#you gotta watch a football game to see her make weird faces and dance moves???

[placeinthisworld]

friendly reminder that the nfl is a disgusting and messy industry that is now using the young swifitie generation to influence and manipulate them to give their teams more money and I don’t think that’s cute

[hearts4johnwick]

SUMMARY. your school has a football game against smallville. after the game clark kent approaches you and asks if you want to hang out, but there’s one problem.

CW. academic rivals—except clark and reader rlly don’t hate each other, reader’s “boyfriend” doesn’t take no for an answer, fighting, fluff.

A/N. guys… before you read, i have to say I JUST started watching smallville 😭 I’m on season 1 ep 5, so some I’m going to be improvising some stuff, so, clark isn’t going to be like s1 clark, he’s going to be a bit like red k clark? so, there’s that. the ending lowkey makes me mad 😔 but yall lmk if yall want a pt 2 maybe? 😗

you and your cheerleaders celebrate your team for winning the football game against smallville with chants, flips, and jumps. you guys were happy that you won after losing two games in a row, first one was against gotham and the other against central city, which was weird because these teams haven’t won against metropolis in decades, but, the team won once again and that’s what matters tonight.

“troy’s in for a real treat tonight, huh?” your friend avery cocks her eyebrows and you chuckle. “he scored the winning touchdown, you have to rock his world, baby.” she winks at you and goes with her other cheerleading friends. your tongue runs over your teeth as you try to hide your annoyed face.

the footballers run over to the squad and you stand aside, you’re the captain, you should be there sharing the moment with them, but you don’t, you stay a few feet away ruffling your Pom poms and smiling.

you have a few friends from smallville since you were raised there, you and your brother moved to metropolis with your parents because your father had been offered a nice job there, and he took it. you recognize lana lang, whitney fordman, chloe sullivan, pete ross, and of course, clark kent.

your dad and his were practically brothers, they were inseparable ever since the sixth grade, but as they grew older, before moving to metropolis, clark’s father suddenly stopped associating with your father. you never knew why, it wasn’t your business, but now that you see clark’s face, you might ask your father.

your thoughts are interrupted by a figure standing in front of you, you focus back and it’s none other than clark kent!

“i gotta say… your dancing skills were always bad, but now? oh, they got worse.” you raise an eyebrow as he grimaces.

“yeah? well at least i still don’t run like I’m scared of tripping my own feet.” you press your lips into a thin line.

“you know, every time your squad threw you up in the air i was waiting for them not to catch you and let you fall into the dirt.”

“i didn’t see your dad here… guess he still regrets the decision to adopt you.” you click your tongue and he chuckles.

“okay, I’m going to give you that one.” you smile and shrug.

“what are you doing here, kent?” you question.

“you’re in my school’s football field, if there’s someone that should be here, it’s me.” he furrows his eyebrows.

“yeah no, after that nasty loss? might have to claim this as our territory now.” clark scoffs and looks down. “7-24? yikes!” you exclaim and inhale sharply through your teeth. “go home, kent, or else our team will show you no remorse.” you cross your arms together and he gets closer, towering over you.

“what about you? what will you do?” your eye contact is strong, and you’re teasing him with a cocky smile, but his charming eyes get you weak in the knees, you scoff and look down, giving in.

“i’m not going to do anything, i don’t have the heart.” you pursed your lips. in a blink, you notice clark’s hand shielding your face, in his hand was the football that connor, the linebacker from your team just threw. you didn’t even notice how badly you flinched, but you stayed still, staring at clark’s heroic move in awe, your eyes travel from his hand holding the football, to him. and you swear that something inside you snapped, the way he made the football stop from hitting you, how fast he reacted, that made you feel something you didn’t even know clark kent was possible of making you feel.

“holy—! i’m so sorry, y/n, i didn’t mean for it to go in your direction!” connor apologizes, but you shoot him a death glare.

“what the hell is your problem, connor?!” troy pushes connor and rolls his eyes.

“i didn’t mean to throw it at her! it was meant for kent!” clark rolls his eyes and throws the football back to him.

“thank you, kent.” you slowly straighten yourself up. “that was crazy, what on earth are you training for that makes your reflexes so fast?” you question and he just shrugs with a smile.

silence engulfs the two of you and it feels awkward, the only thing heard was the screaming and chanting of your cheerleading squad and the football team. clark’s eyes narrow from all around, to you, he feels nervous around you, but, the worst thing she can say is no, he thinks, so he—

“y/n.” he calls you and catches your attention. “i was thinking if maybe you’d like to hang out… later.” you shoot him a soft smile and he analyzes your reaction. “i mean, i-if you can, I’m sure you’re going to celebrate your win with your squad and team, nevermind..” he shakes his head, regretting he even asked you. ‘it’s not like she was going to go out with you anyway, clark, she’s with troy.’ he thinks. he thought it’d be game over until—

“no, i don’t plan on celebrating, i wanna be alone, you know? i don’t want to party or anything. i-i mean, I’d like to be alone with you.” you close your eyes and shake your head once you realize what you said. clark can feel the heatness creeping up his face and he laughs. “oh my gosh… i mean that like, yes! I’d like to hang out with you!” ‘jeez, no way I’m actually this awkward. I’m literally embarrassing myself oh my God, I’m going to cry’ you thought.

“great! maybe we can meet up in the beanery? it’s—“ your eyes widen and you shake your head.

“the beanery? that old thing?” you question and clark furrows his eyebrows.

“hey!” you raise your hands in defense.

“no, we’re going somewhere better, there’s this diner in central city called dine fine, we can go there, we can dine something or share a milkshake, whatever you’d like!” you smile at him and he nods.

“okay, sounds great! it’s a da—“ your smile turned into an annoyed look when you felt arms wrap around you and lips kiss your cheek. troy, your “boyfriend” watches clark’s expression change and shoots him a wink. clark can feel his face heat up, and it’s not blushing, or jealousy, he closes his eyes to avoid burning troy to a crisp.

“what’s up, kent?” troy greets clark with a bitch attitude. “she’s precious, isn’t she?” your eyes avoid troy’s, but are glued onto clark, and he can see you’re feeling uncomfortable, and you don’t know how badly he wants to smack the hell out of troy and tell him to back off from you. and he doesn’t know how badly you want him to do it. troy raises an eyebrow, urging him to answer the question.

“yes, she is, troy. you’re a lucky guy.” clark’s eyes never leave you, troy notices how yours don’t either, and his nose flares.

“i know.” he smiles. troy pulls you aside, away from clark. “hey, we’re going out to celebrate, you want us to go back to my place, or go out?” he asks you, and you pull away, shaking your head.

“it’s okay, troy, i don’t want to go out.” you cross your arms and troy smirks, he glances at clark behind you.

“okay, so, you want to go back to mine?” he asks, and you furrow your eyebrows.

“no.” troy’s eyebrows raise in reaction to your tone, and clark hides a smile, and forces back down his laugh.

“okay, whatever, we’re going to go out and celebrate, let me know if you change your mind.” you nod and he leaves. your friend alanna walks over to you and locks her arm around yours.

“ready to go?” she asks and you nod.

“yeah, give me a second, I’ll be right there.” your friend nods with a cute smile and her eyes narrow between you and clark before she walks to her car.

“so, I’ll see you maybe at 8?” clark questions.

you nod at his timing and he smiles. “I’ll see you there, kent.” you turn in your heels and walk to your friend's car.

clark admires you from head to heels and god, you in that skimpy cheerleading outfit did something to him. he blows out a breath after admiring your figure and smiles to himself, trying to hold back on his thoughts. he can’t believe he’s going to see you again later, and neither can you.

you tell alanna to take you to your grandma’s house so you can shower and change your clothes. since you visit your grandma quite often, you have clothes you wear once in a while there, so after a shower, you ready yourself and head to central city right after you’re done.

since alanna is heading to metropolis due to work, she gives you a ride to the diner where you are meeting up with clark. “have fun, sweetheart, love ya!” she blew you a kiss before driving away. you blew her a kiss back and waved goodbye.

you don’t see clark inside, but you decide to enter anyway, and just as you are a few feet away from the entrance doors, your name is called out, and when you look at where the voice is coming from you notice it’s clark, your face lights up, and so does his.

‘woah.’ clark thinks to himself, for some reason, he thinks you look better in casual clothes than in your cheerleading outfit. not that he’s complaining, he loves your cheerleading outfit, the colors favor you and it shows the perfect amount of everything.

‘damn.’ you think to yourself. he’s wearing a cap with a graphic tee that shapes his biceps perfectly. ‘forget the damn diner, I wanna dine him!’ you lick your lips to hide your smile at the thought.

“hey.” he greets you first with his pearly smile.

