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rosie-posie1313 · 18 days ago

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Dr. Jack Abbot Fic Recs Pt 2

06/24/2025

⭒ Routine by @john-get-the-salt

The nightly routine of working in the pitt with your husband

⭒ Rage by @/john-get-the-salt

An incident brings the rage out of Jack, but luckily you have the ability to calm him

⭒ PAGING DR.LOVE by @linaaparkes

𝘾𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤-𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙧'𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙛𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙, 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙪𝙨𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙙'𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧, 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩.

⭒ We’ve got this by @duskbornraven

You get a little too drunk at the bar and your boyfriend is kind enough to get you home.

⭒ push and pull. By @killishin

⭒ Beside you by @writing-girlie

In the wake of Pittfest you have to prepare to confront your past when you and Jack are called in to help.

⭒ Lose Control by @makethatelevenrings

⭒ Just Talk To Me by @leo-in-the-pitt

After having a fling with Dr. Jack Abbott for half of intern year, you’re confused as to where your relationship stands. Heading into 2nd year, your determined to focus on the medicine and away from trouble. It isn’t until a difficult night with a patient that you and Dr. Abbott come together again

⭒ I’ll Be Seeing You by @helenanell

The shift ends and in the aftermath, it’s once again Dr Abbott who anchors me.

⭒ His Rock by @mind-empty-just-fictional-people

⭒ Overactive Empathy by @lol-im-done

A story of an ex-army doctor still haunted by his past who strives to maintain control of his emotions and a nurse with a sixth sense for the emotions of others that everyone has come to rely on- will a traumatic event force them to confront their true feelings for each other or pull them apart forever?

⭒ Angst by @pittrabbit

jack's insistence on pulling away from you finally caused you to break. that, combined with an unlucky day full of bad outcomes, had you visiting jack's favorite spot

⭒ rookie mistake by @highdramas

⭒ spinning out by @/highdramas

you are pittsburgh’s sweetheart, the ice princess, the hometown hero. when you come into the emergency room on the worst day of your life, jack is the one who meets his match.

⭒ it had to be you by @/highdramas

it is the first year you’re attending PTMC’s annual gala as an attending. it’s also your first year with a date.

⭒ Simmering by @/highdramas

you and jack are spent. you stumble into uncharted intimate territory in the confines of his luxurious shower.

⭒ 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 I chapter two by @nemo-writes

your day off opens in a quiet, comforting way. errands and small talk feel almost enough to keep the world steady. but scattered signs—disturbed spaces, cryptic messages—suggest unseen eyes on you.

⭒ You’re Okay by @butyoudidthis4what

⭒ dr jack abbot x dr!reader by @astreamofcolors

⭒ Edge of the Dark by @thepencilnerd

⭒ Just Can’t Help It by @playbucky

You and Dr Abbot worked together when he was in the army. Even when you’re on leave from training, you manage to find yourself covered in blood and in The Pitt.

⭒ Daylight by @literazine

reader drops off lunch for jack after they accidentally swapped, only to walk in on him being flirted with egregiously by a mom; of course, the reader has no choice but to remind the people of what's hers

⭒ BITE THE HAND by @/literazine

being casual with jack abbot was never going to be easy, and soon you realize that you've fallen for a man who's afraid of love

⭒ JE TE LASSERAI DES MOTS by @/literazine

seven ways jack abbot says i love you without saying the words—until he finally does.

⭒ I pay attention… by @writtenbyafan

⭒ Jack Abbot x resident!reader by @storiesfromasmalltown

⭒ No Man’s Land by @butyoudidthis4what

Development of your relationship through vignettes of the past and conversations between Jack, Dana and Robby. There's a shooting where you work. Jack is at the ED when the dispatch comes in and is terrified when he can't get in touch with you.

⭒ No Man’s Land Part 2 by @/butyoudidthis4what

⭒ you shouldn’t be (down here with me) by @youvebeenlivingfictional

When you’re almost shot at work, your body snaps into autopilot as your mind goes into overdrive. Jack has always recognized parts of himself in you—he knows a mind teetering on the edge when he sees one.

⭒ you shouldn’t be (up here alone) by @/youvebeenlivingfictional

Jack had told you. After he’d eyed the clock, called time of death, roughly ripped the PPE from his body, he’d rushed past you, warned: “I’m going upstairs.”

⭒ Gravity Part One by @/youvebeenlivingfictional

⭒ Heartbeats and Bombshells by @brainddeadd

⭒ Jack Abbott x ER paediatrician who is sunshine personified by @/brainddeadd

⭒ Guilty by @/brainddeadd

⭒ You’re My Best-Kept Secret by @/brainddeadd

⭒ Claimed by @/brainddeadd

⭒ Loyalty by @writingliv

After years of watching you stay in a loveless marriage, Dr. Abbot may finally have the opportunity to win you over and help you get out.

⭒ In Sickness and In Health by @frombookstoretobookstore

⭒ A Teaching Moment by @/frombookstoretobookstore

⭒ The Offer by @/frombookstoretobookstore

⭒ jack abbot with a reader who does not like eye contact by @halfpsychic

⭒ Stay by @stellamarielu

jack comes home from a long shift to find you fast asleep in his bed

⭒ All Yours by @wackapedia

⭒ Pushing It Down by @helenanell

Years after transferring off the night shift, I finally accept that I may have been running away from someone. From Jack. And I realise this, sitting beside him on a park bench.

⭒ Domestic by @sarahs-secrets2

⭒ okay doctor by @/sarahs-secrets2

⭒ safety net by @/sarahs-secrets2

⭒ I CAN SEE YOU; by @thecherrypittttttt

⭒ SOLID WORK; by @/thecherrypittttttt

⭒ II HANDS II HEAVEN; by @/thecherrypittttttt

⭒ LIKE THE STAR? BRIGHTER. By @gigiwritess

just another normal day at the pitt—except it’s not. for the first time in a long time, jack might have found an equal in every sense.

⭒ FIVE MINUTES AT A TIME ; by @yakshxiao

You and Jack only ever see each other for five minutes at a time — the tail end of day shift and the start of night shift. But those five minutes? They’ve become the best part of both of your days.

Everyone else in the ER has noticed it. The way you both lean in just a little too close during handoff. The way both of you leave a drink and a protein bar next to the chart rack. The way neither of you ever miss a single shift — until one day, one of you doesn’t show up. And everything shifts.

⭒ Open a window by @ezraphalitis

You want to start a family with him, it's been your dream, but life does so little to fulfill such dreams (memories are written this way)

⭒ Next time by @16ferrari

⭒ Hurt by @1-800-imagines

⭒ First Impressions by @duskbornraven

Reader gets saved by a poor doctor just trying to go home and sleep.

⭒ weather the storm by @lovableapocalypse

you take you and jack’s son to the er in the middle of the night when he’s sick, but your marriage happens to be on the rocks atm

⭒ Anxiety by @fioreimagines

Jack knew how it looked with his wife being shy, clumsy, and someone with crippling social anxiety.

⭒ Criminal minds x The Pitt Crossover by @candlelitea

⭒ The Pitt x Call of duty Drabble by @/candlelitea

⭒ Say Something: by @quickestgold

A decade of falling in and out of love has turned you and Jack from lovers to strangers. But when a difficult case hits too close to home, you might finally be calling time of death on your marriage.

⭒ somewhere only we know by @imagines-r-s

⭒ safe haven by @ananonymousaffair

while anxiety can be this very loud entity, you are very grateful to have a boyfriend who can help you quiet down those feelings.

⭒ you meet a few of jack’s coworkers. By @spaceyaemonds

⭒ Three by @sarah-the-bird-nerd

⭒ Wrong Name by @randompiecesofwriting

Reader visits her partner Jack in the ED to drop off his lunch catching the excited attention of all of his colleges much to his chagrin

⭒ ’silent orders’ by @maevawrites

⭒ Wildflower by @glamorizethechaos

⭒ BABY, NO by @dulcebloodhnd

⭒ more than a sip by @pomelace

⭒ unintentionally falling asleep on jack abbot's arms by @erwinsvow

⭒ 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐨, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 by @/erwinsvow

⭒ 𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 by @/erwinsvow

⭒ Quiet by @butyoudidthis4what

Widower Jack and widowed single mom Reader meet in the Pitt when Reader's baby gets sick. What follows is healing, patience and becoming ready.

⭒ Not A Date by @duskbornraven

⭒ Seeing Ghosts by @7-wonders

A case hits too close to home for you. Jack wants you to know you’re not alone.

#jack abbot x reader #dr jack abbot #dr jack abbot x reader #jack abbott x reader #jack abbot #the pitt x reader

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astraeus-tree · 5 months ago

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Chapter 3

『The Dark Sea Gets Deeper As You Approach』

Disparities Between Our Souls You're forced to make some decisions you'd rather not do and have a bittersweet goodbye with your aunt Disclaimer(s): N/A

Chapter 2 <- Chapter 3 -> Chapter 4

The silence of the comms held countless unspoken words that piled up over the years you were gone. It was finally interrupted by Cass’s voice.

“As in our [Name?]” Her voice was full of disbelief.

“Yes.”

“Where are you. Damian could hear the urge and hope in her voice through the comms.

“I’m on a rooftop near their aunt’s house. They’ve just gone in with the other supposed-hero and the rogue.”

Finally, Damian heard the sound of Dick’s voice through the comms. “Robin, stay there and follow them if they go out. I’ll come over after dealing with some stuff in Bludhaven. Oracle, alert B when he comes back from his mission with the JL.”

“Copy.” Both Damian and Barbara replied.

“I’m coming over Robin.” Cass spoke up again, determination laced in her voice.

“Red Robin.” Dick called out.

“Yes?” Tim’s voice sounded surprised, like he had been lost in thought.

“You’re in charge of finding any information about [Name] and their partner.”

“On it.”

Throughout the whole conversation, many members of the group stayed quiet. Amongst these people was Jason Todd.

Jason had many regrets, more than he could count. Yet, one his biggest ones was his relationship with you. When you had gone missing, Jason was devastated. He was forced to confront his feelings. Forced to realise how his actions had caused you more harm than protect you, like he intended.

Those who had the misfortune of going against him the first few of your disappearance had instantly regretted it, but they did not have the pleasure of being granted mercy by the crime lord.

He thought he had finally accepted this outcome—you were gone, never to be found and you two would never have the chance to reconcile. This surprise turn of events had disrupted this mindset of his.

Jason didn’t know what to feel. On one hand, he finally had another opportunity to reconnect with you. On the other, he didn’t know how to go with his new-found chance. Clearly, you were not the same person you once were. Not the old [Name] who didn’t have any fighting knowledge. It almost made Jason laugh at how similar you and him were, but this wasn’t the time for that. He had a decision to make, to got or to not, and he had to make it quick.

The three of you of you had been at this for what seemed like hours at this point.

With such little tools and no idea why they were even broken in the first place, no progress had been made in fixing the gizmos. At times like this, you wished you were half as resourceful as Hobie Brown, but unfortunately, neither you, Miguel or you aunt were.

With it still being the middle of the night, you decided it was best for your aunt to get some rest. You did eventually persuade your aunt to go to rest, but not without some reluctance and white lies that you’d also go to sleep soon.

It was now only you and Miguel—excluding the anomaly— in the living room of your aunt’s. The silence made you uneasy, like something would pop out of the dark corners and scare you. With your adrenaline finally coming down from its high, you were left to deal with the overwhelming emotions that it left in its wake.

