhere.

           In a movement of panic, I try to get up, leaning to the desk, but burn my hand and cry out. The flames are already eating the ceiling and all my notes are flying in the smoke.

           My phone still in my hand, I look around : my life is going to aches… Then I think of the other people in the building.

           Running outside I strongly hit every doors, yelling at people to go out, breaking the fire alarms with my fist, cutting it, to make them ring. I hear barks and kick my neighbor’s wooden door as I can, grabbing his old dog to run in the stairs.  

           Outside, everybody is stunned or crying, waiting for the firefighters. I give the dog to the janitor and run.

           My head hurts, my stomach hurts, and adrenaline is making my heart beat almost painfully.

           They were targeting me, they tried to burn me to aches as I killed their king. That means they know who I am… And if they have my identity, they have everything.

Run.

           I run, taking my phone I try to call Joe, jostling people.

           No answer.

           My heart is pounding in my head, the alcohol burning my eyes. Images of last night come in flashes and a punch of anxiety hits my stomach. I have no time to think of that.

           Turning left, I ignore people staring at me and keep going as fast as I can, the winter sun dazzling me, the cold wind hitting my cleavage and neck with his thousand needles.

           Then I see it. Firefighters, cops… The bar burned, and judging by the fact that it’s already extinguished, I’d say it burned hours ago.

           Stunned, I walk to the scene, hoping to see Joe’s face in the middle of the crowd. A cop sees me, and stop me firmly.

“This is a crime scene, you can’t be here, Ma’am.”

“Crime ? I work here…” I try to see above his shoulder. “Have you seen a tall man named Joe ?”

A somber look appears on his face and my heart misses a beat.

“Did Joe work here last night ?”

“Y-yes.”

He sighs.

“Someone put the bar on fire and blocked all the issues, Ma’am. I’m sorry. I’ll let you know when we identify the bodies. Could you give your name and address, we will need to contact you…”

Address.

Joe.

They… They killed Joe. They burned him alive and the last thing I said to him was that I didn’t want to see him. The air seem thick suddenly. So putrid and thick.

           I turn on myself and look at the phone in my hand. I have nothing left, I can’t even buy a sandwich or change clothes right now. It’s back… It’s all back…

           And Joe died because of me.

           Feeling the panic rise, I give the cop a fake name and address. They will make the link between the two fires, and find like thirty illegal weapons in the ashes of my apartment. And I called sick yesterday…

I have to disappear.

           So I run the other way. But where will I go ? I have no gun, I have no money, I can’t even buy a bus ticket. I can’t breathe, and the cold suddenly feels so painful. My coat burnt. My notes burnt with the few money I had saved…

My only friend, he burnt too.

I look down at my unbuttoned jeans and feel nauseous. I don’t need them, I don’t need him. I can be on my own, I’m a warrior. I’m a warrior…

 *******

             I spent the day walking, I have no other choice, if I stop, the cold grabs me by the collarbones, and the vampires will spot me. The night is here again, and I can feel the hunger growing inside of me, threatening.

           I have no plan and I have no shelter. My phone rings once in my hand so I look at the screen, a delusional hope makes my guts flutter for a second, what if it was Joe after all ? But the screen only says I only have 10% battery left… I don’t have a charger.

I can’t feel my hands.

Letting my back slide down the wall behind the Chinese restaurant, I burst in tears. Am I ready to die ? Or should I fight a little more ?

           My shaking hands light the screen again and I take a deep breath.

 Dean’s Pov

             I can barely focus on the movie playing on the crappy screen of the little motel TV. Sam is talking about the case and I pretend to listen : probably the ghost of the wife, bla bla bla.

           I wish I could call her, but she uses a withheld number, of course she does. She probably won’t call again, and I can’t stop thinking of her…

I could  do researches on Joe, I know his first name and where he works, maybe I could get to him and convince that son of a bitch to give me her number, or…

“Dude, are you even listening ?” Sam sighs.

“Yes, dead wife, angry ghost.”

He rolls his eyes but the phone in my palm buzzes, making me forget Sam in an instant.

           I get up and walk to the bathroom, looking at it : withheld number.

“Dude !” Sam calls, annoyed.

I pick up, not even doubting a second.

“Y/n ?”

“Dean…” her voice is sad, broken even, and exhausted.

“Are you okay Sweetheart ?” I frown, half-sitting on the sink.

“Not really… Joe’s dead, my… my apartment burnt and the bar… Everything is gone. Now they’re after me but I have no weapon and… No fucking phone charger so…”

My heart breaks and I get up, going back to the bedroom to take my coat and keys.

“Where are you ? Y/n, I’m coming for you, I will be there in seven to eight hours Sweetheart, you hold on okay ? Turn off your phone and only turn it on to tell me if your location has to change, okay ? I’m coming Y/n.”

She gives me a street name and I hang up.

“What’s happening ?” Sam gets up, starting to follow me outside.

“Y/n needs me, they killed Joe and burnt her house, you take the ghost, I go get her.”

 *******

             Seven hours is really long when you have no idea if the person you’re driving too is still alive. Sammy called, after the bones were burnt, he made some researches on what happened in the bar, the cops already made the connection with her apartment, and the firefighters reported suspicious items.

           During those horribly long hours, I tried to think of the first time I saw her, how fierce and deadly she was, and I convinced myself that she is hard to get and impossible to kill. But in the night, on the highway, my mind kept drifting to a thousand other things, and among them : the fear of how she makes me feel.

           This city is way too big, way to crowed and I hate every street of it.

           She never called me so I really hope she is where she’s supposed to be. Anything could have happened in one night. Mumbling “Come on, come on, come on”, I look for the streets I’m supposed to cross.

           The morning is slowly raising between the buildings, a white sky and lazy sunlight morning, held back by the huge shadows of the city line. A few snowflakes flutter around the black of the Impala.

           I finally spot the Chinese restaurant she talked about, I park as I can, running out of the car right away. And when I enter the alley, I breathe out.

She’s here.

           Her hands around her shoulders, sitting in the corner beside the restaurant’s dumpsters. She’s wearing only her jeans, shoes and that corset, her phone next to her.

“Y/n” I say, getting close and she lifts her eyes on me, her face is pale, and her lips are blue. “I’m here… I’m here” I assure her, my hand reaching her knee, cautiously squatting before her.

Her eyes search my face and I swallow hard, like it could get my heart back down.

“I’m sorry” she states with a low voice. “I had no idea how to…”

“It’s okay” I cut her, taking her arm. “You’re freezing, come here. You don’t have to hide anymore, it’s day, and I’m here.”

           She gets up as she can, leaning to my shoulder at first, and I take her to the Impala waiting for us. The second she’s in it, next to me on the front seat, I turn up the heater and put a cautious hand on hers. I just can’t help touching her.

“I’m sorry for Joe, for your apartment… We will make them pay, Y/n.”

“I want them to burn” she says through her teeth.

I turn the keys in the ignition and nod.

“We find something warm to drink and eat, I take you home, and we find a way to clean your city” I state. “Y/n, you will win, okay ?”

________________________

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[keichanz]

Move Your Body || pt. 2

Part 1 || Part 2

“When’s your next class with Sango?” Inuyasha asked her around 4 am and tipped back a water bottle to drain the rest of its contents.

Lowering her own drink that Inuyasha had provided for them sometime around two in the morning, Kagome sighed and tilted her head as she thought.

“Um, Wednesday,” she supplied. “I know she does them every day, but I can only come in every other because of classes.”

He nodded. “After your sessions with Sango you’ll come up here and we can begin our own. A month isn’t that long to come up with an entire routine, so plan to stay all day. I’ll provide food and shit and we can take breaks.”

Kagome wrinkled her nose but nodded without complaint. He was right; they didn’t have a lot of time, and with her having classes and his own job demanding his time, they couldn’t get together every day.

Inuyasha grunted, carelessly tossed his empty water bottle onto the table and released a hearty belch, ignoring Kagome’s look of disgust as he snatched up her phone and brought up her messaging app.

“I’m sending myself a text so you’ll have my number,” he told her, typing out a quick “hi” and sending it before handing it over. “Feel free to text me about any ideas you might have, or questions you wanna ask. Don’t matter when, if I’m busy or in a meeting I’ll reply when I’m done. I’ll do the same if I think of something and we can brainstorm.”

Kagome took back her phone with a nod and walked over to stash it in her bag. She spotted the remnants of her destroyed t-shirt and suddenly remembered her state of dress and blanched. Oh crap, what was she going to wear when she left?! She couldn’t walk home in nothing but shorts and a sports bra!

Inuyasha followed her gaze, watched her eyes go wide and the color drain from her face and rolled his eyes, walking over to his own discarded shirt on the floor and tossing it at her.

“Here,” he said as she automatically caught it. “Just bring it with you Wednesday and if you forget, it’s not a big deal. It’s just a shirt.” He shrugged and raised his arms above him in a stretch, releasing a yawn. Fuck, he needed to get to bed soon since he had a meeting in like...five hours. Shit.

Sending him a grateful smile but not without a blush, Kagome pulled his shirt over her head, immediately feeling better now that she had some cover. True, she’d been in nothing but shorts and her bra for the past few hours and she was more or less used to it now, but part of her still felt the need to hide herself. But they were working on that, and she couldn’t begin to express her gratitude for his help.

Picking up her bag and shrugging the strap over her shoulder, Kagome leveled him with one last genuine smile.

“Thank you,” she said softly, sincerely as her eyes collided with deep amber, “for everything. It means a lot that you’re taking the time to do this and...well.” She laughed softly and lifted a shoulder in half-shrug. “I appreciate it.”

Inuyasha studied her for a moment, golden eyes speculative, before he quirked a grin at her. “It’s my pleasure, babydoll,” he told her, being completely honest. “I’ll see you Wednesday. You okay to walk by yourself?” He didn’t like the thought of her walking alone at nearly 4:30 in the morning, but he really did need to get some sleep. However, if she asked him to accompany her he wouldn’t say no.

“I’ll be fine,” she assured with a smile, touched that he truly seemed to care. “It’s not far, just a ten minute walk. See you Wednesday.” She turned and headed toward the doorway, giving a yawn. Damn, she hadn’t realized how tired she was. She was very glad her first class wasn’t until noon.

“I’ll text you,” Inuyasha murmured as he watched her go and after she disappeared into the elevator, giving one last wave and smile before the doors slid shut, he sighed, shut off the lights, locked up, and headed upstairs to get some much needed shut eye.

Inuyasha fell heavily into his office chair with a groan and immediately started yanking off the tie that had been gradually suffocating him since nine that morning. It was now a little after noon and he’d just returned from the meeting that had run much longer than originally planned. It was the quarterly meeting, where Sesshomaru and his advisors went over profit and a bunch of other technical jargon that he didn’t particularly care for, and he had been bored out of his goddamn mind for the majority of it. Sesshomaru had kept sending him warning glares whenever he couldn’t hold back a yawn but he couldn’t help it; while he didn’t need as much sleep as the regular human, it had still been a while since he’d stayed up that late and he was paying for it now.

Finally loosening his tie with a grunt, he let it hang around his neck and leaned back in his plush chair, tossing an arm over his eyes and debating on the merits of a brief nap. But then he remembered he had an appointment at one with some spoiled brat that fancied herself a dancer because her rich daddy had called the day before and practically begged him to see her. Inuyasha had only said yes just to get the guy to shut up; he had no intention of taking on another client. Not right now, anyway. Between his actual jobs and the side project he had going on with Kagome, he didn’t have nearly enough time to dedicate to the private lessons that had been requested.

At the thought of his blue-eyed, dark-haired “student,” a grin lifted the comers of his lips and miraculously the pounding in his head lessened a degree. He’d only spent a few short hours with her, but already Inuyasha was eager for tomorrow to come so he could see her again. He liked her spunk, admired her determination and the flash of temper that always sparked in her eyes whenever he criticized her form or made her do a certain move again, but better and faster.

Though clearly not a fan of his methods of instruction, Kagome never complained and did as she was as told, preforming a move again and again and again until he was satisfied. She was a hard worker, he was quick to realize, and a fast learner which blessedly made their time together much easier. He was really looking forward to the day where she could put everything he taught her together and put on a little show for him, but until then he was content in slowly getting to know her in increments.

He’d learned little snippets about her life last night during times when idle chatter had been had, things like she’d been friends with Sango since middle school, she had a younger brother, and being a nurse had been a goal since she was a little girl. She liked helping people, she was a terrible cook, and she was deathly afraid of spiders.

Inuyasha had also learned she’d only ever had one boyfriend, some shmuck named Houjo she’d dated in high school, and they’d broken up when he left for the States for college. She was a virgin – he’d gleaned that obvious information by himself – she was completely inexperienced when it came to intimacy, and she really, truly thought that she wasn’t the least bit attractive.

Inuyasha frowned. He wasn’t stupid; he knew a single night and him simply telling her it was false wasn’t enough to convince her otherwise. He didn’t understand how such a knockout like Kagome could possibly have self-esteem issues, but everybody had his or her reasons, he supposed.  

Something might have happened in her past to make her think that, or maybe even something had happened just recently, but whatever the case Inuyasha was making it a personal goal to make her see herself through his eyes. She was a beautiful young woman worthy of praise and confidence, and he meant what he’d said; if he had to say it every day, shower her with compliments until she blushed and stuttered like a schoolgirl, he would.

Heaving a sigh, Inuyasha lowered his arm and cracked his neck, glancing at the clock and thinking he should probably get up and get something to eat when his office door opened without warning. His top instructor walked in like she owned the damn place, donned in her usual work attire of tank top and capri leggings with her dark hair secured in a high pony-tail.

Sango hip checked the door closed and strode over to his desk, calm as you please. Then Inuyasha noticed what she had in her hands and instantly he was alert, ears perking up and back straightening in his chair as he leaned forward.

“Fuck, I love you,” Inuyasha muttered as she set down a hot coffee from Starbucks and a McDonald’s bag on his desk. Knowing from experience not to immediately chug down the steaming brew, Inuyasha went for the food first, fishing out a Big Mac and barely getting the wrapper off all the way before chomping down with a groan of pleasure.

“I know,” Sango answered as she sat on his desk as opposed to one of the two chairs in front of it and sipped her caramel frappe. “Figured you’d be hungry since you never eat breakfast and your meeting ran late.”

Inuyasha grunted, polished off the burger with another three bites, and then started on the fries next.

“And also,” Sango continued a little too casually and idly played with the straw of her drink, “after I apologized about forgetting to unlock the door last night, a little birdie told me today that you didn’t get to bed until very late, hence the java.”

Then she paused and cut her eyes to his and Inuyasha froze.

Goddammit. He really should have known she’d tell her. Didn’t she say they’d been friends since middle school?

Heaving a sigh and rolling his eyes, Inuyasha shoved a few more fries into his mouth and then took a careful sip of his coffee. He let his silence be his answer and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes as he savored the Americano with one sugar. He tasted a hint of mocha too and he grunted in approval.

Sango’s lips twitched. “Are you seriously going to help her come up with an entire dance routine?”

He glared at her over the rim of his venti.

Unfazed, the dance instructor shrugged and turned her gaze to her drink, taking another pull on the straw. “I was just curious,” she said innocently, trying not to smile.

Her boss’s scoff told her exactly what he thought about her curiosity and that time she couldn’t hold back the grin that spread across her face.

“What’d she do to get you to help? Bat those big blue eyes at you and smile?”

Inuyasha stared at her for a moment, his expression unreadable, and then kicked up his feet onto his desk and leaned back in his chair as he nursed his coffee.

“I offered,” he told her.

Sango’s smile dropped. “What?”

He raised a brow and took another sip of his espresso.

Sango blinked at him and then her eyes widened. Holy crap, he was serious.

“Holy crap, you’re serious,” she said, incredulous.

Inuyasha looked a little offended at that and scowled at her. “Why the fuck wouldn’t I be? Despite what you and the pervert think, I ain’t heartless, Sango. The girl clearly needs help, and as it just so happens I have the qualifications that fit her needs perfectly. She’s just another client and just because she’s your friend doesn’t make her any goddamn different than anybody else.”

Sango’s stare hardened and she squared her shoulders. He may be her boss, but he was also her friend, and she wasn’t about to take any of his shit.

“I know for a fact that Kagome’s not paying you so don’t tell me she’s not any different,” she spat, her protective instincts kicking in as they always did whenever her dear friend’s delicate nature was compromised. “She thinks you’re helping her free of charge out of the goodness of your heart, and I swear to god, Inuyasha, if she’s another one of your charity cases to get more publicity or you want you want your payment to come from other means—”

“Shut the fuckup, Sango,” Inuyasha growled and shot forward in his chair so fast Sango flinched back. Golden eyes flashing fire and fangs exposed in a dark scowl, the half-demon seethed, “Kagome’s not a goddamn charity case and you know I would never take advantage of her innocence like that, or anybody else for that matter, so fuck you for even saying that.”

Alarmed by the heated vehemence in his voice, Sango snapped her jaw shut and simply stared at him with wide magenta eyes, at a complete loss for words. She’d never seen him react like this before about any woman and it was completely unexpected, if a little disconcerting. She supposed he head every right, though; she always lost her head a little whenever it came to Kagome’s safety and she admitted she shouldn’t have accused him of such a horrible thing, because he would never do that.

“Not that it’s any of your business, because it’s not, helping Kagome is actually helping me,” he continued, still glaring, though his voice had lost its growl. “Sesshomaru’s been on my ass about new material and this is the perfect opportunity to get it. Kagome gets her dance, shoves her victory in that bitch Kamlyn’s face, and I have new material to give to that tightwad. Everybody wins.”

That said, Inuyasha sat back in his chair once more, lifted his coffee to his mouth, and looked to the side, his eyebrows down low over his eyes. He glowered at some random point on the wall, still pissed that his friend would even insinuate he would ever take advantage of a woman like that.

A tense silence developed between them after that and Sango stared pensively into her drink while Inuyasha nursed his coffee and fished his phone from his pocket. He’d gotten a text earlier during the meeting but hadn’t had the chance to check it yet...

Sango sighed, drawing his attention, and he flicked his gaze over to her, expression carefully blank.

“Look, I’m sorry,” she began, looking and sounding guilty enough that his anger softened a little and he gave her his full attention. Sango glanced at him and grimaced. “You’re right, I know you would never do that. It was stupid.”

He snorted but her glare quickly shut him up.

“It’s just...” Sango sighed again and pushed her fingers through her bangs, brow furrowing as she gathered her thoughts. “You have to understand, Inuyasha, Kagome is...fragile. I was honestly surprised when she told me she signed up for this competition because she...well, she...”

“She has no confidence,” Inuyasha supplied for her and at her look of surprise he sighed and nodded. “I already know she has low self-esteem and thinks its necessary to hide behind baggy clothes. It’s another reason why I chose to do this, Sango. I wanna help her. Really. Kagome is fucking beautiful and I want her to see that.”

He stared directly into her eyes and the sincerity was unmistakable in the honeyed depths. Inuyasha was being totally and completely honest and if Sango were being honest herself, she was floored at the hanyou’s dedication to this cause. It was one she approved of, definitely, but in all of her years as his closest friend, she’d never witnessed him going this far for any woman before.

And with a start, she realized that he was exactly what her shy, self-conscious friend needed. Inuyasha’s unique brand of arrogance, dedication and tenacity would no doubt draw Kagome out of her shell and slowly transform her into the confident, brave woman Sango knew she could be.

Sango would just consider it a bonus that Kagome was also just what the doctor ordered for the oftentimes hotheaded hanyou, even if he didn’t realize it yet.