“hi.” you say right back and also give him your pearly smile.

he places his hand behind your shoulder and you lead the way, he opens the door for you and you go inside, the 80’s music is at the perfect volume, it smells amazing inside, and overall the vibe is nice.

you sit down at one of the benches and clark sits in front of you. “is there something you want in specific?” he asks.

“we could order some fries with some nuggets, unless you actually wanna find something?” your eyes meet and he stays silent, studying your eyes he opens his mouth to speak, yet nothing comes out. you laugh and look back at the menu.

“whatever you want.” clark answers your question. “I’m okay with whatever you decide.”

“okay, well, I’ll order some fries and nuggets, and ooh! you have to try their strawberry milkshake, it’s so good, so, we’re ordering that too!” clark’s eyes stay glued on you, your excitement makes his heart melt, he loves this side of you. ever since you moved to metropolis, he thought you’d turned into this cocky, mean, captain of the cheerleading squad, but, he’s been proven completely wrong. he still sees that little bullet of a girl with princess band-aids all over her arms, and legs in your personality. “is it okay if we order that?”

“as i said, y/n. whatever you want.” he nods and you smile widely with a chuckle. “you know, for some reason, i thought that when you moved to metropolis you turned into this mean, and cocky cheerleader, but no. can i ask? why aren’t you celebrating out there with your squad and team?”

“I’m nothing like that, the rest of my squad? maybe—except alanna! but i don’t like that whole cocky mean girl vibe, i tried it, just to fit in, but fitting in is stupid, so, outside i might seem like that, but once you get to know me, i’m not.” clark nods, paying his every single attention to you. “and the thing is i don’t celebrate with them because they have a really weird way of celebrating and i don’t want to be getting drunk or anything. I’d rather be relaxed, or hanging out with my real friends, you know?” clark nods.

“i like that.” your eyes find their way back to his and you smile. “i don’t want to sound nosy, but… you and troy?” he watches the drastic change in your face from happy to disgusted and he laughs. “that bad, huh?”

“it’s all fake. the football coach just wanted that typical “captain of the football team and captain of the cheerleading squad” love story, but, there’s not one ounce of love between us.”

“i mean, i see love in his eyes.” clark mentions and you scoff.

“lust is what you’re seeing, clark.” you hold your breath and clark closes his eyes. “i can’t stand him, he’s a jerk, he doesn’t take no for an answer and it’s the worst, someone always has to come in and step in, even his teammates.” you roll your eyes.

“I’m sorry, y/n.” you dismiss him with a shrug. “i saw it in your eyes today, that’s what i saw, and i wanted to do something, but i thought it wasn’t my place. i should’ve done something. i hated seeing him on you like that.” clark shakes his head and looks away from your eyes, you place your hand on his forearm, your warm touch sends him goosebumps all over his body, your eyes speak a million words, and his mind runs a thousand thoughts as he takes in every inch of your perfect face, your eyes, your lips.

“thank you, for at least knowing the right thing to do. also, thank you for that crazy save from me getting hit by a football.” you both share a laugh and he nods. he places a hand over yours and smiles.

“you’re welcome, and, you’re welcome.” your smile relaxes into a softer one, and the two of you stay staring into each other’s eyes, no other words need to be spoken, your eyes already do.

his ocean eyes tell you everything you need to know, does he need to admit how he feels right now? his heart racing, how he wants to feel your soft hands all over his body? his eyes are saying all of that to yours.

and yours? your eyes are begging for him to save you. for him to make you forget who troy even is. one more look and you swear you’re moving back to smallville, or more specifically, his bed.

“clark…” the way his name rolls off your tongue is something he could never get tired of, he prays that whatever comes out of your pretty little mouth is an invitation.

“kent!” the familiar voice knocks you both out of your trance and your eyes widen. you look back and see troy and half of his teammates walk behind him. “you mind getting your hands off my girl?”

“troy…” you whisper.

“you shut up, okay? get in the car. we’re going back to metropolis.” troy points at you with his index finger, and you swallow the lump in your throat.

“you call her your girl and then treat her like that?” clark raises an eyebrow and stands from the bench. your heart begins to race and not in a good way. there’s no possible way this is going to end well.

“she’s my girl, kent, that means that since she’s mine, i get to treat her however i want.” troy’s teammates share uncomfortable glances and shake their heads.

“she is not your pet, troy. you need to treat her right, like she’s the woman you love because that’s what she is, isn’t she?” clark towers over troy and you like that, you like that very much, apart from the fact that he’s defending you. but you push back your feelings and thoughts, because you’re scared right now, scared for both in reality.

“and if i don’t? you think you will? in your dreams, kent.” he scoffs, and walks over to you, grabbing your hand. “come on, y/n. we’re going home.” he raises you from your seat, and you stand beside him. just when you thought this could all end here, Clark decides to open his mouth.

“i would treat her better than you ever have.” your mouth opens, and you try your best to hide your smile. when troy’s grip around you loosens, your face drops.

next thing you see is troy swinging at clark with a right hook, you back away and troy’s teammates hold you back. “no!” you exclaim at troy’s punch. thankfully, clark reacted quickly and dodged it, but then, clark grabbed troy by the collar of his shirt and pressed him against the wall.

“clark, no!” you stop him from causing further damage and he slowly lets go of troy. you wanted to troy get what he deserved, but, just not now. the time will come. “let’s just go.”

“i don’t want to see you step foot in smallville again. if i so much as see your face, or hear that you did something to her, i’ll deal with you for good.” clark throws in before walking off. you follow behind him and leave the diner.

you were still trying to process what the hell just happened in there, clark defended you and went face-to-face with troy because he disrespected you. ‘oh my god?’

clark has his back against you, your eyes look up and he turns. “clark… what—“ you blink repeatedly.

“y/n. if he ever lays a single finger on you again, you let me know, alright?” you nod and hum. he nods and caresses your arm. “are you okay?” he asks and you hum.

“uh-huh…” clark chuckles and you inch closer to him.

you don’t exactly what you feel right now, but it feels good, and you hope he can help you with it because he’s the reason you’re feeling like this. your eyes are searching for an answer, ‘does he want this? because i sure do.’

“how far is your grandma’s house from here?” you pause in your daydreams to answer his question.

“like 15 minutes, i know the way.” you answer.

“okay, but, you’re not going alone.”

“why not? you don’t think i can handle myself?”

“oh, i know you can handle yourself, but, let me take you, ‘kay?” you smile at his offer and suck on your bottom lip before you lead the way.

the walk to your grandma’s house was silent, thankfully, it wasn’t uncomfortable silence, but the two of you were on the verge of speaking, you just had no idea of what. of the sexual tension before troy ruined it? of the almost fight? how clark defended you? why did he defend you exactly? God, you think that whatever the answer is, it’d land you both on top of each other.

clark can see how your heart is beating quickly, and he doesn’t know if it’s because you’re either scared, mad, nervous, or maybe just turned on. it’s the fourth option, you know that very well, but he thinks it’s the second.

“I’m sorry, y/n.” he speaks, breaking the eternal lasting silence between you two. “i-i didn’t mean to scare you or make you mad by what happened at the diner. it’s just… you don’t deserve that asshole.” the two of you stop in your tracks. you flutter your eyelashes at him and he thinks it’s the cutest thing ever, he swallows before speaking again. “and I’m also sorry that we didn’t get to share a milkshake.”

“apology not accepted,” you say. his face drops and your eyebrows furrowed. “they’re not needed, clark.” he sighs in relief and you smile. you continue your walk, you’re about 3 minutes away from your grandma’s house, but you wish it were hours instead, you do not want to say goodbye to him at all.

“i’m glad we could share this night, clark.” as you arrive at your grandma’s house, you stop your feet and turn to face him. the only light that’s making you able to see each other is your grandma’s porch lighting. “would’ve been better if we could’ve shared a milkshake, but…” you sputter and he chuckles.

“it’s okay, just a moment with you is enough for me.” his words made your knees weak, you lick your lips and suck your bottom lip in, close your eyes, and feel his index finger brushes your cheek. your eyes open and reunite with his.

“can we stay like this?” you whisper, as your eyes travel to his lips.

“yeah.” he whispers back, his finger still caressing your cheek.

his hand finds its way to your waist and he pulls you forward, your chest touching his, your breathing matches and you’re still deep into each other’s eyes.

‘if only he knew I’m sending him the most straightforward invitation to come inside.’ you think right as your eyes remove themselves from his lips and back into his eyes.

your tongue traces over your teeth and you smile. you look down to the ground and lean forward. you press a soft kiss on clark’s cheek and he closes his eyes. when you back away, your lips are so close to each other, and his eyes have the green light on for your lips to move to his, and as much as you want to, you don’t, though you could feel his slightly rose yours.