Mentally, you recounted the events that had occurred in just the past few hours; firstly, you were unexpectedly dropped into your home universe with no way to return to where you were before. Then, you and Miguel find an anomaly. You were ready to open the can of worms this knowledge came with so you moved on. Finally, you met your aunt after not being able to see her for 5 years, a seemingly invisible force stopping you every time you had attempted before.

So many emotions coursed through you that you honestly didn’t know how to feel.

Another problem to add to your pile was your family. You knew it was inevitable for your family to find out about you and your new identity, in fact, they probably already knew you were here, but you just weren’t ready to face them. Your habit of avoiding confrontation was always weakness of yours.

You wanted to stay away from them as much as you could. It wasn’t that you hated them, it was just that you grew to live a life without them and had almost completely forgotten what it was like to be with them and you wanted it to stay that way.

You decided to focus your thoughts back to the gizmo. This was your priority, not avoiding your family. You needed these gizmos working, stat. You and your husband had a HQ to run and an anomaly to send back to its universe.

Speaking of the HQ, hopefully it was doing alright without its leader. “Miguel, do you think the HQ is doing well?”

He nods. “Lyla’s most likely already informed the others of our disappearance. She can handle most of my responsibilities, and those that she can’t will be handled by Spiderwoman and, regrettably, spiderman.” You sighed, you knew you could trust Lyla and Jess with those responsibilities. Peter, maybe not as much, but hopefully the others will keep him in line. “Our main concern right now is to get our gizmos working again so the anomaly can be sent back.”

You felt defeated. All you had was a lack of new discoveries, useless tools and broken gizmos in your hands. Your train of though was interrupted by a familiar sound—distortion, like that of a TV. You swung your head towards the anomaly and then back to Miguel.

Shit.

You had forgotten about the glitching. You knew it was there but with so much happening, you were too busy to even remember that detail. Glitching was a painful experience, and as much as you didn’t like Doc Ock in any universe, you didn’t wish the pain of glitching upon them.

You really were on a time crunch now, unless you found a way to temporarily stop the glitching. Wait.

You did have one, and it was wrapped around your wrist right now; your gizmo. Although the portals weren’t working, you knew it still at least stopped the glitching. After all, your husband was standing perfectly fine with no glitches. As for you, this was your universe, you wouldn’t glitch at all as a native to the world.

“Should I give him my gizmo?” You stared down at the Doc Ock as you asked Miguel. His brows furrowed almost instantly at your words.

“I’m sorry? Did I hear that right mi vida?” Miguel was flabbergasted, in full doubt of your words.

“I mean, the portals aren’t working, communications are down, we’re in my universe and he’s glitching. I feel like the pros outweigh the cons right now.” You reasoned with not only him, but also yourself. You could see that Miguel was genuinely thinking through this plan of yours. You knew it was risky, but with the two main risks not working, you felt it would be fine.

Apparently, so did Miguel, as he nodded not even a minute later. “Alright.”

You took the watch off your wrist as you walked over to the Doc Ock and strapped it around his. “This’ll stop the glitching for now. Once we get back to the HQ where we can transport you back to your universe, I’ll take it back.” You spoke softly to him.

Although he couldn’t move due to Miguel’s paralysing venom, you could see his eyes light up and you took that as a thank you sign. You nodded at him before standing up again and facing your husband. “We really need to get back home soon.”

“Agreed, but we don’t have the right tools in reach to do that.” You both sighed and stayed quiet for a few seconds, letting each other try to come up with solutions. “Do you think we could go to your-”

“Don’t even finish that sentence.” You glared at him.

“It’s really our only option right now, corazón. Unless we suddenly had money, our only other choice is to steal. They’ll be able to help us, they’re your world’s greatest detectives, are they not?” Damn it, why did Miguel have to make such a compelling argument.

“I don’t want to talk to them though.” You saw Miguel’s demeanour soften at your mumbled words.

“I know mi corazón, but let’s think about it this way. They’ll be able to help us finish what we need to faster, and after we leave, you won’t ever have to talk with them again. Don’t you want at least some closure as well? How they felt about your disappearance?” You stayed quiet, biting your nails. Your mind was in a war with itself right now. “I’m sure they’ll be relieved to see you alive and well.”

“I hate how you’re probably right.” You slump in defeat, placing your head on his shoulders. You felt his arms wrap around you, comforting in every way and you melted into his embrace.

“I’ll be by your side the whole time. You don’t need to be worried about anything.” You clung to him tighter.

“Thank you my love. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” You mumbled, words even more muffled by that fact that your head was still leaning on his shoulders.

“Yo también te amo.” You smiled at the familiar phrase.

…..

The sunrise came far quicker than you liked it to. With it came a new day with tasks you had to fulfil. One of which was the bittersweet goodbye with your aunt.

You waited anxiously for her to wake up. As you did, you walked around the house, nostalgia heavy. You stopped at the entrance of your bedroom.

Your room looked like it had remained untouched throughout the years. You remembered when you were younger, this room—the whole house, actually— was a lot more ruined, with paint peeling and bugs crawling everywhere. As much as you didn’t like Bruce, you were thankful that his money was able to grant your aunt with better living conditions.

You head a familiar pattern of footsteps approaching your room.

“Do you miss it?” Your aunt asked, voice soft.

“I do. I always miss when it was just us two.”

“Me too.” You stayed silent, it felt like she wanted to say more and you were right about that. “When you first disappeared, I was devastated, you know? I would sleep in your bed, letting my tears dry there. I was too scared to touch anything else in this room. This was all I had left of you.”

She put her hand on your shoulder, and suddenly, it felt like you were a little kid again, afraid of what the big world had in store for you. “I know you’re leaving today. Don’t worry about me darling. I know you’re alive and happy and that’s all I’ll ever need.”

Tears welled up in your eyes. She turned you around to face her and cupped your face. “Don’t cry. I’ll always be here whenever you need me.”

You held her hands gently. “I promise to have back to you auntie. I’ll find a way.” You were filled with determination. Once you made it back to the HQ, you would do everything in your power to find a way to visit your aunt without some random rogue portal.

“I’ll be here waiting for as long as that will take.” You smiled at her and she returned it. It hurt you to break apart, but you knew you eventually had to.

You walked to the living room, where your husband was and nodded at him. He stood up, understanding the message. He easily picked up the anomaly and headed towards the front door. You slowly followed, reluctant to leave this place once again, but you pushed yourself.

You turned around to see her one more time before leaving. “We’ll be going now auntie. I’ll see you again.”

“Be careful out there darling.” You smiled and nodded before walking to Miguel who was waiting outside the door. You took a deep breath and stepped outside.

Taglist (open)

@kik1010 @cxcilla @00hellohello00 @bluepanda08 @frankie-moon3 @guyfuitty @lumi320 @type-ink @kye-chen-r @sugasweettea @sillyheartmoonnyx @definitely-not-sammie @birbtweettweet @itsberrydreemurstuff @bellethesleepypotato @yaoizee @bat1212 @mybones537 @cim0nnin @ninihrtss @redkarmakai @a-lurking-fae @1abi @lettucel0ver @leeiasure @chericia @yotokx @amber-content @oscarissac2099 @awawage @k-anaru

I'm sorry for another late chapter guys 😭

This chapter gave me a lot of trouble, I can't lie. I started getting writer's block and then I started hating my writing so that was fun

I'm also starting to regret starting this story without a proper plot so we'll see how that goes lmao

Also, most of Batfam finally makes their appearance, yippee!!

Anyways, I watched AOT: The Last Attack in the cinema yesterday and oml I was sobbing the whole way through. I won't spoil anything just in case some of ya'll watch it but it was just so sad

As usual, mistakes are free to point out! They will be fixed as soon as possible

This week's song comes from the English translation of Black Sorrow from Alien Stage

Have a great day/night everyone! <3

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xoxolaw · 2 months ago

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+ THE TURNING POINT

in which every choice is a point. every point leads to someone. but not every love will survive.

Weak Hero Class 2 x reader

+ INSTRUCTIONS FOR READERS

Welcome to 'The Turning Point', this is not a traditional story. You're not just reading, you are deciding. And your decisions will fracture the path ahead.

+ READING GUIDELINES

The initial chapters are shared and introduce the central characters and setting.

At pivotal moments, you will be presented with multiple choices. Your selection will determine the direction of the plot and which character’s storyline you pursue.

You may revisit and explore alternative choices to experience different perspectives and endings.

The narrative offers multiple outcomes, ranging from romantic conclusions to bittersweet resolutions.

+ RECOMMENDATIONS

Consider exploring all available paths to appreciate the story’s depth and complexity. But do it one by one.

This story weaves romance, tension, and character development within a challenging environment.

START READING ->

CONTENT

#fanfic #weak hero class two #weak hero x reader #weak hero webtoon #geum seong je #geum seong je x reader #geum seongje x reader #yeon sieun x reader #yeon sieun #park humin x reader #park humin #baku x reader #gotak x reader #go hyuntak x reader #go hyuntak

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allaboutthemoonlight · 1 year ago

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How to Build Self Discipline

Cultivating self-discipline is the way towards personal growth and achieving long-term goals. To me, it’s really all about making choices that honor your well-being and identity.

Understand that self-discipline is about self love and respect

It’s not about punishment or deprivation, but rather caring for yourself enough to make choices that align with your long-term well-being and goals.

You’re showing yourself the respect you deserve by honoring and committing to changes you want to make.

It’s all about recognizing your worth and having the motivation and courage to pursue what’s really best for you, even when it requires a lot of effort and decision-making.

Frame your identity in a way that includes discipline

How we act directly ties to our identities and how we believe we are. If you believe you’re a successful individual, you’ll live a life framed by confidence and determination. If you believe you’re someone who is lazy and unmotivated, you’ll struggle to find the drive to pursue your goals and aspirations.

Gaining discipline is all about acting as the person you believe you are and moving through life in a way that’s consistent with your determined identity. The key here is to try to imagine who you are at your highest self in a disciplined state of mind.

To start this, ask yourself these questions and slowly arrange your life in a way so there’s no distance between who you are now and your highest self:

What does your day look like

What do you eat

What do you wear

What does your week look like

What does your work day look like

What hobbies do you have

What’s your morning and night routine

Who are you surrounded by

What do you say yes and no to

Have systems in your life

I recently wrote a post about habits and mentioned the idea of systems versus goals. Here, I want to delve a bit deeper into that concept within the context of self-discipline.

To me, another way to truly live a disciplined life is to establish starting systems, something that will propel you past hurdles and reduce the friction that accompanies change.

Let’s say you want to improve your eating habits and cultivate discipline in consuming less sugar while incorporating more whole foods into your diet. You could begin by implementing a system of prepping healthy snacks or meals in advance at the start of each week, or however you see fit. By having these snacks readily available, you eliminate the need for decision-making, making it easier to adhere to your goal.

Anything that serves as a reminder or facilitates consistent action toward your desired outcome is a valuable system in your life.

Be okay with not doing something and embrace the mindset of small wins

This may seem paradoxical in the context of developing self-discipline, but being okay with not doing something is crucial. There are times in life when we need tough love and motivation, but there are also moments when compassion is the driving force that propels us forward.

When you don’t follow through with something, whether it’s going for a run or preparing a healthy dinner, it’s important to be okay with it. You don’t need to shame yourself or feel guilty for not taking action because that will only reinforce negative thought patterns, making it harder to create the change you desire.

Consider this: if you miss a planned run and spiral into self-criticism, you’re more likely to avoid running altogether. However, if you approach the situation with understanding and compassion, you’ll be more inclined to try again next time.