Finally offering her friend a genuine smile, Sango nodded once. “Keep me posted?” she asked. “And if there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll do my best.”

Releasing a breath, Inuyasha nodded in return and thrust a hand through his hair, glancing at the clock. 12:28. He still had a bit of time left before Daddy’s Little Princess showed up, so in the mean time he had one last question for his friend.

“Hey, Sango,” he began, idly tracing the cap of his coffee with a claw as the instructor glanced over at him inquisitively. “...Why is Kagome like that? Did something happen?”

Sango sighed and took another drink of her frappe, brows dipped down into a slight frown. She’d had a feeling he’d ask, and while she supposed he had a right to know since he was going to help with Kagome’s self-image, it didn’t make it any easier to reveal. Perhaps Kagome herself should be the one telling him this, but Sango also knew it wouldn’t be right for him to ask, and her friend wouldn’t reveal that information to him without cause anyway.

“It goes without saying,” she began slowly, “but please keep this to yourself. Kagome hasn’t always looked the way she does, Inuyasha. When she was in elementary school, before I met her, she was chubby and mercilessly picked on because of it. She told me she didn’t have a lot of friends because of how she looked, and it only got worse when she entered middle school. She gained a little more weight, and the bullying got worse, to the point she would refuse to go to school the next day.

“The day I met her she was surrounded by high school boys and they were calling her names, bullying her about her weight, and laughing because she was crying. I managed to chase them away by screaming for the nearest teacher and threatening to kick them in the balls if they didn’t leave her alone and ever since then Kagome has been my best friend. I became her protector against the bullies and it wasn’t until Kagome’s appearance started to hinder her health that she decided to do something about it.

“She started exercising daily, with me being her constant support of course, eating healthier, and taking care of her body. By high school she looked like a completely different person, a lot like she does now, and that’s when she got her first boyfriend.”

Inuyasha frowned. “Houjo.”

Sango blinked in surprise. “She told you about him?”

He shrugged. “In passing. She didn’t give any details and I didn’t ask.”

“Anyway,” she continued and took a sip of her drink to wet her throat. “Dating Houjo helped a lot with Kagome’s self-esteem, but even he couldn’t erase the scars from years of bullying. And even though they parted on friendly terms because it was a mutual breakup, Kagome regressed back to her previous way of thinking and now it’s just a subconscious habit to dress in baggy clothes and deny any compliment that’s given to her, an instinctive way of protecting herself, I imagine. I’m always telling her she looks great, but she just blushes, shrugs, and changes the subject.”

Sango sighed and chewed on the end of her straw with a thoughtful frown. “She’s still eating healthy and exercising when she can, but you have to understand, Inuyasha, after years of being called degrading names, bullied because of how she looked, and believing she was ugly or didn’t deserve affection, I’d imagine it’d be quite difficult to accept any sort of praise, even if it’s true. She’s been cruelly conditioned to think like that, and without Houjo there as a constant reminder that she’s worthy and beautiful...”

She paused and stole a look at her unusually quiet half-demon boss and friend. Inuyasha was staring down at his desk, claws tapping against the thick paper of his coffee cup as he drummed his fingers. It was hard to determine what exactly the prevalent emotion on his face was, however judging by the dark frown that gradually lowered his brows over his eyes and the way his lip curled over sharp fangs, Sango wagered that anger had reigned supreme.

Relatable. Sango often felt the same whenever she thought about how rough her best friend had had it and the desire to go back in time and kick some ass was always present.

But then it vanished as quickly as it had arrived and Inuyasha shook his head, closing his eyes as he thrust a hand through his hair. It was obvious he was still perturbed at this new information however, because though less prominent, the frown on his face hadn’t diminished and he sat back in his chair. The rough grunt he emitted as he lifted his coffee to his lips articulated exactly what he thought about that and Sango nodded.

“Same,” she agreed.

Translation: I don’t fucking like this.

Then he sighed, nodded, and cut his eyes to hers with the steely determination that Sango recognized and her expression softened into a smile as she easily decoded what that meant.

But I’m gonna do my damnedest to fix it.

“Good,” Sango whispered and by mutual agreement, the two lapsed into silence as Inuyasha finished off his coffee and dumped the evidence of his lunch into the trash while Sango noisily and obnoxiously slurped up the remnants of her frappe.

Inuyasha’s ears pinned and he pegged her with an annoyed glare. She returned it with an innocent smile and while keeping eye contact, drew on the straw one last time, resulting in another grating slurping sound. He scowled at her.

Visibly pleased and resisting the urge to cackle, Sango sucked up the last of the tasty caramel before finally tossing it into the trash. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and dug around in his desk for his cigs and lighter, lamenting on the fact that his friends and instructors were children in adult bodies.

“By the way,” Sango said as she prepared to leave, “you’re one o’clock is here.”

Inuyasha paused and aimed a frown at her. “How the hell do you know?”

She smiled sweetly. “I saw her waiting in the lobby when I got back from getting your lunch. She was quite rude and demanded that I ‘fetch Mr. Taisho tout de suite, he’s expecting me and I mustn’t keep him waiting.’ So I gave her my murder-smile and said, ‘Right away, miss,’ then came up here and had a half-hour conversation with you.”

Her boss stared at her blankly for a moment and then a delighted grin spread across his face. “You are a fucking queen.”

“And don’t you forget it,” Sango quipped with a wink and headed for the door.

Inuyasha snorted and looked at the clock. From what Sango told him, Miss Daddy’s Princess must have gotten here shortly after he did, nearly a fucking hour early. What the actual fuck.

Growling in annoyance but figuring he might as well get it over with, he grunted and said, “Send her up.”

“I’m not your secretary,” Sango snorted as she reached the door and swung it open.

“I’m sorry, who signs your paychecks?”

“Asshat.”

“Bitch.”

“That’s Queen Bitch, thankyouverymuch.” Sango flipped him off and Inuyasha returned the gesture, straight-faced.

Rolling her eyes and grumbling, his friend finally left his office, but Inuyasha didn’t fail to miss the smile that crept onto her face right before the door closed behind her.

Chuckling, Inuyasha shook his head and wondered not for the first time how such a sorry son of a bitch like him lucked out with such amazing friends before once more rifling through his desk for his nicotine sticks. He ended up finding them on his desk under a pile of paperwork along with his lighter and he wasted no time in lighting up.

The sound of the elevator chiming outside his office was his only warning and he just barely managed to shove his hat down onto his head before his door was unceremoniously thrust open and his one o’clock appointment sauntered in without a care in the word. Inuyasha cocked a brow at her audacity at not bothering to knock before barging in but said nothing, leaning back in his chair and peering at the woman that strolled confidently toward him from under the bill of his hat.

Crossing his arms, the cherry of his cig flared orange as he inhaled and Inuyasha watched Miss Daddy’s Princess give him her best beauty pageant smile that he bet she practiced doing in front of a mirror and claimed one of the plush chairs before his desk. He first thing he noticed was that her tits were so full of silicone they could be considered paperweights and when she not so subtly thrust out her chest, they threatened to spill from her very low cut blouse. Christ, the buttons looked about ready to burst open and Inuyasha nearly choked on smoke as he disguised a laugh.

“Mr. Taisho,” she purred, crossing her legs at the knee and causing her short skirt to ride up either further. “It’s so nice to finally meet you. I was here nearly half an hour ago, but that bi—uh, that lady made me wait.” She huffed and pretended to pout.

Inuyasha didn’t deign that with a comment and took in the rest of her, releasing a stream of smoke in a smooth exhale. Tanning salon worthy dark skin, long brown hair with so much product in it stung his nose, and the greenest eyes he had ever seen.

Contacts, he surmised and flicked the ashes off his cig into an ashtray. She was pretty, he’d give her that, but in an artificial way and he was willing to bet her personality was just as fake as those rock hard bags on her chest. She knew how to manipulate a situation and what to say to get what she wanted, but that was okay. Inuyasha had dealt with countless women like her before so he was prepared for whatever she threw at him.

“Miss...Soma, was it?” Inuyasha drawled and stuck his fag between his lips again.

She smiled again, perfect white teeth flashing. Of course.

“Call me Kamlyn, Mr. Taisho.”

Inuyasha choked on his next inhale and surged forward, blindly reaching for the half-full bottle of water sitting on his desk.

He lied. He certainly hadn’t been prepared for that.

Kamlyn Soma, the bitch that had apparently been tormenting Kagome for the past three years, blinked and frowned at him.

“Are you...okay?” she asked and actually sounded genuinely concerned.

Chugging back the contents of the bottle, Inuyasha held up a finger in the universal “one moment” signal and after successfully soothing the irritant in his throat, he lowered the water and released a loud breath.

“M’fine,” he finally answered and looked around for his cig, scowling when he found it on the floor by his feet. Grumbling he stooped down to pick it up before settling back in his chair, inspecting it carefully.

Eh, whatever; he gave a mental shrug and placed it between his lips again. He didn’t want to waste a perfectly good cig he’d just started and besides, his office was vacuumed daily and shampooed monthly from the same company he hired to clean the studios.

Remembering he had an audience, Inuyasha turned his attention back to the woman before him. She was still eyeing him a little strangely but wiped the expression from her face when his eyes connected with hers, straightening her back and offering him another practiced smile.

“What can I do for you, Miss Soma?”

“Kamlyn.”

He stared at her and wordlessly opened his mouth to let a few tendrils of smoke drift lazily upward.

Undeterred, Miss Kamlyn Soma, aka Kagome’s Tormenter, cleared her throat and launched into an entire spiel that Inuyasha was positive she practiced for hours beforehand, complete with the sultry lilt to her voice.

“So, Mr. Taisho, I have a...proposition for you.” Her smile turned rather suggestive and she leaned forward in her seat, deliberately showing a generous amount of cleavage. “You see, my school is having a dance competition...”

Eighteen minutes later, lazily puffing away on his second cigarette without a damn care in the world, Inuyasha watched in unabashed amusement as Kamlyn Soma stormed out of his office, face beat red and body stiff with anger. Aside from an ear flicking beneath his hat when she slammed his door as hard as she could, he didn’t react and merely tapped more ashes into the ashtray, calm as you please.

Her less than stellar behavior had been entirely expected. When her methods of seduction had failed to garner what she wanted – i.e., assistance in planning a show-stopping routine – she’d thrown a tantrum and resorted to threatening him with her daddy’s money and power. Inuyasha had been unimpressed – Ryukotsusei Soma couldn’t do shit to him – and once more turned her down with the true reasoning of he was too busy.

He’d been professional and polite, keeping his tone respectful even when her calm composure had begun to deteriorate and she’d tried one last tactic, desperation causing her to lose all pretenses of seduction and outright promising him that she’d give him the ride of his life if only he would agree to help. She’d pay him generously of course, implying that money would not be the only means, but when still he’d replied in the negative, even looking bored while he said it, that was when she’d dropped her façade and her viper attitude had shown its fangs.

Inuyasha had merely watched, face blank, as she’d ranted and raved at him for a good five minutes, threatening that she would destroy his reputation and pretty much throwing a little spoiled princess hissy fit before huffily stomping away and childishly slamming the door in her wake.

Fuck, but Ryukotsusei must have the patience of a goddamn saint to put up with that every day.

Snorting, Inuyasha carelessly tossed his hat onto his desk, freeing his ears, and reached into his pocket to retrieve his phone. Waking up the screen, he was a little disappointed to see the text he’d received earlier wasn’t from Kagome, but then again, it wasn’t that surprising. Considering how insecure and shy she was, it was a given she wouldn’t text him first, probably thinking she’d be bothering him or something and not wanting to be a nuisance. He hoped soon she’d be comfortable enough to text him whenever she wanted, but for now he was content to initiate their conversations.

Ignoring the message from Kikyou telling him to call her later, Inuyasha brought the text he’d sent from Kagome’s phone last night and swiftly typed in a new message.

you’ll never guess who I just had the pleasure of meeting with and then stormed outta my office looking pissed enough to commit murder

He hit send, paused, and then sent a second one. mine, specifically

Expecting it might be a while before she replied since he had no idea what her class schedule entailed, Inuyasha flipped up his laptop and decided it’d be a good idea to actually get some work done. He needed to check his emails, reply back to some if necessary, call and check in with a few of his clients, call Kikyou, draw up some contracts, review and sign a few contracts, file said contracts, go over payroll and yell at Miroku for his frequent habit of coming in late, and then go over some reports that were past due.

Fuck my life, he groused, grumbling as he brought up his email, crushing the stub of his cigarette in the ashtray and lighting up a fresh one. He stared longingly at his office’s custom bar he’d added in some years back but thought better of it. Sango would kill him if she caught him drinking in the middle of the day, no matter how justifiable it was after putting up with someone like Kamlyn Soma for nearly twenty minutes, and he was pretty sure he’d finished his JD last week anyway.

Shame.

He wasn’t even half-way through reading his second email when his phone buzzed beside his computer. Surprised, but delighted, Inuyasha abandoned the email to swipe up the device and lean back in his chair to read his newest text.

????

He snorted even as the corners of his lips quirked up into a slight grin.

A one kamlyn soma maybe you’ve heard of her

Her reply was instant that time.

GET. OUT!!!!!!!!!

Inuyasha laughed.

srsly. tried seducing her way into getting me to help w her dance was hilarious

Taking a drag, Inuyasha exhaled through the side of his mouth and idly tapped this thumb against the screen as he waited for her to reply. The three dots appeared, vanished, appeared, and then disappeared again and he frowned when it stayed that way. He narrowed his eyes, and then to keep himself from asking what the hell she was doing, he closed the app and after thinking about it for a split second, brought up Facebook.

He brought up his friends, found Sango, and browsed her friends until—ah. There she was.

Grinning victoriously and with a single tap, he brought up Kagome Higurashi’s profile and took his time going through her timeline, chuckling at some of the memes and pictures she’d shared that gave him a glimpse into her sense of humor. Then he came across a selfie of her and Sango, looking positively radiant as they laughed together, and his expression softened.

Truly, how could she ever think that she wasn’t pretty with something like this as proof?

He’d just decided to browse her albums to see what other gems he could find when finally his mobile vibrated with an incoming message. And instead of the lengthy reply he’d been expecting because she was taking so long, the notification that dropped down had his brows snapping low over his eyes in an annoyed frown.

You agreed??

Ears pinning flat against his head and growling low, Inuyasha gripped his phone with both hands and hastily typed out his response, pissed the hell off that she actually had to fucking ask that in the first place.

what the fuck kagome NO I didn’t agree u don’t fucking think I would actual

Inuyasha stopped mid-word. Blinked down at his phone and reread what he’d typed. Then he sighed, briefly closed his eyes, and promptly deleted everything he’d written before starting again.

no babydoll. I didn’t my time is yours

He hit send and dragged a hand down his face as his previous anger quickly fled. Kagome was insecure and Kamlyn was her hot, although still fake as fuck, enemy; it wasn’t farfetched that she’d assume he would agree. He was a businessman, and what businessman didn’t want…well, more business? He’d have to keep reminding himself that Kagome was just acting on instinct, doing what her brain had been unconsciously hardwired to do, and he’d definitely have to start exercising more restraint.

It was like Sango said; Kagome as fragile, or at least her state of mind was, and Inuyasha knew if he directed one of his infamous blowups at her, it would cause more damage than he could repair. And he’d never be able to forgive himself.

Blessedly her reply came much quicker this time around and glancing down at the mobile cradled in his lax grip, he released a breath and was suddenly infinitely glad he’d decided to change his last message.

:)

Grinning, Inuyasha sent the dog emoji back, practically able to hear the giggle he knew it would elicit, and then grudgingly put down his cell to actually get some work done. In a significantly lighter mood than before, he went back to his email, unaware of the smile that lingered on his face as he scanned the page.

Part 3

Buy me a coffee? :)

[she-is-tim]

I love hating you | Elu enemies to lovers AU | Ch.11

Previous Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6.5, 7, 8, 9, 10

Lucas is an angry, closeted and frustrated gay teenager, while Eliott is the handsome, smart and popular guy in school. They hate each other… but not forever.

I don’t know what to do

The couch started to become Lucas’ best friend through the agonizing days. He spent most of his time laying on it, wrapped in a blanket, crying his eyes out, his mind replaying the events of saturday over and over again. He could see Eliott’s face looking at him from the side of the bed, all serious, then his naked body disappearing behind the door. He pulled the blanket over his head and tried to calm himself down. His breathing were uneven, his chest was hurting like never before. All he wanted is to just scratch off his skin and get rid of the pain inside his body. It was so hard.

His hand reached for the phone on the coffee table, despite all the effort trying to hold himself back, he just couldn’t. He opened his messages, ignoring everything coming from his friends, since he had no energy to deal with them. It took him almost a minute to finally press on the name, opening his chat with Eliott. He felt tears blurring his vision, but he didn’t needed to see the letters, because he knew well what was there on the screen.

From Eliott I think we should stop seeing each other for a while. I am sorry that I scared you, but I need time to recover and being around you wouldn’t help with that. I hope you understand. It’s not your fault, it’s mine.

To Eliott Can’t we just talk? I am fine we can get through this together Eliott, please don’t do this to me Say something Eliott, I’m begging you

From Eliott  Just leave me alone, I can’t do this

Lucas wanted to respond to that, but Eliott blocked his number. Then he blocked him on instagram too, cutting himself off completely. He felt like he was drowning, suffocating in his own tears. Dealing with such a heartbreak, being rejected by the person you love is the worst thing in this world. He didn’t understand this at all. They were so happy, things were perfect and even when all went downhill, Lucas couldn’t stop loving Eliott, he was worried, upset, but he wasn’t even thinking about leaving him. He just had a manic episode, he read a lot about it and was aware of what he has to face when being with Eliott, but it seems like the tall boy had different sight on things.

He closed the chat now, shoving his phone under his pillow and forcing himself to close his eyes. He wanted to sleep, but as soon as he was drifting off into the painless void, his mind started to show him memories. The most painful ones where he and Eliott were happy together, laughing, kissing, talking and just having fun in general. Hanging out with the boys, the girls, with everyone in the flat. The aching in his chest grew stronger, making him feel like something is pressing the oxygen out of his lungs. 

He got back to earth when Mika was shaking his body gently, calling his name multiple times. He was gasping, his vision was blurry, so he had to blink a few times while his breathing started to normalize. His lung was burning like hellfire and he hated that feeling, since his chest was already in pain. He looked at Mika and Manon, who were standing by the couch, looking at him worried. He probably had a panic attack, that’s why he felt like he was underwater with no oxygen. 

“I’m fine.” he mumbled, voice awfully hoarse and he could feel how chapped his lips were. He haven’t eaten anything or drink much since saturday, so he was kinda dehydrated. 

“Lucas, I get that you probably don’t wanna talk about it, but we are here for you.” Mika said softly, brushing a strand of hair out of the boy’s face. He could feel the tears building up again after that tender move. He didn’t want anyone to touch him, not like this. He pulled his head back, trying to melt into the back of the couch. 

 “Do you need a tea?” Manon asked softly now, grabbing Mika’s arm and pulling him away, seeing that the boy didn’t wanted any physical contact. Lucas pursed his lips and just shook his head. “Okay, we let you sleep now.” she said and shot a look at Mika.

“But Manon...”

“Come on, Mika.” She said seriously, pulling the man away now. He just let out a big sigh and followed the girl to the kitchen.