“i’ll be seeing you around, kent.” you smirk as you run your hand over his arms, again, your gentle touch sends goosebumps through his body, the second your fingertips are removed from his skin, he misses you already, all he wishes to do is turn you back around and make you all his for the rest of the night.

your heels touch the ground and you turn, approaching your grandmother’s steps, you tease him with a look back and a mocking grin, and he chuckles as he watches your expression. the second you enter the door he runs back to his house, but, safe to say that wasn’t the end of his night.

❛ ‘cause you’re a good girl and you know it

you act so different around me. ❜

[littlecrookedheart]

Anything Goes

Pairing : Tom x Clove ft the It Lives Beneath Squad & Andy Kang

Rating : Fluff! M for some suggestive themes and language

Word Count : 2,695

Author’s Note : Fluff for everyone! I treated the thirst squad early this week. Let's hope for a not horrible chapter today! Thank you to @brightpinkpeppercorn for the phrase, "Frosty the snow Tom."

Disclaimer : I do not own these characters. I’ve added a bit of a flare to them for the sake of this piece, but they do not belong to me.

Warm. Safe. Loving.

Clove felt the pull of morning through the curtains, light spilling across her face, seeming to gently ease her awake. Without opening her eyes, she felt next to her, Tom's usual sleeping form in its position, the quiet puffs of his light snoring indicating that the morning light didn't have quite the same effect on him.

She leaned over, resting her head on his chest, turning her head upward to bless her eyes with his face - the first thing she sees today.

“Handsome,” she whispered, pressing tiny kisses along his jaw and cheeks, running her hands through his loose locks.

Tom stirred and opened his eyes, his expression becoming a drowsy smile.

“Morning, beauty.”

“Morning,” she said, meeting his lips with a kiss, gentle and sweet, pulling the blankets over them entirely.

“Whatcha doing?”

“Savoring a few cozy moments with my guy. Is that okay?”

Tom's hands found her back, pulling her close to him.

“More than okay.”

“Sleepy Tom, you drive me wild.”

“Sleepy Clove...not so bad yourself.”

“No, don't fall back asleep. We’re supposed to meet everyone.”

“I'm not.”

“Tell me a coherent sentence and I'll believe that.”

He sighed, pushing the covers off.

“I got up last night to pee and I saw that it was snowing.”

“What? Like, actually?”

“They were warning us about significant accumulation.”

“Yeah but...I'm a skeptic.”

“Go look,” he said, nodding toward the bedroom window.

Clove jumped up, sliding across the floors like a child on Christmas. Her eyes went wide as she turned to him, “Uh…”

“What?”

“Snow. Freaking. Day.”

She did a little dance before hopping back into bed, peppering his face with more kisses.

“Kiss me in the snow!”

“Okay, weirdo. Calm down.”

“I'm so happy to see snow. It's been awhile!”

“Mhm. Imagine how it'll be when,” he pulled her to him, using his free hand to showcase an idea blossoming in his mind, “We’re in our own house and we wake up, our bay window looking out over fresh snow.”

“Well have a bay window?”

“Right there,” he moved his hand to show a space in front of the bed. “We’ll have coffee and breakfast and make snow angels in the yard.”

“You trying to make me all emotional first thing in the morning?”

“Maybe. I'm just ready, love. Ready for all of that good stuff.”

“Me too. In the meantime,” she pressed her nose to his, “Gonna enjoy all of this good stuff.”

“Tell me what you like most about snow.”

“Magic. I don't know what it is, but it's always got some hidden magic.”

“I think you might be right.”

“Of course I am.”

“Mm,” he groaned as she sat up, “Don't go.”

She turned her phone over in her hand, checking text messages from Imogen.

“No brunch today! Imogen sent a park location to the group chat. She says there's a field where the kids don't go because they go to a big hill."

“Yeah, I know the hill.”

“Of course you do, you're a big kid.”

“It's way too crowded.”

“Ugh. I was going to suggest we go later after group hangs-”

“Oh, I know what you were going to suggest. Big kid.”

Clove wiggled her butt at him, digging through her bag for an outfit.

“Get up! Let's go be twenty somethings and play in the snow with our other adult friends.”

-

Just ahead of the park, Clove and Tom spotted Imogen and Danni chatting over a split in half donut.

“Hey!”

“Clove! Good morning. Hi, Tom!”

“Hiya!”

“We don't know where Parker is. He's usually the first one to show up anywhere.”

“Did anyone call?” Clove asked, turning to see Tom's expression, which was beaming in a different direction.

“Oh. My. God.” He stuttered, nearly doubling over in smiles, “Andy Kang. What the hell are you doing here?”

“I was in the area!”

“Andy!” Clove wrapped him in an embrace, “It's so good to see you. You look so happy!”

“So do you guys!”

Parker strolled up from behind him, nodding to everyone.

“Don't,” Andy leaned in and whispered to Tom, “I'll fill you in later.”

Tom nodded, seeming to clear his expression entirely.

“What exactly are we doing at this park?” Parker asked, pulling his jacket closer to him to shield from the wind.

“Snow shenanigans!” Imogen took Clove and Danni's hands, running ahead.

“Snow shenanigans it is.” Andy jogged forward, beckoning for them to join him, “Come on, slow pokes.”

-

“How are we doing this?”

“Snowballs.”

“Obviously, Tom. I mean teams.”

“Okay, Danni. I don't want to be on your team because you're too cranky.”

“Fine. Take Parker, I want Imogen and Clove.”

“Clove is not up for grabs, her wrist is still weird from flag football.”

“It is not! I'm just a chicken because it's only been better for a little bit. I'm the referee!” Clove called, twirling under a tree branch that released snow as it swayed. “Snow magic, guys!”

Tom's eyes sparkled as his smile lit up, watching her in awe as her curls swayed in the wind, arms outstretched, her lips and cheeks rosy from the cold.

“Imogen?”

“Imogen's not playing sports,” she said, joining Clove on the sidelines, taking her hands and spinning in circles.

“Okay. So it's Tom and Parker and me and Andy.”

“Sounds good! Ten minutes for prep?”

“Ten?” Andy shook his head, “Five.”

“Fifteen,” Danni said, “Gen and I are gonna grab some cocoa. There's a stand across the road.”

“Fine! So much prep time.” Andy stomped away, Parker right behind him.

Tom walked over to Clove, making puppy dog eyes.

“You want help?”

“Yes please.”

The two of them got to work quickly crafting palm sized snowballs, moving much faster than the others.

“That wrist thing isn't holding you back!”

“I told you, it's better now. I just don't want to run around and risk it just yet.”

“We have enough anyway. They're making huge ones but they won't last.”

He took her hands and stood up, shivering as the wind hit them from behind.

“I'm freezing! Feel my hands,” Tom placed one hand on her cheek, taking one of hers in the other, “I've got cold hands like you.”

“You do! Thankfully I know how to help you out.”

“Oh? Wha-”

Clove took them and slid them under her pants, feeling a chill through her body as he squeezed her booty with both hands, pulling her close to him.

“Better?”

“Clove, I don't know why you're like this,” he locked his eyes with hers, his breath forming clouds as he took his voice to a low whisper, “But god, I love you.”

She laughed, sweet and quiet, tossing one arm behind his neck as she combed the other through his hair and leaned in, meeting his lips with the warmth and fervor only her kisses could supply.

“You wearing shorts under this?”

“It's freezing!”

“I wasn't criticizing, just asking. You do know that literally any one of them can look over here and see me touchin’ your booty, right?”

“Fine, ruin all of my fun.”

“You know what, love? This might just be my snow magic.”

“Mine ended when you were mean to me about wearing shorts under my jeans.”

Tom rolled his eyes and chuckled, elbowing her playfully.

Clove lost her balance and toppled into the pile of snow, her eyes wide as if she’d just been forcefully shoved. Dramatically, she flopped back into the blanket of snow next to her and screeched.

“Whoa!” Andy called from across the lawn, sprinting over and immediately kneeling next to her.

“You okay? What happened?”

“Nothi-” Tom began, quickly being cut off.

“I've been…” She clutched her chest, “We’ve been betrayed.”

Andy jolted his head to peer at Tom, pretending to speak into a spyware piece on his watch, “Command? This is Andy. No, Andy Kang. Yeah, Kang. We’ve been compromised.”

Parker jogged over, ducking behind the remnants of the igloo, “Did I hear we’ve been compromised?”

“What?” Tom blurted, “Parker, you're on my team.”

“I don't know you.”

“He doesn't know you,” Andy insisted, “We don't know you.”

“Then how did I betray you?”

“You're admitting that you're the one who murdered our princess?”

“She's not dead!”

“She's dead,” Andy insisted, looking to Clove, who slammed her eyes shut and stuck her tongue out.

“She's definitely dead.”

Tom shook his head, stifling laughter, “Fine. Yes. I am the killer. But even in this three against one battle-”

“Two against one,” Parker exclaimed, folding his arms.