This is where small daily victories come into play. Sometimes, all we need is one small step forward to develop a new habit and maintain consistency. Whatever you're striving to improve or change, if it feels daunting, tell yourself, "Just for today, I'll do a 15-minute workout instead of the full hour," or "Just for today, I'll read 5 pages instead of the entire chapter," and celebrate these as small victories. Doing so not only helps you establish new habits but also allows you to acknowledge the progress you've made and the trust you've built within yourself.

—Luna

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prettygirl-gabi · 6 months ago

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Chapter 16: Marking Her Territory

Rating: Mature Audiences

Warning: spicy, wlw smut, !jealous Paige, !top Paige, !bottom reader, fingering (fem reseving)

Paring: Paige Bueckers x!photographer fem reader

Fandom: Women's basketball

Summary: old handshake and childhood memories with a rival bestie......

Welcome to the chapter 16 of Through The Lens. I hope you all enjoy and there is more to come...stay tuned my loveies!! 🏀💕📸

The game against South Carolina intense, the kind where every basket and foul felt like it would determine the outcome. I was on the sidelines, camera in hand, trying to capture the action while keeping an eye on Paige. She was in her element, fierce and focused, until halftime, when the energy shifted entirely.

As the players lined up to head into the locker rooms, I spotted someone familiar.

"Jade?" I said, lowering my camera.

A tall, athletic figure turned around, her grin wide. "Y/N!"

Jade was a childhood friend who I hadn’t seen in years, ever since she moved and ended up playing for South Carolina’s women’s basketball team. We’d spent countless summers playing pickup games and perfecting our handshake—a complicated series of movements that ended with a forehead kiss.

She stepped closer, starting the handshake without hesitation. My muscle memory kicked in, and I completed it with her, laughing as she leaned down to press a quick kiss to my forehead, before I did the same to her out of old habit.

"Still got it," she teased, giving me a playful nudge.

Before I could respond, I felt a familiar presence behind me. I turned to see Paige walking past, her jaw clenched as she headed to the locker room.

Paige’s POV

I saw it. The handshake, the forehead kiss—everything. My stomach churned, but I bit my tongue. Causing a scene wasn’t my style, not here, not now.

But when I got fouled during the third quarter and the ref called it on me instead, my patience snapped.

"You’ve got to be kidding me!" I yelled, throwing my hands up.

The ref blew the whistle again. "Technical foul, Bueckers. Watch your mouth."

Azzi pulled me aside, whispering, "What’s wrong with you? You’re never this heated."

I didn’t answer, my eyes flicking to where Y/N sat on the sidelines. Jade was sitting not too far from her, leaning back casually, her face far too close for comfort.

We won the game, but I wasn’t in the mood to celebrate with the team. Instead, I convinced Ice to trade rooms with me.

"Why?" Ice asked, narrowing her eyes.

I shrugged, trying to sound casual. "Just need to talk to Y/N about something, and Coach doesn’t need to know."

Ice smirked knowingly but didn’t press further.

When I got to the room, Y/N was scrolling through her phone, completely unaware of my presence.

"Hey," I said, shutting the door behind me.

She looked up, surprised. "Paige? What are you doing here?"

I didn’t answer, walking over and sitting beside her on the bed.

"You and Jade looked pretty cozy tonight," I said, my tone light but my eyes sharp.

"Paige," she groaned, rolling her eyes. "It’s just Jade. We’ve been friends forever. Like in diapers til she moved forever."

"Friends don’t kiss each other on the forehead, not like that!" I countered, leaning closer.

"It’s part of our handshake! We've done it since we were kids! Like 6 years old, P." she protested.

I didn’t respond, instead pressing my lips to her neck. She gasped softly as I trailed kisses down to her collarbone, leaving a mark just above where her shirt ended.

"Paige!" she exclaimed,

"Oh, is that right?" I leans in even closer, my body pressing against hers pinning her to the wall.

She moan softly “yes, that’s right, P.” feeling my hands roaming freely over her body. I grin at the sound of her soft moan, clearly enjoying the effect I'm having on her.

I leans in even closer "You’re mine, princess." My hands slide down to her hips, fingers digging into her skin as I pull her closer. I lean down to nibble at her earlobe, teeth grazing her skin. "And you know it, princess."

She whimper bucking her hips into me “m’Paige, m'yours.” feeling her panties grow wetter with every touch.

Letting a smirk grow on my face as I rub my hand over her clothed pussy. “Your body's doin this all f'me, mamas.” I smirk at the friction.“Nghh,” she whimper. “Look at you, i haven’t even took your clothes off yet and you’re just falling apart, and its cause of lil ole me.” I whisper into her ear before leaving more hickeys on her collarbone.

“Tell me you don’t want this and i’ll stop right now." I says reaching into her shorts rubbing her clit painfully slow. She opens her mouth to respond but all that comes out of it are soft moans and whimpers, shaking her head. “You gotta use your words mamas, do you want me to stop.” I tease, fingers dancing around her clenching hole.

The room fills with her cries and moans. “Shh, shh you hear her talking back to me princess?” I say using my thumb to rub slow circles on her clit. “You’re a little slut huh, letting me finger your pussy inside your shared hotel room.” I tease, grazing her ear.“P-please do-” you moan as I bury my fingers into your sopping pussy, your breath hitches.

My fingers prodding around searching for something. “What would happen if Ice opens that door and we get caught, my fingers deep in your pussy like this.” She mindlessly clench around my fingers at the thought of being caught.“Oh, you’re a nasty girl, ma. You like the idea of that huh?” My fingers curl upwards and her eyes roll back, “Found it.”

I say as I speed up, rubbing circles into her pulsing clit, my fingers feeling her tethering closer and closer to the edge.

Her head lolls back “f-fuck, P, dont stop.” My fingers continue rubbing the spongey spot “Look at me, baby.” I lessen my pace, “Look at me.” I order, she looked at me, her eyes glossed over indicating that she was close.

She squirm and whine at the feeling of my fingers inside her dripping pussy speed up. Her mouth opens into an o shape at the filthy squelches that were filling up the room.“Paige, m’Paige.” she whimper helplessly. “I know baby, I can feel you squeezing my fingers.” I say so sweetly she’d never imagine the lewd words that leave my mouth next.“You gonna cum all over my fingers, huh? Make a mess f'me baby,” I says biting, sucking at her neck and before she can warn me, she's cumming all over my fingers the white of her eyes the only thing visible.

She grip my arm for support as her legs become shaky. “I- mmm” her orgasm soon passes and I look her in her eyes as I pull my hands out her shorts and lock them clean. “That was hot, mamas, fuck."

Her cheeks turned pink, and I smirked, dipping my head again.

"Coah's gonna know we were in a room together." She said before i shook my head and pulling her in for a kiss.

The next day the team didn’t miss a thing.

"Y/N," kaitlyn said, pointing at my neck during breakfast. "What’s that?"

Kk leaned in for a closer look. "Are those...hickeys?"

I flushed, pulling my hoodie tighter around me. "Mind your business, Kk."

Paige, sitting across from me, looked far too smug. "Guess she had a fun night."

I glared at her, and she winked.

When a few girls came to Connecticut for the game against Lsu. I saw her in the crowd andtried to keep my distance from Jade, but the handshake was muscle memory. I barely noticed Paige’s glare as we finished the routine, Jade’s laugh echoing through the arena.

After the game, Jade invited me to Ted’s for a quick catch-up before she headed back.

"Just an hour, and no hand shakes i pinky promise, P" I promised Paige.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded. "Be careful, ma."

At Ted’s, Jade and I reminisced about old times.

"You’ve got a good thing going here," she said, gesturing vaguely. "The team, Paige...it suits you."

"Thanks," I said, smiling.

"She’s protective, though," Jade added, her tone teasing.

"Yeah, she is," I admitted, thinking back to the hickeys and the way she ran after me in the rain.

"I like that about her. She's good for you." She says as the looks at me with knowing eyes.

I agree with her as we talked-about any and everything it felt like Jade and I never got separated.

When I returned to the dorm, Paige was waiting for me, her arms crossed.

"How was Ted’s?" she asked, her voice even.

"Good," I said, stepping closer. "But I’d rather be here."

Her expression softened, and she pulled me into her arms.

"Good," she murmured, kissing my forehead. "Because you’re stuck with me."

And just like that, the tension melted away, leaving nothing but warmth and love in its place.

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

-Thank You For Reading!🩵🩶

-prettygirl-gabi🎀✨️

Tag list: @sayurireidotcom , @astroeliza , @paxaz535 , @0phantom0 ,.... (more to be added)

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fairyminnie444 · 7 months ago

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✧ ‎₊‎・♡ 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚊𝚋𝚋𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚎 ♡₊・✧

The Sabbath state in Neville Goddard’s teachings is the state of restful confidence and peace that comes when you have fully accepted the fulfillment of your desire in imagination. It’s the moment you no longer feel the need to strive, affirm, or question because you know it’s done. You’re at rest, just as God rested on the seventh day after creation.

In this state:

⟡ There’s no more resistance. You no longer feel anxious or worried about whether your desire will come to pass because you’ve internalized its truth.

⟡ You live in the end. You already see yourself as the person who has what they want. It feels normal and natural to you.

⟡ You feel relief and gratitude. There’s an inner calm, knowing it’s yours, even if the 3D hasn’t caught up yet.

⟡ You stop obsessing. You don’t need to affirm excessively, check the 3D for evidence, or micromanage the process.

How to Enter the Sabbath State:

1. Assume it’s done: Imagine the fulfillment of your desire until it feels real. Accept it as fact in your mind.

2. Let go of the struggle: Stop trying to “make it happen” in the 3D. Trust your inner conviction.

3. Rest in faith: Know that the 3D will eventually conform. Your only job is to persist in your inner knowing.

The Sabbath state is powerful because it allows you to manifest from a place of certainty and ease, rather than desperation or neediness. It’s the ultimate form of “letting go” while still living in the end.

Neville Goddard discusses the Sabbath state in several of his lectures and books, particularly in “Your Faith is Your Fortune” and his lecture “The Sabbath.”

Key Texts Where Neville Explains the Sabbath State:

1. “Your Faith is Your Fortune” (Chapter: Sabbath):

• Neville describes the Sabbath state as the mental and emotional rest you enter when you have fully accepted your desire as fulfilled.

• He emphasizes that the Sabbath is not tied to a specific day of the week but is a state of being where you cease all effort to make your desire come true because you know it is already done.

• “The Sabbath is the day of stillness wherein there is no working. It is the day you rest from your labor. It is an inner stillness wherein you feel ‘It is finished.’”

2. Lecture: “The Sabbath”

• Neville expands on the Sabbath as the moment you stop desiring and start living in the feeling of the wish fulfilled.

• He explains that the Sabbath is a time of joy and confidence, free from doubt or striving.

• “The Sabbath is the state of joyous rest. You enter it when you feel the thrill of being the one you desire to be, when the work is finished and you walk in the end.”

3. “The Law and the Promise”:

• While he doesn’t explicitly use the term Sabbath here, Neville reiterates the concept of resting in the fulfillment of your desire and trusting that it’s done.

Core Concepts of the Sabbath State:

• Mental and Emotional Rest: The Sabbath state is a deep sense of peace and certainty. You no longer need to affirm, visualize, or convince yourself—it feels natural.

• Living in the End: The Sabbath is when you fully embody the feeling of your desire fulfilled, without effort or struggle.

• Confidence and Detachment: You trust the process so completely that you stop obsessing over your manifestation.