Lucas was really glad that it was spring break, because he was sure that going to school would not be an option to him. And somewhere in the back of his mind he was relieved that Eliott won’t be missing school yet again. He was already having troubles for staying home too much, so it wouldn’t be good for him to skip another week. Although he knew that Eliott’s parents informed the principal of his illness, it wasn’t an option to allow him to miss school too much. 

He wanted to smack his head into the wall for thinking about the tall boy again. Even with his best efforts, he just couldn’t not remember him and worry about him. It was hurting his feelings, yes, but Eliott was the person he loved, that was not something that goes away after a few days. He kept checking his phone from time to time, hoping that it was just a mistake, that Eliott is going to call him and ask him to come over. But it never happened. When he got a text from Lucille, though his heart skipped a beat. 

From Lucille Let’s meet at the coffee shop tomorrow at 10

To Lucille Is he okay? 

From Lucille  It’s not a topic for texts, see you tomorrow? 

To Lucille I’ll be there 

Lucas barely slept, he looked like a walking zombie when he saw himself in the mirror. He decided to take a shower, trying to fix his hair and refresh his face, though the redness in his eyes didn’t disappear. He put on jeans and a long sleeve shirt, pulling his jacket on, grabbing his keys and left the flat. He was nervous, but not like last time. This time it was because he was truly afraid of what Lucille is going to say. They haven’t talked since sunday morning and it was wednesday now. He was suffering for three whole days on that fucking couch, drowning in his tears and sorrows. But now he had to get his shit together, acting like he was a well-functioning teenager. The aching in his chest started to become part of his daily life, it didn’t bother him anymore.

When he got to the coffee place, Lucille was already sitting at a table outside, stirring her coffee. There was a latte, ready for Lucas to drink and two croissants on a white plate. He tried to stop his hands from shaking as he sat down and looked at the girl. She seemed exhausted too, dark circles around her eyes, but she was still beautiful, unlike the boy. There was clear worry in her eyes when she loked up and down on him, realizing how fucked up he was. She sighed. 

“He is having a difficult time.” she started and looked at the busy street now. “I don’t know what he said to you, or what...”

“He said nothing.” Lucas cut her off, being the rude little hedgehog he was. “He told me to leave him alone and then blocked me.” he said seriously, fighting back those damn tears yet again. Lucille sighed and ran her fingers through her curly locks. It was painful to see how similar it was to how Eliott used to do it. 

“He is so dramatic.” she mumbled and looked at the street again, then back at Lucas. “I don’t know what he’s thinking, because he’s not talking to anyone, not me, not Sofiane or Idriss. I told our parents that he’s having an episode, but asked them not to come back to Paris. I don’t think it would be helpful if they would be in his neck 24/7.” she explained and continued to stir her coffee that didn’t even seemed to be hot. 

“I don’t know what to do.” Lucas said suddenly, surprising even himself, but the girl just looked at him with anticipation in her eyes. “I was scared that night, yes, but I had no intentions to leave him... I knew what I have to deal with when I became his boyfriend. But all this... that he’s cutting me off his life is just too painful... I want to just stop trying and let it go sometimes, because it’s just too much.” he muttered, not even trying to stop his tears now. Lucille reached her hand over the table and grabbed Lucas’ softly, rubbing it with her thumb. 

“I know that it’s hard... After we found out what is going on with him... What is this that he has to live with, it was really difficult. Not just for him, but for us, his family. We were talking with doctors, looked up things online to make sure we are not pushing him to the wrong direction. Mom and dad were fighting a lot in those times and I had to stay with Eliott, making sure that he is okay. He was blaming himself for the fights, but that wasn’t true. They weren’t angry because of the situation, they were frustrated because their son was suffering and they couldn’t do anything about it. We learned through the years and now we know when to give him space, when ask him questions, when can we take him seriously and when we have to let his words just slip away.” she said, voice calm and soft, just like the look on her face. Lucas haven’t stopped crying and she raised her free hand to wipe off tears from his face, caressing it slowly. “Do you love him?” 

“Yes.” he answered without hesitation, nodding his head.

“Then don’t give up on him, okay?” she said softly. “I know he is a problematic person, not because of his illness, but because of his personality. He can be a real pain in the ass, but I saw how he’s looking at you, how he’s talking about you.” she paused for a moment, pulling her hands back to take a sip from her coffee. “He had flings, boys and girls after Sophie, but never anything serious. Then you came into his life and I’ve never seen him being happier.” 

“And now he’s in pain...” he mumbled, looking down at his lap.

“There will be times when he will be in pain, Lucas. He will suffer and you can’t do anything to make it easier.” she said, her voice cracking a little at the end and as the boy snatched his head up, he could see her wiping off a single tear from her cheek. “You just have to be strong enough to get through these times with him. Because after that everything will be perfect and it’s gonna make things worth it.” she finished and continued drinking her coffee now. 

Lucas didn’t know what to say, but her words were digging their way inside his heart, making him feel better. Suddenly he felt like he can actually breathe again, the constant pain in his chest were easing up. He decided to just sip on his latte too, enjoying the calm silence with this wonderful woman. If he ever had the chance to have a sister, he wanted her to be like Lucille. Then he remembered that he does have a sister, not by blood, but he still had her. Manon was always there for him when he needed someone, she was more understanding than anyone and seemed like she could read Lucas’ very soul. He just wanted to go home now and hug her, thank her for everything she had done, for putting up with all his bullshit and carrying through his worst days.

When they both finished their drinks and ate the croissants, not really talking to each other, they got ready to leave. Lucas wasn’t expecting from Lucille to pull him into a soft, careful hug, but he enjoyed nonetheless. After that they both went on their own ways, Lucas taking a little detour, buying some groceries and everyone’s favorite sweets too. When he got home he found Mika and Manon on the couch, talking about something, but they went silent when they saw Lucas entering, so he knew they were talking about him. 

“Hey guys!” he said softly, still holding the bag in his hand. Mika and Manon looked at him seemly in shock.

“Hey!” the girl said after thirty seconds of awkward silence. 

“I got some groceries.” he said and raised the bag. “Also got some sweets for you guys.” a soft smile appeared on his face, weak, but at least honest. 

“Oh that sounds awesome.” Mika jumped up from the couch, running to Lucas and wrapping him up in a bone-crashing hug. “I missed you, Kitten!” he mumbled. Lucas laughed and wrapped his free arm around Mika softly, it felt good to be hugged by him.

“I was away for just a few hours.” he said softly and glanced at Manon, who walked towards them with a soft smile on her face. 

“You know how he meant it.” she said and rubbed the short boy’s arm. “It’s good to have you back.” 

“It’s good to be back.” he whispered into the older guy’s shoulder now, dropping the bag and wrapping both of his arms around him. Manon decided to join in and hugged both of them from the side, burying her face into Lucas’ neck. 

Lucas spent the rest of his day answering to his friend’s messages. All of them were concerned after he wasn’t responding for days. They had no idea what happened with Eliott and it was good like that. He only told Mika and Manon, because he trusted them, plus he made them promise not to talk about it to anyone else. He explained what happened exactly, how things went downhill, how scared he was when Eliott just ran off naked, how he felt when the police called him. What happened at the station, his fight with Lucille, Eliott’s texts, him blocking Lucas everywhere. He felt relieved after finishing the story. He got some hugs from his flatmates and they decided to watch a movie together. Lucas agreed, but he was mostly on his phone, reassuring the boys and the girls that he was fine. Then he saw the messages from Sofiane and he opened it with shaky hands. 

sofalaoui Lucille called me and told me what happened Is everything okay with you?  You must be in shock, but Eliott needs you  Answer, please

The first two messages were from sunday, the third from monday and then the last from tuesday. Lucas sighed and leant back on the couch, staring at his phone for a couple minutes, thinking about what he should say to Sofiane. He was Eliott’s friend, but he probably had no idea what he did after his episode. How he pushed Lucas away. The boy wasn’t blaming Eliott or anyone in fact, but he had the right to feel heartbroken. He took a deep breath and started typing.

lucallemant Hi, I’m sure you have no idea, but I think Eliott broke up with me 

The reply came within a minute and Lucas couldn’t stop himself from smiling. Sofiane was just like Eliott, texting back immediately.

sofalaoui What do you mean? Why would he do that? 

lucallemant I am not sure, he blocked my number and blocked me on instagram 

sofalaoui Woah, that’s extreme Did you talk to him? 

lucallemant I tried to, before he blocked me  I met Lucille today and she said that he’s not well 

sofalaoui I’m sorry, Lucas I wish I could help, but you know him... 

lucallemant  He is fucking stubborn...

sofalaoui Exactly You wanna meet up tomorrow maybe? 

lucallemant No, I’m meeting the boys tomorrow And I’m not sure if we should meet 

sofalaoui Why? Did I do something wrong? 

Lucas could feel the concern in those words and see the worrying frown on Sofiane’s face. He sighed and pulled up his legs, hugging them while texting back to him. Mika, Lisa and Manon were too busy watching some shitty romantic movie.

lucallemant No, of course not But you are Eliott’s best friend and he might not be happy if he would know that you were hanging out with his ex

sofalaoui You are not his ex

lucallemant Apparently, I am 

sofalaoui You’re just giving up on him like this? 

lucallemant I am not gonna give up I love him 

sofalaoui Does he know that? 

lucallemant  Not yet 

He sighed and put down his phone for now. He kept saying to people that he loves Eliott and it was burning his chest how he couldn’t tell him too. It wasn’t hard, not after all this. Realizing how terrified he was when Eliott disappeared in the night, not knowing what can happen to him, not knowing if he’s safe or if he gets hurt before the police finds him. These all combined made him sure that his feelings were strong, stronger than he ever expected them to be. It was something he never felt before, something he only read about in those shitty books that was required for literature classes. He had to smile when he remembered how much Eliott loved those sappy books. 

The next day he met up with the gang in the park. He was nervous and not sure what to tell them. He didn’t wanted to make Eliott be a bad guy, because he wasn’t, but he also wasn’t sure if he could speak about his bipolarity without him agreeing to it. That was something Lucas couldn’t just decide by himself. Suddenly he just wanted to run back home and not meeting the boys, maybe meeting up with Sofiane instead, since he could talk to him honestly, maybe even asking his opinion on things, but he got off the bus now and he could see them from far away. He took a deep breath and started walking. 

The boys were sitting on a bench, facing the small lake and were talking about some nonsense, laughing too much. Lucas slowly appreached them and just watched for a little, listening to all the stupid shit Basile was saying, smiling fondly when Arthur shut him off. He walked around the bench, smiling softly.

“Hey.” he greeted them. The boys jumped up, all of them at the same time and wil a loud “Lulu” they pulled him in a tight group hug. Lucas laughed and tried to wrap his arms around all three of them, he was a bit overwhelmed, but also really happy.

“We missed you, Lulu.” Arthur said and he rubbed the boy’s back softly.

“We really did.” Baz continued.

“And we were worried too.” Yann added, ruffling Lucas’ already messy hair with a gentle smile on his face. 

“I’m sorry, boys. Things just happened and I needed some time alone.” he explained and sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose with two fingers. 

“What things?” Arthur raised his eyebrows and they pulled back now, sitting on the bench again, while Lucas was standing in front of them. 

“There was... Things are difficult between me and Eliott right now. Something happened that was out of our control, so we’re... sort of taking a break.” he explained slowly, trying to keep his emotions inside. He was crying enough lately, it was time to be strong and fight for the person he loved. 

“Wait, did you guys break up?” Basile asked confused.

“Yeah.” Lucas answered shortly and sighed. “Things are hard for us now and I think he needs some time... he is... He’s depressed.” he said finally and looked at the trees nearby instead of looking at his friends.

“Wait a second... is Eliott bipolar?” Basile asked suddenly, shocking everyone with it. Lucas eyes opened widely, staring at his idiot friend in disbelief. 

“How do you...?” 

“My mom is also bipolar.” he said simply, shrugging and looking around to see that all the boys were looking at him surprised. “You guys never asked, so I didn’t tell.” he defended himself. “What happened with Eliott?” 

“He... he had a manic episode.” Lucas said now honestly, letting out a deep sigh. “He ran off naked in the middle of the night.” 

“He was naked?” Arthur asked shocked, while Basile started laughing.

“That’s so funny.” he said between two laughs, earning a deadly look from Lucas. “Okay, sorry.” he coughed. “So he’s depressed now... because you guys had a fight?”

“No.” Lucas shook his head. “After the police found him, his sister talked to the officers, while I brought our stuff from the hotel room...”

“Wait, hold on.” Yann said suddenly. “Hotel room?” 

“Yeah.” Lucas mumbled and felt his ears burning now. “We went to a hotel on saturday... it was his surprise for me.” he explained.

“Fuck, you really have the best boyfriend, huh?” Arthur said with a jealous look on his face. Lucas wanted to remind him that they weren’t a couple anymore, but he felt like if he says it too many times, it’s going to be real. That was something he wanted to avoid at all costs. 

“So what happened after?” Yann asked now, paying full attention to his best friend now. 

“He didn’t wanted to see me, so I went home... I was really worried, Lucille, his sister didn’t contact me at all, but then I got a message from Eliott. He said that he needs space, he wanna get well, but I would just hold him back... and then he blocked me.” he finished, sniffing a little to help holding back the tears. I can’t cry again. I can’t cry again. 

“Man, that’s tough shit.” Arthur sighed.

“But you aren’t going to give up on him, right?” Basile asked curiously. “I mean... My mom did stuff like this, yelling at me and throwing stuff when she was mad or depressed. It sure can get nasty, but We’ve all seen how Eliott looks at you.” 

“I’m not planning to.” Lucas said with a soft smile and he felt a sudden urge to just hug the shit out of Basile. He knew that with all the stupid stuff he was saying and doing, deep down he was a kindhearted boy, but right now he grew big in the short boy’s eyes. “I wanna talk to him once he’s feeling better.” he said honestly and seeing the proud look on his friends’ face made him feel happy.

“That’s the spirit, Lulu.” Yann said, smirking and got up from the bench. “Now let’s go and have some fun! We can borrow my sister’s electric scooter.” he offered, which made everyone excited now. 

“Let’s go then.” Lucas said laughing and he left the park with the boys, heading to Yann’s place. 

This one might not have been as long as the previous ones, but I wanted to end it here, with that hilarious insta picture, because we all love le Gang! The next one might be from Eliott’s POV, so prepare for more angst before they actually get back together. I also feel like getting to the end of this story, so If you guys have suggestions for other AUs, feel free to tell me. I have some plans, but nothing is clear yet. Bisous

[raybansandcoffee]

Adventure of a Lifetime: Chapter Nine

If you need to catch up you can find all of Adventure of a Lifetime HERE.

**********

I’m on my way.

I am ready. See you in a bit. :)

“Savannah!” I yelled. I heard her laughter drift through the house before I heard her hurrying up the stairs to my room.

“Yes,” she said as she came into the bathroom and sat in the chair at my vanity.

“Do I look okay?” I asked. I knew I looked nervous and panicked. I felt it too. Enough that I’d snuck a beer into the bathroom with me while I got ready. I took another drink as Savannah gave me a once over.

“You look great.” I had put on a pair of black leggings and an olive green top that was long enough it basically qualified as a dress but it had a high low hem where the high was TOO high and the fabric was so lightweight it would be see-through without layers. A little bit of lace from my black bralette peaked out of the v-neck when I moved. She sat trying to talk me through my anxiety as I finished getting ready. I didn’t have much time, over the last two weeks I’d learned the exact amount of time it took Jeremy to get to my house, which was about 3 minutes less than it took me to get to his house. “It’s gonna get chilly when the sun goes down. Do you have a jacket?”

“I was going to wear my denim jacket.” Her face contorted. She apparently didn’t like that idea.

“Nope. I’ve got the perfect one.” She stood up and left the bathroom. I put down the curling iron from the last loose curl I’d added to my hair to make it look like I tried but also not like I tried too hard. I shut it off before following her into the bedroom. She walked out and threw a jacket at me before throwing a pair of shoes.

“Why are you throwing things at me?”

“Because you don’t look like yourself. I’d tell you to wear the black version of that top but then you’d look like the angel of death so the green works, plus it makes your eyes pop. The black ankle booties are cute but halfway through the night you’ll regret them, you always do. Checkered Vans are who you are. They are part of your brand, your ethos, your…I don’t know what they are but you need to wear them.” She’d picked out a black and white pair that somehow didn’t look like I’d worn them for 10 years, they must be the new ones I ordered a few weeks ago. I pulled the jacket back and looked at it. “Tony told me what he said about the photo of you in that jacket in your studio. Wear it.” I smiled looking down at it.

The Rebel Girl Inside Me Will Never Die.

“You think?” I asked.

“Yes. Do it. The Rebel Girl inside you needs a night out or it’s highly possible she might die. Tony and I have the kids covered tonight. Stay out. Drink a little too much. Have fun. Relax. Be 36 and single for a night. The #MomLife you live will be waiting for you in the morning, or afternoon if you’d prefer it that way.”

“Oh shut it. I am not coming home tomorrow afternoon, I’ll be home at a reasonable time. I am so not staying at his house. We don’t even know if this is a date or not. It’s dinner.”

“It’s dinner together. At a restaurant. Without your kids. Without your brother. Without me. It’s a date.”

I’d kept pushing back the night together. Made excuses and reasons we needed to do stuff with the kids instead. Or that we should take Tony to this really great dive bar not far from my house for some live music or karaoke. I’d pushed back as far as I possibly could. It was Wednesday night. Tomorrow my family would arrive. They’d all be leaving in the morning and get here sometime in the afternoon or evening. Alex and her family would get her Friday mid-day. Sam’s family would be making the trip for Friday dinner and coming back on Saturday for the service since it was a short drive for them. I would have a full house for the next five days. I’d also run out of every logical reason we couldn’t be alone. Tonight was the night. It was all or nothing. To say I was incredibly anxious was an understatement, I was borderline terrified.

I wasn’t lying, I didn’t technically know if it was a date or not. But, all signs pointed towards date. We’d seen each other several times over the last two weeks. Lots of hanging out as a family, the girls really loved that they could still see each other even though school was on break. Then Sunday, Ava left to go stay with her Mom. She wouldn’t be home until Friday. Jeremy had still texted me every morning and found excuses to see me. I knew part of it was because he was lonely and processing the alone time without his kid. The weekends that Ellery and Axel would go stay with Sam’s Mom and Dad I usually sent Savannah home to see her parents. I’d wander around the house alone in sweatpants and go through a few too many bottles of wine or whiskey and probably too much weed in the timespan. As much as I hadn’t prepared myself to be so attached to them I was and when they weren’t in the house it felt unbelievably empty. I felt empty. I’d sit and stare at the house I called home now. The house that was so perfectly Sam and Michael and so not me. I felt the life drain from me when the kids were gone and they weren’t even my flesh and blood. It had to be exponentially harder for Jeremy. Ava was clearly his universe.

“So really? The vans and the leather jacket? It’s it too casual if it’s a date.”

“It’s borderline. It’s not too casual because you look fucking hot and that’s all he will focus on. The green makes your eyes stand out and show just how green they are. It’s also just casual enough that if this is another night of Jeremy trying to not be alone and not a date that you aren’t overdressed. If you’d worn the black dress you had picked out earlier you’d be overdressed if it wasn’t a date.” My phone beeped to signal that the gate had opened.

“Shit he’s here.” I grabbed my bag, threw on the jewelry I’d left laying on my dresser and hurried down the stairs behind Savannah. I ran to the kitchen and kissed the tops of the kids’ heads where they were seated at the island. “Be good for Savy and Tony tonight, promise.”