“Yeah, two against one. You killed the princess.”

“In this two against one battle, I will reign victorious.”

Tom filled his arms with the snowballs he and Clove rolled, running to take station behind a nearby tree.

“This is gonna be easy,” Andy smiled, “He's a weak target.”

“He is not,” Clove whispered, “He's way stronger than he looks.”

“Trust me, Clove. I've snow battled this guy before, every year since we were kids. And know who wins? Me. Ever heard of the Westchester Snow Games?”

“No?”

“Yeah exactly, because Tom loses every year.”

“Fair enough. Do I have to lay here the whole time?”

“Hell yeah, Clove! You chose this for yourself.”

“Hey! What's taking so long? Picking your wedgies?” Tom called from behind the tree, throwing a snowball that whacked into Parker's shoulder.

“You're a grown man and you're making wedgie jokes?”

Everyone turned to see Imogen and Danni returning from their cocoa run, a look of amusement on Danni's face. “Really, Clove? You’re with this guy? Does he laugh at poop jokes too.”

“Depends, mostly if it's about constipation.”

“Clove!”

“What? It's true!”

“Okay!” Andy shouted, one hand whisking a cocoa from Imogen, taking a gulp before wincing, “I just burned my tongue. Anyway! We gotta set some rules. Who is on Tom's team?”

Nobody moved or spoke, eyes darting around the field.

“Alright,” Andy laughed, “Tom against everyone.”

“Oh, come on!” Tom threw his arms in the air, huffing, “I'm gonna remember this next time one of you jerks call me with computer problems.”

“Suck it up, Tomoichi. Why is Clove laying in the snow?” Danni asked, finding a space on an empty bench to set the remaining cups of cocoa.

“Tom killed her. She's the princess.”

“He killed the princess?!” Imogen yelled, clutching her chest, “TAKE HIM DOWN!”

“Wait!” Andy held his arm out to halt movement, “We need a safe word!”

“Clove, didn't you tell me you and Tom have a safe word?” Imogen asked.

“Yeah, it's, ‘Mario.’” Tom murmured nonchalantly.

“Tom!”

“What? It's true.”

“This is great and all but right now I'm having too many weird visuals of my best friend needing a safe word for...surprising sexcapades...and not enough victory calls!” Andy shook his head, “The safe word is, ‘Frosty.’”

Parker snorted, his hand covering his mouth as he stifled a laugh.

“Are you laughing at that stupid joke?” Danni teased, punching Parker in the arm.

“It's just too good.”

Andy shot Parker a wink, turning back around to yell, “TAKE HIM DOWN!"

All at once, Tom sprinted behind the tree, hurdling snowballs at the others as they struggled to ball more fast enough.

Andy and Parker worked as a team, filling Parker's linked arms with snow. Parker sprinted over, dumping the trough of snow down Tom's back, running away too quickly for him to have any kind of payback.

“Foul! I call foul!”

“What?!” Andy called over, refilling Parker's arms.

“Parker can not cross my territory to sabotage me!”

“You didn't care too much about sabotage when you killed the princess!” Imogen cackled, tossing a snowball right at Tom, who dove out of the way in perfect timing.

“So anything goes, then?”

“Basically!”

Tom hid behind the tree, hands on his knees as he caught his breath and scanned his mind for ideas. He peeked around, seeing the others mercilessly building fire power, and caught Clove's eye from the sidelines.

He smiled and waved, shrugging it off when she mouthed, “Sorry.”

He cupped his hands around his mouth and responded wordlessly, mouthing back, “Anything goes!”

Clove furrowed her brow before a wide grin spread across her lips, beginning to gather the snow all around her, forming it into the base of a snowman.

Yes! Tom thought, counting to thirty before jumping out, pummeling snowballs at Parker and Andy as they shielded the girls from the crossfire.

The field filled with laughter and shrieks, the sound of crushing snow beneath their boots and against their coats hung in the air like a song.

After running out of snowballs, Tom fell to his knees in dramatized defeat, crying out, “FROSTY!”

Andy and the others hopped over, shaking handfuls of snow over Tom, covering him completely.

With all four of them close together, Clove lifted the massive snowman base she’d been crafting and stood behind them.

Tom started to chuckle, catching the others off guard.

“Oh, Andy.”

“What's that look for, Tom?”

“You dug your own grave.”

Clove wound her arms back and tossed the ball, snow hitting three backs and exploding as Tom screamed, “ANYTHING GOES, FUCKERS!”

Andy, Parker, and Imogen lay in the snow, giggling profusely, trying to catch their breaths as Danni retreated to her hot chocolate, her laughs causing more steam in the air than the cocoa itself.

“Crown me!” Tom ordered, kicking Andy playfully in the side, “And one for my snow queen.”

Andy got to his feet, still chuckling as he shook his head.

“I hereby crown you winner of the Pine Springs Snow Games,” he turned to Clove, “Clove, not Tom because he lost and she's the one with the sneak attack!”

“I am honored!”

“All hail the snow queen!”

“Long may she reign!” Danni giggled, wrapping Clove in a hug.

Imogen rushed over and wedged her arms within theirs, a soft smile and an, “I love you guys,” as a reminder of how happy the moment had been, screaming and red faces included.

Clove broke away, kissing each of their cheeks before making her way over to Tom.

“Hey!”

“Hey,” he grinned, straightening his glasses.

“Good thinking out there.”

“Nothing but the best regeneration spell for my love,” he smiled, lifting her into the air, “Such a strong queen, too. I was shocked.”

“Guess I forgot to mention that I pump iron in my spare time.”

“...There's a joke in there that I'm gonna look past.”

“You'd better, Frosty the snow Tom.”

He blushed as he set her down, shaking his clothes of the remaining flurries.

“Your wrist lifted that massive thing, did it hurt at all?”

“Nope. Know what that means? I can clobber you tomorrow.”

“Oh no, I am not having a repeat of this. Always a jester, never a king.”

“For what it's worth, you'll always be my snow king.”

Clove stood on her toes, her frozen fingers warming on the surface of his cheeks, their lips entangling in a loving kiss.

She stuffed his hands into his coat pocket, shivering heavily as she warmed them with his.

They watched as Andy and Parker started to walk toward the bench, arm in arm.

“What's up with those two?” Clove asked, “Andy said anything?”

Just then, Parker unlinked their arms, lacing his fingers with Andy's.

“About that much,” Tom sighed.

“Parker looks at him like he's the world.”

“That...sounds familiar. Why the hell does it make so much sense?”

“Why do we? Why does anyone? When you know...you know.”

Clove's fingers walked down Tom's arm, taking his own fingers into hers.

“Let's go ask if they want pizza.”

“We had pizza yesterday.”

“I don't know why you say that like it's gonna stop me,” Clove shrugged, kissing Tom's cheek before running ahead.

He grinned as he followed behind, stopping just for a second at the faintest glimmer emitting from where Clove had been laying during the snow battle. He leaned over and chuckled at the numerous hearts she’d stamped into the snow, snapping a picture with his phone.

“What is it with magic on snow days?” He asked himself, and made his way over to his quirky, goofy, wacky, wonderful group of friends.

[thelittlewonders-blog1]

Memories of Heartache

Sometimes memories are the worst form of torture. Good thing if you are like me, I have amnesia. I don’t remember what happened after the day I woke up at the hospital. I first saw the flashing white painful lights above me, then someone calling my name before I passed out. When I woke, I couldn’t even remember my name.

“Ashley,” my roommate, June, nudged me. “you okay?”

“Yeah, just spaced out.”

“Ever since that accident, you have been spacing out a lot, are you okay?” she asked, half-jokingly, half concerned.

Was I okay? I don’t know how to answer that anymore. I don’t remember.

“Come to the party tonight,” she said.

“I’ll pass,” I said.

“Come on, you used to be so fun,” she said but bite her lips immediately after like she said the wrong thing. “I’m sorry.”

True, I looked over pictures of me before I lied on that hospital bed and I couldn’t remember who I was. That girl was a party animal, she probably was the zookeeper of all the party animals. Now, I couldn’t stomach the thought of even having a conversation with anyone at the coffee shop, let alone be in a house full of drunk sexual people.

“Maybe if you come tonight, you might enjoy it, you might-“ she paused.

“Remember?” I finished her sentence.

She nodded guiltily.

“Fine,” I rolled my eyes and got out the coach.

She yelps in joy and pushed me into her room.

“I’m doing your make up and hair,” she said joyfully.

Exactly 2 hours and 47 minutes later, I was dressed and fully decked out. June knows her stuff.

“Don’t be silly, you used to teach me how to bronze,” she giggled with I looked terrified at her makeup collection.

June is a gentle soul but sometimes, I think she misses the old me more than who I am now. Sure, I was a completely different person and it must be weird for her but it was confusing for me too. I was like the ugly twin living behind her popular sister.