When you are in the Sabbath state, it means that the “movie” of your reality has already been recorded and the ending has already been determined — and at that ending, your desire is a fait accompli. Everything that happens in 3D now is just the projection of that movie, unfolding naturally to lead you to your desire.

Neville describes this as a state of total trust and rest because, the moment you feel that the desire is already yours, the inner work is complete. Manifestation is no longer a possibility, but an absolute certainty.

You don’t need to worry about the “how” or “when,” because you already know the outcome. Even if the scenes in between (the current 3D) seem to contradict each other, that doesn’t change the ending of the movie.

Think of it this way: If the movie has already been edited and finished with you achieving your desire, it’s only a matter of time until each scene is shown. In this state, you:

౨ৎ Stop struggling: You don’t try to “make it happen” because you know it has already happened. • Trust the flow: Scenes that seem challenging are part of the narrative and do not change the ending.

౨ৎ Maintain certainty: No matter what comes up in 3D, you know that the outcome is guaranteed.

The Sabbath is then the state of “I know it is already mine.” Manifestation is inevitably on its way because the “recording” already includes what you want.

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pbaz7 · 7 months ago

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CROSSING THE LINE — PART FOUR ♡

paige x azzi

word count: 5.5k

A/N: Alright this chapter is a little shorter than the other one's but the next few will be longer! We finally get to see the outcome of Azzi leaving 🫣. Please keep leaving comments and live reactions, they seriously make my day.

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November 2023

Paige had tried calling Azzi that morning, her fingers hesitating over the screen before she finally pressed the call button. The phone didn’t even ring before going straight to voicemail. She frowned, trying again, only to be met with the same result.

Frustrated but not willing to give up just yet, Paige decided to try Caroline, figuring Azzi might have told her where she was or needed her help if she did go somewhere. But when Caroline answered, her tone was firm, almost apologetic. “Paige, I can’t tell you,” she said. “Azzi asked me not to.”

“Seriously, Caroline?” Paige snapped, her voice sharper than she intended.

Caroline sighed. “Look, I’m sorry. I just… I can’t. You’ll have to wait until she’s ready to talk to you, she just told me she needed to get away.”

Paige ended the call feeling even more irritated, a bitterness creeping into her chest. So she moped around the suite for the rest of the day, her phone always in hand, checking it incessantly. Every notification made her heart jump, only to have her disappointment and hurt settle deeper when she realized it wasn’t Azzi. At one point, desperate to get her mind off of things, Paige tried going to the gym. She pushed herself through a far too intense workout, hoping the burn in her muscles with each set would drown out the ache she felt in her chest, but it barely made a dent in her mood.

By the next day, when she still hadn’t heard from Azzi, her frustration had morphed into something darker. She didn’t want to admit how much it hurt—how much Azzi’s absence left her feeling hollow and unsettled—so she did what she always did when she didn’t want to deal with her emotions.

She found someone else.

The girl showed up that evening, and while Paige went through the motions, it was different this time. Her actions were almost mechanical, her words borderline cold. She made it clear from the beginning that this was just for sex, no strings attached, and she stuck to it. When they were done, there was no lingering, no casual conversation, no pretending like she would call her. Paige stood up from the bed and handed the girl her clothes without hesitation.

“You can go now,” she said casually, her tone devoid of any warmth, of any emotion at all for that matter.

The girl looked taken aback, but Paige didn’t care. By the time the door clicked shut behind the stranger, Paige was already strolling into the common area, her expression unreadable, acting as if nothing had happened.

This pattern repeated over the next two days, Paige’s encounters becoming increasingly detached and transactional. She barely even looked at the girls as they left, her mind elsewhere entirely.

Wherever Azzi had gone, the damage would already be done by the time she got back. Paige’s hurt had hardened into something sharper, and she wasn’t sure if she was angrier at Azzi for leaving or at herself for caring so much that she did.

…

Azzi stepped into the suite late Monday night, three days after she had left, with her bag slung over one shoulder and a determined expression on her face. She was tired from traveling back from wherever she had been, but the weariness didn’t dill her resolve. She needed to talk to Paige.

The sound of buttons being furiously pressed drew her attention to the couch, where Ice sat with her headphones on, deeply engrossed in the game in front of her. Azzi gave her a small nod as Ice looked up.

“Hey,” Ice greeted, briefly pausing the game.

“Hey,” Azzi replied, as she glanced toward Paige’s closed door.

Ice noticed the look on Azzi’s face and raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything at first. Azzi turned away, heading straight for Paige’s door. Her hand was already on the knob, ready to open it without knocking—something she’d done a hundred times before.

“I wouldn’t,” Ice said kind of frantically, her voice cutting through the quiet.

Azzi paused, glancing over her shoulder with a confused frown. “What?”

Ice leaned back on the couch, her game forgotten for the moment, and gave Azzi a serious look. “Just… trust me. Knock.”

Azzi hesitated, the unfamiliar warning sending a feeling of unease through her. Still, she trusted Ice enough to take her advice. So with a quick exhale, she knocked on the door.

For a few moments, there was only silence as she waited. Then the door swung open abruptly, and Azzi found herself face-to-face with Paige for the first time in days.

Paige stood in the doorway, her expression unreadable, almost stoic. The usual warmth in her blue eyes was replaced by a cold detachment that sent a pang of guilt through Azzi’s chest. Azzi opened her mouth to speak, but before she could get a word out, her gaze shifted past Paige to the girl lying on her bed.

The girl was half-covered by a blanket, her hair messy and her body language far too comfortable. When the sight hit Azzi she immediately felt like she was about to throw up and whatever words she’d been about to say died in her throat as she just stood there.

Paige’s expression didn’t change, her blank eyes meeting Azzi’s as if daring her to react. “What?” Paige asked flatly, her voice devoid of emotion.

Azzi’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. Her hurt was too sharp, too raw to translate into words. Instead, she just stood there, stunned and speechless

Paige scoffed, the sound harsh and dismissive, and without waiting for a response, she slammed the door in Azzi’s face.

Azzi stared at the closed door, still lingering as if she could somehow push through the moment. But the sight of Paige's expression and the girl on her bed played on a loop in her mind, each replay cutting deeper.

Ice watched the whole thing but didn’t say a word. She just watched Azzi, her usually teasing demeanor replaced by quiet concern. As Azzi turned away from the door, Ice’s gaze followed her retreat, but she made no move to intervene.

Azzi walked past Ice without meeting her eyes, her shoulders stiff, her thoughts racing with everything she had planned to say but couldn’t. Ice let her go, sinking back into the couch with a sigh, silently bracing herself for whatever fallout was brewing between the two.

…

The tension that had settled between Paige and Azzi after that wasn’t just a passing thing. It was a slow burn, spreading through every practice and team event. For the past week and a half, everyone witnessed the shift. Nothing overly dramatic, nothing that caused an outright scene, but something was different. The chemistry that once seemed unshakable between Paige and Azzi had been replaced with an uncomfortable distance, one that made even the simplest things feel like obstacles.

Nika and Aubrey worked tirelessly with one another in practice to offset the forced movements, calling plays and adjusting to shifts in defense. But the connection between Paige and Azzi was broken. The fluidity they had once shared was absent, and the team could feel it.

It wasn’t just the lack of contact between them at practice; it was the silence that filled the space between each word they exchanged. When Geno called out instructions or made them do something together, their responses were clipped, their focus seemingly more on avoiding the other than executing the plays.

Some of the team tried to pry, casual questions about how things were going between them, but each attempt was quickly shut down. Paige would just brush it off clipped comments that were emotionless, and Azzi wouldn’t say anything, simply turning away, her usual warmth replaced with a wall that many of them hadn’t seen before.

It wasn’t that Paige didn’t care—it was that she cared too much. She just didn’t know how to express it. She couldn’t even look at Azzi without feeling the ache in her chest, the gnawing sense of loss that had taken root after that morning when she woke up alone with no explanation. So, she continued to fill the void, as she always had. She barely even noticed the girls anymore, but she kept bringing them around, hoping that doing something, anything, might help drown out the silence between her and Azzi and stop the thoughts from swirling in her head.

She couldn’t quite articulate why she did it to the few teammates that asked—it wasn’t because she was interested in any of them and she definitely didn’t get anything from the exchanges. It was just that they provided a brief distraction her mind clawed at in desperation to ease the dullness she was feeling through her entire body.

Each time Paige came home with a new girl in tow, Azzi’s irritation only deepened. She would be on the couch or in the kitchen, trying her best to remain composed, but the moment Paige walked through the door, it was as if the air shifted. Azzi’s eyes would narrow, her jaw tightening, and if she was already sitting, her posture would become rigid. Sometimes, if she was on the couch, she’d roll her eyes so dramatically that it seemed painful, the silent judgment lingering between them. She’d scoff under her breath, but never utter a word to Paige, as if silence alone could speak louder than anything she could say. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to confront Paige; it was just that the words never came.

The hurt was so clearly written on Azzi’s face every time, but Paige couldn’t bring herself to acknowledge it. Her own heart was in too much turmoil to even care about whatever Azzi was feeling. The silence, while deafening, was easier than facing the rawness of everything they’d both been avoiding.

One morning, after another night spent at a girl’s house—another night of doing absolutely nothing this time around—Paige walked back into the suite, hoping to slip in unnoticed. Azzi was already in the kitchen, a mug of coffee in hand. She didn’t look up when the door clicked open, but the second Paige stepped inside, Azzi’s voice cut through the stillness.

“Nice at least you had the decency to actually stay the night with this one.” Azzi’s words were sharp, her tone biting.

The comment hit Paige like a jab to the ribs, the weight of the unspoken accusation hanging in the air between them. She froze in the doorway for a moment, the anger building in her chest before she exhaled sharply, her eyes narrowing.

Paige’s voice was cold, her usual tone with Azzi these days. “You don’t really get to speak about that, considering your history Azzi.”

Azzi’s eyes snapped up, her expression twisted in confusion and irritation. “What the hell are you talking about?” she shot back. “I’m not the one who’s sleeping with the entire campus.”

Paige scoffed, the sound bitter as she shook her head. “Niice let’s pull the whole Paige sleeps around card” she muttered, voice dripping with sarcasm. “Whatever Azzi.”

Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked into her room, slamming the door behind her, the sound echoing through the quiet apartment.

The silence that followed was harsh, until the faint shuffle of footsteps broke it. Ice stepped out of her room, brow furrowed as she took in the tension that had been hanging in the air. She glanced between Azzi and the door to Paige’s room, clearly concerned.

“What happened?” Ice asked, her voice low, but carrying the weight of her worry.

Azzi didn’t even look up, her gaze fixed on the empty space in front of her. “Nothing. Just another day,” she said, brushing off Ice’s question, trying to sound indifferent.

Ice crossed her arms, clearly not buying it. “Azzi, come on. I heard the door slam. That’s not ‘nothing.’ What’s really going on?”

Azzi exhaled sharply. “Ice it’s nothing I want to talk about, alright? Just drop it.”

Ice, who had spent days walking on eggshells around the two of them, wasn’t having it this time. She stepped forward, her expression soft but firm. “Look, Azzi, I get it. You two are in a rough spot right now. But I’m telling you, whatever you did to her you need to fix it.”

Azzi’s chest tightened at the implied accusation. She lifted her head, her tone defensive. “Why are you assuming I’m the problem here? I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Ice’s gaze softened, but her voice remained steady. “Look, I'm not trying to accuse you of anything. I’m just putting two and two together Az. Paige was the one drowning herself in drinks that night. I had to basically carry her up the stairs when we got here. The next morning she came looking for you and she’s been like this since then…so.”