“Promise,” Ellery said. “Will you be home before I go to bed?”

“I don’t know. But Uncle Tony promised to sing songs with you tonight. That’s way better than me, right?” She smiled and nodded before shoving another spoonful of macaroni and cheese into her mouth. The front door opened and Jeremy walked in. I smiled and waved at him before giving Ellery one final kiss on her forehead. “Text or call if either of you needs anything.”

“We’ve got it covered, sis. Go be a grown-up.” He kissed my cheek. “Hey, Jer.”

“Hey T. Well hello Ellery Marie. Is that mac and cheese for dinner?” She nodded. “Nice choice.” He glanced at me. “ I talked to Ava before I came to pick up your Mom. She says hi and she can’t wait to see you on Friday.”

“I can’t wait for her to meet Papa and Nana and Aunt Frankie and Uncle Ryan and Aria and Harlow and Carter and and and everyone.” Ellie was excited about this weekend which made me happy and sad all at once. I’d told her that we were having a party to honor her Mom and Dad. She thought it would be like a birthday party, which honestly it probably would feel more like a birthday party than a funeral.

“You ready?”

“Yeah, let’s go.” Our last goodbyes were said and we headed out of the house and towards his truck. He walked with me to the passenger side, opening the door and helping me in. Once we were on the road, he turned music on and we drifted in between conversation and singing along to the music. “So where are you taking me?” I looked over at him and smiled hoping that the thoughts going through my head about if tonight was a date or not didn’t show in my face.

“I thought that we could go to dinner at the restaurant down by the shore to start and then go from there.” The restaurant he’d picked was one of the nicer places near me. Basically all of the restaurants I frequented were kid-friendly and honestly, I hadn’t done a lot of eating out in the last year.

“Ooo. I’m excited now. I’ve been there twice. It was great both times.”

“Well, I’m hopeful that the third visit will be even better. When did you go before?” he asked.

“The first time was several years ago with Sam and Michael when I came to visit. The second was when Frankie and Alex came out for my birthday last year and took me out for dinner without any kids.”

“When was that?”

“Is this your way of asking me when my birthday is?”

“Maybe.” He laughed a little bit.

“It’s October 31st.”

“Halloween. Well, that explains a lot.” I reached over and punched him in the arm. “I meant that in a good way.”

“Uh-huh. Sure.” It wasn’t much longer before we got to the restaurant. Jeremy was opening doors, pulling out chairs and had his hand on the small of my back when we walked anywhere. The date-o-meter in my head kept ticking closer to ‘date’ and less away from ‘night as friends.’

“So are you ready for everyone to get here?” Jeremy asked as soon as our drinks had been delivered.

“Umm, yes and no.” I sighed before taking another drink of my wine. “I’m ready for a chance to see my family. I’m ready for a chance to see Sam’s family and for the kids to see their grandparents. Saturday is the actual thing, Celebration of Life or whatever we are calling it. Sam’s Aunt, Uncle, and their kids will be there too which will be nice. I’m not 100% sure I’m excited to have all of those people in my house. Alex really thought we should invite some friends from LA and I wasn’t really in the mood to argue with her about it so I let her do it. I think there’s a few who RSVPed for Saturday, not many though. I let my sister handle all of that stuff. Of the people who contacted me about it, most replied saying they couldn’t make it, a few had some comment about how the funeral was a year ago, or that I should’ve planned it in LA so that they could come. All of that was why I didn’t want to invite people. Well, that and I’m tired of the faces.”

“Faces?”

“The faces people make at me or the kids when they see us. You know because they all moved on shortly after the funeral. They expect that I’ve also moved on because you know it’s been a year, why on Earth should I still be grieving?”

“Grief is different for everyone. People shouldn’t judge you for how you need to process such a huge loss. You went through more than everyone else. You had to experience so much trauma that other people didn’t have to experience. I am proud of how well you’re doing.” He reached across the table to where my hand was resting and placed his on top of mine. His thumb caressing it softly. “Do you really have friends who judge that you’re still grieving.”

“Yes.” I didn’t really know how to talk about this. But I knew I needed to or at some point this weekend I’d have a breakdown and there would be screaming and throwing things and it would not be good. “Alex judges it. You know because she’s a ‘doctor’ she thinks she knows just how I should be doing at this point.”

“She’s a doctor of English Literature.”

“Yes, yes she is.”

“She sounds like she’s fun at parties.” I almost choked on the drink of wine that I had just taken as I laughed. He had heard a lot of the phone calls I’d had with her in the lead up to this weekend. Listened to me rant and rave about the text messages and emails she’d been sending me. She felt that she should always be in charge of things, she always had, and because this entire weekend was the work of myself and my sister it was making Alex ridiculously difficult to deal with. “I promise I’ll be on my best behavior all weekend around her.”

“You know you really don’t need to spend your whole weekend babysitting me through this.” He’d cleared the entire weekend to make sure that he could be there for me at any moment that I needed him. He’d even offered to sleep on a couch so he could be at my house. I’d admitted to him earlier this week after a few drinks that the closer the anniversary came the harder it was for me to sleep. I’d had a recurring nightmare over the last year that was happening frequently this week. I’d woken up screaming one night and was glad that the kids’ rooms weren’t close enough for them to hear me.

“I’m not babysitting you. I’m going to be there for you because I care about you and you may eventually need backup. Or maybe someone to sneak you out of there for a little while.”

“Or a lot of alcohol.”

“That too. I’ve got it all covered. It’s going to be a good weekend. From what you’ve told me about what you and Frankie planned it sounds like it’s going to be a wonderful time and a great way to celebrate two people you love.”

“It should be. Ellie is so excited about it and I feel so horrible. I told her it was a Celebration of Life, so she basically thinks it’s a huge birthday party. Except unlike a birthday party, she’ll get to watch me cry the whole time. Okay, I guess that’s basically like all of the birthday parties now. Turns out I’m the one who is a ton of fun at parties.” Jeremy laughed a little. He’d quickly figured out I used humor when processing all of this and that he was allowed to at it because I did.

“Birthdays are hard, aren’t they?”

“The worst. Ellie’s birthday is in three and a half weeks. We were still in LA for her 5th birthday. It was the week before we moved here. I was a mess through the entire thing because I was leaving LA, I’d lost my best friend, I was responsible for a 5-year-old and a 2-month-old. I was the fucking conductor on the Hot Mess Express. If Mandi hadn’t thrown the party together and somehow figured out everything that Sam had planned before she died it wouldn’t have happened. I was still so heavily in mourning that I couldn’t function. I put on a happy face the whole fucking day. I said I was so happy that everyone came and honestly I really was happy everyone had come. Ellie deserved a good birthday. But as soon as everyone was out the door it was like I had a psychotic break of some sort. I started sobbing uncontrollably. I was screaming at everyone and no one all at once. I threw the beer bottle in my hand against the side of my Dad’s house and crumbled to the ground. Eventually, after bawling on the ground for a good 15 minutes Ryan picked me up and carried me up to my bedroom. Frankie laid beside me for the next 10 hours while I cried out every tear I’d held inside.”

“What brought it on?”

“Someone told me the birthdays would get easier with time and used the dreaded phrase that I no longer allow.”

“They are in a better place?” I nodded before taking another drink of my wine. “Worst. Phrase. Ever. I’ve never lost someone the way you lost Sam but even I hate that phrase. Or ‘God has a plan’ I heard that one a lot after my divorce. I highly doubt God’s plan was for my wife to put my daughter and me through the hell we went through and if it was I’m not quite sure what his plan is.”

“Also a super shitty phrase. Or ‘God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.’ I literally couldn’t handle breathing most days. Those phrases always pissed me off. I know people intend for it to be comforting but they are the least comforting thing someone could say, especially when you consider that Sam and Michael weren’t religious at all. They got married by a judge that my Dad was friends with. The kids were never baptized, we just had a party for them after they were born where everyone promised to accept these kids and the lives they chose to lead. Whether they worship a Christian God, a Greek God, Buddha, Elmo, or Satan that we were required to love them, support them, and let them explore life the way they wanted to. It involved streamers and flower petals and looked like a fun party that everyone would want to go to. Essentially that’s what Frankie and I used for our inspiration for Saturday. Friday night is just family and the closest friends. We are doing a really nice dinner with Sam and Michael’s favorite foods and a chance for us to have a quieter event.”

“All of it sounds like it’s going to be a great weekend. You’re all still coming over Sunday to swim and have a barbecue at my house, right?” I nodded.

“Frankie thought it was great that Ellie’s best friend wanted everyone to come to her house.”

“Leaving out that it was someone that wanted to do it for you I see.”

“No. I just try not to go into detail with my sister because it will become a deposition about my social life, more specifically my love life. She’s almost done with law school, she’s scary good at interrogating me. It’s like the worst cross-examination you could imagine.” I was ready to not talk about me and the heavy weekend that was approaching me. “How have you been holding up this week?”

“As good as I can, I guess. Thanks for putting up with me being around a little more this week. It’s always hard the first time she leaves for a long summer visit.” I’d started to learn a little bit about Jeremy’s custody arrangement with his ex this week. Ava had left Sunday morning to go stay with her Mom for the week. She was supposed to be there for two full weeks but he’d explained to his ex that Ava wanted to be in town to support Ellery and somehow that worked. She’d be back in Tahoe for the weekend and next week before Jeremy left to go back to LA with her for a while so that she could have more time with her Mom. Evidently, in summer it was two weeks with her Mom, two weeks with him, off and on. He’d slowed on work because she’d started school but he’d be leaving to go work on another Marvel project eventually and he was worried about how it would disrupt her life. Her Mom was trying to convince him that she needed to spend the next school year in LA since he didn’t know how much of it he’d be gone for. He wasn’t ready to agree to that and I didn’t blame him. I also hoped it wouldn’t happen because Ellery would be lost without Ava at school.

“I’m not putting up with you. I…I maybe like being around you, a little bit.”

“I like being around you too.” His smile lit his face up. I liked seeing the real smile and not the forced one he’d been wearing a lot of this week. I also loved that he could see through my bullshit, my terrible jokes, and see me behind the facade. “You’ve made what is normally the worst week of the year for me a lot easier.”

“You’ve done the same for me. Saturday is going to be a hard day. The closer it gets the more anxious I feel about it. Thank you for the distraction tonight.”

“I’m always happy to be a distraction for you.” Dinner was unbelievable. The food was delicious. He’d reserved a table inside the restaurant right by the window so we could watch the sunset. We had a leisurely dinner and sat there for over two hours. He even insisted on having dessert even though I was fairly certain I couldn’t eat a bite more of food. It felt good to be out of the house for a little while and not worrying about needing to get home. I knew that my brother and Savy had control of the kids tonight. I had all day tomorrow to prepare before my family got there and I’d have almost a full 24 hours with them before Alex, Max, and the boys arrived. Jeremy was going to be there for dinner tomorrow night so that my family had a chance to meet him before Alex got there. I needed backup since I feared she’d be super judgmental like she usually was. I wasn’t 100% sure why I was afraid of her judgment. After all, Jeremy and I were just friends.

“Thank you so much for tonight,” I said as we walked towards the car after dinner.

“Who says tonight is over?” His smile gave him away. I could almost read the thoughts in his head like there was an ominous movie voiceover happening. Charlie was right. Tonight is definitely not over. Jeremy had more up his sleeve.

“We just had the greatest dinner. What the hell else could we possibly do?”

“There’s a lot that we could do. Trust me.” He winked at me before opening the door to the truck and helping me in. My pulse started to race. I took a few deep breathes as he walked around the truck and climbed in. He drove through town stopping in front of the dive bar we’d taken my brother to earlier this week. I turned to look at him.

“Is your plan to get me drunk tonight?”

“Maybe.” His laughter filled the truck. “I’m not really. I know you have a lot to do tomorrow. But I thought you deserved one relaxing night where you didn’t have to think about what this week means, who you are supposed to be, and what you are supposed to be doing. Tonight you don’t have to live up to anyone’s expectations, you just need to relax and have fun.”

“And you are in charge of this fun?”

“Yes, yes I am.” We both climbed down from the truck and as I got to the front he reached for my hand, grabbing it and dragging me inside. He pulled me closer to him, wrapping his arm around me as he opened the door of the bar. Music poured out into the street from the jukebox. The place had a small crowd but decent considering it was a Wednesday night. His arm didn’t move from around my waist while we walked through the bar. We found a high top table right next to an open pool table. “I declare a rematch from Sunday. You cheated.”

“I did not cheat. I hustled your ass.” I batted my eyelashes. “Oh Jeremy, teach me how to play pool.”

“Yeah, you conveniently forgot to tell me that you a pool shark.”

“No, I’m just a kid who grew up with a pool table and parents who worked all of the time. I tried to learn trick shots when I was 10.”

“Well, I am certain I can beat you. So, it’s time for a rematch. But first, drinks. What would you like my dear?” He had me so at ease tonight. I hadn’t felt this relaxed in so long.

“I’ll have a beer. That blonde craft beer I was drinking Sunday. Get me one of those.”

“The one that had the high alcohol content.” I nodded excitedly. I’d had two drinks Sunday night and had a buzz. By the end of the third, I was in fits of giggles and a bit of a happy drunk. “Oh, you’re going to be fun tonight. I’ll be right back.” Jeremy headed to the bar while I sat down on one of the barstools. I pulled my cell phone out of my purse and quickly checked it. There were no calls, no texts. It appeared the house hadn’t erupted into flames while I was gone. I’m sure I had emails I could read but there was no point in it. I didn’t want to sit and stare at my phone when I could be staring at Jeremy. Shit. That’s not what I meant. Nope, it actually was.

“Your beer, my dear.”

“Thank you.” I took a drink of it and relaxed into the familiar flavor. “So, rematch huh? I’ll be nice and even let you break.”

“How kind of you, smartass.” Jeremy set the table and started our game. We’d developed a playful banter in moments like this. A little smack talk mixed with a lot of flirtation. “I can’t believe you fucking beat me again.”

“What can I say? I’m unstoppable.” I’d sat back down at the table after the third game in a row where I’d beat him. Jeremy walked over and stood between my legs while he grabbed his beer and took a drink.

“You are amazing.” I crossed my legs allowing my knee to brush against him. He rested his hand on my thigh. “I know that technically this night was for you to relax. But I am really having a great time.”

“I am too.”

“So Cinderella does that mean I can keep you out past midnight.” He’d already paid our tab here but I sensed that he wanted to find another place for one more drink or maybe two.

“Oh hell no,” I replied laughing. “I have to be up early to prep for all of my visitors.” I glanced down at my watch, it almost 10:30. “In fact, this princess might turn into a pumpkin if we don’t get her home soon. She’s also perhaps a little bit buzzy from her beer.”

“I guess I can take you home then.” He leaned forward, burying his face in my hair beside my ear. “I’d much rather keep you all to myself a little while longer. I have to share you all weekend. I’ve never been all that great at sharing. Just ask my kindergarten teacher.” I giggled a bit. “I love that sound.” The feeling of his breath on my neck sent a shiver up my spine. “You have a beautiful laugh. It complements your beautiful eyes, they sparkle when you laugh.”

“You read a romance novel before you picked me up. Didn’t you?”

“Nope. You just inspire that in me.” He kissed my cheek right by my ear before leaning back and grabbing my hand. “Let’s get you home Cinderella. I can’t have you turning into a pumpkin.” I giggled again as I laced my fingers between his. He walked me to the passenger side of his truck, opening the door and helping me in as he had all evening. When he climbed into the driver's side and headed on the road towards my place he grabbed my hand, intertwining our fingers again. His hand didn’t leave mine until he needed to input the code on the gate.

Once at the house, we hopped out of the truck and he walked me towards the door, his hand in mine again. We stopped right before the steps that went up to the porch. The lights were still on in the main house so I didn’t want to take him up on the porch and risk that my little brother and nanny could see the end of what I was now almost certain was a date. As we stopped he grabbed my other hand.

“Thank you for tonight,” I said. “I had a great time.”

“I did too. I feel like I should be thanking you.”

“For what?”

“Finally deciding you’d run out of excuses as to why I couldn’t take you out tonight.” I looked down at the ground. I had made excuses. “It was well worth the wait though.”

“It definitely was.” He leaned towards me. My eyes closed as he got close enough to kiss me. I could feel his breath when I heard the door open and my eyes shot open. The door quickly shut and I turned to see Savannah hurrying outside barefoot. Jeremy backed away from me.

“I’ve been trying to call you all night,” Savannah said. I reached into my purse and found my phone. No missed calls or texts. “Shit. I accidentally flipped it into airplane mode when we got at the bar and I checked to see if you’d called me. Is everything okay? Are the kids okay?” I went from zero to full-blown panic in a millisecond.

“The kids are fine. Everything is okay." I finally sighed a huge sigh of relief. "But.” Savannah didn’t have a chance to even finish her sentence before the door flew open.

“Charlie, you’re home. FINALLY!” There in the open door stood my sister.

“Frankie, what are you doing here?”

“We decided to surprise you and come out early. Dad got the company plane for us so we didn’t have to drive.” She walked down the stairs and hugged me tightly. “Oh, I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you too, Frankie.” I looked and Jeremy and mouthed out ‘sorry’ he just smiled.

“Oh, I’m being rude. I’m Charlie’s older sister, Frankie. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Hi, I’m Jeremy. It’s nice to meet you.” He stuck his hand out expecting a handshake and got a hug instead.

“Sorry, we DeLucas are huggers. I’m so glad to finally put a face with a name. Charlie talks about you constantly.”

“Oh does she now?” I dropped my face into my hands. I can't believe she outted me like that, okay I actually can believe that she did. It was very typical. Filterless Frankie.

“Well, why don’t you two come inside. We’ve found our way into the wine cellar, the kids are all tucked in bed, and the adults are having a good time.”

“I should really get home,” Jeremy said. He knew that I was panicking. This was not how I’d planned for him to meet my family. This is also far from how I wanted tonight to end. I should’ve listened to him and let him take me out for a few more drinks.

“Nonsense. You are coming inside, at least for one drink. You need to meet everyone.” Frankie grabbed Jeremy’s hand and pulled him up the stairs. I looked at Savannah in a state of shock.

“What the fuck is going on?”

“I don’t know. They didn’t warn Tony that they were coming even. They just appeared here. They flew in and had a car service pick them up at the airport. They got here right before the kids would’ve all gone to bed. Breathe deep. You’ll be okay.” I took one deep breath before sprinting up the front stairs into the house where I found my entire family surrounding the island in the kitchen.

“Chucky!” Ryan yelled before pulling me in for a hug. He hadn’t found the wine. He’d found my liquor cabinet and by the smell of his breath, he was drinking Jameson on the rocks.

“Hi, Ry.” I hugged him and whispered in his ear. “Really you couldn’t have warned me about all of you showing up? I thought you were my friend.”

“Your sister threatened me. She wanted to surprise you. Were you on a date?” He raised an eyebrow at me.

“Ugh.” I walked away from him and to my Dad. “Hi, Dad. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too, Charlie.” I realized that as I was hugging my family Frankie was doing all of the introductions of my family to Jeremy.

“And that’s Charlie, who you clearly know,” she said as I walked over to Mandi.

“I do know Charlie.” I hugged Mandi from behind and whispered in her ear. “Am I allowed to smother Frankie in her sleep for this? I know it was her idea.”

“No smothering her in her sleep. She just missed you and thought an extra day would be nice. Then your Dad offered up the plane and it was done.”

“Jer, what do you want to drink?” Tony asked.

“Whatever is fine,” he answered.

“Chucky, what do you want?”