I was wearing a short red dress that wrapped my figure like a glove. Luckily the dress was loud enough that I convinced June to lay down on the makeup. Who knows what time we will be back tonight and just the thought of having to wipe each layer of makeup off was a battle of my existence.

“Alright, the uber is here, let’s go,” she hopped off her vanity and took my hand.

“Who’s party are we going anyways?” I asked.

“Luke Kingsley,” she said like she was saying the name of a royal born.

“Who is that?”

She stopped at her step and the hallways turned silent.

“He is the most likable, hot, sexy, football player on campus,” she said with googly eyes.

“And I should know him?”

“You guys have a couple classes together but I don’t think you were friends, in fact, I know you weren’t because he never has any girlfriend, flings, yet, girlfriends no. The only girl you will see him hang out with is his sister, and god, he is so protective of her it’s uncomfortably hot.”

“So why are we going to his party if we aren’t friends?”

“Because they just won the biggest game ever and we are heading to the mansion,” she said.

“Mansion?”

“Yeah, the boys got their own mansion off campus,” she said.

“And again, why are we invited?”

“Come on, give me a couple credit,” she rolled her eyes with a smile. “I might not know Luke personally but I know a couple of the teammates.”

“Ok-ay.” I said.

“Okay, rules,” she said and grabbed both my hand like I was the little girl and she was the mother telling me to behave in the grocery store. “Don’t talk to Luke unless he asked. He doesn’t like that. Look but only 10 seconds tops,” she said.

“He sounds like a jackass, why are we hanging out with him?”

“Because he is cool and this is a cool party,” she said.

“And watching Harry Potter with chocolate brownies isn’t cool?”

“Not unless Harry is hot which he isn’t,” she said. “Come on, let’s go have fun. Let loose tonight and if you really don’t like it, I will never bug you to tag along again.”

This caught my interest.

“Promise,” I raised my pinky.

She rolled her eyes and hooked her pinky with mine.

“God, sometimes I love you and sometimes, I wish I could strangle you,” she said.

 Once we got to the mansion, which was bigger than a whole estate, I found myself feeling underdressed. Yes, underdressed. I was wearing one of June’s expensive dresses and I probably look like I was going to a nightlife party with the queen but all the girls here are dressed to the top.

“I don’t like it,” I said.

“Oh come on. Don’t be a baby,” she said.

“I haven’t even stepped in the house and I am already not liking it,” I said.

“Two hours,” she said. “give me two years.”

“Fine,” I said.

 The party was loud and I could smell all the 11% of alcohol on people when they walk past me.

I sat at the bar while I watch June do her thing. Across from the dance floor was not as crowded, in fact, there were bodyguards guarding that area. Looking closer, a couple of the footballers were having their drinks while a couple of girls at on their lap. I felt an eye on me and when I looked it was a gorgeous, dark hair guy. His eyes pierced into mine and I felt my body burning up. Someone was talking to him but he only answered with a nod, not breaking out eye contact.

“Let’s dance”! June pulled me to the dance floor before I could even respond. I was glad she pulled me away because it was getting uncomfortably hot at that seat.

Once on the dance floor, it was different. The energy shifted and I felt the music run in my veins.

“You go, girl!” June threw her hands up and continues dancing. A couple boys walked over to her and started dancing. She was good- really good.

“Who you dancing for?” a guy walked up behind me and grabbed my ass. I jumped and pushed him away. “Come on, have a little fun. I got something that can loosen you up,” he said with a smirk.

“No thanks,” I said and my mood to dance were murdered. I make my way back to the bar when he grabbed my arm.

“Hey!” I tried to free myself but his grip was tightening my muscle, making my arms weak.

“You think you are better than me? I know who you are, you’re Ashley Hellen. You’re a slut before so don’t think after an accident you are pure. No miracle water you drown in will cleanse your soul, slut,” he snapped.

“You’re hurting me,” I tried again to pull away.

“Let her go,” someone stepped behind me and his voice sent my heart to the bottom of my abdomen.

“I marked this one-“ the crazy guy said but when he looked up to the man behind me, he froze. “Oh yeah, man. We are friends. No trouble here,” he was mumbling his words.

“Leave,” the deep voice roared and everyone stilled. The dance floor froze, and every pair of eyes were on me.

Once the crazy dude left in a hurry, I slowly turned. I stood a pinky away from the guy who locked glanced with me. The familiar uncomfortable heat burns down my vein.

Without saying any word, he grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the dance floor. I heard gasps from people and deadly stare form girls. I never liked the attention, or if I did, I couldn’t remember.

He pulled me to the back of the party and into a pantry that was the size of my whole apartment.

“What are you doing?” I pressed my back against the wall, wishing I could sink into it as he cages me between his hand at both sides of my face. His eyes pinned me to the wall.

He looked confused for a second and I saw his walls torn down but then it went back up sky high. He backed away and looked at me like I was a dirty rat.

“They say you lost your memories,” he said with a chuckle, “I thought it was your way to get attention. Maybe you still are and you are doing a good job at acting the part but come to my party and lie to my face. I hate liars. You of all people would know.”

“I have no idea who you are and what you are talking about,” I snapped. He might be pretty to look at but he is goddamn asshole.

He smirked and rolled his eyes like I was the biggest joke of the year. I wasn’t having it. I started moving away from him and towards the door when he grabbed me and slammed me against the wall again.

“Do you have something with girls and walls?” I asked angrily.

“I have something for liars,” he said.

“I am not lying!” I yelled at him. “I don’t know who you are, or what you think you have over me, but you need to leave me alone,” I pushed him off so hard that he fell back a couple steps. He looked surprised and slightly confused.

I reached for the door and got out of the pantry. Once out of the Devil’s hostage, I quickly find my way to June.

“Hey girl!” June looked concerned, shocked, and really worried when I showed up. “Are you okay? Where did Luke take you?”

“Who’s Luke?” I asked confused.

“Him,” she pointed and I turned around. It’s him. He was Luke. Shit.

“I want to leave,” I said.

“Wait, I can’t leave,” June said.  She bites her lips and I noticed a guy was eyeing up her ass.

“Just be safe,” I finally said.

“I will,” she smiled. “you can get home okay?”

“I have amnesia, not short-term memory loss,” I said.

“Okay, just text me when you get home.”

I nodded. My shadow was already out the door and my spirit was already clinging to my bed back at the apartment. I never wanted to leave a place as fast as I did now.

Walking back home in the dark didn’t bother me. But I could feel someone watching. Paranoid, I walked faster. A rat suddenly jumped in front of me and I jumped, falling back and breaking my heel.

“Seriously?” I sigh.

“It’s where you belong, kitten,” I turned around and realized it was Luke.

“What are you doing here?” I snapped.

“More important question, when will you stop lying?”

“I told you I am not lying. I don’t even remember who you are. If I did you wrong before, I’m sorry. But I don’t remember and I am not that person anymore,” I said, getting up but just my luck, I stumbled back to the floor. My ankle was broken. I didn’t want him to know so I sat stubbornly on the floor.

“You’re a liar,” he said.

“Look, you gotta give me some context. What did I lie about? That I have amnesia? Well, I’ll give you the doctors report if it will get you off my ass.”

“How would I know you didn’t bribe the doctor? And your ass is not something I want to ever be on,” he said.

“Well great, why are you here again?” I asked.

He didn’t answer. In fact, his silence told me he didn’t have an answer.

“You’re hurt,” he said instead.

“I’m not,” I said.

“See, liar,” he rolled his eyes.

“Dude, can you stop calling me that? What did I do to you anyway?” I snapped. He picked me up and threw me into his car.

“What are you doing?” I asked, surprised.

“Do you want to sleep with the rats tonight?”

I didn’t answer. He drove me back to my apartment, which I was surprised that he even knew where. He got out the car first and carried me to the door.

“You didn’t have to do this,” I said.

“Get inside, Ash,” he said.

Ash. Did we know each other?

“Were we friends?” I asked when silence fell between us.

He looked at me in silence. I felt his eyes digging deep into my soul, searching for something.

“Yeah,” was all he said.

I waited but he didn’t say anything else.

“So, was I a childhood friend? Ex-girlfriend? Annoying neighbor? What?”

“You really don’t remember me?”

“Look, you have a gorgeous face and I’m sure anyone would remember you from afar but I seriously am breaking my skull here.”

He chuckled.

“What?” I asked confused.

“You used to call me gorgeous,” he said softly.

“So we were a thing?”

“No,” he said firmly. “you were nobody to me,” he said and left.

I watched his shadow as he walked down the hallway. I might not remember who he was or what he was to me, but I felt it: that familiar pain over my chest like he was holding my heart in his fist and crushing it over again.

The familiar feeling felt lonely- empty. I might not remember my past but I do remember not ever feeling not broken.