Azzi’s jaw clenched as the words sank in, but she didn’t let herself show how much they were affecting her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ice,” she muttered, eyes diverting from Ice’s gaze.

Ice let out a soft sigh, her frustration giving way to genuine concern. “Azzi You might not see it because you’re pissed at her right now or whatever, but you know Paige is the sweetest most selfless person we know. But whatever happened that night... it turned her into someone I don’t even recognize anymore. She just looks so sad or angry all the time and the few times she does crack a smile at someone it seems forced and out of obligation. That’s bigger than whatever argument you two are having. So please just fix it.”

Azzi’s breath hitched at Ice’s words, and for a moment, she felt a flicker of guilt and doubt about what she should be feeling. But she quickly shut it down, unwilling to listen, unwilling to accept that maybe she had played a part in all of this. Her mind set on her version of events. “Like I said, it’s not my fault,” she said sharply, as though trying to convince herself.

Ice’s voice grew softer, really trying to get through to Azzi. “You know Paige would do anything for you. She’d turn the whole damn world upside down if it meant you would be happy, and I know you know that because you teased her about it all the damn time. But right now whatever is going on, whatever happened I can tell she feels like you’re just... another person she’s lost and you know how she gets in her head about stuff like that Azzi.”

Azzi froze at Ice’s words, her heart beating harder in her chest. A part of her wanted to believe it. A part of her knew just how much she meant to Paige, But the bitterness inside her that had to watch Paige go back to sleeping around with random girls like it was nothing refused to let go. So she shook her head, a hard look in her eyes. “Paige treats me like every other girl she gets bored with, Ice. I doubt she’s as broken up about us not talking as you think.”

Ice didn’t even react to Azzi’s words. She had seen enough to know that they weren’t true. “Come on, you don’t even believe that,” she said, her tone calm but pointed. “You know exactly how she feels–you’re just not ready to admit it.”

Azzi didn’t respond. Instead, she let out a small, frustrated sigh and walked toward her room, shutting the door behind her without another word.

…

Even though Paige and Azzi weren’t in the best place—both of them carrying an unmistakable anger toward one another—they still cared about each other more than anything in the world. It was like they were tethered by an invisible string, a constant pull that neither could escape. No matter how far they drifted, they always came back, surfacing for a quick breath of air when they knew the other needed it most before going back under.

That’s why, when Azzi’s birthday rolled around, Paige couldn’t bring herself to ignore it. She knew how much Azzi had been dreading this day. They spent hours talking about it one day during the summer, the time where they would spend everyday getting to know one another. Azzi was spending her birthday without her family for the first time. So it didn’t matter how hurt, angry, and confused Paige was; she couldn’t let the day pass without doing something.

Azzi stepped into her room, the quiet stillness pressing against her in a way she hadn’t expected. Birthdays had always been bittersweet, but this one felt heavier—emptier. She had tried not to think about it all day, pushing the pang of loneliness aside. No family. No big celebration. Just another busy day of her telling the team she didn't want to celebrate.

Her gaze drifted toward her bed, and she stopped in her tracks. Sitting squarely on her pillow was a small, carefully wrapped box. The wrapping paper—adorned with the smiling faces of Elsa and Olaf—brought an involuntary laugh to her lips, soft and tinged with nostalgia. She knew instantly who it was from.

The memory of forcing Paige to watch Frozen—not once, but maybe 10 or so times—brought a bittersweet ache to Azzi’s chest. With a shaky breath, she walked over, picking up the box. The wrapping wasn’t perfect, corners slightly crumpled, but it was clearly Paige’s best effort. Azzi ran her fingers over it, a sad smile creeping onto her face.

She sat down on the bed, careful as she tore open the paper. Inside was a small jewelry box. When she opened it, her breath caught in her throat. Nestled in the box was a beautiful silver heart pendant, simple yet elegant, glinting softly in the light from her room.

Azzi’s fingers traced the smooth surface of the heart, her thoughts inevitably drifting to Paige. The way she smiled, the way she laughed, even the way she annoyed her most days– every detail of the blonde seemed to live in this small necklace. But her attention was soon drawn to the card that also rested on her pillow. Her chest tightened as she opened it, already bracing herself for what was inside.

The handwriting was unmistakably Paige’s—slightly messy but deliberate ‘Happy Birthday Az.’ But what truly made her breath hitch were all the signatures and words around. They were all from every single member of her family.

Tears welled up in Azzi’s eyes as she read the words they had written, her vision blurring. Paige had somehow managed to reach out to Azzi’s family—miles away—and have them all sign the card. She couldn’t even fathom how much effort Paige must have put into this, knowing how much it would mean to her.

A single tear slid down her cheek, followed by another, until they came freely. She clutched the card to her chest, her emotions unraveling as she whispered into the empty room, “God, Paige… why can’t you just let me hate you for a minute.”

In that moment, all the pain, the distance, the walls they’d built between them seemed to crumble just a little. Even when they weren’t talking, Paige had cared enough to remind Azzi she wasn’t alone. With trembling hands, Azzi unclasped the necklace and slipped it around her neck, fastening it securely. The weight of it against her skin was both comforting and overwhelming. And that, more than anything, left Azzi completely destroyed.

Despite this, the silence that lingered between them stayed the same. Both of them were experiencing feelings they had never felt before and couldn't find it in themselves to talk to one another. No words seemed like enough to express just how broken each of them were, just how much they both felt.

There was a hesitance that lingered between them, like an invisible wall neither knew how to break down. Pride? Fear? Hurt? Maybe all of it at once. Conversations that used to flow so naturally now felt like a daunting task, weighed down by all the unsaid feelings and misunderstood actions.

So, Paige and Azzi continued to exist in the same space, but their silence had become the loudest thing between them. The atmosphere in the apartment wasn’t as heavy but it still lingered and they both bore it in their own way. Paige had stopped bringing girls home, though it wasn’t out of any sense of compromise—more like resignation. They didn’t hold her attention, and it was more draining than anything to sit there and pretend to listen to whatever it was they had to say. The season kept her occupied, and though UConn had won their first two games, the chemistry between the players was strained. And it was clear to everyone—especially Paige and Azzi—that they were capable of so much more.

Then came the third game.

Despite the fact that UConn had won, Azzi played a game far beneath her usual standard. Missed shots. Bad decisions. A lack of the confidence that had once been her trademark. It wasn’t a total collapse, but it was jarring to watch it unfold. And everyone could feel it. The team had pulled through, but Azzi’s performance lingered in the air, like an unspoken question no one could answer.

Back in their shared suite, Azzi was isolated. She’d retreated to her room after the game, a rare moment when she didn’t have the usual fire in her eyes. The slow loss of her confidence throughout the game had been too much to handle, and as she scrolled through social media, the criticism rained down on her. The comments, the posts, the critiques—they all hit harder than they should have. The self-doubt crept in, overwhelming her. She knew she was better than this. She knew she could do better—but tonight, it felt like the world was telling her she couldn’t.

Paige, knowing exactly how much Azzi struggled with this kind of pressure knew Azzi would internalize it all, even when she shouldn't. So Once again coming up for a breath of fresh air even with the silence that lingered between them, Paige silently made her way to Azzi’s room, her hand reaching to open the door.

When she stepped inside, the sight of Azzi laying on her bed with her phone in hand, eyes red-rimmed and filled with tears, knocked the air out of her chest. Paige didn’t say a word. She simply moved toward Azzi, gently taking the phone out of her hand. Azzi didn’t fight her, didn’t protest, her hands too weak to stop Paige’s gentle movements. Paige locked the phone and set it aside before crawling under the covers next to her.

Azzi didn’t immediately respond. She kept her distance, staring at the pillow, her breathing shallow. Paige hesitated for just a moment before she carefully pulled Azzi on top of her, guiding her head to her chest. It was an unfamiliar gesture—but the silent bond they shared, the deep connection that tethered them to one another, made it feel like home the moment Azzi rested her head on Paige’s chest. Paige rubbed slow, soothing circles on Azzi’s back, her hand tracing over the familiar patterns as Azzi finally gave in, burying her face deep against Paige’s chest as the tears began to flow freely.

The silence between them was thick, but it wasn’t empty. It was filled with everything they couldn’t say. Azzi’s emotions—about the game, about herself, about everything she had been holding in—poured out in the form of quiet sobs. Paige didn’t speak. She didn’t need to. She just held her, feeling the warmth of Azzi’s body pressing against hers, reminding her of everything they still had, everything they could have.

As the time ticked by, Paige continued rubbing soothing circles on Azzi’s back, her touch slow and steady. The tension in Azzi’s body began to fade, her cries growing softer with each passing second. Paige could feel the weight lifting from Azzi’s shoulders, even if just a little, as she finally started to relax. Eventually, Azzi’s breathing evened out, slow and steady, and before long, the crying ceased altogether. The silence in the room deepened, and Paige felt Azzi’s body become still in her arms.

When Paige finally realized that Azzi had fallen asleep, her breath soft against Paige’s neck. Paige hesitated, a portion of her brain not wanting to disturb her, the other portion loving the way Azzi felt against her chest. But as much as she wanted to stay, to keep holding Azzi and never let go, she knew she had to leave. Slowly, carefully, Paige tried to extricate herself from Azzi’s grasp.

As she moved, Azzi, still in a deep sleep, unconsciously gripped onto Paige’s shirt, her hand clutching the fabric tightly, as if trying to keep her there. This made Paige’s heart ache. She could feel the pull of Azzi’s need, but as much as it hurt to tear herself away, Paige knew she couldn’t stay.

With a quiet sigh, Paige gently unwrapped Azzi’s hand from her shirt, and though every part of her wanted to stay in that bed, stay in that moment with Azzi, she slowly slipped out from under the covers. She stood beside the bed for a moment, looking down at Azzi’s peaceful face, before leaning down and placing a soft kiss on Azzi’s forehead. It was a kiss full of tenderness and care, an unspoken promise that, no matter how broken they were, there was still something between them that could be fixed.

She pulled away, her heart aching, and shut the door softly behind her.

As Paige walked toward her room, she caught sight of Ice standing in the hallway, her eyes immediately locking with Paige’s. The concern in Ice’s gaze was unmistakable, but it was the sadness in Paige’s blue eyes that struck her the hardest. Ice saw it. She saw how badly Paige was hurting, even if Paige was trying to hide it.

Without saying a word, Ice opened her arms, a silent offer of comfort. Paige hesitated for a moment, her chest tightening, before she reluctantly stepped into the embrace. She forced herself to hold it together, unwilling to break down in front of anyone. She stayed still, but her arms were stiff, her mind racing with all the things she wanted to say to Azzi, but couldn’t.

Eventually, Paige pulled back, the hug lingering just a moment longer than she wanted, and gave Ice a weak smile, barely more than a fleeting, pained expression. Without another word, she walked past Ice, retreating into the quiet of her room.

…

After that night, the silence between Paige and Azzi clearly wasn’t one of anger anymore. It was much softer, filled with longing, a quiet understanding that neither of them could fully name. They missed each other.

It started off slow. It went from both of them keeping their doors shut all day to them leaving them open. They would sit in the common area, not speaking, but neither one of them moving to leave. It was as if the space between them was hanging on a delicate balance, each of them too cautious to disturb it.

Paige would catch glimpses of Azzi absentmindedly playing with the necklace she had given her, the one she only took off for games and practices now. It was a small gesture that spoke volumes. Every time Paige saw it, a slight smile would tug at her lips.