“Tequila. Now that I know I don’t have to wake up early to finish getting the house ready for all of you I’m going to allow myself to have a little more fun.” Tony ran downstairs and came up with a bottle of tequila. Jeremy took it from him and reached into the cabinet to get two glasses, filled them with ice and tequila before handing me one.

“He knows his way around your kitchen?” Mandi asked quietly.

“Shut it.”

“He’s really attractive.”

“Yes, yes he is.” I took a sip of my drink before jumping up onto the counter since all of the seats in my kitchen were taken.

“So where have you been all night, Charlie?” Frankie asked.

“Jeremy and I went out for dinner. And then I schooled him in pool.” I smiled proudly and took another drink.

“She beat me three times.”

“You’re a glutton for punishment,” Tony said. “You lost to her four times Sunday night.”

“I thought that I could take her. I don’t know why I thought that but I did.”

“Charlie made enough money to come visit us in Boston right after her freshman year of college in one weekend by hustling people at pool. She then hustled her way around Boston.” Ryan laughed recalling what I jokingly referred to as my part-time job my freshman year of college. “She said it was better than the alternative which was playing guitar on a street corner.”

“I wasn’t in the mood to be a busker.”

“The truth is she didn’t need to do any of that. She just liked trying to make me nervous constantly. I blame every single gray hair on my head on Charlie." My Dad shook his head and laughed. It didn't matter how old I was, I'd always be his little girl and a bit of a pain in his ass.

“That doesn’t surprise me in the least bit,” Jeremy said. He walked to where I was sitting and hopped up on the counter next to me.

“So Jeremy, what do you do for a living?” Ryan asked. I started to laugh really loudly as Jeremy answered.

“I’m an actor. I do some producing and music too.”

“Ryan, don’t lie. You were the one crying as we walked out of the theater in the middle of the night after a midnight showing of Infinity War and ranting about how they went a full two hours and forty minutes without a single mention of Hawkeye minus ‘he’s on house arrest.’ You absolutely know what Jeremy does for a living.” Jeremy laughed.

“It took you 10 minutes after the credits rolled to be able to speak!” Ryan retorted. “And you also cried. Tony is the only one that didn’t.”

“He totally did. I was in the middle of you two. You just didn’t hear him crying.”

“Spiderman didn’t want to go!” Tony defended himself and his tears causing the entire room to erupt into laughter.

“I like your family,” Jeremy said as he continued to laugh. “I also can see where you get a bit of your special brand of crazy.”

“It’s just those three,” Frankie interjected in an attempt to pretend that it was her husband and siblings that were weird, not her.

“Oh, I have a feeling you’re the wackiest of them all, Frankie.”

“What has she told you?” she asked.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I laughed and leaned toward Jeremy, my head resting on his shoulder for barely a second before I realized what I had done and I moved quickly.

“So how long have you two been friends? I was almost positive that Charlie lived here as a recluse minus Savannah until Tony ran away from home.” Ryan was always full of smartassed remarks and questions.

“The girls are best friends,” I answered.

“My daughter Ava and Ellery are in school together. We met on the last day of school when Ava begged me to have her friend over to celebrate the first day of summer. Charlie and Axel came with and that’s the day Tony called in a panic about running away from home so I somehow got roped into helping move him into his place.”

“You volunteered,” I scoffed before reaching for the tequila to pour myself another glass. Jeremy took the bottle from me and filled his up as well.

“You looked like a panicked sister. I imagined what my two look like when I do something stupid so I thought I’d help.”

“Hey! I wasn’t doing something stupid. I was moving in with my sister to help her with her kids,” Tony said.

“Umm, hi. My name is Savannah. I’m the nanny. You’re the dude who shows up in the house every morning and steals my coffee.”

“That’s not surprising. He’s done that for ages,” Mandi said. “I’m determined that I failed at motherhood because he can’t figure out how to work a simple coffee pot. There’s no way he’d know how to work the espresso machine in this house.”

“I’ve figured out the regular coffee pot here. But Savannah and Chuck make better coffee than I do.”

“It’s because I worked at a coffee shop in high school,” Savannah replied. She’d worked at my favorite coffee shop that I frequently used as an ‘office’ when I didn’t want to be in the studio. “And coffee is an entire food group to Charlie so she had to get good at it or she would’ve gone broke a decade ago.”

“True fucking story,” I replied. I scooted back on the counter resting my feet on the end so my knees were raised. “I went broke the first summer that Savannah worked at that coffee shop. The anxious non-mom in me stopped by every morning to check on her.”

“Was that the summer she got her first boyfriend?” Mandi asked.

“Yes. He worked with her and was 2 years older than her. I stalked her for an entire summer because I was terrified that he was going to hurt my little girl. That was when I decided I wasn’t capable of being a mother. The universe clearly laughed at my ideas for the future.” I threw back my glass and took a giant drink. Jeremy rested his hand on my thigh, it wasn’t flirty, it was meant to be comforting.

“The universe didn’t decide this for you, kiddo,” Dad said. “But you were obviously wrong about being incapable of being a mother. A year later and you’re one of the best mothers I know.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“I have to agree with that,” Jeremy added. “I didn’t know you before but honestly, you’re an incredible mom to those kids. You do everything you can to give them the best life they can have considering everything. You’ve survived a lot of trauma to come out on the other end as a really amazing person. A lot of people wouldn’t have come out on this side of the last year with the grace you have. It shows how strong you are and that you are capable of making it through just about anything life can throw at you.”

“Well said,” Ryan agreed.

“Thank you,” I replied before laying my head on Jeremy’s shoulder. This time I left it there, he moved his arm so it wrapped around my back. “It hasn’t been easy but it would’ve been a hell of a lot harder without you guys. I am lucky to have such a great family and awesome friends.” I took a deep breath trying to keep myself from crying. “So I clearly don’t have the house ready for all of you. I slacked off tonight.”

“For good reason,” Frankie said. “You had dinner plans with Jeremy. You don’t need to worry. I can help you out tomorrow. I thought getting here early might be beneficial because I could help you get everything ready. We can spend the day together.”

“Okay, I’m maybe now not pissed that you showed up unannounced.”

“You were pissed?” Frankie asked.

“You know your sister better than anyone,” Ryan said. “Do you think she is happy that she got home from a date and found her house full of people? She’s probably been sitting over there plotting some form of torture on you because you ruined her night.”

“I didn’t ruin her night. I didn’t ruin your night, did I?” I held my glass to my lips taking a sip while giggling and trying really hard not to look like my sister ruined my night, even though my sister kind of ruined my night. I was also trying not to react to Ryan calling it a date. Though judging by the fact that Jeremy’s arm was still draped around me and pulling me in close to him I would say that it was a date if he was comfortable touching me with my family in the room. “I ruined your night?”

“Not at all,” Jeremy interjected. “I think she was just surprised and I’ve learned in the short time I’ve known her that this woman does not like surprises.”

“No, she does not,” I answered. “I am so glad you’re here but a heads up that you’d be coming would’ve been nice. So that I don’t know, I could’ve made sure I changed the sheets in all of the beds.”

“You did do that,” Savannah said. We did the sheets yesterday. I flipped her off.

“You’re supposed to side with me.” The laughter and obnoxious storytelling between my family continued. It was getting close to 1:30 when I caught Jeremy yawn.

“You’re tired,” I whispered. “You don’t have to stay here with us. I’m going to try and move them towards bed soon. It's way past my bedtime and the kids will all be up at the crack of dawn."

“I’m okay.” He yawned again and I frowned at him. “Okay, I’m tired. I didn’t sleep well last night. Are you sure you don’t need me to stay here tonight?” I found it so sweet that because of my nightmares he was offering to stay with me. It had been a rough few nights but I’d be fine. I had a sneaking suspicion that I’d be sharing my bed with Frankie for part of the night.

“I’m sure. Thank you for offering though. You can just come over tomorrow for dinner.” He jumped down off the counter.

“I hate to be a buzzkill but I’m tired and need to get myself home.”

“Are you okay to drive?” Dad asked.

“Yeah, I quit drinking over an hour ago.”

“She has space just stay here,” Frankie said.

“I’m okay to get home, really.” He turned to me. “Walk out with me, Charlie?” I nodded so he helped me down from the counter. He said goodbyes and pleasantries to all of my family before we headed towards the door. I closed it behind me and he grabbed my hand. “Tonight was even better than I imagined. Your family is hilarious.”

“They are annoying but funny most of the time. They will probably be watching out the windows so we should not stand on the stairs.” Jeremy laughed as he pulled me closer to his truck. Where he’d parked wasn’t completely visible from the living room windows, especially if we positioned ourselves properly.

“Tonight really was wonderful. Thank you for letting me take you out.” He now had both of my hands in his. We were standing and looking into each other’s eyes just as we had before Savannah interrupted us earlier.

“It was exactly what I needed. Honestly, it was one of the best nights I’ve had in a really long time. I’m sorry about Ryan and Frankie. They are nosy. They like to pick on me when it comes to the men in my life.”

“I didn’t mind it. I mean it was a date.” I couldn’t tell if it was a feeling of relief or excitement that he confirmed that it was a date. “I was actually going to end our date with a kiss until Sav rudely interrupted us.”

“I was kind of hoping you were going to.” He unclasped his right hand from mine, pushing hair away from my face before cupping my cheek and bending down to kiss me. It started out slow, sweet and innocent. It didn’t take much for me to open my mouth and deepen the kiss. A kiss that I felt from tips of my toes to the ends of my hair, which were probably badly split. He briefly ended the kiss before I stood on my tiptoes to capture his lips in mine again. “You know you really can stay if you have had too much to drink. I’ve got lots of space.”

“I’m okay,” he said as he laughed, bending down to kiss me again. “I wouldn’t drive if I wasn’t okay.”

“Okay.”

“Was this more that you just wanted me to stay here tonight?” He slid an arm around my waist, his hand resting on the small of my back as he pulled me into him.

“I mean maybe. Like not because I think you should stay here and like have sex with me or something. Or not because of my nightmares, I’ll be okay. I just really like you and don’t really want tonight to end and like making out for a while would be really fun. But sadly our night is having to end because my family fucking blows. They’ve never been great with timing or throwing surprises.”

“It’ll be okay. If you want to sneak out tomorrow you can come spend some time at my house.”

“That sounds nice but I’m sure that Mandi and Frankie have my entire day planned. Probably setting up for guests and girl time.”

“You’ll have a lot of fun with them.”

“I’d probably have more fun with you.” I smiled.

“I won’t deny that.” He bent down to kiss me again. This time as he ended the kiss he rested his forehead against mine. “We need to say goodnight. We both need to sleep. We have a long weekend ahead of us. Tonight was only the beginning.” He bent down to kiss me once more. If this was just the beginning I couldn’t wait to see where the rest of the adventure took us.

*****AUTHOR'S NOTE*****

This chapter was so fun to write. I had a couple of different ideas for where to go with chapter nine and I'm REALLY glad I chose this option. Jeremy and Charlie going on a first date that she wasn't even sure was a date played nicely into where I want the story to head. I also felt that it was important to take a bit of a jump in the story to the anniversary and when Charlie's family and friends were in town. It shows the advancement of their friendship without making the story move too slowly.

The next few chapters will heavily revolve around the Celebration of Life and the influx of people at her home. By no means do I intend to have this section be incredibly heavy, however, death carries that weight no matter how it is approached. But as Charlie has said, she doesn't want this to seem like a sad and depressing funeral. She wants it to honestly be a celebration of two people who meant so much to so many people. Obviously, nothing in Charlie's life ever goes as planned so expect some speed bumps and a disturbance or two in the force.

I do want to say that I honestly have no idea what Jeremy's custody situation is like for his ex. For the premise of this story, I've made him the custodial parent and that his ex-wife has visitation rights. There will obviously be periods of time where Ava is with her mother and Jeremy is alone, much like this chapter. There will also be times where Ellery and Axel go to stay with members of their biological family leaving Charlie without the kids. Complicated families involve complicated custody arrangements. So please remember that this is 100% fictional and made up for the purpose of this story, I don't presume to know what anyone's custody arrangements are like.

I'd love to hear what you think of this chapter and the direction that I'm taking not just the story but the relationship between Charlie and Jeremy. I originally hadn't intended for them to rush into a relationship, if you've read anything else I've written my characters tend to move fast. These two felt like there was more history involved in their lives and baggage that might make them want to move slowly. I also felt that their natural chemistry might make them relax a little where they might not with just anyone else. Their families have naturally melded together so they've spent more time together than most people do as they are building a friendship and relationship.

I did feel like it was also appropriate to add a bit about her family laughing about Jeremy’s job. Only appropriate considering the faceclaims for almost the entire cast are MCU actors. I mean Tony crying about Spidey, come on that provides a laugh.

I'm super excited to get to work on the next chapter. I've come down with some sort of plague. I've got all the body aches, sniffles, coughs, sneezes, throat scratches and earaches you could ever dream of which means my Mom has confined me to my portion of the house so that she doesn't also get the plague. The benefits of being a grown-ass adult living with your Mom is when you feel sick she sometimes is willing to make you soup and let you sleep for a full day or two. As I'm being forced into my little basement studio I'll probably be writing until I see the light at the end of the tunnel. Feel free to keep me motivated. :)

xx. Annie

Also, let’s just all enjoy Chris scaring Lizzy. :) 

[fluffyllamas-23]

The Blind Date (2/2)

This is...just...way longer than I anticipated.  I’m v sorry lmao

Part 1 can be found here

“You’re doing that thing again,” Hannah says, taking a seat on the other side of her couch.

“What thing?” Chloe mumbles sleepily, looking up from the textbook in her lap.

“The thing where you run yourself into the ground.”

“I am not.”

“Yes you are,” Hannah says, rolling her eyes, “you look like you could sleep for ten years. And you never come to my place unless you’re exceptionally stressed out. Take a break.”

Chloe yawns, “we’re in the nursing program. We all need ten years of sleep.”

“Have you talked to Sawyer? He called out of work again, and I’m annoyed.”

“Why?”

“Because, he was the only thing keeping me from throttling our incompetent, fucking moron of a coworker,” she scowls.

“He texted me this morning that he’s still not feeling well.  I’m going to bring him some soup in a little bit.”

“That’s very girlfriend-y of you,” Hannah grins, nudging Chloe with her foot.

Chloe flushes, “shut up.”

“You’ve never been this forward with a guy before.”

She chews on her bottom lip, “I just…really like him…a lot and it’s scary.”

“That’s so cute!  Anyways, how many days in a row have you even been over there?”

“I dunno…however many it’s been since Friday night.”

“Holy shit. You know you’re going to wind up catching it, right?”

“Doubtful. It’s been four days, and I’m still fine.”

“I dunno...you look like you feel pretty shitty.”

“I haven’t slept in two nights, that’s probably why.”

“Just...don’t...die. Or infect me. Paige and I have a hot date tomorrow night.”

“Tomorrow is Wednesday. Who the hell has a Wednesday night date night?”

“Two people who have completely conflicting schedules, that’s who. My class is cancelled, and she has the night off work.”

“That sounds nice.”

“She’s coming over in a little bit, actually.  We’re going to try and get some studying done...do you mind?”

“Not unless you guys start makin’ out.”

Hannah smiles wryly, “duly noted.”

Chloe rubs her eyes, which are throbbing with exhaustion at this point, before closing her textbook. She’s been staring at the same page for almost an hour, now, and she’s given up on the idea of studying anymore tonight.

Her insomnia really only kicks in when she’s stressed, and boy, is she stressed.  Not only is she stressed because of school, but she’s stressed because she’s moving into Hannah’s apartment that weekend, and now she’s even more stressed because Sawyer is sick, and doesn’t seem to be getting better, and she hates it.  

“Hey, guys,” Paige chirps, walking inside Hannah’s apartment, “I brought food! And coffee, I figured you haven’t slept, Chloe.”

“You’re the best, holy shit,” Chloe groans, pulling herself off the couch, “Hannah, your girlfriend is the best."

“God bless you, you beautiful angel,” Hannah says, pecking Paige’s cheek, before the bag and drink carrier from her.

“Here,” Paige says, handing Chloe a large cup.  

“Thank you, you’re a lifesaver. Okay, I’m going to head out.”

“Tell Sawyer he’d better get his ass in gear and show up to his next shift,” Hannah calls after her at the same time Paige chirps out a, “bye, have fun!”

At this point, Chloe doesn’t even bother knocking.  It’s easier that way, because he doesn’t have to worry about getting up, which he really doesn’t have the energy to do.

After letting herself in, she follows the sound of his coughing to the couch.  

“Hi…I’m sorry you’re still sick,” she frowns, putting a hand on his forehead.

He’s shivering beneath the blanket, gripping it tightly as he stares at her with glassy, fever-bright eyes.  His cheeks are flushed from the fever, a stark contrast to how pale his face is.  

“S’okay,” he rasps, clearing his throat a couple of times.  

“We’re going to the emergency room.”

“Nooooo,” he groans, “I don’t need to go.”

“Yes you do. You’ve had a fever for four days now, and you sound awful. You might need antibiotics.”

“But-”

“-It’s not up for discussion.”

He lets out a croaky groan of frustration, “fine.”

“Hannah is mad at you, by the way.”

“What?!” He squawks, “how? I haven’t even seen her.”

“That’s why. She said you’re the only one who keeps her from throttling your dumbass coworkers.”

He bursts out laughing, which turns into a coughing fit that makes his chest burn and throat ache, “ugh...yeah, I’ll bribe her with food.  She’ll be fine.”

They’ve been in the ER for over two hours now.  Sawyer is slumped against her, head on her shoulder as he drifts in and out of sleep.

She’s exhausted.  It’s been awhile since she’s gone this long without sleep, and between the god-awful headache, sore throat and her heavy, aching body (all of which make her desperate to go and lie down), she’s forgotten how miserable it is.

Sawyer shifts beside her, and she looks over to see him sit up and rub at his eyes.

“Welcome back,” she grins.  

“They still haven’t called me?” He asks, grimacing as his hand darts to his throat.  

“We wouldn’t be here if they had called you, would we?” She asks, annoyance edging into her tone.  

“Uh...no, I guess not.”

“Sorry...I just...want to get you checked out so we can leave.  I’m exhausted.”

“You and me both,” he sighs, coughing into a fist.  “Didn’t you say you’re moving in with Hannah this weekend?”

“Mmmm,” she mumbles, nodding.

“Do you need help?” He asks.

“If you’re feeling better by then, I’d love some.”

He squints, “so…why are you moving in with her? I think you might have told me, but I can’t remember.”

“Her roommate just moved out.  My lease is up, too, and it’s cheaper for me to move in with her than it is to extend it...we’re over at each other’s places all the time anyways.”

“Oh yeah...I think you told me that already.”

“The fever is turning your brain to mush,” she teases.

“I feel awful,” he groans.

Her heart drops, “I know...but hey, at least the congestion is pretty much gone.”         

They lapse into silence again, and as the minutes tick by, she finds herself sagging against Sawyer this time.  

“You okay?” He asks softly.

“Just...tired. I haven’t slept in two…almost three days.”

“What?” He cries, launching himself into a coughing fit.  

She pats his back with a grimace, “relax. It’s just insomnia.”  

“Is there anything you can do?”

“Not really...s’just from stress.”

“I-”

“-Sawyer Daniels?” A nurse interrupts.  Chloe helps him to his feet, and then trails behind them as they go into an examination room.

As soon as they get back to his place, Sawyer goes right to his room/ Chloe follows him, but suddenly feels uncomfortable  and hangs in his doorway, unsure of what to do or where to go.