I don’t know what I’ve done to Luke or what he has done to me for me to feel this burning heartache that is unsettling, but something tells me sometimes memories are the worst form of torture.

[charliebattinson]

BEST FRIENDS? | Best Friend! Shawn [BP] Part 1 | Shawn Mendes

A/N: Hello! I’m splitting this thing into two parts because it was so long haha. I just had so many ideas!! Honestly i’m such a sucker for the “best friends to lovers” trope it may be cliche as hell but it’s my fave. Part 2 has more of a storyline to it just in bullet point form! Also wanna thank @siennarossi, @innocent-before-mendes and @i-keep-craving-craving for advice and for helping me out! Hope you enjoy! Feedback is appreciated! Have a lovely day! ♡♡♡

☆ Read Part 2 here ☆

You moved to pickering when you were a kid and met Shawn when you were 4

He was your neighbor

Bedrooms facing each other

You always thought how stupid he looked trying to climb the tree that was impossible to climb at his age

Since you were new to town when you went to school you knew nobody

Playtime came and you saw shawn by the sandbox playing by himself

You walk to him and asked if you can play together

He was so shy "okay" red cheeks and all

Everything just hit off after that

You guys were attached to the hip

Walking to school holding hands or seating beside each other on the school bus

Some girls from school wanted to play with you and you were so happy to make more friends that you brought shawn with you but the girls said they don't play with boys

"But shawn goes with me wherever i go"

"I guess you can't play with us"

You ditch them for Shawn

“I’ll play your barbie dolls with you y/n”

Wouldn't it be cute to imagine when your parents open the door and look down to see kid shawn in his squeaky voice “Good afternoon Ms. y/l/n! Is y/n there?"

You guys loved watching barney together and singing the theme song

Role playing power rangers and pretending to be fighting each other

Till that one time you accidentally punched Shawn in the face and his nose bled

You always attend each other’s birthday parties and you always need each other by your side before blowing your birthday cake

You play husband wife sometimes

“y/n when were older im going to marry you”

“why shawn” “cause you’re my best friend”

Riding bikes together

Getting boo boos and helping each other out with the wound

“Here’s a bandaid Shawn it’s the barbie one”

Eating ice cream by the front porch

PLAYGROUND PLAYDATES

Giggling to each other while your both on the swings

Sometimes when there’s only one swing left Shawn would offer it to you and he’d start pushing your swing

Lots and lots of videos of you two when you were kids

Halloween time is always a fun time for the both of you because you guys to get to do matching costumes

One year would be you as Mario and Shawn as Luigi with the matching mustaches

“Hey how come you get to be Mario?” “Because I’m cooler Shawn”

another time would be Kim possible and Ron stoppable

another time as Spongebob and Patrick

then ferris and cameron from ferris bueller’s day off but no one ever really got who you were dressing up as that year

and that one time in school where you thought everyone was going to be wearing halloween costumes turns out only and shawn did

Horror movie marathons every halloween

You remember the time Shawn screamed like a girl

“Y/N please don’ tell anyone”

When its Christmas you would go out and make the weirdest looking snowman, snow angels, drinking hot cocoa, baking cookies for santa and opening presents while trying to stay up late and wait for Santa Claus to come out

“My father is the actual santa claus??” “You’re so dumb Shawn”

School plays together!!! Like little mermaid where you played a fish and shawn played a lobster

One of your school plays was also King Arthur

You were a local villager and shawn was the village idiot

Coloring coloring books together

Going to camp together during the summer

11 year old Shawn would be sporting braces and you would make fun of him when he got it

“HAHAHAHAHAHA LOOK AT YOUR METAL MOUTH”

“shawn close your mouth you’re blinding me”

You were a little bit taller than him at that age

You guys would constantly call each other names the kiddish kind

“TOE LICKER” “BUTT SNIFFER” “ONION BREATHE”

He would freak out when he sees your bra laying on the bed

But would also be there for you when you start to panic when you finally get your period

“you aren’t going to die y/n. please your making me scared what if you die, i’m gonna be all alone”

shawn gets so scared when you say a bad word by accident

“Y/n you know we’re not supposed to be saying bad words or we’ll go to hell”

You’re both appalled by kissing when your parents do it or when you’re watching a movie

“EWWWWWWWWWWW” “YUUCK”

“COOTIES EW”

“okay class! go and pick a partner”

🌚 🌝

Your whole family knows Shawn. Shawn’s whole family knows you

Uncles, aunts, cousins and grandparents. THEY ALL KNOW SHAWN.

Your family is so familiar to having Shawn around the house so when he’s not there they ask “where’s Shawn?”

High school rolls in and you’re both invited to your first ever high school party

“Y/n do I wear a tux to these parties?” “Idiot”

He ended up wearing Capri shorts and his Birkenstocks

“Please tell me you aren’t wearing socks with your birkenstocks” “well…”

You play 7 minutes in heaven and shawn goes in with a girl

When he goes out, the girl looks so weirded out by shawn

“Well..what happened?”

“She was leaning for a kiss and I got nervous I just screamed at her”

you try alcohol for the first time together in your room; you raided wine in your parents collection

you both spit it out right after

“POISON!!!”

16 year old you is wondering how tall Shawn got over the summer because you have to tilt your head up to look at him

He’s also gotten cuter over the summer no more braces and thank god he stopped wearing those birkenstocks

he’s still wearing those baggy khaki pants

The insults have upgraded

“You stupid lanky dickhead” “fuck you y/n”

You both swear like sailors now

You’re by your lockers and he just salsa dances and sing songs  “look who got an A on chemistry byotch”

You’re both each other’s first kiss you rather have it be your best friend than be it someone else who won’t matter in a couple of years

Also for practice because Shawn ’s been pinning over some chick named Stephanie the whole freshman year

“Come on y/n so you can tell me if I suck or not”

He sucked

“YOU KISSED ME LIKE IM A CPR DUMMY”

Sleepovers at each other’s houses

passing notes in between classes, shawn wanting to play tic tac toe

Doing homework together

Copying each other’s homework

“Pssst shawn what’s the answer to no. 5?”

“I was gonna ask you that!”

“fuck”

Shawn going up your window late at night because he’s tall enough to finally climb the tree

but also the idiot tried doing a stunt and ended up bringing down one of your pipes down with him

you guys would meet each other by the window to say good night

sometimes when he knows you feel bad he would stare at your window and write down a note saying “are you okay?” or “feel better”

You attended junior prom together

“Look at you Shawn looking so fancy in that tux”

You see Shawn’s cheeks redden “thanks y/n you look pretty”

You try to pin his boutonnière and he keeps joking around that you pricked his skin

Till you actually pricked his skin cause he was moving around too much “idiot”

Ditched after a while cause it was getting boring, you both just headed out to the local diner and ordered milkshakes

For senior prom, you had to find a date because Shawn asked someone else; you were a little sad because you’re just used to you and Shawn doing everything together

Watching the schools football games together by the bleachers

They made shawn the school mascot

“it is a sauna inside here and i can’t fucking see anything”

always going together to high school parties

fist bumping to levels by avicii (beacause it was a bop at that time tbh)

asking each others approval when you find someone hot

constructing each other’s sentences before hitting send to your crush

there’s a girl that likes shawn and she’s very confident and flirting around with him and shawn just mumbles trying to talk to her “yeah ugh no yeah totally but ugh yeah no”

You’re just watching him trying your hardest not to laugh

“pathetic”

Giving each other tips on making a move

“I watched that movie hitch and they said that if a girl lingers by the front door it means she wants you to kiss her”

“Shawn you gotta stop screaming at a girl when they try to go near you”

You tell each other who you lost your virginity to and judging so hard

“WHY BECKY?” “Sleeping simon are you serious?”

Also being each other’s person to look for support and comfort whenver you’re feeling down

Shawn would get your favorite ice cream and listen to you on your bed cuddled up to him”

“Hey shawn i got your favorite muffins. Please tell me what’s wrong with you”

Shawn would tell you to leave him alone under the covers and you would just go under the covers

Being lab partners

Shawn making you laugh when he does an impersonation of professor fink with his lab coat and goggles

“Well according to my calculations..”

GRADUATION DAY

You would be cheering for each other when you both get on stage

“LETS GO Y/N LETS GO!!!”

“THAT’S MY BEST FRIEND RIGHT THERE”

Shawn would just blast “SCHOOLS OUT FOR SUMMER” on his jeep on your way to your graduation party

He wore a fucking vest and a casual tie with converse to the party

“A vest shawn? Really?”