They both had waved the white flag, they just didn’t know how to break the silence.

Paige now sat on the edge of Nika’s bed, her hands pressed into her lap, fingers twitching with restless energy. She couldn’t meet Nika’s eyes, even as her twin studied her with a knowing gaze as she was trying to get Paige to finally talk about what happened.

“Paige,” Nika said again softly, her voice a calm counterpoint to the hecticness that had been brewing inside of Paige. “I know something’s been bothering you. It’s been weeks, just talk to me so we can figure it out.”

Paige just shrugged, eyes flicking to the window as if the answer could be found in the dull gray light outside. “It’s nothing. I’m fine, Nika.”

But Nika wasn’t convinced. Besides Azzi she knew Paige better than anyone, knew the signs when Paige was holding something in. This wasn’t the usual “I’m fine.” This was different—subdued, like Paige was a thread stretched too thin, about to break.

“Paige,” Nika insisted, her voice softer now, “stop shutting me out. I can tell something’s been going on with you. We’ve been through too much together for you to hide it from me.”

Paige’s lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes darting to the floor. There was a tremor in her chest, and she fought to keep it contained. She wasn’t ready to talk, wasn’t ready to let anyone see the cracks in her armor just yet.

Nika didn’t push too hard, but she didn’t let up either. She sat down next to Paige, close enough that the warmth of her body was a quiet comfort. “Come on,” Nika coaxed, her voice gentle but insistent. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, but you’re not fooling anyone anymore. Definitely even me.”

Paige exhaled sharply, then, almost as if the words had been building up in her chest for too long, she whispered, “We slept together.”

Nika blinked, not sure if she’d heard her correctly. She tilted her head, voice steady but curious. “What? Who?”

Paige’s gaze snapped to the floor, her throat tightening as she repeated it, a little louder this time. “Azzi. Me and Azzi…we slept together.”

Nika absorbed the words, the weight of them sinking in slowly. She had seen the chemistry between Paige and Azzi for a while now, had seen the way they glanced at each other, the quiet touches when they thought no one was watching. It wasn’t surprising, exactly, but hearing Paige admit it was different.

“I... I don’t know what to say,” Nika said, voice soft but not judgmental. “Why is that a bad thing? It should be good, right?”

The question hung in the air, and that was when it happened. A single tear, slow and hesitant, escaped from Paige’s eye, tracing a path down her cheek; because yes, it should’ve been good. It should’ve been amazing. Paige’s hand instinctively went to her face, as if trying to catch the tear, but she couldn’t stop it. She felt it—felt everything—the confusion, the hurt, the abandonment all spilling over in that one small, silent tear.

Paige’s chest tightened, her breath catching as her walls finally crumbled in the quiet of Nika’s room. “She was gone the next day,” she whispered, her voice cracking. The words felt like rocks in her mouth, heavy and painful. “She... she just left me. When I woke up, she was gone.”

The floodgates opened then, the words pouring out faster than she could contain them. Her shoulders shook as another tear slipped free, and then another, until the tears were flowing in uninvited yet unstoppable. Paige’s chest heaved as the weight of it continued to press down on her, the pain she had been holding in finally spewing out.

Nika didn’t say anything at first. She simply reached out, pulling Paige into her arms with a tenderness that only she could offer.

“It’ll be okay, twin,” Nika whispered, her voice barely audible. “It’ll be okay.”

Paige couldn’t answer. She could only let herself break, the sobs wracking her body as Nika held her close, whispering assurances over and over again. The comfort of Nika’s arms right now was the only thing that kept Paige from completely losing herself to the turmoil inside her, she missed Azzi so much.

After a while she fell asleep in Nika’s bed, the weight of her emotions finally easing in the stillness of the room.

Nika didn’t disturb her. She let Paige sleep, knowing how much she needed the rest. After a few minutes, Nika gently moved away from the bed, making sure not to wake her. She grabbed a piece of paper from the nearby desk and scribbled down a quick note:

Wanted to let you sleep. Text me if you need anything. I'll be around. -Twin

With a soft sigh, Nika placed the note on the pillow next to Paige before she quietly exited the room.

The rest of the suite felt too quiet as Nika walked to the common area, her mind racing trying to figure out how to fix the situation. She needed to do something. There was only so much she could do by offering comfort. She needed to handle the bigger picture.

She pulled out her phone, her fingers moving with purpose. Within seconds, she created a group chat with the rest of the team, making sure Paige and Azzi weren’t included. The message was simple:

Team meeting in 20 minutes. Can’t be in my suite.

#pazzi #paige x azzi #pazzi fics

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archivesctrccio · 14 days ago

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she drives me crazy. chapter 1.

⁠✧ pairing.. headcheerleader!jackie taylor x basketball player!reader.

⁠✧ warnings.. adaptation of the book 'She drives me crazy', by Kelly Quindlen.

⁠✧ words.. 3.3k

✎ᝰ. jinx notes.. im sorry it took so long to post 😿 hope u like it <3

prev. next.

— Number seven! — The coach says, gesturing violently at you. She only calls you by your shirt number because she doesn't remember your name. — Pass the ball to someone else!

Considering you've been a player for three years, you'd expect to be able to make shots with ease.

But that's not quite the case, at least today.

It's as humiliating as the shot you made a few minutes ago. You are a shooting guard, it is expected that you have good ball control and can score baskets easily, But this is the third time you've tried to make a basket and the ball doesn't even touch the rim. Normally you have good ball control, but today it seems like your mind is elsewhere.

The opposing team gets the rebound and you can't even look at your teammates because you're so embarrassed. Okay, so this is just a preseason game, but it's against Candlehawk, your rival school. And you're humiliatingly down by eighteen points. At home. If you lose this game, you won't be able to recover until the Christmas Classic, which means these bastards will have the advantage for two months.

You keep your feet on the ground and focus on defense. Today you are doing the man-marking technique, which is usually a strong point, except today. It also happens that the player you are marking today is your former teammate.

And also your ex-girlfriend.

Allie Goalie was the first and only person you ever loved. She transferred to Wiskayok High School at the beginning of her sophomore year. She arrived with a big-city girl vibe and a desire to prove herself on and off the court. When you first talked, she tugged on your ponytail and said it was the longest hair she had ever seen. The first time you kissed, It was as if fireworks had gone off in your chest. To sum up, you were fascinated.

Allie only loved two things. The first was you, and the second was attention. Allie wanted to be someone, she wanted to prove herself, and she couldn't do that at her school, where the girls' basketball team was as important as the knitting club.

You try not to look at Allie now, in her new gold uniform. She was lightly biting her lower lip, clearly ecstatic about the outcome of the game. That probably validated all the reasons she had gone to Candlehawk, where basketball was more valued and she would be somebody. You knew she wanted more, but in your mind, more was always something that existed in the distant future, something you would eventually achieve together. You thought you were on the same page until the day she took you out to dinner and announced that she was changing schools again — and that she wanted to break up with you.

Allie positions herself in a spot close to the paint, giving her team's point guard an opening. But, as a reflex, her eyes land on you.

“Are you okay?” Is the question visible in her eyes. She tries to look concerned, but only looks mocking. You look away, not wanting the pity.

Another point guard on the team had just crossed the center line when the referee blew his whistle. Your best friend, Lottie, called a timeout. Lottie is the point guard, captain and makeshift coach of the team, since the team's official coach is clueless.

She approaches and whispers to you before the rest of the players approach:

—Dude. — She gives you that intense look, her official trademark. — You need to get your head in the game... Just ignore her.

Lottie knows how shaken you were after the breakup, and that you still haven't recovered completely. Adding this to her competitiveness, Lottie is determined to win this game no matter what, Even though Wiskayok has lost to Candlehall for the past three years, you guys have lost most of your games, but that has never stopped Lottie from dreaming of winning a season.

— I know, I get it. — you murmur to her, slightly embarrassed — you didn't need to ask for time for that.

Lottie snorts.

— Not everything is about you. — She turns to the wings and center as they join you. — Listen, do you recognize the play they're about to make?

Everyone stares at Lottie. Lottie's mind is always working overtime, noticing patterns the rest of you never see. Every now and then she completely zones out when she's reflecting on something. Your friends call this That’s So Lottie.

— The point guard made that gesture with her hand when she wants the wings to cross the passes. — she says in a low tone. — They will run along the sides to divert attention from the head and the paint…

You try to pay attention, but your eyes keep searching the court for Allie. She's in a circle with her new teammates, doing that ankle-pulling stretch while balancing on one foot. The first time you saw her and tested her for this habit, she gave a crooked smile and asked: "Why do you pay so much attention to me?"

You dreamed of this moment again. Allie’s sour eyes, her teasing smile, and her eagerness to give this place—and you—a chance. She didn’t know yet that playing on a losing girls’ basketball team in a small town makes you a nobody. And you didn't know that being a nobody was something that should bother you.

—...understood? — Lottie says excitedly, patting you on the back.

And in the blink of an eye you're back in position, the referee blows the whistle, and you have no idea what to do.

It all happens very quickly, the point guard makes the gesture, the power forward crosses the pass to the sideline and Allie runs to mark Lottie. She adjusts her feet and crosses her arms over her chest, and Lottie can't move. You run after her, trying to keep up, but Allie easily gets away from the marking and goes to the free throw line to receive the pass.

By the time you finally reach her, Allie has already made her shot. She flies fast and beautiful through the basket, and the golden section of the crowd—which is basically everyone—roars with delight. One of the fans holds up a sign that says: Count on Allie!! You feel like throwing up.

Allie smiles at her teammates, who are running to hug her. They're ahead by twenty points now, and her team has no chance of winning this one. Lottie gives you a death glare, and you realize that was the pass she was trying to warn you about while you were looking at Allie. You shrug defensively, and she shakes her head and hurries to the center line so you can pass the ball to a new play.

It's in that one stupid second—between catching the ball and passing it to Lottie—that you freak out. One of the CandleHawk players standing near Allie yells:

— That girl didn't even see you move! She didn't even have a chance to follow you!

That girl. Like you're some silly girl who means nothing to Allie. She obviously didn't even think to mention you to her new colleagues.

— Hey, asshole! — you yell at the Candlehawk player. She and the others turned around, scandalized, including Allie. — I have a name!

You turn around, showing your name on the back of your shirt. You throw the ball like you're playing dodgeball and you're determined to eliminate their entire team. You feel satisfaction for a whole second and then…

The referee blows his whistle and walks towards you.

— Technical foul. — he shouts. — Unsportsmanlike conduct!

The crowd starts booing you. The Candlehawk players give you superior looks, except Allie, who looks at you as if you are mentally unstable. Your coach freezes in place, clearly not knowing what a technical foul is.

You can feel Lottie staring at you like she wants to burn a hole through your face, but you refuse to make eye contact and walk to the bench. Candlehawk fans are still booing you, while yours are still silent. You boil with rage, but you also feel a twinge of shame run down your spine. You stand on the bench with your eyes fixed on the floor.

You're down by twenty-three points. You know it's not all your fault, but you can't help but feel like an ant when you line up to greet the other team.

Allie meets your gaze as you line up to shake hands. You notice a look of shame in her eyes, as if she wanted to get away from you. You've only seen that look once before: When you went to your first party last spring and the cheerleader captain squealed yours as a prank. You chased the tow truck all the way down the street, fell and scraped your knee, and dissolved into sobs. Allie even went so far as to put her arm around you, but it seemed like she wanted to keep you quiet more than comfort you, especially after a crowd of curious onlookers began to grow. You remember feeling both uncomfortable and inadequate at the same time.