“You can...um...you can lie down with me...if you want.”

“Are you sure?”

He nods, eyelids drooping, “yeah.”

When she climbs into bed next to him, he immediately cuddles up to her, resting his head on her chest. As Sawyer drifts to sleep, Chloe lies awake. She wants to sleep, her body is begging her to, but she can’t. Her mind is racing, refusing to shut off and allow her any peace and quiet.

She’s suddenly filled with anxiety.

The move is coming up fast, and she’s nowhere near ready. She hasn’t even started packing up her apartment, and she has to be out of there by Saturday. She has the week from hell - two tests, three papers and a group presentation all due, the last of which is due on Thursday. Sawyer has the flu and bronchitis, bordering on pneumonia, and even though he has antibiotics, she still can’t help but worry.

Everything is too much.  She tries to stay where she is, because he’s comfy, but her skin is crawling and she has the overwhelming urge to bolt.

Chloe slides out from underneath him, heart pounding in her chest and ringing in her ears as she struggles to get her breathing under control. She, unfortunately, didn’t get out of bed very gently.  Her movements are jerky and frantic, and Sawyer forces his eyes open.  

“Chloe?”

“I, uh-” her breath catches in her throat, “I n-need to l-leave.”

“Are you okay?” He asks, voice thick with sleep.

She nods emphatically, biting down on her lip so hard she tastes copper, “yeah! Yeah! I’m great!”

“Chloe-”

“I’m great!” She repeats, a little bit more forcefully this time.  

His eyes search her face, but ultimately, he’s too tired and feels too shitty to say anything other than, “okay.”

Hannah is lying on her back, legs straight in the air as she holds her textbook above her face.  Her phone rings, and when she goes to answer it, she drops the book directly on her face.

“Fuck! Sonuvabitch!” She yelps.  

Paige bursts out laughing, and pulls the book off of Hannah’s face, “oh no, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine...fuckin’ book,” she grumbles, rubbing her nose. She glances at her phone briefly before she makes a face and answers it, “what’s up, deadbeat? Are you calling to apologize for leaving me with the fuckin’ moron?”

“Is Chloe with you?” Sawyer asks, ignoring the dig.  

Hannah frowns, sitting up straighter, “you sound like shit.”

“I’m aware,” he snaps, and her eyebrows shoot up in surprise, “Chloe. Is she with you?”

“What? No. Why? I thought she was with you?”

“She left hours ago...she looked freaked out,” he rasps, “she’s not answering my calls.”

“Oh...she...shit, she’s been really stressed out and not sleeping...I’ll try her too.”

“Is she okay?”

“I’m sure she’s fine...she’s probably at her apartment.”

“Okay.”

“So what’s wrong with you?”

“The flu...and bronchitis.”

“Fuck. Don’t die.”

“Workin’ on it,” he mumbles.  

She grimaces when she hears him start to cough, “okay, I was mad at you for bailing on your shift, but now I’m glad you did, because you have the fucking plague and nobody wants you to cough all over their food and coffee...unless you wanna come in and just like...cough on Robert.  He sucks, I hate him.”

“Leave Robert alone.”

“I will not.”

Sawyer sighs, coughing again, “will you just text me when you get ahold of her?”

“Yeah.”

Hannah hangs up with Sawyer, and then immediately dials Chloe’s number.  

“Hello?” she whispers, finally picking up after what must have been fifteen tries.

“Chloe, thank GOD,” Hannah breathes, “are you alright?”

“Um...no...n-not really.”

Her heart drops, “do you need some company? Or do you want to be left alone?”

“Alone...I c-can’t...I need to be alone.”

“That’s fine,” Hannah says softly, “just...text me when you’re okay.”

“Okay.”

Hannah hangs up, and then shoots Sawyer a text saying she’s okay and not to worry.

“Is everything okay?” Paige asks when Hannah groans and puts her head in her lap.  

“Chloe’s having a hard time,” Hannah mumbles, pressing her face against Paige’s thigh.

“Does she need anything?” Paige asks, playing with Hannah’s long brown hair.

“No...she just wants to be alone...which is fine.  Maybe she’ll finally sleep, God knows she needs it.”

Chloe rolls over in bed the next morning, gripping her pillow.  The anxiety has passed for the most part, which is good, but she’s still stressed out, and has no desire to get out of bed and face the world.

On top of the sheer exhaustion she feels from the mixture of two and a half days without sleep, and the anxiety from yesterday, the sore throat and headache are back with a vengeance.  She groans as her body throbs, and is filled with the sinking realization that she’s finally come down with what Sawyer has.  

Somehow, she manages to force herself out of bed, and go about her day, which passes in a blur.  She feels as if she’s on autopilot, and when it ends, she walks into Hannah’s apartment and collapses onto the couch.

“Hello to you, too,” Hannah says, patting Chloe’s back.

Chloe sniffles, “I’m so tired.”

“Yeah, and you sound like shit.  Finally caught what Sawyer has?”

“No...I’m not sick, just tired.”

“Yeah, okay.  So you want some DayQuil?”

“...yeah.”

Hannah rolls her eyes, but grabs Chloe the medicine anyways, “don’t be an idiot.”

“I’m fine.  It’s not a big deal.”

“You had a panic attack yesterday.”

“I didn’t...I had anxiety, that was it.”

“Okay, fine.  Whatever.  You had anxiety, which never flares up that bad unless you need a break.”

“I took a sleeping pill last night.  I slept, I’m fine.”

“Uh-huh.  How long did you sleep?”

“Like...seven hours.”

“You’re going to die.”

“Will you give my eulogy?” Chloe asks, voice muffled by the couch cushions.

“Yeah, it’ll be the best one, too.”

“Great. Thanks.”

“Sawyer was worried about you.  Have you texted him?”

“I’m going over there in a little.”

“Are you going to tell him you’re sick?”

“Why would I do that?”

“...Have you heard yourself? Or seen yourself? You look rough, dude...don’t sound much better.”

She sniffles again, “I’m fine. It’s nothing.”

��You’re shivering. Do you have a fever?”

“I dunno.”

Hannah presses a hand to her forehead, “you do. Oh shit, you’re burning up, dude.”

“M’fine,” she mumbles, “just give me the meds, I have shit to do.”

“I don’t approve.”

“Nobody cares.”

“Rude,” Hannah says, dropping a blister pack of DayQuil next to her.

Chloe lets herself into Sawyer’s apartment, and then stops in her tracks when she finds him at the stove, stirring something in a pot.

“Um...hey.  Feeling better?”

He wheels around to look at her, a grin crossing his face, “yeah, a little bit.”

“Oh, good,” she sighs.

“Are you alright?” He asks, the grin dropping from his face, “I didn’t think you were going to come back today.”

She rubs the back of her neck, “ah...yeah...sorry about that.”

“What happened?”

She drops her eyes to the floor, fiddling with the ring on her finger, “uh...anxiety has been kicking my ass. I just...I couldn’t handle it yesterday. I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

She groans, pouring herself into a seat at his kitchen table, “I don’t know, I just...heh...ihtchiew! Snff…snfff,” she rubs at her itchy nose, making a face, “I feel bad I just left yesterday.”

“Bless you,” he frowns, “don’t feel bad. You’re allowed to take time for yourself, you know that right? You’ve been over here everyday since Friday night, and I really, really appreciate it, but I know it must have been hard.”

“I guess,” she mutters, slumping down in her seat. She still feels like shit, and if anything, the medicine is making it worse, and she just wants to go lie down.  She pitches forward with another sneeze, and then blinks tiredly at the table for a second before she pushes her hair off of her face.

“Hey, how about we go watch a movie?” He suggests, coughing into his elbow. “I’m exhausted, and I’m sure you are, too.”

She sniffles, “yeah...you read my mind.”

“Feeling okay?” He asks softly.  

“Yeah,” she lies, “just...exhausted.”

“How’s the...uh...the anxiety? You okay?” He asks, rubbing the back of his neck.

She rubs her left eye with the heel of her palm, “It’s better...sleep helped.”

He wants to ask her if she’s alright again, push her a little bit, but he’s reminded that he’s only known her for five days.  He feels like he’s known her forever, but it’s only been five days. Five days isn’t long enough to prod.  

He thinks she might have caught what he has, and the thought is enough to fill him with dread, especially because he still feels shitty, and if she’s sick, he wants to be able to take care of her.  

She deserves it.  

“What movie do you want to watch?” Chloe asks, plopping down onto the couch.

“Harry Potter,” he grins.

“Again?”

He pokes his bottom lip out, “yes.  Please?”

She grins weakly, “you’re lucky you’re cute.”

Halfway through the movie, she’s so congested she can barely breathe. Her head is spinning, and all she can do is lean against Sawyer and try not to pass out, throw up, or both.  

“Hey, Sawyer?” She croaks, grimacing at how awful she sounds.  

He’s half asleep, but forces his eyes open so he can look down at her, “yeah?”

“I think I’m going to head out.”

“You okay?”

“I am,” she lies, “I’m really tired, though.”

Chloe isn’t completely lying - she IS tired.  Exhausted, really, even more now that she’s officially ready to admit to herself that she’s sick.

Her entire body aches, as does her head and throat, and she just wants to crawl into a hole and be put out of her misery.  Surely death would be more pleasant than this.   She wants to tell Sawyer - he’s staring at her so intently with this cute, worried expression, like he knows how awful she’s feeling.  

“Actually...would you mbind if I slept here?” She asks, tongue sticking to the roof of her mouth and words blurring with congestion, “I dond’t trust mbyself to drive.”

“Yeah, of course. You can take my bed.”

She opens her mouth to argue, but the words die on the tip of her tongue, “Okay...thank you.”

“You sound a little stuffed up,” he frowns, “are you feeling okay?”

“I’mb just tired,” she sniffles, “I’mb finde.”

Chloe rolls over, sniffling as she nuzzles her face into his pillow. She squints as the light streaming through the curtains send a stab of pain through her skull.

“Oh, god,” she croaks, grimacing as she pushes herself into a sitting position.

Everything hurts.

She looks at the nightstand, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth when she sees the humidifier set up. There’s a glass of water and an open blister pack of medicine next to a box of DayQuil and a box of tissues, and she doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Exhaustion weighs her down, but the moment she looks at her phone, she nearly has a heart attack, and she nearly trips over herself as she scrambles to get out of bed.

10:16 am.

She has class in fourteen minutes.

She has a test.

Sawyer is half asleep on the couch, playing on his phone when she comes flying out of the room, a look of sheer panic on her face.

“What happened? What’s wrong?” He croaks.

“I overslept!” She squeaks, voice cracking on the last word.

“Chloe,” he says, struggling to a sitting position. She’s still running around in a panic, looking for her stuff, and he tugs on her hand gently, “relax.”

“I cand’t!” She cries, eyes filling with tears, “I have a test!”

He puts a hand on her cheek, and inhales sharply, “you also have a fever.”

She pushes his hand away, “I’mb finde...I have to go.”

Sawyer runs a hand over his face as she runs out the door, worry gnawing at his chest. She’s burning up, and definitely doesn’t look like she’s feeling well.

He plops down on the couch, eyes burning as he rubs at them.

The door opens and he looks up to see his roommate.

Sawyer grins weakly at him, “long time no see, thought you were dead.”

“Sorry...I was visiting family and it ended up lasting longer than I thought it would,” Owen frowns, taking in Sawyer’s appearance, “shit, you’re still sick? It’s been like...six days since the gig.”

“I feel better...antibiotics helped.”

“Antibiotics? You actually went to the doctor?”

“Chloe made me.”

“Chloe...is that the chick you were supposed to go on a date with?”

“Mmhmm.”

“How’d she manage that? Remember the last time you got sick? We had to drag you kicking and screaming to the doctor.”

“It wasn’t a big deal.”

“Dude, you had a sinus infection and strep and we had to keep an eye on you in case you wound up with bronchitis, what do you mean it wasn’t a big deal.”

Sawyer shoots him an annoyed look, “it was fine.”

“Anyways, how’d she get you to the doctor? Did she drug you?”

“I didn’t want to tell her no...and I’d had a fever for four days...and she’s a nursing student and I trust her opinion.”

“So what’s the matter with you? Do we need to find a new lead singer?”

“S’the flu and bronchitis,” he mumbles, coughing into the crook of his elbow.

“Ouch. No wonder you sounded so shitty. Just...don’t die on us. We don’t want to have to try and find your replacement. Too much effort. We’re lazy.”

Sawyer smiles weakly, standing up, “no promises.”

“So you really like her, huh?”

Sawyer’s cheeks flush, “yeah, she’s great.”

“Our baby is in love!” Owen cries, launching himself at Sawyer.

Sawyer groans as they collide and he falls back into the couch, “why are you like this? Get off me.”

“Shit…fuck, sorry…I forgot you’re on your deathbed. You okay?” Owen says, pulling him to his feet.

“I’m fine…going to bed.”

Chloe walks out of her class, trembling so hard that her knees have nearly buckled three times.

She stumbles to a bench, and collapses onto it, feeling like she’s about to pass out as she pulls her phone out of her pocket. She dials Hannah’s number with shaky fingers, and when she doesn’t pick up, Chloe tries Paige’s number. When she doesn’t pick up, Chloe nearly bursts into tears. She just wants to go home and she doesn’t feel well enough to drive - not without crashing at least.

She dials Sawyer’s number, rubbing at her itchy nose.

“Hey,” he greets her.

“I’mb really sorry,” she whimpers

“What are you sorry about? What’s wrong?”

She leans over so that her head is between her knees.

“Chloe? What’s wrong, are you okay?”

“I’mb gonnda pass out...mb’stranded at school.”

“Okay, Okay,” he soothes, “just breathe, I can come get you, can you remind me what school you go to and where you are?”

She manages to tell him what school she attends, but her head is so fuzzy, she can’t remember the building.

“I really dond’t feel very good,” she croaks weakly.

“I know darlin’, I know,” he says softly, “just hang tight. I’ll be there soon.”

She hangs up the phone before curling up on the bench as a shiver runs down her spine.

She drifts in and out of sleep, until she feels a cool hand on her cheek, then the back of her neck, and then between her shoulder blades.  

“Huh?” She mutters groggily.  

“Hey, there,” he says gently, “ready to go home?”

“I’mb sorry,” she croaks, blinking away the tears that had gathered in her eyes.

“Why do you keep apologizing?” He asks, helping her to sit up.  When he goes to pull her to her feet, she shakes her head.  

“W-wait...dizzy,” she says weakly, gripping his arm tightly.  

He crouches in front of her, putting a hand on her cheek, “okay.  Alright, we’ll go slow.”

As soon as she’s okay to move, he gets her to his car, where she apologizes again, “I’mb sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?”

“You’re sick,” she sniffles after a few moments of blinking heavily.  

He chuckles lightly, coughing into a fist, “I’m fine.  You, however…I need an address...I don’t know where you live.”

She’s shivering beneath a thick blanket.  She can’t find the energy to move, and each sneeze sounds as weak and tired as Sawyer thinks she feels.

He coughs into his shoulder, pausing so he doesn’t spill the tea he had made her.  

“Here,” he says, putting it on the nightstand.  

She sniffles, “thanks...umb...could you help mbe with sombethi’gg?...hih...ihhh...hih’tshh! Ihtsch! Tsch! SnffSNFF...ugh...”

He hands her the box of tissues, “yeah, of course.”

“I ndeed to findish packi’gg up mby apartmbendt.”

“Are you serious? Chloe...you have a one hundred and three degree fever.  You’re miserable, you need to be resting.”

“I’mb mbovi’gg ind two days...mby lease is up Saturday...I dond’t have a choice...I havend’t evend started yet.”

“Okay...how about I call Hannah to come help, then?”

She hides her face in the blanket, “do what you wandt.”

He takes that as his cue to drop down onto the couch and pull his phone out with a yawn.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” Hannah asks when she answers the phone. “I’m assuming it has something to do with Chloe, because she’s the only thing you ever call or text about.”

“It does.”

“Knew it,” Hannah chuckles, “what do you want?”

“She says that she has to be out of her apartment by Saturday.”

“Yeah, what about it?”

“She’s sick and she wants to pack up because she hasn’t started yet.”

“Aw, fuck. That sounds like her,” Hannah groans. “How bad is she?”

“She has a fever.”

“Shit. How high?”

“Oh hundred and three...I don’t think she should be trying to pack up her apartment.”

“Yeah me neither. Paige and I will be there soon. Does she have boxes?”

“I’m not sure.”

“...Are you going to ask?”

“...Oh. Right. Hey, Chloe? Do you have boxes?”

“Ndo.”

“She says no.”

“She’s the worst at this kind of stuff, oh my god. We’ll be there in an hour.”

True to her word, she walks through the door exactly an hour later.  Paige walks in behind her and goes right to the kitchen.  Hannah makes a b-line for Chloe.

She presses her hand to Chloe’s forehead, sucking her teeth in disapproval, “you did that fucking thing again, babe.”

“Go away,” Chloe whines, hiding her face with the blanket as she sneezes for what feels like the thousandth time.

“You moron,” Hannah scolds gently, ruffling Chloe’s hair, “you do this all the time, and then you practically kill yourself.”

“Dond’t be mbeand to mbe.”

“Well who else am I going to be mean to,” she teases, “Paige made you some tea and soup.”

“And also brownies,” Paige says, walking out of the kitchen with a box before sitting down next to Chloe’s book case.

“Oooh did someone say brownies?” Sawyer asks, poking his head out of her bedroom.

“They’re on the counter if you want one.”

“Hell yeah, I want one.”

“Are you finally coming back to work?” Hannah asks, turning to look at sawyer

“Yeah, but I’m not scheduled until Sunday night,” he mumbles, words muffled by an entire brownie shoved in his mouth

“Halle-fucking-lujah,” Hannah groans, sticking the thermometer in Chloe’s mouth.

“Hanndah-“

“Shut up and let me take your temperature.”

“Your bedside mbannder could use sombe work,” Chloe grumbles.

Hannah grins, “my bedside manner is great.”

“I beg to differ.”

“Shut up. I want to get a reading on your fever, will you just be quiet?” She snaps.

Her eyes fill with tears, and she chokes on a sob as she averts her eyes, “sorry.”

“Oh shit,” Hannah grimaces, taking the thermometer out of her mouth before crouching down and putting a hand on Chloe’s burning cheek, “hey, look at me.”

Chloe sniffles, rolling on her side to look at Hannah, “I’mb sorry...please dond’t be mbad.”

“You know I’m just worried, right?” She says softly, “I’m not mad at you...I just don’t like it when you’re this sick.”

Chloe shivers, hiding her face in the pillow again, “cand I have sombe ndyquil?”

“I will absolutely give you some after I take your temperature.”

Hours later, they have a little more than half of her apartment packed away. Sawyer can feel himself dragging, exhaustion seeping into his bones and muscles and making him ache again.

The NyQuil had completely knocked her out, so much that she didn’t even budge when he scooped her up and carried her into her room.  

“Okay,” Sawyer says, walking back out into the living area, “I got her to her bed, and I’m exhausted...I think we should be done for the night.”

“I agree,” Hannah yawns.

“Thank you guys so much.”

“Yeah, of course,” Paige says, “you should get some sleep.”

“Take the couch. One of the boxes has a blanket in it…” Hannah trails off, looking around. “Hey, I have a question.”

“Yeah?”

“When are you going to man up and ask her to be your girlfriend already?”

“What?”