”yolo y/n yolo”

Booze is present and you both have had a bit too much

You see Shawn standing up on the table dancing to Daft Punk’s One More Time

You push Shawn into the pool but he’s quick to grab you leaving both of you underwater

Going to the park after and riding the swings just like when you were kids

Figuring out what colleges to apply to

both of you just staring at your acceptance letters

“Open yours first” “No! You open yours first”

“FINE I’LL READ YOURS, YOU READ MINE”

Jumping because you both got in

Luckily you both wanted to go to the same college with just different courses so the long distance friendship is off the books

You’re headed off to college to fix your dorm rooms

Shawn would be in such a school spirit he’s already wearing the college hat and hoodie

Shawn just starts playing “everybody lets go” song from dora the explorer in the car

“Here we go...”

☆ Read part 2 here ☆

[hannahberrie]

Everybody Talks | Chapter 4: MadMax

Fandom: Stranger Things Pairings: Lumax, Mileven  Rating: K WC: 3227 Summary: Mike and Lucas run into a familiar face at the Palace Arcade

[AO3] Chapter Selection: [1][2][3]-4-[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][Epilogue] 

It’s the last Sunday of September. With October just around the corner, the leaves have already begun to turn, transforming Hawkins into a mosaic of orange and red hues. The Indian summer heat has faded away, leaving behind the faint but telltale chill of the season to come.

As Mike waits in the driveway outside Lucas’ house, seated on his bike, he shuffles side-to-side, trying to keep warm. He checks his watch. 11:17 AM. Lucas was supposed to meet him out here 2 minutes ago.

Mike sighs but keeps waiting. Another 3 minutes pass, then another 5, and by 11:26, Mike is about to approach the front door and knock when Lucas emerges, looking thoroughly pissed off.

Mike’s brow furrows. “What happened to you?”

“Erica hid my money!” Lucas fumes. His bike is leaning on the side of his house and he grabs it. He walks it closer to Mike before throwing his leg over the seat and mounting it.

“Why?”

“Because she’s evil!”

“Where’d you find it?”

“It was hidden with her old Barbies!”

“What?!”

“I know!”

“That sucks. Is she gonna get in trouble?”

“Probably not,” Lucas answers with an eye-roll. “Let’s just go.”

Mike nods and the two bike off down the road, headed to their favorite Sunday afternoon destination: the Palace Arcade.

They only bike a couple feet before Lucas’ notices the obvious: two members of their party are missing. “Where’s Will and Dustin?” He asks, glancing at Mike.

Mike thinks back to the telephone calls he’d had to make this morning. “They can’t come — Will is spending the day with his mom and brother,” he recounts, “And Dustin’s cat got sick, so he and his mom are taking it to the vet.”

“Mews is like, a million years old,” Lucas says with a shake of his head. “How is she even still alive?”

“Maybe she’s an immortalist,” Mike jokes, causing Lucas to snort.

The two bike towards the downtown area. On the way there, they pass by the high school football field, where the football team is in the midst of practicing for the big homecoming football game. The frenzied shouts of the coach are still audible over the soft bustle of distant passing cars, echoing bird calls, and the crunch of dead leaves under their bike wheels.

Mike’s father has always wanted him to do sports, but Mike can’t honestly think of anything worse than having to waste a Sunday getting yelled at and throwing around a ball in the cold.

Lucas sees the football players too, and he turns to glance at Mike with a curious look on his face.

“Are we going to Homecoming this year?” Lucas asks. “The dance, I mean, not the game.”

Last year, the boys had skipped the big annual fall dance. Still adjusting to being in high school, they hadn’t quite found their footing yet. A mushy, romantic school dance hadn’t appealed to them, so they’d gone to see Terminator instead.

But this year…

“Maybe,” Mike says. “Why, do you want to?”

“I dunno,” Lucas replies guardedly, “Do you?”

Mike bites down on his lower lip, stopping himself from saying something that’ll only embarrass him. Like, something about how he’s actually been thinking about Homecoming a lot lately. Or how, sometimes, when he’s trying to fall asleep, he’ll run over scenarios in his mind. How those scenarios are often focused on one person, one moment, one question.

The scenarios always end in frustration because Mike knows it’s all pointless, anyway. He barely knows El, and El hardly knows him. Even if they were closer, what’s to say that a cool girl like her would agree to go with a nobody like him? What if she wanted to go with someone else?

The thought jabs at Mike with a stabbing pain as an unsettling question dawns on him.

Does El have a boyfriend?

It’s something he’s never considered before. He’s only ever seen her hanging around with Max, but what if her boyfriend like, went to another school, or something? He’d probably be someone totally bad ass, with like, a motorcycle. Someone who got detention for worse things than selling their test answers.

Mike feels an uncomfortable amount of jealousy churn in his chest, which is ridiculous because, as far as he knows, the person whom he was currently jealous of might not even exist.

“Mike?” Lucas asks, glancing at him. “You okay?”

“Uh, yeah!” Mike responds quickly, shaking his head as he comes back to. “I dunno about Homecoming. We still have a month to decide.”

“Yeah,” Lucas agrees somberly.

They don’t speak much after that, not until they arrive at the arcade. Their legs are sore from biking — both wince slightly as they dismount the bikes that are getting slightly too small for them.

“I can’t wait until we can drive,” Lucas laments as the two park their bikes at the bike rack.

Mike, thinking back to El’s motorcycle-driving boyfriend who may or may not exist, agrees wholeheartedly. “Totally. We’re all still taking driver’s ed together next summer, right?”

“Definitely!” Lucas nods. “It’ll be better that way.”

Because everything’s better when they’re all together. Mike, Lucas, Dustin and Will. It’s been that way ever since kindergarten, just the four of them. But now that they’re in high school, things are changing. Mike thinks about how tense things have been with Dustin lately and can’t help but worry.

“Hey, Lucas?” Mike asks as he and Lucas head towards the entrance of the Palace Arcade.

“Yeah?”

“Do you think Dustin is seriously pissed at me?”

“What?”

“You know,” Mike hesitates, “About talking to El.”

“Even if he is, that’s his problem,” Lucas reminds him. “I think he’s just weirded out by the whole thing, so he’s acting like a shithead about it. He’ll get over it.”

“Yeah,” Mike replies, sincerely hoping that Lucas is right.

They enter the arcade, instantly feeling welcomed by the flickering neon blue lights, the sounds of 8-bit chiptunes, and the smell of old quarters.

“Let’s start with Galaga first!” Mike suggests, and Lucas agrees.

The two head over to the game console. Lucas benevolently allows Mike to go first, and so he does, cracking his fingers before he begins.

Even though the rest of Mike’s life has been kinda weird lately, there’s something comforting about just getting to push it all aside and focus on the simple task of shooting up some aliens. It’s familiar, it’s easy, it makes sense, and he knows exactly what to do about it all.

Unfortunately, Mike’s mindless daze doesn’t last long, as Lucas finds a way to bring a certain someone back into their dialogue.

“So, are you going to keep talking to El?” Lucas asks conversationally.

Mike flinches, almost missing the alien he’s trying to shoot at. “I dunno,” he says, trying to sound like the idea of spending time with El isn’t something he’s secretly dying to happen, “Maybe. I mean, if she wanted to. Are you going to keep talking to Max?”

Lucas smiles a little and shakes his head. “I think if I tried, I’d end up in the hospital,” he jokes, rubbing at his arm.

Mike makes a dismissive sort of sound. “Does it actually bother you? All the punching?” He glances at Lucas just in time to see him blush.  

“Not completely,” Lucas admits.

Mike gives a snort of a laugh as he finishes his round of Galaga. “400,000!” He boasts, turning to Lucas. “I think that means I beat Dustin for first place!”

“Think again!” Lucas says, shaking his head.

Mike’s brow furrows in confusion, but sure enough, when he turns to look at the final scoreboard, he’s only won second place. Ranking in at first with 450,000 points is someone unknown to the boys: MadMax

“What the hell?” Mike exclaims, dumbfounded, “Who’s MadMax?”

“I think I recognize them,” Lucas frowns. He examines the screen closely, as if the secret identity of their competitor could be found hidden amongst the pixels. “I’ve seen that username on the leaderboards of other games here, but not this high!”

“Dustin’s gonna be pissed,” Mike says, trying to hide that he too is upset about the current turn of events, “He’s all the way in third place now!”

“This has to be recent! We were at the arcade Friday before we went back to your house. Dustin still had the high score then.”

“You’re right.”

The boys fall silent for a moment, both staring at the screen with puzzled frowns.

“We gotta find out who MadMax is,” Lucas finally says, “Maybe he can tell us how he got such a high score!”

“Good idea!” Mike agrees.

The two begin their search, going from arcade game to arcade game, checking out the leaderboard screens to see if MadMax played there. Sure enough, they stumble upon a trail of high scores that lead them towards the back of the arcade.

They scan the sea of game consoles before their gaze lands on Dig-Dug. There’s a lone figure hunched over the console, sporting a baggy gray hoodie and washed-out jeans. The spritely sound effects of the game are going off like crazy as the player’s score climbs higher and higher. Pale fingers move at lightning speed, flying over the controls in a determined focus.