After that, You've distanced yourself from the cool crowd and their parties, but Allie has tried harder than ever to join in. She never said it out loud, but you're pretty sure the tow truck incident was the last straw that made her ask for a transfer to Candlehawk. The humiliating push she needed to start over with something better.

— y/n? — You hear Allie calling you as you’re dragging yourself back to the locker room.

— yes? — you freeze in place.

She doesn't make much eye contact.

— Can you wait for me outside?

You take a deep breath. You know it's not a good idea, but you can't let this chance to have a moment alone with her slip away.

— Of course.

She nods and walks away. You continue walking to the locker room, but stop when some cheerleaders walk in from the larger gym next door. They must have just finished doing the routine for the boys' game. You feel that distinctive blush that this team always gives you since the tow truck incident last year, so you bend down and pretend to tie your shoe until the whole group has passed you.

Outside in the veterans parking lot, you climb up on the fence where people like to come and smoke weed. Allie will definitely see you, since the Candlehawk players insist on leaving their cars in the senior parking lot every time they play here. In a different world, Allie would have parked here too, next to her green Jetta. Now, she parks across town in a sea of Range Rovers and Escalades.

You live in Wiskayok, New Jersey. You guys are famous for a giant emporium called Grandma Earl's Christmas 365, which old Mrs. Earl opened, like, a hundred years ago, to sell Christmas decorations the whole year. It's a little crazy, but you love this place. It's your home.

Wiskayok High School is home to the YellowJackets, which is why you have to wear a blue and yellow uniform on the basketball court. That color scheme doesn't look good on anyone. That's the good thing about not having fans at your games: fewer people see you in that horrible uniform. Not that you care. Or at least you didn't used to.

Candlehawk is the neighboring town and they're kind of Wiskayok's douchey older brother: cool, convinced, and always embarrassed to be associated with you. And at halftime, no matter what the sport, the crowd teases you about the time a Wiskayok football player tackled his own teammate in a championship game. It's the reason Candlehawk sings "Grandma got run over by her own bee" when you play them against each other.

You hate that Allie turned out to be a Candlehawk girl, but maybe you should have known better. She's always been obsessed with appearances and who's judging those appearances. Dating her was like seeing your own life through a filter. Sometimes you got carried away by how much you matched; in others, you felt as if whatever was beneath the filter wasn't enough.

The back door opens, snapping you out of your thoughts. Allie comes gliding out, surrounded by several players from her new team. Her face is cheerful and her laughter is loud, but she stops suddenly when she sees you.

— Hi. — you say, emotionless.

— Hey. — She shoves her hands into the pocket of her leather jacket and gives her group a meaningful look. — Give me a second, guys.

The Candlehawk girls continue on their way with raised eyebrows. They don't bother to look at you.

— Sorry, — Allie mutters, walking over to where you’re standing on the wall. She gestures toward her classmates as they retreat.

—They were trying to convince me to get a smoke machine for, um… —she looks away, shrugging—, for a Halloween thing I'm doing.

You blink, trying to keep your expression normal. A Halloween thing. That's code for yet another party, one of many she's thrown since moving to Candlehawk. The lack of an invitation hurts like a physical blow, but you know you shouldn't expect one. You try not to imagine what kind of costume she'll wear, what pictures she'll post. Or how many people are going to be at her house, doing shots in the kitchen where you made cupcakes a few months ago.

— warn people to be careful of the fireplace corner — You mutter.

It's an intimate memory: during your first visit to Allie's house, her parents were out, and you ended up cutting your shin on the dark red brick jutting out from the giant fireplace. Happy to play nurse, Allie kissed you until the pain went away. She didn't tell you to be quiet this time. Probably because no one was watching.

You think there's a glimmer of recognition in Allie's eyes, but she looks away before you can be sure.

— Anyway. — She reaches into her jacket pocket and pulls out a plastic button the size of a coaster. you know what it is even before you see the picture. — I wanted to give it back to you — she says, placing it in the palm of your hand.

It's your first-year basketball cap. A photo of you in your gaudy blue and yellow uniform, your eyes shining. The school distributes them to the athletes so that their parents or friends can wear them at games, even though it's usually only the American soccer players who wear them. Last year, Allie and you swapped bottoms.

You put hers in your backpack all season, ready to tell anyone who asked that she was your girlfriend. Nobody asked, but you were proud anyway.

Allie never wore yours, though. Maybe you should have seen it as a sign.

— I thought you'd want it back, — she says. — I know you're getting a new one this season, but it didn't seem right to keep it.

You blink rapidly and try to find your voice... And then the back door opens again. YellowJackets's cheerleaders come out in a parade. To your horror, the girl at the front of the pack is the last person you want to witness this cringe-worthy moment: Jackie Taylor, the team captain. The girl who called the tow truck for your car last year.

Jackie is the pure queen bee: the most popular girl in her year, undisputed winner of homecoming queen and an absolute terror to all you plebs at the bottom of the social pyramid. She's beautiful, with perfectly curled blonde hair, big, piercing green eyes and a scar on her eyebrow of mysterious origin. A few weeks ago, your class voted for her in the “Best Smile” and “Best Hair” categories for your album.

Rumor has it that when the people organizing the album asked her which one she preferred, Jackie asked if she could have “Inseparable Friends” instead and share it with her famous enemy, Shauna Shipman. She wasn't kidding.

You had only spoken to her twice in your entire life. The first time was in first-year directing class, before she ascended to the realm of popularity, when she was still cool enough to lend you a pencil. The second was last spring, at the party, when you accidentally spilled your drink on her white jumpsuit. She told you it was no problem, but an hour later she called the tow truck to pick up your car. Everyone came out of the house to see your car being dragged away while you ran after it like an idiot. It was only after you tripped and opened your knee and saw that everyone was laughing that you started to cry. Jackie simply stood in the center of the garden, her hands in her pockets, a calm expression on her face. The ruthless, untouchable queen.

Jackie stops as soon as she sees you. The whole team stops behind her. One of the girls asks if you're okay.

— That's all right. — You make a point of turning the other way, mentally wishing they'd keep going.

— Yeah, she's fine. — Allie confirms. Her tone is apologetic, as if to say “I'm sorry you had to witness that”.

You can feel Jackie's eyes on you again, but you ignore her. What is she waiting for? You think she gets the message, because she shifts her backpack to her other shoulder and starts walking towards the parking lot.

— Are you coming? — she asks her friends. — I have more to do.

They look at you, but after a second they take quick steps towards Jackie.

— I think we should go too — Allie says. Us. As if that still existed. You don't move. It's the only move you have left.

— I'm sorry the game didn't go the way you hoped — Allie says. — Good luck with the rest of the season.

She hesitates, then kisses you on the cheek. And leaves. It's at that moment that you decide: you're going to do everything in your power to fuck with Candlehawk — to fuck with Allie — when you play again. you're going to do everything possible to show her that leaving Wiskayok behind — leaving you behind — was the biggest mistake of her life.

Your trusty old Jetta is your baby. The seats have tears in the leather, the cup holder fits a thermos of coffee perfectly, and the interior inexplicably smells of crayons.

It used to be your older sister's car, and when she gave it to you, she put a four-leaf clover sticker on the gearshift to wish you good luck. Your mother's contribution was to add a medal of Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers, which now hangs from the rear-view mirror and sways helplessly every time you make a sharp turn. you throw your backpack on the back seat and get into the driver's seat. For a second you just stand there holding your basketball button, looking at this person who no longer looks like you. Then you start the car, put on your seat belt and plug your cell phone into the old auxiliary cable.

You back out of your parking space and turn on the stereo. Maybe playing “You're so vain” loudly will calm the bitterness in your stomach. You guide the car through the maze of the senior parking lot, wanting nothing more than to go home. Then you see Tally's car leave the parking lot. The red Ford Escape you used to grab after school. You haven't seen it since the day she broke up with you. You can't help it: you stretch your neck to watch her drive away.

It's because your eyes are glued to Allie's taillights that you don't notice... The car reversing into the parking space directly in front of you.

BANG.

you swerve in your seat when you hit the back of the other car.

taglist: @moesthoughts, @antlertruths, @javizheart

#˚. ˖ ♱jinxsfics #yellowjackets #yellowjackets x reader #x reader #yellowjackets x you #archivesctrccio #jackie taylor #jackie taylor x female reader #jackie taylor x you #jackie taylor x reader #jackie yellowjackets #jackieshauna #lesbian #enemies to lovers #she drives me crazy #fanfics #long fic

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yuu-kantokusei · 4 months ago

Text

READY AS I'LL EVER BE

⚠️Mini spoiler for chapter 7⚠️

Synopsis: After "waking up" every characters from their dream, but being still trapped, it comes the final battle against Malleus

A/N: This is the song from Rapunzel series from whom I took inspiration from it, being a little too much alike with what's happening in the situation they are in.

Malleus and Lilia are at the Diasomnia Lounge where Lilia try to stop Malleus from the battle against the twst characters, Yuu and Grim.

OB!Malleus: Any moment now, "Your Highness". Believe me, I know, I've sunk pretty low. But whatever I've done, you've deserved

Lilia: Malleus...

OB!Malleus: Quiet! I'm the bad guy, that's fine. It's no fault of mine and some justice at last will be served

Lilia: Please, listen!

OB!Malleus: Now it's time to step up or it's time to back down and there's only one answer for me. And I'll stand up and fight, 'cause I know that I'm right and I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready.

READY AS I'LL EVER BE

While Malleus and Lilia are in Diasomnia, everyone else is gathered on Main Street, where unfortunately, someone is injured due to the fight against the "darkness" and is not in good condition to fight against Malleus.

Leona is lying on the ground, and everyone is gathered around him—some worried, some dejected, and others doubtful about both Leona's condition and the fight against Malleus.

Ruggie: Leona-san, are you sure you're up for this?

Leona: Actually, I don't think I am. I'll only slow you down.

Jack: But how are you gonna lead the assault?

Leona: I'm not. Pointing at someone smirking while sitting up. He is.

Sebek takes a step forward to convince the others that they will succeed in the battle.

Sebek: Now it's time to rise up or it's time to stand down and the answer is easy to see. He raises the magic pen in the air. And I swear by the sword if you're in, get on board brings it close to his face like a sword

Are you ready?

Ruggie & Jack: I'm ready

Riddle, Trey, Jade, Floyd, Kalim, Vil, Rook, Idia: We're ready

Cater, Azul, Jamil, Epel, Ortho: We're ready

The others also raise their magic pens in the air, feeling more motivated for the battle against Malleus.

Sebek: Ready as I'll ever be

Somewhere nearby, Yuu, Grim, and Deuce are waiting for Ace to arrive, talking about how to defeat Malleus until they heard someone.

Yuu and Grim: There you are!

Ace: Yes, yes. I just had to make a stop at Mister S's Mystery Shop. I'm told you're pretty handy with one of these. Giving them a pot

Yuu: Heehee... I sure am. Taking it

Deuce: Are you quite sure we can do this?

Yuu: Together we will, guarantee... Taking both of them by their arms, with Grim on their shoulder, walking toward the group.

OB!Malleus: I'll make them hear me

Malleus is ready to greet them, slowly leaving the lounge.

Now everyone is gathered, including Leona, even though he can't fight well, running toward Diasomnia to defeat him.