“When are you going to ask her to be your girlfriend?” she asks slowly, as if she’s speaking to a child. “Seriously, you can’t be this dense. You two are practically dating at this point, just ask her already, you coward.”

He rolls his eyes, “goodbye, Hannah.”

“But-“

“-let’s go, honey,” Paige says, nudging her towards the door. “Stop bullying the poor guy.”

“If anybody is being bullied, it’s me,” Hannah grumbles.

Paige giggles, “let’s just go. I’m starving.”

Sawyer closes the door after them, dissolving into a coughing fit.  

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Sawyer asks anxiously.  

It’s officially move in day.  Chloe had spent all of Friday in bed, skipping classes and only waking for food, water, and to use the bathroom. Still though, she still only feels slightly better.  

Sawyer would give anything for her to be able to rest, but instead, she’s on as many cold and flu meds as humanly possible, so that she can function enough to get everything moved.  

“I’m...I feel like shit...but I’m okay,” she mumbles.  

“I’m so sorry I got you sick...you can punch me in the face.  I told you that you could.”

“Don’t be so dramatic...s’fine. It happens.”

“Okay, so what needs to be done?” He asks, more than grateful that he feels almost completely better (save for an annoying lingering cough, and some fatigue).  He’s not sure how this would have worked if they were both sick.

“Uh,” she says, rubbing her forehead, “Hannah should be here with the moving truck at like...shit, I can’t remember what time...but...soon?  We need to scrub this place down and make it l...heh...heh’tschh! Snff…guh...we have to make it look like new...I need that deposit bahhh...heh...hhh...hihtsch! Ihtsch!  Snff! Back.”

“Bless you.”

She gives a couple of coughs into the inside of her wrist as the front door opens.  

Hannah walks inside, “alright, let’s do this shit. How do you feel?”

“I crave death.”

“You can’t die, I need help with rent.”

Paige flicks the back of Hannah’s head, “be nice.”

“Ouch!” She yelps, rubbing the abused spot.  

Paige grins, kissing Hannah’s cheek, “better?”

“Yeah…you’re lucky I love you.” Chloe coughs again, and Hannah grimaces, “you’re coughing now? You almost never cough when you’re sick.”

“You don’t?!” Sawyer asks, eyes snapping to her face, “do you want to go to the ER? You’ve been coughing all morning.”

“I’m fine,” she croaks, “I just want to get this over with so I can go back to sleep.”

“We can do it for you, and you can go lie down.”

“What? No, absolutely not.  I’m not dumping that on you. I’ll be fine.”

Despite her claims, it’s very obvious that she’s struggling, even from right off the bat.  Her movements are sluggish and half-hearted, and since nobody trusts her to walk up and down the stairs to put boxes into the car, she’s been put on cleaning duty.

“Honey, you’ve been cleaning the same spot for the last thirty minutes,” Sawyer says softly, putting a hand on her lower back.

“Huh?”

“Go sit down, you’re miserable.”

“No...m’fine.”

She forces herself to keep going, because the cleaning needs to be done, and she’s determined not to be useless.  

Sawyer keeps trying to get her to rest, but she’s adamant that she’s okay, and that she doesn’t need to.  

Paige, Hannah and Sawyer get the moving van all loaded up as quickly as they can.  Both Sawyer and Paige return to Chloe’s apartment, while Hannah goes to her and Chloe’s apartment to start unloading.

“I’ll start in the bathroom, you go help Chloe,” Paige says, shutting the door behind them.

Sawyer finds her in her bedroom, sitting on the bed and staring blankly at the door.

“Shit,” he hisses, crouching in front of her. He presses a hand to her forehead and then shakes his head, “You’re done. Paige and I will finish cleaning, you’re going to sit here and rest, okay?”

“But I-“ she breaks off coughing, and Sawyer rubs her back gently.

“But nothing. You have a fever, you’ve helped enough.  We’ve got this.”

When all the cleaning is done, and Sawyer gets her to her new place, she nearly cries in relief when she lays down in bed.

Her bedding is the only thing unpacked, and she’s never been more grateful for Hannah in her entire life.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to help?” She mumbles into her pillow, already half asleep.

“I’m one hundred percent sure we don’t want your help,” Sawyer says gently, “all we want is for you to go back to sleep. I’ll come back in to check on you in a little bit.”

“Okay,” she mumbles, eyes drooping shut as she falls asleep.

Sawyer breathes a sigh of relief, kisses her burning cheek, and then leaves her room quietly, shutting the door behind him.

[edxwin-elric]

Morning After

Checkmate Ch. 3

Rating: M

Pairing: Royai/Roy Mustang x Riza Hawkeye

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist.

Word Count: 4425

Chapter Title: Morning After

Description: Royai multi-chapter/modern/BDSM AU where Riza, a cautious submissive, met Roy, an experienced Dom, and now there is sex with future romance potential.

A/N: This one is not smut. It’s more exposition and hints at romantic feelings. There are some smut allusions though.

tag || first || ffn || ao3

previous || next || ch. 3.5 (havolina)

Riza

A large hand slides across my back and around my belly, and I make a disgruntled sound.

“How are you feeling this morning?”

I mumble something unintelligible and curl up into a ball around the pillow I’m holding. Roy laughs softly behind me and strokes my neck, making me jump.

I wasn’t totally expecting to sleep in the same room. The same bed. But after he cleaned me up, he slid a t-shirt over my head and brought me up here. To be fair, I didn’t put up much of a fight. I like being with him.

“I thought you might want the first shower,” he speaks up again.

“What time is it?” I groan.

“After ten. You didn’t have work or something did you?” He frowns down at me.

I shake my head, rubbing my hair across the mattress.

“No…” I yawn.

Though, my dog will be wondering where I am if I don’t get home soon. But he’ll be all right for a little bit on his own.

“Seriously, Riza. How are you feeling?” he repeats the question in a low tone, and I open my eyes.

“You mean…about last night?”

He nods, and I feel my face heat.

“I’m fine,” I assure him, scooting back, so I’m leaning on the pillows behind me. “I don’t hurt or anything.”

“You’re sure?” He reaches out and cups my jaw, and I swallow at how nice it feels. “I don’t want you to hide anything from me. Even if it’s embarrassing, or you’re just shy about it.”

I don’t tell him it’s a little late to start getting embarrassed in front of him. That ship sailed the night we met.

“It’s sore,” I admit, looking down. “But not bad. Really. I’m okay.”

“Okay, good.” He runs his thumb over my cheek and moves his hand. “This arrangement only works if there are no secrets. I told you that before.”

“I remember, Roy.”

“Right.” He stands and turns to look back at me, lying on the mattress. “I take it you don’t want the first shower?”

“No. You can have it.”

“Okay.” He starts to walk toward the bathroom but stops in the doorway and looks back. “There’s coffee in the kitchen,” he informs me over his shoulder.

I blink in surprise before I catch sight of his sleep pants on the floor. My eyes snap up only to watch his firm ass disappear behind the steamed-up shower door. I bite my lip and look down, feeling a rush of heat between my legs.

I turn and slide out of the bed, stretching my arms over my head. I flinch when I feel a draft on my ass and look behind me. The shirt Roy gave me is unbelievably soft if not entirely long enough. I drop my arms and shuffle out into the hall and to the stairs. I freeze halfway down when I smell syrup. Frowning, I go the rest of the way to the kitchen, where I stop in the doorway and stare.

He said there was coffee. He failed to mention there was also bacon, scrambled eggs, orange juice, pancakes, and toast. How did I not smell this earlier? What time did he get up to start preparing all this? I mean, I knew he could cook since he’s mentioned it several times, but… And just how much food does he expect me to eat? There’s enough here for twenty people.

I take a small step into the kitchen and inhale, the delicious scents of well-cooked breakfast filling my lungs. With a glance over my shoulder at the stairs, I grab one of the plates set out and begin filling it. I’m in the middle of dying and going to heaven from the pancake that is melting in my mouth when I hear Roy behind me. I turn from my seat at the bar and watch him as he saunters into the room and goes straight to the coffee pot. My eyes travel from his damp, messy hair down the line of his bare back to where his pants are hanging loosely on his hips.

Yum.

“Good morning,” he says in a low voice as he turns to face me, sipping coffee from a dark mug. “Did you sleep well?”

“Yes,” I nod, feeling unsure again of how to behave with him. “And, thank you. For breakfast.”

“Don’t mention it.” He shrugs and takes another drink.

“Is this, um, normal?”

“What?” He frowns. “Eating breakfast in the morning? Or–”

“I mean, do you usually cook breakfast for your subs?”

He doesn’t answer at first, taking a long drink of coffee and grabbing a strip of bacon from the plate. I watch as he chews, my eyes drawn to his insanely strong jaw. God. I’m getting wet just looking at him. Even his facial structure is sinful.

“No,” he murmurs finally.

“What?” I blink, my cheeks going pink.

“I don’t usually cook them breakfast. Nor do I buy them wine.” My eyes widen as he continues. “It’s also rare that I let them stay overnight. And even then, not in my bed.”

I feel all the air go out of my lungs, and I look down at my plate.

“But don’t read too much into it. I just have a fondness for you.”

What? What the hell does that mean?

I start to ask, but I don’t know how. And he doesn’t say anything after that. Just goes about his business, fixing a plate and sitting down on the stool beside me at the bar. As if he didn’t just confuse the life out of me.

“So, what do you have planned for today?” He turns to me casually before taking a bite of pancake.

“Uh.” I blink. “I… I have to walk my dog,” I answer lamely, still not entirely certain what just happened.

“I love dogs,” he says in a low voice. “So loyal. What breed is he?”

I frown.

“I’m not exactly sure, I guess. He was a stray one of my coworkers found, and no one else in the office would take him, so I said I would.”

“I see.” He nods. “So, what’s his name?”

“Black Hayate.”

He raises his eyebrows, and I immediately start trying to explain.

“I… He’s… It means ‘black hurricane’ in Japanese,” I mutter. “I don’t know why I… I like it. It fits him, I think.”

“Is he particularly destructive?” he goes on around another bite of food.

“No. He’s a very good boy.” I grin to myself. “But he’s stuck with the name now.”

We eat in silence for a few minutes until he speaks again.

“So, you mentioned an office. What do you do?”

“Oh, well. Um…” I swallow a bite of eggs. “I’m sort of between jobs right now.”

“Really? Are you looking for something? I might be able to find you a position at my firm. Though I suppose I should find out more about your skill set.”

I blush and shake my head.

“I’m really okay. Also, I’m not sure working with you would be the best idea.”

“Fair point.” He nods. “But go ahead and tell me about what you’re interested in. Or what you’ve done before.”

“I’m very organized, so I’ve taken reception jobs here and there. I was registered with a temp service for a while. Most recently I was a P. A. to a lady who started her own company… My father always wanted me to follow him into the field of scientific research. Specifically, chemistry. I’ll admit I’m good at it, but I didn’t care for it much.”

“What would you like to do?” he asks softly. “If you could choose.”

“I like flowers,” I admit, poking at a bit of toast.

“Flowers? You mean gardening or–”

“I was thinking more along the lines of a florist.” I turn to look at him. “I mean, I think arranging them would be interesting and calming, and flowers smell good… But I guess that’s sort of silly, since I don’t even own a flower vase.”

“Not if you want to do it,” he counters. “I think that sounds interesting.”

I sigh.

“Well, it’s either that, or I’m going to open a pet shelter.”

“Open one?” He frowns. “You mean start one from the ground up? That sounds expensive.”

“When my mother died, she left me some money,” I tell him on a shrug. “I could use that. I just don’t know.”

“I’m sorry,” he says quietly. “About your mother.”

“It was a long time ago. But…thank you.”

There’s another lull in the conversation where I finish most of my food, and Roy reaches across the bar to grab another handful of bacon. As soon as he drops the strips onto his plate, his phone buzzes on the counter, and I focus on my orange juice while he texts.

“I hate to have to cut this short,” he says slowly, “but it looks like one of my employees is having a crisis at the office. Nothing serious, but I’m going to need to go in and sort it out.”

“Oh.”

“Should we go ahead and make plans for our next meeting?”

A shiver goes down my spine, and I swallow. Right. I almost forgot, for a second, the nature of our relationship.

“I’m free on Wednesday and Thursday. This Friday I’m going out of town, and Saturday I have an engagement,” I mentally recall my calendar.

“Does Sunday work? Not tomorrow, but the next one.”

“I’m free all-day Sunday,” I murmur.

“Then let’s schedule it for then. I’ll text you later with a time.”

“Okay. I’ll go ahead and get changed.” I start to stand when he stops me with a hand on my thigh.

“You’re forgetting something, Riza.”

What? I blink.

“I am?”

“I haven’t given you your homework yet.”

My heart jumps into my throat, and I have to steady myself with a hand on the counter to keep from falling off my stool.

“Right,” I whisper.

He looks at me thoughtfully for a second before he shakes his head.

“Go ahead and get dressed. It’ll give me time to think.”

I nod and start for the stairs, ignoring the way my entire body feels hot and off balance. I’m afraid I’ll trip, but somehow, I manage to stay upright all the way to his room.

Roy

When she comes back down, I’m still sitting on the stool where she left me, the struggle to decide what assignment to give her still going on in my head. There are just too many things I want from her. To do to her. Ways she makes me hard.

Fuck.

“Have you, um, decided?”

I jerk my head up to find her standing in front of me wearing her clothes from last night. My eyes catch on her chest where the rosebuds on her bra are poking through. My cock hardens instantly. When I remember the matching thong, I almost groan.

“Roy?”

“Do you have a toy?” I grunt.

“What?” she whispers.

“A toy,” I repeat more clearly. “Do you have a toy?”

“I’m…not sure what you mean?”

“Something you use to get yourself off when you’re alone. A vibrator? Or a dildo?”

I watch her lips part in surprise, and damn if my already hard cock doesn’t turn to steel.

“Um, yes, I have a vibrator,” she admits, swallowing.

“What kind?”

She reaches a hand up and pushes her hair behind her ear.

“It’s, uh… It’s a g-spot, um, dildo vibrator,” she confesses. “It’s purple.”

“It resembles a penis?”

She nods once. “It’s not quite as big as yours,” she murmurs, and I suppress a laugh.

“Is it strictly for vaginal use?”

I watch her cheeks pale slightly.

“Riza?”

“It, um… I can use it on my nipples, my clit, my, um, pussy, or…in my ass.”

Fuck. I need to get my hands on this toy.

“Did you use your toy this week? After you sent me my pictures?”

She closes her eyes and nods, making my cock throb painfully.

“For your homework,” I start off, sliding off the stool, hoping to relieve some pressure, “anytime you’re wet this week, whether from thinking about our sessions or any other reason, and you’d like to use your toy to take care of it, you are to call me.”

“Call you?” she whispers.

“I’ll make sure your needs are met,” I promise, my voice dropping. “But I’ll be talking you through how I want you to use your toy.”

She bites her lip, and my eyes drop to where her thighs are clenching together.

“Are you wet right now?” I ask in a low tone.

She starts to nod.

“Yes, Sir,” she murmurs.

“Good. If you need to use your toy when you get home, you know what to do.”

“Yes.” She nods again.

“Oh, and before each call, I’ll want both a photo of your toy and the wet spot on your underwear.”

“Yes, Sir.”

I take a deep breath and roll my shoulders.

“I’ll see you Sunday, Riza,” I tell her softly, dropping my dominant voice. “Have a great week.”

“Thank you, Roy.” She gives me a small smile and lets herself out of the apartment.

Fucking fuck.

I’m going to kill Havoc.

Riza

When I get home, Black Hayate is waiting at the door.

“Good boy,” I bend down and rub him behind his ears as he wags his tail at me. “Are you hungry?”

He lets out a short bark and turns to pad over to his food bowl. After I feed him, I lean against the counter and stare at my phone.

I need to call Becca.

I can’t call Becca.

I mean… I think I like him. For more than sex. That’s the kind of thing Becca would be good at helping me with. On the other hand, if I tell her about that, I have to tell her…all of it. And then—

But, I mean, she’s Becca. So…maybe she’ll understand? Or I could be vague and say I’m into kink…

That’s dumb. Becca would immediately demand details, so that wouldn’t—

My phone starts ringing in my hand, and I let out a small yelp and almost drop it when Becca’s face appears.

Like…did she know? How?

After a calming breath, I press the green button and hold the device up to my ear.

“Hey. I was just thinking about calling you.”

“Oh really? Was it something serious?”

“Maybe? I’m not sure. Did you need something?” I shift my weight, my nerves making me restless.

“I was on my way to brunch and thought you might want to come with me.”

“Um…sure. I’m not very hungry, but I would like to talk.”

“It’s a date,” she announces.

“Oh, and I need to take Hayate out, so if we can find a café, that would be great.”

“I have one in mind. I’ll text you the address.”

“Thanks.”

She hangs up, and I go about getting my dog set for his walk.

When I arrive at the place Becca picked, I find her sitting at a table under the cover of an awning sipping a steaming coffee drink.

“So. What did you want to talk about?” she opens before I even sit down.

“Well…actually, it’s about Roy.”

“Ooh! Tell me everything. How was it last night?” she gushes.

I feel my face getting warm, and I distract myself by looking down and looping Hayate’s leash around my chair leg.

“That dirty?” Becca pipes up again, and when I meet her eyes, she’s giving me a deeply suggestive look.

“I… It…” I swallow and rub my palms over my thighs. “That isn’t what I wanted to discuss,” I mutter. “It’s more… Well, up until now we’ve been seeing each other strictly for sex–”

“And I’m so damn proud of you for that.”

“But,” I say over her, “this morning he made me breakfast, and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t part of his usual morning after routine as far as booty calls go.”

“Riza Hawkeye: A Booty Call. What is this world I live in?” Becca sighs and looks up dreamily.

“Of course, that’s the part you got hung up on.” I roll my eyes. “Anyway, I’m confused. I need advice.”

“You like him,” she says cheerily, setting down her mug.

“Well, yes.”

“No. You like him. Not just his big dick.”

“Maybe, but I don’t–”

“And you think he likes you, but you’re not sure, and now you need to know because if he doesn’t, things will get totes awkwardville.”

“That is not a thing people say.”

“But it’s still true.” She takes another sip of her drink as her food arrives, and she beams up at the cute waiter.

“Whatever,” I mumble pointlessly.

“This is perfect,” she tells me after we’re alone again. “Jean just called to let me know he’s going to have the next few nights off. Now you can invite Roy Boy to double date with us.”

“Uh, Becca, didn’t you hear me? I don’t really know if he feels like I do. I mean, he might just want to fuck.”

And spank me. And blindfold me. And…

I squeeze my thighs together in my seat, and shift so I can cross my legs. I can’t think about this here.

“Then this will help us find out.”

“Well, not this week,” I reply. “I have things going on, and I need some more time to think about it before I decide to do anything drastic.”

“A double date isn’t drastic.” She waves her fork around with a bit of salad on it. “Sex without a condom is drastic.”

I frown at her and shake my head.

“Anyway, you still have to give me the details about last night.”

“No,” I state plainly. “I don’t. And I won’t.”

My panties are wet enough already without that going on again.

“Oh, come on! At least tell me what he thought of the lingerie.”

I sigh.

“He liked it. A lot.”

“Really? What did he do?” She giggles.

“His face got…sexier,” I murmur. “And when I looked down, there was a pretty serious bulge in his pants.”

“Damn, I need to meet this guy. Then what?”

“He sort of took his time taking them off of me. And then he fucked me. So…I’d say that was a pretty good sign.”

“Did you do it in a new position this time?”

I cough slightly and quickly recover before answering.