“That’s gotta be him,” Mike whispers, to which Lucas nods. “Look at how fast he’s going!”

“Should we go over?” Lucas asks.

Mike shrugs. “Sure.”

The two approach the figure cautiously, not wanting to disturb the powerful gaming performance happening before their eyes.

When the final score tops out at 751,300, the boys are shocked, to say the least.

“Holy shit!” Lucas hisses, turning to glance at Mike, wide-eyed.

Mike only nods back, feeling just as awed. He clears his throat before stepping forward and giving the hoodied figure a nudge on the shoulder. “Hey!” He says with a friendly tone, “Are you Mad Max? ‘Cause you’re like, really good!”

The figure flinches, as if Mike had startled them, but doesn’t turn to look at them.

“We were just wondering if you could tell us how you get all these high scores,” Lucas adds hopefully, “I’ve never seen someone get more than 700,000 on Dig-Dug!”

The figure mutters something unintelligible in response.

Mike frowns. “What?” He asks, stepping closer.

Another mutter.

“Huh?”

With a frustrated huff, the hoodied individual turns to face them. At the same time, Mike and Lucas’ jaws nearly drop to the floor.

They almost don’t recognize her. Her black eyeshadow is gone, leaving her face looking almost ghostly in comparison. Her long, often tangled hair is pulled back into a tight ponytail that’s hidden by her hood.

Despite the costume change, Mike and Lucas still realize that they’re currently face-to-face with none other than Max Mayfield.

Max Mayfield, a habitual visitor of the principal’s office.

Max Mayfield, who liked wearing leather jackets and ripped jeans.

Max Mayfield, who skateboarded to school every day.

Max Mayfield, who, a little over a week ago, had called them all ‘literal losers’ and ‘full-on geeks.’

Mike can’t help it. The irony of the whole situation is extremely amusing to him. He bursts out laughing, even though it instantly causes Max to give him a death glare.

“Max?!” Lucas manages to choke out, still looking shocked, “You’re Mad Max?!”

Max, still glaring, crosses her arms over her chest. “So what if I am?” She asks threateningly.

Mike manages to control his laughter, though only barely. “It’s just,” He finally replies, “I don’t think we would have ever thought you’d be here.”

“We didn’t know you liked video games!” Lucas adds, completely in awe. “Or that you were amazing at them!”

Max shifts in place uncomfortably. “It’s no big deal,” she mutters, though Mike can’t help but notice the small smile she’s failing to hide.

“It is!” Lucas insists, practically drooling now, “You beat Dustin’s high score on Galaga, he’s been number one since middle school!”

Max smirks. “Seriously? It wasn’t even hard.”

While Lucas continues to adoringly gaze at Max, Mike can’t help but glance around the arcade. If Max is here, then her best friend can’t be that far behind, right?

“Is El with you?” Mike asks Max casually (hopefully).

“No!” Max answers brashly, brow furrowing, “She can’t know about this!”

Mike feels his heart sink a little, but he brushes it off. Meanwhile, Lucas is looking confused over Max’s response.

Lucas eyes her. “You mean, you haven’t told her?”

“I can’t!” Max says desperately, “I don’t want her to think I’m a geek like you guys,” she pauses, then adds, “No offense.”

“Thanks,” Mike replies flatly.

“Look,” Max continues. She steps closer to them, keeping her voice low. “I have to work really hard to keep up my reputation around school. Do you know how much my life would suck if people like Troy found out that I like nerdy stuff like this? I’d be totally screwed. No one would take me seriously.”

“Still!” Mike counters, “Even if that’s true, you shouldn’t lie to El. She’s your friend, isn’t she?”

“Obviously.”

“Well, friends don’t keep secrets from each other. And I doubt El would make fun of you for doing something that you like.”

Max eyes him carefully, scrutinizing his response.

“She didn’t make fun of me for liking this kind of stuff,” Mike reminds her.

“Yeah, but that’s only because she—”  Max stops mid-sentence and shakes her head. “Never mind.”

“You should be proud!” Lucas tells her, butting in before Mike can pry about what Max had left unsaid. “You have crazy good skills! You should tell her!”

Max sighs, looking both frustrated and conflicted. Her eyes roll up to the ceiling and stay there for a moment.  “Fine!” She finally replies, looking back at the guys, “Maybe I’ll tell her. But only her. If this gets out to anyone—”

“It won’t!” Lucas assures her, smiling. “I swear! We’re really good at keeping secrets!”

Mike can’t help but side-eye Lucas. If Dustin had thought that Mike was totally in love with El (which he WASN’T, just for the record), he would only need to look at Lucas right now — all smiles and bright-eyes and blushing cheeks.

Max eyes both of them but nods, her worries seemingly appeased for the time being. “Good,” she states, uncrossing her arms and putting them in her pockets.

There’s a beat of silence between the trio, all unsure of what to do next.

Thankfully, Lucas speaks up again with a tentative offer. “Well, uh, if you want, we could, like…uh, play together? Maybe you could…uh…show us how you got…uh…your high, uh, score?”

Mike is certain that he’s never heard anyone use “uh” more in a sentence before. Nevertheless, he knows how much this would mean to Lucas, as much as Lucas may try to deny it.

“Yeah!” Mike says, rushing to Lucas’ aid. “We could do Defender or Dragon’s Lair — we’re both really good at those.”

“I don’t think so,” Max says, shaking her head dismissively. “I’ve already been here all morning. I got places to be.”

She looks nervous, and at first it confuses Mike, but then he realizes that Max Mayfield is blushing. Why? Was she shy? Could it actually be because of Lucas? Maybe Will’s theory was actually right…  

“Oh,” Lucas replies, looking a little dejected.

“Thanks anyway, though,” Max adds, sounding sincere.

“You’re welcome!” Lucas replies with more enthusiasm. “We’re gonna be here all day, if you, uh, wanna come back.”

“You seriously play here all day?” Max questions, a small smirk on her face.

Lucas hesitates. “...Yes?”

“You guys are such nerds,” Max says with an eye-roll, though her tone is light-hearted.

“Well, you kind of are, too,” Lucas points out, “I mean —” His sentence trails off as he motions to the arcade.

Max blushes more now, and it’s such an uncharacteristic look for her that Mike is completely taken aback to see it.

“Whatever,” Max replies, pulling her hood lower over her face. She grabs her skateboard, which has been resting against the Dig-Dug console this entire time, and turns to leave.

“See ya’ around, dweebs,” She says, punching Lucas in the arm as she walks past.

“Bye!” Lucas replies eagerly, waving to her as she leaves.

Mike can’t help but smile at Lucas, and it isn’t until Max walks out the front doors of the arcade that Lucas even notices.

“What?” He asks, looking at Mike defensively.

“Nothing!” Mike replies, still grinning.

“Mike, seriously,” Lucas complains, giving him a look.

“It’s seriously nothing,” Mike insists, then, unable to help himself, lightly punches Lucas in the arm, “Dweeb.”

Lucas blushes again. His gaze moves back to the Dig-Dug high score screen, and he sighs wistfully. “She’s so cool.”

“You should ask her to Homecoming,” Mike says sincerely.

Lucas eyes him. “I’ll ask Max to Homecoming when you ask El,” He replies dryly.

It’s Mike’s turn to blush now. “What!?”

“Exactly.”

“Exactly what?”

“Face it, Mike, even though he’s an idiot sometimes, Dustin has a point. Girls like that aren’t into guys like us.”

“You don’t know that!” Mike insists, “Anything could happen!”

“Just because it could doesn’t mean it will.”

“Doesn’t mean that it won’t.”

Lucas still looks unsure, but he sighs again, seemingly compliant. “I guess. I just don’t wanna get my hopes up, you know?”

He definitely knows. As supportive as Mike wants to be, he knows deep down that, if the tables were turned, the same sentiments wouldn’t improve how he felt about his current status with El. Still, Mike doesn’t want to dwell on his insecurities for too long, that’ll only make things worse.

“Hey,” he says instead, giving Lucas a light nudge, “Why don’t we try to beat Max’s score on Dig-Dug?”

Lucas looks at him, stunned. “Are you serious? That’s going to be impossible.”

“Yeah, but imagine how impressed she’d be,” Mike pauses before adding, “Or pissed. She might get mad. But even then, she’ll have to come back and play again to beat you. You’d get to see her, probably even talk to her.”  

Lucas thinks about this for a moment, a hesitant smile growing on his face. “Do you think that’d actually work?”

Mike shrugs. “Why not?”

And that’s how, 35 quarters and 2 hours later, Lucas gets the high score of 752,001 on Dig-Dug. Mike cheers him on the whole time, and when Lucas enters his name into the leaderboard, seeing it beside Max’s just feels right.