Riddle, Trey, Jade, Floyd, Kalim, Vil, Rook, Idia: Now it's time to redeem or it's time to lose all

Sebek: If they can trust me

Cater, Azul, Jamil, Epel, Ortho: And the outcome will hardly come free

Even though everyone is focused on one thing, Silver just hopes it will end well and that everyone will be saved.

Silver: I'll save my home and family

All: Now the line's in the sand and our moment's at hand

And I'm ready

Sebek: I'm ready

Yuu, Grim, Ace, Deuce: I'm ready

Now, everyone has arrived in front of Diasomnia, where Malleus greets them, ready to make them sleep even deeper without waking up. But everyone is determined to end this nightmare once and for all.

Ob!Malleus: Ready as I'll ever be...

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koiukiy-o · 4 months ago

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orphic; (adj.) mysterious and entrancing, beyond ordinary understanding. ─── 001 (II). the student.

-> summary: when you, a final-year student at the grove, get assigned to study under anaxagoras—one of the legendary seven sages—you know things are about to get interesting. but as the weeks go by, the line between correlation and causation starts to blur, and the more time you spend with professor anaxagoras, the more drawn to him you become in ways you never expected. the rules of the academy are clear, and the risks are an unfortunate possibility, but curiosity is a dangerous thing. and maybe, just maybe, some risks are worth taking. after all, isn’t every great discovery just a leap of faith? -> pairing: anaxa x gn!reader. -> tropes: professor x student, slow burn, forbidden romance. -> wc: 0.6k -> warnings: potential hsr spoilers from TB mission: "Light Slips the Gate, Shadow Greets the Throne" (3.1 update). main character is written to be 21+ years of age, at the very least. (anaxa is written to be around 26-27 years of age.) swearing, mature themes, suggestive content.

-> a/n: here's chapter 1.5 !!?? its supposed to be in anaxa's pov hehe <3 its not big enough to be a chapter in itself, but its also not something i wanted to squeeze into the original first chapter. i had to rewrite this a million times so i cld express his inner oopie goopie feelings as naturally as possible aughhhh !! i hope i did him justice :") -> prev. || next. -> orphic; the masterlist.

The first time Anaxagoras sees you, he barely registers your presence. Another student, another mind seeking knowledge—no different from the rest. He speaks, and the hall falls into rapt silence, his words measured, precise. He does not need to raise his voice; the magic woven into the walls ensures that even the softest murmur carries.

When he looks at you, it is brief, a mere flicker of attention. Your thoughts are guarded—not uncommon, but rare enough to be noted. A foreign mind, one not yet shaped by the Grove of Epiphany.

Interesting, perhaps. But not remarkable.

Anaxagoras continues his lecture, brushing you off as just another scholar passing through his world.

The second time he notices you, it is because you are watching him.

Not unusual. Students watch him often—some with reverence, others with trepidation. Some attempt to discern his methods, while others marvel at the way he manipulates the arcane with the ease of a sculptor shaping clay. But your gaze is different.

He meets your eyes briefly, his mind already cycling through possibilities. A challenge? No—your expression is too guarded for that. Curiosity? Perhaps. He allows himself a moment to observe, to test. Your posture, the way your fingers tighten around the notebook in your lap. A mind on the edge of inquiry, but hesitant.

When he looks away, it is because he has already determined the outcome—you will either retreat or step forward. The choice is yours.

You return.

That is when he begins to watch you in earnest.

Not because of your presence—there are many students who linger, drawn to the Grove’s vast knowledge, but the way your attention sharpens when he speaks, the way you absorb his words not as mere instruction but as something to be unraveled, understood. You are not listening out of obligation.

That is why, when he calls upon you, it is not an arbitrary selection, for he does not waste time on students who lack potential. He watches the momentary scramble of your thoughts, the way you hesitate—not out of ignorance, but out of care. And when you answer, he finds himself satisfied.

Not impressed. Not yet.

But satisfied.

You do not sit in the back after that. He does not need to look to confirm it—he knows. Your presence is closer, a ripple in the pattern of the lecture hall. He tests you again, weaving your name into the thread of discussion, shaping the tempo of the lesson around your answer without drawing attention to the fact. And each time, you meet the challenge. Not perfectly. Nowhere near flawlessly. But well.

He notes the way your pulse quickens when he acknowledges you, the way your breath hitches for just a fraction of a second before you compose yourself. It is an instinctive reaction, untrained. He wonders if you realize it. He wonders if you know that you give yourself away.

And then, another question. He watches you as you answer—not just the words, but the shape of your reasoning, the way your mind reaches for knowledge and stitches it together with careful precision. It is this, more than anything, that makes him pause.

He does not smile often.

But perhaps, just then, he does.

After the lecture, as the students disperse, he catches fragments of conversation, the murmurs of intrigue. Your name spoken in passing, your presence noted in a way that was not before. He does not interfere. He does not need to.

He has seen this pattern before. Minds that shine brightly in the endless constellation of scholars. Some burn hot and fade quickly. Others endure.

He wonders which you will be.

-> next.

taglist: @starglitterz @kazumist @naraven @cozyunderworld @pinksaiyans @pearlm00n @your-sleeparalysisdem0n @francisnyx @qwnelisa @chessitune @leafythat (send an ask or comment to be added!)

#❅ — works !#to reveal just enough about lil naxies brain #not too much... but #not too little...? i sincerely hope and pray that i succeeded because the words are all plain MUSH as i read it over for the 100th time.#Honkai star rail #Hsr #anaxa x reader #anaxagoras x reader #hsr anaxa

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venxomi · 3 months ago

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TBHK Chapter 125 Analysis - Duty and Determination

This chapter has been a lore-heavy one that opened the door to a lot of possibilities.

The introduction of a new 'God'

We always knew multiple gods existed via multiple mentions throughout the series, but the pit god was the only one introduced as such. We now welcome our second 'God', the Sand Clock.

You may ask, "How is the Sand Clock a God?", and I will reply with "Because it's so similar to the Pit God, it feels like a cruel joke".

Its origins unknown, with a will of its own- It wants to be used so it can claim its prize.

"Turn the clock upside down, make a wish, give up your present, and you can redo your entire life". Simple enough, isn't it? Make a sacrifice and get a chance at happiness.

It operates in a very similar way the pit god does, it just works by a different mechanism; It wants you to use it, it lets you use it as much as you'd like to reach your desired outcome, and when you're done wasting your soul away trying, it takes its due compensation in a very 'natural' and ironic way.

It either claims the lives of those who use the clock for themselves or the lives of those they want to save.

One who used it to become rich died at the hands of bandits, one who used it to gain fame died at the hands of envy, one who used it to gain love died with the one she loved- And finally, the one who used it to make another happy made it so that person never existed.

The theme of "happiness" reared its head once again- a honest desire to make another happy turned to ruin. We saw it with Tsukasa and Amane in the Red House, we saw it with Hanako and Nene in the Severance, and we saw it just a few chapters ago with Nene and Amane. We now see it with the watchmaker and his niece. In an honest attempt to make her happy, her existence was erased instead.

Kako's Purpose

After he experienced tragedy himself, the watchmaker decided to seal it. Desire is a part of human nature, so a human couldn't be tasked with guarding this cursed item.

As both a solution and punishment for himself for his actions, he used his own flesh and soul to create Kako, the Clock Keeper- A perfectly inhuman supernatural who would never fail in fulfilling his duty to guard the Sand Clock.

This reflects in the Clock Keepers' Yorishiro, the Key. It's the very key used to unlock the Sand Clock's seal and it is proof of Kako's duty, his purpose for existing. He was created solely to guard the clock, and having his yorishiro destroyed means destroying his entire reason for his existence.

Kako's inhumanity is meant to combat the Clock's ability to fan the flames of desire. It does not allow him to fall prey to the Clock. And it's proven up to a point- Nene tells him of Akane, the Guardian of the Present's death, along with her other friends' death. But Kako is unfazed. Like Akane said in the Clock Keepers arc, they do not value human life at all.

However, it is important to note that it's not perfectly inhuman. The watchmaker only used himself to create Kako, so who created Mirai, a clockwork doll in the likeness of the watchmaker's niece, if not Kako? Does it not contradict his intended inhumanity?

Which leads me to further think- He stored his yorishiro, the key to the Sand Clock, inside Mirai. Wasn't it so he wouldn't be able to use the Clock for himself, so he wouldn't be able to abandon his duty, as he would be forced to destroy the machine that looks like his niece to do so? A bitter reminder of the tragedy that follows.

It is also important to note that it is specified that Kako was created to prevent the Sand Clock's use. So why is it that Kako claims that his purpose is to "use it perfectly"? Is it his pride in his inhumanity that his actions would be based off logic and not desire?

The one thing "that must be protected above all else"

It is something that is so important it precedes mass killings. That it's fine if dozens, if not hundreds of people die, if this something is unharmed.

Most importantly, Kako says it's a secret, but it's something that even if it was revealed, Nene wouldn't be able to threaten Kako with it.

That opens up three possibilities:

It's something beyond Nene's reach, something that Nene can't do anything about anyway;

It's not a something, but a someone; Nene refused to destroy Sumire, who was a human yorishiro- So how could she threaten Kako at the expense of someone?

For me, it's the most likely one: It's someone or something Nene cares about, someone Nene would never want to come to harm.

I do have my own ideas, but I reached them via my intuition and not solid evidence, so they're not meant to be explained here.

The Intruder

The alarm rang since chapter 124. The cat assumed it's an alarm for an intruder, and it's confirmed in chapter 125 by Kako.

But see, Kako says that the alarm rings when someone invades the Boundary. But it didn't ring the moment Nene entered the Boundary, did it? It took one and a half chapter for it to ring. Which means Nene is not the invader the alarm went off on.

Perhaps you remember in chapter 121 when Akane ran his mouth in the Red House about going back in time and the curse of the Red House heard him?

"Still, a clock that can control time... That could be trouble."

Akane, Aoi and Teru put their lives on the line to get Nene enough time to get to the clock and turn back time. But that time seems to soon expire, and Kako will have to confront the issue he didn't bother prioritizing. He will have to confront the arrogant belief that he used the Sand Clock correctly, just because he was made 'perfect', 'beyond human'.

Nene's determination and... self-sacrifice?

Nene's determination is to be admired, for sure. For the entirety of the chapter she is told how the Sand Clock is a curse that brings the user to ruin. In the previous chapter, she is told about how others who attempted to turn back time were turned into mechanical dolls and forced into the Clock Keepers' Boundary for eternity.

She does not waver.

However, is that a good thing?

"I heard what you said, and it doesn't make any sense at all."

No, she does understand. She made it clear that she understands that if she takes the Sand Glass, ruin will await her.

But she doesn't want to acknowledge that she understands. Because if she does, she would acknowledge her own doom. Not only her own, but possibly others' aswell. Or rather, she feeds into the mindset she started having since chapter 91.

She... No longer values her own life nor her own personal happiness. As if befitting her role of a 'kannagi', she has a dangerous mindset- She starts thinking she's fine with sacrificing herself for others.

She doesn't care that she risks more than just her life anymore. She cares about reaching her own goals for others' sake. I, as of now, do not see a good outcome for Nene. Hanako picked up on this mindset and tried to rid her of it early in 91, but it would seem he failed.

I wonder how things will progress from here.

#hanako kun #tbhk #jshk #jshk 125 #tbhk 125 #toilet bound hanako kun #jibaku shounen hanako kun #yashiro nene #nene yashiro #clock keepers #kako #mirai #spoilers #tbhk chapter 125 #jshk chapter 125 #chapter analysis

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