“We were on the couch this time. Missionary,” I tell her softly, my ass clenching at the memory of the plug. “But enough about that. Tell me about what you did.”

“Me?” She frowns. “I watched a few episodes of Friends and then used my rabbit to get myself off in the shower.”

“I guess it’s a good thing Jean will be off then.”

“Oh yeah.” She nods, smiling. “Tomorrow will be a full-on sex-a-thon.”

“Anyway, which episodes of Friends were you watching?”

I relax as she starts retelling me in great detail every line of the show between bites of her salad. I may still be unsure of what my feelings are about Roy—besides that I really like what we do during sex and also that he’s sweet when he isn’t making my body cry out in pain and pleasure at the same time. Sometimes even then. I mean, I do like him. Probably more than I should. I’m not sure exactly when that happened, but…

“Riza, are you even listening to me?”

I blink and look up at my friend.

“What?”

She exhales through her nose and gives me a disappointed look.

“Now I have to start all over.”

I grin to myself as she takes a deep breath before I reach under the table and pat my dog. For right now, I’ll try not to think about Roy. I don’t have to have everything figured out yet. Maybe when I see him on Sunday things will be clearer.

I bite my lip, thinking about what he might do Sunday night. I re-cross my legs and clasp my hands tightly in my lap, letting out a slow breath. I already know I won’t make it to Sunday without talking to him. At the rate I’m going, I’ll need to call him before dinner.

Roy

“Havoc,” I growl as I storm into my office. “You’d better have a serious fucking emergency on your hands to call me in like this on a Saturday.”

“It is, boss.” He stands from where he’s been leaning on my desk and looks me over. “Fuck. What’s wrong? You look ready to murder someone.”

“Well, yes,” I bite back, as I round my desk and fall into my chair, glaring up at him. “I was in the middle of having breakfast with a beautiful woman when you interrupted. So, if I look pissed, that would be why.”

“Oh.” He nods. “That explains it.”

He goes quiet, and I feel my jaw get tight.

“So why the fuck am I here?” I grind out. “Start talking, Jean. Or do I need to also tell you that the woman I was with was naked except for my shirt, and I had a whole different morning in mind.”

“Right.” He nods quickly. “Um, well, Madam Christmas called and the three guys she threw out last week came back again. This time they refused to leave and even threatened to hurt some of the girls who work the floor. They finally bailed after some of the other guys there forced them out, but she said the customers were freaked and the girls are shaken. As things stand, she doesn’t want to involve local police, but she wants a detail for tonight and asked that we do a little digging into these assholes.”

Shit. She probably called me first, but my phone was turned off because I was with Riza. Dammit. I’ll have to go by there and check on things.

“Thank you,” I tell him quietly. “This qualifies as an emergency, so you’re forgiven for ruining my morning.”

“Uh, thanks.”

“Now get out of my sight before I change my mind,” I grumble.

“Okay.” He starts for the door. “Oh, and before I forget, I’m not going to be available for the next three nights. Breda and Falman said they wouldn’t mind taking the job at Christmas’s though.”

“Good to know.”

I wave him away, and he disappears out the door. The last thing I want to do today is go visit Madam Christmas’s club. Not that I don’t like it there. I’m just not into the sex club scene these days. Plus, I don’t want to deal with her questions. Or the pleading looks from the subs who know I’m a Dom. I’m off the market, but they don’t know that. And I don’t think I want to take Riza to the club anytime soon. As much as I’d like to show her off, I like having her to myself more. And I doubt voyeurism is something she’s into.

Rising from my chair, I stride toward the door. The sooner I get this mess taken care of the better.

“So that’s really all I’ve got to go on.”

“That’s enough for me. Thank you.” I follow the lady out of the surveillance room and start for the stairs.

“Roy, wait. Stay for a drink at least.”

“I would,” I start, “but I have work to do–”

“You never come by anymore, and I’m curious about how you’re doing,” Madam Christmas interrupts. “Just one drink. On me.”

“Fine.” I sigh. “Whiskey. Dry.”

“I know.” She grins, leading me down to the main floor.

I slide onto a stool as she pours.

“So, have you met anyone lately?”

I take the glass from her and swallow a good amount before answering. The question is her way of asking if I’ve picked up a new sub. Besides being the proprietress of this place, and therefore knowing about my tendencies, she’s the woman who raised me. Growing up in the backroom of a sex club makes it no wonder how I ended up a Dom.

“Maybe,” I answer her cryptically.

“You’ll have to bring her by.” She leans on the counter. “Unless you’ve branched out to men. Have you?”

I snort into my drink. “She’s definitely a woman.”

“Well. I had to ask.” She grins. “And you like her?”

“I’m breaking her in.”

“I mean you like her,” she repeats. “Not that she gets you off.”

I swallow the rest of the liquor and set my glass down.

“I don’t know,” I admit quietly. “She’s…different than any sub I’ve had before. Than any of the women I’ve dated. But I’m not sure that means I’m interested in pursuing something with her outside of our agreement.”

“You are,” she tells me knowingly. “I can see it on your face.”

“My face?” I frown.

She nods slowly. “You’re forgetting I watched you grow up. I can read your face like a book. And it says you have a crush.”

“Crush?” I scoff. “I’m a grown ass man. I don’t get crushes.”

She gives me a skeptical look, and I scowl.

“Maybe I have…an interest. But it’s not a crush.”

“What’s her name?”

I debate answering for a moment, deciding if that’s something I’m ready for her to know. Riza isn’t a very common name, and with technology today she can run a thousand searches on her before I make it back to my apartment. I should know. Fuery is already running most of those searches on the bastards that have been harassing the clients at this place.

“Roy–” she starts to say something, but as she does, my phone starts ringing.

When I look down at the caller, I’m instantly on my feet.

“Excuse me,” I mutter. “I have to take this.”

Without waiting for her response, I turn and head for the door, answering it as I go.

“Riza?”

There’s a pause where I just hear a soft breath panting on the other end of the line.

“Riza? Are you there?”

And then a text comes through. I pull my phone away from my ear to look at it, and I almost trip and fall. I quickly catch my balance and jog to my car. The images she sent burned into my brain.

“Riza,” I say quietly, folding into the driver’s seat.

“Sir?” Her soft voice goes right to my cock, and I suppress a groan.

“Let’s get started.”

[socialattractionuk]

How I Do It: ‘I’m moving on from my cheating ex – it’s great feeling a connection with someone again’

‘I thought she wasn’t interested, and then she sent me a picture of her trying a bikini on’ (Picture: Myles Goode/ Getty)

For today’s instalment of How I Do It, we get a peek into the sex life of Jake* a straight 27-year-old educator living in London.

Jake ended a long-term relationship recently after finding out that his now-ex had cheated on him multiple times.

He considers himself open-minded and ‘comfortable in all sexual situations’, and prides himself on not shying away from the experimental side of things. He especially loves sex when it’s with someone he feels strongly about.

However, the emotionally rough nature of the split left him with negative feelings towards sex for the first time in his life.

The pandemic didn’t exactly make getting back into the dating game any easier, but now that lockdown’s in the rearview, he’s started seeing someone new…

Thursday

It’s my first day off in ages, but I don’t mean off work – as a teacher, I am currently free for the summer. I mean off as in from socialising.

It was my birthday a few days ago, and I made sure to plan tonnes of activities with lots of different friends; I have been out every night for days and I have even more planned for the rest of the week. 

For tonight though, I just relaxed and focused on myself. 

I have been texting a girl that I met just over a week ago at a gig. She wasn’t replying to me, so I thought she wasn’t interested, and then she sent me a picture of her trying a bikini on along with ‘thinking of you’.

We have set a date to hang out later this week.

Friday

I went for drinks in Paddington with some uni friends that I hadn’t seen since before the pandemic.

I’d been texting the gig-girl all day, and she asked me what time I would be finished with my friends.

I liked how forward she was, and I told her so. She asked me to come to hers after I was done. 

I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with my friends, but I also kept thinking about seeing her later. I was both excited and nervous.

Once my friends and I were done, I hopped on a train and made it to hers where she picked me up from the station.

After a drink (that I didn’t even finish) we ended up stripping off and cuddling in her bed. I don’t have the words to explain how incredible her body is. 

We stayed up incredibly late laughing and creating our own in-jokes while her cat kept zooming in and out of the room. It was great to feel such a natural connection with someone again.

She had said that she didn’t want sex as it was only our first ‘date’, but that didn’t stop her from teasing me all night in other ways.

I could tell from the look in her devilish eyes that she really enjoyed seeing me try to resist.

I tried to tease her back and make things just as difficult for her, but she definitely won the battle. I’m determined to get her back. 

Saturday

I was woken up early in the morning by two of her cats fighting. It wasn’t the most relaxing start to the day, but I was incredibly happy when I turned to see a beautiful girl on my arm.

We exchanged ‘good mornings’ along with lots of kisses. She is the best kisser I have ever been with, and we kept pausing to make jokes or learn more about each other. 

I had the pleasure of seeing her perfect body in the daylight – it looked even better than the previous night. I made sure to kiss every inch of it before we got up and started the day. 

Before leaving, I got to meet her housemate and the rest of the cats and dogs in her home.

She also made me a fresh, nutritious breakfast before driving me back to the station while holding my hand.

Thoughtful, attentive and sexy… If we keep doing this, I’m going to end up catching feelings.

Sunday

I went axe-throwing with some other friends from uni. It was great fun and I found that I was pretty good at it, but one person in our group thoroughly thrashed the rest of us.

I sent some pictures and videos to the gig-girl, and she told me how I looked like a sexy Viking – the greatest compliment I have ever received. 

Even better, she sent me a hot picture in her half-buttoned work uniform. She knows how to capture my attention. 

My friends and I ended up at a hipster pub, got drunk and caught up. I felt incredibly happy to be able to share that I had started seeing such an amazing girl and that I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

My friends were very supportive, especially since they knew that I had been through a harsh breakup earlier in the year. 

Monday

I went to a festival with another group of friends. We’d all won tickets, and we didn’t know a lot of the acts, but we still had fun together. 

I still texted the gig-girl very regularly throughout the day, and we shared how we were both really excited to see each other tomorrow.

I keep finding myself thinking how everything I do would be even more enjoyable if she was there too. 

I feel like she already has power over me. 

Tuesday

It’s my final day off from work. I organised to see the gig-girl in the evening, so I spent the day picking out clothes, trimming my hair (everywhere) and making myself smell nice.

I met her after she finished work in central London, and we went to the cinema. It was one of those Everyman theatres, so we got to cuddle up on one of the sofas together, share a few kisses and have a cocktail. It was great to see that there was still chemistry between us.

After finishing at the cinema and having some more cocktails, we headed back to her place. As it was incredibly late already, and we both had to get up early, we went straight up to the bedroom to get settled.

I was greeted harshly by her cat before it ran off, then we had the bedroom to ourselves.

We started kissing and undressing each other; I thought this was the perfect opportunity to get back at her for teasing me a few days ago. I told her how I didn’t want sex tonight while kissing her neck and caressing her body.

However, this seemed to rally her and I gave in to my own lust. She was just too hot to resist.

Another opportunity for revenge came later when she tried to get on top. I pushed her back down, holding her tightly, and told her how tonight, I was in control.

This turned out to be a fantastic move as we had incredible, intimate sex while she got off on the idea of being dominated. 

We cuddled until we realised just how late it was, and how we would both need to be up for work in less than four hours. Time to sleep.

More: Sex

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Wednesday

I was woken up by her faint alarm and her gentle movements.

I think I felt her kiss my back a few times and when I turned over, I saw her cat giving me a death glare. I swear that animal is going to off me in my sleep one day.

We got up after a few kisses and started getting ready for work.

I shouldn’t have stayed at hers on a work night as she lives almost two hours away from my job, but life is full of opportunities, and you only regret the ones you don’t seize. 

We made our way out of her house to catch our train into the city. She held my hand and kissed me, whispering: ‘I wish we could have had morning sex’.

I must have done something amazing in a previous life because I do not deserve this girl. 

After bumping into her friends on the train, grabbing a Greggs and riding the Metropolitan Line, I made it to work with only a few minutes to spare.

The morning was full of long meetings and I found myself in a constant cycle of two contradictory states: smirking while reminiscing about our night of hot sex, and very obviously trying to stop my eyes from closing.

*Name has been changed

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[while-im-home]

Sunday 15/03/2020

So today I was finally hit by whatever plague has been circling my immune system. I’ve had a kind of sore throat for about 3 days and feeling like I’m burning up every now and then and this morning, I felt like I had been hit by a tonne of bricks. My body aches, I’m sweating buckets, I feel a little confused and dizzy, my sore throat doesn’t seem to be here but something is definitely up. I climb into bed and put the fan on to try and combat this hot flush I’m having. There I stayed for the rest of the day, watching YouTube on my phone all day and hoping I would feel better as the day went on. This did not happen. Unfortunately I don’t remember much of that evening other than feeling sad that this was how I was feeling.

Monday 16/03/2020

Today was hard. Today was the anniversary of my mum passing away. I felt really horrible mentally and physically today. My soul ached not just because she was gone but also because I felt too crappy to do anything to remember her by. I planned to bake some cupcakes and B had given me a wonderful gift to remember her by, a video message that can be sent into space and he was going to record me and pay to send it into space through a company he found last year and had been keeping it a secret until today. It was so sweet of him. I cried for hours that day. I spent this day in bed again, feeling sorry for myself and also a little angry as my online food shop had arrived and half of my order was missing because of those asshole panic buyers swiping all the things. I took a turn for the worse tonight. I felt as though my face and body were pressed against scalding radiators and I felt very tired and delirious. B said I didn’t feel as though I had a temperature but my cheeks felt like they were going to catch fire any second. We tried to call 111 but we couldn’t get through. A lot of other panicked people it seemed. At this point we had been convincing ourselves that there was no way I had coronavirus, I had only seen one person and I was housebound anyway due to my agoraphobia. It must’ve just been a flu. I was drifting in and out of sleep as my body battled all these horrible feelings, my arms and legs felt so heavy and ached heavily. I managed to get to sleep with a cold flannel on my face.

Tuesday 17/03/2020

I woke up feeling a little better. I didn’t feel as though I was burning up anymore but I did feel shortness of breath and I messaged my friend who I had seen around a week prior to see if she had this feeling. She did. Granted her feelings were a lot more cold based where as I primarily had a fever and an achy body. She recommended I call 111 and see what they say. I decide to do it later when B had woken up (he had stayed up really late the night previously). Thankfully B had brought my Xbox into the bedroom for me and I began a playthrough of L.A.Noire. A game I adored but had never fully finished before. I will be talking about this a lot. I flew through Traffic and Homocide that day but before I could even think about starting Ad-Vice B had woken up. He was very anxious. He takes medication for his anxiety and was late in taking it so he was in rather a bad state mentally but called 111 for me anyway as my symptoms had started to worsen again. My ear was bright red and was burning up and that slowly traveled to my cheeks again. We got through this time and the woman was rather rude to me. She said because I had a fever and shortness of breath, they were going to transfer to me to the coronavirus specialist phonelines. I was sure I didn’t have it because I don’t have a cough. And that was the main symptom. They gave them my number and eventually called me back, she was the loveliest woman ever and said that they would keep me on their radar in case my symptoms worsen or anything but until then all I can do is self isolate and rest up. I fell asleep that night struggling to breathe and woke up many times in the night because of it. It was horrible.

Wednesday 18/03/2020

I don’t remember much from today. I remember feeling short on breath all day and feeling incredibly lonely. Self isolation is incredibly isolating, who would’ve known. I miss my friends and my boyfriend. He’s being cautious with me but is still managing to be a loving and caring boyfriend. My dad visited me but didn’t come into my bedroom, was the first time I had seen him in weeks. We don’t really have the best relationship. I remember eating more than I had done the day previously. And I remember that drinking had been a problem, I was struggling to force myself to stay hydrated, I only managed to force myself to drink one cup on one of the days but today I managed to drink around 4-5 pints of water (and a couple of them had orange squash in ☺️). I didn’t feel as feverish today but I did briefly that night. I was mostly very scared because the doom the media has been churning out had kept convincing me I was going to be put in hospital or that I was going to die.

Thursday 19/03/2020

Today was bad but for a different reason. After 5 hours of sleep I was rudely awoken by my own body. I was cramping. Hard. My period had arrived and wasn’t going easy on me. I managed to go and clean myself up and get back in bed. Unfortunately one of the symptoms I get with my period is that I get bad hot flashes. I burn up. So on top of my fever, it was hard to tell if it was my fever or my period causing me to toast marshmallows. And I couldn’t even have a hot water bottle to combat the cramps without completely overheating myself. I pushed through and it got better as the day went on. My shortness of breath felt a little easier but my sore throat had returned. Win some lose some. I finished L.A.Noire properly this time. And oh. My. God. I cried. I cried hard. The ending was so... unexpected and FUCKING SAD???? I have so many thoughts and feelings and although I’m really upset with the ending, it did make me love the game even more on a deeper level. I wasn’t in the mood for another game after that and ended up spending the entire rest of the day watching 2 Broke Girls on Amazon Prime. I’m actually really enjoying it. The writing is a little off and after a while it gets very repetitive. Caroline whines about how far she’s fallen and Max says vagina. There that’s the whole show. Fr though I am enjoying it. It’s a good distraction. B went out today, we know he wasn’t supposed to but we desperately needed some groceries that our online shop couldn’t get us. He was cautious, covered his mouth and tried not to touch ANYTHING he didn’t have to or wasn’t going to purchase to keep chance of spreading whatever I have to the absolute minimal. He also got me a present to cheer me up AND as an early birthday present. It was a Yachemon plush from Overwatch, I laughed so hard when I saw it my shortness of breath got worse. Oops.

Friday 20/03/2020

Today was the best day by far. I felt so much like myself, I barely felt hot at all, my shortness of breath was practically non existent and I actually felt a lot more human, however, I do have a lot Of phlegm in my throat and have had to cough and clear it a few times, still wouldn’t say I had a cough though. I’m a little wary of the people that have said it gets worse before it gets better so am keeping to the bed for a few days longer just in case. I feel so much like myself and was even able to get up briefly without feeling like I was going to pass out! It’s a step in the right direction at least! I was still mourning the L.A.Noire ending and was feeling incredibly lonely again (a common theme, I complained of loneliness to B a thousand times even though we both know he should only really come and see me if he HAS to). But he came down to hang out with me briefly to help me pick a few games to buy from the Xbox store. We picked some that were on sale, the first 5 chapters of Life Is Strange and Mafia II. I decided to start with Life Is Strange and I’m sadly really unimpressed with it. I’m not a massive fan of games where your choices effect certain things because they make me anxious I will choose the bad endings! I’m a little disappointed that it’s a supernatural storyline, I was hoping for something a little more realistic but it doesn’t ruin the game. I love the art style and voice acting, it’s a beautiful game with a promising storyline (even if it’s not specifically my cup of tea). I think the chapters were a little short considering how much they are at original price separately but I guess I’m just lucky I caught it on sale. I’m not itching to play more but I will anyway, I just hope it gets a little better :/.

We’re all caught up. I’ll try and write a diary entry every evening. It will mostly focus on reviewing the entertainment I have and describing my symptoms and just what I get up to. I’m writing for myself and people reading it is just an extra. It’d be nice to have something to talk at like a diary for a while. Even if it’s not talking back I appreciate the social effects it’s having on me.

Anyways. I’ll post today’s diary entry either tonight or tomorrow morning. Until then we take it easy. ✌🏻